Evening star. [volume], March 01, 1937, Page A-10, Image 10

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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THE EVENING STAR
With Sunday Morning Edition.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
MONDAY.-.March 1, 1937
THEODORE W. NOYES--Editor
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A Healthful Sign.
Sit-down strikers have directly learned
their unpopularity with the Governors
of three States in the past few days.
The distaste of Americans generally for
this strike weapon—imported from
France—is growing, and there are signs
that the spread of this kind of strike
may be checked, despite the declarations
Of certain labor leaders.
Gov. Cross of Connecticut has said
emphatically that there will be no sit
down strikes while he is chief executive
of that State—certainly none that will
be permitted to continue. Sit-down
strikers have already been ejected from
one plant in Connecticut. Gov. Hoffman
of New Jersey has also given warning
that he will tolerate no sit-down strike.
Gov. Henry Horner of Illinois said "there
Is no warrant in law to justify a so
called sit-down strike.”
This statement by Gov. Horner does
not run on all fours with a suggestion
which emanated some time ago from
a member of President Roosevelt’s
cabinet, Miss Perkins, Secretary of
Labor. She implied that such strikes
might be legal. So far no law has been
found to justify this kind of seizure of
private property. Nor is it likely that
any State, or the Federal Government,
will enact a law which gives such seizure
legality.
The stiffening of State and local gov
ernments against the sit-down strike was
bound to come. Already in California
sit-down strikers have been removed
and placed under arrest. Despite these
evidences of aroused government and
public sentiment, there are today many
of these sit-down strikes in operation,
particularly in Michigan, where the sit
down strike got its big impetus and
striking employes of the General Motors
Corporation held plants for six weeks.
Furthermore, there are threats of more
such strikes to come.
During the progress of the sit-down
strike in the General Motors plants in
Michigan, John L. Lewis, chairman of
the C. I. O., with which the automobile
union is affiliated, in a statement to the
press declared that the time for neu
trality was past and that the President
whom he and his fellow unionists had
helped to re-elect should support them.
The effrontery of this statement shocked
- the country. Into it was read, among
.other things, a demand that the Presi
dent countenance the sit-down strike.
Presidents in the past have been called
upon to intervene in labor disputes and
have used their good offices to bring
about industrial peace. But they have
not hitherto been called upon to take
aides.
It is the duty of State governments to
handle violations of the law such as the
seizure of property in a sit-down strike.
It is a healthful sign that Governors of
States are now preparing to do just thia
thing.
When attacked because he is distin
guished as the most youthful member
of the United States Senate, the Hon
orable Rush Holt might find an elo
quent defense, ready-made, in the speech
by Pitt beginning, “But youth is not my
only crime,” and expressing the hope
that advancing years will bring wisdom
and not be wasted in frivolous occupa
tion. The claim that Dr. Samuel John
son wrote the speech as a piece of lit
erary7 hack work would not render it
less appropriate if Mr. Holt were willing
to borrow phraseology. However, being
atrictly a live one on his own account,
Senator Holt would disdain a ghost
writer.
Sentiment.
Thirty-six years ago Dr. Hugo Munster
berg, in his “American Traits From the
Point of View of a German,” wrote:
“The American in politics proves him
•elf the purest idealist, the best men
come to the front, the most sentimental
motives dominate, and almost no one
dares to damage his cause by appealing
to selfish instincts.” Conditions per
haps have changed, but the opinion so
expressed remains largely sound and
sane. The people of the United States
are, frankly and without agology, sen
timentally inclined.
For example, consider the romantic
character of art. Even the illustrations
for advertisements must be possessed of
esthetic attraction. Novels, verse,
movies, radio, musical comedy, costume
fashions, the vogue of physical culture
and amateur athletics—all these reflect
the passion of millions for imaginative
Ideals. A cult of youth has developed
In recent years, and the average man,
like the average woman, wants to “stay
young” as long as possible.
But Dr. Munsterberg was talking par
ticularly about politics. Therefore, it
may be interesting to check his impres
sions with the record. A sentiment for
self-government, plainly, promoted if it
did not cause the Revolution which
separated the Thirteen Colonies from
s
the British crown; a sentiment for na
tional unity triumphed at the close of
the Civil War in 1865; a sentiment of
altruism for the oppressed Cubans and
of resentment over the destruction of
the Maine rendered the war with Spain
inevitable in 1898, and a sentiment
epitomized by President Wilson in the
slogan “Make the World Safe for De
mocracy” brought about American par
ticipation in the Great War in 1917 and
1918. In only the first of these several
struggles was “economic determinism”
involved; the others represented emo
tional reactions principally.
The two mast important policial
changes within the experience of living
voters also may be explained in line
with the same theory—President Hard
ing was elected by force of public resist
ance to the League of Nations; Presi
dent Roosevelt defeated President Hoo
ver because a majority of the electorate
believed the former’s proposals for cur
ing the depression were “better” than the
latter's.
And now the Nation again is re
sponding to an emotional urge. Mr.
Roosevelt's plan to bring the Supreme
Court under political control has cre
ated a storm of angry protest. His un
fortunate criticism of the mental ca
pacity of elderly persons has hurt the
hearts of numbers of citizens “on the
wrong side of thirty.” It follows that
the present debate is apt to wax in
creasingly exciting as it proceeds to its
termination in the Senate. Pure rea
son, it seems, may be forgotten in the
clash of prejudices and enthusiasms.
The speeches thus far delivered have
established a pattern of sentimentalism.
Mr. Gandhi Comes Baek.
If British statesmen fancied that tiie
constitutional regime imposed upon
India would extract from their side that
pestiferous thorn once known as Ma
hatma Gandhi, they have been suddenly
disillusioned. The great ascetic has just
staged a dramatic comeback from pro
tracted retirement induced partially by
shattered health and by chagrin over
collapse of independence prospects.
Though he recently dropped the title
of Mahatma, meaning “great souled,”
on the ground of unworthiness, and
thereby ostensibly relinquished nominal
claims to power and authority which
went with the distinction, Gandhi now
signals his readiness to resume his old
role as a political mentor.
To symbolize his return to the firing
line and unimpaired physical strength,
Gandhi on Saturday walked seven miles
from his provincial hermitage to attend
a war council of the working commit
tee of the Congress party. It is this
organization, original spearhead of the
independence cause, which continues to
demand complete liberation from the
British yoke. It is irreconcilably opposed
to federated government under imperial
control. The enduring strength of the
separatist movement was demonstrated
at the late elections when Congress
candidates, won 715 of the 1,585 seats
in lower houses of provincial legislatures.
In upper house elections the Constitu
tionalists triumphed in all provinces.
The Congress party has flourished
without Gandhi's leadership since 1934.
when he laid it down to seek a life of
meditation unruffled by political strife.
Now he has re-entered the fray at a
moment considered crucial in the rela
tions between India and Britain. The
issue at stake is whether Congressites
should avail themselves of the right
to form ministries in provinces where
they have lower-house control or content
themselves with oppositional strategy.
They prevail in the important central
provinces and in the united provinces of
Madras, Bihar and Orissa. They missed
victory in Bombay by a single vote.
Congress leaders are divided on the
question. Some think cabinet office on
a nation-wide scale the best way of
wrecking the constitution, which is not
yet fully effective. Others hold that
abstention from ministries is the party's
most potent weapon. That recourse
savors of the passive resistance on
which Gandhi once pinned faith. The
former Mahatma retains a strong hold on
the affections of India's underprivileged
myriads. His views on the pending con
troversy are not likely to go unheeded.
The British Raj, at any rate, has once
again to reckon with the magnet ic power
of the unreconstructed old rebel.
A statesman should not be too ready
to assert the privilege of changing his
mind. This privilege may imply an
assumption that his public was not taking
him very seriously in the first place.
New Era in the Theater?
Thousands of Americans, it safely
may be presumed, love the legitimate
stage and would rejoice to hear of the
promise of a return of prosperity for it.
Movies, radio and the likelihood of tele
vision have authentic powers of attrac
tion for vast audiences, but surely the
appeal of the real theater to the im
agination of a numerous minority still
exists and should increase rather than
decline in years to come.
An economic problem, however, is in
volved. The operating costs of the tra
ditional playhouse are heavy, and
enough support to meet them of course
is required. Under present conditions
the price of tickets is, patently, too
high for the masses. Only a small pro
portion of the population of such a
city as Washington can afford to pay
$2.20 for an evening’s entertainment.
In the so-called “palmy days” orchestra
chairs sold for $1.50, but the principal
revenue of the house was derived from
the gallery—where the admission fee was
commonly but 25 cents.
Perhaps the theory is faulty, yet it
nevertheless would appear to be worth
while to consider the practical feasibil
ity of theater buildings deliberately con
structed to accommodate bigger “peanut
heaven” crowds. In a period when
steel fabrication is the rule, it should be
possible to create playhouses with com
prehensive gallery facilities. Also, im
proved acoustics now might serve to
make it greatly more comfortable for
balcony patrons to follow the lines
spoken behind the footlights. Better
illumination of the stage likewise should
help to the same end.
Certainly, other factors are neces
sary to provide economic health for the
stage. Probably it is true that com
petent playwrights and actors are the
primary demand. If so, there must be
some reasonably definite guarantee of
royalties and wages for the artists. The
best brains in the theater will continue
to flock to Hollywood or Radio City so
long as bread and butter are not
tangibly available elsewhere. The profit
motive cannot be neglected in an era
conspicuously opportunistic in char
acter.
Doubtless the whole problem wants
careful study. If the legitimate drama
ever is to flourish again as it once did
in a not altogether forgotten yesterday,
the brains of men and women with
realistic genius must be applied to the
business of its preservation. Such
mental equipment is no more missing
in the world of the stage than it is
elsewhere. A new era in the theater
almost surely could be thought into
being by individuals interested enough
and courageous enough to tackle the
problem determinedly.
One of the most courageous elements
of human society is the Red Cross, which
has its foundation in America. There is
a popular impression that political con
quest is a means of making more work
to be cheerfully undertaken by the Red
Cross.
When another set of initials is pro
jected into print there is a new moment
of social apprehension. For awhile read
ers did not know just what C. I. O.
meant. Now it seems somehow related
to T. N. T.
An effort to promote a satirical atti
tude toward the courts may call for re
sentment to an extent of inquiry as to
whether the title "Jedge" along with
•'Colonel" has been humorously awarded
by Kentucky in a spirit of Laffoonery.
Many children are said to dislike little
, bedtime stories. Aroused to a sense of
modern responsibility, they prefer the
privilege of remaining awake to hear
reports from the latest conference of
parents and teachers.
A so-called "radio fireside chat" will
be welcomed by many old-fashioned
persons who remember the blazing
backlog and the stockings hung by the
chimney in the belief that there really
is a Santa Claus.
-, . ... ---
At first a "sit-down strike” sounded
like something comparatively mild and
peaceful. When usefulness is to be
suspended there is no such thing as
polite sabotage.
India has been most cordial to Lind
bergh and would probably like to per
| suade him to linger and lend distinction
to the Durbar.
' » •* ~
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Dignified Festivities.
The Congressman is not supposed
To sacrifice his dignity.
In gravity he stands opposed
To forces of malignity.
But now and then, like common men,
Hilariously he will draw nigh
And lift a jovial chorus when
Occasion seems to justify.
Yet he does not appear to lose
His much-admired authority
If on occasion he should choose
To sing with the majority,
And, maybe, join in jesting gay
While mingling in melodious rhyme.
Even a Congressman, they say,
Should not be serious all the time.
Consistency Not Positively Required.
"Of course, you can't be expected to
please everybody.”
"You are mistaken about that,” an
swered Senator Sorghum. "A politician
can please all kinds of different audi
ences with all kinds of different speeches.
One of the things our public appears
especially to admire is versatility.”
Comparing Accommodations.
“What is that very large building?"
asked the stranger in Crimson Gulch.
“That’s the court house,” answered
Cactus Joe.
“And the very small building next
to it?”
“That’s the jail.”
“Apparently you do not have many
prisoners.”
“We have plenty. But the judge likes
lots of room because he's there for life,
while most of the men in custody are
well satisfied with only temporary
lodgings.”
Looking Forward.
The early robin will draw near
With faith in Summer and good cheer.
He conquers fear of new distress—
And you and I should do no less.
“To be wrong,” said Hi Ho, the sage
of Chinatown, “is a misfortune shared
by many. It is a condition which may
be easily cured in time by those who
are willing to remain silent listeners.”
Business Woman.
“What would you say if I were to ask
you to share my lot?”
“I’d speak to father,” answered Miss
Cayenne. “He says it is surprising how
many lots are fearfully mortgaged now
adays.”
Mystery of the Old Days.
Our Nation from the first was strong.
Our purses we relax
And wonder how it got along
Without an income tax.
“Payin’ too much attention to little
things,” said Uncle Eben, “is like givin’
yohself a black eye ’cause you wasn’
satisfied to shoo a mosquito, but wanted
to smash 1m.”
f ▲
Eternal Vigilance Still Is
The Price of Liberty
To the Editor of The Star:
Some time ago President Roosevelt
was reported as desiring “a curb on the
controller general.” This occurred after
several years in which much of the
orderly procedure In our Government
was overturned, and some of the ex
penditures were so far beyond the limits
set by helter skelter legislation that the
controller general disapproved them.
When the curb Is put on the controller
general, who or what is to rationalize
the "curber”?
We now find that the last restraint
on hasty and illegal changes in Govern
ment is irksome to Mr. Roosevelt, and
he wants placed in his hands alone a
“curb” on the Supreme Court of the
United States.
Since the cause of the proposed curb
is the fact that the Supreme Court has
abided by the Constitution of the United
States in its decisions, we will know that I
if the proposed legislation is passed as
formulated by Mr. Roosevelt, the Con
stitution will be nullified and controlling
clauses ignored without being legally
amended or superseded, and that
strange, unwise and actually Injurious
processes of government may be sud
denly set up over the people on the
motion of one or two, contrary to the
wisest counsel of the Nation.
After that, what will prevent denial of
the rights involving due process of law
and trial by jury and other supposedly
inalienable rights, including the right
of the people to select by popular vote
and secret ballot their legislative rep
jesentatives, Governors and President?
What if Mr. Roosevelt or his successor
becomes dissatisfied with the judgment
of the people at the polls? What if lie
should have reason to fear beforehand
that the ballot will not be favorable to
him? Why stop with the preliminary
steps already proposed to enable change
of the form of government?
We can only avoid risks of this kind
bv insisting on respect for the Consti
tution, and observance of its orderly
course of procedure for amendment,
which is open to the people at all times.
“Eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty” yet, and there should be heard
a popular voice to stop the present
trend to a willful despotism.
HORACE L. WOODWARD.
Insanitary Conditions in
Sewerless Seetions of D. C.
To the Editor of The Stun
Recently The Star newspaper carried
an article “500 support drive for Oxon
Run sewer” and briefly mentioned the
sewerless communities in certain parts
of the Southeastern section of Wash
ington and the efforts of residents to
get an appropriation in the 1938 Dis
trict supply bill for beginning the con
struction of the much needed sewerage
system
The Star could render a great service
to the residents of the communities of
Washington Highlands. Hillcrest, Con
gress Heights and Summit Park by
acquainting its many readers with actual
conditions existing in the aforemen
tioned communities due to the absence
of a sewerage system.
Now and then I read about unusual
conditions in poverty-stricken commu
nities in some States where people lack
the constant flow of water for drinking,
bathing and cooking purposes, and yet
few Washingtonians realize that even
today beyond our beautiful monumental
edifices a half a thousand people are
still using the old-fashioned wash tubs
for baths because they lack water facil
ities in their homes. It isn't necessary
to read about distant communities to
sympathize with people who lack a water
system or to even go back to the old
forgotten days. Right here in Washing
ton it is necessary for me to carry water
over two squares for drinking, cooking
and bathing purposes. My children have
to haul water in jars on a little wagon
many times each day. A pretty picture
of the Capital that would make for
people in other cities. And yet year
after year I have been‘inquiring of the
District government when action would
be taken to remedy these unsatisfactory
conditions and always I am advised that
there is a shortage of funds.
I wonder if the Government officials
and members of Congress in whose
hands this matter rests would pass over
the sewerage system problem for so
many people year after year if their
growing daughters had to use a "little
white house” down the path for a ladies
room; if their wives and children had
to haul water constantly all day long;
if their health was constantly jeopar
dized due to these and other insanitary
conditions. MRS. M. E. WINES.
Suppose Street Car Riders
Staged a Sit-Down Strike?
To the Editor of The Star:
Imagine what would happen if on a
crowded street car—you know, the kind
where the conductor yells “Plenty room
up front"—people would suddenly de
cide to stage a sit-down strike in pro
test against poor service, overcrowding,
etc. Hard for me to figure out how
people could stage such a strike under
those conditions.
Possibly people would be kind and
allow you to sit on their laps. That
wouldn’t help much either, for the con
ductor would leave more people in and
they couldn’t join the sit-down strike
standing up! Of course, they could
form a strap-hangers’ local and make
their protest through the regular chan
nels.
You would think that with every one
showing their card and being paid up
on their $1.25 dues that the car com
pany would see that plenty of seats
would be provided for its commuters.
Hey, conductor, I’ve stood all I can, I
get off here. SAMUEL TRAEGER.
County Option Movement
Under Way in Maryland
To the Editor of The Star:
I want, through your columns, to
thank the many thousands of people of
the State of Maryland who are petition
ing the Legislature for the enactment
of a law to permit election districts of
all counties of the State to vote for or
against the sale of intoxicating liquors.
The City of Baltimore has a local
option feature which makes it man
datory for the license board to deny
licenses where a majority of the property
owners within 200 feet of the proposed
place enter a protest against the grant
ing of such licenses.
In the counties there is no such pro
vision. The object of H. B. 72 simply
extends to the election districts in the
counties the same principle which now
applies to Baltimore City. If the bill
passes elections can be held in the dis
tricts desiring it only at general elec
tions. WALTER M. MAGRUDER.
Annapolis, Md.
Happy Oblivion.
From the Owensboro <Ky.) Messenger.
An Aberdeen, Wash., man who was
dead for five minutes says he experi
enced no sensation during that time
except rich contentment. Not one bill
collector called on him during the whole
tiaa.
i
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
Three musqueteers of bird land are
the chickadee, crested titmouse and nut
hatch.
Every suburban garden is graced with
this trio, because they seem to like each
other and where one is the others
appear.
Not, of course, that they "pal” to
gether in the human sense of the word.
Bird life is not that -way; it is solemn,
with the gravity of the animal creation;
there is no place in it for the Damon
and Pythias act.
Nevertheless, the birds mentioned are
often seen together. This propinquity
may or may not be the sole result of
similar food needs.
Those who have a special place in
their hearts for the members of this
fine trio will be willing to believe that
this is not all.
Surely, there may be other reasons
for their apparent liking for each other,
not the least of which may be a true
fondness. If we use this word we do so
only in so far as it may fit the case of
birds and in no sense with the attri
butes human affection gives It.
* * * *
Perhaps most observers will find the
nuthatch the most interesting of these
birds, the titmouse the handsomest and
the little chickadee the most lovable.
Take your choice of three fine birds,
or, better, accept them all, for no doubt
they will be together, especially if feed
ing stations are around.
Some persons have great difficulty in
distinguishing between chickadee and
titmouse, but the birds are not much
alike. The difficulty comes because the
observer will not take the trouble to
note definitely the striking features of
each bird, and to look for them when
he sees them again.
Thus many would-be bird lovers who
scarce know one feathered friend from
another become very excited on seeing
a cardinal or redbird in their yard.
"The cardinals have come back!” they
declare, innocently not knowing that
these fine fellows Winter here and have
been in gardens all through the cold,
as lively and red as can be.
We had a letter from a Washingtonian
the other day telling of the 20 redbirds
which he has fed since last Fall.
* * * *
It is necessary to look closely, indeed,
when watching birds, with the prime
intention of seeing each physical char
acteristic, not just enjoying the beauty
and interest of the creature.
This close looking really makes the
birds your friends, because when it is
done, each bird is seen afterward as
just what it is. There will never be any
confusion, between bird and bird, no
matter how much they may seem to
resemble each other in the eyes of the
person who makes no attempt to note
differentiations.
It is in the noting of differences that
the real ability lies to grasp each bird,
and to know it for what it is, and for
nothing else.
Once this is mastered, there is never
any possibility thereafter of confusing
chickadees with titmice, or titmice with
chickadees.
* * * *
A titmouse is a considerably larger
bird than the chickadee, although still
well within the classification of small
birds.
It has, above all, a crest, which the
chickadee does not.
The chickadee he.s a small black “cap.”
or black band, on top of its head. This
Is its surest identification.
The other good point is its very small
size. It is altogether about the smallest
bird, with the exception of the ruby
throated hummingbird, which comes to
the small garden.
And surely no finer small bird exists
than the chickadee, whose very name
is a caress.
This is one of the finest of all common
names, or "country names,” as the Eng
lish call the spontaneous words which
have grown up to designate flower and
flower, bird and bird.
* * * *
Those who love the chickadee best
often call it chickadee-dee, from the way
its song usually is written. •
This is a gilding of the lily which
seems eminently appropriate.
-it
Another good nickname is “devil
downhead,” for the nuthatch.
The species of this bird seen around
here is a veritable devil, when it comes
to going up and down tree trunks. ■
This he does with such aplomb, such
nicety, that he reminds one of a human
tight rope walker, although the feats
are different.
Here again there may be confusion, if
one does not look well at one’s specimen.
Some observers, when first taking up
this sport, think that a species of wood
pecker is a nuthatch.
Both frequent trees, but that is as far
I as the resemblance goes, except that
i both have gray-white markings.
No woodpecker, however, really looks
like a nuthatch, and certainly never
walks head-first down a tree trunk.
* * * *
Once you watch a nuthatch for a
time you will never mistake him for
any other bird.
He has a way with him.
Like the others of our trio, the nut
hatch is not a consistent feeder at
station. He will not be seen all day
long, as the English sparrows are.
He has no set time for attendance, as
do the georgeous bluejays, which appear i
precisely at 7 a m., and do not stay more
than 15 or 20 minutes.
The members of our bird trio seldom
come in flocks. Mostly only a pair ol
each will appear in any one garden.
The only way to check on this is to
count them, of course. If day alter day
you can count only a pair of each, the
likely supposition is that there is, of
course, just one pair.
Mostly that is what it turns out to be.
The garden with a pair each of chicka
dees. nuthatches and titmice has plenty.
All three like to seize a seed and fly
away with it. Even the nuthatch, after
he has spiralled his way down a trunk,
hastens to grab a seed, and take it to
another tree to crack it.
The querrulous “na! na!” of the nut
hatch. the clear whistle of the titmouse
and the sweet little song of the chicka
dee add immensely to the garden sym
phony. They will be heard mostly in
the early morning and late afternoon.
Look and listen for these birds, and be
rewarded with some interesting mo
ments.
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE.
Mr. Roosevelt’s decision to take his
Supreme Court case to the country on
March 9 in a fireside broadcast on “the
state of the Union” does not fly the
white flag of surrender, but it is con
sidered throughout political Washing
ton as an unmistakable SOS. There
can be little doubt that the volume of
protest and opposition aroused by his
judiciary program has taken the Presi
dent by surprise and that it finally con
vinced him he must roll up his sleeves
and fight without further delay. All
sorts of tales persist as to the reason
which at last impelled F. D. R. to hurl
the full weight of his personal influence
into the breach. One circumstantial
report is that trusted Capitol leaders
brought word to the *White House that
as of today the Supreme Court end of
the judiciary bill hasn't the glimmer of
a chance of passage. This lugubrious
assurance was accompanied by the re
puted statement that not more than 22
Senate votes at the outside could be
absolutely relied upon for the proposal
in its present form. It was when he was
confronted by this alarming situation
that Mr. Roosevelt apparently deter
mined to lose no time in appealing to
“My friends” and presenting his argu
ments in the forceful, magnetic fashion
of which he is an acklowledged master.
The Nation may be prepared for a
supreme effort by America's most color
ful broadcaster.
His forthcoming heart-to-heart talk
will be the President's eighth so-called
fireside chat since he took office in 1933,
and his maiden appearance on the air
waves for a set address since his inau
guration for a second term in January.
The other Roosevelt radio confabulations
with the people were as follows: March
12, 1933, on the banking situation; May
7. 1933, a report of progress since March
4; October 22. 1933. a survey of general
conditions; June 28, 1934, “The New
Deal—Has It Aided You?”; September
30. 1934, general conditions; April 28,
1935, the work relief bill, and September
6, 1936, the drought situation. Court
opposition leaders, freely conceding the
President's unmatched powders of per
suasion at the microphone, expect him
to change a good many opinions
throughout the country and make prob
ably thousands pf converts to his cause.
They do not believe that his intervention
will have any appreciable effect on the
Senate vote, unless it should produce a
far greater upturn of popular senti
ment in Mr. Roosevelt's favor than is
now thought likely. In light of a char
acteristic fact that a single Senator—
Vandenberg of Michigan—has received
12,000 letters, of which only 75 support
the President, it will need something
approaching a miracle to reverse the ap
parent popular verdict against the
administration's proposals.
* * * *
Speculation is incessantly rife as to
the actual authorship of the Supreme
Court reform scheme. Rumor’s latest
candidate for that distinction is Charles
Edward Clark, dean of the Yale Law
School. According to reports drifting
down from New Haven. Prof. Clark was
in Washington a week or 10 days before,
the judiciary bombshell was sprung upon
the country. Faculty associates are said
to have wondered at the time what was
the cause of his protracted absence and
presence in the National Capital. As the
story now has it, his sojourn was asso
ciated with the developments that are
stirring the country from end to end.
Attorney General Cummings took his
law degree at Yale in 1893.
Newest addition to Washington’s ever
growing list of authors is Richard L.
Stokes, who has Joined the Capital
1 bureau at the St, Louis Post-Dispatch.
From Mr. Stokes’ pen this month will j
come the first and only biography of the
present leader of the French Popular
Front government. The volume is en
titled "Leon Blum: From Poet to
Premier.” Mr. Stokes is a former music
and dramatic critic of the Post-Dispatch,
later was a member of the editorial
staff of the New York Evening World
and has spent the past six years in
European travel. His previous literary
works include operatic librettos and
"Paul Bunyan.” a folk comedy.
* * * *
Washington contains at least one un
commonly enterprising tailor. The other
day he telephoned a customer, who hap
pens to be a member of the press gal
leries of Congress, to ask if he could
supply an advance tip on President
Roosevelt’s likely appointments of new
Supreme Court justices. When the cor
respondent wanted to know how come,
the tailor replied that he would like to be
in on the ground floor on orders for
togas for the jurists who are to re
juvenate the high tribunal.
* * * *
To what extent current political con
troversy is agftating the populace is
graphically indicated by the action of the
Independent Citizens’ Committee of Rye,
,N. Y.. which was the hometown of John
Jay. first Chief Justice of the United
States. The committee has sent to the
White House and to members of Con
gress from the Rye area a resolution
protesting the proposal to reorganize the
Supreme Court and emphasizing that
the remonstrance comes from "the final
resting place of John Jay.”
Leo R. Sack, recently retired American
Minister to Costa Rica, has been ap
pointed vice president of the Schenley
Products organization, to be in special
charge of public relations. Before enter
ing the diplomatic service in 1933 Mr.
Sack was an active Washington news
paper man. He is the second member
of the local corps of correspondents to
become identified in a public relations
capacity with the liquor industry since
repeal. The other is Robert Barry, who
for several years has been associated
with the National Distillers Products
Corp. Both Messrs. Sack and Barry
have numerous contacts among men
prominent in national affairs.
* * * *
Unsuccessful efforts were recently
made by the rental agents of a promi
nent midtown office building to interest
the Republican National Committee in
moving into commodious premises there
and abandoning the shrunken space the
G. O. P. high command has occupied on
Jackson place since the gloom of last
November. It's understood that Chair
man John Hamilton indicated that
modest as the elephant’s present quar
ters are, he personally is compensated
by tiie fact that out of his window he
can not only survey old Andy Jackson
astride his prancing steed, but keep an
eye on President Roosevelt and the
White House across the way, from the
same point of observation. Hamilton
apparently considers these are advan
tages which should not lightly be given
up.
* * * *
Manuel L. Quezon, first President of
the Philippine Commonwealth, will
make his maiden public appearance at
Washington in that capacity when he
addresses the National Press Club's
weekly luncheon forum on March 4.
A fluent master of English, President
Quezon is thoroughly at home on the
Capital oratorical firing line. In pre
independence days he frequently ap
peared before committees of Congress
as an advocate of Philippine Interests.
At Democratic and Republican national
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Evening
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J
Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. How many skyscrapers are there in
New York City?—J. F.
A There are 93 skyscrapers of 30
stories or more in height.
Q. In what countries is slavery still
practiced?—P. P.
A. No nation formally indorses slave
trading, but, it is believed to exist in
Abyssinia. China, Eritrea. Hedjaz, Kufra.
Liberia. Morocco. South Morocco. "Rio de
Oro, East and West Sahara and South
Tripoli.
Q. When is the flower fete at Cannes
and at Monte Carlo?—F. M
A. Cannes celebrated its Mimosa fete
on February 21, while Monte Carlo has
its Battle of Flowers on March 6.
Q Is there a magazine devoted to
telepathy?—J. W.
A. The first one of its kind in this
country will be published as a quarterly
by Duke University. It will be called
a Quarterly Journal of Parapsychology
and will be devoted to telepathy, clair
voyance and allied phenomena.
Q. Who invented the rocking chair?—
S. D.
A. The invention is credited to Ben
jamin Franklin.
Q What is meant by a steering com
mittee?— L. F. W.
A. This is an informal committee in
each house of Congress, dominated by
the leading members of the majority
party in the body, which determines the
order in which business shall be taken
up by the house. In the House of Rep
resentatives the steering committee is
practically synonymous with the Com
mittee on Rules, which Is vested with
the power of reporting a special rule
placing any important measure ahead
of ordinary business.
Q How many miles of electrified rail
roads are there in the United States?—
R. T.
A. A recent survey by the Federal
Pow er Commission shows that there are
now 2.768 route miles and 6.441 track
miles of electric railroads in the United
States.
Q Can the minor children of a man
who dies without leaving a will turn
over to their mother the property which
they inherit under the law?—J. M. C.
A. In most States, in such cases two
thirds of the estate must be held in trust
for the children until they become of
age They cannot give the property to
their mother and only small amounts
can bp used for their support and edu
cation upon order by the courts.
Q Is Lauritz Melchior. Metropolitan
Opera tenor, married?—E. R.
A. His wife is Maria Haaker, former
Continental screen star.
Q What is the average number of
persons per farm in the United States?—
C. H.
A. In 1935 the average number of
persons per farm was 4.67.
Q What is the name of the motor
magnate in England who is noted for
his philanthropy?—W. H.
A. The Right Hon. Sir William Rich
ard Morris. Bart . Baron Nuffield, in the
past 11 years has given away over 7.
500.000 pounds. Some of his gifts
include 2.000.000 pounds in Morris
Motors stock in trust for his employes.
2.000.000 pounds to Oxford University
for medical research and 125.000 pounds
for research in aid to cripples.
Q What fruit in North America leads
In quantity and value of production?—
W. H.
A. The apple comes first, both in quan
tity and in value.
Q. What are the largest tribes of
Indians?—C. H
A. The largest tribes are the Navajo,
the Sioux and the Chippewas. with re
spective counts of 44.078, 35.412 and
26.127.
Q. Is Daniel Boone's name in the Hall
of Fame?—W. H.
A. The pioneer was elected to th*
Hall of Fame in 1915.
Q Did Baron de Kalb, who helped
the Americans during the Revolution,
speak English?—B. S.
A. The German officer was familiar
with our country. He spoke English
very well.
Q. Who was known as the Bard Of
Rydal Mount?—M. J.
A. The poet, Wordsworth, was so
called because he lived at Rydal Gras
mere. in the County of Westmoreland.
His dwelling overlooked a beautiful view
of the lake.
Q. What is the National Speech Arts
Fellowship?—J. K.
A. The organization was founded
about a year ago by Dr. Mary McGovern
of New York, to aid in establishing a
criterion of proper speech and to call
attention to outstanding speakers of the
stage, screen and radio through the pres
entation of an annual award.
Q. Please give some information about
a plant called the creosote bush.—
w. H. R.
A. This is a common evergreen desert
shrub of the caltrop or bean caper
family. It occurs from Texas to Cali
fornia. attaining a height of 3 or 4 feet.
It has small, olive-green leaves which
emit a strong, tarry odor. Early in the
season it bears a profusion of yellow'
flowers. The plant harbors a small
insect Which secretes a resinous sub
stance identical in composition with the
lac used in making varnishes.
■ --—
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Forever Dear.
Beloved, whom I hold forever dear,
What can my heart say when you are
not near?
Your presence warms my every vein and
breath:
Apart from you life is as cold as death.
Yet even absent it is life to know
That, soul to soul, in unison we grow;
Your thoughts meet mine, though you
are far away,
Questioning, answering, in an interplay
Of spirits that no miles can keep apart—
For am I not, beloved, your true heart?
conventions, too. Senor Quezon became
a familiar figure as a proponent of
Philippine planks in the party plat
forms.
(CoenfeM. 1087 J
i