Evening star. [volume], June 14, 1938, Page A-8, Image 8

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

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THE EVENING STAB
With Sunday Morning Edition
THEODORE W. NOYES, Editor
———-g
WASHINGTON, D. C.
TUESDAY....June 1«, 1938
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«
Showdown at Prague.
President Benes of Czechoslovakia is
expected today to initiate negotiations
with Konrad Henlein’s Sudeten German
Nazis, designed either to pave the way
to a settlement of their demands for
autonomy or disclose that these cannot
be appeased without resort to war. For
the past three Sundays in succession
Czechoslovakia has been the scene of
democratic elections for municipal offices.
Although the critical national issue
raised by the Sudetens—local autonomy
within the republic or a form of inde
pendence which sooner or later would
mean annexation by Germany—was not
at stake, the communal pollings gave
untrammeled opportunity to the Hen
lein-Hitler element to signalize and
symbolize their unity and Nazi-minded
ness. No barriers were placed in the way
of the 3,500,000 citizens who inhabit the
preponderantly German border regions.
The result, as expected, was an over
whelming registration of “solidarity,”
expressed by a more than 90 per cent
vote in many districts. In other parts
of the country, where Czechs or Slovaks
predominate, evidence of loyalty to an
indivisible republic was forthcoming in
proportions no less impressive. >
Dr. Benes and his sturdy coadjutors—
Premier Hodza and Foreign Minister
Krofta—fortified in their position, and
having vastly enhanced their country's
prestige both at home and abroad by
last month's show of force in response
to Nazi armed threats across the Czecho
slovak border, are apparently ready now
for a showdown with Hitler and his
Charley McCarthy, Henlein. To that
end, a new nationality statute will be
submitted to Parliament. It makes far
reaching concessions to Sudeten na
tionalistic longings, but resolutely stops
short of widening them to the point of
sepasating Nazi Czechoslovakia from the
rest of the Union. “Autonomy” attempts
of that hue will constitute secession.
They would be suppressed by force as
acts of civil war, whether Henlein and
his cohorts fought alone, or a la Franco,
with the aid of “ideological” allies across
the Bavarian-Saxon-Austrian frontiers.
In France on Sunday Premier Daladier
took opportunity to reaffirm French
readiness to mobilize and give the
Czechoslovaks armed support in case of
a German attack. At almost the same
moment former Foreign Secretary Eden,
breaking silence for the first time since
he left the Chamberlain cabinet in Feb
ruary, renewed his attack on the un
wisdom of ar.y British “concessions to
violence.”
Despite many indications that the
Czechs’ firmness and military prepared
ness, plus signs of Anglo-French will
ingness to assisf them, have visibly
chastened Hitler's lust for war, most
European chancellories think that Ger
many, snakelike, has only recoiled for
the purpose of striking later in the year,
when both her harvest and military con
ditions, and more favorable Fascist war
fortunes in Spain and China, would
make a campaign in Central Europe less
of a gamble.
This month witnesses the usual as
semblages of successful students and the
reminder that "Where do we go from
here?” is as pertinent a query for college
graduates as for enterprising politicians.
A valued qualification for statesman
ship has again been demonstrated by Sir
Anthony Eden. He speaks impressively
but does not insist on being personally
loquacious all the time.
Taxicab Lobbyists.
Another year, at least, apparently
faces the taxi-using public of Washing
ton without protection through liability
insurance.
The House has seen fit to reject a
conference report on a bill that would
compel taxicab operators to protect a
rider in case of an injury, or his depend
ents in case of death.
Can it be true, as charged by Repre
sentative Jack Nichols of Oklahoma,
that two lobbyists in the employ of one
of Washington's largest taxicab organi
sations are largely responsible?
For eight years the Public Utilities
Commission, supported by leading busi
ness and civic organizations, fought
vigorously for a compulsory taxicab in
surance law. Even some of the taxicab
operators favored it.
But on the very threshold of enact
ment the House virtually consigned the
bill to its grave. Public protection was
sacrificed for what? Two paid lobby
ists for a taxicab concern?
Scores of persons have been injured
and maimed for life in taxicab accidents
In Washington in recent years. Some
have been killed. Suits were filed to re
ft
cover damages, and judgments were
handed down in favor of the victims,
who were unable to collect because the
drivers owned nothing; not even the cabs
they drove.
Washington is one of the few cities in
the country which do not require taxi
cabs to carry liability insurance. The
Public Utilities Commission realized ihat
fact as far back as 1929 when taxicabs
started to become a serious factor in
public transportation.
In that year the commission, under
its basic act of 1913, attempted to re
quire a comparatively small financial
responsibility. Its action was appealed to
the courts. And the courts held that the
commission was without specific author
ity, inasmuch as it was an administrative
agency and had not been specifically
vested with that authority. The decision
was sustained by the Court of Appeals.
The street car company, the electric
company, and other public utilities are
required by law to be financially re
sponsible for accidents. The taxicab
industry, however, though it has more
than 5,000 cabs to account for in Wash
ington—the largest number per capita
of any city in the world—is allowed to
escape this responsibility.
It is not too late now for the House to
rectify its serious error. Despite the
rush of Congress toward adjournment,
there is still time for reconsideration
and legislation. Washington taxi patrons
should ride protected in insured cabs.
The American Flag.
If there were anything strikingly new
to say about the American Flag it might
not be worth saying. Oldest of national
colors, it represents ideals unchanged and
largely unchangeable. Progress in civili
zation, however dynamic, does not alter,
ought not to disturb, the fundamental
principles which it was designed to sym
bolize.
Historians never may be of one mind
about how the United States was brought
into existence. The most thoughtful
students, however, are agreed that the
founding fathers were personalities of
exceptional maturity of spirit. Under
God. as Abraham Lincoln declared at
Gettysburg, they established the first
successful republic, “conceived in liberty
and dedicated to the proposition that all
men are created equal.” Their purpose
was “government of the people, by the
people, for the people,” and the objective
so described has not been improved by
the heirs of their inspiration and pre
science.
Of course, there may be various inter
pretations of the meaning of different
phrases in the text of the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution.
Citizens on occasion may be at odds
about the application of one stipulation
or another. Tire basic law’ is flexible
enough to permit of adaptation and
adjustment to changing conditions. But
on Flag Day it is proper to repeat with
insistence that the elemental philosophy
of the Nation is firmly fixed. Five gen
erations of Americans have contributed
to its power to survive in practical effect.
They have lived, prospered, pursued hap
piness without disappointment under
the Stars and Stripes.
It is an act of affirmation, then, to
participate in the ceremonies of Flag
Day. Not patriotism only, but also a
religion—an energetic faith—is demon
strated in the rites of the moment. Mil
lions of undiscouraged, undismayed peo
ple instinctively unite in joy at the
spectacle of their banner flying. They
look upon it with a prayer in their
hearts for its continued glory.
If Thomas Jefferson were alive he
might contribute some effectual argu
ments as to why a memorial to him
should not be undertaken at the present
time, when it would also constitute a
reminder of hardship and public in
debtedness.
In diplomacy the Japanese people con
tinue to follow an ancient custom of
speaking obscurely; assuming, no doubt,
that most auditors will not understand
them anyhow.
Washington a ‘Piker.’
Washingtonians who have motored
around New York City cannot help
agreeing with Commissioner Melvin C.
Hazen in his conclusion that the District
of Columbia has been a “piker” in traffic
control expenditures. The suggestions
he has made upon his return from an in
spection of what has been done to al
leviate conditions in the metropolis are
worthy of careful consideration.
There can be little dispute over the
desirability of the many projects being
planned by Mr. Hazen and his associates,
such as a bridge over the Potomac from
Alexandria to Shepherd's Landing, by
passes around the eastern section of the
city and in Georgetown, grade elimina
tion structures and dual highways.
Perhaps the most striking indication
of Washington's failure to keep up with
other large Eastern cities is the lack of
an adequate by-pass for through truck
and passenger traffic. Mr. Hazen envi
sions the Potomac span as a key structure
in a by-pass that would skirt the south
eastern and northeastern sections of the
city—a proposal which would require the
co-operation of Maryland and Virginia.
Those States as well as the Federal Gov
ernment might logically be called upon
to share the cost of the span with the
District.
In addition to Mr. Hazen’s bridge and
by-pass plans, local authorities are con
templating numerous other proposals of
merit—grade separation structures at
Fourteenth and Water streets S.W., New
York and Florida avenues N.E., Thir
teenth street and Florida avenue N.W.,
and in Rock Creek Park; new roadways
through Rock Creek and Potomac Park
ways, and several widening and tunnel
ling projects.
As aptly pointed out by Capt. H. C.
Whitehurst, director of highways, prop
erly designed grade separation structures
add materially to the beauty of a section
as well ‘as solving a traffic problem.
While there probably will be little de
bate on the desirability of the p'*"«
i
proposed by Mr. Hazen, there is much
room for debate over which should be
constructed first and how they can be
financed. Mr. Hazen concludes that $25,
000,000 is needed, and suggests a bond
issue, while Traffic Director Van Duzer
has proposed a one-cent additional gaso
line tax to carry any bonds authorized.
Many citizens will find both ideas un
pleasant to contemplate, but so is the
prospect presented by the current traffic
congestion trend and by existing condi
tions that moved the head of the local
government to call the city a “piker.”
Cause to Rejoice.
Washington has cause to rejoice today
that Congress, in its rush to complete
urgent national legislation and adjourn,
took time out to pass two of the most im
portant local bills to claim its attention
at this session—the District P. W. A.
loan measure and the alley dwelling law
amendments.
Both measures are designed to enable
Federal agencies to co-operate with the
Nation's Capital, as they are doing with
other cities, in financing worthy proj
ects that will serve the dual purpose of
relieving unemployment and at the same
time provide permanent civic improve
ments.
The merit in the bills was beyond
question. Nevertheless, with adjourn
ment so near, they might have been
swept away by the tide of last-minute
business. For that reason, commenda
tion is duo Representative Palmisano of
Maryland, Senator King of Utah and
other members of the two District Com
mittees for moving these measures safely
through the last-minute Jam.
The P. W. A. bill authorizes the Com
missioners to apply for needed municipal
buildings, up to a limit of $18,150,000, on
the same ratio of 45 per cent grant, 55
per cent loan, available to all other
cities. Washington for several years has
been required to repay 70 per cent of its
P. W. A. allotments, and at the rate of
$1,000,000 a year, under a special act of
Congress. The new bill gives the city
twenty-five years to repay the loan por
tion of the cost of its projects.
The other bill will make it possible for
the Alley Dwelling Authority to obtain
loans from the U. S. Housing Authority
and reimbursable advances from the
Treasury to push ahead more rapidly the
excellent job it is already doing with
limited funds in rebuilding the inhabited
alleys. Some of these alleys are in areas
not well suited for new housing de
velopment. The bill is broad enough to
permit the new housing units to be lo
cated elsewhere as well as in the squares
in which the alleys exist.
Great strides in the improvement of
the National Capital are possible under
these two pieces of legislation. Only
the signature of President Roosevelt is
needed to make them laws.
The education of the Dionne quints
becomes an immediate problem in their
affairs. They are capable of being suf
ficiently interesting to amass a fortune in
their behalf, but whether it will be man
aged strictly for their benefit may become
a matter of question.
Shooting Stars.
By PHILANDER JOHNSON.
The Modem Gal.
An oratrix was billed to speak
Her modern measure at our town.
We men folks trembled for a week
At thought of her forbidding frown,
But just the same we gaily went
In our de-mothballed best arrayed
To listen to the argument
And show that we were not afraid.
That modem gal came out to talk,
Her style was dainty and serene;
True grace was present in her walk.
To sum it up, she was a queen.
We don’t remember what she said
Her hair was like a glorious wreath;
We liked to watch her shake her head
And smile and show her pretty teeth.
The general tone of her address
Was reassuring, kind and pat.
The men folks would be grumbling less
If all the girls would talk like that.
And at the finish did we cheer?
We simply rent the roof in two
And yelled with sentiment sincere
"Lead on, and we will follow you!”
Possible Compliment.
“I suppose you are flattered because
your admiring fellow citizens named a
prominent street after you.”
"I am,” answered Senator Sorghum,
‘‘appreciative of the present attention.
But it is terrible to note how people and
streets named after respectable old
timers frequently turn out.”
Sentimentality.
"Gladys is very sentimental,” remarked
the mutual friend.
“Yes,” replied Miss Cayenne. “Every
time she receives a picture po6t-card she
is impressed by the idea that it would be
a beautiful place for a wedding trip.”
“Men that are always talking about
what they would do if they had the
chance,” said Hi Ho, the sage of China
town, “are generally doing nothing with
the chances that they have.”
Marihuana.
As on affairs we still must brood
In ways that seem erratic,
A hashish spell seems oft renewed
In manner so emphatic.
Our hard luck asks, as joys grow less
And fortune proves a goner
“How much is natural distress,
And how much Marihuana?
■ - I
Animal Affection.
“Are you fond of animals?"
“Very,” answered the plain citizen.
“In spite of the elaboration of melody,
my favorite tune remains ‘Oh Where Oh
Where Is My Little Dog Gone?’ ”
“It’s all right,” said Uncle Eben, “to
have a proud spirit, pervided you takes
pride in what you kin do, instid of how
much time you kin put in dr easin' up an’
loafin'."
4 *
Liberal Court.
Prom the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The United States Supreme Court has
concluded its 1937-8 term, during which
it has upheld the New Deal In virtually
every issue brought to its attention. Last
year President Roosevelt lost his fight
for legislation to revamp the court. This
year—including in the court's "year”
the three final months of 1937—he has
seen it, in case after case, sustain ad
ministration policy, frequently overruling
adverse decisions by lower Federal
tribunals.
This record prompts two reflections.
Partisans of the President may declare
quite reasonably that while losing the
form he won the substance in his court
battle. On the other hand, those who
deplort the court fight can point to the
record as an indication that if Mr. Roose
velt had been a bit more patient, he
might have achieved his aims without
attacking the organization of the Na
tion's highest tribunal.
In any event, the attitude of the court
has changed And to most liberals,
whether or not they are consistent New
Dealers, the change is welcome. This
trend was discernible in the latter part
of the 1936-7 term. It has been much
more marked in the term just ended,
during which two Roosevelt-appointed
justices, Black and Reed, have shared
its work.
It may be beyond the function or ca
pacity of a layman to appraise the legal
reasons for a changing attitude, which
in some cases amounts to a definite
about-face. Nor does the approval of a
law by the court necessarily mean that
the law is right. But the resulting sit
uation is accurately described by one ob
server who notes that "for the first time
in several decades, the Nation's highest
tribunal is controlled by its liberal mem
bers, believers in broad judicial inter
pretation of the Constitution.”
As it has worked out in the past term,
the old 5-4 or 6-3 conservative-liberal
division which marked the court of two
years and more ago has become a 7-2
line-up with the liberals in the majority.
(In many instances, because of Justice
Cardozo s long illness, the division has
been 6 to 2.) This means, of course, that
the liberals, Black and Reed, have re
placed two retired conservatives, Van
Devanter and Sutherland. Justice Rob
erts, the middle man” two years ago,
has shown an increasing tendency to
Join his liberal colleagues. Brandeis and
Stone, as has also Chief Justice Hughes.
This has left only Justices McReynolds
and Butler as consistent conservatives.
They have been exactly that during the
past term. Up to mid-May Justice Mc
Reynolds had disagreed with, majority
views in 27 cases and Butler in 21. Jus
tice Black's dissents, which number 15,
have attracted more attention because
while often agreeing with the conclusion
of his fellow liberals, he has expressed
vigorous opposition to several long-ac
cepted judicial standards.
The net result of the year's work of
this liberal-dominated tribunal has been
greatly to extend Federal governmental
powers in three major fields—public
utilities, labor relations and taxation.
The War Thai Will Not End.
From the New York Herald Tribune.
When Gen. Franco in a radio address
on April 19 declared that the Spanish
war was won there were few to dispute
him. His troops had reached the Medi
terranean at Vinaroz four days before;
Loyalist Spain was severed, some of its
best units were shattered and the re
mainder were apparently without ability
to stay the Nationalist advance. Perhaps
not many would care to dispute Gen.
Franco even today. Yet one notes al
most with surprise that it is now over a
month since the radio address was made,
and there has been no decisive change in
the situation since then.
It took franco only about two weeks
in February to free the Teruel road and
recapture Teruel itself. The great mo
torized offensive opened on March 9
crumbled the whole Aragon front in a
few days, and within a month had swept,
all the way from Huesca and the neigh
borhood of Saragossa to Tremp, to Lerida
and to the gateway of the coast .range at
Gandesa. But to reach the coast took
a week or more; in the meanwhile the
Loyalists had stabilized their whole line
from the sea to the French border in
strong defensive positions, and Franco
turned away from Barcelona to drive
southward. In the month of fighting
since then he has pinched out the Loyal
ist salient between Teruel and the coast
and has continued to win local successes,
but he has failed to destroy Loyalist re
sistance, and the great impetus seems to
have been lost.
The greater difficulty of the terrain, the
more constricted front, lessening the op
portunities for the swift flanking ma
neuvers that have been so conspicuous in
Nationalist tactics, and the bad weather,
which has reduced the advantages of air
and mechanical superiority, have doubt
less contributed to this slowing up. Per
haps Franco still has the power to re
sume at the former pace with the coming
of better conditions. All the same, one
can’t quite forget the great German
Western front offensives in 1918, which
began so brilliantly, but, failing to de
stroy the Allied armies, overreached
themselves in the end. The Loyalist
armies are still in being; if, moreover,
they could regain the offensive the Na
tionalists might And themselves in a
dangerous position.
It is under these circumstances that
fresh streams of armament are said to be
pouring in from France to the Loyalist
side, while answering flights of fresh air
planes are reportedly observed to be ar
riving from Italy. So it is possible that
the war is not over after all; that it will
drag on to bring new competitive inter
ventions from abroad, and that the long
drawn agony of Spain will continue to
feed still more powerful poisons into the
European body politic.
Japan Pays Dearly in China.
Prom the Savannah New*.
Japan’s militarists may be grabbing
more in China than they will ever mold
into a puppet state. In any other war,
the capture of such strategic centers as
Nanking, Suchow and Kweiteh would
would mean the invaders were in control
of important communications and estab
lished for conquest. It is true the Japa
nese generals can concentrate their forces
and win objectives. But authentic ob
servers’ reports coming into this country
now indicate Japan’s victories are or
eventually will be pyrrhic ones. The
Japanese mandates in China are not
effective beyond the range of their guns.
The "conquered” territory is not con
troled. Guerrillas harass and enter the
cities occupied by the Japanese. To have
is not necessarily to hold in the war.
Meanwhile Japan’s economic and
financial strain is terrific. That govern
ment with its meager resources has been
blowing $5,000,000 a day into the gamble
that it can take something from China.
A two billion dollar debt has been run
up. Taxes mount. The Japanese, always
with most of the population on mere
subsistence level, have been called upon
to do without more and more. Japan’s
exports are off one-fifth. War necessities
can be imported only on the pay-in
advance plan. Italy and Germany are
not helping their "anti-red ally.”
The world in general and the Orient
in particular may be in the process of
being made safer as Japan wrecks its
modem war machine in its try-out
against China. If so, that will be a
lesson for militaristic dictators in a form
they may be able to understand.
t
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
UNDERWOOD ST.
“Dear Sir: I have been reading This
and That for a long time, and have been
interested in your articles on birds.
Perhaps you could help me with my pres
ent problem.
“Ten days ago, after a series of heavy
rAins, the robin’s nest in my neighbor's
yard tilted and three babies fell out. I
know that the best thing to do is let the
parents care for their young, but we
have a number of cats in the neighbor
hood, and against my better judgment I
brought the one that came to our yard
in out of the rain. Two days later we
found the feathers of one of the others.
I do hope the parents saved the other
baby.
"I put my baby in an empty 8-gallon
acquarium covered with a piece of broken
glass and there he has been ever since.
His diet has been strawberries, bananas,
worms, and a bit of raw hamburger when
worms were scarce.
ik * Jr
“He has thrived and grown into quite a
bird. His tail, which hardly showed at
all. is now over 2 inches long, and he is
full feathered.
“I will have to keep him a few days
longer until he can fly, because I let him
have the freedom of the kitchen today
and was amazed that such capable-ap
pearing wings were of so little use.
"This is my problem. Where do you
think will be the best place to free him?
He is quite tame, and flies to me instead
of away from me, landing on my head
or hand or dress and then sits there
contentedly twittering.
"He seems happy to sit in my hand
and doesn't want to fly. I worry about
what will happen to him when he is on
his own.
“He can pick up worms and eat them,
but prefers to be fed.
“Have I done a wrong instead of a
kindness?
"With no mother to show him how to
find worms and teach him about the
dangers that surround a young bird,
added to this touching trust he has in
people apparently, what chance has he?
Of course he is only a little robin, but
after 10 days of constant care he has be
come quite important to me. Because
of the difficulty of obtaining worms I
can't keep him indefinitely and I have
found no adequate substitute.
"If you have time to give this matter
any attention I would greatly appre
ciate it. Sincerely, D. D.”
* * * *
This is a problem which faces an
astonishingly large number of Jcind
hearted persons.
It seems that young robins are always
falling out of trees, and being rescued,
and creating a problem as to the best
thing to be done with them.
Not only are they difficult to feed—al
though hamburger is liked by most robin
babies—but above all they bring up the
perplexing problem of their disposal.
What shall be done with the fluffy bit
of life to which one has become very at
tached in a few days?
The robin is a notorious builder of poor
nests.
It seems to select the worst possible
place to build, then to construct the nest
so loosely that it often blows away at
the first heavy rainstorm.
* * * *
There are the young robins in the
yard, exposed to the assaults of their
natural enemies.
If they are not able to fly, the parents
have no method of getting them back
into the nest, which, in most cases, has
been destroyed, anyway.
Even if they are old enough to use
their wings fairly well, young robins are
difficult to shoo back into the nest.
The kind-hearted spectator of these
woes of the robin family will be sorely
tempted to lend a hand, but often enough
he finds himself shouldering a real prob
lem in miniature if he does so.
In the first place, it is against the law
to cage and keep any of our songbirds.
In the second, the feeding problem be
comes acute. Within a few days the
kind-hearted person begins to have a
real respect for the prowess of Mr. and
Mrs. Robin in feeding such hungry
young.
Surely all the tales one heard of how
many feet of earthworms a robin can eat
in a day were leas than true!
Fishin' worms, too, are difficult to find
in summer. Even a series of rains often
fails to tempt them to the surface.
• * * A
After the rescued robin is big enough
to fly, its benefactor will wonder if he
has done the right thing.
It may be said with assurance that he
has.
Nature implants instincts in its pure
creatures. A few days of human care
cannot deprive a baby robin of its 10,000
years of racial history.
Just how much of its ‘'instincts," so
called, are taught it by its parents,
would be a pretty problem for ornitholo
gists, but we feel pretty sure that no
young robin can be coddled into forget
ting how to feed itself, once it is put
upon its own.
Too many millions and millions and
millions of robins have fed themselves,
in the past. “They can’t take that away
from me,” chirps the baby bird.
* * * *
When the time comes to give the waif
its freedom, the best thing to do is to
take it to some natural park, such as
our Rock Creek Park, or the Zoological
Park.
Here he should be turned loose.
He will not linger long.
The parting may be sad, for the human,
but glad for the bird, for the great out
doors is his birthright.
However one may condone keeping of
captive animals in cages, little can be
said for caged birds, with the exception
of the canaries.
Surely such fellows as robins must be
free, not only to live their lives, but
also to help the agriculture of the world
by catching and eating inimical insects.
* * * *
It is necessary, of course, to be quite
sure the bird is capable of flight, before
giving it freedom.
We believe such released birds have
every chance on their own, and that
those who help them in time of need do
a kindness, not a wrong.
The sooner they are returned to Nature
the better, for then there is less chance
of poor robin tactics growing into habits,
although, we must confess, we see little
chance of any real overturn in that di
rection.
A newly released robin might be a bit
confused, the first hour or two, but
surely in his third hour, hearing the
calls of hundreds of robins, and feeling
the glory of the air, and the light of day,
he would take joy in his new life, and
be all robin again.
Miss D, and all like her, are to be con
gratulated.
No wonder there are more robins this
year than ever before.
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS R. HENRY.
The American Medical Association,
meeting in San Francisco yesterday,
gave a qualified indorsement to spinach
and at the same time condemned "shot
gun doses" of vitamins.
Spinach, it was reported by the asso
ciation's Council on Foods, after an ex
haustive study, is a wholesome and valu
able food, a rich source of vitamin A,
a medium source of vitamin C, and a
contributor of iron and roughage to the
diet. The evidence showed, however,
that the iron is not digestible in suffi
cient amounts by infants and that the
calcium content cannot be utilized.
The council found that adding vitamin
D to cereals was pure nonsense and that
dextrose, one form of sugar much ad
vertised for children, had no special
advantages over other carhohydrates as
a food.
The practice of packing all the vita
mins in one pill was characterized as “an
insult to the Intelligence of the American
people.”
_* * * *
Air-conditioning of homes and office
buildings received a quite qualified in
dorsement from a special committee
named by the association to study the
problem from the medical point of view.
Commercial installations, the committee
decided, may be \injurious to health
principally because of too great differ
ences between the outside air and the
artificial climate produced by the appa
ratus.
A trend for the better is apparent, the
committee found, and reported that the
air-conditioning companies themselves
may be depended upon to make the
necessary changes.
* * * *
A growing practice of renting radium
to doctors for use in cancer treatments
was condemned. The stuff is too power
ful, the council decided, to be entrusted
indiscriminately in the hands of phy
sicians who may not be especially trained
in its use. Patients needing radiurn
treatments, it was concluded, should go*
to some center where it can be given
by skilled men.
The council also condemned members
of the medical profession who co-operate
with medical cultists, such as naturopaths
or chiropractors. This is allowable, It
was concluded, only in cases of emer
gency when the cult doctor throws up
his hands and asks for help. Voluntary
co-operation at other times is simply
assisting the other fellow “to establish
himself as competent and with the same
basis of medical knowledge as a doctor
of medicine.”
* * * *
Every normal person is a little bit crazy
and every crazy person is a little bit
sane, according to a paper presented yes
terday by Dr. William E. Gardner of
Louisville.
Dr. Gardner defined the term "psy
choneuroses,” meaning those conditions
which are just on the borderline of
definite insanity, as conditions in which
a person reacts to an unhappy or threat
ening situation by symptoms based on
instinct rather than reason. These symp
toms are manifested in reactions differ
ent from those of the rest of the popula
tion who, able to face similar situations
more frankly, behave “normally.”
"In our effort to escape the painful
and still preserve our self-esteem,” Dr.
Gardner said, “many unhappy inner ex
periences are sometimes relegated to
the realm of the unconscious and de
posited there as if they never had existed.
Some of these which for months and
even years may appear to have been for
gotten are surcharged with such emo
tional content that an outlet is inevitable
and they will escape in the form of dis
guised and distorted dreams or through
psychotic and neurotic reactions.”
Repressed anxiety never lies dormant,
he explained, and if not released in
exaggerated emotional forms it may ap
pear in the form of disturbances that
resemble actual organic disease. In so far
as these reactions relieve the inner ten
sion they forestall an actual psychosis
or be the means of escape from suicidal
impulses.
* * * *
Chronic cystic mastitis, a disease of
the breast sometimes thought to be a
forerunner of cancer, may be due to dis
turbances in glands of internal secretion,
it was reported by Dr. Dean Lewis of
Johns Hopkins University.
This disease appears in diverse forms,
he said. One form is characterized by
the formation of many cysts, or sacs
containing fluid. In another form tissue
changes result in the formation of small
nodules or lumps, sometimes 50 or more.
Investigators working with rats at
the Johns Hopkins laboratory have re
cently found, he reported, that admin
istration of remale sex hormones cause a
variety of similar changes. On the other
hand, when hormones which operate to
bring about conditions accompanying
pregnancy are given the nodules dis
appear. It has been frequently observed
that cases of this disease often are no
tably improved after childbirth.
Thus, Dr. Lewis said, there is reason
to believe that the condition can be
treated successfully with ovarian hor
mones. He insisted that statistics do
not bear out the impression that the dis
ease is a forerunner of cancer.
Apology for What?
From the Ann Arbor News.
At last the shoe Is on the other foot.
Japan, recognized world leader when it
comes to making apologies, is demanding
an apology. And the Nipponese are not
this time exacting an expression of re
gret from China. They are actually de
manding an apology from the govern
ment of His Britannic Majesty.
It seems that the Mikado's imperial
navy recently attacked and reduced the
port of Amoy, a Chinese position near
Canton. It may be recalled that at the
time American sailors were busied in
scurrying around to remove non-comba
tants from the range of the imperial
navy’s high-powered shells.
Also present at the fighting were the
ubiquitous English. Some of them sent
back reports to Britain. And, as a result,
a high British official took time off from
tea to remark to Parliament that the
Japanese had slaughtered prisoners of
war. In turn, the Imperial navy took
time off from its cautious approach on
Canton to complain that the British
statement was a grave slur on the navy’s
honor. And the Japanese foreign office
has demanded immediate satisfaction.
It probably does the Japanese a world
_pf good to be able to demand an apology.
But there Is only one thing wrong with
their stiff-necked attitude. They resent
the accusation that they have murdered
Chinese prisoners of war—but since the
beginning of the 8ino-Japanese conflict
both sides have pursued an almost ad
mitted policy of killing prisoners.
ANSWERS TO ,
QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Eve
ning Star Information Bureau, Frederic
J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. Does the Queen Mary draw much
water?—M. B.
A. The steamship has a maximum
draft of 40 feet.
_______ ’•
Q. What is the largest Negro church
in the United States?—C. H. G.
A. It is the Abyssinian Baptist Church
in Harlem, New York City, which has a
membership of 14,000.
Q. Please give the value of mineral
production in Canada.—S. J. D.
A. In 1937 the value of mineral pro
duction in Canada was estimated at
$457,000,000. •
Q. Which of the National Parks has
the shortest season?—D. S. R.
A. Glacier National Park in Mon
tana, which is gpen from June 15 to Sep
tember 15.
Q. What English poet was an epi
leptic?—C. L. F.
A. Algernon Charles Swinburne suf
fered from persistent attacks of epilepsy,
which, coupled with his deafness, caused »
him to pass much of his life in compara
tive retirement.
• -
Q. How much money is paid by the
railroads in claims on account of rob
bery, loss of freight and unlocated goods?
—C. M. G.
A. Claims paid by the railroads in
1937 because of robbery and unlocated
and concealed loss of freight in transit
amounted to $2,355,112.
Q. Who was the youngest famous ‘
duelist?—W. s. B.
A. Tristan l’Hermite, seventeenth cen
tury French dramatist, killed his an
tagonist in a formal duel when he was 13.
Q. What newspaper was awarded a
medal by the University of Missouri
School of Journalism?—E. J.
A. The New York Sun received the
annual medal of honor which is given
for distinguished newspaper service in
the United States by the School of
Journalism of Columbia, Mo.
Q. What is the stink-bird?—W. S. W.
A._ The hoatzin, a tropical South
American bird, is also known as the
stink-bird. It is remarkable for the fact
that the young have well-developed claws
on the first and second fingers of the
wing, with which they can climb and
swim. Another strange characteristic is
its eyelashes, which are set in a bare
space around the eye.
Q. In what round was Young Stribling
knocked out in his fight with Schmeling?
—F. J. W.
A. Max Schmeling knocked out Young
Stribling in the fifteenth round of their
bout in 1931.
Q. Has the Government made a sur
vey of fur farms in the United States?
—L. S. G.
A. The United States Biological Sur
vey has begun a national inventory of
fur farms. Questionnaires have been
sent to individual fur farmers and ma
terial is being assembled from trade asso
ciations and various State organizations.
With the help of W. p. A. workers, the
data will be compiled and made avail
able to the public in statistical form.
This is the first project of its kind in the
United States.
Q. How should cooked meat be kept
in a refrigerator to prevent its drying?
-C. W. R.
A. Cooked meat should be wrapped in
waxed paper or placed in a covered con
tainer.
Q. What did it cost to stage the Army
Air Corps black-out test at Farmingdale,
Long Island?—W. H.
A. The cost was estimated at approx
imately $37,500.
Q. What was the first State to ban
heavy trucks from highways over week
ends and holidays?—W. T.
A. Wisconsin was the first State to
effect such a regulation. The initial rul
ing was made in 1934 under authority of
Wisconsin s 1933 motor transportation
act. Almost immediately the Public
Service Commission reported a measur
able decline in the number of highway
accidents.
Q. What is the real name of Zorina,
the ballet dancer and actress?—E. S. O.
A. Brigitta Hartwig is the star’s name.
Q. What is the largest island in the
world?—S. H. K.
A. Madagascar, located off the south
east coast of Africa, is the largest island
in the world.
Q Do many women serve as Jurors In
New York City?—H. M.
A. Since. September, 1937, when the
State admitted women to jurv duty, ap
proximately 12,000 have enrolled in New
York City alone.
Q. What is the origin of calling a girl
a chicken?—J. L.
A. Mencken says: Chicken, which
designated a young girl on most Ameri
can campuses until 1921 or thereabout,
was used by Steele in 1711, and, in the
form of no chicken, by Swift in 1720. It
had acquired a disparaging significance
in the United States by 1788.
Q- What do the initials A. B. mean
as applied to a sailor?—H. L.
A. They are the abbreviation of the
old name, able-bodied seaman.
Q. What is the religious affiliation of
Harry Richman, singer and flyer? —
C. M. S.
A. Mr. Richman is a Christian
Scientist.
A Good Idea for the Fourth.
Prom the Kalamatoo Queue.
A man we know has an excellent Idea’
for bringing about a truly quiet Fourth
of July. Under his plan only those who
could recite the Declaration of Independ
ence by heart would be allowed to set
on lire crackers.
Underneath.
Prom the Wall Street Journal.
A misprint appeared in a newspaper
recently. After describing an automobile
accident in which a passenger was
slightly injured, the account stated. "The
victim is now under the car of the
doctor.”
Letters to Ladies.
Prom the Wall Street Journal.
A letter from Christopher Columbus to
Isabella, promising her a whole hemis
phere, was sold in New York for $4,350.
More recent letters to ladies, promising
them much less, have brought higher
prices.
(