Evening star. [volume], November 03, 1939, Page A-10, Image 10

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

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W gening ptaf
With lubF Morning Edition.
THEODORE W. NOTES, Editor.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
FRIDA V.. ...November S, 1939
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The Embargo Vote
The vote in the House yesterday,
which is tantamount to approval of
the administration’s neutrality pro
gram, will be welcomed by the people
as ending a long debate which at
times tended to confuse rather than
clarify the real issues.
When the remaining formalities
have been concluded and the Pitt
man resolution becomes law, this
country will be on much firmer
ground with respect to its interna
tional relations than has been the
case in the past. The discarding of
the arms embargo will have the hap
py effect of withdrawing the indirect
support we have been extending to
aggressors and opening our markets
to all buyers. That this will be no
insignificant factor in the European
conflict is evidenced by the reaction
of Nazi spokesmen in* Berlin, who
angrily accuse the United States of
giving “outright support” to Great
Britain and France, and serve notice
that the German submarine warfare
against vessels transporting arms
and munitions to the allies will be
Intensified.
It was to have been expected, of
course, that Hitler would not look
with favor on the repeal of the em
bargo for the very obvious reason
that he has been the principal Euro
pean beneficiary of its consequences
during its lifetime. But at the same
time it should be remembered that,
even had the law not been changed,
the Germans sooner or later would
have been obliged to resort to the
intensified submarine warfare of
which they now speak, for they could
not have permitted the raw materials
of arms and munitions to reach their
enemies for any long period of time
without exerting every effort to
prevent it.
Under the terms of the Pittman
resolution, when It becomes effective,
the Germans will be obliged, however,
to direct their efforts at other than
American shipping, for our vessels
will not be permitted to trade with
belligerents in danger zones. Thus,
despite all the misleading assertions
to the contrary during the recent
debate, It seems obvious that the bill
will safeguard the peace of this
country on two fronts—first, by en
abling the French and the British to
buy the military equipment they need
to fight their own battle against the
forces of aggression, and, second, by
doing everything that reasonably can
be done by law to guard against the
danger that American lives ancV
property may be destroyed by any of
the belligerents.
The 66-vote margin by which the
administration forces won the House
vote on the question of embargo re
peal Is as gratifying as it was unex
pected, and this is all the more true
because It was made possible by
twenty-one Republican members who
voted for the Pittman measure.
Those minority members who spoke
out vigorously for repeal are to be
congratulated, for they were render
ing a real service, not only to their
country, but to their party as well.
Safety Campaign
Maryland’s program of conducting
a monthly "safety week” is one which
has a direct interest for Washington,
inasmuch as such a large part of the
Capital’s own safety efforts depends
upon residents of the State and be
cause of the extensive use made of
Maryland’s highways by Washing
tonians.
Last year the State had the worst
traffic fatality record of any on the
Northern Atlantic seaboard. This
year the record has been but little
better, three hundred and thirty-six
lives having been lost in the first ten
months.
There may be doubts of the effec
tiveness of campaigns of the “safety
week” type, but their value was dem
onstrated by the State in October,
when fatalities were reduced more
than sixty per cent during such a
drive. Naturally the safety problem
of a State differs materially from
that of a city. In Washington, for
Instance, the more common causes
involve careless walking or striking
obstructions while driving under the
Influence of liquor. Accidents rrnilt
ing in multiple deaths are extremely
rare. On the open highway, however,
these problems are augmented by
extreme speeds, as well as driving
difficulties resulting from ditches,
culverts and unnoticed crossroads.
Maryland has done much In recent
years to correct the engineering de
lects of Its highways which contrib
ute to accidents. It has as effective
•h enforcement program as Is pos
P
slble without an unduly heavy tax
burden. Like Washington, the prin
cipal problem of the State concerns
the Individual driver. It Is here the
safety week program can be effective.
The only means remaining which
can contribute on a large scale to
accident reduction is educating the
driver to maintaining a calm, rea
sonable attitude In jrespect to others
entitled to use the highways. Some
accidents are due to unforeseen cir
cumstances, mechanical failure or
illness. But the large majority result
from taking chances, or to personal
emotional Instability, giving way to
extreme annoyance in traffic or suc
cumbing to “nerves.” Self-control
is the first rule of traffic safety, and
it goes hand-in-hand with consid
eration for others.
Civil Service Program
The hearing Just concluded by
President Roosevelt’s special com
mittee on civil service Improvement
was noteworthy on several counts.
First and foremost was the fact
that if there are any good reasons
for not bringing under civil service
the upper-bracket positions in the
executive branch of the Government,
with the exception of a relatively
few of policy-forming and confiden
tial nature, they were not developed
by the testimony of the long line of
witnesses that filed through the
hearing room in the Supreme Court
Building. % With one exception—and
that, unexpectedly, from a Federal
agency—representatives from various
groups interested in personnel mat
ters strongly urged an all-inclusive
civil service as the foundation stone
for building Government employ
ment into a real career service.
The second was the attitude of the
eminent committee headed by Su
preme Court Justice Stanley F. Reed,
which has been studying the pro
posal for expanding the competitive
system since last February, when
President Roosevelt deferred plans
for bringing several thousand pro
fessional, technical and administra
tive positions into civil service be
cause improved machinery is needed
for recruiting, training and promot
ing this personnel, whose selection
for the most part now rests with ad
ministrative officers. Demonstrating
a deep, personal interest in the sub
ject matter, along with a compre
hensive grasp of the many problems
involved in carrying the program
through to success, the committee
left no doubt in th^ minds of ob
servers that its ultimate recommen
dations will be framed in the light of
what appears best for the Govern
ment service as a whole.
Particularly was it indicated that
specious arguments for the exemp
tion of this or that class from the
requirements of civil service because
appointing officers believe the com
petitive method of selections is un
fitted for their needs will get but
little consideration, and this is im
portant, for widespread exemptions
simply would nullify any attempt to
upbuild civil service.
J.A4C AACOAUlg OCiVCU tU AUV-UO ttttCU
tion once more on the necessity for
Improving and speeding up the civil
service examining procedure, gnd it
was significant that competent wit
nesses felt that shortcomings in this
respect were not organic, but could
be remedied for the most part if the
Civil Service Commission had ade
quate operating funds.
Witnesses also were agreed that
improvement in employment stand
ards would require a more liberal pay
policy than has been pursued in the
past.
It will be some little time before
the committee finishes its work, but
the record this far encourages the
belief that the report to the President
will be landmark in personnel ad
ministration.
.Italian Adjustment
Premier Mussolini’s “white purge”
of his cabinet and army leadership
clears Italy’s decks for effective neu
trality—with little or no beneficence
for the Reich—and clarifies a con
fused* situation of foreign policy
which persisted as long as certain
pro-German elements remained in a
government which is definitely cold
to involvement in Europe’s war on
the side of Germany.
In the first major shake-up in the
Fascist government in four years, II
Duce has removed such outstanding
pro-Nazi officials as Achilla Starace,
secretary of the Fascist party; Dino
Alfleri, minister of popular culture,
and General Giuseppe Valll, under
secretary for air. Among the others
caught in the shake-up is General Al
berto Pariani, chief of staff, who was
closely identified with the Italo
German military alliance, and vari
ous other officials who in one way or
' another were identified with the as
sociatlon with Berlin.
Just as significant as the removals
are the retentions, among them being
the foreign minister and H Duce’s
son-in-law, Count Galeazzo Ciano,
and Count Dlno Grandl, who, a few
months ago, was recalled from Lon
don to become minister of justice.
For the most part the new men
are of a younger group and members
of the Squadristi—members of the
Fascist party since before the march
on Rome. Their appointments rep
resent, then, a return to the old
school of Fascism and a diversion
from the newer, more radical school
which grew up around Starace and
Alfleri. The new men either have
been opposed to the pro-German bias
■in Italian relations or have had no
Influence on foreign policy, and thus
reinforce Count Clano’s neutrality,
policy.
The transfers can scarcely be con
sidered In themselves as a change or
reorientation of policy, but they do
cohflrm a shift In policy that has
been developing. First evidence of
h
Mussolini’s coolness to Berlin ap
peared when It became clear the
Polish-German controversy was no
mere repetition of Austria and
Czdcho-Slovakla, but contained dire
portents of war. It has been a long
time since Mussolini voiced solidarity
with Germany, and symptoms of a
growing rift seemed more clear when
Count Clano suddenly visited Berlin
and Just as suddenly returned to
Rome when Chancellor Hitler’s most
recent peace offensive was in the
making. Italy did not serve as stooge
for Herr Hitler in his ill-founded
effort to persuade the allies to call
off the war. •
It is too early to assume that Italy
has slipped suddenly into the allied
camp, although the changes at Rome
are welcomed in London, but it can
be fairly assumed that the removal
from power of the men who favored
standing with Germany substantially
reduces the likelihood of Italy now
fulfilling her alliance obligations to
Germany if the latter should de
mand it.
Vandalism
Faced with the necessity of taking
more drastic action to curb the in
creasing tendency of youthful row
dies to steal or destroy public school
properties, the Board of Education
has called attention of the Commis
sioners to this problem with a list of
complaints from the principals of the
schools most recently victimized.
The most discouraging thing about
the increase in vandalism is that it
has thrived in the face of a concerted
guidance and leadership effort de
signed to prevent Just what has oc
curred. Last year when it became
known that the repair bill for broken
glass in school buildings for the pre
vious year exceeded »12,000, Super
intendent Frank W. Ballou called for
a city-wide campaign to attack the
problem of vandalism at its roots by
working with the chUdren involved
to correct the problem. Groups in all
sections of the city responded with
meetings of teachers, parents, and
police being called to thrash out the
difficulties. A few weeks ago Dr. Bal
lou sadly noted that the broken glass
bill for the past year was even higher
than the year before.
Public school property represents
a tremendous capital investment on
the part of the city taxpayers and
it would seem illogical to stand by
and see it wantonly plundered. If
necessary the povibly curative effect
of police power should be added to
the preventive drive in guidance and
leadership. The indications are that
school officials have been reluctant to
prosecute offenders provided the
loot is returned, and police are
equally unwilling to step in without
assurance that school officials will
follow up the matter.
It would seem that the time has
come for police and school Officials
to get together and decide just wfcat
the responsibilities of each will be in
the protection of the school property.
Detective Feat
The detective of fiction works on
broken cuff links, cigarette butts,
bullet holes and similar parapher
nalia of crime and deduces that the
culprit was a left-handed sailor from
Trinidad with a wooden leg and a
weak alibi. If this happens after the
fifteenth chapter, the reader may be
siye he Is right; if earlier, there is
some room for doubt, as* sometimes
he is foolish enough to be led astray
by false clues for a time. If so, he
modestly confesses that he was In
credibly stupid and should have seen
the answer along about page twenty
three. Fortunately, no matter how
many strikes he may take, In the end
he bats 1.000.
The detective of fact Is usually not
lucky enough to find a cuff link and
has to be content with a much lower
average. He also has a different con
ception of modesty, and It would
never occur to him to admit that he
had been a bonehead, even after the
commissioner had agreed enthusi
astically.
Occasionally, however, he rises to
the heights of his fictional brother.
Such was the case recently In Ven
tura, Calif. As a covey of five sleuths
were roosting at headquarters, sud
denly there came a terrific crash, and
a large auto plunged through the
front door, committing the crime of
Illegal entry Into a police station.
Picking themselves up, the detectives
set to work on the case. The whole
place was literally strewn with clues,
many of them broken, the most
prominent of all being the driver of
kthe car. "There, if I mistake not, is
our man,” said the chief. Thus, due
to ultra rapid deduction and the re
markable co-operation of the culprit
In arresting himself, a world’s record
was hung up for speed in crime
detection.
According to Ril?bentrop, the Brit
ish were secretly planning this war
for years. This is self-evident to
any thinking person; witness her vast
army of about 250,000 men, her in
ferior air force, and a few other
highly sinister items.
It is stated that the average wage
of an American farm hand is $2828
with board and $36.13 without board.
To those who have watched an aver
age farm hand eat, dne of these fig
ures should be lower, or the other one
higher.
A snail, it has been discovered, can
cover half a mile in a week. Some of
the lads who snicker at mention of
this little gastropod do not walk that
far in a week themselves.
"It's all right in th* summer time,"
to quote the old music-hall ballad,
but now approaches the season when
one would hate to bean eartyr morn
ing radio announcer.
r i
Opposes Retention of
Philippine Islands
Japan Held Unlikely to Seek
Annexation if Freedom
Is Granted
To tho Editor of Tho Star:
I request the privilege of commenting
on Mr. De Nolasco's Interesting letter
about the Philippines in The Star
about a month ago. I spent 10 con
secutive years of my working days In the
service of the Filipinos. Soon after ar
riving at Manila as one of the first group
of officers selected for Ellhu Root’s new
general stall for our Army, I accepted
duty under the Philippine civil author
ities—with the constabulary, of which I
was later the chief. I resided In and
worked in all parts of the Islands. My
work was in co-operation with the Fili
pino Governors, judges and other Fili
pino officials. I was, therefore, a witness
to the energy and capacity of most of
the Filipino officials and to the progress
throughout the archipelago.
Mr. De Nolasco remarks that some
Filipino leaders of President Quezon’s
majority party1 now openly advocate the
retention of the Philippines by the
United 8tates. He also expresses the
belief that Japan will ‘‘gobble up” the
Philippines after independence in 1946;
also that he feels that here in the
United States there is a preponderant
opinion that we should retain control of
and responsibility for the far-off and
indefensible, scattered archipelago. Mr.
De Nolasco thinks America possibly has
not fully realized the strategic value of
the Philippines as an aid in expanding
American trade in the Orient. Colonel
Paul V. McNutt, recently our High Com
missioner at Manila, has also suggested
that we retain the Philippines, if the
Filipinos make such a request.
The vitality in the United States of
some illusions about the Philippines is
remarkable. There is the illusion that
the Philippines is a new and rich land
awaiting development. That archipelago
is an old country. The oldest university
in Manila antedates Harvard University.
The islands never raise sufficient rice for
an under-fed population. The cost of
raising sugar is so high that even our
Army at Manila must buy Java sugar for
the American soldiers. There is no
usable coal in the Philippines. Coal is
imported from Japan and Australia.
Prominent American companies made
thorough investigation as to rubber in
the islands before they bought lands for
rubber in Brazil and in Liberia. The
great Philippine forests are of soft
woods. Mahogany and ebony do not
grow in the Philippines.
Our own great interest in the Orient is
our trade with Japan. Our trade with
Japan comes next to that with Britain
and Canada. It is favorable to us, while
the trade with the Philippines is un
favorable, because we buy from the
islands, duty-free at our ports, nearly
double the amount we sell the islands.
It is no secret that our Philippine trade
has been a disappointment. Our trade
with Japan is a favorable trade with a
large balance in favor of the United
States. Also it is much greater than our
trade with China and the Philippines
combined. The Filipinos have paid
from their slender taxes many millions
of dollars to make up the difference be
tween the eamlnas of the American
built railways and the amounts the
railways were guaranteed to earn.
Two recent incidents * have an im
portant bearing on the Philippine sit
uation. One is that last March Congress
rejected the plan for improving harbor
facilities at Guam. The other is the
recent rejection of former floor leader
Romero's motion to request Congress to
re-examine the Philippine question.
The Assembly at Manila rejected the
motion by a vote of 53 to 7, on Septem
ber 29.
As to the strategic situation—for the
United States—of the Philippines, Ad
miral Leahy’s testimony on a number
of successive days before the Naval
Committees at Washington last year
was the most exhaustive discussion of
the North Pacific area we have had in
the forty years we have controlled the
Philippines. With other things, the
admiral said: “The Ndvy which America
now has and the Navy which it will have
when it is increased by the authority in
this bill will be seriously inadequate to
the task of sending a naval force to
the Philippines.” The bill under dis
cussion was for one and one-fifth billions
for naval Increase. Again from the
admiral, “I said it would require at
least three times this amount of increase
of our Navy to warrant such an expedi
tion, and I doubt if we could with three
times the increase.” Also from our
chief naval authority: “The defensive
line of the American Navy at the present
time reaches from the Aleutian Islands
to the Hawaiian Islands, to Samoa and
to the Panama Canal.”
I believe the general feeling in our
country is that we should now with
draw from the Philippines. I feel that
the law for independence in 1946 ought
to be carried out. President Quezon was
correct in his declaration last March
that the mass of the Filipinos are over
whelmingly in favor of independence.
We have always promised to grant them"”
independence. General Douglas Mac
Arthur, field marshal of the common
wealth army at Manila', recently said:
“It has been assumed, in my opinion
erroneously, that Japan covets these
islands. Strategically, possession of
these islands would Introduce an element
of weakness in the Japanese empire. It
would split that empire militarily into
two parts, separated by a broad stretch of
nearly 2,000 miles of ocean. And be
tween the two parts of Japan would lie
its present military enemy, China.”
■ Japan will not divide its armies and
fleet to annex the Philippines. This is
because of the danger to Japan from
the near-by great Soviet Russian army,
air foroe, submarines and small cruisers
at the north of Japan, in any event,
the trade of Japan is naturally increas
ing, because Japan is near the Phil
ippines and their wares and merchan
dise for the Islands are so inexpensive.
The maximum number of Japanese in
the Philippines has reached about
20,178. Some 5,000 of these have left
the Philippines since the outbreak of
the war in China. In conclusion, we
certainly cannot proceed to the de
fense of the 8outh American countries
situated on the Atlantic Ocean if the
American fleet must be held alert la
the Pacific ready to go to the defense at
the Philippines—7,000 from Sen
Francisco. WILLIAM C. RIVERS,
Maj. Gen, U. 8. Army (retired).
Mew York oily.
October 20.
THIS AND THAT ]
By Charlee t. TractiveU.
Likas and dlillkaa la mude, although
often carried to extrema lengths, are
perfectly legitimate.
"I know what I like,” aa expression
once having wide vogue, has been criti
cised as merely an escape clause for ig
norance.
' Yet there can be little doubt that the
personal equation In music Is a very
large one.
A person has a right to dislike certain
music, for reasons which he may not be
able to understand in the least.
This comes about because music Is,
after all, an emotional matter, and In
matters of the heart there can be no
Intellectual measure.
* * * *
The Intelligence shown In music has
very little to do with the reception of it
by the listener.
This Is more easily seen In regard to
phonograph mudc, where there Is no au
dience to please except one’s self.
Here may be ruled out all except what
one honestly likes.
How this works Is best understood In
regard to simple melodies.
A listener may not like, for instance,
that great old song “Annie Laurie."
He can no more help this than he can
his liking for some equally simple song
which his friend may dislike.
* * * k
What Is the use of argument between
them?
Neither could explain, in such a simple
case, his liking or his disliking.
How futile for them, then, to attempt
to explain why one symphony appeals to
the one more than the other!
In regard to popular songs, which most
people love, either openly or secretly,
there is truly- no accounting for taste.
There can be no doubt that the silly,
and often ungrammatical, words of some
of our popular songs repel many listeners.
The typical tenor, so-called, is another
repellent factor.
Often when these songs, trite as they
may be musically, and as silly as their
words may strike the listener, are di
vorced of the "lyric" they become quite
acceptable to the ears of any but a musi
cal snob.
* * * *
Skating rink records, the latest fad
among gramophone owners, display the
worth of many of the present day pop
ular ditties.
These are organ recordings, played in
the rather serious, slow way necessary
for the movement of skaters' legs.
They are, in other words, strict tempo
records.
The erase for "swing" records by the
popular “big name" bands has tem
porarily obscured the plain fact that
music may be, and many think ought to
be. played as written.
“Swing” simply means swinging away
from the strict Interpretation of the song
as Intended by the composer. This, with
Improvisation, means “swing." It has its
good points, despite its many detractors.
But at times it leads the listener to forget
that strict observance of tempo has its
good points, too.
England has—or had—one dance
orchestra which is called a “strict tempo
band.” Probably the war has caused its'
disbandonment, just as it has of the
famous London Philharmonic Orchestra,
whose conductor, Sir Thomas Beecham,
has given so many wonderful recordings
to disc libraries.
* * * *
There is such a thing, for Instance, as
honestly not liking Wagner.
This, not because he is German, but
because his rather showy, to some ears
bombastic, music does not please the
individual hearer.
Let this hearer insist on his right to
not like, or to like, as he chooses. After
all, it is his heart which is moved, his
emotions which are aroused or not
aroused, his ears which, co-ordinated
with his mind, make music interesting
to him.
We will not say, “make music beautiful
trt him **
Too much accent has been put on the
beauty of music, when all the time it is
the interest of music which is important
Much great music is not beautiful.
Until one really understCnds this, his
appreciation of music is based on little.
Nor, let it be insisted, is this genuine
interest a matter of intellectual appeal
solely in the working out of movements
In the great symphonies.
No, if the listener listens honestly he
may be interested in the construction of
such a fundamentally simple melody as
Gene Autry’s "You’re the Only Star in
My Blue Heatfen.”
From this 2 plus 2 equals 4 melody, to
the integral calculus of a Beethoven sym
phony, or one of the master works of
the great Russians, is not an absurd
step in the least, for exactly the same
rules of appreciation apply to the big as
to the little works. Here again it is not
mere beauty, but Interest, which rules,
and here again the listener’s honest likes
and dislikes rule, or at least ought to rule.
The trouble comes in, of course, when
prejudice is mistaken for genuine dislike.
Real dislikes are an integral part of the
emotional and mental systems of man.
There is no helping them, and in music,
at least, one is foolish for trying to help
them. Respect your own likes, and also
those of other listeners. If a friend says
he does not care for a certain song do
not attempt to cram that song down his
throat, whether or no. Insist equally on
his not trying to cram his favorites down
your throat, unless they are your favor
ites, too.
Letters to the Editor
The Late Senator Robinson
Elected by Legislature.
Ts the editor of Th« Star:
There appeared In the Issue of your
paper of the 30th ultimo a communica
tion signed by one F. H. Davis, in which
he calls your attention to a case he says
was apparently overlooked by you in
your editorial of October 11, concerning
Governors who resigned their offices for
the purpose of being appointed to the
United States Senate by their successors.
He cites as such case that of tMe late
Senator Joe T. Robinson of Arkansas,
who. he states, first came to the Senate
by the method above indicated.
The statement of Mr. Davis is entirely
erroneous, inasmuch as Senator Robin
son was elected to the Senate in the
first instance by the Legislature of the
State of Arkansas, as was then provided
by the Constitution, the amendment for
the election of Senators by the people
not having at that time been ratified
by the requisite number of States.
The facts, shown by official records,
briefly are as follows:'
Mr. Robinson, while a Representative
in Congress, was elected Governor of
Arkansas in September, 1812, but was
not inaugurated until January 16, 1813,
resigning as a member of Congress on
January 14, 1913.
On January 3, 1913, Jeff Davis, junior
Senator from Arkansas, died. His first
term would have expired on March 3,
1913, but he had received a majority of
the votes cast in the November election
for the six-year term beginning March
a
On January 6, 1913, 10 days before
Gov. Joe T. Robinson was Inaugu
rated, George W. Donaghey, the then
Governor of Arkansas, appointed J. N.
Heiskell to fill the vacancy in the term
ending March 3, 1913, caused by the
death of Senator Davis.
On January 28, 1913, the Legislature,
having convened in regular session in
the meantime, duly elected W. M.
Kavanaugh as Senator to succeed Mr.
Heiskell, the appointee of the Governor,
tor the remainder of the unexpired term,
.and on the same day elected Governor
Robinson as Senator for the full six-year
term beginning March 4, 1913.
Mr. Robinson served as Governor until
March 8, 1913, and on March 10, 1913,
first took the oath of office as Senator,
not by an appointment by the Governor,
but by virtue of his election by the then
duly constituted tribunal, namely, the
Legislature of the State of Arkansas.
November 1. CHAS. L. WATKINS.
Suggests Policies for
University of Maryland.
To the Kdltor of The Star:
My attention has been called to arti
cles which have been published about my
alma mater, the University of Maryland,
in recent weeks.
My amazement at its mushroom
growth is only exceeded by my concern
and wonder as to how well It can edu
cate each student enrolled, and how well
it can perform the various research and.
extension duties imposed upon it by law.
The University of Maryland has some
loyal graduates who are patient and long
suffering about the loss of an Important
foot ball game or two, but those'of us
who have been graduated there and
have sons and daughters there to be
graduated require that certain condi
tions exist at the institution at all times.
They are:
1. Complete academic freedom for
faculty and students as well as for the
great research workers and the exten
sion woken who the people of
Letters to the Editor must
hear the name and address of
the writer, although the use of
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be brief!
the State. Partisan politics does not
help them do their work.
3. Maryland traditions and reputation
of thought and action should be carefully
fostered and nurtured, especially at this
period in our history.
3. Devotion of a larger proportion of
the budget to the agricultural college, the
experiment station, the extension serv
ice, the research work and the gradu
ate school, commensurate with the
heavy proportion of taxes that rural
property owners have to pay.
4. Patrons should be allowed to read in
the press reports, provided for by law,
informing the people of the 8tate about
the expenditure of funds and the results
Obtained.
SYDNEY SNOWDEN STABLER, ’10.
Hyattsville, Md.
Protests Plan to Restrict
Activities of Women.
To th« Editor of The Star:
I recently read a press dispatch from
Washington which stated that in the
event the United States entered the
European conflict, women, by the dictum
of our Government, would be greatly
restricted in the part they would be per
mitted to play in the international
drama. May I express my opinion of
this apparently all-so-kind considera
tion for “the female of the species’’ and
make myself clearly understood?
To begin with, I am unalterably op
posed to war as a means of settling
international issues; but if the con
tingencies of this conflict, in which
women have no voice, do draw us into
the maelstrom, I vigorously protest
against the circumscribed sphere our
I Government would assign to our sex.
Always, when women have asserted their
claim to equality with men, the mascu
line trump card has been triumphantly
tossed on the table; "You can’t shoulder
a gun and fight,” despite the fact that
in this country and in many others, in*
past wars, women in unsuspected num
bers donned mens attire and, until
wounded or kiUed, held their own
through thick and thin with their male
comrades. Let us not brush aside such
heroic examples as Joan of Arc, Cath
arine of Russia, Isabella of Spain. Molly
Pitcher and many others, regardless of
the side on which they fought, since I
am emphasizing, not the right or wrong
of their convictions, but their fitness to
bear their share of the load.
The colossal sin of men in power in
every country on the earth, therefore, is
their refusal to give up control of the
destinies of women, thus defrauding
humanity of progress. Until a mighty
repentance humbles their hearts in the
sight of God and this great wrong is
righted, there can be no true peace for
mankind. PHARE FLEIGH.
Minneapolis, Minn
October 2.
Corrects Error in
Star Article.
To th» Editor of Tbo Star:
Referring to the Associated Press
notice in The Sunday Star on Page A-S,
under "Cxecho-Slovakia’s Legation cele
brates 21st Birthday," I wish to inform
you that I am not a member of Caecho
Slovakian Legation Staff, that Z did not
participate in any celebrations of Octo
ber 21, and that Z did not make any re
mark mentioned in the notice.
OTAKAR KABELAO.
Haskin's Answers
To Readers' Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.
A reader can get the answer to any
Question of tact by writing The twi
ning Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hasktn, director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. How many of the revenue etampe
printed by the Government are used for
cigarettes?—J. A. McD.
A. Of the 50,250,000 revenue etampe
printed daily by the Bureau of Engrav
ing and Printing 33,5Qp,000 are used for
cigarettes.
Q. Do the American war correspond*
ents in Great Britain wear uniforms?—
H. P. O.
A. The American press and radio
representative who are accredited by the
British war office wear the same uni
form as that worn by English officers,
without the insignia. On the front of
the cap there is a large C embroidered
in gold, and on each shoulder the corre
spondent wears tabs proclaiming him %
foreign war correspondent. *
Q. Were steel ice skates very expensive
when they were first put on the market?
—M. R. H.
A. The Encyclopedia of Sports says
that in 1850 the first all-steel skates were
produced by E. W. Bushnell of Philadel
phia, who sold them for 830 a pair.
Q. Do many business firms in New
York City have the five-day week?—
T. J. H.
A. A report of the Industrial Bureau
of the Merchants’ Association shows that
more than 75 per cent of the employers
in New York City have adopted continu
ous five-day week plans.
Q. Please give some information about
the American Society for the Hard of
Hearing.—V. 8.
A. The American Society for the Hard
of Hearing was founded In 1919 by Dr.
Wendell Phillips. It is the only national
non-profit, philanthropic organization
dedicated solely to aiding the hard of
hearing. The society, with headquarters
at Washington, D. C., and chapters in
nearly 200 cities throughout the United
States, helps the hard of hearing with
their social, employment and educational
problems; helps them to find employ
ment; promotes lip-reading classes and
hearing tests and acts as an information
center. Dr. Austin A. Hayden of Chicago
is president of the organization.
Q. What Is the difference between beer
and ale?—H. H. M.
A. The Federal Alcohol Administration
defines beer as a malt beverage produced
by bottom fermentation possessing the
characteristic flavor and aroma distinc
tive of beer and containing not less than
one-half of 1 per cent of alcohol by vol
ume. The administration defines ale as
a malt beverage produced by top fer
mentation, possessing the characteristic
flavor and aroma distinctive of ale, hav
ing an original gravity of not less than
13.50 balling, containing not less th»n 5
per cent of alcohol by volume and of
light color.
Q. What are the real names of Col.
Stoopnagle and Bud, the comedians?—
C. P. J.
A. Col. Lemuel Q. Stoopnagle in private
life Is Frederick Chase Taylor and his
former partner Is Budd Hulick.
W. Are mere any records or Marian
Anderson's music?—K. H. M.
A. Among the songs that she has
recorded are "O Mlo Favorita” (Doni
zetti), “Sometimes I Feel Like a Mother
less Child.” “Heav’n, HeaVn.” "O Love
From Thy Powers,” and “Air Dea
Adieux.”
Q. How much does the average family
*P«nd in keeping an automobile?—
H.L.K.
A. Figures compiled by the Bureau of
Labor statistics show that the average
family spends $87 a year for the pur
chase. operation and maintenance of
an automobile. The average income of
the group surveyed was $1,515.
Q. Who invented cubism in painting?
—L. H. J.
A. The cubistic formula was gradually
evolved by Picasso and Georges Braque,
between 1906 and 1910, while studying
the composition of still life groups con
sisting mainly of bowls with fruit, bot
tles, glasses and musical Instruments.
It was Braque who first introduced into
his designs nails and bits of printed
paper. Picasso then added pieces of
wood and other tangible objects, which
led to a form of art where sculpture
and painting were combined.
Q. Has any one ever produced a seed
less pear?—B. H. M.
A. Cope Bros.’ Nursery holds a patent
on seedless pears.
Q. Who was “the Publick Universal
Friend”?—T. R. O.
A. During the Revolutionary War
Jemima Wilkinson, daughter of a Rhode
Island farmer, became imbued with re
ligious leadership and calling herself
“the Publick Universal Friend” gained
many converts. She established com
munities in a number tot New England
towns and later, in 1788, founded a
colony in Yates County, New York, which
she called Jerusalem.
Q. How thick is the hide of a hippo
potamus?—W. H. B.
A. The hide of the animal is l'/i
inches thick.
Q. Who was the first short-story writer
in the United States?—O. J. M.
A. The short story, as it is now defined,
had its beginning in America in the
"Sketch Book” of Washington Irving.
Before 1819 there had been an abund
ance of short fiction, but Irving was
the first to recognize that it could be
molded into a literary form of its own.
After Irving, the next important figure
in the history of the short story was
Nathaniel Hawthorne, who gave it beauty
of style and perfected for it an artistry
that called forth the praise of Poe. It
was Poe who defined the short story
as one that could be read at a sitting.
Q. Do ants obtain food from other
ants’ bodies?—J. T. M.
A. This peculiar feature of ant life
is known as trophallaxls. Food is stored
in a sac, distinct from the stomach, and
from this sac it is regurgitated not only
for the young by nursing workers, but
for any other ant which desires to par
take of It.
Q. How can I obtain a booklet on
proper usage of words of the English
language?—it R. T.
A. See Page A-3 of today s Star.
f A