Evening star. [volume], January 15, 1940, Page A-10, Image 10

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

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With Sunday Mornina Edition.
THEODORE W. NOYES, Editor.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
MONDAY-January 15, 1940
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Naval Appropriations
It would be unfortunate Indeed if
confused statistics and misconcep
tions regarding the naval building
program were to imperil the admin
istration's carefully considered plan
for strengthening national defenses
in these critical times. That some
confusion has arisen is apparent
from conflicting statements Issuing
from the Capitol within the past few
days. Such congressional students
of naval problems as Senator David
I. Walsh of Massachusetts, chairman
of the Senate Naval Affairs Commit
tee. and Representative Carl Vinson,
chairman of the House Naval Affairs
Committee, have expressed widely
differing views as to the present
status of the naval construction pro
gram. Senator Walsh, commenting
on the proposal to authorize a
twenty-five per cent expansion of
the fleet, has questioned the wisdom
of asking for “another Navy on pa
per” when, according to his informa-*
tion, most of the ships authorized
under the 1938 program are still “on
paper.” Mr. Vinson, author of the
pending naval increase bill, re
sponds with seemingly reliable sta
tistics tending to show that all bat
tleships, carriers and submarines
“authorized by the act of 1938 have
been provided for.” He said he was
at a loss to understand how any one
conversant with naval matters could
confuse the situation.”
Since confusion obviously does
exist, however, it is not surprising
that Senator James F. Byrnes of
South Carolina, who is a member
of the Appropriations Committee,
should suggest an immediate inquiry
into the exact situation with respect
to ship authorizations and appro
priations. Among chief objects of
the investigation are to ascertain
how much of the tonnage author
ized in 1938 remains unappropriated
for and whether there has been
undue delay in building vessels for
which money has been made avail
able by Congress. It is probable that
an effort also will be made to place
responsibility for defects which de
veloped in some of the newer ships.
The 1938 naval act authorized con
struction of forty-six combat and
auxiliary vessels and shortly there
after Congress voted funds for a
start toward the goal. According to
Mr. Vinson, appropriations have
been voted so far under this act for
one aircraft carrier, two battleships,
four cruisers, eight destroyers and
eight submarines. The pending na
val supply bill would provide money
for two more battleships, another
aircraft carrier, two cruisers, eight
destroyers and six submarines, and
of this group one battleship and four
submarines would be charged against
the replacement program of 1934,
rather than the expansion act
passed four years later. Thus, as
Chairman Vinson reads the data,
the only ships of the 1938 program
for which appropriations have not
been made or requested—the ships
remaining ‘‘on paper”—are two
cruisers and seven destroyers.
It takes time to design a warship
and more time to build one. There
is no standardized plan that can be
followed in this highly specialized
and complicated industry. The his
tory of naval science has shown that
mistakes and delays are inevitable,
especially if there be too much
haste and too little long-range re
search and planning. That is why
nrnillH minricn onrl Honnroronp m
-- ------—— o —~
the extreme to fail to make adequate
provision right now, both as to au
thorizations and appropriations, for
possible emergencies of the future.
A fair Inquiry by Congress undoubt
edly will show that appropriations
should be made for whatever ships
remain on the "paper” list of 1938—
and that huge additional sums must
be spent before the United States
can feel reasonably secure in a world
shaken by totalitarian bombs and
bombast.
'Christian Front' Arrests
Charged with plotting to over
throw the Government of the United
States, seventeen members of a secret
inner circle of the “Christian Front”
have been arrested in New York by
agents of the Federal Bureau of In
vestigation. J. Edgar Hoover, an
nouncing that they had been seized
and that cordite, arms and ammuni
tion had been found in their posses
sion, explained that they were con
spiring to create a reign of terror
to “eliminate” the Jews and to install
a “dictator.” The whole plan was
ridiculous, yet there can be little
question that it might have de
veloped into a campaign of violence.
"After seizure of strategic points, it
was Intended to accomplish a revolu
tion," Mr. Hoover said. Several
Federal buildings, the publication
office of a Communist newspaper
and a theater showing Imported
films were to be bombed and cer
tain members of Congress were
to be assassinated. The search
for evidence began in August, and
further inquiry already has been
ordered.
Meanwhile, the plotters are In jail
and such persons as may have been
tempted to join subversive organiza
tions have been provided with a
warning which surely ought to be
effective In discouraging enlistment
in illegal causes. It should be plain
now to everybody that it Is dangerous
to play at rebellion, perilous to in
dulge In movements designed to
spread Intolerance, hazardous to en
gage in activities which patently are
unconstitutional and un-American.
The people of the United States are
pledged to democracy in practice as
well as in theory, and their Govern
ment may be assured of their support
in its dprisinn tn nrntoof if calf
them against domestic fascism and
communism—patterns of tyranny
which cannot be allowed to prosper
under the license of a Bill of Rights
never intended to be perverted.
An Established Institution
When the Small Claims Court was
started here two years ago many of
its friends, not to mention those who
actively opposed its creation, were
dubious of its success, but the record
of the tribunal must be gratifying to
its sponsors, who contended from the
beginning that it would supply a
glaring deficiency in the Capital’s
judicial setup.
The most active proponents of the
new court, Judge Nathan Cayton
and Sefton Darr, now president of
the District Bar Association, con
tended there was pressing need in
Washington for a tribunal in which
the poor—those with claims of fifty
dollars or less—could have tfieir
rights adjudicated inexpensively and
informally. That this contention
was correct is abundantly indicated
by the 1939 report of the clerk of
the Small Claims Court.
During the year, 22,249 cases were
filed in this one branch, represent
ing 67 per cent of all debt actions
filed in the entire Municipal Court.
With only one judge serving at a
time, 1,914 trials were had—nine
times as many trials as were held
in the same class of cases before the
establishment of the new court.
It is also worthy of note that the
clerk of the court prepared suit
papers for 2,283 plaintiffs during the
year. Had these individuals been
under the necessity of retaining
lawyers to handle their relatively
small claims, it is a safe assumption
that the majority would never have
**au txicii uay m uuuri. Anoiner
inte-esting feature of the report is
the disclosure that, despite the re
duction of the filing fee from one
dollar to eighty cents, together with
the reduction or elimination of
other fees, the court remained self
supporting, costing the taxpayer
nothing.
This history of the Small Claims
Court, in addition to showing beyond
possibility of dispute the commu
nity’s need for such an Institution,
also reveals that this important serv
ice to those least able to protect their
own interests, can be rendered with
out imposing new financial burdens
on an already overtaxed city.
Japan's New Premier
Although Japan has just under
gone a political crisis resulting in
formation of a new cabinet under
the leadership of Admiral Mitsumasa
Yonai because of the failure of the
government of General Nobuyuki
Abe to settle differences with the
United States there is little reason
yet to believe that Japan is ready
for the sweeping alterations in her
China policy which will make possible
a final settlement with this country
and restoration of Japanese-Ameri
can amity.
Selection of Admiral Yonai as
premier—marked by an embarrass
ing confusion of announcements—
has two significant aspects. First
of all it indicates the seriousness
with which Japan views American
naval expansion in the Pacific, and
the intention to meet that expansion
with a building program of her own.
Admiral Yonai has long been a pro
ponent of a big navy for Japan, and
has given virtual warning that
Japan’s naval building program was
designed to make her supreme in
the western Pacific. If, as is expected,
the new Premier also retains the
naval ministry a concentration of
energies upon naval defense may be
expected.
Second is the fact that, despite
General Abe’s failure, Japan is still
seeking political reconciliation with
the United States. Admiral Yonai,
who was credited with leading the
movement against the German
Japanese military alliance last year,
advocates more friendly relations
with the United States, and will carry
that attitude into the big job which
awaits his regime—negotiation of a
new commercial treaty with the
United States.
But in spite of his pro-American
sympathies Admiral Yonai cannot
succeed in his task unless the ruling
forces in Japan—presently the army
and navy—moderate their stand on
China and the “new order in Asia.”
Although there is a strong under
current of dissatisfaction among
Japanese civilians and industrial in
terests with the protracted burdens
of the China campaign, the army
and navy have not yet indicated
sufficient willingness to recede from
their proclaimed objectives to enable
Admiral Yonai or any other Japanese
statesman to come to terms with the
American Government.
Japan erroneously is striving to
meet a problem of principles as if it
were a problem of personalities, and
seeks by changing the personalities
tb moderate the Importance which
attaches to the principles. But the
American Government sees clearly
the issues of principle involved, and
has no reason to abandon them
merely because the leaders of Japan’s
government are personally friendly
to this country.
Neutral Uneasiness
Defense measures taken by Bel
gium and the Netherlands in the past
forty-eight hours amid reports that
Germany is concentrating troops on
their borders turns expectations of.
western front action to the Low
Countries and, for the moment, away
from the German-French frontier
and the shadow-boxing prevailing
there since September.
The activity of the little neutrals
comes as somewhat of a surprise, for
cciioiuu in uieir sector nas Deen reia
tively light since the scare of last
November, although all fears of a
German strike toward the North Sea
ports had not entirely disappeared.
Withdrawal of German forces from
the Dutch frontier last fall and re
peated assertions by the Reich gov
ernment that it Intended to respect
the neutrality of the small countries
had served to calm them to the ex
tent that they reduced their border
forces and officially reassured their
people that there was no immediate
reason for anxiety..
On what the Belgian and Nether
lands governments base their ac
tions—which bring a force of about
a million men into line facing Ger
many—is not yet clear, but obviously
It is upon information of German
Intentions. Evidence that Germany
has been photographing Belgian in
dustrial and fortifications areas was
obtained from a German plane
forced down on Belgian territory.
The factors which might motivate
a German drive through the Low
Countries have altered to some de
gree since the scare of last November.
At that time the Russo-Finnish war
had not yet begun and the disad
vantages of violating the neutrality
of Belgium and the Netherlands
seemed to outweigh the advantages,
mainly because it would give the
allies an extended front against
which to'strike at the Reich and
offered them a path into Northwest
Germany unimpeded by the Siegfried
Line.
Now, however, other issues are at
stake, chief of them being the
steadily growing allied and neutral
miltiary aid that is flowing to Fin
land in response to the Helsinki
appeal tu tuc Mraguc
of Nations last month and the reso
lution there adopted urging mem
bers and non-members to render
what assistance they could to the
beleaguered northern country.
A large volume of this assistance
Is flowing through France and
thence by way of the Low Countries
and Scandinavia to Finland. If Ger
many’s fears of allied participation
In the Russo-Finish war are gen
uine—and the Reich’s warnings to
Sweden and Norway not to permit
allied bases to be established on their
territory seem to Indicate that they
are—an advance through the Low
Countries would seem to be a logical
move.
Germany faces the prospect of
having to fight the war on an en
tirely new front If, in spite of their
neutral positions, Sweden and Nor
way should be forced Into the Fin
nish war and the allies, with the
path open for striking at Germany
from.a new direction, should center
their attention on Russia and Anally
achieve a fighting position on the
Baltic.
In spite of Its drawbacks from a
strictly strategic point of view, the
Invasion of the Low Countries would
tend to keep the war confined to one
front and by restricting the assist
ance that Is going to Finland en
hance Russia’s chances of defeating
the Finns in the spring.
On the Air
Any one who may chance to ob
serve pigeons flying about and
whistling popular songs is warned
not to become unduly alarmed, and
take such drastic steps as swearing
off or consulting an alienist. It
will not even be necessary to conceal
the dread phenomenon from the at
tention of scoffing neighbors, for
they are no phantom pigeons to be
classed with pink elephants, purple
spotted giraffes, and other highly
fantastic fauna born of imagination
and begotten by overindulgence. No,
they are real fowls belonging to the
Greater Newark Pigeon Club, and
wearing in their tails little reed
whistles motivated by the slightest
breath.
Operating on a wing length of fif
teen inches without the authority of
the Federal Communications Com
mission, Newark’s animated pro
grams will soon broadcast on regular
schedules. It Is rumored that many
whistle recordings of everything
from “Scatterbrain" to Beethoven’s
‘‘Twenty-third Symphony in Q Flat"
harve been made, with hundreds of
entertainers ready to go on the air.
This introduces a new problem—how
to tune out unwanted programs.
Gentle souls may accomplish it by
the use of ear muffs; more vigorous
Individuals, who resent being pushed
around, are expected to revive the
medieval sport of falconry, and head
promptly for the nearest hawk shop.
It’s In the bag now, boys; Cham
berlain visits the western front with
out that Jinx umbrella.
Two Views of National
Representation Given
Merits Compared With Value
Of Local Suffrage
Authorization
To the Editor of The Bur:
The position token in The Sunday Star
by your columnist, Jesse C. Suter, that
national representation is essential before
it will be “possible to set up a local elec
tive government which would be really
worth while” is not in accord with the
facts.
Mr. Suter admits that “for 70 years
the several portions of the District were
permitted to elect local officials,” but
maintains that these governments were
ineffective because “the real power al
ways remained with the great Congress
in which the District was not repre
sented.”
Every city in this Nation is subject
to superior control by the State in
which it is located. Except for limita
tions Imposed by State constitutions
there is nothing to prevent any State
from taking away the right of it* cities
to exercise local self-government. There
Is nothing to prevent a State Legisla
ture from acting as a city council for
any city within its borders. That'the
States do not violate basic American
principles in this respect is not solely
due to the fact that the cities have rep
resentation in the State Legislatures.
The provision of the Federal Constitu
tion which vests in the Congress of the
United States “exclusive legislative ju
risdiction” over the area set aside for
the seat of the Federal Government
means neither more nor less than that
the Congress occupies the same position
with respect to the city of Washington
(or any other city within the confines
of the District of Columbia) that a
State occupies with respect to the cities
within its borders. That is the obvious
reason why the Congress could not dele
•gate to the territorial government once
established here the legislative powers
that are usually held by the States, but
there was and is no limitation on its
power to delegate to a Washington mu
nicipal government all the powers that
are customarily delegated by the States
to their cities, while retaining the same
control over such a municipal govern
ment as the States retain over their
municipalities.
Of course, we ought to have national
representation, not only because it
should be the right of every American
citizen, but particularly because the
Congress of the United States is our
State Legislature. The advocates of na
tional representation, however, have
been striving for a quarter of a century
to obtain this right, without success.
The desirability of national representa
tion should not be set up as a bar to our
securing at this time the fundamental
American right of local self-govern
ment, in connection with any plan for
reorganization of the District govern
ment.
The absurdity of the “great Congress”
acting as a city council for Washington
is apparent. Municipal powers should
/be delegated to a real city government
rr. j-i_. <
ucic(jaic outu puwcrs lo ap
pointed officials, however, would be a
dangerous departure from our Ameri
can system of government. Hence the
inescapable conclusion that some form
of a city council, elected by and from
the people of Washington, must be es
tablished. And now is the time to estab
lish it, while the matter of reorganiza
tion is being considered.
KENNETH P. ARMSTRONG.
January 8.
(Editor's Note—In order to present both
sides of this question The Star requested
Mr. Lesh to prepare the reply to Mr.
Armstrong's ietier which is printed
below.)
To the Editor of The Star:
Your correspondent, Mr. Kenneth P.
Armstrong, asserts that Congress can set
up here a local elective government
“which would be really worth while”
without an enabling constitutional
amendment and controverts your col
umnist, Jesse C. 8uter, who recently
wrote in effect that the District could
be best served by enactment of the
Sumners amendment to the Constitution.
Permit me to say a word in support of
Mr. Suter's position.
When the District next regains local
self-government, it will be the third
time, and I want It to be for keeps.
The Sumners amendment (1) permits
District residents representation in the
Senate and House and a vote for Presi
dent, (2) permits Congress to set up a
local elective government with powers
like State and city governments, and
(3) grants the same access to the Fed
eral courts to residents of the District
as to residents of States.
Mr. Armstrong expresses impatience
with the view that representation In
Congress is essential to back up a locally
elected municipal government. In sup
port of his position he points out that
municipal governments elsewhere are
thought worth while, despite the fact
that all municipal governments are sub
' ject to State governments. But the dif
ference between other American cities
and what would be Washington's situa
tion Is that elsewhere the same people
who elect the city councils elect the
State Legislatures and adopt the State
constitutions, and this difference is im
portant.
For example, there is no danger of the
municipal powers of Baltimore City
being revoked because some member of
t.hft MorvInnH Hms m/vf Hlra
to have Baltimore's traffic regulations
enforced against him. Baltimore is too
well protected by the State constitution
and by its own representatives in the
State Legislature. What comparable
protection would the District have in
Congress with no members there and
no constitutional sanction for its local
government?
Mr. Armstrong recognizes that only
municipal powers like those granted to
a city government could be granted to
locally elected officials, and that legis
lative powers like those of a State gov
ernment could not be delegated by
Congress to a local body, without a con
stitutional amendment such as that pro
posed by Mr. Sumners. Surely it must
be realised that much is lacking when
so deficient a substitute for local self
government is accepted. Every munici
pal regulation which smacks of being a
law will be challenged in the courts, and
no aggrieved citizen will accept prece
dents drawn from the experience of other
cities because there the granted charter
rights rather than the Federal Consti
tution will define the municipal powers.
The consideration which seems the
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Tracewell.
"SILVER SPRINO, Md.
“Dear Sir: We enjoy your articles on
the birds very much and we are so in
terested in feeding the feathered things.
"We have many all summer out here,
and quite a few are staying with us this
winter—the cardinals, blue Jays, the
mockingbirds, the snowbirds, the wood
pecker—and we have a brown thrasher,
but there are two small birds I do not
know, and cannot find a description of
them.
"One is between 3 and 4 Inches, slate
colored on head and back, has a topknot
on head, pink or'light tan under stom
ach and wings—a very dainty little
thing—shy.
“The other is a black and white bird,
quite small, almost as small as a wren—
lot of white about throat and stomach.
It chatters like the wren some—not as
long a song as the wren.
“If I have made myself clear in de
scribing these two, will you tell me what
they are?
“Thanking you, I remain,
“Most sincerely, E. I. K.”
* * * *
The first of these, the one with the
topknot, probably is the titmouse.
The second must be the chickadee.
It is difficult to identify species by
other people's descriptions. They are
thinking of one thing, you are thinking
of another.
A man wants to know “what is the
orange bird which comes to our yard
every day.’’
If it is summer, you say Baltimore
oriole.
ii it is winter, you do not know what
to tell, him, for there are no orange
birds around here now.
He insists it is there, nevertheless.
An orange bird?
Run through a book of bird plates,
and he shouts, when you come to the
cardinal, "There it is!”
“But you said orange,” he is re
minded.
Red was orange to him; orange was
red. He was not critical when it came
to naming colors.
Maybe he was color blind.
* *' * *
The home owner who has chickadees
and titmice at his feeding board has two
of the very finest of all the songsters.
One might even go as far as to say
they are the very best, and probably
not be far wrong.
Here are two creatures whose inno
cence, zest in life and sheer beauty strike
every observer. ,
8urely they are two birds over which
no one could argue, whether he agreed
they were "tops” or not. I
They are more likely to come to
suburban areas where there are plenty
of trees.
If there is a real woods close, so much
the better for titmice and chickadees.
■ ■ -
Probably a few of them, now and then,
covqf to feeding places in the deep city.
It ia certain that they are by no
means rare in most of the suburbs in
nearby Maryland and Virginia.
/ * * * *
They are more likely to appear when
feeding operations are first begun, be
fore there has been opportunity to at
tract many English sparrows, starlings,
squirrels and pigeons.
After ,a station becomes established,
these two prizes may or may not make
fewer and fewer visits.
They are, in other words, exclusive
birds, not given much to mingling with
the common crowd. This does not
mean that they will not come where
other birds are. Far from it. They#are
among the very first to come. We do
not believe that the four creatures
named — English sparrows, starlings,
squirrels and pigeons—drive them away
because they are, forsooth, English spar
rows, starlings, squirrels and pigeons.
No, the point is that by the time these
arrive, in their numbers, there is a crowd
present, a hustling, bustling crowd, into
which the smaller birds find it difficult to
set foot.
No birds, so far as our observations
go, mind English sparrows in the least.
They seldom find these gamins hostile
to them at feeding boards. But what
is a smaller bird to do, if he discovers
12 birds jostling for place where there
is room for only 8?
* * * *
Both the chickaripp anH titmmico ova
shy feeders, flying in, seizing a seed, fly
ing away to eat it.
These are birds which win the hearts
of all.
Whether it is best to have them ex
clusively would be a problem, which
fortunately is not presented to most
bird lovers, for the birds come and go
of their own free will. That is part of
it, and, surely, the best part of it, that
there is no coercion about it.
The moment a human being interested
in birds begins to "take sides," the very
second-he finds himself becoming angry
or upset because one species comes, an
other stays away, that very second and
moment he ought to take himself in
hand and remind himself that when one
establishes a free lunch, one has no
right to quarrel with any hungry crea
ture which comes to it.
There are martinets and tyrants in
bird-feeding operations as in other
spheres.
For your own sake, as well as that of
hungry creatures, do not establish your
self as a little dictator in this grand
sport.
Keep firm hold of your God-given
sense of humor.
Recall in time that kindness and dic
tatorship do not go together often.
Be. in othrt- words, a Christian at the
board, not a pagan.
Letters to the Editor
Calls Attention to Bad
Traffic Condition.
To the Editor of The Star:
Traffic Director Van Duzer some Sat
urday afternoon should station himself
at Connecticut avenue and Bancroft
place and watch the autos tear along
while long-suffering pedestrians find it
utterly impossible to crass to the street
car platform. At this point there are
no traffic lights. Up and down the hill
at maddening speed taxis and trucks
proceed. To endeavor to cross with such
hazards staring one in the face would
parallel a lumberman attempting to
reach shore after a jam has broken, as
a Mr. Goldsborough points out. Fre
quently rather than take the risk I have
relied on my pedal extremities to carry
me to my destination although my poor
"dogs" may be barking .with pain.
"O that I had the wiftgs of a dove.”
January 9. A. R. KENNEDY.
Lists German Contributions
To American Culture.
To th^Edltor of The Star:
In reading over some interesting
eugenic pamphlets, sent me by the
Eugenics Society of Northern California,
I could not help noting, as a defect
therein, the over-accentuation of the in
fluence of the British race on our cul
ture, whereas the dominating cultural
effect which Germany, and our citizens
of German origin, have exerted on our
Nation has been ignored or minimized.
This sort of misrepresentation must be
resented by all fair-minded citizens. The
_ _ __ ■
most important to me is this: It is likely
that few in addition to us native-born
Washingtonians will vote in a purely
local municipal election, and not all of
us. It is common experience that except
when some unusual issue is to be voted
on all the people who vote in national
elections will not take the trouble to
vote in local ones, though out in the
States there is no possible reason
against voting. Here, however, citizens
who have come from the States may not
be actively claiming residence "back
lu/iuc, niiu iiinj iivii un»c vuicu iui
iecades, yet they would hesitate to put
»ny shadow of doubt on that right for
& mere municipal election here. You
:an stoutly assure people that they can
be voting residents in two places at
mice, but many will not feel sure and
tew will risk their own rights to prove
rou right. i
Several of the arguments made and
whispered against us would probably be
illustrated and helped by suffrage limited
;o voting for a municipal council. Minor
ities whose voices would have only their
proper subordinate weight in an elec
tion for President, Senators and Repre
rentatives might be the most vocal in
municipal elections, to the discomfiture
)f the majority of our, own people and
pur friends of Capitol Hill. Every un
happy occurrence would be magnified by
those who have been saying with such
maddening smugness that it would not
be wise to have a vote here.
In any form of suffrage is now tried
here and fails, or is subjected to criti
:ism and taken away again, all forms
pf suffrage will be killed for this genera
tion. In round figures, our status
changes once each 70 years, 1800, 1870,
1940. We had better be careful what
we ask for in 1940. I for one am not
willing to accept anything for which the
principal argument is that it can be
jot ten without amendment to the Con
stitution. PAUL E. LESH.
January 18.
Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the writer, although the use of
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be brief!
great debt we owe Germany should be
adequately considered.
From the descendants of the fellow
countrymen of Gutenberg, the father of
printing; of Mergenthaler, the inventor
of linotyping; of Kepler, the founder of
modern astronomy; of Humboldt, the
greatest naturalist of the 19th century:
of Beethoven, the greatest symphonic
composer of all times—to all the re
nowned German-American soldiers,
artists, chemists, metallurgists, instru
ment makers, naturalists, and other
scientists who helped to make our coun
try -prosperous, the German element
took a leading part. This fact should
not be ignored. DR. TITUS ULKE.
January 10.
A Plea Is Made
For Aid to the Deaf.
To the Editor of The Star:
Several years ago an article appeared
In The Star telling of a humanitarian
in New York who devoted himself to
helping the deaf by giving instruments,
and money for instruments, that prom
ised help for those with faulty hearing.
The cost of these devices is very high—
$150 is common and even $200 is not
unusual. If they are cheap they are
probably no good. Of course, no one is
in the business for his health. It is all
commercialized, and the victims are the
poor. With no reserve, they are doomed
to suffer in silence.
Loss of hearing is a terrible affliction,
compelling one to appear morose and un
friendly when really he doesn’t hear, and
so cannot react to life about him. Un
questionably there are devices to help
the deaf, but how may they be obtained
uji jjt-iauna ui uuiiieu means f oureiy
here is a field for true philanthropy.
REV. A. H. THOMPSON.
January 11.
Citizens’ Group Praises
Star Articles.
To the Editor ot The Star:
At the last meeting of our association,
held on January 8, 1940, the membera
adopted a resolution unanimously com
mending The Evening Star Newspaper
for its publication of the “Why Must
They Die" caption and its comprehen
sive traffic survey. JOSEPH NOTES,
Secretary, Northeast Washington
Citizens’ Association.
January 12.
Holds Physical Force Based
On Moral Strength.
To the Editor of The Star:
With profound interest we .have
watched Finnish victories on the Russo
Finnish front. These victories, of a
small country over one of the largest
nations in the world, serve to illustrate
an increasingly predominant factor in
the progress of evolution; that is, physi
cal force is based on and is proportion
ate to moral strength.
We, as individuals, sympathize with
and would like to ^support this little
republic. Our country could aid Fin
land with money and supplies, but the
greatest aid that any David may receive
against its Goliath is spiritual, not
material, in nature.
We can give this aid to all Davids
by living a more abundant, more pro
gressive, more spiritual life; not a life
based on selfishness and greed or prepa
ration for future happiness, but a life
Haskin's Answers
To Readers' Questions
By Frederic J. Haskin.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Eve
ning Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, Director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. Please give the names of the South
ern States which still have a poU tax for
voters.—S. T. B.
A. They are as follows: Alabama,
Georgia, Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee*
Arkansas, Texas and South Carolina.
Q. What is the farthest distance that
an arrow has traveled from a hand
drawn bow?—P. W.
A. The National Archery Association
says: “In August, 1939, ken Wilhelm
of Yermo, Calif., shot an arrow 579.7
yards, the shooting being done in what
is known as regular style—that is, by
holding the bow in one hand and draw
ing the string with the other hand. On
the same day. Mr. Wilhelm shot an ar
row 856 yards, using the ‘free style*
method. In shooting the free style
method, Mr. Wilhelm lay on his back
with the bow strapped to his feet and
drew the string with both hands. Both
distances were measured by a surveyor.
They are the longest flight shots of
which we have any authentic record.”
Q. How long did Charles I of Eng
land reign without a Parliament?—C.
S T
A. Eleven years.
Q. In what year was the most serious
epidemic of Infantile paralysis?—J. B. J,
A. The greatest polio epidemic in his
tory hit the United States in 1916, when
30.000 cases were reported, with nearly
one-third in New York City. Although
this total has never been exceeded, many
countries have reported record epi
demics in recent years.
Q. Is it true the fatback is the most
numerous of all fish off the Atlantic
Coast?—H. T. G.
A. The fatback or menhaden is caught
in greater numbers than any other fish
off the East Coast. In a good season as
many as 750.000,000 will be taken, more
than 150,000.000 off the coast of North
Carolina. Occasionally schools pack an
inlet so thick that boats cannot be
navigated through them. Some years
ago 11.000.000 menhaden, driven onto
the beach by bluefish, were picked up at
Beaufort, N. C., in one day.
Q. How fast does Jimmy Fidler, the
1 Hollywood news commentator, talk’—
i O. H. M.
A. Mr. Fidler broadcasts at the rate
^ of 240 words per minute.
Q. What city in the United States is
called the "Modern Rome? '—H. S.
A. Because of its commanding site
covering seven hills, Richmond. Va., is
sometimes so called.
Q. Who played the part of President
of the Senate in "Mr. Smith Goes to
Washington"?—E. D.
i A. The role was played by Harry
i Carey.
Q. What famous novel begins: "Ye
who listen with credulity to the whis
ncrc r\f _: a. _
* -f-- caga
ness the phantoms of hope"?—W. P.
A. This is part of the opening sentence
i of "Rasselas,” the philosophical romance
by Dr. Johnson.
Q. Who was China's “Grand Old
i Man"?—C. S. K.
A, Li Hung Chang -w as known as the
j “Grand Old Man of China.” He played
the most important part in China's af
I fairs for over 40 years, representing his
government and expending its foreign
j relations with skill and wisdom. He
! held the highest official rank of any
j man below tiie Emperor, first grand
j secretary of state. When, in 1899. he
| returned to China after a visit to the
j United States, he received the order of
■ the Double Dragon, a distinction sel
: dom conferred upon any one not a
member of the royal family.
Q. What is the longest railroad en
tirely within one State?—S. A.
A. It is the International-Great
Northern Railroad, which is located en
tirely within Texas and is 1,154.51 miles
long.
Q. Who originated double talk?—M. C.
A. “Double talk" is said to be the in
vention of Clifford Nazarro of Holly
wood.
Q. Why is the name shrapnel ap
plied to the explosive shells used in field
guns?—S. T. B.
A. This form of projectile is named
for its inventor. Henry Shrapnel of the
British Army. In 1803 his shot case or
shell was recommended for adoption
into the service and in the following
year was first employed at Surinam.
Shrapnel also improved the construc
tion of howitzers and mortars and in
vented the brass tangent slide. In 1837
he was promoted to be lieutenant gen
eral.
Q. How can I obtain a reliable almanac
for 1940 at a low cost?—R. P.
A. See Page A-2 of today's Star.
Ucmr tvinnn .1. __ _ .
-- -j uv«4 <3 aic vieu/itf —
G. M. C.
A. The number of stars that can ba
seen by a person of average eyesight Is
only about 7,000. The kumber visibla
through the telescope has been esti
mated by J. E. Gore at 70,000,00 and by
Profs. Newcomb and Young at 100
000.000.
lived to give our best to our fellowman
and to set an example that will Inspire
him to do likewise.
CLAUDE-STROTHER, Jr.
January 12.
Commends Decision Opening
Library to Negroes.
To the Editor of The Star:
It seems very likely now that Negroe*
of Alexandria will be permitted the usa
of the library of that city since tha
court there has held that "there has not
been . . . any evidence that the Alexan
dria Library Association has any regu
lation limiting the library’s use and
facilities to the white race. . . .”
I have found library facilities indis
pensable in the acquiring of an educa
tion. Now that Negroes are able to take
advantage of library facilities—at least,
in Alexandria—the outlook for the South
begins to brighten a bit, for a chaiit la
still “no stronger than Its weakest link."
WALTER B. WHEELER.
January 11.