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ffottittg ptaf With Bandar Morning Edition. * THEODORE W. NOTES, Editor. WASHINGTON. D. O. MONDAY.February M, ISM The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Main Office: llth St. and Pennsylvania At*. New York Office: 110 East 42nd Sf. Chiceco Office: 436 North Michigan Ava. Prices Effective January 1, ISM. Delivered by Carrier—City and Suburban. Benlar Edition. Evening and Sunday.76c per mo. or 18c per week The Evening Star_45c par mo. or 10c per week The Sunder Star_ _..._lOe per copy Night Pinal Edltloa. Night Final and Sunday Star_85c per month Night Final Star .... _60c per month Serai Tube Delivery. The Evening and Sunday Star_85c per month 25* Evening Star-55c per month The Sunday Star_10c per copy Collection made at the end of each month or each week. Orders mar be tent oy mall or tele phone National 5000. ' Rate by Mail—Payable fa Advance. Dally end Sunday..1 yr.. $12 00; 1 mo.. $1.00 Dally only-1 yr. *8.00: j mo. 754 Sunday only-1 yr. *5.00; 1 mo. 60o Entered aa aecond-claai matter post office. Washington. D. C. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press It exclusively entitled to the use tor republtcatlon of sll news dispatches credited to It or not otherwise credited In this Paper and also the local news published herein. All tights of publication of special dispatches herein also are reserved. A Harmful Effort Responsible members of the New Deal family, notably Attorney Gen eral Jackson and Secretary Morgen thau, have taken a position with respect to the appointment of a trustee for the bankrupt Associated Gas and Electric system which may seriously prejudice the reorganization of that billion-dollar concern. Pos sibly with the best of intentions, they have, in effect, sought to bring about the selection of a trustee of their own choosing by undermining public confidence in any other choice. At the moment the Associated Gas and Electric case is before Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibell of New York, who must select a trustee for the huge public utility system. Judge Leibell’s task is not an easy one, for the position of trustee in this case is one of great importance and responsibility. Private holders of the system’s assets and liabilities are reported to have united in urging the appoint ment as trustee of John W. Hanes, who recently resigned as Under secretary of the Treasury. Under ordinary circumstances this indicated preference for a man of Mr. Hanes’ recognized ability and integrity would carry great weight with the court, but since Mr. Hanes is not a “New Dealer” his selection has been vigorously opposed by New Deal spokesmen, including the two cabinet officers. By virtue of a $5,700,000 tax claim, the Attorney General And the Secre tary of the Treasury have a direct though relatively small financial interest in the case and they have exerted every effort to have the Securities and Exchange Commission designated as trustee. Unfortu nately for their purposes this pro jected excursion of the New Deal into the field of public utility manage ment encountered the opposition of Senator Wheeler and House Majority Leader Rayburn, sponsors of the Public Utility Holding Company Act, and the S. E. C. finally voted four-to one against accepting the trustee ship. This refusal was followed by com ments from Attorney General Jack son and Secretary Morgenthau which, whatever their true intent, unfortunately give the wholly unwarranted impression that the selection of a man of Mr. Hanes’ caliber might result In something less than the fullest protection of the rights of all interested parties. For some reason, the comments of the two officials were set forth in letters to* Senator Norris of Nebraska, who has no connection whatsoever with the case, except that, on the strength of information gleaned from a newspaper article, he had expressed the conviction that the “general body of creditors and security holders can nevdr be con vinced of the complete independence and disinterestedness” of Mr. Hanes. The Norris statement obviously had two undesirable consequences. First, it was calculated to limit ihe freedom of choice which Judge Leibell should have in selecting a trustee, and, second, it tended to destroy public confidence in Mr. Hanes if ultimately he should be chosen. In stead of lending public support to such an unfortunate statement, the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury should have been doubly careful to refrain from any act which might in the long run prove harmful to the reorganiza tion. Interstate Co-Operation It Is likely that the visit of Mary land legislative leaders to recent ses sions of the Virginia General Assem bly at Richmond will prove mutually beneficial. If the objective of the visit—to exchange ideas on common problems—is kept alive some tangible results should be evident in the future. The Marylanders were interested In observing legislative procedure in Virginia and devoted particular at tention to Virginia’s voting ma chines, which eliminate the time consuming process of legislative roll calls, a procedure still followed at Annapolis. Whenever the question of Mary land-Virginia legislative co-opera tion is mentioned the subject of uni form regulation and enforcement of seafood conservation laws in the Po tomac comes up for consideration. While that issue is of great import ance, it is by no means the only ques tion of mutual eonoem to the two ■tatee. They have to deal with such problems as conflicting types of taa A ation, handling of migratory indi gent* and Jurisdiction over crimi- ■ nals. Furthermore, a personal tie is established when legislators from one State watch those of another tackle such universal problems as budget making, taxing, providing for roads and managing schools. Some of the Maryland legislators claimed that co-operation between their Assembly and that of Virginia was handicapped by the fact that they meet at different times. This handicap would not be very great if a group from each State should at tend the sessions of the other in a sincere effort to get specific legisla tion enacted. At all events with the issue of State’s rights again being debated, the time is particularly opportune for legislators to become acquainted. County and town governing bodies probably would be , able to fight bu reaucratic tendencies if they, too, took time out to pay official visits to their neighbors. Turkey Prepares The newest of Turkey’s emergency measures is an important step in that country’s preparation for con flict and a significant straw in the wind which is now beginning to stir over the Balkans and the Near East. The Turkish Assembly passed a law, which became effective at the end of January, designed to adapt the economy of Turkey to defense requirements. Under this economic emergency law a co-ordination com mittee was set up, and one of its first acts was to submit to the cabinet a proposal for placing the coal in dustry under government control, the purpose being to increase output and regulate transactions. This coal industry control has now been applied in the Eregli coal basin. Labor will be obligatory in this region, and the prohibition against workers leaving their jobs is expected to be extended quickly to other parts of the country, and perhaps to other industries. At the same time that this step was taken in the direction of labor con scription, Turkish stall officers ar rived in Ankara to complete organ ization of Istanbul’s defenses against sea and air bombardments, and more British and French technicians are arriving, presumably taking the places of the Germans who were re cently expelled and the Russians who were called home by Moscow. It would be unwise to interpret Turkey’s preparations only in terms of defense against external attack. There is the very imminent possi bility that the Ankara government will take att initiative which will ex tend the European war to South eastern Europe and permit the allies, by entering the Black Sea, to extend their blockade of the Reich on the east. Allied desites to penetrate beyond the Turkish straits are apparent. Germany is beginning to draw upon Russia’s Baku oil fields and in default of the Russian rail transportation system this oil is being shipped across the Black Sea to Rumania, where it is being transshipped to the Reich. When the Danube ice breaks up, the quantity of oil which may then be shipped to Germany will be consider able, perhaps adequate for a power ful offensive on the western front. Turkey by her own admission is not neutral. Like Italy she is a non belligerent, whose involvement in the war may come at any time. But before that step can be taken Turkey must be prepared to meet counter attack and to marshal her domestic resources—economic and human— for wartime action. Scandinavian Declaration The Foreign Ministers of Sweden, Norway and Denmark, in conference at Copenhagen yesterday, notified the world that “in the future the Scandinavian governments will act as a unit, supporting each other in hll negotiations with belligerents,” that “they will object strongly to violations of International law in the conduct of naval warfare,” that “they will demand compensation for war losses,” that “they will insist to bel ligerents that the maintenance of Scandinavian shipping * • * is nec essary for legitimate trade” and that “they will protest the loss of Scan dinavian lives and ships.” Still more specifically, the assem bled statesmen “demanded formally that the neutral rights of the Scan dinavian states • • * be respected by all belligerents.” Their governments, they promised, “would resist any attempt by either side to involve them in the European war” and “re asserted they would maintain the inviolability of their territorial neu trality and neutral rights generally in conformity with international law.” The implications of the agreement are many. For example, the min isters have made it plain that they Intend to protect their coastal waters against further incidents of the Alt mark variety. Also, it is made plain that Scandinavia will object to Brit ish invasion of Swedish, Norwegian or Danish harbors in pursuit of Ger man craft trespassing there. But forces more compelling than any which the Scandinavian nations can control appear to be operating in Northern Europe. Russia and Germany are united in a campaign to bring the entire Baltic area into subjection. Great Britain and France, on the other hand, are engaged in an effort to outflank Germany’s western defenses and to halt Rus sia’s progress westward. In the course of only a few days the allied powers may be at war with the Soviets as well as with the Reich. Should such a development occur, Scandinavian gyp have to ehooee ridee. The attenn-1 tive would be that of being overrun by txrth belligerent groups. American sympathy certainly is with the peoples of Sweden, Norway and Denmark, as it Is with those of Finland. But opinion In the United States Is realistic in that it appre ciates the difficulties of neutrality under prevailing conditions abroad. Prologue Hardly by mutual pre-arrange ment could Mr. Chamberlain and Herr Hitler have staked a more use ful prologue for Sumner Welles’ mission of exploration than the speeches delivered Saturday by the British Prime Minister and the German Chancellor. It is true that neither said any thing particularly new. But the Importance of each utterance lies in the fact -that it presumably reflects the up-to-the-minute attitude of the respective belligerents and is there fore the one which will be put be fore the American Undersecretary of State when he visits Berlin this week, and Paris and London soon after wards. There is little doubt that the Prime Minister at Birmingham and Der Fuehrer at Munich had Mr. Welles conspicuously, if not mainly, in mind, in laying allied and German cards on the table again at this par ticular moment. Chamberlain and Hitler alike spoke in characteristic vein. Defi ance, confidence and resolution were the keynotes of both speeches, though the cool-headed Prime Minis ter reaffirmed allied war aims without breathing fire and brimstone, while Der Fuehrer, animated by the occa sion—the twentieth anniversary of the Nazi party’s foundation—dwelt upon Germany’s purposes in terms of familiar truculence. Outstanding in an otherwise typically Hitlerian harangue were the Chancellor’s re version to the old Hohenzollern battle cry of “Gott mit Uns” and his boast of Divine co-operation in cer tain victory over Germany’s ene mies. What will interest Mr. Welles most in this latest torrent of Nazi ebul lience is Hitler’s cry that Germany “will fight until the terror of the plutocracies has been broken—until annihilation of the idea that God made the* world for Englishmen alone and that one or two peoples of the earth should have everything.” Here Der Fuehrer is ringing the changes for the hundredth time on Germany’s “have not” claims—for “living space,” for colonial restora tion and generally for that elbow room to which she has helped her self so brutally by force during the past two years, successively in Aus tria, Czecho-Slovakia and Poland. Mr. Chamberlain might almost have known in advance the text of Hitler's Munich address, so specific ally were its principal arguments met at Birmingham earlier in the day. The allies are not at war either to destroy Germany or deny#her people their rightful place Jn a peace minded world, the Prime Minister said, as he has so often said before. Britain and France, on the contrary, once a trustworthy government has supplanted the Nazi regime, stand ready to pledge the Reich “economic justice” and specific aid in “the difficulties bound to accompany the transition from war to peace." But preceding such co-operation in a “new order,” which must include gradual disarmament, the rule of force and spirit of aggression by which the Nazis live and would gov ern must be abandoned, root and branch. Each of the German and British leaders on Saturday was talking for home consumption, the primary necessity of the belligerent govern ments at this time being to sustain morale alike on the domestic and military fronts. Around the confer ence table at which one day they must meet, a different tune will be piped, certainly if victor faces van quished there, but even sooner, if exploratory missions*like Mr. Welles’ should happily lead to peace discus sions before “total war” drenches all concerned in cruel, senseless and incalculable bloodshed. If our Un dersecretary of State is made the repository of complete candor by allied, German and Italian states men, the United States Government should speedily know whether peace is an iridescent dream, or if there is still wisdom enough left in a dis tracted world to dissuade men from that organized mass murder called war as an instrument of settling in ternational differences. The curtain is about to rise upon as momentous a drama as God’s be wildered children have ever wit nessed. For even the completely non-committal role their country has chosen to enact in it, the American people pray for a full measure of success. They await Mr. Welles’ probings hopefully, if without un warranted optimism. Americans are not a vindictive people, yet many are thinking that if the allies win this time they ought to stage that victorious parade down Unter den Linden to the Bran denburger Gate and perhaps back again. It might have a salutary effect for a good many years to come. There are a number of new verbs floating around, such as “contacted.” A recent one is "alligatored,” used in speaking of cracked paint. How would “ostrlched” do as regards the Nation’s budget balancers? Nevada has the smallest popula tion of any State in the Union Just over 91,000. Sometimes it sounds as if about one-third of that number were transients. FossiblySsreMon^SeMan River" is inching mtntly is beeauss his tangos is from. V Says Zoning Law Works Hardships Alexandria Rule Held Hurtful to Property Owners To the editor of The Star: The growth and expansion of the city of Alexandria along many lines during the past year has been noted with grati fication, but recent activities of those In authority In regard to zoning matters appear to be of doubtful Justification or propriety. In upholding a provision of the zoning law denying the right of property owners In "A” zone to have apartments in their homes, hardships have been Inflicted upon a class of the city’s most worthy citizens. Widows whose main source of Income Is the revenue from apartments in their homes are being notified to dismantle their apartments and get rid of their tenants or be subjected to a heavy penalty. El derly couples who by thrift and fore sight have provided this means of secur ing comforts In their declining years are receiving like notices. Young couples who are striving oh a small Income to pay for their homes and at the same time raise a family are among those being notified. Such procedure appears especially un justifiable at a time when there is a great demand for apartments, the In flux of newcomers to the city having taxed the city’s housing facilities to the limit and caused both corporations and private investors to undertake the building of apartment houses on a large scale. Such inconsistency on the part of those regulating city affairs should be Investigated. It would appear only fair that the city’s unprecedented pros perity should be shared by those in the small income group as well as by those whose bank accounts run into five and six figures. The property owners against whom such drastic measures are beijjg taken maintain apartments In homes that are in no way detrimental to other proper ties In their respective neighborhoods. Most of them are in two-story, detached houses or semi-bungalows, and the ex terior of the houses has not in any way been changed. The houses are clean and well kePt inside and out, with four or five people living in six or seven room houses, with a separate kitchen and bath for each group of two or three people. These people are quiet, orderly and intelligent, and live their busy lives in a way that in no respect infringes on the rights or comforts of their neighbors. They represent a very dependable and desirable class in the community, and the fact that they are being deprived of a large part of their income and are being humiliated by warrants, summons to court and threats of Jail sentences or fines is a matter that should receive serious consideration by every thoughtful citizen. Some regulation is necessary in every well-ordered city and zoning laws seem to be the established means for such' regulation, but where it is found that a law Interferes with the welfare and happiness of those for whose benefit it was made, it should be amended. Ac cording to Justice Holmes, the law should not be a fixed, immovable thing, but should be elastic and capable of adjustment to the needs of the people living under that law. In other words, the law should conform to the needs of the people and not the people to an ill fitting, iron-clad law. Certainly human welfare and happiness should have par amount consideration if a community is to be true to the democratic principles upon which America was founded and to which she owes her greatness, and Alexandria, perhaps more than any other city of the Nation, because of her long list of illustrious sons, owes allegiance to such principles. A CITIZEN OF ALEXANDRIA. Alexandria, Va., February 23. Star Traffic Study Wins Commendation. To the Editor of The St*r: This committee was extremely inter ested in reviewing a very brief report of the excellent study conducted by The Star of traffic fatalities in the District of Columbia during 1939. Our particular interest was aroused because the study is so much in line with the objectives of the “Safety With Light” program being conducted na tionally by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce. Launched Just one year ago this March, “Safety With Light” activities have already been car ried out by the Junior Chambers of Commerce in 63 cities and in every in stance that we have figures on, night traffic fatalities were shown to be at least 60 per cent of the total. The most Important disclosure, aside from this last, was that in every city a preponderant percentage of these night fatalities oc curred on a small portion of the city streets. In Long Beach, Calif., for in stance, 68.2 per cent-of all night acci dents happened on nine of the city’s main thoroughfares, which represented but 11.2 per cent of the total street mileage. Seventy per cent of all night pedestrian deaths occurred on these same fatal thoroughfares. In Des Moines, Iowa, only 12 per cent of the city’s street mileage accounted for over 50 per cent of all night acci dents and 68.4 per cent of alf Des Moines fatalities occurred after dark. In Gary, Ind., 93 per cent of all fatal accidents happened on only 20 streets, represent ing but 14 per cent of the total street mileage, and 54 per cent of the city’s fatalities occurred at night. The study of the Junior Association of Commerce in Chicago showed that 64 per cent of all the trafflo accidents In that city happened after dark, and re lating that figure to traffic volume, indi cated that Chicago’s streets were at least three times as dangerous to the motorist after the sun had set. This committee is aware that many causes contribute to the night traffic hazard, but it is also convinced that the major factor today is unsafe visibility conditions brought about by obsolete lighting. The solution of any safety problem, we believe, lies in getting facts and then analysing them. We would like to extend our congratulations to The Star for its effort in this direction. A survey and analysis of trafflo deaths is the movement which might well be under taken by at least one newspapw in every city and town in the country. JACK HAROLD), WHITE, Chairman Program Committee. ^b«rrgT. n, February SL I I " —— THIS AND THAT By Charles t. TraceweTl. "ALEXANDRIA, Va. "Dear Sir: Just for the record I noted yesterday evening over 70 robins by count on the slope of the hill to the rear of my hous^ while some 20 or more were beyond the fence on the property next to mine. “Last year it is my recollection that the first flock came up from North Caro* Una shortly after Washington’s birthday. ‘‘The robins stayed till dusk. Hope they stay around till winter Is passed for sure. “Yours sincerely, J. L. K." * * * * “WASHINGTON. “Dear Sir: At 12:30 p.m. on Wednes day, February 14, at a pause In the blinding snowfall of the past several hours, two robins were observed on the campus to the west of the Washington Monument. “Then the wind blew them away. The ground was only partly whitened. “Yours truly, A. O." * * * * “CHEVY CHASE, Md. “Dear Sir: A friend and bird lover, too, and I were chatting in a warm sunroom this a.m., and both of us saw a large, seemingly well-nourished robin quite close. “He was having an uncomfortable time holding fast in a small elm against the stiff breeze. 1 “We were cheered by the knowledge that bird food was near by. “Faithfully yours, A. T. I." • * * * "BETHESDA, Md. “Dear Sir: You may be interested to know that spring is Just around the corner! "Yes, not only has the snow about dis appeared but the birds also herald the season’s approach. “The cardinals and the song sparrows, particularly, are showing signs, by their more musical notes, of the warm days to come. "However, the best sign of all is the return of the robin. “Thus I wish to report recording a lone individual at Chevy Chase Lake, Md., on February 8, 1940. “Although I am aware that some robins winter over here as do the blue birds, no other robins have been seen at the lake despite many observations at the locality all winter. “Sincerely, J. A. F.” * * * * So there you are, just a few letters out of many, to show how folks regard the first robin as news. Sometimes there is a disposition on the part of persons who have not yet become interested in bird life to think that all the annual pow-wow over robins is somewhat overdone. Yes, a nice bird, as birds go, they will admit, but why such particular at tention to that famous first one? It Is, u one correspondent points out, because robins mean spring and no foolin’. * * * 0 Then, too, one’s own first robin is what counts. No matter how many robins some one else may have seen early, the first one you see, preferably in your own yard, is the real first robin for you. It has always been so. A correspondent sends this column a much-appreciated gift of a complete volume of the Atlantic Monthly for the year 1865, and there leading off the May issue is an article, unsigned, by John Burroughs, "With the Birds.” It is Interesting to note that none of the articles, stories or poems was signed. Evidently it became a sort of guessing contest for subscribers to try and figure out who wrote what. The solution came in the index to the December issue, which listed the articles and their authors. * * * ■ Burroughs had this to say of the robin: “In that free, fascinating, half-work and half-play pursuit—sugar making—a pursuit which still lingers ih many parts of New York, as in New England, the robin is one's boon companion. “When the day is sunpy and the ground bare, you meet him at all points and hear him at all hours. “At sunset, on the tops of the tall maples, with look heavenward, and in a spirit of utter abandonment, he carols his simple strain. “And sitting thus amid the stark, silent trees, above the wet, cold earth, with the chill of winter still in the air, there is no fitter or sweeter songster in the whole round year. “It is in keeping with the scene and the occasion. How round and genuine the notes are, and how eagerly our ears drink them in! “The first utterance, and the spell of winter is thoroughly broken and the remembrance of it afar off. • * a m "Robin,” the writer continued, with a fine sense of familiarity, “is one of the most native and democratic of our birds; he is one of the family, and seems much nearer to us than those rare, exotic visitants, as the orchard starling or rose breasted grosbeak, with their distant, high-bred ways. "Hardy, noisy, frolicsome, neighborly and domestic in his ways, strong of wing and bold in spirit, he is the pioneer of the thrush family, and well worthy of the finer artists whose coming he heralds and in‘a measure prepares us for.” Criticizing the robin's nest building, the writer adds: "After all, we must set it down to the account of robin’s demo cratic turn: he is no aristocrat, but one of the people; and therefore we should expect stability in his workmanship rather than elegance.” Letters to the Editor Sees Logic In Attitude Of Heads of Institution. To the Editor of The Star: Representative D’Alesandro. appar ently, is thorough in his investigation, and we give him every credit. In some respects, though, he seems slightly to overshoot the mark at times. I note in The Star where he chides the superintendent of the Receiving Heme because be feeds on lamb chops while the “babes and sucklings” are be ing nourished on bologna. Well, this happens all over the world—even in Communist Russia, no doubt. Those in charge fare better than their wards. About 45 years ago Bay View Asylum in Baltimore was managed by the Rev. Louis F. Zinkhan, an efficient and kindly man. The Inmates had plenty to eat. But, naturally, according to their station in life. There wasn’t so much then of this “equal rights for all, special privileges for none” business. For his own table he wanted the pick of the market. “The superintendent is en titled to the best, and he is going to have it.” And that was that. But those under his care did not suffer. “There was glory enough for all.” Mr. Zinkhan later came to Washing ton as head of the old asylum and work house. This was before Blue Plains and before Occoquan. Here he had bad luck. There was an escape of prisoners and he resigned (about 1904). As a matter of historical interest we might mention that our old friend John L. Sullivan once had dinner at Bay View Asylum. That was away back in the early 80s, shortly after he had be come champion. He ate—and he ate plenty—as the honored guest of the then superintendent, Mr. Charley Carroll, a former prizefighter. Receiving homes in old-time Baltimore I can’t call to mind. For “bad kids” there were houses of refuge and industrial schools. Babe Ruth was raised in one— whether with or without bologna, that I don’t know. Anyhow, he made good. Mr. D’Alesandro, I believe, is a law yer—and, no doubt, a good one. Now his forerunner, Mr. Palmisano, at one time of his career, was a bartender. And I’ll bet, when he felt like helping him self to an occasional “snifter” at .the boss’ expense, that he reached for the best. In short, we all take advantage of our opportunities. FRED VETTER. February 24. Discusses Political Chances Favoring President Roosevelt. To tht Editor of The Star: There are two questions today which, more than any others, overshadow the broad field of public opinion. They are, respectively: How far can America go in bulwarking the European democracies without herself becoming embroiled in a foreign war, and who is the natural as pirant to the presidential chair in 1040? The campaign for Democratic and Re publican nominations has long since begun. Political jockeying and maneu vering can be sensed in almost every phase of public policy now confronting Congress. The associate question, there fore, evolves to be just this: What groups will dominate the two major conventions in the summer of this year? Both par ties art divided. We find conservative and liberal blocs in both, each ope striv ing for control of the coining party con claves. Notice, for Instance, the way the Old Ouaid In the O. O. P. are trying to stop liberal Tom Dewey. In the Republican party we have lib erate like Norris, Nye, Dewey and La Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address oj the writer, although the use of a pseudonym for publication is permissible. Please be brief! ment in the Democratic party consisting of Tydings, Clark, Smith, George, etc. Each is determined that its influence will be felt. The New Dealers, no doubt, hold the trump card because of presi dential prestige, the popularity of Mr. Roosevelt and the veto power over the convention, but even so, a rocky road may lie ahead. There is one factor, however, which must not be overlooked when attempt ing to analyze current vicissitudes. It is something which is peculiar to the Amer ican people and may be summed up in the old adage: "Variety is the spice of life.” The American people occasionally like a change, especially in their politics. They pride themselves on individual in itiative and intellectual freedom, but* are influenced tremendously by the press and radio. Now, under a democratic form of gov ernment, this may be a good thing. It puts into motion that splendid mechan ism known as “checks and balances.” One thing, nevertheless, is quite fre quently overlooked by the politicians and the public alike. The old pendulum on the clock swings far to the right and then far to the left, only in the case of governments and their peoples it usually goes much farther on the return. If by cnance public opinion should so alter its complexion between now and 1940 as to place in power a reactionary Repub lican, it is very probable in the opinion of this writer that by the time 1944 rolls around the masses will be clamoring for a social-democracy. * If, on the other hand, the party out of power takes the advice of Dr. Glenn Frank, it is altogether probable that the liberal element in the G. O. P. could nominate Mr. Dewey. If the Democrats nominated Mr. Gamer, it ■ would seem wholly consistent for Mr. Dewey to come home with the bacon. In that event the Republicans would be running more of a New Dealqr than the Democrats. The current setup, however, would indicate that President Roosevelt will be drafted. I am confident that if he is renominated and elected, he will con tinue as the same spirited, far-sighted and conscientious man that history la destined to recognize as one of the great est of all American Presidents. BENJAMIN R. STICKNEY, Jr. Citizen* Commend Editorial On East Capitol Street. To the Editor of The Star: I am glad to Inform you that at the last meeting of our association, held on February IS, 1940, the members adopted a resolution which unanimously com mended your newspaper upon the edi torial published therein on February 4, 1940, entitled "Turning Eastward” with respect to the improvement of East Capitol street. JOSEPH NOTES, Secretary, Northeast Washington Citizens' Association. February U. Protest* Treatment Of BrMfse* Candidacy. To ms Ml tor St tm Mart A* a reader ot your journal X am curious why your political writers treat the candidacy of United States Senator Stytao Bridtes for President in 1M0 as if it were naa-ematont. Is this fair piayf Pmary tl. LIWIS A STORE Haskin's Answers To Readers' Questions By Frederic J. Hasktn. 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. Who was the first woman to make a speech on the radio?—R. C. H. A. Margaret McElroy Story, a style specialist, broadcast a radio address from Station KDKA, Pittsburgh, on January 6, 1922. Q. What is the origin of the word caddy as applied to a boy who carries the clube of golf players*—P. D. A. The Encyclopedia of Sports says that it was Mary Queen of Scotland who gave the caddies their name. She was educated in Prance, where cadet (pro nounced caddy) means a student. When later in Scotland she referred to the boy who sighted her golf balls as her cadet, the Scots began using this word, spelling it caddy or caddie. Q. What three colored lights are most easily distinguished at night? In the daytime?—R. B. B. A. The National Bureau of Standards says that red, green and blue lights are of all triads the most easily distinguished by the eye, day or night. The field against which a light is viewed affects its visibility importantly. For good visi bility a light should be brighter and of different hue than any neighboring por tions of the field against which it is viewed, Q. Who invented the bronchoscope?— M. H. A. The bronchoscope, an instrument for the extraction of foreign bodies from the lungs and bronchial tubes, was in vented by Dr. G. Killian of Vienna and originally used by him. It was brought to this country by physicians, modified and perfected by Dr. Chevalier Jackson of Philadelphia, and is now in use in practically every large hospital in the country. Q. How much does a cubic foot of ice weigh?—C. A. Q. A. The weight of ice is 57.2 pounds per cubic foot. Q. What is a Tibetan terrier?—S. H. M. A. The Tibetan terrier resembles a Skye terrier, having a beautiful, shaggy coat, large, round head and eyes half hidden by a profuse fringe of hair. The feet and legs are also well-covered with hair. These dogs vary in size and were originally smuggled from Lhasa in Tibet. Q. When did Stalin become dictator of the U. S. S. R.?—R. B. A. Stalin, as general secretary of the Central Committee of the Russian Com munist party, became dictator of Rus sia after Lenin's death on January 21, 1924. Q. Please give a brief history of the formation of Reelfoot Lake.—H. H. S. A. The Geological Survey says that the bed of Reelfoot Lake was originally a part of the channel of the Mississippi River, which changed its course, as it has in a great many places, leaving a i Part of the bed stranded, as it were, with no inlet and no considerable outlet to or from the present channel of the river. The New Madrid earthquake of 1811 caused the land in this section, where a small narrow lake already ex isted, to drop and the small creeks, among them the creek called Reelfoot Creek, which fed the original lake from the highland around it, filled up the depression so caused into the present Reelfoot Lake which is 18 miles long, has a maximum width of 3 miles and is the only large lake in the State of Ten nessee. Q. What amount did Japan pay the United States for sinking the Panay?— T. S. A. The Japanese government paid in demnity of $2,214,007.36 for death, per sonal injury and property losses sus tained as a result of the attack on the U. S. S. Panay and American merchant vessels on December 12, 1937. Q. When was the painting of Mona Lisa stolen from the Louvre?—L. G. B. A. The famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci was stolen from the gallery on August 22, 1911. It was recovered in Florence, Italy, on December 12, 1913, and restored to the Louvre. Q. To what extent did Abraham Lin coln suffer from depression?—M. P. D. A. Carl Sandburg In “The Prairie Years” says: “In a conversation about that time,” Wilson said (Robert L. Wil son, one of Lincoln’s colleagues at Springfield), ‘Lincoln told me that al though he appeared to enjoy life rap turously, still he was the victim of ter rible melancholy. He sought company, and indulged in fun and hilarity with out restraint or stint as to time; but, when by himself he told me that he was so overcome by mental depression that ■ he never dared carry a knife in his pocket; and as long as I was intimately acquainted with him, previous to his commencement of the practice of law, he never carried a pocketknife.’ In hours of melancholy, when poisons of dejection dragged him, the underlip and its muscles drooped; his friends felt either that he then was a sick man with a disorder of bile and secretions or else that his thoughts roamed in farther and darker caverns than ordinary men ven tured into. • • •" Q Who wrote the song “In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree?”—T. M. A. It is by Harry Williams and Egbert Yan Alstyne. Q. How can I obtain a concise booklet on the ways of etiquette today?—R. p. A. See page A-2 of today’s Star. Forewell to Winter Winter yields his frigid reign To spring’s gentle grace: Offers bold lips for her kiss. Leans to her embrace. For a last fling decks each bough In crisp hoar-frost lace. Sunbeams vault the curving brow Of a snow-capped hill: Wave a gay farewell to each Brave new daffodlll. Tall ice candles disappear From the windowsill. Fife and flute ate singing now As a swift wing dips: •eon the earth will awaken, thrilled To Mr fingertips ■y a gentle, weeing bresas Wnm the son's want Mgs. nOOTLAWW