Evening star. [volume], May 29, 1940, Page A-8, Image 8

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THEODORE W. NOTES, Editor.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
WEDNESDAY..May 29, 1940
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National Defense Council
In reviving the pre-World War
Council of National Defense and in
naming as full-time advisory mem
bers such distinguished industrialists
as Edward R. Stettinius, jr., chairman
of the Board of Directors of the
United States Steel Corporation, and
William S. Knudsen, president of the
General Motors Corporation, Presi
dent Roosevelt has made a tangible
start toward putting the defense
program into effect. There will be
healthy skepticism, no doubt, as to
whether the group is merely to sup
plement the New Deal cabinet with
its advice, or whether it is going
ahead and take the leadership—with
authority—that the crisis demands.
But these questions can be answered
only by developments.
There is urgent need that men of
the business attainments and execu
tive capabilities of Mr. Stettinius and
Mr. Knudsen should take an active
hand in the gigantic industrial mobi
lization job which cataclysmic world
events have forced upon this Nation
almost overnight. If ever there was
an occasion for injecting more busi
ness into government—and big busi
ness at that—this is that occasion.
The act of August 29. 1916, creating
the Council of National Defense, was
designed “to increase and develop
domestic production and to concen
trate. mobilize and co-ordinate the
country’s resources, both in men and
supplies, in time of need.” President
Wilson named Bernard M. Baruch as
a member of the original Advisory
Commission set up under the act,
and after our entry into the w'ar Mr.
Baruch was made chairman of a new
group, the War Industries Board. He
was given dictatorial powers over the
Nation’s wartime industries. In the
present crisis, President Roosevelt
has taken only the preliminary step
of setting up an advisory commission
of experts in the fields of manufac
turing, transportation, labor, agri
culture and price control. There is as
yet no plan for a “czar” to head up
the whole organization, unless Mr.
Roosevelt himself intends to fill that
role. In this respect the President's
plan will not satisfy completely many
responsible persons who have been
pressing the administration to take
the national defense program away
from the “politicians” and turn it ;
over to a nonpartisan, hard-headed
businessman or to an independent
board of such men.
While the original act contem
plated a body dominated largely
by members of the President’s cabi
net, Mr. Roosevelt told reporters yes
terday that they could “forget” the
cabinet in the proposed setup. That
would be desirable, of course, in view
of the difficulties under which cer
tain vital departments affecting na
tional defense are operating at pres
ent, but it is scarcely possible to for
get the cabinet as long as actual
administration of the defense pro
gram remains under control of the
present departmental heads. It is
exceedingly unfortunate that the
Navy Department at this critical
period should be in charge of a man
who is preparing to run for political
office, that the War Department
should be the scene of undercover
controversy in high quarters, that
the Secretary of Commerce should
be an official with little actual busi
ness experience and that the Secre
tary of Labor should be an estimable
lady who lacks the confidence of war
ring labor factions.
undoubtedly, the appointment of
the Advisory Commission will help to
allay the fears that have been ex
pressed regarding ability of the Gov
ernment quickly and efficiently to
convert the billions of appropriated
dollars into warplanes and ships and
tanks and munitions. The two full
time members will have the aid of
five assistants, including Ralph Budd
to direct transportation activities,
and Sidney Hillman to handle labor
problems. The commission is to act
as a clearing house of information on
productive capacity of industry,
standardization of designs, training
of workmen and speeding up of
transportation of raw materials and
finished implements of war. Extent
of its authority apparently will be
limited at this stage of the council’s
development, so that its effectiveness
will depend largely on the degree of
co-operation which its members are
able to obtain from a governmental
bureaucracy. That American indus
try-employers and employes alike—
may be depended upon to put their
.shoulders to the wheel without stint
lli this crucial hour of the country’s
%eed goes without saying. There will
have to be certain temporary sacri
flees made for the sake of national
security—sacrifices of profits, of
social benefits, of other advantages
of normal ways of life—but the
sacrifices will reap dividends of na
tional and social security In the end.
In that spirit America turns its face
unflinchingly to the heavy task
which lies ahead.
Paying the Bill
The United States, faced with the
inescapable necessity of building up
its armed forces as a safeguard
against the spreading menace of
totalitarianism, has reached the
point where it has no alternative
but to lift the $45,000,000,000 debt
limitation imposed by law on the
Federal Government. For those who
have been deeply concerned by the
successive years of large Federal
deficits, and The Star is among their
number, it is a step to be taken with
deep regret. But it must be taken.
This is a matter which goes di
rectly to the question of insuring our
national security. At the present
time our defense equipment is wholly
inadequate in view of the demands
that may be made upon it in the
near future. The appalling fate
which has overtaken the unprepared
democracies of Europe should con
vince the most skeptical American
that our primary duty now is to
prepare for the worst that tomorrow
may bring, and neither resentment
aroused by past extravagances nor
respect for an arbitrarily imposed
debt limit should be permitted to
stand in the way of achieving that
objective.
as a nrst step toward paying the
rearmament bill, the administration
has proposed that the debt limit be
raised to $48,000,000,000. The na
tional debt at the present time is
just under $43,000,000,000, and when
the anticipated deficit for the next
fiscal year, plus the added expendi
tures for emergency defense require
ments, are added to the present
indebtedness, the existing debt limi
tation will have been exceeded. As a
matter of simple arithmetic, there
fore, Congress has no choice but to
increase the total debt which the
National Government is permitted to
assume.
To a very considerable extent,
however, the undesirable aspects of
this necessary move are offset by the
accompanying administration pro
posal to levy new taxes calculated to
raise $600,000,000 a year for five
years. It has been suggested that
this new revenue be used to retire
the $3,000,000,000 in “defense bonds"
which the Treasury plans to issue
when the debt limit is lifted, and, if
future circumstances permit, that
should be done. In any event,, it was
highly desirable that a new tax pro
gram accompany any relaxation of
the debt limit, and the administra
tion is to be commended for taking
this normally unpopular course in an
election year.
In this connection, however, It Is
important to keep in mind the neces
sity of enacting sound tax legislation.
The administration has not made
public any specific recommendations,
but there has been a suggestion at
the Capitol that the bulk of the
additional revenue be raised by im
posing a “super tax” of ten per cent
on the present income levies. Adop
tion of such a program, while offering
an easy solution of the problem,
would be both unfair and unwise.
In 1938 only 3,371,000 persons—
some two and one-half per cent of
the total population—paid Federal
income taxes. If the new tax burden
is to be saddled onto this relatively
small element of the population, it
means that the vast majority of
American citizens, although they
would share equally in the benefits
of adequate national defense, would
make little if any direct contribution
to the cost of providing it.
In Great Britain, where the tax
base is broader than in the United
States by virtue of the fact that per
sonal exemptions are lower, income
taxes were paid by seven and one
fourth per cent of the population in
1937-38. It has been estimated by
Senator La Follette that a broaden
ing of the base in this country by
reducing the exemption of single
persons from $1,000 to $800 and that
of married persons from $2,500 to
$2,000 would create 1,400,000 new
taxpayers.
It is true that the added revenue
from this source would not be great,
but it would have the desirable effect
of distributing the total tax burden
over a larger segment of the popu
lation, and it is to be hoped that
President Roosevelt will repeat his
recommendation of last summer that
some broadening of the tax base be
approved by Congress.
Jurisdictional Strikes
The Supreme Court decision in the
Apex case appears likely to have a
crippling effect on efforts by the
Government to break up jurisdic
tional strikes in the building industry
by Sherman Act prosecutions. The
court does not deal directly with this
form of industrial tie-up, but in nar
rowing the applicability of the act
to those cases in which “commercial
competition’’ is restrained, it seems
clear that strikes having no other
purpose or effect than to replace one
class of workmen on a job by an
other, would be excluded from
the law.
it is signmcant also tnat tne deci
sion discusses “restraints on the sale
of an employe’s services to an em
ployer,” which would be a logical
development of a jurisdictional
strike, and declares they are free
from the prohibitions of the Sher
man Act.
It was coincidental that the Apex
decision was followed by the an
nouncement that the Department of
Justice was abandoning plans to
6
k
appeal from the District Caurt rul
ing which freed four officials of the
Teamsters Union who were indicted
here for a building construction
tie-up which the Justice Department
charged was the outgrowth of a
jurisdictional dispute. No reason
was assigned for this step, which was
said to have been decided upon
before the Apex ruling.
ine Department or Justice moved
against jurisdictional strikes that for
years have been the source of trou
ble in the American Federation of
Labor, on the ground that they con
stitute an "unreasonable restraint
designed to destroy an established
and legitimate system of collective
bargaining.” It is possible that the
Government may find its hand
strengthened later when the Su
preme Court passes directly on the
jurisdictional strike issue in a case
that has been appealed from St.
Louis, where a district judge quashed
an indictment against officials of
the Carpenters Union. In the mean
time, labor would be well advised to
do its part to end this particular
abuse.
Minister to Canada
For the difficult days ahead, days
in which American-Canadian rela
tions are likely to take on increased
importance on both sides of the
border, President Roosevelt has made
a wise selection for the Ottawa Lega
tion in the person of Jay Pierrepont
Moffat, chief of the State Depart
ment’s European Division since 1937.
The Moffat appointment is impor
tant not only for the fact that it puts
an experienced career diplomat in a
post which has been held largely by
political appointees since it was
established in 1927, but also for the
fact that it sends one of the State
Department’s key men, who has been
close to the formulation of American
foreign policy, to what conceivably
could become the chief post in the
British Empire and commonwealth
of nations.
In any event the ties between
the United States and Canada must
become increasingly close for mutual
protection. This country can tolerate
no infringement of Canada’s sov
ereignty from across the Atlantic;
Canada must look to the United
States for the burden of that protec
tion which it cannot itself, by the
very nature of its resources, provide.
Defense forces, therefore, must be
woven into a single fabric. Hand in
hand with this military alliance
must go a political rapprochement
in which, it is possible, relations
closer than those usually maintained
between sovereign states, but short
of outright union, may result.
Mr. Moffat is thoroughly equipped
for the important -assignment at
Ottawa. The time long since has
passed where this post can be con
sidered merely as a plum with which
to reward deserving campaign con
tributors.
Belgian Independence
The elemental concept of Belgian
freedom is much older than the
independent and, until 1919, “per
petually neutral’’ state of Belgium.
Julius Caesar, as early as 51 B.C., had
learned to appreciate the self-suffi
ciency as well as the fortitude of the
Belgae. He defeated the peoples of
the Southern Lowlands, but it hardly
could be said that he conquered
them. Their origin was Celtic, and
the Celts resist tyranny with a
savage intensity which even the
might of imperial Rome was quick to
recognize.
Many flags, certainly, have waved
over Belgian territory, and it would
be useless to attempt to deny their
significance. Brussels, for example,
is a cosmopolitan city—a community
in which everybody may feel at home.
The explanation is that It has been
the center of government for many
different regimes. Flanders was
French from 843 to 1369, Burgundian
from 1384 to 1477. The Austrian
Hapsburgs ruled the country from
1477 to 1555 and from 1580 to 1713.
Spain was in control for twenty-five
years in the sixteenth century, the
German Empire during most of the
eighteenth, Napoleon at the start of
the nineteenth. It was not until
April 19, 1839, that Great Britain,
France, Prussia and Russia set up the
constitutional kingdom whose ex
istence, particularly if threatened by
Holland, they guaranteed.
But ordinary political formulas and
patterns have meant little to the
Belgians in historic times. They have
tolerated interference with their
ancient rights only briefly and at a
fearful price. An old rhyme tells that
the citizens of Ghent are famous for
their halters. The reference is to the
great number of occasions when their
sovereigns attempted to coerce them
—in vain. For trespass upon essen
tial liberties they exact a heavy toll.
It was no accident that, as Charles
Morris reports, “their walled cites
* * * were more than two hundred,
their chartered towns one hundred
and fifty, their villages over six
thousand, and within these the
people enjoyed a degree of * * *
self-government not elsewhere to be
found in Europe, except, perhaps, in
Switzerland. And nowhere were to
be found people more ready to strike
for their rights, more pugnacious and
excitable.”
Conditions may have changed in
the past few days, but Americans
familiar with Belgium will be loath
to think so.
The flight of Queeh Wilhelmlna to
England is said to have shaken the
faith of her subjects considerably.
With all due respect to this-estimable
monarch, it must be admitted that
she is not quite the Queen Boadicea
brand. ,
M k
Plea of 'Have-Nots'
Declared False
Writer Says Resort to War
Invites Ultimate
Retaliation
To th* Editor of The star;
The stock wall of certain well-known
nations with efficient armies and expan
sive ambitions, a wail echoed frequently
for them by American sympathizers, Is
to the effect that they are "have-nots”
which did not get to the counter in time
when opportunities were being handed
out. The “have" nations are the vll
lians in the piece who must be compelled
to share their spoils by force if they, are
unwilling to do so otherwise.
This complaint takes two different
forms, complaint that more land is
needed for expanding populations and
complaint that more raw materials are
needed for expanding industry.
But we notice that the principal com
plainants—Japan, Italy and Germany—
are not the only nations with dense
populations which might fairly ask for
more territory on that account. If the
argument is valid, these three states
should be equally concerned for the
unfortunate Chinese, Hindus, Javenese,
Puerto Ricans and Belgians, but .1 have
not observed that they show much con
cern over these brethren in misfortune.
Secondly, the complainants might be
reminded that populations may expand
even though national boundaries do not.
Otherwise, how do we happen to have
many thousand Germans, Italians and
even Japanese, and their descendants,
in this country today, and how is it that
there are so many more in South Amer
ica and in other parts of the world?
Moreover, we might diplomatically call
attention to the fact that further ac
ceptances of German, Italian and
Japanese people are hindered by the be
havior of their home governments and
the fear lest such immigrants be used as
means for extending the power of those
governments by permeation or by an
occasional blitzkrieg.
Again, the countries which complain
loudest about surplus population are
those most careful to ban family limi
tation propaganda and even subsidize
parenthood. If it is to the greater good
of mankind that there be several million
more Japanese, Italians and Germans
in the world than there are today, it is
simple mathematics that the time will
come when family limitation must be
applied by them.
And finally, it is open to doubt whether
huge families make for the highest hap
piness of either parents or children.
If such a condition is general, the very
happiness which is supposed to accrue to
a nation through increase in population
and consequent power will be lost in the
process of attaining it. For the happi
ness of a nation cannot be divorced from
the happiness of the individuals of whom
it consists.
contemplation of these facts leads to
the suspicion that those who complain
Qf having too little land for their people
have in mind less the happiness of the
people than the aggrandizement of their
government and those who control it.
Turning to the problem of raw mate
rials, we note in the first place that the
“have” nations are not self-sufficient to
the extent that the "have-not” nations
give one to suppose. For instance, the
United States might seem to occupy first
place in the list of "haves,” but a recent
examination of our essential raw mate
rials shows that we are dependent for
several of them on Southeastern Asia
and the East Indies which we in no
manner control. Whether Russia is po
tentially self-sufficient or not, she has
failed to attain to an enviable standard
of living. In the case of England we
have to remember that the protective
tariffs which now hinder access to the
materials she controls were forced upon
her largely by the complaining nations,
after she had established and continued
over a long period a system of free
exchange.
This last case is proof that it is not
necessary for nations to own the sources
of raw materials in order to obtain them.
The example of England also shows that
it is largely the fault of the complainants
if free access is interferred with. A
further cause is threat of military ac
tion which defeats the very object the
latter have in view. At the present time
the British Empire is in effect an associ
ation of independent nations, and it
does not necessarily follow that the de
mands of the mother country will take
precedence over those of other nations,
if the latter can promise greater trade
advantages, except for the threatening
attitude which they frequently assume.
And Americans should note that this
complaint is aimed straight at them
since South America, around which we
have flung the Monroe Doctrine, is the
greatest single reservoir of undeveloped
resources in the world today. If these
nations, individually or collectively, build
up their sea power to approximate equal
ity with our own, how long do you sup
pose the Monroe Doctrine will remain
unchallenged?
The cure suggested for such inequities
as do exist is an association of nations
similar to that which binds the autono
mous states of the British Empire to
gether, and the outlawry of war. An
attempt to right the supposed Injustices
under which “have-not” nations labor
by resort to arms, however successful at
times, is certain, unless all history be
lies us, to bring about counter disad
vantages far outweighing any previous
gains. JOHN R. SWANTON.
May 18.
Suggests Action Against
Subversive Activities.
To the Editor of The Star:
Most of us are heartily behind the
President’s somewhat belated proposals
for national defense.
With an eye to what the "fifth column"
accomplished for Germany in both Nor
way and Holland, would it be too great
an effrontery to suggest that it would
be a good idea to stop entertaining visit
ing groups of Communists in the White
House? Also, even if Mr. Roosevelt is
not interested in the great and patriotic
work being done by the Dies Committee,
might one humbly hint that there are
millions of patriotic Americans who do
not appreciate hearing that work char
acterized by the President as "a sordid
business”?
In other words, I believe I express the
sentiments of millions of liberty-loving
Americans when I say, “Let’s stop cod
dling these thousands of subversive ver
min and really start getting tough with
them." 8. H. MUMPORD.
May K
A
I THIS AND THAT I
_____
By Charles E. Tracewell.
■■■ - -
“C STREET S J5.
“Dear air:
, "I -have Jong enjoyed your column,
and believe you could clear up a bird
question I have always been anxious to
settle.
“When I used to go fishing In Obion
Creek bottom 25 years ago, there was
always some bird calling, ‘Wheeler,
wheeler, wheeler.’
“Just those three notes, never more.
“I have never heard this bird else
where, but It is possible It may be In this
vicinity.
me omer aay 1 waa aown there on a
fishing trip.
"This bird was still calling for
•wheeler.’
"Could you by chance tell me Just
what kind of bird this was? It has
gray feathers and white breast.
* * * *
“Obion bottom is 127 miles northeast
of Memphis, Tenn. Much of this bottom
has been cleared of its timber, but there
are still a great many kinds of birds.
“At one time I have seen timber so
thick that it fooled the owls. My brother
here in Washington always wrote me in
the spring, wanting to know if the great
owls still hooted in the daytime down
there.
“The forest was so dark the owls
thought it was night, I suppose.
“Or do the hoot owls make those
frightful sounds at any or all times?
* * * *
“There are still enough birds in mid
dle fork, Obion bottom, to make you
think the whole world is populated
solely by birds, as I did the evening of
May 7.
"It would haye been a treat for you,
I am sure.
"After this, I have resolved to go back
every year in May, if possible.
“All day long you can stay in there
and never hear an automobile honk or
grind its gears.
“Probably if there were cars, the bird
songs would drown out the noise.
"Sincerely yours, E. H. A."
A A rit
The ovenbird, the Baltimore oriole,
and the cardinal all have songs which
might be said to call “wheeler."
The ovenbird, in particular, seems to
say “teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher,"
with the accent on the last syllable.
This might seem to some as being
"wheeler, wheeler, wheeler, wheeler.”
The oriole at times pumps out a rapid
“cheeper, cheeper, cheeper, cheeper,
cheep!”
The cardinal often utters notes which,
by a lively imagination, might be twisted
into "wheeler.”
None of these birds, however, could
be said to have “gray feathers and
white breast,” unless possibly the oven
Letters to the Editor
Scores House Passage
Of Pension Bill.
Ts the Editor of The Stir:
What can the Representatives in Con
gress be thinking about to have passed
such a ruinous veterans’ pension bill?
Such an act by Congress is unthinkable
in the best of times, but now when our
national debt limit is in sight and the
highly important and expensive ques
tion of national defense is so Imminent,
it would seem that Congress actually is
willing to “sell out” our country for the
sake of re-election!
And it is hard to find words to express
the contempt that patriotic ex-soldiers
and citizens feel for that pressure group
of veterans who are trying to push our
Government to the wall with their un
just demands!
Let us hope that somewhere along the
line this bill will be filed in the waste
basket where it belongs. D. A. C.
May 17.
Comments on America’s
Acquisition of Territory.
To th* Editor ol The Star:
I have read with interest in The Star
of May 15, 1940, Mr. W. B. Edwards’ re
ply to the letters recently contributed by
“Cold Realism” and Mr. Don Gallagher. I
am amazed that Mr. Edwards is so naive
as to believe that the United States did
not acquire any of its immense terri
tory by aggressive means. Before de
nying the truth of some of "Cold Real
ism’s” statements, he should at least
have informed himself of the methods
whereby we enlarged our boundaries.
The facts I am about to recite are de
rived from “The Rise of American Civili
zation” by those distinguished historians,
Dr. Charles A. and Mary Beard; the
Roman and Arabic numerals refer to the
volumes and pages, respectively, of the
1-volume edition, 1930.
In the early part of the 19th century
Spain's hold on her American possessions
weakened. Incidents occurred—just as
they do nowadays—with the result that
in 1818 Gen. Andrew Jackson Invaded
Florida, acting on “vague orders” from
Washington, and occupied the country.
As the Beards put it: “In these cir
cumstances, there was nothing for the
King of Spain to do but make the most
of the inevitable,” and accordingly he
ceded Florida to the conquerors (I, 432).
After Mexico had broken with Spain,
we took advantage of the feebleness of
the Mexican government to occupy the
Mexican provinces of Texas and Cali
fornia, with the result that Americans
outnumbered the Mexicans. We inter
fered with the. Internal affairs of Mex
ico, set up Texas as a separate republic,
and finally took her outright. James K.
Polk was scarcely inaugurated as Presi
dent in 1845 “when he coolly told his
cabinet that California was to be an
nexed” (I, 604). The war with Mexico
decided the fate of those countries.
In 1854 three American envoys abroad
issued the famous Ostend Manifesto, in
which they declared that Cuba was es
sential to the welfare of the United
States, and that, if peaceful means failed,
we had every right to occupy the island,
by force of arms, if necessary (I, 654).
But, fortunately, Congress rejected this
brilliant proposal—and waited until 1898.
During the 19th century Americans
emigrated to Hawaii, and became so
powerful there that in time they domi
nated the islands. In 1875 we succeeded
In getting the native King to agree not
to cede any part of his dominions to any
nation but the United 8tates (II, 358).
Later on we started a revolution, over
threw the local government, set up the
usual republic—and then annexed the
Islands wholesale.
i There are other inetenoee that may be
A
bird, which la olive-brown on the back,
with under parta of white, but atreaked
with black.
* * * *
The ovenbird once was known as the
golden-crowned thrush.
Its flight song was a favorite of
Thoreau, who never quite succeeded in
seeing which bird made it.
The flight song, as the bird rises into
the air, is more varied and lyrical than
the “teacher” utterance. It occurs when
the creature leaves the tree top and
soars into the air for some 60 feet.
Both song and flight cease at once,
the bird dropping straight down again.
Sometimes it sings in the same way while
In the bush.
V w w w
Our correspondent gives a nice pic
ture of a quiet place.
Sometimes we think we shall all have
to move to Obion bottom, with things in
the world being the way they are.
Anyway, It is a good place to know
about.
The birds of Prance, the birds of Hol
land, the birds of Poland, the birds of
Belgium
Poor birds!
* * * *
Before the bombs begin to burst, let
us who live in the suburban sections
and the real country wake up early
these mqrnings in order to listen to the
bird chorus.
We have something which city dwel
lers know only in little.
They have a few cheeps and chirps,
but we have the overwhelming blending
of thousands of birds in a chorus which
defies description.
It begins earlier and earlier, as dawn
comes, so that you have to be a light
sleeper, or have some one wake you up,
or maybe be so sensitive to beauty that
you wake yourself up, in anticipation.
* * * *
It is worth it, this morning song of
the birds.
Many people live their lives without
hearing it. Some, misguided, call It
“noise.”
Listened to properly, the birds’ morn
ing chorus possess something of the
rhapsodic quality of the great symphony
orchestra playing one of the master
works.
To some listeners, it will seem impos
sible for any ears to read words and
meanings into this matin serenade.
This music is pure music, absolute
music, in other words, it Is instrumental.
It holds together through sheer inten
sity, like all great music permitting the
listener to read into it whatever mean
ing—not words—his heart and mind
make up for it.
Fortunately, we do not have to go to
Obion bottom for this.
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!
cited, but these are sufficient to refute
Mr. Edwards’ assertion that we never
have been an aggressor nation. Mr.
Edwards should also Inform himself on
the Indian situation by reading Col.
Jennings C. Wise's scholarly work, “The
Red Man in the New World Drama”
<1931). He will learn that we, as a Na
tion, have not always played fair with
the aboriginal Americans.
I am fully aware that I will be accused
of giving a very one-sided and unattrac
tive picture of our national history. Such
has not been my desire. I sincerely be
lieve that we have had a glorious past,
and that we have a brilliant future.
May 15. PROFESSOR HISTORY.
Believes History
Will Repeat.
To the Editor of The Star:
World dominion was almost In the
grasp of Spain, the last barrier being
England; and England had to be crushed.
But the cause of liberty was protected by
the breath of the Almighty and the ships
of Admiral Drake.
England also was saved from her ene
mies in Ireland, as described by Patrick
Lally:
"Although Sarsfield (Patrick, Earl of
Lucan, an Irish Jacobite general, mem
ber of the Irish Parliament; served in
army of James II, against William of
Orange; killed at battle of Neerwinder,
July, 1693) covered himself with undying
fame, they were in the end overpowered,
and the Irish Army volunteered to go to
Prance, where they formed the ‘Irish
Brigade,' so famous in history. The
manhood of Ireland now turned toward
Prance and the United States, and the
nation fell into a comatose condition last
ing a hundred years.
“Wolfe Tone (bom in Dublin, June 20,
1763; committed suicide in Dublin Prison,
November 19, 1798; Irish revolutionist,
one of chief founders of United Irish
men) succeeded in once more rousing the
spirit of the people, and after efforts
never before excelled by one man, he suc
ceeded in getting the French govern
ment to equip a fleet of 50 battleships,
well manned, commanded by three ad
mirals. Fifteen thousand veteran troops
were on board. The grand armament
left Prance for Ireland, December, 1796.
A storm of unnatural severity broke and
scattered them like chaff. A thick fog
also settled over them, to add to the con
fusion, and once again England was
eana/i War tVia alemanfe
"Again the Batavian Republic collect
ed a great fleet of 26 battleships, 15.000
veteran troops, and offered them to Ire
land. The expedition was ready for
months, becalmed. This is known as the
Trexel expedition, and was one the best
ever organized. And England was again
saved by the element*.
“One more Tone succeeded in having
Prance furnish another force. Once more
It was wrecked by a storm. Tone was
captured and either murdered or com
mitted suicide.”—"Pacts of Irish History
and English Propaganda,” by Patrick J.
Lally; pages 24, 25.
Hitler and the English-hating Irish are
determined that England must be
crushed, but England again will be deliv
ered and the cause of civil and religious
liberty safeguarded. ULSTER PAT.
Mv a.
a.
"* 1 * ■■ 1^
Haskin's Answers
To Readers' Questions
By Frederic J. Haakln.
A reader can get the answer to any
Question of fact by writing The Eve
ning Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hqpkin, director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. Where was the Hon. Winston
Churchill born?—M. W.
A. The British Premier was bom at
Blenheim Palace, near Woodstock, in
Oxfordshire, England.
Q. How much do Sonja Henie's skates,
boots and tights cost a pair?—A. C. C.
A. Miss Henie's skates are made to
order at a cost of $35 a pair. They have
one more tooth on them than the regu
lar figure skates because of her great
amount of toe work. Her boots are also
made to order and cost from $30 to $35 ,
a pair. Her tights are specially made
long stockings of waist length which
are $35 a pair. During the production
of a picture she sometimes uses as many
as three pairs in one day.
Q. Please give the names of Lillian
Russell’s husbands.—E. T. H.
A. The first husband of the actress
was Harry Braham, a musical conductor.
Her second huscand was Edward Solo
mon, a composer. Subsequently she was
married to John Chatterton, an operatic
tenor known as Signor Perugini, and
finally to Alexander P. Moore, publisher
and Ambassador.
Q. How many teachers are there in
parochial schools?—O. A. S.
A. There are 89,697 teachers in Roman
Catholic parochial schools.
Q. Please give the inscription on the
tablets erected by Kiwanis International
along the United States-Canadian bor
der.—C. J.
A. The 17 tablets bear the following
words: "This unfortified boundary line
between the Dominion of Canada and
the United States of America should .
quicken the remembrance of the more
than a century old friendship between
these countries—A lesson of peace to all
nations—Erected January 21, 1935—Ki
wanis International.”
Q. What State has the most lakes?—
I. B. P.
A. Minnesota has more than 10,000
lakes, the largest number of any State
in the Union.
Q. How many years have records been
kept of the swallows’ flight at San Juan
Capistrano, Calif.?—W. E. T.
A. The flight and departure of the
birds has been made a matter of record
for 39 years.
Q. Please give the date and subject of
this summer's Institute of Public Affairs
at Charlottesville, Va—L. H. T.
A. The Institute of Public Affairs will
meet from June 14 to 24. The general
topic to be discussed will be "The United
States and a World War.”
Q. How many shots were fired at the
assassin of Senator Huey Long?—R. M. P.
A. It was estimated that 40 or 50 shots
were fired at Dr. Weiss by the body
guards of Huey P. Long.
Q. What is the object in the lower left
hand corner of the Luther Burbank
postage stamp?—B. C.
A. The Post Office Department says
that this symbol consists of two crossed
sprouted twigs forming an "X,” which
signifies the unknown quantity.
Q. Where is Life's Fresh Air Camp?—
W. O.
A. Life's summer camp is at Branch
ville, Conn.
Q. How near correct are the daily pre
dictions of the United States Weather
Bureau?—M. E. P.
A. An average accuracy of about 85
per cent is attained for the general
weather and temperature forecasts is
sued for large areas each day by the
Weather Bureau for periods of 36 and
48 hours in advance. A somewhat higher
percentage of accuracy is attained in
connection‘with specific forecasts per
taining to warnings of expected freezing
temperatures, cold waves, frosts, heavy
snows, high winds and storm warnings
for coastal sections.
Q. How many boys and girls are un
employed?—^ L. S.
A. The Journal of the National Edu
cation Association says that over 3,000,
000 young people 16 to 24 years of age
are out of school and out of work.
______ I
Q. What jockey posed in the painting
of Man 6' War by J. Martin in 1920?—
W. R. C.
A. Clarence Hummer is the Jockey in
the painting.
Q. In what branch of the service did
Gene Tunney serve during the World
War?—R. H.
A. Gene Tunney enlisted in the United
States Marine Corps July 17, 1918. He
sailed for France on September 29, 1918,
but had no active service there.
Q. Please explain the curse of the
Habsburgs.—M. B. K.
A. The expression "Curse of the
Habsburgs” is frequently used by writers
in reference to the series of misfortune
that befell the members of this family,
particularly, the last Emperor, Francis
Joseph. In addition to the taint of in
sanity several of the Habsburgs have died
violent deaths.
Q. What is the meaning of in loco
parentis?—R. T. E.
A. It is a Latin phrase meaning In the
place of a parent; acting with the power
and authority of a parent.
Q. Who invented pop?—A. K. B. >
A. In 1807 Dr. Philip Syng Physlek, a
Philadelphia physician, Induced a chem
ist, Townsend Speakman, to prepare
carbonated water for his patients.
Speakman added fruit juice as a flavor
and the soft-drink Industry was started
in this country.
Q. What percentage of its income does
the average family spend on food, cloth
ing and shelter?—P. S. H.
A. For the country as a whole the
percentages are as follows: food, 33;
housing 20; clothing, 12; fuel and light,
5; sundries (including house furnish
ings), 30,
Q. How much did the shells cost that
were used in the Big Berthas of the
World War?—K. H. F.
A. These shells cost (8,400 apiece.
Q. What is the name of William
Boyd’s white horse?—R. c.
A. The motion picture star’s Arabian
bone is named Topper.
A