Evening star. [volume], August 06, 1940, Page A-8, Image 8

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

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With Sunday Morning Edition.
THEODORE W. NOYES, Editor.
WAS HINGTON. D. C.
TUESDAY-August 6. 1940
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The Fight Begins
Committee approval of the Burke
Wadsworth selective service bill
brings that legislation to the floor
of the Senate, where the real fight
against it is expected to be made.
As the picture now shapes up, oppo
nents of the measure, including both
Republicans and Democrats, will
take their stand around an alterna
tive proposal that some modified
form of volunteer recruitment be
tried before compulsory selective
service is made applicable by law.
The arguments of the opposition
forces rest upon two principal
grounds, neither of which is per
suasive.
It is contended in the first place
that there is no emergency confront
ing the country at this time which
justifies resort to conscription of
man power. The argument in this
respect is soipewhat confused by a
number of inaccurate minor conten
tions, such as the claim that selec
tive service is un-American and un
democratic,"that it is an attempt to
fight Hitler by Hitlerizing the United
States, and, finally and most dema
gogic of all, that it is the product of
a sinister plot by evil men to raise a
large army so that American youth
may be sent to fight in Europe or
Asia. But the main issue—the claim
that no real emergency confront us
—is not obscured by these appeals to
prejudice. Senator Wheeler stated
the opposition case in this respect
yesterday when he charged on the
Senate floor that “the only emer
gency is the one created by propa
gandists who are trying to frighten
Congress and the country.”
In thus preferring the first charge
of bad faith in this debate, a debate
which should be kept on a high
plane, Senator Wheeler places him
self in a curious position. He, with
other opponents of the Burke-Wads
worth bill, has voted to appropriate
billions of dollars for an unprece
dented rearmament program. If the
Senator believes that there is no
emergency except an artificial one
created by propagandists, how can
he justify his support of these huge
appropriations for arms? The an
swer is, of course, that there is an
emergency, and that all members of
Congress know it. It is an emer
gency which grows out of our defi
ciencies in trained men and modern
materiel, and the only real difference
of opinion concerns the imminence
of the threat of war arising from
that weakness.
The truth of this assertion is
demonstrated by the character of
argument advanced by the Wheeler
forces in support of their second
main point—that we should experi
ment with volunteer one-year en
listments before resorting to con
scription. Virtually all of the advo
cates of this alternative plan are
agreed that we will have^to enforce
compulsory selective service if their
volunteer recruitment plan should
fail to raise the men needed by the
armed forces—a tacit admission in
itself that there is an emergency
* which makes imperative a larger
Army and Navy, and that the real
dispute concerns the method to be
employed in securing this increased
man power.
All experience demonstrates that
any volunteer system is of doubtful
value. Every other major power
found it necessary to adopt con
scription long ago. And we have
many precedents for it in America.
George Washington is said to have
advocated conscription during the
Revolutionary War, and it was put
into effect by Massachusetts and
Virginia in 1777. During the War
of 1812 New York raised a State
army by draft. The Federal Gov
ernment, after the outbreak of the
Civil War, waited almost two years
before resorting to conscription. On
the strength of arguments similar
to many of those being made today,
reliance was placed on volunteering,
fortified by a bounty system, and
the result is one of the more sordid
chapters of our history. The Con
federacy, on the other hand, en
forced conscription a year earlier
than did the Union, and many of
the early reverses suffered by the
Federal armies are attributed to
this fact. At the time of our entry
into the first World War, the short
comings of the volunteer system
were thoroughly understood, and a
selective service system was placed
in effect within six weeks of the
declaration of war.
. Our present situation differs from
that of 1917 in that we are not
presently at war. But certainly our
planning today is based on the real
ization that war may be forced upon
u$, and if that should prove to be
the case the attack will come swiftly.
We will not be protected by allies,
as we were in 1917, during the year
or more that must elapse before an
army can be raised, equipped and
trained for combat. Every instinct
of prudence warns against the risk
of delaying enactment of the selec
tive service law while we experiment
with a discredited substitute. The
danger which threatens us exists
now, and there is but little time
left in which we can prepare to
meet it.
Inspectors Needed
In ordering abolition of the office
of director of inspection for the Dis
trict and transfer of its duties to the
inspector of buildings, the Commis
sioners no doubt are considering use
of the $7,000 saving in salary to in
crease the staff of inspectors.
Need for strengthening the In
spection forces, particularly those of
the building, fire and electrical serv
ices, was demonstrated in April in
the reports following investigations
of the O street fire disaster. Those
studiously prepared reports, while
noting that the building inspection
service had failed to detect faults in
the apartment house chimney,
tended to support the claim made by
the building inspector, Colonel Oeh
mann, that he lacked sufficient men
to do a comprehensive and efficient
job.
Later, it will be recalled, the Com
missioners asked Congress for a
special appropriation of $75,000 for
expanding the inspection forces. The
Budget Bureau reduced the figure to
$15,000 and that additional amount
was granted. This was a step in the
right direction but it is questionable
whether it was enough.
Colonel Oehmann will have added
responsibilities and increased office
work as a result of being placed in
charge of inspection of plumbing,
gas fitting and refrigeration, electri
cal installations and other services,
as well as buildings and elevators. It
seems desirable to divert the saved
$7,000 salary to strengthen his staff.
As to the reorganization Itself,
caused by the resignation of Captain
Hugh P. Oram, who left the District
service because of poor health, the
Commissioners have taken the logi
cal step in consolidating the me
chanical inspection services under
one directing head, while having the
zoning office staff, which Captain
Oram formerly headed, report di
rectly tp the Zoning Commission ;
chairman. If Colonel Oehmann is
given adequate help, the new plan
should work an improvement over
the old system.
The Campaign Book
Attorney General Jackson has fol
lowed a somewhat unusual, but en
tirely proper course in volunteering
the opinion that the suggested pol
icy of the Republican National Com
mittee on campaign gifts would
violate the Hatch Act, and it may
now be wondered whether the Dem
ocratic National Committee is to be
similarly advised as to the applic
ability of the law to that highly
lucrative quadrennial publication
known as the “campaign book,”
which has been characterized by Re
publicans as a “shakedown” and
which is once more reported in
process of preparation.
As the result of the criticism
stirred by the first book, which
brought as high as one hundred dol
lars a copy, either when bought
outright or used as an advertising
medium, the amended Hatch Act
banned such ventures and fixed a
penalty up to five years in prison or
a five-thousand-dollar fine for those
who invest in such an organ. This
is the same punishment provided
for non-observance of the flve-thou
sand-dollar limit on campaign gifts
by individuals,- the issue which
prompted the admonition from At
torney General Jackson when Henry
P. Fletcher, general counsel for the
Republican committee, expressed the
view that the restriction applied only
to contributions to a national com
mittee or its senatorial or congres
sional committees, and would not
prevent further gifts to State or
local committees.
That the Hatch Act prohibitions
were intended to cover all phases of
the present campaign was made
clear at the time of passage by Rep
resentative Dempsey, Democrat, of
New Mexico, the House sponsor.
In passing on the point raised by
the opinion of the Republican coun
sel, Mr. Jackson said that “silence
in the face of the widely published
opinion of Mr. Fletcher might lead
well-intentioned persons to believe
it to be an accepted interpretation
of the act” by the Justice Depart
ment.
Equal consideration should be had
for other “well-intentioned persons”
whose financial assistance to the
“campaign book” subjects them to
the penalties of the act.
Counterespionage
Espionage has taken on a new
Importance In the light of develop
ments of the current World War.
Germany, past master in the busi
ness of spying on military secrets of
potential or actual enemies, has per
fected new techniques to baffle
counterespionage agents and to dis
may military authorities. Fifth col
umnists, parachutists and business
envoys have taken their places be
side spies and saboteurs of the
usual category. Consequently, the
espionage problem has become high
ly complicated and highly impor
tant. Foreign spy systems are well
financed, well organized and omi
nously efficient. The operatives are
shrewd and expert.
It is reassuring, therefore, to know
that Federal, State and local law
enforcement authorities are thor
oughly alert to the gravity of the
spy menace and are determined to
pool their resources for a co-ordi
nated offensive against alien sub
versive activities of every description.
The conference at the Department
of Justice between Federal and State
officials interested in protecting the
national defense program should go
far toward expanding and strength
ening the drive against seditious
conspirators and other enemies of
the American Government. This im
portant battle must be waged by
persons authorized and trained to
recognize such enemies and to fight
them with every possible legal weap
on. With this end in view President
Roosevelt some months ago desig
nated the Federal Bureau of Investi
gation as the general headquarters
of the campaign. Yesteiday Mr.
Roosevelt properly reiterated that
the solution of the problem lie»
through “normal channels of local,
State and national law enforce
ment”—not through the “cruel stu
pidities of the vigilante.” The job
of investigating and prosecuting
offenders of our espionage statutes
is one for experienced, dispassionate
officers of the law. They should be
given every facility they may need
in checking on suspects—including
legal authority to listen in on tele
phone conversations of the plotters.
Nothing will so discourage undercov
er foreign agents as the knowledge
that there exists in America an offi
cial counterespionage system as far
reaching and effective as their own
secret network.
Militant Japan
It seems more than likely that
Japan’s outburst of militancy on
three fronts—in London, Vichy and
Washington—may be of German in
stigation. Anything calculated to di
vert attention from the Nazis’ prepa
ration for blitzkrieg against Great
Britain admirably suits Hitler’s pur
poses. Whatever its inspiration,
Tokio during the past few days has
manufactured trouble for itself with
all three Western powers. The new
Konoye government, having pro
claimed its “Greater Asia” program
calling for Japanese domination of
French Indo-China and the Dutch
East Indies, is manifestly bent upon
exploiting this critical stage of the
war for realization of expansionist
dreams.
The controversy with Britain,
which contains the seeds of aggres
sive action against Hong Kong and
other British territory, is concerned
with the arrest of British nationals
in Japan and counteraction result
ing in the arrest of two of London’s
foremost Japanese businessmen.
Yesterday, previous requests to
Downing Street for their release
having proved fruitless, Ambassador
Shigemitsu was preparing a third
protest. Suggestively enough, none
other than the Berlin official radio
announced that if the representa
tives, respectively, of the powerful
Mitsubishi and Mitsui interests are
not released, Japan “will, if neces
sary, break off diplomatic relations
with Britain.” The same source says
Japan will demand “guarantees”
against recurrence of such arrests.
Tokio apparently decided upon an
other protest after learning of other
Japanese arrests in Rangoon and
Singapore. In both Japan and
Britain the persons in question were
taken into custody on espionage
charges.
Meantime, popular Japanese feel
ing against Britain is mounting
steadily. Mass meetings of protest
in Tokio and Osaka called for an end
of “British influence.” Such out
bursts typify the crusade long fo
mented by the war party, looking to
expulsion of Britain from China and
other regions comprehended by the
“new order in Asia,” which Nippon
craves.
From Vichy and Shanghai come
circumstantial reports that Japan
has made sweeping demands on the
government of French Indo-China.
These include the right to use the
French railway into the Chinese
province of Yunnan for military
operations and to establish a mili
tary or naval base on the Indo-China
coast. The objective in both cases is
to facilitate Japanese hostilities
against Chiang Kai-shek. If the
Japanese can control the French
railroad, they will menace the south
western provinces which are Chiang’s
stronghold. A coastal base would
serve naval purposes in the South
Seas and promote Japan’s ambition
to dominate the Netherlands Indies.
While pushing these various plans
with respect to Britain and France,
Tokio has launched a protest at
Washington against the United
States’ decision to limit export of
aviation gasoline and scrap metal to
the Western Hemisphere. Of both
products Japan has been an exten
sive purchaser here during her three
year effort to end the “China incl
dent."
What all and sundry of these de
velopments add up to is that Japan
is clearly out to fish in troubled
waters, to capitalize on the ab
sorption of nations which are at
war, have been vanquished in war
or are busily preparing against the
danger of war. Britain, disillusioned
by appeasements of Tokio, seems in
no mood for further compromise.
France is helpless. The United
States is maintaining that attitude
of firmness which alone is designed
to compel respect in the land of the
rising sun.
« - " 1 —■
A hotel in Omaha received by mail
a room key taken in error forty-five
years ago. They have, however, defi
nitely abandoned all hope of recov
ering the cake of soap that disap
peared at the same time.
A
Of Stars, Men
And Atoms
Notebook of Science Progress
In Field, Laboratory
And Study
By Thomas R. Henry.
The low death rate of the present war
on both sides, In spite of the severity of
the engagements, is due in large part to
a revolutionary new treatment of
wounds which prevents the onset of in
fection and the necessity of amputa
tions, and makes it possible to transport
the injured to safe hospitals far behind
the lines.
Details of this new treatment, as used
by the medical corps of the British
Army in the evacuation of Dunkirk,
have Just been received by Army medi
cal officers here. Presumably much the
same system is in use in the German
Army, which has made a specialty of
ambulance planes to take its wounded
to hospitals at home.
Gunshot or shrapnel wounds in vital
spots may be instantly fatal. If not,
the fatality usually comes from infec
tions, often due to streptococcus bac
teria, which make necessary amputation
of a limb or set up a systematic poison
ing. In the past it has been necessary
to treat serious wounds at first-aid sta
tions to prevent this infection.
This is outdated by the discovery,
about four years ago in Germany, of the
magic drug sulfanilamide. The Job of
the medical officer in the front lines now
is purely routine, according to the com
munications from England Just pub
lished in the Array and Navy Register
here. Almost regardless of the wound,
an injection of sulfanilamide in a soluble
form is given. Then the wound itself,
after a rapid cleaning, is dusted with
sulfanilamide powder to kill the deadly
streptococci at the source.
The wound is then immobilized by
packing it with a vaseline-impregnated
gauze, and sealing it in a plaster of
Paris cast. This treatment is relied on
to “put the wound on ice" for at least a
week, until it can be treated by excellent
physicians at leisure in a base hospital.
Provided the streptococci germs can be
halted, the wound itself yields readily
and quickly to regular treatment de
ferred for six days or more.
In the evacuation of Dunkirk the Brit
ish took more than 100,000 wounded
French and British soldiers back to Eng
land. In all cases the condition of the
victims was aggravated on crowded ship
transports continuously under enemy
bomb attacks.
Says the Lancet, official organ of the
British Medical Association: “The fight
ing in Flanders in May taught our army
medical services lessons that will greatly
benefit our wounded soldiers in the
future. Wounded men without lacera
tions will often arrive at a hospital many
miles away if they are dressed, given
sulfanilamide and the wounds immobi
lized. Even the severely wounded can,
if necessary, be sent long distances in
improvised transports in safety and,
moreover, in comfort.”
The same treatment, according to the
Lancet, now is being given civilians
wounded in air raids.
The number of effectives in the British
Army has been maintained at a higher
level in comparison with the total num
ber enrolled than at any other time in
history. The load on the hospitals also
has been greatly reduced.
The value of the new drug, it is prob
able, will become much more obvious
with the expected outbreak of epidemics,
possibly influenza, this fall and winter.
Actual deaths from flu and several other
contagious diseases are due to the fact
that the system is weakened for the in
vasion of pneumonia germs. While not
a specific cure, sulfanilamide and the
closely related sulfapyridine and sul
fathiazole are potent against the pneu
mococci. They are credited with pre
venting a large-scale flu epidemic in the
United States last winter. Although
there were more than the ordinary num
ber of influenza cases the death rate
was one of the lowest in history'.
Various rumored improvements on the
sulfanilamide formula in European lab
oratories now are considered as military
secrets. Curiously Germany, France and
Great Britain share almost equally in
the development of the drug, which has
proved of more value than several di
visions of soldiers to all of them. The
actual discovery' was made in Germany.
A textile dye was found to have the
prooerty of killing streptococci. It was
inefficient and costly.
French scientists at the Pasteur In
stitute perfected the formula. From
them it passed to Great Britain, where
a proprietary medicine was put on the
market. The great clinical development
has come in the United States. The
drug which has revolutionized medicine
w'as first described in this country at a
meeting of the Southern Medical Asso
ciation in Baltimore In 1936. It came
into prominence when it was used short
ly thereafter to treat John Roosevelt,
suffering from a streptococcic infection
in a Boston hospital. Since then it and
closely related drugs have greatly re
duced the pneumonia and meningitis
death rate, proved almost a specific for
gonorrhea, and practically wiped mas
toid operations out of surgical practice.
The Right Way to Destroy
Worn-Out Flags.
To the Editor of The Star:
A man recently was fined $25 in the
Police Court for wrapping a soiled flag
around some trash to keep it from scat
tering. The flag was too soiled for its
original purpose, and the man was only
trying to get rid of a menace to health
and clean living. The mistake was made
because there is no judicial decision as
to what is trash and what is a flag.
If a printed cloth had intrinsic value,
such as paper money has, in practice it
would have value unto the end. But It
has not, and no arrangements have been
made, as in the. case of money, officially
to receive and destroy worn-out flags.
OLGA WOODRUFF CAMPBELL.
Editor’s Note: Section 16 of the
Amended Flag Code of the United
States Army, revised in 1924, reads:
“When the flag is in such condition
that it is no longer a fitting emblem
for display, it should not be cast aside
or used in any way that might be
viewed as disrespectful to the na
tional colors, but should be destroyed
as a whole privately, preferably by
burning or by some other method in
harmony with the reverence and re
spect we owe to the national emblem
representing our country.”
A
THIS AND THAT I
By Charlet E. Tracewell.
r
We never did find out what was the
trouble among the birds that day, but
if it could have been Judged by the
amount of noise they made it must have
been of unusual proportions.
Led by a band of jays, the entire bird
population of the neighborhood made a
famous hue and cry for hours at a time,
with particular insistence at dawn and
twilight.
This noise was not the ordinary com
bined singing, but a great outcry, in
which the sharp warning cries predomi
nated.
Was it snake, owl, cat, hawk, or
grackle?
These are some of the common ene
mies of the smaller songsters.
It is well known that the bird popu
lation of a given territory will combine
their forces against these enemies, In an
attempt to drive them away.
Usually a fledgling is the center of
attack.
Then the parents, and all the other
species, go together to make a noise, in
an effort to frighten the intruder out of
the neighborhood.
w w w w
In most cases, this great noise lasts
but for a few minutes at a time.
The ordinary house cat seldom persists
in the attack, after the birds in a mass
get after him.
In many cases, the hawk strikes such
terror into the smaller birds that they
simply fly away, leaving him the field.
Owls usually are not around in the
daytime.
Our belief, then, was that this intruder
was either a snake or grackle.
Many bird enthusiasts do not realize
what a supreme enemy of young birds
the big grackle is, how ruthless an
enemy of its own kind it is, and how
much to be feared is its presence at bird
feeding places.
While there is always the possibility
of a snake in suburban sections, their
presence is not often felt by the birds.
Usually snakes are after eggs, but some
times they go for the fledglings.
Upon occasion a blue jay will steal
eggs.
This time, however, we were convinced
the jays were not to blame. Instead of
appearing in the role of villains, they
seemed to be heroes this time.
There were too many of them for pil
fering purposes. They do not work that
way. The maurauding jay is a lone wolf.
* * * *
While the main forays, as stated, were
shortly after daybreak, and Just before
dark, all during the day there were in
termittent affairs, when it seemed as if
all the flyers in the neighborhood were
at it.
They kept high in the trees.
The Jays, as might have been ex
pected. were both the most noisy and
prominent of the group.
Others included cardinals, catbirds,
flickers, pewees, nuthatches and wood
thrushes. In fact the entire bird popula
tion of the neighborhood, Including tit
mice.
It Is curious how easy It is to pick
out the warning calls of each species,
once they are understood.
The warning note of the cardinal Is a
sort of spitting sound, there is no other
word for It, harsh and metallic.
The warning call of the thrush Is a
clacking noise, as ugly as its song Is
sweet.
* * * *
The warning notes are interesting In
their own right, since they are distinct,
and as much a part of the songster’s
repertoire as the song Itself.
These who like the birds are so in
sistent on noting the songs, that some
times they forget these equally Impor
tant sounds. Through these notes, the
older birds tell each other of the pres
ent danger, and warn the youngsters to
look out. This is about as close as the
birds come to community of effort.
Mostly they are individualists, valuing
their freedom. They seldom help each
other; in fact, have no real way of carry
ing aid to the other.
When a maurauder appears, however,
the birds do bring help, one to the other.
The various species forget the gulf which
separates them, and all together make
such an outcry that often the enemy is
driven away through very fear of the
noise. If he is not, the fluttering of the
birds at close range distracts his atten
tion, unless he is an expert bird killer.
Sometimes the jays and the mocking
birds, in such a melee, will fly repeatedly
at the Intruder, often driving him away
by these actions.
After this is accomplished, the noise
and flurry ceases, and the birds take up
the regular routine of working and
singing.
* * * *
Because the cries that day were high
in the trees, it seemed as if the enemy
must be one which could get up there
easily.
Hence, the snake or the grackles.
And since grackles had appeared
again in the neighborhood, we suspected
them, and are still willing to give them
the blame.
Just w-hat it was, we probably shall
never know.
The next day the life of the birds
went on as usual.
There was no repetition of the clamor
of yesterday.
The jays were around, but paid no at
tention to the other birds, simply blast
ing forth a battle cry, in the usual style,
which cry is not against any particular
enemy, but against the world in general.
No. the enemy had not been jays, we
felt sure of that. When they pilfer, they
go about it individually, not in gangs.
And their cries that day were rather
those of leaders in the defensive, their
calls having as much righteous indigna
tion in them as those of any of the other
participants.
Letters to the Editor
. i
Takes Issue With
Third-Term Critics.
To the Editor of The Star:
In all the discussions of a third term
during recent months one has grown
weary of the constant reiteration of
precedent, which is, after all, merely
something which has occurred or been
adopted which seems to justify a sub
sequent act of the same kind, or re
sembling it. It seems to be assumed that
because something has previously been
done in a certain way, and has ap
parently been approved in the past, it
must continue to be done that way. As
conditions of life, and particularly of
government, change so radically as time
goes by, it seems rather stupid to hold
to such an idea.
This is a democratic country where
the people make the Jaws or form the
habits agreeable to them and they have
every right to change these when it
seems feasible. It would be useless to
go into a discussion of why the people
generally have felt it wiser in the past
to allow a man but two terms of office
as President, but it may simply be said
that this has been considered best for
the country. Certainly the Democrats
cannot be accused of mortrl sin because
they have thought best to nominate a
man for a third term as President of
the United States whether or not they
have been guilty of an error of judgment.
That any man would be willing to
carry such a burden as has been borne
by Mr. Roosevelt is the strange feature
of the entire matter. In eight years of
hard, practically unrelenting work, a
man has given the best that is in him
to the high office he occupies and in
judging him the public might well bear
in mind that no President can actually
rule this country—but merely lead it.
If Mr. Roosevelt has been strong and
Congress weak, this would seem to be
the fault of the country which sends
such representatives to Washington.
It becomes plain, or at least what we
are intended to assume, that the Presi
dent did not care enough for re-election
to go after it, or at least felt that it
would be improper for him to do so, but
if the great majority of his party
thought he was the bfest man to save
the country in times like these and in
all the circumstances, it was right that
he should do it even at a sacrifice—and
who are you or I to say it is not a sac
rifice?
It is just a matter of opinion whether
the Democratic party erred in nominat
ing Mr. Roosevelt and a matter of
opinion whether he erred in accepting,
but there is no reason why he should
not be nominated for a third term and
no reason why he should not accept and
no reason w’hy he should not be elected
if it is the will of the people, for it is
the people who rule these United States.
A JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRAT
BROUGHT UP TO DATE.
July 31. „
Royal Exiles Urged
To Study American History.
To the Editor of The Star:
Otto, erstwhile claimant to the non
existent throne of Austria, said that
“democracy and monarchy go hand in
hand,” which indicates that some of the
crop of ex-royalty we are getting at a
surprising clip may Intend to use this
country as a sounding board or ren
dezvous for plotting returns to worn-out
crowns when, as and if the Napoleons
of this day meet their Waterloo*.
That ex-kings, empresses, princelings
and other remnants of royalty find this
£
Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the writer, although the use of
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters with
a view to condensation.
country a haven of peace and refuge
from their broken-down order in Europe
is strangely paradoxical. An unusual
twist of fate, indeed, which brings a
whole cluster of Hapsburgs to the "land
of the free and the home of the brave.”
which was held in such contempt by
Mettemich!
The Hapsburg conception of rule has
always been that kings ruled by “divine
right.” One can well believe that if Otto
ever got himself seated on a throne in
Austria with the help of the ambitious
Zita, there would be little “democracy”
for the subjects. It is well known
that most Americans have no illu
sions about monarchy. Of course, there
are a few Americans who like to bask
in the light of royalty, but they do not
belong to the “common people.”
Our American political democracy per
mits political outcasts—whether they be
kings dr the rebels against kings—to find
a safe harbor here from the bullets,
bombs and perhaps the vengeance of the
outraged peoples, but in return for sanc
tuary. they should expand no plots on
American soil. Moreover, they should
study American history and learn, if they
haven’t already learned it. that the kind
of democracy Americans want has noth
ing in common with monarchy from
which most of our immigrant forebears
fled J. CLARKE WALDRON.
- July 27.
Calls Attention
To Radio Pronunciation.
To the Editor o( The Star:
Is it too much to hope that eventually
a good majority of our statesmen, orators
and radio announcers will learn that
there is an “n” in the word “govern
ment”? For reference please . see any
dictionary. The illiterate pronuncia
tion “gover’ment” is and properly should
be quite disturbing. One of the most
frequently used, it is certainly one of
the most abused words in our language.
It is equally distressing to hear some
of those striving for rhetorical effect
mouth the words “these United States.”
The name of this Nation is “the United
States of America” (or for brevity “the
United States”). The word “the” in
stead of “these” is not only more correct
but haa a more patriotic implication.
Salem, Mass. GEO. S. PARKER.
July 20.
Indorses Criticisms
Of Virginia Milk Regulations.
To the Editor of Th« Star:
The recent letter signed “E. M. A."
and criticizing the Virginia milk regula
tions expressed many of our sentiments
perfectly. Since there are not enough
adequate words of criticism with which
to write of such a disgraceful condition,
one can add but little on the subject.
That the representatives of any State
will permit big business to push through
such laws and any Governor permit
them to remain in force, or worse, in
force in certain sections of the State
only (those nearest our Nation’s Capi
tal), is a striking example of man's in
humanity to man.
MRS. M. S. SNOW.
Alexandria, Va.
July Si.
4
Haskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Haskin.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The Eve
ning Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. How far does a bee travel to gather
a pound of honey?—B. F. B.
A. It has been estimated that a bee
travels 43,776 miles to gather one pound
of honey, consisting of 29,184 drops. A
good hive of bees in a favorable location
can produce a pound of honey in about
45 minutes.
Q. At what hours may tourists visit the
White House this summer?—E. B.
A. The White House is closed to visi
tors until September.
Q. Why are there some quarters in cir
culation with no dates?—A. R. S.
A. The director of the mint says that
all United States coins have dates placed
on them, but some have worn off due to
abrasion. This is true of the design of
the quarter used previously to the new
1932 issue.
Q. What is the origin of the saying,
“Trojan Horse”?—B. F.
A. In classical mythology, a wooden
horse received by the Trojans into their
city, not knowing that it was filled with
Greek warriors. At night the warriors
stole out and admitted the Greek Army
into the city. Hence, any fatal gift
presented under the guise of friendship.
Q. Will the World Series be broadcast
this year?—E. D.
A. The games will be broadcast over
a coast-to-coast network of the Mutual
Broadcasting System. More than 150
radio stations in the United States,
Canada, Mexico and Hawaii will ba
linked to the network system for the
series and short-wave facilities will be
arranged so that listeners all over the
world may hear.
Q. Does the United States recognize
the conquest of Ethiopia?—J. C.
A. The United States has never recog
nized the conquest of Ethiopia by Italy,
and Haile Selassie is still regarded as
Emperor.
Q. Can steam be seen?—A. M.
A. Steam cannot be seen. It is an In
visible gas. The white cloud that rises
when water boils results from the con
densation of the water vapor.
Q. Who said “Our country, right or
wrong. When right, to be kept right;
when wrong, to be put right”?—F. C. A.
A. This quotation is from an address
delivered in Congress in 1872 by Carl
Schurz.
Q Was Col. Theodore Roosevelt in
the World War?—A. F. F.
A. He was with the 1st Division of the
First Army of the A. E. F. and partici
pated in battles at Cantigny, Soissons.
the Argonne-Meuse offensive and the 8t.
Mihiel offensive.
Q. Where is the oldest Baptist Church
in the United States?—M. G. D.
A. The First Baptist Church in Provi
dence, R. I., is the oldest Baptist con
gregation in America. Founded in 1838
by Roger Williams and his companions,
it has had continuous existence ever
since. The early members adopted n#
articles of faith, and the church has re
mained to this day without formal creed
or covenant.
Q. During whose administration was
the slogan "A chicken in every pot, and
two ears in every garage-’ used?—J. M.
A. It was during the first campaign of
President Hoover.
Q. How large is Argentina?—C. P.
A. The South American republic has
an area of 1,078.278 square miles and a
population of 12.762.000. It is as large
as all of the United States east of the
Mississippi River and one tier of States
west of it.
Q. Who recommends to the British
King the successor to the retiring Pre
mier?—A. G.
A. The retiring Premier is the official
who makes the recommendation.
Q. What estate in Virginia is being
used in the new motion picture of that
title?—J. H. M.
A. The mansion in the picture is Mon
ticola, owned by Miss Emily Nolting. It
is situated about 35 miles below Char
lottesville and was designed and built by
Thomas Jefferson as a wedding gift for
his daughter.
Q. Please give some information about
the early career 6f Frimi, the composer.
-H. C.
A. Charles Rudolf Frimi was born in
Prague, Bohemia, on December 7, 1884.
At the age of 22 he came to America as
an accompanist for the violinist, Jan
Kubelik. He wrote numerous composi
tions for the piano, violin and cello, but
first won recognition with "The Firefly'*
in 1912.
Q. How old Is Gen. Pershing’s son
Warren?—E. D. H.
A. Warren Pershing is 31 years old. He
was born on June 24. 1909.
Q. Who is Governor of American Sa
moa?—T. P. W.
A. Comdr. E. W. Hanson. U. S. N„ is
Governor of the islands.
The Agency
Of the People
The Information Bureau provided by
The Evening Star is for the accommoda
tion of the public. There is no charge
except return postage on letters or a
small cost price on booklets. Prom
morning until night it answers questions
of fact. Use it.
Hot-Weather Dishes
Appetizers, Salads and Sandwiches—A
collection of 300 tested recipes to add va
riety to the menu in the season of lighter
lunches, suppers, outdoor meals and pic
nics. Suggestions for Sunday night sup
pers. Every hostess and homemaker will
be delighted with this booklet of recipes
to whet any appetite. To secure your
copy inclose 15 cents in coin, wrapped in
this clipping.
Name
Street
City.
4k
State.-—
*