The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, February 20, 1929, Page 10

DAILY WASHINGTON LETTER— . By RODNEY DUTCHER (NEA Service Writer) Washington, Feb. 20.—‘This,” re- marked Congressman George Huddle- ston of Alabama in the course of a general conversation, “is the most foolish age in history.” “t wish,” suggested your corre- spondent, “that you would fully ex- plain yourself for a very large num- ber of readers who probably would like to know why.” George Huddleston is one of those rare members of congress who, ex- cept in matters involving a question of good taste, is willing to see in the newspapers anything he says in pri- vate. None of his views conflict with his beliefs. “There are,” he proceeded to say, “a half dozen reasons for the asser- tion. By the reliance of this age upon force, I mean both physical force and law. And coupled with that is our lack of regard for principle, political, economic or otherwise. This is the day of the opportunist; the man who gets while the getting is good. It is distinctly not the day of men of wisdom, vision and principle, for whom we have lost nearly all regard. * * * “Our present position in respect to spiritual concern as distinguished from material concern I trace back to the development of industry and commerce and their tremendous mul- tiplification of human conveniences, luxuries and opportunities for finan- cial gain. Men have amassed for- tunes and the poor have had luxurivs denied to princes in other times. “The result is that all of man’s in- terest and attention has been diverted away from the spiritual life, which embraces religion, art and politics in the purest sense, and concentrated on the material side—on things that one can see, smell, feel and hear. So we nave elevated to the supreme matters relating to sex, a low form of ma- terialism, and to food, drink, fine clothes, automobiles, buildings and other things shading up to the power, influence and prestige that come from the possession of wealth. “Thus every human activity is tainted. Even the preacher preaches at his richest parishioners, preaching what they want to hear so that they will contribute and give him a fine home and his trip to Palestine. “The professional man sells his talent to the highest bidder and measures success by the size of his fees and retainers. “The politician lends himself to Organized selfish interests so as to As she had expected, Faith found Crystal in her own room. Fearful now that her elaborate plans for carrying out Dr. Hogarth’s prescription for gayety for the in- valid would be flatly vetoed by the sick girl, Faith paused on the thresh- old before knocking. With nervous but deft fingers she fluffed the folds of the new evening dress she had se- cretly made for Crystal, in the hope that its delicate fresh beauty would bring a gleam of interest to the mel- ancholy, brooding hazel eyes that had once fluttered ecstatically at the slightest provocation. Then Faith resolutely banished the anxiety from her own lovely, Madonna-like face and smiled. “Come in!” a weak, listless voice bade her, As soon as Faith opened the door she knew she was going to have hard work to retain that cheerful smile. For Bob had been right. Crystal was crying agzin. Faith’s heart contracted with pity. Her husband's cousin was sitting in the wheelchair, her head month, was brushed carelessly back from her high forehead, and fell to her bone-thin shoulders. Pait oo » I've a surprise : a long. sobbing sigh fluttered the 's pale lips, and for one discour- thought Crystal to keep her eyes fast closed. B7eagh.? a hold his job and the emoluments and dignities connected therewith. “And so on down to the workman who scabs on @ job so that he can ride in a second-hand car and get a bottle of bootleg liquor once in a while.” George Huddleston is nearly 60 years old. * x “Among nations,” he continued, “no reliance i¢ now placed upon honor or chivalry. Even courage is no longer at a premium. Ingenuity in devising safe ways for killing men is now the vogue. With its past experiences one might suppose that this world would long ago have abandoned entirely the practice of relying on force to settle its troubles. But we continue to build cruisers and to admit that ‘our anti-war treaties really do not mean very much. “Among ourselves we have come to put our faith in legal forces. We are now treating prohibition as a legal and political question instead of as a moral question. “The prohibitionists made two orig- inal mistakes. In obtaining passage of the prohibition laws they antici- pated public opinion and expected the law to enforce itself in communities where sentiment was against it. Second, after enacting laws they failed to support them. Many pro- hibitionists violate the law openly and those who do not are willing to take to their bosoms those who do. “If we are to have prohibition in this country—and I believe a ma- jority of the people wants it—a ma- jority must get up on its hind legs and fight for it. It is utterly in- conceivable to me how prohibitionists can give countenance and respect and patronage to known violators. “Prohibition is an ethical question and we will not have real prohibition until a very large percentage of the People believe in it not only for others but for themselves. I think that sen- timent for prohibition is growing. We will never have absolutely complete enforcement, for you: must remember that in some sections of the country we still have peonage, a modified form of slavery, even though senti- ment is almost unanimously against it. “It may take 25 years to get really satisfactory enforcement. But I ex- pect that a sentiment will develop which will put the bootlegger in the same class with the narcotics vendor and cause his customers to be re- garded as addicts. I voted against the eighteenth amendment, but. the sooner people make up their minds we prohibition the better necessity—parted slowly and the great hazel eyes lifted heavily and stared apathetically at the dress which Faith was exhibiting on an ex- tended arm. It was of palest sea-shell pink chif- fon the snug little bodice fashioned over fragile silver lace, which also peeped out here and there among the long, uneven fluttering drapes of the skirt. In consideration of Crystal's excessive thinfiess, Faith had inserted long, full sleeves, with tight wrist- bands of narrow black velvet ribbon. The hazel eyes widened with a faint flicker of interest, then the weary lids closed again. “It's—very pretty, Faith. You ought to look well in it, “1?” Faith laughed with pretended gayety. “It’s for you, darling. I've got my own new dress on. Like it? I thought it would be fun if we both dressed up—” “I'm sorry.” The thin chest lifted high on a sigh, “I don't feel like it, Faith. You're sweet to give me the dress, but—I shan’t need it. You keep 12" Faith laughed again. “I couldn't get, into it! It’s miles too small for me—big, tall husky that I am! I'd almost be willing to have Pneumonia to become the sylph that you are,” she went on with menda- cious gayety, hopeful that flattery would arouse the girl out of that frightening apathy. I'm terribly dis- appointed, darling, that you don’t feel like dressing up, beqquse Tony would be so happy—” “Tony?” Crystal's eyes flew wide open, became luminous through their mist of tears, Her thin, almost trans- parent hands wavered out for the "eS, —s NEXT: A rate need f ° : despe! or con: (Copyright, 1929, NEA Service, Inc.) THE GUMPS- — FINE FEATHERS : ah NS ec cunnors MUCH = bol pay YLL LOOK ALL RIGHT~. THey SAY CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN = 1 THINK THAT'S A LOT OF I DON'T NEED A NEW SUIT FOR THE WEODING= DO YOU_ THINK, MIN ? AT'S PORITIVELY RipicuLous — WT. LOOKS PERFECTLY ALL RIGHT- dusT NEEDS PRESSING - Nothing to Show WELL, ITSEEMS ) LETS SEE WHERE GOOD Yo SEE You WOME AGAIN, - WAERENE YOU FELLAS ALL SEEN WANE A SCAR FROM ) GET AY AIR WHERE They cor.’ th MOM’N POP - What’s This??? THE POLICE HAD ME ON THE PHONE TODAY. THEY THINK THE © ‘YEGG WHO STOLE My. $500 SNEAKED INTO THE HOUSE DURING THE DAY AND WID UNTIL NIGHT BEFORE RANSACKING ‘THE PLACE. THEY'RE ON “THE TRAIL OF A THUG “THEY NEARLY KNOCKED ME OFF-00¢ |) PEXCOTEMENT FEET. I DIDWT' SBE ANY THING./ “MADE: YOU x ‘ SALESMAN SAM : SPH, YOUNG MAN, TOUR (DER O' THIS “Soe's ALL WRONG = BILL POSTIN’ DON'T MEAN TA-Mai! BICLS, Ye Cums £ ‘OKer! GRae Th’ BRUSH aN’ ‘ f | HERE'S AN AD THAT GOES UP WatoUT IN TH’ COUNTRY —YOUR TRANSPORTATION'S IN Oat HOUR JOS 1S Ta Caste “TH Gack “aro! QDS UP-"TRKE (T OR ; ceave. tt! a ; | BOOTSANDHERBUDDIES . "It Must Have Been Good! NOD -RDN OVER, HERE FOR A FEW MINUTES ? WHETIER 1 PUT ANY SENGORING 1M