Evening Star Newspaper, February 28, 1921, Page 17

[P FIND LIQUID USEFUL | TOTHE INDUSTRIES New Properties of Selenium t Oxychloride Discovered @ Powerful as Solvent. ONCE ALCHEMISTS’ DREAM So¥gorous Tt Will Remove Bitu- men From Soft Coal, Univer- L sity Professor Says. By the Associated Press. LINCOLN, Neb., February 28. ew Broperties of a liquid described before | the students of the department of chemistry of the University of Ne- braska show that it almost realizes the dream of the alchemists of old who sought the universal solvent. As described by Dr. Victor Lenher, pro- fessor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, who has come here to deliver a series of addresses on the subject, further tests have shown that that selenium oyxchloride, as the solvent is called, is more powerful even than was indicated in his pre- liminary announcement made before the American Chemical Society. It dissolves rubber, glues, enamels, hydrocarbons and many other sub- stances which hitherto have been re- led as most resistant to all chem- cal agencies except fire. Products Easily Dissolved. Such products as redmanol, bakelite and condensite, which are used as sub- stitutes for amber in the making of tobacco pipes and for many other in- dustrial purposes, and have been until now regarded as insoluble in all {known solvents, are readily dissolved by selenium oxychloride, according to the announcement of Dr. Lenher. By itg use ordinary peints, varnishes and {shellacs can be removed from furni- ture,” “carriages “and other objects without. imjuring the wood, and {enamels 'can be taken from automo- “biles without affecting the steel body. “Its Solvent Powers ‘are so Vigor- ous,” said Dr. Lenher, “that it will re-. move the bitumen from soft coal, but will not attack the pure carbon of \anthracite.” = Dr. Lenher also sees a military power in this powerful solvent, as it can be employed in making more orous charcoals contained in the iter material of war gas masks, a iprocess known as activation. “The cocoanut charcoal used in the gas mask,” continued Dr. Lenher, “can be activated by this new reagent by treatment at ordinary temperatures, which is a considerable advance over the older steam activation at a white "heat.” The use of activated charcoal in the extraction of gasoline from nat- _ural gas is one which is Interesting jchemists today, as it will tend to in- jorease the supply of fuel for motor _vehicles, and still leave the gas avail- able for houséhold and industrial pur- poses. As a laboratory reagent, Dr. Lenher said “that the properties of selenium oxychloride are so unusual that it 1s likely to come into common ‘use wherever research is conducted. Finds Place in Industries. ‘The solvent, which was formerly regarded as merely a laboratory curi- osity, is finding its place in many in- dustries. The origipal statements concerning its exceDtional powers have been amply verified, the speak- er asserted, by him and a group of students who_have_been attracted to the laboratoriss,ofathe University of ‘Wisconsin during the past year. The raw material from which it is obtained was once a waste product from the electrolytic refining for cop- T, ‘for until recently the selenium m these electrolytic slimes, while known to the chemist as a rare ele- ment, had been considered as almost valueless. The solvent itself is a heavy liquid, and nearly colorless. It can be readily handled in a commer- cial way, however, for were it the “universal solvent” of alchemy it could not be transported, as no vessel could withstand it. This discovery of everyday uses for a substance formed from discarded material is regarded by scientists as a typical illustration of the value of xesearch. > 1,120 Missionaries For M. E. Church NEW YORK, February 38— The Methodist Episcopal Church maintains a force of 1,120 mis- missions, In addition to the missionaries there are 14,430 native workers in the various lands, including 11,559 ordained preachers, 6,199 umordained native preachers, 3,010 other male workers ‘and native female workers, Mere than 500,000 church mem- bers and probdatiomers, of which are in full member- ship, made up of various peo- plex of the earth, represent the result of the Methodist activi- ties. The Methodists sapport twelve universities and colleges in for- | i| eign fields, sixty-five theological seminaries and Bible schools, 102 high schools with 1,102 teachers and 15,700 students. Elementary schools mumbering 2,726 hold over 100,000 childrem, and 9,000 Sunday schoOls have ée of 405,000. There and 1,664 parsonages and homes valued at $2,724,898. I i i AMERICAN SEAMAN SAID TO BE FUGITIVE FROM U. S. William Sayles, Held in London, Reported to Have Made Volun- tary Admission. LONDON, February 28.— William Sayles, an American seaman, who was being investigated for alleged regis- tration under a false name in con- travention of the alien act, is de- clared to have voluntarily told the police that he 1s a fugitive from jus- tice in the United States. According to the police Sayles said that in October, 1914, he was sen- tenced to life imprisonment at Coun- cil Blufts, Iowa, for the murder of John Runyon. His sentence, he de- clared. was reduced. to ten years, and lon July 28, 1918, he escaped from the prison at Knoxville, and worked his passage to England. COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, February 28—William Sayles, being held in London for investigation, was con- victed here of killing John Runyon by a blow of his fist. Sayles, who was a’roustabout in the railroad yards, at- tempted to steal a bicycle from & call boy when Runyon interfered. Run- yon was a fireman for the Milwaukee railroad, and after recovering con- sciousness from the blow he walked to his engine, where he dropped dead. Sayles was sentenced to life im- prisonment for the murder, but it was later reduced to ten years and he was assigned to work on the roads. It was while engaged in this work that he escaped. _VETERANS IN UPROAR. Disabled Soldiers Organize Post in Stormy Meeting. Organization of a local post of the National Disabled Soldiers’ League was the outgrowth of a stormy meet- ing of - wounded veterans Poli's Theater yesterday, John T. Nolan b’ ing elected commander. jander of m e a which he severely criticised e league, I g Ralph Fisher, assistant:director of the P'N‘erul Board for Vocational Education, and B. R. Stewart, a wounded man, had taken the floor in Mr. Fisher's defense. Stewart said he had received a “square deal” from the vocational board and demanded-that Gillin apolo- gize for his statements unless he could substantiate them. This stirred the ire of the other men present, and there was confusion until Stewart had left the theater, threats having been made to “throw him out” unless he went voluntarily. ‘The meeting was attended by about 350 veteram®, and Mr. Nolan presided. The new post is to be called “The Greater Comimonwealth Post,” and has an initial membership of 162. Teck Oxfords for Spring! PRING Tecksarein. Low shoes in high caliber leath- ers. Calfskin, Vid Kid, Gunmetal, Scoi Brogues. ' signs for exclusive Teck wearers. It is pretty well known ‘that among the well dressed Teck has been a buy-word in shoes for over 12 years. Men do not simply ask for Teck; they demand them. Whereas Teck wear commences the moment you put ’em on and never ends before they have given you your money’s worth—every bloomin’ cent. Exclusive Teck de= tch Grain and Exclusively P-B. Bationally Known Store for Men and Boys ‘THE AVENUE AT NINTH Daily 8:30 to-6 As to price—Teck Oxfords commence at $6—end at $11.50. 4 THE EVENING JAZZ INVENTED STAR, WASHINGTON, TO TORTURE In. Foreign Lands IMBECILES, SAYS DR. VAN DYKE Pleads for “Moral Sense No; Subject to Sleeping Sickness,” at Teachers’ Convention. By the Associated Press. ATLANTIC CITY, N. J, February 28.—A plea for “more moral sense not subject to sleeping sickness” was made by Dr. Henry Van Dyke, former minister to Holland, and professor of literature at Princeton, who addressed several thousand educators here for the National Education Association convention. It was this that was needed rather than statutes and decrees in respect to better art, Dr. Van Dyke stated. “Jazz music was invented by demons for the torture of imbeciles,” he said. “The state has the same right to protect its citizens from deadly art as it has to prohibit the carrying of deadly weapons. But I don’t think the law can reach the matter. It is spiritual. As teachers, let us not rely wholly upon the law to make peopie virtuous. Flays Nudity in Language. “Nudity in art has done less harm than nudity of the language in which it is sometimes discussed. There is a real difference between the nude and the undressed. “From some pla ach season in New York one might infer that there was only one commandment —the seventh—and mankind knew but one pleasure—breaking it.” A.F. OF L. CHARACTERIZES SOVIETISTS AS SAVAGES ~ Statement Appeals to Organized Labor to Respond to Campaign to Fight System. Characterizing sovietists as “sav- ages,” their system' as “bestial” and their industrial policy as “ruthless persecution and slaughter of labor unionists,” the American Federation of Labor issued a statement last night appealing to organized labor to respond to a campaign against the system. P The statement charges that labor was “tricked” into supporting the soviet rule, and that after Lenin and Trotsky had succeeded in wbtaining the support, they sarted to carry out “threats of extermination of the leaders of labor, and peasant parties and also of so-called ‘hostages. “BEvery month for some time,” the statement declared, “the bolshevists have been, acknowledging 1,000 or more executions—often in large batches—and® there can be no doubt that they are carrying out their threats of extermination of the lead- ers of the labor and peasant parties.” “The offense of the labor unionists was very clear,” said the statement. “They are fundamentally opposed to the: So-called government set up by Lenin and his handful of associate dictators. As far as is possible under that ruthless tyranny organized la- bor of Russiais everywhere in a state of full revolt. The organized workers gre doing what they can to reach the hearts and minds of the ilaboring humanity in all countries, but they are working against over- whelming _obstacles—refusal of the pread card,- which means immediate starvationi for . their families, the firing squad or death by torture in prisons. It is difficult for t| even to 8peak, and a decree especially for- bidding speeches at labor un! ings has been issued.” —_— ELECTED TO D. A. R. VACANCY. Miss Emma T. Strider was elected registrar general of the D. A. R, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the re- cent death of Mrs. James S. Phillips at a meeting of the national board of management at Memorial Continental Hall yesterday. ‘meet- Sex education in public schools was | considered today at the opening ses- sion of the annual convention of the department of superintendents of the | National' Education Association. Other matters 'to be considered in resolutions include: ) “Compulsory physical education and military training in the schools”; ‘“equal pay for men and women en | gaged in the same work”; “equal sal arics for grade and high school teacl ers with the same professional ex- periénce”: “teacher participation in school government, instead of having run by autocratic superintendents”; the matter of teachers' federations as opposed to affiliation to the N: ional Education Association,” ncreased salaries to teachers not- withstanding falling prices.” Religious Education Appeal The National Council of Education at its final session adopted a reso- | lution urging all churches, irrespe tive of creed, to unite in making re- ligious education more universal and efficient in order to combat ‘“emis- saries of nations now under radical control” who are attacking churches and democratic governments alike. An appcal from Chinese teachers from the northwestern section of China for special motion pictures to @id in safeguarding the morals of Chinese youth and women has been received by the association, it was announced. WOUNDED GIVE PERSHING ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME General Urges Veterans to Aid in Stamping Out Illiteracy in Localities. ‘Wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital gave Gen. John J. Pershing an enthusiastic reception yesterday evening, when he spoke to them un- der the auspices of the American Red Cross, and asked them to help correct the condition of illiteracy that now exists in 50 many American communi- fes. “The number of illiterates revealed by the draft boards is astonishing, and it is shameful to permit such a condition to continue,” said the gen- eral. “To me the thought is shocking that there should be in certain localls ties such neglect that one-third of our young mefr cannot read and write, “We must do something immediately to correct this, and who IS better fitted to take the lead in the matter than the men who served their country so gallantly during the late war?" The general said It was gratifying to know that at last the government was taking definite steps to care for and train the war's disa';~d, The speaker was intro. iced by Dr. Livingston Faerand, chairman of the central committee of the Red Cross, and other officials of that organiza: tion present included Col. H. R, Fard- well, director general of the depart- ment of military relief; Austin S. {Imrie, director of the Potomac divi- sion of military relief, and Thomas | DeC. Ruth, manager of the Potomac {division. Under the leadership of | Walter F. Smith, the Marine Band gave a musical proggam . GETS PRINCETON POST. Dr. Henry N, Russell, professor of astronomy, and director of the ob- servatory at Princeton University, has been appointed a research associ- ate of the Mount Wilson Observatory of the Carnegie Institution of Wash- ington for the current year. to receive the gold medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, which recently was awarded him in recognition of his work on the evolutionary classi- Dr. Russell has gone to England | fication of stars. He expects to re- turn in March to undertake his work at the Mount Wilson Observatory. Forty Years of Quality D. C, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1921. 17 Propose Memorial Park at Historic Manassus, Va., Field RICHMOND, Va., February 28. —Acquisition of the historie ‘battiefield at Manassas, Va., and formation into a memorial park organization of an assoc! at Washingion March 5 to which Eovernors of the states of the h and representatives of the ed _Confederate Veterans, of Comfederate Veterans United . Daughters of the Contederacy have been imvited. A two-year option on the Henry farm, on which the firat Battie was fought, and on which the mecond battle closed, has been obtained at the price of $25,000 by Maj. E. W. R. Ewing, past historian-in-chlet, U. C. V., and Westwood Hutchinson, com- mander of the Manassas Camp, U.C. V. It is planned to form an asso- clation to hold titl southern state ai COIN SEEN COSTLY TO TRACTION LINES Proposed Roosevelt Issue May Scrap $50,000 Invest- ed in Fare Boxes. Fifty thousand dollars’ worth of fare boxes on Washington street cars will have to be scrapped or rebuilt at considerable expense, it was dis- closed last night, if Congress au- thorizes the issuance of the Roose- velt 2-cent coin, which is provided in a bill that has passed the Senate and is now on the House calendar, hav- ing been approved by the House committee on coinage, weights and measures. Invest $25,000 Each. The Capital Traction and Wash- ington Railway and Electric Com- panies have an investment of about $25,000 each in the fare boxes, which are constructed to separate only three coins—the penny, nickel and dime—in addition to the car check used. The boxes, it is understood. cost’ in the neighborhood of $100! each, According to information given the House committee at the time the bill was under consideration, the pro- posed. Roosevelt .coin, which would | be different in size from any other coin, would necessitate the rebuild- ing of about 28.000 fare boxes used by street car systems throughout the country. These devices represent a total investment of nearly three mil- lion dollars. Not Expected This Session. It is believed there is little prob- ability of the bill being reached on the House calendar before the pres- ent session of Congress ends. Rep- resentative Vestal of Indiana, chair- man of the committee, stated yester- day the bill would be reintroduced in April, if no action is had at this ses- sion.’ The committee has been in- formed by the Secretary of the Treas- ury that the issue af a 2-cent piece would satisfy no popular demand at this time, but that he would not op- pose the proposed legislation, on ac- count of its memorial significance. POSTAL WEIGHT LIMIT. A post office order, effective at once, arinounces that the weight limit on parcel post packages from the United States to Finland will be increased to twenty-two pounds. Indemnity for loss or tota]l damage of a registered parcel post package will be paid equivalent to 50 francs. Packages un- delivered will be returned in thirty days to country of origin. e Aerial “taxicab” firms are being registered in western Canada. INAUGURATION DAY WEATHER FORECAST ON PAST AVERAGES ven Bet That Mr. Harding Will Need Heavy Overcoat. Probably Umbrella and Overshoes. Viewing the weather probabilities of inauguration day in the light of the law of averages, the ogds would be 1aid as follows: Fair and balmy [12t0 1 Mild but overcast. .31 Cold and damp. . “even Very cold and very damp.... 4 to 5 Snow, hall, etc. . -3t Blizzard .. .18 to 1 The cold mathematics of historial record would indicate such odds to be | fair. It i@ an even bet that Mr. Hard- | ing will need a heavy overcoat when | he rides to the Capitol and three chances out of five that some one should be nearby with an umbrella and overshoes. It seems to be safe at twelve to one that Mr. Harding will not experience the perfect spring day which greeted Mr. Wilson on the oc- casion of his first inaugural. & Past Experience Noted. On three occasions Washington has given the inauguration crowds a weather welcome in which warmth was conspicuously absent. President Grant’s second ceremony was “bitter cold,” the chronicles of that day re- corded, the wind being of the “keen, fierce” kind. “Young cadets parading without overcoats were removed insensible from the lines,” says one account, which described the quadrennial ball as “a most dismal affair,” at which the “various champagnes were found frozen.” Mr. Harrison met with a “bleak and | bitter cold day with a raw wind blowing,” but the historians neglect to mention the conditions of the liquids. “Climatic Climax” for Taft. The climatic climax, however, came with the inauguration of Mr. Taft, when a blizzard howled out of the north, crippling telegraph _ wires, stalling trains and utterly spoiling an elaborate program. Thousands of spectators waited in the railway carg in cold drifts miles from Washington while Mr. Taft was being sworn in the Senate chamber. the first indoor ceremony in seventy-five years, if the historians will ignore the more or less informal inaugurations of Tyler, Fil- more, Johnson, Arthur and Roosevelt for unexpired terms. The fierce nature of Washington's weather gods has led to many movements to change the inaugural date—the proponents of a later date ! being about equal to those who be- lieve that the induction of the new President and Congress should fol- low more closely the “verdict of the polls” Tradition, only, is responsi- ble for the maintenance of March & as the time for the ceremony. it is said, a careful research of legislative records failing to reveal the specific naming of that day. Theories Regarding Selection. Two theories are prevalent as to the manner in which the present date was selected. One is that the rev- olutionary fathers, after an exhaus- tive computation, became convinced that March 4 would not fall on Sun- day in any leap year. Somebody evi- dently erroneously “x" quantity in that case, for March has come on Sunday three times Since Washington's inaugural in New York. The second theory is based on the minutes of the first constitutional convention, where the delegates (un- der date of September 13, 1788) “did resolve unanimously * * * that the first Wednesday in January be the day for appointing electors in the several states; that the first Wednes- day in February be the day for the electors to assemble in their re- spective states and vote for Presi- dent. and that the first Wednesday in March next be the time and the present seat of Congress the place for commencing proceedings under said Constitution.” “The first Wednesday in March, next,” happened to be the 4th, ac- cording to those holding with the second idea, and March 4 thence- forth, weather notwithstanding, has been the day for “commencing pro- ceedings.” — DIFFICULT IN RUSSIA TO GET FOOD AND FUEL Alexander Berkman, Deported An- archist, Writes Nation’s Best Workers Are Kept in Army. NEW YORK, February 28.—Letters trom Alexander Berkman, deported | anarchist leader, to his friends in) New York, published in a local Ger- man language newspaper, tell of the difficulty the Russian people are ex- periencing in obtaining _sufficient food and fuel. One letter, dated No- vember 3, 1920, said that Russia, “notwithstanding its being the rich- est country in the world in natural resources, is not in the position to nourish its own population and to keep its people warm during these bad winter days.” “Russia is compelled,” #&Berkman wrote, “through the. continued de- mands for armed defense against the allies, to send its best workers to the front, the consequence being the de- pletion of the industrial and tech- nical forces. Transportation suffers | the most, accomipanied by the re- | striction or the complete stoppage of | the sending of manufactured articles | to the country population and the | sending out of provisions and fuel to | the_citfes.” | Berjgan said the hardest toil is done ‘women, especially in the ir terior and the Ukraine, where wood chopping, railroad and factory work | fall principally on girls. PULPWOOD CONSUMPTION EXCEEDS ITS PRODUCTION Figures for 1920 Show Close Race in Increase Over Re- turns for 1918. Consumption of pulpwood by mills in New York, New England and the lake states was 17.7 per cent greater in 1920, than in 1918, and production during the same period increased 17.5 per cent, according to estimates made public today by the forest service, based on figures from 118 mills, repre- senting 41 per cent of the total con- sumption of these states. The estimates were contained in the first preliminary statement by the forest service in connection with the study of pulpwood consumption, be- ing conducted in co-operation with the American Paper and Pulp Asso- ciation and the census bureau. Should the percentage hold true for the remaining mills the 1920 consump- tion would equal 6,180,000 cords, or mearly 13 per cent more than the record made in 1917, and the produc- tion would be approximately 3,894,000 tons, or 10.9 per cent more than in 1917, —————— The world uses up an average of three million needles a day. evaluated thelrl DESTROYER SUNK; N DEAD 50§ American Ship Woolsey in Two in Collision Off § Panama Coast. § {TWO INJURED IN CHASI-& U. S. Steamer Under Convoy th Running Down Navy Craft. Slightly Damaged. One naval enlisted man is 4 fifteen are missing and two are ins jured as the result of a collisio: Saturday_between the American stroyer Woolsey and the America: steamer Steel Inventor off the Pacll coast of Panama. The destroyer, in two, sank while being towed port. The damage to the Steel Inventol } was slight and no casualties occurs among her crew. She was report: be proceeding to Balboa, und convoy of the destroyer Buchanan. The report forwarded by Admi Rodman said Tom Stanley Wood: first-class engineman, was killed b; the collision and his body was pla aboard the Buchanan. i \ List of Miasing. The missing were reported as fql ws: IR lo D. T. Blakely, fireman. first: Floy: Coltengin, fireman, Rom Fieckles, blacksmit John Josepl Galcher, machinist's mate, f George Joseph Zibello, fireman, ond; Elbert Jesse Harson, firem: first; Henry George Hancock, engi: man, second; Mattie Owen Stewart, fireman, thi) Webb Stubblefield. ' fireman, firsi George Elmer Wochiman, electrici third; Charles N. Yost, fireman, fi and Emerson Dale Waight, firem: second. The injured, who are aboard cruiser Birmingham, are: . M. McCaigo, water tender, Attorsi O. Burnside. Sinks While Belag Towed. The collision, Admiral Rodman ported. occurred thirteen miles sol west of Coiba Island. After Woolsey had been cut in two outerpart of the ship was floo e destroyer sank as an attempt being made to bring her into a pof The report to the Navy Departm: did not explain the manner in whipl the missing men were lost, whet due ¢o the collision and the floodin, of their vessel or whether’ carri down when she sank. The Woolsey was commanded Commander H. C. Gearing, jr. had a length of 319 feet, a breadth 31 feet and a normal displacement 1154 tons. Her speed was thil three knots and her normal comp) ment was sixteen officers and w 2853 b $aads 3 men. 1 ADDRESS IRISH MEETING! John B. Densmore and Andrew ' Hickey were the principal speakes at the fourth of a series of meeti under the auspices of the Amerls committee for relief in Ireland night at St. Ann’s Hall, Tenleytown. The students of Dumbarton A emy were addressed also by Mr. His ey. yesterday .afternoon at that insti tution. Miss Mae V. O'Brien pres sided. 2 would form a similar body at G 3 town University. i ’ , l Final Reductions No matter what its former price Buys your choice of any | Kuppenheimer Suit or O’coat Hundreds of Garments —mostly the better grades —many of the lighter weights All Full Dress & Tuxedos 8375 As Atways— Safisfaction Guaranteed or Mncy Alterations Free Small Deposits Accepted —House of Kwppenhoimer good cloths: L Buying and Selling in a Big Way Enables Us to Announce for Tuesday An enormous Sale--1,200 Prs. Women's Tan Brog’pe Oxfords —at a price which speaks for itself -........ *4.95 This is a duplicate of the Great Sale of Women’s Oxfords, held in January, at $4.95. The values were so unusual that we sold 3,000 pairs in less than two weeks’ time. We have just succeeded in getting a repeat order of 1,200 pairs. They are simply wonderful values, and fully equal to—if not better than— the others. The Styles include Dark Tan, Low Heel, Wing Tip, “Brogue” Oxfords, Tan Straight-tip, Medium Heel Oxfords and Black Kid, Medium Heel Oxfords. All sizes 2% to 8; AA to D. Judging by past performances, an early response will be extremely advisable, ‘Leather Boudoir Slippers, Special at $ 1 .45 Black, pink, blue.