Evening Star Newspaper, March 19, 1922, Page 42

THE EVENING STAR, Edition. ‘With Sundsy Morning —_—— WASHINGTON, D. C; SUNDAY........March 19, 1922 (0 THEODORE W. NOYES The Evening Star Newspaper Company nd Penneylvanis Ave. ew Chicago Office: First ) Europeas Office: 3 Regen The Bvesing Star, with the Sunday morning edition, {6 delivered by carriers within the city At 60 cents per month; daily only, 45 cents per month; Sunday only, 20 cents per month. Or- ders may be sent by mail, or telephone Main Collection is made by carriers at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Dally and Sunday..1yr., $8.40; Dally only. % g.. gg Sunday only 1yr., $2. All Other States. \Dally and Sunday.1yr., $10.00; 1 mo., Dally only.. 1y, $7.00: 1 mo., 60c Sunday oniy 00 40; ...1yT, $3.00; 1 mo., 25¢ Conventions. Washington is already a convention city, but destiny points it out as a superconvention city, or the conven- tion capital. Washington has become & convention center notwithstanding certain well known deficiencies, and as these deficiencies are made up the current of conventions will flow stronger and more freely toward us. 1t is Washington's prestige as the N tional Capital and the News Capital of the United States which attracts many representative meetings of Americans. The exhibits, the opera- tions of the government and the chiefs and operatives of the vast govern- ment plant are drawing cards, and they are very interesting, inspiring tc the Intelligence and brozdening to the tnderstanding of Americans who look them over. The country about Wash- ington is dotted with historic shrines and much of it still shows a picture of colonial civilization. It is uplift- ing to one's patriotism and educa- tional in divers ways. The people of Washington, gener- ally speaking. do not want conven- tions for the reason that the conven- tioneers “bring money" to Washing- ton and spend it in hotels and shops. That is a reason which appeals to a zood many persons, of course. The hotels and shops are quite prosperous ‘on normal trade and do not depend on conventions and crowds from out of town, as is the case with a number of the so-called “show cities™ of the country. The great body of people in Washington desire convegtions be- cause they want conventions, because they like to meet the men or to read about them and to read the discussior: <t the variety of questions with which these conventions deal. They desire conventions because they want all other Americans t¢ know Washington and to carry back to their homes pleasant memories of the old town and to spread the news among their friends that Washington, not long ago a strugzling village, is still struggling, and that it has already become “some” Capital. The Overcoat. ‘The overcoat is still with us. There ‘was a temptation a few days ago to lay it aside and feed it to the moth balls, but only the guileless among us were swerved from the path of recti- tude by the wily and fliriatious glances of the March sun. So far from parting with the overcoat and hanging it up for its annual vacation, gany persons have turned a disconsolateseye upon the coal pile—or at least upon the bin ‘where a coal pile was—and grudgingly have phoned for another ton. There ‘have been certain signs of spring, such as the scent of garlic, the return of srackles @nd chipping sparrows, love notes of ¢he cardinals and a fresh shad here and there, but there are no signs that more often mislcad mankind than signs of spring. However, March, who masquerades in the calendar as a spring month, but really belongs to the battalion of winter, has more than half run his course, and merry, bloom- ing, sunny, showery April is on her way. ———t—————— ‘When it became necessary for _ America to go into the war nobody was in the calm technical frame of ‘mind to permit cautious bargaining as 1o an eventual settlement of the costs. i ‘There s some impression in Europe that American soldlers on the Rhine ought to be required to pay their way like ordinary tourists. i Villa says he wants more than 200,- 000 acres of land. It is very difficult to find & farmer who is thoroughly con- tented. l Owing to a certain envious streak in humen nature, the more income tax a citizen has to pay the less sympathy he gets. Ttaly and Fiume. Discord in Fiume will not down. The deautiful city at the head of the Quar- nero has continued a hotbed for international friction despite the with- drawal of Austria from a titular role in the play; despite the treaty of Ra- palio whereby Fiume was made & free city; despite repeated protestations of acceptance of the status quo on the part of the responsible governments affected. The latest news dispatches announce the military occupation of the city by en Itallan army corpe. The movement of Gen. Sanna ‘in command of so impressive an armed force to Fiume is explained by the Italian government on the ground of the mnecessity for maintaining order _arising out of the recent overthrow of the Zanella government. Assurance is given that Italy aims only to insure the election of a legal government for the city which will be capable of main- taining order and promoting {ndustry. The Italian foreign minigter holds that Italy, charged with the policing of Fi under the Rapallo pact, must play her part in maintaining the in- dependence and liberty of the free city, or lese her place in the ranks of the great powers. The jmpressive scale of the troop movement whereby Italy proposes to - . outlined i foty 25 to the scope af the disorders he anticipatbs. Students of the intri-| aspirants for legislative hogors are cate problems incldent to the free city are aware of the fact that Serbia-has taken Austria’s place as a rival to Itallan aspirations for eventual con- trol of Filume, and that Serbian forces are malntained upon ‘the ridges back of the port, possibly awaiting an op- portune moment: for & dramatic coup. There is excellent ground for the sup- position that Italy feels that Serbia might deem the present disordered 4. | state of the city to be favoreble to her national ambitions and might descend from the hills. Such a bellet would segm to afford a sound explanation for a step otherwise difficult to under- stand, and would justify the Italian course, provided her troops are promptly withdrawn upon the expira- tion of whatever crisis exists. —————— A New Era of Mergers. ‘The manla for mergers has again seized hold of American business, and there are indications that the country is entering upon an era of consolida- tions comparable to the “trust-form- ing” years from 1898 to 1902. Whether this phenomenon will be followed by another “trust-busting” period re- mains to be seen. The American peo- ple are not nearly so-afraid of trusts as they were a few years ago, and, be- sides, some of the elements which were most bitter in their opposition to the combining of little businesses into “big business” are now engaged in doing that very thing themselves. The farm- ers, with their nation-wide plans for co-operative marketing, are a case in point. The merger period which gave us the United States Steel Corporation and other industrial glants was the outcome of the period of industrial de- pression which set in toward the end of the second Cleveland administra- tion. It was found that scattered in- dependent industrial units lacked the strength and the operating efficiency to endure prolonged depression. Con- solidation made for greater efficiency and operating economy, but the flood of “watered” stock which attended these ponsolidations aroused public ap- prehension and alarm. The ecry of 'monopoly” was raised and became a political issue which survived for many years. The - present tendency toward mergers is the direct result of the period of depression . following the world war. The large industries re- sulting from the mergers of a quarter of a century ago having demonstrated their superior efficiency during and since the war, the owners of small businesses today show a natural desire to strengthen and insure themselves by the same process. If they will profit by the mistakes made in mergers of the past it is probable they will be permitted to carry through their pro- grams without serious public opposi- tion or governmental interference. The American people no longer are afraid of @ business merely because it is big, but the federal suits against Standard Oil, American Tobacco, In- ternational. Harvester and other so- called trusts laid the possibilities of abuses so bare that it would not again require years of education and agita- tion to determine where private rights ended and public rights began. Most of the mergers projected today lare of small independent concerns competing with strongly intrenched big concerns, and if there is no at- tempt in these mergers to circumvent the law they ought to result in large public benefits. The people have come to a realization that business, big an little, is entitled to opportunity end encouragement, but the days of “the public be damned” have gone, never to return. \ Bank Your Money. A day does not often pass without bringing a bit of news from some- where in the United States that the life savings of a man or woman, kept in a sock or stocking, under the mat- tress, sewed up in a skirt or “cached” in a cupboard, have been carried off by thieves, or that a hoard of money, also representing a lifetime of saving, thrift or miserliness, stowed away in a stove for “safe keeping,” has been burned up on the starting of the fire. Education and enlightenment have not been carried to all persons in the country. Some persons, many per- sons, lack that quality ‘which we call common sense, though often the sus- picion arises that common sense 1s really uncommon sense. The place for a man’'s savings is a bank constituted under provisions of the law and watched over by the law. Sometimes a benk “goes up” and de- positors lose, but instances of this kind have become rare. In other times in the United States banks wfgiled” pretty often, and there was perhaps & reason for many persons to be skeptical of banks. But the laws— the laws of states and of the United States—have been tightened up on the banks, and & bank failure has become a rarity. A bank is an immeasurably safer place for & man's money than a et, sock, cupboard or & stove. In the matter of securities the safe- deposit company or the safe-deposit department of & bank is the proper place to keep them. If you. have money which you have saved, or are trying to save, put it in bank. If you have bonds, stocks or any papers of value put them in & safe-deposit box. \ ‘Many women who serve on Juries do mot find the experience agreeable, and are willing to edmit that their ‘husbands were sincere in their com- plaints when drawn for jury duty. \ The soviet government is evidently getting out of the “red” influence. Even red tape i now being declaimed against. Ireland in settling down to & peace- ful existence avoids & sudden change that might make life seem monotonous. 5 \ A mine shutdown on April 1 would be @ rather shabby practical joke. Party Spirit and Congress. Democratic confidence in November is reported here. Republican depres- sion s reported there. A betwixt and between feeling is reported yonder. The situation is reflected in the pre- liminaries respecting the next Con- gress. Candidates for nominations are beginning to put out their heads. Some campaigns are under way. -~ ‘Where democratic good cheer exists, THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTO numerous. . Many are getting {nto the game. The impression that, Rotwith- standing The unparalleled defeat of two years ago, there is now a cflance is pricking the ambition of local lead- ers and party workers. Republican depression, * though marked In some quarters, is yet no- where so- marked as tQ show nomina- tions going begging. Candidates are not belng dragged in by the ears. Men who have had a taste of Capitol Hill want more, while those 1'ho have been figuring for some time on a national career seem to think the present a good time for their purposes. ‘There are but few localities reported as in a state of betweenity. As a rule, where democratic confidence is lacking republican courage exists. This is, or can become, a public benefit. Whether the .next Congress is democratic or republican, it'should be composed of the best men available for the country’s service. Let us have in every state and district a vigorous con- test under capable leaders, with party policies explicitly stated, so that the victors will know their way, and be of the kind to obey the mandate issued. “Back Home.” Men well qualified from experience in politics and from travel through the country to speak, advise against trips home by senators and representatives for the purpose of sounding sentiment at this time about pressing public is- sues. According to these men, there is no sentiment worth while tp sound. Only village wiseacres and professional agi- tators perennially uninformed are vocal. The people of weight arc, as a rule, silent and thoughtful in the pres- ence of conditions so unusual. They seem overawed. The question by a congressional visitor, “How are things out here?” is answered, Yankee fashion, with the question, “How are things in Washington?” 1t seems a good time, therefore, for the men who have been elected to legislate to act on thelr own judgment to make up their minds from inform: tion gathered from sources spocial ing in facts: to show their quality as advisers as well as representatives of the people: to take their ground, dnd stand upright. Conditions are unusual for every body. Representatives and represented | u We .have | gossip. alike are a bit overawed. not seen such times before. We may not see them again. But'while we are sceing them we must deal with them. There is no escape. They can neither be postponed nor evaded. So the thing to do is to tackle them with sobriety and deliberation, and have it out with fortune in the best way and with the hest results possible. We shall make some mistakes, but mistakes inhere in all human activity. ————— Prohibition and Immigration. Numerous reports and complaints g0 to show that the government is underserved both as to prohibition and immigration. Not that those charged with executing the laws are not vigilant, but that the force provided 1s too-small for the tasks. Rum-running has become an organ: 1zed and very profitable industry. Great numbers are engaged in fit. Enormous profits are flowing from it. It is so open it has become a boast, and even a popular jest. *“Hootch,™ and its price, and how to obtain it, are capital mirth-provokers. . . Sneaking into the country at un- guarded points in violation of law is likewise much practiced. America hever looked: better, never.more tempt- ing, to the migratory outsider than to- day. He compares conditions here with conditions prevailing elsewhere, and his impulse is to enter the country by any means avatlable. If the law bars him he studies how to evade the law, and secures help to that erid. The government ought to be ade- quately served in both of these par- ticulars. It cannot afford this mocking of its laws. " As a larger administrative force'Is necessary it ought to be pro< vided. Let the hootchers be. chased untiringly. Let the frontiets be guard- ed against undesirables at all points. The muitiplication ‘of minor officials even at this time of economy is a small price to pay for asserting the national authority ‘end carrying out the popular will expressed in due form as to matters of vital moment to all sections and classes. ———————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNBON. The Modern Monster. The megalosaurus looks wild, The glyptodon fills me with fear, As I look at the data compiled By science on creatures so queer. Yet perhaps they were gentle and sweet And their presence would never re- . wveal The perils I face in the street ‘When I dodge a big automobile! A Modest Attitude. “You are always successful in being re-elected.” & “I don’t take as much credit for that fact @s I used to,” replied Senator Sorghum., “I come from & prosperous community. Anybody competent to fill the position wouldn't regard my salary es an inducement to become & competitor.” - Jud Tunkins says he never could figure that “daylight-saving” com- pensated for the loss of time by peo- ple in a rafllroad statign who were trying to find out exaetly when a train left. “ Censorship. The Roman censor held a’' sway Most autocratic in his day. Yet, history cannot deny, He 1ét some daring stuff get by. The Ladylike Habit. “My wife says she will leave me if I don't quit smoking,” sald Mr. Meek- ton. 3 ! *“Going home to her mother?” “No. Her mother smokes more than I do.” “Form will tell,” said Uncle Eben. “Dat story ’bout de hare an’ de tor- toise describes 4-ffuke dat made 2 good ‘moral lesson. Jes® de sime, if I ever gits & chance at dat kind of & r‘lgo Ts Politics at Home Harding and McKinley. Mr. Harding in his personal address and popularity is often likened to Mr. McKinley. He Is very approachable, and has the knack of putting at ease everybody who approaches him. At the Florida resorts he has just ex- hibited his Cordial qualities, and re- celved in return every evidence of ap- preciation from those, wherever placed in tho soclal scale, high or low, fortu- nate in coming within the rgnge of his recognition. He left for home with the increased good will of all who had met him. His warm soclal nature sometimes caused a misjudgment of Mr. McKin- ley. In his early days in the White House he was regarded by superficial observers as a pliable man, too peacé- loving for his own good. But as time passed and “things began to tighten” [he showed that under a calm and i pldasant exterior dwelt resolution suf- ficlent for all practical purposes. He seemed slow in calling Spain to account about Cuba, and some of his political friends and all of his political foes thought him incapable of meeting the emergency. But in good time and Bis own way he met it, and in ninety days under his leadership Spain con- fessed defeat. Some of the republican leaders and nearly all of the democratic leaders hesitated about taking over the Philip- pines. But Mr. McKinley was prompt with his decision. He saw the Amer- ican duty, and imposed it. He was a high protectionist, and for years had led his party on that issue. But in what proved to Be his last speech—delivered at Buffalo—he de- manded a substantial downward re- vision of a very successful protective tariff law. “Things have begun to tighten" now—this thing, that thing, and still another thing. But the friends of Mr. Harding—those who stand closest to im—are well persuaded that he will meet every emergency as it arises and when it presses. ars from the ; Mr. Wilson and Current Gossip. Mr, ably Wilson need not be, and prob- s not, at all surprised at the free of his name made in all political He is fair game. Gossip, like death, loves a shining mark. Wash- ington is headquarters, and he is a resident of Washington, right on the spot. It is to be remembered. too, that & great deal goes on in this town on what, In the vernacular, is called “the dead quiet.” Confercnces are held that are never reported. Plans are laid the details of which are known only to a few. So that it is easy to secure at- tention for any story linking Mr. Wil- {son's name with political questions under consideration in Congress or out. It is to be noted, however, that Mr. Wilson is never quoted. “I have it straight” is never used by anybody connecting him in any way with argu- ments or maneuvers on this subject or that. Here is where Mr. Wilson's reputa- tion for aloofness serves him. The man who should pretend to quote Mr. Wilson on any matter of current con- sequence would have to be exceeding- Iy specific. He would have to answer inquiries as to his relations with the former President, and his right to in- troduce him into the controversy. So there is only guesswork to go upon.« A good deal of this is entertain- ing, and some of it may be near the mark. Mr. Wilson while in the White House had to do with many questions, registered some successes and met some defgats, and must have taken into private life with him a measure of the “get even’ spirit. But he is not, we may all be sure, taking Tom, Dick and Harry into his confidence, or even admitting them to his presence. To the greatest extent, where he stands and what he wants done on this mat- ter or that is his own secret, or known only to men in whose discretion and loyalty he has all confidence. The Press and Politics. The Star referred recently to the establishment at Jackson, Miss., of & weekly republican nhewspaper, as a sign that the republicans of the lower south were getting 2 move on. The republicans of Florida have gone their brethren of the Bayou state one better and established a daily pa- per. They are supporting the Harding administration, and have taken a practicul way of showing their faith. ‘We shall not soon see either the Bayou state or the Peninsula state transferred to the republican column. nationally or locally. The democracy, as the resuit of years of rule and laws to suit, is strongly intrenched in both states. Still, good should come of these two ventures. They will make for discus- cussion, and discussion, intelligently conducted, makes for botter govern- ment. Where there is a mediurh of criticism there is a necessity for mini- mizing criticlsm—provoking as little of it as possible. New England has been republican for a long time. Nevertheless, the democrats of that section have been well organized, and some of the best local newspapers have been of the democratic persuasion. This has had effect on local affairs. It has forced the republicans to toe the mark with their best men for lead- ers, and to bid for continued control with carefully prepared platformsand The Yankee democrats, in this way, have impressed themselves on their lo- calities by that vigilance which is the price of good government. —— A pledge that the printing of paper marks shall cease is contemplated among Germany’s financial plans. At its present value the paper mark rep- resents only en enormous waste of printing, labor and material. ———t————— Owing to the farreaching relation- ship of the British government very little can happen in any part of the map without causing Lloyd George ad- ditional worry. 3 - ————— Opponents to the treaty can prolong their arguments indefinitely by insist- ing on having the dictionary read|t l | 1 redemptions of platformi promises. | 35 Medical Men Urged to Purge Ranks of Unworihy and Venal BY THOMAS R, MARSHALL. Former Vice Presigent of the United States. DAGE holds. sway over the minds of men from .age to age merely because one adage Is immediately suc- ceeded by another as soon as it falls. One swallow does not make a spring, but it 14 likely to pro- duce a fall—now that the eight- eenth amendment is working. Straws may show which way the wind {8 blowing, but all straws are not storm-tossed. Some stacks are protected against the wind. It is of slight moment where the vagrant straw may go, bfit it is highly important to see to it that the rest of the stack does not follow in its train. The sneers and criticism of certain American surgeons touch- Ing the work of Dr. Lorenz fa- mous Austrian, may be regarded as straws blown by the winds of destiny out of the medical pro- fession and through American life. These straws are not the first to be blown from that source. As a friendly critic, I would sug- gest that the profession take cognizance of them as detrimental to its high ideals. * ok ok % Every now and then I find a doctor or a surgeon mourning over what he deplores to be the manifest tendency of the Ameri- can people to regard his profes- sion with doubt and suspicion. This he naturally and properly resents, as he feels that his fra- ternity has done everything pos- sible to deserve the respect and confidence of the public. It has constantly raised the standards of study and practice and has diligently sought to keep out dis- reputable members. My father was what was commonly known as an old-fashioned coun- try doctor. His type has about passed from the life of the nation. He looked on himself as one called to a divine mission. He belleved that all which God had given’him and all that he had added by study and experlence were to be to the alleviation of sufferin did not consider that he was either in trade or in business. The making of money was incidental to the granting of relief. He never thought of axking # messenger who knocked at his door whether the man who needed his services could or would pay. Like the dis- ciples of old, without purse or script he went about the consum- mation of what he believed to be his divinely ordained mission. He may have lacked the graces and refinement which mark modern professional life, but he felt him- self a member of a dignified and learned profession and he conduct- ed himself in accordance with its finest traditions. % % % o* When 1 came to the bar 1 was so deeply Impressed with the idea of the call upon the soul of man who took upon himself the discharge of a mission which he thought labeled him a son of God that never, save one, in the course of my professional career was I found in opposition to the interests of a physician or surgeon. As the story indicates the blowing of a danger- ous wind, it 15 worth relating. The practicioner I opposed was wholly ignorant of the human anatomy. Ho had, however, become possessed of a set of surgical instruments. Called in to attend a boy suffering from an overdose of Indiana cu- cumbers, he proceeded to operate. Jlo thought he had discovered a case of appendlicitis. So ignorant was he that he made Incision on the left side of the abdomen. The life of the boy was saved only by the skill of another surgeon. Did the medical fraternity dis- avow this practitioner as a ‘skilled and learned man? Did it hold him up to the contempt and fear of the community that he deserved? I regret to say it did not. I took the job of making public in court i the story so that the facts of his |finor&nee might be conveyed to the people. His incompetency be- came 8o mnoised about that his knives henceforth rusted. The records of the 'supreme court of the state of Indiana con- tain the story of a man, & client of mine, who was injured in a raflroad 'wreck. He had consulted a speclalist whose regular consul- tation fee was $20. He had only $10, 80 the specialist accepted that sum and made examination. Tm- mediately thereafter, he informed the counsel of the railroad com- pany that the man was a maling- erer. For this information he re- ceived $100 from the railroad. ‘When the trial of the case came on he took $200 more of railroad money and testified for the rail- road without obtaining permission of my client to do so. "His test mony was all I needed to prove the folly of the railroad's conten- tion. * ok kK Let not the citation of these incidents be construed as an as- sault on the medical profession. The memory of my father, of his ways, his words and his work, and the knowledge I possess of the constant benefactions which thou- sands of physicians and surgeons are gladly giving to the poor and needy would stamp me as fal and ungrateful if I charged mer- cenary motives against the pro- fession. My only purpose is 1o suggest to the devoted afd sac ficial souls making up the pro- fession that they get rid of the few within their ranks who con- coivo that it is proper for them to barter the skill and knowledge they possess among the suffering sons of Adam. The state can do much and should do al] it can, but the - high-minded members of the profession must back up the state in its efforts to unfrock the false priests ministering at the altar of our common humanity I might write this serced agaiust my own profession of azainst the : but it is no clergy. 1 may do s excuse for stealing a horse to point to another horse thief, un- whipped of justice in the same neighborhood. 1t will not do for the medical profession merely to point the finger of xcorn at law- | yers: and ministers of the gospe The streets of Jerusalem were kept clean by dweller sweeping his own ryard * x x & I am reminded of a story illus- Thaddeus Stevens to feel a his politics. Just after the civil war, a gov- ernment employe was accused in the House of Representatives of being a defaulter. “Is he our thief?” inquired Steven; Being assured he was, Stevens promptly red: “It is our duty to defend * ] sometimes think that pro- Aessional men too often f strained 1o defend their associ No doubt they are inspired by desire to keep down scandal. ve of how It is hard enough to build up a good or- ke i | ganization und impossible 1o my it perfect. The Master of Manki selected only twelve men to look after his business. He exercised greatest care and vet among the twelve he found one that was not worthy. The good‘ name of the medical fraternity demands that those physicians ;and surgeons who are consecrated to their divine calling shall expel from their societies the incompetent, the unworthy and the, venal. The state must back up 'this conduct by revoking for- ever the licenses of those expelled. The rest of us who never know what moment we may require the skill and scientific knowledge of the profession should guard our- selves against speaking in slight- ing terms of any man devoting himself to the alleviation of suf- fering and to the bettermént of the health of the people. Doctors should be tried one by one. not in numbers. In that way we can con- demn the tradesmen, while pre- serving reverence for the profes- slon. (Copyright, 1922 by Thomas R. Marshall.) DIGEST OF FOREIGN PRESS “We Can't Understand America.” PARIS.—Most of the French press frankly declares f[tself puzzled by America’s attitude toward France. A paper that gives especlally clear ex- pression to this is the Victoire, whose editor, Gustave Herve, says: “After having advised us to modify our reparation demands to the real capacities of Germany, and having thus encouraged her to pay as little as possible, our American friends ask us to decrease our armaments. “Here agaln their intentions are ex- cellent and perfectly filendly. It is sure that ho should recover more gquickly in Europe if we had not such heavy burdens. “But our American friends imagine that it is for our pleasure, for the pleasur> of playing soldiers, that we shoulder such heavy burdens, or for conquering German _territory? The Russian _bolshevists _tell . this about France; the Germans who have not got over their defeat use it as propaganda, and our French com munists and a certain mumber of op- | ponents, in order 10 play a trick on the government which is not to their taste, chime in, out of pure contrari- nes “But without waliting for our American friends' demands, it hap- pens that we have decided to shorten the length of military service, which before the war was three years, and now is only two, to eighteen months and if possible to twelve months. “We _understand very well,” co! tinues M. Herve, “that a French arm of 800,000 men seems exaggerated to our American friends. But they don't seem to know that we have more than 200,000 in Syrie, Morocco and in the rest of our African possessions, in M scar and in_farther India, and that we are only able now to re- duce our army in Syria to any ex- tent and hope soon to be able to do the same in Morocco. “Our number of soldiers in Europe seems to them excessive compared to the German army, reduced to 100,000 men and to a great extent disarmed. “Painful as it is for us not to agree with our American friends orn this point, we feel obliged to tell them at we consider ourselves better judges of what is really necessary for our security and for the execu- tion of the treaty. . “There are many Frenchmen among the least chauvinistic and the less pessimistic patriots. who consider that unless we have a large army on the Rhine, not only we shall never get a pfennig of what Germany owes us, in spite of all the beautiful words of Herr Wirth, but that the military party and the great industrial would soon establish the Hohenzoilern— or rathdr that they would have re- established them at the time of the Kapp affair—and that the first thlnz these reactionaries would do woul be to immediately invade Poland., “Our American friends,” says M. Herve, “allow themselves a navy equal to that of kngland, because of their anxiety with regard to Japan, which is separated from them by the wide expanse of the Pacific. When they feel they are threatened, rightly or wrongly, they don’t hesitate to be sure of a numerical superiority -of battleships. How can they find it wrong, then, if we make sure of hav- ing a great military superiority over he Germans, as long &= the d cratic reconstructing our devastated re- “And how can they be surprised if Poland, situated as shie is between Germany, which hates her, and soviet Russia, which Is hungry, looks twice before she follows the advice about disarming, which distant friends may give her, when she has already been disarmed by her near neighbors? “We should be only too glad in France to bring about general dis- armament in the whole world; we even tried, with this intention, in agreement with a certain Wilson, of whom our American friends have doubtless heard speak, to establish a certain league of nations. But our erican friends refused absolutely to join this league, because they did not want to be mixed up in European affairs. And yet now they do med- dle in them, by asking us in a friend- ly way to disarm! “We don't cease loving our Amer- concludes M. Herve, to understand jcan friends.” “but we do cease them.” American Gold at Genoa. PARIS—The Genoa conference must occupy ijself with the economic re- construction of Europe. Will it be possible to find a solution to this problem in the absence of the United States and the republics of South America? This seems very difficult. But the United States seems to be little disposed to co to the confer- ence and the South American repub- lics have not Qeen invited. Why has no invitation been semt to the South American states? It is not without reason. The supreme council has not told us what these reasons are, but no doubt they are serious and decisive. The mystery surrounding them is all the more irri- tating. Meanwhile we must agree that new diplomacy is not so ad- verse to secrecy as it pretends and that it borrows those methods which it protested most loudly against. However that may be, America will be absent from the conference. And yet it is in America that = part of the indispensable means of economic re- construction are to be found. And if these means are not put at the serv- ice of those who want to reconstruct it will be very difficult for the plans to be realized. 3 In order to carry out these plans, whatever they may be, Europe must possess a large quantity of gold. The penury of gold from whigh she is suffering _is one of the most certain causes of the ecdnomic orisis. It is all very well to say that gold only Serves to measure the value of things: it isqall very well to say that a well arranged exchange of goods and services might make gold superfiuous; in practice these theories are contra- dicted by facts. Gold Is indispensable for commerce, for producing and carrying' on economic aoctlvity. Eu- rope will not resume her activity until a part of the gold which has been -drained from her gnd sent to the United States has been: restored to her. ¥he United States had too much gold, says M. Doumergue, Europe has not as much as she needs. An ex- cess of gold and a want of gold both engender the same crisis. The United States' industries are fously suf- (Erlnr from a superabundance of th metal; Europe is struggling with eco- a difficulties which wee is metal. stit i-g.al 1 Cable because of the want 1t is impossible u::f for a long % # The phonograph is doing a great work in uplifting the musical taste of the nation. So widespread has this modern marvel become that many people have ceased to wonder at it. Yet it remains one of the most marvelous Inventions of man, which bridges time and space and enables all to have good music in the home. Under its influence America yet will reach that pitch of musical cul- ture manifested in Italy, where the average person Is famillar’ with the music and stories of the great operas. In the meantime, it is converting thousands from jazz to Beethoven, replacing the fox-trot with the sym- phony and making the immortal songs of the ages a part of the every- day life of mankind. Every kind of music has its place; the places are at different altitudes, that 1s all. We must all be musical mountain-climbers, There is a woman llving in this city who owns a talking machine and many records, from which she de- rives both spiritual and physical help, as there {s little denying that the harmony brought about by good mu- sic is beneficial to the human system. This lady has an Italian woman come in to do the family wash. While the woman washes, the lady of the house plays opera records. And the poor washerwoman, lo and behold! explains the stories of the operas to the lady of the house as the various records are played. “He a-killing her now,” she says. * * % Even an obdurate street-car con- ductor can't squelch a soldier. In his natty uniform, this officer g0t to a car marked “Mount Pleas- ant,” when the conductor shut up the folding doors in his face. The officer banged his fist on the glass, so vigerously, in fact, that he splintered the glass all to pleces, his fist breaking through it like through <0 much paper. Whether he meant to it that hard is not known. Any- way, he got results, The conductor let the steps down, the officer got on, paid his fare, and went on to a seat, the conductor say- ing not a word. Blood was streaming down the offi- cer's hand. He had cut a rather deep gash. For several blocks he endeav- ored to staunch the wound, while he lad the evident sympathy of those on the car. Reaching down, he picked up an abandoned bag off the floor, tore off the gummed portion. licked it, and applied the paper to his wound. Would you have done it? * A lady astronomer wants to know what has become of Venus.' Some time ago Venus showed up in the skies in fine style, shining bril- liantly over the world, as an evening star should. ¥ Then she disappeared from the view of the observer, and, try as the tele- scope will, Venus is not-to be seen. Whether she is modestly hiding be- hind a curtain of clouds or engaged in household duties or trving on new celestial garment is lard to de- termine at this distance, What has become of Venus? * * ¥ Playing the stamp machines is get- ting to be one of the favorite diver- sions at places where the Washing- ton city post office has instdlled the latest stamp venders. There is something about human nature that delights in trying to beat a machine. Perhaps it is the sub- conscious idea that live brains can outwit inert steel and wood any day in_the year. In playing the stamp machire there is nothing to do but put in your coin and grind the crank. Mostly you get Wwhat your coin,calls for—if a dime is put in, you draw five 2-cent stamps, ete. Occasionally, according to some who have played the machines, you draw queer selections. One man slipped in his dime and got four 2-cent stamps and half a stamp. 2 Wishing to get his money’s worth and thinking to get the other half and five more stamps, he played an- other dime. ‘All he got was that other half of a stamp. Explain it? You will have to ask Postmaster Chance. CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. type of automatic postage! {Heard and Seen|Fifty Years Ago in The Star Hopes for a union station in Wash ington were expressed long befor: that highly d- Garrett’s Plan for sirable estal - . lishment wasef a Union Station fected, indeed as soon as a second raflroad was o: the point of entering the city. In The Star of March 14, 1872, is th. following editorial on the subject: “Manifestly, the best olution of thr railway problem in Washington i= the erection of a grand union depo: in some suitable locality. Elsewhere the interests of the rallway com- panies themselves, as well as the public, are served in this way, as thex would be here, no doubt. In his efforts in this behalf, if they are honest and earnest, Mr. Garrett” (of the Balti more and Ohlo railroad) “will there fore have the good wishes and in- fluence of nearly everybody inter ested in the growth and welfare of Washington. But the trouble in th case lies in the want of confidence in Mr. Garretts sincerity. As the projector of cnterprises for the bene fit of the public he is a great suc cess, but as a consummator he is sad failure—one of the worst, fact, that the country can thow. © this account there is gond ground for fearing that his proposition to pul up such a depot here is only intendco 48 a foil to the Pennsylvania railroad and that if he is able to carry th point before the District committes tomorrow he will never hulld it, o at least. not for the next half ce: tury. The people here have lost c fidence in Mr. Garrett’s promises. T more he pledges the less he docs. { far, at least. as Washington i cerned. 1f Congress thinks favorab! of his plan let it insist that he sha carry it out within the next months. That is ample time, and 0 he means business he will gladly ac cept that condition and give securits for its fulfillment. If he does not, lc i him get out of the way and allow u- to get such rclief as we can fron other quarters. He has been the ol man of the sea for this community ! quite long enougzh.” Countering the protests of those citizens who sought to block the puh lic improvement plan Memorial to ©f the new District goy ernment fifty vears Congress. o, by appealing to Congre: nd starting an investiga tion into District affairs, a memorial was circulated among and signed b numercus Washingtonians asking the closin of the inquiry and beginning upon the program of betterments The memorial stated: “Since the location of the Capita city in Washington little or nothinz has been done towards the improve- ment of its streets and otherwis developing its natural beauties. The condition of the capital of a great ! people. now assuming a prominent | place among the nations of Ui lcarth. had become mnot only inex { cusally bad, but highly discreditable ITo remedy this evil® the citizens without distinction of party., applied to Congress for an independent ter- ritorial government. Congress gran! ed our petition and our people. witl out the aid of the federal govern- ment, undertook to make our city worthy of its position as the capit: of our country. * * * To do th money WAaE necessar! nor could w« undertake and accomplish the self- imposed task with the revenue d« irived from ordinary taxation; mnor could the work be from year to year for this 0. Tt was therefore resolved to ate a loan for that object and to pay off th T debt by sinking fund. this end | passed a bill early | those opposed to the ating a debt in the manuer proposci obtained an injunction from our court, by which means the work wa Qelayed until late Jast fall, and be fore what had been beguy could be finished the severily of tife weathe: stopped its further prosecution, leay- ing our streets and sidewalks in a most unsatisfactory condition, ani now, at the commencement of the Second season for labor, we find the | authorities embarrassed by an in | vestigation which promises to b greatly prolonged and out of which in our judgment, no good can po: sibly result” a last season, policy of cre Snapshots in Export Markets That the American motor car is oc- cupying & position of increasing im- portance in the import trade of the east is shown in the first automobile show of importance ever held in that section of the world, according to & report. on the Calcutta exhibition from Consul H. R. Foss. American makes were widely represented by their local agents, and it was shown that, while in the year before the war 880 motor cars were imported into India, 1,669 of which came from Great Britain and 868 from the United States, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 1921, there were 15432 cars im- ported, of which Great Britain and 10,120 United States. * ¥ ¥ X These “fairs” in foreign markets are proving to be of great value in focusing attention on the superior quality of United States production. For example, exhibits of agricultural implements of American manufacture were. easily conspicuous at the agri- cultural implement and seed show which closed in Paris last month, ac- cording to Assistant Trade Commis- sioner F. G. Singer. Most of the large rms of the United States, France, g;ng?lnd._ Belgium, Csechoslovakia and Italy were well represented. ‘American manufacturers again con- firmed their leadership as to quality and design. It was shown that the large French firms have a decided tendency to copy American designs, but they are not able to compete for quality. The general impression among American representatives was that the show was a big success and that a fair market for American agri- cultural implements may be expected for the current year. * kK X There is a good market for American books in Brazil which was noticeably neglected during the past holiday sea- son. ‘While most of the standard Ameri- can periodicals can be purchased regu- larly at book stores and news stands in Rio de Janeiro, practically all of the books in English sold there are of Eng- lish origin. Dr. Hubert Work, the new Postmaster General, will have to improve this nuul';l'nn,‘ because 1; is Hmelyv?;e to unsatisfactory parcel post service, ‘:,Mth discourages the buyfil of books direct from the United States. The knowledge of English is spreading rapidly in Brazil, with a consequently steady increase in the demand for books in that language. The present demand i8 largely for scientific books,—on medi- cine, ring, industrial from the i 2,541 were from are eagerly sought and are frequenti: used by those who are studying English * k ¥ ¥ Mexico needs soap from this country That “great unwashed” country is eagerly watching for carioad shipments of soap from the United States. This 1s not due so much to a sudden sani- tation reform as fo the failure of the Laguna cotton crop for the last two vears, wiich has caused a shortage of cottonseed oil. As a consequence, the local Mexican soap manufacturers have | been ynable to compete with American | soaps.” Large sales of white laundrs woap have been reported by Americai firms. = * ¥ X ¥ Milady's lipstick and powder pufi and other toilet accessories have !fonnd amazing favor in China. Con :sul General Edwin S. Cunninghan finds that American cosmetics are exceedingly popular and that ship- ments are not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Shanghai market The increasing demand for cheap grade cosmetics in China has been stimulated by well designed advertis- ing campaigns which took careful note of the peculiar requirements of that country and played up featurex which could not fail to appeal to the people. Care of the hair, complexion teeth and finger nalls is given care- ful attention almost universally among Chinese women, and native preparations are, gradually givink way: to imported goods from the United States, of better quality Highly perfumed tollet waters for the hair are being shipped in large quan- tities, as a large part of the populace prefer them to the local concoctions. Similarly inferior face cream and powder are giving way to importa- tions from America. Tooth pastes are gaining in popularity, although the use of toothbrushes has long been established. Ordinary preparations for the finger nalls are also in dec- mand. Imported soaps in increasing quantities are rapldly replacing na- tive brands. * * % Chile needs woods for making sl heels and American woods are believ- ed to be most suitable. The manufac- ture of wooden heels is an industry that is coming strong. in Chile. In 1919 there were 190 shoe factories in Chile with annual capacity of 10,- 500,000 pairs of shoes. There were be- sides three wooden heel factorlex. turning out 5,000 dozen pairs per month. The demand for these heels far greater than the capacity of the factories, and consequently, large numbers are imported—mostly from the United States. The development of this industry is dependent. upon: ability to obtain suitable wood, prop- erly dried. When native wood is used the heel shows a tendeney to split and warp. Chilean manufacturers, after trying woods from several countries are agreed that American woods, such as maple or beech. would he the most - suitable, providing the cost of ship- ment is not prohibitive. 9 mot put any tariff on wood