Evening Star Newspaper, July 6, 1923, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR, With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D.C FRIDAY ..July 6, 1928 THEODORE W. NOYES........Editor The. Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office, 11th St. and Pennayivania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd St. Chicago Office: Tower Bl Duropean Office: 16 Regent St.. London, Englan1. The Evening Star, witl the Sundar morning 'Mg:-n is delfvered by rriers within the city s por moat only, 45 cents per iy only, 20 cents per month. OF- mail. or telephone Main Collection is made by carriers at the end of each month. 3 Rate by \lnll—l’n)lhle in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunda: Dally Sunday All Other SIatn Daily and Sunda; Dadly only Sunday only Member of the Auo(‘hted Press, The Associated Prews fs exclusively entitled ta use for republication of all news dis- PAtcien credited to it or not otherwise credited i this paper and also the local news pub- 1ished ‘herein. Al rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. e = — Twelve-Hour Day Going. In their letter to the President the directors of the American Iron and Steel Institute in effect promise to abandon the twelve-hour day that pre- vails in that industry “without undue delay But—and this is @ big but— this is to take place when “there is a surplus of labor available.” These words are quoted in the directors' let- ter from a communication addressed 10 Judge Gary by the President on the 18th of June, expressing the hope that this change in the work-day schedule in the steel industry will be effective. The President put the matter in two phases. He wondered if it would not be “possible for the steel industry to consider giving an understanding” that before there should be any reduc- tion in the personnel of the industry through falling off in the demand for steel products, “or at any time where there is a surplus of labor available,” the change from a two-shift to a three- shift basis might be made. In other words, the President’s thought was to pledge the steel industry, if possible, to abandonment of the twelve-hour day ahead of any recession of the vol- ume of business It has been the constant plea of the steel leaders that the twelve-hour day was necessary because there were not enough skilled men. This has been re- futed by the lahor organization. It has been contended also that the men prefer the twelve-hour day, which is denied. The President’s proposi- tion” is that the eight-hour day should be established as soon as it is practica- ble. The directors reply that they hope and expect it to be established as soon as the labor supply permits. They do not answer the President’s alternative suggestion that a pledge be given to abandon the twelve-hour day before reductions in personnel are made in- cldent to reductions in production. The twelve-hour day in the steel in- dustry is doomed. It cannot be main- tained. It is contrary to all the tenden- cles of the times and to the practice in vogue in virtually all the other in- dustrics. The letter of the directors of the American Iron and Steel Institute may be taken as the first step to this end of a shorter work day. While they reserve the point of sufficiency of la- bor, they have gone a long way for- ward in admitting a determination ‘‘to exert effort at our command to secure in the iron and steel industry in this country a total abolition of the twelve- hour day at the earliest time prac- ticable.” The matter now becomes much clearer. Are there enough men to man the mills on an eight-hour basis, or a combination eight and ten hour basis? If there are men enough without draw- ing from and crippling other indus- tries the twelve-hour day will go. And when it is once abandoned it will never be readopted. The President has brought the matter to a head. ——————————— A New York stock-broking firm that failed may pay dollar for dollar if se- curities can be realized on at the prices of awhile ago. The bucket-shopper will not count the loss of time, but will consider himself successful if he can come out even. ——— A large prize might be offered for the best plan to persuade European nations to work with Uncle Sam for permanent peace. —_——— A man of wealth who is invited to become a candidate can figure on leav. ing politics poorer than when he en- tered. ———— The Belgian Crisis Passed. A brief dispatch from Brussels States that the chamber of deputies has voted confidence in ment after organized a discussion of the newly cabinet's declaration of policy. This vote was given by ninety- four Catholics and liberals against sixty-three socialists, with twelve deputies abstaining from voting. In other words, out of a total of 169 members, ninety-four, or nine more than an actual majority, sustained the ministry. This is not a wide margin, but it suffices for the present. It is not, however, to be understood as bear- ing chiefly upon the foreign policies of the Belgian government. Probably on the score of the foreign questions, notably the relations with France in respect to reparations and the occupa- tlon of the Ruhr, the ministry com- mands a much larger majority in par. liament. The issue of acute importance is domestic, centering upon the lan- guage question. The factional quarrel between the ‘Walloons and Flemings of Belgium re- cently reached an acute point, and re- sulted in ministerial resignations, The fact that the cabinet has been recon- structed under Premier Theunis and has now been sustained by a majority vote, however slender, may be regard- ed as an indication that this question kas subsided, and that the ministry, which is inclined to the Walloonfather than the Flemish point of view, has ‘weathered the crisis. The Flemish-speaking people & Belgium are in the majority. But there is a considerable percentage of the population speaking both lan- guages. These hoid the balance of \ the govern. | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTO _— e e e e power, 80 to speak, for when they are added to the non-Flemish-speaking people those who speak only Flemish are in the minority. During the war the Germans made a point of being easy with the Flemish. speaking population of Belgium. This was a move of policy in an effort to ‘wean away the Flemings from the Bel- gian government, which, though fugi- tive and hoiding to only a very small bit of territory, was recognized throughout the conflict by the people. That some of the Flemings fell under the German influence is undeniable. After the armistice was signed and the Belgian government moved back to Brussels there were many trials for treason and condemnations on that charge among those who had thus yielded to the blandishments and temptations of the German invaders during the war. Feeling in Belgium ran high against these people, and there was a sharp reaction, indeed, against the Flemings in general. The adjustments on the language question, '} which had been in progress before the war broke, were seriously upset by these new conditions. The issue of the University of Ghent, where the stu- dents have demanded the establish- ment of the Flemish language as dominant, has precipitated the ques- tion, but, as the cabinet crisis now passed indicates, there is small prob- ability of a break in the present or- ganization. Indeed, such a break over the language question would be a dis- aster for Belgium, and would seriously affect the solidarity of the Franco- Belgian alliance. The suspicion is al- ready voiced that in large part this recent revival of the language ques- tion in Belgium is the result of influ- ences from east of the boundary. Underwood’s Negative l’o:mvn Senator Underwood's first pro- nouncement after his return from Eu- rope has been already taken as a move in the direction of announcement of his candidacy for the presidency or acceptance of that role if it is pressed upon him by his friends and support- ers. It is not, however, a particularly satisfactory expression as campaign material. It is too negative in its tone. It should have something more than denials and condemnations of the opposition, and Senator Under- wood's statement Is couched in that vein alone. Assailing the republican administra- tion for its ““do-nothing™ foreign policy, Senator Underwood said: Our nation can do more than any other great country today because of its isolated position, its unselfish position when the war closed and its great potential powers to establish permanent peace—but we have done nothing and are doing nothing to aid the peace of Europe. Our government arm seems paralyzed s0 far as help in that direction is con- cerned. We geem to be standing in respect to the affairs of Europe with- out a policy, without courage of con- viction. without anything that goes to make a4 man & man or a government & government. We seem to be just observing and drifting, at least so far as the public is_permitted to know. Never in all our history as a nation have we occupied a more negative positipn in the affairs of Europe than we do today. We continue to drift down stream and the roar of the cata- ract is heard ahead. The senator then proceeds to set aside the proposal that the United States enter the world court as inade- quate. He is very careful not to sug- Igest directly that this country join | the league of nations: in fact, he makes ino direct positive proposal, and he concludes his statement with the fol- lowing cryptic and really inconclusive utterance: The truth is. as I see it, there is no magic_wand that can be waved to cure the ills that befront us in Eu- rope. In the first place, they are the | problems of the states abroad. We can- not dictate, we can only advise, but {we have a policy, a wise, helpful | poliey on each and every one of the {probiems in which our home people lare interested, and we have pursued that policy in an open, courageous and helpful way for the ultimate peace of the world and the prosperity of our people at home. Now is the time for suggestions. It is not enough to say we have no policy. The critic who is headed to- | ward a presidontial nomination must {kave one himself. He cannot go into { the race with a question mark as his { standard. It is now up to Senator Un- | demwood. if he would make good as a potential leader of the democracy in the fight of 1924, to come forward with a specific plan for our foreign re- latiens. Is it to be the league of na- ! tions? \ | —_————— Songs of other days are said to be coming back. Possibly a number of { eminent political leaders now in dis- !agreement are expected to get together within the year and warble “‘Com- rades.” ! e ———————————— The standard of mentality among immigrants is said to be exceptionally high at present. It is no sign of un- | intelligence to wish to become a citi- | zen of the U. S. A. ——— 1 Candidacy of Gov. Smith on a wet platform would be likely to make Col. Bryan more insistent than ever that the great question now before the peo- ple is evolution. { ——— A “wild west” demonstration is now {only a plcturesque ceremonial. Any- ibody desirous of seeing gunplay in| | earnest betakes him to the metrop- { olis. 5 e po— Police Call Gongs. It is proposed to install gongs on all police patrol boxes in the District. {The purpose is to enable headquar- ters to summon policemen to the tele- phones quickly upon emergency. At present if headquarters wishes to com- municate with a man on beat it must ‘wait until he turns in his hourly re- port call from a box. In a few cases boxes have gongs on them In the ! downtown section, but in the great majority of cases the boxes are vir- tually “dead,” so far as calls from headquarters to the force are con- cerned. Occasion does not often arise for headquarters to communicate quickly with the men on particular beats, or on all beats, but when they do come it is desirable that this communication be made as speedy as possible. Under the general call system, with a gong on each box, if a crime occurs anywhere in the District and the per- petrators escape, evéry policeman in each precinct can be notified within a few minutes, assuming that the gong ’ signals are promptly heeded by the ‘men on patrol and that they call their station houses as soon as they can reach the nearest boxes. Probably within five minutes of such e call every man on beat in the District, save, perhaps, a few in the more re- mote sections, could be ififormed of the situation and given a description of the fugitives and thus warned to be on the watch. The cost of installing such gongs is a trifle compared with the assured ncrease in efficiency of the police force. In matters of public protection no consideration of cost should be allowed to cause delay. ————— The Auditorium. Work on the Washington Audl- torium goes forward, and announce- ments are made that all but $150,000 of the $800,000 fund required for the erection of the building has been sub- scribed; that this balance will be cared ! for within a short time, and that the | auditortum will bo finished in Novem- ber. Already there is talk of booking conventions. It has been no easy matter to “‘put across” this big hall project, and those who have done it are entitled to felici- tations and substantial reward. A great hall for conventions at Wash- ington has been talked about for thirty or forty years. Various plans have been laid for raising the money, but the big hall for the accommodation of the largest conventions is only now bullding. Failures in the past cannot prop- erly be charged to lack of public spirit, but full credit should be given those who have carried the auditorium this far along its course, and who say that the job will be finished next fall. ‘Washington is a far richer and more populous and prosperous city than when the need for a great hall for big gatherings began to be publicly dis- cussed. Building prices and all other prices are much higher, but the money is forthcoming and passes more freely from hand to hand. Men now think and talk In thousands, whereas only & few years ago they thought and talked in hundreds or in tens and twenties. ‘The auditorium will fill @ need which ‘Washington has long felt, and it will clinch Washington's claim to being the convention capital of America, —————————— Girls came over from Holland in search of husbands. The item 1s in- teresting as showing the simple and desirable standards that may distin- guish new importation. It is in whole- some contradiction of the sophisticated tendency to wander around the map looking for divorces. —_——— A German savant announces the discovery of inscriptions 20.000 years old. A great deal of Germany's best thought is being diverted from an exigent present to the remote past or the distant future. —————————— Far from lacking material, the |democrats announce so many presi- | dential eligibles that it may be difficult to arrange for a strict campaign co-ordination of their various views. ———————— 1 The soviet government, though con- tinually organizing, never goes so far as to provide a limit to Lenin and Tretsky's term of office. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Early Beliefs. A little hoy long years ago believed the flowers grew Because they couldn’t help it in the i sunlight and the dew. He thought the fruit so sweet and gay unbidden sought the bough, And life was only made for play—but he knows better now. He thought that grown-up people all of money had a store, And when today's was gone that they could get some more. illness vanished overnight, no- body knew just how, And love was just his natural right— but he knows better now. Each B He thought that older people were by | far more wise than he, And he need only have a care to listen and agree. Sometime a lot of things he'd do that then they'd not allow, And make his day dreams all come true—but he knows better now. Jud Tunkins says he doesn't think his daughter and her husband will ever agree. Her idea of pleasure is to give her friends a pink tea and his is to give somebody a black eye. Reckless Driving. “So you were arrested in the metrop- olis?"” ““Yes,” answered Mr. Chuggins. “Speeding the old fliv, eh “No. I didn't go fast enough to keep from being bumped by the car behind.” “Are the new boarders people of | qutet taste?” e In spots,” answered Farmer Corn- {tossel. “They objected to anybody's | shooting firecrackers except their own children.” In A;reement. Now Science says it's wrong to die— At least, before you're eighty, And every citizen will try To heed the precepts weighty. Though science bids dissensions grow, In this case none will flout it, For every mortal here below Feels just that way about it. A pessimist is a man who seeks the summer sunshine only for the purpose of hanging a thermometer in it. “Would you encourage your wife to attend a prize fight?” “No,” replied Mr. Meekton. 'm pretty successful in dodging e stove- lifter or a rolling-pin. I shouldn’t like Henrietta to get too scientific in her ideas.” “Power an’ position,” sald Uncle Eben, “asserts deirself at a grade crossin’ same as elsewhere. An auto- mobile horn can’t hope foh as much respeck as a locomotive whistle.” D. C, FRIDAY CAPITAL KEYNOTES BY PAUL V. COLLINS, Secretary of Labor Davis has gone to Europe to study the immigration problem. When he returns he will draft a bill to reorganize the entire handling of immigrants. One of the main evils he will undertake to rectify is the tragedies of disappointment of thousands of would-be Immigrants Wwho séll their homes in their native lands, and in good faith cross the ocean, only to be refused entrance into the Promised Land after arrival at_the port of entry. Mr. Davis proposes to have all im- migrants given a preliminary exam- ination abroad, so to eliminate nine-tenths of the ineligible class before they cross the ocean. It will not be a final examination, but it will take the edge off the problem. * k% ok The $100,000 reward offered by Ed- ward Bok for a practicable plan to abolish war will bring many a sug- gestion from men and women who feel so kind and lovely that they belleve it is easy to charm rattle- snakes by smiling at them. The means of abolishing war Is not @ secret; it was published cen- turles ago. All that is needed s to persuade greedy criminals, in posi- tions of power and influence, to ac- cept it. This is the rule—absolutely practicable and efficient “Thou shalt loye thy neighbor as thyself.” There s no “international law" possible without that supreme law which will control national greed and anger and overreaching, unless it has power over nations, making national will subservient. “On these two com- mandments hang all the law and the prophets”—Ilove of God and love of fellow men. Mr. Bok's $100,000 reward is too extravagant if it is given to redis- cover the long-discovered only prac- ticable law: too cheap If it seeks a law superior to that, on which hangs &ll the wisdom of the ages. As well offer $100,000 for an improvement on the solar system. % o What Is it worth to bring a smile to a face which has not known one for weeks? Who can measure the therepeutic value of & jazz which takes a morose and often violent churacter—one who has been con- fined in a straltjacket because of his sudden outbursts of temper—and causes him to forget his gloom and offishness, to the extent of spring- ing to his feet and shuffling a dance to the merry measure of a jazz? Jazz is not music, it is wild racket. Sweet music had fafled to “soothe the savage breast” of hundreds of the wounded and_sick and discouraged veterans at Walter Reed Hospital, but when a traveling jazz band played for them, men smiled and danced for the first time since the armistice. Jazz is not musle, it is discord— and discord Is what pulls at nerves of the men whose lives have been wrecked in the strain of battle and trench. Jazz fills a_want that no medicine can reach. Some of the musicians found buddies who had fought in the same regiments to which they had belonged. Then the jazz broke loose all the more furiously—and the “smile -—smile—smile” broke loose again It was almost the famous “smile that won't come off.” ok Senator Curtis proposes to tax billboards placed alongside the road. Why stop with taxes when damages would be more proportionate? A pleasure rider pays taxes on his au- tomobile, pays for the upkeep, for the depreciation, for the gas and oil, and occasionally for the police funds, and then he goes out into the country to enjoy Nature. Does he enjoy Na- ture? Yes. he has no Nature today! He has Durham bulls and old fences. He has toothpaste and medicines. He has hotels and groceries and say! He has cld fashioned spaghetti. and Long Island chew-chew-gum. but Yes, he has no real Nature today. Damages! ~Multiplied damages! . * ok ok x Help! Help! Representative Aswell of Louisiana has vowed he will come to the rescue of the District of Co- lumbia against Maryland in the mat- ter of automobile reciprocity. His “blood boiled” when he witnessed 2,000 Washingtonians in line July 2 trying to get Maryland licenses ful‘ the second half of the year, because Maryland refuses to recognize Dis- trict tags. the | Representative Aswell is _deter- mined to introduce a bill at the next session of Congress providing for the withholding of the federal road funds from any state indulging in license tag discrimination. He says he knows that a number of members are in hearty sympathy with such a course. The idea that any state line should differnetiate in the rights of Amer- ican citizens Is repugnant to the spirit which forbids a state from levying tariff on commerce be- tween states. Traveling by automo- bile across state boundaries is inter- state commerce and, as such, is under the jurisdiction of the federal gov- ernment, not of state legislatures. * K K % President Harding persists in mak- ing a mechanic out of “a perfectly good President.” His latest stunt Is that of a motorneer on an electric train running through the mountains of Idaho. President Garfield was a mule driv- er, and could twist the tail of the livellest mule and jump back at tha psychological moment. President Washington was an ° engineer—but not an electric one. He did not try to fly Ben Franklin's electric kite. President Grant was a tanner. He tanned the hides of cattle and—peo- ple. But he served an apprentice- ship first. We have had a rail-split- ter, a cow-puncher and & printer in the White House,- But so far as his- tory relates, they confined their eles tioneering methods to kissing babies rather than trying to beat every me- chanic at his own trade. Somehow the regular motorneers and cow- punchers seem to enjoy it all, though probably many a mother is repeating the famous criticism of Grant: “Why, my #on John's a bigger man than old srant.” * X x % Senator Royal S. Copeland (demo- crat) of New York has been convert- ed to the cause of the wheat raisers of Amerlca, and has become an ad- vocate of protection to that “Infant industry." The Minneapolls millers sent out some statistics a few days ago and asked that all Americans eat an extra slice of bread per day, in order to add to the consumption of the surplus wheat. Senator Copeland says that at first he objected to that, on the ground that if we all ate more bread, to help the farmers, we could not eat so much of the farmer's oth- er_products. But, he says, further thought has convinced him ‘that while the extra slice of bread would mean eating 150,000,000 bushels of wheat extra, it would require also 1,500,000 extra bushels of corn to make the yeast, 1,500,000 bushels of corn to fatten the extra 4,000,000 hogs, to produce the lard. and a lot of cornstarch to make cakes. The bread would require “an ocean of milk"—as much as New York city now consumes in 220 days and a billion pounds of butter, to spread the extra slice. Sugar and jams would be added, besides a mil- lion yards of cotton to make the flour cks. £ re s It is to be presumed that most folks eat now as much as they need. The question naturally arises as to what will happen to public health when everybody overeats to the extent of a total of millions of bushels of every- thing. But the astute health officer, who does not have to feel responsible any longer for the health of the mul- titude, has nothing to say about the demoralized digestions of the masses, bent on making the farmers and mill- ers prosperous at the expense of the stomachs of the surfeited multitude. * ook x Ah, ha! The National Council of Health finds A Way of testing man- kind and scaring 60 per cent into chasing doctors. The farmers, mill- ers and dootors conspire to betray the other 40 per cent into gluttony! We are ruined by our stomachs! This is no party question. It affects democrats and republicans altke. It affects all partles except the “I won't works.” The latter can't even get the first siice, much less the “extra slice.” It will play into the hands—or stom- achs—of the “I. W. Ws.” and soon they, and they alone, will govern. Senator Copeland does not realize the far extent of the influence of his measure, for he is a baby senator, new in major statesmanship. “Give us less bread or give us death (Copyright, 1923, by P. V. Collins.) EDITORIAL DIGEST Latest Suggested War Code Meets With General Approval. All right—but! That would seem to express the opinion of the majority of American editors who have discussed the new code of rules for warfare drafted by | the international commission of jur- ists at The Hague. They recall that it was at The Hague that many plans for interna- tional peace were drafted only to be “shot to hell” by the usages of na- tions in the late war, starting out with the various examples of German trighttulness. The failure of the rules to end submarine development, to restrict the use of poison gas, or, in fact, to do much more than al- ready has been suggested in protect- ing civilian populations is a disap- | pointment most editors confe: “War at its best is bad enough without licensing the use of tools which pile horror upon horror,” sharply declares the New York Her- ald. The “aircraft code lays down for aerial bombardment much the same rulés_as The Hague conven- tion of 1917 laid down for military and naval bombardment.” goes on the New York Tribune. Yet, admitting that this is 50, and the Manchester Unlon does so whole-heartedly, “the fact that five great powers will ac- cept these new rules ought to be proof of the sincerity of observance of the code in time of belligerency. If these important provisions even- tually receive the sanction of all of the leading powers of the world there certainly will be no excuse for a repetition of many of the atrocities that occurred during the world war.” That is very much the viewpoint of the Buffalo News, which agrees that, after all, this is merely a “code of honor. The radio and airplane code 13 designed simply to apply es- tablished principles of conduct in clvilized warfare to agencies of com- ! munication and action that were de- veloped during the world war and since. But in its provision outlaw- ing the bombing of civilian popula- tions from the air, and jm other ways, it marks a far step forward in thel. direction of binding nations to a re- gard for humanity. Unfortunately the temper of the day does not ad- mit vet of the assurance that there will 'be no more wars. So it is of great importance that rules of con- duct be set down, and, If possible, enforced.” The Decatur Herald is fully convinced that the United States and all other nations directly con- cerned “will, of course, approve the new rules. When it next comes to grips with an enemy of equal strength the United States will send airplanes to bomb cities, churches and hospitals, and so will every other signer of the new conventions.” There some possibility that war will be vented by the establishment of Sftective international organization, but there is no slightest poasibilit; that war will ever be regulate Every rule promulgated at The Hague or elsewhere for this purpose has been as futile as the fifth com- | mandment.” | Recalling that the regulations in |eftect in 1914 “did not hold because they could not withstand the pressure of ‘military necessity,’ " the Milwaukee Journal suggests “the chlef value of the new rules will not be in any as- surance they offer that defenseless cities will be spared. It will be in drawing the attention of the peoples {of the world to the horrors of war. 1t will lie in reminding the people of the world that they are not safe and will not be safe until these govern- ments which can get together so nice- 1y on rules for the conduct of war get together for the prevention of war. That is the only real hope of safety.” | 1t is, of eourse, “‘one thing to draw up rules of this sort and another to en- force them,” the Pittsburgh Chronicle- |Telegraph holds, “But something has been gained by thus putting the na- tions on record. Certainly our go ernment intends to live up to its promise, and we should concede simi- lar good faith to others.” This view meets the approval of the Detroit Free Press, which argues “it is incon- ceivable that the nations will find any reason for failing to carry out_ the purpose of the recommendations. Pre- dictions have been made that the next great war will see the utter abandon- ment of law and humanity in favor of lawlessness to the last degree, but there is no reason for assuming the truth of that forecast. The duty of humanity lies in the other direction, at least an effort can be made to make the next war, if there must be a next war, less horrible than the last.” There should be little question of ratification, the Columbus Dispatch feels, because “one of the greatest in- fluences in their favor lies in the fact, quite generally admitted, that from the military point of view nothing was gained in the late war by the use of aircraft in the ways that the new code proposes to outlaw. Many Germans were convinced, from an early period of the conflict, that such methods were costing Germany far more than they came to.” Adoption will have a good “moral effect,” the Yonkers Herald holds, although “the violation of all of the principles of ‘civilized warfare’ in the world war left most people with a feeling that it was useless to protest further against practices which became more ! barbaric as the great conflict drag- ged along.” And unless such a plan is made effective the Sioux City Jour- nal declares the next war must be more frightful than was the last. “There have been many naval treaties,” the Cleveland Plain Dealer points out, “but the treaty now sub- mitted is the first aerial treaty ever drawn. There are those who believe the next war—If there is & next war —will be decided in the air rather than on land or sea. Assuredly it is well for the civilized nations to have a recognized air code which will es- tablish the legitimate use of aircraft in warfare and prohibit the detest- able, misuse so-common during the | great war in Europe.” JULY 6, ]923 Merger of Railroads. Injustice Cited in Proposal for Compulsory Consolidation. To the Editor of The Star: The press recently reported Senator Cummins as in favor of the tompul- sory consolidation of the railroads by act of the Congres: No one can doubt that a merger of the rallroads, If wisely grouped, is greatly to be desired, and that by the resulting efficlency and decrease there- by made possible in the costs of oper- ation and maintenance freight rates could be greatly lowered, which has become a necessity, for the farming interests of the country. But the question is: Can It be com- pelled by law? I entertain a great respect for Senator Cummins both as a lawyer and public servant, and when he advocates a public measure involving a legal proposition I assume he sincerely belleves there is consti- tutional authority for it. As his view on this question is so contrary to anything I can find in the Constitution, I recently addressed him & courteous letter asking if he would inform me what provision or provi- sions of the Constitution authorized , in his opinion, to compel & ation of the roads. 8o far he has not favored me with a reply. It looks to me like downright con- fiscation to merge a road that, per- haps, ought never to have been built; that 'has never earned more than the interest on its bonds, and which prob- ably will never earn more, with a road of very great earning capacity by reason of its fortunate location and efficient management, and take the money of the security holders of the latter and give it to the former. This would certainly appear to be taking property without due process of law, and would be making a use and application of the Interstate commerce clause of the Constitution that was never contemplated by the framers of the Constitution or by the people who put their fortunes into the construction of the rallroads of this country. Such an act would séem not only to violate express pro- hibitions of the Constitution, but would be contrary to every principle of a just and eivilized government, such as we olalm ours to be. I can ses no way for such consoli- dations except by voluntary arrange- ments of the roads themselves, who may be constrained thereto by neces- sity in course of time and the com- pelling influence of public opinfon. ALEXANDER SIDNEY LANIER. Denies D. C. Fourth Was Safe and Sane To the Editor of The Star: Where were the reporters when they wrote that the “safe and sane Fourth” was rigidly observed here and that there was no noise of ex- ploding firecrackers, etc.? They must have been ensconced in bomb-proofs or had their ears plugged, for never in years has the law against firing of noise-making devices been so openly and flagrantly violated as it was dur- ing this Fourth of July period. In my section of the city (north) it was simply nerve-racking to the limit. A resident of ¢he southwest said to me that the noise was ter- rific, in that section, everything being set off, just as in the old days. A resident of the region near St. Margaret's Church said that “They surely raised hell in my section.” And s0_on. The people poured out, afoot, in street cars and in autos, into Mary- land and Virginia and purchased fire- works of all sorts to their hearts' content. The spirit of today seems to be to violate any law that does not suit the individual desire. To think that one is really celebrating the spirit of the Fourth by violating the law cer- tainly evidences a peculiar bent of mind. The police, so far as I can learn, paid not the slightest attention to the orders of the superintendent that they were strictly to enforce the law. One wonders if these orders were not a mere bluff, for they were evi- dently so considered by our citizens. We were simply given a carefully planned exhibition of one of the old- time celebrations that were thought to be events of the past and not belonging to the present. The frightful aerial bombardments under the auspices of the various cit. izens’ associations should have satis fied the longing of the most ardent noise-wishers, GEORGE H. EVANS. Gen. Bee, Not Lee, at Bull Run. To the Editor of The Star: Will you kindly correct a mistake in The Star of Tuesday, in the article on Manassas (Bull Run) Park? Gen. Lee was not present at the first battle of Manassas (Bull Run). It was Gen. Bee of Georgla who rose in his stir- rups and pointing to_the line of gray, under Gen. T. J. (Stonewall) Jack- son, cried out to the exhausted troops: “There stands Jackson like a stone wall.” A shot struck him and he feil mortally wounded. OWIng to the detainment of Gen. Joseph E. John- ston, who arrived late, the Confeder- ate forces at the first battle of Bull Run were under the command of Gen. P. T. Beauregard. BEATRICE VAN C. MEEGAN. In a Few Words. 1 do not believe beer is any more of a stimulant than tea, coffes or tobaceo. —SENATOR JAMES COUZENS. The world's iliness would very soon be cured if France permitted the use of a prescription of the best physi- clans—an estimate of Germany's rep- aration ability by a non-partisan neutral commission. —PROF. HANS DEBRUCK. The chief weakness of the profes- sional politiclan is that he is too political. He plays politics when he would be doing more for his country if he were playing mah jong. —SAMUEL G. BLYTHE Some people have got tired of hating Germany and are now begin- ning to hate France. —MAUDE ROYDEN. Chivalry is one of the few beautiful qualities which men possess in greater measure than women. —EDWIN PUGH. ‘When a nation of Puritans comes into collision with a people of an- other creed, the Puritans are likely to win, —DEAN INGE. All_modern revolutichs, from the French revolution to that of the bol- shevists, were made by small but determined and loud-voiced minori- ties. —PAUL SAINTSBURY. ~ It is certain that without the Su- preme Court the American republic, with its great heterogeneous democ- racy, would hlvelgerllhed long since. —JAMES M. BECK (Solicitor General). 1f the percentage ted in the 1920 census report are correct, in less than a hundred years most, if not all, business in this country will be done by women. I don’t pretend to predict what the men will do, but Aome’ oné will have to do the house- keepin| L ——EALICE FOOTE MACDOUGAL. Evolution is an anesthetic; it dead- ens the pain while the Christian’s religion is being removed. —WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN. At the present time there are more potentialities of war in the European nations than there were in 1914, and there are many more places where it could break out immediately. —MORRIS HILLQUIT. The workers in Europe must be shown the way to revolution regard- less :.r how l’:l': movement develops on other oont -J-ION TROTSKY. Q. How many acres are there in Rock Creek Park and in Potomac Park?—E. P. A. There are 1,632 acres in Rock Creek Park and 725 acres in Potomac Park, - Q. Which is larger, the Munitions or the new Navy building?—J. R. K. | A. The width of the buildings is the same—B60 feet, but the Navy bullding {s 860 feet long. while the Munitions building is 780 feet in length. The Navy building has a gross floor space of 949,182 square feet and houses about 3,000 employes. The Munitions building’s floor space is 847,250 square feet, and approxi- mately 2,500 people have offices there. Q. Did Washington ‘White House?—M. A. P. A. He did not. John Adams moved into it in 1800, when the seat of gov- ernment was transferred from Phila- delphia to Washington. live in the Q. What is the source of Wash- ington's water supply?—>. H. A. The Potomac river, in the vicin- ity of Great Falls, supplies Wash- ington with water which is brought into the city by means of a gigantic conduit under the so-called Conduit road. The proper pronunclation of the word ‘“conduit,” by the way, is indicated by spelling it kon-dit. Q. Is there a hand which counts in poker that does not count in stud! poker?—F. L H. | A. Foster's Hoyle says that in stud poker, straight flushes do not count. Q. Are centipedes poisonous that are seen in houses occasionally?— S. H. A. Centipedes of the temperate zone are harmless and should not be exterminated, because they destroy roaches. Q. What is the meaning of the pin worn by membeu of the Travelers Aid?—C. B, A . The lone palm in the desert adopted by the Travelers Aid sym- bolizes rest and relief to weary or lost travelers. “shnt is an Archimedes screw? " ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS | By Frederic J. Haskin A. This is a type of water lift used in ancient times, particularly by the Egyptians. BY THE MARQUISE DE FONTENOY. Zionism, which is frowned upon by $0 many of the most enlightened Jews on both sides of the Atlantic as impol- itic and impractical, has received a severe setback in the Holy Land. For the efforts to convert it into a Jewish state and a natfonal home for the en- tire Jewish race have failed. An attempt was made by the British high commissioner, Sir Herbert Samuel, a professing Jew, to transform the country into a self-governing depend- ency, by the grant of a constitution contrived on the most up-to-date Euro- pean fashion. But to begin with, the Arabs and native Christians were in an overwhelming majority, and owing to the favoritism which Sir Herbert Sam- uel had displayed in bestowing most of the administrative offices and dignities upon Jews, to the exclusion of the peo- ple of all other faiths, they declined to accept the constitution or to take part in the election. In fact, they literally boycotted Sir Herbert Samuel, his gov- ernment, the Zionists, and also the Russlan Jewish syndicate of Rutenberg, upon whom Sir Herbert had bestowed the monopoly of all water power and electricity in the Holy Land. A deadlock ensued which has resulted in the British crown suspending indefi- nitely the constitution of an_elective, self-govetniug government in Palestine, and its conversion into what for the present will be a crown colony. At the me time Sir Herbert Samuel has been summoned home to London to explain the complete failure of his administration, and it is not expected that he will return. He is held to have acted throughout wtih a de- plorable lack of judgment, tact and diplomacy, and to have aroused the bitterest feeling among the natives ot Palestine by his pronounced Zion- it partisanship. The Rutenberg mo- nopoly, by reason of native opposi- tion, has proved unworkable. * k x % The action of the British crown in connection with Palestine, where friendlier feelings among the natives may be restored by a Christian and more impartial governor, constitutes a much needed lesson to Egypt. If the latter does not become more amenable to reason than she has shown herself during the past twelve months, in spite_of all the conces sions made by England, the latter will be obliged to adopt the same course as she has taken in the case of Palestine. That is to say, repeal, by order of King George's privy council, of the grant of provisional |ndenendence and self-government, which had been_so mistakenly be- stowed on the Egyptians by Eng- land, and the resumption of her mas- tery of the “land of the Nile” through the autocratic but beneficent and sen- sible rule of a British plenipotentiary like Lord Cromer and Lord Kitch- ener. There appears to be no other alternative. * X ok ok France's republican regime has just lost one of its most determined adversaries through the death of the sexagenarian widow of the late Mar- quis Charles de McMahon. She was the species of connecting link with the conservative royalist element and that extremist irresponsible section of the party which is headed by Leon Daudet, son of the famous novelist, and represented by the daily Par newspaper known as the Action Francaise. Indeed, she was one of the principal supporters and financial backers of the Action Francaise. It was because the latter occasionally | went to extremes In its attacks upon | the republican government, much | further than the responsible leaders | of the royallst party wished to go, that she felt it necessary to resign the presidency of the organization known as the “Dames Royalists of France,” which she had held for a number of years. She was not a beauty, and singu- larly careless about her appearance, invariably arrayed in a loosely made black gown. She was tall and angu- lar and, unmeasured and passionate in her public utterances, conveyed somewhat the impression of a fanatic, especially when she got onto the sub- ject of the Jews. She was so_ in- tense In her anti-Semiticism that she saw Jewish Intrigue in every- thing, and was wont to preach in favor of the restoration of the French monarchy, with a court from which all Jews and Jewesses, whether of race or creed. would be rigorously barred. She was very unhappy in her married life. Her husband, the late Marquis Charles de McMahon, a grandnephew of Marshal McMahon, becoming involved in all sorts of scandals, financial and otherwise. The ‘marchioness was the “daughter of the late Marquis de Vogue, cele- brated as a member of the Academy of France, as a diplomat, as a his- Q. What is the most dangerous place on a train?—G. L. A. Probably the platforms betweey , cars are most dangerous. The’ couplings may break under any severe strain—such as the application of emergency brakes—separating the cars. Serious accidents to passengers on platforms may result. . When was sprinkling first useq as a mode of baptism?—J. A. B. A. The rite of baptism by sprink. ling or pouring is supposed to have originated either in the second or 1he third century and is alluded to in writings _of Cyprian, who gave opinfon that in the case of those wh were sick or unable to endure the rite of immersion, it was a lawful bapticn Q. Can cedar trees be grown fron seed?—E. W. A. The forest service says tia: they can be. It would take approx./ mately five years for a cedar to be come three feet high and seven o olght years for it to reach four o five feet. Q. Were all_mounds round thar were bullt by the mound builders? M. W. P. A. Sometimes mounds take tic form of animais and reptiles, shou: ing that they were emblematic the great serpent mound of Ad Ohio, consisting of 1.300 feet of .wa the outline of a serpent is easil: traced. Q. How much does the Post Office Department spend for twine’—C. W A. The Post Office Department says that the latest figures are for the fiscal vear 1921-22. The twine bill was $139,421.82. Q. How can it be said that Dewe was the only admiral of the Na when David G. Farragut and David D. Porter were permanent admirale’— LA . A. The title of “Admiral of the Navy” was conferred upon George Dewey by special act of Congress The others were admirals in - Navy. Q. _What is a simple test for gold? —J. W. T. A. The geological survey says that/ a test of gold Is to touch the material with a glass stopper wetted with nitric acid. This would leave gold unchanged but would color base al- loye blue by formation of nitrate of copper. Q. Should the chains on the of automobiles fit tightly?>—J. G. R A. The Automobile Road Book says that chains should not be too tight. They should be allowed to creep. 7 (There is no charge for answering questions, except return po Setback Just Suffered by Zionism Held as a Proper Warmng to Egypt torian, and who claimed lineal descery, from one of the three Biblical Mugi Wwho visited the Savior at Bethlehem o The Marquise de McMahon may be £aid to have fnherited her prejudice sgainst the republic from her mother- in-law, daughter of the late Duke des Cars Making her headquarters at the Chateau de Sully, in the gion of Autun, the elder marquise was in 1873 to such an extent the leading figure of a royalist consp acy for the overthrow of the present republic, then in its infancy, that a Te- warrant was fssued by the minister ' of the Interfor at Paris for her af- rest on a charge of high treasor Her papers were seized. and if the arrest failed it was because the peas- antry of the district, who were deeply attached to her by ties of gratitude for her generosity and for her devo- tion to their interests, rose in her behalf to such an extent that in der to put the warrant into exe tion the dispatch of a large body o troops would have been necessary. There were too many promin names concerned (n the conspiracy as revealed by the seizure of her p pers and correspondence at the castic of Sully. In those days the rovalist element had some of its more or less half-hearted sympathizers in the ad- { ministration of the new republic. It may be remembered that in 1875 Marshal MaMahon, Duke of Magents and whose wife, ‘a daughter of th- ducal house of de Castries. was convicted royalist, was actually elect- ed to the presidency of the republic So it is not astonishing that in 1 the ministers of the republio includ: such personages as the late Duke d« Broglie and the late Duke Decazes. who was minister of forelgn affairs Thelr influences prevailed, through the pressure which were able to exercise upon their ciy leagues, the ministers of justice and of the interior were compelled 1 withdraw the warrant for the lrrev of the Marquise de McMahon and t« consent to the abandonment of « further proceedings and to the hush- ing up of the entire affair. But this conspiracy of the elder Marquise (e McMahon—that is to say, the mother- in-law of the marchioness, who has just been 1aifl to her sorely nceded Test—was in 1873 a very serious danger to the republic. a rock, indecd. on which the republican regime i most went to pieces. * % x X 1t is not generally known that late Marquis de McMahon and present Gen. de McMahon, second Duke of Magenta, and married to th royal Princess Marguerita of Orleans, have American affiliations. The duke Is the great-grandson of an Irich physiclan of the name of Patrick who settled down to the practice his profession, in 1742, at Autun rying a very rich widow, he b through her, the owner of r\l large estate, including the Chateau de Sully, was created first a count and then'a marquis by Louis XV, and dled in Spa in 1775. It was his son, the second Marquis of McM who by his marriage to Mme. Caraman of the ducal house of that name. became the father of several sons, one of the younger of the eventually becoming marshal of France, Duke of Magenta and second president of the third and pres.nt French republic. The first Marquis of McMahon, the Irish physician, had a younger brother named John, who. in"1738, entered the Irish college Paris, with the object of becoming a priest. Changing his mind, he turned to medicine, and was appointed 1 surgeon in the French army. Later he was attached in a confidéential ca- pacity to the French embassy at Ber- lin, where he became Intimately ac- quainted with Frederick the Great and Voltaire. Returning to Paris in 1770, he was appointed chief medical officer of the Ecole Militaire in Paris. and married an American, a Miss Springham Clarke of Philadelphiu. He was also medical adviser to Ben- jamin Franklin in Paris, recelving trom that father of American diplo- macy in token of gratitude a ®old snuftbox bearing his portrait. Needle in Hand 33 Years. From the Detroit Free Press. A needle has been found in the hand of Mrs. J. B. Hann of California which has been imbedded there thirty-three years. In 1890 she accidentally ran a needle into her hand, and at the time it was found impossible to remove ths implement. Having ceased to caus her trouble, it was left to work it§ way out. Mrs. Hann suffered from a felon on her finger, and an X-ray photograph revealedthe needls n the palm.