Evening Star Newspaper, November 8, 1923, Page 6

6 THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY....November 8, 1923 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office, 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. Bew York Offes: 110 East 47nd St hieago Office: Tower Bul 3 Ruropean Office: 18 Regent St., London, England, The Bvening Star, with the Sunday morning edition, is delivered by carriers within the ity at 60 ceats per month: daily only, 45 cents per month; Sunday only, 20 cents’ per month, Orders may be sent by mail or tele- phone Main 5000. Collection Is made by car- riers at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia, Dally and Sunday..1 yr., §8.40; 1 mo., 70¢ Daily only..........1¥r., $6.00; 1 mo., 60c Sunday only. -1yr., §2.40; 1 mo., 20c All Other States. Daily and Sunday.1 yr. Dally only 1mo., 60c Sunday oni; : 1 mo., 26¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitied to tlie “ase for republication of all news dis- patches credited to It or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news pub. Hahed “herein. Al rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. = The Traffic Needs of Washington. Thus far in the inquiry conducted by a Senate subcommittee into the traffic conditions of the District many suggestions have been made and many more will doubtless be advanced be- fore the inquiry closes to the end of fmproving the situation. That situa- tion is undoubtedly bad. It must be corrected. The hope is not that ,Washington will be made as safe in respect to the use of its streets as other cities, leaving much to be de- sired even on attaining that average condition, but that it should become actually safe beyond comparison, In other words, the desire should be and doubtless is to make the Capital as safe as possible, with the utmost con- veniences for traffic. Three elements enter into this mat- ter, a model traffic code to give the maximum of facility for all street ‘users, an adequate police force to ad- minister this code and a traffic court to dispose of infractions of the rules. It has been urged that in order to obtain a model and satisfactory traffic code a study of the situation should be made by traffic engineers capable of seeing the case broadly, with knowledge of remedies for present and prospective evils. The present code, it is contended, is not ideal. Certain con- ditions prevail that are only compro- mised by the rules and that remain W serious handicaps and sources of danger. The parking situation par- ticularly is unsatisfactory, streets are congested with parked cars that nar- row the driveways, obscure the vision of drivers and of pedestrians and raise the chances of accident. This ques- tion particularly requires study, with a view to provision of a remedy if one can be found. The question of one-way streets is brought forth at the hearing, with opinions woiced on both sides. At present a series of one-way streets prevails by Commissioners’ order, but some doubt has been expressed as to their utility and safety, while equally strong opinions are advanced in their support. This again is a question that might well be referred to expert au- thority. With a perfect traffic code, with careful street users, with thorough understanding of the rules and perfect observance of them, there would be little need of an enforcement organiza- tion, a larger police force and a trafic court. But, unfortunately, however sound the rules and however general the observance, there will re- main, probably always, a percentage of violation, willful or ignorant, call- ing for detection and punishment, Tt is not necessary to wait for the model code of rules to give the District the means of enforcement and punish- ment, which are educational in their offect to a large degree. More trafiic police should be provided promptly. ‘The need of an enlarged force has been already demcnstrated at the in- quiry. Likewise, the need of a traffic court so organized as to give the 1mo,, 85¢ quickest and fullest possible hearing | to all cases and to insire the most cffective application of the law has been established. At present the so- called Traffic Court is but a branch of the Police Court, sitting in special session to hear this particular class qt cases. It does not meet the re- quirements of the situation. A spe- cific traffic court likewise can be created quickly while waiting for the perfected code of rules. ‘Washington, with its broad, straight streets, its comparative lack of heavy industrial traffic, its relative freedom from gridironing car tracks, is ideally conditioned for street safety. A good code of traffic laws, thoroughly en- forced through an adequate police organization and a promptly working traffic court, will yield that result. ———— A state of apathy leaves the loser ‘with comforting thought of a possibil- ity that he might have been elected it more people had voted. The Approaching Holidays. Reminders that the year is drawing to a close come to us in the Presi- dent’s Thanksgiving proclamation and in the admonition to “mail early and often.” Soon the merchants will post their holiday slogan, “Shop early.” The Thanksgiving proclamation will e more generally observed than the advice to mail and shop early, for, despite all that the government and the newspapers can do, there remain certain imperfections in human ne- ture. It is likely that the Thanksgiv- ing proclamation would be given ap- propriate observance, even though the President had not done more than name the day. There will be the usual religious observance and many persons: will go “to church, but a great number will observe the time by taking a day off from the office and the mill and eating a dinner that will be more elaborate than Sunday dinner and nearly es elaborate as Christmas dinner. In the rews columns of The Star the other day was e dispatch from another city that turkeys would sell at only 40 cents & pound.” Whether this is reck- less prophecy made to buoy the hopes of men and their wives can only be guessed. It may be that we shall soon hear that turkeys are scarce and hard to cateh, that the weather has been wmost unfortunste for the turkey crop pound. But we will hope for the best, even though the worst may come. The Post Office Department fur- nishes its slogan, “mail early.” Peo- i 1] THE EVEN\‘\’»Gb STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSD. and that the price will be 80 cents @ | Ana the interest of the éapla -of ‘Washington is not measured by the number of visitors at the mum show. There are many more thousends who have affection for flowers who did not ple should get their mail in the post|take the time and trouble sto make early, or at least earlier than usual. It helps the Post Office Department, but it will probably make a stronger appeal”to people to say that it helps them. By mailing early the parcels may reach the addressee before the ! the pilgrimage. They satiffy their flower appetite in other waya. The liking for flowers is general, and the man or woman isyprobably rare who does not have a tehder feel- ing for these things of nAture. It IN TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT BY PAUL V. COLLINS Business is booming In the United States, while England is paying mil- lions of pounds annually to support the unemployed. The United States has never been put to such straits as to pension the idle, as England is Christmas turkey is carved, instead [ might be said that almost axy sort of now doing, though there have been of on that day when it is soup. & free show will draw a crowd, and The shop early idea commends itself | that the populace loves @ wpectakle, to everybody who can have an idea [but this does not explain why so many worth mentioning. It gives buyers time to have all the stock in the store transferred from the shelves to the counter. It saves time and promotes people g0 to government flo¥er shows and to flower shows that aie held in those outlying parts of the ity which used to be the suburbs. Wkin the De- health, peace and happiness to keep | partment of Agriculture seéts out its out of the holiday rush. Smith, Hearst and Hylan. Tuesday's elections in New York must inevitably bear heavily in shap- ing the political destinles of three out- standing figures in the democratic party of the Empire state, Gov. Smith, William R. Hearst and Mayor Hylan. The failure of the democrats to cap- ture the lower house of the legisia- ture—the republicans, in fact, having increased their majority in the assem- bly by six—disappoints the hope of Gov. Smith, Tammany . Hall and Mayor Hylan to put through certain legislation in the legislature this win- ter which was expected to give Gov. Smith added prestige in his presiden- tial aspirations. Gov. Smith staked his all on win- ning the assembly so he could control both branchee of the legislature. He lost, so he inevitably lessens his hold upon the democracy of the state and abates his strength with the party at large. They are saying in New York that his loss may weaken his chances for renomination for the governorship and reduce him to a candidacy for mayor of New York city. Mr. Hearst, in the opinion of the democratic and republican press of New York, finds himself outside the democratic breastworks, as result of his opposition to Tammany's judicial ticket and his quarrel with Boss Mur- phy. That spells not only wreckage of his presidential ambitlon, it is held, but removes him as a power in in- fluencing the dcmocratic presidential nomination, as word will immediately £0 out to the democrats of the state that he is not to have any delegates to the national convention. Mayor Hylan finds futile his and Mr. Hearst's cherished plan for car- rying out transit changes in the greater city, through inability to shape legislation. He may even be threat- ened with curtailment of his own power, @ Boss Murphy is reported to have sent word to him that he must choose between Murphy and Hearst, and at once. And tomorrow Boss Murphy starts upon his pilgrimage to French Lick to confer with his crony and ally, Tom Taggart, democratic leader in Indlana, when, no doubt, they will talk presi- dential politics. ——— Increasing Railroad Efficiency. At the semi-annual meeting of the directors of the American Railway Association yesterday in New York reports were made which show a re- markable and reassuring progress on the part of the transportation lines of this country back to normal efficiency. During the first nine months of this year 134,636 new freight cars and 2,693 new locomotives were put into service. At the end of the nine months’ period a new low record of 5.46 per cent for bad order cars and amaryllis show the greenhouses: iy Wwhich those flowers grow are crowded during all the hours of day and eve- ning, and extra guards or kuides are required to regulate the throng and keep the people moving. It is belleved that neither the amaryllis nor the chrysanthemum is @s muck loved:as other flowers, notably the rose, but there is sufficient interest i them to crowd the greenhouses and test the capacity of the flower showmen in finding room for visitors. ° Interest in flowers is not limited to persons who raise flowers or who buy them from florists. Many of the visitors to the governmeit flower shows live where they canrot have a flower plot, and many of thém are not patrons of florist shops because they feel that this luxury is beyond their means. Probably thousands f the peo- ple who walk a long way fo govern- ment flower shows, or pa¥ carfare, seldom have a flower they can call their own, and yet their iaterest in flowers is fresh and lively. } There is no way to set down in exact terms the influence of flowets on men, but it is a good influence. Farks with their flower beds are often spoken of simply as “breathing plages.” But parks with thelr trees ahd flower beds have a psychic as well s & phyd ical influence on mankind. ¥ ¥ —_—— All over the country mcre pay is being demanded for police; and fire- men. Aside from sentimen or moral justice, houses and other property are becoming 8o valuable thatithe work of protecting them claims greater com- pensation. i W York city officlals ars to make an investigation with a view to ascer- taining what theatrical performances are improper. For the next week or so artists may expect strict admoni- tions from stage managers rot to “cut loose.” —_—— Eminent English statesnien would often be at greater advantage If they could study political an conditions in America before their official careers instead of after. —_——— Preliminary to an inquiry as to Ger- man assets in general, Poincare ven- tures some inquisitiveness as to the extent of resources at present availa- ble for military purposes. New England is having a’hard and expensive fight with the gybsy moth. | In the march of progresé the old farm sprays have not kept up with | the war gasses. In the matter of reparatiofs France refuses to allow her interest to be greatly diverted from the :Poincare plan, New York city party politics does 13.7 for bad order locomotives was at- | not permit any man to assume to be tained. cars were loaded with revenue freight, or 18 per cent over the corresponding period in 1922, and 10 per cent over 1920, the previous record year. The average of freight car travel distance per day was 29.2 miles, which was 4.7 miles above the previous record. A [ goal of thirty miles daily had been set and was almost reached. The av- erage freight car carried 511 tons one mile daily, surpassing all records and exceeding 1922 by 31 per cent. Transportation efficlency consists in getting the maximum work out of the equipment consistent with safety. The rolling stock of the American raflroads ‘was badly reduced in condition by the shop strike of last year. An immense number of both cars and locomotives were crippled for lack of shop work. The equipment was far below par. ‘That it has been brought back in so short @ time to the point of yielding record results in use is a tribute to the energy and administrative effi- clency of the railroad organizations. ‘While these advances in hauling percentages have been scored the rail- roads have been carrying on a large program of extensive and costly im- provements in trackage and terminals. A great mileage of single track has been doubled. Third tracks have been added along trunk lines for freight uses. New switches have been in- stalled to add to the flexibility of schedules and the facility for hauling freights, Terminal conditions have been improved. It is reassuring to find by the re- ports submitted at yesterday’s meeting in New York that the railroads are increasing their efficiency. It means first of all that there has been a great volume of business in the country, for the freight records constitute one of the surest indexes of business volume. The general prosperity of the country is reflected in these statistics. —————— “Never too poor to fight” is & motto gaining favor among some unfortu- niate’ elements of German population. The fact that the vote is light one year does not necessarily mean that there cannot be a landslide the next. The Chrysanthemums. That 35,000 persons have visited the chrysanthemum exhibit of the Depart- ment of Agriculture attests the draw- ing power of a public flower show. Even on rainy days men, women and children by thousands have filed along the alleys of the greenhouse and paid their respects to the mums. It is not that so many people are especially in- terested in chrysanthemums, but that they are interested in flowers. Hosts of patrons of this show went from dis- tant parts of the city and Washing- ton's suburbs in the neighbor states. | In the same period 40,545.920 | greater than his Tammany Hall. Kentucky is now looked to for tips on a presidential election as well as on horse races. The Klan “empire” is described as invisible, but never as inaudible. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. A Serious Scarcity. Don't complain of the man who keeps smiling, d And say that his nature is cold; For the world needs a bit of beguiling ‘When sorrows are growing too bold; ‘When the shadows about us are creep- ing, The day is less dismal by half If we halt the desire to be weep'ng And bravely endeavor to laugh, ‘When sympathy seeks for expression Our tears are too easily shed, They follow in doleful succession Till all of the sunshine has fled— So do not regard all that's meiry As only irrelevant chaff— { Our griefs become prevalent ¥ery! The thing that grows scarch is the laugh. : Fellow Sufferers. : “Men are often made to miffer for adhering firmly to their convictions.” Yes,” mused Senator Sérghum, “the innocent standpatter is Hable to get hurt, the same as the innofent by- stander.” i Jud Tunkins ssys when You are talking to a crowd you haveYto pre- tend to be smarter than you jre, but when you're talkin' to one peson it's best to let him feel that the advantage mostly on his side—especiaily in a: periods when free “souphouses,” tem- porarily, have fed many thousands, In Washington there is noted a turn of labor conditions which may not be encouraging for all classes at the beginning of winter. In the Phila- delphia district, according to official reports, there is accumulating a-sur- plus of common labor, and similar reports come from many other regions from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. * * % ¥ % Part of this accumulation of idle- ness Is due to seasonal conditions. Building operations in the Capital are slowing up, not only because of win- ter (which need not stop ordinary construction in this climate), but largely because of finances. It is stated by men who are in a position to know, but who do not want to be quoted, that there exist now In Wash- Ington nearly 4,000 unrented apart- ments, whose rentals are generally Ibased upon cost of construction, at ’nrnsenl wages and high cost of ma- terials. These rentals appear too high lln attract tenants, and so the apart- ments remain untenanted, while thousands of families huddle in close quarters in rented, furnished rooms. It is said that banks and loaning companies are Inclined to call In their bullding loans on the unoccupled buildings and that builders will be urged to lower their rentals to fill up the idle apartments by December 1. There is plenty of money for mer- chants, but “hard money” for build- ing operations at present. * K ok ok ‘There are various explanations from experts as to why there is the present slump in the demand for unskilled labor; also various prophecies as to what will break the seeming impasse in apartment rentals. One of the most prominent real estate firms advises patience, for within about three weeks Congress will be in session, and when ongress is on hand it adds some 30,000 to the population of Washington. How that will lower rental rates, how- ever, not fall with a stimuiated demand, but it will fill up the apartments, bring real money to the builders, with which to pay interest on their loans, which, in will satisfy the lenders, and prob- loosen the pursestrings for more building operations and more employ- ment. ‘Without the approach of Congress so isoon, the outlook for.hundreds of idle men during the winter and for many idie homes would be serious, but under the actual conditions there is a feeling that the situation will clear too soon for worry. * k ok % In the face of the present labor con- ditions, as above Indicated, especially remarkable to discover ex- {traordinary leniency on the part of Secretary of Labor Davis this week in his alleged sanctioning the admission of a surplus of some 3,000 immigrants over the legal quotas from England and some other countries, Press dispatches {from New York indicated that the Sec- jretary had acted in behalf of “human- ity,” to avold great hardshipsand even tragedies which would have occurred if he had ordered the 3,000 to be deported. Inquiry through the assistant secre- tary of labor, Mr. Henning, as to why ithe 3,000 were admitted, beyond t {legal quotas, and how the situation t {month' differed from conditions every month, brought the frank explanation Politics is read into the controversy between Gov. Pinchot of Pennsyl- vania and the “Sage of Pittsburgh, Secretary of the Treasury Andrew W. Mellon. Edlitors see in it a clash affecting the Keystone state's delega- tion to the next republican national convention. The' Pinchot insistence on “revoca- tion of permits” is pointing out the one step to “compel enforcement,” the Pittsburgh Press asserts, because {“the existing attitude of the federal {government calls for exposure. Until ithe government complies with Gov. | Pinchot's demands it must be ready to be regarded by public opinion as in league with the lawless traffic. This is an essentially different ! viewpoint, however, to that of the |South Bend Tribune, which feels ‘Gov. Pinchot's continued attempts to heckle the national administration on the prohibition enforcement issue are hard to justify in view of the success had in Indiana with proceed- ings handled by a state’s attorney. 1t is evident that the criticisms are not caused so much by a desire for sweetness and light as by a desire to discredit Secretary Mellon.” The action of the Secretary in calling to the governor's attentlon the powers he already enjoyed impreases the In- dianapolis News because of the fact that “a federal judge in Pennsyl- vania said in court that he was not impressed by the governor's address and that the governor could ald by talking less and using state law-en- forcement agencies more. * X Ok k In the opinion of the Memphis News-Scimitar “there is wholesome advice .ih the Mellon reply, which might ‘be applied quite as appro- priately to one kind of business as another. It may be appropriate for some to criticize the federal gov- érnment for failure to enforce the 1aw, but it does not come with good grace from one who has joint re- ‘sponsibility with the federal gov- ernment and has not utilized the power ‘at his command.” This is in a measure the view of the Utica Observer-Dispatch, which feels “An- drew Mellon, Secretary of the Treas- | ury, refuses to be driven up a tree Increasing Responsibilit#. Our laws have run a curious course Since distant days of yore, : ‘When what we have we can't enforca ‘We go and get some more. * Unexpected Grandeur. “What do you think about this third party? 3 2 “Didn't know it was that big!" ex- claimed Farmer Corntassel. “How big do you mean?” “Big enough to think lbout“‘:l The Pace. 3 remarked the gentle ‘gossip; “they spparated. He liked e fast Hte end she was rather a slow poké,” 1 “I see,” observed Miss Cayense; compatibility of tempo.” her 'pears to talk like ‘life is réal, life is earnest,’ ’ceppin’ when deys 1§ a crap game.” ; “in- e < : by Gov. Pinchot. Instead he lands on both feet and sends Pinchot sourrying for cover. The quiet man from Pittsburgh knows Pennsylvania politics from the ground up and is not unacquainted with Gov. Pinchot. When they lock horns the battle: is a royal one.” Agraeing that the “governor's mo- tives have been questioned entirely because of politics,” the Bristol Herald-Courler argues “whatever his motives, he is on the right trail and he will have done a good work and rendered the country a distinet sery- foe if he should be instrumental in causing the federal government to use its full power to uphold and enforce the federal prohibition law.” To which, however, the Lafayette Journal-Courier replies by insisting “the clash between Mellon and Pinchét is not so much over'dryness or law enforcement as it is occasion- ed by:a lively concern for delegates It iz to be hoped the contest will not lead Messrs. Pinchot and Mellon to overzeal and harsh invective. The sntire problem is bound up in tica, as the Moblle Register sees t, and that paper feels “the gov- .mnéo ufilfllannfie l? Xnflhn:,hl;r.g- dent : Coolidge’s conference o vefnors at the White House, Gov. ;Tne‘anz'a attack on federal officlals,” it seemed | i i Political Aims Seen and Denied In Pinehot-Mellon Dry Act Tilt 1 ! l \ | the immigration officers { among our |guarantees that the law had not been strained, that the Secretary's sympathies for human- ity in general and immigrants in par- ticular were still what they had been habitually, and that the whole news- paper report was—just that, and nothing more. * ok ok ok In order to find any basis for such a report that the quotas had been per- mitted to be overdrawn, it was neces- sary to assume that all passengers who had come in on the ships ar- riving November 1, 2 and 3 were to be admitted and to be counted in the quotas. Recently Greece sent a great shipload of immigrants, of all sorts. Fifty-five per cent of them were de- nied admission, regardless of quotas, for they were of an inadmissible class. On the other hand, the immi- gration restrictions do not apply to merchants, persons who come on pleasure trips, as tourists, teachers, students, or domestic servants. Thou- sands enter, annually, as domestic servants and they are not counted in the quotas. If the would-be immi- grants knew of that portal through which they might enter it is possible that many a housewife's complaint of lack of servants, would be satisfled. Immigrants cannot use the loophols as a mere pretense and slip into the country under false claims, for they are questioned and their past his- tories checked up. * ok K % The whole immigration problem will be threshed over in the coming session of Congress. It is hoped by Secretary of Labor Davis that some kind of check may be given which will 'stop the most of the undesirables from crossing the ocean on their hopeless attempts to enter. Most of the rejected are turned back because of obstacles which have nothing to do with quota restrictions—imbeciles, lunatics, criminals, anarchists, dis- eased and those likely to become pub- lic burdens. While it is impossible, on account of treaty obligations, to au- thorize our consuls to refuse to vise passports to immigrants, the consuls may advise the applicants that cer- tain conditions—the diseases or the criminal record or illiteracy—will bar | them from entry and the passport will prove valueless. The consul also can investigate the facts concerning immigrants whose desirability is questionable and cable the recom- mendations or the report of facts to long before the ships arrive, so that there will be is not o clear, since values do|1o danger of the immigrant's belng overlooked in sifting the good from the bad. * % % % Under the Johnson bill, which has the support of Secretary Davis, the department will provide certificates of admission and distribute them consuls. These certifi- cates will be for specified kinds of immigrants, according to trades or skilled professions needed fn this country. The certificates will not be of admission, but the questionnaires on which they will be based will be so thorough that the consul will be enabled to send only those whose acceptability will be more than likely. The total number of blank certificates will be distribut- ed, not only on the b s of the re- spective quotas, but also on the de- sirability of the classes of immi- grants wanted. The quota system will probably be renewed when the pres- ent law expires next June 30, but in addition to that restriction as to the respective totals each nation will be invited to send within thelr quota limits only such trade experts as are most needed, according to the cer- tificates issued to the consuls. Secretary Davis further asks Con- gress to authorize a complete codi- fication of all laws relating to immi- gration, (Copyright, 1923, by Paul V. Collins.) i | and the like, “apparently have no other purpose than to uphold the laws and make the nation dry. but a good many observers suspect that there is | more than a little politics between the | current zeal for dry enforcement shown when eminent republicans and democrats alike are casting covetous eyes on the White House.” * * * X This position has the approval of the Chicago Tribune, which declares: “In the '70s Pinchot in Pennsylvania would have been roaring about the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. McAdoo's party would have been dodging them. Now McAdoo explaine that the fourteenth and fifteenth are dead. Pinchot does not deny it, and both roar about the eighteenth. Such is life as eeen from the side lines. The players always are in earnest. The scores are remembered by few.” Regardless of all this side debate the Utica Press feels “the result is that Gov. Pinchot stands before the people of the country as the chief champion of prohibition enforcement. and he may come out as a candidate for President on the issu Both the governor and Secretary Mellon should remember, the Cincin- nati Commercial-Tribune holds, that “it is better to pull together than apart. The point is that the law, state and federal, will be given much greater respect and much more rigid observance when both the state and federal authorities pay more atten- tion each to his own inherent duties and less attention to admonishing, ad- vising and animadverting each other on duty relationships.” But the Portsmouth Star insists “If Gov. Pinchot thinks he can get away with another Ballinger case in his own party, with Secretary Mellon in the stellar role, he will probably find that he has another guess coming. Secretary Mellon may not be popular, or anything of a politiclan, but he is a_ straight-thinking, hard-working, able and honest man of affairs, whose services his country Is very fortunate to be able to command. In his replies he in no uncertain terms challenges the truth of the charges made and implied in the Pinchot letters to him.” Because Mr. Mellon “is not consid- éred a dry,” the Springfleld News feels, “In ‘defense of the President and following his own view on the subject, he doubtless intended to throw double weight against Pinchot’s | aspirations. The whole business pro- duces a most Interesting situation ' within the republican party and one that doubtless will continue up to and including the hour of nomination at the next national convention.” Milk Price Article Regarded Favorably To the Editor of The Star: The thanks of the’people of Wash- ington are due to The-Star for the !the blunders of ignorance w: AY, NOVEMBER 8, 1923. ; The North Window BY LEITLA MECHLIN Walter Prichard Eaton, in an article on “The Billboard Curse,” in the No- vember Forum, boldiy affirms the appreciation of beauty to be some-. thing more than an evidence of civili- zation, During the past few years he has been harassed and distressed and outraged by the upcropping of billboard advertising signs along the roadways of New England. Taking a trip from the Berkshires to Boston and thence north, he says, “matters get worse instead of better as you approach the White mountains, un- til you must strain your eyes inces- santly to catch a glimpse of Tripyra- mid between the signs, like a land- scape viewed through a picket fence.” Regarding the roadside view from the pictorial standpoint he remarks: “Suppose you were to enter an art museum, and across the foreground of every landscape paint rectangles of ugly blue and green and yellow print. The gallery would become a place of horror.” But this is virtually what has been done along the roadsides in some of the most beautiful sections of New England. Mr. Eaton says that some are of the opinion that there are more impor- tant matters facing America today than this, but personally he is of the balief that it may not be so. He takes it that “the vulgar flaunting of na- tional products from the hilltops, no matter how much the countryside is spoiled, is a symptom of national ill health, and that if a remedy is not found 'it means that the disease has struck very deep. * x kK And Mr. Eaton is right, for a peo- ple who do not hold beauty sacred are undoubtedly on the downward slant. Furthermore, from an economic standpoint it is a waste. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent to bulld roads, and for a mere Song the beauty of these roadways, these arteries of travel, is being despolled for private galn. The farmer who leases his ground for the purpose re- ceives very small reward, and it has yet to be proved that the advertisers are greatly profited. But it they were, the greater would be the crime. The state of Massachusetts has passed an ordinance forbidding all billboard advertising on fits state highways. In Great Britain recently those in authority awoke to the dan- ger of this growing evil and peti- toned that steps be taken by the county councils to prevent it. A certain woman’s club in New York state has waged an energetic and a successful war aaginst billboards in ‘the vicinity of Lake George, us- ing persuarive methous to secure their removal. There are many people who the beauties of nature—a landscape vista, who have had no artistic training, but it is a short step from appreciation of beauty in nature to appreciation of beauty in art enjoy lovely * kK K In recent years great progress has been made in the art of city plan- ning. Twenty-five years ago the majority of our cities were growing like Topsy In a perfectly haphazard fashion. Now the majority have adopted well ordered plans, looking far into the future to insure har- monlous development. The McMillan Park Commission plan for Washing- ton did much to awaken the people to the need of such planning, amd the fact that it had to fight its way to acceptance probably increased its sefulness in_this respect. U5When the Burnham plan for Chi- cago was first published it seemed a chimerical dream. but it is a dream Which is fast fimling realization. It was Mr. Burnham's belief that one should plan on generous lines. “Make ho small plans,” he said, and many a small city has lost out by not tak- ing to heart this advice. It is ex- ceedingly desirable to have well d Signed lamp-posts, lighting fixtures, Jetter boxes, etc, but such are mere incidents—the big thing is the plan. Thero is a body of experts now de- veloping a great plan for the city of Greater New York, looking to the far future, foreseeing its larger growth as muck as p and forestalling possible jons yet unborn of the as its ennobling influence. * % X X It is really amazing how much is being done along these lines, how many communities are trying to im- prove appearances and to secure that which is fine in the place of that which is unsightly. There is a great Increase also in the use of sculpture for public memo- Fials and civic adornment. Our Jack- son statue in Lafayette Square was the first equestrian statue by an American_sculptor in this country, and the date of its unveiling was a little less than geventy-five years ago. Today there is scarcely a city in the United States of 50,000 in- habitants that has not some notable work of sculpture to which its citi- Zens can point with pride—in fact, The llst of sculpture of a really worthy character and chiefly by American sculptors in_the cities and towns of the United States is amaz- ingly long and honorable. It is such things that are going to produce in the minds of young Americans an impression and_cultivate in them a discriminating love of art. * ¥ X X Often the auestion is asked: Are the masses in America appreciative of art? To a great extent they are, but not in the same way that the masses in Frande or in Italy are. Al- most any boy or girl on the streets of Paris or Venice can direct the travelérs steps to the great works of art, and will do so with pride and en- thusiasm. They and their fathers and their grandfathers and their great-great-grandparents have grown Up in the company of the masters and have learned not only to love but to understand them. Art to them is a matter of course and is a part of life, not because they have been taught of 1t In their schools or have been instructed in their museums, but on sccount of having had this intimate assoolation from earliest infancy. Furthermore, time has put on the works of the great masters its mark of approval. A copy of the Alhambra erected on the plains of Texas would not mean to those of this generation What the Alhambra in Spain means to aven the casual visitor today. All the wealth of our country cannot buy the | art which has descended to the peo- ples of Europe through hundreds of years, the art that they have lived with and which, through familiarity, i through usage, has become infiniteiy precious. But we can see to it that the generations that are to come will receive so precious a heritage; we can build worthily, we can safeguard, through calling in expert advice, against blunders. * ok ok % Bliss Perry, in a delightful essay on “The Praise of Folly,” lately pub- lished with other papers in a volume just come from the Riverside Press, points out the necessity of this age excellent editorial of October 29 enm- titled “Up Goes Milk!"” The excuses suggested there are as good as amy that might be offered to the public. R.wllnf what was developed not so very long ago as to the big profits made here in the milk business, and justifiably assum- ing that the ibuters are not the only ones who are doing well in it, the consumers, who have to bear the burden of aH increases, have a right to know why the price of milk in ‘Washington goes up, while in Balti- more, our' near neighbor, the price Is reduced. Can any one who has knowl of the facts and Is au- thorized to speak give to the public a satlstactory nuont‘ LW, 0. and generation accepting the dictum witty Erasmus, and cultivating g.tnv.flldnnyl of fools; that wisdom which found delight’ in art, joy in making things beautiful; that, while keenly intellectual, knew how to laugh and give thanks, and was able to truly estimate the value of and strike a balance between the so-called pragtical and the ideal, and so kept their delicacy of touch, their sense of humor, their essential innocence, their childllie faith in nature and in God. Artists ave almost always of the com- pany of these foolish wise men, and their contribution to the laughter of the world goes far to keeping it young and joyous. LEILA MECHLIN. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN Q. Should I allow dead leaves to re. main on a newly planted lawn, or is it better to Take them off?—R. R. B. A. The Department of Agriculture says that a limited quantity of dead leaves would not injure a lawn, and would probably serve to protect it. If the leaves were so numerous that they became matted or heaped, on the other hand, they would smother the grass and kill it. Q. Are figs consid 2 ;A g8 ered a good food? A. Both fresh and dried figs are wholesome, and, weight for welght, figs contain more nutrient properties lh;t‘n breldd. lFigls ‘l’uve laxative prop- erties and furnish heat and to the body. =R Q. What is the significance of the word “Amen” used at the end of prayers and at the end of some verses in the Bible?—S. N. F. A. There are numerous translations of this word. The 6ne which s gen- erally accepted is be it.” Q. How long a perlod was required by Edmund Burke to deliver his speech on “Conciliation of the Ameri- can Colonies”?—C. G. A. The delivery of this speech took three hours. Q. What is gravel and how is it originally formed?—J. B. A. Gravel Is the name given to ag- gregations of water-worn and round- ed fragments of rock, varying from the eize of a pea to that of a walnut. When the fragments are smaller than this the deposit*s sand; when larger, it is called shingle. Gravel deposits are formed by the action of running water, and are usually limited in size, occurring with more extensive strata of sand, Q. What is the rallroad mileage of the world?—C. A. A. The raiflroads of the world total approximately 702,269 miles, Q. Who has charge of the seal of an order or other organization, the secretary or the president?—J. D. R. A. The seal is given into the charge of the secretary. The Secretary of State is the custodian of the seal of the United States. Q. Which of our well known mov- ing picture actors are from the Brit- ish Isles?—B. L A. The following are some of the well known moving picture actors who were born in the British Isles: Spottiswoode Aitken, Edinburgh, Scot- land; Tom Moore and Owen Moore, Ireland; Willlam Desmond, Dublin, Ireland; T. Roy Barnes, Lincoln, Eng- land, and George Arliss, Lionel At- well, Alexander B. Francis, William T. Carleton, all of London, England. Q. What is political pie?—D. Q. O. A. You doubtless refer to the re- cipe for political pie given by Mrs. Maud. Wood Parke of the National League of Woman Voters. The in- gredients are “four local problems, two state problems and one national problem.” "The idea is that women might well concern themselves with public affairs according to the pro- portions mentioned Q. Does the Darwinian theory of evolution include the proposition that men_are descended from monkeys?— R. H G. A. This is the popular conception of the theory of evolution. What Darwin said, however, was that anan and the apes evolved from a common ! Gives Monroe Credit. | B BT, | Mrs. Hoes Says He First Sug- gested Doctrine. To the Editor of The Star: During the last few days an article has been published very generally by the press of the country giving Thomas Jefferson the credit for the Monroe doctrine. It is claimed that a letter of Jefferson's has been re- cently rescued from “literary seclu- sion” by Alton B. Parker of New York, in which Jefferson gives cer- tain advice to Monroe in reference to the famous doctrine. The article in question does not print a letter written by Monroe from Oak Hill, Loudoun county, Va., dated October 17, 1823, addressed to Jefferson, which ‘caused him to write to Monroe in this manner. I am sure of one fact, that if Thomas Jefferson could speak for himself he would be the last person to attempt to rob his political protege and lifelong d{riend of one vestige of honor due him. Indeed, it| is _interesting to state that it was Jefferson who declared that “James Monroe's soul was so white that if it were turned inside out there would not be found a single mark or Dblemish.” By the grace of God I chance to be James Monroe's great-granddaughter, and I challenge any person to find an Individual more interested than I in perpetuating Thomay Jefferson's memory. In fact, I am one of the board of governors of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, and from the beginning of the great work to make Monticello a national shrine I have freely announced that my in- terest arose from the fact that Mon- roe owed Jefferson a debt of grati- tude which never could be repaid. He was his friend from boyhood, and he never lost the opportunity to advance and further the interest of the young- or man. But it iy unfair to claim the Monroe_doctrine for any person but James Monroe, as 1 hope to prove by the following letter which is before i me: facts of the case are these: Ngr.iy two months before President Monroe sent his famous message to Congress, which, by the way, was written in long hand by him person- ally, he wrote a letter to Jefferson, in which is embodied & summary of the Monroe doctri: “I transmit to| you two dispatches,” he writes, “which Were received by Mr. Rush, while I was lately in Washington, which in- volve interests of the highest impor- tance. They contain two letters from Mr. Canning, suggesting designs of the holy alliance, agalnst the in- dependence of So. America, & pro- posing a co-operation between G. Britain & the U. States, in sup- port of it, agalnst the members of that_alliance. The projeot aims in the first instance, at a mere expres- sion of opinion, somewhat in the ab- stract, but which is expected by Mr. Canning, will have a great political effect, by defeating the combination. By Mr. Rush’s answers, which are also enclosed, you will see the light in which he views the subject, & the extent to which he may have gone. Many important considerations are involved in this proposition. 1lst. Shall e entangle ourselves at all, in Europdan politicks, & wars, on the side of any power, against others, presuming that a concert by agree- ment, of the kind proposed, may lead to that result? 2nd. If a case can exist in which a sound maxim may, | and ought to be departed from, is not | the present instance, precisely that case? 3ly. Has not the epoch ar- rived when G. Britain must take her stand, either on the side of the monarchs of Europe or of the U. States, & in consequence, either in favor of despotism or of liberty, & may It not be presum’'d that aware of that necessity, her government, has selr'd on the present occur- rence, as that, which it deems the most suitable, to announce and mark the commenc’ment of that career. “My own impression is that we ought to meet the proposal of the British govt. & to make it known, that we would view an interference on the part of the European powers, & ospecially an attack on the Colo- nies, by them, as an attack on our- selves, presuming that if they suc- ceeded with them, they would extend it to us.” History records that in the original draft of the Monroe doctrine Mon- roe showed a deflance of Europe al- " most w-rlu?. He was finally, how- ancestor. Concrete evidence of th. ncestor of man, the so-called miss- mxa"nk' has not o far been discov- ered. Q. What was the lowest point that the English pound reached in the United States since the war?—E. C. B. A. The lowest quotation on the English pound was on February 4, 1920—$3.23. Q. How long is the Grand eanyon? —J. E. P. A. The Grand canyon is more than 200 miles in length, divided into four divisions, known as the Kaibab tion, the Kanab section, the Uln- :('nrev. section and the Sheavwitz scc- on. Q. What element unessential plants s essential to animals?— A. Chlorine is an element essent to animals but not essential to plant e. Q, When was coal tar first consii ered a by-product and put to use?- LNB i A. Until about the middle of the nineteenth century coal tar was re- garded as a waste product and thrown away or burned under the retorts, but beginning in 1846 its value was dis- covered and it was first used in Ger- many for making roofing felt. Q. Do czgs lose welght In storage? A. Unless the air in the nefther too moist nor too Ar: room is properly ventilate gEs will lose In weight in cold storage on ac- count of their tendency to evaporate through the shell room is , and the Q. What change in temperatur is required to make a cold wave? A. Cold wave is a term commonl used in the United tes to denot: a fall of at least 20 degrees In ter perature in twenty-four hours, bring ing the temperature below the freez- ing point. . What size balloon would take fllled with hydrogen to lift weight of twenty pounds?—E. R A. The air service says that would take 285 cublc feet of pure hydrogen at standard temperatur: and pressure to lift twenty pound A balloon large enough to hold this amount of hydrogen would have to be eight-and-one-quarter feet in di- ameter. Q. Who was the candidate against McKinley when he was elected Gov- ernor of Ohlo?—R. P. H. A, Jam, . Campbell, who was elected Governor in 1830, was the candidate party for re-electi McKinley was ele Q. What is the origin of the e préssion “skeleton in the closet”? A w A. Thackeray popularized the ex- pression by Incorporating it in his writings, but it was already a cur rent phrase in conversation. Q. How long did it take Dr. Di to produce the Diesel engine?- E. D. A. Dr. Rudolph Diesel first con ceived the fdea of utiliz directly the energy created by the combina- tion of fuel about the year 1833, I first successful engine was put out in 1897, (Send your questions to The Star Information Burean, Frederic J. Has- kin, director, 1220 North Capitol street. The omly charge for this service is 2 cents in stamps for re- turn postage. democrat. of Ohio of his in 1892, when d. Defends Evolution. Correspondent Answers Denun- ciation of Theory. ‘To the Editor of The Star: With reference to Mr. Francis A Walker's denunciations of the theory of evolution, I desire to ask: What those Christians who really belleve that all is possible with God, who could have evolved man from some lower animal? Is Mr. Walker able to say such Chrie- tians are decelving themselves? No more than these Christians are able to say that Mr. Walker is decelving him- self. Considering man as man, it would seem that he could have evolved from no other source than some lower ani- mal, and a very degraded animal at that. To insinuate that man is a reads- made product of God, especially after asserting that he is totally depraved, is no compliment to God, and far frow belng a worshipful attitude to Him. I feel that Mr. Walker is taking ad- vantage of an apparent deadioc science to advance his own type of Christian belief: other deadlocks in science, ins quantum and undulating light, the nebular hypothe: of ether, the theory of positior lation of clectron to an They are only apparent in and result from a temporary convincing _ evidence. years ago a group of that the sun swung aro another group claimed t swung around the sun. Fin ing evidence was produced to prove t latter contention. Finally, also, Da winism will be proved or disproved. It makes no difference to the true scientist what happens, for all he is concerned with fs how man originated—] respecter of theories. If the Eden version is true, the i eventually produce evidence to substan- tiate it, just as he has produced e dence proving that the earth ewings around the sun, not being contented to accept the Christian's brief item of knowledge to the effect that God made the universe and th: all there is to it RU! L B. CLAPF of pe Producer Aroused By Milk Editorial To thie Editor of The Star: I have read with amazement sarcastic article regarding the price of milk and I wonder why any in- telligent and well Informed person could be so hostile to those people who, more than any other class, are responsible for the country’s welfare. Do you demand a similar explanation from the factories when other arti- 2les of commerce increase in price? Do you know that for the last twenty years the milk producers have not “gold” milk in Washington, but merely delivered it and accepted Whatever the distributers chose to Do you recall the sal- arfes and profits which the dealers in Washington admitted they re- cetved whep the milk situation was being investigated by Congress last winter? Do you know that these sal- arles and profits as well as the mag- nificent plants maintained have been paid for by the producers of Mary- land and Virginia and the consumers of Washington? Then why place all the blame at the feet of the pro- ducers? Now, sir, if you would like to know what price a farmer should receive for milk 1 suggest that you visit a modern dairy farm supplying milk to the District of Columbla, fol- low the pace set by the farmer and his help from 4 a.m. to 8 pm. in all kinds of weather, .make a detalled study of conditions and complle some cost statistics relative to the produc- tion of a quart of milk. Then, I dare say, your spirit of fairness would prompt you to write another, far dif- ferent, editorial. P. B. CRANDALL. your give them? persuaded to subdue his lan- e, but, just the same, the final act alone of holding fast to the trum- pet through which the great blast was blown was no small act of valor, and as Ionf a8 James Monroe's de- scendants live his name and fame will be_defended. ROSE ?OUVIR:NEUK‘HOES ever, i