Evening Star Newspaper, November 18, 1923, Page 42

MEN AND AFFAIRS BY ROBERT T. SMALL when Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entiti~d 1o the ‘use for republication of all mews dis. patches credited to it or not otherwise credited news pub- tion of ed. in this paper and also the local lished “herein. Al rights of publica special dispatches herein are also re The Mellon Tax Plan. Republican leaders in Congress, re- turning to the Capital, are discussing the pros and cons of the feasibility, as well as the desirability, of carrying into effect Secretary Mellon's sugges- tion for a material reduction in fed- eral taxes. Senator Lodge, the repub- lican floor leader in the upper cham- ber, called into conference yesterday Senator Smoot, prospectivé chairman of the all-powerful finance committee, through which the proposal must go; Senator Curtis, the republican whip; Senator Warren, chairman, and Sena- tor McKinley, member of the appro- priations committee. After the meeting Senator Lodge said that the question had been con- sidered from a practical standpoint, “and they had found many obstacles in the way.” The senator lamented the absence of “an inflexible and co- hesive majority,” which, if it existed, would make the legislation possible. He pointed out the danger of a few republicans of independent proclivi- ties joining with the democrats, in which case, he said, “We would have o democratic-progressive revenue law instead of a republican measure, and conditions would be much worse than at present.” Evidently the republican leaders are considering the political aspects of the question as well as the tax-reduction phase. In the meantime a rising tide of public approval of Secretary Mel- lon’s plan appears to be setting in. At the White House yesterday it was re- ported that President Coolidge has re- celved nothing but commendatory communications regarding the Mellon plan. ‘The National Industrial Councll, in New York, has received scores of an- swers to & questionnaire sent broad- cast among manufacturing and indus- trial interests, all favorable to the plan. They point out that industry is in danger of being crippled, unem- ployment increased and business de- pressed by the maintenance of exces- sive taxation. No doubt the leaders in Congress ‘will feel pressure from business later which may gulde them in weighing the material and political phases of the question. Grade Crossings. Delegates to the National Motorists® convention are discussing good roads and safer roads, and the influence of the association will be thrown against the grade crossing. In New York is a statewide campaign against the in- tersection at grade of rail and auto roads, and sentiment against grade crossings is becoming strong in close- settled states. Raliroad companiesare taking note of the movement and are making reports to show that grade- crossing accidents are due to careless- ness or recklessness of automobile drivers. It is no doubt often true, but it would require more effort to change human nature and make every man careful and watchful than to do away with grade crossings. There is no occasion to heap hostile criticism on the railroads. When they entered on their great work of build- ing up the country and revolutioniz- ing commerce the grade crossing was accepted as a matter of course. Pub- lic opinion rose against the grade crossing and railroads have done much voluntarily and under compulsion in meeting that opinion. The grade crossing takes on a more evil aspect because of the increase in motor traf- fic on roads. The elimination of grade crossings will be a great and costly ‘work, and will require years to carry out, but it will be done. Clties, coun- ties and states spending hundreds of millions of dollars in road building will probably see to it that streets and roads do not cross steam railroad tracks at grade. 2 THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, NOVEMBER 18, 1923—PART 2. THE EVENING sT AR ricksburg was transformed Into an pursue to attain prosperity and hao- Mora] ]]] ess Pan de 0 Capital Sidelights Fredericksburg down the northern| The North Dakota executive can be 2 WASHINGTON, D. C. neck was also rebulit, the “northern 'classed as engaged In a worthy enter- SUNDAY.....November 18, 1033 |\ ') /00 and Rappahannock rivers | understanding between two important “Seventy-five years ago, and reaching to Chesapeake bay. TM-EV——enlnz Star Newspaper Company | Washington was born, and which is Business Office, 11th 8t Ivanta Ave. | close to the Potomac between Bridges New Yorl Chicago Office: Tower Bullding. Dice uft'mnfi':..man:..lul-n. road, and could only be reached over The Evening Star, with the Sunday moraing ' & Private way with a clay bed, e e per | Impassable for an automobile. Two or by E LT e e & v three years ago citizens of Westmore Tiers at the end of each month. an appropriation for bullding & road Maryland and Virginia, from the highway to the site of the Daily and Sunday..1 yr., $5.40; 1 mo., 70c Y on 7. 13r., §8.00; 1 mo., 500 [ not successtul. Sunday only. mo.,20c| About thirty years ago the United All Other States. 1 10.00:1 %o the site of the Washington house and Daily only... 1yr. $7.00;1mo., s.‘,’nga;f" gmy _1§r.. $5.00; 1 mon, 250 | t© land for a broad avenue from an creek to the touse site. In 1896 the government tuilt a pler at Bridges where the Washington house stood Because of navigation difficulties and ceased to land at Bridges creek and the pler decayed. The new road makes f@eld, which is @ name that was given to the Washington farm by one of the teath of George Washington. Shall all ties between England and France, formed in years of bloodshed sufferings in common by the two na- tions, be severed as a seamstress snips ‘Will there not in the present trying hour emerge some settlement of the ambition. WIill not, after all, reason rule where nationalistic desire and sway? WIll not the spiritual voice of the hundreds of thousands who died forsaking the war's idealism for the dross of selfish interest? that naturally arise when one glimpses the horizon in Europe and sees each determined to achieve, If pos- sible, realization of its own peculiar Ing of European affairs. England today stands committed to order that Germany shall not be de- stroyed, thereby delaying the day of throughout, as England belleves, the whole of Europe if not the world. tion of war-time alliances and to per- petuate France's glory, Premier Poin- through” in case her allles disagree with her fixed, rigorous policies. no further sanctions within Germany. ‘The voice of Mussolini is raised In the Premier Baldwin. Belgium, borne on- ward by commitments in the Ruhr swayed toward Britain by virtue of expected things rather than actuali- France faces igolation in continental endeavor. political union that France may be checkmated. ! plished within the next few days, un- less national wills are made 'sub- there be far-reaching compromise in political policy and the implantation inaugurate great reconstructive pro- cesses, the lessons of the world war and sufferings will have become in vain. The manner in which democrats re- frain from applauding Hiram Johnson scribed by a movie director as a won- derful example of IUDDIGM% emo- ! With Sunday M g Edition. automobile way the main road from piness.’ BY WILL P. . B e Needs Care, Says Marshall e THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor The site of the house in which New York Office: 110 East and Popes creeks, is two miles off that European Office: edition, Is delivered by carcie.s within the usually deeply rutted. moath, Orders may be we " jland sought to have Congress make /Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Washington home, but the effort was Dally only. 005 1 1yr., $2.40; 1 States government acquired title to Daily and Sunday.1yr., $10.00; 1 mo., 88c cld steamiost landing on Bridges creek and erccted a fine monument government restriction steamboats it easy for pllgrims to reach Wake- Washington helrs some time after the Allies’ Hour of Decision. and of economic, financial and social a thread? divergencles of interest and political political passien for the moment hold in the common cause cry out to those These are a few of the questions France and England pulling apart, desires and ambitions in the remold- a moderate policy toward Germany in economic and financtal recovery In the face of possible disintegra- care insists that France will “carry England insists that there shall be Italian chamber indirectly supporting and the Rhineland, nevertheless is ties. Allled tendencles forecast & new Unless heroic things are accom- servient to the world's good, unless of a determined purpose unitedly to will largely be lost and its sacrifices ———————— in his irreconcilability would be de- tion. Radio entertainers threaten a strike. There should be enough speechmakers willing to fill in time gratis until the regular entertainers can be concil- iated. ——————— By coming after instead of before Thanksgiving day the opening of Con- gress misses being mentioned as a subject for national gratitude. The Great Northwest. Gov. Nestos of North Dakota, ad- dressing @& meeting of business men in New York city last week, made a spirited appeal for a better under- standing between the east and the great northwest, including a special plea for justice of eastern opinion of his own state. “A correct and appre- clative understanding of its people is alike the urgent need of the east and the just demand of the region from which I come,” he began. Complaining that many leaders in industry, finance and commerce seem to have formed the opinion that the farmers of Minnesota and the Dakotas are soclalists, bolshevists, comnmunists and red radicals politically, ignorant barbarians socially, and on the way to the poorhouse financially, he assert- ed that this opinion s reflected in much of what is being sald and print- ed in the metropolis. He admitted it to be true that most of the self-constituted leaders of re- cent political upheavals in the north- ‘west are - socialists, bolshevists and Another spot of high historic inter- | reds, but claimed that they do not est in the Washington region has been | represent the real sentiment of the made accessible to travelers by the!farmers of the northwest. He con- building of & short stretch of good |tended that these farmers are home- road. This is the birthplace of George | owners, and do not believe in the doc- ‘Washington in Westmoreland county, | trine and philosophy of the socialist which 18 between sixty-five and seven- | party. They are not followers of Lenin * ty miles below the capital if one fol- [ and Trotsky, nor admirers of the dis- lows the Potomac river, but a sorfie- | aster they have brought to Russia. what longer distance by road. This| The farmers of the northwest, he news comes from Fredericksbur contended, are progressive republicans excellent state highway has just been |and democrats who are looking for a completed to Washington's birthplace. | square deal and who “feel that only ‘The new road, about two miles In|too often has the course of legislation length, intersects the King's highway | and the result of administrative acts from Fredericksburg, between Oak |been such as to accentuate certain Grove and Potomac Mills.” economic and geographical handicaps Soon after the rough and hilly main already existing and to throw ob- road between Washington and Fred. | stacles in the path the farmer must A British writer compares bootleg- gers to the old-time buccaneers. There is a difference. The bootleggers work faster, get rich quicker and do not take nearly so many chances, At this writing there is plenty of room for all hats. The ring will not be 80 large in the next midsummer. If he cannot succeed as a dictator, Stresemann would like to be & cam- palgn manager. The decision to cease printing marks destroys another great German in- dustry. New Road to Wakefield. sections of the nation. —— Ready for the Snow. The street-cleaning department is said to be “ready to give battle to any snowstorm that may come this way. and | The public does not doubt the valor of | It was often|the streetcleaning department, and | were saying and doing. but the motives knows that it will fight the first snow- |storm to enter Washington, but whether the department or the storm | will win is the point of interest. The jpublic pins its faith to the street cleaners. The department stands be- hind its motor snowplows and awaits the advance Of the ememy with con- fidence. Battalions of street cleaners are held in readiness. If the Snow King leads his legions upon the city in daylight grand headquarters at the District building will signal the sta- bles of the engineer department, col- umns of snowplows will move along the “arteries’ of traffic and detach- ments of white wings will seek to hold the invader in check at the cross- walks that the civil population may have easy going. If the enemy falls upon the city at night the watchman at the stables will phone the super- Intendent of the department. He will make & reconnalssance, and if he finds the flakes in force and bent on a serl- ous attack he will phone police head- quarters, where a roster of the white wings’ army is kept. The police will wake the legions, and these will pro- ceed to the garage or stable to which they are assigned. Before the street cars are tied up the snow plows will be in action, and white wings with broom and shovel will be In possession of the cross-walks. It would seem that the next storm which tries to tie up ‘Washington will meet with disappoint- ment. Equal Rights for Women. Two hundred prominent women have presented to President Coolidge a program of equal rights which will be introduced in Congress at its open- ing. There is a woman's conference in session at Washington, and besides making plans for the equalrights campaign the women are celebrating the seventy-fifth enniversary of the equal-rights movement. They mean to have their way and say the last word. ‘With the genius of women for organi- zation, and with their voting power, there is no program on which they set their hearts that they will not put through. Though many men belleve that women have more than equal rights there is but one state in the Union, Wisconsin, in which, according to women, they are on equality in law ‘with men. If there is any right which women desire it must be theirs. Few men would have the courage or lack the gallantry to deny the women's plea. It is only a very old-fashioned man who holds that woman is not man's equal. Most men cheerfully ad- mit that she {s man’s superior. Long, long ago were men who sald that women lacked understanding of busi- ness and politics. Now women are in- trenched in every industry and con- quering new worlds every day. No member of Congress, no governor, no presidential candidate will say that woman does not know how to vote, and she probably chooses candidates with as much discrimination as men do. Woman not only rocks the cradle, but she runs the office. She not only makes the biscuit, but she drives the car and sees that the gas bill and the installment on the home are paid. She rides astride, plays golf, beats men at tennis, paddles a cance, swims like a mermaid, joins hiking clubs, revels in jsunburn and freckles and keeps her husband under proper restraint. One seldom meets the phrase, “‘the weaker sex,” outside an ancient novel. ———— ‘Taxpayers in Oklahoma will present- 1y begin to wonder whether the legis- lature proposes to transact any busi- ness which does not relate to the Ku Klux. ———em—— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOENSON. Like the Rest of Us, “I always like to give advice, Baid Hezeklah Bings. “The gentle phrase resounds so nice That my good counsel brings. To tell a friend what he should eat, And how to cure a cold, Brings satisfaction so complete It seems worth more than gold. “My own digestion is so bad It makes my life & bore. My influenza very sad Physicians oft deplore. ‘Toward those I show a mood of ice ‘Who tell me useful things. .And yet I love to give advice!” Sald Hezekiah Bings. Shifting Sentiments. ““Are you not obliged to repeat your- self in your speeches?” “Dear friend,” answered Senator Sorghum, “I consider myself luckly if the opinions of my constituents have not changed so that I am unable to repeat.” Jud Tunkins says when a woman gets busy with a fancy dress soclety event it's & question whether her hus- band is going to represent humor or pathos. The Baffled Microbe, Now Science says, in hopeful ternis, In time we'll conquer all the germs. ‘We'll be, when freed from those small specks, Saved up for wars and motor wrecks. A Modernist, “Don’t you long for the days gone by?” “No, I don’t,” answered Farmer Corntossel. “Every fall I'm scared for fear we're going to have one of those old-fashioned winters they talk so much about.” Tamed, “It is better always to speak gently,” sald the ready-made philosopher. ““You bet It is,” answered Mr. Chug- gins; peclally to & motor cop.” “A man dat won't do nuffin’ he ain’t paid for,” said Uncle Eben, “is never 80 particular "bout never gittin' pald foh nuffin’ he’s doin’.™ BY THOMAS R. MARSHALL, Former Vice President of the United States. There has been just One Man In all jrecorded time who had the undoubted right to call His fellow men hypocrites. He knew not only what His fellows back of thelr words and conduct. Since His time 1 doubt that any one has had the right definitely to label a follow a hypocrite. I have always insisted that Yet, the man who hunts thing in his home, in h and in his body that may need repa! may pay slight attention to the divine part of himself, if he does not Ignore it entirely. This is difficult for me to understand, in view of the univer- recognition that man there s a mysterious something, elusive as sunshine, yet compelling as destiny, We all Know that success or fallure ofttimes springs from this intangible quality which we some- times term the spirit of the man. {can speak for myself. My motives, out every- s busi: school was ‘kept’ in the small red (or! 10g) schoolhouse in the clearing or at the country cross roads: when the | teacher ‘boarded around among the puplls’ and not infrequently the ln-i cial life of the community centered | around the school, the relation of says Miss Ellen C. Lombard, director of home education for the United States bureau of education. This of- fice was organized ten years ago, in response to the plea of the natlonal criminal statutes should be so framed | PUrPOses, aims, ambitions are just as organization of the parent-teacheras- as to enable prosecutors and judges to take cognizance of the motive back of the crime, and I sometimes wonder whether much of the present disrespect for law has not resulted from the tendency of legislative bodles to dis- regard motives in defining crime an fixing Its penalties. I hold that a man is not a criminal unless he possesses a criminal intent. Likewise, when it comes to judging a man, we should make sure before finding him gullty of hypocrisy that there was a hypo- critical Intent behind his seemingly hyp- ocritical conduct. * K k% It is startling how many Christlan men and women are regarded as hypo- crites by their fellows who are good citizens, but not avowed Christians or churchgoers. I have talked to all grades and conditions of men about the life, life-work and _life-teachings of the Nazarene, and T have yet to find one in criticism of Him. Bellef is universal that He dld establish His church on earth. But when I ask a man why he is not a member of it or why he does not attend its services, I learn that he is a better man than Smith or Jones or Brown, who are church members and worship regularly. I am given to un- derstand that Smith and Jones and Brown are widely known hypocrites. This, of course, does not Interest me. What another man may be is of no compelling force in my life. Human nature {s a strange thing. Men must see or touch or taste In order to believe anything about the eternal verities or to be Induced to pay any attention to what I belleve to be the most important part of civilization. In most affairs of life the expert has come into his own, but not In religion. People still go to the doctor, and seemingly have as much confidence In him as ever. Their faith in his ministrations has not weakened, although he jumps from teeth to tonsils and from tonsils to thyroid glands as the universal seat of disease. They consult him not only when they are ill, but when they do not know that a single thing is wrong. They have themselves looked over by the doctor, then by the dentist, then by the oculist, and finally by the throat and nose spe- clalist. They are unwilling to take any chances on thelr physical con- dition. * ok k% If a man Is thinking of entering a business enterprise he consultsa law- yer. If he is going on a journey he takes out a traveler's Insurance pol- ley, or If by motor he has the car looked over and put in shape. If he is bullding a house he consults an architect. In whatever human ac- tivity affecting his life, comfort and pleasure he is about to engage he seeks the advice of an expert. He takes ~every precaution, guards agalinst every emergency. i likely to get out of repair and need | treatment as parts of my body or ! parts of my car. These things which are my real life need occasional, if not constant, looking over. At this point the church enters the discus- slon. * k% % ‘The church, without losing its great function of touching the dead con- sclences of mankind and breathing into them the breath of life, may per- | form another function for common, everyday men. It should be for the most of us a hospital and its services should be a clinic, conducted by a great expert in souls. This now is true within limitations. When we find ourselves in need of treatment we go to the church and recelve it, Ihlll 80 long as we are well and u afrald we are apt not to bother our- | selves. We are prone to believe it jeufficient to go to this hospital only | when we are sick. Alas, too many jdle in the ambulance! Let me again recall how we worry about the body. | A man may be perfectly well, so far 1as he knows, but he submits to ex- | amination by an expert. He may find ! out that he 18 the victim of an in- | sidious disease, whereupon he prompt- ‘1y submits to treatment or to sur- igery. The chances are that he is cured. Unless a man submits himself reg- ularly to the moral clinic of the 1 church he cannot be sure that there is not something within him that Is undermining that fine manhood which {should mark the motives and control the conduct of every American citi- zen. Something dropped from the pulpit may strike a weak spot in his iconduct of the week before, conduct jthat at the time gave him no un- easiness, but which, reviewed In the i light of what the clergyman hap- | pened to say, causes Inward trouble | and leads to a voluntary promise that it shall not be repeated. * K ok % Greece gave to the world the most classic beauty of all times, yet she is but a name. The step of the Roman was the most powerful that ever trod the earth, but it is no longer heard in the dust of Rome's disaster. The life of a natlon Is not lands nor wealth nor intellect. Its life {s the spirit that burns In the bodles of its people. When faith and hope and charity shall pass from out American life our republic will be but another In that long line wh ruins strew the pathway of the Let us forget Smith and Jones Brown. Let us go to the hospital every Sunday and have our faith in God, our hope in America and our c arity for our fellow men examined. Thus ‘may we keep our eouls in per- fect health. (Copyright, 1 Twenty-| 923, by . ity-first Century Mailable and Unmailable Matter BY FREDERIC ). HASKIN. Milllons of dollars, houses, auto- moblles, planos, victrol Jewelry, radio sets, washing machines, and countless other treasures, all in the hands of lawful owners who are ac- tually aching to give them away free—and it cannot be done! At least it cannot be done through the United States malls if those so fortunate as to receive the gifts are to be selected by any plan {nvolving lot or chance. Every day some indignant busine: man volces In no uncertain terms his opinion of a postal law that forbids his firm's disposing of its own prop- erty as it sees fit. After much de- liberation, the Blank & Blank Com- pany decide that It is necessary to stimulate interest in their product by a vigorous advertising campaign To thisy end the general manager pe: suades the board of directors to per- mit him to announce a great prize distribution scheme. Something for nothing—al s popular. Just drop into Blank & Blank' nd see their new stock, and you will be presented with a ticket entitling you to a chance on a beautiful new automoblle. newspaper and mail advertising cam- palgn is started to attract the folks in the neighboring territory. And then the Post Office Department steps in and says one cannot adver- tise lottery schemes through the mails. The bewildered general man- ager for Blank & Blank is stunned. Cannot one give away one’s own prop- erty If one wishes, any way one wishes? Positively no, one cannot, if any elements of lot or chance enter | into the distribution of the gifts and the United States malils are to be used in_promoting the scheme. Where upon the g. m. makes loud and | unfavorable comparison between the | freedom enjoyed in the United States and in Russia, and departs in a tow- ering rage to hearken to the jeers of the board of directors—who were un- willlng to give anything away, any- how. Years ago Louisiana was famous throughout the country for its great lotteries, in which prizes amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars were distributed annually to lucky ticketholders. ‘he evil resulting from gambling, even In its best regu- lated form, the state lottery, soon was recognized, and Congress passed laws prohibiting the carriage in the mally of matter relating to or in fur- therance of any scheme “offering prizes, dependent in whole or in part upon lot or chance.” State Lotteries Abolished. The effect upon state lotteries was instantaneous. Since these enter- prises could no longer be advertised except In comparatively restricted areas, and not at all through the malls, they soon died out. European countries, however, still flood the United States with advertisements of governmentally conducted prize dis- tribution schemes. The Post Office Department does not permit letters concerning such enterprises to leave the confines of our country, but re- turns them to senders, thus saving cm:enn millions of dollars that might otherwise be dissipated in gambling. Some of the plans worked out by advertising experts are unique and interesting. In one instance an au- tomobile manufacturer offered one of his cars to the person who 1d name the exact point to which it ‘would Il'?vol on mrol‘gily with one llon of gas clml.lmed that this matter of skill. So many elements of uncertainty enter into the matter, however, and the distance traveled depended so largely on weather and trafic conditions, the Post Office De- partment concluded that in the final anaylsis no attempted estimate could be other than a clever guess. And guessing contests are unmailable. Another scheme even more inge- nioua in that it was calculated to con- centrate the attention of the public on a product for a long period of time was that of a furniture dealer. ‘With each purchase he presented to the customer a printed clock face, the hands on which indicated certain hours and minutes. Each of dials showed a different time. In ‘window of his store were & clock was . essentially a these the and | coul He talking to a victrola. Whoever saw the clock stop when it had run down and pre- sented at the store a dial with the hands Indicating the hour nearest to that registered on the clock was en- titled to the victrola. The ability of the clock to run for a long period of time without rewind- ing was thus emphasized, and the dafly visits of those interested ena- bled the merchant to display his oth- er wares to advantage. Obviously the time at which the clock would stop and the possession of the correspond- ing clock face were entirely matters of chance. It was, therefore, neces- sary to bar the scheme from the mails. Skill Must Be Exercised, Cigar stores not Infrequently fill thelr windows with loose cigarettes and invite the passerby to guess the number in the pile, offering & prize for the most nearly correct estimate. They may not use the malls to adver- tise such schemes. On the other hand, contests actually requiring skill on | the part of the contestants are ad- missible. In such cases tleing con- testants must each be awarded the full amount of the prise for which they are tled. A clever sales plan which attracted much attention throughout the country during recent years was that in which a prise was offered for listing the greatest num- ber of objects in a certain pictur the names of which began with a specified letter. At first conducted conscientlously, this project later fell into the hands of persons interested only in mulcting the public, and many of ‘the objects representéd in the drawings were 80 Indistinct as to re- | duce the contestant to guessing what they might be. These competitions, so-called, consequently fell under the ban of the postal laws. Nation-wide advertising p: occasionally must be abandoned b cause they contain features conflict- ing with the postal lottery statutes. Huge sums have been wasted In fees paid publicity experts for plans that could not be carried out without sub- jecting the advertiser to the penalties of the law. In most instances the stumbling block is what the lawyers refer to as “consideration.” The con- stituent. elements of a lottery, they say, are three: Consideration, chance anad prize. A prigse is a prize to any one’s mind, and chance is anything not absolutely dependent upon skill, but consideration is the most subtle of the trio. When money Is paid for a lottery ticket there is what is known 2s a cash consideration. But the term is not confined to money nor to an: thing tangible. Merely doing or re- fraining from a particular act in order to become entitled to & ticket or a chance to win & prize is also a consideration. To persens unfamiMar with the projects of the corrupt and dishonest the postal lottery law might appear a h:.rduhl{. In reality It i bulwark against the assaults upon rocket- books of the public. The gambling In- stinct renders people particularly sus- to the machinations of rogues and swindlers through the promotion of prize schemes. On the other hand, the restriction actually placed on ' legitimate business de- velopment is in the last sanalysis negligible, and may be overcome by «liminating the elements objection- able under the law. In a Few Words. I have always thought of the United States as the last refuge for medieval monarchy. The President has much more power than constit; tional king, and I belie that the presidency in_America is generally popular. —G. K. CHESTERTON. At present we need to face the un- pleasant fact that our voting and electioneering result necessarily in survival of the unfittest to gov- ern. —GEORGE BERNARD SH. He must be blind who does not see *hat over a large part of the world ‘oday men are despairing of demgc- racy. i —DR. N. MURRAY BUTLER. It has come to man stands with his hat Of when m some one laughs & Sou =—JEFFR ceptible & and says he therner. Y FARNOL. that when a | M soclations, and Miss Lombard was ex- | plaining how home and school work together through these associations. | “As the school grew, however, this }social relationship in many cases dis- appeared, and in the present compli- | cated school system the parents and | teachers of a child rarely meet. As a | result the school curriculum appears | more and more to the parent as an outside institution, planned by stran- {gers, without reference to home life iand ‘executed by persons who do not consider home needs. The teacher, on the other hand, feels a lack of co- {operation and sympathy on the part of the parent, “It i3 to further a much-necded spirit of co-operation that the parent- teacher associations are formed.” Miss Lombard explains. “When school teachers and patrons get together regularly in a semi-social way the friendliest feelng fs fostered; and, in addition, current school questions can be brought up and discussed in a forum representing the points of view of both home and school. This not only gives practical help to the individual teacher, but makes an op- portunity for the expression of gen- eral public opinion on such important questions ~as disciptine, recreation, health, the treatment of individual differences and movements for com- munity welfare. Patron co-operation lessens occasions for acute crises in school administration and promotes orderly and harmonlous adjustment of the educational system to commu- nity needs.” * ok ok % Illustrating how reading circles are being organized all over the country under federal direction, Miss Lom- bard points to such a circle in Glen- dale, Calif., which has become an im- portant factor in the community and has developed in very practical and useful ways. It was organized In the home of Mrs. Charles H. Toll, who had been a high school teacher pre- vious to 'her marriage. During her teaching experience she keenly real- ized the results of home training as evidenced Ly her pupils. As the mother of four boys, she realized more than ever that mothers might be greatly helped by reading books on sclentific_child training. She inter- ested a group of about twenty women, every one of whom took the reading |course for parefts prepared by the United States bureau of education ,and recelved a certificate which today proudly adorns the walls of their in- dividual home libraries. * ¥ X x Officials of the United States Vet- erans’ Bureau are proud of the work that Is being done by their trainees and repeatedly evidence the heart that s in their work to salvage the derelicts from the late war. Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines points with pride to & report from the train- ing bureau in Minneapolis that Thomas J. Camper, a disabled over- seas veteran, as a result of a remark- able memory feat made possible the 1ecovery of a Haskett-Cremona violin, more than 100 years old and worth a fortune, which was stolen from the original ‘owner and sold for the trifiing sum of $27. A violin bow was brought to Camper for repair, accord- ing to the report that has come to Gen. Hines. Camper at once recog- {nized the bow as one that he had re- | pairea eight years before as an ama- teur and this led to locating the |famous instrument. Investigation | showed the rightful owner's initials | carved upon the case, thus completing the identification. The records of the Veterans' Bu- reau show that Camper was a private in the 103d Field Artillery and re- celved an Injury to his spine during his period of service with the A. E. F. He was thus prevented from resum- ing his pre-war occupation as a machinist and was awarded a course in_vocational training by the Vet- erans’ Bureau to prepare him to carry on {n musical merchandising and musical instrument repairing. * X Xk % No veterans of the world war, espe- clally the shut-ins in hospitals and penal Institutions are going to be without all the Christmas cheer that the Veterans' Bureau can bring to them. In view of the approaching {Christmas holidays, Gen. Hines has issued orders that all pending cases rvice men in hospitals and penal Institutions shall be adjudicated immediately. Reports indicate that all these claims will be scttled before the holiday season. * % % % “Lo, the poor Indian,” and the “fast disappearing red men” are decidedly misnomers today. The records of the Indian office here show that the total value of tribal and individual prop- jerty of Indians is now $1,010.870,519, | which ts $343,939,256 more than ten | ago. | ® the iast decade the number of Indians has Increased in this country | by 13,664 and something like 3,500 last | year. i { * * X % An Interesting illustration of the increasing cost of bullding is to be found in the plans which are ready for Congress on the new Recorder of Deeds and Municipal Court building in the Natlonal Capital. A twin structure for the Court of Appeals was authorized in 1908 and occupied in 1911, which cost $240,000. Last ear estimates were submitted for ne new bullding to cost $570,000. The estimates of cost this year run up to more than $628,000. This shows that the cost of construction has in- creased almost 50 per cent in fifteen eara. @ * ok ok An amusing complication occurred in the printing of franks to send out the calls for the democratic and re- publican caucuses of House members. They were all printed on the frank of Representative Merrill Moores, and to avold delay these will have to be used by the democrats although Mr. Moores s a republican. Some “hick | town” politiclans will be inclined to| 1see some deep-laid republican chic- canery in this, but as the best of fellowship exists between the two committees it is merely a joke here. * X ¥ X The long-time power of the late Representative James R. Mann of Tlinois was recalled in discussion of House committee appointments. It was recalled that Representative , after declining to stand for 5::30" as House leader in the last Congress, refused also to be elected chairman of the committee on com- mittees, although he was actually in control of the committee, saying that the House leader should by rlglt be chairman. So Representative Frank Mondell was ex-officlo chairman, but it is well known that Mr. Mann was de facto the gulding spirit of the committee and had his way. particular instance of this, and one which shows how House Leader| Mondell was ready to co-operate tn’ the limit with Mr. Mann, is recalled by Representative Moores. These three men were on a committee to fill vacancies. Mondell and Moores agreed between themselves on one man to fill an important vacarcy, but Mann filled it with another candidate. 00! had _agree: Mondell's candidate, but in the down Mondell voted for Mann didate and Moores voted Mondell's candidate. { ] Bpecial Correspondence of The Star. The broadcasting of Woodrow Wil- son’s Armistice day speech was un- questionably the radio event of the year, but there Is no doubt that the within every teacher and patron was a close one,” | excitement and physical task of that effort was a severe strain upon the former President’s heavily impalred vitality. However, it was a great feather In the cap of radlo that it should obtain the first speech of any length at all to be delivered by Mr. Wilson since that memorable day at Pueblo, Col., In 1919, when he pleaded 50 fervently for the league of na- tions. It also gave the radlo fans some tense moments after they had tuned in and the air was cleared for action. In at least one instance this ten- slon was relleved by a very casual re- mark of a plaln, everyday newspaper man, a member of a party gathered at a local telephone exchange to hear the Wilson message over the loud speaker. Through the big horn had just come this announcement, in a strong, rumbling, real radio volce: “We shall now hear a speech on the significance of Armistice day by Woodrow Wilson. The next voice you hear will be that of Mr. Wilson.” There was a pause, and everybody thought the {nstrument at the Wilson home of S street was undergoing some sort of adjustment, and that in a moment or two the former Presi- dent would begin talking. The pause dragged into a walt. Min- utes went by. The silance was ap- palling. You could cut it with a knife. “Ah,” said the newspaper man, “thi, is an unexpected treat. It's Mr. Cool- idge.” In the merriment that followed this drollery the first words of Mr. Wilson filtered through the ether. * X ok ¥ Many of the radio fans who listened in wonder why Mrs. Wilson's voice was heard so frequently in the trans- ‘mitter. While no detailed statement has been made of the Incidents at the Wilson home that evening, it is pos- sible to explain Mrs. Wilson's part in the event. Mr. Wilson's eves have been weak- ened by his long illness. He does very little reading, but is read to a great deal. He had prepared his speech well in advance, and appar- ently had memorized most of it. Mrs. Wilson had a copy in her hand, and it was quickly apparent, even over the radio, that she was acting as promp- ter. Whenever the former President would falter, Mrs, Wilson's volce was heard giving him, in theatrical par- lance, the proper cue. When the speech was over Mr. Wilson was heard to say: “That's all, fsn't 1t?" Mr. Wilson emphasized many of his points with flashes of his old-time vigor, but there is no doubt his broadcasting would have been much more effective if his eves had per- Heard and Seen Who is the man who draws the weather map every morning at 10 o'clock at Union station? Why, that is Richard O. Lazenby of the Instrument room of the United States weather bureau. He has been drawing maps for thirty-eight years—that s how he comes to do It so well, Hundreds of travelers have stopped | in front of the big weather map, lo- cated hard by the Pullman ticket windows, to watch the unknown. quiet man put in the chalk lines which in- dicate what the weather was and will be. He is a type of the efficlent gov- ernment clerk who does his expert Job day by day without any fuss about 1t, minds his own business and delivers the goods, If you ask him where he had spe- cial art training he will disclaim any such knowledge with becoming mod- O ireni) maniHawibaeni ot miver: taln work for nearly forty vears he gets a certain facility, of course. * * x Next time you are in Union station about 10 a.m. stop and watch Mr. Lazenby at his work. A thick-set, silent man, he arrives on the scene to give the passersby the 8 am. weather conditions in all parts of the United States. The telegraph and even the radio have contributed to this knowledge. The big map, on a special quality of glass, is ready to receive the chalk lines from the hand of the weather bureau man. He seizes a bit of chalk and starts to draw. 4 If you ever have tried to draw real curves—and falled—you will the bet- ter apprecilate what a good job La- zenby makes of it. As if drawn with dividers, the line curves accurately across the conti- | nent. Referring to a small map in his hand, Lazenby puts in still others, then seizes a plece of yellow chalk, with which he puts In temperatures for the various “belts.” His lettering of “high” and “low" compels admiration. Just as If it were to last there forever, in the sight of man, he chalks up those words. There is loving care given that map. Then comes the Interesting work of painting In the weather symbols, which are put In with a stencil, & soft paint being used. A vellow arrow indicates rain, a blue ‘one cloudy and a red one fair. I belleve I have that right. Any- way, the symbols are on the bottom of the map, with their proper mean- ings, 80 no beholder can be fooled. “‘ Looking at him drawing his map, carefully lettering the early weather prediction, he seemed to be & sort of symbol himself. There 18 any amount of work done in this world that Is so expert, so perfect, that we commonly accept it without a single thought, much as we do the rain, the sun and the wind. Amateur and professional—the first | deserves credit—but the second can||anguage, do the thing. Thousands, nay, milllons, of artl- cles are turned out yearly, by men unknown to us, which are striking things of their kind and which we, individually, could never think to duplicate. ‘We go to a store and buy a tube of tooth paste. The contents are what we pay our money for, but we have to get the tube as container. And such a tube is really a work of art, in its way. y Most of us would have to market our tooth paste in our hands if It depended upon us to make the tubes. They are made properly, exactly, probably by machines, it is true, but under the hands of craftsmen. ‘The amateur in everything has had his praise. The professional maker of things deserves his. | mitted him to read his own spsecH and speak into the transmitter at the same time. * % % x | Becretary of the Treasury Mellon | a much misunderstood man, Here he 18 working his head off for every man Jack sitting In national House and Senate and yet is about as popular ion Capitol Hill as a sore toe. They fre- ‘quently have said of Mr. Mellon that he is no politician. Yet to the Innos | cent bystander it looks as If he weps entitled to a master’s degree in tha gentle art and some of his critics |should be put back Into beginner class. Mellon Is generally suppose to have “spilled the beans” in taking the public into his confidence at th time as to the state of the country's |finances and urging a reduction in the | Beavy Income taxes. It is the most popular chord struck in Washington in many a long d 12nd even If it has been attacked as ia blow against the soldier bonus, Mr iMellon has had the courage to speak lout, where the average politician iwould have preferred to pussyfoot yMr. Mellon has started a ball rolling jWhich it will be difficult for Congress i“’ stand up against. i It Is perfectly true that many men jIn Congress, opposed to the principle |of the soldier bonus at heart, never- i theless would vote for such a bonus | because of fear of the “soldier vote.” Mr. Melion' strategy has brought Congress to a new point of view. What about the taxpayers' vote? In effect Mr. Mellon has placed the side Stepping - congressman between the devil and the sapphire sea and that |is one place where the sidestepper {becmes sadly cramped in his style, Yet to Mr. Mellon's completely in- nocent poiitical mind, Congress ought to be extremely gratefui to him and in no sort of a quandary. He feels the congressmen Can get more credit at home by reducing the taxes of his constituents than by any other ac- tion that possibly could be taken. And. i besides, he thinks it the proper thing {to do. For every soldier offended, Mr. Melion feels two taxpayers will rise | up to call the congressman blessed. Mr. Mellon never has been popular on the Hill, even among the members of his own party. He has been too practical, too frank, too outspoken. Some of the older members of the ways and means committee in the House and the finance committee in the Senate feel that they know more about the finances of the country than the former banker from Pitts- burgh, who has been presiding at.the Treasury since Mr. Harding was inaugurated. These old committee- men say they have been studying national finance for years and years. But is must be admitted that Mr. Mel- lon, ranked as one of the country" three richest of men, must have some knowledge of dollars and how to con- serve them. Even if the Secretary has put some congressmen in a hole and upset some of their plans for the coming | seesion, he certainly is a popular guy !with man in the street. He also has made it hard for Congressman Hick to go home if he fafls to reduce the taxes when the head of the Treasury says he can do it (Copyright, 1923.) Fifty Years Ago In The Star The “Virginius atrocity,” as the execution of three Cubans and an . American fillbust- Cuban Executions . captured on | Stir Americans. the steamer Vir- ginius and put to | death after summary trial, was called {ffty vears ago. greatly arousea the ! American people. In The Star of i November 10, 1873, is printed an interview with Mr, Fish, the Secre- | tary of State, expressing his personal | sympathy with the Cuban Insurgents ;and a determination to Investigate the circumstances thoroughly. The Star says: “Elsewhere will be found an ex- [pression of the views of Secretary Fish upon the sefzure of the Vir- ginlus by the Spanish authorities and the butchery of four persons found {in the vessel. The Secretary points out the difficulties in the way of definite action until the authoritative | facts are obtained; but in the mean- jtime the Madrid government, at the |request of our government, has issued peremptory orders for a stay of proceedings in the case of tho jother ‘prisoners taken on the Vir- ginius. Secretary Fish, In saying that the trouble In dealing with Cuban matters Is not with the Madrid government, but with the Spanish volunteers of Cuba, states what will be recognized as an unmistakable : fact by all who have visited Havana. These ‘volunteers',are the real dic- tators in the island. They consist of wealthy Spanish-Cubans, having for their seal of rule the Casino Club room. This club passes upon all decrees issued in regard to Cuban affairs by the Madrid government, and rejects or Indorses according to its will. These Spanish-Cuban volun- teers have been at Issue with the home government upon the emonci- pation project. They are the slave- ocracy of the Island, and are inter- ested In having slavery maintained For this reason they really favor having the rebellion maintained, be- home government upon the emanci- pation does not go into effect until the rebellion Is suppressed. Their aim, therefore, is to have the re- bellion kept up to a certain but not dangerous extent; but were it put down they would manage to have the 1 embers kept alive in order to stave off the decree of emancipation. In the weak condition of the Madrid government for some years the ‘volunteers' have been able to carry things with a high hand In snubbing the home authorities, but should Castelar's government become folly | established, it is probable that the Casino Club at Havana will be brought to terms.” * * % The Star In its Issue of November 12, 1878, points out, as follows, why * the Cuban rev- olution had not elved sup- rt in this Cuban Cause Badly Represented Here. ;"s country: “It has been averred, and probably { with justice, that the main reaso why the cause of ‘Cuba Libre' not received the encouragement and { recognition by us to which it is en- titled is because the representatives lof Cuba in this country have not been, in many Instances, fitted for | their delicate and responsible duties {On several occasions. at least, the official representatives of Cuba have been unable to speak the English and in perhaps every instance they have exhibited a woe- | ful lack of knowledge of the Ameri- 'can character and o the first prin- | ciples of modern diplomacy. The | Cubans in this country, neariy since ! the beginning of the present struggle, have been divided by dissension and split_up Into contending factions, which has done much to prevent the earnest espousal of the cause by many Americans of position and influence whose aid would have been invaluable. There is no denying the fact that the patriots have had almost from the beginning the sym- pathy of the great mass of the American people. But this sym- pathy, after all, has been until re- cently of a dormant and undemon- strative character. What the Cubans want is an active sympathy whieh, besides moral support, shall give them el America to ‘develop this sympathy Lntho gmut and active efforts in their ehalf.”