Evening Star Newspaper, January 25, 1924, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR ‘With Sunday Morning Editien. WABHINGTON, D. C. " FRIDAY.......January 25, 1924 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Bosiness Office, 11th Bt. and Penneyivania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 2nd St. Chicaxo OMce: Tower Dullding, Ofice: 16 Regeat #t., London, England, With the fundsy morning by carrfers within the month; daily only, 45 only, 20 cents’ per mail or tele- made by car- 00 cents per cents per month; Sunday ‘month. Orders may be nent by yhone Main 5000. Collection fs Tiers at the end of each meath. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advaace. Maryland and Virginia, Daily and Sunday..1yT., $£.40; 1 mo., 70 * Daily only.. 1yr., §6.00: 1 mo., 50 Sunday only. 13,3240 1 mo., 20¢ All Other States. Daily and Sunday.1 yr. $10.00; 1 mo., 85c Dally only. (13T, $7.00; 1mq., $0c Sunday only 13T, $3.00;1mo., 25¢ Member of the Associated Press. The ‘Associated Press 1s exclusively entitiec 1o the ‘use for republication of all news patches credited 1o it or not ofherwise credited in_this paper and also the local news pub. Tished herein. . All rights of publication of special diupatches herein are aleo reserved. plossladlils it ey An Amazing Moral Failure. he further the probe goes into the naval cil scandal the more dis- tressing it appears. Yesterday's testi- . mony before the Senate committee, siven by Edward L. Dobeny, president of the oil company holding one of the leases on naval oil reserves, revealed @ financial transaction between him and the former Secretary of the In- terior, then in office, to whose juris- diction these naval oil reserves had been transferred by executive order six months before. Five months later a provisional contract was entered into between the Secretary of the In- terior and the Doheny company, and seven months and a half later still a final contract was signed. Explanations of the nature of this transaction, a large personal loan without interest and without security, are necessarily affected by efforts made heretofore by the beneficiary to conceal the source of his funds, efforts | marked by misstatements, knowledged and exposed. This transaction between the former Secretary of the Interior and the ofl promoter who later became in turn beneficiary of a lease the propriety of which has from the first been in ques- tion would as between men in private life have been honorable and credita- ble to both. That the lender of such a sum should have faith enough to risk a fortune without security and with- out interest upon the simple word of a needy friend would stand as an in- spiring example of trust and disinter- ested friendship. It may have been 80 actuated in fact. But with the bor- rower in a position of highest trust, newly vested with authority over a commodity of national importance, and with the lender seeking to secure a portion of that commedity for pri- vate exploitation, the transaction, whatever its motive, became question- able, dangerous and dishonorable. When a man takes public office he sacrifices much. He puts aside oppor- tunities for private profit, for enter- prises, for dealings in business in the remotest degree affected by and af- fecting his officlal responsibility. It is rainfully evident that the former Sec- retary of the Interior did not measure that limitation, did not appreciate that inhibition when he accepted a loan without iInterest and without security from a friend, of however long stand- ing and however warm affection and however high trust, with whom he as official later had relations. Apart from any question of corrupt motive or bad bargain for the govern- ment, this transaction stands as a pitiable exhibition of shortness of moral vision: The investigation may bring further facts to light. It may possibly lead to a full clearance of the man who is now accused of a betrayal of trust. Or it may develop more dam- aging facts, more shocking revela- tions. As it stands today it has brought to view an amaszing moral de- linquency on the part of a man to whom great opportunity of public service was given and who falled to measure his responsiblility. ————————— Reports arrive to the effect that Mr. Charles Dawes has organized @& quar- tet in Paris. The discovery of four men who can harmonize accurately, even- though without great responsi- bility in articilation, would mean a step forward in many an effort toward international concord. ————————— ‘The man who christened Teapot Dome did not know what & boiling there would one day be. ——— District Industrial Exposition. It is proposed to hold an exposition in the auditorium of manufactures in the District. The matter is under dis- cussion by the Chamber of Commerce, and it may be that an exposition of this kind will be held next fall. A show of District manutactures would be interesting and informing to & great. many persons.. There 1s & com- mon bellef that all our manufactured goods except bread, ice cream, ice, gas and a few other things are'made else- where. While the large private in- dustries of manufacture in the Dis- trlct are printing and publishing, bakery preducts, ice cream and ice, there are many others. The list in- oludes automobile bodles and parts, awnings, tents and sails, bookbinding and blank-book making, clothing, cof- fee roasting and grinding, copper, tin and sheet fron work; druggists’.prepa- rations, "electroplating and engraving, fur goods, furniture, hand .stamps, hets and caps, jewelry, lumber and planing mill products, marble and stone work, mattresses and spring beds, mineral and soda waters, optical goods, patent medicines, pickles, pre- serves end sauces; slaughtering and meat packing to tobacco and cigars. These. are industries on which the fourteenth census gave statistics as to omployes, capital, salaries and wages, ‘ rent and taxes, value of products and amount of power used. Among other local manufactures eet down by the census are artificial ilmbs and artists’ materials, baking powders and yeast, baskets and wil- lowware, boxes, brick and tile and brooms, down the alphabet to toys and games, trunks and valises, vinegar and cider, window shades and fixtures. In the District ere carried on the later ac- ,enn!u and preserving of fish, gen- eral shop construction and repair of electric and steam railroad cars, manu- ‘fflcu.\re of coal tar products, flour and grist mill products, gas and -electric fixtures, filuminating gas, scientific in- struments, cereal beverages, paper and wood .pulp, peanut grading, roastin, cleaning and shelling, pottery, earthen and stone ware, shirts, signs and ud- vertising novglties and statuary and art goods.- That is by no means the full list of District manufactures. An exposition of District industries might not tart a boom in “Tight” manufactire in Washington, but 1t ‘would show people that there is “home industry™ to a degree they aid not know, and might make known in reglons beyond Washington that light manufacture is carried on here. 1f the exposition were to include government manufactures in WaShington it would be larger, and the Interest in it outside of Washington would be greater. —_———— Lincoln, A bill to make the birthday of Lin- coln a legal holiday in the District has, after public hearings by the House comfufttee on the District of Columbla, heen ordered favorably re- ported to the House. Bellef is general that the making of holldays has been overdone, and that the tendency to lengthen the list should be opposed, but it would be inappropriate to op- pose that tendency at the point where it is proposed to mark Lincoln’s birth- day as a day of national cbservance. In respect to the public service which Lincoln rendered our nation he stands as one of the supreme characters in our history, It is customary to place George Washington as first in the af- fection of our people, and there is abundant justification for that. His service in the establishment of the re- public was pre-eminent, s Lincoln’s service in maintaining it was pre- eminent. To most people Washing- ton is & marble statue, rather than an exalted patriot, of the highest model of honesty and of marked ability in many ways, end also & man of pro- nounced human traits. With Lincoln it is the reverse. He has not become & bronze effigy to peo- ple and will not. Ii is the human side of the man, his homeliness, his ten- derness, his humor and his sympathy for the poor and lowly that people know best. He was a great American in patriotism, wisdom, will and other qualities of greatness. Lincoln was born ten years after Washington died. From about 1838 to 1868 he was a “ris- ing” man in politics. From 1858, when he came to national fame because of his debate with Douglas and his elo- quent opposition to extension of slav- ery that people might have peace of | mind “in the bellef that it is in the course of ultimate extinction,” to his nomination for the presidency, he was a very prominent partisan leader. From his inaugration in 1861 to his assassination he was hailed as a great man by most people in the north, and as a failure and disappointment by others in the same section. After his death his greatness came to be meas- ured in higher terms, and his char- acter has grown in splendor as time has passed. There will be no decline in the estimation in which LincSln 1s held. Men who lived when Lincoln lived told “Lincoln stories,” emphasiz- ing the gentleness, ‘common sense, humor and human goodness of the ! man. These stories have spread, and have influenced millions of the grand.- : children - and great-grandchildren of men “who knew Lincoln.” More writers have dealt with “‘the human side” of Lincoln than have written that way of Washington. Lincoln's birth is observed as a holiday in many states, and it should be set aside as a holiday In the Dis- trict. ———————— A House for Art. Representative Albert Johnson_of the state of Washington stands up for the proposal that there should be in the Smithsonian group “a building especially designed to house and dis- play the nation's art collection.” He says that art works to the value of 500,000 @ year are being offered to the government through the Smith- sonian Institution, that the value of the government's collection is now $10,000,000, and that aside from the Freer Gallery, which is in & building paid for by the donor of the collection, the larger part of the government's collection Is in the basement and hall- ‘ways and corners of the Natural His- tory building. The facts are widely known, and in time there will rise at ‘Washington .a " splendid " building in whose marble wall will be chiseled “National Art Gallery.” Representa- tive Johnson’s remarks on the need of a national art gallery bullding are | weighty. Besides being & member of Congress already in or ‘approaching the veteran class, he is a regent of the Smithsonian. No modification of his views on the soldier bonus is apparently contem- plated by Hiram Johnson that will render him eligible as & vice presiden- tial candidate on & Coolidge ticket. An uprising in the Philippines is due to fanatics who would rather fight than work hard, save their money and invest it in Wall street. At least @ Senate investigating com- mittee has the satisfaction of receiv- ing & number of very distinguished wvisitors. g A Traffic Conrt. Recommendation by the Senate com- mittee that a traffic court be estab- lished in Washington as a means of enforcing laws restricting traffic in the Capital may cause some confusion respecting the heed of such an insti- tution. A so-called traffic court sits dally as & branch of the Police Court, and there are doubtless- many Wash- ingtonians who feel that this is an adequate minor tribunal of justice. But as a matter of fact it does not reach the need at all. It sits at such hours and for such periods that those charged with rule breaking are put to great inconvenience and loss of time. In - consequence of this inadequacy many offenders merely forfeit collat- eral rather than go to court, with the result that they are not recdrded as guilty of breaches of the law and may be frequently at fault without suffer- ing thi yn.w-tt repeated offenses. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. ¢. The collateral atcepted is relatively small compared with the fines that may be imposed. Many hahitually careless drivers rate these collateral payments as part of the cost of up- keep. ® ‘With a traffic court definitely estab- lished, with no other jurisdiction than that over traffic rule violations, sit- ting as proposed from 8 o'clock in the morning until 10 at night, with the collaterfil practice abolished, rule breakers may bé promptly taken to court and as promptly tried, with the Witnesses surely present, and with all Denalties recorded, and thus with as- surance of additional penalties for re- peated violations. The trafic court would be equipped with records dis- closing’ past performances. Suspen- elon of forfeiture of license for second and third offenses would -be posaible without question of righteousness. A traffic court with no other duty, sitting from " early morning until night, empowered to multiply ‘penal- tles for. repeated offénses.or to forfeit licenses would have a most corréctive effect upon the practice of careless, reckless, inconsideraté driving, provid- ing the police.force was suffictent In size to capture and take to court the rule breakers.. The cost of such & court would be of no moment com- pared with the benefit to the commu- nity. It would be, for a tine at least, far more than met by the fines im- posed. Leningrad. Petrograd, once known as St. Pe- tersburg, has been renamed. It is henceforth, by soviet edict, to be call: ed Leningtad. Thus a high honor is paid to the former leader of the bolsheviki, who has just passed away. But after all the question arises whether this {5’ such a mark of su- preme distinction. The one-time capl- tal of Russia is now a wreck. The population has dwindled to a small fraction of its former size. The pres- ent inhabitants are wretched crea- tures, barely able to live on the mea- ger rations permitted by the soviet. The buildings are in decay, the indus- tries are stagnant, trade is almost at a standstill. It is doubtful whether, short of the restoration of the old regime and the expenditure of an im- mense_sum in reconstruction, Petra grad, or, as it is now called, Lenin-| grad, will ever be brought back to its former splendor. Yet there is something appropriate about this change of name, ostensibly in honor of the man who, more than any other, caused the spoliation of | the capital. Lenin wrecked Russia, and Petrograd with it He and his assoctates moyed the capital to Mos- cow for reasons of security. FPetro- grad was too near the sea, too near the possibility of attack. It was loot- ed and abandoned. There was some talk about getting rid of the old trap- pings ahd souvenirs of the empire, but the true reason for -the change was that the capital was strategically in- secure. So hore is one of the once great cities of the world, one of the great capitals, given its third name within seven years. Leningrad it is now, officially, but there is no assurance that it may eventually, perhaps soon, be named again, after some new hero of the revolution, or possibly in re- turn to its former designation when, if that happens, the soviet government is destroyed and the old regime 1s re- stored in some form. ————————— The map who writes a plank for either party platform is likely to work as hard as the one who wrote the Bok peace plan, without much hope of get- ting fifty thousand dollars for it. ————— Uncle Sam does not feel called upon to add any slight complicstion to Eng- lish labor troubles by aggravating the thirst of the British tar whose duties call him to sall this way. Statement is made that Gov. Pinchot 1s not a formal candidate for presiden- tial nomination. Formality is not the long suit of any wise man in politics. New York city will entertain the democratic national convention. What- ever cares may infest the day the nights will be filled with music. It is a dull day when there is not something for the average citizen té vote on. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, The . A dollar is gentle, elusive and shy ‘When it stands all alone by ftself. Its strength is no more than sufficient to buy A dinner to wait on the shelf. But when. with & general sum it fs masgsed It speaks.in a loftier tone, And is far too exclusive and fine to be classed = ‘With the dollar that stands all alone. So we mustn’t complain if we have to return " % ‘To lessons expounded in school. The shy little dollars, like people, must learn To let the majority rule. Knowledge Ever Unfoiding. “A man is never too old to learn, remarked the ready-made philosopher. ‘Never,” agreed Senator Sorghum: “especially if he's on an investigating committes.” K Jud Tunkins says he isn’t talking politics at present because his opin- lons are liable to- depend somewhat on whether his brother-inlaw gets @ Job that was promised him. Turbulent Mlumination. Where troubled waters Toudly roared The oll was liberally poured. . A match was struck to'give & light. And then that ocean was & sight! 'Not & Linguist. ' “Do yoéu take pleasure’in- studying. languages?” . ‘ . foreign & . “No,” answered Miss Cayenne, “one of the pleasures I find in going abroad is that of mesting people’ tell me their troubles.” “Hope foh do best," said Uticle Eben, “but don’t get too reckless an’ grab for 1" 5 IN TODAY’S BY PAUL The arrival of the labor party into Power In England raises the question 86 to what it will do to the great in- terests, of the country, outside of those of labor, as well as to how radical will be its measures for the betterment of the interests of the Wage earners themselves, whese lead- ers and epokesmen for the first time find themselves no longer the king's opposition, but his majesty’s govern- ment. The death of Lenin, the leader of the proletariat of Russia, comes al- most simultaneously with the rise to supreme responaibility of J. Rgmsay Macdonald as premier of England. Is Premier Macdonald to re, periments of his Ru: or will he profit by the utter faflure of most of the early radicalism of soviet Rugsia? Lenin.bad the courage to-profit by the unexpected failures of the early socialistic or communistic experimen to reverse the theories and policies of his movern- ment. It is inconceivable that the rober and rather phlegmatic English (compared with the f{gnorant and easily misled Rusafan proletariat) could countenance such radicalism as plunged Rusaia fnto the abyss of starvation and suffering. It ia declared by leadine members of the mocialiat partv in Washington that the principles of sacialism which Macdonald unholds will lead to a “eapital levv” hecause of the preat industrial .diatress due to unemnlov- ment. and that the doctrines of the sociallsts are just the same fin- ail countries. including the United States, Nevertheless.* the assurance in glven hat the 14 he no thousht of & in the United States if were in power, because such distress here as in * % ok % It is three years since the problem of unemployment in the United States, involving some 4,000,000 idle men, brought:to Washington a conference of labor leaders with employers and government officlals. Somehow the problem from that time has been solved, and men have found employ- ment everywhers. Today there s no body of idle anywhere in the ; United States, and never have wages been maintained at so high a_scale,’ Not so in England—nor anywhére else In distracted Europe. Last Sep- tember there was held in Luxemburg, France, a eonference of the Interna- tional Association on Unemployment —after inactivity on account of the war—and this_conference was at- tended semi-officlally by representa- tives of our Department of Commerey After considering the disturbed eco- nomical sityation In the efghteen countries represented. resolutions !were adopted setting 'forth certain recommandatione, chief of which was that all countries ought to encour- ge free trade, 80 that countries which then were largely reserving thelr productions to thelr own wage- carners (llke the United States), should open their ports to the prod- of other laborers in other coun- There were also recommenda- tions as to public works for {he pur- pose of suppiving employment, hut special emphasis was lald on the idea that “it is increasingly apparent that only through a policy of inter jnational solldarity can the material and moral patrimony of each nation be preserved. | ‘capital lev: the socialia there is no Europe. i | * % k% Yet, in spite of that appeal for free interchange of products of labor be- tween all nations, the first and most radical step of ultra-protection to home labor comes from France, in an announcement - alleging that Premier Poincare will undertake to bar abso- lutely all imports into France, to the end that the French market shall be exclusively for French labor. If that radical step be taken by Premier Poincare. what will be the natural reaction of England, with its millions of idle laborers and with the leaders of the labor in power? Since 1920 England has faced in- creasing distress of unemployment of varty Count Became ‘FRIDAY, SPOTLIGHT V. COLLINS millions of laborers. This is due largely to the collapse of the German and other European mark lish goods., If to the coll: many. there should now be added an absolute French embargo. the English distress would be greatly Increased and, according to a leading American socialist, the pressure bearing upon the leaders of the labor party. added to the faith of those leaders in their Since 1920, millions in England have been supported by doles from the public treasury, and the property owners have been taxed to produce the funds. In addition, the British unemployment ' grants commission has considered the feasibility of 9,444 schemes. presented for public works, to. provide employment, and has adopted 2,601 such enferprises, &t a public cost of $140,338.648 In wages pald to workers, on the basls of 80 per cent of ordinary wages. The laborites are vizorously protest. ing against the r. demand full paving small wages it e Cover more of the jdle with needed relief. . The labor leaders.point out that in 75 per cent of the cases the wages paid are almost down to what he worker:would he entitled to un- der the doles without working at all. Exaggerated expectations of _the magses of labor throughout the Brit- ish Is in_the face of the impos- =ibilitles f full relief, seem to vtv'mka 1d e & “cavital 'isyy}' which means con- fiscation of & certain per cent, not of the fncomes But-of the property of the W’althy—‘q): act ahsolutely pro- hibited in the United States by th fifth amendment to the Constitution, providing that— “No person * * * gshall be de- prived of life, libery or property with- out due process of law: nor shall pri- vate property be taken for public use without just compensation. Since Great Britain has no safe- guarding written constitution, any parliament may make its own prece- dents and adopt any law which it sees fit to pass. The present situation offers no immediate menace of such radical “property levy,” since the Iabor party holds only a “balance of power” and not a majority over th combined forces of the conservativ. —under the laté Premier Baldwin— and the liberals under Lloyd George. Nevertheless, the danger may lle in England’s desperation, if industrial conditions grow wors party may gain, in su solute mafqrity, even in answer to its cording to 5. A part of the Macdonald program {!s to nationalize the rallroads and other public utilities, introduce moth- ers’ and workmen's Pnnlhn- and re- organising the foreign poliey. Ru sian recognition is predicted as ce: tain and immediate. Special attention will be given the unemployment probiem. Tt Is significant that out of the twenty men in the new cabinet nine have never earned a living with their hands While it is freely predicted in Eng- land that Premier Macdonald will be junable to tion throug o capitalists are said to be scurrying to invest in forelgn securities and the exchange rate on the pound ster- ling has fallen lower than it has been for two or three years. * * ¥ % There {s nothing in common be |tween the aims of American social ists and those of our trade union: The policy of the American Federa- tion of Labor is not to form a dis- tinctive labor party, nor to enter par- tisan poltics. except to support in all parties whomever shows a. record favorable to the lador interests. It opposes socialism as well as commun- Ism, although its membership ma: contain many individuals bent on “boring from within.’ |. (Copright, 1924, by Panl V. Collins.) Great Pianist Despite Loss of Right Arm BY THE MARQUISE DE FONTENOY. Every musician in America will be 80rry to hear of the death at seventy- five, at Budapest, of that wonderful old Count Geza Zichy, who, in spite of his having lost his right arm above the elbow through a gun acci- dent when a boy of fourteen years, managed to achieve fame as perhaps the finest amateur planist in Europe. He never played for personal gain, but managed to earn several millions of dollars for the various philan- thropic .and charitable enterprises which had sought and secured his good will and sympathy. He was for several years director general of the Royal Opera House and of all the theaters subsidized by the crown and state in Hungary, and when he finslly retired, was elected for lite president of the National Hungarian Conserva- tory of Music at Budapest. In 1916, that is to while the war was still in progress, he started and organized a quite successful movement In the dual.empire for fur- nishing of means of livithoodgo those who lost thelr arms, thelr® legs or thelr eyes In the conflict and has thus preserved many thousands of victims of the war from destitution and even starvation. The celebrated Abbe Lisst was one of the' warmest admirers and closest friends of this splendid type of a great Magyar noblo and territorial magnate, and at his doath bequeathed to him & number of valuable papers among them a sealed package which ‘was not to be opened until ten years after his death. When the package was opened by Count Zichy, in the presence of the principal officials of the Hungarian National Conserva- tory of Musio, at Budapest, it ‘was found to contain proofs that a work ascribed to List, in which Magyar music_was belittlod as entirely the product of the Telganes, was in rosity written by the heroine of 'Lisst's romance, Princess Caroline of Sayne Wittgenstein, to escape marrying whom the world-famed composer en- tered holy orders and became a. priest. The work had exoited such intens: resentment in Hungary at the tim of its that, aithough was t Lt a"huaband of the Drincess. who had divorced her first mate in order ‘wed him, he was nevertheless led g his romantic devotion to her to take the entire odium of the work upon himeelf. " The painter Makhart was another of Count Gesa. Zichy's friends, and he | b, frequently accepted the invitations-of the artist to sit for him. Yet no Makhart ‘portrait remains of Count Gesa Zichy. There is a curious story in connection with - the -fate of Makhart's most famous portrait of Zichy. Some time after the painters death, the Zichy family, being de. sious -of securing one or more copfe: in ofl of the hart portrait, in- trusted the-yell known court painter, os, with the original for the pur- poi making & capy thereof. As soon.as It was finished to the satls- faction of . the. entire family, th. castle of Zichy, where it was to hang, took: fire” and.'was burnt _down,- the | Defng destroyed in :the' flames, £oples- more W then ordered from Kardqs, but they n the hands of the family T, they were passing through the streets of Pesth in the charge of servants, the pole of & cart ran through them. The artist again set to work and painted two more copies. which were mysteriously lost on their.way by rall to Vienns, no trace of them hav- ing ever been found. The Zichys might have taken warn- ing from all this. Indeed they were slarmed enough to instruct Kardos to send them back the original pic- ture by Makhart. But as it was Koing across the bridge spanning the Danube s Budapest, in charge of an old servant of the Zichy family, the heavy wind that was blowing caught it broadside on, tore it out of the old man's hands and carried it from the knifeboard of the omnibus on which he was riding into the dark and swift Danube many feet below. It was almost as if the picture had committed an act of suicide and had sought a watery grave in sheer dls- pair of being degraded by being copled. The Zichy family offered a reward of 10,000 florins for the re- covery of the painting. - But with- out avail. And to this day nobody has appeared with the picture to claim the amount. It may be sumed, therefore, that this master- plece of Makhart lies rofting some- ‘where in the mud of the Danube. * % ok % The Zichys, who have several Amer- fcan matrimonial alliances to their record, are among the leading houses of the old Magyar aristocracy and some of their lands®notably those around the castle of Zichy in 'the county or comitate of’ Somogy, have ‘been in the uninterrupted possession of the family ever since 1345. Thelr title of count was bestowed upon them by Emperor Ferdinand III in the middle of t renteenth cen- tury. ‘Thelr name figured extensively in the history of Hungary, and, in- deed, of all Europe. There {5 scarcely a country in which the Zichys have not at one time or another played a conspicious role. One of their best members was the late Count Nicholas Zichy, who, al- though considerably over' sixty, -at the outbreak of the great war en- listed for active service in the cavalry as a trooper and went to the front, His conduct there Was characterized promoted on the tenancy for conspicuous bravery and ortly afterward fell in action. He was very ruch, having inherited whole fortune of his aunt, who in turn had Inherited over a million dol- lars from the third Marquis of Hert- ford, rayed by Jbhickeray in “Vanity Fair’ as Steyne, and y Lord Beaconsfleld, in “‘Coningsby,” as Marmouth. Countess Zichy indeed cuts a most unattractive figure in “Coningsby,” under the name of Princess Colon. Plums, Perhaps. ¥rom the Cincianat! Enquirer, - ‘Wonder what. Mrs. Coolidge puts tnto the White House ples that makes all the visiting politiclans sing the Coolidge praises when they leave' " Rare Type of Humanity. From the Baltimors Sunm. o Rk of Ravink to humble your- ure. Think of having lumble your- ask the aelt :vcrr xnv ,’mi and JANUARY: e | key, bripging tog i ever reached L s | untry of ours when 5, 1924 Franklia as Patriot. Influence Potent _for: Geod - Today, Admirer Declares. To the Kditor of The B We have read in every daily jour- nal, every magasine and {n many spe- clal pamphlets quite recenfly a great many interesting articles about the great American statesman and diplo- mat, Benjamin Franklin. His worth 28 a man 1s not only measured by the activities of his. own eighty-four Years on this earth, but his shadow | Teaches out with the sunshine into the future, and the horizon of man's future, like the rainbow, is always a little farther away. Franklin lived to realize the re- ward for many of his efforts in many directions as there were sides {to his great character.. He loved lit- tle children and one of his ambitions Wwas to establish a system of educa- tion and care for children. This he accomplished. As a child he was poor. sides. But born of that stock of. our early ancestors ' who worked inces- Santly that they might not perish, ho Was born with the true instinct of diligence and perseverance and as he matured into youth he.began to take such strides in self-advancement that he was looked upon even then as an authority upon matters generally by his elders |nile, Writer will not ‘attempt to go nto the biography of this great Ameri- €an genlus whoge name is'a household Ivord all over the country he loved, but t Is only to portray. to a certain extent the influence a genius has upon progeny and how some: of Franklin's admirers, working upon the theory about where he left off, have by the same patient Jiigence built upon the d by him great uni- foundation laj versities where boys and girls can seek of knowledge of and find in the book ry thing that the great today the ve it for in his time. F?:nmm sou ‘very applled principle of electricity in use [} ed upon the same s theory that Frankif he experimented wi discussed n entertained when »ith the kite and the ether the positive and the négativa and producing the electric tg:r The power of his Intellect, liko ,‘V“D:;:l;mbmucgflf the little spark, der the Hudson ‘river ‘would ot evist today except for the that spark into the elec 5;;“: Power plants at Niagar; llldnlhw the memory of the liftle kite This, &lnnl man who believed in it. e, m' outstanding inventlon, is not ooty onme. During spare time he Hacred, other things. too. ally great {s the f. by Dls own ‘efforts and in the thes S 1 kinds of handicaps he became mich. He was envied by some. He was not believed in by all. He was not a perfect man. But he was a 8004 man, the soul of honor: he was Sierue patriot, and with his great riedom was able to advise those fpbout him. Even greater than this, B Was sought and his advice praved or. He gave it seriously, but with the same great spirit with which he &ave 50 generously of gold out of his own pockets. And the counsel he gave was worth as much as the treasure he-donated when the coun- lry he loved was in need. It was largely due to his efforts, influence and patriotism that the American statesmen as a_whole were able to combat successfully the £Teat agd important matters deciding the fate of-this government. anklin was a man of resource- fulness as well as wealth. He was the embodiment of Integrity and his assoclation with an enterprise was urance of its success. Imbued with a determination to work and save, he never gave up that idea and it was a8 predominant characteristic of his life. He did it. He wanted oth- ers to do it. He was a good spender. He was a good buyer. But he never wasted anything. By the light of the stars he studied the heavens.. And he was a student of wide research. When he was serving as Postmaster General of the United States, after he had also served the English government as co- lonlal Postmaster General, it was not unco: for. him to bring a lunch with ; “And at noon, when his as sistants .and clerks were at refresh- ment, was known to have spent mont%}f__m time reading and there- by improving his mind that he might srasp some bigger task, and he was Hiw s ready to undertake anything for the good of the great common- wealth. Probably one of the greatest com- mercial institutions of our period of the world's history is the banking business, which dates back to a very ancient custom. But, as viewed in & more modern sense, no man In the history of the United States of Amer- ica has contributed more to inTluence the people ‘generafly nave. e, the great Franklin, was the embodi- ment of thrift in every sense. n, who helped to save thi: gy 1t needed “men who their duties know, aintain. Kscwing flu"l‘"fiANK M. CARRON. Cites Neglect of D. C. In Pacific State To the Editor of The Bt There are a few things which Idis- covered since my removal from ‘Washington to Los Angeles. The first thing I was told at the traffic offics when I applied for a temporary llcense was that the District of Co- lumbia is not recognized in securing such a license. One must produce & Maryland license. Sweet, is it not? The Capital of the nation is not rec- ognized by a state in the Union. The second thing I found out w that out of every thousand persons one knew that the people of the Dis- trict of Columbia have no vote. No one can understand it, and as I .1; ways considered it one of the chie! Ericvances of my own I could mot explain why. No man with any sense, except perhaps a politiclan, can ex- plain it satisfactorily. The other thing I found out s that there is no District of Columbia so- glety in this oity. 'All the states have a society, but the dear old District of Columbia, {8 left out of everything. Why is it that peopls In the states little thought for - T the beautiful city In the and, to ask peo; from the District of Columbia to ask them to write, call or phone to me, address, 4812 10th avenue, Los An geles, : phone University 5035, with the object of forming & District of Columbia Society in this city and putting Washington on the map as far as this part of the world is con- ocerned. Every person having ever lived in the beautiful Capital of the nation will most certainly remember its people (the finest in the world, barring none), its fine customs and its hospitality. It is with great pleasure that I look forward to the meeting of the first District of Co- lumbia soclety In this part of the United States. MARTIN WOLF. Look to the Furnace Flues To the Editor of The Star: N Reading of so many fires in re dences due to defective flues makes one wonder why there is no standard quality or°government supervision of material used for connections be- tween furnaces and chimney: The galvanized Iron piping (used by bullders and furnace repairers) which can be seen for sale ny hardware store is not.fit for such work, where safety should be the first thought. The material 1s so filmsy that you can most ke your finger through .Jhcn fe B ‘and after it has been in use a few months it becomes a menace to any dwelling. It is sur- prising that fire insurance companies have not taken this matter up for own and othe e N B DawkINg, Poverty beset. him on ‘mgny |C. tworld. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN Q. What were the first ten cars manufactured in the United States?— A, W. M. A. Not until early in the twentieth century were there ten or more gaso- line automobiles on the market in the United States. These were the Duryea, Ford, Franklin, Haynes, Knox, Olds, Packard, Plerce-Arrow, Stearns, Thomas snd Winton. They are not given in order of their ap- pearance, as this is a matter of con- troversy. %V\'hfl. is meant by “H. P. B."?2— A M. R. A. The initials are those of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, to whom, a8 & revealer of ancient and eternal truth, ‘Theosophists turn. % How fast can & person think?— A. Popular Science says that the speed of nerve impulses is 404 feet & second. If an idea is complicated enough to take 100 nerve messages from one side of the brain to the other the thought could be completed in less than a tenth of a second. Q. What is the average life of ar- bor vitae and how large does it grow?—F. R. T. A. The forest service says that ar- bor. vitae has been known to reach a hefght of 200 feet, with a 15-foot base diameter. A tree of this size Is about 160 years old. However, the average duration of life of the arbor vitae s from 75 to 100 years. Q. Where 18 the largest swimming pool in the world?—P. A. M. A. San Francisco has & new pool which is sald to be the largest in the It is 1,000 feet long and 100 feet wide, except for a center portion which is 300 feet wide to provide for a racing course across the pool. The depth varies from 3 to 14 feet and the cost of the pool was §80,000. Q. What phrase “to chat u the firenla D. A. In the thirteenth century fire- places constituted a kind of closet. The side walls had seats arrange along them. Here people could sit comfortably and chat. s the meaning of the nger the mantel of Q. What percentage of persons re- %or;‘_ed “missing” are ever found?— A. One metropolitan newspaper which conducts a Missing FPersons Department reports that in 1,260 cases in which ald was requested in finding missing persons, 183 inquiries were successful and ‘that many persons were reunited with their relatives and friends. It issaid, however, that this does not represent the total of the missing who are found, as many of the responses are made direct to the inquirer and the cases do not be- come public. { Q. Are negro students barred from Harvdrd University?>—D. M. B. A. A ban upon negro students was Ernpbl!d at Harvard, but later the lln wag withdrawn from considera- tion. Q. Is election day always a legal holiday 7—W. T. A. General election day—the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, which will come on the 1th this year—is a legal holiday in very st and territory _except Alaska, District of Columbia, Hawall, Tilinols, Massachusetts, Mississipp! It once was the “enemy’s country,’ but its “money talked,” go editors see little reason why the democratic na- tional convention should not have {gone to New York city. And since the { committe reached its decision the plans for entertainment announced by the metropolls of the Empire state have been welcomed, and it is felt that “a good time wiil be had by all,” even though it may prove difficult to sather working majorities of dele- gates for the varlous sessions. In fact, many editors suggest pleasure may somewhat serlously interfere with business, while woman delegates may prefer shopping tours to dry | speeches. | “There ts nothing particularly sor- did In putting conventions on the auction block,” the Newark News pointe out. “The national committee owes $179,000 from the 1920 campaign. This is wiped off handily before it starts a new one. There is vastly more reason in all sense for suppos- ing that the man who will be nomi- nated in New York will be the same man who would have received the place had the convention been in Chi- cago than to believe that a mere ques- tion of the location of the convention city will profoundly change the pur- poses_of the party.” To which the New York Times adds, “If New York has won a recognition long withheld she has also had a fine opportunity afforded to her and a great responsi- bility placed upon her. That she will rise handsomely to them both there need be no shadow of doubt.” * % ok % As for the money, the Omaha World- Herald recalls that Tex Rickard call- ed it “ridiculous to bid only $150,000 for a national convention when a couple of prizefighters cost $500,000 or more,” and asks “Is government less important to this country than prize- fighting and worth less? The trouble with the democrats, az we see it, is that they need some one llke Tex Rickard for chalrman of their finance committee.” Incidentally the Salt Lake Tribune and the Baltimore Sun No Reason Why Should Not Go to New York Ohio. Philippines and Vermont. In Illinofs it is & legal holiday in Chi- oago and a number ‘of other cities. In Ohlo it i& & halt-holiday. In Maine it 1s a holiday only as to the courts, Jhich also closs on the state election Q. Who land?—A. A. On December 13 the Swi. - linment elected Krnest Chuard Presi- dent of the Swiss Confederation for 182¢. Chuard was vic H s vice president in Q. Is {t true that more plants dle from improper watering than from any other single cause?—R. ¥. A. A report issued by the Purdue University agricultural experimant station says that this is true. It rec- ommends the following: Water thor- oughly and then allow the =oil to dry out until it is only well molstenea (Just before it crumbles and cracks) before watering again. Water your plants when they need it, and do not £0 by the calendar. It may be twice a week or once a day, depending on the temperature and humidity of the air in the room. and the size and vigor of the plant. Each pot will require Its own paritcular amount of water. Never allow plants in jardinieres and bowls to stand in water for any length of time. In_ addition to the Tegular watering, plants will respond to frequent cleaning. Put them in tha buthtub, kitchen sink or cellar, dur- ing the winter, or out of doors, dur- ing the summer, and wash off the leaves. Large leaved plants, like rub ber plants and palms, may be rubbed with water and a sponge or soft Tag. This removes the dirt and grease Which clogs the breathing pores of the leaves. During the summer it is ent plan to put the plant ou uring the lght raine. BIanclonE Q. DId the TUnion soldfers or tha Confederates captare more prisoners? llll the President of Switzer- A. Thers were 211,411 Union sol dlers captured by the Confederate and 462.63¢ Confederate soldiers c: tured by the Union forces. Q. Is it a crime to draw a post office money order under an assumed name?—E. T. P. ) A. The Post Office Department say that there is no law prohibiting the use of an assumed name in making out money orders so long as it s not done for a fraudulent or unlaw- ful purpose. Trouble might be caused if the payee of a money order had assumed a name and could not prove identity when trying to cash the order. Q. When was electric power first transmitted long distances?—M. Y. R. About 18382 Marcel Deprez, a h engineer and pioneer elec- succeeded electr! tween five miles. This is considered first successful experiment In distance transmission. the € Q. How did the term “at sizes and sevens” originate?’—H. V. T. A. The original form of the expres- sion “sixes and sevens” was “to set on six and seven.” It is based on the language of dicing, and {s probably a corruption of “to set on cinque and sice,” these belng tho highest num- bers. The present form has been used since the eighteenth century. (If you. have G question you want answered, send it to The Star in- Frederie J. Has North Capita? ¢ cents in stamps fo Democrats be accepted as denoting a Wwise and tisfactory decleion.” ing issue with this viewpo! the Hartford Courant insists “it re mains to be seen what effect the choice of New York will have on the general public. The ‘west’ does love the ‘east’ and New York, wi its Wall street, the center abomination. Now that it appe: that New York money brought convention to the metropolis thera may be a feeling of indignation against the whole party.” To which the Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch replies that “putting all other matteérs as it is about time that the party convention is again held in the east The westera cities have been 80 often favored by both parties that they have no ground for complaint. Tha politically wise express the opinion that the location-of the two national conventions will have no favorable effect upon the fortunes of the two leading contestants.” * ok k¥ Inasmuch as the McAdoo forces controlled the committee the Roanoke Times holds “that they did not veto New York's selection may reasonably be construed as an indication that they feel comparatively safe, even thus far in advance of the date for the convention.” This opinion {s in- dorsed by the Brooklyn Eagle, which says “McAdoo will not be stronger or weaker than if the convention had been held in San Francisco. COURAGE “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” —HENLEY. MME. CURIE'S MANY TRIALS. Russia ruthlessly ruled Warsaw, Poland, when Mme. Curle was born there. She was nine months old ‘when her mother died, and her child- hood was darkened by sples and teachers who regarded Polish pupils as enemies. Finishing high school when fiftee: agree that “so far as finding & defeat for the McAdoo forces in the selection of New York, Mr. McAdoo wlll prob- ! ably have as fair & show In New York 28 anywhere else.” It was money that turned the tide, as the Minneapolis ‘Tribune sees it, and it ""prohably doesn’'t make as much difference on candidacies as some plople think where a conven- tion 18 held, and yet thero is & cer- tain psychological impact emerging fro the environment which goes to local political atmosphere, Tammany Hall, for instance, pretty sure to make its influence felt more effectively in Now York than it could Iin_any other clty” Yet the Norfolk (Nsb.) News feels “it was the fact that there were advan! es on both sides that led the national committee to accept the highes’ bid for the con- vention.” The New England view, as by the Nurlington e that “the victory recognized us a serl- blow to the chances of former Secretary McAdoo, son-i law of President Wilson, of securing the nomination.” Somewhat along th same line is the conclusion o New Orleans Picayune, al- though that newspaper is certain the “‘compelling" hat “the democratic treasury's deficit forced the financial argument into the for. ground, and in the battle between Practical and sentimental considera« tions the former triumpher * k¥ ‘While, “from standpoint of general accessibility, Chicago 1s undoubtedly much to be preferred,” the Lynchburg News feels “the democratic national committee was doubtless controlled by promptings of wisdom and sound Darty policy In disregarding that con- sideration. Take it all in all, there- fore, and considering the fact that New York’s financial offer practically relieves the committes from its large indebtedness brought over from the last cam; . the action of the com- ‘mittes- in- this -velation mey: Y, she broke down in health. Recover- ing) she desired to teach, but family finances forced her to leave home the ! ‘ when seventeen and beeome a gov- erness. Deciding to devote her lifs to mathematics and physics, she studied at night, and saved to go_to Parle. then had to walt three and one-half years to help her sister study thers. In Paris she studied day and night carrying coal to her tiny, cheerless room, six flights up, and cooking meals over an alcokol lamp. With marriage at twenty-eight came household duties, in addition ta sclentific work. Two years later 1ha care of her baby girl and of ler husband's father were added Far from relatives back home, and weigh: ed with duties, there was no oppors tugity even for friendship. reparing for her doctor's thesiw months of close study of uranium brou, and Then four years of heart-breaking eftort with crudest of instruments in @ | 5 shed that was sickly hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter, and ton of raw materfal vielded. in 1893, & decigram of pure chioride or radium. Her husband dled and she succeeded him a8 instructor of physics at the Sorbonne, the first woman to occupy such a pofition. With scanty means, the effort of supporting and educat- ing_her two dau, serious {liness. A trip to Stockholm to bo awarded the Nobel prize forced r to bed for months. Ordered by government during the war to take her priceless radium to Bordeaux, she made the trip alone. Her achlevements have benefited the world. has been honored by it.. Her visit to America was an ovation, and more than 100,000 women united ‘in _presenting to her, in the lrl.ursn of humanity, a gram of ra- dfu der five. (Copyright, 1023.} ght the discovery of “polonium’ * s jum.” ’ 3 —_— \ Next—Clemencean had to quit an- 3 ’ ’ )