Evening Star Newspaper, June 11, 1924, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY . ....June 11, 1924 THEODORE W. NOYES. . . .Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Busipeas Office. 11th St. and Penosylvanis Ave. N York Oftice: 1.0 East & St 3 ’l‘a\nr Building. St., London, England. The Brening St (b the Susday morning edition. ix delivered by carriers within tbe city ai 60 cents per month: daily onls, 45 cents per month: Sunday only, 20 cents per month.” Orders may be sant b tele- Pphooe Main 5000. Collection is made by car- Tiurs at the eod of e Rate by Maill—Payable in Advance, Maryiand and Virginia. Daily and Sunday..1yr., $8.40; 1 mo. Daily oniy $6.00; 1 mo. Sunday only .3240i1m All Other States. Daily and Sunday Daiiy only Sunday only. Member of the Associaied Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled fo the une for republication of all news dis- ‘watches credited 1o it or pot otherwise credite im this paper and also the local mews pub- | 1'shed herein ATl rizhts of publiestion of pecial dispatches berein are also reserved. ——e e a1 The Keynote. Most significant of the reaction of the country against the faults and failures of Congress during the past few months was the reception accord- ed yesterday by the assemblage at the Republicun convention at Cleveland to those words of the temporary presid- ing officer, Representative Burton, in which be inferentially scored the na- tional legislature for its conduct. If the speech first on the program of such a mecting is in truth a “key- * the applause that greeted his words on this subject vesterday marks his rebuke essive of the chief factor. in the campaign that is to be conducted for the election of Mr. Cool- dge. Coupled closely with these re- Tharks came a reference to the Presi- dent, whose nomination is assured, and for whom, in fact, Mr. Burton’s Speech served veritably as a formal proposal. He said: With some disappointment as one %hoss public service has been in a legis- lative position, truth compels me to say that by far the greater share of our vitizenship looks to President Coolidze rather than to Congress for leadership. The people—and all the people—have confidence in Calvin Coolidge. t preceding was this remark: Much of the blame which is visited upon Republicans in the present Con- ress is not deserved, because on many major questior ir party has not com- manded a majorits in_either branch. let us not for a moment forget the im- portance of a Repubiican majority in the next Congress, made up of members tried and true, who will stand united. Thus is the issue set: Coolidge for his “h¥nesty of purpose, courage, high devotion to the welfare of the coun- try,” and a Congress of his party, de- pepdable to carry out the policies of the party as enunciated by the con- vention and specificall t forth to that Congress by him as Executive under his constitutional prerogative and duty. Mr. Burten's specch was largely a recital of the accomplishments of the Republican party. It was also a plea for party unity. He declared third- party movements 1o be demoralizing | and destructive. e contended for the concentration of responsibility. His argument on this point i strength- ened by the record just written by a +ongress that has been so divided in allegiance that neither of the two major parties could command a | clear majority. | The practical significance of Mr. Purton’s speech, and especially in view of the immediate and impressive re- sponse elicited by it in its reference to Congress, is that the President’s cam- paign for election demands the nom- ination in ail the swates and districts “at candidates for Congress, both House and Senate, who will foliow his leader- ship if he is elected. Much has been written in the dis- patches from Cleveland of the disap- pearance of the *old guard” from con- spicuous view and from actual power at the quadrennial party meeting. A Jpew order has been established, it has “been repeatediy asserted. Familiar faces are missing from the scene, or dre in the backzround. and familiar woices are silent In the sessions of "fpmmittees and councils and conven- n. Representative Burton himself 15 one of the elder members of the Re- publican party, often honored by it. He is a member of the legislative body _that has drawn the fire of public criti- cism for its failure to support the Executive. His rebuke is dn expres- sion of the new spirit thet is manifest ,in the organization that is now pre- wparing once more to ask the country “for indorsement and acccptance as the Party of national administration. As a “keynote” yesterday’s speech waa calculated to appeal rather to the party than to the country. But it is plain that unless the Republican party can be unified under a confidence- commanding leadership it cannot ex- pect to win the suffrages of the voters in November. — e Having no need for it in his own im- mediato plans, Senator La Follette is porfectly willing to have as much of the convention spotlight as possible tmrned on Mr. Daugherty and Mr. Fall. Street Car Traffic. ?‘ A drop in street car travel for May, 1924, compared with May, 1923, is re- @orted by both electric traction sys- tems. There was a falling off of 440,- “342 pussengers on the Washington Railway and Eleotric and 543,447 on he Capital Traction. The decrease is 7#ot large when measured against the @otal of more than 13,000,000 pas- _sengers for the month, but it is sig- “pificant, nevertheless, There has been & large increase in the number of automobiles owned in Washington and the Maryland sud- rbs over t0 number owned last year, ;and one new machine carrying four ngers downtown in the morn- z and four home in the afternopn days and no doubt they caused a decrease in the number of shoppers who use the cars in the daytime and the number of people making social visits end going to amusements at night, One might also consider that per- haps not so many persons are em- ployed “‘downtown’ as last spring. No statistics are available, and probably would not be worth much if they were, but we know that in war time and during the period following the armj- stice and ce nearly everybody who wanted a'job had one and each new jobholder at & rough and easy esti- mate meant to the traction companies two fares a day. Jobs are still nu- merous, but they are not calling to all the members of cvery family as loud as they called three or four years ago. It is possible that there has been some slacking up in the de- mand for employes since May, 1923. Toward the close of that month some strangers ‘were coming to Washing- ton to be in time for the Shrine con- vention and carnival, and there was a great deal of going to and fro by our own population in making ready for the affair. It is likely. that many fares were dropped in the street car boxes by people making ready for Shrine week or coming downtown to sec how the preparations were pro- ceeding. Street car traffic has its “bulges” and *depressions” as has steam rail- road traffic. The Bopulation of Wash- ington will grow and automobile travel during rush hours has become so difficult that many men who own private cars are using street cars to get to and from office and the shop. ———— Substantive Law Should Govern. Tn its legal aspects the matter of the prospective deficiency in the appro- priation to pay the salaries of the teachers, firemen and policemen of the District is really quite simple. Congress has appropriated for the maintenance of the, District during the ensuing fiscal year, naming cer- tain sums for the three departments, with others. Subsequent to the pas- sage of that bill substantive legisla- tion was enacted, in two bills, estab- lishing new rates of pay for the teach- ers, firemen and policemen. Those new rates are established by law. The fact that the specific appropriation to pay school, fire and police department salaries for the fiscal year is not suf- ficient to meet requisitions for the en- tire year at the new rates does not lessen the force of the fact that Con- gress has established those new rates. The law states the rates in the new terms. The appropriation law provides for them in the old terms. But the ap- propriation law is not written in terms of monthly payments. It authorizes &/ vear's payment. Which will govern, the appropriation law or the two| salary laws? In these circumstances it is piain that no strain is required for a ruling that the substantive law governs. That is a specific mandate. It grants specific rights of compensation. It sets the scale. If enough money has not been voted in the appropriation act to meet that scale for twelve months obviously a deficiency will be created if the salaries are paid at the new rates. That has happened before. Deficiencies are constantly occcurring. Indeed, Congress recognized that a de- ficiency would be created in the appro- priation by reason of the change in the pay scales of these three depart- ments, and it moved to provide against it by passing a deficiency bill granting funds sufficient to meet the drafts. Only by the chance of controversy over another item in that bill, not re- lated to the District in any way. was the measure defeated. Another hour or two, perhaps. and it would have Dbecome law. The President has asked the director of the budget to search for funds wherewith to insure the payment of these people at the new scale. and so prevent the injustice and hardship of their failure to reccive even as much money as formerly. Tt is not neces- sary to search far. The money is pro- vided in the appropriation act, and should be used as far as it will go, to be supplemented by a deficiency ap- propriation when Congress reassem- bles. That is the simple and direct and, in fact, the entirely legal way to meet this emergency. Let it be hoped that 1t will be so crdered. ——————— The consideration asserts itself that the vice presidency is after all a very large office, and one requiring a man of big qualities, even though he may not be called upon to keep them con- tinuously on display. —_—————— Friends of Mr. Lodge will not be surprised if his absence from author- ity causes a few of the convention documents to prove inferior in the matter of literary finish. —————e—————— It was previously remarked that the Cleveland convention was all over ex- cept the shouting; some of which the ‘Wisconsin delegation decided to do. France's Presidential Crisis. By coincidence of no significance France passes into a presidential crisis just at the time that in this country the party of the administration is in session to name candidates for the highest federal offices. In Franee the procedure of election is much briefer than here. Yesterday Alexander Mil- lerand, in a communication which could not possibly have been more terse and explicit, tendered hisresigna- tion. Day after tomorrow his succes- sor will be elected and installed in office. The whole process will cover only four, days: The American presi- dential campaign will last ive months. Millerand resigns because of an ad- verse vote in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. He does not go will- ingly, but in view of that vote he can- not remain in office. A majority of the Parliament demands his removal from office. He could, constitutionally, re- mein to fill out his term of seven amay reduce the number of strest car i';‘a‘-mngers by eight, and to multiply fisz by the nurmber of working days the month makes its hole in the | street car traffic returns. The number | of mew machines and the growth of e habit of going downtown in a 2 iend’s car ought to account for some prednotion in strect car traffic. It ! ought to be noted also that May had “an extraprdtnary pumder ¢ Tainy years. But short of a mew ‘election and the return of & favorable majority he could not secure the organiztion of & ministry. Chaos would result. His resignation is & move for the es tablishment ef orderly government in Frange. Under the constitution of 1875 the president $s irrexponsible, save for an act of high treasén. Hs is given the prerogative of InitAting laws concmr- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1924 rently with the members of the two cbambers. He promulgates the laws, may dissolve the Chamber of Deputies before its legal term on the advice of the Senate, may adjourn the sittings of both houses for & month, has the right of pardon and the disposal of the armed forces, receives foreign repre- sentatives and, under certain limita- tions, may ratify treaties. But he may not take part as e partisan in the politicai affairs of the country. It is charged by the Socialists, who command & majority in Parliament, that Millerand has co-operated with Poincare in the political administra- tion. This is not an impeachable of- fense, but the French chambers by a more direct method than that of im- peachmenz have ousted the executive, by voting & repudiation. The presi- dent does not question the procedure. He resigns forthwith. The election process is simple. The two chambers meet in joint session and vote. Candidates are nominated by caucus. In the present juncture Paul Painleve is the nominee of cer- tain groups of Sécialists end, at the immediate situation, eppears to be the destined candidate of the majority. If he is elected, and perhaps in any event, Herriot, leader of the Sociallsts, will assume the premiership, which he has heretofore declined under the Mil- lerand presidency. France will' pass under & Socialist government. And all within & week. Radio for the Shut-Ins. Radio enthusiasts. knowing the de- gree of pleasure that is derived from their “sets” at home, should be eager to aid in the provision of equipment for the unfortunates who are shut in- doors and have no means to secure ap- paratus for themselves. There is in progress a contribution of funds and materials for extending this comfort to these people. The Star is daily re. ceiving cash and orders for sets and parts of equipment for distribution. The people of Washington are re- sponding generously to the appeal. But more funds are required if the work is to be carried on tc full suc- cess. A few weeks ago funds were provid- |ed for the equipment of the soldiers’ hospitals with radio sets. Washington did its part splendidly then. Now for the civilian invalids, the elders who cannot leave their houses, who sit alone and wait for rclease from their sufferings, io whom little pieasure ever comes. With just & small sum of money, compared with the joy that will be given in consequence, they can be put in touch with the world, can be treated to the music that flows daily through the air, can hear im- portant addresses. Let The Star shutin radio tund grow rapidly! There is no more worthy charity than this, which has for its object the brightening of the dull lives of the helpless, —_———— Observation should enable Gaston Means to produce & pretty interesting detective book: unless he allows some- body to steal his notes. ———— Tlincis has decided to assert herself as one of the states that have a great deal to say in matters of national poli- tics. —————— Cleveland is being painted to with pride as a town that can be commend- ed to public attention as uncompromis- ingly dry for one week at least. —_——— Chicago statesmanship has decided to get the big town eway from this peychopathic chatter for awhile and malke it talk straight politics. The word “progressive” has been made to cover a multitude of widely divergent political impulses. SHOOTING STARS. RY PHILANDER JOHNSON. From Washington to Cleveland. The old town seems deserted That was tuneful and so gay, When the intellectuals flirted ‘With opinions day by day. The speech once so persistent That our leaders loved to make Comes in echoes, faint and distant, From the City by the Lake. No more the veto rumbles Down the stately Avenue. No resolution tumbles, Of a sudden, out of view. Headquarters of the nation A new arrangemeant make, And we get our information From the City by the Lake. Hazy Impression. “Are you @ member of the old guard?” “How do I know?' answered Sena- tor Sorghum. “As far as I have been able to observe ‘old guard’ isn’t an or- ganization. It's only an epithet.” Rights. “Where are you going, maid?’ “J'm going a-heckling, sir,” she mid. “But xou've plenty of rights, you must agree.” “To heckle she. my pretty is one of them, sir,” said Jud Tunkins says some men retire from politics and others fall out of a berth. Simple Enough. { The delegate was light and ga: . Said he, “T know my book. All that I have to do today Is get my picture took.™ Swift Penalty. “Did that crowd punish the boot- legger they caught at Snake Ridge?” “They sure did,” answered Cactus Joe. “They took bis last drop of licker away from him.” 2 Contented Patriot. Hib eye is bright. His step is gay. He hurries to the Scene of fray. “You are & candidate,” I said. He smiled at me and shook hir head; Hxclatming, “Honors insecure Are not for me. My luck is sure. I've solved a problem very hard And landed an admission ocard. “I likes contentment,” smid Uncle Eben, “but ds man who says every- thimg in dis world is pumMdkly all right is stmply too lazy to take motice” Answers to Questions BY FREDFRIC J. HASKIN Q. What member of the body is in- jured most often In Industrial pur- suits?—W. M. T. A. Injuries to the eyes oclur most frequently. Praetically all industries have some form of eye hazard, and more money is paid in compensation for eye Injuries than for any other non-fatal accidents. Q. What is the name of the theater In Paris tbat is run by children?— F. T. B. A. The Theater du Petit Monds is run by children for ghildren. The troupe of players numbers nearly 100. Q. How.many ,girls disappear each year?>—1T. 8. A. A, About 900 girls and women were reported missing at the end of a yohr's seagch. Almost 11,000 disap- peared and were reported to the po- lice of thirty-three cities, but over 10,000 of them eventually were found. Q. How far does a bee travel in gathering honey?—F. H. D. A. It has been estimated that a bee travels 43,776 miles to gather one pound of honey, consisting of 29,184 drops. Q. Is' Mary Garden an American citizen 7 A. Sho applied for her first citizen- ship papers on April 8. - She was born February 20, 1877, in Aberdeen, Scotland, and came to this country at the age of six years. Q. Does the weather bureau take observations at the Kilauea Volcano? —V. W. D. - A. A permanent staff of three is stationed at this volcano in the Island of Hawail. Q. What wds Marie Corell's real name?—D. H. A. A. The novelist's birth certificate was published recently, which shows that she was Caroline Cody, daughter of Thomas Cody, a laborer. Q. Who originated the expression “Fifty-four forty or fight"?—l. G. A. This ‘Mlogan, which was con- nected with the controversy over the Oregon boundary, is attributed to William_Allen, who coined the term on the floor of the Senate In 1844. Q. How long has Sousa been at the head of the band which begrs bhis name?—A. R. A. The “March King” has headed this band since 1892 He became a band leader at the age of seventeen. He spent twelve years as the leader of the United States Marine Band. Q. What_is the bigh8st pojnt in Europe?—G. S. A. The highest point is Mount Efbruz in_the Caucasus Mountains, which is 18,465 feet above sea level. Q. Who was ‘Tncle Bennie” to whom I see rcference concerning the gducation of Kentucky mountaineers? A. The reference is to Benedict W. Law. who recently died at Caney Creek, Ky. He was the friend of mountaineer children, for whose edu- cation he contributed liberally. Q. Are infertile eggs better than fertile eggs for marketing?—H. E. A. The Department of Agriculture says that the partial incubation of fertile market eggs costs farmers about $15.000,000 a year. Summer heat has the same effect on fertile eggs as the hen or Incubator. In- fertile eggs are urged for marketing. Q. Please give meaning of word “Massasoit” and brief outline of his tribe—P. M. B. A. “Massasoit” means “Great ChiefN 1t s the name of & celebrated chief of the Wanpanoag or Pokanokat Ins dians, whosa territory _embraced nearly 1 the southern part of the present state of Massachusetts. The iribe was gaid to have been large at one time, “but Wwas almost extermi- nated by disease, 5o that on the com- ing of the whites it numbered only about 300. Q. How is chewing tobaccd flaver- ed?—E. F. G. A. Tobacco is flavored by dipping the leaves into a receptacle contain- ing the sauce used for flavoring. This liquid is the result of experiments by the manufacturers, some using one formula and some another. Licorice Paste, cane sugar, maple sugar and molasses are among the ingredients most commonly used. Q. Where was the first social set- tlement>—M. E. R. A. The first social settlement in the world was Tovnbee Hall, which was founded in 1884 by Canon Samuel A. Barnett in Whitechapel, East Lon- don. Q. How did the material tweed get its name?—M. B. A. This soft, flexible wool material derived its name from the locality where it was first manufactured—in the villages along the Tweed River in southern Scotland. Q. What does “Dail Eireann” mean, and how is it pronounced—C. XK. H. A. “Eireann” means “Irisb.” and “Dail” means “convention” or “meet- ing.” “Dail” is pronounced nearly as the English word “doll” is, and “Ei- reann” practically like “Erin.” called Q. What was known as “No Man's Land” in the United States?—A. G. A. In United States history the term was used of a territory one hundred and seventy miles long and thirty-five miles wide in the north of Texas, ceded to the United States in 1850 and made part of Oklahoma in 1890. Between these year: how- over, it had no form of government and 'was the resort of outlaws. “No Man's Land” is also a narrow strip between Delaware and Pennsylvania. By some it is held to belong to the latter state. Some individuals living there prefer to perform their legal obligations to Delawarc. Some do no!t recognize citizenship in either state. Q. Can a candy thermometer be used to test jelly?—Q. E. D. A. A candy thermometer may be used, and if an equal amount of juice and sugar is combined the jelly will be done when the thermometer reads 219 to 221 degrees Fahrenheit (104 o 105 degrees centigrade). Q. What do the names Adam and Eve mean?—L . D. A. Adam is a Hebrew word mean- ing “mankind.” Eve is from the He. brew “Hawwab,” moaning “iite” rhe name was given Eve, as ahe “w Imother ot &1 living = Q. How effective have been the ef- forts of the forest service in conserv- ing our big game?—N. M. A. _The recent census completed by the United States forest vice of the big-game &nimals in thd national forest land, which comprises more than 150,000,000 acres, shows that the total number of deer is estimated at slightly more than 44 olk more than 48,000; moose, 4,30 antelope, 3.000;. mountain sheep, 12, 000, and mountain goats, §,634. The deer are pretty well scattered through all the forests. California leads with 40,000 head. Most of the moose are found jn Minnesota and Colorado. The largest._number Of mountain sheep are in Wyoming. The prong-horned antelope is'not holding its own in spite of the protection it gets in'the national forests. Small herds are found, however, in maay of the areas covered by the census. A eader can_get the answer to oy aucation ¥ writing The Star. In IN TODAY’S “SPOTLIGHT BY PAUL V. COLLINS According to the best informed lawyers of Congress, it is concelvable that a President and a Vice President may not be elected next November. The Constitution, with its great pre- science, provides that in case no can- didate recelves a majority of votes in the electoral college, a President may be elected by the House of Rep- resentatives out of the three candi- dates having the most votes in the college, and & Vice President may be elected by the Senate from the two vice presidential candidates having the most voted in the electoral col- lege. The electoral college, whose elec- tors will be chosen at the polls in November, will cast its ballot for President and Vice President January 12. Each state delegation of electors Wwill meet in the repspective state and there vote. The college never gets to- gether for general deliberation. The Votes are then sealed and forwarded from all states to Congress, and there, in a joint session. of the Senate and House, the votes are opencd and counted, February 11. If, at. this :ounting, it is found that the electo- ral college has failed to give a ma- jority of votes to any candidate, the two branches of Congress then sepu- rate and proceed to vote—the House for President and the Senate for Vice President. *x % % The voting in the Hogge is confined to the three candidates for President having received the highest votes in the electoral college. The House members do not vote individually for a candidate, but each state delega- tion meets and votes by state, for the choice of that state, and the state unit is cast. A candidate might have a majorfty of all the members of the House and yet not be elected if he failed to get the majority of the states as units. A Dbig state carries no more votes in this case than a little state. There is in the prezent House a Iine-up of states as follows: Repub- lican, 33; Democratic, 20; evenly di- vided between Republicans and Dem- ocrats, 5. Neither the Republicans nor Democrats, therefore, could regis- ter a majorily of states; a mere plurality is not sufficlent, but an actual majority—twenty-five states— is required. Hence the possibility of a House deadlock, with the balance of power in the hands of a minority. possibly a third party. Because a deadiock has not happened since the Constitution came into existence is no guaranty that it may not occur when the House is not dominated by a real majority of eithét party. *x x * In the Senate the vote for Vice President Is per capita of the Sena- tors, and not by states, and since the Senate must choose between only two vice presidentisl candidates hav- ing the highest number of votes in the electoral college, there is less likelihood of & long-standing tie. The present Senate has fifty-one Republicans, forty-three Democrats and two Farmer-Laber members. But those figures do not indicate the full measure of the uncertainty of the vote in such a case, for the pariy line-up is weak in several instances of party independsnce of so-called “progressive Republicans.” It will require forty-nine senators to con- stitute A majority. A change of three Republican votes would take y the present “majority” held by the fifty-one Republicans as listed, and again the balance of power may be found in the hands of a third party. * % % % The Constitution provides that it the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth of March next following, then the Vice Presi- dent shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other con- stitutional disability of the Presi- dent.” But what Vice President? The one in office whose ferm would ex- pire on March 4, following the abor- tive November election, or the one clected by the electoral college chosen in November and to be sworn in on -the following March 47 Or the one chosen by the Senate in case none is elected by the electoral col- lege following the November pop- ulalr elafilnlon'i’ T|he ‘Conllllullon s not specific in simply saying “th Vice President.” CEREE Today we have no Vice President. his term of office to which he wi elected in 1920 would expire next March 4, and it is ot clear that the Constitution means to extend his term of office bevond the term for which he was elected, in order that he might serve as President to fill a vacan As the Constitution makes no provision that a President shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified, it would r quire, according to most authorities, a strained construction that would extend the term of @ Vice President until a new President were elected and sworn in._Besides, the provision says the Vice President shall act as Presi- dent if the House has failed to elect a President by March 4—indicating that March 4 ends the power of the House to select a President at all, so that after that date the Vice Pres- ident shall act until the end of the ensuing four-year term. In the case of the failure of the Senate to select a Vice President be- fore March 4 there appears a posei- bility of a complete vacancy of the executive branch of our tri-part gov- ernmént - * The Constitution authorizes Con- gress by law to provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or dis- ability of both the President and Vice Prestdent, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such offi- cer shall act accordingly until the disability be removed or a President elected.” (Article TI, section 1.) Congress has provided that in case both a President and Vice President die or become unable to fulfill the duties of the Chief Executive, the successfon shall pass to the Seeretary of State, War, Navy or Interior, in the order named. But all these ofii- clals go out of office at the end of the present presidential term, since they are appointed only for the term of the existing President. The law referred to provides a succession only within the limits of the current pres- identfal térm. After the end of a presidential term there is no cabinet, if there is mo President. The House by law then could des- ignate the Chief Justice or some oth- er “offictal” to serve as President, but could a member of the Supreme Court serve as temporary President without _disqualifying himself from sitting in any case arising thereafter in connection with his presidential acts? And would a member of the Supreme Court consent to enter Po- litical entanglements, even for &n emergency? Would party lines merge to select as temporary President one who had formerly been a prominent party leader, though now on the bench? When an_election comes to Con- gress from the electoral college it is the old Congress which passes upon it—the “lame ducks" instead of the newly elected members. The Senate has passed the Norris amendment to the Constitution, which would pro- vide “that newly elected members would take up their duties in_ the January following election—not _thir- teen months after slection. But this cannot apply this year, because it is not yet passed by the House nor rat- ified by the states. ; (Copsright. 1924, * y Paul V. Collim Praise of Coolidge’s Courage Comes From Friends and Foes Because he “showed the courage of his convictions” and has made the question of tax reform the chief issue of the national campaign, President Coolidgs is pralsed by friend and political opponent alike. At least, he h@s “stood squarely by his guns,” both sides agree, and in pointing out why he was dissatisfied with the “tax step-child,” which the Republican majority in Congress adopted after it had been laid on its doorstep by the Democratic-insurgent combination, he | has olarified the general political atmosphere, in the opinion of the ma- | jority of editors. | “Very wise” is the verdict of the Indianapolis News (independent) in commenting on the Coolidge action, “because he recognized that politi is mostly a choice of second bests. It was his only choice, as the Man- chester Union _(independent Republi- can) sees it, “and the country will wish Mr. Coolidge success in his en- deavor to securs correction of the admitted defects at the December ses- sion.” The temporary relief secured also mgkes the signing of the bill “worth while,” in the view of the Boston Transcript (independent Re- publican), while “the President stands firmly on his own view in the mat- ter, accepting, perforce, the present judgment of Congress, but looking to the people to sustaln his policy, which 1s far-seeing and businesslike. By contrast, the “President stand: out” the Buffalo News (Republican) suggests, inasmuch as “the Dill was framed by men of narrow vision and unsound judgment—men who sought to make political capital out of it” * k ok % The President must depend on the peopls to back him up, as the Pitts- burgh Gazette-Times (Republican) outlook, “and in the ap- proaching campaign they should speak in Do uncertain tone.” Indors- ing this suggestion, the Providence Journal (independent) calls for the election of g Congfless which will Fe- duce a priations, inasmuch as “the fact that the federal govern- ment has been compelled to resort to 50 many new kinds of taxation within the last decade is causing business great anxiety and is acting as a re- tarding force on new enterprises which are essential if the nation's industrial expansion is not to suffor a_distinct check.” This suggestion also meets the approval of the New York Times (independent Democratic), which argues, however, that because this is presidential election year, “much as it is to be desired that the electors should express themselves emphatically as between the Presi- dent and Congress, there is small likelihood that they can do it this year.” But the President's “ will start the people thinking,” Worcester ~ Telegram (Republican) adds, “and when the people think they act, and when they act they have the power to restore Congress to sanity and usefuinass” = “Congress,” somewhat sug- ests the Dulath Herald (Indepen- ent), “would delude a long-suffer. | ing people with windy words and hollow promises, while the President deals with actual conditions—with facts, not with shibbolethn” Agre ing that the President’s position is sound, the Cleveland Plain Dealer (independent Democratic) is o belleve that. after all, the new law “a step in the right direction, and thereis good cause for believing that with a little more expérience Con- gress will adopt a sound and nent tax plan. The !r;rm:flc‘fim“§ : ublican (indépendent) likewise sees ittle hope for securing a “olear e: pression from the people this au- tumn,” becauss “not only the consti- tutional separation of the exccutive and legislative branches, but the fact that the President and the majority of Congress bear the same party designation and will seek re-election on the same ballots, complicates the possibility of obtaining a mandate from the people.” * % £ % Warm praise is uttered by the St Louis Post-Dispatch (independent) for the President's announcement that he will try to reach an agree- ment with the states on tax-exemp- tion policies, because “the crossing of state and federal taxes has be- come a serious’burden since the fed- eral government has been given the power to tax income, capital and in- heritance” Even though the Mil- waukee Journal (independent) feels the President's “prestige suffercd” be- cause Congress rejected the Mellon plan, it holds that “he went farther than most Presidents in outlining a tax bill,” and the Journal also points out that “the Democrats played poll tics™ with the bill, as “was inevitable rEuing from the Democratic viewpoint, the Atlanta Journal (Dem- ooratic) " declares “defects the bill doubtless has, but they are, at worst, mere freckles as compared with the grave injustices of the Mellon plan.” very much the opinion of the Richmond News-Leader _(independent Democratic), which feels “never was a President called upon to eign a meas- ure that represented less the views of himself and of his party” The new law impresses the Lynchburg News (Democratic) as “an experi- ment whose results will be watched :;f;h eager and widespread atten- The President would have gained nothing by & velo, In the opinjon of the Newark News (independent), and the President “takes what he can get and prepares on the instant to drive for a law that shall be fairer in its application of the taxing burden, and By stimulation to a broader inves ment of capital and the lightening of the price that bas to be paid for ob- taining it will work: for a reduction in_living costs by which all of us will benefit.”” ~Agreding that if he is returned to the White House “Presi- dent Coojidge will be in a position to demand a further revision In taxa- tion,” the Brookiyn Eagle (Independ- ent Democratic) suggests’ ‘“‘whether he will get it or not must depend on the alignment of parties and factions. in the House and the Senatc. A Con- gress divided. as the present Congress is divided, will not help the taxpay- ors to a saner measure of relief.” It should also be remembered, the Co- lumbus Dispafch (independent) hold “that the new tax law, while a po- litical rather than a_salentific piece of work, undoudbtedly will do more £00d than harm and has more justice than Injustice in it.” In a Few Words. A university should be primarily a piace of learning and education whers 'hnte‘irr“m:wlklnoflnl Dy seour fl: neutraliz 'y _OPDOSINg Propagan —BERTRAND gUSSELL' ‘When a German displays will he does something stupid and violent, and when he displays intelligence he does nothing at all. ‘H. G. WELLS. e My husband longs to return to t! Fatherland, but he thinks there is n chance to do so. T think likewise. —P%r‘?'(’:sss HERMINE (ex-Kais( e). On what is wadted {n New York in one day at the table our little vil- lébflg OJE;:M"G . vr.h Inl .103 , ool sustaine Tear. ~—~ANTON LANG. Politics at Large’ BY N. 0. MESSENGER Once in four years the Republican managers and war horses through- out the country get together in what- ever city is chosen for the national convention and there ensues a politi- cal “old home week” on an enthu- slastio scale. In every state there is a quota of “regular boarders” in the Republican ‘management, men who seem to hold on to their leadership perennially, with an infusion of new blood, just enough to keep down in- surgency in the young and ambitious climbers. The top-liners among these managers make it a point to attend national conventlons wWith the new crop in tow and weil in hand, glad to be in the seats with the mighty. ‘Why, some of these old graybeards among the delegations I have seen in conventions since these twenty years. How they manage to keep their lead- ership omly they can testify. It is very seldom that one of them is bucked out of his seat by some spir- ited political broncho. Rew die and almost none resign. % % % One notable instance of retirement is-witnessed in the case of Fred W. Upham, treasurer and “hat passer” of the Republican wational committee, who will be gseen no more perambu- lating the orchards of ‘“producers™ and shaking down the plums luscious with campaign contributions, In Fred Upbam's case, however, it was not a question of his eeeking plice, but of the office secking the man. They picked for a good secre- tary who would bring home the ba- con early in the game, and thereafter would not let him go. ot on your life,” they sald when he complained. “We know a good thing when we see it:} here you be and here sou stay,”| until finally the task became too heavy for weakened shoulders, and they had finally to let him surrender the job. v * % % % The national committee con- sidered by Republicans, and Demo- crats, too, for that matter, as the goal of political ambition, whence membership in it carries vast au- thority in home political affair: The Republican national committeeman in a state where the two United States sen- ators are Democrats wields vast power, egpecially in the southern states, where the Republican committeeman is arbiter of patronage when the Re- publicans a®™ in national control. This gives him ,a big leverage with the folks at home. The delegations to the convention reorganize the national committee each four years, by elect- ing from their ranks the man to_be national committeeman for that| state, so, as he is under obligations to them, they feel that they have an important share in the management of party affairs. * % ¥ ¥ The quadrennial natignal conven- tions also comstitute an “old-home week” for the newspaper writers, usually the political experts of their respective papers, winning their seniority by long experience, with a staff of younger men in training to succeed them and ‘“carry on for their pager.” The first thought in such staffs is “to serve the paper, cover the . news’ Self is disregarded. “Covering”” a national convention is a ease of keepmg everlastingly at it The correspondent must keep in touch with leaders from every sec- tion, as well as virtually sleeping the bosom of his own delegation. He must_collaborate and apply the in- formation he receives from the big men in other delegations. There is good spirit among the newspaper men. If one man is not in ciose touch with a leader or national com- mitteeman from a distant state, he digs up & colleague from that state, and through him establishes friendly relations with the man he wants to meet. The work of covering & na- tional convention has 50 many angles and covers such a wide geographical field that it is onlv by auch creapera- tion they could ever got &nywhere with results. During the convention sleep and regular diet are negligible considerations. The crowds one has to virtually battle with siow down the obtaining of results. In addi- tion to the ordinary jam of the dele- gates and alternates, with the in- numerable followers of politicians who are hangers-on of the party, the townspeople, attracted by nov and curiosity, “gum up the cards. * X % X What the newspaper men dread most in conventions whers the issue as to the candidates to be selected is close and in.doubt is the 2 a.m. secret meectings, where a handful of leaders get together and decide whigh way to swing their respective forces 50 as to make a showing of strength of the candidate they have agreed upon. ‘They also fear that some rival, through his friendship with a man’on the resolutions committee, will be slipped a surreptitious copy of the platform. It has been done. When on® gets an advance 2opy of the platform “friendship ceases” and “his spear knows no brother,” as Col. national | Roosevelt would say. They all fear that in the present circumstances of the uncertainty ever the vice presidential momination somebody is :olng to be let in on the expected midnight” gr 8 “am meeting and something will be “put over” by some “lucky guy." *x k% % In the interim of talks over the vice presidential nomination Repub- lican politicians assembled here take keen Interest in the Democratic presidential nomination situation. Wherever men from different states assemble, usually old friends who bave “fit. bled and died in many a campaign with the common enemy, the first question asked is, “Who will the Democrats out your way favor nominating for President?” and “Who is going to get it in the end?” The replies cover the range we have all been writing about for weeks—ihe advantages of this candidate and the handicap of each thus far suggested. It's mostly about the handicaps of the candidaies, however. * ¥ ¥ % The meeting of the national con- ventions, with the assembling of the best political minds of the several gtates in the presence of the local leaders, ‘always brings into general circalation valuable information as to the “stats of the Union with the Republicans.” It is so upon this oc- casion. There is a vivid curiosity among the leaders to hear first-hand roports from the pradlical politicians as to how things are%going on in their state and community—how does labor feel toward the Republican party, how are the farmers talking, what about the veterans of the world war. Naturally, the reports vary, largely no doubt upon the general tempera- ment of the man questioned. The pessimistioally inclined think “there is mo hope.” ' The unduly optimistic see only pink cloude and splendid ictory. Replies of the cautious are that the fight is yet ahead, and that ultimate vietory will have to be fought for and not taken for granted. They éx- plain that Senator La Follette has io_t to, be dealt.with, and present & s looniing as a serious proposi- POLAR FLYERS DEFY -SUPERSTITION’S JINX International Crew to Start Dash to North Pole on Fri- day, Jume 13. AMERICAY IS IN VENTURE Airmen Are Ready to XKill Seals if Food Rums Out. BY HIRAM K. MODERWELL. By Radio to The Star and the Chicago Dallr News. Copyright, 1824, ROME, June 11.—Scorning super- stition, the aviators of the Amundsen expedition, including American Lieut Ralph Davison, are starting a flight for the north pole from Pisa next Friday, the 13th, For two months their larger Dor- nier whale all-metal hydroplanes equipped with snow skids, have been under construction tests in the fac- tory situated on the seashore near -| Pisa, which specializes in this type of fiyer. The date of departure has been postponed several times recently, be® cause of delay in construction of the last machine and a misundersignding with the Italian government concern ing the status of the Itallan plan: accompanying the expedition. Amundsen Homors American. Lieut. Davison, whose home St. Louis and who, during the w was commander of a submarin chaser, was named by the Navy e partment at the invitation of Amund sen, who wished thus to express h apprectfation for the financial ald ceived from® Americans. o pilot of the Ttalian plar mier Mussolini gave the Las earned fame by fiying o | Andes. Larssen, chief pilot, is a_lieutenan in the Norwegian na The pla: will fly northward to Spitzbergen four days, and there will spend sev eral weeks in final tests before at- tempting the apparent miracle of fly ing across the pole directly to the north coast of Alaska, a distance of 1,700 miles in planes capable of car- rying only sufficient gas for 1,204 miles. Amundsen expects to perform miracle by means of a Telay system Several hundred miles out one plane will give its superfluou gas to the other tyo. and then will settle dowr on the ice and rve as a radio sta tion to the expedition, returning later to Spitzbergen. Further along the second plane will do the same; while the third plane, presumably the wegl: machine piloted by Lar: will proceed alone to Alaska. Will Carry Little Food. Thus the pilots, who for weeks have been accumulating calories b swimming in the warm Mediterra- nean and basking in the hot Itallan sun, will face & lonely vigil in the midst of an ocean of ice. Food and other supplies which_can be carried on planes necessarily is’ limited hence 1{f calculations should g« wrong, the stranded aviators migh be obliged to depend dn seal shfot ing for an indefinite time “Our ammunition is our only rea food,” said one aviator to the writer The scientific value of the expedi tion is debatable. Its most probabie utility would be in tracing a shor: air route from Europe to Amer! which might be practicable if n inventions increased the range and roliability of airplanes. Not muci land remains to be discovered. The unknown region lies chiefly between the pole and Alaska. Amundsen has offcred to recognize American ni tionallty for any land discovered by Lieut. Davison personaliy. but whole question scems obscure in & ternational law —— v Asks Je_fl'erson Statue. Resident Cites Third President’s Interest in D. C. To the Editor of The Star One of the chief attractions ‘Washington are the numerous artis tic monuments that grace its publ) parks and streets, which have beer erected in memory of noted Ameri cans; but, singularly, no memorial the memory of our third Presidcy and author of the Declaration of 1r dependence is ¥ound among those i fective reminders of distinguish services rendered the nation by pa otic Americans. The absence of su a memorial is often comment by visitors to this city Jefterson was not only an ASRTC sive national patriot - during formative period of our country. he was also a devoted friend ! District of Columbia, and specia interested himself in all efforts lool ing _to the development of the cit: of-Washington when in Congress and While serving his term as Presidey of the United States. e With the exception of Geora Washington, and John Quincy Adams, possibly, none of our Presidents took a greater interest in District affairs than did Thomas Jefferson. and there fore a suitable memorial to his mem ory should be a prominent figure in the adornment of the city. Tiis in- fluential admirers should interest themselves in this behalf. And this is an opportuns moment for putting forth the effort, while his old historic home, the famous Monticelln, 1s 80 prominent in_the public mind Thomas Jefferson served as Presi- dent Washington's Secretary of State While Alexander Hamilton was his Seoretary of the Treasury; and I have often thought that a memorial to the former should be erected in front of the south entrance to the State De- partment similar to that of the lai- Tor, which stands in_front of the South entrance to the Treasury build- Executive avenue. ing, both of B EORGE SIMMONS the Republicans. In faet, it ix o iy in the spring for the don- ning of prophets’ robes. * ok k% Senator Hiram W. Johnson is fre- quently discussed by RepublRans, but not in an overunkindly way. Surprize is expressed that he criticized the administration and President in such vigorous terms, but there is gratifi- cation over his silence since the end of his campaign for the nomination and hope that he is not getting ready to make any troudle for the ticket in the coming campaign for the election. In every convention’thers is an element of quiescent delegates who do not profess initiative nor desire to apply, but are content to leavs the disposition of events to the elder statesmen of the party and ratify their decisions. There is an uhusu- ally large quota of this claés in this convention maintaining that attitw foward the vice presidential nomina- tion. The leaders realize this, and ap- preciation of this fact stimulated ef- forts earller in the week for a get- together of the topliner leaders to try to agree upon a man for Vice President before the undecided bloc should become too restiess and threat- en to take the convention in hand and “start somothing.” The newspapér correspondents, for their part, hoped that somebod: would start something and turn on the fireworks. For the first few day s of thelr arfival they *found. fhe con vention préliminaries deadly dull i contrast with 1920. -There wasn'l tion. They also point out that selec tion by the Democrats of their cai @idate is bound to bée & highly im- portant factor in the equation affect- f, any tabasco sauce anywhere. They {xt as though lhefi ‘'were grindin their own beef bones,” as is said in the Navy. -