Evening Star Newspaper, June 26, 1924, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY.......June 26, 1924 THEODORE W. NOYES. .. .Editor "The Evening Star Newspaper Company The Evening Star. with the Sunday mern'nz | edition. s d by earriers within the | cits &t R0 cents per month: dally onlr. 43 Cents per montl: Sunday .20 conts’ per nonth. O Phone Ma‘n riers at the end of cach mo Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. and Sunday..l rr.. $8.40:1 mo., 7! oniy .. .1yr, $6.00; 1 mo,, only ..15¥r,$2.40; 1 mo, wade by o Dail D oc 20¢ All Other States. Daily and Sunday.1 yr., $:0.00: 1 mo., 85¢ Duily oniy 1Vr. $7.00:1n.0. 60 Sunday orly 1yr. $3.00%1mo. 25¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Assocated Press is exclusively entitled o the e for republication of all news dis. patehes credited 1o it or fherwise credited in this paper and alxo the local news pub Tished her. All “rights of nublication of snecial disparehes ferein are alyo reserved A Basket of Eggs. The note struck by tn his address permanent « i Walsh | upon the sirmanship of the Dem Senator accepting ion was of the | ouratic nativnal convent it in that sounded Harrison s chord to be played. whether ir treble of fervid campaign the lower cetaves of more is now recorded. “The republican party must be held responsible for the betrayal perpe trated the nation certain of its members. Let the electorate | them out or stand forever shamed in the cyes of the world.” This is. in effect, the refrain to which the Dem ocratic campaign symphony is appar ever to recur | lower | by same tone somewhat Tuesday “ or dignitied oratory, upon by cast ently Contemplating the significance of it the reactions of those interested 2 and hence poli not lude amaze it. A serviceable if somewhat ugly weapon has been placed ready to the hand of the Democratic party, and that they should, facing they do a vital struggle. make use thereof is normal But what strikes the onlooker is how utterly proposing | to depend upon the weapon, which a shabby and shameful tance of in. vena ndered avail- able to them,an impression inevitably followed by as to how helpless would otherwise have In a word, it would appear that the Democrats ave either rating the Re- | publicans as alreac: defeated—as. to borrow a phrase from the squared ring, a “set-up” unworthy of serious and dignified political attack—or else | they lack powerful weapor offense for use in the strugele, There 1s no keen indictment of republican legislative or administrative achieve- ment, but rather an eagerness to claim co-operation in much that has | been well done. There is no earnest and sincere pledge of wise reform or | needed innovation. There is every tndication that the Democrats hope and expect to win on a foul com- mitted by one of their antagonist's seconds long before the combat is Joined. Whether or not that hope and that expectation prove justified will be disclosed in November. If justified it will mean, if the Democratic cam- paign keynote has been truly struck, that a Republican President, adm tedly above reproach in the matter of his personal and political integrity. has been sacrificed as punishment for the betrayal of public trust by a faithless few. If not justified it will be the more significant compliment to the honesty of the President and a lesson to the Democratic party based upon the old text relative to eggs and a basket. all. in human naf ties do inc they are apparently dividual has speculation they s of normal . Mention of W. J. Bryan as a dark horse contradicts history, There have been few moments in his career when Mr. Bryan was not mentioned as a prominent possibility. ———— The public rather expects a certain amount of exciting contest at a con- vention. But there is always danger of overdoing it. = Among the many events witnessed by Madison Square Garden endurance contests have not been infrequent. oo The Hornets’ Nest. With a rod consisting of three short words Mr. Johnston of Mobile yester- day tapped on a hornets' nest at Madison Squere Garden and set loose @ swarm of insects that pretty near put the big Democratic picnic in a i stituted for the purpose. | ergies, | onstration A popular man and an efficlent ex- ecutive with a clean personal rec- ord, and representing an important “pivotal” state, he was Ildeally con- But he Is a membar of a religious faith that Is not favored by a great many Ameri- can voters fur preferment for highest office. This was recognized at the time as a handicap. Gov. Smith, it is said. himself understood the pur- puse of his proposal, without illusion as to his “availabilit; Then came the disclosure that Mr. McAdoo had been the attorney or counsel for Do- Eeny, the oil magnate. It was at once thought that his chances for the nom- ination were destroyed. His stock fell abruptly overnight That sudden check in the McAdoo hoom left Smith the outstanding fig- in the Democratic ranks for a His friends redoubled their en- planning to secure his nomination. Then McAdoo staged remarkable “‘comeback.” Undis- aved by the popular reaction to & disclosure of his Doheny connection, he carried the fight into all parts of the country and today he leads the field. Smith is second in strength. His is a serious candidacy now. Per- neither Smith nor MeAdoo can the nomination, but feelings of bitterness have been engen- by the pre-convention cam- paign and by the maneuvers for a party expression the subject of the Ku Klux Klan. Yesterday's dem- first in response to Mr. Johnston's reference to the organiza tion. and later in response to Mr. Phelan's propesal of McAdoo's name, were the expressions of this feeling. Whereas a few weeks ago it seemed incredible that such a question could dominate at the national convention of the Democratic party. today it 4 paramount issue which now cannot be avoided or compromised. ure time. seriously raps win intense dered on France and Russia. It is reported from Parls that at a cabinet meeting held yesterday at the Elvsee, under the presidency of Doumergue, the French government decided to recognize the soviet gov- ernment of Russia. This action, it appears, followed immediately the re- ceipt from Washington of a note formally acknowledging an announce- ment from Paris that the French government intended to take a differ- ent course from that of the United States with regard to Russia. It is now disclosed that during the Poin- care ministry an understanding pre- vailed between this government and France that each would keep the other informed, of any change in its Russian policy. The exchange of the French announcement and the Ameri- can acknowledgment leaves clear the way for a French change. This French decision is a direct re- sult of the recent elections in that country. During the campaign the Socialists pledged themselves to rec- ognition of the soviet. They were re- turned as a majority bloc in Parlia- ment, and they have now organized the ministry after forcing a change in the presidency. So that Herriot's new course was mapped out for him by the electorate, by whose mandate he now premier of France. Before the war the relationship be- tween France and Russia was close and intimate. It wi indeed, in conse- quence of a treaty of mutual helpful- ness that France became simultane- ously involved in the great war upon | the mobilization of Russian troops and the first act of hostility by Germany against the czar's government. But that was the Russia of the old regime. The Russia of today is a totally dif- ferent political organism, the antith- esis of the czarist Russia. Still, the official France today, the French gov- ernment since the late elections, is different from the France of the war period and of the very recent months. It is a Soclalist France, and there is a community of interest between that France and the new Russia. The outcome of this French recog- nition of the saviet government is not to be estimated. It is a distinct triumph for the Moscow government. While recent efforts to secure recog- nition by Great Britain have failed, notwithstanding the fact that the government at London is controlled by the labor party, this recognition by Paris is a decided gain toward in- ternational establishment. —r———————— A willingness on the part of Mr. La Follette to make a little trouble for the Democratic convention may casily have been supplanted by a willingness to let nature take its course. e ——————— The date of a presidential inaugura- tion is fixed by law and its ever probable discomforts must be endured with patience. But a national party selects its convention date and brings its troubles on its own head. panic. “Ku Klux Klan” were the words, as the blow on the nest was the signal for a demonstration which must be regarded as one of the most significant of all the manifestations of teeling given in a political gather- ing since 1896, when the silver issue was the dividing point of parties. Mr. Johnston of Mobile was putting in nomination Senator Oscar Under- wood of Alabema, who has been known as “antiKlan” in sentiment, but who has chosen to bring his belief that secret organizations should have no part in‘pdlitical questions squarely into the open through the speech of his proposer. It was a courageous move and were it not for other fac- ————e——————— The proceedings will be greatly pro- longed if, as a preliminary matter, |* it becomes necessary to organize for a K. K. K. investigation. —————————— The Convention Program. The Democratic party is reversing the usual order of things in sched- uling the nominating speeches ahead . 68 ] 3 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1924. —_— T e e T e e e ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN balloting, and it may prove to be a protracted and bitterly punctuated hiatus. The delegates will not pro- ceed immediately from the fervor of rominating speeches and resultant partisan demonstrations to the work of balloting. They will go to the cast- ing of votes with the row over the platform—and it will be a sharp one— in fresh memory. There may be a recess overnight. That would seem to be the better policy. If the plat- torm can be adopted today and all the nominating speeches have been delivered, and all the demonstrations have been staged before adjournment, the convention can proceed tomorrow morning with the casting of votes, which may be protracted for many days. —————————— In mentioning the classes of people with whom W. G. McAdoo ought to be, and doubtless is, popular the mo- tion picture industry should not be forgotten, Mr. McAdoo was one of the first of the eminent men of the country to recognize the films as worthy of a statesman’s solicitude. ———————— It is the opinion of W. J. Bryan that banquets are more entertaining since they have been conducted without the assistance of a wine list. So accom- plished a speaker us Mr. Bryap needs no artificial geniality to warm the mood of his audience ————— The impressions of Robert La Fol- lette will make good subsequent read. ing. But they will have about as much influence on the actual performance as the comments of a dramatic critic on a revue. —————————— New York is a grand old center of salesmanship. If any town in the country can make the favorite-son ‘dea go through in politics New York is it ——— One of the features scheduled for Madison Square Garden is a grand ctacular revival by W. G. McAdoo fi?m Smith of the famous oid drama of the Kilkenny cats. o A convention always opens with prayer. The reverential aspect of the occasion soon ceases. B In the opinion of Mr. McAdoo's sup- porters the delegates ought to make a little show of respect for the country’s primary system. New York is hospitable, but it re- quires boldness to assume that any en. tertainment can be offered as tensely interesting as that which the delegates are prepared to provide for them- selves. ——— SHOOTING STARS. The Flock. There's @ rustle of trees in the iand, A billowing breeze on the bay, Where Nature draws near us greeting to cheer us And bids all our cares drift away. high with js| Yet, disdaining the seas or the sky- land, We wander with purpose so proud To jostle and hurry and argue and worry. ‘We love to get into a crowd. We pack the old grip and we hasten. A troublesome trip we will start. ‘We'd rather go fishing and still we keep wishing To play in the turmoil some part. It trom town we could slip it would chasten Our mood, but it isn't allowed. We don a fresh collar and hustle and holler. We love to get into a crowd. Not to Be Confused. “Do you think there are too many lawyers in Congress “No," answered Senator Sorghum. “A lawyer makes @ reliable congress- man because he gets into the habit of sticking to his own line of argument regardless of whatall the other lawyers in the world may say.” Rapidity. At a convention First they pray; And then they backslide Right away. Jud Tunkins says, speaking of monopolies, he's glad there's nobody holding exclusive rights for the manu- facture of ice water and fans. The Aviator. Alone in the sky! From earth far away Unchecked he may fly At least for a day. ‘The hermit in vain A desert may tread Seclusion to gain Like this overhead. The pleasure, the woe, The tear or the smile ‘To mortals below He leaves for awhile, ‘Well favored is he, Switt coursing on high, ‘Who aaks but to be Alone in the sky. Qualities Misapplied. “A vender of illicit liquor must keep of the platform adoption. Usually a|his wits about him.’ rational convention proceeds first to organize and “keynote,’ then to adopt | Bill Bottletop. ‘No doubt about it,” rejoined Uncle “The only man in this rules, then to keynote!some more, | settlement who can get & positive then to adopt a platform and then |recommendation for bein’always sober to orate on the claims and merits of [ gnd industrious is the bootlegger." respective candidates and favorite tors it might prove to be a winner. But there is a reaction to every posi- tive action and the advancement of the proposition that the Klan should not be a political factor carried with it the very negation of the dictum. For instantly, with the utterance, the Klan became a political factor, and it is likely to remain such, at least during the convention, if not during #the campaign. In the peculiar circumstances that prevail at Madison Square Garden the religious issue is inevitable. Mr. McAdoo some months ago was the favorite in the Democratic field of candidates. Late in the autumn a small group of Democratic leaders met in Indiana to discuss ways and means of “heading him off." "It is reported “‘and well understood that they decided to advance the candidacy of Gov. Mfll'o!!ukum:\ng sons, with the balloting following at once. There is a good reason for this change of program at New York. The making of a platform, it was known Good Intention. They will modify & platform into this or into that form. ; They will sing it in a lot of differ- ent keys. in advance, would not be an easy|Even if the great endeavor some task, but would take a long time. should not regard as clever, The convention. might amuse itselt| We must all admit it struggled hard while waiting for the report of the resolutions committee by what are known on the official program as “optional speeches.” But that kind|py invisible government?” of talk gets nowhere, Delegates are | impatient for real action. 8o whY | Meekton, “I do. not use the time while WaltIng for | o 1igt of errands every day by tele. to please, Unseen Authority. “Do you understand what is meant “Personally speaking,” said Mr. My wife gives me the platform to be rolled into the phone.” convenfion hall from the committee room, with the inevitable traditional and more or less necessary. eloquence and demonstrations in -favor of the | man passed de evenin® previous. Some nominees of the states? “Wakin' up in de mornin d Uncle Eben, “depends on how a gem- people will git up when de bell rings. So thers will be & hiaius Between | Others woi't notics nuffin but de he nomginating ‘spesches and’ the[sound of ice in South Africa “Africander” BY FRANK H. SIMONDS The defeat of Gen. Jan Smuts in recent South African election practl- cally completes the elimination of the considerable figures of the Paris conference of five years ago. Death or political disaster, In the case of Mr. Wilson both, has overtaken pra tically every man of even incon- siderable rank in that momentous gathering. Smuts was really important largely because he was an easy weapon at the hand of Lloyd George, who wus cager to prevent Hughes of Aus- tralliy from oceupying anything like the role his contributions during the conflict seemed to warrant. Thus very early in the Paris séssions it was Smuts who was called upon to do the important tasks, just as he had been sent _on the notorious excursion to Switzerland during the conflict itself. At Paris, Smuts, despite the later renown, gave little evidence of any real liberal spirit. He respons ble for the Inclusion of war pen- sions in the sum total of reparations, one of the main causes for the und expansion of this total, and he ac- quired his reputation for moderation, such as it was, after the treaty had been made by being one of its first outspoken critics Smuts’ real importance, has lain in the fact that he, like Botha, accepted the results of the Boer war and entered into the task of making South Africa in a spirit of co-operation with the British pop- ulation. A shrewd politician, al- though lacking the real charm and popularity of Botha, he was of ut- most service in keeping South Africa in line during the war, when the Herzog rebellion threatened to rouse the Africanders against British rule. * Kk ok ¥ however, Just how loyal to the empire Smuts has ever been Is a matter of in- teresting conjecture. His British critics have more than once said that the chief difference between Smuts and Herzog lay in the question of time: that both wanted a South Af- rica free from British rule, but Smuts believed in waiting until the obvious benefits of Britlsh association could be had, while Herzog was for im- mediate independence. Many South Afrieans, on the other hand—that is, many of the Dutch— never forgave Smuts for joining the confuerors after the war and assist- ing the British in crushing De Wet and Herzog in the world war time. His political power rested upon the support of the British element and a minority of the Dutch. But this power was fatally compromised when the British element was divided by the creation of a Labor party. In the last South African Parliament Smuts barely held a majority, but it was too insecure to last Now the latest elections, once more dominated by fusion, by the bloc system, have given to the com- bination of the Dutch Nationalists and the Labor party a decisive ma- jority, the Dutch party alone count- ing more seats than Smuts' group, and Herzog will replace the col- league of Lloyd George at Paris. Obviously the triumph of Herzox, who openly advocates gomplete sep- aration from the British Emplre, is a severe blow to Britlsh pride, 3 Lon- don comment shows. * ok k% How far it is a forecast of ulti- mate secession or separation of South Africa is open to question, since the fundamental basis of the Labor- Dutch combination was an agree- ment thut the secession question should not be ralsed for five years, nor ever save by a pleblscite. More- lover, Labor, which is largely made 1 of English-speaking voters, might oe expected to break away from its aresent allies when that issue is raised. The real factor, however, which so divides the Dutch’on the issue of sep- wration as at least to prevent any actu- 1ly serfous break between the Union f South Afrl and the Brigsh crown is the danger which threaténs from the enormous black population, which outnumbers the white ele- ments in a proportion of three or four to one. A split between the Brit- ish and Dutch fractions of the white population might easily give the blacks an opportunity, which there is no_certainty they would not gras Meantime South Africa, like Au: truiia, like Canada, like Britain it- self, 'like France 'and the United States for that matter, has broken away from the war-time leadership and Smuts Is one of the last victims of a world-wide movement Massey in New Zealand is almost the sole survivor ~of that group within the British empire which include Hughes of Australia, Borden of Can- ada and, in a sense, John Redmond of Irelund ok ok % Today Ireland is a free state, South Africa has chosen &S its next pre- mier a man who during the war took up arms against British rule, Canada has not only dismissed Borden, but Is at the present moment in contro- versy ‘with the mother country over the treaty of Lausanne, flatly refus- ing to ratify it because Canada had no share in the making of it. Since Britain itself has a prime minister who in the war pegjod was a pacifist and opposed British participation, the transformations in the Dominions are less significant, yet they must pro- foundly interest ‘any student of the problem of British™ imperialism for the future. I remember during the the late Gen. Botha led a can contingent to the conquest of German Eaxt Africa, the late Col Roosevelt, with whom I was lunch- ing, sald,’ with characteristic empha- sis, “That means that in a future not very distant South Africa will be Africander.’ He meant that the campaign was a demonstration of the purpose of the erstwhile Boers, now fighting under the British flag, to conquer the German holdings, but to possess them when the war was over and British ald no longer needed. How accurate this forecast may prove 1 do not venture to guess, but at least the overthrow of Smuts and the appearance of Herzog as prime minister, while the open leader of the party which advocates seces- sion as its major purpose, gives point to the colonel's prophecy. (Copyright, 1924.) ar, when outh Afri- CONVENTION OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE NEW YORK, June 26—If some- body introduces a resolution to hold the next Democratic national conven- tion at the north pole it will go through with a whoop. The heat played havoe with many calculations, especially those of Senator Phelan, Mr. McAdoo's rather inept nomina- tor. 1n any set of atmospheric con- ditions Phelan’s speech would have been about as thrilling as a weather report, but with Madison Square Gar- den a furnace, it seemed interminably long and insufferably dull. On the merits of anything Senator Phelan did or said, the McAdoo demonstra- tion would not have lasted five min- utes. It was only the staged, organ- ized and prepared enthusiasm that dragged the demonstration out to the hour it lasted. A little knowledge of crowd psychology in hot weather would have stood Phelan and McAdoo in good stead. A wise man would have thrown away his set oration: cosfined himself to ten minutes of outstanding facts: rapped them out crisply and quickly, and let it go at that. Phelan_preferred to inflict a long-winded harangue on a tired, perspiring mob. That was the first misstep in the McAdoo convention campaign. * % ox X If the Phelan-McAdoo demonstra- tion was perfunctory, the Underwood- anti-Klan hullabaloo was spontaneous and fervid to the last degree. The “Al" Smith demonstration heralded when New York's idol is placed in nomination may go a longer way than the anti-Klan outburst, but it cannot possibly have more vim and vigor in it. If real noise, which sput- tered like firecrackers and breathed fight, means anything, this conven- tion is anti-Klan four to one. That may not turn out to be the ratio when a Klan plank is up for adop- tion, yet while the rafters of the Garden rang with plaudits for Oscar Underwood's challenge to the Klea- gles it seemed as it a klansman would enter that singing, shrieking, parading, flag-waving mob at peril to life and limb. No convention scene in history outmatched in impressive- ness the chanting of “America” while the Klan tornadoes rang. * ok ok % Henry Ford has a representative on the committee that has drawa up the Democratic platform. He is Alfred Lucking of Detroit, the motor king's long-time personal attorney, whose retainer is said to be $550,000 a year. Lucking is the type of family lawyer familiar on the stage—white-haired, sleek, soft of speech and transparent- Iy wise. While the committee on resolutions was milling over the con- tentious planks on the league of na- tions, prohibition and the Klan, Luc ing usually had a seat alongside Wii- liam Jennings Bryan. They compared notes from time to time, and mutual head-waggings seemed to Indicate that Ford's legal adviser and the peerless one were frequently in agree- ment. * K X % Frank H. Hitchcock could no more keep away from a national conven- tion than a sailor could boycott a ship. He is in New York in the same role he enacted at the Cleveland con- vention—that of & disinterested by- stander. The former Postmaster Gen- eral and G. Q. P. national chalrman is almost the only truly professional politician in the United States. He understands the ins and outs of a convention, Republican or Demo- cratic, as few men do. Hitchcock probably could give as shrewd a guess about the outcome of this New York mix-up as Taggart, Brennan, Moore, Hague and all the other bosses put together. * k x % Here's a bit of news that isn't ex- actly convention stuff, but it has “broken” here and needs to be told to the world. The Democratic high command has discovered why an un- Xnown western man, Willlam V. Hodges, Denver lawyer, was appoint- ed treasurer of the Rapublican na- He s #aid to be k. umunu(o& the J. P. Morgan & Co. Morrow. as every- body knows, {s one of Calvin Cool- idge's intimate friends. They were graduated in the same class at Am- herst. After leaving Amherst Mor- row took a course at Columbia Law School in 'New York, and there his friend and classmate was Hodges of Colorado. The suggestion in this chain of college comradeship is that Coolidge campaign funds can now be definitely linked up with Wall street That is the way the Democrats In New York, at any rate, are “doping out" the Hodges affair, and more is certain to be heard of it as the season for slinging mud sets in. * ok % Woodrow Wilson's “political last will and testament” at length is public property. It was read to the committee on resolutions Tuesday evening, but visibly failed to create a stir. Hamilton Holt, league of na- tions zealot, sprang it upon the plat- form builders. Under date of Novem- ber 5, 1922, the'late President wrote Holt as follows: “l don’t think we need any assur- ances of any kind from the Demo- cratic national committee to enable us to see our way. So soon as the new Congress gets to work and shows its quality of ome kind or another, men's minds will begin to turn to the presidential contest of 1924. That will be the time for both of us to do what I intend myself to do, namely, bring every legitimate influence to bear to make our entrance into the league of natiogs the dominant issue of the campaign. My personal opin- fon ‘is that we shall find abundant fuel for the fire, and presently there- after a candidate who will keep the fire hot and will make it dangerous for any one whose metal will not stand the fire.” * ¥ ¥ X Mr. McAdoo's only metropolitan newspaper support at the convention comes from across the river—in the columns of the Newark (N. J.) Ledg- er. That journal's editor and pub- lisher, L. T. Russell, Is a red-hot Mec- Adoo man. His comment on the Cal- ifornian's convention fortunes today was headlined: “Concerted Effort of Reptile Press to Destroy William G. McAdoo to Appease the Wall Street Wolves that He Drove Out of the United States Treasury." Mr. Rus- sell's ticket is McAdoo and Silzer. The Christian Science Monitor of Bos- ton is circulating in New York a “National Democratic convention ex- tra” designed to give delegates an unblased picture of eventa 'In justi- fication of its enterprise, the ediior of the Monitor declares that the “neutral atmosphere in which New York prom- ises that the convention will be held is emphatically not being furnished.” The Monitor's convention rextras are 0ld on the streets adjacent to the big hotels and placed regularly in the hands of all delegates. Hope for Washington in Base Ball. From the New York World. ‘Washington's base ball team never has won a pennant. The nearest thing to a world series it ever had was the conference for the limitation of armament; and mighty few of its native citisens got in on that show. One of the earlier issues of Hos tetter’s Almanac contains this gibe: *“Washington: Firat in war, first in peace, last in the American League.” It the base ball reporters who have employed this cruel jest were laid end to end it would please the people of ‘Washington very much, provided they could do the layins. - During eighteen base ball seasons Washington has had one of the great- est pitchers in the game, No senator or representative whom' Kansas has sent to the Capital has been one-half 20 popular as Walter Johnson, a na- tive of that state. Many thinga may be the matter with Kan but John- son s not one of them. e Now appears the possibllity that Washington may win & pennant and entertain a world series, with John- fon catapuitiag shoots, and carves win three straight games from the World thampion Yankses of New on seized. the lead- Q. What s the Pan-Am Highway Commission?—E. B. H. A. It consists of thirty-eight rep- resentatives of twenty Latin Ameri- can countries and twely highway engineering economics In this country. The com- mission is making a tour of ten states to Inspect and study the high- ways. The purpose of the visit of the Latin American delegation Is to cement the bonds of friendship be- tween the nations of the American continent and to place before the leading engineers of the twenty Latin ‘American countries the benefit of two decades and more of experi- ence of United States engineers and economists. It ix believed, too, that those in this country concerned in highway development may learn much to their benefit through this in- timate contact and association with the Latin American delegation. Tean leaders of and highway Q. Are there any nations where gum is not chewed?—N. R. A. The gum-chewing habit encir- cles the globe. The American sol- dlers introduced gum to the soldiers of the other nations engaged in the war, who, in turn, took it to their countries.” In this way chewing gum s now known in practically every country which has contact with the world. Q. Where come from that has York city—V. W. It sailed from did the Chinese reached junk New Amoy, China, on 1922, The ship, named the s fifty-three fect long, eight- een feet at beam and is made of Chi- nese fir and camphor wood, held to- gether by bamboo pins, he trip across the Paclfic required eighty- seven days. Q. What size balloon would 150 pounds? How long will gas in a balloon?—W. Al A balloon which would pounds would have about 0 cubis feet as a capacity (helium). If a cir- cular balloon were 10 fect long, the clrcumference would be 31.4 feet. The leakage of kas from a balloon is very slight. The balloon will stay in- flated at least three weeks if kept at the same altitude. As a balloon rises the gas expands, since the pressu higher altitudes is le The same cubical content of gas, either hydro- gen or helium, will be able to” sup- port more on the ground than at a high altitude. carry stay arry 150 Q. What materfal was u structing_the column in t Vendome?—W. M. L A. The pillar is stone, covered with a coating of bronze made from a cannon taken in the campaigns 1806. Q. What is a good cure for mos- quito bites?—R. F. M. A. The public health service sa that bites and stings of mosquitces and other Insects are best treated by applying a few drops of houschold ammonia and bicarhonate of soda. 1f there is much pain it may be relieved by applying cold cloths or solution of boric acid. d in_con- Place Q. What is an octroi>—W. A. O A. This is a tax which can be lev- ied in French towns on imports from country districts. Q. Where was Marco Polo when he wrote the account of his voyage to Cathay?—M. P. L. A. Marco Polo lay Genoa, Italy, when he wrote his ac- count 'of his travels. His first-hand knowledge was gamned by a resi- dence of seventeen years in Cathay, where he was on official duty in a prison in Q. If I take a civil service examina- tion and fail to pass, may I try again? —C. F. B. British-Mexican of | A, It is possible to take other ex- aminations if you fail to pass, or If you wish to try to make a better grade. Q. When and where was the first mill in America propelled by power from a waterwheel?—E. A A. The first water mill in the United States was, in_ all probability, that built in New England on the Dor- chester side of the Neponset, in 1634. Q. When were intoxicating drinks first made?—J. H. A. Intoxicating drinks made from honey, barley and grapes were known at least 1.000 vears B.C.. and they may have been known 5,000 or 10,000 years B.C. Q. Does the English from England?—M. W. A. The nut known as the English walnut is the fruit of the Persian or Circassian walnut tree. ‘The name “English walnut” is applied to it in the United States. While the tree is a native of Persia and the Himalayas, it is cultivated in many countries, particularly in southern Europe and in California. Q. What kind of a climate has Hawaii’—H. P. A. The climate of Hawail is equable—rarely too warm or too cold: storms are rare. The rainfall varies in the different localities. depending upon the position with regard to the wind and mountains. In general, the climate is healthful and agreeable to Europeans and people of continental America. walnut come Q K. C. A. A round masonry tower desig nated to form a part of coast fense 18 called Martello tower. being so named for its inventor. The original Martello tower was situated in the Gulf of San Florenzo, Corsica. became popular about 1800, but their use has in most cases been dis- continued long ago, as they were found to be of little practical value. What is a Martello tower?— Q. What is the legend of Jack and Jill and the moon?—A. W. A. A. According to mythology, and Jill were kidnaped by father, the moon, while they were drawing ter. The Swedish a Scandinavian peasants still regard the shadows on the face of the moon as the children with their pall of water. Q. How many coined and what W. A T. A. The total number of trade dol- lars coined was 35 124. The num- ber redeemed under the act of 1887 was 7.689.036, and from the bullion resulting from the meiting of these rs there were coined in subsid stlver $2.668,674.30 «nd_ into silver dollars $5,078,472 expiration of the period of n trade dollars have been purchased as bullion when presented at the mints. Q. Has prevent E. L. M A. A military Jack thei trade dollars were became of them?— it been found possible to the braying of mules— veterinarian says that operations were made on the Arm mules during the war and proved successful in the silencing of the mule's “bray Q. Can mild be used as a container for mercury without the affecting_the mercury or vice A. Mild steel may be used as a container of mercury without either affecting the other. (Let The Star Information Burean, Frederic J. Haskin, director. 21st and C strects northwest, answer your ques- tion. The only charge for this service 2 cents in stamps for return postage.) Friction Arouses Widespread Interest Mexico's treatment of Herbert C Cummins, British agent, because of his activities in behalf of a British woman subject, and Premier Mac- Donald’s vigorous action in ending the limited relations existing between the two governments, have aroused widespread interest in the United States and have evoked a mixture of editorial comment. “Mexico may be thoroughly within its rights in its unusual treatment of Cummins,” in the opinion of the Grand Rapids Herald, but “the affair is not making friends for Mexico, and, above all else, our southern neighbor now needs full re-estab- lishment in international councils.” “The present position is unpleasant enough,” continues the Kaltimore Sun; however. should “anything hap- pen to Mrs. Fvans by reason of her fight to defend her property, it will be more so.” The unfortunate fea- ture, the Scranton Republican finds, “is that it will interrupt the resump- tion of diplomatic relations between the two governments, full arrange- ments for which had been made.” * k% % The El Paso Herald regards it as “ill-considered action” on the part of Mexico, which “is the loser thereby.” The important point, the Cleveland Plain Dealer claims, “is whether or not Cummins acted toward Mexico with sufficient discourtesy to warrant the vigorous and unusual action which is being taken by the Mexi- cans” 1If the Obregon governments charge is true, the Detroit Iree Press asserts, “Cummins was tactless, but hig conduct is no excuse for the in- sulting conduct of the Mexican toward the British government. Considering the complication un- pleasant for the United States. the Brooklyn Eagle says: “Interests of our nationals in Mexico often. even commonly, conflict with those of British nationals, where both are af- focted by Mexican government action. Now, our ambassador represents both. And’ the possibility of further and more acute friction, with coercion by force as an element in it. cannot be regarded as a fantasy.” The St Louis Post-Dispatch suggests further that the incident has shaken the high rostige of British diplomacy in Mex- co, which “throughout the revolu- tionary period since the overthrow of the Dias regime was the envy of Americans residing there. * x % % As the Indianapolis News sees it, “if judgment were to be passed on the basis of what has been revealed it would have to be that much was being made of a relatively unimpor- tant affair.” However, the News adds, ‘“that has at no time been the view of elther of the two powers concern- ed, leaving neutral observers under an impression that there may be something of deeper significance at stake,” and, “whether or not the American government will regard it 23 wise to use its influence with both parties to bridge the chasm is a question that naturally arises. The United States would certainly regret to see any breach of amity between Great Britain and Mexic according to the Boston Transcript. ‘which argues that “from the Ameri- can point of view there seems to be no adequate cause for anv breach, or, indeed, for so much controversy as has alresdy taken place,” and while it is distinctly unpleasant, “it should not be.serious or in any sense men- acing.” The Newark News feels that $oo Jittle in known of the dispute to form any definite opinion about it. but “Pre reputatl | perience, that the United States has learned from exverience how difficult it is for Anglo-Saxon to understand and get along with Latin American tempera- ment and vice versa, and it concludes that “it may be a good thing to let Britain have some of the same ex- and " to watch and see whether, with her greater experience in dealing with all sorts and kinds of | people, she can handle a trying diplo- incident any better than we | matie ah * * % = “The whole affair,” the Pittsburgh Gazette-Times say eems to have been due to excessive sensitiveness on the part of Mexican officers rather than to any offense worth notice committed by the British agent: but since the friction arose Great Britain took the only step possible and re- called the cause of the trouble.” Mr. MacDonald’s present attitude toward Mexico, the New York Times believes, “is intended to convince Englishmen that their foreign affairs are safe in his hands,” and “by so much it is xood ‘tactics for the Labor party.” although “it will take the outside world some time to get over being startled at the sight of Ramsay Mac- Donald bearing himself in an inter- national dispute very much as would Lord Palmerston with his tremen- dous and vote-winning flourish about ‘civic Romanus sum. The action of the British premler, the Pittsburgh Sun is confident, “will reassure those persons who are fearful and -suspi- cious of so-called pacifists. The Brit- ish premier has ended relations with Mexico City not because our southern neighbor requested the withdrawal of a British agent, but because of language that affronted the British pride.” * X ¥ * The situation that has developed, the Louisville Courier-Journal holds, “might have been readily averted had Great Britain dispatched to Mexico a representative of ministe- rial rank when the Obregon govern- ment was formally recognized by the United States.” Since it did not, the Oakland Tribune feels, “the question is one of how much immunity may be claimed by a diplomat whose home country has not recognized the land in which he is stationed.” The Value of Character Rated by Educators Personality records of graduates in engineering, declared equally or more valuable than scholarly achieve- ments, are now kept by the Univer- sity of California and are made avail- able for manufacturers and other em- ployers of young engineers. All juniors and seniors are rated both by members of the faculty and by their fellow students as to char- acter, address, appearance, leader- ship, disposition, popularity, speed in work, accuracy 'and attention to de- tall. A student committee is asked each year to rate the members of its class. These ratings are compared with. those of the faculty and an av- erage thus is struck. The student's rating has the weight of one in- structor’s rating, and, according to the university authorities, it has been found that the students are more strict than the teachers. The personality records mot only are interesting, but should prove valuable. When a student enters the business world, the mere fact that he is & college graduate will not earn him employment. The majority of employers want character, as much as education, as a qualification. But these records have a further value in that they show whether a man is qual- ified to hold certain positions. As an instance, & man may be rated rela- ) COURAGE | @ “I am the master ;7::] fate, I 1 am the captain of my soul* ] LEY. Chauncey M, Depew at different times in his IMg had to forsake 1 pleasures of publje life fof business and more than once waw the supreme honors of- the rountry just aefore him, only to be snatched away. Born in Peekskill, N. Y., his paren well-to-do, his' hoyhood was hap and he was noted for his’ skii athletics and ‘for his good humir After atténding the Jocal academ:, he went through Yale a then studied law in Peekskill, being ap mitted to the bar at twenty Soon afterward he bheca sted in politics and his al speaker was recognized. AL twenty seven he was elected to the New York State Assembly and a vear luter made secretary of clined renomination. Gen, ant appointed him min to Japan, but Dep declined | to accept an offer to be torney for the New York ard H rallroad. Later when the Var roads were consolidated chosen attorney and dire years later he H Bovernor of New Three years later & general counsel of the entire Van bilt system. A candidate for t United States Senate, his name w a deadlock of the State = months, and he withdrew death of Garfield made an i choice necessary. He wus off¢ flice four years later, but 50 that he ‘might accépt th dency of the New York Centr road. Becoming famous as an er-din-“y ; ner speaker and o L4 | prominent candidate in 1 | Republican nomination for receiving 99 votes at the but withdrew in favor and gave up his lon bition. Presiden him the portfoiio State, but he dec large railroad interests elected chairman of the directors of the New York Cent 1598, and a year later was cho United States senator, serving t years Depew is still active and pl being made for a fitting ce next month of his ninetieth t anniversary, (Copyright, 1924.) Herbert’s ‘Will Observes Oblig:‘xtion of Father . Victor Herbert, late composer and ‘cello virtuoso, drew his will in such a way that the bulk of his estate de- scended to his widow and daughter. To his son he left a certain much less than the others received explanation of this the wrote: “My reason for this distribution of the property is that my son has re- ceived a good education and has been the ‘reciplent of many benefactions during m and should be able t provide without further assistance from me re male robin is one of the best husbands and fathers in all bird it While the children are young he h | ties about with energy and effective- ress. But when the second genera- tion has been trained to fend for it- self he and his wife go about other affairs After / d d press sum testat a man has taken through infancy. childhood manhood, fed him. clothed him to school and coliege and got him @ job that appears to be permanent and advantageous. must he continue to support him? If he decides. as did Herbert, that he has dore enough and that the rest is up to the son, can he be adversely criticized? With every possible advantage already his can a son_object to being forced f« make good on his own rccount? 1f he has good stuff in him, will no: this enforced self-reliance bring out? Man is the only animal who and care for his offspring c past the maturity of the children. The implicit obligation of parenthood to the grown child is a development from the time when a high type of animal hegan to walk on the ground and seek cover at night. Just when ethics entered into human life is not known, but it must have been ahout the time that this sense of continu- ing obligation came to life Tt is a fine point. Yet what Herbert did probably has received the entire approval of the son if he is of ind pendent character—Newark Evening News. i would be a good salesman: while for research or technological work. dif- fidence is no bar, though accuracy is the nation the success men of with interest the this plan of character rating. be a man of character—even though be not well fitted otherwise—may be come valuable, but he who possesscs but little character is hopeless in- deed.—Little Rock Arkansas Demo- 4 - crat / . Chesterton Declares W On American Breakfast betwe siness There is trouble brewing the United States and Great Britain over the international breakfast menu. Wars have hung upon sillic® issues, we assure you. so read cn. No less than the bloodthirtsy M- Chesterton flinzs the gauntlet in our faces with th. “ llowing statement: “If there is thing that woul justify armed assault on the United States. it is this attempt to introduce the American diet on the British breakfast table. The Americans sleen in hothouses and wake up 0 thirsty that they are obliged to devour quan- tities of fresh fruit and drink sallons of water, but it isn't breakfast. 1€ there is oné glorious thing in Eng- land which must never dic. i is thog breakfast of bacon and eges Mr. Shaw is acting in _an ambas- sadorial way for the American peop in_the present imbroglio. Hear him “Now if Chesterton had attacked American buckwheat cakes and mo lasses I should have sympathized. But fresh fruit! My mouth waters Shaw confesses that he is fond of American _prapefruit and oranges which find their way into Ensl markets. This editorial is written in the fond hope that it may catch the eye of both Mr. Chesterton and Mr. Shaw and thus avert war between tho American and British peoples. For we have found that breakfast, like morals, {s much a magter of geog- raphy. New England is reputed to \ open the day with baked beans and pie. The south goes in for whrat cakes and syrup. Californians splash merrily among their famous citrus fruits. There needn't be any war if we can only get these facts to Mr. Chester- ton.—Rochester Times-Union. —_————————— Every wife has a chance except the one whose husband says: “I knew you would understand.”—Duluth Herald. ‘There is profit in adversity, prohibition has taught medical a lot about antidotes.—Jersey Jersey Jourhal. 5 History repeats itself so often that it sometimes has the appearance of stuttering.—Little Rock Arkunsas Ga- zette. A serum has been discovered that is claimed to destroy the taste for alcohol. It's been the idea heratofors that moonshine is its own serum Detroit News, “There is no excuse for profanity,” declares a Boston preacher. Evident- he has never seen one of those movie sheiks.—Harrisburg Telegraph, The sallor of the American Navy is protesting at the style of his uni- and men City iyt S