Evening Star Newspaper, July 16, 1924, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With SBunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY. ....July 16, 1824 imononn 'W. NOYES. . . . Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office, 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. /" New York Office: 110 Tast 42nd 8t. Chicago Office: Tower Bullding. Eorepean Office: 16 Regent St. The Evening Star. wl edition. is delivered by carriers eity at €0 cents per month: daily only, 48 comts per month: Sunday only. 20 cents per month. Orders may be sent by mail or tele- phone Main 5000. Collection is made by car- tiers at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday..1 yr., $8.40; 1 mo., 70¢c Daily only . 1yr. $6.00; 1 mo,, 50c Sunday only 1y, $2.40; 1 mo, 20¢ All Other States. Daily and Sunday.1 yr., $10.00 ; 1 mo., 85¢ Daily only ......1yr, $7.00;1'me. 60c Sunday only 1yr, $3.00}1mo, 25¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled o the use for republication of all news dis- patches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news pub- leded herein. All rights of publication of wpecial dispatches herein are also re s A Horrid Plot. Another conspiracy of the big in- terests is in evidence, a conspiracy to cheat the farmers of the country and to defraud their champion, Robert M. La Follette, of his rightful political heritage. This conspiracy “detects” it- self. It proclaims its own guilt. It shows its wickedness by its very maneuvers. This conspiracy is manifest in the sudden and marked advance in the price of corn and wheat and oats. Wheat has gone up 20 cents a bushel, corn has reached $1.10 a bushel and oats have advanced to & new high level. The wails of the Western farm- ers have turned to chortles of joy. Motor cars are being bought by the great gross out in the wheat belt. Elaborate radio sets are being in- stalled. Prosperity is at hand. The wicked big interests have transformed the situation from gloom to gladness. And all for what? To defeat La Fol- lette. To make the farmers believe that they do not need a champion to lead them out of the wilderness of debt and desperation. To cause them to vote as they formerly voted, con- servatively. It is a truly wicked game. Can there be any dourt on the sub- ject? Can any one question that this rise in the grain prices has been “manipulated”? Is it not an old trick of the interests? Look at the fact and cease to wonder! Here were the farm- ers in a slough of despond in the Spring. looking for a rescuer, with low prices for their products in pros- pect. Here they are now with higher prices enabling them to liquidate their obligations and even to increase their rolling stock and amusement devices. Who else than the wicked interests could have done such & thing? Dame Nature perhaps smiles behind her hand as she contemplaes the situa- tion and hears the clamorous charges of the progressive politicians about the abominations of the big interests in working up the grain prices just to fool the farmers into a belief that they are not so bad off as they thought they were going to be. Maybe she has ideas of her own on the subject. May: be she has seme inside information about crop quantities and qualities and supplies and demand. Possibly she takes little stock in the corrupt conepiracy claim. She has scen wheat prices go up in other years than those marked off for elections. She has seen corn scar when there were no rescuers seurrying over the prairies shouting to the downtrodden to be of good cheer, for aid is on the way. ‘Well, anyway, there are the farm- ers, there are the prices and there are the new motor cars and radio sets, and there is Dame Nature, smiling upon everybody. It is anybody’s guess who ‘wins. President 0. K.’s Our Climate. The Washington climate has re- ceived presidential indorsement. Tt is believed that fear of Washington Sum- mer or Washington March has not slacked the desire of statesmen to pass four or eight years in the White House, but it has become usual to speak lightly or warmly of Washing- ton's Summer and to say rude things in March about the backwardness of Spring. It is the habit of many Wash- ingtonians to leave Washingten in Summer to find recreation at some hotter place, but “‘going away for the heated term” has become a habit, and it is known that habits are hard to break. Naow comes President Coolidge, who, in\ conference with newspaper men, says that we are having excellent weather here, and he is reported by the reperters as “emphasizing his sur- prise that Washington was much more delightfully cool in July than he had anticipated.” The President is a New Fngland men. Being a New England man he knows as much as can be known about New England cli- mate. Yet this authority on New Eng- land ciimate speaks praisingly of ‘Washington Summer. The old Wash- ingtonian. who does not run away to the White Mountains or the Green Mountains or take a million-dollar “cottage” at Newport just because the ‘Washington thermometer on one or two days says 102 in the shade, or beeause he leaves his footprints in the Avenue pavement, thanks the Presi- dent for the kind words he spoke in babalf of Washington Summer. —————— America’s record in the Olympic sames may be accepted as an assur- ence that this country's mood is not one: of entire aloefness and isolation. Turret Tragedy Findings. A naval court has found that the{be that pushcart vending s out of| gun accident on the Mississippi by wiich forty-seven men and officers were killed and others wounded was probably due to the bere of the gun being foul because gases from the previous shot had not been clearsd by air pressure. The court says: There appeared to be some trouble with air pressure, although not very clear just what, except that the gun captain was heard to make some re- marka about the. air pressure. The turret captain picked up a wrench and stated. he would fix it. The shell was rmfih:fi:c. (’onrhnor;um plaged on the spanner tray and ram- mad into the gun and rammer with- ball of smoke and flame, followed by a large flash of flame. From this it seems that not only vas the air-pressure mechanism not functioning well, but that the gun may have been fired while adjustment was being made. The tragedy hap- pened during the firing of the eighth salvo. In firing the third salvo, an- other gun in the same turret was prematurely fired, and the court finds that this was due to the foul bore “consequent to insufficient air pres- sure uind gun not being properly cleared of gas before loading.” The court finds that this gun was *fired prematurely while the firing circuit was open and while the gun was in loading position, but as the plug was closed no damage was done." The court finds that the number of casualties was no doubt larger than it might have been because ‘‘of failure to keep the safety doors over the shell table closed, that the fire 4in the upper handling reoom was caused by the safety doors not be- ing entirely closed” and by the pres- ence of unofiicial observers, ‘‘who crowded the passageways, making ex- its more diffficult.” These things carry their lesson. The court made no recommenda- tions, cenfining itself to findings of fact. Secretary Wilbur and his tech- nical staff have taken the document under study to determine whether there should be further action in con- nection with failure to comply with regulations requiring that safety doors in turrets be closed during fir- ing, and also with regard to the presence of unauthorized persons. ‘There is no doubt that all precautions suggested by the tragedy will be taken by naval authorities and that there will be, at least for some time, scrupu- lous observance of those regulations which have been made as the result of experience. A Soviet World Revolt. A tale that would be rated as fan- tastic it it were not for a background of reasonably corroborative facts comes from Berlin. It is related that documents recently inspected there show two things about Russia: One is that the economic and financial condi- tion of the soviet republic is desper- ate, with famine assured if great credits are not secured from abroad to stem the export of grain, upon which | the soviet depends chiefly for rev- enues; anather is that in these cir- cumstances the leaders are convinced that the only thing that can save their government is a world revolution. The phrase “world revolution” is not a mere figure of speech, according | to this information. Elaborate prepa- rations, it is reported, are being mada. by the Moscow government, in co- operation with the Third Internation- ale, for simultaneous communist up- risings in Germany. Poland, Rumania, Bulgaria and Jugoslavia. These re-| volts will be accompanied by a Rus- sian military attack upon Rumania | and Poland, the former to reach into Bulgaria and Jugoslavia, and the lat- ter to extend into Germany. Fantastic? Verily. Yet consider the situation. The soviet experiment has brought Russia to a point of bank- ruptey, morally and financially. A des- | perate condition exists. The joint- ownership, non-capital ,scheme has failed. Half-way recognition has been won for the soviet organization from some of the powers, but recognition has not vielded finanecial support, for | the simple reason that nobody has confidence in the eapacity of Russia to meet obligations. The industries have failed to function profitably. The peasants have been deprived of their initiative for work. ©One corrupt gov- ernment has been merely replaced by another corrupt government. Fanati- cal idealism has succeeded to fanatical devotion to a worn-out monarchical regime. The experiment, to repeat, has failed, and those who are charged with its prosecution will mot admit | failure. A world revolution has been the basic concept of the bolshevists from the outset. Recurrence of the idea. is not surprising. The Moscow viewpoint is obvious. The readjustments from ith' war have lefl‘_ most of the states | of Europe in a condition of discontent and despair. There is a strong, mili- tant minority of subversionists in practically every country. A few pushes here and there and these may be set in motion. Given then a sharp attack from the East and the whole of Middle Europe will be in conval- sfon. That will be the soviet’s oppor- tunity. This may not come to pass. Pros- pects of disaster often fade away. The croak of - universal bolshevism has | been heard before, and has been dis: | credited. But it is not to be ignored as | incredible now, in view of the estab- lished fact that the soviet state is in extreme distress. —aee Predictions of an exhausted fuel supply for this world lend a vague charm. for sinmers to certain ideas of old-time orthodoxy. Divorces are becoming 80 usual that even the best press agents find diffi- culty in making them interesting: THE . EVENING est pace & man can walk. Everybody knows that the carts stop sud that lines of them stand at the curb and remain there until a policeman com- mands, “Move on!” And it has come to be that a pc.iceman will often not give the word because he knows that ds ®soon as he has Teft that part of his beat the pushcart procession will halt. The pushcart men are ligensed to do business. The District govern- ment accepts their money and gives them a license to do business and knows that they cannot do business without violating regulations made by the city authorities. - The logical' thing would be not to license pushcart venders, but if the license system is continued the license should be sold with the understanding, written in the license, that vending is only allowable in @ specified district. Once sidewalks were cumbered with stands from which goods were sold. The time will probably come when retailing goods from carts and wagons in busy streets will not be-allowed. Perhaps the time will come when sale of marchandise from wagons will not be allowed i streets in any part of a city, but it will no doubt be a long time before the strolling huckster is banisied from residence streets. At present he is filling a useful office and, if h carry on his trade without noise, is slill useful to the community. The World Flyers. America’s world flyers hopped off this morning from Paris, glad, no doubt, to be free from the irksome attentions that were showered upon them from the moment they landed from Vienna. They would have been far morc delighted i they had been allowed to sleep during the thirty- six hours of their stay at the French capital. But they had to be enter- tained. One report states that they went sound asleep at a theatrical per- formance, at which they were the guests of honor. Inasmuch as one of the plucky flyers had a broken rib, their endurance of the entertainment i§ to be entered in the log of the flight as one of the accomplishments of note. London today; and some other fixings to put planes in the best-possible shape for the Atlantic crossing, and then off for the morthern islands, for Iceland, for Greenland and the American mainlan of the American colors in the great- est air race ever known will be on the home stretch. They are behind their original schedule, but mainly ‘because of interruptions at the very outset, in Alaska, From their passage over the Pacific they have been fly- ing not only on time, but ahead of | schedule. Preparations are being: made al- ready for a reception here in Wash- | ington when these wonder men of the air reach the Capital. They will be feted here as in Paris,”and the hope is that they will be given a chance to rest as well. They are mak- ing a world record, and as they ap- proach the home shores admiration for them rises higher and higher. But they are only human beings, with Timits of endurance, ‘and they should not be put out af commission by too much - attention when they have reached this point. = —————— A wheat shortage may inspire hope in the bosom of the graingrowing farmer, but the laborer who buys his bread at the grocery will not like it. — ——t————— The more recent attitude of W. J. Bryan toward J. P. Morgan is that of a man disposed to be courteous but not familiar. —————————— Political agitations are such that a statesman often finds it almost im- possible to take his golf serfously. ——r——————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Trill of a Teady. A man I knew, but from afar. His reputation like & star From regions all remote shone down. 1 was impressed by his renown. But since I'met him face to face He sinks into a lower place In my esteem, although most kind To me, and generously inclined. Our hum#n modesty is such 1t shrinks from the familiar touch. ‘Were he a man of high degree ' sure he would net notice me. Conservation. “Do you play golf?”" ‘No,” answered Senater Sorghum. “Such arguméntative accomplish- ments as 1 posseas I'm going’ to ap- ply to my regular ‘business.” Incipient Plutocracy. That money’s wicked I avow. It leaves me in conniptions. But when I run for office, how 1 hustle for subscriptions! Jud Tunkins says pelitics won't be ——te Pushcarts. The Merchants and Mamufscturers’ Association has brought the pushcart questien to the attention of the Dis trict Commissioners: and hds esked that pushcart vending be restricted to: the area from 10th to 12tk and B to C strests merthwest. The asso ciation makes the point that farmers selling producs at retail are restricted to a prescribed space. i ‘The pushcart question is an old one and becomes an irritating one at times. An aedvanced thought might place in- streets in any business sec- tiow of the city. The problem. of street traffic hde become one ‘with many perplexing fictors. Slow-mov- ing vehicles: impeds and often tie up | traffic. An automobile may not stop in. the “fairway” unlese to let on or | off & passenger. Thers is mot room for parking and throughout the busi- ness district there ix time lmit om parked cars and the indications are that the restrictions will be tightened. ‘The pushcart vender chooses busy strests for his opermtion. There is & regulation that it miwet keep moving, but if it moves at ell/it is at the slow- [ right until people vote for somebody they likke and trust instead of against somebody they dow’t. . Athletics. Just & little game of §0°f To pais the time away; Just a little teeing off “ Avid pleasent putting . As we form & rifig— Just an angry word .so free; Just a righthand swing! “Crimson Gulch seems - strangely quiet and subdued.” “We know when we're bext,” an- swered Cactus Joe. “Snalte Ridge has wom cut as the cemtel of gam-play romsmce. “It’s got & metien picture studio.” S @ Melief. “Don’t you favor going' tn:the relief| of Burepe?”’ * ‘ “QOf course,” amswered Missx Cxy- enne. "'flm\ln—" I go. xkwond and: digtribute all my tips in. foreign “Haps foh best,” ssid Uncle| ‘Wben, “but dow’t git down.ad’ go to) sleepywhile you's doin’ 1= new motors there | | the From now on the bearers | STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 192%' Q. Why is the Speedway 5o called?— E. S. A. The office of public buildings and grounds says that there is no road now known officially as the ‘Speedway.” However, about 15 or 20 years ago, before Potomac Park was improved,. the above office span- sored the building of a half-mile road, running from 17th and B streets obliquely to the river. It was about 50 feet wide and made of soft dirt, to be used for a trotting road for trotting horses. At that time people called this road the “Speedway,” and the name was unofficially transferred to the new drive. Q. How many Vice Presidents have died In office?—H. J. A. Seven men died while serving as Vice President—George Clinton, dur- ing Madison's first term; Elbridge Gerry, during Madison’s second term; William R. King, Vice President with Franklin Plerce; Henry Wilson, dur- ing Grant's second term; Thomas Hendricks, in Cleveland's first term; Garret A. Hobart, in McKinley's first administration; and James D. Sher- man, in Taft's administration. John C. Calhoun resigned during his term as Vice President with Andrew Jack- son, to become a United States Sena- or. Q. of a national conventio served that the phrase ber of votes cast are—' used. Is this correct?—L T. A. Collective nouns take singular or plural predicates, according to the meaning intended. In this case the noun “number” is modified by “total,” which would make a stngular verb necessary. While listening to radio reports have ob- otal num- is_always Q H()wh!nng does it take to trans mit a photograph by telephone? BT Sk B A. The Telephone News says that In a recent demonstration a picture was taken in_Cleveland, developed. sent to New York, redeveloped and was ready for reproduction for news- paper purposes in 33 minutes. The actual transmission of a 5-by-7-inch mmmgraph requires less than 5 min- es. Q. Please tell me Abe Martin’s real name and where he lives?—W. P. L. A. His name is Frank McKinney Hubbard and he lives in Irvington, a suburb of Indianapolis. He has been @ cartoonist and paragrapher on the Indianapolis News almost continu- ously since 1881. Q. To settle an argument please state whether a star has ever ap- peared between the horns of the new moon.—A. F. A. The Naval Observatory says a star can possibly appear within the horns of the c: nt moon. Q. What is the origin of the sen- tence “We who are about to die salute you"?—J. E. A. The sentence “We who are about to die salute thee” was the saluta- tion of the Roman gladiators to the Emperor upon entering the arena just before the fight. Q. Who was the first dark-horse candidate to be elected President of the United States?—L A. B. A. As a result of the political dis- sension of the times James K. Polk wusS nominated by the Demc 1844 and became the first pre: dark horse. pQ How do fireflies produce light™— A The firefly produces light prac- tically without loss of heat or chem- ical rays but little is really known concerning the method of this pro- duction. The seat of the light is the luminoys grea situated in the abdo. 3 s ecializad portion of the fat body, b?g a plate consisting of pofygonal celik. located wnder the integument, and sipplied with nerves and "fine tracheal branches. Thess cells secrete. under the control of the nervous system. a substance which is_burned “during’ the appearance of light: this combustion takes place by means of the oxygen conveyed to the cells by the tracheae. which branch profusely in it and break up into capillaries. Q. How much is the ch - erty of the United Su(;fl ‘i\tg';lbprflol’?d is there a tax on it?—C. H. A._The entire church property of tho Tnited States is valued at $1.671; 000.000. Such property is not taxed unless used for a commercial pur- Dose. T-%.v‘ls homesickness a disease?—M. A. Homesickness or nostalgia is a combination of dpsychic and bodily disturbances, and. in a severe form must be regarded as a disease. It may lead to melancholia and death. Q. When did the custom of fumeral sermons originate?—D. S. A. The custom of funeral sermons, together with various ether rites in connection with the burials may be traced back to antiquity. Even the primitive peoples had certain cere- monies in connection with the burial of their dead. In ancient Greece and Reme the custom of eulogizing the dead was very popular. Q. Is there such a word as “some- when”?—C. S. W. A. This word is given in diction- aries with the definition “at sonre in- definite time.” and is marked “rare.” H. G. Wells uses the word frequently, which helps to give it a fixed place English literature. Q. What does “om” mean?—J. N. B. A. This was a Sanskrit sacred syl- isble simiiar o our amem Accord- ing to Manu. the syllable had to be uttered before every Vedi recitation and again at its close, otherwise the gacred knowledse and its merit would st. Q. What makes soft drinks effer- vescent?—A. B. A. The property of effervescence is due to the impregnation under pres- sure of the mixture water, sirup and flavor with carbon 'dioxide ' gas. ghe[ raw ;ngg’i;fls used i;ntlhe ma‘lu:- cture o £as are not present in the bottled drink. ©Only tRe gas is used, and it is a whalesome Drod\ict. identical with the earbon dioxide found in many minerai springs, 5 what Js included in the et i ame R AG. 0 ithe A. The term *big game” is elastic, brit'is generally undersigod to ineluds all wild animals larger than the com- mon fox. Q. How did the term ‘“French leave” originate?—T. A A._This phrase came into use from the French custom in the eigbteenth centu of deglrllnfl from a social thering without taking leave of e host or hostess. ; 3 (Did you everaorite & loiter to Frederic g Fenti Vo oo ek Tafreion any Q' of ] :?:? mcwwe:i’tfi"' — = R S syic "There e Rerie 2 tamps age. W(MMWO!MHMWO] The Star Information Bureaw, Frederic Z. Haskin, Director, Twenty-first and C streets northwest.) Historic Niagara Fort Will Be Preserved It is good news te all the Niagara frontier to hear that the War De- partment has decided to devote $10,000 of the momey made available By congressional appropriations to the restoration of the cmstle at-Fort Miagara. Visitors to this shrine of American Bistory in the last few months have Been impressed by the danger that unless repair werk is wmdertaken soon the action of Lake Ontario's waves on the north wall of the his- toric fort will cause it to tumble into the water. This money spent now will pre- serve the castle in its original form. That is the desirable A re- built post, even if modeled om the Hnes of the old one, would not have the Ballowed distinction that the it vemermble pile holds as ene Presen of the go‘?flh t Ameriean his- | upon IN TODAY’S BY PAUL V. COLLINS For geveral days the news from the Pacific coast has carried reports of wide-sweeping forest fires. The most sensational storles have depicted a conflagration exténding from Mexico to British Columbla, gnd from the ocean eastward through Arigona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washing- ton and western Montana, devastating Breat forests, destroying villages and menacing cities. The ‘rainy scason” upon the Pacific coast has been & drought, so that all vegetation is like tinder," ready for a spark and a holo- caust. According to the reports, thausands of acres of timber arc de- stroyed, and miles more arc threat- ened, while the forest rangers, backed by law, are impressing tourists and summer resort boarders, as well as farmers and every other man availa- ble, into the work of clearing strips of a hundred feet in width and miles in length, as barriers against further spredd of the fire. Ottietals of the United States Forest Service, at headquarters in Washing ton, making full allowance for sensa- tional 'exaggcration of the reports, concede that the menace is serious, for their records show that for weeks “inflammabillty” has been rated very high and dangerous. * kR ¥ Until within the last decade Iittle attention had been given to recording humidity as a serious factor in deter- mining firo danger. Today every forest ranger is equipped with a packet sling psychrometer with which he tests the humidity of the atmos- phere as closely as a 6ea captain watches his barometer. With the psychrometer the ranger kmows whether the air carries sufficient moisture to prevent fts drying out the vegetation. If it Is dry he be- comes alert, knowing as surely as the seaman knows the approach of a storm that dry atmosphere makes dry leaves and dry vegetation eadily susceptible to fire. This spring and summer with its drought has spoken many a warning through the psychrom- cter. Even while a fire is raging, the psychrometer foretells whether humidity is approaching which will eventually lend aid in fighting the flames, or whether dryness will bring sudden flaming up to a smoldering Humidity is of greater effect in reveuting fire than mere occasional wetting_down the blanket of dead leaves and ferns, since, no matter how wet the ground may be, dry air will soon dry the foliage or ferns to a point of dangerous inflammability. It is that condition which now causes the most concern in the fire region of the west. ok k% It is not a far ery from the Atlan- tic to the Pacific, when considering the effect, even In the east, of wide- spread forest destruction upon the Californian slopes and in the Ore- gon valleys. The east is directly con- cerned in the destruction of timber the Pacific coast, because that is about all the timber there is left from the “inexaustible supply of for- ests,” which burdened our forefathers When they wanted to carve out a farm here or there in the intermin- able woods. We are now paying more for freight alone on the lumber we use in the east than our fathers paid for choice, straight-grained, clear lumber delivered at their doors. The total freight on lumber amounts to $250,000,000 a year, and every fire which destroys am acre of timber upon the Pacific adds mileags to our long haul and piles up the freight bills. At last we shall have to add a sea voyage in hauling lumber from Alaska. ERE The :loss by a forest fire is not the board measure of what is destroyed, especially in a young forest, says the Editors Not Entirely Agreed On Educational Department In his address to the National Education Association at Washington President .Cqolidge advocated some excellent ideas on the subject of edu- cation in the opinion of the press, al- though there are differences of opin- ion over the President's suggestion that a federal department of educa- tion, with a cabinet minister at its head, should be created. As the Boston Transeript (independ- ent Republican) sees it, “in-the wholly admirable address which President Coolidge made befors the National Ed- ucation Convention, three points were outstanding, reassuring and inspiring.” The first of these had to do with the much-debated matter of a federal de- partment of education, whick the Transcript approves because ‘he makes it clear that ‘this does not mean any interference with the local control’ which sweeps away the ground of opposition.” The second point had to do with the equalization of state sup- port of schools, which is “heartening to observe that the President fully appreciates this need, and says plump- 1y that the state tressury ‘should be called upon to supply the deficiency’ in the poorer districts” The third point is that “there must be moral and spiritual influences in the train- ing of citizenship, or all else will be in vain.” The Seattle Thues (independ- ent Republican) particularly notes the importance of thrift, industry and moral training in the preparation of the children for citizenship, as set fortin in the Presidemt’s speech. L o mews “Education should first of all de- velop capacity for self-discipline and self-control, and should socialize and humanize men and women in order to fit them for a rational and truly civiliged life,” according to the Chi- cago Daily News (independent), ‘which believes “all that Mr. Coolidge said to the conference on these vital points was true and most timely, but it does not follow that the Sterling-Reed bill, which would establish a federal department of education with a cabi- net officer at its head, woulq be & step in the right direction,”-and “this particular conclusion does not flow from Mr. Coolidge's ”* The Ohis State Journal ) fears that “a national de, t of education with as desirable & plum as a cabinet office conn therewith would lead inevitably in time to the standardiza- tion' of education in this great, .di- verse tountry, to the breakdown of local control over this most impertant of all activiti to added hoedes of incompetent _ efficiency experts and federal inspectors, to. hundreds of millions of dollars a year extra for the taxpayer to. vide for the main- tenance anotier huge political buresu.” Although the Lawsing State Journal (Independ mentions the same ob- Jections, it “thers is need for equality e oppertunity in securing this equipment for.the life struggle; there ought to be unity of effort and agreement on general principles, and this can only be brought about by mnational enactment,” therefore, “‘such a federal department is necessarys but it must net be political, it should mot change with new administration; 1f making it a cabinet office would transfer it to the realm of partisgn- ship, then it would be a mi: Tt It_will, of course, create a lot of new offices; continues the Saginaw News Courier (independent) but “it will Povianes o ehue o ind e portanee is promised’ # ot mean ny interference- with the local con- trol andg dignity,’ ts of utmest. importance, for, cation is » state function, though SPOTLIGHT usistant chief of the forest service, Mr. Sherman. If it take 100 years to mature a forest, arid the trees burned are only twenty years, though it be eighty years away, divide that value by five, in computing what today’s fire costs. Add to that the loss of the burned-up humus of the soll and the probable abandoment of the acre- age, which is then added to 51,000,000 acres already idle. Comsider the re- duction of the total supply of tim- ber, of pasturage, or retardation of flood waters, of the fertilization and irrigation of farmlands along the gently flowing streams which alter- nately become raging torrents and dry beds. Fertility of farms is thus affected, food production is reduced and cost of living enhamced, even though the forest destroyed was across the continent. Who happens to hold title to the burned forest is of | no economic interest. We gre_all for- est guardlans of our great heritage of the ages. LR B B 0 A few days ago a logging en- gineer connected with the United States Forest Service was quoted as saying that the lumber famine pre- dicted as coming within the next twenty years was not likely to ma- terialize, sinee lumber companies, al- though discouraged from reforesting the north, where it takes a century to mature most trees for sawing, were systematically” planting trees in the south, where they mature in forty to fifty years. He said that in Ore- gon and Washington there is stand- ing timber enough to run the mills seventy years, and before that can be exhausted the new reforested woods would be ready to cut, hence the “scare” is unfounded. Chief Greeley of the Forest Service says that the lumber famine is not = | thing of the future, it is here. We are using soft wood cight times as fast as it is growing, and all woods four times as fast ¢The retail price of conmstruction lumber has doubled within a_little more than a single decade; during the last eighty years the price of lumber has advanced three and a half times as fast as the average price of all staple commodities. The cost of lumber has already become so high that the per capita consumption has decreased 40 per cent.” This country now uses 53,000,- 000,000 board feet of lumber annually. and forest fires destroy about 6,000,- 000.000 board feet. Fires alone destroy as much as the total annual growth of our forests, in spite of all the protection and watchtul care of the rangers and scouts. To the alert- ness of the lookouts in their towers, with a telescopic range of about twenty-five miles each, is now added the scouting of airplanes. * k¥ R In a pamphlet by _the chief of the Forestry Service, Col. Greeley, thisj statement is made: “Lumber has become dear to the eastern consumer not because virgin forests were freely cut, but because the land which the logger left be- hind is so largely without a crop. The idea prevails that much more forest land will pass imto tillage. * » ¢ The main increases in im- proved’ farm land during the last ten years came from nen-forested regions. * e » The idle acreage in many Eastern states has been swelled by abandoned farms. “Our remaining forests of all sorts aré being cut at the rate of 10,000,000 acres a.year. A million acres are being stumped and put under plow each year, but nearly an equal area of old plowed land at one point or another_reverts.” The_Government forests, if com- pacted_into one tract would cover from Maine to North Carolina and west to include a quarter of Ohio. Not until the passage of the Mc- Nary-Clarke law at last session had the ~Government undertaken syste- matic protection of this most impor- tant asset. And the work is only begun. - (Copyright; 1924,-by Paal V. Collin.) of national concern.” The Sioux City Journal (Republican) insists there should be a federal department of edu- cation, because “‘more general edueation would contribute not enly to the wel- fare of the individual, but to an im- provement in the national life.” In advocating it, the Milwaukee Journal (independent) is confident “the Pres- ident_expresses the best educational thought of the country as well as the thought of all who consider serfously ‘the future citizenship of the nation.” * k¥ ¥ Suggesting that the President’s statement that it “does not mean any interference with the local control,” will be hotly disputed by State's rights defenders, the New York World (independent Democratic) clatths, “if the proposed mew Seeretary of Educa- tion has no powers that clash with those of the States, he must inevita- Dbly seek such power or bow to the decision that his department shall be merely a clearing homse for informa- tion.” In regard to the equalimation of State sapport for all schools the Werld holds “the President is right.” The New York Times (independent Democratic) also considers the latter view particularly sound, because “in view of the fact that, while all com- munities have the same obligations to Seuator La Follette's candidacy for the presideacy on an indepentent ticket is focussing the attention of politicians in both the regular par- ties what time they can spare from their ewn troubles and worries. In- deed, their own difficulties are ac- centuated by the pendency of his cam- paign.. The general conception of Sena- tor La Follette's plans and policy is that he will cast a dtagnet for votes of all kinds and descriptions ameng ail elements of unrest and discontent. He will appeal to all who feel that they are overtaxed or underfed; to all unemployed; to all who have any sort of grievance against conditions as they are and which they attribute to government,” administration er Con-. gress. It is also thought that he will not confine his efforts to the wide open spaces where he is supposed to be strongest, but will carry his cam- paign into the congested industrial states of the Middle West and the East. * ¥ * % Opinions differ as to the size of the vote he may roll up, but some of the thoughtful leaders in both, parties ap- prehend that he is due to poll a heavy vote agd they are not disposed to regard his campaign with indiffer- ence. Labor {s still a little shy of him and will need some more “court- ing” on his part. McAdoo, it is believed, would have absorbed a large share of the labor vote had he been nominated by the Democrats, and much of that vote is now foot-loose, not being very friend- 1y to John W. Davis. ok ok % Wise old Samuel Gompers, labor's guide, philosopher and friend, is un- derstood to be now giving deep thought to the part Ilabor will be advised to play in the coming cam- paign and at the polls in November. Important developments in labor leadership circles are expected shortly. oo e The National Capital will be in the palitical limelight from now on. Next Friday the La Follette forces are to meet here and select their candidate for Vice President. August 14 Presi- dent Coolidge is to be notified of his nomination in Continental Memorial Hall in the evening and the proceeds ings broadcast. For a few weeks the La Follette headquarters will be maintained here and then removed to Chicago and-Madison, Wis. * * x % Senator La Follette may open his campaign here, in a speech to be de- livered at a mass meeting within a fortnight. He is planning to make a speedy start in his campaign amd push it with vigor until election day eve. He is said to have many supporters in the District and they are setting out to raise a local campaign fund for him of approximately $4.000. An oft-repeated question among politicians is “From which party is Senator La Folletts likely to draw the most votes?" The first tendency is to answer that he should be expected to draw more votes from the Democrats than from the Republicans. This onclusion is ‘based upon the comsiferation that John W. Dawis is a conservative can- didate, and already is being placed in the class with President Coolidge as a conservat The supposition is that the ultra- progressive and radical Democrats cannot find a congenial home in the Davis camp and of necessity will be forced to seek shelter in the La Fol- lette wikiup. * k¥ % Senator La Follette is expected to ap- peal strongly to the industrial classes on his charge that their interests run {In opposite directiom from the Demo- cratic presidential candidate, who will be held up by the senator as the cham- pion and representative of the capitalis- tic class. The old fallacy that whatever capital is for labor must be against will b: played up in every key and note. The meetings, which will be held under the ansp ices o; mehl.a Follette managers soon show how thi; industrialists. S '".h o * X ok ok ‘Three elements of human passion are destined to plar a prominent part In the presidential campaign—the arousing of religious, class and racial prejudices. The religious question is certain to be | stressed, thoughtful politicians deciare. This outlook is generally regretted But is held to be inevitable. The Klan issue is classed as having been more sharply drawn in the proceedings of the Demacratic national convention than it existed before. The close svote on the question of naming the Kla% is taken as unquestionable evidence that the flames of religious and racial discord were only fanned to greater intemsity in the New the children and to society, their wealth and resources vary, and the State treasury should be called upon to_ supply the needed deficiency.” ‘While the Omalia Worid-Herald (in- depemrdent) regards the President's ‘ideas as excellent, it disagrees with his statement as to the teaching of sound economics in the schools. It admits “it is a fine, splendid idea, but the trouble is it won’t work. The n it won’t work is the same rea- ‘son that makes dog- fights. No one can say with final sathority what is sound econemics and what is not. The economists lves can’t.” In answer to the President’s state- ment that “America is turning from the things that are seen to the things that are unseen,” the Birmingham News (independent Demoeratic) says: “True, the process of turning may seem as slow as the processes of evo. lution. ~We cammot leave off national scorn and. hatreds in'a dmy. Many generations must pass in the process of adding wisdom to power, morality to greatness. But it ix Neartening to be told that we sre stumbling in the right direction.” —_————— Says Tourist Guide Asked Fee in Capitol To the Editor of The Stur: I wish to call the attention of the Pproper authorities through The Star to a. little incident which s annoying to My touring cars The child listened with patrictic fervor, and we wers following ‘ene crowd to the Senate chamber. In front of the picture of “The Futher of Our Country” the guife sud stopped his explanations and demane 25 cents from each man or lady who did not be- :;stohlnwnfln York convention. * x x % Even in the short interval since the eonvention adjourned indications are eropping out that the Democratic na- tional ticket is facing important disaf- fection among Catholic Democrats on account of the rejection of Gov. Smith's eandidacy for the nominatien on account of his religion. President Coolidge. is Bound to benefit in this movement, it held. * * ¥ x Are the thousands of veters in this eountry of German descent going to come to the aid of the Republican perty in 1924 on the issue of conservatism as they id in 1896 on ecund money? The Republican leaders are confidently ex. pecting that they will, while Senator La Folletts is eald to be aiming: to make = @rive among them to draw them to his candidacy. Tho Republican expectation is based upori_ the consideration that the voters of German antecedants are by mature conservative. They are property own- erx, it is poimted out, and,as a class are observers of law and and defend- ers of property rights The Republican e o atter Eadica DRopositions aad ons new and untried doctrinies. 5 * X ¥ Gen. Dawes is expected” to be sup- ported by this class of voters in recog- will exert a tre- menfious pressurs ‘in the fesuft if the election should be close. - * e w The Woman's Party is & Have & na- tional conference st Westport, N. Y., August 15, 16 apd 17 .ta determine the THIS AND THAT BY C. E. TRACEWELL. The driveway in the rear of the Public Library Is fianked by two signs, each reading: “No Horses Permitted in Driveway." On the front door of the building, if,it happens to be Wednesday, is & sign reading something like this: “Library Closed on Wednesdays At 3 O'Clock.” g Discrimination agalast horses at the back door and persons at the front—here was a protty how-dee-do! But, as it turns out, there is no di crimination against the faithful horse at the Public Library. He is not al- lowed in the driveway for a perfectly £00d reason. Congress has not_done all it might for the people of Washington is the story behind the sign on the tront door, which announces that the people must be deprived of their books on account of lack of funds to keep the building open. * % % % How Washingtonians love their Public Library! If any one should doubt this—coal man, student, member of Congress or candlestick maker—let him come with me on a Wednesday morning to Seventh and K streets. There stands the fine building, presided over by Dr. Georgo F. Bowerman, librarian. Behind.the tall standing, thin poplars grouped di- rectly in front and close to the large windows, sits the graceful building “A University of the People” it truly is, as labeled in large letters cut in the back of the semicircular stone seat running around each side of the main entrance. For it is herc that thousands and thousands of Washington children have gotten their taste for books, or at any rate, had the taste acquired in School fostéred and cultivated. Many a spindling lad has left the library with the three volumes of Prescott’s “Conquest of Mexico” tuck- ed under his arm, to come back mans vears later a conqueror in his own right. The student finds it an every-ready place in time of need, and the own of many books discovers that it houses volumes he never even heard of. The library serves all * % ok Sit with your back to ome of the foot-high letters carved on the seaf. Watch the pageant of youth and age, strezaming in and out of this “univer- sity of the people.” The hot sunshine falls along th stone seat, bathing it in antisept light. How many have fat here in the sunshine, dreaming of years to come, of things to b= done Maybe their drea ¥ true, but they dre: that is a greaf, great deal “The thoughts of youth are long. long thoughts,” said a poet whose works may be found on those shelves within. Such musings belong to the lad with sensitive features and light hair who sits not far away. two huge umes in his lap. Wouldn't you a great_deal to know the titles? Lovers have sat here. old men and women, and those who had hope and those who had given them u the sorts and conditions of men and women, they-all have sat here on this stone.seat. Rich or poor makes no @ifference here. This is the D . university. the o i i There goes a genuine daschund! He is a black fellow, Who seems to have come up to sample knowledse. undeterred by the sizn at the rear warning horses to keep out The dog clears the sidewalk only by an inch in front and two inches in the rear. Two small 1. stop to nimal walk atch a flea on quite make it tages o being a daschu girls, bolbad hair and . but cannc disadvan- vids “Gee, fellows, let's go swimming shouts an eager fellow of possibly twelve years, as he and his com- panions troop out the library doors. With shouts of approbation the ng makes off. B o Tost his mind before he died said the gray-haired man in the pan- ama, talking to another elder! Seeker after knowledge, seated be- iore the letters “UN” in university. But it came on gradually But why is it neceesary to wari horses to keep out of the driveway® That bothers one. Since tbe advent of the automobile horses bave had to take a back seat, anyway. WAy fur~ ther insult the poor horse? “Bless your soul!” expostulates Dz Bowerman. “Those Signs were put there many years ago. We would be glad to allow horses access to our books, if it would do |bem any ;D‘od. but T am afraid it wouldn’'t. You see, When therq used to be more horses than there are 2 them stipped way, Nowadays horses, but st! we leave thé not to attem e lve.” thBl.la{‘ Dr. Bowerman has no simple explanation to offer as closing the library every Wedn at 3 o'clock, depriving all these ea intense seekers of I!.SH{ n:":|rl_.nl] Y(.\r‘«‘ ‘s you old typewriters in et . their best d. years s to plans for the new on. upper 16th streect, it will open without el or books, for Con ppropria there are not Il there are a fex gos up to warn drivers pt to take a horsc dowi eo. “He pot branch library and says that either personn 0 gress failed to make ar tions for these rather items. Lot us Eo out, thin again and ont were big enough tc all Cougress sit here, too e Trade, Not Sentiment, Irish Diplomat’s Aim An Trish minister plenipotentiary at “‘Washington is a deveiopment So( unexpected but now assured. ‘lh-- PBritish government has authorized the proper representations 1o the government of the United States, and Prof. Timothy A. Smiddy ¥ill presumably soon be invested with the dignities and duties of the office to which he was already ap- pointed in advance of the imperial -pg:gz..!émldfly does not dwell upon jevous pains g;lelpirn‘iefl the birth of the Irish Free State. He is nefther orator nar warrtor, but an economist, of the Kk University. He is not Hat CoTtot who hopes to make B Prod State Independent of Great Britain and the world, but an advo- ate of internstional frade who dis- frasts high: tariffs and rejoices to see Vessels again busy trafficking be- tween Ireland and world markets. He is now in the Cnited States to_en- courage .that very: commerce and he fo Uapparently more'- interested in making Irish laces and linens popu- Jar than he is in advertising her POy ance does mot’attach itself to trade, but theré is' no doubt that the Free State is well served-by those who, like her new miuister, are busi- 1y encouraging the resumption of orderly production In the disorgan- zed countries- of Ireland. Asgricul- ture and meighborhood _-industries hold out fair. hopes for e peopio of the mew dominion. Tt is to Le hoped that the appointment of a minister sympathetic with this idea and capable 1o its advocacy will be followed by moro prosperous_trade between his land and the United States. And for whatever dignit socrues to the Irish Free State by yirtue of the privilege of dealing directly with a foreign government sincere congratulations are in order It is_anotber step toward achieving the full status of. ¢ self-goverring dominion.—Baltimore Sun. nece; into the sunshine over. Would that