Evening Star Newspaper, October 13, 1924, Page 3

MISSOURI IS HELD SAFE FOR DAVIS State, Naturally Democratic, Likely to Go Back to Former Status. BY DAVID LAWR! S October 13.—Missouri has gotten back to “normaley o far as the Democratic party is concerned while the Republicans year to find their vote ahnorn sturbed with the consequen John W. I is certain to State. Pluralitics are conjecture but 15,000 to 20,000 is to make a conser- vative calculation for there " PO sibilities for a 30,000 plurality for CE. alwa the figure at of tion of the Follette. of cou ¢ candi make the situation is the defe German Republicans to I Not all of the Germans, will go for the third par but more than enough t Democratic victory Louis, which has many ( many Republicans, show decline in registration which can only mean a loss to the Republicans. Davis Is Popular, Here and there throughout the ate are Republicans of prominence ho announce themselves for Davis. This is not encountered in other states, and illustrates the popularity of the Democratic nomince. The press campaign on behalf of Davi also has been very vigorous in many parts of the State reached by the St. Louis Post Dispateh, which, in a feature article of ten thousand words by its W ington correspondent, Charles G. Ross, just delivered an attack on Coolidge as “a myth, The idea is developed by Mr. Ros: just as by Frank Kent of the Balt more Sun, that President Coolidge has been “protected” by friendly newspapermen from the penetrating criticism that might otherwise be hurled at him if this weren't a cam- Paign year. The importance of the foregoing is simply that in Missouri, unlike in other States in which the writer has visited, there is an active campaign by the Democrats with plenty of v tality to it. The barbecue at I ton, Mo., attended by John W. Da and 40.000 people, is still the talk of the and when the Democratic nom Gets here next w he will have a torchlight proc ion reminis- cent of the good old “90s." For the tide is running Davis in Missouri. It isn't that Coolidge is un- popular, but in this State particular- 1y an impression that he is ineffective in dealing with Congress has been carefully cultivated. Klan Stand Helps Davi It is natural to find Missouri strong- ly Democratic. This is a State for which the mention of the name Bryan has no terrors, for it voted that way a generation ago. In 1920 the Irish and other groups strayed from the Democratic party, but they are for the most part coming back. John W. Davis' denunciation of the Klan won him not oaly former Democrats, but many Republicans. As for the negroes, them will march in the Davis parade, an_ unheard thing in Democratic politics, but 1l because President Coolidge hasn't denounced the Klan ctly. Men who have traveled the length and breadth of Missouri studying Political conditions are impressed by the number of railroad employes who will vote for La Follette. There are Democratic counties which will suffer some losses on this account but the acquisitions due to thousands of SPECIAL NOTICES JOHN W, 7 Club invites supporters of Davis and Bryan, in the District of Columbia, entitled to register end vote in the States fo call at club head- aquarters. Room 104, Ebbitt Hotel, for informa- T¢ inconvenient to call,” phone Main 5035, Branch 104. Club open day and eve- MULTIGRAPH _LETTERS fetiers, $1.00. 903 Frank. 7143 15000 15 LINE $2.40; 100 mimeograph District_National Rank Bldg. CARPETS RIC washed by process look i . Plone N. 9160. Rear 1414 v 189 . WHY HAVE DIRTY. faded out rugs when Cyelone will wash and restore them to original colors? 6 gals.. §1.25. v, LES CO.. 608 F n.w. 7% ¥ SPRUCE ALL KINDR shrubbery ' furnished and firstclass arder, with HERRELL, of evergreen and planted.~ Lawns pnt Tich soil and manure. A. 10th_st. Line. 9640, OGN AND AFTER 0 z be responsible for any debts ontracted by mrself, Rrickerd. 91 n.w. N TPHOL- stering at your home: will go anywhere. ;.\d~ dress Rox 330-B. AN from the Farragut to 16th and L. 200 TO CARRY hingtan, D. k and ' Roston. ORAGE_C0. the Presidential. A WANTED A vanlosd of furni .. to Philadelphia, TRANSF We pay considerably. more We_ aiso buy We carry a large ntique English abd FIELD PLATING our pv you can get elsewhere. Tionds. soldvend platinim Tine of solld wilver teas Farly "American. | SE COMPANY. 1225 Conn._ave. A HOUSEHOLD NECESSITY_WE HAVE IT. Tou need it Our pertect silver polish. “wei 'd sold by us for 35 seafs. e Doiten. " Foue name and i 1°be delivered promptly c.o.d. Price, Foll size jar. K. HARKIS & CO., cor. Tth D ow. FATORINE GAS TREATMENTS FOTL COLDS. WHOOPING ' COUGH. RRONCHITIS, FOR TREATMENT TION ADDRESS BOX 11 PURE APPLE CIDER_FIV Qelivered to your door, thre x! nmoo 8 & ; TREA 13 0018 2 —need ot be dlscarded at the first sign of decay. We save many a dollar to bouse owners by our thorough knowledge of re. irs. LQK us_serve von! !{‘ ROOFING Phone Maln 833, COMPANY 119 3rd Bt. 8.W. Join the Coolidge and Dawes Club, 1324 New York Ave. N.W, Help us in interesting more than 60.000 Re- publican voters to cast their ballot In the coming n!t‘ndehl:(hll campaign.” lication blanks w! sent on ‘Appiication biasks wirl b request, SEND. P TIDE\\'A TER LINES, INC. Soutbern Maryland bus _transport Teonardtown, Rock Point. La Plata Brandywine. Now Located at W.,, B. & A. Station, 12th & N. Y. Ave. N.W. _ Phone Fr. 5336. Did Your Roof Leak? Don’t delay another day hav- ing the roof repaired. Company Phoue Maia 16 Tet Us Estimate —on your printing needs. The Million- Dollar Printing Flant. The National Cagital Press 12101213 D | Printing That Excels —is always executed here. WIGH GRADE, BUT NOT HIGH PRICED. BYRON S. ADAMS, PRINTKR, nd Bl 11t 8t $150,000 FIRE HITS RICHMOND STORES Several Buildings in Retail District * Gutted or Damaged by Blaze of Unknown Origin. Iy the Associated Press. RICHMOND, October 13.—Several fire companies early today still were playing water on a fire that started at 10 o'clock last night in the basement of the J. G. McCrory 5-and-10-cent-store building in the retail district here, de- stroyed its contents and spread to the adjoining structure occupled by the S. 8. Kresge 25-cent store. The contents of the latter building were partly destroyed, and offices on the two floors over the McCrory store were gutted. Other buildings were slightly damaged by fire, smoke and water. The origin of the blaze, which for a time threatened the entire block, has not been determined. The loss was stimated at about $150,000. the Klan fight and local issues are expected to make up the deficiencies. Another interesting phase of the cam- paign is the dropping off of regis- tration among the women in the cities as contrasted with the increase in interest taken in politics by the women in the smaller towns and rural districts. Missouri is what may always be called a doubtful frontier of the solid South, but it takes some potent griev- ance to tear away the Democratic majority. This time, with a party united behind Davis, there s every reason to expect a Democratic victory. (Copyright, 1921.) BUDGET COMPROMISE PROPOSED BY NAVY A proposal that the Budget Bureau and the Navy Department compromise upon $330,000,000 as the appropriation for the Navy during the next fiscal year was presented today to Director Lord by Secretary Wilbur. The origi- nal estimate for the department totaled $350,000.000, which was reduced about 000,000 By the officials holding the Federal pursestring. Secretary Wilbur sought an addi- tional $4,000,000 for naval aviation, which would bring that allotment to approximately the $19,000.000 recom- mended by the general board. THE WEATHER District of Columbia and Maryland. ir tonight and tomorrow; gentle to moderate north shifting to east winds. Virginia—Fair tonight and tomor- row, little change in temperature moderate to fresh north and north- cast winds. West Virginia—Fair tonight and tomorrow, little change in tempera- ture. Record for Twenty-four Hours. Thermometer—4 ., 76; 8 pm., 63; 12 midnight, 4 am, 49; 8 a.m., 48; noon, 60. Barometer—4 p.m 30.09; 12 midnight, 30. 8 am.. 30.29; noon, 30.29. Highest temperature, 76, occurred at 3 p.m. yesterday: lowest temper: ture, 45, occurred at 6 a.m. today. Temperature same date last year— Highest, lowest, 5 Weather in Various Citles. emperature. == 30.05; 8 p.m., 4 am, 30.23; “339moungy Stations, Weather. Abilene, Tex. 30.14 Albany 30, Atlanta Adlantie City 30, Baltimore . Birmingham. Bismarck Roston Buffalo, Cleveland .. Denver Detroit Jacksonville. Kansas Los_Angeles. 30.00 Touissille . Pittaburgh. Portland. Me, 30 n“Antonio. 30.04 n Diego... 20.98 ‘Franciseo 30 04 Louis... 30.22 Clondy Pt.clondy Clear Rain Clondy Clear st FOREIGN. (8 a.m., Greenwich time, today.) Stations. Temperature. Weather. London, Englt 52 Part cloody Clear Part cloudy Cloudy Part cloudy Part cloudy Part cloudy Fart cloudy Part cloudy Cloudy Cloudy rmany. Deomark. Sweden. Gibraltar, ' Spain. Horta (Fayal), Azores.. Porto Rico. House & Roof Pamu U. 3. WATCHES RE ISSUE IN BRITAIN Defeat of MacDonald Would Vindicate Hughes’ Non- Recognition Policy. BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Such attention as it can spare from its own political fate is belng devoted by the Coolidge administration to the outcome of the British elections on October 29. One of the major Cool- idge-Hughes forelgn policies—non- recognition of Soviet Russia—is di- rectly involved In Ramsay MacDon- ald's’ campalgn for self-preservation. If the Conservative-Liberal coalition smashes the Laborites on the para- mount issue of ratification of the Russian treaty, it will amount to British vindication of the American attitude toward Moscow. Though he was technically deposed on another question, Premier Mac- Donald’s opponents are fighting him mainly over the treaty he negotiated ith the Soviet last Summer. Their antagonism is aimed principally at the proposal to extend the Russian government the freedom of the British money market under guarantee of the British treasury. The reason the British commercial and financial world opposes that project is the precise reason why the United States declines to recognize the Soviet. British mer- chants, manufacturers and bankers are outraged by the thought of pleds- ing British national credit to a resime which openly and defiantly scoffs at the validity of private contracts and public obligations. If the British electorate goes on 1ecord against non-ratification of the MacDonald-Soviet treaty it will do more than sustain the position the United es has consistently main- tained for the past four years. It is likely to hold up general European treaties with the Soviet. Premler Herriot announced. immediately after the British-Russian pact was ne- ©otiated, that France would now scrutinize the conditions which per- suaded the Machonald government to come to terms with the with a view to following sult. is hardly probabie that if the British people reject the treaty France would continue” to meve toward an _ ar- rangement with Moscow. The Mac- Donald treaty was halled In Russia as the finest advertisement the bol- shevist cause ever received. The autocrats at the Kremlin pub- gloated over it as their su- preme diplomatic achievement and Linted that they had pulled the wool over the eyes of “capitalistic” Brit TLey particularly expe-ted their with MacDonald to pave the to breakdown ¢f America’s non- recognition policy. All ddors, Mos- cow predicted. would eventually be flung open, now that the Reds had «flicial entree to John Bull's house— and especlally to his counting house With the wrecking of the treaty in a British general election Soviet hopes will eorrespondingly flag. Mr. Hughes had many conferences with Premler MacDonald at London in_July. The Russian treaty perfected about the time the ¢ of State was in England. was being in London at that time was that the “deal” with Rus- sia had virtually been extorted from MacDonald as blackmail by the Com- munist wing of the British Labor party. During the first seven or eight months of his premiership Mac- Donald was under constant fire from extreme Labor quarters because of his refusal to promote ultra-radical pol- icies. He resisted such pressure for two reasons. In the first place, he is not a Communist. In the second place, he knew that the Conserva- tive-Liberal coalition coutd, and would, throw him out of oftice the moment he resorted to palpably So- cialistic measures. The withdrawal of the sedition charges against an indicted Communist editor was speed- ily followed by the Soviet treaty. It became evident that MacDonald had been forced to surrender to the ex- treme left wing of the mutinous Labor army. The result is the polit- ical plight that was generally fore- seen and now has come to pass. The United States has still another interest In the British election. During the rapid-fire campaign now'in progress the true extent of Communist propa- ganda In Great Britain and the British empire is certain to be brought widely to public attention. When Secretary Hughes last Winter produced indisputa- ble evidence before the Borah commit- tee that such propaganda is rampant in America, the State Department was aware that the Soviet was “working” British territory in the same insidious and_systematic fashion. The similarity of Red maneuvers in Great Britain, India and elsewhere with those car- ried on in this country is one of the things that convince our Govern- ment that Soviet propaganda is en- gineered by, pald for and promoted from central Communist headquar- ters in Moscow. ‘Washington has been ecarefully watching Japan’s negotiations with Russia. Yusuke Tsurumi, Japanese publicist, who recently addressed the Army War College, is telling his American lecture audiences that Ja- pan’s anxiety for a treaty with the Soviet springs from the necessity to safeguard herself against another Russian danger from the north. It was to thwart such a menace that Japan fought czarist Russia in 1904. The Japanese now want to secure Secre- What themselves against attack by Red Russia. (Copyright, 1924.) Cement & It Saves Both Money & Trouble —to make us your paint advisers and purveyors. Q Our experience is yours to draw upon, when you want sug- gestions as to what mediums and methods to employ—OUR PRICES ARE SPECIALLY LOW for paint products of proven ment. Bring your Fall redeco- rating problems to us. WINDOW GLASS Cut to order. Also Ask about glass furniture tops. our prices. HUGH REILLY CO. PAINTS 1334 N. Y. Ave. & GLASS Phone Main 1703 WASHINGTON, D. O, MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1921 U. S. CANNOT USE ZR-3 IN WAR BY AGREEMENT WITH ALLIES Airship to Demonstrate Commercial Possibilities of This Type of Craft—Carries 30 Passengers and 15 Tons of Freight With Ease. Delivery of the German made ZR-3 from the Friedrichshaten plant to the Navy air station at Lakehurst, will bring to this country the first commercial airship of the Zeppelin type ever to be flown under the American flag. ‘While the ship is in custody of the Navy and is listed with naval air- craft, she was designed and bullt for commercial use and under present plans will be used by the Navy to demonstrate the practicabllity of commercial aircraft trafic in the United States. The ZR-3 is similar in appearance but somewhat larger than the Navy dirigible Shenandoah. While the Shenandoah was the first vessel of the kind ever built in the Unlited States, however, the ZR-3 was num- bered 126 at the Zeppelin plant and is the product of more than 25 years of German experience in dirigible construction and operation, including the German war fleets. She is the last word In lighter-than-air design, and will form the foundation for the building of future American commer- clal fleets if this proves to be a prac- ticable form of transportation in the United States. Ships Under Allied Control. At the close of the war, the allied powers and the United States re- stricted the Zeppelin firm to the con- struction of ships of not more than 30,000 cibic meters gas capacity, al- though the last of the war service Zeppelins built by the plant had ap- proached a 70,000-cubic-meter capac- ity. Peace terms also provided for the apportionment among the victori- ous powers of Zeppelins to be surren- dered by Germany, two such craft be- ing igned to the United States. Two German dirigibles were destroyed in their sheds, however, and the ZR-3 is a replacement vessel for the two destroyed. By agreement with the allied pow- ers the Zeppelin plant was permit- ted to bufld one ship of 70,000-cubic- meter capacity for the United States in place of the two ships of 30.000 cubic meters capacity each. This was necessary in order that a ship of sufficient size to cross the Atlantic might be constructed. The ailled -rs waved the size restriction. er, only on the condition that the big ship should not be used by the United States for military pur- poses. Contracts with the Zeppelin com- pany were completed in June, 1922, d a group of American n offi- s was sent to Friedrichshafen to watch progress on the vessel day by day. They were cordially recetved by the German concern, which de- sired to demonstrate its knowledge of the art of building alr cruisers. Equipped for Passengers. The ZR-3 has an over-all length of 656 feet, a diameter of 90.7 feet, a gas capacity of 2,400,000 cubic feet, is driven by. five 400-horsepower en- gines giving a total of 2.000 horse- power and is expected to reach a maximum speed of nearly X0 miles an hour. She is a fully equipped pas- senger vessel with accommodations for 20 passengers in addition to the the passenger accommodations ring favorably with those of modern sleeping cars and including an up-to-date electrical kitchen. The passenger cabin i divided into five compartments, which have large win- dows furnishing a_wide The ship will require an operating crew of about 24 men, and the quar- ters the crew are in the “cor- ridor” within the envelope of the ves- sel, while the passenger cabin and officers’ quarters are secured rigidly to the keel at the forward end of the ship. The ZR-3 was equipped in construc- tion with the bow mooring mechan- ism similar to that de: ed in the United States for the Shenandoah. The ship m: be elther moored at the mast at Lakehurst or placed within the hangar already awaiting her and which is big enough to house both the German-bullt craft and the Shenan- doah at the same time. The Lake- hurst hangar is so large that the Cap- itol at Washington could be placed within it with little difficulty, or the Woolworth Building in New York, 1y- ing on its side, could be easily accom- modated without touching the roof or side walls. Takes Southerly Route. The direct route from Friedrich- shafen to the east coast of the United States is about 3,500 nautical miles. To get the advantage of favorable winds and other conditions, however, the ZR-3 will take a southerly course across Southern France and via Cape Finisterre and the Azores to the South of the Bermudas and tRence to Lake- hurst, a distance of approximately 4,500 nautical miles. The trip will be made with experienced German of- ficers and men in charge. The ship carries more than 33 tons of gasoline besides her oil supplies, water for Day’s Pharmacy At 14th at P Sts. —serves that neighbor- hood as a Star Branch Office—for the filing of Classified Ads intended for pnbhahonm'l'he Certainty The Star prints MORE classi- fied ads ®every day than all the other papers _here com- bined., It is only to be expected that it should with its all- including circulation, “Around the corner” is a Star Branch Office view of the | country below as the ship is in ight. | ballast and other purposes and about $50,000 worth of spare parts. In addition to carrying 30 passen- gers, the ZR-3 has a lifting capacity that will permit her to be loaded with 15 tons of freight or baggage. Estimates of the cruising radius of the ship made by Zeppelin officers place the distance at a maximum of 8,600 nautical miles or a safe radius of 7,600 nautical miles without refueling. It is pointed out that practically any inhabited part of the earth can be reached from New York in less than that distance. Will Use Helium Later. For the trip from Germany the ZR-3 is inflated with hydrogen gas, but under the present policy of the Washington Government, helium, the non-explosive gas developed in the United States during the war, will be substituted for hydrogen before oper- ations in the United States are undertaken. The Zeppelin experts estimate that under any normal condition the ZR-3 would be able to fly from San Francisco to Honolulu and back again between Saturday morning and the following Tuesday morning, spending the entire day Sunday in Honolulu. Such a trip now requires more than 10 days by steamship, yet the airship could carry 30 passengers and 15 tons of freight or baggage and make the journey as a week end jaunt. ZR-3 NOW HEADED STRAIGHT FOR U. S.; FLIES OVER AZORES (Continued from First Page.) rice, sausage, tea and biscuits. Sau- sage will be served to the crew at tea time, midnight and 4 o'clock in the morning. The Americans on board will have plenty of fruits which will supple- ment the ship's merwu All of the cooking utensils, as well as the cups and saucers used at table, are of alu- minum. LEFT BY ZR-3, SPANISH OBSERVER SCORES HEADS Career Spoiled, Says Berlin At- tache, as Industry in Home Country Depended on Trip. FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, October 13.— Col. Valdavia, the Spanish military at- tache at Berlin, was the most disap- pointed man who watched the ZR-3 sald for America, and was bitter in his denunciation of the Zeppelin offi- clals who refused to take him along. Col. Valdavia had been negotiating for the trip for weeks and is said to have been told by Zeppelin officials that he could make the trip if the United States Government consented. As the airship will not be American property until delivered at Lakehurst, the United States Government is said to have replied that the Zeppelin offi- clals alone could decide the passenger list, and offered no objection to Valdavia. The Zeppelin officials at the last minute denied him passage, and he is reported to have declared that his career was ruined, as the Spanish government expected him to sail on the dirigible and make observations, which were essential, as Spaln was arranging to co-operate with the Zeppelin Company in establishing a Zeppelin factory in Spain. The position of the United States was that the Zeppelin Company might carry whom it pleased if the four American officers were not displaced. DOLL ZR-3 “STOWAWAY.” By the Associated Press. FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, October 13. —Three-year-old Betty Lou Kennedy of Aurora, 1L, en route to Lakehurst, N. J., with her mother, will have the surprise of her young life when her father, Maj. F. M. Kennedy, steps from the ZR-3 and presents her with a doll nearly as large as Betty Lou herself. The doll has yellow curls and rosy cheeks, matching those of Betty Lou; says ‘“Mama” as plain as anybody and not only that, but it walks. The doll is not a stowaway and is looked upon by the Amercian officers aboard the dirigible as their mascot. When Dr. Eckener, the Zeppelin di- rector, inspected the ZR-3 for the last time, cutting down every ounce ‘of weight where he could, pied Maj. DUNLOP TIRES No Change in Quality Simce Price Decline. LEETH BROS. Busmess Psycllology ‘The Alta Stokes Course Do you understand and usxe the governing Lawx. By your spokem words you create or destroy. Are yours creative or destructive? Use these Laws and attain saccess. Courne Only $10.00, Comsultation Free. Classes, 3:00, 4:00, 7:00 and 8:00 P.M. 1900 H St. N.W. Apt. 404. Frank. 1375 2 1319-1321 F Street Kennedy’s fat blanket roll and it was not until he saw the doll inside that he gave a wink and allowed Betty Lou’s gift to stay aboard for the transatlantic flight. —_— NAVY GIVING AID TO ZR-3 IN FLIGHT (Continu-d from First Page.) this information will be transmitted to the second ship in the train, which will combine it with observations taken by her own officers. This data also will be checked against informa- tion forwarded from the Weather Bu- reau at Washington and any submit_ ted by ships at sea, and the combined information will be then relayed to coastal stations for transmittal to the Navy Department, which, in turn, will send it to the ZR-3 through Annapolis. Besides Capt. Steele, two other American Navy officers and Maj. Ken- nedy of the Army Alr Service are abroad the Zeppelin. The first stage of the ZR-3 was across France and Capt. Steele re- ported an average speed of more than 60 miles an hour with all engines running. Only four engines were in operation when the ship pushed off for the Azores, however, as it was desired to conserve the fuel supply. The ZR-3 was built for the United States at the Zeppelin plant, under an agreement which makes her avail- able for military purposes. She is cquipped for commercial use and will be employed on ploneer work for commercial air routes, being handled by Army and Navy air personnel, in order to train men of the two services in handling airships of this type. GARDEN T HOUSE, INC. 1014 Vermont Ave. N.W. Regular Full-Course Dinner, $1.00 5:30 to 8:30 Real Home Cooked Food THE ARGONNE 16th and Columbia Rd. All-year location in the residential hub of north- west; on high elevation, overlooking the entire city and Rock Creek Park, Apartments with large out- side rooms, spacious closets, built-in bath fixtures, re- ception halls and balconies; latest improvements; 24- hour service. Moderate Rentals Resident Manager on Premises Phone Col. 4630 = October 13 STORE NEWS 8AM. to 6 P.M. “Fashion Park” and “Stratford” Clothes A Thousand New $40 Fall Suits AT *29 Had them for more than ten days—a won-= derful purchase! They’re values that should make you stand in line, just as you stood at Seventh and Florida Avenue. Sounds large to claim that no $40 suits else- where are better—but we believe JUST THAT. You'll find them of splendid pure wool— perfectly tailored in the various styles that will be worn thls season. There are dlfferent solid colors and a variety of fancy strlpes and mixtures that in= clude every new shade the fashion masters have conceived. This is the “big noise” in Washington’s clothing market—and don’t you forget it! Old Dutch C Bread 39c Butter Steaks, Ib. 40c Sirloin, Porterhouse, Round Pork Chops, Ib., 29¢ Center Cuts Smithfield Shoulders, Ib., 28¢ Pork Hocks, Ib., 10¢ Sauerkraut, gt., 10c Sweet Potatoes 6 lbs. . . . 25 Yellow Onions 6 Ibs. . . . 25 Cabbage, 7 lbs. 25¢ Apples, 6 Ibs. 25c Cooking “Sunshine Special” The Large 1-Lb. Package of “Surprise Assortment” 30c Eight Varieties Tomato Soup 3 cans . . . 2¢ Campbell’s 32 Coffee, Ib. Old Datch Beans, 3 cans 2c Campbell’s Pancake Flour 3phgs. . . . 2 Virginia Sweet Sugar Ibs., WA