Evening Star Newspaper, May 1, 1925, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. ' WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY 4 May 1, 1925 THEODORE W. NOYES. ... Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company ) Bu ' (S 11th St. | isiness Office: and Penoaylvania Ave. few York Office: 110 East 42nd St. Chicago Office: Tower Building. Buropean Office: 16 Regent St.. London, England. ‘The Evening Star, with the Sunday mern- edition, is delivered by carriers within the city at’ 80 cents per month: daily only. 45 cents per month: Sunday only. 20 cents Per month, Orders may be sent by mail or elophone Main 5000. Collection is made by carrier at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. : 70c B50c 20¢ 1 $10.00: 1 mo. 4y $7.00: 1 mo.. $3.00: 1 mo., Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled fo-the ‘ame for repuniication of A1l news dis- Padchen”eredited {o It o not oherwisn cred: ted {0 this paper and also tha loc publiahed hervin.~ ATl rishts of puni 01 epecial dispatches herein are aleo re: — s Fire and Public Records. Last week a fire occurred in Bir- mingham, Ala., which partially de stroyed the city hall of that city. The 1lcss heavy in intrinsic values, and especially in the destruc- tion“of irreplaceable volumes in the public library, which was housed in that building. The Birmingham Age. Herald, commenting upon this dis- aster, notes that the city hall has long been regarded 2 firetrap, adding: The loss of irreplaceable public rec- ords is the penalty any community pays for continued neglect of public fire hazards. Birmingham tempted fate a little too long. and only by chance has been spared a heavier tribute. It is an extraordinary fact that public buildings throughout this coun: try are poorer “risks” than private commercial structures. Business cor- porations insure against fire losses both by securing flnancial protection to cover possible damage and by building substantially. Government buildings, however, municipal, State and Federal, are maintained that could not be insured save at exorbi- tant premium rates. In this city priceless records, his- toric documents, irreplaceable files of Government procedure are stored in bulldings that are veritable invita- tions to disaster. Only by amazing good luck has the United States Gov- ernment escaped fire losses of a crip- pling character. These are not only stored files of past transactions, but ere current records of pending pro- cedures. Work is being transacted in filmsy, temporary buildings erected during the war that cannot be con- ducted without the use of documents that are daily exposed to complete destruction. Stmilar conditions pre- vail in rentsd buildings, old houses transformed for public work. These are mot fireproof buildings. They are not even fire-resisting. They cannot be “protected” by any system of fire prevention or fire checking. Yet year after year they are main- talned In the face 6f this condition, which is, of course, perfectly well known to the administrative officials and even to Congress, and nothing is done toward their replacement. The Government cannot insure it-| self against such losses as may at an. time result from fire in one of its| housings. It would have to make duplicate copies of every paper han- dled and keep them in fireproof vaults at a distance from the scene of ad ministrative work in order to be safe from a loss invelving billions of dol- lars. Next Winter perhaps Congress will vote for a comprehensive public build- ing program in this city to start the process of protecting the public serv- ice from the catastrophe of. fire. | —_—— e Raisouli, the famous Moroccan ban- dit, is reported to be dead. He has led an obscure Iife for a number of vears, and is entitled to a certain amount of respect for having made an apparent effort to reform when a large number of people were engaged in backsliding. ————— France can pay her indebtedness, says Senator Borah. This statement is a high tribute, and yet there are fears that France will refuse to feel flat- tered. * was ——— Hindenburg is old enough to de-| serve a peaceful existence. The mili- tlarists may yet be disappointed. e Anchors Aweigh. A sight once.common, now rare, and in a few more years to be a memory only, took place the other day, when out of New Bedford sailed the whaler John R. Manda, said to be the sole rempant of ‘the great whaling fleet which scoured the seven seas, and whose home was the ancient port at the mouth of the Acushnet River. The vessel is not going far; only oft Cape Hatteras, it is stated, and she expects to be away only five or six months. Her predecessors of near century ago sometimes made voyages of that many years. Nevertheless, her voyage is reminiscent of a glorious past when Yankee whalemen visited every navigable part of the globe, and when more whalers put out from New Bedford than from any other port in the world. She is said to carry all the old-fashioned “fishing™ equipment, including old-style band harpoons. Ten ‘thousand men and boys once gained their livelihood through New Bedford’s whaling industry. Those who went down to the sea for whales wers acknowledged with justice a.{ the mogt hardy group of white men on earth. Through tempests, snow, ice and burning- calms they plied their trade, capturing the largest of living animals, spirally flensing off their layers of fat as one would peel an orange;- never dreaming of starting the homeward voyage until the last cask had been ‘filled. Due to this trade only three Ameri- can parts—New York, Boston and New Orleans—exceeded, this comparatively oil, 272,000 barrels of whale ofl and 3,000,000 pounds of whalebone, not to mention quantities of ‘“whale ivory’ and the occaslonal chunk of fragrant ambergris, which sometimes sold for more money than all the casks below decks. In 1857, high-water mark of the trade, 329 whalers, representing an investment of $12,000,000, were registered from New Bedford. It is still a prosperous and important town, but the staccato clattering of spindles has replaced the rumbling of ofl bar- rels. With the slipping of the hawsers of the John R. Manda its whole whaling fleet departs. It is hoped the old craft may enjoy good luck and a speedy return. If never heard from again she may not, after all, be in Davy Jones' locker, but, llke a happier Flying Dutchman, with a crew enjoying per- petual youth or middle age, and eternal optimism, she may go on a-cruising forever, her eager harpooners fleshing their irons in great bulls selected from schools of ghostly leviathans. The Speed of Trucks. One of the best features of the new traffic law which becomes effective on May 3 is the definite limitation on speed of trucks and the gross load al lowed over c Although the regulation under which Washington is now operating gives pneumatic tired commercial vehicles up to 1 ton the same speed limit as that of passenger cars, the traflic authorities in framing the new meas. ure wisely decided that all trucks should be compelled to adhere strictly to a lower limit. Under the new regulations no motor truck equipped with solid tires is al- lowed to be driven at a speed greater than 15 miles an hour. Pneumatic tired commercial vehicles, on account of their greater flexibility, ease of con- trol and minimum damage to the | streets are allowed 18 miles an hour. No mention is made of the size of trucks, as in the old law, so that all commercial vehicles, large or small, must obey the new rule. Strict speed laws for trucks are not made necessary by the lack of manu- facturers’ care in bullding safety intc their products. The modern truck, with its oversize brakes and its ample allowance for overstrain, is an excep- tionally safe vehicle, and is one of the main factors in the transportation of the country. It is, as far as Wash- ington is concerned at least, the irre- sponsible and “hard-bolled” type of truck driver that makes it necessary to incorporate in the new traffic law a low speed limit. It was only a few weeks ago when historic Sixteenth street was thrilled by a wild race between two 5-ton solid tired trucks. Running neck-and-neck through the middle of the street, sweeping all passenger cars against the curb, the two drivers yelling and shouting, it made a spectacle that should never be permitted ‘under any law. It is to eliminate such happenings that the new regulation provides strict limits and heavy fines for non- observance. Under the new traffic scheme truck drivers, as well as pas- senger car Grivers, will be held to strict accountability for thelr actions, and those who do not co-operate will feel the heavy hand of the law. e The Growing Travel Habit. The rush of travel to Europe has started. Big steamers are sailing out of New York with full passenger lists. [Tt 1s reported by a steamship agency that the bookings for eastward voy- ages are unusually heavy and that al- ready intending travelers are finding difficulty in getting accommodations. At the same time there are indica- tions of a record-breaking tide of home travel this year. Inquiries already made at the headquarters of the Na- tional Park Service forecast a great migration westward. The Summer travel habit has grown greatly since the war. Americans are prone to go far afield for their diver- sions. In former times it was suffi- clent for a Summer vacationer to go to a “resort” not far distant and to remain there through the ‘‘season.” Now distance is sought as well as a complete change of scene. The motor car has done much to effect this change. With an individual means of transportation capable of going practically anywhere there is an incentive to continuous movement and so “grand tours” covering thou- sands of miles are now taken by many thousands of people. The national parks afford attractive objectives to Bastern Americans, being so located as to link up in a circuit of continu- ous charm and pleasure. The Summer stay-at-home is some- what of an anomaly in these times. By ship, by train, by motor car. the majority of people are on the move from the first of May until the end of October. At the present rate of ocean travel more and larger ships are constantly required and as for the travelers who prefer to keep within national boundaries, better and wider roads are becoming a necessity. So travel is making for material improve- ment as well as for a mental broad- ening and an increase of knowledge. — e Serman laboratories are suspected of manufacturing materials for high explosives and, what may be worse, the ingredients of synthetic gin. e The question of who is going to be “queen of the May” is unimportant as compared with that of who is going to lead a May day riot. ————————— Tammany's Entanglements. Events are occurring 8o swittly in the New York City mayoralty situetion as to keep the politicians busy. They are attracting the attention of Demo- crats outside the metropolis, especial- ly those concerned in national Demo- cratic politics, among whom there is no disposition to minimize their im- portance. This is due to general recog- nition of their bearing upon the party’s interests in the future. The latest in- cident was the issuance by Mayor Hylan last night of what is regarded as a defiance of Gov. Smith, who is classed as seeking to prevent the re- nomination of Mayor Hylan and as- sail the combination between that gen- small town in departing tonnage in| the 40s. In 1845 New Bedford's ships i broufl(m,lfl.oofl barrels of sperm tleman and William R. Hearst, the editor-publisher. The fact that such an alliance exists . is now admitted as beyond question. Mr. Hearst and Mayor Hylan have up to this time taken the aggressive, Mr. Hearst leading with the threat that the mayor must run for renomination even If it is to be on an independent ticket. In a statement issued last night the mayor is construed to have tacitly consented tosuch a contingency by the veiled Intimation that the selection of the next mayor of New York must be decided at the polls next November. He would thus seem to lend himself to the Hearst position that the contest for that office goes be- yond a struggle for the nomination and must be carried to the last analysis, a settlement at the polls on election day. The mayor and Mr. Hearst have de- clared the i{ssue of the coming con- test to be the continuance of the 5-cent railroad fare and improvement at the same time of transportation facilities. This is an attractive program and likely to command public support. Tammany's concern in the develop- ments is over the question not so much of who is to carry the banner in the mayoralty contest, but whether the man shall be nominated who can be sure of carrying the city. Tammany has not yet decided as to whether that man is Mayor Hylan or not. The crux of Gov. Smith's Interest in the situa- tion is his contention that Mayor Hy lan is not that man, and that the com- bination between Hylan and Hearst ! would spell Democratic defeat at the poils. So these be perilous times in New York politics. The next move expect- ed by Democratic political circles will be abandonment by Gov. Smith of his present plan of fighting under caver and a public statement by him of his demand for Mayor Hylan's elimina- tion, Popularity of Ancestors. A professional genealogist, speaking at a public meeting in Washington the other day, sald that “the majority of Americans don't seem to care a continental whether their ancestors were kings or horse thieves.” She is also reported as saying: “Only about one out of seven of the younger gen- eration will send in data requested for family records or even pay any at- tention to letters. This is a deplora- ble condition.” From so many points of the compass comes information that the world has gone awry that one is tempted to feel discouraged. The charge which this genealogist makes is surprising to a great many persons. It is believed that many Americans are so interested in their ancestors that they somewhat exaggerate their good points and soft pedal on others. It is quite widely believed that many Americans are so interested in their ancestors that they overlook some trifiing defects in them and dress them in plush knickerbockers and give them gilt swords. Could this geneal- ogist who charges that Americans lack interest in ancestors go so far as to say that they lack earnestness in looking up their coats-of-arm: Have not all those good men and wom- en who sailed in the Mayflower, or who came to Maryland with Lord Baltimore been utilized as ancestors in every practicable way? Have not many Americans worked their ances- tors for all they are worth? Can this | discontented genealogist point to many persons in our fair region whos: paternal ancestor did not come to the Potomac Valley to take up a 1,000- acre grant of land given him by the King and to build a mansion of bricks imported from England? It may be that this fair genealogist knows what she s talking about, but it surely gives some persons a shock to be told that Americans are indifferent to ancestors. ——eate. The trip of the dirigible Los Angeles had to be postponed because its fab- ric was wet with rain. The most highly developed mechanisms are sen- sitive to conditions. If you want to be sure of having a message delivered, hire a small boy on a bicycle. America listens respectfully to for- eign representatives, in spite of the fact that in all Europe there is not a base ball team worth mentioning. ————— Fruit crop failure is threatened every vear. There is always fruit. The cheerful prophet is fortunately the one who is usually most reliable. Nobody ever thinks of apologizing to a grand jury for wasting its valuable time. ———— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOTINSON. An Impression of the Drama We're getting better every day, Somebody said. And yet, as time goes on its way Through doubt and dread— ‘We sometimes are impelled to throw Into reverse Suspecting, as years onward go, We're getting worse! Exigencies. “Your constituents resent the fact that you voted to increase your own salary.” “I regret having to take the money,” answered Senator Sorghum. “But in these days every citizen is expected to economize.” Publicity. The movie actor has to face ‘The perils of publicity And sacrifice, in quest of His marital felicity. “space” Jud Tunkins says a few people thought the world was coming to an end when in fact it was only making a fresh start. Kaiser Wilhelm. Said Germany, with much regret, ““We are sufficiently in debt. Oh, Hindenburg, we fear you will Present us with another Bill!" Father's Fault. “You refused to marry a man with a title?” “It was father’s fault,” Miss Cayenne. and insisted epithet.” explained “He ignored the title on substituting an “Peace an’ quiet,” said Uncle Eber, “is whut pore folks kin injoy, not bein" able to buy @ phonograph or & loud speaker.® D THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. The Amsterdam, N, Y., Evening Re- corder does this column the honor to use a sentence from one of my re- cent articles as a text for an editorial. The editorial is entitled “The Ap- preclators,” and is as follos “‘The longer 1 live the more I realize that it is the Appreciators, not the Sneerers, the Critics or the Kidders, who inherit the earth.’ “So_says Charles E. Tracewell in The Washington Star. “He has the right view. _“The Sneerers, the Critics and the Kidders have a good deal to say just now. “They find it difficult to praise any- thing. “So superior and sophisticated are they that nothing is quite worthy of :heir commendation. “Surveying the whole field of human life and effort, they seemed to have reached the conclusion that the whole world s a joke, and a rather poor one at that. ~ Their belief sums up to the cockney's saying: “‘What's the good of anyfink? “‘Why, nofink.’ “But to the Appreciators, life is real, life is earnest, and life is very much worth while. They find ‘tongues in trees, books in the run ning brooks,” and, most important of all, ‘good in_everything.' They see things in their right proportions. They do not minimize evil, but they do not put it in the foreground, to the exclusion of the qualities that lift mankind above the brute. They see the working out, in the scheme of things, of & divine purpose. They see everywhere, standing out from the ruck, kindness, tenderness, thought- fulness, contentment, happiness, grati- tude, combining to make ‘life, death and the vast forever one grand, sweet “Surely the earth.”’ the Appreciators inherit ® %k From those good words from the town with the good old name, I would like to choose the idea of earnestness, as set forth in Longfellow's oft: quoted lines: Life is real. life is earnest, And the grave is not its goal Dust thou art. to dust returneth, Was not spoken of the soul. Many people today seem to think it necessary to sugar-coat their ear- nestness, as though it were something to be ashamed of. Take these luncheon clubs of busi- ness men. Some of them are carrying on the most worthy sort of charities, extend- ing the helping hand to the down- trodden, the unfortunate, exemplify- ing in deeds the highest thoughts of humanity. * But they have to sugar-coat it all with a lot of tom-foolery at their weekly lunches. I attended such a luncheon recently, at which a report upon work done for crippled children was the main feature. Do you think they got right down to_business, however? Not on your life! That would be too serious, something of which the aver age male American, in the herd, is terribly afraid. Your average good American would no more think of being serious when more than one is around than he would of openly declaring that base ball makes him weary. He must sugar-coat his seriousness with some playful remarks, or sInging of songs written by some man who ought to have confined his talent to selling hose. At _this meeting of which I speak the fine, earnest business of the day the | was prefaced with+a lot of crazy busi- ness, including joshing, “kidding” of various members, silly joking and various other brands of foolishness. There was not a man there who, alone, would not have been heartily ashamed to be caught acting and talking as he was acting and talking. Yet, en masse, he would have been ashamed of acting, talking or singing in any other way. * % % % These were all Babbitts, if you choose to call them that, or, better, if you want to concentrate merely on the superficial traits of Sinclair Lewis' great character. To me the best feature about Bab- bitt is something I have never seen mentioned in any review, and that is that over and above all the petty traits of Babbltt there is a great residium of good, of essential decency. I defy any one with a grain of se- riousness in his nature to read the book and not have a secret liking for George F. Babbitt. He has his faults, but, down at bottom, he is a llkable man, & good man, In reality, a credit to America. All these Babbitts, then—and I use the name as a compliment, as you see —at this particular luncheon were un- willing to be too earnest before their tellows. So they sugar-conted the report of the special committee. ‘When the report was read the diners settled down to serious attention. The work done for crippled children was a modern business exemplification of the work begun by Jesus nearly 2,000 years ago. Every man there found his heart touched—but do you imagine a one of them permitted his neighbor at table to see it? Not on your sweet life! As soon as possible the whole gather- ing started singing “For he's a jolly 800d fellow,” with additional verses by the hose salesman. A Apropos of earnestness, that is just ::» thing I like about President Cool- ge. He doesn't make any attempt to be a “goud fellow,” whatever that is. He hasn’t the slightest desire In the world, as far as anybody can see, to have Bill Smith clap him on the back as a “good fellow Even his “official spokesman' wouldn’t dare to say that the Presi- dent is a “‘good fellow.” Mr. Coolidge, evidently, is more in- tent on being regarded as a serious, high-minded President of the United States than as being hailed as a “good tellow."™ He, for one, is not afraid of being earnest. The rest of us might pattern our- selves somewhat after him with im- mense benefit to our immortal souls. One would not advocate, of course, earnestness that would rule out fun, laughter, smiles, jollity, happiness, It takes a serious man, In the last analysis, to have the most fun. Be- cause he is not perpetually on the “laughing side” he can all the more appreciate it when he gets there. This is a rule of life that never fails, that too much of anything is bad. Those, therefore, who always find it necessary to “‘josh, kid and cut capers, physically and mentally, find after a while that they canpot be se- rious if they would. To be earnest is simply to be in tune with the Creator. I cannot imagine God, when He created the universe, asking the angles to sing “For He's & Jolly Good Fellow.” WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Many of his friends are convinced that James Montgomery Beck retires from the solicitor generalship a dis- appointed man. Most of them think he has a right to his disappointment. Beck has long had the ambition, as he also has the talent, for higher of- fictal honors than ever came to him. The ambassadorship to the Court of St. James is probably the post he most coveted. There have been three envoys to Great Britain since 1921— Harvey, Kellogg and Houghton. Whenever there - was a vacancy, Beck's hopes were quickened, always to be damped. His admirers believe he would have made an admirable Attorney General, too. Yet Beck was doomed to see three - other chiefs come and go at the Department of Justice during his solicitorship there. He has strong claims on G. O. P. favor. One of the Nation's master orators, the party has used him freely in campaigns. Beck is a ‘rich man and will not need to practice law for a living. If he does, it will be on rare occasions and in causes that especially appeal to him, like great Constitutional questions. * ¥ X x during the war this ob- server was interviewing Winston Churchill in London. The young British statesman was exhibiting his library and some of the trophies that adorn it. On the wall hung a framed sheet of writing paper, filled with scribbled words and figures. “That's the rough draft of his first budget, before my late father, Lord Randolph Churchill, introduced it into the House of Commons as chancellor of the ex- chequer,” said “Winston,” in accents of pride. Now the son fills the great post occupied a generation ago by the parent. The son is destined, by all the signs of the ‘political zodiac, to mount the heights the father longed, but fafled, to scale, namely, the premiership of Britain. As certain as anything can be in public. life, Winston Churchill is headed for that goal of all sons of Britannla. He is youthful, as_statesmen go, having just turned 50. Englishmen ascribe his dash and daring to his half- American ancestry. PR The man who would have been Secretary of the Treasury if Robert Marion La Follette had been elected President has just been visiting this part of the country. He is Solomon Levitan, State treasurer of Wiscon- sin, who was elected for the third time in November, 1924. Mr. Levitan, a native of Germany, came to this One day country in 1880 and began life as a | farmhand near Baltihore. For the past 20 vears he has been ‘& banker at Madison, the Capital of the Bad- ger State and citadel of La Follette- ism. An active “Progressive Repub- lican” for the past 30 years, Mr. Levitan burns sincere incense at the shrime of “Battling Bob,” who looks upon him as one of the financial geniuses of the country. * ok k¥ Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt is about to have a medal hung upon her —not by the bootleggers’ syndicate. which loves her not at all, but by the natlonal committee on prisons and prison labor. Mrs. Willebrandt’s recognition for distinguished service concerns the reorganization of the Federal prison system under her di- rection as Assistant Attorney Gen- eral. She has particularly interested herself in the establishment of the new Federal prison for women in West Virginia. medals on the same occasion in New York on May 23 are Maj. LeRoy Hodges, managing director of the Virginia Chamber _of Commerce; Burdette C. Lewlis, State examiner of institutions and agencies of New Jer- sey, and the Texas Medical Associa- tion. L “American Policy and International Security” is the title of a highly im. portant -discussion which . will fea- Others to receive ture the twenty-ninth annual meet- ing of the American Academy of Political and_Soclal Science in Phil- adelphia on May 15 and 16. Dawes plan, allied indebtedness, disarma- ment, immigration, outlawry of war, world peace and forelgn investments are the themes around which debate will range. Well known author- ities will take part in it. Among them are Dr. Leo S. Rowe, president of the academy; Oscar T. Crosby, John Hays Hammond, Roland W. Bovden, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Herbert Adams Gibbons, Willlam Hard, John H. Clarke, Roland S. Morris, Henry W. Taft, David Hun- ter Miller, Senator Hiram Bingham, Dr. James T. Shotwell, Norman Hap- good and Alvin Johnson. On “The Possibility of Disarmament,” Col. “Bil Mitchell, Admirals Rodgers and Fiske and Dr. Smiddy, Irish Minister to the United States, will be heard from. ok o x Dr. James Brown Scott, who pre- sides with genius over the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has discovered that the Monroe doc- trine didn't originate with James Mon- roe at all. Its pristine patentees were the Kings of Portugal and Spain in 1750, 73 years before the idea occurred to the fifth President of the United States. Dr. Scott says. The doctrine of Monroe, which has preserved, as we of North America believe, the independence of the Americas, was, indeed, North American in its form of. statement. * * * But it was a native of Brazil, happening then to be secretary to the King of Portu- gal, who proposed a treaty that was concluded between the august sovereigns of the Iberian Peninsula and which became responsible for 19 of the existing 21 American re- publics. The treaty was the pact of Umitation of conquest between King John V of Portugal and King Ferdinand VI of Spain, signed at Madrid on January 13, 1750, ratified by Portugal 13 days later and by Spain on February 8 of the same vear. B Informal steps have been taken to galvanize with fresh life the National Civil Service Reform League of the United States. The prime mover fs the president of the league, Robert Catherwood. The purpose of the reor- ganized enterprise would be to take a_livelier interest in civil service problems. These have grown with the growth of the Government, and out- strip in both volume and importance the issues in the mind of the original and famous civil service reformer, William Dudley Foulke of Indiana. There is reason to believe that the Government departments welcome, rather than resent, such counsel and co-operation as the Civil Service Re- form League projects. Amid the tra- vail and anxiety within the eervice, due to the administration’s economy program, the league probably will find itself functioning as a comforter as well as a reformer. (Copyright, 1925.) ilitary Training. Ten years ago some thousands of American citizens paid the Govern- ment §100 each for a few weeks' mili- tary training at Plattsburg, and Gen. Leonard Wood incurred the grave dis- pleasure of the politically hostile ad- ministration for his establishment of that camp. This year it is expected that nearly 40,000 men will be trained, free of cost to themselves, at that and the other similar camps. History re- cords the inestimable value that that first year's work of Plattsburg was to the Nation in the World War. It will record the continuation and great expansion of that same system as one of this Nation's finest achievements for the disciplined preparedness which is one of our strongest guarantees of C., FRIDAY, -MAY 1 1925, Ship Captain Defended. | Saving of Lives of Raifuku Maru Crew Held Impossible. To the Editor of The Sta ‘The responsibility of a shipmaster at such a time as the recent sinking of the Japanese steamer Ralfuku Maru {s tremendous. His first duty is to the safety of his ship and the lives abcard her; the first law of the sea s to do all possible toward the rescue of seamen in distress. It requires skill to maneuver a large ship around a wreck in a gale. A study of the prevailing sea, as shown by plctures, indicates a conditipn in which a lifeboat could not live, It is a difficult feat to get a boat safely awny from a ship's side in a moderate sea. What, then, the chances when the great liner was “taking water over her lower decks”? But the item should not he over- looked that the lifeboat was rigged out, ready for lowering. That boat's crew was ready in the face of that sea to lower at the word from the bridge. The captain had no inten- tion of deliberately drowning a boat’s crew. He undoubtedly hoped the oil he had pumped overboard might sub- due the breaking sea and offer a chance. The factors of temperature, quality of ofl or strength of wind were evidently not conducive to bring the desired result. ‘The launching of a life raft has been advanced as a possibility of rescue. It would of necessity have drifted down on the weather side. where, the pictures show, it would have ‘undoubtedly been quickly de- molished and a seaman on that side of the ship battered unconscious with the first wave. To have attempted to work & raft under the lee of the bow or stern with a line attached would have been futile, because the pictures clearly show the decks impassable and the crew was amidships. Even the backwash of the sea on the lee side is visible over the weather rail in one place. Capt. Roberts is_criticized for his quick departure. This point has not been fairly considered. His report says the Raifuku Maru capsized (or nearly s0) at 11:18 am. If this is so, then hardly a barnacle could cling to the vessel's bottom, to say nothing of a seaman, and it was then, un- doubtedly, that her crew were thrown into the sea. In such broken water life could be sustained but a short time, us even a floating man would not have a fair chance of keeping water from his lungs when attempting to get air. The ship sank at 11:56 am. and the Homeric proceeded at 12:03 pm., so it will be seen she re- mained 45 minutes after the ship cap- sized. It now appears that masters under such circumstances should make a display of activity purely for pub- lic effect, regardiess of its hopeless efficacy. It seems incredible, in view of the distinction and rewards that come to the master saving life at sea, that Capt. Roberts, alive to the traditional demands, would miss a chance to make a rescue. GERSHOM BRADFORD. ——————— Wynn Injured in Army Prior to World War To the Editor of The Star Walter Wynn, the ex-soldier for whom a benefit concert will be given | on May 15 at the Washington Audi- torfum, has received widespread pub- licity. he has been classed as a World War veteran instead of an ex-soldier of the United States Army. Prior to the World War Walter Wynn enlisted in the United States Army and was sent to the Phillppine Islands. While there he met with an unfortunate accident when attending o his duties. The 12-nch gun which he was operating backfired and in- Jured him. His injury incapacitated him beyond immediate cure, thus ren- dering him ineligible for the World War, though he received his injury while serving his country in the Regu- lar Army. The definitions of “World War vet- eran” and “ex-soldier” are at variance technjcally, and, as such, is a delicate ome ut this time. It is well that the public, which plans to help him, will ot be laboring under a misapprehen- sion to know it. . 1. on behalf of the Vincent B. Cos- tello Post, No. 15, American Lagion, herewith express my utmost sorrow for having overlooked this difference, and I sincerely trust that this mis- nomer has not altered the sentiments and humanitarian good will of the reading public. CHARLES KOHEN, Cognmalrsnder, Vincent B. Costello Post, 0. 15. Fears Rules Change. Writer Thinks Curb on Senate Would Be Dangerous. To the Editor of The Star: The subject of the minority some- times blocking the Senate is very im- portant for the public to consider, as has been stated by able politicians through The Evening Star. In a re. cent address, which was reported in The Star of April 21, 1925, our ad- mired Vice President, appealing for the people to consider the suggested change of “minority blocking,"” broad- mindedly said that, “This appeal is not in a spirit of hostility. It is to form and present an issue upon which a fair test of public opinion can be made.” The Vice President is due commen- dation when he takes the attitude that he does and speaks of it so publicly, of considering the people’s wishes. In speaking of the people he says * * * “Their belief should be reflected in In the course of this publicity | Q@ Where was Jos Judge born?— "A. He is a native of New York City. He was born there May 25, 1894, Q. Does the Home for Incurables come under the jurisdiction of the As- sociated Charitles?>—R. M. E. A. The Home for Incurables is not under the jurisdiction of either the Associated Charitles or the Board of Charities. The home is supported by a congressional appropriation of $5,000 and by private contributions. Q. Did Henry Watterson ever live in Washington?—D. H. W. A. Henry Watterson was born in ‘Washington and began his journalis- tic work as an editorial writer for the Washington States. He was a mem- ber of Congress 1876-78. Q. What is the word describing a fish which leaves salt water and en- ters fresh water during spawning sea- son?—H. Y. A. The Bureau of Fisheries says that such fish are called ‘“anadro- mous.” Q. What was the name of the other naval base that Cuba ceded us with Guantanamo?—W. L. D. Q. It was Bahia Honda. Q. If an American citizen should commit a murder on a steamer going to Europe, where would he be tried? o. A’ Crimes committed on the high sea are under the jurisdiction of the nation whose flag is flown by the ves- sel on which they occur. Q. Who were the recusants?—C. T. A. Recusants, a term used under the penal laws of England, were those persons who refused or neglected to attend the divine service on Sundays or to worship according to its forms. Q. Is there a red snake?—F. R. B. A. There is a red-bellled snake, so- called, found in some parts of the United States. Q. Has English a greater slang vo- cabulary than any other language’— A. French ranks first; English sec- ond, in the possession of the richest slang vocabulary. Q. What bBecame Caesarion’—G. E. R. A. By order of Octavius, Caesarion, the son of Caesar was put to death. of Caesar’s son 11 Fow are hot tamales mader— A. White part—Mix one quart corn- meal with one pint warm water; add one teaspoon salt and one-half pound hot lard to make soft dough. part—Mix one cup meal with one tea- spoon salt. Heat one-half pound lard and one-half quart can tomatoes with one teaspoon red pepper and one cup water. While stfll hot add the corn- meal and boil this to make a dough Cut two pounds boiled chicken into small pleces. To make each tamale, spread one tablespoon white dough on cornshucks and one teaspoon red dough and pleces of chicken about one-fourth the size of the tamale. Wrap each tamale in cornshucks and steam one hour. This recipe makes 40 tamales. Q. What Is the adjustment of a watch balance necessary to keep per- fect time?—V. D. A. A watch balance vibrating ex- actly 18,000 times each hour will keep perfect time, but if it should vibrate 15,001 times an hour, the watch would gain 2 2.5 minutes in a month. or holidays in the Established Church | Red | ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN liquid tc the solid state it expands to an amount of about 1-11 of its volume; that is, one volume of water forms 1.0908 volumes of ice. Q. How many yards are there in a skein?—G. V. M. A. Cotton yarn has 840 yards to the hank or skein, worsted yarn has 560 and woolen yarn 1,600. Q. Wasn't there at one time an or- ganization in the South known as Red Shirts?—A. R. A. During the reconstruction period following the Civil War, there was an organization so-called in North Caro. lina. Its object was to establish and maintain the supremacy of the whites, Its members wore red shirts. Q. Where is the Great Stone Face that Hawthorne wrote about?—J. A. It is on Mount Cannon, confa Range, New Hampshire. Q. Who was the last queen to reign in any of the leading countries? T. H. A. The Netherlands has a queen at present. The principality of Luxem burg and Abyssinia also have woman rulers. Q. Is “ace” an official title for a certain class of aviators’—F. B. N A. There is no official word This has been popularly gi those pilots or obse: who are offi cially credited with bringing down five or more enemy aircraft, either air planes or balloons. The air service does not sanction the use of the w as it glorifies a particular branch of aviationy at the expense of oth wherein it is not the duty of pi and observers to seek out enemy aft for destruction, but to perfo other missions under just as dang ous conditions Q. When will the phases of the moon be on the same dates as this year?—H. T. A. The Naval Observatory says that the phases of the moon will fall on nearly the same dates in 1944 Q. How long sinc used W. W. A. The shoddy trade was begun at Batley, Yorkshire, England, in 1513 by Benjamin R also was among the earliest products of Amer- ican woolen mills 309 there wer 88 shoddy es! ed States. Q. automobil —A. N. A. Australia. shoddy was first What coun fron will take paint or varn ain nish use three parts of Amer- ican potash to one part | lime. ~ Lay this on | let it remain for | spots may also be removed rub- | bing them with very hot, sharp vine gar. Q. Does an Indian's gray?—E. J. H A. The Indian Offi dians do become gray. turn says that In (The Star Information Bureau will {answer your question. This offer ap- | plies strictly to information. The hu- reau cannot give advice on legal, medi- | cal and financial matters. It does not | attempt to settle domestic tro nor | to undertake ezhaustive research |any subject. Write your quest plainly and briefly. Give full name an address and inclose 2 cents in | for return postage. All repl, Q. How much does water expand when it freezes?—M. M. A. When water passes from Balkan Trouble the Assassination and other outrages in Bulgaria have drawn the eyes of the world again to the Balkan tinder- box. The attempt to kill King Boris, which resulted in the death of two of Lis aides, and the bomb attack upon a cathedral with substantial loss of life have caused much speculation. Many American editors blame the Russian Reds, while others see only resumption of “normal” conditions in the Balkans. “After all, the question in Bul- garia,” Suggests the Lincoln Star, “‘comes ‘back to the question of the form of government. Of the four na- tions that fought the war against the allies, defeat overthrew the dvnasties in three. Only in Bulgaria is found the same dynasty which held sway previous to the great conflict. Unrest and bloody warfare are likely to con- tinue until Boris is driven from the throne.” Doubt about this theory is indicated. however, by the Newark Evening { News, which holds that “it will be, difficult accurately to appraise the ex- tent to which the disorders are attrib- utable, on the one hand, to commun- istic propaganda working in fertile soil, and on the other hand to the de. veloping national consciousness of peoples freed from the yoke of dynas- tic rule as a result of the war, de- manding the full fruits of that vic- tory.” The Indianapolis News views the grievances of the Bulgarian peasants as outstanding and the prompt declar- ation of martial law as indicating a serious condition. “Unrest in that country,” remarks the New York Times, “will probably continue until this hang-over issue from the war is sharply decided one way or the other.” The ambitions of the Bulgarlan army the attitude of the Senators.” Such an attitude, publicly expressed by one so high up helps us smaller folks to realize that this is our Gov- ernment and this is our country. This proposed change of rule seemingly would be very beneficial because of some recent events in Con- gress and some of those “lacking party spirit” occasions, but shouldn't we consider both sides of the ques: tion? It is true that business an laws could be passed upon more quickly, but this would lead to illus- trating ‘“haste makes waste.” More laws could be passed, and in less time, but we have too many laws now. ‘What we want is more enforcement and less laws, with the fewer laws being just laws. Of course, our Vice President is conscientiously attempt- ing to minimize present evils with no desire for the impending calamities that are bound to follow. Is this toa strong? This Is not too strons. TWo terrible evils can be seen. These two evils are, the easy passage of un- constitutional law and a step in pre- paring the way. for bolshevism. What? Read a quotation from the recognized program of the Reds, re- ported in the Saturday Evening Post of January 24, 1925, on page §9: “ e * ¢ Elimination of existing constitutional forms and founda- tions * * * and the destruction of all * * * political institutions as they exist at present time.” “‘Bolshev- ism which means ‘world revolution.’ The Reds try different entering wedges according to the country being worked. In Moscow there is a large monuument “Showing the Red wedge of bolshevism splitting the rock of established government.” “Boishev- ism Exposed,” page 118. “New and desperate bolshevik of- fenses are in full swing in a form ‘which varies in accordance with the conditions in each country.” Times of Washington, April 21, 1925. the as a cause of war are emphasized by the St. Joseph News Press, which calls attention to the fact that for generations the principal occupation of the people has been war. “To the officers, and, soldlers,” says the News eace and starvation are al- gynonymous terms." " The Springfield Republican believes that in view of the rivalry and mili tary, strength of Jusoslavia, ‘‘the stormy Balkans need disarmament rather than' more .bayonets, and in particular ‘' they need governments which the majority of the people are ready - to accept.” . - * % ¥ ¥ Numerous papers look upon the sit- uation_ in the Balkans as a_continu- ous performance and one which has been only: briefly interrupted. “It might almost be =aid,” says the Charleston Evening Post, “that Bul- garla s getting back to ‘the normal, for these are the sort of things that used_to happen In those parts before the World War. They are, indeed characteristic of all Balkan politics." The Reno Guzette observes: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, ac cording to the old saying, but the head of Boris is different—it is un- easy all the time, lying or standing up, at home or traveling.” The throw things out of proportion of checks and balances: it would pre- vent proper consideration of difficult problems; cause Senators to vote hastily: prevent the minority post- ning the vote when some vital in- Ftination I coming in; preveat fully debating a question: it would defeat one of the objécts of government, which is to protect the minority while the majority rules; and it seems that if the change was necessary it would have been made by now, without bringing pressure. for the Senate has had power to make the change, 33 T 00 LAWRENCE, girect to the inquirer. Adc \J. Haskin, direcior, Twen streets northwest.) Laid to Habit Or to Reds by Different Editor South Bend Tribune believes tions of civilization and must pass before the danger flagration will be eliminated. The Louisville Courler-Journal ancing red activities a agitation, remarks: “It m able for ‘the government to m: appear that this horrible crime is the { work of agents of Russia which may be true. It is e: ever, to believe that a fac guilty, so bitter has been the fac feeling.” The relations betwee reds and the agrarians mentioned by the Oakland Tribt which predicts that “After the r lution is over, the communi agrarians, working together now. will have differences of their own 1o set- e Economic conditions the Danville Register. garia will pass from the st mestic upheaval to a conditic which the outside world will be fc to take notice depends anything on the outcome of the ent wheat shortage, exaggerated overproduction of tobacco in where grain was formerly grow: The Albany Evening News that it is hard -to belleve that this crime was carried out by any group which seeks to obtain contro! of the government, but that it was the act of criminals. Blame is definitely placed upon Mos- cow, “the professional mischief & er,” by the Pittsburgh Chronicl graph, which sees in the present uation confirmation of the wisdom of the American Government's course in refusing any official relations with Moscow. The Baltimore Sun connects the communists with the Mac revolution party, and “Moscow hope of Bulgarian sup port in the event of reconquest of sarabla from Rumania, a loss to which the Soviet government hus never been reconciled.” The Buffalo News also thinks the attempt on the King’s life was quite itkely th K of communists, since assassination is commonly employed by all political parties in Bulgaria. e Star Oratory Contest Policy Wins High Praise feels ak- Te To the Editor of The Star: Now that the smoke of battle has cleared away, I am taking this op portunity to write to you to congratu late you upon the broad-gauged pol icy of The Star in fostering the Na tional Oratorical Contest in Wash ington with such profound results. 1t was perhaps the best thing that could_have happened for the contest that Mr. Leigh took personal charge of the local division, as some of the ideas he has put into the publicity have had the most gratifying results. none of which stimulated more gen eral interest than the photographic campaign. Over at the Musolit Club, where 1 get the reflected sentiment of the most intelligent group of colored Washington, this connecting photo- graphically of the participants on a dignified and impartial scale aroused more interest in the affair than any other single measure of publicity adopted. At the Armstrong where 1 was contest manager same reaction was apparent I believe The Star has done much for Americanism in Washington and Inid the foundation for a keener ap preciation of the form of government under which we all live and sub weribe allegiance, its ideals, and th duties and responsibilities it impos upon all citizens. Again congratulat ing you and vour paper, I am GEORGE H. MURRAY.