Evening Star Newspaper, May 3, 1925, Page 46

2 THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Fdition. WASHINGTON, D. C. SUNDAY.. .May 3, 1925 THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor The [ ning Star Newspaper Company Business Offic 11th'St. and Pennay New York Office: 110 East Chicago Oftice . Tower Building Buropean Office: 16 Regent St., London, England The Erening Star. with the Sundas morn ing edition. is delivered by carricrs within the ity at’ 80 cents per month - daily only, 45 cents per month: Sunday only. Per ‘month, | Orders may be sent by n 5000. Collection c end of cach month. w made by Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. jand and Virginia. and Sunday....1sr. $8.40:1 only 0: 1 mo. Dails and s Daily only Sunday only 10: 1 mo 1 mo $3.00: 1 mo Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled 0 the use for republication of all news dis. patehes credited o it or not otherwise cred- ited fn this paper and also the local news Dublished herein. Al rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. The Community Chest Plea. The revival of the ‘“community hest plan” as a solution for Wash ington's problems in the matter of fund raising for local welfare organi. zations is timely and significant. “chest plan,” defined, is one which provides for the raising of the funds cssential to the efficient functioning of all participating local agencles in one big annual campaign. Its to provide for scrutiny of individual agency budgets by a competent committec commanding the full confidence of both donors and agencies; to prevent fraud, duplication of effort and waste; 1o relieve local agencies of the difficul- tics and expenses of individual cam paigns for funds, and to spare the con- tributing public the ever increasing an- noyance of an interminable succession of charity drives. To such a plan, theoretically out lined, there can be no logical dissent. Objections theret> must, if they are at all worthy of consideration, be con cerned with the practicality of its application in the District of Colum bia. The plan, if attempted. must give every assurance of success. To this| end three factors The management of the affalr by a group commanding the absolute confidence of the public and the local welfare agencies. The adherence of all or at least a strong majority of the reputa- ble local agencies. The whole-hearted and generous support of the con- tributing community. Of these factors the first is obvious- 1y of by far the greatest importance. Indeed, given a managerial group of the indicated type, the second and third factors would almost surely fol-| low. For an agency that would mnot | cheertully be quit of the difficult and arduous burden of competitive fund raising, and a public that would not joyfully pay a premium over and| above its present total contributions to swap the pestiferous circle of drive, appeal, campaign, appeal, drive, for an annual filling of a chest from whic every community welfare requirement would be met would be inconceivably blind to its own interests. Given management of a type from which the agencies and the public may with assurance expect wisdom, | effictency and fairness, the chest plan | can and will succeed in Washington Lacking that type of management it cannot. So it is that the auspices un- der which its consideration is revived arc wisely conceived. The Commis- sioners, it is announced, alive increasing pressure for the ch tem on the part of the public, are to call a large group of representative ‘Washingtonians together. This group will be asked to pass upon the ques- tion of whether the chest can and should be applied as the solution to the local problem of welfare support. In answering that question they should do so in the full consciousness that if their answer is yes, it means that they, working through an execu- tive committce which they should elect, pledge not only their dollars, but also their individual interest and executive abilities to the successfu’ prosecution of 4 fine adventure. o Good old times have evidently re- turned o Sofia. The old town is look- ing for an assassination almost any moment. concisely objects are the the are essential a to an ——— “Seid Suas! News North at the jazz craze towns so hard that being superseded by and that music stores, in view of the unprecedented demand for the latter combination of rced and brass tones, have had to telegraph English cities in order to fill orders. Persons famillar with Scottish con- servatism, while willing to credit the statement that the saxophone may be entering into the national life of that country, will refuse to believe that the invention of the late Herr Sax can ever supplant the pipes. Compared with the effect on a Scot, highland or lowland. of the shrill pipes, the music of & saxophone, or any other instru- ment for that matter, fs as that of near-beer to a pre-war cocktail. His history, both clan and national, is in- Jdissolubly bound up with the marches pibrochs, laments—even reels and strafhspeys—of the ancient and honor- abic-bag of wind. e Saxon ears the pipes do not al- ways'86und melodious, although pipers and drummers combined deliver the aeme of chythm. Since the late war ane rest: Sf=the world hears the pipes oftener ahd’1s Yearning to like them better than ‘cver before. Washington now rejoices in a very creditable pipe band which is heard on numerous ap- propriate occasions. The mellow saxo- phone. casy to learn and readil adaptable to Scottish national music, is probably sharing somewhat in the popularity of fiddics, accordions and other music-making devices of the Caledonians. But it is unthinkable Britain states hit Scottish the bagpipes are the saxophone, from or has of training was once thought neces- sary and whose master was one of the principal figures of his community. Can any one picture a Scottish chief- tain being laid to rest among his an- cestors while the saxophones play over him? Can one imagine a group of “sax" players circling the banquet hoard to the inspiring strains of “The 70th Highlanders' Farewell to Gibral- tar”? Can one visualize some railitary musician of the future emulating the cxample of Piper Findlater at the tak- ing of Dargal Hill, propped wounded against a rock and cheering on his fellow Gordons with his saxophone? Never! As long as thero is a Highland regi- ment in the British army there will be pipe bands. As long as the army uscs them the people’s taste for these instruments is likely to survive. No one knows just when this ancient devicg, @ world-wide favorite with hill peoples, came into popularity in ancient Albainn. There is on exhibi- tion in Iidinburgh a set of pipes bear- ing the date 1408, still in good condi- tion and perfectly playable. But it is easy to announce when they will g0 out of favor. It will be just about the time that the Archangel Gabriel is giving his long-heralded brass trumpet solo. o “Seid suas,” as the Scots would or in more familiar speech, Edward A. Paul. The unveiling of a portrait and tab- let'as a memorial to James Ormond Wilson at the Wilson Normal School Friday brings pointedly to mind the fact that proper honor has never been done to the memory of Edward A. Paul, the first principal of the Wash. ington High School and founder of the high school system in the District of Columbia. Though more than 36 years have passed since his death, and buildings have been added to the District's school establishment in that period., none has been named for him, and it is surely time that this belated recognition be: given to one who contributed so much to the development of the system of public education at the Capital. Edward A. Paul was principal, and in fact sole teacher of the first high school in Washington, located in a small building on Twelfth street. It was an experiment, but it proved so uccessful that after a few vears, with inadequate housing, the school was provided with a home on O street, which regarded as a distinct achievement in the development of ‘Washington's public schools. From that one school has developed a sys- tem comprising seven high schools The tragic death of Mr. Paul pro- foundly shocked the community. He was in the course of development as one of the country’s notable educators. ‘While principal of the high school he had been called to duty as acting superintendent to fill a vacancy, and was tendered a permanent appoint- ment, which he declined in order that he might continue his cherished work of developing the higher educational system in the public schools. He had an ideal for the evolution of a city college. out of or supplementary to the high schools, plans for which he was maturing when he met his death by an accident. When the new Central High School was projected it was suggested that the name of Edward A. Paul be given to it, but objection was raised that it would deprive the school of its distine- tive character as the truly central in- stitution of the high school system. This opportunity having gone by, no thought appears to have been given since officially to the propriety and de- rability of identifying one of the more important school structures with many is i the memory of the man who in effect gave his life for the District's educa- tional work. Opportunity comes with the erection of new buildings under the enlarged construction program to pay this tribute to the founder of the high school system. Since his death the names of many far less important peo- now ple have been perpetuated in this man- | ner, some of them not identified with the District’s school history. No more time should be lost in making this tardy acknowledgment of a service from which this community has great- 1y profited. ——— It is now alleged that insane people are permitted to drive cars. The psychologists and the efficiency ex- perts have before them a new field in which they might surpass their pre- vious records for usefulness. — ——eon A great deal of so-called “‘commu- m" has no sociological basis, but is unsubstantial display of superficial literary or conversational smartness. e American Business Abroad. Addressing 700 members of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York the other day, Charles E. Jughes, former Secretary of State, dissipated some illusions which have been entertained as to the Govern- ment's activities in business and the State Department’s connection with trade affairs in Central America. He made it very plain that there is no foundation for the report cir- culated by progressives in this coun- try that the United States has in- tervened improperly on behalf of Wall Street in Central America and the Caribbean, or that this Govern- ment cherishes an imperialistic pol- i As Mr. Hughes humorously phrased it, “They get political head- aches from eve strain caused by the affort to see what does not exist.” He ridiculed those who imagine that they discover a Government con- trolled by bankers and pictured the feelings of the bankers themselves, conscious of the extent and inevitable risks of their unaided efforts, in the irony of these charges. Mr. Hughes asserted that the truth is that In- vestment in foreign loans is and must be a private affair. Mr. [ughes claims that the Amer- jcan policy rests on the conviction that, given an equal opportunity broud and fair dealing, American business men can take care of them- selves, although some seem to think that it will ever supplant in national favor the ancient instrument for whose proper mastery a seven-ycar course that the Government has not followed the examples of other nations in pushing the business interests of Americans abroad. Mr. Hughes is of THE SUNDAY STAR opinion that American capital is welcomed in many countries needing development because of the very fact that business enterprises eponsored by our business men are not asso- clated with governmental intrigye. Our Government does not play fa- vorites among American business men and it seeks for all the open door of opportunity. He believes that the Government has and should have the strong support of business organizationd in maintaining this policy. Mr. Hughes realizes that as never before American business is alding constructive efforts throughout the world, and wherever exists an ex- tremely difficult field there will be found the American adviser. —o— The New Postal Rates. Despite all the explanations and warnings given by the Post Office De partment, many people are still con- tused by the new mail rates, which re. cently went into effect to provide ad- ditional revenue for the payment of larger compensation to the postal workers. The_half-cent rate, especial- ly, is giving trouble. Some think that a l-cent stamp cut in half will serve to meet the new rule. It will not. A halved postage stamp is worth simply nothing at all. To meet the new half- cent requirement It is necessary fo secure one of the new stamps of that denomination. There is confusion, likewise, regard- ing the class of matter to which the half-cent rate applies. It does not af- fect postal cards, or first-class matter, sealed letters. Postal cards printed by the Government remain at a penny. Picture post cards and those privately printed require 2 cents each. All let- ters are mailable at 2 cents for the es tablished unit of weight. Persons who add a half-cent stamp to postage on a letter are simply giving the Govern- ment half a cent for nothing. The half-cent stamp is for use on third class, circular and printed mat- ter, not on post cards or sealed letters. It does mot apply to the ordinar: postal uses of individuals, but affects merchandise and mail matter of busi- ness firms sent out for advertising and soliciting purposes, the rate on such matter being 11 cents for each unit of 2 ounces. ——————— A Famous Hotel Passes. With the closing of the doors on Friday of the New Ebbitt House passes one of the old landmark hotels of Washington. There will be a feeling of regret over this departure. The Eb- bitt House had become historic in its service during many decades. On its register have been signed the names of some of the greatest men in Ameri- can affairs. It has been the scene of notable festivitles, important meetings and conferences. Those who knew this hostelry only in the latter days of its comparative decadence cannot quite appreciate the sentiment entertained for it by others of longer residence. Time was when “The Ebbitt” was a center of fashion- able assemblage, of political activity. Occupying @ commanding position, it was an architectural feature of Wash- ington in its early days. Its name was known far beyond the District's boun- daries, as it figured often in the news dispatches about important events at the Capital. And so doubtless the re- gret that is felt here at tne closing of its famous doors, which have remained cpen for so many years, will be echoed in other cities, where the memory of the Ebbitt remains. Thus do the landmarks pass, one by one. Washington, constantly chang- ing, grudgingly sacrifices its cherished institutions to progress. ————. Experimentation will be cautious in preventing the development of a new motor fuel that will demand your life as well as your money N May 1 each year tends to limit public demonstration to the peaceful parade of moving vans. ———. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON Ultimate Repose. Some day by airship we will go From Kankakee to Buffalo, And then we'll say, “Why should we roam? Turn on the radio and stay at home, But every, town grows like the rest With shops, hotels and jazzy zest. What real difference can you see ‘Tween Buffalo and Kankakee?" Utilizing an Orator. “Are you going to ‘make any speeches out hom “I don't know,” answered Senator Sorghum. “The only invitation I re- ived seems kind o' doubtful. The reception committee said they had some time to kill owing to the visiting ball team having missed the train and they wished I'd step in and fili- buster a little.” Intimate Appeal. Oh, Europe, if you have a scheme Our interest to claim ‘Why don’t you form a base ball team And get into the game? Jud Tunkins says a man who is al- ways smiling and good natured is mighty likely to prove a bit of a hypocrite. Seeking Real Thrill. “Did you dance with the Prince of Wales?” “Yes,” answered Miss Cayenne. “But the experience was nothing wonder- ful. T wanted a real thrill, and was in hope that he would invite me to one of his parties where he goes on horseback.” Easy Acquittal. “Let's hang the Kaiser!” cried; “His friends are all rejected!” And next the news went far and wide, “Herr Hindenburg's clected once they The old traditions still persist. A royal birth still hallows. He did not need an alienist To save him from the gallows “When you tells your troubles to a friend,” said Uncle Eben, “you starts him tellin’ his troubles to you, an’ de result ain’ nuffin’ but a gloomy conver- sation,” WASHINGTON, D. C, MAY 3 19 Hopeful Song of Nature Hel_d Sure Harbinger of Harmony BY THOMAS R. MARSHALL, Former Vice President of the United States. In at least one particular nature has the edge on human nature. When it grows disgusted with itself, if it ever does, it keeps still about it. Year after vear it rejuvenates itself, uttering no complaint about the past; constantly, it strives to- ward betterment. Just now ‘evidences of its wholly wise and very desirable activities everywhere may be seen in bursting bud, opening leaf and in- cipient harvest. The volce of the turtle is abroad in the land and may be heard despite the incessant caw- ing of crow The pessimist is having no_better time now than in the past. but as more varieties of him exist his noise in the aggregate is greater. It is not that the pessimist sounds un- truths—in fact he does not. It is his determination to speak the truth whether or not it should be spoken that makes him an irritant. When nature through u thousand voices sings hopefully mony is pro- duced, but when the crows caw utter discord prevails. So it is when men speak hopefully or when they begin to despair. Yet their truth- fulness has nothing to do with their effect. It is the quality of thetr voices which produces = cheer or mournfulness. ¥ % ¥ Nature, of course, is not perfect— nothing is. Not every tree grows straight; all flowers are not equally beautiful and sweet. But trees seek to grow straight and even modest flowers continue to bud and blos- som and send out into the circum- ambient air such odor as they pos- sess. As best she can, nature heals her own wounds, straightens her crookedness, beautifies herself all un- complainingly. Human nature learns 1 too little from this great lesson No one insists that everything fis right or imagines that everything will be right: no one denies that a thousand things could be changed for the better und should be changed. We do not object, therefore, to the pessimist, who puts into his mourn- ful song a suggestion of betterment. It is the singer who believes that by creating discord he is accomplishing some good purpose to whom we ob- ject. Innumerable crows now, as always, are cawing about innumerable things —about the condition of labor, for one thing, and the prevalence of crime and its causes for another. We hear that men arc working too long and doing too much. Just what injury comes to a man from applying him- self for a reasonable period each day I do not know, vet we are told we must shorten the hours of labor and see to it that a worker does only so much in his period of toil. From other sources come high-sounding squawks to the effect that what ails America is too much leisure, that most of our crime springs from short hours of labor, and that the way to deter @ man from evil is to work him 50 long and so hard that when he FEATS OF SIGNAL CORPS CHIEFS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN A reception tendered by Maj. Gen. Charles McK. Saltzman, the present chief signal officer of the Army, to the four living former chief signalofficers— Maj. Gen. Adolphus W. Greely. Maj en. James Allen, Brig. Gen. George Scriven and Maj. Gen. George B. Squier—for the first time in the his- tory of the country. it is believed, brought together five former and present chiefs of any one by the Arm This was a very interesting group, not only because each member has at one time been chief of the Signal Corps, but because each one has some other claim to fame. Gen. Greely, for instance, who was chief signal offi- cer from 1887 to 1906, won interna- tlonal recognition by a scientific ex- pedition to Lady Franklin Bay, which was one of the 15 international sta- tions established for scientific work under the plans of the Hamburg inter- national polar conference of 1879. The Greely expedition started out in 1881 with 25 men. Sclentifically, i “made the nearest gravity observa- tions to the Pole, ascertained the cll- matic conditions of Grinnel Land, made glaciological studies, determined the hitherto unknown secular mag- netic varfations of that region, and through its tidal observations first disclosed the conformity of the si- dereal day with the diurnal equality of the tidal waves of the earth.” o It also explored unknown lands one- eighth the way around the globe north of the 18th parallel. In May, 1882, two of Gen. Greely’s command took an_ honor from England which she had held for three centuries, by reach- ing the farthest point north to be at- tained up to that date. Rescued By Schley. The relief ships failed to reach the Greely party at Lady Franklin Bay, so they moved on to Cape Sabine, which was a 400-mile trip. There they waited nine months for relief and suppliés and were eventually res- cued by Commodore, later Admiral, W. S. Schley. During this time, how~ ever, 18 of the party had perished, Gen. Greely was thanked by the British _government, received the Founder's Medal of the Royal Geo- graphic Soclety, the Roquette Medal from the Societe de Geographie, and was honored by a number of other foreign societies. Because his work was in the “line of duty” he received no official recognition from the United States. It s told that while Gen. Greely was chief signal officer the Secretary of War called him into his office one day and asked him if he could build a cable from Seattle to Alaska, and also what the approximate cost would be. Without having any idea as to where either the money or materials were to come from, the general, in present-day parlance, “’lowed as how" he could do this, and within two days submitted estimates of the cost. When the cable was constructed the actual cost came approximately with- in_his estimates. The Alaskan cable was actually built by Gen. Allen, who was then & major, under the djrection of Gen. Greely. This cable extends from Alaska to Seattle and is operated by the Signal Corps. It handles both Government and commerclal mes- sages. i The original cable was intended as a military measure, to establish con- nection with the military garrisons that had been sent to Alaska at that time, following the discovery of gold In that region and the rush of a great number of persons to the Ter- tory. fll(ri'vu not intended that the cable should have a longer life than ap- proximately five years, and its mes- sage - carrying capacity —about 20 words a minute—was designed on that basis. The cable, however, was con- tinued in Government service long after the military garrisons were prac- tically withdrawn and finished a life of more than 20 vears. In 1923 the cable was not only in a practically worn-out condition, but its message-carrving capacity could ne longer answer the traffic needs of Alaska, where messages were being exchunged between the Territory and the homeland at a rate of a thousand a day in the open season and half that number during the closed season. Therefore it was decided to replace it with a new gutta-percha insulated eable. The new cable was completed anch of | gets through he will be too tired to be devilish. These crows trace unrest in society to too much loafing and de- pict a black future if the time shall ever come when, inventions shall re- duce the hours of labor to four each day. [ voices complain is a failure be- * % x Other discordant that our_civilization cauge it has no object. Point is made that other civilizations had definite ends in view—Greece, culture: Rome, ower; Iingland, law and order, and that even the medieval states, bad as they are held to have been. neverthe- less had in view religion and the per- fecting of a faith, but that we lack aim and objective. As prooi it is asserted that the minister does not believe the gospel that he preaches and that the lawyer holds the law to be a thing to be avoided through his ingenuity. Jaith is said to be dead, hope to be in @ trance, while the love that manifests itself in a multitude of good works is mere sop to the egotism of the philanthropist Some of these things muy be true, probably are true, with reference to some men, some causes, some trades and professions. But what of good is to come from always talking about it and seeing nothing better? He is not «a good philosopher who does not take the world as he finds it, minimizes the evil in it and devotes himself to the furtherance of its good things. If our raucous-voiced pessimisty would keep still for a time they might be able to hear the voice of the turtle in the land P Now, as always, heaven has chosen the weak things of life to confound the mighty. The Rev. Dr. Grant may have his doubts about the authenticity of the Scriptures, but Squire Grant of Indigna knows that hell is a cer- tainty as well as a moral necessit Our wise men—wise in their genera- tion and wise in their conceit—may be filled full of doubts and fears, but the homely, every-day man who has no time nor disposition for hair-splitting remains convinced that the natural realm and the spiritual realm are en- tirely dissimilar. The weak-minded of this worldi—amongz whom I count myself—still believe that more things are in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in philosophy or can be proven to exist by the deductions or inductions of science. We have seen too much of good coming through faith to reject faith. We do not care for proof. It has become axiomatic with us. The cooing voices the little turtles of life are going to save our civilization. They are not going to permit the natural to destroy the supernatural. Let the pessimist keep on if he will: let him discover and stress every wrong and every sin that doth so easily beset the human race, but the homely, every-day man is go- ing to cling to his faith that out of all the seeming evil of this day good is being wrought for God end country and for our common humanity (Copyright, 1925.) in 1924 under the direction of Gen. Saltzman, the present chief signal of- ficer. At the outbreak of the Spanish- | American War Gen. Greely establish- ed a telegraph station in the White House, and it was through this sta- tion that President McKinley received the first news of the location of the Spanish fleet. Cable commnuications had been es- tablisted at Santiago by a Signal Corps detachment under Gen. Allen, then Maj. Allen, before the command- ing general of the expedition had ar- rived in Cuba. This is remarkable in that at that time signal communica- tioA was given scanty nsideration by the powers that were. A Radio Net Developed. Since Gen. Saltzman has been chief slgnal officer the Signal Corps has developed a radio met which consists of 72 stations. There are 12 stations in the War Department net. which means one in each corps area. includ. Ing stations for relay and intermedi ute control. Then each corps area has its own net and the total of these corps area stations is 60. Originally these stations were in- tended for training purposes. then they were used for handling War De- partment messages, and now they handle messages for a large number of other departments of the Govern- ment. Last year 150,000 messag averaging 45 words each, were sent over these statinos. Of course, by using these stations instead of com- mercial ones the Government is saved a great deal of money and, indirect the taxpayer is benefited. Gen. Greely, who is now vears of age, lives in Washington and makes frequent calls at the Sig- nay Corps headquarters. Officers sta- tioned there say that he is very ac- tive, his mind is clear as ever and he is full of reminiscences. The other day he told about, how in 1890, when the weather forecasting was trans- ferred from the Signal Corps to the Department of Agriculture and the Weather Bureau established, a num- ber of the general officers of the Army were of the opinion that there was no further need of a Signal Corps. The general. however, stoutly maintained that the corps had a great many useful and important ac- tivities, chief among which was es- tablishing lines of communication, When thle bill was passed, it is sig- nificant to note, it contained no pro- vision for the “discontinuance of the Signal Corps. Gen. Scriven is an author of works in connection with military signal communications and during his serv- ice in the Army fllled several im- portant foreign assignments, the last being as military attache to Italy during the World War. During this time he accompanied the Italian armies to the front. Gen. Allen, who has a considerable reputation as a mathematician, is at the present time living in Washing- ton, and it is said he is now work- ing on the revision of a book on mathematics which is used in col- leges. Gen. Squier has made many in- ventions. He is 4 member of the National Academy of Sciences and at the present time is perhaps best known for his accomplishments in wired wireless. He has received nearly 81 —PART 2. Capital Sidelights What is but a map of busy life Its functions and its vast concerns. The gripping human-interest prob lems that enter daily into the duties of the United States Civil Service Commission _appeal to the spirit of William C. Deming, president of that agency, which recruits most of Uncle Sam’s real workers. e points out that a panorama of the United States Government from day to day would show that its skilled and unskilled men and women are engaged in about every line of human endeavor. The picture would transport one from bleak New England to sunny Califor nia_and from Oregon to Florida. It would reel off activities all the way from the Philippine Islands to Porto Rico and from Alaska and Hawail to the Panama Canal. It would be found half a million people, in addition to the armed forces, are employed in carrylng on the world-wide operations of which Uncle Sam is the big bo While one department or bureau exercises jurisdiction over the millions of acres of public lands, another over its extensive forests and another over its rivers and harbors, one over iis far-flung naval establishments, anoth er over its armies, another over its agriculture, another over fts com merce, another over its revenues, etc., the Civil Service Commission deals exclusively with the human factor touching all these agencies in the operation of the greatest government under the sun. * With more than half a million in the classified public service, under the merit system, today it is hard for us to imagine a President of the United States today answering “in his own hand” applicants for office. Yet this is what George Washington did, as he himself testified in a letter to a favor- ite cousin, who later inherited a large part of the Mount Vernon estate Bushrod Washington, one of the early justices of the Supreme Court, who served 28 years with John Marshall. This letter also emphasizes that Washington considered fitness for the office ‘rather than political preference s an essentlal for appointment. Other letters persistently repeat this. We must smile these days as we read Washington's words: “Scarcely a day passes in which applications of one kind or another do not arrive: inso much, that, had I not early adopted some general principles, fore this time have been wholly occu pied in this business. As it is, I have found the number of answers, which I have been necessitated to give in my own hand, an almost insup portable burden to me.” that more than Many assign to Thomas Jefferson the introduction of the spoils system, claiming that under his administra tlon party service was reckoned as a reason for appointment to office, and party dissent as a cause for removal Yet we find Jefferson bitterly re senting appointments made by Adams on the eve of his relinquishment of the presidential chair. In - to Mrs. Adams, dated June 1 wrote: “One act of one azlone, ever gave me a moment's personal displeasure. 1 did consider his last appointments to office as per- sonally unkind. They were from among my most ardent political ene- mies, from whom no faithful co-opera- tion could ever be expected, and laid me under the embarrassment of act- ing through men whose views were to defeat mine, or to encounter the odium of putting others in their places Mr. Adams' life, and Apropos of the general discussion at present regarding changes in Sen- ate and House rules of procedure, tarted by Vice President L his inauzural address, Representative R. Walton Moore of Virginia quotes as evidence that the Senate is not shackled by its rules it passed 7i4 bills and 74 joint reso. lutions, whereas only 378 bills and 53 joint resolutions became laws. In other words, the Senate enacted a larger number of measures than re. cefved approval in the House and found a place on the statute books Then Representative Moore laugh- ingly recalls the practice of the when a member of the Lochrian As. sembly as probably the most effective way to stop the flood of legislation which annually appalls the people. According ' to the historian Gibbon, when a member of the Lochrain sembly offered a legislative prope 4 rope was tied about his neck and if it failed of passage he was forth with executed. It is needle: say,” Mr. Moore comments, “that this prevented many measures being proposed and that there was no ex- cess legislation.” * ok ok % Some of the most notable long speeches in Congress are recalled by Representative Moore. For instance, in 1893, Senator Allen of Nebraska talked for 16% hours against the bill to repeal the purchase clause of the Sherman silver law, which, however, passed; in 1908 Senator La Follette of Wisconsin spoke for 18 hours against the Aldrich-Vreeland currency bill, which also passed; in 1901 Sen- ator Carter of Montana defeated a rivers and harbors bill toward the end of the session by an even longer speech; in 1914 Senator Burton of Ohio, by a speech of more than 12 hours, forced changes in a rivers and harbors bill; in 1915. Senator Smoot of Utah spoke nearly 12 hours against the ships purchase bill and, aligned with him, Senator Jones of Washing. ton spoke for something like 13 hours and Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire for over 5 hours one day and 7 hours another: day, and the bill was defeated. * * a M searchlight antiquity of the present squabble over change of rules in either branch of Congress, Representative Moore discioses Julius Caesar as a member of the Roman Senate re- sorting to obstructive tactics to de- feat a proposition and being threat- ened with death by the soldiers who were on guard if he persisted. He also brings into the picture Edmund Burke, that great statesman, who, with {remendous vigor, opposed any ban being placed upon freedom of debate in the House of Commons. * ok ok % The present controversy over changes in the rules and the cloture evil harks back some four score and four years, when Henry Clay, then leading the Whig majority, was im- patient for the passage of certain fiscal bills of which he was in charge. The minority, under the leadership of John C. Calhoun, con- vinced that their passage would be Throwing on the several foreign decorations and holds honorary degrees from institutions of science and learning in this country. Pay for Great Work. There is one important detail omit- ted when our school histories tell the story of the long and distinguished service rendered their country by Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Benton, Cor- win and their kind. Much is sald of the fervent patriotism of these mighty men of old, and many pages are filled with the story of their unselfish devo- tion to the mnational wellbeing. But no history that is current mukes any mention of the fact that when Clay wrote the compromise of 1820, when ‘Webster delivered his immortal reply to Hayne, and when Calhoun won fame as the greatest logician in our parliamentary history, each was serv- ing his country for $8 a day.—Okla- homa City Daily Oklahoman. injurious, resolved to defeat them by debate. Clay intimated that he would make an effort to modify the rules, so as to terminate debate, but met with 8o much resistance from the opposition and among his own fol- lowers, that he lost hope and aban- doned the field. This story is sum- marized in the recent valuable work on legislative procedure by Repre- sentative Robert Luce of Massa- chusetts. A still more striking occurrence is recalled by Representative Moore, in the session of 1890-91. The House had passed the foree Dill, intro duced by the late Senator Lodge. who was then a member of the Hous This provided for Federal sup vision of elections and other ex cise of Federal authority in the States. It was modified by the Sen- ate committee, causing a debate of something like two months during which Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island offered a resolution for a cloture rule. His r8solution died and the force bill faded away without ever having been brought to a vote. I should be- | wes in | the fact that| i | be blessed with a larger share of this | to | MEN AND BY ROBERT The Germans have not been very long at this business of nominating and_ electing presidents of the repub- lic, but have they not set an example Americans would do well to follow? Not In the election of & Von Hinden burg, but in the speed with which the electfon was held and the high percentage of the eligible vote cast at the polls? There is much talk in this country today about reforminz the rules of the Senate so as to bring about an expedition of the public business. It i5 true most of the talk is coming from one man, but it must be ad- mitted he is a very carnest and willing talker; therefore it seems. that a whole lot of people are talking. Isn't it far more important to talk about reforming the rules of nomi- nation and election and_inauguration of the President of the United States? Isn't too much time being wasted on politics and political upheavals? The Germans nominated Von Hin- denburg one Sunday and elected him two.weeks later. Another fortnight will find him in the full power and panoply of office. Think what this would mean to America Suppose the presidential nominations could be made the 15th of October, the elections held the 1st of November and the new President placed in the White House before Thanksgiving? Perhaps that would be a little 00 speedy for this country; perhaps we should have the nominations October 1. the election November 1 and the inauguration December 1. This would permit the new Congress ses sions to begin the first Monday in December, as at present. It is assumed that in this new sys tem congressional nominations and elections would be held according to the same schedule. This is a revolutionary and for something more years the United States revolutions. The Democrats particu larly may hold up their hands in horror. It took them nearly a month last year to make a nomination Under the new scheme that would have left but very little time for a campaign. As matters turned out, however, it would have been enough. * %k This is the age of speed. The tele- graph, the telephone and the radio could give the people all they wanted of a presidential campaign within the space of four weeks. Issues are made, as a rule, even before candidates are named or platforms adopted. Voters' minds usually are made up far in ad vance and then comes the long wait to cast the ballots. As it is at present, presidential no nations are made in June and Jul After that every one goes home to res and things are at a standsti suggestion than 150 has hated This and That By Charles E. Tracewell. | caused by ig- norance. Simple not-knowing leads to much disliking. If we could know some people better. we would end up by liking them more. This applies, particularly to ‘cats There are scores of professed cat haters, who, if they could intimately know a good specimen of feline, would learn to care for cats in gen- eral. Take Jack Spratt, famous alle who gets more publicity than all the | rest of his tribe put together. | |" A close acquaintance with Jack for nearly two years has led me to be-| lieve that no one could be in a sim- | ilar position and not like this furry fellow. “Wh can you see to like “‘l {an old cat?" I have been asked As well ask one why he cares for dogs. Aside from the general merits of the canine race, in each case of friendship for a dog there exists a list of particular qualities originating in_the particular dog. Each dog. each cat, is an individual, On the theory previously promul- gated in this column, that “animals are the people God forgot,” each one of them is unlike every other one, and has_traits peculiarly its own The outstandinz trait that wins our affection in our pets is the affec tion of the animal for us. Dogs ma Many dislikes quality, but cats manifest it also. The affection of your cat is more shy, less often shown. That he does manifest it, however, now and then, there is no doubt. * * Take Jack § Jack has of his own that he never displavs to out- siders. They are reserved for his own family, in his own house. One of his best is to put out a paw and touch you gently on the cheek with it. The velvet touch of a cat’s paw can be infinitely soft when the animal wants it to be. On the other hand—or paw—it be- comes all pins and needles ip cas of necessity. It is the contrast be tween the sharp instrument of war- fare and the paw of friendship that makes it so appealing Sometimes, when you pick Jack up, he will look into vour eyes, and then reach out his right paw, touching you gently on the left cheek. It can be nothing but a pure gesture of af- fection. Another trick _esteemed by friends is his habit of rubbing his vhiskers against one’s cheek. This s @ general habit of his kind. of course, but partakes of something more when it is done the way my friend Spratt does it. It is the delicacy with which these movements are consummated that puts them in a class by themselves. Your honest dog is a rough fellow. When he wants to show affection he bounds all over you, putting his muddy paws all over your Sunday-go-to-meeting suit. A’ cat, however, for instance. his goes about it in no such crude way. Its muscles are under perfect control. Although it takes no particular exercises, never having heard of the “daily dozen,” its muscles remain supple, nevertheless. The same foreleg that can dart out a wicked paw to slash a dog's eyes out can be placed so gently on your cheek you scarce can feel it. The sidelong rub of the face against the cheek is done so deftly that it seems a mere breath. { What T call “prayving” is another unusual trick of Spratt. Sometimes when he is asleep in his chair by the window—the best place in the room— he will place his head down between his forepaws, in an attitude of prayer. You have seen pictures of faith- ful dogs in somewhat the same posi- tion. Another fetching trick of Jack's is to end each yawn with a ‘“Meow.” This is something new, and, as far as 1 know, unique with this cat. He will stretch his mouth into a tremendous yawn, arch his back and then, just as the vawn ends, top it off with a vigorous “Meow:!” The physical wave of yawning breaks info a crest of sound, as it were No account of Jack's habits would be complete without something aid | about his ability to stand on his hind | legs. This a preliminary to get- ting his dinner, and he does it better | thun any dog that ever lived. If Jack is in the room, whenever he hears himself ‘talked about in- | killed. AFFAIRS T. SMALL. until late September. There is come sharpshooting meantime, but no real heavy fighting. The elections are held in November, followed b another in terminable and profitiess hiatus until the fol'owing March 4, when the Presi dent, new or re-clected, tukes the oath of office. ANl of this means that nine solid months every four years are given up to politics and the country kept in more or less of a turmoil. With pri mary fights preceding the national cor ventions; it may be said that an entire year is consumed in preparing for the quadrennial balloting and carrying out the verdict of the people. Tt is difficult to see how any one can defend the ex isting wasteful system. It is archaic to say the least It may be said that more time is re quired in this country to reach the electorate because of the vast oper spaces. That may been true when the present system was devised but with the rapid means of communi cation available today and with even the -most remote dwellers getting a dally newspaper in their rural detiver box, the old isciation is ended. A quick, snappy campaign of one mont! would be more effective, more educa tional and result in a more reflective decision than is possible under the present plan of slow-motion procedure The two-week presidential campaign in Germany brought out more than 30,000,000 votes. The fou: nonth cam paign in the United States last P brought out only 29,000,000 votes Eighty per cent of the eligible German voters were propelled to the polls by the force and fury of the brief cam paign. Only 51 per cent of the eligible American voters cast their ballots in November of 1924. In this age of book writing authors should be very, very careful about giving awa ographed copies. Con sider the casa of Mr. Edward W. Bok who wrote swih a remarkable story of his own A3ericanization Among others who wtote to Mr. Bok in admi ration of the work and requesting an autographed copy was a rather sleek and slick New Yorker. All he did after receiving the coveted book was to copy Mr. Bok's signature and sigr it to a check for an appreciable amount of money. The young man practiced the same device other proud authors. It may be solace to these gentlemen to know that the in genious forger has just been sentenced in the New York courts to a “stretch of something like eight and one-half years “up the rivey " Maybe the crim- inal will write a bedk himself while in prison. Then Mr Bok and Rupert iughes and the others may conside themselves avenger Fifty Years Ago In The Star Paul Boyton will be remembered by many as the man who first tried to :1, Navigate the Eng- Paul Boyton Fails jich Channel, ve ; ing a specially in the Channel. 0%, [ it in flated to serve as a sustalner in the water. He became internationally fa mous, even though te failed to make the passage. In The Star of April 26 5, is an account of his first attempt made on the 10th of April. He started from Dove: headed for Boulogne hortly a 8 o'clock in the morning. ‘paddie in hand, foghorn suspended around his neck, a brandy flask in hi waist pocket, a bowle knife of for nidable prope his side, a carrying inside vest, pleasantly called the ‘Boyton mail for the cont nent,’ accompanied by a steamer he paddled out into the channel. At 6:15 p.m., land not being in sight, Boyto: gave up the attempt. Fifty vears ago Charles Bertrand Lewis, using the pen name of - “M. Quad” Puzzles uored arientios tracted attention ; throughout this the Britons. Conniey ety ould seem from the following in The Star of April 25, 1875, in England as well, with his humorous descriptions of daily scenes in the Police Court in the City of Detroit ““The ‘Detroit Free Press man,’ who puts all manner of quips and joke into the mouth of the judge of the Police Court of that city, making him utter the most rediculous absurdities is already receiving some attentions over the water. The London Tele graph, after criticizing some of his court scenes, gravely says that ‘we may not approve of jocularity In a magisterial court, but on the whole it _may be questioned whether the mirthful readiness of the American judge may not be preferable to the solemn injustice which local courts in England so frequently witness.” This is fully equal to the deliberately ex pressed opinion of an English paper that Mark Twain was guilty of con siderable exaggeration in his ‘Inno cents Abroad,” and especially in that scene where the author displayed so much emotion over the tomb of his ancestor, Adam. About 5 o'clock p.m. on April 26 1875, a head-on collision occurred sz on the Baltimore and Collision on Potomac Railrond be tween the east end of the B. & . o avy yard tunnel d the bridge over the KEastern nch, in which several persons were seriously injured, though none was The accident was attributed to a lapse of memory on the part of the engineer of a northbound Phila delphia express. His_train usually passed the incoming New York ex- press in the tunnel, where the track was doubled, but for some reason he forgot about it and ran out on the single track, meeting the New York train a short distance beyond. The Star of April 27 says: “The immediate cause of the ter. rible smash on the Baltimore and Po- tomac Railroad last evening was un doubtedly criminal carelessness or dis obedience of orders on the part of its emploves, but beyond that lies the significant fact that the line be. tween this city and Baltimore con sists of but a single track. That any company should undertake to do a first-class business between two pop- ulous cities for more than three years of heavy travel and frequent and fast trains with but a single track seems almost incredible and that a wealthy corporation should force over such a line the immense passenger travel be- tween Washington and New York is hardly less than criminal. “We venture to say that no intel- ligent passenger ever rides in one of the fast trains of the B. & P. road without an apprehension of just such a disaster as occurred last evening. and that one had not occurrad .ong ago, and with much more terrible re- sults, is due rather to good luck thah to a due regard on the part of the managers for life and limb. It is now high time that the proper remedy e applied and a second track should be put down at once. If it is not the company need not be surprised if it loses both the patronuge and good_will_of the public head on your breast, much as a tired variably he will roll over, as much as to say, “Well, look at me, folks.” His crowning display of affection, and least often given, is to suddenly, as you hold him, relax and lay his baby might. Affection is to be expected from s baby. but that a little creature of the forest can show any at all strikes me as something very marveloug