Evening Star Newspaper, September 27, 1925, Page 38

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. THE EVENING STAR':connn. Minnesota, Indiana, Mlchlpn‘rnent of hooking up the earth's mys- With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. SUNDAY.....September 27, 1925 THEODORE W. NOYES...Editor The Evening Star Newspaper (‘«mp;ny _ enpsvivania Ave. N o T East 42nd St Chicago Ofce Ruropean Office England. The Evening Star. with the Sunday morn- £ edition. ix delivered by carriers within 6 city at 60 cents per month: daily only. 45 cents per month: Sunday only. 20 cents = ‘mouth. Orders may be sent by mail or lephions Main 5000, Collection is made by carrier at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable In Advance. Maryland and Virginla. Paily and Sunday Daily only Sunday only. 115782140 All Other States. Daily and Sunday Dally onty, oo Sunday only published 1 of special d == The Ship Board Problem. Abolition of the United States Ship- ping Board and the transfer of the duties performed by it to the Depart- ment of Commerce, or the creation of &n agency directly responsible to the President to handle the Government- owned fleet, is being actively urged by somo members of Congress who have given much study to the merchant marine problem. The present system, which gives a bi-partisan board of seven men au- thority to administer a great business enterprise—for such is the Govern- ment's shipping business—is funda- mentally wrong. Such a board is not S0 constituted as to handle expedi- tiously and advantageously to the Government, no matter what the per- monnel of the board, the Government's shipping business. Business is busi- ness and pollties is another thing. The operation of the Government ficet, acquired during the war at tremen- dous cost, is distinctly an admints- trative and executive function. But under the merchant marine act the Shipping Board, which was set up as 2 quasi-judicial body to regulate ship- ping, much as the Interstate Com- merce Commission regulates rail transportation, has final authority over the operation and disposition of the Government ships. The proof of a pudding is in ita cat- ing. The record made by the Ship- ping Board as an executive is a sorry one. The constant friction among the members themselves has led to delay on important matters that required prompt attention. The shipping in terests of the country have been kept “at sea” on questions of vital interest 1o them. The Congress made it clear in the merchant marine act of 1920 that the ultimate aim was to get the Government-owned ships into private American ocperation on terms that were fair to the Government and to the shipping interests and to the American people. But the board has wrangled constantly over the disposi- tion of the ships. President Coolidge became cognizant of the shipping situation soon after he came into office. He realized that the Government's shipping business could not be successfully handled by © bi-partisan board, and he sought to have this strictly executive function, which as Chief Executive he was in duty bound to try to have handled properly, turned over to the Emer- gency Fleet Corporation, the agency which Congress itself provided to op- erato the Government ships. Unfortu- nately, however, Congress made the Fleet Corporation subservient to the Shipping Board. The President se- lected former Admiral Lelgh C. Pal- mer of the United States Navy to head the Fleet Corporation and urged the members of the Shipping Board to permit Admiral Palmer to have a free hand In the Government’s ship- and Pennsylvania. the political aspect of this westward Journey, its significance is plain. It is the first move in the campaign for the nomination in 1928. The governor has Just made a winning in the New York municipal primary fight, demonstrat- ing his local Dermocratic leadership. That victory has been interpreted openly as an asset in his political for- tunes. Now comes the Cook County picnic, with the Governor of New York selected as the outstanding Democrat, the guest of honor and the principal speaker. It requires no clairvoyance to see the meaning of this move, If this were merely a local plenic of just Cook County Democrats it would not be so significant, but in- vitations have been sent out to and have been accepted by Democratic leaders of other States who will at- tend with delegations. Why? To have a good time and eat freely of the viands spread by the Cook County Democrats? This is too busy a season for mere picnicking and free lunch- ing. The simple fact is that this is the first move in the pre-convention campaign te build up a. Smith organi- zation in the States, to send Smith delegations to the next nominating meeting, which will not be held in New York. Thus Gov. Smith is getting into ac- tion early, nearly thirty-two months ahead of the convention. Despite his efforts to minimize the political signifi- cance of today's affair, he is practical- Iy serving notice on Willlam G. Mec- Adoo that he proposes to seek the nomination as something more than New York’s favorite son. The Shenandoah Inquiry. Survivors of the Shenandoah before the naval court of inquiry at Lake- hurst are offering widely varying testimony relative to the cause of the disaster. Some say the engines failed; others that the gas cells were unduly deflated; still another theory advanced is that the structure was weak. Out of this conflict of evidence the court may find the facts. It may be able to deduce the precise cause of the collapse which destroyed this great airship and cost the lives of fourteen men. But there is unquestionably one fact that will stand out clearly in the final analysis of the matter, and that is that the Shenandoah, whatever may have been any specific weakness or flaw, or fault of management, was unable to withstand the stress of wind in the storm in which she was caught. She may have been'unable Yo endure this stress without any particular weakness of structure, or motive power, or flotation device. Indeed, there is no case on record of a great dirigible surviving such an onset. Admittedly the dirigible is limited by the elements in %ts range of action, as is the airplane. A ship at sea has its limits also. Even the stoutest craft may be wrecked by the waves, though large modern vessels have a higher range of endurance than earlier craft, and wrecks in even the most furious storms are extremely rare. In the air all craft are susceptible to disablement or destruction. So thoroughly is this recognized that the phrase “fying weather” has come into use to signify conditions in which aviation is safe. There are conditions in which it is positively unsafe, and no aircraft, plane or dirigible, should ever be sent forth when those conditions prevail or are imminent. Eventually shipg of the air, planes or dirigibles, may be brought to the point at which they can withstand weather stresses as great as those now endured by the stoutest, fleetest seacraft. At present they are under a handicap which must be recognized and which must govern in their use. The Shenandoah ran into a storm that probably not the strongest or the best- handled dirigible could have survived. It was tossed about like a feather, and driven upward many hundreds of feet ‘While Gov. Smith has minimized | and driven downward at great veloc- ping business. He later recommend- ed to Congress legislation separating the Fleet Corporation from the Ship- ping Board. The Constitution of the United States makes the President the Chiet Ezxecutive. If the Shipping Board s to be set up as an executive agency, Independent of the President, that provision of the Constitution is at- tacked, and a serious precedent is es- tablished. It is inconceivable that the Congress, in passing the merchant marine act, intended to establish an executive agency which would defy the Chief Executive of the land. Notwithstanding the President's pro- posal the Shipping Board members, with few exceptions, have sought to retain control over ship operation and particularly over the sale of ships. They have continued to fight among themselves, but with few exceptions they have made common cause against the president of the Fleet Corpora- tion, until today President Coolidge is azain seeking to unravel this tangled skein, Congress doubtless will be called upon to unscramble the eggs when it meets ih December. It has been clear- 1y demonstrated that the law must bo amended if there is not to be constant friction, lack of co-operation and ef- ficlency and a return to the wastetul methods which have been in large part climinated during the period of President Palmer's service as head of the Fleet Corporation. ——— Calllaux is consistently genial and optimistic. There is very little to be expected from a diplomat with a grouch. —————— Gov. Smith Starts the Fight. Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York 1s today the guest of honor at the an. nual picnic of the Cook County Demo- eratic orgenization in Chicago. A delegation of eminent Chicago Demo- crats, headed by George E. Brennan, the State leader, went to Albany to escort him to the scene of the festivi- ties. He is to be the principal speaker, | and it is expected that he will address the largest audience in the history of American politics. Reports indicate that there will be an attendance of 200,000 or more Democrats, coming not only from Chicago and other parts ity. It was, in plain truth, out of con- trol. ‘The question in which the people of this country are more interested than any other in this connection is whether precaution was supposedly taken against running the Shenan- doah into the danger zone of possible atmospheric violence. In view of the fact that such storms are not sporadic, that they result from general condi- tions affecting wide areas, it would seem to have been unwise to send the ship on her voyage toward such a zone where storms of this character were probable. Unless the rule of “flying weather” is to be disregarded in order to test the endurance of air- craft, it would seem that a fatal chance was taken when the Shenan- doah was sent forth on a flight that had no practical purpose, in the face of the dangerous conditions, that should have been known to exist. There is a sharp increage in real estate all over the country. Florida has been shrewd enough to recognize the psychological moment and ex- ploit her wares. Hens, Eggs and the Moon. A departmental statisticlan has been figuring on the chicken population of the United States, and on the products of the hen industry in terms which arouse the imagination. There are, it is estimated, 400,000,000 fowls in this country, and if they were to walk in a single line they would make a procession 100,000 miles in lehgth. Of course, it is beside the mark to men- tion that chickens never walk in In- dian file. Geese may do so, but chick- ens have their own ideas about loco- motion, mostly erratic. Still it is in- teresting to concelve the picture of all the hens in the United States step- ping along in line, 100,000 miles of them, enough to stretch around the world several times. Then the stat- isticlan goes on to figure on the out- put of this great source of food and concludes that the American hens lay enough eggs in each year to reach to the moon and back again. Here again is a picture that intrigues the mind. A round trip course of eggs from earth to moon, it all were in motion, would entall 2 tremendous speed to keep the first starters from hatching before reaching the first objective. But no- 8 the Btate 98 Lilinels, but frooe Wie I jody e geing ta suszest fhe i | torious satellite with an ovate chain. Eggs are too much needed here to be used for such a purpose. Really more interesting is the fact that even the department'’s statistician is balked by the measurement of the annual Amer- ican egg output In terms of a single omelet. He refuses to give it propor- tlons, but it is possible to conceive the entire area of the United States cov- ered to a considerable depth by the fluffy substance of such a concoction. The trouble about an omelst of this gargantuan size is that most of the eggs used in it would be beyond the omelet stage, according to the best tastes, at the time of the manutacture. For it is a most satisfactory trait of the American hen, as weil as all her sisters throughout the world, to dis- tribute her production throughqut the year with fair regularity and she can- not be expected to raserve her product in its pristine purity after she has proudly proclaimed its advent. Higher Education. A 20-story skyscraper located in the middle of the old Yale campus s the latest proposal of college authori- ties to meet the problems of expan- sion at Yale. To the Yale graduate of a quarter of a century or a half a cen- tury ago the proposal may come as something of a shock. In such a buflding, Dean Frederick Jones of Yale College explains, would be included classrooms, living quar- ters, dining rooms, libraries and swim- ming pools. The old buildings and the “fence,” dear to the memory of Yale alumni, would remain unchanged. But the proposed structure would tower high above the college, bringing a new atmosphere into the college, the atmosphere of modern city life, with its huge apartment houses and fts mountainous office buildings. While it might add in efficlency and convenlence of the administration of the college, there is a danger that it might tend still further to eliminate the fellowship of the old college, one of the assets of greatest value in the so-called college education. Different times, different customs, s as true in college as in other affairs of life. But the traditions of Yale life are deep rooted. Yale has more than two hun- dred years of history behind her, in- deed, 224 to be exact. Innovations that tend to change are not always for the best when the old customs have Dbeen wholesome and sound. Yale of tbday is a vastly different place, outwardly at least, from the Yale of half a century ago or even twenty-five years ago. It must be so, since Yale must either advance or stand still, and Yale has continued to advance. If there must be more and more facilities for housing the stu- dents and their scholastic and other college activities it would be better to make the increase horizontally rather than vertically. This new kind of “higher education” suggested by Dean Jones lacks appeal, even though, as he points out, the University of Pittsburgh is engaged in the erection of just such a skyscraper to house the entire university. ——————— Grand juries continue to handle prominent names with a freedom which makes the old-fashioned pattern of propriety who absconded with the bank's money a very small figure in the annals’ of crime. The ‘under- world” is rapidly making room for a number of members of the ‘‘upper crust.” ———— Chile and Peru are loitering with a fine opportunity to show the world how two countries can come to an agreement after a territorial dispute and dwell in happiness ever after. ————— Apprehensions concerning future war possibilities would be less if the English Channel were as hard to fly across as it is to swim across. r———— Very few of the plays described as “demoralizing” are really so, owing to the fact that most people do mot go to see them. ———— ‘There is no doubt of Col. Mitcheil's ‘mental comfort if an ovation can com- pensate for e demotion. ——ree——e SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSOX, The S He. Said father dear, “I still shall be The leader in our home, Though fashion sets the ladies free In modern paths to ream. “At first I heaved a bitter sigh And yielded to despair, Convinced that fearful days were nigh ‘When mother bobbed her hair. “Upon my barber then I called He brought me joy complete, He says that I am getting bald— 1M still have mother beat.” Servant Problem. “Remember you are i servant of the people.” “I don't feel that way,” answered Senator Sorghum. “I don't know of anybody who would get worrfed and raise my wages if I threatened to quit.” Eviction. No creature we permit to dwell In sweet content, ‘We drag the oyster from his shell. He pays no rent. Jud Tunkins says he can’t believe in Darwin. He can't see how a lounge lizard could possibly evolute trom e gorilla. Safety Zone. ““Are you fond of the theater?” “Very,” answered Miss Cayenne. *“The plays may not be very good, but at least they enable you to pause a while downtown without fear of being run over by a taxicab.” Stmple Matter. If we can make the rules to show ‘The nations great and small ‘When they may fight—let's further 8o And have no fights at all! “In spite of de religious argument,” said Uncle Eben, “dar is mighty few men who know as much about de aa day &ocs about bese bally® Q. EVERYDAY RELIGION BY THE RIGHT REV. JAMES E. FREEMAN, D. D., Bishop of Washington. Resisting Environment. Hebrews x1.24,25—-"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer af- fliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a sea. Vhen in Rome do as the Romans do,” s a dangerous maxim. It im- plies want of conviction, instability of character and loosenexs of morals. Environment and environing circum- stances, unless through strength of character they are resisted, do have a determining effect upon one's ideals and habits. The story from which the above passage is taken relates to one of the most picturesque incidents record- ed in the Bible. The birth and early life of the great emancipator, Moses, is romantically fascinating. DBorn of a slave, he was adopted by a princess, His boyhood and early years were speat under royal parentage. En- vironed by luxury. trained and edu- cated under the most favorable con- ditions, there i3 no reason why he should not have become a. large factor in Egypt. Judged by every human standard, he occupied a coveted place, and his opportunities for advancement were altogether enviable. Slew the Slave Driver. In one period of his iife he had seen an Egyptian taskmaster brutally mal- treut a captive Hebrew slave. His in- dignation knew no bounds and he slew the slave driver. Whether this marked the beginning of his determi- nation to free his people is not indi- cated, but we do know that the time came when he disdained the royal purple and the luxuries of the court, and ‘“refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affiiction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of| ¢, sin for a season.” "To him “the treas- ures in Egypt” seemed Inconsequen- tal compared with the obligations that rested upon him as a servant of God and protector of his own people. It is said that “he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King; for he endured, as seeing him who is Invis- ible.” The subsequent story of his life is one of the great annals of hu- man history, and among the outstand- ing of the world’s great leaders he oc- cuples & commanding place. What he accomplished as the representative of an enslaved people, what he dared in bringing about thelr emancipation and effecting thelr subsequent settle- ment in the “Land of Promise” is well known. His abdication of royal favor marks his triumph over the forces of environing circumstances. Neither pleasures, luxuries nor royal patron- age could dissuade him from his course. Frequently in the course of ev: man's life occasions arise that call for swift and certain decision. These conditions begin with the youth in thé classroom and continue throughout all the subsequent periods of his life. Principles or ideals should not be made the sport of circumstances nor should they be qualified or compro- mised by environing conditions. It takes courage to withstand customs and usages that by popular favor are ‘widely practiced and that are inimical to Christian ideals and purposes. The breaking down of wholesome conven- tions, however widely sustained by popuiar favor, is no valid reason for abandoning deep and vital religious convictions. Convictions that cannot stand the urgent pressure of circum- stances, however persistent they may be, are valueless and useless. Modern Indifference. ‘We are witnessing today in certain phases of our soclal life an indiffer- ence to fundamental moral and Chris- tian convictlons that threatens the very foundations of our domestic and social order. If the Christian homes of our people, for the sake of being modern, are willing to yield the fine things of home discipline and to relax those reasonable restraints that con- tribute to the moral wellbeing of youth, we shall presently witness such an orgy of dissipation as we have sel- dom known. The very fact that juvenile crime is on the increase is a witness to invading influences that, for the while, have impaired our sense of moral obligation. To enjoy the “pleasures of sin for a season’ seems to be the ruling passion of the hour. It is not merely a question of an un- governed and ungovernable youth movement, but rather one - that reaches those who, by reason of their years and experience, should know the penalty which unrestrained pleas- ures and indulgences inevitably lead 0. If the high things of our Christlan character are worthy and indispen- sable, then they should defense of them at any cost. mighty cheap thing to express glowing terms deep religlous convic- tions, where the habits and practices of life run counter to the profession of the lips. Against hypocrisy Jesus registered hls sweeping condemnation. Nothing that fell from his Ups was sterner than what he said to those who professed much and did iittle. It our modern wurld is to get any inspiration or encouragement from our Christian {institutions, it must be through those who. like the great leader of old, are willing to lose favor and, if need be, to forego popularity in order that they may demonstrate to the world the value and supreme im- portance of their Christian convic- tions. (Copyright. 1925.) = COTTON’S IMPORTANCE BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN One single crop of the American farmer is sold abroad in sufficient quantities to swell the foreign com- merce of the United States in an amount equal to the entire favorable merchandise trade balance of the Na- tion. That crop is cotton. Singularly enough, the value of our cotton ex- ports over a long period of years, with the exception of the European war years, has been almost exactly that of our trade balance. This interesting sidelight on the imiportance of King Cotton is develop- ed In a discussion of post-war changes in the destination of United States cotton exports by Robert Skliar of the Textile Division of the Depart- ment of Commerce. The important position which raw cotton holds in the foreign commerce of the United States is common knowl- edge, he says, but it is not generally realized that the value of the cotton exported is normally as large as or larger than the excess of total merchandise exports over total mer- chandise imports. During lhgayelrl from 1905 to 1914 the favorable balance of the United States foreign trade in merchandise was $4,766,000,000, while the value of the raw cotton exported during the same perlod was $4,875,000,000—$108,- 000,000 more than the trade balance. This means that the great cotton- growing industry of the South, after providing the country with practically all its material for cotton clothing, cotton varn and fabrics for industrial purposes and the innumerable préd- ucts obtained from cottonseed, con- tributes to the United States exports an amount which is normally more than sufficient to give the Nation its favorable merchandise trade balance. This contribution to the exports amounted during the past 20 years to more than $12,000,000,000. Different During War Years. fabrics ‘While the World War was on and| rpe during the imi post-war years cotton did not hold such a pre eminent place in the foreign commerce of the country. This was due to the tremendously increased exports of foodstuffs, munitions, other iron and stee]l manufactures and other prod- ucts, but cotton is now regaining its former relative importance. Thus for the last three calendar years the excess of exports of mer- chandise over imports was $719,000,- 000 in 1922, $375,000,000 in 1923 and $980,000,000, or a grand total of $2.- 069,000,000 CD;“’" exponn"stor }h: same years had a respect! valus of sa‘n’.oon.ooo. $807,000,000 and $951,- 000,000, or in the aggregate $2,431,- 000,000. In 1923, it will ?&mflafi. :hr: ue of the cotton exports was m :l;.in double the favorable trade bal- ance. During the last fiscal year the ex- ports of raw cotton were the largest single-year shipments for a decade, and almost equaled the pre-war level. They total 8,205,000 running bales, ex- ceeding the post-war annual aver- age by 2,014,000 bales, or 33 per cent, and came within 209,000 bales, or 2 per cent of the pre-war figure. Since the war the acreage, domestic consumption and prices of United States cotton have increased, while yield per acre, total production and exports have declined as compared with the pre-war figure. In analysing the export businees it is found that less American cotton is now being, sent to Europe than formerly, but moré is going to other countries, notably Japan. However, during 1924-25 Europe came back as a strong buyer of cotton, taking 2,139, 000 beles more than in the preceding year. Of this increase the United Kingdom and Germany took by far the greater part, the former 928.000 bales more and the latter 520,000 bales more. Exports to France were 188, 000 bales larger, to Italy 184,000 bales , and to Spain 70,000 bales mrger. Shi) to_Russia more than doubled, and to Canada 41 per cent more and Japan took 261,000 bales more, orq over three times its prewar quantity. ‘ 3 For all the increase shown in 1924-25 over 1923-24, however, the United Kingdom, the largest single buyer of American cotton, only took three- fourths of the pre-war yearly quantity, while Germany took slightly more than three-fourths of her former pur- chases, and France's requirements were 12 per cent less than prior to the war. On the other hand, exports to m:loy ‘were about 50 per cent higher and Belgium 33 cent ", hile the GIaniiE 64 Setion Gen 4o the Netherlands was six times what it ‘was before the war. During the five years ending in 1913 European countries together absorbed on an average 95 per cent of the cotton exports of the United States, but this percentage has now dropped to about 84, Japan's Increased demand being largely responsible for the change. England's has dropped from an average of about 41 per cent to 29 per cent, and Germany’s from 28 to 22 per cent. Japan’s increase was from 3 to 11 per cent. In bales, England, or the United Kingdom, took ,240 last year, Germany 1.840,686 and Japan 829,684. In 1924-25 the United States con- sumed 43 per cent of its entire cotton crop, and for the last five years the average domestic consumption has been 50 per cent, as contrasted with a. 37 per cent average prior to the war. Average production during the post- war period has declined by 14 per cent and the ylelds per acre by 20 cent from the pre-war level, while the price has advanced 81 per cent above the pre-war basis. More acreage is now devoted to cotton growing, the area picked in 1924-25 being 41,360,000 acree, as compared with a pre-war lveflgfl of 33,223,000 acres. The fall- ing off In yleld per acre was from a pre-war average of 183.7 pounds to 157.4 pounds last year. The change in price is reflected in the average spot price of middiing upland cotton at New Orleans, which averaged 12.37 cents per pound during 1908-09 to 1912-13, and 22.39 cents dur- ing 1920-21 to 1924-25. The highest price was realized by the American grower in 1923-24—30.33 cents. Last year the price was slightly under the post-war average, or 21.21 cents. It is pointed out as significant by Mr. Skliar that while the domestic mmmmlon’ of cotton has shown a five years there has also been a very great increase in the use of silk and rayon in the manufacture of the finer for women's w apparel. estimated consumption of rayon, for example, jumped from 3,871,000 pounds in 1913 to about 41,000,000 pounds in 1924, and imports of raw silk increased from 26,000,000 pounds to 51,000,000 pounds. Teaching Reading. Reading, with ability to understand, s a great accomplishment. If there is one service more than another public schools gught to perform in a highly effectual manner it is to teach how to read. From Chicago it was reported one day this week that children of the schools there had just been thrown in .competition with school children of St. Louis and New York in the matter of reading, and that the Chicago children had made the best showing in the contest. Chi schools are to be congratulated on the result. It is rather the fashion of people with children in the grade schools to compare the schooling they had with the schooling now, to the disparage- ment of the present methods in what are called the “essentials.”” Most of the parents, however, after a gener- alization or two usually find them- selves defeated in their contention that the old ways are better than the new after the present day methods are fully explained. But there is one point in which we think the old-timers are still the winners, in spite of all that modern education can bring to bear. We think reading was taught more effectually in the old days. Just what the Chciago method is which made it possible for the young readers there to win In the contest we do not know. There is nothing in the fact that they won to show that they read particularly well. But, in the large, we do not think .pupils in the , particularly the junior high school grades, read as well as they ought, or as well as it is possible to teach them. Here, again, we may be the school authori- 2 SEPTEMBER 27, 1925—PART 2. ._ Capital Sidelights Just before a big race the horses and trainers and jockeys are all at nervous tension. Similarly the lead- ers in Congress are beginning to get restive, although it {8 more than two months before our lawmakers from erylall parts of the country will officially assemble here. Chairman Madden of the House ap- propriations committee returned dur- ing the past week and {s having his force of expert clerks get all the ap- propriation bills worked up in “dum- mw’ form, with references to the law authorizing each appropriation and with corresponding figures for cur- rent appropriations ready and wait- Ing for a fill-in of the amounts recom- mended by the Budget Bureau when the budget is officially submitted the day Congress meets. This means a big saving in time, so that the com- mittee, split up {nto a number of subcommittees, can get busy promptly on their task of allocating funds for all Federal activities. House Leader Tilson is also on the job, conterring with the President and the various cabinet members and with such of his colleagues as are around, getting everything moving smoothly for the coming session. Most of the ‘‘nervousness’ that is evident is caused by the fact that it s the administration program to get the tax-revision measure through Congress with a rush, and the ways and meaens committee, which drafts this bill, is taking its own leisurely time about getting started. House Leader Tilson admits that he hopes and is quite confident that he can get the tax measure through the House long before Christmas, and probably within a few days after the House organizes. Then while the Sanate is wrestling with the tax bill the House can pass the appropriation bills—and that's about all there will be of outstanding legislation, unless some little tinkering with the inter- state commerce law, about which lead- ers feel they should go slowly. So the flying start all depends on the “form” of the ways and means committee—and Chairman Green has let it be known that he doesn’t in- tend to come back here until October 19. Of course, there is no ways and means committee yet, but they all know who will be on the committee, and it s thought by the leaders that these prospective members should meet informally and agree upon the bill to be introduced, so that just as soon as the House organizes and for- mally approves the assignments to that committee it can meet officially and within an hour report out its bill. That's the sort of quick start the ad- ministration leaders are planning for. * X % % The “thrill that comes but once in a lifetime” was experienced a couple of weeks ago by Representative Til son. Although he has been by resi- dence and by public activity and pri- vate whole-heartedness for 37 years a good and loyal citizen of Connect- cut, he has never forgotten his native hills in Tennesses. He was born in Unicol County, Tenn., which he de- scribes as resembling a wart on the face of Tennessee, as it juts out into North Carolina. Representative Tilson bas just re- turned from a visit to his brother in Unicol County—and the old-home folks just turned ‘head over heels to pay homage torone of their own boys who climbed through his own strong- heartedness and firmness of charac- ter into such a distinguished position in the service of his country. They held a mass meeting in his honor in the courthouse at Erwin, the county seat. They advertised it with the oid-fashioned vari-colored dodgers, which exhorted all good and loyal citizens to hie to the courthouse and shake the hand of one of their own boys who was holding up Uncle Sam's right arm. And the response was legion. Tilson. who has stood on the floor of the National House of Representa- tves in a world crisis and offered his counsel, who has conferred with rulers in most of the European countries and been presented “at court,” was never so moved in all his life. The boys and girls he went barefooted to school with and their children and neighbors and all thelr kin came on mules and horseback, in rickety old conveyances and in hundreds of automobiles, just to see “John” and let him know their warm_ hearts were still with him and that they gloried in his success, and the good work he has done, even though they had been separated for 37 years. The courthouse was crowd- ed, aisles. corridors, yard and even the roadway. And this all happened at the very courthouse where John Tilson tried (and won) his first case—for pistol toting. * % % Now that we have had aviators braving the higher altitudes in the fast-frozen farthest North—and fol- lowing by way of emphasis, through contrast, our unusually warm Sum- mer—Dr. Charles F. Marvin, chief of our Federal Weather Bureau, comes through with an authoritative state- ment as to what real cold is. He has found that the lowest atmospheric temperature ever read and recorded appears to be 133 degrees Fahrenheit. was obtained with a registering thermometer attached to a’ sounding balloon sent up from Java, in November, 1913. The exact height at which this reading was recorded is uncertain. The lowest temperature ever recorded at a meteorological sta- tlo. on the earth's surface was 90 degrees below zero (Farenheit). This was recorded at Verhoyansk, Siberia, on February 5‘ A:a:,*u!z. As a practical joke, or for some other reason, an unidentified person living not far distant from Cape Cod has been slipping rubber bands over the heads or bodies of mackerel, and the reason for this practice for sev- eral years by this man of mystery is still a secret, according to Lewis Radcliffe, deputy commissioner ot the United States Bureau of Fisheries. But when Government scientists in the United States, Canada and other countries face seasickness and other discomforts, and even grave dangers, to fasten small strips of metal to glll covers or fin or tail of tens of thousands of cod, mackerel and sal- mon, and continue this at no small exponse year after year, there is a grod reason—and one that there is no intention of keeping secret. These tagged fish—salmon and hali- but of the Pacific coast, cod, haddock, pollock and mackerel in the North Atlantic, blue crabs in Chesapeake Bay, and mullet in the South Atlantic and Gulf waters (each species being the basis of a highly important com- mercial fishery)—are called ‘“‘scientific messengers of Uncle Sam.” Through recovery of these tags the scientific student learns whether the fish is a stay-at-home or whether it spends its Winters in more southern climes away from the icebergs and colder Arctic currents. He learns how fast the fish grows, when it matures (whether at the age of 2 or 12 years), whether it is an urbanite accustomed to living in association with hundreds of his kind or to seeking out a soli- le to prove the com-|al doubt it. The present theory seéms to be that the child, while in school, provided he 1s one who is to leave at the comple- tion of the eighth grade, should be- come acquainted with a large list of good books. - There is something in that' view, to be sure, but, on the oth- er hand, it seems probable that the pupil who is taught to read accurately and with full understanding of what he does read is apt to go on reading wore than the pupil who has merely slurred through & long array ef beaknr—~fansing S ¥ N for restrictive measures to prevent further depletion of the supply. Mr. Radcliffe poinits out that in this way Uncle S8am’s experts learn about the goings and comings of life in the sea, clearing up the mystery that has surrounded theése forms. Having pleced together the bits of information obtal; rough recovery of these tags—the scientist is able to make recommendations as to what steps are necessary $o conserve these FRANCE AND MOROCCO BY FRANK H. SIMONDS. In all the American discussion of French conditions, a discussion which 1s inevitable just now in view of the debt negotiation, there is in certain quarters a tendency to do something less than justice to the French in the matter of Morocco. Thus, it fs asserted that the very fact that France is carrying on an expensive war against the Riffs is an evidence either of French financial strength or of a refusal to take an obvious op- portunity to retrench by abandoning this operation. Moreover, in certain | other quarters one meets the assertion | that save as a matter of prestige the Moroccan venture is sheer waste, un- profitable imperialism. Of course it is unfair to begin with the assumption that because a na- tion is heavily financially involved it must abandon the defense of its in- terests. At the close of the Civil War| the United States was in a frightful | financial situation, yet it did not hesi- tate to mobllize 'a large army and make perfectly clear to Napoleon IIT that he must withdraw his support of the tinsel empire of Maximlillan in Mexico, or we should take up arms. Neither debt nor any other considera- tion was permitted to interfere with the protection of what we regarded as a vital interest. * x o X The French situation is somewhat analagous. France landed in North Africa almost a century ago. Since that time she has created one of the most flourishing of colonial establish- ments, which was extended to Tunis in 1881 and to Morocco in 1911. With- In this territory she has settled up- ward of a million Europeans, con- structed railways and highways. Casa- blanca, her great port in Morocco, for example, is today a city of upward of 100,000 inhabitants, haif of them Eu- ropean, with a magnificent new har- bor, splendid bulldings and a rapidly expanding railway net. Inevitably the organization of French rule in Algeria, in Tunis and now in Morocco has been accom- panied by native rebellions. Our own experience in the Philippines and in- numerable British experfences have demonstrated that this is an ever- recurring phenomenon. The real con- quest of Algeria covered soveral dec- ades, while the last considerable na- tive rising following the Franco-Prus- sian War in 1870. Thereafter for more than half a century there has been peace and ever-mounting prosperity in Algeria. 2 % x ‘Were France to abandon her Mo- roccan venture, she would inevitably lose Algeria and Tunis in due course of time, because this unmistakable evidence of her weakness would in- cite the victorious Moroccans to flow over into the fertile and prosperous regions of Oran. In reality, to yield to Abd-el-Krim would be to abandon a century of colonial effort which has cost France billions of dollars and thousands of lives, but has in the end proved a remarkably prosperous ven- ture, for today North Africa is one of the great French markets. More- over, one must recall that when France went to Alglers it was the seat of pirates, whose depredations plagued all countries. In addition, Morocco is by all odds the richest portién of French North Africa. Americans are sometimes mis- led by the descriptions of the region in which the fighting is actually tak- ing place Into the belief that the whole country is practically worth- less mountain territory. Nothing is less exact. The broad plains which slope down to the Atlantic are in- credibly fertile, while the snow moun- tains supply unfalling water lacking in both Algeria and Tunis. Agricul- turally rich, the country has also vast mineral resources. | tious policie: The war in which France is i engaged best demonstrates the futy ity of any policy of retirement, for the triumph of the Riffs over the Spanish and the practical expulsion of Spain from her zonc between Tangler and Melilla has inevitably resulted in their attempt to drive France from Fez and Taza, and to geat Abd-el-Krim in the palace of the Sheriff. As the strugele has now overflowed into the Frencl zone of Morocco, o it would in time inevitably overflow into tho borde: districts of Algeris % The present neh ministry, like that which preceded it, is profoundly pacifist in spirit, and the men who dominate have not the smallest sym pathy with colonial imperialism in the ordinary sense. But the fact is tha French fule in territory which was aseigned to Irance by International treaty, territory in which France ha ) of doll only ¢ 4, but in actual danger, and the fire which has run perilously in northern Morocco might easily spread across the imaginary boundary which separates Morocco from Algeria. Despite all contrary rumors and charges, peace with Abd-el-Krim would be illusory, because on &ny available terms it would establish him as a ruler of a considerable ter- ritory with the opportunity and the will to resume later his enterprice which 1s to conquer Morocco and be come its sovereign. France might conceivably buy peace now, but ut a price which would mean present humiliation and immediate and in creasing danger. war_itself desperately unpopular in France, so unpopular that the government hac been gravely handicapped in gettini the men and the money necessary, but despite the original exasperation the mass of the French populatior has come to see the realities and the opposition has dwindled to the Com munists and extreme Socialists. * kX K Viewed from the point of view « a creditor, French policy in Moroc- co is the only conceivable course, be cause any other line of action woulc mean the immediate abandonment of vast present investments and the ul- timate loss of a territory which must be considered one of the great as- sets of France in the future. More- over, it would insure a new war at a non-distant date when Abd-el-Krin would be far better equipped. Final short of general retirement from of North Africa, France would, in ti face of the continuing menace, be obliged to maintain large armies per. manently in North Africa. Peace between Abd-el-Krim a France was never possible, despite the various reports to the contrary, be- cause Abd-el-Krim was not unnatur- ally inflated by the over the Spanish and immediately laid claim to territories within the French boundaries. Moreover, his dream, as I have said, was the conquest of all of Morocco, the overthrow of the present shereef who rules unde: French protection, and the creation of a great native state. The Moroccan War, then, is an ad ditional French misfortune, not the consequence of unwise or overambi- It was unavoidable tHe moment the Spanish were beaten and driven out of their zone. Again France is not wasting money on a profitless venture, she is at one time protecting her v inv ment in North Africa which would ohterwise be menaced, nd preserving the op- portunity to complete the organiza- tion of Morocco, which will one day be one of the richest of colonial pos- sessions. (Copyright, 1925.) This and That By Charles E. Tracewell. The psychology of going to work is a topic seldom considered. Yet the schoolboy is not the only person who drags his weary way along. Thousands of workers this broad land over hate to get up, hate to go to work, detest every foot of the way, long for the happy road back. If they did but consider the wearier life of those who bave no work to go to it might help them a great deal, for they would see then, as Stevenson said, that the real reward is to labor. The tmmortal Robert Louis was not merely stringing pretty words to- g8ther for our delectation. He wrote what he did, I am convinced, because he believed sincerely what he said. It takes no particular reflection to prove he was right. Every one of us who goes to his work In the morning knows, if he but stop to think a little about it, that it is a good thing. All of us, of course, have our days ‘when our philosophy fails us. In such moods, then, it is wise to be fortified with previously thought-out truths, to fiamwm& in times of At any one time, when a man sin- cerely believes that anything is of a surety true, he ought to set it down in & little book, so that in after years he might turn to it and read over the truths his life had discovered. If this were done he would be saved from much of the vaccilation common to mankind, the doubt and resultant dismay we all 'kn:w“t*umes. One of the main truths he would find set down there, in his little book, ‘would be the following: “It is good to go to work.” ‘There it would be, in his own hand- writing, 80 he could not-doubt at all he had written it there of his own free will and volition, without any ex- ternal pressure upon him to do it. He would recall that bright Spring morning long ago, when, in the flush of youth and happiness of the heart, he taken his pen in hand (as they sald then) and had put down the mes- mge, 80 ‘It is good to go to work.” In that distant, clear moment, this universal truth had come to him with such compelling force that he had set it down once and for all as one of the truths which future times could not wrest away from him. ‘The labors of this little book, here suggested, might seem a work of superfluity at the time, but no man can know what the years will bring, or when he will need the aid of plain statements of truth. The forces of doubt and discontent are so many and vigorous that every man needs all the hdg!ha can get in the unceasing battle. He has need to be girt with more armor than the saint suggested for the Christian life it he 18 to come out successful in this war. R *x % % 1t is good to gg to work because it gives one something to do. It is good to go to work because it gives a man a change of scene. It is good to go to work because it puts one in the mood to do his work. ‘There are many other reasons, but oepeciaiy. 1 think 18 ~d Y, good. nature are inclined rather to play than to work, yet the very great majority must work, one ‘The way to make the best of it is to get into t| mental mood. The best method'is simply to go down- town. Then the very act of getting out of bed becomes a physical action toward work. Eating breakfast, then, is looking forward to work. Starting up one's automobile or getting aboard a street car is' one more physical action to- ward work. ew Fifty Years Ago In The Star Half a century ago the James and Younger brothers were constant con - . tributors to the mews Missouri agispatches with their ex i¢g, Ploits of banditry in the Bandits. £ hoest. Apropos o the report of the death of one of the former band, which proved later to be untrue, The Star of September 1875, said: “The news of the death of one of the notorious James brothers of Mis sourf is almost too good to be true The James and Younger brothers have been the terror of the South- west for several vears past and have robbed and murdered almost with- out let or hindrance. A number of unsuccessful attempts have been made to capture them, and in an en- counter a year or two since between them and the officers of the law one of their men was killed. Heavy re- wards offered for their apprehension have induced private parties to un- dertake their arrest from time to time, but the outlaws have always made their escape. The Missouri offi- cials urge in extenuation of their fa ure to break up the gangs the great danger of attempting their arrest. The outlaws have a large number of passive allles in the section where they live, who, through fear of bodily harm, keep them posted as to the movements of officers. They ride tha fleetest horses in the country and sre, withal, unerring marksmen, and, fighting after the Indlan fashion. can bring down thelr pursuers at very long range. They never allow treachery to go unavenged, and with in the last five vears have killed men enough to stock a small-sized ceme. tery. The fact that they have so long defled the authorities is cer- (nlnl‘y a disgrace to the State of Mis- sourl.” .= The operatives of the textile mills in eastern Ms;:ch;selts. notably at s 1 River, have been Fall River in an amost chronic 5 state of striking for Strikers. Lony decades. In Tho Star of September 23, 1875, 1s an ao- count of a strike of this character then tying up the Industry at that point: “Fifteen thousand operatives and 40 mills are still idle at Fall River. ‘The ‘vacation’ which commenced six weeks ago continues, and meanwhile there is intense suffering among the operatives. ‘Hungry and poorly clad men and women,’ writes a corre- spondent, ‘haunt the rooms of the societies, hotels and stores asking for relief, and at every corner on every street dozens of sad-looking men stand gazing about them with their hands in their pockets.’ This is a so; ul picture, and the question naturally arises, was the strike & judicious one in view of all the cir- cumstances of the case? Six weeks ago the manufacturers proposed 2 reduction of 10 per cent in wages in consequence of the dullness of trade and the falling off of profits. The operatives declined to accept the pro- posed reduction and agreed to a ‘va- cation’—in reality a strike—of 30 davs, by the end of which time, it appears, they hoped the considerable stock on hand would be disposed of and their emplovets would be com- pelled to give them their old prices. Unfortunately for them. their ex- nectations were not realized toward a mood—the right mental atti tude. Every action one takes puts one more and more into this good “frame of mind,” ®o that when one actually ‘where the work is he is resdy