Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1926, Page 6

o THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. January 18, 1928 THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office o LIth Stoand Pennsy New York Offics: 11 Chicago Office: Tow { Buropean Office: 14 Regent St.. England. ia Ave. ing London, Tha Evening Star. with the Sundar mom- 20 editiog 1 aemverid b carriary wiihin the clty af 93 ity er month: dally” only. ':rmm 20T month 5\\1-;1!)‘ -mlv';’?;“;;""' montty - Orae ¢ e san o lephone Main 5000, Collction is made by carrier at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Aly and § v €000 1 mo., T hg e onday. - 1% 20001 mas 0o sunday only 1 ¥r. $3.00. 1 mo. All Other States and Canada. DPaily and Sunday..1yr.£1200: 1 mo..$1.00 DAY oty maRr. L T S 0 1 me Bunday only [ $4.00: 1 mo. Member of the Associated Press. The Axsociated Press is axclusively entitled fo the use for republication of all news dis- atehes cradited €0 1t or not othersise crad- ted in this paper and also the local news Dublished bersin. ATl rizhts of publication of special dlspatihes herein aro also reserved Woman Workers and **Protection.” Ever since women began to take part in the industrial and commercial life of this country, working side by side with men in all lines of wage earning, efforts have been made to “protect” them from harsh conditions and exactions, in deference to their sex and supposed need of shelter from the severity of business competition. Since they were fully enfranchised by constitutional amendment, they have sought emancipation from these *“pro- tective” restrictions. Now they are bringing forward another constitu- tional amendment, forbldding the en- actment of State laws which limit the hours of labor or otherwise interpose differentlating bars between them and thelr brothers in industry and busl- nes: Yesterday at a meeting held in this city this proposition was strongly ad- vanced, and a petition was laid before the President, asking his aid in secur- ing the adoption of the amendment. And so begins a campaign which, con- sidering the force enrolled, the deter- mined spirit manifested and the equity of the cause, must be rated as certain of success. What these women in industry are asking is simple. They want an even chance with all other workers. Th @o not want “protection.” They want the opportunity of as many hours of employment a day as the men and at the same rates of p They say, with reason, that if their services are valuable no law should create a dif- ference In valuation. They do mnot want to bs protected against over- time exactions. They want the chance to make overtime pay If occasion of- fers. However well-meaning the protec tive laws that have been enacted in behalf of the working women of this country, they have operated to their serious disadvantage. Unquestionably 1n some industries, In some places, the lack of such laws has resulted in hardshipe. But there is no compulsion to labor save the compulsion of fam- fly need and personal necessity. There 1s, in truth, more servitude under re. strictive statutes which interpose dif- ferentials of working conditions and working hours and rates of pay than under a system of unrestrained em- ployment such as that against which this present movement is in protest. The good faith of those who have promoted these restrictive ‘‘protec- tive” laws is questioned, It is charged that they have sought to prevent the entry of woman workers into certain trades and occupations in order to keep up wage scales for the men. Whether this be true, or whether these laws have been enacted out of & sincere desire to shield the sup- posedly weaker sex from industrial stress, the fact remains that the working women are now in great numbers demanding their repeal and particularly the adoption of a Federal emendment which will prevent future legislation of this character. And the sense of fair dealing and equity of the People of this country will surely re- spond fn support of this demand that women be allowed a fair chance and @n even opportunity for employment on equal terms with men so long as they can discharge their duties and render service of value. ————— Tn carrying out his political plane Mussolini did not hesitate to employ Ppharmacists and dootors of medicine @5 well as statesmen. In his present physical emergency the physicians should show a proper gratitude and take good care of him. —————— Every city regards the housing prob- blem as a local condition. As a matter of fact it is world wide. Cities are overcrowded from Japan on westward through Asia and Europe, and have been for centurles. —— e Evoking Spirits of the Dead. Many men in public life have a fondness for telling the position that would be taken on current questions by historic Americans, long dead, it they could come back to earth. A speaker will encourage his followers b suring them that if George Washington were alive he would stand with them. Such a statement is quite gratifying to a number of men. It has been said that if Abra- ham Lincoln were alive he would stand s sponsor for contrary poli- cies. It is not uncommon 'to be told Just what attitude Thomas Jefferson would on questions of which he never heard. It is a bold man who will tell what attitude would be taken on present issues by Americans, a century dead, if they were to come back. A late Instance of this kind is a wordy contest between Senator Ed- wards of New Jersey and Wayne B. Wheeler of the Anti-Saloon League. It is reported that Senator Edwards said that if Andrew Jackson were alive he would challenge Mr. Wheeler to a duel. That would be hard on Wheeler, for several men have said that Jackson was what used to be called “a dead shot.” Mr. Wheeler re- torts that if Andrew Jackson were Rlive, he would say, “If any man vio- take lates the American Constitution, shoot him on the spot.” That is pretty strong. A cautious man ought to go slow in pledging what Andrew Jaok- son, if living, would think of the elghteenth amendment. When Jack- son was one of us he fought duels. There s no doubt that he was not a teetotaler. There is no doubt that he opposed varfous plans for increas- ing Federal authority over citizens ot States. There also s no doubt that he was an upholder of the Constitu- tlon as he knew it. Men who are de- voted to the memory of Andrew Jack- son—experts on the subject—are not agreed as to how Jackson would vote today. There is no doubt that each loyal Jacksonian {s convinced that what he personally believes would be approved by Juckson were he to come back. ———ae The Guggenheim Gift. Daniel Guggenheim, by his gift of $2,500,000 for the development of civil aviation, puts the science of aeronau- tics upon a practlcal plane of com- mercial utility. This munificent dona- tion is not an endowment, the income from which is to be used for the main- tenance of research and experiment, but is given outright to be expended in principal over a period of ten vears, which the donor estimates should suf- fice to cover the “period of necessary study and experimentation,” before civil aviation can realize the posstbili- ties before it. This is a fleld which the Govern- ment itself cannot possibly occupy and which must be left to individual enterprise and generosity. The Gov- ernment is engaged in its own task of developing aviation defense. Civil in- terests are mainly occupled in pro- moting competitive types of aircraft. Mr. Guggenheim proposes to co- ordinate all works, both governmental and private, which are aiming at the goal of a practical utilization of the air. Mr. Gugsgenheim’s stipulations, which he explains in his letter to Sec- retary Hoover, outline a great prac- tical endeavor confined to limits which are calculated to enhance its value. The work is to be restricted to civil activities. The trustees are to avoid duplication of effort with other aero- nautical organizations and work which is properly a Government func- tion. The trustees are to plan their work carefully, to concentrate their effort and to carry any investigation or project through to a definite con- clusion. They are to maintain a sim- ple, inexpensive directing organiza- tion, depending on outside established agencles wherever possible. Thus supplementing the work of the Government and that of existing or- ganizations the Guggenheim fund should in a practical manner greatly ald in the development of aircraft for civil uses. At present this country is laggard in the use of the air for trans- port. The Government has estab- lished mail routes which are rendering valuable service and in the main- tenance of which much of practical benefit has been developed. But of commercial lines operating on sched- ule for passenger and freight trans- port there are so few that they may be rated as experimental. It is particularly interesting to note that Mr. Guggenheim suggests a ten- vear period as covering the scope of this inquiry, which he hopes will lead to distinct results. Considering the remarkable development of aviation during the war within a few years and since the war in the commercial uses —though not in this country—it would seem that this is a sufficient estimate. And it would further appear, in view of Mr. Guggenheim's previous gift of half a million dollars for aviation study at one of the universities, that he is “enlisted for the war" and dis- posed to be ready for further dona- tions to this great cause if necessary. In any case, this remarkable gift calls for national thanks and appreciation. —————__ Senatorial imaginations visualize the World Court as something that will get us into the League of Nations, and are inclined to call on the shade of Dante to reveal what the League of Nations is liable to get us into. - e The determination to -reduce the burden of taxes gives assurance that those old friends “Taxpayer” and “Vox Populi,” while subordinated in current literature, still retain a fair share of political influence. ) New York’s Grade Crossings. The New York State Public Service Commission, in its annual report to the Legislature, states that the sum of $603,895,000 will be required to eliminate 7,304 crossings in highways and on the main tracks of rallroads in the State. In addition to these 7,304 crossings, there are 791 in highways at railroad sidings or spurs, making a total of 8,285 places of constant dan- ger to the public. At the last election a constitutional amendment was ap- proved by the voters under which a maximum of $300,000,000 will be avail- able for grade crossing ellmination work as 80on as the necessary legisla. tion can be passed. The State can as- sume only 25 per cent of the cost, with the localities likewiss paying 26 per cent and the railroads 50 per cent. ‘The commission classifies 1,972 croas- ings as most dangerous, and proposes their elimination first at a total cost of $261,810,000. This is a practical, constructive ad- vance toward the cure of 6ne of the greatest evils from which this country suffers. The work must be done on a large scale and in accordance with a central plan. Piecemeal grade-cross- ing elimination is more expensive and less effective because spread out over a long period of years, marked by many fatalities. A construetion pro- gram Involving hundreds of millions is not prohibitive. The State, the lo- calities and the raflroads all actually save money by such methods, al- though the amount initially fnvolved is large. In matters of public health there is never a lack of initiative and liberal appropriation in prevention and cure. Epidemics are fought with every means available regardless of expense. Sanitary provisions are made at great cost. Sewer systems are installed and water supplies are provided, all to the end that the people may be spared from visitations of disease. The grade THE rious & menace to the public security s epidemic allments. The cost of them In lives Is annually greater than from many of the most deadly diseases. Yet they are tolerated, with haphaz- ard and occasional efforts at correc- tion, as particular crossings become intolerable through repeated accl- dents. In the New York State commis- sion’s report to the Legislature is a note to the effect that there has been a reduction in the number of grade crossings despite the increase In mo- tor traffic. During the past fiscal year there were fifty-two fewer accidents than in the year before. But at that, during the past twelve months there were 729 collisions at crossings, caus- ing the death of 117 and the injury of 497 persons. The reduction in the number was doubtless due to the effi- clency of educational campaligns con- ducted by the rallroad companies, by motorists’ associations and by news- papers throughout the State to teach the lesson of greater care in highway use. But It is only too painfully evi- dent that education will not cure this evil and that through elimination alone can the roads be made safe for all who use them, whether careless or careful drivers. ———. Eleven Hours of Hymns. The congregation of the church at Yucaipa, Calif., recently went through the standard hymn book of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church from cover to cover. Every hymn in the volume, 748 in all, was either sung, recited or read. The congregation, of course, had to work in relays to a certain ex- tent. The whole performance lasted eleven' hours. Those participating in this hymnal marathon can hereafter point with pride to their share in what may be considered a rather remarkable physi- cal achievement. Without wishing in the least to condemn or even belittle in the slightest degree what goes on in churches, it is certainly safe to ex- press doubt as to the inspirational or even soclal value of such a service. Hymns in moderation are absolutely invaluable adjuncts of services in praise of the Creator. Old-fashioned services in which favorite hymns are called for by those in attendance have their appeal. Demonstrations of the powers of a congregation to remem- ber hymns, arousing as they do a mildly competitive spirit, also are of interest. But to go straight through a hymn book must of necessity result only in mechanical effort, wandering thoughts, hoarse throats and a general anti- climax toward the end. It is not known whether this ‘“‘stunt” service will relieve the participants from fu- ture hymn-singing for so many months to come, but to some it will undoubt- edly be reminiscent of the Buddhist monk who hour after hour whirls a wooden wheel bearing a printed pray- er, each revolution of v*hich is consid- ered equivalent to a heartfelt petition of the deity. o Efforts to “humanize” George Wash- ington lead to embarrassment. The popular imagination is the great decid- ing factor in fame. No fair observer will deny that Washington was rather crudely dealt with by Parson Weems and other self-constituted press agents. ————— Grand opera in New York is to be housed in more modern quarters than those provided by the present Metro- melitan Opera House. Art, though a powerful influence, must follow the trail blazed by the realtor. e e English rubber is in demand, and the United States pays the price with much protest. Some intimation that ithe World Court would find a way to adjust the system of price fixing for tires might help to popularize the new tribunal in certain senatorial minds. There is a dignity in legislative cir- cles that cannot be broken down. Literature and theatric art become profane, but eenatorial investigators still succeed in restraining themselves. Ze——r - — et A drop in the stock market is not necessarily an indication of values, It usually registers merely the tempera- mental attitude of the group mind. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Some Day. We're always singin’ the “Some Day Song.” Plannin’ to right what's goin’ wrong. ‘We step to the pace of jazzy glee ‘While tellin’ of things that ought to be. The present pleasure is somethin® great And good intentions procrastinate. Our hopes aré high and our hearts are strong— But we're always singin’ the “Some Day Song.' Music and the Laws. “Many of our greatest statesmen have been musicians.” “Very true,” answered Senator Sor- ghum. “That was in the old days. No competent musician now would be con- tent with the comparatively feeble compensation accorded a statesman.” Getting Evidence. The prohibition agent’s task immense Requires a stern, uncompromising sense. And yet it doth not seem an act polite To jail & lady friend for being tight. Jud Tunkins says it pays to adver- tise, only too many people waste time on publicity when they haven't any- thing to sell. Truly Good. “Are you a good poker player?” “I am,” replied Cactus Joe. “You usually win?" “I never do. I'm & good poker player in the moral and self-sacrific- ing sense.” Motormoron. What care I for house and land With a substantial showing? 1 only ask the cash in hand To keep the flivver going. “When a man has loafed fifteen or twenty days out of a month,” said Uncle Eben, “I can’t take no interest in his efforts to tell me dat de trusts is ‘sponsible, foh his financial trou- i November. EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, . 0, MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 1926. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. There are two books any one can get for nothing that are among the most interesting to be secured, for the sim- ple reason that they deal with the actual, practical things of everyday. ‘The big mall order catalogue comes for the asking, as does the annual seed catalogue. We have just recelved our copy of a 1926 seed catalogue, the pro- duction of one of the biggest and old- est sead houses. It is & monumental volume, of 200 pages, illustrated with beautiful colored plates of vegetables and flowers and hundreds of illustrations in black and white, green and sepia. I wish every home in the United States could have @ copy of this really beautiful book. No matter if one has no garden, or 0 unfortunately situated that he v never have one, this fine cata- logue will add to the joy of living, if only through the dreams which it will inspire. This catalogue 1s more than a mere list of seeds. It is the gateway to the garden. Coming in the coldest time of the Winter, it brings fresh news of Spring, pictures of Summer, gleams of distant sunsets, dreams of happi- ness. Is not that a great deal for any book to do, no matter if it cost many dol- lars? There is a book to be secured in the bookstores now for $20 a copy, a volume which will interest but not inspire, which will hold the attention but will leave the spiritual faculties of man untouched This catalogue, on the other hand, that costs one exactly nothing, will leave you the better for fts perusal, and, if you act upon its advice, will bring the glint of health to your cheeks and put you in touch with ail outdoors. is * ok ok & Truly, a big nothing's worth! I have never been able to get over a sense of gratitude upon the receipt of this splendid catalogue. Of course, it is a business proposition, pure and simple—and yet, hold! Sure. ly the men who put out thls book— for it is indeed that—also feel some- thing of what the writer has tried to express here. If there was not more than a de- sire to make so many dollars a_year behind this book, it would not be as fine a catalogue as It 1s. One does not have to be a dreamer to be sure of that. Mere utilitarianism will not ac- count for the loving care put upon this catalogue. No, the inborn love of men whose fathers were in this growing game shines forth from every page. Here, if anywhere, one may find where the backbone of the republic lies. It has its place in the farmers and the gar- deners and the homeloving people who raisé a few vegetables and flowers. Mr. Mencken has written (with his usual abllity) of the “men of the cities”; and. if T gather aright from his words, he belicves that these city men are better than small town folk and other clodhoppers. In my opinion, the shoe is distinctly on the other foot. There is very little a city does for a man. except to make him “‘stuck up,” to use a homely ex- pression. It takes the small town and the country to put an edge on a man and make him really superior, with a superiority that is based on nature, To dine in a “swell cafe” at midnight and talk glibly of plays and authors may be some folks' idea of really living, but the man who gets out in his garden and chats with his neigh- bor over the best way of controlling plant lice is perhaps nearer the real thing. * Our catalogue starts off with lawn grass seed. “A good lawn s unquestionably the most beautiful and most valuable fea- ture of the home grounds; or, in fact, of any landscape developments, in- cluding public parks, private estates, | suburban plots, or even a city yard,* says our catalogue. Nothing else can impart the same dignity, or appearance of refinement, or set off the architectual beauty of a building to better advantage than a well made, well kept lawn. “Furthermore, a beautiful lawn is not only valuable from an esthetic standpoint, or because it promotes a personal pride of ownership; but it also possesses real intrinsic value, as it actually increases the value of the property upon which it grows.” Many a Washington householder could take that advice with benefit, it one may judge from the bare front vards to be seen in Summer. It is true that the trees here make the growing of grass difficult in some lo- calities, but even here the expenditure of a few dollars for really good grass seed, aspectally for the kinds suited to shady places, will give pleasing results. Those who have never looked into a catalogue of this magnitude will be astonished at the variety of grasses offered. Here we have not only the mixtures for all sorts of situations, but also various kinds of golf course mixtures and grasses, and grasses espectally suited to athletic flelds. The list of individual recleaned grasses includes Bermuda grass, Can adn blue grass, Chewing's New Zea- land fescue, colonial bent, creeping bent, fine-leaved sheep's fescue, hard fescue, Itallan rve grass, Kentucky blue, meadow fescue, red or creeping fescue, red-top fan Rhode Island bent, rough-stalked meadow, various leaved fescue and wood meadow grass. Come we now (as the movies say) to the time-honored seed catalogue statement: In sccordance with the universal custom of the seed trade, & Co. gives no warranty, express or implied, as to description, quality, productiveness or any other matter of any seeds, bulbs, roots or plants they ‘and they will not be in any ponsible for the crop.” the following is appended “And if the customer is not willing to accept these goods on these conditions they are to be returned at once.” * ok ok Color plates of gigantic tomatoes, sweet corn, stringless beans, ast snapdrugons, sweet peas, zinnias, gladioli, dahilas, etc., greet our wan dering eyes. Suraly we will have to try some of this grand tomato seed on our back fence! In the past we have gone in for flowers. exclusively, but this color plate is irresistible We, too, want to be among the satistied customers who write in that every tomato they £row weighs 2 or 3 pounds. As for the flowers, we are left in a delightrul state of perplexity, wanting each and every one, but realizing full well that our dooryard is not large enough to hold them all, even if we had >nough money to purchase the entire collection. The fine thing about flowers, how- ever, is that one does not have to have them all to have all that they are able to give us. One gladiolus has the beauty of a hundred, and a border of zinnias is a veritable flower garden all by itself. One rose is as sweet as a_dozen roses, ane violet as shy as a bouquet, one glowing dahlia the epitome of them all. Thus we muse over our catalogue book. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Vice President Dawes is expected to tear loose on the Senate rules for the first time this session in his Mc- Kinley birthday speech at Washing- ton. The Ohio Society of the District of Columbia will commemorate the martyred President’s natal day on January 29, and Mr. Dawes will be the orator of the occasion. Chief Jus- tice Taft, who presides over his fel- low Buckeyes, will be on hand to sup- ply whatever may be lacking in parlia- mentary dignity and decorum. Dawes has béen content to let time and events justify his case for turning the palace of palaver on Capitol Hill into a truly legislative bod The Senate's pending performance in connection with the World Court has unquestion- ably aroused new interest in the Vice President’s demand for abolition of minority rule. Dawes and Willlam McKinley were bosom friends. It was the young lllinoisan who organized the “McKinley movement” in his State and brought its delegation into Mark Hanna's line at the 1896 con- vention. Appointment of Dawes as controller of the currency was one of the first acts of the McKinley admin- istration. The Vice President, though haliling politically from Illinois, and at one time from Nebraska, is a native son of Ohio. ¥k Henry Ford has engaged Senator James A. Reed, Democrat, of Mis- sourl, to defend him in the $1,000.000 libel action instituted against the motor king by Aaron Sapiro, co- operative marketing expert. To the raucous raven of the Kaw, therefore, will fall the task of proving Ford's contention that Sapiro heads “a Jew- ish conspiracy” to enslave the Amer- ican farmer. A titanic duel of legal wits is in sight. Reed is one of the most resourceful, and, as his foes con- tend, most ruthless, lawyers that ever faced a court or jury. His forte, as he himself records it in his “Who's ‘Who" autoblography, is rather that of a prosecutor. 'There he proudly sets forth that during the two vears he was prosecuting attorney in Kan- sas City he secured 285 convictions out of 287 cases tried. Sapiro may conduct his own case against Ford. He is a_match for Reed in cunning at the bar. * % ¥ Behind the scenes at the War and Navy Departments & battle royal is being waged over the scene of the 1926 Army-Navy foot ball game. Chi- cago is the bone of contention. The Windy City has made a bid for the contést that carries an almost irre- sistible appeal to both West Point and Annapolis. Through Representa- tive Fred A. Britten of Illinois his biz home town has offered to treat the cadets and the midshipmen as its guests from the hour they leave their headquarters until the game is over and they are home again. As it cost our future generals and ad- mirals about $20,000 out of their own Jeans to attend, respectively, the 1924 and 1825 contests in Baltlmore and New York, Chicago's open-hearted roposition is seductive in the ex- reme. Mr. Britten wants the Army- Navy game to be part of the pro- gram of dedication of the magnificent new Soldiers’ Field on the Chicago lake front during the last week of He has hopes that Pres- ident Coolidge may be prevailed upon to speak at the “unveiling” of what Chicago, with characteristic modesty, claims to be the finest and most costly memorial erécted anywhere on earth in honor of the soldiers of the World ‘War. L Representative Emanuel Celler, Democrat, of Brooklyn, who is evi: dently @ wet, was plunged into verse cripsing is as grave an evil and as ke B . . e . . W eixth tion. Here's the form in which his must broke out: Prohibition is all a-wry, ;ars are six too many, still more stills of and rye Than cats are in Kilkenny Prohibition is all Its birth has c: Its father wa Its moth a-wry, Carrie Nation. * K oxox The Senate's inquiry into Secretary MeHon's activities in aluminum has at least blown up one of the favorite charges of the Ku Klux Klan. Ever since “Wild Bill” Donovan became At- torney General Sargent's chief of staff, the Klan has been fond of claiming that “the Pope” controls the Depart- ment of Justice, because Col. Donovan is a Roman Catholic! But now the country i enjoying the spectacle of the leading Roman Catholic in Con- gress, Senator Thomas J. Walsh of Montana, grilling his _co-religionist mercilessly at the aluminum inquiry. That is a situation which seems to play havoc with the K. K. K. theory that Romanists tematically hang together, especially where high af- fairs of state are concerned. * ok ok Over at the Library of Congress there's a budding Will Rogers who glves certaln promise of becoming a dangerous rival of the cowboy come- dian. He's a youngster named Dick Nash, not long out of the Washing- ton high schools, and now a Govern- ment clerk. Federal workers have just produced their annual edition of “Uncle Sam's Follles” and Nash, a long, lean and lanky youth, was the bright particular star, In a Wil Rogers stunt that challenged com- parison with the original. He twirls his ropes, chews his gum and does his gags in the best Oklahoma man- ner. Besides that, Nash can sing and dance, which are accomplish- ments Rogers does not boast. * kA ‘The mouth of the Potomac i§ the favorite destination of President Cool- idge when he goes week-end-yacht- ing on the Mayflower. Ever since Senator Dave Reed of Pennsylvania cruised on the executive boat his colleagues on the Hill have been say- ing that Irving Berlin ought to im- mortalize the anchorage of the May- flower in a song entitled ‘“‘Down Where the Olive Branch Grows.” The Pittsburgh Senator, who objecta to Pennsylvania’s place in the outer darkness of the patronage patch, is, of course, not the only statesman to whom the twigs of peace, scented with sea air from Chesapeake Bay, have been offered during the present aquatic administration. * ok ok x Charles MacVeagh, who recently assumed his duties as American Am- bassador to Japan, has to camp out in somebody else's house, like most of Uncle Sam's foreign envoys. The MacVeaghs, pending the construction of the embassy quarters the United States expects some day to build at Tokio, have taken one of the show places of the city for a residence. It 18 the so-called ‘‘semi-foreign” House of the Japanese statesman, Baron Matsul. Some day thers will be a congressional inquiry into the cause of the six-year delay in equip- ping and occupying the London em- bassy, presented to the Government by the late Pierpont Morgan. (Copyright. 1026, Mussolini and Nero. From the Baltimore Sun. also; but Short Skirts and No | Smokes for Women To the Editor of The Star: Your editorial of the 12th on “Fem- inine Dress” is so good I want to in- dorse it. 1f men would only show more appreciation of the suitably dressed girl I'm thinking more girls would be suitably dressed. Suitable dresses for husiness oftentimes cost more than the frivolous ones; 5o too severe judgment should not be passed upon girls' apparent lack of good taste and sense. Their wages are not enough for both kinds of frocks, so the chojce runs to the dress-up one. Fashions change so often it does not seem worth while to worry about the ways of women as to dress. The complained-of brevity of skirt seems more wholesome than the street- sweeping ones of times vet within the memory of man. Don't you think there s too much “picking on” girls anyway? When she wore a bustle and “rats” in her hair there was great hue and cry. Now that she wears neither, her present fashion and habit are cried down. And, pray, why ghould not she smoke when' she can’t walk or talk with & young man without his puffing his smoke in her face? If it's bad for her it is also for him. So there! I hate smoking, but can’t see why a man may and a woman may not. It's 4 nasty habit and worse when a per- son can't break away from it—and few do, T notice. Yours for short dresses and no smokes. MARIE _ADDIE RINGTON et POW. This Coal Consumer Free From Anthracite To the Editor of 1he Star For years the chronically threat- ened coal strike has heen a night- mare to me. Every Summer I have filled my bin, holding about half a Winter's supply. hoping that in case there was a strike, it would be set- tled before my coal had run out. This year 1 saw that I would have to come to soft coal, and ordered be- fore my anthracite was all gone, so as to have o chance to experiment without danger of freezing. I bought a low-volatile lump coal and have no troublesome smoke—none at all after the coal is well afire. I did not dream that soft coal would work so well. If T find the fire out on a cold morning, 1 do not have to hug the furnace until noon to get the house warm, for with the soft coal I can have 4 hot fire in a short time. More- over, 1 have no more sifting, for this coal leaves only fine ash. I still e a small amount of an- thracite which 1 do not care to use, for 1 like the soft coal better. Any anthra- cite fan who wants anthracite or none can have it at half a cent a pound in the cellar, and welcome. It is pea si But if people would study the soft coal more, many of them, I am sure would to anthracite for- ever, and thus express their opinion of that set of self-constituted boss of the miners’ union whose life bus ness seems to be to make themselves fell—to cause misery to both coal consumers and miners. G. H. HEALD. ———————_ Why Not a Memorial To Thomas Jefferson? To the Editor of The Star Speaking of memorials, w national memorial to Jefferson? Even if he had not been a man of exceptional talent, his assoclation with our Republic’s birth as the author of the Declaration of American Independ- ence would seem to entitle him to that distinetion. As President, his relationship to the “ten miles square” was sympathetic as well as intimate in the early history of the National Capital. He was the central figure of an eventful time, which was not less mementous in our political development and quite as spectacular as that of Roosevelt and Bryan or even that of Lincoln. at is the matter—what has been the matter—with the great party of which Jefferson is the reputed father that it permits its great rival to mo- nopolize the erection of memorials at the seat of government? What is the matter with “we the people” that there is no shrine at Washington dedicated to the man who in their behalf, a little less than 130 years ago, interpolated in and glorified a political document with the then heterodox assertion that “all men are created free and equal?” Why not an adequate memorial to the author of the Declaration of Independence? WILLIAM TIPTON TALBOTT. Local Mothers® Pension Bill Is Adequate ©of The Star In reference to the mothers’ pension bills for the District now before Con- (34 may T say that the New York To the Ed publicity _highbinders are stealing from the District welfare workers the credit for this excellent legislation. Six vears ago the District people in- terested in child welfare had a model mothers’ pension fntroduced into Con- gress. It failed. Four years ago the same local people relntroduced the same model bill, a batter bill than either of the two which Congress is now considering. It fafled of passage on account of the lack of interest of members of Congress in District af- fairs. This year the District people got the President to recommend in his message to Congress that it pass a model_mothers’ pension bill for this District. This assured the passage of a bill and also brought a lot of pub- licity highbinders to Washington to steal the credit from the Washington people. If these publicity seekers really wanted to help, as they claim they do, they should have backed the District bill and not tried to put over their own Inferfor bill. HENRY NEIL. Speed Madness a National Malady To the Editor of The Star: ‘We are suffering from a dangerous and homicidal attack of speed mad- ness, which has overthrown our rea- son; and we are Kkilling more than 20,000 persons a year, men, women and children, under its fatal and ma- lignant influence. The present excessive and murder- ous speed of automoblles serves no useful purpose whatever. It is merely the inane amusement of empty minds. It is foolish, deadly and absolutely useless. It produces nothing but crip- ples and corpses. It helps to fill our cemeteries. BERTRAND SHADWELL. Chicago. All the Same. From the Detrolt News. A woman dancing the Chatleston broke her leg, but it is probable that nobody looking on noticed any differ- ence in her dancing. e An Oversight. From the Lynchburg News. The old bachelor who boasts that he Sects 1o ndd that M Bever pioasss ects never any of them. 2 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. Please explain the time signals as sent out from Arlington—D. R. S. A. The time signals are sent out several minutes before the hour, making a buzz every second. On the twenty-ninth and fifty-ninth second they stop and on the thirty-first sec- ond and the first second of the next minute they continue. The long buzz designates the hour. Q. What is the difference between a novel and a novelette?—E. D. A. Primarily one of length. A novelette usually runs from 00 to 85,000 or even 40,000 words, while a novel is from 70,000 to 110,000, Q. What is the origin of the term “Shanghifed"?—R. K. A. The term was applied to a mode of forcibly shipping as sailors, men who had been drugged or made drunken, hecause this practice was largely followed by masters of ships engaged in trade with China, Shang- hal being one of the principal ports of call. Q. How are pecans cured and polished for market’—P. 8. A. Pecans may be cured by leav- ing them exposed to the air in a partially shaded place for about a week, then place the nuts in bulk quantity in a well aired building for one month. They may then be stored at a temperature between 40 degrees and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, in bags, boxes or barrels. The alr in the storage room must not be too dry Polished nuts as formerly marketed are now considered undesirable, only the cheaper grade nuts are stained. The velvety surface now often found is a result of passing them through a special wire grader, similar to the one used for prunes Q. How many negroes were set free at the time of Lincoln's Bman- cipation Proclamation?—J. D. B. A. At the time of the Emanci- pation Proclamation. which became effective January 1, 1863, only those negroes who were slaves in the seceding or rebellious States were affected. These numbered approxi- mately 2,000,000. The thirteenth amendment, which was proclaimed December 18, 1865, released from slavery all slaves ' throughout the boundaries of the United States or its jurisdiction. Q. Was “Onward, Christian Sol- liers” written by an American?—M. A. The distinguished Anglican clergyman, Dr. S. Baring-Gould, wrote “Onward Christlan Soldfers.” Q. Is caracul the same as - kan?—M. E. B. S A. Caracul is astrakan which is ved in platinum and sand shades, ddition to black, the sole color for ‘astrakan. Astrakan {s obtafned from animals of the sheep family found in southern Russia, chiefly the province of Astrakan. This term fs often used improperly for fur known 4s Perslan lamb. Q. How much land does the Gov- ernment own around Natural Bridge, Va.?—C. L. A. The Natural Bridge Forest fis approximately 70 mmiles long and from & to 15 miles wide, with a Bross acreage of 279,000 acres, of which 163.000 acres is Government- owned land. Q. How long has the Australian ballot system been used in this coun- try?>—D. M. A. The Australian ballot was in- troduced fnto the United States in 1885. The first law providing for it was enacted in Kentucky, but it ap. plied only to the city of Louisville. In the 3 Massachusett passed a law providing for the use of the Australian ballot in State eleo- tlons, but it did not become effective until the following vear. Q. What i3 the Cape Henry tablet? —A. K. R. A In 1836 the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antlquities erected a tablet on Cape Henry to celebrate the landing near that spot (-‘{; the first Virginia colonists on April 26, 1607, Q. Why was the Platte River so called?”—J. S. H. A. It was so named because of its shallowness, the French word “plat’ meaning shallow. Q. How much of the furniture at Mount Vernon was there during the as | lifetime J.W.H. A. The barpsichord and twe of Washington's chalrs, rausic room; chairs, west parlor; Chippendale side- board and wine chest, dining room; mirror, card table, mahogany chair and four prints, Mra. Washington's sitting room; mantelplece, wall lamps, rosewood pedestal, clock, candlesticks, firedogs and plateau of mirror glass, banquet hall; bed and chair, Washing ton's chamber; dressing glass, tea stand, desk and chalr, Mre. Washing- ton's chamber. As we understand it, these articles of furniture have either been continually at Mount Vernen or contributed by individuals. For ex ample, Mrs. Robert E. Les gave one original piece. of George Washington?— Q. Do tides run faster in deep or in shallow water? A. In general it may be sald that the rate at which a tide wave pro ceeds depends on the depth, the for- mula being: Rate of the advance of the tide equals the equare root of the acceleration of gravity, multiplied by the depth of the water. Thersfore. in a4 deep channel the tide progresses at a more rapld rate than in a shal low channel. Q. Are thers any salt lakes in the Northwest section of this country?— H. C. A. There is a group of salt lakes in North Dakota, of which Minne waukon, or Devils Lake, s the largest. It is about 45 miles long and from 2 to 13 miles in width. Q. What is a A. In law a misdemeanor is any offense helow a felony, but in this country the various States vary wide ly in defining a misdemeanor, 8o that what is a misdemeanor in one State may be an Indictable felony in an other. Q. While on a hunting trip I ghot = bird that had e band on its leg. What does it mean?—C. S. A. The Blological Survey says that the bands should be turned in to the department with particulars as to the exact spot, time, etc., since ths birds wera banded for investigation and observation. Q. What land is included in Oce- ania?—L. T. O. A. Oceania or Oceanica was a desig- nation which embraced the land sur face which remained after apportion- ing the continents of Eurasia, Africa and the Americas. The term covered misdemeanor? Australia, the Indlan Archipelago and the Pacific Islands. After Australasia was set apart as a continent Oceanica was restricted to the Malay Archi pelago and the islands of the Pacific. Q. Should venison be served rare or well done?—C. J. C. A. Venison is served rare. If leg of venison is used, hone befora roast ing. Salt, pepper and dredge meat with flour, place In roasting pan in hot oven. \When brown baste every 15 minutes, adding water If necessary. Less than two hours is required for medium roast, so that it may be rare Venison cutlets are prepared as other cutlets, rolled in bread crumbs and broiled five minutes in brofler or fried in a little hot fat in skiliet. Broiled venison steak is prepared the same as beefsteak. Currant jelly 1s served with venison steak. It should be cooked rare always Q. “A" says gasoline is an ofl. says if gasoline is an oil, why is it not a lubricant? Please explain—M. E. P A. Gasoline is oil in a refined mate the lubricating properties having been removed, leaving only the combustible properties. Ask Frederic J. Haskin, director of The Evening Star Information Burenu Whatever you want to know—healt) business, etiquette, a household prob lem or ‘a national one—Haskin car find out about it. He has the greatest library in the world to draw on, and he can reach the many scientific ex- perts in the employ of the Govern ment. He will go to the right source and quote you the authority. He employed by The Evening Star to ac as a free agent for the people. THIS IS A SERVICE YOU CANNOT AF- FORD TO OVERLOOK. Write your question and your name and address plainly. Inclose a 2-cent stamp for return postage. Send it to The Erve ning Star Information Bureau, Fred eric_J. Haskin, director, Washington D.C. Most Everybody Cheers for The Jazz King and His Bride Cheers for the romance of Irving Berlin and his Fifth avenue bride, Ellin Mackay, come from every side. Public sentiment, at least as reflected st of the mewspapers, approves edding of a Jewish minstrel and a society favorite, the daughter of a Catholic_multimillionaire. “The Jazz King and his ‘400" wife are to be congratulated,” the Fort Worth Record Telegram _declares. ““They committed a perfect American- ism. 1If let alone the chances are all in their favor. If social busybodies will not create chasms of social dis- parities between them and religious zealots will not disturb the opposites that exist in that part of the alliance, they will have a good chance to be a worthy object lesson to the foundation process of the American people. We are for them. May they live long and prosper." The frequency of such matings is commented upon by the Omaha World Herald, which says that “all the world which 1S represented as loving a lover will undoubtedly unite in wishing well to the happy Berlins,” and suggests that “if Irving has it in his heart to spare us & new crop of sentimental melodies, so much the better.” * ok ok % “‘Quite a discussion goes on over the marriage,” observes the New York World, “and as a somber leitmotif to the buzz of talk comes a loud woof- woof from the male parent of the party of the first part. But for the innocent outsider it is most difficult to apprehend what all the fuss is about. Is it seriously argued that a writer of songs is not fit to wed the daughter of a million dollars? The country is full of million dollarses, but where is the country that is full of Irving Berlins? It must be an enchanted land. This particular minstrel, as it happens, has a million dollars of his own—but that is not why he is loved.” As its only objection, the Cincinnat! Times Star protests against the ‘‘ob- scure and unmusical ceremony,” since the bridegroom has “in his marriage and his career a libretto that he could gloriously set to music.” To the Akron Beacon Journal, “poor but crested heroes, strutting across the stage of grand opera, could give only the answering deflance to the protest- ing parent, ‘My birth is noble as thine own,’ but modern jazz kings, in real life, are enabled to say it with millions.” * * ok x “It is to be hoped. Salem Journal say: kay's romance was based upon love, although it is “apparent that there is something akin to rebellion in it.” And the Journal continues: “She re- volted from ‘society’ with its ‘unat- tractive people.’ Soclety is likely to have a good many ‘unattractive’ fea- tures which weigh like millstones upon real dp:o{»le. The n.tewfi‘ 1s rather cru o_begin with, being labeled ‘Cash -’m of it.' There the Winston: hat Miss Mac- is likely to be a good deal of indolent frivolity that jars upon persons with keen nerves and red blood.” The St | Paul Dispatch also believes that while he news value of the romance is purely social, the romance itself has a deeper significance, for at the bot tom of it is the revolt against social caste and its stupidities.” There will be no_“high-hatting” of Miss Mackay, in the opinion of the Harrisburg Telegraph, which refers to recent articles from her pen that would lead to the “belief that she is not only a highly intelligent and most observing young woman, but that she has evolved a wholesome philosophy of her own scarcely to have been ex pected of one reared in the hothouse atmosphere of a Fifth avenue man sion.”" * % ox % Although the father sweats he wiil neithar ‘‘forget nor forgive,™ the taleigh News and Observer thinks he will do hoth, as “time is & great healer and blood is thicker then all else.’ And the Roanoke Times is certain that “‘Mr. Mackay. despite his millions, will be & most unwise, and. yes, a most unhappy, man if he refuses to become reconciled to the match.” The Des Moines Tribune News remarks, ‘“Tut, tut, Papa Mackay! We thought these hard-hearted fathers existed only in the pages of novels.” The judgment that “if she loved Mr. Berlin and the love was reciprocated, then it was the sole affalr of the young couple,” is volced by the Bay City Times Tribune. “She must live her own life and select her own road to happiness,” adds the Ann Arbor Times News. The sentiments of the Manchester Leader are expressed in the rhyme: “Let 'em alone we say and John Saxe once said it better— Is it anybody’'s business if a gentle man should choose To call upon a lady If the lady don't refuse? Or, to speak a iitle plainer, that all may the meaning know, Is it anybody's business if a lady has a beau?” * X ¥ X “They should make a happy pair, interesting to each other and to their friends, whose number will be largely increased by their romance,” avers the Portland Telegram, while the Jersey City Journal explains, “Love wings again; it can't be shaken, it can't be beaten,” and the Watertown Daily Times says it is “Truly a love match.” But the Nashville Banner is skep tical, contending that “at best it was a freakish marriage, and one that hids fair to develop incompatibilit The Champaign News Gazette contrasts the experience of father and daughier with the statements: “Ellin Mackay for 22 years has been happy, through the efforts of her father. She prob- ably will continue to be happy. But Clarence Mackay, for 22 years the happy father of Eilin, ve & hard time ¢ '#f his years of