Evening Star Newspaper, March 21, 1926, Page 54

mn!uorom D. ©. KUNDAY vowvew - -March 21, 1026 THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor Efiunln‘ Star Newspaper Company Business Office: 8 88, and Pennsy]vanis Ave. o O Puropean Office: 14 Regent St.. London, England. The Evening Star, with the Sunday morn- E edition, fs delivered by carriers within oty at' 60 cents per month: daily only M s per month: Sunday on centa por month. Orders may be sent by mall or olophone Main 5000. Colloction is made by earrier at the end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. States and Canada. v. 1 yr.$12.00: 1 ma., $1.00 1¥r. SRAO0:1mo. The $4000 1 mo.. 35¢ oniy Sunday only " Member of the Associated Press. Thy entitled 10 the usa for republication of al! news dis- atches credited 10 {t or not atherwiss ernd- aper and alsn the lncal news in. A1l rights of publi~ation atches herein are alan resarved. = Retirement Amendment Delay. Snspiclon has been expressed that the delay in furnishing Congress with actuarial information upon which will he based the proposed amendment to the efvil retirement act is intentional for the purpose of preventing action At the present session. This. however, is not to be credited. Tt iz not con- celvable that any agency of the Gov- ernment would deliberately seek to check, retard or postpone, much less prevent the enactment of a proper measure liberalizing the terms of civil retirement. Yet the feeling has been entertained and is manifest in fre quent comment. Many months have passed since this question was definitely brought to the point of consideration in anticipation of the present session of Congress. It s, indeed, a “hold over” from the last Cengress. There has been abundant time for the preparation of actuarial reports, and now that the present ses. slon s drawing te a close—adjourn- ment by the first of .June is prob- able—keen anxiety is feit lest this vear pass without action. This {8 not a matter that can he lightly postponed from session to ses- slon or from Congress to Congress. It 18 of the most vital importance to a large number of people, who are now struggling to maintain themselves on the pittances that have been doled out to them under the present law of re- tirement. When the retirement law was passed it was frequently =aid, “Oh. well, if it is not perfect now it can be corrected: it can be amended to meet conditions as they develop and as experience proves it necessar It has been very definitely demonstrated that the Jaw as it stands is a mest grievous hardship upon veterans of the Govern- ment employ who are forced into re- tirement at a maximum of $60 a month. many of them for less. It required no keen prevision to see that this would he the case, but &n urgent was 1t that the law be put on the statute books that this maximum sti- pend was accepted in order to secure the principle of civil retirement. The retirement system i based upon the contributions of the employes. The Government has financed the system In its initial stage, carrving the an- nuitants in advance of the accumula- tion of sufficient funds through deduc- tions from the pay envelopes. There is now a large surplus which, it is argued, must be maintained in order to underwrite the withdrawals from active duty of emploves who resign before they reach retirement age—the Jucky ones who can get out of the Government service while they are still in sturdy health and of vears to engage in remunerative emplovment elsswhere. Those who must remaln because they have already passed the point of occupation in private employ- ment or who have no special qualifi cations enabling them to find a market for their services hold fast to their Government positions, bleak though the prospect may be. It i= a tragic thought that many of these people are actually in their hearts hoping they may die before they reach the age of retirement. Yet that thought is warranted, not be- cause they want to “die in harness” from pride of performance, but be. cause they fear the privation, the penury of retirement under the pres- ent system. This Is & situation the Government must acknowledge and must act promptly to cure. Why should this precious time be lost for the sake of a few abstruse computations on expecta- tiens of life and the like? Every day these elder clerks are getting nearer the danger line. Every day those al- ready retired are getting deeper in the slough of despond as they fall to make both ends meet. Nobody knows the tragedies that are being daily enacted in this city in consequence of the parsimony of the original act and the procrastination in correction. The poignancy of this situation sheuld, and doubtless does, appeal to those in Congress who, quite willing to procesd with corrective legislation, are yot held up by the lack of statis- tion. Perhaps they can conscientiously proreed to put the measure through ita first stages a= at least an evidence of good faith and a comforting guar- antea to these who are waiting with painful anxiety for succor. ————————— Up to the present the time of the Teague of Nations has been almost entirely devoted to considering reports Crem the membership committee. ———— The European Bituation. Agitation is reported to be prevalent in European capitals concerning cer- tain alleged reports made by Ambas- sador Houghton and Minister Gibson to the President and the Secretary eof Btate on their arrival here. It is officially announced that neither diplematist has divulged to any un- efficial person the nature of these statements. It is significant, how- oven, that no official denial is forth- oceming regarding the reported state- ments of the Amhassador and in- ister, which are understood to have saused Ameean-oficials pessimistic view.regarding the Euro- pean situation. It is to be borne in mind that the Geneva fiasco occurred after the de- parture of Ambassador Houghton and Mr. Gibson from their European posts, Indeed aflter their arrival in this country. If they were of dublous mind regarding the situation as they have viewed it while at their posts there i= reason to be even more du- bious upon the disclosure that the European powers have been unable to maintain the League of Nations formula. A date for the preliminary confer- ence on limitation of armaments has been set in May. That meeting will doubtless be held, but little faith i felt now in its eflectiveness in view of the Geneva collapse. The league meeting that falled the other day has unmistakably shown that there is no coherence between the powers at present, that there are fears and jealousies preventing agreement upon A program. This i not the condition fn which a conference looking to the limitation of armaments can he ex- pected to lead to a dependable result. ———————— A Dog or a Fish? It i= reported from London that King George recently attended an ex- hibition of futurist paintings, and noting one in particular asked a per- son in attendance, “'Is that a dog or a fish?” Unfortunately the news re- port does not carry the answer, if any was made. Though it really makes but little difference—it might be either a dog or a fish that the artist was portraying, but more likely it was something entirely different. It was probably a mood or A phase of mind. For that sefms to be the trend of much of the modernist art today. Specific portrayval, it would seem, is anathema to the devotees of ‘‘new art.” Anything that actually looks like the thing described by the title of the painting i acoffed at as “photo- graphic.” Literalism is abhorrent Everything must be atmospheric and symbolie. There are certain incomparable ad- vantages In this school of painting. What is known as technique i= yn- necessary. There are no estahlished rules of judgment that must be re. garded and respected. No long. pains- taking study ix necessary to acquire proficlency. A bhox of colors, a few brushes and the canvas are all that is needed. Some vears age occasionally a “lightning artist” would interest the community. His pictures, of course were mere daubs, but they were exe- cuted with astonishing speed, and he usually drew enough dollars out of the public purse to keep him going very comfortably. Some of the pic- tures from these sources are perhaps vet to be found in attics, their own- ers having passed bevond the “light- ning art” stage and acquired higher | standards and better tastes. But those examples of the “art of intuition," as it may be called, are really to be pre- ferred to most of the futurist-modern- ist creations. There was at least some semblance of delineation. The question always arises when this sort of so-called art is displayed for public view whether the producers of it are sincere or have their tongues in their cheeks. Are they honestly of the opinion that what they have done is art? Or are they having a good joke and at the same time making a profit out of public credulity? King George's question has been asked in many a form on numerous THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. 0. MARCH 21, 1926—PART 2.' EVERYDAY RELIGION BY THE RIGHT REV. JAMES E. FREEMAN, D. D, LLD., Bishop of Washington. classed as a simple substance may be found to be a compound. One of the modern theories is that all atoms are composed of electrons and that electrons are alike, hut by grouping in various ways and num- bers they constitute atoms that are unlike. A theory is held by eminent physicists that if the electron theory is sound a change of one metal to another, or transmutition, may be effected. It would he strange if chemistry of the future should show that alchemy of the past was not a chimera, using that word as a fancy and not as a fire-breathing monster, part lion, part serpent and part goat, which the Greeks called Chimera. SRR R The Altitude Record. Aeronautical America s walting with intense interest for the official calibration of the barograph carried occasions by multitudes of people in the past as one enigma after another has been put on view and surveved, ever since the famous “Nude Descend- ing a Staircase” painting was shown in New York at the beginning of the cublst craze. There are those today who with proud memory declare that they actually deciphered that particu- lar painting. They are as rare, how- ever, as those who solved the “Thir- teen, fifteen, fourteen” puzzle of a few vears earlier. But for every one who actuslly deciphered that extraor- dinary assortment of angles and planes there are tens of thousands who are wondering vet what it all meant. Hats off to King George! Not for his rank particularly, but for his frankness in expressing his doubt. His query should put to shame those who are prone to posing before the abnor- malities of futurist and modernist and cubist art and exclaiming in admira- tion for the benefit of those standing within earshot, without in the least degree knowing what they are talk- ing about. R A great many people are naturally surprised to find debate still going on concerning a question which was supposed to be settled when the pro- hibition amendment was adopted. R Illinium. Chemists and physicists have added another substance to the list of ele- ments, the discovery having been made after several years of sys- tematic search at the University of Tilinois. It has been given the name “fllinium” and takes its place at the bottom of the list as the eighty- meventh element. A list compiled in 1918 gives the number of elements as | eighty-two, which indicates that in elght vears five primary substances of the earth have heen isolated, tagged and listed. A theory of chem- istry is that there are ninety-two sim- ple substances and that when five more, now suspected by unidentified Iines in the spectrum, shall have been isolated and identified the list of ele- ments will be complete. Not many vears ago a smart pupil in elementary chemistry could recite the table of elemepts. A good mem- ory is needed to do that now and one must learn such names as xenon, ytterbium, yttrium, terbium, tantalum and scores of others. The theory is that an element is a primary sub- stance that cannot be decomposed as is the case with compound sub- stances. Older chemists were con- vinced that they had found all sub- stances of the earth that were nnt divisible into two or more substances and later chemists have shown that the earlier chemists were mistaken. ufilbunarauw: by Lieut. John A. Macready on his recent attempt to break the world's altitude afrplane record now held by Lieut. Callizo of France. The haro- graph arrived at the Bureau of Stand- ards here yesterday, and the result of the tests to be conducted is expected to be announced next Tuesday. Unofficial readings of the instru- ment place the celling of Lieut. Mac- ready’s recent flight at 39,025 feet, as agalnst Lieut. Callizo's height of 89,586. In some cases, however, there is considerable difference between the unofficial and the official readings. This was demonstrated when the bu reau's reading of the altitude reached by Macready January 29 was ap- proximately 3,009 feet in excess of the original calibration. It was on this flight that the veteran aviator was forced to descend due to faulty op- eration of the supercharger, a device to preserve sea-level pressure on mo- tors at high altitudes. In order to establish a new record the official reading of the barograph must be 39,886 feet, as the Aeronau- tique ‘Internationale requires 300 feet in excess of the record to make it official. Amerfcans throughout the world are, therefore, awafting the re. sults of the test with speculation and anxiety. If the official reading bonsts the altitude only 1,000 feet the title of the world’s highest fiyer will re. turn to America. Before Lieut. Cal lizo made his famous flight Macready was the undisputed champion of alti- tude fiving. Since that time he has made repeat- ed efforts to regain it, suffering hard- &hips on his trips into the rarefled at- mosphere. Temperatures of 70 and 80 degrees below zero have frequently been encountered by this intrepid air- man and his oxygen tanks have failed, but he has announced that he intends to persevere until his goal is reached. America wants Macready again to wear the toga of air supremacy and is hoping that the official tests show that a new record has been created. ———— The memory of Willlam Jennin Bryan is treated with respect not only by those who agreed with him, but by those who viclently disputed his opin- fons. Whatever may be the prepon derant opinion in history as to the validity of some of his reasoning, there can be no question of his hizh claim to honor as a citizen and a patriot, ——rae— Congressmen sometimes permit themselves to accuse people in the de. partments of not working enough. The general public seldom shows much Interest In this line of comment, but there frequently arises wide pro- test against an indiscriminate tend- ency on the part of Congress to get busy. s While indicating that he had lost interest in Muscle Shoals, Henry Ford never went o far as to intimate that he felt Il natured about the matter and would not allow himselt to be coaxed. — Stage interpreters of physical grace may get some new ideas by studying the plan to standardize the gestures of the traffic police. They would at least afford the spectator a rest from the Charleston. T Dramatists and managers contem- plate organizing for protection as the actors have done. The quarrel repre- sents a new form of the eternal tri- angle for which the theater is famous. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, . Words. “Words,” poor Hamlet said, “Are all I rea The life that Hamlet led ‘Was sad, indeed. “Words.” Each page they'll dot In vast array, And are the most of what ‘We get toda: Farm Rellef. “Are you in favor of farm relief?"” “I am,” answered Senator Sorghum. “I recall several elections that 1 should have regarded as fallures if the farmers hadn’t come to my re- lief.” Tha Sport of Olympus. “The world is all a stage,” they say, ‘Where drama grows intense, With laughs or tears from day to day— But who's the audience? Jud Tunkins says modern civiliza- tion has developed two kinds of wom- en—one, kind that wants her voice lifted and the other her face. Awaiting Inspiration, “How 1s Crimson Gulch getting along?” “Fine,” answered Cactus Joe. “Real estate has jumped two hundred per cent in value.” “Then you boys must be ricl ““We are. Only we've got to wait for somebody to come along with enough imagination and cold cash to make the figures practical.” The Valued Sex. The hen's a hearty feminist, And so with praisé we boost ’er. In laving eggs she will persist; ‘We therefore eat the rooster, “Reform,” said Uncle Eben, “is whut somebody else needs so had dat you is almost willin' to overlook yoh claims to guch-like Wl’i DISCIPLES AND MASTER. /t. Mark, ix.18, 19: "I apake to thy disciples that they showld cast him out; and they could not.” “He an- swereth him, and saith, bring him unto Me.” , Life's most taxing problems have to do with the home and domestic conditions, hence. many of the inci- dents in the life of Christ have o do with those things that are most intimately related to our common experiences. 1lis sympathies were always with those who had experi- enced personal trials. A striking illustration of this is found in the incident to which the above passage is related. It was the old story of a home problem. A father having heard of the cures that had been wrought by 11im had, as a last re- sort, brought his afflicted son. seek- ing, if. possible. a cure. In the absence of Jesus he had sought re- lief through His disciples. Bringing the afflicted hoy to them he impor- tuned them for rellef, but thev had signally failed. Presently the Mas- ter came. Approaching Him in his dire need, he declared, “I spake to Thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they couid not.” With that understanding sympathy that always characterized Chplst's deal- ings with life's problems, he said to the distressed father, “Bring him unto Me,” with the result that the long sought cure was effected. The incident furnishes a striking contrast between the impotence of the disciples and the unfafling power of Christ. It is suggestive of the differ- ence that exists hetween human agen- cies, however well intentioned, and the recognitfon of the personality and power of Christ Himself. There are two kinds of appeal which the Christfan yeligion makes, the ap- peal of a system, an organization or an institution, and the appeal of a personality. Th persisted through the centuries and they have never heen more conspicu- ously evident than they are today. The need of organizations and institutions is clearly evident, hut whera over- emphasis 18 given these, or where they in any wise ohscure the person ality of Christ and His teachings, they signally fafl of their purpose. The dif- ference hetween the religion of an in stitution and the religion of a person- ality is clearly marked. The most sig- nal fallures that have characterized the experience of Christian WHAT PEOPLE se two appeals have | tions or Christian efforts of any kind have attended those perinds where overemphasis has been lald upon mehods rather than upon the saving power of Christ Himself. Probably in ne weried hxs this heen so marked as in recent years. We have been muilti- plving institutions of every name and kind for the amelioration of human flls. We have heen attempting to re- generate mankind through man-made agencles and mechanism. As soon as one has proved its unfitness we have created another, It is the long and tragic story of man's failure to effect salutary reforms through human in. strumentalities, Our twentleth century hablits of thought. our conceits of learning and variety of methods have brought us to a eituation where we are com- pelled to recognize anew the central fact in our Christian system, which ie the saving power of Jesus Christ Himself. Harold Beghie and, indeed, William James demonstrated this in a strik- ing way In their notable books, “Twice Born Men"” and “Some Varfeties of Religious Experience.” There ix a cry abroad today: “Back to Christ” Tt is becoming increas- ingly evident that the maladies of goclety as well as of the individual will not be cured through mechanisms or institutions. There is little con- troversy concerning the person and teachings of Jesux. There is much controversy concerning the methods employed In their interpretation. Men and women will be drawn to that Christian Institution that makes Christ the forus and pulsing heart wf its system and practice. The preachers that prove irresistibly fa cinating and compelling and who command the largest hearing are those whose messages center in the person and teaching of Chr The world needs disciple: Nuzarene and it needs institutions and corporate worship necessarily calls for dignity In customs and usages, but we need to he reminded that the “disciple is nat ahove His Master” and it is only when the disciple and the inatitution set forth in unmistakable terms the Ona who “mpake as never man spake” that thev exercise a power that resulis in the regeneration and moral en- richment of mankind. The trinm- phant ery of the Apostle Paul has vast significance: “I can do all things through Christ which strength- institu- ! epeth me.” SHOULD WEIGH BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN. One of the most frequently recur- ring questions received by newspapers from readers who take advantage of free information services concerns the proper or normal welght for persons of specified ages and heights. 1 am 5 feet 3 and 37 years old— what should I weigh?" one question will run. Another anxious inquirer will state her or his—and it is usually her—age, height and weight and ask how much of the poundage should be lopped off to attain nermaley. Still anather, who apparently wants to be admired and applauded, will give the basio vital statistics and then ask, “Don't you think my weight is about right?' The correct answer to all such ques- tfons 1s that nohody knows. Physi clans do not know, nor do lite tnsur- ance actuaries, who are supposed to know practically everything about the various types of humankind. The reason that nobody knows is that the proper or normal weight of an individual—what he should weigh— is that welght at which he enjoys the maximum of health and physical efl- ciency, and it may not be the same for two individuals of the same sex, age and height. Average Individual Weight. There is, however, an average weight for the Individual; based upon sex, age and height. That is altogether a dif- ferent question, and one that the actu- aries and dietitians determine statis- tically. Almost all of the penny or nickel in the slot scales that are found in drug stores_ hotel lobbies, railroad stations and other public places di play average weight tables, newspa- pers and magazines frequently pub- lish such tables and physicians con- stantly refer to them. All this is partly responsible for the widespread but erroneous {dea that average welght and proper or normal welght are one and the same thing. A _more potent factor, perhaps, In establishing this popular misconcep- tion is the glib and cocksure manner with which some physical culture in- structors, many alleged authorities on weight control through corrective eat- ing and practically all dispensers of quack reducing remedies and nos- trums will tell the prospective client or patient exactly what he or she should weigh. “My dear madam,” says one suc He may say it through an advertise: ment, hut dear madam accepts it as gospel truth and proceeds accordingly. Tdeal Weights Tabulated. Some of the experts on dietetics supplement their tables of average weights with tables of ideal weights, although they are careful to state that their ideal weights are for men and women of average frame and muscu- lar development, and equally careful not to state how they determined the ideal welghts. One of these double-barreled tables shows that the average weight of men of all heights from 5 feet to 6 feet 5. and of ages ranging from 20 to 35, 18 always under the ideal weight, while from vears to 55 the average weight invariably more than the ideal weight. At no age and height are the average weight and ideal weights identical. For instance, in the case of a man 5 feat 8 Inches tall, at the age of 20, the average weight is 144, and the {deal welght, 166; at 25, average 149, ideal 160; at 30, average 152, ideal 157; at 35, average 155, ideal 153: at 40, average 158, ideal 149; at 45, average 160, ideal 146; at 5 143> at 65, average 162, pounds. ‘With respect to women, this table shows that for the age of 20, and for heights from 4 feet 8 to 4 feet 11, the average and ideal weights are identi- cal, ranging from 106 to 112 pounds, with a variant of 2 pounds for each inch in height. At 25, the average and , average 161, ideal ideal 140 ideal welghts coincide at heights of | 5 feet 1 and b feet 2, belng, respective- ly, 119 and 121 pounds; they coincide agaln at the age of 30 for women of 5 feet 4, 131 pounds, and they coin- cide for the last time for the female of the species when she is 35 and 6 feet tall, when, if she tips the scale at 163, she may flatter herself that she {8 of both the average and the ideal welght. With the exceptions noted, the average weight of women is above the ideal weight from the age of 25 on. Adult Weight Cenference. An adult weight conference has just been held in New York City, under the auspices of the American Medical Association, to diseuss the feminine reducing mania. which is sweaping the country, and to initiate A study of the problem as to why. when and how women should reduce. It was at- tended by surgeons, physicians and dietitians of high reputations who should know what they were talking about, and they agree that there are no standards by which correct weight can be determined. “We must not assume that any table based upon a series of averages approximates health,” said one of the authorities _present t may or it may not. The only way to find out {s to take a group of 30 healthy people, determine for that particular height and age what they should weigh, and then allow a good leeway. Don't as- sume, as we are all apt to do in our craze for standardizatfen, that human beings fall into a natural category.” R It is stated that two general facts were developed at the confersnce: One. that people under 30 should he a little overweight. while those over that age shonld be relatively thin to he in the best of heaith: the other, that, in the mad desire to lose weight by any means, women are developing psychopathic disorders that might not have developed if they had not be- come nervously irritated by quick re- ducing. By taking drugs. gland extracts and powerful eliminants women are court- ing devastating physical results. Many of them, it was reported, are reducing without any regard for type and with no particular standard in mind, except that they want to be sylphlike and with no more hips than a snake. They may really be underweight before they begin, and from a heaith standpoint should be seeking to put on weight rather than take it off. Few Men Reduce. Comparatively speaking, few men reduce, and most of those who do have heen frightened into it by a physiclan’s warning, or have felt themselves growing sluggish. with a resultant impairment of their business or professional efficiency. Tt is equally interesting to note that nervous or mental disturbances brought on by weight reduction =el- dom occur among hard-working wo en. “Their occupations tend to kee them free from superfluous weight sald Dr. Charles L. Dana, chairman of the public health committee of the New York Academy of Medicine, “but women of leisure frequently find themselves approaching middle age with not much to do except sit atill and get fat. They have few hoase- hold dutles; few things to worry them. They are easy victims to this mania for slenderness that is sweeping the country, and they readily accept the suggestions of their friends and the advertisements they read concerning various treatments and remedies.” The best advice of these experts was: Don't reduce without consultinge| a physician, and don’t take drugs and patent nostrums. ———————— Is It Sportsmanlike? From the Lynchburg News. It is true, as the Greenshoro News remarks, that there was nothing un- usual in the action of Jean Borotra, the sportsmanlike French tennis play- er, in throwing away the next point when given a point by a supposed in- accurate decision of a linesman, and it {8 true also that the custom—for it is a custom—is of doubtful, justifica- tion. The News argues that throwing away the next point does not make the score even under the system of scoring prevailing in tennis. - Even if it did the custom still would lack com- plete justification. The player cannot always determine the fact as well as the linesman, who is appointed for that purpose. Furthermore, it has al- ways seemed to us that for a player deliberately to throw away a point be. cause he considered the linesman decision inaccurate is a reflection on the official, and, to that extent, un- sportsmanlike. Six Dollars. From the New Orleans Item. A sailor with six dollars in his pock- et fought two armed hold-up men rather than give it up. One broke his nose with a revolver butt. But_the sailor retained his six dollars. Was his action a display of courage or fool- hardiness? Is six dollars worth the risk of your life? He took that risk. The most interesting point is un- known. What did he do with the six dollars after he saved it at this risk? If we knew that we might an- swer the questions. All dislike to he cheated. We feel the loss whem we are rohhed. But many willing to risk their lives tn mave six dollars, or less, by robhery, will turn right around an s0 waste it that they might better Capital Sidelights Although bridges have been named in honor of Francis Scott Key, author iof “The Star Spangled Banner'; al- though Fort McHenry, where the fiy- ing fidg inspired the poet's patriotic fancy, is to be preserved as a na- tional shrine, and aithough other monuments have been erected—the sordid fact remains that Key's own flesh and blood s in an almost starv- ing condition. This fact has been forcefully brought to the attention of Congress in an effort to secure a pension of $100 a month for Key's granddaugh- ter, Mary Key McBlair, and Congress- men from every State in the Unlon are now deluged with letters from Daughters of the American Revolu- tion and thousands of others urging passage of this measure. Mrs. Frank Foster Greenawalt, regent of Ruth Brewster Chapter, D. A. R., and known as “The Key Lady" hecause of her untiring efforts to have the Key Bridge buiflt and named in honor of the composer of “The Star Spangled Ranner,” is now leading a drive to have this pension granted. She introduced a resolution in the last D. A. R. congress, which was passed by a unanimous vote, peti- tioning the United States Congress to grant a pension to Francis Scott Key's granddaughter that she might not he obliged to spend her few re- maining years in destitution. This granddaughter, Mary MeBlair, Is 72 years of age. Supporting this resolution are 180,- 000 members of the D. A. R. in every section of the country, who are now besieging their Congressmen for ac- tion at this session. At Mrs. Greena- walt's request William Tyler Page, clerk of the House and author of “The American's Creed,” wrote the bill, which was introduced on Feb- ruary 15 by Representative E. Hart Fenn, Republican, of Connecticut, whose wife is vice chairman of the 1. A. . jegislative committee. This hill has heen referred to the pension committea and Mr. Fenn has heen promised an early hearing. The two appeals of practical patri- otism and D. A. R. votes in a Con- gressman’s home town are being used: also Representative Fenn is persistent in his urge for action at this session. * ok k% Key advanced in Here are a few “ideas" by various memhers of Congress the way of legislative proposale Representative Loring M. Black, ir.. | Democrat, of Brooklyn, N. Y.. be. lieves that the President should be required. in submitting his appoint- ments to the Senate for confirmation. to attach the names of all the persons or corporations who may have pro. posed or recommended the respective candidates, and has introduced a bill for this purpose. Representative William A. Ayres. Democrat, of Kansas. believes that all rum-runners should be adjudged as “pirates” and on conviction of the crime of piracy, should be sentenced to a Federal penitentiary for a term of 10 vears. The title of Mr. Ayres’ bill is: “To protect the commerce of the United States and to punish the crime of plrac Senator Hubert D). Stephens, Dem- t, of Mississippi, advocates leg latfon to make hushands and wives competent to testify for and on behalf of each other in eriminal proceedings in United States courts, The provision of the hill he has in- troduced for thix purpose reads: “That hushand and wife shall he competent, but may not bhe compelled. to testify for and on hehalf of each other In any criminal proceeding in | any court of the United States: but | the failure of hushand or wife to tes. tify all not create any presumption against the accused.” Representative Milton €. Garber, Republican, of Enid, Oklahoma, helieves that the President should proclaim a “National Agricultural day” {n order to encourage con- sideration of the hasic relationship of farming and agriculture to the well- heing of the entire Nation. He has introduced a joint resolution that the first Thursday in October of each vear ghall be so designated, but that this “shall not be construed as establishing a legal holiday.” Senator Thomas D. Schall, Republi- can, of Minnesota, the only blind mem- ber of the present Congress, urges an amendment to the interstate com- merce act which would authorize the railroads to “transport any person totally blind, accompanied by a guide, at the usual and ordinary fare charged to one passenger, under such reason- fhlo regulations as may be adopted by the carriers. Representative Tillman B. Parks, Democrat, of lope, Ark., advocates legislation “to forbid the publication of confidential Information” and has sponsored a measure for that purpose. secretary or former secretary to a President, etc., ete., to sell for publi- cation “any information obtained b; virtue of and through his official ser ice.” This would not, however, pro- hibit the publication of such articles “when no money or thing of value is pald to such officer or former officer.” * ok k¥ The suggestion, made more than a decade ago and supported at that time by the late Willlam Jennings Bryan. that Uncle Sam should go into the newspaper husiness has again heen revived—this time by George H. Car- ter, the public print who now man- ages the biggest print shop in the world. The motive that prompted Mr. Bryan to support the scheme, however —that of counteracting the “propa- ganda of the predatory and pluto. cratic presa’—is not the one now be- ing advanced Mr. Carter. such a Government newspaper to re- duce the Government's printing bill and of informing the public concern- ing the muititudinous Federal activi- tles. He has officially advocated a Government gazette. He calls atten- tion that such gazettes have long been published by nearly every other coun- try. He recalls that President Roose- velt directed the Keep commission on department methods to consider the proposition of a Government gazette and advocated such a publication on Jlfi-ne 2, 1905. r. Carter also savs that this pro- posal ham heen considered by varioua Government agencies—the permanent conference on printing. the interde- Fa:lmen'lll h(:lard ‘?f contracts and ad- justments and other agenc Bureau of the Hlldg!l.,lx gl * ok ok % The record for aonsecutive coj - sional elections in one district I:‘l‘l‘:]‘d by the third Michigan district, which has held seven elections for Repre- sentative in Congress in seven year Considering that members of the Sen. ate are elected every six years and members of the House every two years, this seems well-nigh incredible —lv‘-’:‘\t heJe are the facts: Ve start with the regular of Willlam H. Frankhl.‘uur I:nle(ig’_?on He dled before taking office, and for- mer Representative John M. C, Smith was elected to succeed him at a special election held in 1921. Then in 1922 Mr. Smith was regularly elected, but by reason of his death another special election was necessary in 1923, at which Arthur B. Wililams of Battle Creek was elected to fill out the term of Mr. 8mith. Mr. Willlams was re- elected at the regular election of 1924, but died May 1, 1925, thereby causing another special election to be held. At that special election the present in- cumbent, Joseph L. Hooper, was ;lm‘md. and. n,”:--'mruh 3 wllu come ur\l or_re-el @ regular election MEN AND AFFAIRS BY ROBERT T. SMALL. Just as the Democrats have about concluded that the tariff must be the issue in the coming campaign, nine Southern States, bulwarks of democ- racy, appeal to a Republican Pres dent please to save them from a proposed tariff reduction. The re- duction is threatened through that pernickity flexible clause which has brought about an investigation of the Tariff Commission. This petition from the South has made an already topsy-turvy political situation even more upside down or inside out, whichever you choose to call it. The Democrats have launched a tariff investigation with the idea of gaining campalgn mate- rial. So important do they appear to regard this investigation that Sen- ator Robinson of Arkansas. Demo- eratic leader in the Senate. is tem- porarily relinquishing his post on the Sen: ¢ in order to accept the chair of the probing com- mittee, The Democratic politicians of House and Senate have been de- manding of late that there must he tariff_rednetion “all along the line.” The Republicans have heen contend- ing right along that if the Demn- crats_did not look out they would hear from “home™ on the tariff. They said that the South had hecome deeply interested in protection as any other part of the country: that the South had grown industrially be- yond all predictions and had changed from & consuming to a producing community of States. This writer has pointed out after several trips in the South that the Democratic politicians on duty in Washington appeared to be complete- 1y out of touch with the business men and business condition in their own States and were clinging to political doctrines of two generations ago— doctrines which no longer fitted into the South’'s scheme of things. Now the voice of the South has been lifted. It is-not the voice of the business men this time, but of the cotton farmers. They have not appealed tn their representatives in Congress, but directly to the Repub- lican President. The petition, signed by the gover- nors of nine cotton-growing States, was presented to Mr. Coolidge the day he left for Plymouth by L. B. Jacksan, director of the Georgia bu reau of markets. It protests against a proposed cut by the Tariff Commis sion in the tariff on vegetable oil. It is figured the cut would fall upon the farmers by reducing the price they get for cottonseed. “If the duty on vegetabis ofl is re duced,” says the petition, “it will mean millions of dollars taken from the farmers.” From all of which it appears that what is sauce for the heet grower of Colorado is sauce for the cotton grow- er of Georgia and eight other South ern States. There was a fine state of normale existing at the White House just b fore President Coolidge was sum- moned north by the death of his father. “Col.” Frank Stearns of Fifty Years Ago| In The Star America has produced some fa- mous long-distance walkers, but none : ever gained the fame Weston in that was acquired by Weston, who for many England. vears held records and who rontinued until a short time azo his remarkahle pedestrian feats. Fifty vears ago he went to England to meet all comers. beating them easily. In The Star of March 13, 1876, is the following editorfal comment: “John Bull. who has alwavs held, ‘vou know.' that for muscle and en- durance nn people under the sun could compare with his own, is scratching his head in some discomfiture over the manner in which our American walk- ist, Weston, has beaten all the sturdy Britons who have attempted to com- pete with him. In his third walk ‘Weston was again successful, not only in surpassing his English contestant, Charles Rowell, the champion sculler of England, but in carrying out his undertaking of walking 275 miles in 75 consecutive hours. Weston's fourth and last appearance in London was to be an attempt, commencing March 6, to walk 500 miles in six consecutive days. The interest felt in his exploits is fllustrated by the fact that 10.000 people were in attendance on hix last appearance, and a London paper speaks of it as ‘a wonderful perform ance, and adding to the proof already His bill would prohibit any member |given of the marvelous stamina of the | or former member of the cabinet, any | pedestrian.' Weston may do to heat | the Rritishers, but we have walkers At _home who have heaten Weston. When we send them over the water John Bull may experience another sen- | PA% sation.” * * % A profound sensation was caused 50 years ago when the House of Rep- e, resentatives =ent a The Jailing of prominent citizen of Kilbourn. Washington to jail for contempt in re- fusing to answer questions put to him as a witness before a committee investigating charges of impropriety on the part of certain eminent pe sonages in connection with real e: tate transactions in this city. This was Hallett Kilbourn, then a real es tate operator and later a newspaper publisher. Mr. Kilbourn denled the authority of the House to punish him for contempt and claimed that such cases should be remanded to the courts. He stood on his constitutional rights, but the House voted to com- mit him. The Star of March 15, 187/ has the following account of his com- mitment: “After the action of the House of Representatives yesterday the ‘con- tumacious witness' remained in the custody of the sergeant-atarms. At 8 o'clock Mr. Kilbourn made a request to be allowed to proceed to his home previous to his commitment to fail. He was accompanied thence by John G. Thompson, the sergeant-at-arms. Upon his arrival at his residence. din- ner being in waliting, he dined with hix family and invited his custodian to the hospitality of his table. Mr. ‘Thompson accepted and enjoved the hest meal he had eaten in ma vears. At 9 o'clock Mr. Kilbourn announced himself ready to proceed to prison, and in company with Mr. Thompson was conveyed to the jall building on the Eastern Branch. He was assigned to the warden's quarters on the lower floor, a commodious room, with gas chandelier and other modern appli- ances. Soon after his arrival. bed- ding, which had been sent from his residence, was received, and he was made quite comfortable for the night. ““This_morning Mr. Kilbourn arose early. No provision had been made by Congress to feed its contumacious guest and Gen. Crocker invited him to breakfast with him. It was a good, square meal. At half past 11 o'clock a representative of The Star called on Mr. Kilbourn and found him merry as a cricket. He had enjoved a good night's sleep and was in consultation with friends. He said that he had al- lowed himself to be committed to jail for a principle. “At 12 o'clock Mrs. Kilbourn and her daughter. accompanied by Mrs. H. N. Hutchingon, arrived at the jail and spent some time with the prisoner, who had beerp through Boston was hack on the job. No one as yet has been able quite to place a title on Mr. Stearns. He has arc- quired the “colonel” on account of the fact that President Wilson had a colonel as his most intimate friend and adviser. “Col.” Stearns clear v qualifies as the intimate friend of President Coolidge, but he does not pose an an “adviser.” The chances are he will never publish the letters which pessed between him and Mr. Coolldge, If any. As neither man is given to loquach, pen, the “if any" .probably represents the sitnation. In any event, never be shown that Col. Stearns di- rected the President what to may or how to may it. Some one has called Col. Stearns a sort of unofficial assistant President. Rut that is not right. Tt is perfectl true that he ramhles all over the Whita Housa and all over the executiva of- fices and that nothing i= kept from him, but the cnlonel never “hutta in" other than to gossip with the “handa.™ He just rambles around hecause thera i=n't anything else tn do. He can't sit and talk with the Presi canse the President | talker. Col. Stearns isn't an “Assist ant President,” he {sn't an adviser and he {sn't & handy man, although be would be perfectly willing to fetch and carry if the President asked him to. The colonel i hard te define. T~ is just Col. Stearns “of the White House." Speaking of colonels, the Col. Honse revelations continua to intrigus the higher and highest circlas of Wash- ington. The House papers and memn randa are being carefully studied hv the historians, great and small. Tt is recalled in this connection that it was President Wilson's own ambition to write a history of the World War, with particular reference, of course, to America’s entry into the fray. It was to this task he purposed to de. | vote himself after his second term in |the White House had ended. But his | illness and death prevented even a he | ginning of the task. The war Prect dent, however. had collectad his let ters and papers to that end, and the still are heing carefully guarded his widow. It would hava hean inter esting to know just where the Wilson accounts and the House accounta of varions incidents would have clashed | And not the least interesting would have been the place and credit the |late President might have hestowad upon the colonel. | 'Meantime the wags have had thelr |say on the proposal from Texas tn run Col. House for the presidency They say the colonel should recos nize the prejudice in this country |against a third term. It further has | been commented that most of the | persons who wers told and believed |that they “looked Iike Wilson" wish | now that they looked like Col. Housa. | The past week has witnessed the | annual revival of that priceless old | story_of the Irish policeman who on t. Patrick'’s morn made public the | vow: | “Sure and T will arrist no wan but | a Protestant this blessed day!" (Copyricht. 1926 ) This and That By Charles E. Tracewell. Jack Spratt, the feliow with the fur trimmed ears, was coming down Este: alley on all fours. He carred his tail high, a sure sign of cat health and prosperity. In his eves interest gleamed. Jack had just received a letter from a cat staving at the Hotel Roosevelr, and felt quite proud of himself 1t 1s not every cat that receives lat ters from feline travelers. This Jack knew. so he carried himself proudl: nonchalantly, as befits a cat thet gots mail. “It makes me laugh every time | think of the look on that postman’s face,” grinned Spratt. “Hot dog! And with a gay twist of his tail, an1 the flash of white whiskers, he sped down the alley as if pursued by a group of cat doctors. Arriving at the sanctity of his own vard, Jack stopped to look around. High spirits alone had heen responsible for his wild dash. There was not another creature in sight. Cato, the big black cat. and Afri- canus, the maltese, were nowhers evi dent. Even the chimney corner pre- ferred by the former was deserted this morning. Frost still lay on the withered vards, now almost ready to blossom as the grass of the field, with Spring officially here in a few davs, and maybe actu- ally here within a few weeks, Let us hope. * *x x ¥ | “Lerdy. Miss Hannah, what's that 2" meowed Jack Spratt, cocking his head on one side, and sticking out his righi Gently he patted the purpla crocus in the grass, then decided that it was not gond to eat, so left {t. In portions of the yard touched bv the =outhern sun the crocus have been heen blooming for several weeks | These are, in this cultivated vicinity, the first harbingers of Spring. dom go any more, there may he earliar flowers: but hera in the cit; huddle together, the erocus s the un disputed first comer. As a flower it {& not much (0 lonk a‘, but many of them, dotted hers and thera over a lawn, present a cheerful sight under the Winter sun. The grape hvacinth, not due for sev- eral weeks, is even less to look at than the crocus, but it, too, has itz ap pointed function, and does its best to {fulfill #t, which is all any living thing lean do. | * ok ok % Jack Spratt's eves gleamed. ‘What a harmony there is in Nature! i The cat's green eves blended master. | fully with his gray and black stripes, iset in an undercoat of cocoa brown. i His white whiskers glistened silvery, land his white chest and paws might have served for a soap advertisement. A large black bug scurried down the path, going on a mysterious busi- ness which it was fated never to fin- 1sh. There was a curve of black and a flash of white and the bug ned beneath the extended paw of | Here was real prey, something that | moved, something that was smaller than the attacker. Such is the cat law. It is only the foolhardy cat that attacks something larger. Evidently it was a poor specimen of hug, however, for Jack Spratt. having deprived it of life, left it lying there, and sauntered on to his house in the morning sunshine. e e building. After they left Mr. Kilbourn amused himself by reading ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ and recelving und entertaining frequent visitors. Some time during the day Mr, Kilbourn had fitted up for his sleeping apartment a large room on the second floor, hav- ing a bathroom and closets attached. The sergeant-at-arms will make pro- vision today for Mr. Kilbourn's meals. The prisoner informed his custodian that he wanted to live as well at the Jail as he did at home, and that it was his habit to live there pretty well. “It has bheen agreed by the Demo- cratic members of the House, it Is sald, to bring articles of impeachment against any judge of the District &n preme Court who may issue a writ of haheas eorpus for the release of Mal- from jail.” the lett Kilbourn Out in the woods. where peaple sal ”