Evening Star Newspaper, November 13, 1926, Page 6

THE EVENING STAR »“’l[h 7§n!|!5y_Mornln!_E}Iflml. WASHINGTON, D. C. SATURDAY . .November 13, 1926 SRR @HEODORE W. NOYES it ©he Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Offfoe: and Pennavivania Ave. Office: 110 East 42nd St. o Office” Tower Buflding. 1 Office: 14 Regent St.. London. England. 11th St. New Fori Tha Evenine Star. with the 1p edition. i delivered by © iha city 3t 60 centa per month- dajly only. cenia ber month: Sundase only. 20 cents Whpmonth, Orders may he sent by mail or &iephone Main 5000 Coliection 18 made by Trier at end of each month. anday mora- e within Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Paily and A Aty :;]lvfiund‘l' +..1yr, $0.00° 1 mo. Zg AR 3 il Other States and Canada. Paily and Sunday..1yr. $1%00: 1 mo.. $1.00 Dsily only. 1yr., $800: 1 mo. B¢ Sunday only v . Member of the Assoclated Press. be Acociated Press is exclusively entitled o the use for republication of all newa die- atches credited to it or not otherwise cred. tod in this naner and aleo the locai news Publishad herein. ATl rights of publication ®f spec al dispatches hersin are also reserved - “Uncle Joe.” an achievement to have n the universal title of And Joseph G. Can- ed away in his sleep the age ninet at title, with its implic popular affection, more ny other that he might political endeavor. He Bad been chosen once as State's at- torney, initial defeat, and Bad heen clected twenty-three times to the House of Representatives, with two def He had served as the House in four Con- te had been proposed for higher offices itor and President, but had never seriously pressed his candid; To him the Touse Representatives was his reni. whether he held the ¢ served on the floor in the his immediate constitu- the greater con- at large. he was 1t was Nved to “Uncle Joe.” non. who yesterda eherished tion of greatly than Baye won a- ifter an ats. peaker sresses for them ol eney of Tiiin stituency of And through all the years Known best as “Uncle Jo President Coolidge has in his mes- saze of dolence to the family of Mr. Caunon said truly that “the Nation has iost one of its most able, and beloved public men generation”; who will eat American.” there will be is or the country interes the last always rank With this judgment universal reement. Joseph G. Cannon was in many respects a typical American. He had a peculi- avity of manner which distinguished him. He had a quality of patriotism which inspired him to indefatigable labor. Te was courageous, uncom- promising and incorruptible. Statesmanship of the intellectual type was not the role of “Uncle Joe. le d and unpolished. He was direct and forceful. Tle became known as a “czar” during his Speak- ership, because he ruled the House with a strong hand. A revolt w evoked hy his system of legislative control and it defeated him. In 1910 his power was taken from him ind he became but the servant stead of the master of the House. It was a good thing for Congress and for the country that that change The ship” the the revolt of aker the strangli power block legislation. rule a was v - w Sy oceurred aftermath of eed agauinst the minority majority d by Reed until occasion for concen- | on the part of the passed, and it annon who appeared e principle of hen, havin nnon L ity siding chanced to he ( 10 suff took his defeat in good that it his was in- the aith principles of administration 1 fought many bat- ing the need of | itial governmental ile would have liked harness.” But he wisely lite before atly to permit his duties with had witnessed a won- had participated ¢ national ad rec vitahle. inks and tully prac economy ing piace in ve, h tles, vet liberality for development “die i retired o for wi priv his powers waned too him to < Algnity drous e in a cement, of gov- s most im- :pped ba he end, which came slow n rinution of o tha il almost the death wed to and great we had been inti a part ernment during one of portant to awd and with his faculties day of nove periods, and he.s| hut un he beloved his cont mong 1t wil of a later time to d rest the sterling American du half cent ot t<. however, not for the record h which e exact ing his nearly y of legislative 1t essential the wol nent future to e esteem and the affection he was regarded people of long day. As =Uncle Joe” he will be mourned as ene who served according to his best 'S with all his energy, with the Bighest concept of Americanism and with Abraham Lincoln as his model and his guide. - et The HallMills @wuth is stranger than fiction, and in SAny respects more unpleasant. ————————— Fingerprints and Identity. In the notorious Hall-Mills mur- @ar trial in New Jersey the defense f endeavoring to break down the Wllability of fingerprints, but there & & youns New York merchant who G@day not only believes implicity @ the fingerprint theory, but who, {2 his just concluded trial, made no @ort whatsoever to question it. The New York man is William Feit, who hes literally escaped by his f£ngertips, more specifically his third nagertip. Because of a striki e elever dinmond thiei Feit was zidwd up by the police. He was peciitwely identified by detectives and geveral of h 1 victims at the of by own proves that in prison \ keness to . Editor srians | by this | the | regular morning line-up. Although stoutly protesting his innocence he seemed doomed to a long penitentary sentence. His case was reached the other day in court. Francis Haley, fingerprint ex- pert on the New York police force, was ‘first on the stand. The prints of the diamond thief and of Feit were handed to him and he was asked If they were the same. “Posi- tively not,” answered Haley, “all similarity ceases when the third fin- ser Is reached.” That was all the testimony needed and the jury promptly acquitted Feit. The fingerprint system has dem- onstrated its value beyond question. In innumerable cases criminals have been convicted when there was no other possible means of sure identi- fication. In this case, as in others, jan innocent man has escaped pun- ishment through the infallibility of the system, Used in the Army and Navy, in all State prisons and Federal peni- tentiaries, fingerprinting is accepted today as an unmistakable method of ascertaining identity. A case has never been known in which the prints of two persons have been exactly the same, so it is small won- der that the public is convinced of its reliability. No great success is predicted, therefore, for assaults on the system which has rendered such tion of crime. e Gangland Takes to the Air. tion in the United States is progressing steadily. Science is al most daily making new discoverie the country is prosperous and the people, as a rule, are quite contented. Nothing is done in America with Vi asures. The whole hog or nothing seems to be the motto. To be convinced that this is the condition of the people of the United States it is only necessary o read of the latest encounter between Illinols gang fac- tions in their perennial war. Here it is found that even science is progressing hardly fast enough to keep up with the demand. It used to be that a piec 1d pipe or a small and « y concealable dagger was the accepted means of “bumping off” a member of a rival gang. Th method soon gave evidence of posses ing fla&s; the vietim might make & determined fight for his life and the whole thing would have to be done all over again. The gangs, not to be balked of their prey, turned to the pistol and the rifle, But, lo and behold! their sharpshoot- ers would miss ioflally and it was apparent that something should be done about it, or one or two members of the rival faction might live beyond the ripe old*age of thirty. A master- mind of the gangsters than conceived the brilliant idea of sawed-off shot- guns and machine gur contident that if one of the victims ever got in front of these weapons of death they would never be troubled by him a This plan worked well. two, three four were sometimes bumped off without the ghtest trou- ble. curtained car was ail that W neces The vietim would ap- pear in a doorway, the automobile would slow down, and the death tune would ruttle at six hundred shots-a minute. The only trouble with this scheme was that four was about the limit that could be hagged at one time. It was almost as if a strict game law was being enforced. Plenty of ammunition was on hand and plenty of inclina- tion, but it was dangerous to linger on the scene because a warden might ome along and spoil the spor Well, it was evident that th only one thing to do about it. So airplane was purchased and elah Iy fitted up with bomb carriers. Yes- terday this machine was put in opera- tion and but for lack of practice on the part of the pilot might have wiped One man, or A side ary a Three bombs were dropped, one of them striking within one hundred feet of the enemy “fort,” but the damage was negligible, While it is nowhere recorded that it as ulready been done, it would ap- pear that the logical step would be for | the fort to install a few slender anti- | aircraft guns, along With some obser- | vation balloons, a few hindred tanks, | plenty of mustard and other deadly | gases and a few thousand men. It | should be noted at this point that the fort is admirably prepared for a siege; it is a nice big roadhouse outside of | Herrin and there is plenty of food and liquor on hand. Yes, civilization is undoubtedly get- | ting alons very well, thank you! | ——————— | Power always involves penalties. Mussolini is not nearly as comfortable {in a steel shirt as he would be in a | silk one. ————— | After all, it is Queen Marie's tour, and even a favorite of the theater | must surrender the spotiight. e The Hudson River Bridge. | Private bids have been invited by | the Port of New York Authority on the first block of bonds for the con- struction of the giant Hudson River bridge that has been in contemplation for many years. The total cost of the project is placed at $60,000,000, and | one-third of this amount will be imme- diately raised by the propused issue, the bids to be opened December 9. Of the success of the issue there can be no doubt. Of the success of the great | project there can likewise be no doubt. It has been planned with the utmost eare from an engineering point of view, and all details are perfected. The financing alone remains to be ef- fected, and that is about to be accom- plished. It is expected that actual work on the construction of this immense via- duct will begin early next year. No date has been set for completion. With the $20,000,000 to be raised by the first bond issue and an additional $10,000,000 advanced by the two States of New York and New Jersey, half of the estimated cost will be in hand. { and this sum, it is figured, will carry | the work along to 192 Thus it would appear to be the expectation that the entire work will require be- tween seven and nine vears. In the light of other enterprises of this char- 29 or 1930, out an entire “battalion” of the rivals. | valuable aid to the law in the solu- 1l s n | ate. | Who provide the “punch.” attention. {easy {the nature of drama. ;| workers who provide the dialogue are THE EVENING STAR, ‘WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1926. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. acter it Is more likely to occupy the! longer rather than the shorter period. It would be in the line of experience | to find the Hudson River span regdy | for use in a decade. i One of the major difficulties in the way of accomplishing this long-sought | facility of travel has been the division of jurisdiction between the two States. While the engineers were busy on the plans negotiations have been in progress to effect a working financial arrangement satisfactory to bgth. The engineers, indeed, have accomplished thelr task ahead of the financing bodies. Now the adjustments have all been perfected. and the work is to start. The idea of bridging the Hudson at New York has allured engineers for many years, The problem has been to create a structure of which one span, that in the center, must be more than two-thirds of a mile in length without support. ' It must be high enough— more than 200 feet—to permit ship- ping to pass beneath. To give this height it must be approached from a long distance from the shores. All supports must go to a great depth to assure stability. A concept of the mag- nitude of the work is to be gained from the fact that it will be two and a half times the size of the old Brook- lyn Bridge, once regarded as one of the world’s wonders, and twice the size of the new Philadelphia-Camden Bridge across the Delaware River. The Throb in the Sky. A dull throb of vibration sounds. A airplane, perhaps. Folks ook up from the street or out of the win- dows. Not many of them, for those pulsations are not uncommon nowa- i} Is it an airplane, after ali? No, a divigible. A great shape appears in the sky, a long, sflvery, almost trans- lucent form, moving steadily ahead, with letters on the sides. A brief glance at the wonder of the sky, a word or two in comment, and then something else draws and holds the A marvel, but a common- place. Truly, this is a token of the re- markable advance of a very short pe- riod of time. Yesterday such a spec- tacle appeared over Washington, and just that reaction occurred. Nobody but a few officlals knew that Los An- geles was to make the Capital a visit. And not until the newspaper an- nouncement of the call was the iden- tity of the giant helium-sustained ajr- ship positively known. But nobody was excited. It just anotk glimpse at the biggest of the ¢ ~%& floaters. A dozen years ago, or even less, this spectacle would have caused the crowid- ing of the streets, with much excite- ment. Yesterday it was merely an in- cident to be mentionea as part of the day's happenings. And doubtless in the minds of all who thus caught sight of Los Angeles was the thought that in a little while there would be dozens of these aircraft in action all the time, with hundreds of planes buzzing about on various' errands. It was just a little while ago that the country laughed at Langley for the failure of the “Buzzard,” as his pioneer heavier-than-air machine was popularly called in derision. It wasa slightly shorter time ago that it stared in wonder at the spectacle of the Wright brothers flying at Fort Myer. Now the pulse of life pauses not at all when the air throbs wit® the sound of the fiyers. { ) A successful prizefighter takes life s the result of a brief en. counter. Pugilism is more or less in The willing | reely less important than those ——on—s. European politics have no fear of foreign entanglements so far as pos- sible complications with United States | wealth are concerned. | e A little more advertising should equip De Russeys lane with enough prestige to command a few sky- scrapers and a motion picture theater. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, | L] And So Forth. Everybody voted ' On election day. i Personages noted Hurried on their way. “Now,” sald we, “each sorrow Fades into the past. The returns tomorrow Wil settle 'em at last!” Scarcely_had we counted All the ballots there, When the folks remounted Hobbies everywhere. Rumors new have floated | Touching bribes and gin. Everybody voted— But we've got to vote agin! | Back to the 0ld Home. “Will you be glad to return to Washington?” “Of course,” answered Senator Sor- ghum. “I always feel comfortable in Washington. What worries me Is hav- | ing to go back to my home town to | conduct a campaign.” Fleeting Impression. A tennis player leaps into the air And she, no doubt, of face is very fair. At least we so assume, though all we see Of her are arms and legs and “lawn- jeree.” Jud Tunkins says many an epitaph is only idle compliment. Human flat- | tery is such that you can't trust even | a tombstone, Encouragement. i “Will that dog bite?"” “I dunno,” answered Farmer Corn- tossel. “But I should think you could take a chance on him. To me you don’t look particular appetizin’.” Bad Actor. There cannot be another war. The latest is ill famed. Poor Mars has proved too shabby for An encore to be claimed. “De Charleston,” said Uncle Eben, “is a fine way to use yoh feet when voh head has got so tired dat you has lost confidence in it.” fan “Aslatic ! added interest, day by day | tact | not “Jellyfish music” is what one is tempted to call some of the “modern- istic” stuff that is more and more gaining a place in symphony and con- cert programs. An amorphous mass of sound, mean- ing nothing and getting nowhere, in a muSical sense, as that term has come, to be understood through the ages,® is distinctly not our idea of ‘music. Chinese music, of course, strikes the so-called Occidental ear just that way, so we confine our remarks to music as it has been developed in the Euro- pean countries and North and South America. Nor must it be forgotten that Rich- ard Wagner's music dramas struck German musical ears of his day and age in exactly the same way that this “jellyfish music™ hits a sensitive mod- ern ear. Yet one will hardly be constrained to grant off-hand that “moderns,” as they delight to call themselves—as if there were any particular personal merit_in living when one does live— are all Wagners simply because they are “hard to understand.” One may have a reasonable sus- picion that in music it is much the same as in writing. A writer who Is “difficult” generally needs to study his medium more than he has ever done, The greatest thoughts, even in science, have been put in crystal clear prose and verse. Those who cloud knowledge are distinctly less great than those who set forth their thoughts in orderly, easily understood sentences. Writing that must be pondered over is hardly ever great or even good writing, although there are some few | exceptions. Yet thousands in every age delight to regard such writings as “mysterious,” and to brand them- selves as stupld because they.cannot understand them. Often simple liquid prose, that says something, and gets where it is go- ing, is held by those who look with awe upon artists as less valuable than some {rksome, perturbing hodge-podge of nonsense. Among music lovers there is a cer- tain number who .incline to belleve that so long as a plece of music has no particular form, and relentlessly violates all previous canons of good taste, it must be thoroughly great music. The less they “understand” it, as the foolish saying has it, the more they pretend to “like” it. The less invention the composition shows the more ultra-modern it {s, and the greater the applause at the end of the numbes. Recently we had the pleasure of lis- tening to a capable string quartet play three numbers, the first by Mozart, the second by Beethoven and the third by a ‘“modern who shall go nameless here forever- more. Mozart’s movements were delightful to the ear brought up on the master's music. Let this much be granted. The Beethoven numbers, likewise, struck such ears as concord of Sweet sound. There was, in both quartets. u fi sense of halance, order, neatn musical ways, melodic surprise and true climax. The uudience was enthus well it might have been. Remember, this was not a group of Orlentals ap- plauding the whang of kettle drum and amblings of the one-string dulei- mer. It was a gathering of friends of American composer, | music brought up to appreciate and love the works of the old German masters, those sublime musical fig- ures who combined techmque with taste, depth of knowledge with depth of feeling. This audience, as all audiences, how- ever, was not above the mass instinct. It 1is noticeable at all concerts, whether in city or town, metropolis or village, that an invisible compulsion to applaud seems to hang over the as semblage. The real reason for this feeling is that the average music lover feels that if he does not applaud the rum- ber, if given without any very bad technique, the other music lovers present will imagine that he is not musically well educated. The safe way, therefora, and ths only sure v, to impress one’s neighbors, at the average concert, with one's own knowledge and taste is to applaud as loudly as any other person present. Whence arises the common phenom- enon that practically every number gets as_much applause as any num- ber. The astute musician, whether instrumental performer or vocalist, soon learns that a “flip” on the end of a composition, or a particularly loud ‘ending note, will set the averaye audience into a veritable roar of hand- clapping. The calling of ‘“brave” is rarer in this country, and is not often heard outside of New York. This form of musical snobbery pre vails to such an extent that in listen- ing to the quartet numbers previously mentioned we were able to prophesv that. the three movements of the American’sultra-modernquartet would receive exactly the same applause as that accorded the music of Mozart and Beethoven. Sure enough, that was exactly what happened, despite the very evident fact that it was virtually impossible for those who really liked Beethoven and Mozart to care a particle for the strange “‘modernistic”’ composition. The American composer's Work was “jellyfish music,” purely and simply. As far as one could tell, on a first hearing, there was not a single bit of true musical invention in it. There were “Indian themes” galore, but none of them got anywhere. There was much sound and fury, but, as Shakespeare said, it signified nothing. There were pluckings of the violon- cello strings at intervals, the cheap- est sort of technical trick. There were discords and dissonances enough to make Wagner jealous, but, unlike the motifs of that master, these whoops by the first and second violins never resolved themselves into any harmony or purposes whatsoever. At least, if they did, it would take many, many hearings—as many play- ings as the quartet members indulged in, in practice—for the members of any audience to really appreciate and like the thing. Yet each movement got a great “hand,” and at the end of the un- shapen mass of musical groanings there was such a roar of applause as neither Mozart or Beethoven has received. Probably the audience felt relieved that it was over! Perhaps much of the applause at the end of concerts is due to_this perfectly natural cause. Yet no doubt the dear audience, while wending its way from the hall, each person hopeful that every other person would think that he ‘or she was musically well educated, vied with one another in saying, “Ah, yes, I love Beethoven and Mozart, but wasn’t that lawst numbah simply exquisite!” BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. Watchman, what of the night? Is it well with the world? - s There appears to be a world-wide effort toward a realignment of nations | and commerce, such as has not existed in past history. The sensational of the alleged movement lies in Asia, where the nagions ar undertaking to form themselv 1e: 1e of Nations,” with the avowed purpose of throwing off on includes Turkey, Pers China and Ru but ' there confirmation of the claim that it also includes Japan, the only one amons the Oriental nations which may claim any degree of modern clvilization. Russia is interested because she cov- nd lers Siberia within her domain, and Soviet Russia has sworn to bring about world revolution which will overturn all organized governments. The proposed league of Asiatic nations would be one of the disturbing fea- tures on which the Soviets would hope for alding toward universal unrest and world revolution. * ok ok K News came to the State Department last Thursday that China had begun the collecting of an increased import | duty amounting to per cent on all fmports and 5 per cent additional on luxuries, which is the rate pro- posed by the recent tariff conference, !at Peking, of the treaty nations, but which China had indicated was not {enough to balance her budget; China intimated at the conference that she demanded autonomy and would make import tariffs 20 and 30 per cent, in place of 21 and 5 per cent. The rate is not considered so significant as the fact that China’s central government, in the face of her alleged powerles ness to govern her own people, has the hardihood to defy the treaty | nations and set up her own national rights. She has already denounced her treaty with Belgium and has re- fused to make a new treaty except upon her own terms as above indi- cated. » That denunciation is taken as an indication of her policy with other nations as treaties expire. What is behind China’s new brav- e Is it the pledge of Soviet back: ing, or of the foreshadowed “Asiatic League of Natlons” which proposes “Asfa for the Asfatics”? * k %k % The imperfal cenference of t premiers of all units of the British Empire continues in London with and the that the premiers are talking, as subordinate subjects of an Emperor, but as leaders in distinct and almost independent —countries, merely bound together as a British league of nations itself, stands out in strong contrast with conditions of the empire and its colonies in past decades. The premiers do not stop in the anteroom of Great Britain’s secretary for «colonies, asking what favors are to be hoped for, but instead they are in the empire’s capital to con- fer among themselves as to what the ageregation of Dominions will tell the centfal government of the course to pursue for the harmony and upbuilding of the union of com- monwealths. What a change is that from the old colonial administrations! What ap- pears of astounding significance is the continual reference of the pre- miers of the respective Dominions to the “if,” as to whether the Dominions will remain in the empire or break away and become independent na- tions. It is a much mooted question. * ok ok % the For illustration of this question take the opening speech of Gen. Hert- zog, premier of South Africa, in which he frankly $aid that in South Africa_the sentiment is that remain- ing within the empire must depend upon-“whether shegSouth Africa) can most | feel implicit faith in her full and free nationhood, upon the hasis of equality with every other member of the com- monwealth. That implicit faith she does not possess today.” As soon as this speech had reach- | 2d South Africa by cable it was chal- | lenged by Gen. Smutz, who, in a public speech declared: “We do not wish to leave the em- pire and take upon our shoulders the consequences of such action. * * ¢ We have a big status in the empire today and & big status in the world. ‘That status was not acquired by big talk of threats of fighting. I do not wish our people to be put to shame. * * * South Africa is well disposed to the British Empire, and the impres- sion must not be allowed to get about that this is not so.” g ‘1':) this rebuke, Gen. Hertzog re- join: 1 emphasized ‘within the British Empire.” We never dreamed of ask- {ing anything else; we onty desire clar- ity, where now there is too much room for double interpretations.” * ok ok ok From Canada came a voice in tune with that from South Africa, when Premier Mackenzie King expressed the jealousy of the Dominions as to the imperial Great Britain: “This diversity (of Dominion inter- ests) is sometimes left out of account in the habit we have formed of speak- ing of all the countries of the empire whose representatives sit on this side of the table, under the collective term of ‘the Dominions,’ as if they were not individual countries, so much as examples of a type, and the lifference between them were unimportaat, in comparison with the distinction be- lrweml them all and the mother ceun- try.” sk ok ok Yet within the empire there per- sist considerable economic advantages \ increasing importance. One-third of the imports into Great Britain comes from the Dominions, as half of the exports from the island goes out to the Dominions, as shown by the statistics for the first six months of 1926. This contrasts with statistics covering 1918, which showed that (in- {cluding what is now the Irish Free State) only 24.87 per cent of the im- ports and 37 per cent of the exports were interempire, in place of 33 and 50 Der cent, as now. The existence of such a self-co tained British world organization is the great answer to the alleged Asiatic League of Nations. The Brit- ish Empire, with its India and its hold on Egypt and the Sudan in Eastern Africa, and Australia and New Zea- land, is more Oriental in its interests than is Soviet Russia, with its Siberia. Premier Bruce of Australia may have been more astute and broader than appeared on the surface when he went out of his way, under the very shadow of the British Parliament and the King's palace, to express Aus- tralian rapprochement to the Ameri- cans, both in sympathy with the grievances and purposes of the Ameri- can Revolution and with present pos- sibilities, as he indlcated, of a “league between all English-speaking peoples™ for self-interest and self-protection. While America’s fixed traditional policy is against all “entanglements,” the numerical strength of English- speaking people is greater than that of any possible “Asiatic League of Natlons,” even without reference to superiority in individual and national efficiency. * kK ‘The word comes from London that the Asiatic League of Nations is be- ing formed as a “hostile counterpoise | to the Genevan League of Nations,” | and that it i aimed | Britain. Lt is attributed to the hatred of the British in both China and Turkey, and, to a less degree, in Afghanistan. The taken with narily at Great | \’Children’s Movements |And Demoralized Society | %o the Editor of The Star: There is a good deal of pretentious, | precious’ nonsense published nowa- days in newspapers and maga- zines about the “youth movement, “youth’s challenge to age” * challenge to youth,” and the glori- fication and apotheosis of -youth in general. Our forefathers knew better than to talk this way. They used to take youth over thelr knee and spank it. If youth had attempted to “challenge” our stern old Puritan forebears, youth would have “in- vited” out to the woodshed, and would have been compelled to take its meals from the mantel-plece for some days to come. We think that we are the people, and wisdom will die with us,” but we forget that it is necessary, at times, to argue with youth with a stick argumentum ad baculum). Recently a friend presented ‘me with a copy of a book written by ner pastor. I took time to read it, but thought my time largely wasted until I came across this phrase near the end of the book: “Our demoralized and mystified soclety, high and low.” 1 considered that the phrase repald me for the time I had spent upon this otherwise rather unfruitful book. “Our demoralized and mystified so- ciety, high and low.” Does not this phrase exactly hit off our age?’ The age is completely demoraliged. It has broken away from all the sound, sober teaching of the past, and has tled it- self to new and untried ethical theo- ries that have been advanced and sponsored by the new, raw men of our day. Jeremiah referred to us, as well as to the Jews of his own gen- eration, when he said: “They have hewed them out cisterns, broken cis- terns, that can hold no water.” Our age is also completely muystified; at any rate, it is completely mystified in the flelds of religion, morals and man- ners. Its achievements in the flelds of sclence and invention have accus- tomed it to think that ‘‘man-made’ knowledge is infallible, so it has gone to work to reconstruct religion and morality according to “man-made’” knowledge, without taking God into the account at all, and without know- ing or caring whether God is or is not. : A humble friend of mine; speak- ing of a certain aspect of American life and manners, said that he thought that the American people had gone ‘“bughouse.” It is likely he spoke truth in this vulgarism. Perhaps some madness afflicts “flam- ing- youth,” such as attacked the children of the Middle Ages and sent them forth upon the children’s crusade; only it would be diffi-ult to imagine the children of the present generation golng mad over religion. But it must be that either some strange moral madness or blindness of the present generation, ui else the old boy is playing games with us, or on us. CHARLES HOOPF Why Europe Dislikes The United States To the Editor of The Star: The late letter of Bertrand Shad- well in our Star, under the head- ing of “European Peril Seen,” comes as a shock to many of us. Dean Inge Is quoted as saying: “It is more than possible that the nations of Europe, enraged by the bloated prosperity and airs of supe- rlority of the ‘man who won the war, may combine to draw Shy- lock’s teeth. Mr. Shadwell adds: “He predicts, with quite open exultation, that ‘the nations of Europe’ will some day ‘com- bine’ to rob the United States of Amer- ica of its vast accumulated wealth. ‘While England’s gloomy dean is not representative of all Britain, he is the head of the established church, and the question arises, Are such senti- ments even remotely justified? A retrospective view is in order. Until the signing of the armistice the United States and its allles were wholesomely united, and when Wilson, looked upon in Europe as representing us, proposed a “league of nations,” in furtherance of peace, the union seemed more closely knit. Then came the political fight here, which resulted in the re- pudiation of Wilson and his “dream.” This was a staggering blow to Europe, especially when American women dropped their knitting needles as if red hot and the men in control of the new administration derided and abused “the league,” preaching isolation. Then it was that Europe’s cup of bit- terness was filled to overflowing. Sick {unto death, gasping from the wounds of the war, blinded, Europe felt the helping hand was withdrawn—the powerful friend that was was no more. And when we rather abruptly and illoglcally demanded our ‘pound of flesh” from practically bankrupt na- tions, then we were seen by many as a ‘“Shylock.” While the hearts and minds of the American people are sentimental and generous, as well as practical, are not our rulers a little harsh and cruel? Anyway, Europe today looks askance at the United States. Is Europe all wrong; are we all right? Are not Mr. Shadwell's letter and our Star's heading to it, “European Peril Seen,” in line with the unjustified coneeption that the earth’s niightiest nation takes of a weakest Europe? Is “To arms!” the needed cry? Would not a sympa- thetic message be more effectual? ¥ W. G. KENT. Only National Emblem Should Fly From Staff To the Editor of The Star: I was much interested and not a little surprised to find in your issue of Wednesday a picture of the War Mothers’ flag and a statement that this flag will fly under the national emblem. Will vou permit me to state as one who an Intimate knowledge of the etiquette of na- tional flag flying that this is abso- lutely infra dignitatem and an un- called-for discourtesy? It is a well known fact the world over that no flag of any nati®n, so- ciety, order or club must be hoisted on the same pole, staff or lanyard as that of the national emblem. The correct etiquette is to have three poles or staffs, with the em- blem or flag to be honored in the center, and the national flag on each side. JOHN WILLIAMS. e special seriousness in London because it is interpreted as a rebound from a speech by Sir Austen Chamberlain, British foreign secretary, shadowing a friendly alliance between Great Britain and Italy, supplementing the alliance between Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, and the report that the latter alliance is for aggressive at- tack on Turkey to seize Anatolia and Eastern Thrace. At the recent opening of the Turk- ish Parliament, Mustapha Kemal Pasha spoke of the growing friendli- ness between Turkey, Persia, Afghan- istan and Soviet Russia. The newly appointed British Min- ister to China holds letters of offical authority addressed to “The President of China,” but as there is no such of- ficial, he is instructed to send coples to China’s foreigm secretary and ask recognition as British representative. The great diplomatic interrogation point ig, what is the nerve stimulant which enzbles China, without a pres!- dent and, with internal wars, holding vast provinces, to defy the Occident and lead in an “Asiatic League of Natfons”? (Copyright. 1 . by Paul V. Collins.) afflicts both the elders and t"e vouth | ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. . Can fresh reindeer meat be bought in the States?—C. D. A. Reindeer meat exported from Alaska this Fall for consumption in the United States will soon be on sale, and the prices will be reasonable. One leading reindeer company in Alaska expects to export at least 5,000 car- casses, and will export more if vessels with refrigeration facilities can be ob- tained for shipping the meat from Nome to Seattle. Q. How thick is the layer of gray matter which composes the brain?— T. A, R. A. In some places it is & quarter of an inch thick, while in the thinner parts it is but one-tenth of an inch thick. Q. How long will an asparagus bed produce?—E. L. C. A. A bed of asparagus will produce for a century, but it is at its best be- tween the third and sixth years. Q. Please give some information about the Oregon Trail—R. S. H. A. The Oregon Trafl was an emi- grant route, about 2,000 miles long, from Independence, Mo., to the Co- Jumbia River. Originally it was made in part by the Indians and trappers. A part of it was blazed by Verendrye in 1742, and the expedition of Lewls and Clark in 1804 made more of it known. Others who helped to estab- lish the trail were: W. P. Hunt, Robert Stuart, S. H. Long, W. H. Ashley, Smith, Jackson and Sublette. Nathaniel J. Wyeth made the first continuous overland trip on record in 1832. Q. How do bees keep warm during the Winter?—N. W. A. A temperature of about 60 de- grees is maintained. The heat is pro- duced by physical exercise, humming and buzzing. It behooves beekeepers to protect the bees, as overactivity uses up vitality. Q. Is Karakul a fur taken from an animal of that name, or is it a trade name?—W. R. A. Karakul is the fur of sheep known as Karakul. The Karakul sheep takes its name from Kara Kul (Black Lake), a village in the eastern Vok- hara, a province of central Asia. The fur is taken from .the young Karakul lambs when they are but a few days old, as the character of the curls deteriorates with age. The skins of prematurely born lambs have value as fur, but the ewes are not sacrificed to secure them. Q. What does the stork signify when woven in Chinese rugs?’—T. A. A. It is the emblem of longevity. The stork was thought to live to a fabulous age; at 600 years, being too old, it could only drink, and turned black after 1,000 or 2,000 vears. A black stork in the design of the rug is particularly significant. ‘What caused the French Revo- lution?—R. P. A. It was mainly the result of the oppression of the French people, who Both Parties Get Satisfaction From Way Election Turned Out Three things stand out in reviews of the election results. The Demo- crats are jubllant over the defeat in Massachusetts of Senator Butler, friend of President Coolldge, and the gain of seven Democratic seats in the Senate; the Republicans confidently insist that local issues and personali- tles controlled and that what hap- pened In the senatorial contests has no national significance, and every- body agrees that the trlumph of Gov. Smith in New York strengthens his chances for the next Democratic presidential nomlg:\om Typical of the mocratic view is the Atlanta Journal's declaration: “There can be no mistaking that the Republican party and the Coolidge administration received a hard jolt at the hands of the American people. The election of David I. Walsh as a United States Senator from Massa- chusetts, where he defeated Senator Butler, chairman of the Republican national committee, and President Coolidge’s warm personal friend and political supporter, holds a significance that cannot be misinterpreted nor underestimated.” Even more emphatic is the Louls- ville Times (Independent Democratic), which sees in Butler's defeat ‘“the most inspiring political event sinoe the beginning of the wave of gross materialism, which Harding rode into the White House.” And the Birming- ham News (Independent Democratic), holds that Walsh's victory unques- tionably “is a body blow to the Re- publican administration, which the astute Mr. Coolidge, or his spokes- men, will have great difficulty in ex- plaining.” The Pasadena Star News (inde- pendent Republican) also regards the defeat of Senator Butler as the out- standing feature of the election, but s a very different interpretation. ‘Personal reasons rather than politl says the Star News. feat of Senator Butler is not fairly to be interpreted as a repudiation of the Cooligige administration. Never- theless, will cause the Republican party to begin an early aggressive national campaign.” * kK X Of the general effect of the electlon the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin (independent Republican) states that, “though of national consequence, par- ticularly in the loss of Republican senatorial seats, there is little of national significance to be attributed to the changes that have resulted. Defeat of Senator Butler of Massa chusetts,” in the opinion of that paper, “4s the most spectacular, because of the intimate relations with President Coolidge and the specific appeal for his re-election that came from the Executive. But the popularity of his Democratic opponent and the lack of popular appeal in Senator Butler's personality were the determining fac- tors, rather than any question of the popularity of the President himself.” The Massachusetts result impresses the Springfleld Unlon (Republican) as showing that “the Republicans who voted against Senator Butler declined to make his candidacy a test of their allegiance to the President or to their party, despite demands for such a test. What will happen to the Presi- dent as a result of the election and changes in Congress,” continues the Union, “is of less moment for the present than what may happen to his party. And Democratic behavior is likely to be helpful to the Republican party in the next two years. But the Republican party has a real task of ridding itself of the dictatorship of | parasitical organizations, if it is to | recover successfully from this mid- year chastisement.” “3urveying the senatorial election from the citizens’ viewpoint,” accord- ing to the Chicago Tribune (independ- ent Republican), “the results are what might have been expected. Traditional party cleavages were badly broken up by issues upon which there is no con- sistent party division.” The Tribune asserts that “in Ohlo, Indiana and Tllinois the unscrupulous methods of the Anti ter paral'el operations of intolerance exploited by the Klan have brought political affairs down to the lowest Isc ng New York the Chi Daily News (Independent) savs: “As usual, hosts of Republicans and inde- | rose in revolt against the extrava gance and tyranny of the kings and nobles. In addition they had no ade quate representation in the Legisla ture. The taxes were heavy and in 1777 there were as many as 1,250,000 beggars in France. Alarmed by the increasing slgns of ufirest in the country, the King and e of the nobles began to gather the army near Pa This so enraged the people of Parts that they stormed the Rastille on July 14, 1789. This is regarded as the hvg(n{\lng of the Revolution Q. What countries at the Twenty-fifth tional Exhibitlon at the stitute, Pittsburgh “w G A. The countries represented in clude: The United ates, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Austrin Hungary, Poland, Rumania, slovakin, Germany, Norway, Sweder Russta, Belgium and the Netherlanda There are 378 paintings shown; 374 are from Europe, 106 from Amerfca. e represente Annual Interna Carnegle 11 G Q. How did Peary and his men keep their meat from freezing?—W. A. When away from base each man carried his meat inside his shirt, in order that the heat of his body might keep it from freezing. Q. How many kinds of snakes are there?—B. G. MckK. A. There are about 1,500 species. The rattlesnake is emong the most poisonous. Q. When was the electric motor 11 vented?—C. J. E. A. The invention of the electri motor_is based on the discovery of Hans Christian Oersted, 1777-1851, that there s a force acting between :t magnet and a wire carrying electr! current. Following the discovery fi 1873 of the reversible action of the dynamo and its use as a motor, ef forts began to be made to apply this knowledge to the transmission of power between the years 1830 aud 1884, Q. Yow many ciiles are there in the United States with a population of 2,500 or more?—D. T. A. In 1920 there were 2,787. ple in the United Q. How many public library v States are without facilities?—W. H. T. A. There are about 50,000,000 people without such service. You want to know something. You wish to be positive before you go ahead. Well, The Evening Star will tell you what you want to know and give you assurance before you proceed. |Our Washington burcau can’ answer any question of fact propounded to {t. Here is the university of information —a great free educational institution established solely to scrve youw. Send in your question and get the right wer. Inclose 2 cents in stamps to postage. Address Information Bu- Haskin, director, the return Star J. cover The Evening reau, Frederic aloon League and the sinis- Washington, D. (' pendents marked their ballots for Gov. Smith hecause they respect and admire him for his sound ideas and his high standards of administration. That his admirers in Northern and Eastern States will endeavor to make him the Democratic candidate for President two years hence is reason- ably ceriain.” ] * ok ok ok “That all is not pleasing to the conduct of the Federal Govern- ment,” in the opinion of the Canton Daily News (Democratic), “is shown by the distinct anti-administration trend shown in the e.ection of Sena- tors and Representatives.” The News is convinced that “the trend is notable, forecasting an activity which will be of nation-wide signifi- cance and bring out, doubtless, a more representative vote when a: other election co 5 “Political history has shown us, avers the Seattle Daily Times (Inde. pendent Republican), however, “that mid-term upsets are the expected thing. The fact that the Republi cans this year apparently have re tained control may be taken as & good augury. In every State where brisk fights were waged, local Issues overshadowed national questions.” The San Francisco Bulletin (ind pendent) believes that “the off-year reaction is in the nature of a re- bound from the majority enthusi- asm"”; that “the prestize of the administration has not been affected and for the reason that in most In stances the reverses were the out- come of purely local issues.” Reviewing the success of Gov. Smith of New York, Gov. Donahey of Ohto and Gov. Ritchie of Mary land, the Lynchburg Advance (Democratic) remarks: “Undoubtedly these three Democratic leaders will figure prominently in the next Demo- cratic national convention. Smith may be classed as the candidate with the greatest strength, for regardless of what those who oppose the New York governor may say, he has dem- onstrated that he represents certain sentiments which are popular in some of the States which hold a large bloo of votes in the electoral college.” The Hartford Times (independent Democratic) adds that “the logic of Alfred E. Smith's nomination In 1928, if he lves, Is inescapable.” The Chattanooga. Times (independent Democratic) holds that “he stands as one of the most admirahle creatures of American democracy.” The Charleston Evening Post (independ- ent Democratic) belleves that “from now on until the nomination of the Democratic candidate for President in 1928 it will be Al Smith against the fleld, or, more accurately, the fleld against Al Smith, and that is rather dangerous pre-eminence for a statesman.” or % % “The Democratic donkey is carrying himself with a jaunty air these days,” remarks the Roanoke Times (Demo- | eratic). “It is warranted in the light of what happened on Tuesday. It may not necessarily be the forerunner of victory in the presidential contest two years hence, but as evidence that the country is growing lukewarm to- ward the Republicans it cannot be denfed.” The Newark Evening News (inde- pendent) sees evidence that “‘within State lines and upon State rather than national issues, the Democratic issues, there is yet virility in the Democratic party, as witness New York, Massa- chusetts and Ohlo.” ‘The St. Louis Post Dispatch (Inde- pendent) reads In the returns “a re- vival of Democratic strength com- bimed with a significant reaction against prohibition.” ““The close of this campaign is vir- tually the beginning of the bigger one of 1928, which Involves the presi- dency,” concludes the Nashviile Ban- ner (independent). ‘“Democrats are naturally rather jubllant over their bettered prospects. 1If they are wise, they may realize on this year's achlevements. Their wisdom, how- . s a matter for speculation,™ already taik of a_coalition ine= hor Republicans tsur ;unlrul of that by Congress, juch a coalition was attempted 1920 in both Houses, and s ‘0,; ! an nvprrl’helmh’ll character was the. net result.”