Evening Star Newspaper, December 8, 1926, Page 8

FHE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. ‘WEDNESDAY . .December 8, 19268 I e e Y THEODORE W. NOYES. .. B ‘The Evening Star Newspaper Company . Editor 2% Hogent 81 London, egent St. England: the Sunday morn- Gelivered by carriers within : daily only. Be ond may. b " “mail o n it by m %hmm Sextn B000. “Collection 13 made by er at end of each month. Star, with el Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. All Other States and Canads. Paity and sunday..1yr. $12 00: 1 mo. $1.00 {ly only ... 1mo., 76c 'y 1 800 unday only . 113r. $4.00;1mo. 35 Member of the Associated Press. The Assoriated Press is excinsively entitled 20 the use for republication of all news dis- pliches credited to it or not atherwise cred. tad in this paper and also the local news Published herein. All rights of publication of epecial dispatches herein are red William B. McKinley. ‘While his long and evidently hope- less illness prepared them for their loss, nevertheless the death of Wil liam B. McKinley, Senator from II- linols, shocks his muititude of friends and occasions them the deepest grief. For he had won the high esteem and, the sincere affection of all who knew him, as he always commanded the ut- most respect from those who knew him only by his works. He was about completing his twentieth year in Con- gress, fourteen years as a member of the House of Representatives and one term as Senator. During all that time he was a hard worker, never sparing himself, engaging to the full in the activities of the two houses. He was not one of the talkers, rarely appear- ing in debate, but indefatigable in his committee work. He studied all ques- tions that were on the calendar for action. While always a partisan in his devotion to the principles and the work of his own party, he was never narrow in his view of affairs. His public spirit was the paramount force in his career. To those who knew him well Sena- tor McKinley was a charming, help- ful frlend. His kindly nature, his compassionate view of all human ac- tivitles and tendencles, hiz broad charity, his generosity, his delightful companionship made him one of the most beloved members of Congress. Blessed with large means, which he acquired early in his career, he was bountiful in his gifts in aid of others. Within a dozen years he gave more than $10,000,000 to charities and philanthropies. His principal interest was the education of youth, and he spent large sums in the development and advancement of institutions to that end. A love of travel was one of Willlam B. McKinley's dominant tralts. He was an indefatigable tourist, going everywhere in the world, observing keenly and studying people. During a quarter of a century, it is estimated, he covered more than 1,500,000 miles in his journey'ngs, and of this mileage over two-thirds resulted from his voy- sges in the past nine years. This con- stant travel broadened him and gave him a wealth of information which he employed to advantage. Tt is a misfortune that his political career ended in defeat. A candidate for a second term in the Senate, he was beaten for renomination in a primary contest that led not only to his prospective retirement but to a scandal regarding the use of funds, in which he, however, was not personal- 1y smirched in the least. He was a clean political fighter, scrupulously honest in all his dealings, and he financed his own campaigns, thus keeping himself free from obliga- tions. He had served the country ably and faithfully, and it is a pity that he could not have gone on to longer use- fulness, serving as he did as an ex- ample of sterling integrity and ca- pability. For those years of associa- tion with him that were permitted by bis two decades of duty in House and Senate the people of Washington are deeply grateful. —— e The HallMills trial at least identl- fied persons who did not commit the murder. Curiosity will have to remain unsatisfied as to who did. ot ©Of], a mechanical lubricant, is a wsource of much legal friction ———————— The World's Largest Bank. An increase of $25,000,000 in the eapital stock of the National City Bank of New York is to make it the world’'s largest banking institution, giving it a total capitalization of $140,- 000,000, including surplus and undi- vided profits. And nobody is frightened. A few years ago the “viewers with alarm” would have made the welkin ring with denunciation of the “money trust” and filled the land with dire predic- tlons as to what this octopus of Wall street would do to small business and the liberties of the common people. Today, when the airplane and the radlo are looked upon as nothing to marvel at, it is accepted as a matter of course that New York should have the world’s largest bank. It will be widely discussed today, mentioned oc- casionally tomorrow, and by the week end forgotten. The probabilities are that more real concern will be felt in England than in this country because of the New York bank's expansion. It is another sign that financial supremacy of the world has moved westward across the Aglantic. In the past mot only has England had the world's largest bank, dut it has had several with more cap- , ttal than any bank elsewhere had. “he Midland Bank stood first, with a capltalization equivalent to about $180,000,000, while Lloyd's Bank is rated only a million dollars or so low- er. Two others of the big British banks are Barclay's, with $125,000,000 capital, and the Westminster, with $99,000,000. Comparison of the importance of British and American banks is made gificult by differences in the laws un- 'dor which they operate. The Na- tional City Bank, for instance, is not permitted to have branches in the United ‘States outside of New York City, while the Midlarid Bank has up- ward of 1,800 branches in England, Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom. The big British banks are mainly local institutions ip the United Kingdom, thelr operations abroad be- ing carried on chiefly through inde- pendent connections. The National City Bank, on the other hand, has branches in seventy-five cities in twen- ty-two countries throughont the world. This probably has made it a more important factor in {integnational finance, even in the past, than its big British rivals. Beauty and Parking. Urging that parking of automobiles near Washington's statues be prohibit- ed, the Commission of Fine Arts, ina letter to Col. U. 8. Grant, 3d, director of public buildings and public parks, requests that official to make known the commission’s attitude to the Dis- trict authorities. With all due respect to the esthetic judgment of members of the fine arts body it is unlikely that such a move- ment will gain support from the Com- missioners, the residents of the city as a whole, or the motorists. Park- ing space is now at a premium in Washington. With parking banned between street car platforms and the curb, at each end of a block and in sundry other places, there should be no more curtailment of this privilege unless the entire city !s swept clean of all parked cars. It would seem far better to allow motorists to stop near the statues in the National Capital than to have them clutter up the fronts of business establishments or drive slowly around in the downtown congested traffic in the vain hope of finding places to park. The theory that stationary automo- biles block the view of statues would seem to be untenable. If a person Is interested enough to make a study of ‘Washington’s many beautiful monu- ments he can easily get on the inside of the line of automobiles and be un- impeded in a close-up as well as a pan- oramic view. Near statues, in the parks, and in all places where the traffic is light, parking should not only be allowed but encouraged. Of course, the time is not far off when conditions will no longer allow long-time parking. Until that time, however, it would seem to be needless as well as harassing to the motorists to curtail the privileges that Washington, because of its wide streets, is able to give. ————ae— Moving Toward Building Sites. The first step in the direction of the acquisition of the land generally known as the Mall-Avenue triangle for public building purposes was taken yesterday when Senator Bruce intro- duced a bill providing for the pur- chase of the property lying north of Pennsylvania avenue between First and Third streets. This measure is in development of the project to create a boulevard in extension of the Cap- itol-Station plaza to be united with the direct approach to the Lincoln Me- morial. It will clear away a number of old buildings that are of no par- ticular utility and that are a decided detriment to the aspect of the city's principal thoroughfare. Accompanying this measure will soon come a bill for the purchase of all the lands in the triangle to the west of Third street, to be regarded and treated as a consolidated building site. Early action upon both of these bills is desirable. The President has expressed himself in favor of the proj- ect, which now has the approval of the Public Buildings Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts and the Na- tional City Park and Planning Com- mission.” With such an agreement of authorities there is no reason to ex- pect delay. This is a great undertaking, but it can be authorized at the present ses- sion of Congress if no obstructive blockade is interposed. The practical advantage of a consolidated building area is obvious. The economy of a concentration of the public buildings within the stretch between the Cap- itol and the White House is apparent. Congress has already provided for an expenditure of $50,000,000 in construc- tions in this city. Adequate sites are a necessary feature of this program. It is the most elementary move of good business to provide at once for the emplacements in order that no halt should occur in the execution of the building plans. ——————— Assemblage of Congress is accom- panied by genial demonstrations. The moment in the game “when friend- ship ceases” has not yet arrived. Car Numbers and Memories. The experience of Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas with his automobile that was stolen the other night from Capitol Hill should warn motorists generally to make sure that they know end remember the number of their license tags. Senator Capper had forgotten his tag number and when he came to report the theft of the car to the police he was unable to give more than a general descrip- tion of the vehicle, which in these :days of standardization of motor makes did not serve as a vivid identi- fication. However, the car was re- covered as the resuit f good police work and all is well, but the incident has its significance nevertheless. Memory for numbers is a gift, and not many people possess it. There are some folks who can remember the telephone numbers of dozens of their friends and business contacts. Then again there are others who have hard work differentiating between their own phone numbers and their house num- bers. Taxi drivers tell with unction of “fares” directing them to drive to ‘North 6073,” and many a pheme ex- change girl has been puzzled by a call for 1727 Some-Street-or-Other. Motor car numbers run with few exceptions into five figures, and in some cases into six figures. Unless they are of pecullar arrangement these numerals are apt to blur in the mind. Which serves to illustrate how @ifficult it is to identify the license tag of a car that has figured M % __THY EVENING STAR WASHNGTOV D. €. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1928. in an accident and has passed on. Testimony on the subject of a briefly seen tag is not the most dependable of evidence. Every motorist should carry always in his pocket with his license card the numerals of his latest tag, and also his engine number. Then he can forget his mathematics and relieve his mind, certain that he can at any time get the desired information from his memorandum. Senator Capper will probably make it e point here. after to do this, even if he does not memorize the figures. ——————— A good business man never thinks business is as good as it ought to be. At the same time he never admits that business is actually bad. A deli- cate adjustment between optimism and pessimism is essential in success- ful traffic. ——————————— Bootleggers are complaining in all seriousness because laxity of law en- forcement lets in all kinds of competi- tion. At least these protests do not show the nerve that would be neces- sary to represent them as coming from “Taxpayer.” [ —— Brief blizzards here and 'there through the general map provide the customary Winter advertising that gives Florida the advantage of perma- nent advertising, despite transient mis- fortune: —_————————— The citizen who used to say he re- garded a snow scene as a setting’ for the holidays is no longer heard from. He was poetically in evidence in times when fuel was not so expensive. —————————— References to Uncle Sam as “Uncle Shylock” do no good. Shylock was willing to capitalize commercial ves- sels, but showed no inclination what- ever to finance battleships. A “first page" story is now regarded as of little consequence unless of suf- ficlent importance to carry over and occupy at least half of a subsequent page. Early shopping is never practiced to an extent to warrant the purchaser in thinking he can avoid the rush by walting till the last minute. ' " SHOOTING STARS, BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Sense of Humor! ‘When some one tumbles on his head I laugh. ‘When kids to impudence are led In chaff, I revel in pictorial joy And say such things should not an- noy-—— Remember you were once a boy— I laugh. ‘When some one's whiskers are afire, 1 laugh! ‘There’s no sight that I so desire By half. 1 don’t know what the cause may be. ‘When some one in distress I see Instead of feeling sympath-ee I laugh! Incorrect. “Why do they refer to certain per- sons’as ‘lame ducks'?” “I don’t know,” answered Senator Sorghum. “It's Incorrect. A lame duck can’t fly, and these people will have to.” . Two-Cent Stamp. George Washington, your face we see Upon a postage stamp, Far more impressive, all agree, Than that of clown or vamp. And now the multitude is led ‘With reverence to look Less on the serious things you sald Than how you used to look. Jud Tunkins says a careful, honest man is very seldom as good company as a bright salesman. But One Objection. “Do you like music?"" “I have only one objection to music,” sald Miss Cayenme. “It is agreeable enough to listen to, but it gives rise to an interminable amount of tiresome conversation.” ““We reverence our ancestors,” sald Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “even though in our hearts we think them unworthy of their resplendently su- perior children.’ Sing a Song. Sing a song o’ sixpence! A fitvver full o’ rye, Or maybe corn or juniper So swiftly riding by! Sing a song o sixpence! The figure makes you laugh. The tinlest bootleg chirp will cost Two dollars and a half. “When & bride promises to love, honor and obey,” said Uncle Eben, “de’groom might as well set hisself to make allowances foh mental reserva- tions. ‘Mighty Column. “Why do so many people jump off the Washington Monument?” “I dunno,” said the watchman, “un- less it's because the Monument is a mighty column and so many people are desperate in the desire to be recog: nized as ‘columnists.’ A Further Consideration. “Is this pre-war liquor?” Uncle Bill Bottletop. “It {81 “I'll try a little.” “It won't hurt you.” “I know that. I'm likely to pass away in serene contentment. But how about the struggling family that I leave behind?” Doing His Best. “Shop early!” is the warning That with wisdom is replete— I heard a voice this morning That was sad—though sweet. asked The volce was not so surly, In sorrowing it spoke: Can't keep on shoppin’ early— I has done gone broke! Art and Intellect. A lovely melody I heard, ‘With an eternal call. The ainger was & passing bird Who has no sense at all! THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. It is commonly realized that the best way to meet a joke at one’s expense is to join in the laugh and thus defeat the peculiar enjoyment of the perpe- trators at the start. It is not so generally known, how- ever, that the best way to meet dis- agreeable situations of many kinds is by exactly the same procedure, in 8o far as it is consistent with decency and honor. Society, so called, has long realized this, with the saving of much worry and heartache, through the seemly use of innocent subterfuge and “white lies,” which hurt no one and help a lot, as every one knows. Take this matter of being offended with others. ‘We have known young gentlemen to put on hoity-toity airs and stead: fastly refuse to speak to an acquaint- ance simply because he has done something to wound their pride. Now it takes a great deal more en- ergy to act in this manner than it does simply to forget about the inci- dent and try to make the best of it. The strain of consistently refusing to speak to an assoclate is really con- siderable. One has to think about it all the time, for in reality it is an absurd way to act, and requires more concentration than it is worth. In the first place, who is any one that he should be so touchy? Honest, now, who is any one? * K kX ‘This thing of being so touchy that one must be “handled with gloves” hath a most suspicious look. The big- hearted Jims of the world are not so. They are carefree. No one can sneer at them in any manner whatsoever, for they feel eecure in what they possess, mentally and physically. They are in no hurry to rush to their own defense. ¢ If any one pokes fun at them, they are the first to join in it and ad- mit it for truth, for all the time they know very well that the offenders will know it is not the truth, and, above all, they themselves well know it is not the truth, so they can afford to make fun about it. ‘The handsome tall chap can very well join in a joke at his own ex- pense if he is called of mean stature and ugly. “Sure, I'm one of the ug- liest fellows in existence,” he may say, with a satisfied look into the mirror. “Gosh! did you ever see such a face!” So we have the phenomenon of young soclety men, when they choose, going around in soft collars and the most negligent of neckties, without any regard whatever to what the rest of the world may think. They don't have to have any. To be ‘“touchy” instantly reveals a sore spot. Yet it is o human an action that every one does it, now and then, even when he may have predetermined that he will not. Theory is one thing, and practice dis- tinctly another, as the bromide has it. One cannot always do as one would, even when he mentally curses himself for being a fool at the same time he is acting like one. * kK X Shakespeare tells us about the young lady who concealed her love, and thereby lost the damask roses from her cheeks, but concealment often works out better in other affairs of everyday life. Why should one refuse to speak to some one because that other has in some way touched a sore spot, and at the same time (by refusing to speak) injure one's own soul? It is, indeed, one of the silliest of actions. And every one knows it, too, when it comes to the other fellow, but he forgets it, readily eriough, in times of personal stress. Sensitive persons, especially, ought to beware of this hurtful action. This applies both to men and women, for there are sensitive, easily hurt men as well as women—in fact, sometimes one is inclined to belleve that there are more of the former than of the latter. The professions and the businesses are crowded with eager young gentle- men who are bent on “getting on” in the world, which most of them will do if their employers have not for- gotten the rules of the game and everything works out as it no doubt ought to do. At the same time many of them will be putting on the brakes to them- selves by divers ill-considered actions, chief of which will be this thing of “freezing up” on an acquaintance. - It is a peculiar fact, but true, that not even the wisest man can tell who will stand him in good stead in this world. The man we look down upon today may be the one we Will look up to tomorrow, and the chap we so glibly snub tomorrow may be the fel- low who could help us on our way rejoicing next year. Whether he will or not depends a great deal upon the way we treat him as we go along. Of course, it is con- siderably better to be honest and re- fuse to speak than to become a flat- terer and a liar and humbly kiss the foot that kicks you. But, honestly, one does not have to go to such extremes. Common sense is a preclous virtue as applica- ble here as elsewhere. Even in mat- ters of love it ought to have a part. * %k k¥ The silliest part of all this silly business is that generally the word or action that gave offense in the first place actually amounts to nothing. Out of much sensitiveness and one modicum of genuine offense, one can easily work up a huge wrong that may be rolled around so much that it seems justified. Reduced to its common denomina- tor, however, the wrong iy seen to have very little basis in fact. Were it not for an unfortunate disposition, truth compels one to say, it would al- most immediatély disappear. There was no real basis for it in the first place and it ought to have been laugh- ed off as one does with any other bad joke. ; No doubt the path of the wensitive is unnecessarily hard. Slightly thick-skinned persons, as the saying is, are doubtless the best off in this world of free comment and opinion. They do not have to endure so much because they do not absorb so_much. If one says a mean or hurtful thing in their presence, the chances are that they will not think it to be aimed at them, or, if that conclusion is un- escapable, they will look at the of- fender in mild wonder, that he could possibly mean what he said. This, after all, is the standard way to handle such situations. The man who can do it naturally or who can school himself in it is going to save himself a lot of trouble and worry. Above all, he will save all that energy he might otherwise waste in working so hard to maintain a state of silence. Pathetic souls, they work |so hard doing nothing! WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Calvin Coolidge. being a man of few words, it is legitimate to conclude that he lays paramount stress upon those subjects to which, now and then, he gives verbal attention. That applies particularly to those annual reports on “the state of the Union, known as presidential messages to Congress. Measured by the yard- stick of the language he lavishes upon current issues, it is easy to de- duce from the communication yes- terday sent to Capitol Hill which of them Mr. Coolidge considers to be out in front. Farm relief easily comes first. To it the President de- Votes 3% of the 20 pages of his printed message. Economy and tax reduction follow with 2} pages. Na- tional defense gets about 2 pages. Forelgn relations also claim a couple of pages. Altogether the latest Cool- idge encyclical ranges over 24 differ- ent major topics. The President is a past master in disposing of even the biggest problems with epigram- matic terseness. This week’s mes- sage is more than ordinarily charac- teristic in that respect. LR The “lame duck sessio of Con- gress is always a mixture of joy and sadness for its participants in both houses. It is heavily tinged with re- morse for men who have been rele- gated to private life by unapprecia- tive constituencies, and are spending, in most cases, their farewell seasons in Washington. Externally an atmos- phere?of all-pervading jollity prevailed this week when Senators and Repre- sentatives who hadn’t seen one an- other since the Summer adjournment met again on their respective floors. Back-slapping, elbow-greasing, glad- handing and shoulder-clasping _pro- ceeded ad libitum. Republicans, Dem- ocrats and Progressives mingled and fraternized like the members of a college fraternity assembled for a re- union. After all, such scenes typify the finer side of American politics. Only in rare instances are party con- troversies, even when the dregs of defeat in recent elections have been tasted, carried into men's personal re- lations. That is especially the situa- tion in the Nation's most exclusive club, officlally designated the Senate of the United States. LR Nobody in cotemporary history has accomplished a more rapid back-from- Elba performance than David Ignatius Walsh, Democrat, of Massachusetts. He bade good-by to the Senate on March 4, 1925, and here he is back again, in December, 1926—an interval of a bare 21 months. When Smith W. Brookhart of Iowa egain adorns the Senate scene, his return will mark an almost equally rapld come-back. The Hawkeye rabble-rouser, Who is a vis- itor to Washington this week, was ousted at the end of the Winter of 1925. He will be doing business at the old stand in December, 1927, pro- vided that a special session doesn’t bring him officially to Capitol Hill be- fore then. Once again there are two Walshes in the Senate—they, respec- tively, of Montana and Massachusetts. Although there is a pair of Messrs. Walsh, the list of senatorial ladles will contain no Mrs. Walsh. The Mon- tanan is a widower, and the conqueror of Willlam M. Butler is, apparently, an invincible bachelor. * * X X Not many members of Congress re- sume their annual duties at Washing- ton with the flattering slogan, “Re- elected without opposition,” attached to their credentials. Wisconsin’s two noble Romans—Representatives Hen- ry Allen Cooper and John M. Nelson, pillars of the La Follette church— have that distinction. On November 2 both of them were returned to the House by grateful districts in which no rival candidates stood against them. Mr, Cooper was re-elected to his seventeenth term, although he did not sit in the Sixfy-sixth Congress. He is the father of the House, closely pursued for that honor by Represent- atives Butler of Pennsylvania and Haugen of Iowa, both Republicans. Representative “Jack’” Garner of Texas is the Democratic daddy of the lower branch, with 13 terms, includ- ing the one in which he will sit next year, to his credit. * ok kK Overheard in the distinguished strangers’ gallery of the Senate on December 6, when the clerk was reading ‘Senator Walsh’s ,resolution for investigation of Senator Gould of Maine: “What has Congress to do with the Halls-Mills murder case?"” The query was caused by the circum- stance that “New Brunswick” (Can- ada, not New Jersey) was mentioned as the scene of Mr. Gould's alleged “moral turpitude.” The fact that the Senate is asked to probe an episode that occurred beyond the borders of the United States prompts the wit of that body, Senator George H. Moses of New Hampshire, to suggest that the case in reality ought to be sent to the League of Nations! * Kk Kk % William C. Deming, president of the Civil Service Commission, opines, in the language of the old-time printer, that preparation for and passing of civil service examinations are not all “fat.” Out of 9756 different kinds of examinatons held last year, many were, of course, comparatively easy, while others were difficult, technical and sometimes unique. Among the latter is the announcement of an ex- amination for bolometric assistant at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Ob- servatory. Briefly, a bolometer is an electrical instrument for measuring minute quantities of radiant heas. “Such a test,” Mr. Deming observes, “is emough to make any one see stars.” * k¥ X Edward N. Hurley of Chicago. is the latest one-time member of the Wilson administration to succumb to memoir-writing. The shrewd manu- facturer and financier, who was war- time chairman of the United States Shipping Board and president of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, has written what its forthcoming publish- ers depict as “the inside story of the war.” Mr. Hurley's revelations will appear first as a newspaper serial and later as a book. He has never ven- tured into literature before. The Chicagoan is one of the three Demo- cratic members of the World War Foreign Debt Commission, which made this year's funding settlements with our European debtors. | * ok kX Tsuneo Matsudaira, the Japanese Ambassador at Washington, chooses the annual dinner of the Japan So- clety of New York for recurring pro- nouncemeénts on the subject of Japanese-American relations..- The ac- complished Nipponese diplomat so de- livered himself this week. Among the things he discussed was the system of exchange visits between American and Japanese schoolboys, recently in- augurated, and, according to Mr. Matsudaira, destined to become reg- ular institutions.- The Ambassador referred to another ‘“channel of.pop- ular diplomacy”—the sending of dolls by American children to their ‘“‘un- seen friends in far-off Japan.” Deal- ing with more serious subjects, Mr. Matsudaira took occasion to explain Japan’s new land laws. He declared that these permit all foreigners (even from California, which debars Jap- anese land ownership there) to own real estate in Nippon ¢n equal terms. (Covyright. 1926.) Singular Pluralities. From the South Bend Tribube. barery phuval ank that was e ® Politics at Large By G. Gould Lincoln. The death of Senator Willam B. McKinley of Illinois has removed from the Senate another old school, regu- lar Republican, who during 14 years’ service in the House and 6 years in the Senate won the liking and re- spect of his colleagues. Senator Me- Kinley’s service, in the Senate was to terminate March 4 next. He failed last Spring to win renomination, and his opponent, Col. Frank L. Smith, now Senator-elect, has become a storm center of the “slush fund” issue ralsed against the Republicans by Democratic leaders. It was not long after he had been defeated that Sen- ator McKinley became seriously ill. Some of his friends insist that disap- pointment over his defeat in the sena- torial primaries and the knowledge he ‘was soon to leave the halls of Con- gress, where he had been actively engaged for so many years, depressed Senator McKinley. He is the second veteran Republican Senator who has died since the primaries last Spring and Summer, after suffering defeat. ggn!mor Cummins of Iowa was the st : EE Speculation is rife over the probable successor of Senator McKinley. Col. Smith, of course, has been elected to fill his seat, beginning with the next Congress. But in the interim Gov. Len Small of Illinois, Republican, has authority to appoint to fill the va- cancy®temporarily. The rumors range all the way from the appointment of Col. Smith to a determination on the part of the governor not to fill the vacancy at all. The last is scarcely credible, however. That the governor would leave the State of Illinois repre- sented by only a single Senator dur- ing the entire’last session of tige present Congress does not appear either probable or likely from a poli- tical point of view. The Republican organization of the Senate and the administration needs every vote it can have in the upper house this session. It has been reported that Gov. Small will appoint Smith to fill the vacancy, particularly as he appointed Senator Deneen to fill thé vanacy caused by the death of the late Senator Mediil McCormick. Senator Deneen was then Senator-elect, just as Smith is now. On the other hand, if Smith is sent here now, the row over seating him may be launched immediately, may cause prolonged debate and threaten the entire program of legis- lation for the session. Furthermore, if Smith does not come to the Senate until Senator-elect William S. Vare of Pennsylvania, the second of the so-called “gold dust twins,” also puts l;el&l;l[l:sagpefil;lancfil, {;he battle lines for mith will be strengthene the supporters of Vare. Bty * Ok ok % The Governor of Illinois has a chance to send to the Senate a woman, if he cares to break the pre- cedent and have a feminine Senator in actual service of the United States. A Georgia governor ap- pointed the first woman to the Senate several years ago, but she occupied a seat in the Senate only a few hours. She had been appointed dur- ing a recess of Congress and her successor, Senator George, had been elected before the session opened. It was largely a matter of courtesy that the Georgla woman was allowed to be seated. =~ Mrs. Medill McCormick, widow of the late Senator McCormick, would grace the Senate and has the ability to hold the office. But Senator McCormick was an enemy of Gov. fi}r‘r;an. “fmt hthmt seems to end all nce of e ointmes McCormick. et s If Col. Smith s appointed to the Senate, there is little doubt that his right to serve in the Senate will be assalled, even though his ap- pointment now would be unconnected with the primary election in Illinois last Spring. Democratic and progres- sive Republican Senators are already whetting their axes for Col. Smith, if he puts in an appearance here. * % ok % Among the Republican progressives who have been outspoken in their opposition to the seating of Senators- elect Smith and Vare is Senator Nor- ris of Nebraska. Senator Norris has recently been in corresnondence with A. M. Roster of Mattoon, Ill., regard- ing Col. Smith and his right to be uguted. Mr. Roster has urged Senator Norris to lay aside his opposition to Smith, pointing out that Smith was elected by the people of Illinois long after the exposures before the Sen- ate slush fund committee, when it ap- peared that Col. Smith, head of the Public Utilities Commission of the State, had benefited in his campaign g{mu lco;llrlb]u!lo{l, of $125,000 from uel Insul, utilit; other utility rhen, Sk n replying to Mr. Roster, who h: urged Senator Norris to attend sm:.‘: of the “harmony breakfasts” at the White House, breakfasts given by Presigent tcotl)‘lldge to Republican members of the Senate and H Senator Norris sald: e “Your reference to ‘harmony break- fasts’ does not appeal to me. If these harmony breakfasts are intended to cause those who partake to overlook such things as occurred in the Illinois and Pennsylvania primaries, then I prefer to go without my breakfast Vermont maple syrup and buckwheat cakes have no charm for me if the object is bridging the chasm’ made by the fraud and corruption disclosed in the Illinois and Pennsylvania pri- maries.” * k ok K The wet and dry issue is raising hob with the Democratic party. While Senators Underwood of Alabama and Bruce of Maryland are declaring for the nomination and election of a wet Democratic candidate for President in 1928, Willam Gibbs McAdoo of Cali- fornia and elsewhere is preparing to lead a crusade for the dry element in the party. Possibly he has in the back of his head the thought that he may be the selection of the dry Demo- crats to head the national ticket in 1928—just possibly. He is to make his start in this campalgn in_Alabama, where Senator Underwood has declar- ed for the nomination of Gov. Al Smith of New York. Democratic Senators from the South are wondering what they shall say when they go into Northern and Eastern States, where the democracy is decidedly wet, if they are asked where they stand on the wet and dry issue. Take Massachusetts and New York, for example. Southern oratory is relished by the Democrats of these States which have just elected wet Democrats to the United States Senate, in - sensational man- ner. What is a Southern Senator, from an arid State, to say if he is asked how he stands on the liquor question? He might follow the example of former Gov. “Jimmy” Cox of Ohio, who, when he was cam- paigning for the presidency on the Democratic ticket in 1920, made the mistake of urging an audlence to ask him questions. He was speak- ing in wet territory. A huge man with stentorian voice, standing di- rectly in front of the governor, velled: “How do you stand on the wet and dry issue?% Gov. Cox spied a little man fer in the rear of the hall, standing up and trying to attract his attention. Cup- ping his hand to his ear and lean- ing far out from the platform, the governor managed to hear what the little man was saying. He answered his question. Again and again the big man with the wet question called out, but again and again Gov. Cox answered some one else. He never did answer the big man. When he left the hall with Senator Pat Harri- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q Can a horse that is not a regls- tered tharoughbred be entered in the races?—S. K. W. A. The Bureau of Animal Indu: says that as far as it knows there are no race track regulations requir- ing that only thoroughbreds enter a race. However, a horse that is not a thoroughbred, unless he is eXceptional, would stand little chance against a horse who has been bred from racing ancestors. Thoroughbred horses in this country are registered solely on the thoroughbredness of their ances- tors. Registration in a thoroughbred society necessitates that both the sire and the dam be registered or eligible for registration in the soclety, which means that their sire and dam were registered. Q. What does “Hondo” mean?— B. P. A. The largest island of the Jap- anese Empire is Hondo, which may be translated “chief island.” Q. Does the silver fox or any other species of fox mate for life?—W. J. C. A. The Biological Survey says that foxes, when in the wild state, were considered monogamous. However, when bred in_ captivity they are, in general, found to be polygamous. Q. Is it proper for a stenographer to send a Christmas card to her em- ployer? If so, should she send it “Mr. and Mrs.” although she does not know his wife?—K. E. M. A. Some authorities regard it as a little presuming for an office employe to send a Christmas card to her em- ployer. If, however, this is done the greetings should be addressed to the employer and his wife. Q. The mercury In our laboratory is Ver]g dll{rt:,n How may it be cleaned? A. The Bureau of Standards says that a simple way to remove dirt from mercury is to shake the mer- cury vigorously with some cane sugar, after which the metal is filtered off through a pinhole in the bottom of a paper cone. The whole operation may be repeated if necessary. Instead of filtering through a pinhole, the mercury may be squeezed through several thicknesses of cloth. Q. What is the largest city in Flor- ida?—M. B. A. The largest city in Florida is Jacksonville, In 1925 the population of Jacksonville was 95,450. Q. Should georgette crepe, after be- ing washed, be rinsed in hot or cold water?—R. K. A. Georgette crepe should always be rinsed in lukewarm water and wrung dry in a bath towel. Q. What does the expression “mak- ing a hoot nanny for a wicker bill” mean?—T. F. A. This expression is used as a re- tort to an obvious question. Q. Will milk take ink out of prints? A. Books of 25 years ago gave such directions, but they would not apply today for the reason that milk is not what it was, nor is ink. Milk con- sumed in cities is freed from lactic bacterla, which were once depended on to perform the necessary chemical action, and ink today has multiplied House used by President Coolidge is & special set, made under the supervi- slon of the Navy Department. It is Stry | not a commercial set and none of the parts used in it is commercially used. Tl hook-up of this set is not known. Q. Are flower ornaments to con- tinue popular this Winter?—I. M. A. Fashion experts say they are. Large chiffon and velvet or feather flowers are used for evening or for- mal afternoon wear. They are worn on the left or below the right shoulder. Small, neat fabric or colored crystal boutonnieres are used for tallored wear, Q. celluloid?—R. I. A. To clean celluloid rub with a woolen cloth and a little tripoli, and polish with a clean woolen rag. Q. What section of Washington, D. C., was known as “North Liber- ties’ T. F. A. The section north of G street and east of Twelfth was so called. The section to the south was called “The Island,” or “South Washington." Q. Is there a monkey that looks like a_squirrel’—S. H. D. A. There is a small tropical Amer- fcan monkey that fs known as the “squirrel monkey.” It is so called be- cause of its squirrellike activity, bushy tail and general appearance. Q. Is it possible for a Jewish stu- dent resident at Harvard University to obtain “kosher” food?—A. D. T. A. A kosher cafeteria was recently opened at Harvard under the direc- tion of the Union Orthodox Congrega- tions in America. The late President Emeritus Eliot, in a recent address, urgad all students to stand by thelr religlous. views and to practice any dietary laws thelr religion might lay down. Q. Ts the Smithsonian Institution a Government institution?’—W. BE. D. A. The Government is merely the guardian. Congress has never made any grants for the Smithsonfan itself, although from time to time it hi recognized that various outgrowths this institution have become public na cessities and has appropriated mos for their support. The Smithsonian nances its ploneering work in sclence rom its private income. Q. What S. D. A. A. This is a week which has been set aside by boards and organizations representing educational, social and religious organizations to ask people all over the country to insure their lives for the benefit of churches, mis- sion boards, colleges and universities, hospitals, orphanages, etc. This year it will be from December 13 to De cember 20. Q. What is the Stevenson Creek Dam in California?—E. C. H. A. This is an experimental dam which was built entirely for the pur- pose of testing. It is an arch-type dam, and tests will be made to deter- mine exactly how and when the yleld- ing point will be reached. What islme best way to clean is “Bequest week"?— Frederic J. Haskin is employed by this paper to handle the inquiries of into 150 varieties, so that no general household directions can be consid- ered safe to remove ink from fabrics. A spotter is required to determine for- mula to apply to the removal of each type of ink, since a remedy for one might mak2 another indelible. Q. What make of radio set is in the ‘White House?—M. C. A. The radio set in the White our readers, and you are invited to call upon him as freely and as often as you please. Ask anything that is a matter of fact and the authority will be quoted you. There is no charge for this service. Ask what you want, sign your mame and address and in- close 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has- kin, director, Washington, D. C. Turmoil in China Brings Forth Discussion in China’s turmoil and the recent re- port of the conference of nations on extraterritorial rights in China are the subject of thoughtful discussion in the American press. “There can be no doubt that China | would be a far better country in every respect,” observes the Providence Journal, “if the suggestions of the conference could be carried out. A thorough revision of the judicial sys- tem, reforms in the legislative and executive branches, overhauling and improvement of the civil and commer- cial codes and changes in the penal system, the bankruptcy laws and the patent regulations constitute the gist of the program which the conference nations outline as essential to the progress of China, on the one hard, and to the re-establishment of ‘the faith of other nations in her, on the other hand. All of these recommenda- tions are sound and necessary.” But the Journal is inclined to believe that “‘the weakness of the report lies in the fact that it places the whole responsi- bility for obtaining the reforms on the Chinese government, which for 10 years has demonstrated its inability to handle the situation. It is much like telling a man that he needs a life-saver when he is obviously drowning, but failing to provide him with that indis- pensable equipment. As a “sympathetic, helpful and con- structive” document, the report impels the Baltimore Sun to remark that “if the various governments concerned will now act promptly to carry out its recommendations, a long step toward liquidating such anti-foreign senti- ment as may exist in China will be taken.” From the practical stand- point, the Sun points out that ‘per- haps the most significant part of the report is that which suggests that abolition of extraterritoriality might be brought about progressively—first in cities and provinces which can dem- onstrate that their judicial practice is honest and reasonably efficient; more slowly in backward areas. In the ab- sence of any effective central govern- ment in China such a course would obviously be rational. * * kX - “The position of the combined for- elgn powers in China,” according to the Lansing State Journal, like our own position in the Philip- pines. We say we are ready to go when the natives are ready to rule themselves, but we don’t much expect they ever will be. The report is, after all, a report. It does not bind the na- son of Mississipp! after the meeting had closed, Gov. Cox asked Senator Harriso “Did you hear that rascal who kept demanding how I stood on the wet and dry issue?” L ‘While Gov. Al Smith of New York and Gov. Albert C. Ritchie of Mary- land are being halled as the champion long-distance governors, one having been elected four times and the other three to the gubernatorial office, the friends 'of Gov. Aram J. Pothier of Rhode Island are pointing to him with_ pride. Gov. Pothier has been elected governor seven times, not all in succession, but nevertheless seven times. He is a Republican, of French- Canadlan stock, for he was born in the province of Quebec 72 years ago. He has just been re-elected, defeating his spponent, Mayor Gainer of Providence. He first became governor in 1908. Like Gov. Al Smith, Gov. Pothier is a Cathollc. After serving from 1909 to and including 1915 as governor, he desired to retire from public office and give his attention to his banking and manufacturing business. But he was drafted again and again, when the Republicans !1 they must have him. American Press tions to anything, but the chances seem to be that everybody concerned will go right ahead. just as if the re- port had never been made. The report merely describes what exists. It re mains to be seen whether the outside nations will protect their interests in China. It is likely they will, the United States included.” The Pittsburgh Sun declares that “for some time the Peking govern ment has been a government in name only, without power to enforce decrees, quell uprisings or raise sufficlent funds to make a showing," Sun adds: “Chiang Cantonese followers have extended their authority over the southern and central provinces. These districts, as quickly as annexed, have repudiated bolshevism, and Chiang has promjsed a government with which Westera na tions can conduct business. In the in- terest of unification, he further prom- ises to remove the capital from Peicing to some central location more in touch with the 400,000,000 Chinese. His re cent successes have brought a change of attitude on the part of the British government toward the Cantonese. This makes Chiang’s ultimate success probable.” With the statement that the findings of the international conference “were what was expected,” the New York Sun avers that “the time has not yet come when foreign powers can intrust to Chinese courts the lives, the inter ests and the legal rights of their sub Jjects or citizens. The reason is evi dent,” continues the Sun. “China has no government that is functioning, and its judicial system is at the mercy of the decisions or the caprices of the contending revolutionary leaders.” ‘The Sun, however, belleves that “the report gives to China the opportunity it has sought—it has a chance to free itself of foreign interference by prov. ing its ability to rule itself."” * ok Kk ““The Western world will be well ad- vised,” as it appears to the Des Moines ‘Tribune, “to recognize China’s grow- ing sense of nationalism. Any failure to realize Chinese determination will involve much more loss than force can compensate.” The belief that “hostil- ity to foreign interference and domi- nation is the real foundation of the movement in China” is expressed by the San Bernardino Sun, with the added comment that “its final success may be predicated,” but that “Bolshe. vism as such can never hope to pros- per.” ‘The Madison Wisconsin State Jour- nal holds that the situation in China “remains uncertain and desperate, but the resignation of the Peking cabinet narrows down the fleld from which will emerge eventually a united and self-possessed nation which can speak for itself in one clear volce instead of in a babel of conflicting tongues." The Columbus Dispatch, predicting that probably “the steady advance of the Cantonese movement” will. pro- duce “complete victory over the vari- ous rival movements,” advises that “it would be the height of folly for the wers to take up arms now”; that “if Chiang Kalishek, Cantonese leader, is not to be encountered on the fleld of force, it would seem to be expedient for the powers to meet him at once on the fleld of reason.” “Ferment of bolshevism and hatred of foreigners” is the combination that stirs the Worcester Gazette to fear repetition of Boxer days. ‘“‘Perhaps the most optimistic view of the situa- tion,” the Gazette concludes, “is that of a member of the British Parliament who doubts If the ese Bolshevisf will be as bad as the Russian. The most pessimistic view might be that ofl;he man wl&la“::lthal bol!h.v_- m! len prejudices likely to be & good deal worse.” p