Evening Star Newspaper, January 4, 1927, Page 8

8 THE EVENING STAR *° 'With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. TUESDAY. . .January 4, 1927 THEODORE W. NOYES. . ..Editor ‘The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: 11th St. and Pennavivania Ave, Nex Vork Office: 110 East 42nd St. : ower 4 European Offion: 14 Regent St., London. England. The Evenine Star. with the Sunday marn. tuz edition. is delivered by carriers within iho city at 60 cents per month: dajly only. 5 cents per month: Sundays only. 20 cents er ‘month. Orders may be sent by mail or elephone Main 5000. Collection is made by carrier at end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. i 1 yr. $0.00: 1 mo. D1yrs $6.00° 1m0, 11 51, $3.00 All Other States and Canada. Paily and St .$12.00: 1 mo Daily only. 0 mo.. Bunday only 00 1 mo.. 78c 300 Sunday LanosAbt 00 35¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press in exclusively entitled o 1ha use for republ { all news dis- atches credited to it or not otherwise cred. ted m this paper and also the local news published herein_ All righta of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserv The Unfavorable Cruiser Ratio. that are not to be denied 1’ States Statisti indicate plainly that the United Navy is falling behind, velatively, in the matter of cruiser strength. It is losing ground as appropriations for additions to this branch of the float- ad as the other ahead. adopted snee of 1921, Ing force are denied, naval powers are moving The naval of by the Washington con applying to the three-power naval strength in capital ships, does mnot apply to the light crui There is no moral or treaty obligation on the part of the United States to permit the cruiser equipment to become de- ficient. The other powers, notably Great Britain and Japan, are moving forward rapidly in this respect. At present the cruiser strength of the three leading naval powers is 5-2-1, with the United States standing at one instead of at five, as would be the case if the major ratio as respects capital ships were maintained in the cruisers. The program of construction in- cludes three additional cruisers, for which appropriations have been au- ratio a price there was a very narrow margin. It is possible that there was actual corruption in the manipu- lation of the game. The “Black Sox" scandal of 1919-20 certainly demon- strated that the gambling fraternity exercised a pernicious influence upon the sport. The upheaval following that sorry affair, culminating in the appointment of a high commis purged the game of these evils to a very great extent, perhaps com- pletely, and since then the sport has been kept as clean as it is possible to keep a sporting enterprise. The suggestion that Congress pass an act creating a Federal sporting commission with particular jurisdic- tion over base ball, promoted by the Cobb-Speaker-Wood-Leon affair, continues to be discussed, having been given renewed vitality by the Risberg charges. There con- ceivable basis for such an enactment. Base ball is a no wise to be plane of such railroads, which are jurisdiction ~as to sure through wages. Base essential public service. It is “inter- state commerce” only in the far- fetched sense that it involves travel between the States on the part of the teams pla the game. ' It would be in the last degree ridiculous for the United States Government, busy as it is with all sorts of thi affecting the public welfare, to in its paternalism so s to exer cise isory control professional sport. ‘The next would be a Federal theatrical su vision on the ground that the dra- matic companies travel in circuit over State boundaries. no ite enterprise, in the as tl Federal rates and in a joint board ball performs regarded as on an industry under mea as to ng go ar c over a K step er i A Popular Decision. The new game of attempting to up- set the traffic, regulations of the tional Capital by attacking the thority of the trafiic director in the courts has about reached the ninth in- ning, with two out and no one on base. In fact, the decision yesterday in the District Court of Appeals up- holding the power of the traffic direc- tor in barring solid-tired vehicles from arterial highways shows that the Washington team, composed of Eld- ridge, Moller, the corporation counsel and the Commissioners, is to be de- au- thorized, and not yet made. A time Himit is running against this authori- zation, and failing speedy appropria- tion or an extension of authorization the United States Navy will lose even these “‘paper cruisers.” Yesterday the naval appropriation bill was reported to the House with- out provision for continuing the cruiser construction program, the ocommittee awaiting recommendation by the President, who has definitely counseled delay in the beginning of work on the three proposed cruisers. It is the President’s position that in view of pending negotiations looking to further limitations of armaments the United States® should not move in this direction. Meanwhile other pow- ers are busy, with less scrupulous oonsideration for possible further limi- tations. If the other powers were as intent ., upon limiting competition in respect to all ships as the United States ap- pears to be there would be no cause for concern. But they are not. They are proceeding wjth construction pro- grams in the light cruiser class and are distancing the United States in respect to these vitally important auxiliaries of the floating fighting force. As the case stands, if the United States went into and concurred in negotiations for a further limita- tion the existing status, presumably becoming the permanent status, would leave the United States far outstrip- ped in point of cruiser strength. Were there prospect of early agree- ment in international . conference there would be little occasion for con- cern at present. It would seem to be the duty of this government to pro- ceed with the letting of contracts for already authorized cruisers, to make even a belated and not altogether satisfactory start on the catching-up process, unless it is a matter of in- difference to us to discover on joining the limitation parley, if it is held, that our cruiser strength is in such a seri- ous state of depletion as to require us to contend for relative disarma- ment on the part of the other naval powers to bring their cruiser strength down to a ratio in which this country will not be hopelessly at disadvantage. D —— Colleges that refuse to inform students concerning the theories of evolution will stimulate patronage for those who do. Human inquisitiveness s instinctive and unconquerable. More Base Ball Scandals. Tomorrow in Chicago a hearing will be held by Judge Landis, the high commissioner of base ball, on the charges brought by a former and now exiled player who avers that in 1917 four games between the De- troit and Chicago teams of the American League were “thrown” by the former to the latter in order to ald the Chicago team to win the pennant. -For this service, he as- serts, money was paid to certain Detroit players by the Chicagoans. All of those implicated in the alleged conspiracy against straight sport, except two former players who are on the blacklist for crooked work, have denied these allegations vigor- ously. Tomorrow they will be heard under oath. It would appear that there was some sort of money trans- action between the players of the two teams that season, but it fs claimed that it was in the nature of a gift made by the Chicago players clared a winner, It will be a popular victory and will automatically and immediately restore some semblance of order to the scrambled ma of traffic evils into which Washington has been allowed to drift because the local team has been losing consist- ently in the Traffic Court. Favorable ruling by the Court of Appeals in this case very probably means favorable rulings in other cases that will be brought before it. The court in its decision yesterday pointed out that traffic regulation in a city of the size of Washington is of tremen- dous importance and that it was very evidently the intent of Congress to delegate to the director authority to regulate. The court also stated that Congress specifically gave the director power to make ‘“reasonable” regula- tions and likewise to create arterial highways, so that in barring solid- tired vehicles from streets of these types he was adopting a reasonable regulation to make highways effec- tive. * The ending of this controversy is highly satisfactory to the people of this city, who have become extremely bored with the legal assaults on the director, and through him the Com- missioners, who must approve every proposed regulation. If neither the director nor the Commissioners have power to make rules for the traffic safety of the public Washington may as well go back five or ten years, throw off all restrictions, turn the city over to reckless and incompetent drivers and stand idly by while its citizens are killed by the score. The court, however, by upholding the di- rector, has put a quietus on the plaints of those who would see Wash- ington in this condition, and has made it possible to forge steadily ahead in the sensible traffic regulation of a city of a half-million people. —— . The Christmas tree was trimmed, but not so well trimmed as the patron of the bootlegger. The House of Abraham. Devotees of the crossword puzzle who have been writing the two-letter word which 1s the name of Abraham’s birthplace, sometimes described in the definitions as a “Chaldean city. take a special interest in the an- nouncement just made at Philadel- phia regarding discoveries by ex- plorers at Ur. A joint expedition in Mesopotamia from the museum of the University of Pennsylvania and THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1927. THIS AND THA 1 So much has already been unearthed that mere fragments are now recog- nized and their significance is under- stood. Thus slowly the story of man’s life and activities is being revealed in corroboration in the main and occa- sionally in refutation of chronicles that have been preserved. A great stimulus to public interest in archeological study was caused by the disgovery of the tomb of Tut-ankh- Amen in Egypt, with its riches and artistic treasures. That, however, was not actually as important frem an historical point of view as the un- covering of the buried cities of Meio- potamia, which is now proceeding with scientific thoroughness and, as indicated, with rich returns. —r———— The Rosslyn Fire. that destroyed property estimated, at half a mil- occurred last night at ond blaze of this vear. That set- tlement on the Virginia shore has n - visited al_times by the flames and the marvel is that it has not been wiped out of existence by these disaste After each blaze, however, the damage is repaired and the place continues to disfigure the at present principal approach to Arlington. For many years it has been urged that provision be made for the clear- ing up of these conditions at the Virginia end of first the Aqueduct and now the Key Bridge in order to give a seemly approach to the Na- tional Cemetery and the principal military post at the Capital. Noth- ing has been done, however, though plans have been drawn for a straight- ening of the highway and the open- of more eflicient outlet of travel from Washington There is serious danger in the lo- cation at the Virginia end of the Key Bridge of inflammable materials such as those that last night ignited with such heavy I True, the damage has heretofore been chiefly confined to the immediate properties. There is no conceivable menace to ‘Washington from such a source, but these blazes cause congestion of travel and, moreover, are the result of a condition of neglect on the part of the Virginia authorities in the regulation and proper placement of these industrial structures. The Government should own all the land between the three traffic bridges crossing the Potomac at this point. In other words, from above the Key Bridge to below the High- way Bridge. It already owns a large part of that stretch, but at Rosslyn it has no holding of moment and it is desirable that steps be taken with- out further delay toward completing the Federal jurisdiction over the en- tire area. A fire valued, it lion Ro: dollars iyn, the cter within se seve a e Police authorities will never suc- ceed in making the detection of a murderer as easy as locating the vil- lain who parks overtime. A number of politicians who have used money most liberally have proved to be exceedingly poor - bargain hunters. & Henry Ford is again operating his factories at ful blast; and just when the skidding season is at its perilous height. Having cut off their cues, some of the Chinese marauders are entitled to refer to themselves as “bobbed-hair bandits.” ———————r———— The hip flask played its usual part in New York celebrations. So did the ambulance. e Mexico may find itself even more dis- turbed in politics by ofl than the U. 8. A. has been by alcohol. —————— The new year in one respect is like any old year: The farmers desire relief. Base ball is rapldly threatening to become a gossipy old game. A S, SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Disturbing a Slumber. Hard times comin’! Hail an’ frost an’ snow; North wind drummin’ Aroun’ de cabin do’. Ground hog walitin’ foh de sun. He'll wink his weather eye. Him an’ George Washington Wouldn’ tell a lie. Good times comin’! Can't be very long *TIl Missle Springtime's hummin® De beauty blossom song. Go"ahead, O' Wintertime! Have yoh noisy filng An’ wake do roses up to climb the British Museum has found that Ur was a city of luxurious homes, mainly two-story buildings solidly con- structed of burnt bricks, arranged in streets, with the homes of the wealthy alongside those of the poor. These houses were commodious and fitted with many comforts. They were bullt around a central court over- looked by wooden gallerfes. The rooms were lofty and the staircares were broad and easy. It is stated that Ur of 2100 B.C. was as comfortable and extensive as modern Bagdad. Researches in the region lying east of the Mediterranean and south of the Black Sea have brought to light many interesting relics of the past and, most important, have ylelded tablets which add richly to history. It is known that in that section of the world there are many buried cities. Some of these were over- whelmed by catasrophes, fire or earthquake or visitations of warlike to certain of the Detroit team in recognition of their good work In deteating Boston, Chicago’s nearest rival for the pennant. Out of these charges and the re- Joinders has come a disclosure that at that time it was not uncommon for players of the various teams to make “presents” to those of supposed rival organizations as tokens of gratitude. Without = question that hordes, and were overwhelmed by the sands of time. At one point in Asla Minor it is believed that there art no less than four layers of civilization and that modern man has only reached the second from the top, with others yet to be explored in later years, Archeological research has been de- veloped to such a point that little is lost. The methods of explarers and was & most reprehensible practice. Between it and actual bribery or “laying down’ or hippodroming fox excavators are thorough. Every par ticle of material is examined, for evi- dences pf-human occupation and use, l An' coax de birds to sing. The Great Question. “What do you regard as the great question before the people?” “So far as practical politics 1s con- cerned,” answered Senator Sorghum, “there is only one great question, ‘For which of us are you going to vote? * Hospital Note. Alas, he toyed with bootleg cheer! His plight could not be worse. He said, “Goodnight” to the old year, And next, “Good morning, nurse!” Jud Tunkins says a diplomat is a man who can still be polite no matter how angry he becomes. An Old-Timer. “Are you in favor of airplane de- velopment?” “Not much,” answered Mr. Chug- gins. *I still love my little old flivver and T want good roads. If we have mostly airplanes, all we need will be the blue sky and a few landing places.” Golden Silence. ilence Is Golden. 8o, in art, The movie actor plays his part. Admiring multitudes are stirred. He doesn’t have to say a word. “I done heard,” sald Uncle Eben, “dat life is a song. Losin’ yoh tem- per Is de same as throwin’ s¥tic into de radio." A BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. An elderly woman as the real heroine, with the character drawing as beautifully done as any one could possibly desire—such is Lady Luf- ton, in” Anthony Trollope's “Framley Parsonage.” Here is a book for all those tired of too strenuous heroes, too tem- peramental ladies, too much “action," too little life. Here one finds real people, men who act as men act, women who speak as women do, not as they should in some perfect situation, where repartee keeps pace with necessity. It has been a long time since we have read a novel that so gave us the sense of reality as “Framley Parsonage.” We belleve it willzap- peal to all who prize this quality in literature. Reality, it would seem, is some- thing distinet from realism. The | latter word has been so much used and misused that it no longer means anything in particular, or, if it does, to the average mind it denotes a certain striving after effect too often resulting in vulgarity. Reality, on the other hand, simply indicates that one is mnot aroused to resentment by reason of the hero being too much of a hero, or the heroine acting as mno real girl ever would, or the various situations arising rather from the necessities of the plot rather than from the exi- gencies of life. . This good reality of which we speak is found in such stories as “Merton of the Movies,” by Harry Leon Wilson, and “Babbitt,” by Sinclair Lewis, our choice from the novels of the last 10 years. * ok ok K Lady Lufton is a sort of amiable tyrant. She gives young Mark Robarts the “living” of the diocese of Barsetshir selects his wife for him, and deft lets him know with whom she desir that he associate as her rector. The living is a good one, especial- ly for such a young man, and Fanny Robarts as fine a wife as any man deserves in this world, so the Rev. Robarts has no good ground for complaint. 5 Nor has he any, until he gets bitten by the ambition bug which infests all countries, and has since time began. Here is where the “villain” comes in—that is, as much of a villain as Trollope portrays. Sowerby, who owns a place known as Chaldicotes, is unscrupulous, but it is theé un- scrupulousness of weakness, rather than hardness of heart. He is always in need of money. Is there a person living who has not some such “friend” as Sowerby? Every one knows. the man. He makes plenty of money, but the more he makes, the more he spends. He is always in debt. He is always borrowing. At least, he calls it bor- rowing. His victims come at last to call it by its right name. Sowerby, in this story, simply ex- ecutes a neat maneuver to secure the Rev. Robert’s name to a “little bill.” It would be called a “note” nowa- days. Sowerby knows that the Rev. Mark Robarts is, like Caesar, am- bitious; so he invites him to a sort of house party at Chaldicotes, in- forming him that Harold Smith, who some day is going to be in the min- istry, will be there. This is no deep-laid -plot, just simply an almost unthinking combi- | throughout the story, nation, such as the astute See worked out every day or so in real life. This i to such readers, an unusually good one. The interest is secured throush character study, rather than by the aid of pirates and deeds of blood. ® kK Ok Now it happens that Lady dislikes extremely this same and all his “crowd.”, Robarts knows that if he accepts the invitation he will meet her severe disapproval, but 'he reason why I am going fs he tells his wife: “Harold Smith and his wife will be there and L am very anxious to know more of them. 1 have no doubt that Harold Smith will be in the government some day and I cannol afford to neglect such a man’s acquaintance. “But, Mark,” replied Fanny, “what do you want of any governmen et “Well, Fanny, of course 1 am bound to say that I want nothing; neither in one sense do I; but nevertheless I shall go and meet the Harold Smiths.’ So he goes; and during the course of the visit Sowerby asks, as his host, his signature to a “little bill” for 500 pounds; and the Rev. Robarts, not knowing how to say “No,” signs on the dotted line. Oh, the dotted line! How misery it has caused in the world, how much it will continue to cause, until men learn how to say “No"! There is no reason why Robarts should have signed the note—but he aid. ‘There is no reason why men need fear offending their friends when called upon to sign—but they do. Robarts, in the course of the story, gets deeper and deeper into the money mire—all by reason of his ambition firstly, and his inability to say in the second place. * Kk X X Perhaps you are wondering where Lady Lufton comes in, in all th Well, she comes in everywher and is so deftly handled that the reader quite sy pathizes with her every word action. . p o Although given to “running things, she at last meets her match in her own son, the young Lord Lufton, who is a college mate of the Rev. Rob- arts, and who falls in love with Lucy Robarts, his young sister. While the history of the clergy- men's money affairs runs its course, with final extraction, the love story runs along, too. Lady Lufton simply cannot allow her son to marry the quiet, small Lucy, who does not seem as queenly as the new Lady Lufton ought to appear. This has all the making of a “fam- ily row,” no nmew thing in England or any other country. Lucy finally tells Lady Lufton that she will never consent to marry the voung lord un- til she, Lady Lufton, asks her to. The young lord then practically commands his mother to make the request, Here is a pretty situation, indeed! Imagine the proud old lady, on one side, the lovelorn lord on the other, and the fine gitl on the other, and you have a real triangle. The scene in which Lady Lufton swallows her pride because she loves her son and the old family name is wonderfully well done. The reader closes_the book with the conviction that Lady Lufton, after all, is the real heroine, and that Anthony Trol- lope did, indeed, know his women. Fanny and Lucy Robarts and Lady Lufton are a trio of whom any novel- ist might be proud. Lufton jowerby much American Press Supports New Treaty With Panama The treaty of alliance which has been negotiated by the United States with the Government of Panama, and which has been criticized in Europe as a departure from this country’s traditional policy, is approved by the American press generally. “The Panama treaty is anything but conspicuous for mutual helpfulness and arbitration. It does not mark the moral leadership of the United States in international dealings,” in the opin- ion of the Louisville Courier-Journal, but conceding that “the Isthmian Canal is a reality and as such it must be preserved.”” ~The Courier-Journal holds that can be accomplished “only by a form of protectorate which in war time places the Central American country under the dominance of the United States. When the United States is at war the nation contiguous to the canal is automatically in a state of war, It cannot remain neutral any more than it can join forces with the enemy.» The mobility of the Atlantic and Pacific fleets depends upon keep- ing the canal open. With this contin- gency, Panama’s rights cease to be.” _ “The treaty provides that Panama automatically becomes the ally of the United States in any war in which this country may become engaged,” explains the Chicago Tribune. “That provision is supposed not to square with the theory of Panama’s complete independence, and indeed it does not. No man in his senses supposes that Panama can have complete freedom of action in foreign affairs. The loss of the Panama Canal would cripple the - military and industrial effort of our country in time of war to such an ex- tent that the defense of the canal is of greater importance than the defense of New York. To subject the canal to the vagaries of Central American poli- tics in time of,emergency is unthink- able. Without the canal the Republic of Panama would probably never have come into being, and it would have amounted to nothing. If the canal is destroyed, Panama will revert to the Jungle. * ok ok ok “The criticism of this treaty that it is dictated by a spirit of militarism and ‘coerclon’ of little Panama,” ac- cording to the Pittsburgh Chronicle- Telegraph, s without foundation. The important role that would be played by the canal in case our coun- try should have to go to war is obvi- ous. Panama has a length of 480 miles. It is bisected by the canal, which we own with a zone of only 5 miles on each side. The canal is one of the major factors in our scheme of national defense. Panama, which will always have a powerful protector in the United States, loses nothing by this treaty, which will help to safe- guard the commerce of the Nation which was responsible for the great enterprise.” “These treaty provisions,”” the New York Sun believes, “represent a de- cided advance over those in the earlier agreements. Panama asserted its in- dependence of Colombia, of which it had been a department, on November 3, 1903, was recognized by the United States November 13, and later by the other powers. The treaty now under conslderation takes the place of the original agreement, which was abro- gated in 1924, and it has the same pur- pose—the safeguarding of the world's commerce- through the protection of the canal in case its usefulness should become imperiled by war.” The Seat- tle Daily Times points out that “the convention is supported by the execu- tive branches of both countries,” and that “the principles enunciated in the pact have been dictated by experiences of more than 20 years’ duration. “What Panama is to receive in com- pensation for her generous concessions is not plain from the treaty,” says the Richmond News-Leader. “The provi - slon for the circulation of the frac- tional currency of Panama at par in the Canal Zone and the promised pro- tection of Panama's liquor supply while passing through United States territory are not enough on their face to be an acceptable quid pro quo. It is possible that Panama asks advan- tages that will be given under speclal subsequent legislation. Unless the price be exorbitant, it must be said the treaty is essential to adequate na- tional defense.” ki The Schenectady Gazette observes that “reports of the new treaty show it gives us an island at the Atlantic terminus of the canal, extensive con- trol over radio and aircraft and assur- ance of the assistance of Panama In case of war. If the agreement will bring about closer relationship be- tween this country and its Southern protege, little more can be said. That is the big question.” “In several sections (abroad) discus- sions are said to have arisen as to whether it would constitute on the part of Panama a violation of the covenant of the League of Nations, to which that country is a signatory,” remarks the Canton Daily News, but that paper draws the conclusions: “That is a diplomatic matter to be threshed out by diplomats. What the average American citizen is interested in is knowing tq just what extent Panama would co-operate with the United States in the event the canal wag threatened by an unfriendly na- tion. Now that they know she will go the limit, they are very well satisfled to let the technicalities adjust them- selves.” The Detroit Free Press feels in re- lation to this phase of the matter that “if there is a conflict, so much the worse for the covenant,” and the New- ark Evening News concludes that “the justification for this departure from American diplomacy is that it is to the best interest of the world. The canal is indispensable, We are respon- sible for it, morally bound and ob- ligated by our own Interests to pro- tect it.” - A Piker. From the Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman. That New York Senator who got his job at a cost of only $48,663 will be accused of rank bargain-hunting by certain Pennsylvania, Illinois and Indiana gentlemen. Get Them Anyway. From the Worcester Telegram. If pedestrians keep on getting killed by automobiles, perhaps wr’ll have to have a law providing capital punish- ment for jaywalkers. The Future Is Ahead. From the Cleveland News. Pennsylvania man 91 years old is sent to jail for six months as a boot- legger. But he shouldn't let that spoll his whele future. A Large Faction. From the Muncie Star. In telling the Senator-elect from Illinois to stay at home, the Repub- lican leaders may make the serious mistake of offending the whole Smith bloc. Time Enough. From the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof—which, being ~_interpreted, means that Senate Republicans do not want the Senator-elect of Illinois too soan, ; ) what makes this novel, | CABINET: NEW BOOK$ AT RANDOM .G M. EIGHT YEARS WITH WILSON'S 1913 to 1920. David F. Houston. Doubleday, Page & Co. The tide of Woodrow Wilson litera- ture flows in undiminished freedom. Still at only short intervals, from one purpose and another, under this or that claim of special call and ad- vantage, a new Wilson book moves out into the open. These studies upon a single theme vary, naturally, with the purpose and opportunity and com- petency of their authors. Yet they all come together, nevertheless, as a single body of material which some historian of the future will sift for its essential truth, and weigh for its actual substance, and interpret for its real significance and will then, after these considerations, relate it to world affairs as a_properly evaluated and placed part of general history at one of its great and vital turning points. But history is a fruit whose ripen- ing is a long and vicissitous process. Our children’s children will be read- ing the true history of Woodrow Wil- son and his times. Not before then ill it be ready. In the meantime the Wilson literature stands as a big and constantly increasing budget of per- sonal intimacies, of individual recol- lections, of snap judgments here and ponderous pronouncements there, of sheer idolatry set off against clear rancor. Vivid, immediate work, this running treatment of a subject of compelling power, whether visioned in love or bitternéss, a tribute all of it to a_commanding personality pro- jected into the arena of time at a moment which served to lift high the political and individual dr: of Woodrow Wilson, which seal his fate as well e Among the many studies of this striking career, the two volumes in hand by David F. Houston possess the exceptional advantage of making & clear and outstanding record of Mr. Wilson's administrative achieve- ments. A sense of historic values, an intuition toward that which is perma- nent in the course of events and away from that of merely passing interest, led the author to an adroit use of, the element of emphasis whereby the administrative acts of Mr. Wilson, as head of the Nation, stand in black type, so to speak, with oy in any degree, however, tending to blur the striking personal picture of the man himself. An especially seful treatment, this, and one equal- difficult to sustain. Useful, by virtue of the fact that there is the general present need for a collected, condensed, clear summary of the specific contribution of President Wil- son to the formulated policy of the Government, in respect to matters, both domestic and foreign, during the period of the World War. Most diffi- cult to maintain this clear course of administrative history, since the per- sonality of Mr. Wilson was one cal- culated to create glamour and to stir deep emotions, both of which are clearly hostile tp a calm chronicle of political vicissitudes and governmen- tal activities. While these volumes abound in incident, anecdote, picture and sketch, all bent upon the dramatic figure at the center of affairs, there is here, above all, a clear and pene- trating record of the true and lasting substance of the Wilson administra- tion. A definite system of stress and release, stress and release, throws into sharp emphasis the vital matters as distinct from those of passing con- cern. This is a markedly fair-minded study. Certain measures of national importance came to a definite stand, or to an actual culmination, in this period. Take a certain aspect of the tariff, take the Federal Reserve act. These have been subjects of discus- sion since our Government began. No greatly important thing springs sud- denly into complete perfection. No one man ever by himself creates any single thing. So it was here. And upon his own ground, for Mr. Hous- ton is deeply trained and experienced in finance, he recounts the history of these finapcial measures and others allied to them in nature and effect. Here is a development set out fairly and simply, one grounded in the character and needs of the situation, one that ripened during the unusual conditions of the Wilson administra- tion. A very useful study, by virtue of the author’s personal command of the subject; by virtue also of his clear and expert handling of it. How- ever, if a passionate and unadulterate Wilsonian had made this chronicle— well, it wouldn’t have been a chroni- cle at all, just a paean of praise in- stead for a financial miracle per- i(‘);{ned. " A:I a‘uthurlty and clear Statement this is a most convi and desirable stud o Its intimate point of view gives greatly increased interest to the read- er. As one of the Wilson Cabinet, Mr. Houston talks from the heart of the family, so to speak. There is always a bit- of a mystery, in the common mind, as to the nature and standing of the Cabinet. It has a certain un- official implication’ and a kind of secrecy, too, in its proceedings that greatly add to the general curiosity about it. Well, right here, is where the mystery proves to be nothing of the kind, and where the proceedings stand out, naked and unashamed, as mere functionings of the President himself along certain definite lines which one man alone could not pos- sibly command. I doubt if there is, anywhere, a franker -disclosure of this body than Mr. Houston has here made. He gives just a casual treat. ment of the.Cabinet family in passing, but this proves to be a most illuminat- ing procedure from which this mem- ber or that one stands out in a clear x#ostte};niy of personal characteristic n community servi President himself. B g bl A complete and most competent sur- vey of the Wilson period from one specially qualified for certain im- portant parts of the work. A clear picture of men and affairs at a vital point in history. An amazingly worth-while book to the student, a most interesting one to the general reader. A curious characteristic of Mr. Wilson stands out here as it stood out in “The Letters of Col. House,” as it stands out in an intimate study of Mr. Wilson. Either Wood- row Wlison drew to him men strange ly like himself in certain respects or he made them over through associa- tion into his own likeness. Probably it was the former. Not necessary to g0 into the House likeness to Wood- row Wilson. You'll see it for your- self. Here the kinship between the former President and this writer is that of the mind, of a certain supe- riority of the intellect that registers in an intolerance toward those of lesser endowment of smaller attain- ments. Within the informal discus- sion of the Cabinet here, there is the same arrogance as Mr. Wilson had toward the smaller men around him. Many pages here go into evidence that a certain colleague really hadn’t any brain at all, that he was a child in thinking and a pest in futile activ- ities. I mention this, not at all in critielsm, but only in noting the fact that either Mr. Wilson made certain associates over into his own intel- lectual llkeness or he deliberately picked men of that sort. Which, I wonder? However, this has nothing to do with the validity and scope and quality of a most absorbing political and perso; udy of a great idealist, a great dréamer, a great actor in one of the worll's momentous periods, of a great beacon for youth to follow and of a very human man, ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. What proportion of the hops grown in the world are grown In the United States?—C. G. A. About one-fourth of the world’s crop is grown here. In 1925 the world crop *was about 118,000,000 pounds. Of this, 28573,000 pounds were produced in this country. Wash- ington, Oregon and California are the only States where this crop is of com- mercial value. " Q. What is the colds United States ever had?—O. A. The lowest temperature ever ex- perienced in the United States oc- curred in Miles City, Mont., January, 1888, 65 degrees below zero. t weather the Q. What were the States which Thomas posed to make out of Territory?—J. H. D, A. Thomas Jefferson proposed a plan in 1784 to form the territory into States, each State to be two de- grees wide and the lines to be inter- sected by two meridians, one passing through the falls of the Ohio River and the other through the mouth of the Kanawha River. The States were to be named Chersonesus, As- senisipia, Sylvania, Pelisipia, Illinofa, Polyptoma, Washington, = Mesopo- tamia and Michigania Q. Why don't chocol: that we buy dry out?—A. P A. To prevent the cream candies confectioners usually “crystallize” them. This s accom- plished by dissolving sugar in water, then boiling until the hot sirup regis- ters about 33.5 degrees on a Baume saccharometer; this sirup is allowed to stand until ceol, when, it is poured over the creams; these are allowed to stand in a moderately warm place for about 24 hours, when the sirup is drained off and the candies allowed to dry. It will be found that a thin skin of crystals has been formed on the creams, and this crystalline coat- ing is very efficacious in retarding the drying out of cream candies. Q. Which is the larger seaport, Havre or Bordeaux?—E. A. A. Havre ranks above Bordeaux as a seaport. Marseille is the greatest names of the Jefferson pro- the Northwest creams seaport of France. Havre is the sec- ond. Q. How many people visit the Na- tional Museum in a year’—T. J. K. A. During the fiscal year ended June $0, 1926, there were 1,106,305 vis- itors to the National Museum. Q. What_are the names of Gen. Pershing’s horses?’—E. O. A._His two private mounts are Jeff and Kingo. Q. Why does the wall paper over a steam radiator become so much more soiled than the rest of the room? Can this be prevented?—D. R. S. A. The increased circulation of the air caused by the heat radiated from a steam radiator carries the dust drying out of | to such radiator. If these walls arc wiped off with a wall brush once o week it will help. A cover over the radiator also helps, Q. What A. “Paho: pahos”?—M. C. feathered sticks which certs tribes use in their religious ritualy. A member of these tribes never prays without first planting around himself, or on his altar, or before his shrine, a number of “pahos.” As the birds that soar to the highest heavens, so may his peti tions be feathered and winged to the ears of the gods, Q. Why did Augu resarion, son of Cle Caesar, murdered?- S A. It is not known 3 Augustus Caesar causs esarion te be murdered. me authorities as- sume that this child of Cleopatra died of tuberculosis. Q. Do more men or more come l'” this country as im A. The number of men s much higher. Between 60 and 70 out of each 100 people coming to this coun try to make their homes are men.® Even a higher percentage is found in the numbers of emigrants from this country to foreign lands. omen ants? Q. How much money did England lend to her allies during Napo- leonic Wars? L. K. A. Between 1793 and 1816 England by loan or subs paid over to her allies a sum of $57,000,000 in addition to other payments. Q. Who was the first negro to ceive a presidential appointment?—R. A. The first negro to be appointed to a Federal office, according to the Negro Year Book, was Ebenezer Don Carlos Basselt, who was appointe@ Minister Resident and Consul Gemw eral of the United States to Haitl President Grant in 1869 and served until 1871, Q. What is the o use of “ibl C. E. M. A. The word “ibid” is a translation of the Latin word “ibidem,” meaning “the same,” and its use is to indicate that several quotations are from the author named above or incorporated in the same article, which has beea previously named. in and proper You want to know something. Yon wish to be positive before you go alcad. Well, The Evening Star will tell you what you want to know, and give you assurance before you pro- ceed. Our Washington burcaw can answer any question of fact pro- pounded to it. Here is the university of information—a great free educa- tional institution established solely to serve you. Send in your question and get the right answer. Inclose 2 cents in stamps to cover the return postage. Address The Evening Star Informa- tion Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, di- from the floor to the walls adjacent It has been 101 years since the project of an interocean canal acro: Nicaragua was first seriously discus: ed. It has been 10 years since the United States concluded a treaty with Nicaragua—the Bryan-Chamorro treaty—by which this country bought from Nicaragua for $3,000,000 the ex- clusive right to construct such a canal, whenever we found it desirable s0 to do. The treaty included a lease for 99 years, with renewal right for another 99-year term, of two islands in the Caribbean Sea, close to the mouth of the San Juan River—which river will be the route of the canal between Lake Nicaragua and the Car- ibbean Sea. The treaty also included a naval base in Fonseca Bay of the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua. The lease of the naval base in Fonseca Bay was contested by Hon- duras and El Salvador on the ground that thelr interest in the gulf was greater than that of Nicaragua. The case was referred to the International Court of Central America, which de- cided against the treaty, but neither Nicaragua nor the United States has over recognized the jurisdiction of that court in the matter. The naval bases for protecting the proposed canal are essential to its safety. If one could imagine the possibility of Mexico'’s superseding _the United his ousting, Vice President Sacasa also States in influence in Central Amer- ica we might lose those keys to a Nicaragua_interoceanic canal. That is one stake we have in recognizing the regime of President Diaz, against the contest-of Sacasa, whose army is now threatening the capital of Nicaragua. * % % X It is inconceivable, however, that the interests of Honduras and Salva- dor, or of any other Central Ameri- can state, could really be opposed to our constructing and maintaining the proposed canal, or that our holding of the necessary base at its Pacific en- trance for its protection could be against their interests. Under the Monroe Doctrine no FEuropean na- tion could acquire such rights. Nevertheless, the alleged attitude of the Calles government of Mexico in aiding the revolution of Sacasa, the former Vice President of Nicaragua, adds complications to the Nicaraguan situation, in which we are interested in protecting American rights, prop- erty and lives. Sacasa was Vice President when Gen. Chamorro was President. Cha- morro was forced by the Nicaraguan Senate to resign, for he had achieved the presidency by military coup d'etat and therefore was not recognized either by the United States or_ any Central American government. With was forced out and fled the country for_safety. The constitution provides that when- ever a President or Vice President leaves the country during his term of office he automatically vacates the office. Now Sacasa construes his ab- sence as compulsory, and therefore he claims not to have legally forfeited his vice presidency, and that when Chamorro resigned he, Sacasa, became President. This construction is denied by the Senate, which proceeded to| elect Dlaz President, and so the civil war is on, with Mexico recognizing Sacasa, the Liberal, and the United States, Diaz, Conservapive. * K K ok The international tribunal for Cen- tral America is now out of existence, but there still exists the treaty made in the 1907 and readopted in more detail in the 1922 conference of the five Central American republics. Article II provides as follows: “Desiring to make secure in the re- publics of Central America the bene- fits which are derived from the main- tenance of free institutions, and to contribute at the same time toward the strengthening of their stability and the prestige with which thev should be surrounded, they (the five republics) declare that every act, dis- position or measure which alters the constitutional organization in any of them is to be deemed a menace to the peace of said republics, whether it proceed from any public power or from private citizens. “Consequently, the governments of the contracting parties will not recog- nize any other government which may come into power in any of the | five republics, through a coup d'etat rector, Washington, D. C. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. elected representatives of the people have not constitutionally reorganized the country. And even in such a case they obligate themselves not to ac cord the recognition if any of the persons elevated as President, Vice President or chief of state designate should fall under any of the follow- ing heads: “(1) If he should be the leader or one of the leaders of a coup d'etat or revolution, or through blood rela- tionship or marriage be an ascendant or descendant or brother of such leaders. “(2) If he should have been a sec- retary of state or should have held high military command during the accomplishment of the coup d'etat or revolution, or while the election w: being carried on, or if he should have held this office’ or command within six months preceding the coup d'etat, revolution or election. “(3) Furthermore, in no case shall recognition be accorded to a govern- ment which arises from election to power of a citizen expressly dis- qualified by the constitution of his country as .eligible to election as President or Vice President or chief of state designate.” That treaty, covering ail Central American republics, is in force until | January 1, 1934, and under it neither | Chamorro nor Sacasa could gain rec- | ognition for their coup d'etat govern- | ment. Gen. Chamorro, who was in comnmand of the army, forcibly ousted President Adolfo Diaz and took pos- session of the fort which commanded the capital, when he proclaimed him. self President. That was the same Diaz who has recently been re-elected President by the Senate, according to constitutional methods. The same Senate declared Sacasa ineligible be- cause of his complicity in the Cha- morro coup d'etat, whereupon he came to the United States and resided in Washington from 1924 to 1926. From 1912 to 1925 American ma- rines preserved peace in Nicaragua, by request of its government and in protection of American property and lives. President Diaz, who has again requested American intervention points to “many laudable precedents” where a strong nation has intervened to protect a weak one against outside interference—in which he alludes to Great Britain's defense of Belgium and to Mexico's support of Sacasa and his Liberal party. It was against th. Literals that our marines fought in our late intervention. * ok % When the conferences of the five republics were held i 1907 and 1922 in_ Washington, at the invitution of both the United States and Mexice one of the chief projects dise was a_union of the five republi one “United States of Central Amer ica.” Nicaragua led in supporting the union, but while all supported an ulti- mate union, “in principle,” the fmme diate accomplishment was defeated largely by the opposition of Nicarasu led by Delegate Chamorro, later Presi dent. A commission to consist of threo delegates from each republic was au thorized in 1922 to work out the de tails of such a union, and submit the plan to the legislati assemblies of each government. Nothing has come from that resolution, however. ‘While the union could not cancel our perpetual treaty rights to build and maintain the Nicaraguan canal, it might revive the Central Americar tribunal, which had decided against our naval base in Fonseca Bay, but as the tribunal would no longer be in ternational, after its five republics be came a unit, it would have a status no more effective than. our own Su preme Court to pass on treaties. The question might then go to The Hague or be'maintained by our Navy, as - fait accompli, prior to the union. Although the proposal of the oris: inal tribunal was made by the United States and Mexico, in the protocol on which the 1907 conference was based, Guatemala reserved the right to sub mit any differences to the friendly advice of the President of the United States or of Mexico, or both, and shortly after announced that its boundary dispute with Honduras had been submitted to the United State Président for arbitration. Senor Chamorro,” now deposed and an exile, in his opening speech at the 1922 conference. referred to the Unit ed States and declared, “We, for our part, feel that the friendship of thix or a revolution against a recognized government, 80 long as the freely £ great republic is the best safesuar! of our sovereignty.” . (Copyright. 1927, by Paul V. Collius.)