Evening Star Newspaper, March 18, 1927, Page 8

- THY FEVENING STAR, WASHINGTON! D. C.! FRID. > MARCH 18! 1927. TH! STA ditions in the District are ically | comes to an income tax the people E EVENING STAR g o THIS AND THAT Ohio Veters Not Misled. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS With Sunday Morning Edition. different. District motorists, bearing|are not going to pey the tax unless — | now a two-million aggregate tax, are [ they have the incomes. It was per- WASHINGTON, D. C. conceded to be making an adequate |haps an unfortunate coincidence for Public Held Familiar With contribution as motorists to the Dis- Senator Edwards that he ‘chose for . . BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. FRIDAY........March 18, 1927| ' io revenue. But It four cents [his denunclation of the “prosperity BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Indirect Prohibition lssue. a gallon tax must be paid by the|myth” the week during which cash THEODORE W. NOYES. . . . Editor | Maryland seller of gasoline and only | from income taxes was pouring into ¥ & —|two cents by the seller in the Dis-|the Treasury in such a staggering The Evering Star Newspaper Company | trict, some Maryland sellers of gaso- | stream. Business Office - 3nd Penneyl 11th St. a Ave. "gh?flrt Qfice: 110 Eo Agpd 8t icago { h- uilding. Turopean Ofmce: 14 Regent St.. London. England. The Evening Star. with the Sunday morn- ipx edition. s delivered by carriers within “o ait 0 Centa per month: dajly’ only; : Sundays only. 20 cents Dok ponth, Orders may be eent by mail or lephone Main 5000. Collection is made by carrier at end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. d Virginia. 0.00: 1 mo.. e iyl i A0 o .00 (- i Sunday SR 38c onl i é 11 mo. unday only.. 3. 84003 mo.l Member of the Associated Press. tion of it or not otherwise cred- ted in this maver and aiso the local news Dibliehed heren Al riehts of publication f epecial dispatches herein are also reserved No Second Bunco! The Maryland Legislature has just passed a bill for a three and one-half cent gas tax which will become a four- cent tax before final action by the governor. This is an increase of two cents in the levy now imposed on mo- torists of that State. Because of Maryland’s proximity to the District the passage of this bill has a direct bearing on the more than one hundred thousand motorists residing in the N tional Capital. Already a member of Congress from Maryland has assured his constituents that he will make every effort to plaster on Washington a similar tax and many Matylanders living near the District have likewise given their hearty support-te such a movement. 5 District motorists who feel that they were buncoed in the imposition of the original gas tax on the District will doubtless prepare to repel at its in- ception any movement, no matter from what source it comes, to increase by one million dollars a year the cost of operating automobiles. A brief history of the Washington- Maryland gas tax may serve to re- fresh the memory of Washingtonians who might be inclined, as a result of misleading words, to favor the new proposal. Maryland for years had demanded that District residents pur- chase yearly Maryland tags. The Dis- trict in retaliation Ansisted that Mary- land residents buy District tags. Mary- land levied a two-cent gas tax on its motorists, but fourd that there was considerable leakage. of revenue be- cause persons living near Washing- ton bought the cheaper gasoline here. With magnanimous gestures Mdryland said in effect to the District: “We will let you come into our State without buying tags if you will put in a two-cent gas tax. ‘Tt will not cost you any more to motor than it does at present. You now pay approx- imately one million dollars a year in horsepower fee and personal property tax. The two-cent gas tax will take the place of both of these levies and will bring in the same amount of rev- enue. Our delegation in Congress will see to it that the bill is put through and everything will be lovely line near the District line will lose some profits on sales, since certain of their former customers will buy cheaper gasoline in the District. If Congress adds two cents to the District gas tax without eliminating the personal tax on automobiles, it will be enacting tax legislation not to meet the needs of the District or to distribute the tax burden more equit- ably among the different classes of District taxpayers, but primarily to boost artificlally the profits of some Maryland sellers of gasoline. ‘Will Congress be guilty of this in- Justice? Will not Maryland be ashamed to ask it? Will District motorists and taxpayers complacently suffer themselves to be twice-buncoed? e Making America the Goat. The United States is to be made the “goat” for the failure of the League of Nations arms conference if France, Italy and the nations allled with them have their way. Declining to accede to the common-sense proposal of Presi- dent Coolidge that naval limitation be undertaken immediately and without undue reference to land and air strength, France and Italy continue to persist in their attempts to include in any arms agreement land, sea and air forces, industrial development, geo- graphical and climatic conditions. The world, however, will be slow to believe that the United States is guilty of scuttling the arms conference of the League of Nations, or any other. The world will not forget immediately the position taken by this country since the close of the war on arms limitation, nor the Washington Con- ference, where the United States gave concrete evidence of its generosity and its earnestness. The simultaneous publication in Paris of the President’s second invita- tion to the French government to be Wind. Prof. Henry J. Cox, weather fore- caster at Chicago, believes that the short, sharp winds which visit that metropolis, and which have given it the sobriquet of “The Windy City,"” are responsible for the energy of its inhabitants. The frequent light or moderate wind, or the short-lived gale, is de- clared to be beneficial to human be- ings. While Washington may set up no claim to such winds as distinguish Chicago, the comparative nearness of this city to the ocean and its for- tunate situation op a good river give the National Capital an atmosphere all its own. It is an interesting, though little re- e District of Columbia is often a near counterpart, although about three days behind, of the weather prevailing in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Those living here who regularly ex- change letters with relatives in the Middle West know that by the time word of a big storm reaches here, practically the same sort of weather will be prevailing in Washington. Desplte the jokes concerning the hot weather in Washington during the Summer, this city is usually fortunate in being visited by one of these breezes Prof. Cox speaks about, in time to break the backbone of the severest heat wave. Seldom does a hot spell in Wash- ington last longer than a week or two. Then comes a thunderstorm, accom- panied by one of those energy-giving winds, to cool the atmosphere, and make a whole city glad ii is alive. e et Vice President Dawes was too polite a man to include the words “I told you 80" in his remarks to the depart- ing Senate. His references to the represented at the coming naval con- ference and of the American objec- tions to recommendations of the League commission, which would take into consideration the potential strength, in every particular, of the nations entering into an arms limita- tion agreement, is an indication of what may be anticipated. Both France and Italy are expected to refuse the President’s second invitation, as they did his first. But to soften the opinion of the world, the objections of the United States to the impractical rec- ommendations of the League commis- sion are given wide publicity abroad. There is nothing new in the Ameri- can objections to the recommendations of the League commission. From the inception of the preparatory confer- ence on arms limitation in Geneva last year, under the auspices of the League of Nations, the attitude of the United States has been clear. The underlying theme of the commission’s plan is suspicion. It would set up a kind of international spy system to see that all of the nations lived up to the terms of an arms limitation treaty, and would authorize a permanent or- ganization at Geneva to investigate And so the deluded and overtrustful citizens of Washington got behind the bill sponsored by Maryland and the bill was duly passed by Congress. There was only one little hitch in the entire proceeding. When the bill was finally enacted Washingtonians found that instead of substituting the gas tax for the other taxes, Congress had, with4Maryland cheerfully assenting, merely added the gas tax and Wash- ingtonians were paying two million dollars a Year instead of one million dollars for the privilege of operating their automobiles. The presert proposal is identical with the original proposal, except that the reciprocity provision does not en- ter into it. Maryland is increasing her gas tax by two cents. It naturally de- sires that the District do likgwise and the same propaganda to bring this about has already been started. Mary- land now says to the District: “We want you to put in this new tax. It will not cost you any more to motor than it does at present. You now pay approximately two milllon , dollars a year in gas tax and personal property tax. This new two-cent tax will be substituted for your personal property tax and will ‘bring in the same amount of revenue. Our delega- tlon will see to it that the bill is p through and everything will be lovely Once burned, twice shy. Washing- tonians know now through knowledge gained by bitter experfence that there is no possibility of elimination of the personal property tax and substitution of a gas tax They know also that the net result of this proposal will sim ply be that it will cost three million dollars a year to motor in the District, instead of the two million %ollars, the present rate, On American principles of taxation the amount and kind of tax endured are determined by the taxpayers themselves. Of all the 120,000,000 of Americans only the Americans of the District of Columbia have nothing to say concerning the amount or kind of taxes to be pald by them and con- cerning the purposes for which the tax money shall be spent. Congress, which is intrusted by the Constitution with the power and duty of interpreting and enacting into law the taxation wishes of the Capital community, will naturally perform its un-American task in as close ap- proximation as possible to American principles by sympatheticaily consid- ering and giving controlling influence to the community's reasonable tax wishes, so that the District will, as nearly as is possible, tax itself. If Con- gress instead of adopting this attitude toward the District plays the role of hostile, alien, despotic tax-gatherer, gontemtuously ignoring the wishes and Welfare of the exactions, the evil of un-Americanism at the heart of the republic will be shockingly intensified. Maryland is a great a State with many bad roads to be improved and |tentment to the average citizen. roads to be constructed. Doubtless it needs a 4-cent tax on|hearts’ content over the effect of tax- gasoline to complete its extensive pro- many new cal community in tax the complaints of any nation that an- other nation was not observing the treaty. The plan would take into con- ksideration not the armed forces alone, but the entire population, the general resources, the geographical location, the weather conditions. It would seek to limit the industrial operations of the nations in many respects. The nations which put forward such a plan may well be suspected of hypocerisy; with having no real desire to reach an arms agreement. It is scarcely less than an insult to the in- telligence. Certainly it lacks all ele- ments of common sense. It might as well have proposed the limitation of male babies to be born. The Unfted States, in its position, | has had the support of Great Britain and Japan. It is to be hoped that the three-power conference of naval limita- tion, to which assent has been given by those nations, will proceed with success, even though France and Italy do not take part. European efforts to discredit the American attitude on arms limitation doubtless will con- tinue, but they will not succeed in louding the real issue. —————aor—e. So many eminent persons go to jail that cells may have to be provided with valet service as well as hot and cold water. cl st Propaganda of Prosperity.- In a newspaper interview Senator Edwards of New Jersey expresses be- Mef that President Coolidge is weaker with the people than he was in 1924, despite the fact that “a well propa- gandized prosperity myth has clung around him, even when there has been no prosperity.” Amazing, Is it not, the lengths to which blind z:al will carry propa- ganda? The American people are 80 obsessed with this Coolidge myth of prosperity that, according to a Treas- ury statement, on March 14, income tax returns already indicated an in- crease of $175,000,000 over the corre- sponding period a year ago, with more returns to come. Nor is this all. In- come tax payments actually made in March are so far in excess of expecta- tions that instead of a Treasury sur- plus for the fiscal year of $383,000,000, as estimated by the director of the budget, it promises to swell to the amazing sum of $600,000,000 or more. As a consequence, there probably will be available this year for payment on the public debt something like $1,250,- 000,000, As a result of all this, promise is bright that the next Congress will re- vise the revenue law and make a further reduction in the rates of the taxes on incomes. However painful this may be to those who will see in it only another move to advance the propaganda of mythical prosperity, it is likely to bring considerable con- Economists may disagree to their need of new rules had been frankly made, and his closing comment was restrained to phrases which could be interpreted only as the most delicate sarcasm. Thomas Edison disdains sleep, but has never yet interested himself in the life of the night club. Waking hours .are most pleasant when use- fully employed, and Edison was an efficiency expert long before the “‘efficiency expert” was created and formally recognized. e The issue is defined as relating only to Harry Sinclair's refusal to answer questions. The point of the case re- solves itself into an interrogation point. o Laws against weapon carrying ap- pear to be enforcible to the extent of compelling a law-abiding citizen to stick up his hands In the presence of an armed bandit. il R War in China would be more thrill- ing in human interest if generals could employ personal publicity agents. e - The Prince of Wales is described as still a lover of horses. A truly noble mind knows how to forgive and forget. e Income tax returns are liberal. The American citizen pays without pro- test, in evidence of his faith in the finest government on earth. e Much has been said about “flaming youth.” Serious consideration is given to search for some method of turning on the hose, o SHQOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, Common Fate. No matter what you try to do, As forth you go To contemplate from lofty view The world below, You'll have to stray the common way That all men trudge. Sooner or later you must say, “Good morning, Judge!"” Philosopher or poet fine, Idealist, Poet or toiler whose design. None should resist, A-flivvering all must go each day. We dare not budge At certain times, lest we must say “Good morning, Judge!” Gregarious Inclination. “Why don't you retire from politics and accept a large salary in private employment?” “What's the use of being rich,” re- turned Senator Sorghum, “if at the same time you've got to be lone- some?” Music in the Air. The robin sings an early song. ‘We hear it aith elation. No letters he will string along From some broadcasting station. Jud Tunkins says the corner saloon has gone forever and the liquor prob- lem concentrates on the uncornered bootlegger. “Confuclus,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “was a great philos- opher. The inventor of gunpowder was a greater politician.” New and Old. “What do you think of modern dances?"” : “Some of them,” said Miss Cayenne, “look so primitive as to deserve classification as pre-historic.” Relief. We've heard of much talk of relief for the farm, And plans for protecting the toller from harm. / The price at the delicatessen brings grief. There should be some measure for city rellef. “Edison invented de electric light,” said Uncle Eben. “But dat fact don't gram of road development.- Road-con- hardly will dispute that when it ment dat goes on al night.” A garded, fact that the weather in-th ‘ The inexhaustible number of people in a great city is ever a matter for wonder, even to those who are familiar ‘with the phenomenon. Familiarity may breed contempt, but now and then the drama of the crowd flashes over the most hardened city resident. Then comes a moment of surprise, that 5o many persons could actually be in existence, and all trying to go somewhere. In Washington, the 15 minutes just before 9 a.m., the officlal reporting time for the Government service, com- prise the best time of day to witness the flood. Some may prefer from 4:30 to 5 p.m., but the morning has its ad- vantages. For one thing, the early hours are fresher and the mind of the observer is keener. It is declared by some statisticians that 70 per cent of the work of the world is done in the first four hours of the day. However that may be, it is undoubt- edly true that most persons feel more full of “pep,” more alive, more alert in the morning than in the evening. Just what part the heavy noon-day meal plays in this feeling of afternoon leth- argy must be left to every one to de- cide for himself. There {8 something about the morn- ing, be it fresher air, or stored energy in the human system, as the result of sleep, that makes the morning ride to work a matter of some enjoyment to most persons. Whether the trip be made by auto- mobile, street car or motor bus, it re- malins a thing of real enjoyment unless one is feeling ill, and really ought not to be going to work. One of the surest ways to deter- mine whether one is ill is this feeling that the street car “is never golng to get there.” If the usual route seems unusually long. one might as well turn around and go back, for he is 1l and ought to be in bed. * * At every corner there are 2 to 10 persons waiting for the street car, or 1 to 6 men and women waiting for the bus. Where do they all come from? This is the thought that involun- tarlly come" to one, as he watches the procession, the seemingly endless parade to work in the morning: Old men and young men, elderly ladies and young ladles, boys and girls, they crowd the street cafs, run across car tracks, wend their way down streets, each one with some definite objective. Each one of these workers has a home, and is on his way to his work. In the wonder of the crowds one is likely to forget such simple facts. Each unknown is known to some one. You, yourself, are equally un- known to him! A city is simply a marvelously large sggregation of individuals. In small lowns, and even moderately small cities, it is easy enough for an inquisitive person to know practically every ome who counts and almost all of those who do not. In a small town, the sheep and the goats are very well marked off. A wide tolerance exists. Certain fam- illes know certain families best, but almost every one knows every one else, in the final analysis. * All this is changed in th r v, e large Here one deals mostly with strangers. Yet this need not blind one to the fact that each individual in the great city is, in the last analy- sis, an individual, and not just a me- chanical something, to be pushed out of the way when attempting to board a street car. ‘The wonder of it Is that, not know- ing each other, city folk get along as well as they do. When one takes into consideration the large number of persons who meet daily, and who suf- fer some inconvenlence on account of each other, it is surprising that one does not see more street fights. Yet a fight between human beings in the city streets is about as rare as a good dog fight. A fracas on a street car is even more rare, although in- numerable opportunities arise each day for fisticuffs. It is a poor day on the cars that spme one does not do something that strikes some one else as matter for a few words Yet to such really decent conduct has the mutual tolerance of Mving brought most individuals that a few ugly looks generally take the place of ugller words, and, at most, a few of the latter replace telling blows. This attitude {8 necessary, if 5o many persons, so close together as a city packs them, are to go about their dafly work and pleasure with any profit or satisfaction R And this getting along together is all the more to be applauded when one stops to recall the instant antip- athles whiclh most sons harbor. It is a civilized man, indeed, who does not instantly jump to conclusions about others, justificd or unjustified. Think of the millions of these in- stant antipathles which must arise when thousands of persons gather into crowds—then recall, with some satis- faction, the very few blows that fol- low. “Mind your own business” is the unspoken motto followed by those in the morning and afternoon crowds, the seemingly endless flow of persons going to work and coming therefrom. “The lions roar and seek their meat from God,” says the Psalmist. Mankind does much the same thing, only he seeks his from the Govern- ment service, or any one of a thou- sand occupations, every one as en- vironment, education, chance, bent of the. mind and many other factors dic- tate, To the present writer it seems rather ennobling, than otherwise, to compare the morning crowds so sharp- 1y with lions; for the creatures are our brothers, here below, and were put here with us at much the same time. We cannot be offended with them, but must admire them, so beautiful are their coats, and the play of their muscles, and their grave counte- nances, shaming our silliness. Perhaps our dogs and cats might be offended better at our temerity. Who knows what the animals at the Zoo think of those who survey them from the “outside looking in’ It will be only those who do not love the animals who will laugh at ur comparison. it s no doubt would be a wild place. How much is the glo then, of us, their elder brethren, who conduct ourselves, in the main, so peacefully? BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. 7 Dwight F. Davis, Secretary of War, is making his first official trip of in- spection to Porto Rico and the Canal Zone since he became the head of Uncle Sam's military establishment a vear and a half ago. He is now en route to Porto Rico by steamer from New York, will motor from San Juan to Port au Prince, Haiti, and there take,ship for Cristobal, at the Atlan- tic end of the Panama Canal. Mr. Davis expects to be gone from Wash- ington until the middle of April Porto Rico, ‘with the islands and keys adjacent, is officially attached to the Corps Area of the Army. The Canal Zone is an independent military department. On the canal reserva- tion there is an Army air force, with headquarters at France Field. Secre- tary Davis has long desired to have a look at our southernmost military outposts, which are coming more and more to fill an important role in the national defense scheme. The housing of the doughboy is one of the things he intends particularly to delve into. * K * * This observer, during a recent flver into the Middle West, asked a mem- ber of the Federal Farm Loan Board where, and how, President Coolidge could best spend his time in the open spaces this Summer. ‘‘Undoubtedly in the Rocky Mountains,” was the re- ply, “and talking with as many dirt farmers as possible.”” The farm bank- er amplified: “If the Summer White House is located in the heart of Colo- rado it would be the center of a cir- cle, say, some 500 miles in diameter. ‘Within the circumference of such a circle would be embraced the whole, or large parts, of the States of Colo- rado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minne- sota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyo- ming, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mex- Texas and Oklahoma. Within 14 States are the distress and discontent that gave birth to the McNary-Haugen bill. If President Coolidge puts in his time in the midst of that wide country conferring with ranchers of all kinds, he is bound to get a comprehensive, first-hand pic- ture of what's wrong in and with ag- ricultural America. He should see not only farmers. His visitors should in- clude country bankers. He ought to invite Western governors to the Sum- mer White House, too.” * K K ¥ Sir Esme Howard, the British Am- bassador at Washington, sprang a merry pun on the American Wom- an’'s Assoclation at its recent New York dinner in honor of the Ambassa- dors and_Ministers accredited to the United States. His Britannic Maj- esty’s envoy was discussing “Eng- land,” the latest book produced by Dean Inge, London's famed “gloomy dean.” Sir Esme sald: “It is a most Interesting hook, and I have no par- ticular criticism to make of it except with regard to the spelling of the title which might, I think, have been written—not ‘England’ but ‘Inge- land.’ " The Ambassador suggested that the countrymen described by the dean should be called “Ingelishmen.” * ¥ ¥ ¥ The luckiest member of Congress- elect is undoubtedly James M. Haz- lett, who has been chosen as succes- sor of “Boss” and Senator-elect Wil- liam_ 8. Vare, to represent the first district of Pennsylvania in the next House of Representatives. At noon- day of March 4, 1927, Mr. Hazlett joined the pay roll of the House at the rate of $10,000 a vear. Meantime | he remains recorder of deeds in Philadelphia at $10,000 a vear. Wil- liam Tyler Page, the omnisclent clerk of the House of Representatives, has been consulted at to the right of Representative-elect Hazlett to draw both salaries. Mr. Page points out there is nothing in the United States Constitution to make them incom- ico, these patible. The injunction with regard to holding down two jobs applies only to Federal positions. Likewise, according to Mr. Page, there is noth- vanis to prevent Mr. Hazlett from indulging, himself in the luxury of a double pay roll. * koK It isn't generally known that the First Lady of the Land is fond of slipping unostentatiously into a the- ater for a matinee and taking a seat in the midst of the general public. Mrs. Coolldge is the theater-going member of the presidential family, and is accustomed to see a play usual a daytime performance: every.two or three weeks. A woman friend is her companion on these oc- casions. Liking to see things from the best angle, Mrs, Coolidge prefers a place in the orchestra rows. At concerts, whic are her favorite form of entertainnment, the Presi- dent’s wife customarily occupies a box with invited friends. Fox ke With a number of new States hav- ing United States Senators who are both Democrats, a corresponding group of Republican national commit- teemen has mounted to the eminence of Federal patronage bosses. Prob- ably the most important personage to come within this envied category is Charles D. Hilles of New York, who is also vice chairman of the G. O. P. national organization. Other nabobs to whom, for the indefinite future, de- serving Republicans in quest of post offices and higher rewards will have to wend their way, cap in hand, are National Committeemen Dr. E. B. Clements of Missouri, William P. Jackson of Maryland and Thomas E. Canfpbell of Arizona. In all of the Southern States, including the border State of Tennessee, Republican na- tional committeemen since time im- memorial have been the dispensers- in-chief of plums from the Washing- ton orchard. ke If the United States doesn't bend the knee to Mexico, bring back the Marines from Nicaragua and recall our ships from Shanghai, it won't be the fault of an organized ‘‘telegram drive” aimed at the White House and the State Department. It appears that some of our national assoclations and socleties, particularly of the peace-at-any-price and pacifist hue, have been systematically inciting men and women all over the country to deluge the President and the Secretary of State with messages.of protest and appeal. All of them are attuned to the note that the United States should under no circumstances, no matter how provocative, do anything but turn the other cheek anywhere and whenever our rights abroad are flouted or violated. Women's organ- izations have been especially “worked" to this end. It is understood that “form” telegrams have been sent out from some central quarter, their re- cipients being urged forthwith to fire duplicates at the administration and at members of Congress. * ok ke ok The cosiest corner in the Capitol is naturally one of which the general public is largely unaware. It's the private library of the Senate on one of the top floors just beneath the dome. There, presided over by E. C. Goodwin, librarian of the Senate, is a snmll but exceedingly choice selec- tion of books and records, mainly of reference character, for the exclusive use of members of the upper house. So few people know of the library and how to get to it that it's become a favorite _retreat for Senators who want to be lost to sight for the nonce. (Copyight. 191 . Uncommitted. From the Asheville Times, Mr. Coolidge has not vet indicated whether he is a fundamentalist or a modernist in his Interpretation of the third-term tradition. = ST The Dramatic Gesture. From the Passaic Daily Herald. There's more drama in the attempts of the New York police to purify the ation on national prosperity, but they|make him 'sponsible foh de entertain- | ing in the constitution of Pennsyl-!stage than in some of the sex dramas | doesn’ man and themselves. To the Editor ot The Star: In your issue of the 4th you pub- lished a letter from Percival Marshall in which he gives his opinion, or at least suggests, that the people of Ohio did not consider the wet and dry issue in their late elections, because the candidates did not mention or refer to the subject in speeches. The people, however, did not vote in ignorance of the firm convictions of the elected dry officlals. The _intelligent voters of Ohio were not misled by the everlast- ing cry of the wets that every crime committed is due to the absence of beer and whisky in the system. The literature of the wets is contradicted in every hamliet by the condition of the masses of the toilers in every oc- cupation, so well described by the greatest employer of the greatest number of weil paid labor in the world. Henry Ford, who sums up the dif- ference among his many thousands of employes before and since prohibi- tion as the difference between “‘dark- ness and light.” Notwithstanding the efforts of the 45 assoclations against the eighteenth amendment and the Volstead act, with the tons of literas ture, the persistent effort of its cham- pions, the exhaustion of every parlia- mentary device in the closing hours of Congress to prevent the law for better enforcement, the amendment and Volstead act were strengthened by the overwhelming vote of 71 to 6. The members of Congress coming di- rect from the people know them bet- ter than Nicholas Murray Butler, whose statements are directly contra- dicted by Henry Ford, Judge Gary of the Steel Corporation, the presidents of the great railroads, who deal direct- Iy with many thousands of laborers, with better opportunities of knowing the effect of prohibition than Mr. Marshall and Dr. Butler. The Canadian provinces repealed prohibition to get rid of bootleggers and decrease crime. Liguor Controller Duning of Al berta, after three years' trial of gov- ernment regulation, says: “The great- est problem I have is with moonshine in the country districts.” He shows an increase in arrests and convictions of drunks over the prohibition year and 795 bootleggers in 1925. In Saskatchewan the government liquor controller, by no means a dry, says: “Increasing drunkenness, en- couragement of the appetite for liquor.” In Regina, capital of Saskatchewan, in 1924, prohibition violations. 147 cases; government control in 1925, 334 cases; increase of 127 per cent. In Manitoba, Chairman Waugh of government control says: “Bootleggers abound and sell below government prices.” Attorney General Craig of that province says: “Bootlegging is more prevalent than it was under prohibition.” In 1924 the report of the liquor control board of Montreal says: “Complaints recelved against bootleggers are particularly directed against the sale of alcohol and whisky in bulk. * * * Our operations against illicit resorts and blind pigs in Mont- real have by no means come to an end, and notwithstanding our efforts we are well aware that these illicit resorts still exist and that we shall never succeed in permanently closing such places.” No wonder that the wets are mak- ing no headway in securing the adop- tion of the Canadlan system. They are not even in accord on any remedy. J. H. SHEPHERD. ——————————_ Ban on Philippine Trousers Protested To the Editor of The Star: In your esteemed paper there re- cently appeared an article with the caption: “Ban on Trousers Cause of Student Riot in Philippines.” Aslama native-born Ifugao and was formerly a student in Bagulo in 19141917, the editorial dispatch interested me espe- clally. I am very proud of our native fash- ion of wearing the gee-string, because it 1s what my forefathers wore in cut- ting down the forests and building the walls of our rice flelds in the moun- tain province. I wore the gee-string from my early years until I finished the sixth grade in Baguio. I agree with Mr. Wright's idea to a certain extent, but 1T am against his order commanding all the 130 students of the Trinidad Farm School at Ba- guio to wear the gee-string instead of trousers while working in the fields. The students there have become ac- customed to wearing trousers, stock- ings and shoes during their school life. To change back to the gee-string during work in the fields will subject them to the danger of catching cold and rheumatism, and also to the dan- ger of cutting their legs and feet on the thorns and sharp stones. There would be no danger to the students if they had not become accustomed to wearing ‘trousers, as there was no danger to thelr parents of 20 or 30 years ago. But now it is different. You of America have brought mod- ern clothes to the people of the moun- tain province and sell them these as you sell them other things of your civilization. I would like to see how you would regard a half-naked and barefooted person, even though he or she may have college or university degrees. ADRIANO B. KIMAYONG. T Urges Clara Barton’s Memory Be Honored To the Editor of The Star: It was very gratifying to read in The Star that a request had been made to name a school in honor of Clara_Barton, who was our “Flor- ence Nightingale” of America. Clara Barton should be honored, not only in this way but also In many other ways that have been neglected. A great hospital should be named for her. A large life-sized painting of Clara Bar- ton should adorn the walls of our Red Cross Building. There should be some one there at all times who would tell the rising generation of her great worth, accomplishments and sacrifices. There should be a Clara Barton Red Cross Chapter. Surely no greater woman ever lived. She needs no com- mendation from me. I am thrilled when I recall her greatness. I knew her personally, visited her home and admired her greatly for her many sterling qualities. My father, Gen. Edward Washburn Whitaker, were he living, would testify to her h ism as he knew her during the vil ‘War, and valued her friendship, dur- ing the years that followed, until her death. All the crown heads of Europe have paid homage to her greatness. Both North and South have cause to revere her memory. I was amazed the other evening when a Red Cross director was recalling the history of the organization and failed to mention ra Barton. It was like the play of ‘Hamlet” without Hamlet. I trust he may see this statement and in future never fail to pay due homage to so great a heroine as Clara Barton. May there be others who may forward at this time and pay their tribute to Clara Barton, whose life spoke for itself! Tell the true story of her glory, we all forget so soon. The early dew of morning has passed away by To me, Clara Barton will alw: an inspiration. \ GRACE WHITAKER SEIBOLD. e Difficult to Standardize. From the Providence Journal. A New York judge says, as reported, that two drinks of liquor are not enough : ml-‘(fidl man drunk. B‘l;l depend somewhat on the e drink? Q. What hol?—A. W, A. The most commonly used com- plete denaturants are kerosene, ace- tone, benzol, pyridine and wood alco- :::I.m'l":;:reuan :'?’0 different kinds of ni u: in fally 3 natured alcohol. ISE Mo Q. Are the authors, Philip Gibbs and Hx;:nll‘(lon\(‘.lb related to each other? A. They are brother: Q. How can the Fjrst National Bank of Davenport, Towa, and the First Na- tional Bank of Philadelphia both claim to be the oldest national banks in the United States?—D. C. A. The Controller's office says that the first national bank to open for business under a national bank charter was the First National Bank of Davenport. The charter number of this bank, however, was 15. The ear- liest paper on file in the Controller's office pertaining to this bank bears the date of May 29, 1863. The bank was chartered on June 24, 1863, and opened for business on June 29, 1863. The first bank to receive a certifi- cate of authority to begin business as a national assoclation was the First National Bank of Philadelphia. This bank was given Charter No. 1, dated June 20, 1863, but did not open for business until July 11, 1863. Q. Where s the of frog legs?—D. F A. Most of them come from Minne- sota. St. Paul is the chief shipping point. About 9,000,000 frogs are killed yearly in this State to meet the de- mand for the delicac Frogs are rapid breeders and grow aquickly, so the supply meets the demand. The South also furnishes quite a number of frogs to the market. is_used to denature alco- . W, source of supply Q. What was done about measuring Ruralnl-‘fie Delivery routes last year? A. The Post Office Department re- quired that all rural routes should be measured during the month of May, 1926. These measurements were made, as a rule, by postmasters or by em- ployes of their offices, but in a very considerable number of instances it became necessary to have the meas- urements made by post office inspec tors because postmasters were not equipped or provided with the means by which accurate measurements could be made. Q. Is banana oil inflammable— A. It s, and care should be taken in using it not to get it near a flame. Q. During the World War what was meant by “Four-minute men"?—C. L. A. The phrase was applied to men who spoke in behalf of the Liberty loan. They were limited to four-min- ute speeches. Q. Did the Government finance Burbank while he experimented with flowers and fruit?—E. J. A. A. The Government does not appro- priate money for individuals to carry out research along such lines. Luther Burbank received money from the Carnegie Foundation for research. Private foundations often make gifts of thig type. Q. Why don't people get lead poison- ing from water carried through lead pipes?—C. O. A. It ig possible to contract lead poisoning from pipes. Since lead is somewhat soluble in water, caution should be used if the water is for hu- man consumption. Draw off the water that has been standing in the pipes. Special tin-lined pipe is made to over- come this danger of lead poisoning. Q. How lon, battleship?— A. In peace time about three years is required to build a battleship the size of the U. S. S. Maryland. Q. What is the Glant’s Causeway?— A. It is a famous promontory of closely packed basaltic columns on the coast of Antrim, North Ireland, west of Bengore Head, 8 miles from Port- rush. Its true origin was'a great out- pouring of basalt in the Tertiary period, but legend ascribed it to Finn dgel it take to build a M’Conl or Fingal, who bulilt it as a bridge between Ireland and Scotland for the giants to cross from Antrim to Staff o a. Q. Who controls the Saar Ter- ritory?—E. R. A. The Saar Basin, with an area of 751 square miles, is under French jurisdiction, but is governed by a com- mittee of five chosen by the League of Nations. The people ultimately are to vote on the question of joining either France or Germany, or con- tinuing to be governed by a com- mission. Q. Has Dr. Ro children?—L. W A. Senator and Mrs. Copeland have one son. He bears his father’s name. Q. Is rubber gathering from forest trees as satisfactory as starting a rubber plantation?—H. E. M. It s doubtful that rubber gathering as a forest or semi cultivated industry can compets v|ormanenfly with plantation produc tion. Q. What was the Erle Ring?—A. B A. The Erie Ring, also known as the “Canal Ring,"” was a corrupt collu- slon of New York State politiclans with contractors for repairs on ths Erle Canal. It was exposed by Gov. Samuel J. Tilden in 1875. Q. What name is given to profes sional flatterers that surround kings or queens”—E. O. D. A. They have been called “cour tlers,” or, more often, “sycophants.” Q. How s the Ia Pepys_pronounced”- A. This is a controversial question. Three pronunciations are given: Peeps, Peps and Peplis. The statement is made that at the college which this statesman and writer attended the name is called Peeps. The diary for which he is famed chronicles the court and times of Charles 1I, but was not published unti 1825. Q. What kind of front door has the ‘White House?—P. H. B. A. The steps leading to the main entrance are stone. The main door is 6 feet wide, 9 feet 10 inches h and 2% inches thick, and is solid r hogany. . Is the California largest of the violet family . BT, A. With the exception of the pansy, the California violet is possibly the largest. Q. How large will the bat Rodney and Nelson be?—A. P. A. The British ships Rodney and Nelson when completed will be the largest battleships in the world. They will have a displacement of 35,000 tons, a speed of 23 knots, main battery of 9 16-inch guns with a maximum range of 30,000 yards. They are expected to be completed this year. ’ al S. Copeland any ’ ) t name of Samuel € L v tleships 8. Q. Which of the Central American states is the largest’—A. C. A. Nicaragua has the largest ar: 49,200 square miles. Guatemala has ¢ the largest population, 2,119,165, Q. Do the two satellites of Mars move around that planet in the same direction, or does one move one way and one the other?—W. A. E. A. The Naval Observatory says that both satellites of Mars move around that planet in the same direc- tion; but the inner satellite completes one revolution in less time than Mars makes one rotation and therefore, seen from Mars, it appears to move in the opposite direction to the outer satellite. Did you ever write a letter to Fred- eric J. Haskin? You can ask him any question of fact, and get the answer in a personal letter. Her: is a great educational idea_introduced into the lives of the most intelligent people in the world—American newspaper read- ers. It is a part of that best purpose , of @ newspaper—service. Therc is no charge, ezcept 2 cents in stamps for retwrn postage. Address Frederic J Haskin, director, The Evening Star g.,m(' ion Bureau, Washington Skepticism Greets Kerensky Hopes for New Alexander Kerensky, leader of the Russtan Liberals, whose overthrow of the Czar was followed by defeat at the hands of the Soviet regime, comes to visit the United States and gets a wel- come which is sincere, but his hopes for a new revolution in Russia are viewed here with frank skepticism. His theories as to the needs of his own land are approved here, but his own failure to retain control in the days of the World War is believed by many to have shown a lack of the personal force needed for great achievements. . ‘“‘Among & people like ours,” in the opinion of the Hartford Times, “he might have become a Washington and fathered a great country of freedom. But he is perhaps the world’s most conspicuous son misfortune and vietim of tyranny. The Times also remarks: ‘“Had he been more selfish and less scrupulous, had he a coarser fiber and a sterner realization of the need of fron hand when his was the figure which had opportunity to wield it, Lenin, Trotsky and their small band of Communist conspirators might never have risen from their former gnawing place in the cellars of the body politic.” “He would like to lead a movement among democratic Russian emigres for a counter-revolution.” says the Albany Evening News, “but howover much they would like to bring that about, they recognize that Kerensky 1s not big enough to lead them.” The Janesville Gazette holds that “he let the revolution get away from him be- cause he lacked the attributes of a Napoleon in some things and an Alex- ander Hamilton in others. * ¢ ¢ He is a reminiscence,” says the Ga- zette, “one chapter in a tragedy which was almost completed in the prologue. TLere i3 no Russia for a Kerensky to save or ald. All he has is an idealism shredded out into regret. * K X & Quoting Kerensky's statement that “the political crisis in Russia is al- ready a fact'; that “the contradiction In interests between the Soviet dicta- torship and the country’s needs has not only sharpened the political erisis but has shaken the inner unity and discipline of the dictatorship itself,” the Charleston Daily Mail makes the comment: “The people of the United States will hope that his analysis of the situation is correct. Americans, who won _their liberty and a place in the world by much blood and sweat, must sympathize with him and his people, now held in bondage by forces more brutal than those he overthrew in giving Russia its first taste of freedom.” . “Kerensky and his following had the right prescription for the regen- eration of Russia,” avers the Akron Beacon Journal. “Their plan had at least the merit of proposing a govern- ment resting upon the will of the ma- jority. That it was overborne was due to the fact that in its rush to acqui the blessings of liberty the Soviet crowd did not want to be bothered with bills of rights and constitutions, but wanted to found a nation upon the fabric of dreams. In good time they will recede from this impossible excursion and come back to the safer plan proposed by the Kerensky school of revolutionists.” The hopeless difficulties that Keren- Russian Regime sky met are explained b York World: “The army was uncon- trollable, the country was chaotic and { the government occupied the center, with the Bolshevists on the left and reactionaries on the right, undermin- Ifig it and aiming at dictatorship.” The World féels as to the present that ‘at any rate Kerensky's visit is that of a man always faithful to his con- victions. “‘His genius was histrionic.”” in the Jjudgment of the St. Louis Post-Dis- patch, “As a lawyer in the Czarist days, when defending clients of radical or even liberal offenses was a danger- ous practice, juries were clay In his hands. Given a platform and an audi- ence, he could move mountains. But the tide in his affairs which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune, called for qualities he did not possess. He Wwho moved the Romagoft dynasty off the boards was unable to hold the succession.” the New * x x % Credit is given to Kerensky by the Springfield Republican for his efforts, even at the cost of his own suprem- acy, to keep Russia in the war “after it had decided, silently but irrevo- cably, to quit. Had he been less faithful to the allies,” according to that paper, “he could have cut in ahead of the Bolsheviks, who won largely by perceiving what the peopls wanted to do and encouraging them to * do it. * * * For such a sacrifice as he made in their cause the allies have never shown adequate grati- tude.” The Republican fis impressed by the thought that “in the crash with which Russia’s weakly liberal govern- ment went down there came near be- ing an end of liberalism everywhere, and of liberty as well.” “Kerensky meant well,” states the San Francisco Bulletin. “He saw the evil of Czarism, but though he abol- ished the monarchy, he was not able to effect a revolution in the Russian people. His destructive force was greater than his constructive ability. He could destroy, but he could. not bulld, because he lacked the genius for national leadership. The arator that stirred the people to revolf had nothing_practical to offer whes the revolt had been accomplished. His ineptitude prepared the way for the chaos of Communism."” “A woman slapped Alexander Keren- sky’s face when he appeared in his first public American meeting,” re- marks the Philadelphia Public Ledger. “This was hardly a favorable begin- ning for the campaign of propaganda he seems about to launch in the inter- ests of a revolution. * ¢ The man who was slapped is playing a long-range game, unlikely to get far. ‘The best place to preach his crusade is somewhat nearer the Soviet fro tiers than New York or anywhere clse in America.” The Terre Haute Star, however, observes that his “stay in this country will provide a materially different brand of propaganda from the optimistic verslons of Soviet agents working for red regime by the United State: the Utica Observer-Dispatch sces reads sons “for extending rather a warm welcome to Kerensky." for “he exerted all his power and influence to keep Russia in arms on the side of the allies,” and ‘“he attempted to hold vdom to ideals of loyalty and de cency.” * / ¢ [ Ll