Evening Star Newspaper, July 31, 1927, Page 42

2 THE EVENING STAR With_Sundsy Morning Edition. -2 _With _Su; lorn| '/ WASHINGTON, D. C. SUNDAY..........July 31, 1927 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor ¥ e t————————— The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: ! ll‘all» k3 T'“'if"‘ et o b ] The 3 &m the Sunday nofl: . Collection & ot each ‘monn " Tad8 O \Rate by Mafl—| aryinad aaa Virsioe BT E BE 2o All Other States and Canada. ally and Sunday..l yr. $12.00: 1 mo.. s only .. 1yr. $R00:1 u 1vr. it 3 & n 4.00: 1 mo. in Advarce. " 38¢ Member of the Associated Press. to TS Atsociated Pross ts exciystvaly entitied use for renublication of | news di pate ted 10 it or not olh-{;l-en; m‘fiu.?..a"‘in"dn"' A 07 s leation ©f special dispatches herein are also reserved. Stop, Look and Listen! In the course of a series of articles now running in The Star the danger ‘of heedless investing in securities bffered by irresponsible and actually “unknown venders is being set forth, ‘with explicit examples of such trans- actions that have caused great dls- tress and serious loss. It would seem to be needless in these times of ex- tensive public knowledge of the principles of business to give such warnings. Yet, unhappily there are many people who buy without in- “quiry, only to repent later their im- (Pultive enterprise. =~ Those engaged in the sale of “worthless stocks are deliberately “preying upon the credulity of people and the desire which is prevalent in all classes of society to “get rich quick.” They are good salesmen. They can make the most shady proposition look attractive to people SWho are ordinarily shrewd in their -buying of material goods, the neces- -sities of life and even the luxuries. “People who will go from shop to shop looking for the lowest possible Drices for the best possible goods, testing qualities and comparing rates ‘with keen business acumen, will buy Bome intangible thing in the form of & stock certificate on the bare word of a promoter or an agent without Airiy question regarding the price and only the slightest inquiry as to real ar prospective value. They do not Ahink it necessary to take the advice 'Aél some experienced person in buy- Jng meat or clothing because they ebelieve themselves to be good judges. apparently, they never think of Meeking advice on the subject of Auying something about which they ‘Rnow nothing, costing hundreds of Bollars, ..“Before you invest investigate!” That is very sound advice. It whould be heeded by every person Sho 1s approached by a security malesman. Take nothing for granted. 4hpcept no assurances from the vender ‘regarding the worth of the stock that he offers. He is selling on a com- mission, unless he is: the promoter #rimself. He has no interest what- @ver in the welfare of his' custom- ers. He can answer glibly any question that is put, give any kind ©of assurance of certain prosperity for 1pe concern in which stack is being olfered. 1f it is an oil well he can tell the number of thousands of ¥allons a day that it is sure to yield. 3.1t is a gold mine he can tell im- pressively the percentages of precious inetal and the production in tons. is not observed as the match- thrower has meanwhile gone forward too far to repair the damage done. The same thing is true of a smoker's “refuse,” the smoldering stump of a cigar or cigarette or the still glowing “dottle” of a pipe. Countless dam- age has been done in the forests of this country by smokers in motion as well as by others who are care- less in the handling of fire. It is impossible to make the trails and roads free of inflammable materials immediately alongside. These pas- sageways run for many miles through the reserves, parks and forests. They cannot be made fireproof, and it is up to the users of the parks and I forests, the visitors. for whose bene- fit they are maintained in their natural beauty, to safeguard them by scrupulously observing the rules of safety, rules that should apply in all circumstances, but especlally in places where fires are easily started and where they spread swiftly. The penalty for failure to observe such fundamental rul of preservation should be not only expulsion from the parks and forests upon detection, but fines sufficiently large to impress all park users with the need of scrupu- lous care in the handling of fire in such precincts. —_———— The Kansu Disaster. In these days of almost instantane- ous news distribution, with telegraphs, telephone and radio at work to bring information of happenings from all parts of the world in almost the twinkling of an eye, it is astounding that news of a gigantic disaster, one of the worst in the history:of the world, has required more than two months to reach here. It would seem that every part of the earth’'s sur- face has become so well covered that the catastrophe in Kansu Province, China, should have come to knowledge weeks ago, It is true that about a month ago, more than a month after the happening, a report reached Shanghai that a very severe earth- quake had ruined the greater part of Liangchow, in the northern part of Kansu, on the 23rd of May. But no detalls were forthcoming and there was no verification, China then was in the throes of civil war and coms munication with the north and west was difficult and uncertain. It was impossible to investigate this report. Not until a missionary residing about two hundred miles from the scene of the disaster sent a letter to Shanghai did the full nature of the horror be- come known. According to this account of the earthquake the cities of Sisiang, Liangchow, Tunentse and Kulang and innumerable towns and villages were completely destroyed, with casualties estimated at 100,000. This figure is identical with that given as the toll of death in an earthquake in the same province seven years ago, that like- wise was little known and is even to- day rarely mentioned in lists of great seismic disturbances. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, THE ART OF BEING ORDERLY BY GLENN FRANK Isconsin atury Megasin loud in praise of “Lind; successful trip; but there was not even one girl in America who had enough common sense or enterprise to tle him up safely for herselt before he succeeded. A million of them would be willing to marry him now, but not one had enough “gumption” then to take a chance on a lad who had success written ail over him! And yet young girls complain that “all the good guys are married!” —————————— False Alarms, A reward of $50 has been offered for thq detection of the persons who are turning in false fire alarms in Washington. On Friday night six such alarms were sounded in the Northeastern section of the city, causing great confusion, with the fire companies running from point to point in an effort to locate a blaze. It would seem as though these boxes were pulled by some person using a motor car or a bleycle. It was an act of wanton mischief, the object of which is only a matter of specu- lation. If the perpetrator of this senseless joke can be found a stiff penalty should be administered. If the miscreant is an adult he should be sent to jail; it a juvenile he should be spanked in a manner to teach him that fooling with the fire- alarm boxes is a dangerous pastime. The efficiency of the Fire Depart- ment depends upon the promptness with which it responds to calls. Every time it is sent out on a need- less mission ifs value is lessened, for while it is scouting for & fire that does not exist it is out of service for one that may occur. On the aver- age alarm about five pieces of appa- ratus go forth, and the cost tc the District of the movement of thease machines is considerable. But the financial aspect of the matter is of less moment than the demoralization that results from constantly sound- ing false alarms. Those who pull the alarm boxes “for fun” are 'either unthinking youngsters or wrong-minded adults, They seem to derive some satisfac- tion in making trouble for others. There is decidedly a “screw loose” in the mentality of these practical jokers. It may be possible under the stimulus of the reward that has been offered to catch those who have been tampering with the apparatus of late. At any rate, let it be hoped that whoever is doing it will pull one box too many and find himself in custody facing a term in jail, or it a juvenile, a touch of the good old slipper that has corrected many a youngster for his own benefit in the past. —e—s A knowledge of mathematics is re- quired for navigation, Discussion of a naval ratio demonstrates how a few simple figures may be rearranged and adjusted so as to expand into most in- tricate calculations. e Kansu Province lies in the north- west corner of China proper, between Tibet and Mongolia. It is just below the Gobl Desert, a high mountainous region, the Nan-Shan Mountains ris- ing to great heights. The cities that were affected by the earthquake of May 23 lie on the northern slopes of the range. It is densely populated, though remote from the better known centers of inhabitation in China, and communications are extremely diffi- cult. It is reached by caravans, which have to traverse long stretches of arid land. Explorers have gone through that country In search of new geographical facts and fossils of pre- historic life and have reported a land of forbldding bleakness. In point of magnitude the Kansu ‘Heé can always adjust his answer to ihe intelligence of his “prospect.” He i8 an adept, a past master in the #rt of playing on the cupidity of the customer, showing him the im- portance of Iimmediate action and the danger of delay. He is, in short, the poorest possible gulde to safe imvestment. ¢-dt may be set down as positively @ssured that not one investment bbportunity out of a million must be taken instantly to make the most money out of it. If these alluring wthemes are so certain to yield large and immediate profits, it the sfocks that are offered are sure to &0 up “tomorrow,” why should they be peddled about from house to fouse and office to office? Why should not the promoters thereof take them all themselves and make &)1 the profits that are to come? <. “Be yourself” is a current phrase that means a good deal in this con- hection, “Stop, look and listen” ap- plies to the would-be investor as well as the user of the highway. Btop to think; look at the proposi- tion from a busin point of view end then listen to the advice of ksomebody who has no interest in the game and who has knowledge of bysiness laws and experience in secu- rity buying. < It that rule were followed by éverybody who is approached by the fake stock salesman, immense sums of money would be saved from loss #1 worthless ventures and would be wyailable for real investment in sub- stantial though modestly ylelding securities. So. stop, look and listen before you buy and you will be happler and richer. L Sufferers in the Migsissipp! Valley desire some assurance that the over- flow is not to become an annual event of increasing calamity. ———r e Smoking in the Forests. A brief dispatch from Bates, Oreg., to The Star states that at a meet- ing of forest officials held there a code for smokers was adopted, the purpose of which was to lessen the danger of fires in the forest reserves. One rule of the code prohibits smoking while in motion. That is, while walking, riding or driving. The reason for such a rule is ob- wious. Persons who smoke while in motion, whether afoot, awheel or on horseback, are more apt to be care- ess tnan those who are stationary. A match is struck to light pipe, cigar or cigarette and is cast aside. Very many persons fall to observe whether the match is completely disaster ranges with some of the great- est in history. The casualty list was not as large as that of the Japanese earthquake of September, 1923, when over 103,000 were wounded and 143,000 were killed. The present estimate of 100,000 dead in Kansu is likely to be only a rough approximation, The true toll may be far greater, though it is to be doubted if it will ever be known, owing to the character of the region and the lack of efficient government. —_——————— No State in the Union is now more sedate than Texas. Yet it has con- tributed titles of the most picturesque interest, such as “Texas Jack,” “Tex" Rickard, “Texas Guinon,” not to men- tion Charles Hoyt's forgotten comedy “The Texas Steer.” The more pic- turesque a reputation becomes the harder it is to live down. r———————— Film stars might eventually re- taliate for reductions in pay by in- sisting that exact figures be men- tioned in the advertising. A million- dollar salary makes a dazzling pub- licity point. —_————————— Protests against present feminine costume have been made by high au- thority. Authority in such matters is represented not by Church or State, but by the decree of ‘‘Fashion.” ————eate 1In old-fashioned weddings they threw a shoe at the bride and groom. Now they throw a plate at the photog- raphers. One custom is perhaps as reasonable as the other. ——— . When Mr. Tex Rickard complains that persons listen in free over the radio, he forgets service charges and the cost of new tubes. Sense of Proportion. Some young women seem to have no sense of proportion whatever in their selection of young man com- | panions. | Nothing is more common than the sight of a beautiful young girl, who easily might take her pick of eligible gentlemen, running around Wwith some sappy-looking individual. ‘Women popularly are supposed to be tremendously mysterious creatures, and surely there is nothing more mysterious than this, that a girl should deal out exactly the same treatment to two men, one of whom is uncouth, ugly and unsuccessful, and the other of whom is a cul- tured, successful gentleman. It is the lack of this sense of pro- portion which accounts for so many mismatings of the present day and which helps keep the divorce courts extinguished before being dropped. It may fall among dry leaves or twigs or\grass and start a tiny blaze that running overtime, Geneva has heard much discourse that served only to consume time. The thought that the filibuster may be tried out in international discussion is a depressing one, —————— If Mr. Dawes were careful in play- ing for the farm vote, he would lay aside his very modern pipeé and whittle himself something neat, but not osten- tatious, out of a corncob. ————— Friends of Al Smith insist that he shows originality in proving that man may be a candidate without a cowboy make-up., —————— ‘Wealth no longer expresses itself in magnificent automobiles. The liberal spender now wants a famous bird man for a chauffeur. ————— 'Lindbergh's life is insured by the Guggenheim Fund for $25,000, It ig an exceedingly modest price at that. SHOOTING STARS, BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. New Conditions. I shall not fight because of pride When courtesy has been denied; Nor even when a knave may claim My coin, while cheating at the game. But I will gladly join to make A prize fight, and divide the stake, In short, as new conditions g T'll ight a friend, but not a foe. Use and Waste. “Do you think money has been used in politics?” “Used!” rejoined Senator Sorghum. “It has been cruelly wasted!” Between Golfings. Each day, before his desk he takes his station. He dictates letters and he sends them off. His business is a valued relaxation From the intensive interest of “go't” ! Jud Tunkins says a quarrel is a waste of time and energy in an effort to anticipate an inevitable condition. It is like shouting at the cards or the dice, which are going to fall regard- less of persuasion. Following a " Clue. “Who is gulity of the crime?” ““We're not sure,” answered Cactus Joe. “So we've put it square up to that general, no-good, Mesa Bill, to prove that it ain't him.” “He who lives in the past,” sald Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “is read- |ing the tombstone epitaphs instead of the newspaper paragraphs.” Mercenary Influence. “What is your boy Josh doing?” “He's hitting a punching bag,” an- | swered Farmer Corntossel. “He has noticed these comparisons between the money received by college professors and pugilists.” Post Card Weather Reports. The post card is a pretty thing. ‘The joyous news it seeks to bring That while some other climes are hot, The place where it is mafled is not. ‘The post card makers we esteem As they promote a gentle dream, Although, in truth, we must agree, As weather experts they're N. G. If dat conscience fund in de Treas- ury,” sald Uncle Eben, “could collect Thousands of unmarried girls all over the United gutel began to talk all dat is due it, “I "spect dar wouldp't be need of no mo' taxes.” ) President of University of Cer Yesterday I entered a plea for serenity in the midst of modern dis- traction, for quiet in the midst of modern blare and noise, for meditation in the midst of modern talkativeness, for privacy in the midst of modern publicity—in short, a plea for the lost art of meditation. I pointed my plea” with a paragraph from the delicate and gracious prose of Amiel's Journal. 1 fear that here and there a reader may think that I was pleading that we turn ourselves into idle and im- practical dreamers, whereas I was pleading for that quiet anl meditation in which alone we can refresh and re- plenish our reserve forces for the highest efficlency. It is not surprising, therefore, to find Amiel, a little further on in his Journal, describing the sort of mastery that follows creative meditation. “To know how to he ready, a great thing, a precious gift, and one that implies calculation, grasp and decision. “To be always ready, a man must be ablé to cut a knot, for everything cannot be untied. “Ho must know how to disengage what s essential from the detail in which it is enwrapped, for everything cannot be equally considered. “In a word, he must be able to simplify his duties, his business. and his life. “It 1s astonishing how all of us are generally cumbered up with the thousand-and-ons hindrances and duties which are not such, but which nevertheless wind usabout with their spider threads and fetter the move- ment of our wings. ‘The Bureau of the Census already is busy with preparations for the tak- ing of the fifteenth census, although there are yet three years to elapse be- fore the advent of the next decennial period. The task is such a gigantic one, however, that Director Willlam M. Steuart of the bureau is finding plenty of work on his hands. With each census the volume of work in- creases, the United States being one of the most rapldly growing nations in the.world. At the time of the taking of the fourteenth census, the bureau calcu- lated roughly that 100,000,000 people would have to be counted. The final result was in excess of that figure, reaching the mm} of 105,683,000, Ten years earlier the fhirteenth census had shown inhabitants numbering 91,972,- 000, while in the year 1900. the Na- tion numbered but 75,994,000. Basing its estimates on the past rate of increase, carefully adjusted in relation to immigration, birth and death rate, and such elements, the bu- reau believes that the next census will show 120,000,000 people ia the United States. While doubtless a good guess with a scientific background, the actual tak- ing of the census may bring a differ- ent result. Every census brings sur- prises of one kind or another. The immediate effects of the war were, of course, reflected in the cen- sus taken in the year 1920. The war doubtless added to the population rather than diminishing it, because studies developed the fact that the careful handling of the 4,000,000 men under arms, their gains in health due to proper hygiene and exercise, regu- lar_habits and good food, contributed to longer life. For the total number of men under arms, including those who fell in battle or as the result of disease while in the service, the death rate was below what would normally be for the same number in time of peace. Wounds, gassing, shell shock and other infirmities which make up the price of war glory in modern times have, in many cases, developed serious belated effects. The fifteenth census will be affected by this situation, but in a relatively minor degree. Immigration Has Been Less. Immigration would have been great- er had it not been for the quota law, but even under the law, many hun- dreds of thousands have entered from older countries. The birth rate has shown no marked falling off, and the longevity of the American people steadily gains. The average age of death creeps higher and higher as sanitation improves, hygiene is better understood, infant mortality reduced and the public health generally pro- tected. All of these elements, some operating in one direction, others in another, will all have a bearing on the final figures. During the periods hetween decen- nial censuses, the bureau cuts down its staff ‘materially, but as the census year approaches the work gradually Increases. In 1927, the bureau has more than 800 clerks in the headquar- ters offices, at Washington, and some 900 agents in the fleld—that is, scat- tered throughout the country. The day of the actual taking of the census will show approximately 100, 000 persons on the Census Bureau pay roll. This will include the enumerators, who will number be- tween 90,000 and 95,000 in 1930, Their work is soon accomplished, and then begins the colossal task of digesting the returns. For the work of digest- ing the fourteenth census the bureau employed 6,300 employes. This num- ber gradually decreased with each year as the elaborate tabulations were completed. The bureau is organized in such a manner that it can expand and contract as the cxigencies require. All 'this work of enabling every man to know how many neighbors he has is costly, and, like almost everything else, the cost rises with each census. The per capita cost of the thirteenth census was 16 cents. The fourteenth cost each man, woman and child 19 cents. * Of the $20,100,000 appropriated for the fourteenth census, $7,618,000 was paid to the enumerators, whose really vital work was discharged in a single day. But, inasmuch as this cost falls on the public only once in 10 it scarcely can be regarded as ive. Improved Machinery Helps. These costs would indeed be burden- some were it not for the constant im- provement of machinery invented for the specific purpose of tabulating re- turns. These machines, largely the conceptions of employes of the bureau, work with uncanny skill in the sorting of cards and the recording of the date appearing on them. The basis of the mechanical system is a series of holes punched in cards. For instance, if a man is married, there will be a punch hole in his card which, automatically .|will cause it to be classified accord- ingly. So on down through ages, occupations, etc. Seventy-five general questions were asked by census enumerators for the purposes of the fourteenth census. These embodied a total of 425 separate items of information. A constant effort is made to simplify the question cards. The thirteenth census enumerators asked only 69 general questions, but thess embodied sub-items bringing the total to 560. The bureau seeks a vast amount of Information besides merely the number of persons. In making the enumera- varfety of data which, when trans- formed into statistics, give an ac- curate picture of the activities of the people. Information on agriculture, on finances of States and cities, on the wealth of the inhabitants, on produc- tive capacity of the Nation, and on many other matters is gathered. In faet, separate censuses are taken on manufactures, agriculture, religious D: 0., JULY . 3l 5. 1927—PART and Former FEditor of the “It is the lack of order which makes us slaves. “The confusion of today discounts the freedom of tomorrow. “Confusion is the enemy of all com- fort, and confusion is born of procras- tination. To know how to be ready we must be able to finish. Nothing is done, but what is finished. The things which we leave dragging be- hind us will start up again later on before us and harass our path. Let each day take thought for what con- cerns it, liquidate its own affairs and respect the day which is to follow, and then we shall be always ready. To know how to be ready is at bottom to know how to dle. “To know where one is golng and what one wishes—this is order; to keep one's word and one's engagements— again order; to have everything ready under one's hand, to be able to dispose of all one's forces, and to have all one's means of whatever kind under command—still order; to discipline one's habits, one's efforts, one’s wishes; to organize oni life, to distribute one’s time, to take the measure of one's duties and to make one's rights respected; to employ one’s capital and resources, one's tal- ents and one’s chances profitably—ail this belongs to and is included fn the word ‘order.’ Order means light and peace, inward liberty and free com- wnand over one's self; order is power.” It is important to remember that this outward order that is power is the ripe fruit of that inward order that is peace and serenity which comes from the lost art of meditation by men who refuse to sell all of their souls to the crowd. (Copyrizht. 1927.) PREPARING FOR NEXT CENSUS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. organizations, and other outstanding activities of the population. While the population figures are gathered only once in 10 years, other figures are brought in between the decennial periods, some with great fre- quency. One of the most important from the business point of view is the frequent report on cotton ginning and consumption. This affects the cotton market directly and the handling of the cotton reports is a somewhat ex- citing operation. Representatives of the press associations, ticker service, telegraph companies, and like agencies have men stationed at the bureau at an hour of which they are notified con siderably in advance. These repre- sentatives make telephone or tele- graph connections with their home offices and then line up like runners at a fleld meet. . In no circumstances are they per- mitted to so much as glance at the figures until a signal is given. Then like race horses at the barrier they leap to their instruments and dictate the figures to_distant hearers, who, in turn,. keep wires and wave lengths humming all over the country—in- deed, pretty much over the world— until .every cotton trading market is informed. The relative quantity which has been ginned or the quantity in consuming establishments, at com- presses or in public warehouses, when compared with the known total of the last cotton crop, shows what the sup- ply and demand are, thereby govern- ing the price. The decennial census may be com- pared to a man who seldom goes near a mirror, but who has his picture taken every 10 years and then care- fully studies the portrait. The Ameri- can people, by means of the decennial census, have their group picture taken every decade and it is a matter of keen interest to every one to know Just what we look like-as a nation after the lapse of each period. Bright Trade Outlook for Remainder of Year BY HARDEN COLFAX. Business men throughout the coun- try in general are optimistic over the outlook for trade and industry in the remaining months of the year, according to reports to the various Federal agencies which collect data on such trends. Combined with the prospects that farm crops this sea- son will be worth more than a bil- lion dollars above last year's agri- cultural production, the situation ap- pears decidedly favorable. One of the most significant of the many private indicators recently was that issued this week by the Amer- ican Railway Association in the form of a summary of the reports from the 13 shippers’ regional advisory boards as to their judgment of transporta- tion requirements for the third quar- ter of 1927. For the country as a whole these reports indicate that 4.3 per cent more freight cars will be required to haul the tonnage from July 1 to September 30 than during the corresponding period last year. If this increase in transportation demands is to be realized, however, it is apparent it will come in Au- gust and September, for the first three weeks of July have followed the trend of May and June in re- duced requirements for freight cars. The gains of the first four months of the year, however, have not been wiped out in the cumulative figures, for from January 1 to July 16 load- ings of revenue freights aggregated 28,204,000 cars, compared to 28,048,- 000 in the same perlod of 1926. Com- pared with 1925 there has been a falling off in transportation demands in only one week this year. The inactivity of coal has played a large part in slowing up freight movement in the last few weeks. Stocks of coal ‘in dealers’ yards and in consupers’ bins remain large. The shippers’ advisory boards believe, how- ever, that the coal movement in the third quarter will exceed that of the same period last year by more than 7 per cent. * K k¥ Wholesale prices continue to de- cline, having reached their lowest post-war level in the week ended July 23, according to.the Department of Commerce. Manufacturing production was great- er in. June than in that month of 1926, Using 1919 as 100, the Com- merce Department's index of this item shows 136 last. month, compared to 131 in June of last year. Commodity stocks, however, showed some in- crease in June and unfilled orders de- creased. The Department of Labor has reported a 2.4 per cent reduction in employment in manufacturing in- dustries in June contrasted with the same month a year ago and 2.3 per cent reduction in pay rolls. In the face of signs of a definite de- cline in the high rate maintained for several years by the construction in- dustry, building contracts awarded in June formed the largest aggregite value of any month on record, due largely to public works and public utilities. . Wholesale trade aa reported to the Federal Reserve Board aggregated 3.5 per cent smaller in value in the firat half of this year than in the corre- sponding period of 1926. Some of this is to be attributed to lower price levels. Sales at retall in the first half tion, the census takers obtain a wide |of the year were larger-than last year, both in value and in volume. Reports to the Federal Reserve Board indica smaller inventorles of goods and mo! rapld turnover by retailers, with d partment stores at the end of -June having smaller stocks than a year ago. s gCumplre‘ with. the early months of this year, there-has -been-a per~ ceptible slowing daw’m in some lines Capital Sidelights | The National Capital as a city of | character, with a fixed ideal to be at- | tained by permanent development, is | giving an inspiring example to other cities throughout the country in an- tithesis of the ‘“booster” plan for mushroom development—and the eity planners of the Capital emphasize that Washington must be careful to hold true to this character. The plans for a model municipal group of District | buildings on the north side of Penn- ylvania avenue hetween Third and th streets, which is to be presented to Congress when it reassembles, is a | feature of this consistent, progressive upbuilding. - Washington s an object lesson to all cities throughout the country, espe- cially in these days of growing Inter- ®st on the part of American cities in proper municipal development. Here- in_the Capital City relmburses every other community with municipal as pirations for any small part it may be paying toward the support of the Capital—for it inspires, encourages and gives a concrete example of ideal development. By studying the plans for Washington other cities have been saved vast sums that otherwise might | have been spent in false advertising under the “booster’” system, or in un- stable, ill-advised, air-castle develop- ments that discredit rather than per- manently help toward city growth. This thought is expressed by John Thider, who has made a careful Na- tion-wide survey of municipal expan- sion as manager of the city develop- ment department of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, and who advocates such a “discriminating” city policy as is ideally typified in Washington. “At a staggering cost in money, time, energy and vanished hopes,” he says, “our cities are accu- mulating some valuable experience. For one thing they are learning to discriminate. ~ They have not only passed the stage of mere ‘boosting,’ they are not only passing the stage of bonus giving, but they are actually learning that every increase in popu- lation is not necessarily an asset. “Discrimination having begun, our eyes having been opened, our cities are beginning to recognize that they have individual. characteristics and that those individual characteristics are among their great assets. So, to have deserved reputation as a cuitural or social center has value that should not be disregarded or thoughtfully sacri- fice: Washington has long been recog- nized as the great social center not only for Americans, but the socially elite of all lands gather here. Washington is one of the greatest cultural centers in all the world—in art, literature, music, science and all the ologies. It is a great educa- tional center with ufiversities, col- leges, academies, libraries and re- search institutions in all specialized lines. Here are found the largest number of skilled craftsmen in many lines—machinists, _engravers, the graphic arts. It is the common meeting ground of all peoples. It is a . center of world finance and commerce, of radio and aviation progress, of religious thought and practice, of humane labor and wel- fare activities. Washington for esthetic and ethical leadership and example—and it fis only fair that they should pay a small part of the overhead cost. ** ok Secretary Jardine of the Depart- ment of Agriculture is enthusiastic over the way in which the tourists and the political leaders Of the United States are coming this Sum- mer to know more about the big game reservation maintained by the Biological Survey at the Wind Cave National Park Game Preserve, only a few miles south of the “Summer ‘White House.” ‘This preserve, which has covered some 4,000 acres, is being almost doubled this Summer by the fencing in of more than 3,000 additional acres. Wind Cave, for which both the national park and the game pre- serve have been named, is one of the largest known «aves in the West, and, with the big animals in the preserve, has been attracting increasing thousands of visitors each year. Of course, this Summer the ‘presenca of the President and Mrs. | Coolidge at the Game Lodge of the ‘uster State Park Game Preserve in the Black Hills of South Dakota has been the special atiraction. The game preserve at present contains 150 buffalo, 144 elk and 18 antelope, as well as many species of wild birds protected there, including grouse and m;au& 4 Ever since the Capital was moved here more than 125 vears ago almost every one of the hundreds of Wash- ington correspondents who have helped to keep the people of the coun- try clogely informed on the trend of political affairs and oftentimes warn- ing them against plans and policies advocate ! in high places have at times suffered the sting of having their statement and quotations denied and discredited by the highest officials, who have frequently instigated or inspired the report. Therefore they have a kindred feeling for Merle Thorpe, editor of Nation's Business Magazine, the official organ of th~ National Chamber of Commerce, who has just issued a statement that: “It has always been, of course, the privil :ge of public officials to disclaim statements attributed to them.” UNITED STATES | IN WORLD WAR Ten Years Ago Today American destroyers report having engaged two U-boats simultaneously, only 6 miles apart, causing both to submerge and speed away without firing a shot. * * * Provost Marshal Crowder rules that women who wed slackers to help them evade military service may also be sent to jail. * * ¢ Germany invites peace overtures through Austria and hints at easy terms to Russia to influence that na- tion to quit struggle. * * * Gen, Goethals applies to Secretary Baker for Army duty in France. * * * Two American ambulance workers killed on French front and French War Cross is awarded to three others for distinguished services. * * * Treasury announces an {ssue of $300,000,000 in Treasury certificates. * * * George Creel recommends to President Wil- son that all efforts at control of war news be abandoned and the censoring of news left to the newspapers. * * ¢ London newspaper charges that the British admiralty is keeping the British people, and the American peo- ple as well, in the dark as to facts concerning submarine losses, and asks for definite figures. of business with a few notable excep- tions. But it is to be remembered that 1927 started out to smash records of the record-breaking 1926, so that a slowing up that does not even hint at depression is small cause for concern. Competition Is decidedly more keen this year than last. The pace is getting All the cities of the land look to| BY BEN McKELWAY. One of the peculiarities of reform, often remarked upon, is its tendency to travel in waves. The waves roll in and sometimes carry all before them, while others lose momentum and dle or else dash themselves helplessly nst the bulwarks of some condi- tion that will not be remedied by re- form. All of which leads to Washing- ton’s alley situation and the 10,000 or so Washingtonians who still inhabit the alleys many years after a great reform was started to clean them up, a reform which lost force as it trav- eled and finally ended in some bubbles and spray around the strong stone walls of the courts. When this great reform to clear up Washington's alleys—"slums,” as they were called then—reached its peak, the impression generally prevailed that unless the re- form was successful a dreadful dis- aster would at some time in the near future befall Washington; that the city would succumb before a menace which every day grew more awesome in its possibilities. Yet more than half a decade has passed and the alleys still remain, and the number of their inhabitants is about the same. Condi- tions are bad—perhaps not as bad as they were then, but still far from satisfactory. They are improving, but at the rate of annual improvement it will be many years before the alley nuisance is finally abated. One nat- urally wonders what has hecome of the reform, whether it will be started again some day, or whether the energy which it required to start has been expended, and the alleys, like so many other things, will be allowed to take care of themselves. * ok ok X There was a time not so long ago when the alley situation commanded the attention of the whole city and when the question of what would hap- pen to the alley dwellers was one of more than passing interest. During President Woodrow Wilson’s adminis- tration, Mis Margaret Wilson took keen interest in social conditions in Washington and much of the atten- ticn concentrated upon the alleys and the alley dwellers of Washington sprang from her activity. The in- fluence she loaned to the social work- ers of Washington interested in the allevs was perhaps the chief reason for their success in obtaining remedial legislation at the Capitol. The law which resulted apparently ended the evil at one stroke, for the law speci- fied a date upon which all tha alley homes of Washington would be emp- tied of their inhabitants. But the in- tervening years of war led to an an- nual postponing of the fatal day. Fi- nally there was a year when Congress, in the press of other matters, apparent- ly forgot to amend the law again and the District authorities awocke one morning to find Congress gone and a law which left them no alternative but to evict the alley dwellers. The day approached. The District authori- tles did not know how to evict the alley dwellers, for there was no place for the alley dwellers to go when evict- ed, and they decided that it would be better to let them remain where they were rather than turn them all upon the streets. So, instead of eviction day witnessing a wholesale turning out of 10,000 or more persons from their alley homes, it witnessed noth- ing. A suit was filed in Equity Court to restrain the Commissioners from ex- ecuting the law, but instead of its being a test of the law, the court call- ed the attention of the litigants to the fact that there was a remedy at law and that the case was not one for {an equity court to decide. * K ok ok The Commissioners therefore started proceedings in Police Court against one or two alley dwellers. The Po. lice Court ruled against the Commis- sioners and the District Court of Ap- Washington’s Alley Problem Is Still Awaiting Solution peals, in a decision this last Spring. concurred in the ruling of the Police Court and declared that the law was unconstitutional. The law had two weaknesses. It specified, in brief, that no building could be erected and maintained as a dwelling in an alley that was less than 30 feet wide, which did not open on two adjoining streets and which w not supplied with sewer and water and gas or electric lights. But it was found, upon ex amination of the law, that the five conditions set down as making a house fit to live in were so linked together in conjunction that all of them were required; that a house might comply in respect to four of them, but, lacking the fifth, it would be uninhabitable under the law. One instance was pointed out of houses that met all requirements except the one regarding gas or electric lights This would work to make a house lighted by kerosene an uninhabitable dwelling, and the court could not be- lieve that such a law was constitu- tional. Another interesting point about the law was the fact that the condi- tions mentioned referred to the alleys and not to the houses in the alleys. ‘Therefore, if the alley was equipped as prescribed and the houses were not, the law did not apply to the houses. ‘The law could be amended by remedying the discrepancies found by the courts and the next Congress will provide the first opportunity for amendment since the law has been declared invalid. Whether an attempt will be made to amend the law re. mains to be seen. Certainly no remedy has been suggested for the law's fundamental weakness, that while the alleys might be cleaned up, ‘where would those who once inhabited them go to live? * ok ok Some improvement in the alley situ- ation has been noted in the last 10 years. Many of the wretched wooden shacks have been removed. More of them are being torn down every year, 80 that by far the majority of the re- maining alley dwellings are of brick construction. Inspections are made at irregular intervals, and the inhabi- tants or the owners of the alley dwellings are called upon to remedy them. They do or they do not. In some cases the conditions to be reme- died are such that the cheapest thing to do Is to destroy the structure and build another. In other cases, where the remedial measures are put up to the alley dwellers, tke alley dwellers correct them, but after a time they are found as bad as they ever were. An inspection was made of the alleys recently, the first in two yvears, and 750 notices of abatement of con- ditions found by the Health Depart- ment were served. So far some 685 have been abated for the time being. There were, in addition, 153 reports of conditions referred to the plumbing inspector, 235 to the building inspec- tor, 8 to the Board of Condemnation, 1 to the Fire Department, 23 to the Street Cleaning Department, 38 to the Water Department and 3 to the Police Department. The inspections are made by an agent for the Board of Condemnation, composed of repre- sentatives of the Engineer Commis- sioner, the inspector of buildings and the health officer—a board which rep- resents the joint action of these three departments. Conditions found within the jurisdiction of other departments are noted and forwarded to the de- partments under which they come. Regular inspection of the alleys and strict enforcement of the faulty con- ditions found tend to work a gradual reform. If continued, this system might result ultimately in a condition to be reached immediately by drastie legislation. But it would be a long- drawn-out process. The alleys remain, and they are not beauty spots, al- though comparison with the slums of more congested commercial cities is not a fair one. Washington has not solved its alley problem. Fifty Years Ago In The Star The week of July 22-28, 1877, was one of the most exciting this country had experienced since the days of the Civil War, owing to the A Wegk of railroad strike _prevail- ng in the Eastern Rioting. States, starting in Mary- several other States. land and_spreading to The issues of The Star during that week tell the story vividly in extra editions, marked by, for those times, extraordinary headlines. A summary of these news captiol vill give a picture of the situation, In the issue of Monday, July 23, 1877, with three extra editions, the following heads occur: “The Strikers' War—The Trouble Spreads—All Trains Stopped at St. Louis—The Pennsylvania Insurrec- artranft Calls for U. S “The Great Riots—Philadelphia's Turn—An Oil Train Fired—Regulars Sent to the Quaker City—Jersey Mili- tia Ordered Out—Panic at Pittsburgh Today.” “The Strike Riots—Another Out- break—Strikers in Control in Buffalo —New York City Alarmed—Money Markets Demoralized—Trains Stopped at St. Louis—Strike in Altoona— Philadelphia Fire Over.” In two extra papers printed on Tuesday, July 24, are the following headlines: “The Bloody Labor War—The Buf- talo -Outbreak — The Killed and ‘Wounded—San Francisco Riots—At- tacking the Chinese—Bloody Work at Reading—More Reckless Firing By the Militia—Five Persons Killed and Twenty-five Wounded.” “The Great _Strike — Movement Spreading—St. Louis Suffers—The Trains All Stopped—Indianapolis in for It—Strikers Control the Union Depot—Other Points Affected—New | Strikes East and West—DMiners and| Other Workmen Join."” i On Wednesday, July 25, there were two extras in which the news is print- ed with these heads: “The Labor Troubles — Exciting News From Missouri—Kansas City Controlled by Strikers—All Manual Labor Stopped—San Francisco Hood- lums—War on the Chinese.” “Chicago Communists—The Police Disperse Them—Louisville Laborers | Idle—Strikers at Other Points—Pas- sengers Detained in Canada.” Two extras were issued on Thurs- day, July 26, with these heads: “A Night of Terror—The San Fran- cisco Mob—Incendiarism Rampant— Gallant _Charge of the Vigilantes— They Disperse the Rioters—>More Trouble Feared.” “Midsummer Madness—Bloody Work in Chicago—The Regulars Open Fire— Terrible Slaughter of Rioters—Mowed Down by Grape and Cannister—Situa- tion at St. Louis—Strikers in Full Control—They Stop All Work in the City—Erie Compromise—Traius Run- ning Today.” The situation had greatly improved by Friday afternoon, July 27, and no t were issued on that day, the swifter steadily and sound manage- ment is necessary to keep abreast of developments in the world of busine and industry. The increase in the number of failures as congrasted with a year ago indicates the dropping out of those unprepared for sharper com- petition. But the margin of profit of firms well intrenched does not appear to be falling; it is being maintained by economies of operation and man- agement in face of decreasing prices. As matters stand today it 1is apparent that business leaders expect 1927 to -be almost as good a year as 1926 and to close well in advance of 1925, x {Conyrisht. 1927.) E being thus headlined: . ‘Down Brakes!—The Riots Subsid- Ing—The New Jersey _Strikers— Blockade at Phillipsburg—Baltimore & Ohlo Strikers—Negotiations in Prog- ress—San Francisco Incendiaries.” On Saturday, July 28, 1877, the story had been reduced to small compass in the news columns, and in the single issue of that day the headlines ran as follows: “Rallroad Strikes—Nearing the End ~The B. & O. Road- Resumes—Re- sumption on Other Roads—Strikers Caught by Regulars—Crisis Passed in gwh—Annmr' Anti-Chinese Out- This and That By Charles E. Tracewell. An entirely new experience came to Jack Spratt last week. For the first time in four years, he got his tail rocked on! ‘What is common experience to most cats is that much of a rarity with Jack Spratt, he of the elegant striped tail. In the average household the pet cat has some one step on him at least half a dozen times a week, and the impact of a chair rocker upon the tail is almost as common. The tail of a cat, whether Persian or ordinary alley variety, sticks out so flamboyantly that it is a matter of wonder that it is not stepped on every day. Added to the strategic position of the tail, there come the habits of the cat, especially those of winding around a person’s feet, or forever throwing itself down in one’s path, as it calmly proceeds to make its tollet. * kK K Every precaution had been taken to protect Spratt from a like happening. . It was felt that he had realized his full share of such happenings, when, as a Kkitten, he got his then rat-like tail caught in the swinging door be- tween kitchen and dining room. Faithful readers of this, the only weekly cat column in the world, wiil recall how Jack ran through the door, only to have it swing to on his tail, leaving him frantically struggling and meowing on one side, with his human. friends on the other. The only way to release him was to shove the door, compressing his tail still more. There was no way to. pull the door in, as it had no handle, only the flat brass plates common to doors in such situations. There was small Jack Spratt, the new friend, with his tail sticking | through, and his wail arising.from the other side. There was nothing to do but shove, and so we shoved, forcibly releasing Jack from his predicament, whereupon he fled to the refuge of the darkest place he could find. Since that date the cat has never gone through that doorway but what he has looked suspiciously at the door. He has never forgotten. That a like, happening may not overtake him again, howéver, a doorstop is kept there. The stop is in the form of a heavy iron cat, white, with green eyes. * ok kK Every precaution is taken through- out the house to prevent doors from slamming on the elegant tiger-striped tail of Jack Spratt, esq., perhaps the only cat in Washington who regularly receives letters. ‘Whenever there is a bit of wind blowing, chairs are propped against all doors, so that by no chance may they blow to upon him. Extra precaution has been taken to avold stepping on Jack, or rocking on him. No matter how long an animal has been with one, when he is hurt he immediately reverts to the wild state. He does not understand. How can he? He is only an animal. * ok ok % Jack left his position at the front door, and walked behind our chair. ‘We innocently rocked back, where- upon a grand screech rent the air. Immediately we rocked forward. We knéw what had happened. At last we had rocked on old Jack! Spratt sprang around _the chair, indignation in his eyes. He ran into: the dining room and beneath the table, “TFhe sound of an opening refrigerntor e sou an opening door, however, lured him readily from his retreat. In the luxury of veal cutlet he forgot his injurge .