Evening Star Newspaper, August 3, 1927, Page 8

|THE EVENING STAR With _Sunday Morning_Edition. _ WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY. ...August 3, 1027 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor ‘The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: 11th St. and Pennavivania New York Office: 110 East 4: Chicago Office: To * European Office: 14 Re Englan Ave. 2nd 8t. wer Building. nt St.. London, The Evening Star, with the Sunday morn- tng edition. ia delivered by carriers within the city at 60 cents per month: dajly on! 45 cents ner month: Sundays only. 20 cen per month, . Orders mav he sent by talenhone Maim 5000 Collection is made by carrier at end of each month, Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. ~Paity and S: saily onlv Sunday only All Other States and Canada. aile and Sunday aily only Sunday only Member of the Associated Press, The Associated Press is exclusively entitled 0 the ‘use for republication of all news di atches credited o 1t or not otherwise cred ted in this paper and alto the local new ~iblished herein. Al righta of publication 1 dispatches in_are aleo The President's Choice. With characteristic simplicity of ex pression President Coolidge states that it is his choice not to run for the Presidency next year. In the briefest possible manner he announces his per- sonal preference for retirement from office at the close of his present term. This announcement takes the country by surprise and leads to a wide range of speculation as to his meaning. The occasion and the language were both carefully chosen. The time was the fourth anniversary of his accession to the Presidency upon the death of Mr. HMarding. The words were typical. The President says: “I do not choose 1o run for President in 1928.” Refus- ing to amplify this declaration, he Jeaves it for the country to interpret, | and the country is now busily en- gaged in that interpretation. _ In all the circumstances these ten words must be taken to mean pre- cisely what they say, neither more nor less. They undoubtedly mean that Mr. Coolidge's own choice is to be allowed to retire on the fourth of March, 1929, from an office to which he succeeded on the death of his pred- ecessor and to which he was subse- quently elected by the largest ma- Jjority ever given to a presidential can- didate. They doubtless mean that Mr. Coolidge feels that the tradition against a third term is operative in the case of a successor President re- gardless of the length of time cov- ered by his succession term. It is noteworthy that he does not discuss this question. It is not the President's nature to discuss such matters. Yes- terday’'s desclaration was entirely in character., Naturally the political effect of this announcement is today the subject of Nation-wide analysis. Does it throw sufficient doubt of the justice of the proceedings to warrant intervention the executive clemency can take only one of those two forms. The governor cannot set aside all the proceedings and declare them vold on the scoro of the innocence of the men. He i3 not vested with the powers of a trial court. It is this limitation that has sug- gested that Gov. Fuller, if he has de- cided that the trial was tinged with injustice, may ask the Legislature for a law granting a new trial at which the whole case can be judicially reviewed on the facts. Under the stat utes at present the appellate courts of the State cannot consider the facts, but must confine themselves to de termination of the manner in which the law has been interpreted and ap- plied by the trial court. Thus there the case save as to the interpretation of the law by the lower court. It may be that if the governor decides to in- tervene he will ask for a statute not only covering the Sacco-Vanzetti case but establishing newly in Massachu- setts the procedure that obtains in other jurisdictions whereby the ap- pellate courts can consider facts as well as law in their reviews, Within a few hours this decision, which is of momentous character in | view of the widespread agitation in behalf of these condemned men, will have been made public, with possibili- ties of reaction that cannot be fully measured. e Beaten, But Still a Hero. It would have been most satisfac- tory had Walter Johnson won his game yesterday, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of his first contest in the American League. The stage was set for a masterly perform- ance, demonstrating that, although time had taken its toll of that mighty right arm, the experience of two dec- ades was still sufficient to dominate the opposition. But fate decreed other- wise. As went that first game in 1907, when Detroit welcomed the youngster with a defeat, so went this later game, when the club bearing the same title as the foe of twenty years ‘ago rallied in the ninth inning and smashed the ball so soundly that the pitcher whose splendid services to his team were being celebrated was with- drawn and another, and still another, went to the box in a vain endeavor to stem the tide. But defeat did not dull the enthusi- asm of those who were gathered to do honor to the man who has honored base ball. Walter was still the hero of the thousands and the admired model of the players who participated in the ceremonies. There were many there who had witnessed that first game twenty years ago, though not a single player who participated in the game of August 2, 1907, outside of Johnson himself, was in action yes- terday. Some of the spectators had seen Walter when his mere presence open the fleld of Republican nomina- tion to the half dozen or more men who have for some time been regard- ! ed as potential candidates in the event that the President definitely refuses to allow his name to be considered? Naturally booms for them will be im- mediately stimulated. It is probable that the President has timed his state- ment with respect to this very con- tingency, giving his party an oppor- tunity to develop a standard bearer for the campaign of 1928. There is a possibility that the Presi- dent’s statement will not be accepted, that the sentiment for his retention in office grounded upon his able perform- ance during the past four years and his valuable service will, despite his expression of personal choice, grow into a demand that cannot be denied. If in the back of his mind this possi- bility has been entertained the state- ment of yesterday is most effectively timed. If this is a political move it is a shrewd one. But justice to the President demands that his ten words of announcement be taken at their face valuation, that he be given the credit for sincerity of statement, that he means exactly what he says, and that he prefers that his party shall choose another than him- self to carry on through the campaign next year, and, if elected, te serve the coming term as President. ————————— There is no doubt about Aimee's ability to bring in the money. But when it comes to a question of divid- ing up she needs the services of a “business doctor.” Awaiting Gov. Fuller’s Decision. Tonight Gov. Fuller of Massachu- setts will announce his decision in the e of Sacco and Vanzetti, who are condemned to die for murder during the week ending August 10. He has made a thorough study ‘of the case, having referred it in detail to a board of ad- visers, himselt personally Interview- ing many of the witnesses at the trial and finally conferring with the judge who presided at that trial. He has not been moved by clamor or petition in behalf of the convicted men to de- part from the course of procedure which he has deemed most suitable, The governor of the State can con- firm the sentences and allow the law 10 take its course next week, or, if he 1% in doubt as to the justice of the con- victions, he may pardon the two men and set them free. Or he may com- in the box sufficed to awe the opposi- tion; when his speed was such that enemy batsmen’s only “alibi” for strik- ing out was “You can't hit what you can't see.” They had seen him over- come h': early difficulty in fielding bunts, which h:d caused his downfall twenty years ago. They had witnessed his stupendous performances in win- ning games for a light-hitting team, hopelessly distanced in the league races. - They were sorry he did not win yesterday, but they loved him none the less for the failure. Sentiment does not win ball games. Nor does sentiment prevail to cause opposing players to yleld a bit to en- able a favorite to score a victory. Yesterday’s contest, resulting in a de- feat for the hero of the occasion, was an added proof of the fact that the sport is “on the square.” Now Walter announces that he is through as a regular starter in the pitcher’s box. He will continue occa- sionally to officiate and will doubtless turn in a good many victories before he finally hangs up his mit and leaves the game for good. He is not exactly “emeritus,” but he will pitch only when he is prime for a good perform- ance. There is cause for sadness in this, but it is a sadness tinged with happiness, for there i3 no higher re- ward for any performer than to re- main on duty as an exemplar of the highest qualities of sporting profi- ciency, and there will come a day when Walter will sit as spectator and reflect upon the many, many games he has won with honor. He has earned his relief from toil and training and his laurels are secure. e The person jauntily described in print as a “man about town” some- times turns out to be merely a “bark- er” for a night club. - A Wealthy Beggar. Another example of the wealthy beg- gar comes to light in a case before the surrogate of New York County. For many years a man with a long beard, white in recent times, has frequented the corner of Fourteenth street and Eighth avenue in New York asking alms, He did a good business. He Icoked the part. Charitable people heeded his plea for a nickel for a cup of coffee and usually gave him more. He had come to this country as a young man from Ireland to escape the draft in the Crimean War and found his opportunity in the New World sell- 1nute their sentences to life imprison- | ing flowers on Union Square. He soon went, or, finally, he may grant a re- prieve to allow time for the enactment of a special law permitting a retrial which in the present state of the stat- utes of Massachusetts cannot be held. Dispatches from Boston today Indicate this last possibility to be the course the governor may pursue. e Saceo and Vanzett! and their friends do not want any mitigation of sen- tence or pardon. Contending that they ere the victims of a miscarriage of discovered that the tips exceeded the straight profits from the flowers and turned his appealing personality to ac- count. He saved the price of the flowers and everything was profit. About twelve years ago a marine en- gineer named Sloane noticed the old man and took him home with him for a meal. From that time on he be- came the non-paying guest of Mr. and Mrs. Sloane, who regarded him as an object of charity. A few months be- Justice, that they are innocent of any | fore he died he told Mrs. Sloane that degree of complicity In the crime for which they have been tried, they de- mand a complete clearance. A pardon finplies confirmation of guilt, but re. mits the sentence as an act of mercy, Commutation of the sentence to life jmprisonment 18 even less desired by the pertisans of the condemned men &s such action is In itself, likewise, a confirmation . of the verdict, though it preserves the lives of the accused he would remember her in his will. She laughed, thinking it a joke, but he insisted that she go with him to a safely deposit Lcx, where he showed of baak books. Tn March, i5, he told h-r he would leave her $10,000 it she would care for him until he dled. But he failed to make a will, ard after his death a few weeks later attorneys for ten nephews and nieces in the old country filed a will in which and leaves open the way to future re- habilitation. Yet as the law, nds J\ U the governor decides that s has never been a judicial review of | THE EVENING STAR, opinion just filed orders the honorins' of the $10,000 bequest to Mrs, Sloane. The estate is valued at $65,000, which ought to leave sufficient for the nephews and nieces overseas, who had never thought enough of thelr sup- posed beggar uncle in America to render him asy aid. This case should not necessarily dis- courage the giving of alms. But it does illustrate the fact that very often the professional pleader for pennies, “just enough for a cup of coffce.” is more affluent thay the good-hearted donors of small change. v The Cryptogram. There are many “ifs” in President Coolidge’s statement that he “does not choose to run for President in 1928 They are implied “ifs,” to be pplied by the interpreters of his message. He has, indeed, set a crypto- gram for the country to solve. It is Midsummer and in general the times are dull. Transatlantic flying has be- come commonplace and no longer thrills the country. The Geneva con- ference has been brought to the point of impasse at which there s no acute interest in the proceedings. The Mis- sissipp! floods have subsided. Every- thing is quiet and normal. Now come the ten words of Delphic brevity and high potency for meaning, and in- stantly the country is busy in inter- pretation. To those who look askance at every- thing relating to Mr. Coolidge’s pur- poses this message may be an incite- ment to suspicion. To those who have faith in the sincerity of the man it means no more than what it precisely says. To those who regard him as an adroit politician it is a bid for a dem- onstration of that “irresistible de- mand” that has heretofore compelled modesty to assume the role of willing- ness. Is it an overture for solicita- tion? Ts it a shifting of responsibility for a disregard of the most exact mathematical definition of a “third term"? If the President is angling for a public demand for the continuation of his services he has chosen good bait. His cryptogram is better for such a purpose than the most alluring worm that was ever put on a hook. But there stands that “if,” and no man can tell whether there is any ground for any “if" whatever in the case. r—or—s. Photographers who find plates hurled during a wedding may console themselves by attending a gathering of aspiring statesmen, when nothing will be thrown at them except bou- quets. —_—a—— Celebration for Walter Johnson is a recognition of good work. Honor comes to the man who gives the best that is in him to any service for which he qualifies. —cwe—— Instead of a dress sult, a statesman now has his valet lay out a cowboy costume. —_——————————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. 0ld-fashioned Melody. The old-fashioned melody which poets ‘would inspire 1 ridiculed in days gone by. T now admire. T'm weary of the motor horn. nervous 'mid the dash, ‘Where bootleg wagons punctuate pro- ceedings with a crash; Weary of the ringing of the busy tele- phone, That lends unto the furlous jazz a tinkle of its own. As August slowly drifts, I long for a familiar tune; T hope to hear the katydid a-singing pretty soon. Plain, old-fashioned melody! ask the chance To join in the expression of a good old«country dance. The insect for whose music now so earnestly T beg, Attends to all the footwork as he uses his hind leg To formulate the simple strain his an- cestors have played, For centuries to tell of happy days each year delayed; Weary of the rumors in a world so tempest tossed. Waiting for the katydid to sing about the frost. It's what I'm T do not Drawing the Line. “Do you favor trial marriages?” “I refuse to go on record,” answered Senator Sorghum. “I'm willing to dis- cuss the drink evil, but I think there are still a few forms of private scandal that ought not to get into politics.” Cowboys. | The cowboy costumes freely s em. ployed, Until it brings suspicion of regret. The cowboy whose bold feats are so enjoyed, May yet be posing as a parlor pet. Jud Tunkins says a man who re- fuses to change his mind, at least proves a willingness to trust his own judgment. “We throw our prayers at a joss,” sald H1 Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “and hope that marksmanship, as well as personal piety, will be considered in our favor.” A Matrimonial Confusion. “How many wives have you?” “I don't know,” answered King Soloman. “So many of the brides in- sisted on trial marriages that the cen- sus taker has become hopelessly con- fused.” Johnsonian Conversation. Of Johnson's genius she would tell, In phrase that did not falter. She spoke of Doctor Samuel. The man she meant was Walter. Business. “Are vou engaged to him?" asked Miss Cayenne. “Yes,” answered the prudent girl. “But 1 have requested time to verify reports on his title and fortune.” “That is not an engagement. is an option Dollar Combat. He grabbed himself a million. His heart was light and gay. The man wh» had a billion Soon swept it all away. “A man dat keeps talkin' 'bout his. That the old beggar had left almost his en- tire fortune to them. The case went before the surrogate and finally an self,” sald Uncle Eben, “is sure to leave folks thinkin' dat Re's easy en- |ing and THAT & BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Have you an open mind? A great many people are grievously offended at anything new; some, on the other hand, instantly resent tried and true things. Surely the golden mean of an open mind, ready to hear quietly, but not willing to be stampeded just because a matter is new, is the best. It one believes so, he will be in terested in one of the oldest pro nouncements in_the world on this subject, to be found in the second book of Lucretius’ poem on the nature of the universe. “Apply now, we entrea to_true reason. “For a new question earnestly to gain your ea aspect of things to displa “But there is nothing so e: not to be at first more difficult believe than afterwards; and nothing, too, 8o great, so marvelous, that all do mot gradually abate their admira tion of it. “Look up at the brighh and un- sullied hue of heaven and the st: which it holds within it, wanderi all about, and the moon and the sun’s light of dazzling brilliancy: If all these things were now for the first time, if T say they were now suddenly presented to mortals beyond all ex- pectation, what could have been named that would be more marvelous than these things, or that nations beforehand would less venture to be lieve could he? Nothing, methink wondrous strange had been this s “Yet, how little, you know, wearied as all are to satie with seeing, any one now cares to look up into heaven's glittering quarters! “Cease, therefore, to be dismayed by the miere novelty and so to reject reasons from your mind with loathing; weigh the questions rather with keen judgment and if they seem to you to be true, surrender, or if they are a falsehood, gird yourself to the encounter,” struggles * ok ok ok Lucretius spoke up for the bound- lessne: of the universe—and some 1.400 rs later men laughed at Co- lumbus, and feared lest he would sail off the edge of the world! The play of atoms on atoms, Lucre- tius held, finally will wear the world to pieces. So we come to.an oft-quoted page, one of the famous quotations of classical literature, in which is pictured the aged plowman shaking his head because the world is not “like it used to be!” The page: “In this way the wall of the great world around shall be stormed and fall to decay and crumbling ruin. “Yes, and even now the age is en- feebled and the earth, exhausted by bearing, scarce produces little living creatures, she who produced all races and gave birth to the huge bodies of wild beast “For methinks no golden chain let down to earth from heaven above the race of mortal beings, nor did the sea and waves, which lash the rocks, pro- duce them, but the same earth bare them which now feeds them out of herself. “Moreover she first spontaneously of herself produced for mortals goodly corn crops and joyous vineyards; of herself gave sweet fruits and glad pastures; which nowadays scarce at- tain any size when furthered by our labor: we exhaust the oxen and the strength of the husbandmen: we wear out or iron, scarcely fed after all by the tilled fields; so niggardly are they of their produce and after so much labor do they let it grow. your mind | | thing “And now the aged plowman shakes his head and sighs again and again to think that the labors of his hands have come to nothing; and when he compares present times with times past, he often praises the fortunes of his sires and harps on the theme how the men of old, rich in piety, com- fortably supported life on a scanty plot of ground, since the allotment of land to each man was far less of yore than now. “The sorrowful planter, too, of the exhausted and shriveled vine im- peaches the march of time and wearies heaven, and comprehends not that all e gradually wasting away and ng to the grave, quite for- spent by age and length of d * K K ok Ts it not a comfortable feecling to realize that apparently Lucretius was quite as wrong, in this matter, as his old_plowman? “The Italian soil, which to him seem- ed worn out before the birth of Christ, still produces excellent vines and other fertilization takes the place of moaning. humane picture of the man praising the fortune of his sires, and harping on the theme, strikes an rlasting note. it is, to create an unforget- able picture’ in literature. Lucretius’ plowman is kith and kin to the in “The Angelus” and to the p worker in Markham'’s “Man With the Hoe." * ok ok ok There 1s something intensely pa- thetic to a modern reader in the earnest way in which Lucretius sets about, in his thjrd book, to prove that death is less than nothing. The reader is referred to Munro's trans- lation. We content ourselves here with glving some excerpts from the intro- duction to the book. Speaking directly to Epicurus, LLucretius says: “Thee, who first was able amid such thick darkness to raise on high so bright a beacon and shed a light on the true interest of life, thee I fol- low, glory of the Greek race, and plant now my footsteps firmly fixed in thy imprisoned marks. “Thou, father, art discoverer of things, thou furnishest us with fa- precepts, and like as bees sip of all things in the flowerly lawn; we, oh glorious being, in like manner feed from out thy pages upon all the gold- en maxims, golden I say, most worthy ever of endless life.” H. Lionel Rogers, translating this into the quatrains made popular bv Edward Fitzgerald, gives us the fol- lowing: “O Thou -that first couldst raise from such dark Night So clear a Beacon and thereby make bright The Balm of Life: T follow after Thee, Thou of the Greek Race the one True Light! “Thou, Master, first the Scheme of Things did gauge And handest down to us for Heritage Those Principles that Thou, most glorious, Hast hived within Thy honey-scented Page. For as the Bees In flower-strewn arden-ways Sip ever sweet, of all our Master says ‘We too drink deep his Wisdom's golden Wine, Worthy of all Tomorrow's deathless Days.” WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS Once or twice a year the Federal Trade Commission crashes into first- page news with a far-reaching order affecting some great industry, such as the commissfon’s recent decision di- rected against the Famous Players- Lasky, charging restraint of competi- tion in the motion picture field, or its prospective inquiry into the affilia- tions of United States Steel, the du Pont$ and General Motors. Most of the time, however, the commission recelves its only publicity from the hands of its critics. 1t is assailed on the one hand for alleged meddlesome and unwarranted harassment of “big business,” and on the other hand charged with laxity and futlity. It is pictured as either too aggressive or too passive, according to the view- point. The fact that the commission is the great present-day Government agency in stamping out fraudulent trade practices designed to mulct the public; that crooks and unscrupulous manufacturers and merchants are go- ing out of business or mending their way8 in the face of an unrelenting campaign being waged against them by the commission, receives no public attention whatever. * ok K K Since its creation a dozen years ago, the commission has instituted more than 12,000 investigations of alleged “deceptions” and false or unfair busi- ness methods designed to “beat” either a competitor or the public, or both. More than 4,000 such cases have reached the “application for com- plaint” stage; 1,500 formal complaints have been filed, and 800 or so formal orders have been issued to “cease and desist.”” Many of the cases have been dropped because the concerns quit business or because they voluntarily entered into “stipulations” with the commission to abandon the business methods complained of. As to the 800 or more formal orders to “cease and desist,” more than three-quar'ters have been obeyed without any proceedings in court.” In the litigation in the other cases, instituted either by the commis- sion to enforce its orders, or by the other side to restrain the commission or to have the order set aside, the re- sults have been about a 50-50 break. The commission has won half and lost half of the lawsuits. * ok ok % As a result of the activities of the commission in the fleld of unfair busi- ness methods, ‘“all-Havana” cigars, rolled from domestic tobacco; “castile” soap, which contains no olive oil; “good grape” sirup, which never knew a grape; “Baltic beaver,” furs of dyed rabbit skin; “platinum finish* Jewelry, without the platinum; “Gov- ernment quality” paint, without lead and oil; “Irish” lace, from China, and dozens of other misbranded products which deceive the unwary buyer are becoming scarcer, Advertisements of “from factory to you” furniture, when the factory is a fake: “from mills to wearer” woolens, when the mills are a myth, are fast disappear- ing. EREE Some cases coming before the com- mission have their humorous side. The commission recently ordered a nationally known baking powder com- pany to cease the circulation of maga- zine and newspaper articles “disparag- ing the wholesomeness of self-rising flour.” One of the interesting cases which went to the courts and which the commission lost related to the ad- vertising of a famous mattress. The commission contended that the tradi- tional picture of the mattress in this concern's advertising, depicting the felt layers at one end enormously ex- panded, was exaggerated and mislead- ordered the picture toned down. The courts decided otherwise and ruled that a certain amount of “puffing” in advertising was not de- ception. v ok ok ok Jay Pierrepont Moffat of the State Department's forelgn service carcer corps, who was married last week to the daughter of Joseph C. Grew, re- celved a pleasant wedding gift in’ the shape of a new diplomatic assignment. He goes to Switzerland as first secre: Y te the Amepioan legation at Bern. In these days of frequent Geneva conferences Switzerland is the diplomatic Mpunt Olympus. Mr. Mof- fat’'s new father-in-law is the former Undersecretary of State and recently named Ambassador to Turkey, with a long and notable record in our foreign service. The bride and groom are already enroute to Geneva on_one ship and Ambassador Grew and his wife are aboard another ship headed for Constantinople. Mr. Moffat kas been in the foreign service since his graduation from Harvard in 1919. He first came into the public eye last year when he was assigned as White House ‘“‘ceremonial officer” to assist Mrs. Coolidge in tricky details of eti- quette in high social functions of state. Recently he had been assigned as first secretary to the new legation at Ottawa, Canada, but this is super- seded by his transfer to Bern. * koK K The Capitol has emerged with a fresh coating of paint—gray, instead of white or near white. After striving for more than a century to maintain a white exterior on the combination marble and sandstone structure, the architect of the Capitol has given up the task and now for the first time the building presents a uniform gray color, even to the huge dome. The two marble wings are stained and weathered by age and made a dingy contrast to white paint which has for- merly been applied each Summer to the limestone center-section and the cast iron dome. So now the center section and dome have been matched up to the dark gray marble. It re- mains to boe seen what Congress will think about the innovation. 2 (Copyright. 1927.) UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR Ten Years Ago Today American tankers battle with sub- marines and one is badly injured, saved only by timely arrival of Amer- lcan destroyers. * * # Kitchin, ma- jority leader in House, attacks the Senate war-tax bill, charging favor- itism to big corporations. * * * Drafting of Army cost United States $8,660,480, a per capita of §7.28. * ¢ * Captured German officers admit Ger- many’s loss in man power is serious, and confess that the entire class of 1918 recruits is already under arms. * * ¢ Shipping Board ready to com- mandeer all vessels in American yards and hasten their construction. The commandeering of all ships at sea pre- dicted as next move. * * * Ameri- can labor shuns proposed international conference at Stockholm. Time not opportune, ompers in declining invitation to peace gathering, * * * House votes unanimously to accept conference report on administration’s food bill, 357 to 0. Adopted report goes to Scnate for action_tomorrow. * * * American mission to Russia, headed by Elihu Root, reaches this country safe- ly, landing at a Pacific port. Rampant Missouri Will Be Restricted From the Kaneas City Journal-Post. There should be general jubilation over the announcement of Maj. Gor- don R. Young, district United States engineer in charge of navigation de- velopment on tha Missouri River, that the notoriously unruly river is being ted to discipline. Hitherto the Missouri has heen free as the wind, flowing where it listeth. Something like a malevolence has heen ifest at times, when it wandered rom established cities, leaving them without means of transportation, At other times it has sprawled itself| all over towns, to their great disaster. For long periods it has been confined to its bed but, as soon as the excuse of a rise came, it would find itself able to get up and around, whimsically spreading desolation which could not be foreseen or avetted. 1f, as Maj. Yo believes, an effec- WASHINGTON. D._C. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 3. 1P THIS AND Politics at Large By G. Gould Lincoln. The Bay State is still Coolidge mind- ed. Make no mistake about that. If the President, despite the statement just issued by him, is a candidate for the Republican nomination in 1928, Massachusetts will be for him at the Republican national convention and for him in the general election which will follow. Talk of Democrats in New York that Gov. Al Smith could carry Massachusetts for the Democrats against President Coolidge is opti- mism carried to the nth degree. Smith doubtless would get a large vote in Massachusetts, both because there are a large number of Catholic voters and wets in the Bay State. But the judg- ment of men who have followed the al history of the State in recent years is that Coolidge will win with- out question in this State if he is a candidate.. * Kk ok ok Furthermore, the opinion in Massa- chusetts s that the President will be a candidate, Senator George Moses and Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler to the contrary notwithstanding. The so-called third-term issue is not both- ering the Republicans of Massachu- setts. In the first place, they insist that another term for the President is not really a third term. In the second place they see people at large satisfied with President Coolidge and his ad- ministration, and while some of the Republican politicians might be glad to see Mr. Coolidge side-tracked in 1928, they say there is little prospect of such a happening. * ok ok K The third-term issue which has been aised by some Republicans is regard- ed as a mere cloak for their personal opposition to the renomination and re- election of President Coolidge, anyway. It appears now that the Republican leaders ave.preparing to take the third- term bull by the horns in New York State. Under a resolution adopted re- cently by the Republican State com- mittee, the State convention which meets in Rochester September 30 will take some action on the third-term is- sue as it applies to the possible candi- dacy of President Coolidge to succeed himself. If the Republican State con- vention of the Empire State goes on record as favoring the renomination of the President at that time, and dis- counts the third-term issue, it will not be without its effect throughout the country. New York is, and has been, strong for Mr. Coolidge, and the prob- abilities are that the convention will 8o on record as approving his renom- ination. At least it will do something to clear the atmosphere. On the other hand, if the State con- vention should oppose the renomina- tion of the President it would be but the beginning of the end. It should be remembered, however, that Charles D. Hilles, Republican national committee- man, who insists that another term for Mr. Coolidge cannot rightly held to be a “third term,” is one of those who favors action by the State convention. If other Republican State conventions should take action, too, in favor of Mr. Coolidge the wind will be taken out of the sails of the anti-third-term movement which plans to put through the Senate and House resolutions op- posing a third term for the President. It would be carrying the war to the enemy in vigorous fashion. * Kk ¥ From the West come reports that the progressive wing of the Repub- lican party, which followed La Follette in the presidential campaign of 1924, is preparing to rally around Senator George Norris of Nebraska for the Re- publican nomination next year against Mr. Coolidge. This is entirely likely, for Senator Norris has been regarded by many as the logical successor to the late Senator La Follette as leader of the progressive element. If the Nor- ris movement gains headway in some of the Western States it may succeed in splitting the opposition to the re- nomination of the President in a way which will be helpful to Mr. Coolidge. With both Norris and Lowden in the fleld for the nomination the McNary- Haugenites will fail to show a united front at the next Republican national convention. * ok K It has been clear for some time, however, that former Gov. Lowden of Illinois could not command the support of Wisconsin and possibly the Dakotas and_Minnesota, where the late Senator La Follette was particu- larly strong. Mr. Lowden, while rec- ognized as a friend of the farmer be- cause of his support of the principles of the McNary-Haugen farm relief bill, is not regarded by the dyed-in- the'wool Progressives as one of them- selves. . It is no secret that the present Senator La Follette of Wisconsin, while_a strong opponent of President Coolidge, is unwilling to cast his sup- port to Mr. Lowden. Even in Iowa, where the Lowden boom has been at its highest peak so far, Senator Brook- hart prefers Senator Norris. In Ne- braska, too, where the Lowden move- ment has had the support of the gov- ernor, a Norris boom would inevitably swing that State to the Norris col- umn as against Lowden. Much will depend, of course, upon what Senator Norris himself says about the pro- posal to run him for the Republican nomination. * * Political observers in Massachusetts are asking themselves what will be the effect politically of the final de- cision by Gov. Fuller in the case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Van- zettl, under sentence of death for mur- der committed seven years ago. The judicial system of Massachusetts is considered to be on trial. So wide- spread has been the propaganda apainst the execution of Sacco and ‘anzetti, by liberals and so-called reds, that the case has assumed pro- portions which go beyond the State. It is tecalled in Massachusetts that the handling of the Boston police strike by President Coolidge, then Governor of Massachusetts, brought him into the limelight nationally as the defender of law and order. Gov. Fuller may become the center of the limelight in the next few days also as a defender of the law and its en- forcement. The governor is credited with having no- political ambitions. He might be a candidate for a third term, but he has made it clear that he is not anxious to entér the race next year for nomination and election to the Senate. * ok ok ok Connecticut is regarded as certain to be in the Coolidge column at the Republican national convention next year, unless the Prasident should de- clare himself out of the race for the nomination for President. The popu- farity of Mr. Coolidge has not waned in that State any more than it has in Massachusetts. The Republican or- ganization is believed to be solidly behind the renomination of the Presi- dent, and as the organization stands so will the State. tive way of curbing the Missouri has been worked out by the engineers, it will mean much not only to towns and farms along its banks, but to the build- ing of new bridges across it and the use of the channel for navigation. Sev- eral existing bridges have cost far be- vond the original estimate because of misbehavior of the Missouri. The free by s at Lexington and Waverly are ing examples. ter still will be the benefit if the channel can be kept open and in comparatively the same place, so as to permit navigation at all ~seasons. Rivers only a fraction of its size are "indispensable to transportation else- where. The safe and constant use of the Missouri for navigation would en- rich_the great valley it traverses. It can be done and the Journal-Post con- gratulates Maj. Young on the optimis- tic tone of his report, ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. Is there more hay fever in the country than there used to be?— J. AL WL A. Officials of the American Hay Fever Assoclation say that the num- ber of victims of hay fever is steadily increasing. Q. How long did it take to design and construct the Spirit of St. Louis? A. The complete design took 850 total man hours of engineering time between February 26 and May 10. Of this total, 775 hours were required in making the aerodynamical and structural design and flight testing. For the actual construction, 3,000 man hours were expended, not including the time of the superintendent and manager. How many life insurance com- panies are there in the United States? . According to the latest figures of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States there are in active oper- ation 357 life insurance companies. Q. Which is worth more, the eggs or the chickens produced in this country in a year?—T. O. F. A. For 1926 the Department of Ag- riculture estimated there were pro- duced eggs of a value of $620,000,000 and poultry with a value of $561,000,- 000. It is not stated whether this proportion obtains every year, QvWhat is the derivation of the word kidnap?—G. A. P, A. It was originally a slang term taken from the cant of thleves. It is a combination of the word “kid” meaning a child, plus “nap” a variant of nab, meaning to snatch. Q. What are the average earnings of workers in the automobile indus- Q. Please tell me about the Men- nonites and explain their migration to Paraguay.—E. N, T. A. The Mennonites take their name from Menno Simons, born in 1492, a Catholic priest who left that church and who became the chief exponent of views which later became known as Mennonite, although he was not the originator of this sect. Grebel and Manz founded this community in 1525, in Zurich. The sect's main in- terest lies in discipline rather than dogma. They abstain from worldly vanities and refuse the civic duties of taking oath or using the sword. As a result of persecution resulting from the World War and their belief that warfare is un-Christian, they are mi. grating now to Parag: where the government has granted them a char- ter providing for complete and per- petual immunity from military duty and exemption from participation in warfare, even as non-combatants. Q. Where was the United States Ml&t that marked coins “C. C."?— S. G. A. It was at Carson City, Nev. Q. How many gallons of gasoline are used in the United States each day?—F. C. A. The latest statistics are for Ma: 1927, when the average daily consum; tion was 781,000 barrels. Q. Where is the Island of Ko- mod: M. A, W, A. Komoda is one of the group of the lesser Sunda Islands in Malaysia. Q. Most cities have bookstores, but how many of them are there in the en- tire United Stater?—F. N. A. There are only about 500 store in the country devoted chiefly wholly to the sale of books, and only about 2,500 stores altogether in which try?—T. F. S. A. Figures for 1925 showed average earnings per hours of 72.3 cents, and average full time earnings per week of $36.37. This covered 144,362 work- ers in 99 representative establishments in eight states. Q. How tall were Beethoven and Schubert?—S. F. A. From estimates made during the process of exhumation and reburial of the composers' bodies, it is believed that Beethoven was five feet five inches, and Schubert was only five feet and one-half inch. Q. What 1is lagniappe?—P. L. A. It is a trifling present given to a customer by a tradesman. The word was coined by the French in Louisiana as the equivalent of a Spanish word having the same mean- ing. It is pronounced lanyap. Q. To what industrial use is the machete put?—S. F. A. It is used in agriculture. It is a short sword-like tool, half knife, half cleaver, used in Cuba and other tropical American countries for cut- ting cane. It becomes a weapon in time of war. Q. What !s a madrigal?>—W. A. S. A. It is a short lyric poem gener- ally on an amatory subject. Those of Tasso represent the finest specimens of Italian poetry. Q. When did the American flag fly on a fortress of the Old World for the first time?—T. T. A. In 1803, when the Marines hauled down the Tripolitan flag at Derne and raised the Stars and Stripes. Q. How many descendants are there of the people who came over in the Mayflower?—T. M. 7 A. The Society of Mayflower De- scendants has more than 2,000 mem- bers. There are numerous State so- cieties of similar character. Q. What has become of Luther Bur- bank’s experimental farm?—J. G. A. This farm, near Sebastopol, Calif., has been leased to a plant breeding and nursery company by Mrs. Burbank. Q. Please give the equivalent of the Swiss watchmaker’s ligne.—D. L. S. A. Ligne is the unit of measurement of the diameter of a lens. It is equiva- lent to one-eleventh part of an inch. books are sold in any appreciable quantity, Q. Where does the State of Dela- ware get its name?—G. G. A. From Lord de la Ware, who was a Governor of Virginia and en- tered the bay in 1610. Q. Did Cromwell witness the execu- tion of Charles I7—A. W. D. A. History records that Cromwell :I':\lr‘hed the execution from a win- ow. Q. How many medical schools are there in the United States?—P. A. A. There are 80. The number of medical students is increasing. In 1925 there were 18,200, in 1926, 18,840, and the session of 1926-27 had an es- timated attendance of 19,532, Q. How many social agencles are there in New York City?—P. R. A. The Welfare Council of New York says there are between 1,200 and 1,500, Q. At what time of day do thunder- storms usually occur?—J. D. A. A. In most parts of the world there are more and stronger thunderstorms about midafternoon than at any other time. Q. When was brick paving first used?—T. T. A. The first brick pavement was constructed on a eity street in Charleston, W. Va., in 1871. Q. What is the meaning of the term ‘inferiority complex?—R. F. A. According to Adler’s Terminology an inferiority complex is a complex which results from thwarting man's natural urge to self-expansion and which (when repressed into the sub- conscious) compels him to achieve power along some other line than that in which his energies are blocked. Our Washington Information Bu- -reau does mot take a vacation. It is on the job every day during the year, answering questions for our readers. Its special service is to answer any question of fact on any subject for any reader at any time. It is impossible to make a complete enumeration of sub- jects giving an adequate idea of the scope and range in which the bureau can serve you. Its activities can only be summed up in the phrase “what- ever you want to know.” Send in your question. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has- kin, director, Washington, D. C. A proposal from Gov. Ritchie of Maryland that a house of governors be formed in the United States in order that the rights of the indi- vidual commonwealths migh be served Is seriously considered by the public. The resulting discussion dis- closes some strong advocates of the plan as a means of restoring such rights as existed in the earlier days of the republic. Others oppose the idea on the ground that it would ex- ercise no real power or that there is no widespread demand for decen- tralization. The suggestion was made at the recent conference of execu- tives. Conceding that “there are new prob- lems of government arising out of in- creasing interstate relations, for the solution of which Federal action seems to be a short cut,” the Phila- delphia Evening Bulletin, neverthe- less, states that “three-quarters of these could be better handled by the joint or co-ordinate action of state- hood than by Congress or Feder ministration.” As to the method, the Bulletin adds: “The conference of governors would do better service if it were to consider and promote the utilization of the powers now existing for co-operative action on the t of States, rather than by dallying with the dream of a house of gov- ernors.” “It is not to be expected,” says the Louisville Courier-Journal, “that a house of governors would be vest- ed with any legal authority, or would have any official standing, but clearly there is an opportunity before such an_organization.” That paper would welcome “a salutary influence in checking the encroaching forces of centralization.” The Hartford Cou- rant adds tl “indirectly action of any sort by the governors in oppo- sition to further encroachments on the rights of the States would be valuable.” The need of effective ex- pression of State rights is empha- sized by the Chattanooga Times, Al- toona Mirror, Great Falls Tribune and Kalamazoo Gazette. * ok ok ok “Uniform legislation is needed in several directions,” says the Chicago Daily News, “and an effective organi- zation of State executives would be influential in obtaining it.” The Lin- coln Star feels that “there is v, ques- tion that the governmental heads of the various States could wield a powerful leverage on national legisla- tion and policies by exerting united pressure on Congress and the Feder:l administration.” The importance of “an iiterchange of experi .aces” Is recognized by the Grand Rapids Press, while the Manchester Union suggests that “Gov. Ritchie may not have hit upon a panacea, but he has increased Organization of Governors Is Advocated and Opposed system by which “there s machinery for the passage of resolutions, if and ity to do anything.” The taleigh News and Observer is of the opinion that the unofficial house of governors ‘“‘might furnish another forum for unlimited talk, but it can't bheat Congress at that.” Ths Water- town Daily Times holds that ‘“ex- change o opinion is very commend- able and worth while, but it is hardly necessary that there be built up a per- manent organization with a corps of secretaries, even if it should provide Jjobs for some worthy citizens.” “The Maryland governor's proposal is interesting, even fascinating,” says the Little Rock Arkansas Democrat. “But whether it is State sovereignty or State rights that he is trying to up- holq, it is difficult to determine from this brief statement at the banquet. ‘We need more enlightenment on Gov. Ritchie’s plan. The Winston-Salem Sentinel dismisses the matter with the statement: is to be expected that in some quarters, especially in sec- | tions still clinging to an ideal of the | past, the plea for States' rights will be heard, but it is becoming more and “|more apparent that these rights are. v or not, unappreciated, and that conquest of the Federal Govern ment meets with less and less pro test.” Y “Groups impatient over their faflure to force the States fast enough to leg islate about matters that even the States ought to let alone” are recog- nized by the St. Paul Dispatch as in- stigating “growing dissatisfaction with usurpation by Congress of the func- tions of the States.” but it advises that “when Congress does not give satis- factory service, the people have a rem- edy, to go directly at the source of the fault and change the membership in Congress, and not try to undo its work afterward.” The Buffalo Eve- ning News avers that “it is very open question whether the rights of States are not disappearing more by their own tendency to evs sponsibilities and lean on the Federal Government than b; encroach- ment originating in W News admits that * nors, such as Mr. might correct that di: board of gov- itchie suggests, position.” rights. cording to the Duluth Herald, is just one way a board of governors or any other like orzanization could do that effectively, and that is to see that the States do what they ought to do in attacking problems that are na tional in scope, though technically subjects for State rather than Federal action.” The Spokane Spokesman- Review and FErie Dispatch-Herald point out that the governors' confer- ence did not have adequate attend- ance, while the former states that “the 'Constitution provides elaborate feguards that are infinitely more ef. ective than an unofficial and volun interest in survey of any promising method of treatment.” An objection to the proposed organi- zation, however, by the Bloomington Pantagraph with the statement that “there are such rumer- ous and rapid changes in the person- nel that never two meetings would be attended by the same persons. Such a swiftly shifting body could. hardly have any permanent ideas or policies.” ZThe Transcript objects to & house of governors could pro- vide." The Worcester Evening Gazette concludes: “It should not be neces- sary for a house of governors to stand guard to see that the Federal Govern- ment doesn’t rob the States of their rightful powers. The Federal Govern- ment itself, both the President and Congress, is likely to see the unwis- dom of adding more burdens to the al- ready exhausting Government load.”