Evening Star Newspaper, August 5, 1927, Page 8

8 THE EVENING STAR —With_Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY...... THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: 1d Pennsyivania Ave. 110 East 42nd St. Tower Building 4 Regent St..” London land 11th St New York The 15 cents ner rer month, Collertion is made by h month. ayable in Advance. and and Virginia. fag....1¥r. $0.00: 1 mo All Other States and Canada. v 1vr. €12.00: 1 mo.. $1 Member of the Tue Associated Pr 10 the use f. patehos ited in th nubtished of special s is exclusively enti rew T g a Al ts of public patches herein are also reserved. The End at Geneva. The flat failure at Geneva is dis- in the fact that two great ¢ nations have recorded them- before the world® as being to settle a dispute arising their mutual effort to cut expenditures and thereby to good will and faith ther by an act based the economic benefits RBut the conference 1f milk has been spilled there is I¢ eed of crying over it in the United States than in Great Britain. Our first line of defense will be strengthened, not on the basis of what somebody else is doing, but ac- cording to our own needs. Great Britain's navy will be enlarged as she desires, There is no need for bitterness here. The American delegation, as might have been expected from its fine behavior throughout the conference, saw fit to bring the proceedings to an end without an attempt to sum- marize its position in a manner that might lead to further recriminatory argument. The conference ended, in- stead, with an unbiased joint state- ment setting forth the viewpoints of the three conferees. This position was taken with the thought that it was better not to endanger further the relations which already have been subjected to some strain. But every American citizen should have a clear understanding of the vital points in- volved in his country’s refusal to agree with Great Britain. Such an selves unable out of toward each o primarily on to be derived. has failed .August 5, 1927 are instilled into those who take the training that the Government fur- nishes to foster and encourage a finer manhood and to prepare the youth of the country for military service if the need should arise. It has been interesting to note that at Fort Monroe, Va., church service was compulsory, and that of the six hundred candidates only five had no church affiliations. That, indeed, is a splendid record for good citizenship. Coupled with sound instruction, straightforward and adequate reli- gious training and military training are character builders in themselves, and no one can attend these’ camps without the maximum benefit to him 1. The young men who take the course Jare the citizens, and the responsible citizens, of tomorrow. Thelr training will stand them in good stead in the battles of business or the battles of war. The peace of the land is in good hands If it is in those who are able to look intelligently and clear-sightedly into the problems of the future. ————————————— The President and Geneva. The suggestion has been advanced that President Coolidge’s announce- ment that he does “not choose to run for President in 1928 was induced mainly by his chagrin at the failure of the Geneva naval limitations con- ference. This is an absurd conclusion. Its only justification is the coincidence with the announcement practically with the adjournment of the confer- ence without results. The President chose the anniversary of his accession to office in 1923 upon the death of Mr. Harding as the occa- sion for his statement about another term. That was an appropriate time. He had then completed four years of office. Had he been seeking an ap- posite opportunity for a declaration on the score of another term he could not have chosen more wisely. ~The date gave his statement a significance which it would probably not have had at any other time. For some time past suggestions have been bruited that before the meeting of the Republican convention the President would make clear his posi- tion regarding another elective term, that he would not permit the conven- tion to assemble without some defini- tion of his state of mind on the sub- ject. That this was well founded is proved by the occurrence of last Tues- day. It merely happened that at that time the Geneva conference was about to end without fruit. Had there been any connection between the failure of the conference and the announcement THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, 1. €. FRIDAY, would be of no avall. It could not pos- sibly change the course of events or save the lives of the men now awalit- ing execution. It should mnot affect public sentiment, which has already been formed. It could not weaken the force of the governor's decision or convert to an adverse opinion those who now believe that Gov. Fuller has ruled in accordance with law and fact. Such a strike would, on the contrary, strengthen the feeling that largely prevails in this country that the defense of these men is inspired chiefly by their affiliation with radical organizations rather than by the cir- cumstances; that they are being set up as martrys, without cause or justi- fication, by their fellows of the Com munist coterle. There is little likelihood that the Federal courts will intervene, The case is one strictly for the State courts of Massachusetts and for the governor of that State. The crime was com- mitted on the soil of the State and, as the verdict stands, by citizens of that State, against other citizens of Massa- chusetts. There is no conceivable ground on which appeal can be taken to the Federal courts or on which it could be entertained by those courts The appointment of new attorneys to represent Sacco and Vanzetti is an- nounced, for the purpose of endeavor- ing to establish such an appeal and so effect a postponement of the execu- tion. But even if an appeal was taken and admitted, and stay of execu- tion was granted, there is mo reason to look for a reversal, inasmuch as the forms of law have been fully com- plied with in the State and exccutive clemency has after exhaustive Inquiry been denied. The fact that Gov. Fuller conducted the inquiry behind closed doors does not constitute a ground for appeal. That was his right. He could have denied the petition without in- vestigation had he preferred. He chose, however, to make a full scrutiny of the case in his own way, and there is no basis for complaint on the score of the privacy of his pro- ceeding. e Rapid City is a great news center at present. Very few boards of trade or chambers of commerce have found it possible to acquire much enduring prosperity from a sudden prominence in political affairs. Perhaps Rapid City will set a new pace in harnessing publicity for purposes of local pros- perity. —~————————— The word “choose” is being scruti- nized and interpreted with the great- est care. Many statesmen have the gift of expanding an idea into long regarding 1928 the President would surely have waited until the adjourn- ment was definite. But in any case, there is nothing to . understanding can be arrived at with- out malice or hard feeling. The Washington conference was successful in limiting the size and total tonnage of certain capital ships in which the United States was un- questionably superior, To practice ‘what it preached, this country scrap- ped some 800,000 tons of fine ships built or building, and in return Great Britain scrapped some ships, but] chiefly blueprints totalling in ton- nage about half the amount sacri- ficed by America. Unable to extend its agreements to auxiliary vessels, the Washington conference adjourned. The Geneva conference was its sequel. But here the situation which had ex- isted at Washington was reversed. Great Britain possessed a greater actual tonnage in cruisers than any other three powers combined. Fol- lowing the intent of the Washington conference, the American delegation suggested a total tonnage limit for cruisers, submarines and destroyers. Great Britain suggested a higher limit. America met her more than half way, for there was no great difficulty there. But Great Britaln wished to restrict the building of large cruisers, mounting elght-inch guns, thus standardizing the small cruiser of less cruising radius and #maller gun caliber. To this the United States would not agree. The Ameri- can point of view was to limit the to- tal tonnage, restrict the size of ships as agreed at Washington, but allow any nation to bulld under these condi- tions the type of ship best suited to its requirements. Great Britain demurred. Although she has more 10,000-ton cruisers afloat than the United States has appropriated for, she wished to limit the number of such ships and expand in small cruisers. Great Brit- ain maintained that she could not bulld as many 10,000-ton crulsers as she needed to protect her trade routes and keep within the total ton- nage limitation at the same time. American naval men contend that large crulsers are best suited for our needs. British naval men contend that large cruisers are suited best for aggressive warfare, But in case there should be a war, Great Britain's small cruisers would be at a dis- tinct advantage over American small crulsers, both in their number and in their mobility, made possible by & splendidly maintained system of naval bases, There the conference split. Great Britain was unwilling to grant parity except under conditions which would be to her great advantage. America was anxious to insure parity under conditions adapted to all. The American delegation is to be tongratulated on the fact that it has not seen fit to engage in pyro- technics, accusations or insinuatlons. Its firmness for what it contended was right has been dignified and com- mendable. Its gentlemanly behavior phould be a matter of national pride. R ! Rapld City will be remembered as the scene of some of the fastest work %nown to American politics. oo Military Camps. The citizens’ military training camps Bre closing their gates for another year. More than forty-four thousand of the young men of America have had the benefits of discipline and character building which are procured at the camps under Government su- ! pervision. They are now returning to their homes, bronzed by the sun and healthy in mind and body. To use the words of Maj. Gen. Sum- merall, chief of staff of the United | States Army, the “marks of a soldler justify the thought that the failure of the Geneva conference had anything to do with the announcement of a “choice” mnot to run in 1928. To be sure the President would have been greatly pleased with an accomplish- ment at Geneva along the line of his recommendation when the meeting was called. But to pitch the question of his candidacy upon the success or failure of the effort to obtain a further arms limitation agreement would have been to put an altogether artificial valuation upon the endeavor. The President has not failed be- cause the conference has falled. He tried to get the powers together on the continuation of the Washington agree- ment, and owing to the peculiar naval requirements of Great Britaln, as judged from the British point of view, the meeting deadlocked and adjourned without results. Mr. Coolidge has not lost prestige nor has the United States in consequence of this failure. A New Gag. ‘Two enterprising bootleggers have just been arrested in New York. That 1s, they were bootleggers more or less. They appeared recently in a downtown office building nattily attired in Pull- man porters’ uniforms. Securing an audience in one of the offices, they ex- plained that they were just off the Canadian run and, uncorking a bottle, asked the prospective customer to sample it. He did so and liked it. An order for three cases followed, to be delivered the next day in a taxicab. The price was about four hundred dol- lars. The three cases were delivered, the money was paid, and the “Pullman porters” disappeared. The customer opened the cases with parched throat. ‘They contained simply bricks. Now comes the moral. Any man so careless as to buy contraband liquor in such an offhand manner and in such a way should consider himself lucky to be alivi It is the kindest thing the bootleggers could have done to their victim, though they took his four hundred dollars. They might easily have sold him labeled and bot- tled polson, which he would have con- sumed with relish, followed by regret. In this case it would have been his last earthly act. It will doubtless be a good lesson to him and should serve also as a lesson to those who buy the stuff at the risk of their lives. ——————————— After seeing all the rodeo had to offer, President Coolidge, in his own unostentatious, yet forceful way, suc- ceeded in staging the most startling event of the entire Summer season in the Black Hills. ——— Sacco-Vanzetti Sentiment. Organizations of workers sym- pathetic with Sacco and Vanzetti, whose death sentences have just been confirmed by Gov. Fuller, are agitat- ing for the calling of a general strike {in this country next Tuesday on the ove of the execution. Their purpose is to register a protest against the action of the governor, which, save in the re- mote contingency of intervention by the Federal courts, is final. Appeal has been made to the American Fed- eration of Labor for a general strike call to all members of afiliated labor bodie It is altogether unlikely that the president of the Americah Federation of Labor will heed this suggestion. There is nothing to indicate a disposi- tion on his part to make an issue of the case in the name of labor. It sentences. Few are able to reduce the crux of the matter to a single word. A vote of thanks to Hugh Gibson was well deserved. It cannot be de- nied, however, that as a result of the deliberations it involved an amount of preliminary trouble and expense that seems a trifle unreasonable. —— . Sometimes called a sphinx, Mr. Coolidge’s latest utterance causes com- ment to turn from Egypt to Greece. His style of expression is conveying an idea of oracular ambiguity. e There is no limit on the possible cost of an airship expedition. At pres- ent the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion is not in a position to supervise rates for long-distance alr travel. i it The practical joker Who amuses himselt with fake bombs should be dealt with in & manner to remind him that even “a sense of humor” involves certain moral responsibilities. S The Geneva conference could have accomplished quite as much in a few hours by simply recording on the minutes, “met and adjourned.” Sl e SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Guessing. New surprises must be found. Life is never still. Every time you turn around There's another thrill. Guessing all this long day through ‘What it has in store; Next day starting in anew— Got to guess some more. What will be the base ball score? ‘Who will win the fight? ‘Who'll go further than before In an airship flight? Who for office high will run? And—who will refrain? ‘When another day’s begun, Got to guess again! Artistic Speaking. “Aren't you afrald to remain silent 8o long?” “Not if I find something really im- portant to say,” answered Senator Sorghum. “There is nothing like a protracted silence to make a fine back- ground for a significant utterance.” Brevity. A man who talks for hours 18 heard Without appreciation. Another, with a single word, Electrifies the Natlon. Jud Tunkins says he sympathizes with the tired business man. After figuring out a few billion-dollar trans- actions it's no wonder he needs to rest his mind with a musical show, ‘where the words are guaranteed not to mean anything. Plstols or Polson. A bootleg bandit sped away, And through the street spread dire dismay. Those who escaped his pistol's lead ‘Were finished by his drink instead. Did Her Best. “Did you ever dance with the Prince of Wales?” “No,” answered Miss Cayenne. “Like all the other girls, I tried, but I was far back in the crowd and my reach was too short.” “Civilization brings luxurles,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “yet war, which i{s no luxury, costs more than anything else.” Summer Styles. In wisdom, woman wears a dress Whose welght s scarcely felt, would, indeed, be illogical and unwise to align the American Federation of Labor with the radicals who are the chief Sacco-Vanzetti protestants. { or an officer are courage, service, un- respect fof A““‘_m! ?’5‘?“ hg}l a day, & day, or lopger, ' sgpifishness, self-respect, stdiers and self restrain s S R T e A general strike, for whatever ‘While man still dons in mute distress A collar and a belt. “A hard day's work,” said Uncle Eben, “is what makes an easfiight's THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Lucretius' picture of pastoral sim- plicity in the early days of mankind is iInteresting in an age when com- plexity is gaining the day everywhere. of life seem mechanical contr vances and various inventions, cou- pled with the intensive crowding of human heings in cities. What would the old Roman writer have thought of a time when alr- planes roar through the air? We can only guess, but here is his picture of life at an early age, long before Christ: “Imitating with the mouth the clear notes of birds was in use long before men were able to sing in tune smooth-running verses and give pleasure to the ear. nd the whistlings of the zephyr through the hollow of reeds first taught peasants to blow info hollow talks. “Then step by step they learned sweet plaintive ditties which the pipe pours forth pressed by the fingers of the players, heard through the path- less woods and forests and lawns, through the unfrequented haunts of shepherds and abodes of' unearthly calm. hese things would soothe and gratity their minds when sated with food: for then all things of this kind are welcome. * x “Often, therefore, in groups on the soft g a stream of water, under the boughs of a high tree, at no great cost they would pleasantly refr their bodies, above all when the weather smiled and the seasons of the year painted the green grass with flowers. “Then went round the jest tale, the peals of merry laughter the peasant muse was then in glory. “Then frolick mirth would prompt to entwine head and shoulders with garlands plaited with flowers and leaves, and to advance in the dance out of step and to move the limbs clumsily and with clumsy foot beat mother earth, which would occasion smiles and peals of merry laughter, because all these things then from their greater novelty and strangeness were in great repute. “A the wakeful found a solace for want of sleep in drawing out a variety of notes and going through tunes and running over reeds with curving i whence even at the present day watchmen observe these traditions and have lately learned to keep the proper tune; and yet for all this receive not a jot more of enjoy- ment than erst the rugged race of sons of earth received. ‘}or that which we have in our hands, if we have known before noth- ing pleasanter, pleases above all and is thought to be the best; and as a rule the later discovery of something better spoils the taste for the former things and changes the feelings in regard to all that has gone before.” * ok K K 1t is one of the pleasures of reading classical literature to apply the various “wise cracks” discovered to modern conditions. - Take the last paragraph quoted, as true today as it was 2,000 years ago. In 1927, for instance, a radio fan is perfectly satisfled with his radlo loud speaker. Let him hear another at the home of a friend, however, immediately he be- comes dissatisfled, goes purchases him- self one like it. The improvement in the output of the, or its Out of the maze of conflicting inter- pretations put upon the President’s statement, “I do not choose to run for President in 1928,” and as the varied emotions of his friends and foes which this bombshell precipitated be- gin to get under control, the opinion of those in the best position to know his mind and to judge his words is approaching unanimity on two points. (1) Mr. Coolidge made his statement in good faith and is genuinely desirous of quitting the presidency at the expira- tion of his present term. In other words, Mr. Coolidge does not employ “choose” as the equivalent of “seek,” but in the sense “having my choice of accepting or declining, I decline.” (2) Despite his statement and despite his own desire, he can be drafted and will accept the nomination if his party of its own volition and with unanimity tenders it. The basis of the opinion that nevertheless he can be drafted, which is being asserted tenaclously by those who have known him longest and best, cannot be satistactorily eluci- dated in a paragraph. It is merely re- corded here that such opinion widely prevails. * ok K K It is much too soon to prophesy whether or not Mr. Coolidge will be drafted in the face of his statement and in the face of the political up- heaval in his party which will tran- spive during the next nine months in consequence of it. Plausible argu- ments can be and are being advanced to support whichever conclusion suits the individual desires, The Presi- dent’s friends believe he will accept with equanimity whatever the fatcs have in store. There is one further certainty, and that is that Mr. Cool- 1dge will select no one to be his politi- cal legatee. No man in public life has ever displayed greater aptitude for keeping clear of entangling al- lances and holding himself aloof from political controversy. Any aspirant for the nomination who hopes to se- cure a Coolidge “indorsement” is des- tined to be sadly disappointed. 8 PR The indications now seem pretty clear that William M. Butler of Mas sachusetts, chairman of the Republi- can national committee, will seek to return to the Senate next year. All reports from the Bay State are pitched in the same key to the effect that Chairman Butler can have the Repub- lican senatorial nomination if he wants it, that if he consults his own desires he will make the fight, and that he i3 supremely confident that he can win and defeat Senmator David I. Walsh, who will come up next year for re-election. Last year’s Massachusetts senatorial contest, when Walsh tri- umphed over Butler, is regarded by the Republicans as a ‘“fluke,” which will not happen again. The prize then was only the two years remaining of the unexpired term of the late Sena- tor Lodge. EE It it finally eventuates that Mr. Coolidge is definitely out of the presi- dential race, then it becomes certain that Mr. Butler will relinquish the chairmanship of the Republican na- tional committee mext year. To date there has been great uncertainty and | much speculations as to the committee chairmanship in the 1928 campalgn. Upon the assumption that Mr. Cool- idge will be the Republican neminee. it was asserted with much logic that the President would be insistent that Mr. Butler remain as chairman. Upon the assumption that Mr. Butler in- tended to run again for the Senate, it was argued that this would necessi- ta*) his resignation as chairman, since he could scarcely manage the national campaign and his own senatorial cam- paign concurrently. Mr. Butler did this last year, but there was no presi- dential contest then. The politicians, with a keen eye on the chairmanship, e been unable to decide to their own satisfaction which of these two contradictory factors would prevail When the time came. As matters now stand, in the light of Mr. Coolidge's statement as to his own intentions, the only obstacle which stood in the | those the set is -0 marked that he marvels he ever thought his old speaker good. He switches from one to the other, putting the old on, then the new, then the old, again the new, each time with the same result—the old which he fondly believed to he pretty good, sounds horribly harsh and tinny. Yet when it was all he knew he spoke of its good qualities in the bass bucked up against a handles the lower r ister really well, he realizes that the old affair was “not there. * Kk Xk X Reverting to Lucretius: “Thus bezan distaste for the acorn (the early foo), thus were abandoned sleeping places strewn with <s and enriched with leaves he dress, too, of wild beasts’ sking fell into neglect, though 1 can fancy that it was found to arouse such jeal- ousy that he who first wore it met his death by an ambuscade. “In those days, therefore, skins, now gold and purple, plague men's lives with care and wear them out with war. “ind in this methinks the greater blame rests with us; for cold would | torture the naked sons of earth with- out their skins; but us it harms not in the least to do without a robe of purple, spangled with gold and large figures, if only we have a dress of the people to protect us. “Mankind, therefore, vainly and to no purpose and wast life in groundless cares, because sure enough they have not learnt what is the true end of getting and up to what point genuine pleasure goes on in- cre; ; “This, by slow degrees, has carried life out'into the deep sea, and stirred up from their lowest depths the mighty billows of war.” * %k * ok ever toils 1. So we conclude, in seven articles, a brief Summertime presentation of the philosophy of a grand old Roman, Titus Carus Lucretius, a righteous man of high integrity, whose view: no matter how much one may di agree with them, still command re spect in the world because of the sin- cerity of their expression tius spoke up, in a command- v, for simplicity of character and living, for the “golden mean’— not too much of anything. His ethical character entitles him to a place be- side those divine pagans, reu ius, the emperor, and Epictetu he spoke of was, He desired peace— ce of mind, in passeth ble for t com- leasure’ its b unde a modern reader, in the m plex civilization in history, to . read Lucretius and not realize th. much. Ho was a Christian in spirit, if not in words. Ie hitched his literary wagon the star that appealed to him, Epicurus, the philosopher whose P L | doctrines were too easily twisted to their opposites. But had he lived a century later, or perhaps five cen- turies later, Lucretius would have carried the banner of Christ. “Oh hapless race of men! No act is it of piety to be often seen with veiled head to turn to a stone and approach every altar and fall pros- trated on the ground, and spread out the palms before the statues of the gods and sprinkle the altars with much blood of beasts and link vow on vow, but rather to be able to look on all things with a mind at peace.” | WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS dent in his post of national chairman— has been removed. * k kX C. Francis Jenkins, Washington in- ventor, who figures frequently in the news these days in connection with new wonders in radio and aeronautics, tarted his career of inventing 30 ears ago. He was born in Indiana brought up on a farm by Quakers, at- tended Earlham College, and spent some years exploring timberlands and cattle ranches. Then he got a secre- tarial job in the Government service here, which he quit in 1895 to follow in the footsteps of Kdison. He has obtained scores of patents, covering a wide variety of discoveries. His most notable claims in the radio field relate to the transmission of pictures by radio. The present method of broad- casting weather maps to ships at sea is his invention. He has recently an- nounced the perfection of an airplane brake, which will check the speed of a plane, and a scheme of launching a plane in flight without utilizing a run- way. An improvement in the radio altimeter, which gives the air pilot accurate readings when close to earth, is likewise his invention. Mr. Jenkin laboratories are right in the shadow of the temporary White House in Du- pont Circle. * ok ok K Henry Janvrin Browne, long-dis- tance weather prognosticator, who has ceived a wealth of publicity as the ophet of a sunless Summer,” would seem to have been a false prophet. But Mr. Browne comes to the front to proclaim that instead of predicting a year without a Summer, he merely predicted a series of great excesses in weather, and that the facts to date have verified his prophecy. He says he predicted the heat wave along the Eastern seaboard early in July, at the same time that snows were in Colorado, frosts in North Dakota_and snow flurries in northern New York and Canada. July 4th, he said, was recorded as the coldest Independence day ever known. After all, to pre- dict no more than “great excesses in weather” 18 not such a steep venture in the realm of the unknown. (Copyrizht, 1927.) v—ore. Bloodshed the Hobby Of Mankind for Ages To the Editor of The Star: Upon reading in The Star of Sun- day, July 24, an article entitled, “Sees World in Arms _ Against United States,” I was imbued with a deep conviction as to the truth of the words of Admiral Fiske. He incidentally spoke the views which I have enter- tained for some time, but, being only an insignificant law student, such opinions have gone for nil. The world is not through with war. Bloodshed has been the hobby of man- kind since before the days of Saul and David. The blameless millions have always been sacrificed upon the fields of battle to further the pomp and glory of some gluttonous or pious monarch. The thirst for blood and the hunger for flesh have not been quenched even with the coming of democracies. The snarl of Mars wil fill the skies of humanity until all the earth returns from whence it cam There is one outstanding insti fmbedded in the organism of man nhauer said, the “will to reproduce.” In this unnecessary pastime of exercising the will to re- produce the world has become so full of unfortunates who should have never been born that man has in- vented a system which he calls “war” to rid the world of these victims of passion. In other words, man manu- factures man to kill man, because there must be some outlet for over- population, Admiral Fiske has proven this by offering Japan as an example. Surely this is not to be challenged. Wars have worked wonders for our modern “civilization.” This is a cruel ethod, and it seems to me that the reator,” it in His omnisclence He made it thus, could have conceived of a better plan’ than murder. Now that way of Mr. Butler's senatorial candi- dacy—hig duty to stand by the Presi. we must, since we have been called by the trom pesceful AUGUST 5, 1927, Senator Fletcher Discusses Merchant Marine Problem To the Editor of The Star: I have read the article in Tuesday’s Star by Paul V. Collins, under the heading “Background of Events.” 1 am afraid T have been unfortunate in expressing the ideas I desired to present and giving the impression that the Issue is—shall we have a merchant marine, or not. Those who are opposed to an Amer- ican merchant marine of any conse- quence will tell you they favor just at Congress declared in the act of | 1920, They know there is but little Amer- iean support for the position that we should turn our overseas transporta- tion over to foreign ships. They would make no headway with such claim openly made. That is the foreign viewpoint and is what many people in this country want and some powerful interests in the United States desire—but they keep to the background and they hope to accomplish that by having the Gov- ernment go out of the shipping busi- ness. The advocates of that idea declare iwvor an American mer- The issue then is the method of accomplishing what all out- spoken people, some sincere and some insincere, say they want. I insist the wise, the only way, to establish and maintain an adequate American merchant marine is for the Government to own and operate mer- chant ships in overseas trade. The chairman of the Shipping Board, the Administration, contends that the ships should be sold at any price, speedily, and the shipping business should pass entirely to private hands. I cite the unremitting efforts to get rid of the ships, the sacrifices we have already made. the challenge of the chairman to all parties to come and zet the ships on their own terms, and the failure of private enterprise’ to take hold of the business. I cite the fact that even now we are carrying less than 30 per cent of our foreign commerce, and if the Gover) ment should tie up, scrap or give away the ships the Government owns and operates, we would soon be carrying only ahout 10 per cent—and shortly find ourselves where we were in 1914. The question is then, shall the Gov- ernment cease giving away the ships, get down to serious, determined, busi- ness-like effort to make the undertak- ing a success and determine and an- nounce that the Government shall permanently own and operate mer- chant ships in overseas trade, to the end that thereby the United States shall establish and maintain an ade- quate merchant marine? Or, shall we deliver the ships we | have into private hands, go out of the , and in that way establish intain a merchant marine? ‘Which way shall we do it? Which method shall we pursue? There is the nd by my resolution, to which llins refers, as the way, the only the method, the only logical, hopeful method. T am curious to know how he arrives at the estimates of subsidies he gives. Where does he get, what is the authority for the statement, for instance, that Great Pritain subsidizes her shipping by $123,081,498 a year, aside from her mail subventlons amounting to $2,- 423,250 U. FLETCHER. Pursuit of Criminals Editorial Is Approved To the Editor of The Star: I commend you on your editorial backing up the police, in disregard of senatorial and other efforts, at bullying local authorities. It is deplorable that after taking oaths to support the Constitution, etc., and to endeavor to uphold justice un- der the law, public officials and “learn- ed counsel” should give such strong backing to the bootlegger and oiher lawless elements of our population, by word and “legal” effort. - The time may come, and perhaps sooner than expected, when wild driv- ers will be regarded as free-for-all targets, just like mad dogs, and per- sons who encourage bandits, bootleg- gers and the like grace the gailows with those to whom they nave given mischievous encouragement, as acces- sories before or after the act. W. E. ALLEN. To the Editor of The Star: T want to commend the editorial in The Evening Star on “The Pursuit of Criminals.” It is timely and right to the point, and absolutely true that disrespect for law and the magnitude of the hootlegging evil are partly due to the attitude and influence of prom- inent people, who denounce piohibi- tion and its enforcement. Their attitude is an encovragement to the bootlegger and a suggestion to the young that drinking is smart and necessary to a full enjoyment of their personal liberty. W. B. DYE. To the Editor of The Star: Allow me to say a word of hearty commendation concerning vour excel- lent editorial, “The Pursuit of Crimi- nal in the issue for July 28. ou do well to place the responsi- bility for the death of innocent pel sons, when the police are in purs of criminals, where that responsibility by right belongs. “It rests,” y “not upon the officers of th * * * but upon the bootl themselves, who, in deflance o law, try to smuggle cargoes ot liquor into Washington or other cities. It rests, in part, upon those who by their acts and words justify this traf- fic as legitimate lawbreaking.” The merciful way in which to deal with these offenders when app:ehoni- ed is not to let them off easy, but to administer such extensive and thor- ough punishment as shall deter them from repeating their offenses. 'The hot scorn of a righteously indignaat public sentiment is cool enouzh treat- ment for sympathizers with the hoot- legger outlaw. Such punishment and treatment of guilty parties will, in the long run, prove to be the most effec- tive protection for the innocent by- stander. LUTHER K. LONG. ——————— Plenty of Effort. From the Portland Oregonian. Critics say no adequate poem has been written about Lindbersh. But not because it hasn't been tried. Carol and William. From the Chattanooga News. Carol might collaborate with a gentlemen at Dorn in the nursing of delusions. natural laws as they exist—that is, to fight and hate, to slaughter and maim—we get right back to Darwin- ism, that “the fittest shall survive. Utopian ideas have been expounded since Socrates was forced to drink the hemlock (because he had spoken that which he believed), and still we squirm and seethe in the muck and slime of ignorance and produce a weakling d an inferior man. We still go to war instead of controlling our passion. We still would rather fight it out by the shed of blood than to reason it out cross the table. We still hate and ignore instead of generating the pure impulses of the heart to love, peace and comfort. Let the wars rage, turn loose the lead and steel into the hearts of inno- cent men, rip open the wombs of cry- ing mothers, and cut the throats of chuckling babes—for that is our “civil- zation.” Those of us who are honest and who in our quest for tolerance and Utopla seek only the good and peace- ful life that should be ours must abide for the present under the nat- ural instincts with which we are en- dowed and long for another day to dawn and shower upon us the fruits of sincere endeavors—that day which you and I will never see, but let us hope that our children will. cmp ety PAVED. {tw Sthy T ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Q. What movies have won the photoplay medal?—R. F. A. In 1920, “Humoresque “Tol'able Davi 1922, Hood”; 1923, “The Covered Wagon': 1924, “Abraham Lincoln”; 1925, “The Big Parade.” Q. How old was the author of “In Flanders’' Fields” at the time of his death? 1. R. A. He w John David McCrae was a Canadian physician, son of an army officer. He volunteered in 1914 and crossed with the Canadian Field Artillery. He served in the fleld and later in a hospital as second in com- mand. He died of pneumonia. Q. What is the origin of the term finnan haddie?—C. L. S. A. Smoked haddock is sald to be so called from the town of Findon or Findhorn, both in Scotland. Q. Where did the Mayo receive their early medical tion?—A. M. A. Charles Horace Mayo was gradu- ated in medicine from the Chicago Medical College, ~ Willlam _James Mayo received his professional train- ing at the University of Michigan. Q. How did the expression “Won't you be my valentine?” originate?— C. D. brothers educa- A. One of the oldest of customs connected with Valentine day was the placing of the names of young men and women in a box, from which they were drawn on St. Valentine eve. Those whose names were drawn to- gether had to exchange presents and be “each other's valentines” for the ensuing year. Q. Why are artesian called’—K. A. B. A. The oldest well in Europe was hored in the County of Artois (Latin Artesia), now a part of France. in 1126, Q. What is the origin of the word paradise?—A. A. Paradise was a term applied to the garden surrounding the home of the Persian ruler. Since the ruler was considered a deity, the grounds were considered sacred, being literally the home of the deity. Q. What does it cost to take a car into Canada?—J. A. E. A. The American Automobile As- sociation says that upon going into Canada a person is allowed 30 days without charge. If you stay longer than the allotted time it is necessary to put a bond on the car, which is de- termined by the customs officials at wells so | the Canadian line according to the value of the car. Q. Is it true that lightning follows a draft?—J. D. A. A. It is true in a slight degree. It often happens that lightning consists of a number of separate discharges following each other over the period of a whole second, or even longer; each subsequent discharge follows the same air the first discharge went through, hence the discharges are drifted along with the wind, and in rare cases might be drifted inside a house by a strong draft. The draft causes very little danger, but it does cause some. Q. Where is the thickest vein of coal in the world>—N. C. A. The thickest coal vein known is that at Norwell, in Victoria, Australia Drilling reveals 780 feet of brown coal in a total depth of 1.010 feet of strata. It includes thres beds, 266, 227 and 166 feet thick. Q. When was Washington's birth day first celebrated?—H. S. A. The first recorded celebration of Washington's birthday occurred i Richmond, Va., in 1782. It was cele- brated there and in other places until, in 1793, it was generally observed. Q. How fast does a reading clerk read in the House of Representa- tives?—H. A. A reading clerk in the House says that the speed of the average reading clerk is governed by the read- ing matter under consideration. A fair average speed might be estimates as 100 words a minute. Q. Why aren’t mufflers used on air- planes’—T. R. S. A. Because some power 1s lost, ow- ing to back pressure caused, which in- creases the load on the engine. Muf- flers can be attached and probably will be on passenger-carrying planes. Q. What proportion of the families ln’;he United States own automobliles? . There are about 27,500,000 fam- illes in the United States, Of these about 15,317,500 familles, or 55.7 per cent, own motor cars. About 2,700,000 familles have two cars. Q. What is meant by “guaranizing A. This is a process for preserving eg; In guaranizing eggs, the eggs are dipped into a warm oil and wax solution and then put in storage. This process is a new one and has proved very popular. It is claimed that the solution keeps the air from penetrating the shell and thus gives a better preserved egg. The guaranized ecggs bring a higher price than the ordinary cold storage eggs. Q.“Can ships be made ratproof?— A. This can and is being done. Mod- ern ratproofing was first done in 1924, and such progress has been made that it is reasonable to believe that the pest may be eliminated. Q. Will taking canned food to a high altitude cause spoilage”’—E. B. A. It will have no effect upon ft. Q. Why Is linsced oil used in paint? —H. T. A. Linseed ofl is valuable as & paint vehicle because when it is exposed to the air it changes from a liquid to a transparent and flexible solid. Q. In whose farmhouse did Lee's surrender occur?—B. B. A. It was the Wilmer MecLean house. Did you ever write a letter to Fred- eric J. Haskin? You can ask him any question of fact and get the ansiwer in @ personal letter. Here is a great educational idea introduced into the lives of the most intelligent people in the worli—American newspaper read- ers. It is a part of that best purpose of a newspaper—service. There is no charge except 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Address Frederic J. Haskin, director, The Evening Star In- formation Bureau, Washington, D. O. Demands for Local Airports Spread Throughout Country President Coolidge's expressed Inter- est in the development of airports, combined with the recent successful flights of intrepid American aviators, has aroused keen interest throughout the country in the establishment of adequate landing fields, and this in- terest is being voiced and encored by the press of the country. The importance of the airport in the scheme of development of aviation in this country is stressed by the To- peka Daily Capital, which says: “Com- merecial aviation on an extensive scale, as Col. Lindbergh has constantly em- phasized, is held back chiefly by the slowness of cities in establishing air- ports. Landing flelds are indispensa- ble,” continues the Capital, declaring that “if cities hold back, interest in travel by air may fall into a slump, but with cities generally showing an alert interest and doing their neces- sary part, the development is certain to be rapid.” As the Lynchburg Daily Advance predicts, “It seems likely, and not so far ahead at that, that the growth of flying between American cities will mean the establishment of huge com- mercial terminals at centrally located points,” and the Advance asks: “Why, then, should not centrally located cities—and Lynchburg is one—begin to plan ahead for that growth of the future?” That foresight demands such provision for the future is the thought of the Lansing State Journal” which sees the day coming “when the aver- age citizen will make criticism his chief amusement in cases where lack of airports resulted from lack of fore- sight,” for the cities “that first pro- vide 'lighted, graded, serviced fields are going to be the first ones to get into the guide books of aviation.” The Raleizh News and Observer declares that “the big town without an airport will soon be as isolated as a seaport city without a dock.” EIE O Noting the events in the recent past, the Champaign News-Gazette states that “one week's aviation news now shows more flying progress than could be noted in several months’ ry ports before Lindbergh flew to Pari: and it predicts that “the planes and landing fields in existence at the be- ginning of the year will be augmented considerably when the census is taken again next January.” Similarly the Baltimore Sun remarks that “even the experts were surprised at the tremen- dous_increase in interest in aviation which followed recent demonstrations of the range and safety of flying machine: and the Omaha World- Herald says: “To Charles Lindbergh and Chamberlin and Byrd, with their magnificent Atlantic flights, is due much of the heightened interest in the conquering of the air. And Lind- bergh'’s trips to and fro in the Spirit of St. Louis, which he uses as a mat- ter of course as the preferred means of going from place to place, have done much to convince the average man of the practicability of flying. ‘The air mail comes in, too, for a large share of the credit for the gradual success in making Americans air-minded. ays the Glendale Eve- ning News: “The mail planes during the time they have been operating under the Postal Department have set an enviable record for regularity and reliability. They have steadily reduced the time of flight, delivering the mail:with as much certainty on most routes as have the trains. Busi- ness men of the country have come to depend on the air mail for fast Although air mail is being now car- ried by private firms on the main transcontinental routes, the Grand Rapids Press points out that this must not be “interpreted as a Fed- eral abandonment of aviation” as it states: “Instead of giving up either air mail or aviation in general, Uncle Sam on July 1 launched bravely into the encouragement of commercial aviation. He gave air mail into pri- vate hands and at the same . encouraged all private air en by lng\:du a number of subsidies.’ The leston Evening Post sees ‘no reason now why all cities of any importance in. the United States air mail service.” This paper belleves that “once air mail fs made com- mon throughout the country, passen- ger service will not be long in fol- lowing.” Even with existing routes “the United States leads all the coune tries of the world in air-mail serve ice,” proclaims the Springfield Union, * ok K K The newspapers are aiding efforts toward arousing interest in_ the es- tablishment of The San Antonio Evening “This city needs and must have an airport second to none among communities of its size.” The Fort Worth Record Telegram calls the opening of *Fort Worth’s pride—the new airport—an historical event.” The New Haven Svening Register favors plans to ‘equip the city with an air terminal that will be of adequate size and serviceable location” and the Chat- tanooga Times declares: “Chatta- nooga cannot afford to lag in the matter of providing adequate air- port facilities. Future growth and development of the community are to a_considerable extent dependent on whether such accommodations are set up.” The Texarkana Gazette is urging the completion of plans already under way “for an airport that really would put Texarkana on the air map,” and the Butler Eagle, declaring that “Butler needs an air- port, just like every other city in the country,” states its belief that “the day is coming when an airport will be as essential as a bus terminal or a railroad station. Stressing the fact that “the need for an aviation fleld in or near Santa Barbara is increasing daily,” the News of that city declares that the field must be “large enough and safe enough to afford suitable landing place for large commercial planes.” The New Orleans Morning Tribune sees three things needed for “the successful and widespread operation of aircraft: First, numerous and ade- quate fields; s numerous and verful beacons, ble and ; third, an extensive, accurate and quickly available weather reporting and forecas this third point the New Bed ning Standard sa fan can never control the weather, although it is barely possible ways might be found for dissipating fogs over landing fields; but he can improve his weather- forecasting facilities” That the ndise made by airplanes is an objectionable feature still, is pointed out by the Worcester _Telegram, which says: “We have learned how to travel fast and furiously, but we haven't yet learned how to travel very quletly.” UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR Ten Years Ago Today American forces now actually under arms number 8$09,743. Almost 300.- 000 in Regular Army. One million five hundred thousand men will be total enrollment next th when draft cantonments open. : 1,500 of the original 2,450 who enrolied in the Reserve Officers’ Corps-at Madi- son Barracks are retained after the weeding-out process. * * * First of Americans are graduatad from Frenah Artillery School. * * * Tiredaa Ameri- can aviators, including Raoul Luf- bery, cited for bravery and 1 bringing down German planes. * ¢ * Natlonal Security League calls on the 450 German-American newspapers in this country to make a patriotic “confession of faith.” * * * Priority methods outlined for new War In- dustries Board to bring about har- monious action between the Goverd- ment and war e Draft resister killed in fighting be tween possemen and organized band of draft objectors in Oklahoma. Others wounded. ® * * Kerensky back in supreme power as Russlan pre- mier. Russian lines stiffening stead- ily. Ay ntina nearer bre: with Germany. Ends negotiations wifh Kaiser's Minister and sends a per- ;. u