Evening Star Newspaper, August 18, 1927, Page 8

D. C, THURSDAY, GUST 18, 1927. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTO! ; —_— e THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. {'HE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY.....August 18, 1927 _ THEODORE W. NOYES Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company | Business Office: . and Pe ylvania Avi New Fork Gffter 10" Eas T St, Chicago Office: Tower Building. European Office: 14 Regent St.. London. nglan The Evening Star with the & ing edition is deiivered by ea: the city at 60 cents per month 48 cents per month: Sundavs only e onth, | ORitrs mav Lo aent Ly mail or Toiephone Main F000: Colisction 1 made by CI!PY'I‘ at end of each month. Rate by Mall—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. .1y §000: 1 mo.. 13r £3.00° 1 mo. J1yr.$300: 1 mo Al Other States and Canada. 1yr. $12.00: 1 mo.. $1.00 $800: 1 mo.. - 75¢ 350 $400° 1 mo.. Member of the Associated Press. The Associnted Press is exclusively entil 0 the use for republication of all news tches credited 10 it or not otherwise cr ted in this vaner and also the local news publishad herein ta_of publiention All iz of special dispatches herein a = Business vs. Decency. Despite protests that represent the ®est sentiment of the community against the proposed exhibition at a Jocal theater of a man who is linked in the public mind with a most loath- mome happening, evidence appears that the “personal appearance’ of the individual in question will take place. *The Star has received numerous com- .mendations of its editorial expression of disapproval of this enterprise, which has unmistakably for its object the rehabilitation of a once popular but for some years thoroughly dis- credited performer of the motion pic- ture stage. All of them are earnest and sincere, and they indicate, to- gether with other manifestations, that welf-respecting Washingtonians are outraged by the proposal. It has been stated in defense of the booking of this man for *‘personal ap- pearance” in Washington that in other cities he has been received with manifestations of approval and wel- come. If that is true, then indeed is the American memory short and the American sense of decency distorted. Only a few seasons ago there was a general outburst of indignation when it was first proposed that this person reappear in motion pictures. So marked was the public reaction against him, because of his identification with an outrageous happening, that those in control of the movie industry kept him from the films. Certain ‘“pic- tures” that had been already produced ‘were withheld from display. They have been held in “storage,” perhaps ‘with the idea that eventually the ‘wave of public feeling would pass and & would be possible to present them. It is evident that this present tour in “personal appearance” has for its object the testing of the memory or the abiding sentiment of the people “ who a little while ago were expressing their determination never again to patronize any showing of the film ‘work of this man. If there is a re- sponse that can be regarded as favor- able, the now stored pictures will be released and the actor himself put back to work making new ones. Thus there is a strong commercial motive in the effort to “rehabilitate” the performer who was so lately the object of pronounced public condem- Tation. The contest—for in view of the determination to continue the Pprogram as arranged it must be re- garded as such—is between business and decency. It is for the people of ‘Washington to align themselves, ‘Those who feel that the appearance of this person on a public stage as an entertainer is not objectionable may - attend and manifest their disregard of the proprietles that a little while ago ' 'were considered to have been so grisvously violated. Those who hold to the contrary may register their protest by their absence. The Star feels that it has rendered & service to the public, and incidentally to the motlon picture industry, by calling attention to this test of senti- ‘ment involved in the circuit of “per- sonal appearances.” It is assured of Indorsement of its course by the vol- ‘ume of expressions of approval, which, it may be noted, have not been coup- tered by a single objection save trom Pprofessionally interested sources. ———— The phrase “I do not choose” has enabled President Coolidge to make it oclear that he is doing his best on & hard job and is not playing politics. . Save the Ballots. Senator-elect William S. Vare and William B. Wilson, his Democratic opponent in the senatorial election in Pennsylvania last year, have joined in a petition to have the ballots cast in that election impounded for count and investigation by the Senate, Mr. ‘Wilson has charged gross fraud in the election. The petition goes to the presiding judges of the half hun. dred judictal districts in Pennsyl- vania. The situation is such that unless the courts act, the ballots will be destroyed under the Pennsylvania law some time between September 20 and October 8, so that the ballot boxes may be used in a coming elec- tlon. With the destruction of the ballots will go evidence which might be adduced to show fraud. The Sen- ate, however, is already in possession, through the Reed slush fund com- mittee, of the ballots cast in Phila- deiphia and Allegheny countles, but an examination of these ballots alone eould scarcely settle the question. The Senate has sought in vain to impound the ballots in some of the other Pennsylvania counties, through the Reed committee. The jurisdic- tion of that committee was challenged a4s soon as Congress had closed without specific extension of the committee’s life. The challenge came not only from Pennsylvania, but also from Chairman Keyes of the com- mittee on control of the contingent fund of the Senate, who refused to allow the Reed committee any more funds. The case went to the courts and a judge in Pennsylvanla held that he had no jurisdiction, but that the Senate itselt would have to de- termine whether the Reed committee have the ballots impounded for the Senate privileges and elections com- mittee, and the sergeant-at-arms of the Senate has requested, on behalf of that committee, that the ballots he kept. But a great majority of the judges have replied that they cannot take cognizance of such an informal request. Mr. Vare very properly has joined with his opponent in making a last demand that thg ballots be retained. If there has been fraud in the Penn- sylvania election, it should be uncov- ered. Pennsylvania politics has not smelled so sweet that the strong-arm method of destroying ballots, even to live up to the letter of the law, should satisfy the people. The difficulty arises largely from the fact that the Senate failed to take specific steps at its last session in connection with the Vare-Wilson contest. The filibuster in the closing days of the session against the reso- lution to continue the life of the Reed slush fund committee prevented any such steps. The filibuster was led by Senator David A. Reed of Penn- sylvania, an avowed supporter of Mr. Vare. This fact, if nothing else, should impel Mr. Vare to do every- thing in his power, and his power is said to be great in Pennsylvania, to bring about the preservation of the ballots. Technicalities there are which seem at present to make the preservation of the ballots a difficult task. In the interest of clean politics and clean elections, however, these technicali- ties should not be allowed to bar the way. r————————— Need for Action. The District government again finds itselt between two fires. On the one hand is the Treasury Department, which has asked the pertinent ques- tion of when it may expect definite information relative to removal of the Farmers' Market. On the other hand is Congress, which does not meet until December, and which surely will want to have its fingers in any ple seasoned with new appropriations. The Com- missioners can give no definite answer now about when the Farmers’ Market will be vacated nor where a new one will be located. It all depends upon Congress and the expedition with which that body acts on recommenda- tions prepared by the Commissioners before the next session. The most astute prophet would be unwise in hazarding & guess regarding such action. The choice of the new site for a Farmers' Market is complicated to some extent by the changes in the Board of Commissioners since the question was last agitated. Commis- sioner Bell devoted a great deal of time and study to the problem, but Commissioner Bell has gone. Those who inherit the responsibility of choos- ing a new location must review Col. Bell's findings and make themselves famillar with the whole situation. The manner of doing this is provided in the hearings planned by the Commis- sioners for October as a result of the discovery by the last Congress that there existed a great divergency of opinion among District residents re- garding a new site. There is no question about the Treasury Department’s right to in- sist on information which will serve to clarify its own problem. The de- partment hopes to let contracts for excavating work on the Internal Revenue Bulilding at the beginning of the next calendar year. This work will be hindered if there is no new location provided for the market, for the present sheds must be razed. ‘While there are funds for razing them, there is no money available for build- ing new ones. The Tyreasury he tates to throw the farmers out with- out the assurance that they will be provided with a new market. A wise move on the part of the Com- missioners would be to settle their part of the problem now and leave the rest to Congress and the Treasury. If the Commissioners choose a new loca- tion immediately, preparing estimates of cost and plans for new structures, acquainting the Treasury with its de- cision, the remaining responsibility will devolve upon Congress. It will be Congress and not the Commissioners which must face the alternatives of proceeding with the erection of a new market as soon as the money can be appropriated; of delaying work on the Government's building program, or of casting the farmers out without pro- viding them with a new site for mar- keting their produce. If the Commis- sioners and the Treasury present a united front in December, with the plea for immediate action, chances for extensive delay will be more remote. ———— The high cost of Mr. Rickard’s spe- cial line of entertainment is leading many sport patrons to hope for some form of Tex reduction. ——————— The Dole Race. Six men and three planes have now flown the watery waste between Oak- land, Calif., and the Hawaiian Islands. When Art Goebel and Lieut. W. V. Davis let thelr ship, the Woolaroc, and two hours later Martin Jensen and Paul Schluter their plane, the Aloha, down gently on Wheeler Field, Hono- lulu, they were the second and third pair of air voyagers to arrive on the islands from the California mainland. Lieuts. Maitland and Hegenberger were the first by virtue of having flown the course seven weeks ago as a demonstration of Army Ajr Service development. Goebel and Davls, in negotlating the twenty-four hundred miles of the tur- bulent Pacific, are the winners of the Dole prize of $25,000. Jensen and Schluter win the second-place prize of $10,000. The other two planes in the race are still missing. They are the Miss Doran, which contalns Miss Mildred Doran, a pilot and a navi- gator, and the Golden Eagle, carrying Jack Frost and George Scott. Grave fears are felt for the safety of these five contestants, as it is assumed that their gasoline supply has been ex- hausted and that they are probably floating on sketchy life-rafts some- where on the water following a forced descent. If they should suffer the fate of Nungesser and Coli, the gallant Frenchmen, the Dole race for a total of $36,000 will indeed have taken was alive or dead. The case still ,dregs on appeal. ', Efforts have since been made tg - heavy toll of life. Three fiyers were killed in trials and others were cracked up but miraculdusly escaped desth i the take-off. Add three to five and it makes eight. Eight lives sacrificed in an endeavor to win a big money award! And only four out of nine actual starters successfully complet- ing the trip. It does seem to question the wisdom of prize offerings that in- vite desperate flirtation with death with equipment and ability that can- not possibly, as a whole, meet a severe test. Aviation cannot be developed on a shoe-string. Expensive experiments are necessary. And there can be no denying that a large prize draws out those who never should or could under ordinary circumstances be allowed to attempt hazardous feats without the proper training or equipment. It is this phase of the Dole race that has aroused considerable discussion throughout the country. e James Oliver Curwood. James Oliver Curwood was the butt of that school of criticism which takes no stock in what the public likes, con- tenting itself with what its members conceive to be the proper thing for the public to like. Granting that his books weére read by millions, he was held up to constant ridicule for writ- ing them. His success as a novelist is not hard to explain— But, spite of all the criticising elves, Those who must make us feel—must feel themselves. Curwood loved the forests and the majesty of the untamed wilderness. The romance of ruggedness appealed to him. He delighted in strong, virile men and in good women. He set them down against a background he knew best, and they won out against great odds through their own intrepidity and on the theory that “weak men must fall, for heaven still guards the right.” His plots may have been of one pat- tern: undoubtedly they lacked depth. His strong men, because of their very strength and rectitude, lost some of their attractiveness, and in literary merit there was much to be desired. But his characters lived again in the romantic imaginings of his readers, who found in.their Curwood books a vent through which their souls might leave the prison of a walled-in life and soar to the heights of adventure and mighty combat in a land which exists for them on the printed page alone. Curwood is dead and his books may not outlive him long, but he used his talents well, which, after all, is an epitaph for which better men might hope. —_————— Not long ago a report went out that the diamond market was saturated. Nevertheless there is a rush for the African mines in apparent confidence that the demand for engagement rings has caught up sufficiently to call for a new supply of gems. ————— Prizes offered for aviation feats sound liberal enough. When it is con- sidered that the undertaking is a race with death the mere matter of money does not figure impressively. —————— A “hunger strike” is likely to stir but little sympathy among the many persons bent on reducing, who un- flinchingly look starvation in the face. —_————— A gunman has all the advantage of the argument when he undertakes a communistic experiment for the distri- bution of property on his own account. ——————— Even radio has its troubles with the performer who tries to force a right of way regardless of the traffic officers. ——————— Statesmen have often wasted anx- fety concerning a Treasury surplus. Nothing is more easily cured. ————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOENSON. Classic Revival. The figures from a Roman jar Step forth so gayly, There on the tennis court afar, In practice dally. Reanimate from those old times Of loves and quarrels, ‘When men were governed more by rhymes Than laws or morals. Graceful and lithe, without a care For grave restriction, 'To life they come, those creatures fair, From classic fiction, Varying the Wardrobe. “Are you preparing for renewed po- litical activities?”" “I am,” answered Senator Sorghum. “In addition to bringing out the old silk hat and the Prince Albert coat, I have bought a cowboy sombrero and a pair of chaps.” No Argument. On one thing honest men agree ‘With general assent, A gas pipe filled with TNT Is not an argument. Jud Tunkins says the free lunch custom still survives, but nobody gets the benefit of it but the mosquitoes. Hard-Earned Wages. “Do you think motion picture stars are overpaid?” “No,” replied Miss Cayenne. “In addition to working hard in studios, they devote their leisure to giving the gossipy world something to talk about.” Ring Requirements. The pugilist who would succeed Must be a fighting man, indeed, And also follow out the plan That makes a first-rate business man. “When I tell & friend sumpin’ is a secret,” sald Uncle Fben, “it's because I wants to make it sound interestin’, s0’s he'll scatter de news.” ——— Umbrellas and Righteousness. From the Seattle Daily Times. It is proverblal that the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, but all too frequently the unjust man purloins the just man's umbrella. He May Not Choose. From the Seattls Times. In view of the pleasant and colorful ceremony at Deadwood, one wonders it Mr. Coolidge will choose to run for Sloux chiet again next year. —.—. Carefree. From the Akron Beacon Journal. b A woman who enters a fat woman's race at a plcnic is past the state where she has any mental for Slowly the conviction grows that one ought to remake his garden about once in every four or five years. Otherwise even the finest place tends to become petrified, congealed, lacking that spice of life—interest. The garden of perennials that grow each year, the individual plants of which become old friends to the house- hold, is an ideal more observed in theory than practice. Let the basis of the garden be per- ennials. The remainder well may be annuals, for the increased bloom and interest to be derived from their planting. The great reason for remaking the garden, however, aside from that of keeping up one's interest in this healthful outdoor occupation, lies in the necessity for weeding out poor growers. There are two things the average amateur gardener will not do—ordi- narily he will not disbud plants in order to get better and larger flowers, and seldom will he throw anything away. Disbudding is a hard-hearted pro- ceeding, and not entirely necessary, for many persons prefer to have more flowers, though smaller. Discarding plants that do not bloom, however, is a prime necessity in the well kept garden, especlally in the small back yard, where room is at a premium. * k ¥ Heroe is a peony, for instance, which has been in the ground for the past four yvears. In all that time it has had but one flower, a miserable thing, not an inch and a half across, when this particular variety normally throws blooms 8 to 10 inches in diam- eter. Its foliage looks so well, however, the owner is loath, if not downright unwilling, to cast it into the refuse heap. “Maybe it will bloom next year!” Well, suppose it does, it wjll not bloom very well, and, anyway, it has had its chance and has failed. Away with it! Cast it into outer darkness! Give something else a chance! ‘The point is to be kept in mind that the average amateur gardener re- quires at least four or five years of experience before he begins to realize the necessity for throwing away poor plants. The way new gardeners cherish poor things is almost comical. Plants that are nothing but a hindrance and care are treasured as much as if they were the finest specimens in the world. If one had a large estate, this might not be so bad, but in the small place it is fatal to complete garden satis- faction. Garden satisfaction, what one is seeking. LR No, the thing to do is to ruthlessly take up all plants that do not ‘“come across” after a fair trial. If they have disappointed you for four years, they will do it for eight more, or as long as_they live. Now, in the latter days of August, when the glory of the garden begins to fade (although there may be some flashes of it yet in the asters, chrys. anthemums and in the rose displaysj— after all, is now 1s the appointed time to consider the remaking of the home garden, so that next year's may be better, fuller of bloom and more satisfactory in every way. Today it is easy to stand on the path and note the plants that have not come through. Tear them up and throw them away. In doing so, the holes left in borders will offer an ex- cellent wedge for starting the entire remaking process. Then one may come to the decision that the placing of certain shrubs was all wrong in the beginning, although one did not know it at that time. No garden should be static. No gardener ought to stand still. If one has not learned something by sheer experience after four years, the chances are that he probably never will. At any rate, he wiil not be reading here, for no one but a gar- den enthusiast will have gotten this far on this subject. I Here are some lilacs which never should have been planted in this situ- ation. When they were put there they looked so small. What new gar- dener ever would have dreamed they would grow so tall? It takes about four to five years for the mistakes in planting to show up. ‘When finally they are realized, the question is: ‘Will the gardener have the nerve to correct them? Suppose the changes, including the throwing away of good plants that will not bloom, involve much work and considerable doubt as to the out- come? ‘Well, that is where gardening nerve comes in. One has to take a chance in gardening as elsewhere. The age- old timidity, the thought that one had “‘better let well enough alone,” cramps our style, ‘Why had one better let well enough alone? In the bigger things of life one might well hesitate, but here, thank Heaven! is an opportunity for us to venture forth freely upon peaceful, uncharted seas. If we make mistakes in navigating the ocean of the home garden, no one will mind or criticize us the next day in the papers. * koK ¥ There s, no doubt, a_cycle in gar- den activities, within which one's in- terest increases, then declines. After the gardener has watched the growth and flowering of a variety of plants for several years his interest begins to wane. Especially the static, perennial gar- den has this effect upon many restless persons. A garden ought not to be too peaceful. ‘Wherefore, let us pep it up with a change every four years, much the same as the Nation does with its elec- tions. Now {s the time to put on a cam- paign in the garden. Look over the situation as a general might a battle- fleld. Discard the deadwood, plan bet- terments, dig 'em all up and plant 'em over again! If one never corrects mistakes, even in his garden, how is he ever going to doul:! Ln that greater gardening—living a life? BACKGROUND OF EVENT! BY PAUL V. COLLINS. Great Britain is worried over the prevalence of labor strikes, and there has been organized an “Industrial Peace Union for the British Empire.” This is initlated by such political lead- ers as Lord Denbigh, president, with Hon. J. Havelock Wilson and Mr. L. Haden 'Guest and other prominent men. The organization, through fits president, announces that its object is to us: its good offices toward ad- justing differences between employers and wage earners, but it distinctly dis- avows any intent to separate working peoplss from their unions. It finds that In the last eight years the wage earn- ers have lost 338,000,000 days through industrial disputes—a loss which can naver be made up. The estimated cost of last year’s coal strike was no less than £300,000,000—which might have reduced the debt to the United States some $1,500,000,000. Commenting upon the situation, the London Times says: “A sedulous and persistent propa- ganda, supported by foreign money, is being carried on among our work people, with the avowed object of de- stroying our institutions, and it is gain- ing ground mainly because through apathy it is allowed to go largely un- challenged.” Great Britain expellzd the Soviet propagandists none too soon, and yet even today the secret influences are at work stirring up discontent as vig- orously as possible. There are approxi- mately a million wage earners still out of employment in England, Wales and Scotland, but conditions are gradually Improving. LE I ‘What the new Industrial Peace Union of the British Empire is now undertaking to do, through a solicited fund which it hopes will reach £500,. 000 a year, for five years, the United States Department of Labor, through its Bureau of Conciliation, is doing persistently as part of its regular dutles. * K K K The chiet difficulty in the United States labor conditions is not strikes, but overproduction and wastage due to idle time because of that overpro- duction—or, as the labor people pre- fer to call it, underconsumption. For example, according to the De- partment of Labor, coal mining is suf- fering because if the miners were limited to 60 per cent of the present number and they worked 306 days a year instead of half that, they could supply all the coal that could find a market, It is inaccurate to say that miners are idle a third of the time, for many of them find other employ- ment, but 700,000 miners find it nec- essary to seek other work a third of the year or stand idle. Many are un- employed in the mines more than half the year. Our manufacturers give employ- ment to 11,000,000 people, but owing to undermarketing of the product 1,750,000 are idle all the year, making on the basis of the British statistics losses equivalent to 306 times 1,750,000 one-man days, or a total loss of 625, 000,000 a year, or to compare with the British idle days in eight years, 4,400,- 000,000 working days, due to lack of consumption, quite apart from strike 1dleness or sickness. There 18 more or less unrest and consequent turnover or change of em- ployment. The Labor Department es- timates that each change of employ- ment means an average loss of two weeks and that 3,600,000 men so change each year—a loss of 364,000,- 000 weeks, or 21,847,000,000 days a year—174,776,000,000 days in eight years. In 1924 a committee of the Feder- ated American Engineering Societies on Elimination of Waste in Industry, headed by Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, reported that we have 42,000,000 men and women en- gaged in gainful occupations, of whom each loses from sickness an average of elght days—a total loss of 350,000, 000 days a year, or 2,800,000,000 work- ing days in eight years. Of this sick- ess 42 per cent is what is classed as reventable” through intelligent sani- tation and medical care. Of the 500,000 workers who die each year one-half of the deaths are said to be postponable by proper medical [ ot the DigReE. Hian T preventable loss, according to life in- surance companies, is a direct money wastage of $1,800,000,000 a year. Aside from sickness, the loss through accidents, not counting the 23,000 fatal accidents, cost 296,000,000 days of idle- ness and suffering. Yet employers spend millions of dollars in compen- “|sations and in preventive measures. In one state—Wisconsin—this expense amounts to 86 per cent of the pay rolls. In the whole United States, it totals, annually, more than a billion dollars. Most accidents are rated preventabile, In New York State, in four years, there were more fatal accidents in building trades than in all factories, although there are four times as many employed in manufacturing as in the building work. About $30,000,000 is paid yearly to insurance companies to cover their accident liability, and an insurance authority of high standing estimates that this loss could be re- duced 80 per cent in flve years, by earnest and scientific measures toward safety. It is incorrect to apply all the labor losses to strikes. In a recent speech, Becretary of Labor Davis said that in 23 years a total of 207,414,000 days were lost in coal flelds through strikes, but at the same time 1,282,670,000 days were also lost through other causes— sickness, turnover and lack of market demand. LY It formerly required 700 skilled glass blowers to make the 5-.gallon glass carboys required in the United States; an expert could make 200 in a day. Now one machine—just one— makes 8,000 every 24 hours and sup- plies all American needs. The day of unskilled labor is past, but health authorities daclare that change of occupation prolongs life, and when ambitious men are dismissed be- cause of invention, they may often count it a blessing adding to lif> and eventual happiness—if they show pluck and adaptation. * K Kk It is contended that the demand for “luxurfes” 0 increases with good wages and steady employment that that is the solutiion of the chronic “overproduction,” in many industries. President Coolidge, in a message to Congress last Winter, said: “In industry, conditions and wages have improved. There is no more twelve-hour day for the workingman, Skilled labor is well compensated, but 4 there are unfortunately a multitude of workers who have not yat come to share in the general prosperity of the Nation. Both the public authorities and private enterprises should be solic- itous to advance the welfare of this class.” It is this class of untrained men and women who suffer immediately from the introduction of labor-saving ma- chinery, as instanced in the case of the introduction of the “combine har- vester and thresher,” which has su- perseded 100,000 harvest hands in Kansas alone. And the cotton sled for picking cotton will replace nine-tenths of the hand cotton pickers. A new machine to make cigars does as much work as 12 makers by hand. Perhaps it will materialize the witty wish of the late Vice President Marshall, who sald that what this country needs most is a good five-cent cigas f that comes, more people will smoke the cigar, making more demand for it, so that the 11 ousted cigar makers will return to the job, and with the aid of the machine will earn more than ever, The same experience was met by printers when typesetting machines were {nvented. Today a linotype setter earns more -than treble what the old hand typesetter earned. *x ok ko Prosperity through good wages is quickly distributed. The Department of Labor has demonstrated this by an actual questionnaire as to how often the various classes of wage earners buy overcoats. It was discovered that men who earn less than $1,000 a year make their overcoats last 10 years; with a salary of $1,600 a year, they get a new over- coat every years; with $2,500 a year, they find that their ovarcoats last only an average of two winters. Thus by increasing wages 2% times the on textiles increases 10 the per cent. PHILOSOPHIES BY GLENN FRANK My little son has just come to me all agog with the question: “Did you know that each of us in America has 40 slaves?” “You're mistaken,” I sald. “Abra- ham Lincoln saw to that when he freed the slaves.” My son smiled and showed me his current copy of Popular Science, in which Robert E. Martin had caught his fancy by translating the mechanical power used in the United States into terms of human slaves. This is the sentence that caught my son's fancy: “About one billion horsepower is at work in our country, exclusive of our own physical energy and that of draft animals. . . If we had slaves doing the work of our power plants, we would require about 40 slaves for each of us—a total of 4,600,000,000, or two and a half times as many people as_there are in the world!"” Here are some of the interesting comparisons Mr. Martin makes be- tween horsepower and human power The automobiles of the United States represent twice as much power as all the human beings in the world. The steam locomotives of the United States represent more power than all the human beings in North America, South America and Africa. The developed water power of the United States represents more power than all the human beings in England, Ireland and Wales, and 80 per cent of the water power of our streams is still undeveloped. The windmills of the United States running all at once in a 20-mile-an- hour breeze would represent more power than all the human beings in Turkey and Europe. If all the power we have generated mechanically had to be supplied by hu- man beings, Mr, Martin estimates that there would be 1,63% human beings to every square mile in the United States. Since there are only 36 per- sons to the square mile now, this gives a vivid notion of the magni- tude of the mechanical power we possess. We are obviously headed toward a civilization in which it will not be necessary for men to work with their hands, in the present sense of manual labor. What will that riean, if it ever happens? ‘Will men's ambitions be dulled by the ease with which they will be able to make a living, as men pick fruit from tropical trees? Some think so. There are others who remind us of the great and glowing Greek civiliza- tion that was built on slavery, and they ask why a greater and more glowing civilization may not be bullt on these far more efficient mechanical slaves. (Covyright, 1927.) “Personal Appearance” Strongly Condemned To the Editor of The Sar: Referring to the editorial in The Evening Star of the issue of August 15, 1927, under caption, “A Challenge to Decency,” 1 just want to say “Amen” as earnestly as it is possible for ma to express it. On Thursday, 11th instant, I called up the office of the manager of the theater, having seen the announce- ment flashed on the screen the eve- ning before, and expressed my views and feelings along the lines of your splendid, forceful and well written editorial. I have been a regular weekly visitor to that theater since it opened, pur- chasing never less than two seats, and frequently having several friends as my guests. I have been attending theaters since the “70s.” I am not a pruds, but stand for clean pearance on the e and decent shows. So please permit-me to extend my commendation and appreciation of your editorial. I have been a constant and regular reader of The Star for more than 31 years as a resident of Washing- ton and I congratulate you upon your policy in championing that which is good and clean and opposing that which is a detriment to public morals. I hope all who feel as I do in this matter will voice to you their ap- proval of your actlon. ALBERT P. JOHNSTON. To_the Editor of The Sta: I heartily thank you for your splen- did edttorial in The Star of the 15th, “A Challenge to Decency.” You have rendered a real service at the right moment to thousands of our people who are in need of protection against the public display of such offensive characters. WASHINGTON TOPHAM. To the Editor of The St I wish to express my appreciation of your editorial in The Star of Au- gust 15, “A Challenge to Decency,” and to thank you for telling us how to make our protests effective. I shall write to_the manager, to_the owner of the buflding and to Will Hays, but as I am not prominent in any way, I wish the matter would be called to the attention of ‘the various ‘women's clubs. SUSAN L. HACKETT. To the Editor of The Star: I have been reading The Star ever since I was 14 years old; I am now 62. The longer I read it, the more I am pleased with the editorials and the general cleanness of the paper. “A Challenge to Decency” appeals most forcibly to me and I would be glad if I could help to keep the place empty when “'a certain motion picture performer appears in person,” or to do anything to prevent his return to our city in a motion picture. Even be- fore he was barred from the motion pictures I never went to one where he was showing (after I had seen him twice). ETHEL Q. HAWKINS. To the Editor of The Star: Please dccept my admiration as well as my sincere gratitude for your pro- against the appearance of a cer- tain motion picture performer at one of the local theaters. I shall take pains to draw the attention of my friends to your very just article. en- titled “A Challenge to Decency,” and will, in writing, enter my protest against his coming. IRENE 8. JOHNSON. To the Editor of The Star: Every self-respecting citizen of Wash- ington is indebted to you for your valuable editorial, “A Challenge to De- cency,” in your issue of August 15. I trust it may be the means of arous- ing the righteous indignation of re- spectable amusement lovers and result in a determined protest against any restoration to the stage of a debauch- ing character. Any attempt to use our Nation's Capital for a try-out for such a purpose should be rebuked and con- demned. It is to be regretted that one of our theaters has broken faith with the public, and it is hoped that the management will realize the error ere it is too late. More purification is needed and no satisfaction of prurient curiosity. Let the good work of the Q. Is it wise to exchange the tires on the front and rear wheels of an automobile, so that all tires will re- ceive equal wear?—B. T. A. The Lincoln Highway Forum says: “If you blow out & rear tire you have little difficulty in holding your car on the road until you can stop, while if you have a corresponding fail- ure in a front tire your relatives are apt to wonder what caused your death. The motorist who has am inborn desire to live a goodly while keeps his best tires on the front wheels.” Q. What was the purpose of the Federal Reserve Act”—A. E, C. A. Its purpose was to reform the old banking system which had proved unstable in real crises. The law pro- vided for an elastic currency which would meet the expanding and con- tracting needs of business. Q. Can a jellyfish see?—G. 8. K. A. It has not well developed vision. Tt has a stomach and a circulatory system but not a heart. Q. What is the diameter of the cells in the human body?—F. W. A. They are from 1-125 to 1,5000 of an inch in diameter. Q. What does the word “Ochocho- bee” mean?—sS. E. D. A. Ochochobee is the Indian name for “big water.’ Q. When will the paper currency in the new size be put in circulation?— N. Q. W. A. The new bills, which may come out in about a year, will be 614 by 2%. At first only one-doliar bills will be issued in the new size. Q. What is the reunions?—R. H. A. Quoting from the Manual of Alumnl Work: “The so-called Dix plan of reunion was that of the late Edwin Asa Dix, an alumnus of Prince- ton University and secretary of his class. His reflection was that where reunions are held at five-year inter- vals, which is perhaps usual in most colleges, the reunion classes naver have the opportunity of meeting the men of other classes who were in col- lege at the same time, but only those who preceded or followed them. Es- sentially the Dix plan involves the idea of a joint reunion of four classes which were in college at the same time, at intervals of five years. Each time a different group of classes meets, %o that during a cycle of four reunions any given class will have met with four groups of classes in college in its freshman year; at the next interval those in college in its sophomore year, and 8o on. A schedule was prepared to demonstrate the plan. To be suc- cessful it must be by general accept- ance, and whether or not the idea is practical in any particular college must depend upon the reunfon tra- dition which is found there. If class cleavage is strong, classes are likely to prefer their own reunions at the customary intervals. At certain col- leges, however, the plan is said to have worked successfully.” Q. What is the mbolism of the Socialist torch and the clasped hands of the Farmer-Labor parties’—R. D. A. The symbolism of the Socialist torch is the enlightenment of the world to the fact that all men are brothers and the natural resources be- long to all. The clasped hands of the Farmer-Labor party indicate the close union between commercial and agricultural interests. Q. How much land does the Gov- ernmnt own at West Point?—A. 8. W. A. The Government property at the Military Academy at West Point in- cludes 3,295.5 acres. Are truffles raised in this country?—H. D. K. A. The cultivation of truffles is not a commercial proposition in the United States. Q. What is a co-operative bank?— ‘A. ‘A co-operative bank is a bank in which the depositors are not paid Dix plan of college 8. extensivelv ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN, interest on their deposits, but are given in lieu of interest a share in the profits of the bank. Q. TIn order for all the peopls of the United States to ride in passenger automobiles at the same time, how many would each car have to take?— M. E. N. A. FEstimating the population of the country at 117,000,000, six would have to ride in half and seven ia half of our 18,097,000 registered passenger cars. Q. Is vertical handwriting more legible than slanted writing?—D. A. A. A study by Leonard P. Ayres showed that from a point of view of legibility the styles may be classified as follows: Vertical—that is, slant- ing—from 90 to 80 degrees; medium slant, from 80 to 55 degrees, and ex- treme slant, from 55 to 30 degrees. Q. How many staircases are there in the Vatican?—C. D. C. A. The Vatican at Rome is said to be the largest palace in the world. It has 30 magnificent halls, 9 galleries, 7 chapels, 20 courts, 8 state staircases and 200 smaller staircases. It has museums, libraries and archives. It is said that the contents of the Sis- tine Chapel in the Vatican alone are worth $1,000,000,000. Q. Why is French the language of diplomacy?—H. A. H. A. The French language was used extensively in Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The French literature was greatly developed and spread throughout the various coun- tries, and persons of culture studied the language in order to be able to read the literature. Many foreign students were attracted to the Univer- #ity of Paris, and this also helped to spread the language. $ a language for treaties and forelgn intercourse among nations, French became gen- eral in the time of Louls XIV. Q. How many freight and passen ger coaches are now In use on the rallroads?—I. D. I. A. In round figures, there are about 2,360,000 freight cars in use; 54,700 railroad passenger cars. . Q. How did_the bridal bouquet originate?—P. F. - A. It is impossible to state when flowers were first used at a wedding, since this is a very anclent custs Orange blossoms were worn and car- ried by brides from the earliest times, as they portend luck and happiness. 3pencer and Milton were of the opin- ‘on that the orange was the golden apple presented to Jupiter by Juno on her wedding day. It was customary for the Anglo-Saxon bride to give her friends small knots and ribbons to wear or carry on the wedding day. This custom still survives in the bou- quets of the bridesmaids. Q. Is paper money printed only in “}s{nhlngéon or do mints print it, too? —H. J. G. A. The paper money of the United States is printed only at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Washing- ton, D. C. The mints of the United States make no paper currency. Q. Was Jchn L. Sullivan heavy- weight champion of the world?—R. T. A. Neither John L. Sullivan nor James Corbett was world champion. They were both heavyweight cham- plons of America. John L. Sullivan was the last world's London prize ring champion. After that the boxing rules were changed. This is a special department, de- voted solely to the handling of queries. This paper puts at your disposal the services of any extensive organization in Washington to serve you in any capacity that relates to information. This service is free. Failure to make tion is only 2 cents in stampa, inclosed with your inquiry, for direct reply. Address The Evening Star Informa tion Bureau, Frederic J. Hgskin, direce tor, Washington, D. C. An offer of several thousand dollars by Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, jr., through the Art Center of New York, as a prize for the best architectural suggestions for hot-dog stands, ap- peals to the popular imagination. The incident serves to emphasize both the hot dog’s established place in Ameri- can life and a development in the in- termittent warfare against ugliness along the Nation's highways. “Perhaps the Art Center, realizing that the world is going to the bow- wows, believes that we should have more beautiful bow-wows,” suggests the Albany Evening News. “It is well. America hopes that the present inartistic hot-dog stands will pass and that we shall have standardized architecture for all of them—Ren- aissance, Gothic, Doric or whatever. ¢ ® ¢ Yes, let us live in a hot- dog stand by the side of the road and please the eye as well as the palate of man. America is going to the hot bow-wows, so let them be more beau- Evening News {s will- ing to see hat the architects can suggest to make them sightly—if it is not possible to make them invisible, 8o that the scenery still uncovered by billboards along the highways may be seen.” Though the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thinks that, “compared to the motives which have inspired the great ar- chitecture of the past. the hot dog at first seems quite impossible,” since “nothing so lowly as it ever inspired a temple or a cathedral,” still. asks the Post-Dispatch, “Who can afford to say confidently that the lowly thing couldn’t do it? Another 100 per cent American institution, the movies which are as_abhorrent to the higl brow as the hot dog itself, have in- spired Oriental edifices which would Artistic Hot-Dog-Stands Idea Appeals to Popular Imagination Ing: “Art cannot improve on the wiener itself. It is as man made it. It is exactly the right length and the right dlameter. Trying to change its lcfi)lor would be like trying to paint the It is agreed by the New York Sum that “if the hot dog has come to stay, it~ should be decently housed,” al- though ‘“‘even more important is the need of rescuing the scenery from ugliness."” “No doubt, the olfactories of Mrs. John, jr., caught the fragrance of the plebeian delicacy and followed it with rapturous anticipation, only to be horrified at the structure in which such aromatic marvels were pro- duced,” suggests the Pocatello Trib- une, which also predicts “5-cent ‘dog served in 500,000-dollar houses. And they deserve it,” continues the Trib- une, for “too long have they been forced into obscurity, and compelled to suffer without friend or adviser, while worse food was being served In million-dollar establishmen “This cause is one that deserves encouragement, both in the interest of national esthetics and for other and material reasons,” seriously observes the Philadelphia Public Ledger, ap- proving an enterprise which “aims at the obliteration of the hideous shanties which dot the highways from Maine to California, and which dispense ‘hot dawg’ refreshments to hungry motor tourists.”” When these “grace- ful retreats for the distribution of sausage sandwiches of the secemingly inexhaustible kind” have become a reality, the Syracuse Herald pictures the “true artistic delight” which “will attend the universal yopular in- dulgence in the sizzling concoction with the tropical-canine name. * R X % frighten a real Oriental to death.” The St. Joseph News-Pr in for- ward-looking mood, thinks, “In the not distant future, the eye may be glad- dened with .a form of gidrified ‘hot- dog’ shops worthy a place in the ar- chitectural scheme of things with fill- Ing stations.” * x kR The popularity and permanence of the hot dog is stressed by the Water- town Daily Times, which declai “It has come to stay, and many miles Referring to the prizes for the de- signing contest, the Topeka Daily Capital remarks, “No greater civic beautification cause could be spon- sored, and that the prize money comes from John D.'s folke and the wurst makers themselves is most appro- priate.” The Toledo Blade feels that the average dealer in this commodity “will do bigger business when his stand becomes something better than a wart on the landscape.” “Granted that the contest is put of them are sold each Summer to tourists who are going up and down the country. An institution like this deserves to be decently housed,” concedes this paper, but -it raises its voice to contend that the hot dog itself should not be tampered with. insist- his appearing? I feel sure it would press continue in the righteous cause of humanity. GRACE D. SEIBOLD. To the Edito~ of The Sta Complylng with your viewpoint in the able editorfal “A Challenge to De- cency,” we have written a protest to the ‘‘Palace Theater” against the pro- posed appearance of a notorious man as a drawing attraction on their next week's program. May we suggest you follow up thd good work you have commenced in this editorial. ANNA N. GIBSON, ‘FLORENCE WIER GIBSON. To the Editor of The Btar: May I compliment you on the attl. tude of The ng Star toward the in this city test! add - I thank yog torial, T am "% be a disgrace to the city and detri- mental to the morals, especially of the oun| ople. yFR‘El’;flRICK WILLIAM GREEN. To the Editor of The Star: Will you accept my personal “thanks” to you for your splendid editorial in Monday night's paper re- ferring to the ‘Challenge to De- ceney”? We cannot commend you too highly for your stand in this mat- ter, and assure you that we stand back of you in this opinion. ‘We can't conceive of such a high- class theater indulging in such an in- sult even for a ‘try-out” of the peo- ple of Washington and vicinity. We are not all away this Summer, and only too sorry that such a “trial” for a comeback should be put to such a i over and some good designs are pro- duced,” the Champaign News Gasette | foresees that “the trouble may come in convincing the wiener venders that they should become more classic in their housing,” since the ‘“hot-dog foundry has failed to show much in- terest in art.” Speaking an encouraging word for the artists who will endeavor to de- sign “less offensive stands,” the Wil- mington Delmarvia Star thinks. “it will be a good trick if they do it.” The San Antonio Evening News considers that the “more fitting domi- clles for so.tasty a food” should be provided “without advancing prices. Here comes the snag in the whole matter, in the opinion of the Portland Oregonian, which declares: - ence teaches that so soon as anything be artistic it becomes ex- and this paper makes & plea: ‘‘Let us keep the hot dog, We pray you, good crusaders of the Art Center, as we have had it these many years. It is not much of a viand anyhow, the hot dog, except to those who are addicts. And ‘they che: the old scenes, the elder aromas. We doubt the members of the Art Center, who are raising all this cultural hob, ever ate hot dogs.” LY