Evening Star Newspaper, August 19, 1927, Page 8

8 *.{E EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. IDAY........August 19, 1927 . .IEODORE W. NOYES....Editor . 1e Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: St. and Pennesivania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd 8t. Chicago_Office: Tower Building. Luropean Office: 14 Regent St.. Loudon, England. The Evening Star with the Sunday morn- edition is delivered by carriers within ity at 60 cents per month: daily only. nts per month: Sundays only. 2 onth. ~ Orders may le sent cphone Main 5000. Collection .rier at end of each month. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Sund . $0.00: .. 78 7 and Sunday. -1 37 §0.00: 1 mo: B0 $3.00: v day only’ 1 mo.l 25¢ All Other States and Canada. Paily and_Sunday.1 ¥ wly only ay uday only A 75¢ mo. 85 Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Prees is exclusively entitled .+ the ‘use for republication of all news Cis- sstches credited 10 it or not otherwise o ed in this paper and also the Jocal news blished herein. Al 1ights of publication pecial dispatches herein are also reserved. The Final Court Decision. Complete denial by the Massachu- retts State Supreme Court, by unani- wious vote of the four judges sitting “in full bench,” of the petition of the wounsel for Sacco and Vanzetti, ends the case as far as legal judicial pro- ceedings can go unless by some device not now apparent it can be carried to the United States Su- preme Court for review. The decision was announced this morning and is 1 rejection of all the pleas of the defendant's counsel. It exhausts the remedies for delay save in the con- .tingency suggested. A justice of the United States Supreme Court has already refused o intervene on the ground of lack of jurisdiction. The court itself is .uot in session, but a single justice _might grant a writ of error, though that is extremely doubtful in.view of the practice of the court to ab- stain from trespass upon the jurls- diction of the States in criminal case It would therefore seem assured that short of executive “clemency, which has already been denfed, the condemned men will be executed at the expiration of the present reprieve, which extends to ‘midnight next Monday. The decislon of the Massachusetts Supreme Court is based upon strictly legal grounds. On the score of the appeal that Judge Thayer, who pre- sided at the trial, was prejudiced and that the accused therefore did -not have a fair trial, the court holds that the time for such protest passed with the pronouncement of sentence, thereby upholding the ruling of Judge Sanderson, in appeal from which this latest hearing was granted. Doubtless this decision will be re- celved by the partisans of Sacco and Vanzetti as a definite closing of the ‘final door. The agitations, which were suspended, save for the bomb- _ing of the house of a juror, will prob- ably be resumed. Already there is talk of another one-day strike of .workers in New York, perhaps ac- companied by similar strikes in other cities. Mass meetings will in all ‘likelihood be held, with denunciations “of the courts and threats of “revo- lution” if the sentence of the law is executed. These demonstrations, ‘however, will not affect the course ‘of the case. There is no ground whatever to expect that Gov. Fuller will reconsider his adverse decision. He granted the present respite only to " permit the completion of the motions “which were instituted after his re- fusal to extend clemency. Criticism of Gov. Fuller's grant of additional time to allow the carrying “of the case anew to the State Su- preme Court in full bench was ex- pressed upon the announcement on the score that it was a ylelding to the clamor of the radical defenders and partisans of Sacco and Vanzetti. On the other hand it was appralsed as a judicious allowance of oppor- tunity to exhaust the legal remedies. The outcome has justified his course even as a favorable decision by the Supreme Court would have justified it. It cannot now be said that these ‘men were cut off while there re- mained a chance in the courts. ——————— Aviation apparently needs a dic- tator; a cool, well informed, level-head- d chap who will absolutely forbid fly- ing under conditions that threaten fail- ure and death. —— e Screen figures have had many tales of woe to tell. A new novel might be written entitled, “How to Be Happy, Though a Motion Picture Star.” vt An Unprovoked Insult. Ban Johnson, president of the American League, must indeed be an ill and irritable man. He cannot have recovered completely from the recent illness which was all that ‘saved him from a final sever- ance from the game of base ball. ‘His latest official act has to do with . Bucky Harris, manager of the Wash- ington team, than whom there is no grittier player in the big leagues. Harris was banished from a recent game in this city by Umpire Rowland after having one of the most out- rageous strikes called on him that ‘Washington fans have ever wit- nessed. In leaving the plate, in his surprise and rage, Harris jostled his royal highness, the umpire. This act automatically calls for a three- »day suspension, if reported by the arbiter. dently realizing that it was his own mistake that provoked Harris to the outburst, Rowland re- frained from reporting the affair, thereby showing a commendable and manly spirit. But a week later Harris is the recipient of a letter from the league head stating that he has been fined one hundred dollars. All very well Johnson, while still holding the presidency of the league, is entirely 1 within his rights in upholding disci- pline. But, and this is the signifi- cant part of the matter, Johnson ¢ takes occasion to add the following: “In the light of a recent event at , Philadelphia you should have thor- + oughly fortified yourself against. an ocourrence of this sorte Such & thought could only have been in- culcated into you coming from the playgrounds in the coal flelds of western Pennsylvania.” “Bucky” did come from the ‘coal flelds of western Pennsylvania.” He has fought his way to Natlon-wide recognition from his beginning In that section of the country and has earned the respect of all those who know him for his character. But what license has Ban Johnson or any one else to slur and gratuitously in- sult him? None whatever. And if the game of base ball is to degener- llle into a discussion as to where this | or that player came from, his up- bringing and his social status, then it is time for Johnson to step out com- pletely and give way to some one who will avoid personalities and run the game for the game's sake to en- tertain millions of Americans. e e Pins Wet Label to Smith. Amid eloquent pleas to wipe the wet and dry issue from the Demo- cratic slate Senator Bruce of Mary- land demands the election of a wet President and the lowering of prohibi- tion bars. The Maryland Senator, speaking before the Institute of Pub- lic Affairs at Charlottesville, mentioned the name of Gov. Alfred E. Smith of New York, before all the rest, as the proper candidate for President. He included in his list of eligibles, how- ever, Gov. Ritchie of Maryland, Sen- ator Reed of Missouri, Democrats; for- mer Senator Wadsworth of New York, Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler of New York and Senator Edge of New Jer- sey, Republicans. Gov. Smith may or he may not thank Senator Bruce for the promi- nence which he has given him as a “wet.” There are indications that the Smith supporters are moving to pre- sent the governor as a strong en- forcer of the law, all law, which nec- essarily must include the dry law. Senator Reed of Missour!, regarded as a real “possibility” for the Demo- cratic nomination, is inclined, him- self, to soft-pedal the liquor issues, and to declare that it should never dis- rupt the Democratic party. And now Senator Bruce adds fuel tp the flame, denouncing the prohibitionists of the South, and declaring that “the dry South belongs to the province of dry humor.” This may be Senator Bruce's idea of winning Southern delegates to vote for Smith or Ritchie or Reed at the Democratic national convention next year. But it is a doubtful method of THE EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON, D. €. FRIDAY. ATGUST 19, 1927, then fifty years old and regarded him. self as of extremely advanced age. He was keenly anxious to find these mi- raculous waters which would restore his youth, or at least prolong his lite, so he Interviewed the native chiefs, who told him that there was, in fact, a health-giving fountain, and when pressed for information stated that It lay “beyond the setting sun.” It was this information, it is believed, that set Ponce off on his westward voyage, in search of the healing spring rather than on a mission of territorial discovery. Porto Rico cherishes the belief that It is in fact the seat of the true foun- tain of youth. The story prevalent in the island is that when FPonce queried the chiefs they deliberately sent him astray because they did not wish him to discover their highly prized spring, which from time imme- morial had been with them a place of curative ablutions and potations. Porto Rico's fountain of youth, to give it the classic name, lies on the southern side of the island not far from the second largest city, which was named after the first governor. It Is known as Coamo Springs, and has been a health resort for several cen- turles. The waters, which are hot and highly medicinal, are known to be curative of certain allments. Tradl- tion goes that in anclent times the natives took their alling ones to these waters for treatment. The Spaniards eventually, of cour'se, discovered the spring and developed there a ‘“spa,” for the benefits of which in later years invalids went from Spain. The hotel that now stands there is a reconstruc- tion of the original Spanish establish- ment, with enormous baths. It the Porto Rican legend is true and Ponce de Leon actually had the true fountain of youth within his reach on that island but went astray through deliberate misdirection by the natives, Florida at least owes much to his memory for having discovered that portion of the mainland of America. For it might easily have been that he would not have undertaken his voy- age in 1513 which resulted in the first contact with the continent itself. Of course, some later voyager would have found Florida, but the enterprise of Ponce de Leon gave the land a fame as a health resort which is still po- tent. g The many admirers of the late J. Ogden Armour may solace themselves with remembrance of Andrew Car- negie's statement, “It is a disgrace to procedure, to say the least. The South and West have been dry, politically, for years. The South and West hold an absolute veto power in their hands at a Democratic national convention, where it takes a two-thirds vote to nominate candidates for President and Vice President. It appears quite certain that Gov. Smith of New York must stand as a wet before the next Democratic con- vention, that all the law enforcement talk in the world will not serve to change one jot his anti-prohibition record. Even if the drys themselves should be willing to gloss over the governor's wetness, the wets them- selves will proclaim it to the skies. As a wet, the Democrats must accept the governor or turn him down. It he should seek to lean too strongly to the dry side, he would immediately lose prestige with his own great fol- lowing in the North and the East. The man who can carry water on one shoulder and a different beverage on the other in the coming campaign will be a skillful politician, indeed. Knees Are Knees. American flappers are hereby warned to stay out of China. It is no place for them and they are liable to get into trouble. This warning is issued because of what recently befell a young Chinese girl. She was riding in a ricksha, comfortably and deco- rously, when her coolle stumbled and upset the conveyance, also the girl. Unfortunately she landed on her head, her dress flew up and onlookers were treated to the sight of a pair of dim- pled knees. Now knees are knees in China, and Marshal Chang Tso-Lin has issued a strict edict that all knees are to remain in seclusion. The mar- shal’s mandate is based on the theory that modern dress is inimical to mod- ern morals. Despite the fact that the revelation of these particular knees was by accident and could not have been avoided, the young woman was arrested, taken to court and fined ten dollars by the solemn judge, who ruled that “the law is the law, and many persons saw your knees on the public streets.” And so, American flappers, take heed or else take plenty of the well known and coveted American dol- lars with you when you visit that ancient country. ———e—s. Efficlency experts have not yet de- vised a scheme to prevent important business enterprises from being run by the office boy during the vacation months of July and August. —— e One of the interesting questions re- lating to modern pugilism is what Mr. Tex Rickard does with all his money. ————— The Fountain of Youth. Ever since Ponce de Leon, the Span- ish explorer, discovered Florida, in 1513, a tradition has prevailed that a wonderful health-giving spring was found there by him. This so-called fountain of youth has been located in many places. In St. Augustine, the scene of the discovery of the penin- sula, which Ponce thought was an is- land, the “Fountain of Youth” has be- come famous, despite the fact that it has changed location several times. The other day another fountain of this character was brought to mnotice through excavations which revealed some human bones. This was near Deland, where a spring has been given the traditional title. Probably this af- fair will start a controversy between rival health springs in the Flowery State. ‘The location in Florida of the fountain of youth which Ponce sought is perhaps in accordance with the legend that has grown up around his westward voyage from Porto Rico a little more than four hundred and fourteen years ago. When Ponce reached that island as governor, in 1510, after a campalgn for its con- die rich.” A brilllant organizer and a scrupulous observer of business ethics, he measured the standards of others by his own and trusted ideals rather than hard facts. With so great a swarm of “presiden- tial bees” in evidence, some aspirants to chiet honor are pretty sure to find that they have been stung. ———————— A statesman who has adopted cow- boy attire and familiarized himself with the rodeo might be expected to B0 a step farther and tell some jokes. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Playing the Game. Had a little poker game at Crimson Guich one night, The players started bettin’ in a man- ner most polite; It was a freeze-out contest. They as- sembled with much stealth THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Oh for the song of which one never tires! There are such melodies, of course, but one might never think so, after listening to the radio night after night. Here comes the mnocturnal pourmg of song, ranging from latest expressed desire of some un known to go back to Virginia. to Beethoven's dainty but boresome minuet. Tt is no wonder that the vast majority of the so-called popular songs will not stand repetition, since nine- tenths of them are of a melodic pai- tern made in the kindergarten stage of music. It is but little more wonder that such a really nice thing as the Beethoven “Minuet” grows tiresome. One would rather hear no music at all, after being fed upon it for o years, and the reason is the same— the song pattern is, musically speak- ing, only A, B, C,—and even the Uttle ones grow tired of repeating A, B, C—they want to go on to D, E, F, too. ‘There are songs, however, that never give the listener that feeling of ennul which overwhelms him when the announcer blandly states that the orchestra with the_violinist who plays off-key is going “to favor us with Dvorak's “Humoresque.” Oh yes, the latter is a wonderful tune, but studlos ought to make a study of the elemental things, and not allow them to be played more than once a week from any one station. ‘The great art of music would benefit, and, what is more to the point, fl? would , dear listeners, one and all. out- the * ok K K Here is our idea of music one never tives of: Wagner's “Pilgrims’ Chorus.” Nevin' 'Venetian Love Song.” ‘Lost_Chord."” To make a distribution of the general store of wealth. One was an anarchist and one was " called a bolshevik, : There were two socialists on hand whose wit was very quick; A communist likewise was there, with visage rather grim, Yet generous was his talk and we were not afrald of him. As one by one we parted with our lit- tle cherished hoard, The communist we found the only winner at the board; ‘With glittering eyes he gazed upon his sudden store of gold, ‘We then admired his principles so lib- eral and bold, ‘We thought he would disdain to place dull avarice on view, Ana said, “It’s time to share alike and start the game anew.” He looked at everybody in a supercil- fous way And to our reasonable claim he sim- ply sald, “Nay, nay! “At last I have a tidy sum and I shall take a rest And tell some honest broker I have money to inves Though I have favored ‘equal distribu- tion’ more or less, It's easy to be generous with what you don’t possess.”” The anarchist he grabbed & bomb, the soclalist grabbed two, The bolsh had three and at the com- munist the lot they threw. Sald Cactus Joe, 's mighty sad, but certain just the same, You can’t believe nobody sittin’ in a poker game!” Detecting No Difference. “Do you ever get stage fright “Not so that I can notice it,” an- swered Senator Sorghum. *The way politics has been going, I'm scared all the time.” Ready for a Rest. ‘We keep a hero in the air With adulation everywher: Unto fatigue he has to yleld And say, “Show me a landing fleld.” Jud Tunkins says a hypocrite thinks he is foolin’ somebody, and he’s right— he's foolin® himself. “A man who goes through life be- traying his friends,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “eventually be- trays himself.” Managing the Market. “Did you thoroughly understand my lecture?”’ {nquired Prof. Blabbins. “Not entirely,” answered the re- spectful student. “Then it was a success. It would be very bad business for me to give out all my preclous knowledge in one bundle.” quest, he learned of & reported spring of wonderful curative powers, He was “You can’'t judge by appearances,” !sald Uncle Eben. “A mighty slick loofii’ Aivver zsy have 8 ool inside.” “In a Monastery Garden."” Gounod's “'Sing, ile, Slumber.” Handel's “Larg Bizet's "“Toreador Song."” ‘While there are several melodies of marked simplicity in this group, the | song patterns are elaborate enough in each case to reach as far as T, say, and every one knows how much may be done with so many letters! Here i8s no A, B, C—A, B, C—A, B, C—endlessly repeated, boring one in direct ratio to the number of repeti- tions, but real music that satisfles. These songs embody the essentials of melody, time and rhythm. They are not *new music,” or “futurist music,” but thée old sort that has stood the test of time. Take the famous pilgrim chorus from Tannhauser. Some may arise to call it trite, but it has never seemed 8o to us. Whether heard in the opera, or played as an orchestral selection, or by a good band, or over the radio, or on the phonograph, it possesses the climacteric power to thrill. Surely this is of the inner essence of great music. Climax such music possesses, elther in large or little. It begins, like a good story, at the be- ginning, works toward a climax, and then ends. Like a man's life, it must and does look forward to something. It gets somewhere, as the saying is. Such music, therefore, brings to the listener something of the same satis- faction a reader receives from a well- told story, when the deserving hero finally clasps in his arms the lady of his choice. It is not the kiss that counts—the kiss s only a sign, to be given or omitted, it makes no differ- enco—what counts s the long-held love, steadfast, unswerving. The music of the chorus of pilgrims always gave us a mental picture of a mountain. We go slowly up, up, until in that final burst, “Once more, dear home-——" well, we are over the brow of the hill at iast. We are exalted. This is our idea of real music. P Nor are we able to hear Ethelbert “Love Song” from the fine Venetlan suite with anything but pleasure. Here the secret essence of music is embodied forth in slighter but no less engaging form. This Fair Lady of Music never cloys. The little wave of her hand at the screen door—yes, they have screens in Venice—is meant for us and no one else. It is her contribution to the happiness of Venice and of us, bless her. - Sullivan’s “Lost Chord,” again, s different, but none the less intriguing. Chords are lost to be found again. Once struck, they shall yet resound. This old piece, once very “fashlon- able,” whatever that means in music, still holds its own very well, not only because it enshrines a fine poem, but also because it bullds itself up as it goes along, getting better and more beautiful every moment. “In a Monastery Garden” meeds none of the orchestral bird whistles which commonly embellish it to give the suggestion of quietness and peace amid green places blessed with bright flowers, The melody breathes these things forth, making the listener sure that there is in great music, as in a_great piece of writing, something utterly out- side of the rules, which the writer himself does not know how he put there, but which, being there, sancti- fies it forever to human needs. * ok ok K Gounod's serenade, “Sing, Smile, Slumber,” is a nice little thing, not a Nevin's [ bit larger than Beethoven’s, alds, too sprightly minuet, yet possessing an eternal appeal. There is, or at least was, an excel- lent record of this song by Geraldine Farrar, who sang it most appealingly. It also makes a splendid trio number. Handel's “Largo,” as it is univ sally called today, originally . was simply an innovation to a plane tree, occurring in the opera ‘Xerxes.” The intensely religious, meditative nature of the music led to the use of sacred words, so that today thoysands know it in no other form. Properly played, neither too fast nor too slow, it is one of the grand pieces of music of the world. Its stately cadence thrills the soul whenever and whereyer heard. As for the famous toreador offering from “Carmen,” it must stand as the quintessence of this sort of thing. The chorus is marked with the Italian word indicating “insufferable conceit,” and the music amply bears this out. It is unsurpassed in its way, and, properly rendered, invariably pleases. These are musical pleces of whose authors it may be said, with Coleridge, that they on honeydew have fed and drunk the milk of Paradise. These songs have had a time-honored circle drawn around them thrice;, whereas other and seemingly as good music exists within but one circle. This one circle, in ordinary music, the listener soon penetrates, but with these magic songs it is otherwise. There is circle within circle, to lure, to intrigue, to love. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS In the light of recent developments, the prospect of a Senate recount of the entire vote cast in Pennsylvania last year in the Vare-Wilson sena- torial contest is none too good, and the possibility of the Senate ever seat- ing Mr. Wilson is correspondingly remote. Both sides profess the keen- est desire to have every ballot box in every county of Pennsylvania brought to Washington and their contents counted. Mr. Wilson and Vare's rep- resentatives had another conference this week at the Capitol with the Sen- ate sergeant-at-arms, David S. Barry, to consider how this could be accom- plished in view of the pretty general refusal of the Pennsylvania judges to accede to an informal request from the sergeant-at-arms that all the bal- lot boxes be impounded. Under the Pennsylvania law the boxes are due to be emptied and their contents de- stroyed after September 20 in order that the boxes themselves may be available for use in local October elec- tions in the State. Mr. Wilson re- Jected a suggestion that under tho cir- cumstances . the. courts be asked to permit the immediate opening of the boxes and the transfer of the con- tents to mail pouches to be placed under Senate seal. He insisted that the boxes and their seals be kept in- tact. The upshot of the meeting was an agreement that Wilson and Vare unite in formal petition to every one of the fifty-odd Pennsylvania county courts for orders impounding the boxes. Whether the formal petitions meet a different reception from the informal request from Mr. Barry re- mains to be seen. It appears unlikely that it will be unanll*no:sly acceded to. * * The United States Chamber of Commerce has called a special con- ference of its national councilors, who number 1,500 and comprise the rep- resentatives of individual chambers, trade assoclations and other business organizations, to meet with the di- rectors and all of the committees of the national chamber at West Baden Springs, Ind., on October 15. A wide range of current problems of business and government are on the program. These include Federal Reserve bank- ing, farm relief, Mississippi flood con- trol, the relation of government to public utilities, Federal taxation, merchant marine and postal rates. The topie likely to loom the largest when the conference meets is the farm relief question. The chamber organized last year a Business Men's Agricultyral Commission, headed by Charles Nagel of St. Louts, Secretary of Commerce and Labor in the Taft cabinet. - Mr. Nagel and his assocl- ates have been steadily engaged for the past six months in carrying on an investigation and survey, and in formulating a report with “construc- tive” remedies for which the adoption and indorsement of the nation’s busi- ness representatives will be sought. The Nagel report is scheduled for publication in advance of the confer- ence date. N The second of the series of booklets being issued by the Republican na- tional committee in its ‘“educational campaign” to propagate Republican gospel is just off the press. The first booklet, issued earlier in the Summer, dealt with the achievements of the Sixty-ninth Congress. The new one is entitled “Lifting the Burden From the Taxpayer.” The operation of the Budget Bureau and Secretary Mel- lon's fiscal policy are eulogized, and the six years of ‘economy’ under Republican rule is summed up as fol- lows: Reduction of $5,799,000,000 in interest-bearing public debt; reduction of $269,000,000 in annual interest charges; reduction of $2,300,000,000 in the annual routine expenditures of the Government; three tax-reduction measures and a surplus every ycar. * K k¥ E 1t is a foregons conclusion that with the retirement from the House of Finis J. Garrett, who is a candidate in Ten- nessse for the Senate seat now held by Kenneth McKaellar, John N. Garner of Texas, the veteran of 12 consecutive terms in the House, will succeed Garrett as Demo- cratic floor leader. Garner carries his 58 years masily, his white hair and florid face over a medium short figure mark him well, and he is a hard, quick-witted fighter, beloved alike by friend and foe. He is ranking Demo- cratic member of the ways and means committee, which drafts all tax meas- ures. He occupled a strategic posi- tion and played a prominent part in framing the present tax law. He is now hard at work drafting the Demo- cratic tax-reduction program for the new Congress. EE Since Congress failed to provide the Civil Service Commission with addi- tional funds to handle the 19,000 appli- cants for the prohibition force, the work of examining candidates is pro- ceeding slowly. All candidates must pass a written examination and those for posts above the $3,000 salary grade are to be given oral tests as well. The commission is attending to the appli- cants for the administrative posts first, and hopes to have some new executivs duly certified by October 1. But it cannot comply with the new law which provided that the entire 2,500 jobs be occupied by civil service appointees from that dats on. The commission does not expect to take care of the ordinary agents and in- spectors until Congress meets again and provides extra money. At least half the applications on file are ac- companied by letters which recite thaf a burning eagerness to help the pro- hibition causs and to make the country really dry is the principal considera- tion which induces the desire to get on the government pay roll. L Speaker of the Houss “Nick” Long- worth is back home in Cincinnati, after a month's “good will tour” of the Northwest and the Pacific Coast. He spoke in 40 cities and towns and sometimes made two or three address- es in a single city. He did not discuss presidential politics, but talked about the past achievements of Congress and of the problems confronting the new Congress, particularly flood control, farm relief and tax reduction. He is the first Speaker of the House that ever visited the Pacific Coast while holding that-office, and he says he was accorded a fine reception. He has noth- ing to say now about 1928, either of Mr. Coolidge or of himself, or of those whose hats are already in the ring. From now until December he is going to remain at home with Mrs. Long- worth and Paulina, except for short speaking trips to nearby Midwest points. (Covyright. 1027.) Demand for Medicinal Liquor is Lessening To the Editor of The Star: The interesting announcement comes from Washington that the very elaborate and expensive plan for the Government to manufacture medicinal liquor has been abandoned indefinitely. The reasons are given that the present supply is sufficient for several years, even at the present rate of consump- tion. But it is also more than hinted that much medicinal whisky in the past has been diverted into beverage channels, Under the new system of permits and distribution, this leak will be stopped. Another saving is counted on through the marked de- crease in the use of liquor in medical practice. This sharply diminishing demand dates back to the years before Vol- steadism. Medical schools and medi- cal practitioners have been placing less and still less reliance upon alcohol as a useful therapeutic drug. It does not now seem probable that another effort will be made for the Govern- ment to manufacture a drug which, even when actually prescribed by a physician, is frequently, if not usu- ally, used to appease the unnatural cravings of an addict. RS.'R. Loulsg, Vao . ..__fuiil. More Protests Against “Personal Appearance” To the Editor of The Star: *In common with your many other correspondents 1 _have long admired the high standard of honor and mo- rality that has made The Star an ideal family paper: and rarely has it done a better service than in its stand on the question of Arbuckle’s reappear- ance. > The reasons for his withdrawal from public appearance are as strong now as they ever were, and the City of Washington, at least, has an abun dance of entertainers to choose from witheut being forced to accept one tainted with disgrace. The theater that exploits him is cre- ating much unfavorable publicity for itaelf in the present, and will be marked with suspicion in the future. MARTHA E. HOYT. To the Editor of The Stas 1 am glad to see that your editorial, respecting the proposed personal ap- pearance of a certain movie star, is generally commended. The “stunt” is certainly in bad taste. I have been a regular patron of the theater which has it on its bill, and will abstain from attendance for a while as my feeble protest at what 1 consider a totally unnecesary “per- sonal” presentation. (I do not care for the introduction, thank you.) Moreover, for every one who will be gained as a_supporter for the “star” concerned, there will be more than one disgusted over the brazen attempt to repopularize him. The best thing for a person who has been concerned in an evil-odored Incident to do i to re- tire and stay retired. Otherwise the more or less sympathy for his “hard luck” which the respectable element may have, through a charitable view of the matter, may be lost to him forever. I never saw anything particularly wonderful in his pictures which would warrant his return to public life as a valuable asset to the art. For 10 years now the mass of the people has been liberally sprinkled with rottenness of various sorts as a result of the yar, and the time has come to clean” up in all lines if the Natlon is not going to follow the down grade to a finish like ancient Rome. W. E. ALLEN. To the Editor of The Star: I have hoped never to see the name of Arbuckle on stage or screen again. He should be forgotten! Think Hays might have found some other way of getting in_the limelight again! 1 hope the Washington people will “boycott” the Palace all of next week if this person's name is not with- drawn. I have, long ago, seen this “stage beauty” twice, but never again! Kindly add my name to those protesting to his appearance. ALICE GRAY FLOWERS. To the Editor of The Star: We sincerely thank you for your editorigl concerning the notorious film actor. All self-respecting citizens should register their protest by boy- cotting the theater whose manager insists that he knows what the people want in the way of entertainment, and '.l'mtv this poor fool is it. We shall mail our protest to the Z":’Alac(?‘ rr‘n(am\gnment when we mail T thanks to you. Please kee, the fight for decency. e M. P. A. GARDNER. To_the Editor ot The S It certainly is pleasing to record that the editor of the leading news- paper of Washington has the same mind on the good taste (?) of showing off “Fatty” Arbuckle. Our Fire De- partment had received an invitation to participate in the affair at Silver Spring, Md., August 25, and I was directed to notify them of our accept- ance. Later I noticed a report in The Evening Star that “Fatty” was booked at a local theater and was to be at the Silver:Spring affair. 1 wrote the Silver Spring department and stated my opinion. I have trained boys of various ages, as a di- rector of boys’ clubs, as a scout- master of Boy Scout troops and as a Sunday school superintendent, and I could not bring myself to believe it good for any community to make a hero” out of “Fatty” Arbuckle. THOMAS R. MECHEM. To_the Editor o The Star: My wife and I thank you for your editorial enlmag. “:“Crl:gly- lenge to Decency,” in The Star of the 15th instant. We indorse every word of it, and while deploring the occasion for such a pronouncement, we are ;:I;atlfled that the leading dally of Washington has spoken so forcibly for the decent people of the city. The Star deserves the gratitude of all respectable citizens. Disapproval .of the proposed action of the theater management should be manifested in one of the ways suggested in the edi- torial, This writer intends to do it. W. O. ISON. Two Who Approve of “Personal Appearance” To the Editor of The Star: Since you have accorded space on your editorial page to several holier- than-thous to express their approval of your editorial, “A Challenge to De- cency,” perhaps you will favor me with similar courtesy even though I am in violent opposition to your at- ut;de. 'he man in the case, Roscoe Ar- buckle, had the misfortune several Years ago of being the central figure in a very bad scandal. There was a wild party and a girl dled. Due to the prominence of those in- volved there was much publicity. Med- ical testimony did not blame the man for the girl's death. But she had died at a drunken revel and the public was aroused and indignant. To cool the. public off and in a measure restore confidence in the motion picture indus- try, there had to be a victim; a sacri- fice to the angered populace. Ar- buckle, having been with the girl when she died, was naturally the one to bear the brunt. There were others at the party as culpable .in every sense as Arbuckle. Some of these have continued in pub- lic favor. The Star has started no rabble-rousing against them. Why select one man, no worse than the others, to bear the blame for all? Rosecoe Arbuckle made a sad mis- take. He admits it. He has paid bitterly for it. I do not want to, nor would 1, sit in judgment on him. One of many thousands, I wish him God- speed and brave fortune. Allow me to add that I believe my sense of decency is not as distorted as is The Star’s sense of justice. ‘WILLIAM BAIN, To the Editor of The S Anent the lively discussion now going on incident to the advertised re- turn of Roscoe Arbuckle in motion pictures, I would like to contribute this thought. Arbuckle has been denied the practice of his profession for the past five years or more, and rightly so, but is it not time for us to give new consideration to the case now that he has been punished? We must have confidence in the thought that he has been taught a bitter lesson and that he has made an earnest effort to ‘“come back.” We cannot expect him to rise if we keep the foot of oppres- sion on him! We seem unwilling to forgive this individual for his connec- tion with a crime, yet we make peace (and .peace is forgiveness) with thou- sands of former enemies (as a Na- tion) who committed atrocious as. saults upon many more thousands of women and girls of France and Bel- glum. How inconsistent! ‘The question is raised that Ar- buckle’s return to the screen will have an {ll effect upon the youth of Amer- Q. How do the salaries of journal- ists compare with the salaries of other professions?—P. T. A. The salaries of journalists are distinctly more in the carly profes- sional years than those of graduates of engineering and law. Newspaper earnings, however, do not tend to in- crease proportionately in later years. Q. What is the average size of hats worn by men?—J. W. M A. Seven and one-eighth is the av- erage. Q. When railroad trains were first used, how fast did they run’—R. C. A. A speed of 15 miles an hour was considered marvelous. Q. How many universities are there in Germany?—R. N. A. There are in the republic 23 uni- versities and 7 lyceums. The largest e those of Berlin and Munich. The University of Berlin has 9,950 stu- dents, Munich 7,231. delberg has 1,385. The famous Hel- Q. Should a word following a_colon begin with a capital letter’—L. D. A. It is not necessary to follow a colon with a capital letter unless the ensuing word is a proper noun. Oc- casgionally it 1s done to call attention to a listing of item: Q. Ts there a_tomato known as ground cherry?—K. C. C. A. The ground cherry, musk tomato, strawberry tomato or Winter cherry grows wiid in the Mississippl Valley and in other parts of the world and is a_member of the tomato family. It is known as the blue tomato by truck gardeners. It grows in a small husk which if left on will preserve the to- mato through the Winter. Although this tiny vegetable, which is only a little larger than a small cherry, may be eaten raw, it is at its best when preserved. fift dd varieties of tomatoes. There are red tomatoes, white tomatoes, blue tomatoes and vellow tomatoes of every imaginable size and shape. Be- cause of their shapes. there are to- matoes that are known as the pear tomato, the peach tomato, the cherry tomato, the plum tomato, the grape tomato and the currant tomato. Q. Why are after-dinner toasts and toastmasters so called?>—B. A. N. A. The custom of drinking to health and success to undertakings at ban- quets dates back to the invasion of the Romans. The word toast appears to have originated from the practice of putting bits of toast in the wine, the guest partaking of such a sippet with the draught of wine as soon as the felicitation had passed the lips. Q. When were the Dark Ages’— F. G 8. A. The term “Dark Ages” generally describes the earlier centuries of the Middle Ages, the period between an- cient and modern history. Hallam re- gards the Dark Ages as beginning with the sixth century and ending with the fifteenth, Q. How high is the highest bridge in the world>—A. D. P. A. The world’s highest bridge has recently been completed over the =orge at Victorla Falls, South Africa. 1t is part of the Cape-to-Cairo Rail- road. The bridge is 400 feet above This is only one of the | ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. low-water level, has a onearch span of 500 feet and is 650 feet long. Q. How long do ships take to travel through the Panama Canal?—R. E. A. The total Canal journey is ap- proximately 42 miles, and the average transit time is eight hours. Q. What was the Indian population of North America when Columbus dis- covered it”>—A. R. W. A. There could have been no au. thentic census of the Indians in 1492. A Government expert estimates the number of Indians at that time at 1,115,000, Q. Why were there more reported desertions among colored registrants than among white during the World War?—D. S. A. Tt was laid to two causes: Firs, ignorance and illiteracy, especially in rural regions, to which may be added a certain shiftlessness in ignoring civic obligations; second, the tendency of negroes to shift from place to place. Draft executives reported that t amount of willful delinquency or ¢ sertion was almost nil. As a whole | they responded readily and gladly to their military obligations once their duties were understood. Q. Are there errors of omission in base ball? For instance, has a plaver been credited with an error for not attempting to tag out a base runner or for not throwing one out when he had ample time to do so?—A. D. M. A. We are informed that no error of that description ever should be charged in base ball. If one were, the scorer would be playing the game. Q. In making briquettes of char- coal what is used to hold the charcoal together’—J. W. . A. The Forest Products Laboratory says that in briquetting charcoal it has been found necessary to use cer- tain binders, such as gums or starches. Briquetting has also been accomplished by using tar or pitch as a binder and then subjecting the briquettes to a low temperature dis- tillation in order to drive off the vola- tile material from the tar or pitch. Q. Is there a rank in the Army known as sergeant major’—E. C. A. Before and during the World ‘War there was a rank in the United States Army of sergeant major, which designated a senior non-commissioned officer. However, this rank does not exist at the present time, Q. What is the area of the top of Mount Roralma in the Brazilian Jjungle, which was the locale of the Lost World?—J. K. A. References to which we have ac- cess concerning Mount Roralma do not state the area at the top of the mountain, but give the height as 8,740 feet above sea level and that the perpendicular rocky walls rise to a sheer height of nearly 3,000 feet. What do you need to know Is there some point about your business or personal life that puzzles you? Is there something you want to know without delay? Submit your question to Frederic J. Haskin, director of our Washington Information Bureau. He is employed to help you. Address your inquiry to The Evening Star In, tion Bureau, Frederic J. Has) rector, Washington, D. close 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Prosp_erity for Notwithstanding the great flood, the boll weevil, unfavorable weather and other ills, thé cotton country which was able to produce at all is happy and hopeful over prospects for a rela- tively profitable season. Rising prices following the Government report indi- cating a reduced crop brings satisfac- tion to the grower if not to makers and big consumers of textiles. ‘What this actually means to the cot- ton-growing States is discussed by the Birmingham News, with the statement: “It means that thousands of families actually in need of life’s necessities may be soon relieved. It means that farm mortgages in great number may soon be lifted. It means probable re- stimulation of life in rural communi- ties where cotton is grown. It means, not unimportantly, a better chance for the body, mind and spirit of cot- ton’s most constant friend—the black man of the South. To the ipdustrial and financial life of the cotton-grow- ing States this good news brings cheer, relieving apprehensions that had be- come of late somewhat acute.” “It i3 argued that, with consump- tion of cotton increasing and produc- tion off several million bales,” remarks the Chattanooga Times, “‘prices of cot- ton are bound to go higher.” And con- ica. The younger girls and boys of today do not know anything of the history of this case unless their parents choose to discuss it in their presence, and I often feel that the so- called “flappers” and *‘cake-eaters” are more generously inclined in such mat- ters than their elders. There are many Americans who will vehement- ly condemn Arbuckle and yet con- sidering the probable increase in value by many millions of dollars over last year, the Times concludes: “All of which would seem to indicate that the South is scheduled to experience a period of still greater prosperity than it is now enjoying.” The Shreveport Journal feels that “it promises much for farmers and for Business interests alike: indirectly, it augurs well for the public generally; with fairly high prices obtaining, business in all lines will be stimulated.” * ok kK An added wealth producer that is pointed out by the Texarkana Gazette is the lower cost of this year’'s crop: “Because of inability to borrow, it was necessary that the farmers produce their crop at a lower cost. This gives them a bigger equity in the crop than they have had in previous years.” The Houston Chronicle calls it a ridiculous situation that “‘despite the bad crops and the great loss due to the weevil in- festation, the cotton farmers probably will get a great deal more for the short crop than they would have gotten for a bumper crop.” “Judged in the light of pure eco- nomics,” according to the New York Herald-Tribune, “it might be said that the loss to the world of 1,000,000 bales of cotton constituted something of a national disaster. From the standpoint of the prosperity of the industry Itself no such conclusion is justified. For the cotton grower. the advance in prices more than counterbalances the decrease in the estimated production.” The Asheville Times directs attention to “the extraordinary hazards and the contradictory conditions with which the Southern cotton planter has to contend,” and suggests: “If the disas- ters of bad weather, red spiders and weevils comes upon his acres, then he will see all the world's markets bid- ding frantically for his product.” “Conditions in the cotton belt this year,” observes the Providence Jour- nal, “demonstrate anew that the boll weevil remains one of the greatest fac- tors in the industry. Here certainly is a problem that still affords an un- usual opportunity for co-operation be- tween science, agriculture and indus- try.” The Wall Street Journal, assum- ing that “at present much of the belt is under weather conditions that favor — e veniently forget to inquire into the war history of foreigners with whom they may associate either in their homes or while on visits to Europe! I feel, therefore, that this man is now entitled to a chance to earn his honest living. Those who believe in his sin- cerity of purpose will witness the pic- tures in which he appears; those who do not certainly are not compelled to lend their patronage. Flood and Weevil Really Spell Cotton Growers the propagation of the weevil,”. adds that “if ~this situatfon continues through the next three or four weeks, the crop must he reduced below the present forecast.” In connection with the proposed restoration of the Sea Island cotton industry, the Charleston Evening Post, considering the weevil danger, states: “It should not be at all impossible for Government sclentists, working in this area, to develop intensified control measures that would insure protection to the long-staple crop. * * ¢ In all probability, if the crop could he pro- duced extensively again, growers would be able to sell it at prices that would repay the extra expense of boll-weevil control.” * ok ok The Fort Worth Star-Telegram at- tributes the present situation in the cotton belt largely to the flood, with the boll weevil and “the natural fall- ing off in planting due to last year's uy.der-coat prices,” and the Raleij News and Observer thinks that “if there had been no flood destruction, considering the good season, the cot- ton crop would have been large enough to keep the prices down to a level that would insure no profit.” ‘About the only people who really 8ot a great ‘kick’ out of the cotton re- port,” in the opinion of the Jersey City Journal, “were the English manufac- turers who exhibited the foresight to buy in large quantity while prices wers at the battom. The American manufacturers failed to take advan- tage of the situation.” ‘l‘hq::< Rochester Times-Union believes ;lu!rttonet\!eré’.c(en! added to the price of ends to restrict bu;t}:!en." the volume of e Durham Sun tells its readers that “the chances are that the farmer will fail to read the lessons in his ex- perience this year. On the other hand,” concludes that paper, “he will regard an encouraging price as ground for increasing his acreage. It iy an argument in exactl 2 rection.” ly the opposite di Detroit Arrests Less Since Prohibition To the Editar of The Star: James Sprott, superintendent - lice in Detroit, Mich., has “!:efdpr! report which is enlightening as to the benefits of prohibition, when honest and efficient enforcement is attempted. The last five license years showed an averagp of 20.1 arrests for drunken- ness per year for each 1,000 popula- tion, witl high record of 26.3. The average for the first seven dry years was 10.3 per thousand per year, or almost exactly one-half that of the wet perfod. This record will surprise many who had supposed from press reports that Detroit, which is just across the river from wet Canada, suffered severely from the “slop over” from the Cana- dian side. 4 The fact Is that the United States Census report shows that Detroit does register a less decrease in drunken- ness than normal, and doubtless the proximity to wet territory is the chief cause. Over the Nation as a whole commitments for drunkenness in pro- portion to population are only 44.7 of the preprohibition level. If the wet minority would show the spirit of sportsmanship, and respect the will of the people as written into law, the results would doubtless show 5 or 10 times as great reduction in drunken- ness, and other social, moral and economic results would be proportion- ally gratifying. GEORGE F. WELLS. Expensive Friendship. From the Toledo Blade. What with hiring lawyers and pur- chasing dynamite, Sacco and Vanzetti have cost their friends considerable mone; ‘The whole question should be viewed in the light of the words of the Great Forgiver and Redeemer: *“Let him who is without w among you first cast the sto; s ; THOMAS G. SPENCE. Pass It Around! From the Detroit News. How about fixing the President’s fa- mous 10-word announcement up in the form of & round robin or something and getting some others to sign?