Evening Star Newspaper, November 3, 1927, Page 8

-_-s— = {FHE EVEN « With Hundl; Morning Edition WASHINGTON, D C. THURSDAY...November 3, 1027 THEODORE W. NOYES. ... Editor | The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: st and Pennsylvanta Chicake OMie Tower Bui 14 Rezent St.. Euvpean Ofice: 14 Rex Ace. nd £t ing. ondon, The Zvening Star with the Sunday marn ing edition ix delivered by the city at 60 cents per mon 43 cents er month: Sundav 2 par month_ Orders mag he sent by mail or Teiephone Main 5000, Colie tion is made by carrier at end A each month. e by Mall—| Maryland Daily and_Sunday . . Daily onlv unday onlv ...0 All Other States Puiv and Sundav | v Datly onlv 1 Sunday only ... N 0 . $900: 1 o T $400°1 mol Member of the Associated Press. aaten 2 for ren it o' 1t ar n a in naner and_also of epecial disnatches herein ave al e Solve the Maze! Washington is an easy city to find and to one in the least degree ac quainted with its geography a fa easy city to traverse. But for a stranger or an occasional visitor it is, when once found, extremely hard to negotiate. It is utterly lacking in di- rectional signs for the guidance of motor toutists leading them on the | through routes or to notable objective points. It needs most urgently a s tem of signboards that will tell the story of its highways to'all who may enter its gates 1n another part of The Star teday awill be found the first of a series r\l‘l articles that will set forth the needs of | the situation with comparative refer- ences to conditions in other cities, which are far better equipped than Washington for the direction of the stranger. This article shows the sit- vation clearly. The facts are well known to local authorities. The mat- ter has been agitated heretofore, but without results. There is a disposi- tion in some quarters to avoid “disfig- ‘uring” the streets with directional signs. There is also a disposition to wait for the devising of some form of artistic highway marker. And there is likewise also some indifference on the subject. On the score of the disfigurement of the streets there is surely no valid ground of objection to the placement of route tokens that will tell the road- wise tourist how to trace his course. which he may know by number or series of numbers. The streets are now more or less “disfigured” by stop signs and one-way signs, all of which are larger and more conspicuous than are the street designations themselves. On most of the streets of this city the street names or numbers are almost indistinguishable from midroad. Even Jocal residents have difficulty in plac- ing themselves in certain areas. The present system of street numbers and mes on the lamp-posts was devised long ago when traffic was not so rapid it is now. The figures and letters are as a rule only about an inch and a half in height, and many of them are wvery feebly illuminated at night. Some of them, indeed. are mot illuminated at all by reason of shadows and the improper placing of the signs with ref- erence to the street lamps. It is a wise motorist, even a Washingtonlan. who can find an unfamiliar street after dark. It it is hard for Washingtonians to tind their way about in unfamiliar sactions how difficult it is for” stran- visitors and tourist: Jeast there should be a system of street designation so plain, both day and night, that all literate persons can know where they are and by deduc- tion determine their course. But there should be more than this. The main _routes of travel connecting with the ‘highway inlets should be blazed with markers that can be seen at all hours and that will lead as surely as the thread that solved thz problem of | ) cedure in all cases. 83 |in St utled | i a———— L A s:ubborn re fusal to adjust, insistence upon ‘the recisely prescribed modes of pro jcedure, upon the least fraction of | “right,” all make for the congestion of the courts and the incidental suffering that comes from judicial harshness. In this case the bus Is provided to take the children to school. not to keep them from it. It is to save them the necessity of walking. It can be put to the best use when it lessens their travel afoot, and it would seem that the bus driver who declined to halt his vehicle for thess little ones at their satemmight, with even more jus- tice than that displayed In the sen- | tence of their fathers to road work. be required to do a bit of rock-breaking { himselr. B IcNary Bill or Nothing. The old McNar, bill, with its equaliz is the demand of the Corn | Southern Conference, meeting Louis. In resolutions adopted yesterday it urged Cor to repass the bill, which President Cooli ocd. The boom of former Gov. Fr 0. Lowden of Illinois for the Republi can nomination for President took im- mediate form after the veto of the m bill. Mr. Lowden was put for- c-Haugen farm-relief tion fee principle, Belt and ward as the protest candidate of the arm organizations and some of the isgruntled farm States of the Middle West. His candidacy was divectly in opposition to the renomination of ident Coolidge. President Coolidge, by his Black Hills statement that he did not choose to run for President in 1928, cut the ground from under the feet of the Lowden boomers and McNary- tlaugenites. But they apparently have allicd again. They will continue to insist on their program of Lowden for President and the McN fauzen bill as the only remedy for agricul- tural depression. The Lowden boomers the St Louis meeting took a further step, which may cause them trouble in the near future. They attacked Senator Borah of Idaho, one of the leaders of the group of Progressive Republican | Senators which has banded together to promote a program of legislation for the West and which has put for- ward Senator Norris as the real West- ern caudidate for the Republican pres- ident~. Bamination. It is no secret that this group of Republican Pro- gressives has little use for Mr. Low- den as a presidential nominee. It is no secret that these Senators, who are powerful politically in their own States, will do all they can to under- mine the Lowden-for-President move- ment. The fight apparently is com- ing into the open. The result can scarcely be expected to aid Mr. Low- den., The farm organizations which have been backing the former Illinois governor may find that they have put their eggs in the wrong basket. The row between the Western sup- porters of Mr. Lowden and the Wi ern supporters of Mr. Norris may re- sult finally in the interest of some other Western candidate for the Re- publication nomination for President. Vice President Dawes and Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas, Republican leader of the Senate, may come more intimately into the picture. " The di- vision among the Westerners, too, may make for the nomination of an Eastern candidate. The attack on Mr. Lowden is ex- pected to be launched by the Progre: sive group at any moment. As a! tackers the Progressives are quite thorough. . e ——— Charles Lindbergh has met more people than any other American citi- zen. He could be a strangely potent figure in political affairs. If Roosevelt were alive today, he would no doubt be an aviator as well as an explorer and a lion hunter. ——————— As an adaptable local statesman Mayor Walker is now expected to show that in his heart Coney Island is a more dazzling resort than the Lido. ——————— The tariff again asserts itself as a proposition which reaches all the way from primary elections to international diplomacies. ————— at the labyrinth iff the classic adventure. Without that thread for guidance Washington becomes a place of un- certainty and apprehension and delay ‘to all who come into the city seeking sither local objectives or straight routes to other points. Let this matter be taken up earnest- Iy this Winter and provision made for a sensfble and artistic system of street and road markers that will inform all comers and save Washington from be- ing known as the worst municipal maze in the country. et “Dictator” is the new name for “po- Utical boss.” The man who gains the title must wield all the power of the jward leader over an immensely ex- Ppanded territory. R A Judicial Absurdity. Two men have been sentenced to *road duty” at Winston-S8alem, N. /because they would not send thel ehildren to school. On the face of the sentence it appears to be just. But there is a background to the case that gives It a different aspect. These men, farmers, were quite willing to send their children to school, as the Jaw requires, but they wished to have the school bus stop for the youngsters +at their roadside homes, and when this was denied, they refused to require the children to walk two hundred yards to the regular bus stop. So they were haled to court and punished. It is, of course, reprehensible that the children wshould be kept from school. But just why the bus driver would not stop for them except at a specified point is not clear. The school bus is a facility provided to enable the children to get to school. It surely matters little or nothing just where it may stop to take on Its passengers. 8o long as it does not have to leave its prescribed route to get them it should be halted to take them on wherever they may be. Insistence upon the prescribed stops is just as uhreasonable as refusal to make the children walk two hundred yards to ‘the stopping point. " This is surely one of those absurd. An Alert Trafic Officer. A refreshing example of alert traffic direction was noted today at Eleventh and F streets in the early morning rush. With cars streaming down Eleventh street two and three abreast, this officer refused to follow the hide- bound dictates of archaic traffic con- trol which stipulate that all vehicles must pass to the right of a semaphore and not venture on to the car tracks, but, sizing up the situation at a glance, waved the oncoming outside line on to the railway tracks and in front of a semaphore. This action provided for an additional )ine of cars and quickly cleared up what might have been a block-long congestion. 1f this officer’s example were followed by other members of the traffic squad, there would be fewer trafic jams. In fact, wide-awake and vigorous traffic direction can be carried a step further to avert threatening congestion. On narrow streets it is perfectly silly to compel drivers of automobiles to circle the officer standing in the middle of the intersection. Far more to the point would it be to direct all vehicles to make the short turn in front of him. This practice is followed in many of the large cities. ‘While the traffic control at Eleventh and F streets today is cited as a splen- did example for the traffic squad to emulate, an occurrence recently on Twelfth street in the afternoon stands a® a glaring illustration of the tac- tics Indulged in by many Washington policemen. Traffic was exceedingly heavy ‘When, at the corner of Twelfth street and New York avenue, a large moving van hove into view. The crew of the vehicle decided that they would back it into the curb between two closely parked cars. The van was left unattended in the street while the not. overly intelligent laborers cogitated on ways and means to get it into the parking space. After having moved two cars, they backed the huge van squarely across the street, blocking all traffic, and then found that the opening was too small. Rush-hour aft- ernoon traffic by this time was piled fties of the law that make enforce- . t so difficult. Reasonable inter- &llk}n is the soundest basls of pro- THE - EVENING ing no note of what was gding on. Chis officer ix the antithesis of a good raffic policeman. The Police Dej 1ue trol squad. It should le out the men who by their actions demonstrate | 1 superior fitness for the position. it should then take some of these men and have them act as teachers for those who appear unable to grasp the sentiala of traffic direction. When this is done, there will be less nicking of fenders, fewer accidents and less congestion the busy streets of Washington. rtment should con on e ———— The Demand for Coolidge. Coolidze-for-President talk will not down. The New York World sought canvass the Republican national in an effort to learn whether these party leaders believed the DIresident could and should be drafted. Replies from forty members showed cizhteen favorable to drafting Mr. Coolidze, fourteen acepted the President’s “I do not choose” state- ment as taking him out of the pic ture and ecight were non-committal. Less than half of the total member- ship of the committee made reply to the World's query. But it is clear there is still strong sentiment for the nomination of the President, and there have been indications cent days that this sentiment is grow- ing stronger. The Republican party has able men other than President Coolidge. It has men who could and would fill the office of Chief Executive both honest- ly and efficiently. Their names have been brought out for public inspec- tion. though, with one excep- tion, these gentlemen have made no announcement of their candidacy. To date. however. none has captured the imagination of the Republican voters, generally speaking. Hughes, Hoover, Dawes. Lowden, Curtis, Willis, Nor- <. Longworth, all have their friends nd admirers. But none of them has so far roused a wave of enthusiasm. One of them may later. Most of the talk of presidential candidates is still confined to the politicians. The poli- ticians have their favorites. They have their aversions. They all want a winner. They have seen Mr. Cool- idge carry the country by am enor- mous vote. They believe he can do it again. The interest of that Democratic organ, the New York World, in the candidacy of President Coolidge may be open to suspicion. “Beware the Greeks bearing gifts.” But the World, in cammon with other observers of politics, has sensed the demand for the renomination of Mr. Coolidge, which continues in many quarters. An examination of the replies re- ceived from the members of the Re- publican national committee, in an- swer to the World's query, indicates that the sentiment for the renomina- tion of the President is more prevalent in the East and the South, and that in the West the Republican committee men and women are more inclined to accept as final the announcement of the President that he does not choose to run. This deniand for the renomination of Mr: Coolidge is scarcely calculated to give heart to other potential can- didates. Tt leaves the President still dominating the situation.” Unléss he makes a further statement taking himself finally out «f the race. this uncertainty which now prevails may continue until the opening of the Re- publican national convention next June. On the other hand, if he makes no further statement, the demand for his renemination may so increase in volume that when the convention meets no other name will be seriously considered. et | 0 committee even In mentioning “Gentlemen of the jury” there may be some few who are not even entitled to be referred to as “gents.” —————s e Teapot Dome has had so much pub- licity that realtors may yet consider the possibility of exploiting it. —————————— The {deal juror, content to . ‘“stop, look and listen,” is becoming each year more difficult to locate. e Ftatistics show that Americans live wonderfully well—unless they die as bootleg victims. —— Detectives may often be found work- ing on both sides of a case. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDFR JOHNSON. Dreams Come True, Long ago, in a far-off land, I heped through the dreaming day For speeding cars to hold full com- mand Of the long, mysterious way. The air was filled with the winged ships That sped, as we gazed anew— And we're living now, as time swiftly slips, In the land where those dreams come true. Hats in the Ring. “Why don’t you throw your hat into the ring?” “I have done s0,” answered Senator Sorghum. “It's buried somewhere in the Heap.” Feet as Well as Hands. I danced and dined one night, until The dawn arrived anew— 8o Satan finds some mischief still For idle feet to do. Jud Tunkins says an unhappy man usually has himself to blame; which makes him still more unhappy. Explanation, “How did you happen to lose in the beauty contest?” “There wasn't room enough in my bathing suit for my make-up box.” “In an appeal to the multitude,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “‘a large volce may do wonders with a small thought Hardships, Life proffers us a bitter cup, Which spoils our simple gl We often lock the jurors up ‘While prisoners go free. up, for two blocks. The point of the whole thing is thas & policeman in full uniform steod idig-by, apparently tak. “Some folks seems light-hearted,” sald Uncle Eben, “when only lghtaminded.” __ _ careful survey of its traffic con | in ref| STAR. WASHINGTO N C.. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. *I. ie litarature but the What, after bure bat the ing in unforgetable real thought? llhe truth does not make something wri.ten notable, any more than clever- hess does, or any one of a dozen other izht be.named. ruthful, but [‘t is iterature. poems of ll:f bin- Sranath Tagore ntained in “The Crescent Moon,” “Gitanjali"” and “The Gardener.” are litera “There is that much difference. Looking over some old books the we came across these three yumes, issued just before the heginning of the World hy the Maemillan Co. E These contain the English prose lations whic the author made <. and which won for him the Nobel prize. " As we read here and there in “The Crescent Moon,” memories came, whispers of word music and word vord_colors and word winds. ard and seen and appreciated ceirs ago, have never been lost since. low could one ever forget the fol- lowin; 5 : “Bless this little heart, this white soul, that has won the kiss of heaven for our earth. ““He loves the light of the sun, he loves the sight of his mether's face. “He has not learned to despise the dust and to hanker after gold. “Clasp him to your heart and bless him. . “Ile has come into this land of an hundred crossroads. “I know not how he chose you from the crowd, came to your door, and grasped your hand to ask his way. “He will follow you, laughing and talking, and not a doubt in his heart. “Keep his trust, lead him straight and bless him. “Lay your hand on his head, and pray that though the waves under- neath grow threatening, yet the breath from above may come and fill his sails and waft him to the haven of peace. “Forget him not in your hurry, let him come to your heart and bless him.” * ok ok ok Childhood’s flowers bloom in one's mind forever after reading: “Ah, these jasmines, these white Jasmines! “I seem to remember the first day when I filled my hands with these jasmines, these white jasmines. “I have loved the sunlight, the sky and the green earth; “I have heard the liquid murmur of the river through the darkness of midnight; “Autumn sunsets have come to me at the bend of a road in the lonely waste, like a bride raising her veil to accept her lover. “Yet my memory is still sweet with the first white jasmines that I held in my hand when I was a child. “Many a glad day has come in my life, and 1 have laughed with merry- makers on festival nights, “‘On gray mornings of rain I have crooned many an idle song. “I have worn round my neck the evening wreath of bakulas woven by the hand of love. “Yet my heart is sweet with the memory of the first fresh jasmines tl‘:tls]t filled my hands when I was a child.” To the reader it may not have been Jjasmines, but lilacs, fresh in some long-ago Spring, hollyhocks, stately in the vivid pictures of childhood. It makes no difference; Tagore brings them back again in freshness and light, and forever brings them back, upon 'lhe reading. * ok K X No parent or other person who loves children but has paused to wonder. at times, over the play of the little ones. “Supervised play” may be left to educators. Tagore gets to the heart of playtime—and something more. “On the seashore of endless worlds children meet. : “The infinite sky is motionless over- head and the restless water is bois- terous. On the seashore of endless worlds the children meet with shouts and dances. “They build their houses with sand, and they play with empty shells. With withered leaves they weave their boats and smilingly float them on the vast deep. Children have their play on the seashore of worlds. “They know not how to swim, they know not how to cast nets. Pearl fishers dive for pearls, merchants sail in their ships, while children gather pebbles and scatter them again. They seek not for hidden treasure, they know not how to cast nets. “The sea surges up with laughter, and pale gleams the smile of the sea- beach. Death-dealing waves sing meaningless ballads to the children, even like a mother while rocking her baby's cradle. The sea plays with children, and pale gleams the smile of the sea-beach. “‘On the seashore of endless worlds children meet. Tempest roams in the pathless sky, ships are wrecked in the trackless water, death is abroad and children pla, On the seashore of endless worlds is the great meeting of children.” * K % % The uncompromising simplicity of Tagore is no better illustrated than in the following, with its repetitions and reiterations taking the place of rhyme and meter: “When I bring you colored toys, my child, I understand why there is such a play of colors in clouds, on water, and why flowers are painted in tints— when I give colored toys to you, my child. “When I sing to make you dance, I truly know why there is music in leaves, and why waves send their chorus of voices to the heart of the listening earth—when I sing to make you_dance. ““When I bring sweet things to vour greedy hands I know why there is honéy in the cup of the flower, and why fruits are secretly filled with sweet juice—when I bring sweet things to your greedy hands. “When I kiss your face to make you smile, my darling, I surely under- stand what pieasure streams from the sky in morning light, and what delight the Summer breeze brings to my body —when I kiss you to make you smile.” Philosophers and scientists may la. bor endlessly to explain life—Rabin- dranath Tagore, a man of another land, yet brother to mankind, found a better explanation in a little child. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. A Tennessee manufacturer of woolen goods: who has been president of the Assoclation of Manufacturers for six yaa‘u denounces the United States Shipping Board for not having sold all. Government-owned ships. Presi- dent Edgerton speaks as one having authority—perhaps of the Association of Manufacturers—when he declares with venemence: “‘One of the first things it (the Gov- ernment) should be forced to get out of ;is the shipping business, which already during the past 10 years has cost the taxpayers $3,571,000,000, and is operating now at an annual loss of over $20,000,000. ® The Shipping Board itself, however, is not to be condemned considering the fact that in 10 years it has had 30 mem- bers with an. average individual tenure of less than 2 years, that it has had 11 presidents and has op- erated under the pestiferous seamen’s act; it has not made a bigger failure than could have been expected.” As President Edgerton, in the same speech, alleged that the “United States has little to boast of, as long as we stand out as the most lawless Nation the world has ever known,” it is not out of his tone to discover his superla- tives in connection with the Shipping Board and its “failure.” He neglects to explain that the deficit of $3,571,000,000 includes the “waste” due to the wdr unprepared- ness, caused largely by our not hav- ing ships to carry troops and supplies in national defense. The war crisis required sudden efforts to build ships, regardless of cost, hence the extrava. gant capital charges. The last two administrations (now chiefly under Mr. Edgerton's criticism) had nothing to do with the war administration, but that is not cited by the critic. He declares the Government-owned ships are *‘operating now at an annual 1088 of over $20,000,000,” but the Ship- ning Board's official report shows that the annual deficit now is less than $13,000,000. Possibly the $20,000,000 may be the average, inclusive of war years. Furthermore, the recent vote of “four to three” members of the Shipping Board upon the proposition in connection with the sale of the re- maining three lines in the Pacific Ocean, that would require the pur- chasers to bond themselves to operate the lines for 10 years, instead of 5 years, which has been the requirement in all previous sales, is carried by the action of the member who was presi- dent of the board in its war-time ex- perience and whose faith lies in per- manent Government-ownership rather than in carrylng out the edict of the present law requiring the early sale of all ships, to the end that the Gov- ernment shall get out of business. The law provides, not primarily for the immediate sale of all ships, re- gardless of conditions, but its “pri. mary end” is to “develop and encour- age the maintenance of a merchant marine,” and it stipulates “that it is necessary for the national defense and fo the proper growth of its foreign and domestic commerce that the United States shall have a merchant marine of the best equipped and most suitable types of vessels sufficient to carry the greater portion of jts com- merce and serve a naval or mili- tury auxiliary in time of war or na- tional emergency.” The law, section 1, says: “And it {s hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to do what- ever may be necessary to develop and encourage maintenance of such a mer- chant marine, and, in so far as may not be. inconsistent with the express provisions of this act, the United States Shipping Board shall, in the dis- position of vessels and property here- inafter provided, in the making of rules and regulations, and in the ad- ministration of the shipping laws, keep always in view this purpose and object as the primary end to be ob- tained"—viz,, to maintain a permanent marine, ) * % % The contention of the Tennessse president that the Government should dispose of its vessels and get out of business, regardless of other consid- erations, d.es not tally with the act of Congress, according to members of the board, in reference to the national {n- terest in natfonal defense, as well as commerce. Nevertheless it would be difficult to find any advocate of perma- nent Government ownership, if it is possible to maintain the merchant ma- rine under private ownership and man- agement. LI There is no law more generally crit- icized for what it does not require than is the so-called La Follette “pes- tiferous seamen’s act.” Both in the Department of Commerce and in the Shipping Board, it is conceded that it is not that act which is responsible for the higher wages and subsistence cost of American vessels; that excess cost is attributed by all to the higher standards of living in America and the resultant competition of American shipping with other American indus- tries, in the matter of wages. A de- talled investigation shows that Amer- fcan pay rolls on ships of the same ton- nage, as compared with wages paid by foreign competitors, are about 100 to 300 per cent higher for America. To operate an American vessel of 10,000 tons costs for sailor wage three times as much as a similar Italian or Jap- anese vessel pays in wages, and near- ly double what Italian and fully double what Japanese subsistence costs, Besides, there 1s not a competing vessel of Kuropean nations which is not subsidized either by mail contracts or other special concessions. Our pres.. ent deficit of approximately a million dollars a month may be cailed a “sub- #ldy,” just as a rose may be called by another name and retain its sweet odor. Yet shipowners cannot entice men away from shops unless they pay shop wages. - * ok ok % Experts point out that the merchant marine concerns not merely ship- owners, but is vital to producers of crops and manufactured goods. In the fiscal year 1926, our shipments to Europe alone amounted to $2,310,000,- 000, and imports, $1,286,000,000. About half was carried in our own vessels, ‘Without the balance wheel of compe tion, it is undisputed that foreign ves- sels holding a monopoly would be in a position nat only to raise fraight rates, but to discriminate against American freights, and when their own nationals had competing goods, they would leave our. surplus piled on our docks, with consequent. ruinous loss' of markets and of values. This is.a record of re- cent history. The Shipping Board has sold many lines of ships, with the.requirement that the buyers shall operate them 6 years or more. . Now, the ;lon is that it is \;n'f;irs . -year guaranty of rs of the tgree iines ‘femaining. in 'the Pacific. The reply is that those are the last remaining lines in the Pacific under Governbent control, and 5 years'is too short a period to risk én that ac- count. The Trisk of fallure, where there would remain no Government lines to hold against competition of foreign shipping, they contend, is too great a risk, although it is recognized that private management makes many economies, which are impossible under Government control. (Cobyright. 1927, by Paul V. Collins.) Official Concord in Macedonia. In last Tuesday’s issue, under Back- ground of Events, appeared the fol- lowing sentence: ‘“The Macedonians who are making border troubles are Bulgarian ‘gunmen,’ bent on.personal robbery and general unrest,” In other words, they are not authorized by the government of Bulgaria to commit thelr deeds of violence, The Greek Minister expresses the hellef that the troubles reported in the sectlon commonly referred to as Mucedonia were not so serlous as indi. cated in new: reports, and that, 1927, PHILOSOPHIES BY GLENN FRANK 1 give you here the self-painted portrait of a great mind. Lord Bacon, the sagacity and sweep of whoss mind remain unmatched even in this time of swiftly mounting knowledge, is speaking: “For myself 1 found that I was fitted for nothing so well as for_the study of Truth: as having a mind nimble and versatile enough to catch ths resemblance of things, and at the same time steady enough to fix and distinguish their subtler differences; as being gifted by nature with desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readi- ness to reconsider, carefulness to set in order; and as being a man that neither affects what is new nor ad- mires what is old, and that hates every kind of imposture. So I thought my nature had a kind of familiarity with Truth.” If every American would paste this paragraph over his desk or work- bench and, for 15 minutes each day, cross-examine himself in the light of its phrases, he would find a benefit far beyond the proverbial benefit ad- vertised as a sure result of 15 minutes a day with the great classics. As my eve fell upon this paragraph I found myself asking these questions: Do I'have this Baconlan “desire to seek” or am I smugly satisfled with what, I already know? Am I prodded by curiosity or poisoned by contentment? Do I have this Baconian “patience to doubt” or are my doubts merely quick flippancies? Are my doubts of old dogmas merely new dogmas in which my mind rests or are they adventures in a patient search for reality back of the rhetoric of ancient assertions? Do I have this Baconian “fondness to meditate” or do I merely pile into Q. In what vear was the world series last played in four games?—R. G. H. A. The world series of 1914 was played in four games, the Boston Na- tionals winning four consecutive vic- tories from the Philadelphia Ameri- cans. Q. How did the average size of artillery ammunition used in the World War compare with that used in the Civil War?—T. L. A. The estimated average size used in the Civil War was 12 pounds; of that used in the World War. 25 pounds, Q. When were Jack Dempsey and Estelle Taylor married?—F. A. W. A. They were married February 9, 1925, Q. When was the Alliance Fran- calse organized?—C. E. T. A. It was founded in 1902 for the purpose of encouraging in the United States and Canada the study and cul- tivation of the language, literature, art and history of France. Q. Where is the oldest college 1i- ?ll)rar_v bullding in the United States?— A. The University of South Caro- lina, at Columbia, claims to have the oldest separate college library building in America. Q. What is ecology?—B. T. A. It is a comparatively new branch of hotany which deals with the rela- tion of the plant to its environment, {)‘lnnt associations and plant distribu- on. Q. Who painted the portrait of the late President Harding for the U. 8. S. Leviathan?—T, B. A. Howard Chandler Christy. Q. Ts the spring of a phonograph motor fully wound, but with brake ap- my mind as so much extra goods the things I see and hear and read? Am 1 capable of sitting down and thinking about things, without book or play to titillate my attention? Do I have this Baconian “slowness to assert” or am I overquick in the crystallization of my opinions? Are my judgments manufactured or grown? Do I have this Baconian “readiness to reconsider” or do I feel a vested interest in my opinions, once I have stated them? Am 1 the slave of a merely pride- supported consistency? I submit this as a helpful exercise in creative self-examination. (Copyright, McClure Newspaper Syndicate). Annexation Plan In Arlington Viewed To the Editor of The Star: I am prompted to commend The Star for the full and fair accounts it has printed of the proposed annexa- tion of part of Arlington County by thd City of Alexandria. Circulating as it does throughout the county to a greater extent than any other news. paper, it may be said that, generally speaking, the people of the county look to The Star for unbiased information on the subject. In my opinion, it is unfortunate that territory can be annexed to a city without the consent, by a referen- dum vote of the people interested. But.- such is the law in the Common- wealth of Virginia. Against the will and wishes of a large majority of the residents, not long ago Alexandria suc- ceeded in grabbing a good slice of territory from the southern end of Arlington County, and the city is now reaching out for more. ‘While small in area, the assessed valuation of Arlington is.imposing and attractive. For the most part the county is composed of small, progres- sive and strictly residential communi- ties. The percentage of home owner- ship is unusually large. Abutting on the District of Columbia, where many of its residents are employed, they re- gard themselves as part and parcel of the ital rathemsthan of Alexan- dria. y! want ‘to preserve their homes and gardens; they want to man- age their schools, parks and play- grounds’ without interference by out. sidérs or' those who would force on them a centralized, sinister govern- ment. Arlington is rich in natural beauty and mass intellectualism. So far as material wealth is concerned, it can well afford to provide for its residents all the desired attractions and advan- tages of rural homestead life. Under its present form of government it is doing so. Its county institutions are in keeping with their environment. It is because Arlington is so favored that envious eyes are cast in its direction, and its residents appeal to the fair. minded people of the State generally to prevent it from being gobbled up by Alexandria. I believe I express the general sen- timent of those who have the county welfare at heart when I say we do not | choose to be annexed. * D. MAUCHLIN NIVEN. Pardon and Parole Important Problem To the Editor of The Star: Many of America’s foremost penol- ogists are now convinced that the most important problem confronting crime organizations at the present time is the subject of parole. I noticed this particularly at the convention of the American Prison Association, held last August in Tacoma, Wash. A day was given over to pardon and parole ques- tions, the most important address. be- ing delivered by John Philip Bramer, New York parole custodian and chair- man of the committee on pardon and parole for three terms, and considered by many to be the foremost authority on the subject in the United States. Mr. Bramer’s address, which was in the form of the yearly report of his committee, was modeled closely to the general outline followed in his_book, plied, subject to any wear; or would its life be prolonged if permitted to run down when performing no serv- ice?—RB. A. W, A. The Bureau of Standards says that the spring of a phonograph mo- :lor will last longer if allowed to run own. Q. Is Eugene V. Debs dead?—F. M. A. He died October 20, 1926. Q. What are the English equiva- lents for the perfumes called Fleurs- de-Mai_and Chevre-Feuille?—E. R. A. Fleurs-de-Mai is “lilies of the valley,” while Chevre-Feuille is “hon- eysuckle.” Q. When was the first periscope made?—W. E. L. A. The earliest record of its use was on the Federal monitor Osage dur- ing the Red River expedition in_ 1864. The instrument was devised by Thomas Daughty, acting chiet of en- gineers of the United States Navy. Q. When was Cumberland Gap dls- covered?—C. D. A. Danfel Boone discovered this passageway through the mountains in 1769 while on a hunting trip. Six years (later he and his companions blazed a trail through the gap, which was afterward known as the Wilder- ness road, and played an important part in the Civil War. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS" * BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. : Victor Emmanuel he was largely re- sponsible in bringing about the unifi- cation of the Italian states. Q. What modern notables are in- cluded in the new Tussaud wax works?—D. G. A. Valentino, H. G. Wells and Ra- fael Sabatini are among those repre- sented. Q. How does one pyramid in a deal on the stock exchange?—C. V. A. Pyramiding is the speculative process of using the profits on stocks bought on margin in a rising market to buy more stock also on margin, and a similar process in selling on a de- clining market. . Q. TIs it true that American women prefer Imported shoes to those of American make? Does not the United States lead in the manufacture of women's shoes?—T., W, { A. The United States does lead In the manufacture of women's shoes, but the Department of Commerce re- ports that during the first half of the present year 492,897 pairs of women’s leather shoes were imported: T principal countries sending them were Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, United Kingdom and France, in the order named. Q. What is the acreage of Cen- tral Park, New York City?—E. B, A. It contains 840 acres. Q. How many home. runs has Babe Ruth made?’—W. E. R. A. Babe Ruth had made 356 home runs prior to the 1927 season.' "He made 60 home runs during the 1927 season and 2 home runs during the world series. Q. How the word “conduit” pro- nounced?—E. H. A. Tt is pronounced as if spelled ‘“‘condit.” Q. Is it possible that jewelry and coins were marked in Portugue: more than 1,000 years ago?—M. S. A. The records show that there w a mint for making coins at Ementa in Portugal established by the Suevic Goths between the years 430 and 457. It is, therefore, quite possible that Jewelry and coins of Portugal are marked with dates of more than 1,000 years ago, Q. Hnwhold is Sherwood Ander. son?—D. A. He was born in 1876. His first book was published in 1916. Q. When was Christianity intro- duced into Russia?’—A. G. N. A. It was introduced under Viadi- mir about the end of the tenth cen- tury, Q. Do grevhounds follow thelr prey by scent or by sight>—W. D. A. They are remarkable for their swiftness and keen sight, upon which, instead of smell, they depend in hunt- ing. They are one of the oldest varie- tles known, being found depicted on ancient Egyptian monuments. S8top a minute to _think about this fact. You can ask The Evening Star Information Bureaw any question of fact and get the answer back in a per- sonal letter. It is a great educational Q. How many similes are in Beo- wult?>—N. P. There are but five. Q. Who is called the “architect” of modern Italy?—C: E. A. Camile “de Cavour, born 1810, died 1861, is so called, because as Prime Minister of Italy under King Press Comment tdea introduced into the lives of the most intelligent people in the world— American newspaper readers. It is @ part of that purpose of a newspaper— service. There is mo charge, ezcept 2 cents in stamps for return postage. Get the hadit of asking questions. Ad- dress your letter to The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has- Kkin director, Washington, D. C. on Magruder Reveals Contrast of Opinion Many and differing opinions are dis. closed in newspaper comment on the case of Rear Admiral Magruder, who was relleved of his post at Philadel- phia and attached to the Navy Depart- ment ‘at Washington as a resuit of the controversy growing out of his pub. lished articles criticizing the depart. ment’s organization and methods. Some observers sharply condemn the de- partment;” others feel that naval dis- cipline made what happened to the admiral inevitable, Views differ also on the propriety of Admiral Magru- der’s appeal direct to President Cool- idge and as to the President’s action in promptly declining to act in the matter. Typical of the division among vari- ous’ representative papers are the ex- pressions of the Dayton Daily News (independent Democratic) and the De- troit News (independent). As the Day- ton News sees it, the question is: “Can they (such men as Admiral Magruder) serve their country when service of their country in their own minds calls for facts and opinions not otherwise available only at the cost of their own martyrdom?"” ! Says the Detroit News: “When high officers of the services are able to inject themselves into politics by air- ing their views for hire in the p hlig arisen than any which can of the evils which Admiral attributes to the Navy.” The St. Paul Dispatch (independent) feels that “a disposition to give sym- pathetic attention to ideas so sub- mitted and to act on those ideas that are approved alone will prevent more of this unfortunate and unseemly kick- ing over the (rucis 2( gl!clpline." * “The administration rather than the admiral is right as regards the proper method for a naval officer to use in making criticisms of the service, even it President Coolidge may have seemed a trifle brusque in refusing the ad- miral a personal audience,” in the judgment of the Providence Journal (independent), but that paper con- “Parole,” published by the Irving Press, in New York City. Mr. Bramer is the first person to write a complete treatise on the subject, and his labors cannot be too highly recommended. He contends that the mass treat- ment of the offenders of yesterday should at this time be supplanted by a system whose chief concern is the sal- vaging of the individual. He believes that a scientific parole system is the best means to this end. and that the most essentlal prerequisite for success is an efficlent administration, coupled with recognized methods of modern social case work. ““No State will long tolerate a parole system in which public confidence is lacking because of its organization and administratio Mr. Bramer asserts, “but every State faces a tremendous opportunity in the field of social sal- vage and crime prevention through an efficient pavole organization and ad- ministration. The results of such a system represent savings, not only in human beings but in public moneys."” It will be interesting to note the sesslons of the National Crime Com- mission in the development of pardon and parole theorie: peclally Thur day morning, whel e chlef discu slon of this subject will take place. 1 antloipate greatly hearing Mr. Bramer give the National Crime Commission dek{:l@s the splendid exposition on the Jatest parole and pardon thought, which I was fortunate enough to hear at the Tacoma meeting of the Ameri- can Prison Assqeiation. T. W. DWIGHT, as the governments concerned were trying their best to maintain order, the recent incidents which were the work of irregular bands of undis- ciplined ‘marauders had little signifl- b X was concerned, the situation, 3 was alisolutely quiet and W‘Ib. cludes that ‘“citizens who are a bit skeptical as to whether the Navy De: partment is wholly right and Admiral Magruder entirely wrong will welcome @a congressional inquiry.” * ok ok K The Terre Haute Star (Independent Republican) feels that the American people “are not so impressed by the majesty of departmental discipline as to condone a slap to a trled and capa- ble officer who criticized conditions which most people believe were not exaggerated.” Conceding that “the President was quite right, as a matter of principle, in not_interfering,” the Ann Arbor Times-News (independent) expresses rogret that “a man like Magruder, with a good service record, can find no way to defend himself when his head has been lopped off.” And the Portland (Oreg.) Journal (independent) : “Why not correct the evils he brought to public atten- The New York Evening World (independent) expresses doubt that “the offense of the admiral deserves such humiliation as he has received." The Birmingham News (Democratic) advises that the admiral “should be willing to take his medici B W without wincing or even attempting ‘g0 over the head’ of his official supe- rior,” and the Union states that “the only issue, in.the official view is re- for naval regulatiogs.” e admiral was in error is . 4‘1"«';? dont R ?u‘""; graph (independent Repuhblican) the Waterloo Tribune (indepeéndent Progressive). The appeal to the President seems to the Indianapolis News (independent) to have been warranted. ‘“‘Consider- ing the nature of the controversy pre- cipitated by his criticism of the Navy and the manner in which he was re- lleved of his command without warn- ing,” says the News, “it appears that Magruder had no choice but to appe: to the President or to Congress.” The Charlotte Observer (independent Dem- ocratic) remarks that “it would prove interesting if it should turn out that the admiral is vindicated on any one of the many points involved,” and the Kansas City Post (independent) recalls that “Admiral Sims and Fighting Bob Evans often shook up the dry bones, but both knew what they were abou and won public sympathy.” The Post adds that “even they were prepared to take the full consequences; the stuff of which Magruder is made is still to be tested.” “It may be for the good of the serv. ice, but it is not for the good of public confidencé to have eminent admirals and generals repeatedly recalled and reprimanded,” declares the San Fran. cisco Bulletin (Republican), and the St. Louis Times (Republican) states: “Washington, in the candid judgment of the intelligent average citizen, fell down woefully in its effort to discredit Mitchell. We apprehend that the Magruder case may have a like re- " The Flint Dafly Journal (inde- pendent) insists that “popular demand will condemn the Government for any attempt to muzzle or punish honest critics of military or naval policy merely because they wear the uniform of the United States.” “‘Our bellef is that his remarks about too. many swivel-chair office hanging around Washington hurt most,” avers the Little Rock (Ark.) Democrat (Democratic), and the Mil- waukee Journal (independent) con- cludes; “It was the President who took Summerall by the coat collar and yanked him back from the Pacific Coast. The policy of the administra- tion is to instill the ‘Yes, ves.’ idea in the Army and Navy. It is hecause he fits so admirably into that scheme of g:nkfl that Mr. Wilbur is still Secre- UNITED STATES IN WORLD WAR Ten Veu Ago Today German war office announces the capture of American soldiers by Ger- man patrols. Washington accepts re. port as one of the inevitable incidents of war and awaits confirmation by Gen. Pershing. * * * Men in the va- rious branches of the United States Army have subscribed a total of $8! 273650 for Liberty bonds, accordi to final figu! * ¢ ¢ Adelegation 11 American Congressmen leave Paris to evade it by dodging the order of i for a visit to the French and Ameri- the Secretary of the Navy.” To the Hartford Times (Independent Democratic) it seems that “the Presi: dent properly refused to. Interven: and the Nashville Banper (independ: ent) suggests that discipline “may be set down as essential {n theory and perhaps in practice. It may amount adds that paper, greater worth {s supposed. to lle in its cutting oft presumptuous criticism by thf i ':m'ulz who would abuse their privileges.’ I President Coolidge’s course, accord- Mu : Us ¥ 3 e Pt Mot S attempt to . can battle fronts. * * * More than 1,120 officers and men, removed frors German steamships seized last April, are sent South to be interned until the wir-ends. * * * Officlal Washington is cheered by cables from the Ameri- can Ambassador at Rome to the'effect that the German a in Italy hag les are pouring d Bri iller; rail is uninter. El‘?m"" a United: i’?‘:‘{m} ot 8 low up & Uni tes trans frustrated by arrest of man n”#'ym. a powerful bomb. * ¢ * Y. M. C. A, 000, t S AR LR and overseas.