Evening Star Newspaper, November 27, 1927, Page 48

2 1927—PART Capital Sidelights |CONTROL OF APPEARANCE SOUGHT P THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, NOVEM 27, EVERYDAY RELIGION BY THE RIGHT REV. IVAMES E. FREEMAN, D.D., LL. D, Bishop of Washington e BER THE EVENING STAR _)\'lth Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. SUNDAY ...November 27, 1927 and appear neat In her presence, shall [sible route. Hence the phrase “bee not dwell unduly upon affairs of the [line,” nature’s most accurate course. | heart and shall never depart or re-|No matter how the wind may blow. | turn from the “happy little nest™ with- | the bee, unless disabled, gets back to out bestowing a k the hive, Aviators realize how diffi- In making public her ten command- |cult it is to find a course through the ments before the marriage takes place the young bride-to-be is heaping hu- miliation on her intended husband whether she realizes it or not. Such a code should never have been un- nounced. In fact, it should never have been written and should never have been thought of. because it spells potential disaster to wedded life. There can be no tyrant or no bhoss— no admission that there a the happy household. ctful and diplomatic men or women |can sometimes attain thefr wishes. | but never will the arbitrary person | contribute one ota to the mutual hap 4 But, after all, mar- | Nautical Nativity. | viage is a gamb) 1d who knows but| A telling comment | that spite of a selfimpased and (in the mode of life of humiliating handicap this marriage {,coq within the horders of the United tates during the past century is of the in- s are go- | | | The *rookie” membe i coming Seventieth Cong 1 ing to night school next Thursday night in the caucus room of the House Office Building, to be coached | and steered right regarding their| Announcement that the vights and privileges and the pro-|Capital Park and Planning Commis- codura that will be helpful to them in | sion will include in its legislative pro- the new work they are entering upon. | gram this year indorsement of the | William Tyler Page, clerk of the Shipstead bill, or one like it, giving | House, who has served Congress witi | the Commission of Fine Arts power of of the truth commending aureelves bt | efficiency and honor for 45 years, who [approval of exterior plans for com- | every man's consclence in the She|is “father confessor.” “next friend.” | mercial buildings adiacent or in prox. o o far " mora | mentor and consultant for all mem- | imity to Governmemt buildings wili critical than anything we know qf { 2O . is going to be thejawaken a wide interest throughout | today. After having passed (Inlm:{k, eacher, only he doesn't expr I the United States and the fate of the | transition himself. he had | that With his characteristic | proposed legislation will receive the the inevitable conclusion | COUTt nd consideration, Mr. attention of scores of cities Vasic things of the [After advising most of the new mem-| Control of appearance, or official con- transcended | bers privately about their work. has|gjderation of the subject of esthetics, He would seck to commend issued invitations to all who care to |« causing a lot of talk and conjecture to the consciences of ‘men attend a “symposium” at which, from | thece days. In some minds the logi- 22 consistent handling and manifesta- | his backsround of personal and inii-|ca) extension of the zoning principle in all de is its wider application to a control of | tion of the truth. It is safe to say < ails of ¢ that the great preachers of every onal work, he will make ippearance. Today in Washington, |age, who have commended them "'("'“l‘h‘;‘"r:j_';“,"""’"";‘"‘:f‘r“:",’I‘:m“"v‘l’l'i {and in other cities as well, a real| setvel vo. Thete. generation, have teen | O 2N SRR SCV UL SRR ot (hat | CiRte man may go fo (s and ex like-minded sl tonvi g1 ANGRTl| S S AL abay ot the meopRytex. | Do"a to.plan i partionlasly actistic and_artifices, a burning sense |0 Conarecunen some i, 9l group of row houses, for instance. of their high responsibility and ob- T Canitar. | But he is prevented from putting them ligation. they have given themselves :lup becafse zoning specifies detached | AS PART OF BUILDING PROGRAM BY BEN McKELWAY. |that the parkw \djoining property | ing property owners should reciprocate | by making their buildings add t rather than detract from, the appear- ance of the parkway. The regulation was found to be popular. The builder took comfort from the thought th: his building would not be injured b an adjoining bullling which careless. Iy tarew aside ail esthetic considers. tion. He felt safe in ma building as attractive as possi the assurance that oth would do the same thin mutually e reg 15 believed that all would in the end 1 vantageons to all concerned, * ok ow o The Shipstead bill, in last Congress, prise to ms fully s | ator Shipstead his own hook, as 1 host of enthus framed last v .r, t was heneficia nd ths to 1join- THEODORE W NOYES. ... Editor The bee carries no compass, but instinet 18 unfailing in reaching 1 ! Will the fact that the hives are con- ' stantly being changed affect this trait of the bee? Only test can demon strate. Meanwhile the stock-selling 1 project pending and if it is proved the premoters of the scheme may confidently lonk for a rich return lin subscriptions, for there is an as market for securities ed for doubling production, whatever line manufacture, | ral or artificial. B air. i not, but have renounced the hidden | things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceittully, but by manifestation | {of the truth commending ourselves ln[ Holding Its Own. ening Star Newspaper Company Business Oftice 3nd_Pennavivams Ave. “By manifestation N ! commending man's cons: God."—11 om some of the comme recently appeared in t in various parts of the world might be led to believe that the [cause of the Christian ministry wa [ under very severe condemnation, and its ancient office was imperiled. even a 1ks out rong the clerg V' conspicuous and leading place in the daily papers, The superficial veader or student of events comes to believe that somehow this ancient office, th {has held its p of premucy through the centuries, is likely to suf- fer a_serious decline, and its infln- ence be lost. From the day of its inception down to the latest -hour of the truth s ourselves to cvery e ence in the sight of Corinthians, ir. is ap that s one ts deiivered . : y st G0 conts vt 58 th Sun. re may be sent by that is to say SO0 Tolisction s made by | s >ach month |i Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and_Sunday ...} vr $8.00: t mo Daly oniv 1 f1mo Sundav oniv.’ imo ie month o phone Main Carter At end lation such reg sured upon in hoss—in : plans that great : Christian _faith of 8 & e Twr piness of wedlock. came on changes All Other States and Canada. 3 11 classes and $1200: 1 mo. $1.0 SE007 Tmol 7 300 in s hill on ound As ity {may turn out as well us the averag g B any renewing acquaintance of Member of the Associated Press. The Assnciated Press 1s exclusively (ntitha 0 the tse for renablivation ot wil news dis patehes credited 1o 1L or not otherwise cred Find in thos naver and slso the focal 1 ew: heren ANl rizhis of publication Atehes heroin are also reserved A Logical Makeshift. “Hillcrest.” | In line with the growth and the | { betterment of Washington as regards the Federal civic, business und resi-| dential building programs comes the | | iven in a news dispatch (rom Wash- State announcing the death utomobile accident of an aged h Indian, who had been A canoe. 1 man came into the ton n an Skokom born in The r world vecent opening of “Hillerest,” new |in all sorts of odd places and in odd there has been now and again a.con- flict of opinion between men engaged in the ministry. Doubtless this con- flict will go on without intervuption so long as men of varying minds and temperaments constitute the of ficers of the church. As we review its long history these sporadic out- breaks, instend of weakening this ancient institution, have left it ithout reserve to the I truths of the religion they held and preached. The demonstration of their power and influence has heen disclosed in the thronging multitudes that have listened to them, and have been freshed and inspired by their mini try. Judged by the standards of pop. ularity alone. they have been the rs. There are 58 new mem des the very delightful, pol ished gentleman who comes as Dele zate from Hawaii—Vietor 8. K Houston, who is a_commander in the United States Navy and whose mother was a native Hawaiian Among those who are getting “glad hand” from veterans around ti former bers by tha houses for the are So, prevented from erecting his artistic row houses, there is nothing to pre. vent his building a series of detached houses so horribly ugly that the po. * ! them, and children will cry when they see them. The theory is, of course, that zoning, which now concerns itself while he is| liceman on his beat will detour around | further than is cons! at this time, for the posal is ta control the ance of all private str 200 foet of His hill mi, plying not enly ment pr enzine ho ar Senator’s pro terior appear. 1 ! ctures within ap Jortant Govern 1, but to fire police stations and | ects downt this | schools, and of territory of m vocates of ested particularly north side of Pennsylvania avenue, They are anxious lest some enthusi- 1stic builder and some wild-eyed archi- tect conspire to erect a structure fac- ing the trianzle group of Government buildings which will detract from tha appearance of the Government build and lead to unkind remarks the beanty of the Capital iovernment is going to an enor mous expense in improving the Ave nue triangle, it is not ¢ sensible or just tha should he in part endingered, ponents of the legislaion do not template any great legal diffic The Constitution has invested with sueh exclusive he District that its hands tually free to do what it will. dition, after the cr triet, and when ce ers were reinvested w land, a stipulation was inserted in th retransfer agreement stating that the with the height, use and area of build ht wisely be made to include ppearance of buildings. In some | of the decisions upholding the prin- ciple of zoning the courts have hinted that in time the police power over | health, safety and public welfare may logically be exercised to include the consideration of estheti But that time has hardly arrived. Those who have studied the effect of zoning. and | the wide increase in its popularity hesitate at this time to experime with <o radical an enlargement of it principles. They feel that it would be unwise to jeopardize the established success of zoning by combining it with o delicate a matter as public control of the appearance of private buildings, They prefer that zoning stand as it is, and that the experiment of subjecting private buildings to the crutiny of experts. who may disagree with the owners as to what consti- tutes correct app e, be consl red ag a separate proposition and al- lowed to stand or fall on its own mer- its. Nevertheless, should the consid- eration of esthetics become an Faced with the necessity of finding | and more than adequate home of the | \ave during forced marches. during pew quarters within a very short time | Washington City Orphan Asylum injiimes of white famine, fo. Hhe for the Woman's Bureau of the Po- | the region of Massachusetts avenue |yory midst of bitegs Arote lice Department. the House of Deten- | extended. than one first the light of day tion and the medical clinics of the, Enthusiastic approval was the sen- iy a hig craft of birch-bark, though Health Department, the District Com- | timent undoubtedly ied away bY |oven in the old days this must have missioners have recommended that|every one of the many visitors Who|jcen highly unusual and worthy of these agencies move to the old St.|called there Friday in response to the | .omment. James Hotel. at Nixth street and|institution’s “open house” invitation. | \jnouzh sueh occurrences i Pennsylvania avenue, to he leased and [ “A children’s village” is the DPOrase | iy known in the wilds of Canada remodeled to suit the new tenants |often used to describe this new andi.;q Alaska, the Indian of the United p con : : : ncern gactian o i taeve 15 senpls piant ot IAANMIRtOIS IRt | o e e loak aivlbie el g | D10 ARt OF the catly Chwigtiane, and | ters of ceremonial or administration. | candidate in that district. o N at i S ag ~hildren's age ] vet it did not impair the onward|Questions of churchmanship make Another “good fellow” who is being _ seen in the fact that the hotel itself orplanage and a children’s village In iy, g distinguished as was this [ e ony | it onaati to hiny, Vematas e | bt o0 SO UL Gk e eaule oE mu down within R { vary Tyl it e Stk ety detached |y, v They use canoes far less; the {of most of these conflicts and discus. | preacher be given to ritual or to sim-|joth parties are - (o dintemiae yeas at. built «t first [structares on the cottage system, and S iRt eiE s bl v con Gions 1% that they are largely ahout | pler forms of service is not the matter | with him again is Representative John o s a hotel. it provides 1a-5nd Beatititiligrounds. “Thaihisi{ matters that do not vitally concern [of chief concern. They are willing g fond for years us 3 Botel, It pesvifes {ampin 2nd beautiful grounds. The his-{in 1y and steadily replacing the [ the deep and fundamental things of | to cnize that he is human ar poor quarters now for important ac- {tory of the orphanage is bound UPl,uapgy ornamented paddle, for the | religion. Al ‘oo frequently they | fallible like themselves. One thing tivities of the lo vernment. Rut | closely with the early history of Wash- | 3 % seem to center in matters t con- | they demand and insist upon. namely as paradoxical as it may seem, these having included Red Brother s essential lazy when| . emonial and ritual. Again, [that he shall not handie the word Sy - stark incentive is lacking. Further, very objections count most strongly in Dolly” Madi- i % \Lvs. John |10 matter how much he may use a avor of “ommis Mrs. chn 3 & sk canoe, he is apt to'own and inhabit Let these proposals be carried out.| me: would cover lot portance. Ad islation int just now in the most efficient, persuasive and influ- ential prophets, who have come to their people week by week with a message born out of a deep and un changing conviction. Our present age does not differ from those that have gone before. The demand for this type of preach- Ing is evident in our day and gen- Capitol s Representative i a Hughes of Huntington, W. Va., who previously served for 14 years in the House and was for a long-time chair- Iman of the important committee on accounts. He was born in Ontario, and has the distinction of having served in the Legislatures of two de States, Kentucky and West Virginia. ration. The, ody of the|\When he first came to Congress, more y are not interested in theological | {nan a quarter of a century ago, he | controversies. They have a cordial dis- | jaq the distinction of running up the |like of d ssions that concern mat- | pgest Republican vote ever given a stronger than ever. Disturbing as ontroversy and conflict may be, nev- ertheless the church moves on its way and holds its place of undisputed power and influence in spite of all the passing incidents of men and things. In the earliest record of the church itself there was a distinct and marked conflict between two of its mighti lenders, namely, St. Peter and Panl. We doubt not that this conflict occasioned great consternation and deep concern on even war. are v be | aged he torn and aud Davenport Clark of Fraser, N. Y.. one of the most popular men in Congress in recent years. He is an ardent con- servationist. In his youth he worked for the mining department of the neg th I inl In ad- ation of the Dis. in property ewn- h titles to their ts bene bles as Mrs. Mrs. James Monroe, Van Ne the daughter ington, such no sners” proposal. | son < of some sort they have to do largely with of God deceitfully, and that at all o a permanent dwelling ters of administration times he shall manifest the truth he Secretary 6f mines of the United canny Scot, Davie Burnes, owner of ze as well as and new quarters in the St large, most of these controversies|holds by a life that is blameless, tes Steel Corporation from its Hotel be regarded as what they much of the land on which the/ have to do with what are commonly [ Phillips Brooks once maintained that | foundation in 1906, Since then he has 2 makeshift ariangement to be con-| Federal City now stands. and William called “non-essentials truth is la transmitted throush | heen secretary and treasurer of other tinued only until adequate and fitting | W. Corcoran. Mrs. Calvin Coolidge quarters are built in the proposed |lifted the first spadeful of earth at the municipal center. | new and probably permanent home. There will probably be a counter| Fourteen acres located at the in- proposal regarding quarters for the|tersection of Nebraska avenue and ousted Woman's Bureau and the| Loughboro road now accommodate House of Detention. This proposal|the organization which, housed orig- might be, for instance, that the Dis- | inally in downtown Washington, later a o to house his offspring. 1, in the deceased Indian’s hood, say an even hundred years ngo, any medicine man had presumed pro- phetically and truthfully to contrast his modes of entrance into and his 2xit from this vale of tears, even that medicine man's warmest admirers and adherents could not have been blamed for snickering. R boy- The resolution of one of the grea preachers that the church h or known, namely, St. Paul. might he properly commended, to the men who are exercising theif’ ministry to- day. Writing to an early church, he ve: “Seeing we have this ministr as we have received mercy, we faint personality . to use the lanzui of the Seotchman, it must become in- carnate in an individual lite. 1t the ministry of our age is to commend itself to the consciences of men, it must return to th> wholesome prac- tice of manifesting the truth as de. clared and exemplified by Jesus Christ. GET-OUT-THE-VOTE CONTESTS ing comps L pra ticing lawyer and a dirt farmer. is Representative U. Guyer, tha second Kansas district. He fillec out the unexpired term of the late a lamented Representative Edward C. of the House District committee, Another man who is coming back ; Hm Lattle, who shortened his days by his sion Representative Chauncey Little occupied the seat and was a member title to land was given back “on such conditions as thought reasonable by the President for regula the methed and manner of the buildings and improvements generally within | the said city.’ cepted ‘part of a city's control over buildings. it ix only natural to suppose that in time it will be considered as a d | part of the general principle of zoning. | d * X ¥ x Here in Washington thete is pre ek sented a particularly well equipped | laboratory for experiments in control- | linz_the appearance of commereial | buildings and the Shipstead bill, or | of the T Arts Commission would similar legistlation, backed by such or- | e, rather than detract ganizations as the Park and Planning | from. the value of private huildings. devoted labor on the revision of the Code of Federal Statutes, a monu mental work. In the Sixty-ninth ses. But the the Lehind this legisla. tlon which should appeal most strong- Iy to property owners is that approval which acts upon legislation affecting | Commission, the Commission of Fine |Under this legislation the Fine Arts trict immediately acquire a suitable | moved to the corner of Fourteenth building, adequate for its needs and located in a portion of the city where it will be free for years to come from encroachment of new Government puildings. But the very permanency | of such an arrangement should count against it. If the District is to ac- quire the land and gradually erect| buildings for the proposed municipal | center. there must be a real and| pressing necessity for such buildings. It agencies of the District govern- ment, forced out of their quarters in the Avenue triangle, are scattered in permanent quarters in various sec- | tions of the city. there can never be | the urge for creating the municipal | center. Congress has authorized a new Po- | Jice Court building. and the judges | of the Police Court hope to obtain the necessary appropriations at the coming session of Congress to build the new structure on the site of the existing building. But the Commis- sioners have recommended otherwise. They hope to secure authorization for acquiring the land for the municipal group and to place the Police Court Building on this land as the first of a group which is to follow. If the Police Court judges bring about the crection of the new building on the present site, it will be lost to the municipal group and a start on the project will be delayed until some other District agency demands atten- tion. The municipal group will not be built all at once. A comprehensive plan for the group is the first step. congressional approval the secand and plece-by-piece construction, dic- tated by necessity, the third. Pre- liminary plans for the group will be ready for Congress. It is essential that Congress at this session approve the general plan. Delay may mean that the plan will never be realized, and it there is no existing and press- ing demand, there can only be con- tinued and fatal delay. The ends to be achieved are surely worth any temporary inconvenience which may ensue before the group is approved. Only by planning far into the future | now, and building strictly in accord- ance with that plan, will Washington be able finally to realize a municipal center in keeping with its importance the Capital City of the United States. and S streets and there stayed for many vears. Five separate buildings, equipped and decorated down to the last useful and artistic detail, are to- day complete, with room for more as they are needed. It was a New York philanthropist, always deeply interested | in orphanages, Edwin Gould, who by | his offer to undertake the necessary extensive landscape work. and also to construct one of the principal buildings, gave the final fillip to the idea of mov- ing. already long-considered and an- ticipated by the purchase of the land. With his enthusiasm and generosity spurring them on, the heads of the in- stitution have worked long and hard, with results that are well worth a trip of inspection on the part of any Wash- ingtonian. In another section of to- day's Star appears a detailed descrip- tion of the new plant. It any visitor shall go there and come away able to make a suggestion for improvement, it would be interest- ing to know what it is. To the aver- age eye and mind but one occurs— more orphans to emjoy the comforts and the delights therein offered. This, however, immediately proves to have been anticipated. The ground plans have been most carefully studied with a view to allowance for future expan- sion, so that the number of orphaned, half-orphaned and dependent children will be increased in the near future. It is safe to say that in few Ameri- | can homes, even of the better class. | is the growing child surrounded by | such comforts, such pleasures and, at the same time. such careful and sym- pathetic supervision over health, mor ale and manners. Utmost care is used also in placing the children when they reach the proper age to do battle with the world. One small girl, confronted with what seemed an unusual oppor- tunity for advantageous family affilia- | tion, asked permission to hold off until the new orphanage was completed, thinking it likely she would prefer to stay on as long as possible. Could any more welcome testimony than that be desived by any institution of this| sort? ————————— FEdison, having reached the time of life that entitles him to leisure, finds that his own talents, more than those of any other man, have provided him with means of entertainment. ——— It is emphatically urged that the| line must be drawn at a tax reduction that may leave the United States Treasury in reduced circumstances. | o A Heavy Handicap. e is admittedly a gamble. | Fven those who consider well before entering the holy state of matrimony are frequently disillusioned as to the qualities of the mates they have chosen. Some, of course, enter wed Jock thoughtlessly, without heed of consequences, and in many cases It works out just as well for them as for their more farseeing brethren. There is a class, however, which be- Jieves that it knows so much about marriage that it will put it far above the potential disruption of the or- dinary union, and before-marriage theories have flown thick and fast throughout the country. There is a new leader of thought along this line, and she has just made her first public appearance. She is a New Jersey girl who is soon to be married, and in order that there shall be no misun- derstanding as to who will be the pilot, the captain and commander of the good ship Matrimony through the heavy seas of wedded life, she has laid down a rigorous code of conduct for her husband to follow. The code which this enterprisi young lady has drawn up is ter to the point. Her husband have no other ma shall say his prayers on bended knce, shall under- take all family duties, shall not arouse jealousy, shall not drink nor | the i Motorizing the Bee. In this age of wheels, driven by various kinds of motive power, even sects that work for man are not immune to the advanced tendencies. It i& now reported that a scheme has been evolved in Southern California whereby motorized apiaries are to be trundled about the country, to give the bees a better chance to collect honey from the blooms. Busy though it i, the bee can travel only a short distance with a full load of honey. To require it to fly afar for supplies and then return is to erowd nature unduly. Hence, the plan to put the hives on | trucks that are to be trundled around | the country, as fields offer, and thus | to give the bees the shortest possible | haul. This, it is estimated, will great- | ly increase the honey collecting ca- | pacity of the bees, and bring larger | profits for the apiarists. Application | has been made to the State Corpora- tion Commission for permission to sell stock in the concern, with promises of large returns. This is an ingenious proposition. Certainly there is no evidence to the effect that the bees work on a stint basis. They have no established limit of production. They are not {bound by union hours. It is their| instinct to gather as much honey they can, to make as many trips as possible from hive to bloom and back Whether they will accustom them selves to their peripatetic base is to be discovered. erring sense of direction. The bee has an un- | However | War in China is attributed to bol- shevist activity. A new form of pub- licity results in the discovery that wherever there is trouble there is a on hand to claim the re- e Much interest attaches to the elder- 1y naval man who insists on keeping his discourse snappy and more or less technical, instead of spinning leisure- 1y stories about shipwrecks and can- als. N Historians who speak slightingly of the great men of early American times st in _promoting the Impression that, after all. the only real heroes! are pugilists and ball players. B Only bandits and outlaws will be bombed in Nicaragua. This assertion carries little solace, as it is usually made by both sides of an armed con- troversy. e Calling a prowling thief “The Cat” throws an air of romance around a figure whose status, even in the un- derworld zoo, is probably that of a rat. —— e Something depends on how wealth is amassed. The customs and asso- clations involved in the way he made his money have gone far to prevent Remus from enjoying it. ——— SHOOTING STARS. R JOHNSON. Let's! Let us give existence An enduring charm, Smiling with persistence— Let us all disarm! Let no bandits rattle Through the thoroughfare! Let us cease the battie Raging everywhere! BY PHILA Wives a bit too willing For a single life— Let them cease their killing Husbands in the strife! Let a grand intention Shield us from alarm! Hold a big convention And let's all disarm! Plans for the Future. “How do you intend to pass your spare time in Washington?” “Acting busy,” answered Senator Sorghum, “and trying to conceal the fact that I have =0 much of it.” Problems and Answers. | The statesman has a mission grand In solving problems for the lund. The answers have grown scarce of late, With so much to investigate! Jud Tunkins says he has saved up a little money and is now afraid to spend it for fear folks will think he is a hootlegger. 5 Astonishingly Wise. “What has become of the small boy who used to worry his parents by ask- ing questions?” “He disappeared from humorous writing years ago. When any kind of a queer question arises, it is now the small boy who knows all the an- swers.” Whatever wealth a man may gain,” said Hi Ho, the sage of China- town, “he feels the need of still more wealth in order to protect it.” Letting the Market Catch Up. ‘The number of our flivvers still in- creases, More citizens each day are taking pride in them. And yet unless sometimes the factory censes while—where shall we find the folks to ride in them? A “A friend told me not to wor far it may go in search of blossoms smoke, shall be on time for every ap- from which to extract sweets, it al-lan’ had jes' ,Iinlmcm, shall cater w her whims ways flics back‘y the shortest pos- about.” said Uncle Eben. I tried my best dat much more to worry Plans for persuading the voters of the United States to go to the polis in 1928 and make the presidential elec tion a genuine expression of public opinion are now being freely discussed by numerous vivic and economic eroups which believe that the salva- tion of good government in a republic is to be found only in active partici- pation by every citizen in the busi- ness of government. This discus: s not new. but is periodical, ¢ election year finds a great deal snid about the need to et out the vote, while each election finde from 40 to 50 per cent of the eligible voters ab- sent from the polls. One new proposal has been heard in reference to 1 and it seems to be worth public_discussion. since no organized group vet undertaken it, although the American Legion. which carried on some political education work in 1926, is glving it serlous con- sideration. The officials of the Legion had the plan brought to their atten- tion by the Americanism officer of the Legion in the District of Columbig, which 1% the one place in the United States where residents have no vote at all, but are most keenly interested in the results of elections. This plan calls for the promotion, In every community in the country; of get-out-the-vote contests, in which va uable prizes would be offered to indi- viduals who succeed, in their home precincts or districts or other units of ;. in persuading the entire eligible voting population—or the largest percentage thereof—to g0 to the polls at primaries and elec- tions. The author of this plan has given the writer permission to make {it public in some detail in the hope {that it may stimulate thought anl iction on the absentee voter problem along practieal lines. Without criticizing the efforts made by patriotic groups like the Legion. the National Civie Federation, the League of Women Voters and many other organizations in previous elec- tion years to stimulate efforts for a wger participation in elections, it is air to point out that despite the very extensive efforts thus made and the great amount of support given to these efforts by the press, the net re- sult of these campaigns has not been any extensive increase in voting. Figures of Recent Campaigns. Calculations by interested workers in 1920 {ndicated that only 49 per cent of the total eligible vote was cast in that presidential vear. spite o nation-wide publicity campaign | for getting out the vote, only about 51 per cent of the eligibles voted. In off years the vote is even less com- plete. In 1924, despite a general increase in population, 17 States polled a small- er total vote than in 1920. The others showed an increase, but in no State was more than 72 per cent of the total possible vote registered at the polls. This evidence that urging people to vote by speeches and printed messages is not sufficient actually to get voters to the polls has prompted the proposal of personal individual eanvassing. to be stimulated by prizes and organized s local contests. The plan suggested is based on tae work of the rank and file of precinct political workers, the door-to-door canvas, bell ringing, hand shaking, and collecting the pledges of individuals that they will vote. Often this must include their promise to register prior to the elections, and to vote at primaries as well as at gen- eral elections. The canvassing must also be followed up on_election day, to make sure that the pledges are not forgotten. To interest and enthuse citizens in such contests does not appear to be | altogether simple, hut the following proposal indicates how it may be done A local committee or organization such as an American Legion post, a eon club or civic group, might very well solicit prizes for such a contest from the merchants of the commu- nity, who would have ample oppor- tunity to display these prizes in their windows and acquire advertising value tor the gift. The co-operation of local newspa- pers can very well be asked, and probably granted, as the contests would have considerable news inter- est, and the press each year has gladly given up space to news ar- ment of more general voting. A thoroughly reliable and activel | quired to award the prizes, as it would he necessary to see that each contest- ant operated under the rules adopted sults in view of the actual registration of voters and the vote recorded at the primaries and elections. Obviously this plan opens up many possible variations, and seems likely of adoption, in one form or another, chapter of the Daughters of the Amer- | ican Revolution, or other lodge, lunch- ticles and editorials for the encourage- | interested set of judges would be re-| for the contest. and to appraise the re- | BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. in a great many parts of the United | States next year. The groups which are interested in Americanism, good citizenship and good government are a unit in ing to interest every citizen in his duty of acting as an i telligent voter. Political partis has no part in this work. Govern- ment under any party will not offer the best results unless the citizenship { has an eye on it. Polit leaders likewise indorse every effort toward interesting people |in their public duty. The ward, dis- trict or precinct political worker { knows all about canvassing his terri- tory, 1f_he is at all ackve and success. ful'in hs political work. Irequently however, there are no active workers in large ar and where they do work, their effort is often only to get out votes for the prima aucuses of their party. At best, they work only to 'get out the voters of their own political belief, and obviously the total of such work does not even come close to bringing every voter to the In 1924, Indiana better cast less than 7 per cent. The other States ranged between these fizures. Even disregarding the large part of the negro vote which is not cast in Southern States, there remains an enormous stay-at-home vote which ap- parently alwa has stayved at home on election day. Fewer than 29.000,000 votes were cast for President in 1924, out of some 55,000,000 people eligible to vote by law. The political campaign meeting is no longer the popular event it was in this country before motion pictures and other amusements afforded occasion for neighbors to get together. Interest in politics is probably not so keen as in our grandfathers’ time. The need of active interest in elections becomes greater each vear as the problems of government ine ise, and many and patriotic societies will undertak some effort in 1928 to have the pres dential election a genuine expression of the wishes of all the people. Get- out-the-vote contests may prove a helpfui means to that end. . Christmas Trade May Break All Records BY HARDEN COLFAX. _ Prancer and Dancer and their faith- ful teammates of the beautiful myth are drawing a heavier load this year than genial Old Santa ever before has placed upon his sleigh, if advance re- ports are to he credited. Christmas trade in the United States leaped forward in 1925 to amazing rec- ords and caused charts of normal in- crease to become scraps of paper, yet 1926 hung up new high figures. De- snite recessions in business activity here and there as compared with a year ago., merchants expect the Yule- | tide of 1927 to be still better than last ¥ | In 1924, de- | he tinkle of the refndeers' hells { soon will be heard in full tone, for the | great distribution which marks the | secular celebration of Christmas is )mll_\' four weeks distant. Already the cash registers of thousands of retail- | ers have begun adding to the music of | the season. for much Christmas shop- ping nowadays is done before Thanks. | giving a | . So ‘reliable are the reports that { Santa Claus has planned his greatest surprises for 1927 that Uncle Sam has | taken_official notice and, through the Post Office Department, has made ex- | traordinary preparations to handle the [ rush. The department spent $8,68 1000 last year for additfonal service to handle holiday mail; this vear it esti- i mates it will have to spend $100.000 bove that sum to meet the require: ments, Something approaching $200,000,000 will be spent this year for toys alone, the term including dolls, tional and semi-utilitarlan offerings so popular in recent years, and wheeled merchandise. The range is from the G-cent article to imitation automoblles at $150 each, imported animals which run up to $300 at retail and playhouses which may cost $400 or even more. { How much will be expended for gifts to be exchanged among adults is any- body’s guess, with the merchant who guesses wrong out of luck, but the total will be tremendous, for Christmas gifts of a substantinl nature have been the tendency in reosnt years. | Barly Christmas sales Indicate that the majority of merchants are more likely to find themselves understocked than oversupplied with seasonal goods. Advance reports show that adver- tised merchandise is moving more rap- idly than that merely displayed for the s of shoppers, proving that thoughtful buyers are scanning the pages of thelr newgrapers and ‘mak- responding period of 1 the educa- | B0 han double the factory value. of the community takes part in it and | | anship | | those of the 1 | tures, show a factory value of $75 the District of Columbia. Besides hav quarter of a century, Mr. Guyer w: principal of a high school, superin tendent of the city schoolsin St. John, Kans.: president of the hoard of trus: tees of Kansas City Universi leading citizen of Representative “Bob” Cla ing back from Detroit. He was a long. tima Democrat, prominent in the party councils, but he ha litical coat and returns 1 “Repulr lican.” Mr. Clancy is a former news paper reporter, was secre the Democratic caucus, the Assistant Secretary of Commert United States customs appraiser for Michigan and during the W was_appointed manager of the Trade Board, with headqu: troit and covering adjacent States, at the same time was an aviation re- cruiting officer and inspector of pur- chases In Michigan for the Medical Corps of the War Department. He defeated in the last election Repre- sentative Sosnowski, who had the rep- utation of being “the best dressed man in_the House. Representative John J. Casey is com- ing back from Wilkes-Barre. He used to ke on the important wa: and means committee. He is returning be- cause in the primaries he ran on both the Republican and Democratic tickets, which is permissible under the pe- culiar State law. Mr. Casey worked his way up. He went into a coal breaker when he was § years old. He worked his way up from apprentice in the plumbing and sheet metal busi- ness, and was also employed in th2 railway train service. Since earl taken an active part bor movements and is the only trade unionist who was ever on the ways and means committee. During the World War he was a key man for the Government on all ma ters affecting labor. He is the father of 11 children. Representative Everett Kent, who severnl years ago was on the House District ‘committee, is returning, hav- secretary Washingtonian, graduate of George- town University, who served with the Marines in the World War. Mr. Kent worked as a machinist and taught school. He earned his way through law school selling coal to manufactur- ing plants. Two Maryland members will prob- ably not be in the House during the coming session. W. P. Cole, jr., who succeeds Tydings, who went to the Senate, 1s in a serious condition with pneumonia following an operation, and Represgentative T. A. Goldshorough is g in ing their purchases with discrimina- tion, Within the next 10 days some 8,000 banks throughout the United States will distribute $501,336,000 to more than 8,500,000 depositors in Christmas Avings clubs. According to a study announced by Herbert F. Rawll, presi dent of the Christmas Club, a corpo- ration which sponsors this system of the total sum will find its way into the tills of merchants through the hands of shoppers. The total depos- ited in such clubs this vear exceeds s record by $102,000,000. The of depositors s increased fivefold since 1920. P Tt is questioned whether special cor- poration dividends and bonus distribu- the sums put into circulation by these mothods a year ago, but bank depos- its are far ahead of the corresponding period of 1926. The general agricul- tural situation is superior to last year, particularly in the cotton belt and in the Northwest, so Santa should make heavler tracks along the rural routes. Ninety per cent of the toys which American kiddies will hug to their asts Christmas morn of this year will be the product of American fac- (ories. The last available figures, census of manufa 000,000 for toys. The retail sales value Time was when the majority of toys Japan and Germany still send many toys here, but with a few exceptions they are of the extremely cheap vari- ety. Imports for the first nine months this year aggregated only $3,427,000. On’ the other hand, children of 93 foreign countries will be made happy with American toys this Christmas. Our British cousins their kinship of taste by the tact that Canada is the largest customer for our exported toys, the United Kingdom fs second, while Australia ranks fourth, being nosed out of third position by Cuba. Even Germany and Japan buy a few thousand dollars’ worth of toys from the United States each year. Total exports in the first nine months this year were valued at $2,248,000 an increase of $406,000 over the cor- ing practiced law for more than a and a s changed his po- ry to Rep- resentative Doremus and secretary of to defeated Maj. W. R. Coyle, a native | saving, approximately $193,000,000 of | tions in December this year will equal | gold in this country were imported. ! demonstrate | Arts and others interested in develop- ing the beauty of the Cavital. will set the test tubes hoiling at this session of Congress. The theo:y behind the legislation is sensible and there is al- ready a precedent for it. In Philadel- phia, for instance, no private building is allowed to be erected fronting on the Fairmount Highway —until its plans have been submitted to and ap ed by the Philadelphia Art Jury. regulation has been in effect for some time and is yet to be contested. It is based on common sense. ‘The using taxpayvers’ money, went to much expense in building the Fair- mount Parky It was contended that the successful investment of this money should not be jeopardized by allowing any Tom. Dick or Harry who owned abutting property to build thereon some weird, uncouth. struc- are which would destroy the appear- ance of the parkway. It was argued Commission, for instance. might ses fit to lay down, informally. a general | plan for the treatment of buildings on | the north side of Pennsylvania avenue, | The builder would only be required to make the plans for his building con- form to this general plan. He would have the advantage of securing, free of charge. the advice of qualified con- | sultinz experts on the Fine Arts Com- mission, and it is reasonable to sup- pose that he would regard this ad- | omethinz to he sought rather ! than somethinz to be resented | The builder would receive, in effect guarantee that the value of his own "]n'nywtl' would not suffer by reason |of “the appearance of his next- door neighbor’s property. The legisla- | tion should be considered more in the | light of a safeguard. both for the Gov- croment and the private citizen. than | as an attempt to dictate on the sub- Ject of appearanee. This and That By Charles E. Tracewell. Most of us could take much-needed lessons in the use of our senses from the humble house cat, which makes the most of the gifts Nature gave him. Human beings commonly tend toward atrophy of one Fifty Years Ago In The Star In the issue of The Star of Novem- ber 20, 1877, is the text of the report . . of the committee on Taxation in taxation and assess- istri ments of the Citi- the District. 70 o mittes of under civilization | One Hundred, prepared as a_feature of the District’s case before Congress or more of their senses, particularly | those of sight, smell and hearing. | There are individuals, of course, | | who have particularly keen senses. | | One man will be able to smell smoke | | an appreciable time before any one | | else. Another can see an object much | | farther than his companion. | | Most people, however, allow cus- | tom and the usual to dull their senses Custom makes one antagonistic to ward the new, thereby ca unusual to be slowly received. usual thing, in itself. causes the new happening to he looked upon askance. | Instead of instantly responding to | the situation, as our cave-men ances tors did, a modern man inclines to pro- crastinate, if even for o little as a few seconds. Walking along a city street. and seeing smoke avise from a building. the average man is slow to grasp the fact that something out of the ordi nary may be happening. “Oh, it is only somebody starting | the furnace.” he is likely to say. Fif-| teen minutes later, as he is half a mile from the scene, he hears the fire | engines go by, and realizes that what he took for something usual is an occurrence distinetly out of the ordi- | nary. { : * X K K The house cat never takes anything, for granted. A dog may, but a cat| never. Every sound pricks up his| | ears. Every sort of noise has a mean- | ing for him, or, if it have no particu lar significance. attracts his attention all the more for that very reason. Jack Spratt, curled up smugly in the | living room at 4 o'clock. has his ear: | wide open for the first noise from the | kitchen. Just as the bears at the Zoo know they will be fed at 3 o’clock. Jack Spratt. tiger cat, understands the import of the next hour. As the clock begins to strike, he | arises, and stretches himself mightily, s if saying. “Well. now I am all | ready for dinner.” Tt must be under- | | stood that this is not an invariable | accurrence. He does not always get up | | with the stroke of the gong. but he | has done it often enough to make it quite plain that he has a perfect understanding of what the hour means. He realizes that it is his dinner hour just as a human being does—his stomn- ach tells him so! In fact, it has been telling him so for an hour or two. | With 4 o'clock, however, comes per- fect realization. Jack listens eagerly for the fir: sound that actually means “dinner. Usually this is the opening of the| refrigerator door. But he does not start running immediately. He waits to hear the particular nolse. If he hears only the clink of a milk | bottle, he does not move, only looks interested. Let him hear the slightest | rattle of paper, however, in he dashes. His formula is as follows: Hunger plus 4 o'clock plus the rattle of paper | equals: meat. * kX % We might continue to instance the keenness of Jack's senses, but every one who knows a good house cat ca multiply instances of his own. The cat, nearer to the primitive, lives con | stantly on the alert, not only for | sounds, but for sights, smells and contacts of one sort or another. The rattle of a dox tag in the street, even if the dxor and windows are | Star say | ana data to determine the proper propor- in anticipa! permanent n of the enactment of a organization law. The editorinlly: “The showing of the amount of bur- dens resting upon the citizens of this District is not a pleasant one to con- template, but it is well always in such matters to know the worst. It ap- ars that the nggrezate assessed value of real estate in this District is $97,609.890: personal property, $9.- 335. The committee find that the ssment is very much above the present actual vaiue of real estate does not furnish the equitable tion as against the real estate held in the District by the general Govern- ment. The committee conclude that a reduction of 25 per cent upon the ag- gregate amount furnished by the as. sessor would approximate a proper mum basis in determining values between the property held by the citi- zens of the District of Columbia and held by the general Government. ng the rate of assessment £ trict with that adopted else- where throughout the country, it ap- that ours is very much higher, xes based on our high standard of assessment are really more op- ssive than nominaily higher taxes elsewhere, based on a lower asse: ment rate. This fact should be borne in mind by Congre in levying taxa- tion on the real estate of the District for the support of its local govern- ment, or in estimating the proper pro- portion to be paid by the general Government. “‘On the point of the proportion of the area of veal estate owned by the gen: eral Government in the District, as against that held by the citizens, it ppears that the area of the parks and reservations held by the general Gov- ernment contains 31,159 quare feet. and is valued at $26 1 an average assessment of oniy about 85 cents per square foot. In streets and venues there are 112,470,043 square feet, valued at 30 cents, or $33.741.0 The public buildings are valued at $35,187.207: the value of Government property in the county at $390.000: in Georgetown, $75.7! The aggregate of Government proy on this vali s about $9: 00; and, in the opinion of the committee, this a. s a lower standard than plled to the property of the citizens for the purpose of taxation. As show ing the speeial hardship of requiring the taxpayers of Washington to bear the expense of improving the immense street area of the National Capital, & comparison i3 made as regards the area occupied by streets of several large cities. From this it appears that Washington city has the largest aren reserved for streeia of any city in the world, belng 54.05 per cent of the whole area. The street area of New York City is 35.03, of Paris, 25.08; Philadelphia, 29.08; Boston, 26.02. For the improvement of this large propor- tiva of streets the private property of the citizens of the District has been loaded down with special taxation. rt closed, will make Little Nipper dash at top speed for the basement. e is taking no chances. Jack, never having been afraid of dogs, paye less attention. but always hears them. Basically, we are all animals to- gether, and it behooves us to keep out senses in good working condition. to the best of our ability, lest our furzs” brothers put us to shame.