Evening Star Newspaper, December 14, 1927, Page 8

¥THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY . December 14, 1927 THEODORE W. NOYES. ... Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: and Pennsylvania Ave. Office: 110 East 42nd St. Office” Tower Building. 14 Regent St.. London, ‘England. 11th St New York Chicago European Office: The Evening Star with the Sunday morn- ng edition is delivered by carriers within the city at 60 per month: daily only. 45 cents per month: Sundays cnly. 20 cents per month. Orders may he sent hy mail or Telephone Main 5000, Coliectiou is made by carrier at end of each month. able in Advance. d Virginia. 1 yr. $0.00: 1 mo.. 7he vr. $A.00° 1 mo.. 80c $3.00: 1 mo.. 25¢ ‘Paily and Sunday aily only . Sunday only Member of the Assoclated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled 10 the ‘ise for republication of all news dis- atches credited to it or not otherwise cred- {ted in this paver and also the local news vt blished herein. ~All rights of publi-ation of special dispatches herein are alao reserved. e Gen. Wood's Successor. Atter an exhaustive and painstaking consideration of many names the President has selected Col. Henry L. Stimson of New York to be the Gov- ernor General of the Philippines, to succeed the late Gen. Leonard Wood, and Col. Stimson has accepted the as- signment to duty. This is an excep- tionally fortunate choice, and will com- mand the immediate approval of the country. There were numerous possibilities for appointment. Men of eminent ability had been proposed, and most of them would have been'well adapted to the difficult task. In his selection of Col. Stimson, however, ‘the President has secured for the distant post a man of administrative experience, who has become familiar with the problem of insular government through his pre- vious service as Secretary of War and in the course of a personal visit to the islands over which he is now to pre- side as the representative of the Fed- eral Government. Col. Stimson believes in granting the Filipinos an increasing degree of par- ticipation in their own administration, ‘but he does not believe in the complete independence of the islands at this stage of their development and present conditions. He is fully acquainted with the unfortunate results of the un- ‘wise course pursued some years ago, and with the difficulties that Gen. ‘Wood had to overcome upon his as- sumption of the post at Manila. Yet his appointment has already evoked expressions of approval from leaders of the Filipinos who desire a larger degree of autonomy, and there is rea- son to believe that they will co-operate ‘with him sincerely. In accepting this appointment Col. Stimson has made a sacrifice which calls for acknowledgment and ap- preciation. He has always responded to a summons to public service when the occasion arose. Recently he has accomplished a task of exceptional dif- ficulty in Nicaragua, where he went at the request of the President to investi- gate the conditions growing out of an insurrection in that republic. Upon his return to this country he was pub- licly praised by the Chief Executive, who expressed himself as gratified at the results of his delicate mission. For the aspirations of the Filipinos for a greater share in their own ad- ministration there is a general sym- pathy in this country. But it is real- ized that there must be a period of preparation, and that period is not yet ended. The inhabitants of the archi- pelago are not homogeneous. There are marked differences in race and in religion and in degrees of social de- velopment. The guardianship of the United States must continue to be ex- ercised, perhaps for a long time, re- gardless of its own interests. In pur- suance of this policy Col. Stimson will be of great service to the Filipinos and to the American Government. —ae—————— Tax reduction is always a subject of interest. Yet the man who writes an income tax check now must breathe a sigh of relief as he com- pares it with the check of several years ago. —————————— There is no way of persuading an aviator to forsake the thrill of the air and risk dying of infligestion as he haunts the banquet halls. —_—————————— High Cost of Cities. The Census Bureau furnishes an in- teresting echo to the hue and cry al- ways heard this time of year over re- ducing the expenditures of the Fed- eral Government and bringing about, at the same time, a reduction in Fed- eral taxes. The Government is looked upon as the greatest spender, and it js. But the entire expenditures of the Federal Government during the fiscal year 1926, according to the Census Bu- reau, exceeded by only ten per cent the’ expenditures of 250 cities of the ! United States having more than 30,000 population. And during this period these cities spent eighty-nine per cent more than the governments of’ the forty-eight States. Maintaining an American city is becoming more ex- pensive every year. The per capita cost for operation and maintenance has increased from $19.07 in 1917 to| $39.18 per capita in 1926, or more than one hundred per cent. What is the reason for it, and where is it going to stop? With the program of Federal tax reduction so widely advertised, and ‘with the Federal economy program so highly praised, it is probable that the average American city is losing sight | of the fact that economy, as well us | charity, should begin at home. Cost | of maintaining the Federal Govern- ment is increasing. But the percentage of increase is small compared to the percentage of increase in the cities. One simple explanation of the in- creasing cost of maintaining an Amer- fcan city is the fact that the cities are , growing, and it costs more to main- tain a large city than it does to run a small one. Increasing revenue ac- companies increasing population, but the larger revenue never seems to make up for the larger demands. The @demands upon the cities have grown, but 50 has the per capita cost of meet- ing them. Another and highly im- portant factor in relation to increas- ing per capita cost is the popularity of the bond issue as a means of getting everything at once. Census figures show that per capita debt in the 250 cities increased about ten per cent in 1926 over the debt in 1925. It has grown from $80.75 in 1917 to $128.13 in 1926, The craze for buying on the installment plan has struck the cities with a bang. A city administration coming into power finds that the easiest way to make a name for itseif in bringing improvements is to ap- prove a bond issue. The citizens look with pride upon their fine new high- ways, their beautiful new schools, and perhaps forget that what they have bought must be paid for by their chil- dren and perhaps their children’s chil- dren. The old practice in New Eng- land in the early davs of paying cash for improvements and raising the money by special assessment is disan- pearing, just as the theory of our grandfathers that one should not have what one cannot pay for is making way for the new belief that what ome cannot pay for now, one can pay for at so much a month for the next year. The benefits or the harm from appl. ing such theories cannot be judged now. Today the cities are building roads and building schools at a great rate. Cities vie with each other in pro. viding the smoothest streets and the most imposing school buildings. 1t is money spent in a good cause. But the economics of the system will have to be judged by a later generation. e — Hooliganism in London. London is reported to be deeply cha- grined over the antics of Cambridge and Oxford students who last night engaged in their customary *rag” fol- lowing the annual foot ball match be- tween the two universities. It has for many years been the custom of the graduates to engage in a demon- stration on this occasion, but never before have they gone to such lengths as those just reported from the British capital. The students and their sup- porters not only marched about the streets singing and cheering, but they invaded the theaters, interrupting the performances, and even going to the extreme of seizing the fire apparatus and spraying streams about, regard- less of results. The gowns of women in the audience were in many cases ruined. Actresses on the stage were pelted with paper balls and other mis- siles’ Two performances were stopped and the audiences were dismissed, with the refund of their money. American cities are not unfamiliar with these demonstrations following big collegiate sporting events, but never have they been the scenes of such rowdyism as that which has just occurred in London. As a rule the antics of the students are viewed with good-humored tolerance and even with sympathy, although on some occasions they have seriously interrupted public entertainments which they have at- tended. It is probable that this demonstra- tion of hooliganism on the part of the Oxford and Cambridge students will cause the adoption of preventive measures, and although the custom of post-game enthusiasm has almost be- come an established institution—and an established institution 'in Great Britain is difficult to change or stop— it may<be that measures will be adopt- ed to put an end altogether to these riotous performances. For it is now evident that the occasion of the an- nual match is being utilized for a dis- play of unlicensed rowdyism that must give serious grief to the sedate sponsors of British education. The fact that American actresses were by chance the chief sufferers from the hooligans in the theaters gives the matter an international aspect that, while perhaps accidental, will not be overlooked by the authorities at West- minster. ——————— - Much European thought has been devoted to efforts to show America how to manage an extraordinary pros- perity. Prosperity is normal and should not be managed. Its methods should be studied and imitated. ————— “Mail early” reminders again bring up the fact that while Santa Claus is a tireless myth, friend letter car- rier is patient and honest flesh and blood. ————————— Soviet policies have at least arrived | at a dignity that permit them to be announced from palaces instead of hall rooms in the Bronx. ——— et Mexico has undeveloped resources which make it difficult for her states- men to keep pace with the expert geologists. Hail, Prince! “The brave and handsome prince calmly seized the ruffian, and with one sweep of his strong arm hurled him into the deepest part of the moat.” This is the kind of thing we used to read in Grimm, Andersen and other delightful writers for the juvenile mind, while our eyes grew wide and our cheeks pink and our breathing more rapid. Oh, to be a prince, and not only a prince, but a fairy tale prince, able, and ready at the drop of a hat to master either enemy or contumacious subject. Such a prince as so many, alas, are not, but such a prince as Nicholas of Rumania, for example, seems to be. Well, it appears that Prinee Nicholas was in his princely car ‘hurrying through Bucharest to keep a dinner date with his mother, the beauteous and regal Marfe. And a taxicab got in the way of the palace vehicle and blocked it, and would not move, and, probably, the taxi driver. shifting his cigarette butt, gave some ill-advised back talk either to the prince or to the prince’s chauffeur. He did not care what sort of a car he blocked, a Lizzie or a Mercedes-Mercedes— perhaps preferred to snarl up the | 1atter. the temerarious taxi driver was yanked from his seat quicker than scat. He was plunked into the princs 1y auto, whirled to the police station, slung into the waiting arms of the desk sergeant, and then the delayed vehicle whirled on to the Queen’s palace and the waiting dinner. To be a prince is something, as every one who ever read a falry tale will | But the princely arm shot out, and THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1927. testify. To be a young prince is something more, ‘and to be a good- looking prince still better. But to be a prince young and handsome and also able and quick to do what prob- ably every one of us would like to do at least once every week of our lives, namely. to give an impudent and inconsiderate taxi driver exactly what was coming to him—Oh, Boy! e —a—— A Commendable Police Promotion. The District Commissioners have made an excellent selection in filling the vacant post of assistant superin- tendent of police by the appointment of Inspector Willlam 8. Shelby by pro- motion. Inspector Shelby has been a member of the police force for.a quar- ter of a century, having been appoint- ed as a private in 1902, He has ca- pably filled several special important assignments, and his advancement in rank has heen steady in accordance with his abilities, having reached the grade of inspector two years ago. In taking the placs of the late Inspector Evans, Inspector Shelby will have charge of the personnel work, which is already under Iis supervision and for which he is exceptionally qualified by his thorough familiarity with the force. The policy of promotion in the police administration sound one and should be pursued whenever possible There is excellent material in the or- ganization for following the practice of advancement by degrees, and it is gratifying now te find it working out to the end of placing so well qualified an officer in a position of higher re- sponsibility eater usefulness. A One-Man Attack. George Dancey of the fast-freight service of the Reading Railroad fs un- doubtedly in line for a promotion Through his bravery he has saved the company many thousands of dollars, At Langhorne, Pa., a few days ago, Dancey was much surprised at the sudden stopping of the fast freight of which he was in charge. Peering ahead, he saw several trucks lined up beside the tracks and fifteen or more men swarming over a freight car con- taining one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of silks. Dancey did not hesi- tate a moment, but clambered up on top of the car next to the one that was being looted and, lying flat on his stomach, began pumping bullets into the ranks of the thieves. This un- expected one-man attack disconcerted the criminals to such an extent that after letting fly a volley in his direc- tion they abandoned their attempt and drove off. Dancey, with several bullets through his hat, escaped unscathed from the unequal combat. By all means George Dancey deserves pro- motion. T The lady who kills her husband be- comes an immediate mark for the camera. There is no satisfactory re- sponse to the photographer’s custom- ary request, “Look pleasant.” Under the circumstances, it is too much to ask. —_— r———— Congress will have a muiltitude of bills to consider. Unfinished business increases” from session to session. This makes no difference to the en- thusiastic constituent who thinks he Las a new idea. et A war in the air would be so devas- tating that It would seem a colossal blunder on the part of modern states- manship to allow, any such thing to THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. All those who come from country or small town will welcome “Folks Is Folks,” written by John H. Bartlett, First Assistant Postmaster General, and just published by the M. A. Don- ahue Co. “0Odd expressions, strange customs, queer habits and eccentric charas ters—" Gov. Bart- lett portrays in his successor to “Spice for Speeches,” which he put out last year. Government circles are getting to expect an annual Christmas volume trom the former president of the Civil Service Commission, and no one will be disappointed with the present one, although the reader will find in it none of the prominent public charac- ters of the former book. The “folks” of the present offerinz are the sort every one knows about who ever lived in country the farm, the unusual ‘“c that seem to grow only in such pl One might perhaps better say “seem to have grown,” for perhaps even the country and small towns are sophis- ticated today. ‘ Standardization is ironing us out. Such men and women as the former vernor of New Hampshire picture in olks Is Folks” are becoming in- creasingly hard to find in the United States. It may be said, therefore, that Gov. Bartiett has done a serv as well as provided entertainment, in collect- ing the treasures of his memory in such handy form. Although the avowed purpose of the book is to cause smiles, many a reader will find his eyes moist over “Folks Is Folks.” * kX % Here we have Uncle Healey, the religious character, who wanted to meet his Maker with a clean shirt on; Bial Lightbody, the man who laughed with his feet; Hepsibah Ware, postmistress, who never knew when she had the office locked; Lon Mos the pig sticker; Tmpetuous Jumy the changeable girl; Old Nite, the night perambulator; Mire Morey, the | snufftaker, and Dim Dow, the stam- merer, Uncle Healey was turkey,” a man who was “all reli- gion,” Gen. Bartlett tells us. “He had religion for breakfast, dinner and supper. He talked of nothing els He cared for nothing else. He w ‘poor in spirit,’ believing the promise. The Book of Job was Uncle Healey’s especial topic. He could talk about it all day long, and often did, as he went about his work of tinsmith. The peo- | ple thereabouts said he “knew more'n Job did about Job.” “Unlike Calvin Coolidge.” Gov. Bartlett says, “Uncle Healey ‘chose to run’ all the time,” he being always in a hurry. “Perhaps the best and strangest thing that Uncle Healey did was to make it a business for many years | of praying with each and every family in the entire township once a year, traveling many miles on foot to do so. “He would rush into a house rather noisily, kneel down hard and pray long, and then rush out again with- out and hellos or good-bys. He just prayed, that's all. Everybody became used to him, took it as a matter of course from him, and, on the whole, treated it reverently.” One night fire broke out in the vil- lage in a larger shop next to Uncle Healey’s, and when the community got there they found Healey's tinshop doomed, with the old man trapped in “poorer'n Fob's Bartlett tells the story: “As the ‘nozzle holder’ of.the hand-tub squad laddered his roof in a desperate at- tempt to stay the conflagration, he was amazed to behold the old gentle- man inside calmly and deliberately hanging his shirt. “When rescued from a horrible death, this willing sacrifice explained that he belleved he was about to die. and desired to meet his Maker in clean clothing since ‘cleanliness is next to godliness * kK K Hepsibah Ware, village postmistress, who worked herself into a frenzy every night over whether she had the post- office door locked, has her counterpart , wonders ‘“‘whether he locked the door or not.” The village boys, our nuthor tells us, would hide under the porch to watch her antics as she locked and relocked the door, and rattled the doorknob, and said aloud to herself, “It’s locked, it's locked, I'll look in again, I'll look in again. Ng I won't, it's locked. Yes, I will. Bad night for fire, bad night for fire. Now there, mercy, guess it's all right. Oh, dear, Oh, dear.” Impetuous Jumpsie, the change- able lassfe, finally got married, and her mind jumped as easily as ever, as witness Gov. Bartlett's delineation of | how she helped her husband with ad- “I have a law case at last where a man injured his foot in an auto col- lision. I get half after all expenses are paid, but I get nothing it I lose the case, and besides am out the expense money.” “Then said she. Husband—But if T don't take it 1 won't have any business at all. Jumpsie—Then I'd take it. Husband—But my trouble is this, dearie, if T employ a physician to testi- fy that the injury may be permanent I might get a verdict twice as big. Jumpsie—Then, 1'd do it. Husband—RBnt if I lose the case T'll los2 the $100 1'd pay the doctor. Jumpsie—Mercy, then 1 wouldn't do it | * o ox % Tha writer tr of country ther- | mometers and liars, fights and other by-products of the early town meet- the barbarous use of the ferrule rrecting scholars, the husking >, “red ears” and kissing, “kissing games” of various sorts. He tells of old-time country remedies and their uses, of “sugaring-off” par- ties in New England (the source of all these reminiscences), of “popping the question” and country courtship in general, of a hundred and one customs now going out of style, it not already gone. These reminiscences are told in a homely country way, with a large use of words, phrases and maxims. many of which have a familiar ring to us who came from the Middle West. Gov. Bartlett ends each of his chap- ters with a “moral,” in the manner of Aesop and George Ade, and we lump some of them here: “Avoid exaggerations. Don’t think yeu know it all when you've read only an official report. Overcaution is waste. There's no better rule than the Golden Rule. Farmers should co-oper- ate, working or playing. If you are sick, send for the doctor. Be merry while you may, sugaring time is short. “There's no use getting mad at a child. Don’t be too ‘fraid of your neighbors’ tongues. Earnestness al- ways make an impression. Be your- self. It pays to specialize. Some one 1 wouldn't take the case,” the attic. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Henry L. Stimson, who is to suc- ceed Gen. Wood as governor general of the Philippines, was marked for higher honors from the moment he made peace in Nicaragua last Spring. For a while he was under consideration for the ambassador- happen. ——————— Having experimented with editorial experts, Henry Ford has evidently de- termined to turn himself over unre- servedly to the ad writers. v we. It has been the fortune of George Bernard Shaw to use the American newspapers gratis instead of paying for the services of billposters. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDLR JOENSON. Historical Hysteria. , The speeches of yore Are sounding no more, As school books adopt a “tra-la!" Which does not admit The old boys are & hit, And hints that their words are but “Blah!” Those far distant times We have put into rhymes, Which end with a hearty “ha-ha!" We turn to a joss, Who is now the big boss— The great and fneffable “Blah.” The serious thought Must be patiently taught. The child sweetly murmurs “Mamma!” When I, at your knee, Seek to learn histor-ee, Why does it so much sound “Blah?" like Critical Information. “I have read all your speeches,” re- marked the admiring constituent. “I have been thinking about chang- ing my secretary,” answered Senator Sorghum. “I wish you would tell me if you think the speeches you read are any good." Christmas Tree. The sturdy Christmas tree— Let's bid it live, A creature brave and free, To thrive and give. ot a reminder, sad, Of withering. But a friend, true and glad, New joys to bring. Jud Tunkins says it's foolish not to be a “good loser.” The loser has few friends at best, and it's a mistake to get peeved and turn those few into enemies. “We forget friends and remember enemies,” sald Hi Ho. the sage of | Chinatown. “which is like squandering | good money and hoarding bad coins.” | Pertinent Question. ou can drive this car sixty miles an hour,” said the salesman, proudly. “Who are you?" inquired Mr. Chug- gins. “The traffic cop?” The Big Gift. Old Santa Claus is on his way To gladden all creation; And yet he's not prepared to say Who'll get the nomination. ““What strikes me as a kind of hypoc- | not long ago of a tragi-comedy which | | taining matches made in the United ship to Mexico. There was a sugges- tion, too, that he might be sent to Cuba. Stimson is a Dwight Morrow type of man, for whom President Coolidge has come to have a pref- erence in connection with posts of responsibility abroad. Not long after the completion of the Carmi Thompson mission to the Philippines a year ago, Mr. Stimson went to Manila, ostensibly on a private visit to Gen. Wood. The understanding in Washington always was that the real purpose of Stimson’s journey was to “check up” on the Thompson recommendations for the White House's benefit. Evidently the President was impressed with Col. Stimson’s news and views. * ok ok X The new American viceroy at Manila personifies & happy combina- tion of the civilian and the military man. A lawyer by profession, with the distinction of having been edu- cated both at Yale and Harvard, Stimson has seen a lot of practical soldiering in his day. Besides, he was_Secretary of War for two years in the Taft administration. Wood's successor, because of his civilian status, will conciliate those elements both in the United States and in the Philippines ~ which have opposed professional military administration at Manila. But Stimson’realizes the importance of the Army in the gov- ernance of the islands and may be depended upon to make no unwise concessions to the “politicos” who clamor for relaxation of the iron hand. In 1916 Mr. Stimson was one of the first “Plattsburgers” at the country's initial C. M. T. camp. A year later, after we'd entered the war, Stimson, although a man of 50, went to France with a field artillery regiment, had many months of active fighting service, and emerged from | the campaign a lieutenant colonel. He now has the rank of a brigadier general in the Reserve Corps. * 2K Secretary Mellon long ago conquered a native shyness in dealing with rews- paper men and can now fence with the reporters, who confer with him twice a week, as deftly as anybody in Washington. At one of his recent meetings with the inquisitive frater- nity, Mr. Mellon was asked whom he favors for President, with Hughes out of the race. “Some good Republican,” the Secretary replied. *“Where should he come from?” was the next query leveled at him. “The State in which he lives,” Mellon rejoined, with a twinkle in his soft blue eyes. * oK K K One of our envoys stationed in a South American capital was the hero cost him part of a day in jail. He is accredited to a country adjacent to one in which there is a government match monopoly. The Minister had gone to the neighboring land on al visit of recuperation at the seashore. While out for an airing, he was ap: prpached by a native who noncha- lantly asked for a match. The. Yan- kee diplomat obligingly produced a box from his waistcoat pocket, con- States. Thereupon the native sum-| moned a policeman, who proceeded to arrest the Minister for possessing and using unauthorized “fire.” The dip- lomat was escorted to jail and asked to pay a fine of 10 pesos. He de- murred, and was told he was under arrest. He did not improve his case by identifying himself as the United States Minister to —— which asser- tion, on the contrary, convinced the must see the old folks through.” , because informers receive halt the fine imposed. You can carry a patent lighter by taking out a Hcense at 10 pesos a year. * ¥ % ¥ There's a Washington social organ- tzation which enjoys the unique dis- tinction of being listed in the Con- gressional Directory, along with a host of semli-official agencies, boards, commissions, bureaus and other in- stitutions. It's the Congressional Club, whose membership is composed exclusively of women in official life, mostly wives or daughters of Sena- tors and Representatives. The. club is in a class by itself by reason of the fact that it will in 1928 celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its in- corporation by act of Congress. The present president is Mrs. Peter G. Gerry, wife of the senior Senator from Rhode Island. The organization owns a fine clubhouse at the juncture of New Hampshire avenue and Six- teenth street. It's not quite as ex- clusive as the “Senate Ladies’ Lunch- eon Club,” but the scope of its activi- ties is considerably wider. * R ok A Almost everybody knows that As- sociate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes | of the United States Supreme Court was shot through the breast, through the neck and in the heel, respectively, at Balls Bluff, Antietam and Fred- ericksburg while serving with the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infan- try in the Civil War. Lewis L. Strauss, Herbert Hoover's war-time secretary, recently acquired a first edition of the “Autocrat of the Break- fast Table,” in which is pasted a pres- entation letter from the author—the father of Justice Holmes. The letter is addressed to a Dr. Hunt in Phila- delphia, who, it appears, ministered to the needs of Lieut. Holmes, as he lay wounded on the field of Balls Bluff. It say: My son, who with myself will always recall your kind attentions with gratitude, is now married and a lawyer no doubt known to many of the profession in Phila- delphia by his edition of Kent's Commentaries. 1 think they will tell you that he has proved him- self worth the trouble you took to save him. The five bullet marks, left by the balls, remain as honorable trophies. but give no other token of themselves in the way of pain or inconvenience ' * ok k% Senor Honorio Pueyrredon; the Argentinian Ambassador to the United States, serves nothing but meat from his own country at his hospitable table in Washington. He's himself one of the Argentine's great ranch- owners and cattle-raisers, and has a corresponding partiality for beef and mutton grown on the hoofs which roam the land of the Tango. The Ambassador's meat supplies are reg- ularly = replenished by refrigerated shipments’ from Buenos Aires. (Copvright, 1927.) ————t —— Presses Too Busy fbr Pub. Cit. From the New York Sun. Senator Jim Reed says “the citizen rowded further and further from diréet participation in and knowledge of Government affair Yet this is a period of unprecedented surveys, inquiries and consequent expositions of Government activities. Perhaps the very multiplicity of agencies for the exposure of State processes and practices defeats its own purposes. The citizen has not the time to read the mass of literature that flows from the presses. et Short Skirts and Long Life. is police authorities that their prisoner was not only a match bootlegger, but a swindler besides. Later in the day risy,” said Uncle Bben, “is a man sittin’ behind four aces and sayin’ ‘Happy New Year!'™ the facts came cut, and so did the envoy. Squealing on violators of the anatch law is & lucrative occupation in From the New York Sun. Women who wear short skirts live longer, Paris statistics show. You only have to look around to come to Politics at Lafge By G. Gould Lincoln. 4 The Senate, nothwithstanding the fact that it is divided evenly along) political lines, is manifesting a de- lermiml'\on to get things done. Since it met a week ago it has practically disposed of the cases of Senators- elect Smith of Illinois and Vare of Pennsylvania. The Republican insur- gents, who have threatened to pre- vent the organization of the Senate by the Republicans, have been paci- fied for the time being at least. In- deed, the upper house is probably as far along in its program at the present session as it has been in past Congresses, at this time of December. How long the apparent era of good will is to linger no one knows, It is expected that when some of the legis- lative questions arise there will be a different story—particularly in re- gard to farm relief and taxation. But no one really knows vet what is to happen in regard to these important measures. The Republican insurgents are llkely to stand with the admin- istration for a less cut in taxes, for they believe that wealth should be taxed to pay off the war debt as rapidly as possible. The farm legis- lation is still up in the air. Politics may rule the day in its consideration. * K K * The Senate has breathed new life into the Reed slush fund committee. This was expected. While the com mittee, headed by Semator “Jim” Reed of Missouri, is so far authorized only to inquire into senatofial elec- tions in 1926, there are those who be- lieve it will he given power later to inquire into elections in 1928, which will be a different story. The appearance of Senate investi- gating committees in national cam- paigns has become a tradition in recent years. If the Reed committee is not continued for that purpose, then another committee may be selected. Senator Reed of Missouri, who is him- self a potential candidate for Democratic nomination for Preisdent. or for the Senate to succeed himself, may prefer mot to serve on such a committee. 1t so, other Senators will have the job of Kkeeping a watch- ful eye on campaign expenditures. P Tha Democrats in 1924 underiook a series of investigations through con- gressional committees, including the Teapot Dome investigation and the investigation of the conduct of the Department of Justice under former Attorney General Harry Daugherty. They unearthed enough scandals to warrant them in believing they had the Republicans on the hip. Democratic _victories did not ma- terialize. 1t looks now as though thex would seek again to make political capital through congressional investi- gations. A number are on the cards, besides a continuance of the inguiries into the Pennsylvania and Illinois senatorial primaries of 1926. The minority in the Senate had hoped for a real division between the insurgent Republicans and the reg- ular wing of the party when the ses- sion opened, and its failure to ma- terialize caused Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi to rise in his place and twit the insurgents on their willing- ness to agree with the regulars in matters of patronage and committee assignments. The Democrats are hoping for a political division in the Republican ranks, with the West aligned against the East and the North, in the coming campaign. Any- thing that savors of unity, therefore, is not to their taste. * % kX The strength of Secretary Hoover of the Department of Commerce in the race for the Republican presiden- tial nomination is emphasized by Patrick Sullivan, Republican national committeeman from Wyoming, who has recently been in Washington for the meeting of the national com- mittee. In the opinion of Mr. Sulli- van, the Republicans of the West are for Mr. Hoover for President, with President Coolidge out-of the running. Mr. Hoover, Mr. Sullivan holds, repre- sents the Coolidge policies toward business. “If we stop to analyze American politics since Cleveland’s day,” said Mr. Sullivan, “we will find that al- most without exception the candidate proving most attractive to business has won.” Mr. Sullivan, while admitting that tormer Gov. Frank O. Lowden of Tlli- nois is an able man, insisted that he had weakened himself with the voters by opposing Coolidge policies. * Repeated efforts have been made to show that the “banking interests of the country are opposed to the nom- ination of Secretary Hoover, par- ticularly some of the big interests in New York. But while there may bt a group of bankers who do not care for Mr. Hoover, there are very many bankers who do like him and will] support him. | * * ok % The prominence which has been given the Hoover candidacy since the recent statements of President Cool- jdge and Charles Evans Hughes of New York taking themselyes out of ! the race has caused further specula- tion as to the probable nominee of the Republican party for Vice President if Mr. Hoover is to head its ticket. Rep- resentative Tilson of Connecticut, floor leader of the House, might well be placed on the ticket to represent the East and New England if the nomi-! nation goes to the Far West, it is said. On the other hand, there are those who put forward both Senator Curtis of Kansas, Republican leader of the Senate, and his colleague, Sen- ator Arthur Capper, head of the farm bloc, on the theory that the agricul- tural Middle West should be repre- sented on the ticket and that a sup- porter of farm legislation demanded by many of the farmers in that sec- tion would strengthen the Republican ticket. * K k¥ Supporters of Senator Curtis are taking his candidacy for the presi- dential nomination more and more se- riously, however, as the fleld of “‘pos- sibilities” has narrowed. There is not the slightest doubt that with the Pres- ident and Mr. Hughes definitely out of the race, as their friends now believe, Senator Curtis is going to make a real effort for the nomination. He is very popular with the regular or conserva- tive wing of the party and would be much more acceptable to many of the Progressive Republicans of the Middle West than any of the other candidates mentioned. * ok ok ¥ The determination of Chairman William M Butler of the Republican national committee not to run for the Senate against Senator David L Walsh, Democrat, of Massachusetts, has set in motion a regular hive of senatorfal “bees,” buzzing about the heads of Bay State Republicans of prominence. ~ Any one of several members of the House would be glad to make the race for the Senate, pro- vided he could be sure of the support of the administration. Some of them remember what happened in 1924, when Representative Dallinger en- tered the lists, only to find, in the end, | that the support of Mr. Butler, and apparently the administration had been thrown to Senator Gillett. There. has been no indication so far that the administration will get behind any one to make the senatorfal race in Massachusetts. * ok ok K It is recalled here that after John Quincy Adams, the last Massachusetts man to be elected President until President Coolidge was chosen by the people to that office, had left the White House he was elected to the House of Representatives. What, it is said, it President Coolidge should like to sit in the Senate after he, too, the conclusion most women are aim-! ing to live to b.rt least 2,000, has left the White House? There would be nothing to prevent the nom- But | Q. What was done with the pipe organ that was exhibited at the Phil- adelphia_Exposition last year?—N. W. A. This $150,000 organ was pur- chased by Cyrus H. K. Curtis and pre- sented to the University of Pennsyl- vania. The organ is said to be one of the largest in the world. The re- ported purchase price was $20,000. Q. When was the song “Auld Lang Syne,” written?—B. B. A. This song, by Burns, was written about 1789. Q. Was barley used times?—C. N. N. A. 1t is said that barley is the old- est food of man. Several varieties, one the sacred barley of the ancients, were known to the lake dwellers of Switzerland. It was cultivated in an- cient Egypt and was also the chief breadstuff of the Hebrews, Greeks and Romans. Q. N. R. A. Tt is at the junction of the Re- publican and Kansas Rivers in Kan- sas. Q What was the “Black Act?’— W. E. 8. A. This refers to an English stat- ute of 1 so-called because designed originally to suppress associations of awless persons who called themselves blacks.” It made felonies certain crimes against game laws, the send. ing of anonymous letters demanding money, etc. Q. Did the Federal government re- deem all the currency issued by the Continental Congress’—E. A. C. The various issues of Conti- nental currency were never redeem- able by the United States as reorgan- ized under the Constitution. By the act of August 4, 1790 (1 Stat., 140), it was receivable at the Treasury in sub- cription to a loan at the rate of one hundred dollars in Continental money tor one dollar in specie. By the act of March 3, (1 Stat., 516), it was | declared that said menev should be receivable as above until December 31, 1797, and no longer. in ancient Where is Fort Riley located?— Q. Please giv some information about San Francisco.—IL. C. | “rancisco, Calif., was first , when two Franciscan monks, Palou and Cambon, established Praise is general for the frankness of Gov. Al Smith in telling the League of Women Voters in New York that while he stands for en- forcement of law, he also recognizes the right of citizens to seek repeal of any existing law. But some of those who admire the governor’s courage most are doubtful about the political effect, and others construe the speech as definitely alienating dry support for the Democratic presidential nomi- nation. “His speech will make it more dif- ficult than ever,” says the Baltimore Evening Sun (independent Democratic), ‘for the Southern politicians to answer a certain question, to wit: ‘How can a vote for Al Smith be made to seem like a vote for the Anti-Saloon League? And, no matter what the gentleman says about Volsteadism, he is certain to increase the embarrass- ment of the South.” Mr. Smith's stand is accepted by the Hartford Times (independent Democratic) with the thought that it is “now confirmed positively that if the governor becomes a candidate for President it will be as an unequivocal wet, pledged to support the Constitu- tion and the laws as it stands, but in full sympathy with those who wish the first deleted of its sumptuary article and the second changed to ac- commodate the desire of wet States for a statute less strict and afford- ing greater opportunity for legitimate drinking.” The Lincoln State Jour- nal (independent Republican) places him definitely as “the logical candi- date of the wet element in the Demo- cratic party.” The Manchester Union (independent Republican) sees evi- dence that ‘“he is readv to see his party pledged to an anti-prohibition drive.” Support for the governor’s stand in favor of the right to organize in a fight against prohibition is given by the Duluth Herald (independent Re- publican), Crattancoga Times (inde- pendent Democratic), Trenton Evening Times (independent) and St. Paul Ploneer Press (independent). The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (independent Republican) affirms that “they would be nullificationists who would deny the right to make constitutional changes,” and the Milwaukee Journal (independent) sees as fundamental the doctrine that “if there Is now no right to preach amendment of the Constitu- tion to take out prohibition, there must never have been a right to preach amendment to put- prohibi- tion in.” Quoting the governor’s statement as to the right of the people, the Louis- ville Times (independent) asserts: “Abraham Lincoln would have said the same thing in the same situation. The individual, the organization, the newspaper which advocates repeal of the Volstead act, and the dry amend- ment, is well within the right of free citizenship.” * X x In summarizing its view of the sit- uation, the New York Times (inde- pendent) states: “Two chief obstacles, and only two, have stood in the way of Gov. Smith's nomination for the pres- idency. One is that he is a Catholic. The other is that he is against pro- hibition. With both of them he has now dealt in a way to command ad- miration for being both frank and sin- cere. Politically, this may hurt him. Morally, it heightens his stature in the eyes of the whole country.” “He does not favor nullification of any law,"” observes the Chicago Daily News (independent), which agrees that “it is the right of the free citizen to advocate the enactment of any law based on elementary morality or the repeal or modification of any existing law, and to associate himself with others in that effort.” The Columbia Record (Demoeratic) holds that *“his prompt stepping down trom the fence will unquestionably clear the political atmosphere sur- rounding at least one outstanding presidenital possibility.” The Newark Evening News (independent) proclaims that “if a law, simply because it is a law, cannot be adversely criticized, there is not much demccracy left.” “The governor is honest in his state- ment and open in his opinions,” says the Albany Evening News (independ- ent Republican), which adds: “The governor’s expression regarding the right to organize may have political sigpificance in the South, and may make him stronger there, since it en courages a movement against the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. Whether cr not he had any political purpose therein, the statement, never- = inatiorr next September of President Coolidge for the Senate if the Repub- licans of Massachusetts were desirous of nominating him, and if the Presi- dent would agree to make the race. If the President were a candidate for the Senate, the senatorial election in | Massachusetts would be followed with almost as keen interest as the contest for the presidency. Perhaps. it was 3aid here, the President would prefer to wait until 1932 before he enters the political arena again. At that time he might be available either for the presi- dential nomination or the senatorial. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. an Indian mission which they called San Francisco de Asjsi, the name San Francisco having been previously given to the bay. In 1846 the United States took possession. In 1848 gold was discovered in California, and peo- ple flocked to San Francisco. 1In March, 1848, the population was 00; in September, 1849, it was at least 10,000, San Francisco was incorpe rated in 1850, and in 1856 the city and the county were consolidated. Q. What is meant by a compose dress?—M. K. . A. A compose dress generally means a sleeveless dress to be worn durinz the afternoon or evening which also has 5 separate jacket. The dress when worn with a jacket is appropriate for afternoon street wear. Are warships other than Brit. ish allowed to ‘use the Suez Canal’— . X By convention of Oectober 29, 1888, “the vessels of all nation whether armed or not, are to be allow. ed to pass through the Suez Canal in peace or war.” ; 3 Q. Is Cullen Landis married?—A, . D. ‘A. This movie actor is married to Loca Hearne. Q. How far does a vhral mail car. rier travel on his roufe? What sal. ary does he get?—M. H. 1. “The standard rural mail delivery service route is 24 miles. For this route the salary is $1,800 a year. An additjonal $30. a month is added for every mile over the 24.. An equipment allawance of 4 cents & mile is also given. Routes under the sfandard number of miles are graded accord- ingly. Find out whatever you iwant fo know. There is no room: for ignorance in this busy world. The person who loses out is the one who guesscs. The person who gets on iz altays the one who acts upon reliable information. This paper employs Prederic J. Has- to conduct an Information Burean in Washington for the free use of the public. There is no charge exccpt 2 cents in stamps for return posiage Write to him today for any facts you desire. Address The Evening Star In- formation Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C. 'Al Smith’s Frankness Praised But Views Differ on Effect theless, will add somewhat to his strength there. But how will it react in the minds of the Southern dry “Thers can be no question,” accord- ing to the Cleveland News (independ- ent Republican), “that Gov. Smith showed candor, truth, courage and other worthy qualities when he went out of his way to affirm his reputed opposition to prohibition.” The Seran- ton Times (Democratic) avers that “there will be no hair-splitting of is- sues by him,” and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle (independent) suggests that “he’ spoke frankly because the oc- casion required frankness, and those within his own party who may regret the freedom of his speech will have to make the best of it.” The New York Evening Post (independent) remarks that “it is a grim comment upon the hypocrisy of the present prohibition situation that the whole country stands almost in awe because a léad- ing political figure dares to make such obvious and incontrovertible declara- tions.” . * kK % ““The only thing in the least sensa- tional about the address,” in the juds- ment of the New York Evening World (independent), “is that it reveals that rarest of all things—an honest political leader.” The Youngstown Vindicator (Democratic) believes that the state- ment “will be closely scanned a= his first announcement on . prohibition since he became the most-talked-of candidate for the presidency, but no one can doubt that it is sound or that ’ he means exactly what he says.” On the other hand, the reaction of many advocates of the present pro- hibition law is thus expressed by the Richmond News-Leader (independent Democratic): “No party can live a lie, and no man should try. But if Smith does not get a larger view of the coun- try’s wishes and of the party’s needs; it he holds strictly to the New York view of prohibition; if he is willing to concede nothing to dominant opinion in the only part of the country that is certainly Democratic—he is increasing the likelihood both of a personal de- feat and of a party catastrophe.” The Raleigh News and Observer (Demo- cratic) says the statement “had little or no effect upon the body to which it was addressed,” and that “‘some papers accept it as a declaration that Gov. Smith would enforce the law, others that it will give comfort to those who are fighting prohibition, and others that it really gives no clear indication of Gov. Smith’s attitude, if he should be elected.” The Roanoke Times (independent Democratic) observes: “If Al Smith were fighting fer the nomination half as hard as a lot of folks are fighting to keep it away from him, the Demo- cratic contest would be hot and heavy. But he seems perfectly content to re- main on the job at Albany and let the rocks as well as the chips fall where they may.” The Kansas City Journal (Republi can) believes that “he knows that enough States oppose any action look ing to nullification or repealing the eighteenth amendment to prevent his nomination, under the two-thirds ruley in Democratic national conventions.” “Can it be possible,* asks the Abi- lene Reporter (independent Demo- cratic), “the governor has come to a sense of the hopelessness of his presi- dential aspirations? Has he thrown that hope overboard. and is ready now to be identified - with the wettest ele- ments of his party? That is one inter- pretation of his statement and it 15 a logical one.”” The St. Louis Times (Republican), recalling that “he stands as firmly as a rock for the enforce: ment of all laws, but sees no reason why any group of voters should not oppose the Federal prohibition stal- utes,” makes the comment, “So the good ladies went away with the dual taste in thelr mouths which schocl girls were wont to allude to as ‘prunes and prisms.’ " UNITED STATES IN WORLD WA Ten Years Ago Today Allied Naval Council is formed with France, England, Italy, Japan and the United States co-operating. Council will watch over conduct sea and intensify activities. * President expected to take oveP con- trol of the railroads of the country without asking Congress to enact legislation authorizing him fo do it. Present law gives him the power necessary. * * * Lloyd George ex- horts British tb hold fast and Win with America's aid. [Forecasts big German drive and says Germany Is gambling on failure of United States to get army to the battle front soon enough to be of real help. Victogy hangs on sufficient tonnage. i Germans continue heavy bombard- ment of French and British lines, but make inconsequential gains. “Settle it in the West!” is Germany's ery. dict heavy blow, one that will make mum'u.t * m;de d-l: i':.r vol- untary enlistments for ular Army with a total of 14,39 5 [ Germans taken prisoner Dre- . '