Evening Star Newspaper, October 1, 1928, Page 8

8 s THE EVENING STAR ~— With Sanday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY. ...October 1, 1928 THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor The Evening Star Newsnaper Company Business Office: g0 Office: Tower Buildingz. n Office. 14 Re-ent St., Londen, England. arrier Within t! tar 4 ay Star 60c per month he City. Rate by C 7 5¢ per month s day Star 1 se per ecpy n made at The end of cach manth: ¥ be sent in by mail or telephone Rate by Mail—Pavable in Advance. Maryvland and Virginia. . $10.00: 1 mo.. BS¢ ¢ v on £6.00: 1 mo. 50¢ D Sunday All Other States Daily and Sunday. Daily only Sunday only . §5.00; 1 mo., 50¢ Member of the Associated Press. The Ascociated Press is rxclusively entitled to the use for repuhlicati’n of all 1ews ofs- pairhos credited to ft or not ctherwise cred- ted in this paper and also the .ocal rews piblished herein. All riehts of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. 55 — Pennsylvania Avenue. During the many years of waiting for the Government to take over for its own purposes the area between Pennsylvania avenue and the Mall pri- | wvate building construction on the north side of the city’s chief thoroughfare has with few exceptions remained stag- nant. Along the great stretch between the Capitol and the Treasury there has been but little development for business purposes and in consequence Pennsyl- vania avenue has in a measure deteri- orated in appearance, though losing none of its character as the historic artery of the Capital. Now that the United States has at last started on its program of construction within the triangle, with the positive assurance of early completion and the transforma- . tion of that space into an impressive ! architectural assemblage, consideration | is being given to the future of the north side. To this end the National Capital Park and Planning Commission has undertaken the adoption of a pro- gram of recommendations for archi- 65¢ per month | $4.00; 1 mo., 40c | 1 being will feature the Second Military danger exists every hour. Reckless driv- ing and indifferent railroad administra- tion have combined for many years to pile up an appalling total of casualties at these places—a total comparable to th> losses in war. And still the road- using public, which in these times means the majority of the people, can only be custained by hope that eventually the plain lessons of these tragedies will be learned, both by the drivers and, more particularly, by the public authorities, whose duty it is to compel the adoption of protective measures. It is too much to expect that all grade crossings in the United States will be eliminated by underpass or overhead constructions. To accomplish that would call for an immense sum of money. But assuredly no more traction lines, either steam or electric, should be so construct- ed as to create additional danger points. Meanwhile, the worst of these crossings, those at which there is frequent head- way cf both vehicular and rail traffic, should be cured, and, pending cure, should be protected in, such a manner that only the utterly senseless driver can run into danger. | | | ——————— The Army Relief Exposition. Re-enaction of the gallant fight of the famous ‘Lost Battalion” in the ‘World War, stunt thrillers by the sec- ond bombardment flight of aviators which compiled an enviable record for bravery overseas, and portrayal of the progress of America’s military establish- ment since the Army first came into Exposition, which, under the sponsor- ship of the Army Relief Society, will be staged at the Washington Barracks the last three days of this week. Never will America forget the gallant stand of Col. Whittlesey’s Lost Battalion. Hemmed in on all sides by the Germans it held its advanced position for three days, the last thirty-six hours without food, until rescued by an attack of other American troops. The second bombard- ment group which will perform here shared with other flyers the distinction of writing America’s name boldly in the sky over the battleflelds. Every man in this flight was wounded, killed or captured, with the exception of its commander, but did great damage to «- THE EVENING intelligent operation & “faulty ballot” is practically impossible. With the old “blanket ballot” many mistakes may be made, these mistakes frequently vitiating the ballot, and in the past contests have resulted from the dis- carding of votes which have been im- properly marked by inadvertence or through nervousness on the part of the voter. With a properly functioning machine the voter can be assured that his expression of preference will be fully and correctly recorded, and that no slip of a pencil carrying the line of the cross-mark a minute fraction of an inch beyond the space provided for this sign of intention will cause his ballot to be rejected. A long step has | been taken in the establishment of these machines for honesty in elections as well as expedition in the count. B ) g The World Series. With the American and National League races ended, base ball fans throughout the country are eagerly awaiting the 1928 world series between the New York Yankees and the St. Louis | Cardinals. The same teams met two| years ago, and in a grand game pitched | ¥ that veteran of the diamond, Grover | Cleveiand Alexander, the St. Louis team deservedly won the title of world cham- | pions. Although much dust has been | raised on base ball fields all over the | country by the flying spikes of major league players since that time, the St. Louis team should be the favorite again to triumph over the haughty New York- ers, but base ball fortunes vary, and asg the old adage goes, “You never can | tell.” The Yankees have just emerged win- | ners of the American League race in one | of the hardest fights of their career. Sickness and injury, coupled with bat- ting and flelding slumps, pulled them down from & commanding lead to a position where they had to struggle neck and neck with the Philadelphia Ath- | letics to earn the right to represent their league in the world series com- petition. The Cardinals have not had an easy time of it by any means, and their ef- forts to acquire the National League bunting have been met by the strenuous opposition of the New York Giants. The st. Louis team, however, is intact, and the enemy cause by dropping nearly a tectural designs for future constructions that will harmonize with the Federal building group. The American Insti- tute of Architects is now working on such a scheme for the commission and legislation in aid of the right develop- + ment of Pennsylvania avenue is also under consideration. A bill is now pending in Congress to give the Commission of Fine Arts au- thority to pass upon the exterior de- signs of private buildings to be erected opposite Government structures and half a million pounds of explosives and downing nearly fifty German planes. Inaugurated in 1927 by the organiza- tion which provides emergency relief for the dependents of officers and enlisted men of the Regular Army that have died in the service, the military carnival proved & signal success. This year's exhibition , is expected to draw even greater crowds and every person who witnesses the spectacle of Col. Whittle- sey’s little band of men make American history in fighting its way out from reservations. Some objection has been developed to this measure on the score that it is too inclusive, but in the main it is felt that there should be some degree of supervision or advisory con- trol over private enterprise in such con- , ditions. A special committee of the Park and Planning Commission is to consider this matter with reference to the areas to which this bill should ap- ply. It would be very greatly to the advantage of the Capital if some form of legislation could be worked out that ‘would, without hampering private en- terprise, at least prevent the develop- ment of the lands on the north side of ‘Pennsylvania avenue in a manner in- “consistent and inharmonious with the facade on the southern side. It is to be borne in mind in this con- tection that a plan is now contemplated and will probably be pressed for action at this coming session of Congress for the establishment of a District Munici- . pal center on the north side of Pennsyl- ‘vania avenue between Third and Seventh streets. This project, when approved, will leave for private use and develop- ment only the stretch from Seventh street to Fifteenth, inasmuch as the space from the Capitol park to Third street will be included in the proposed boulevard, linking the Union Station Plaza with the Mall. It is to be expected that with the Government building program advanc- ing on the south side there will be a disposition on the part of the owners of private property on the north side to improve their areas. They, however, should not be compelled to wait in- definitely for the enactment of legisla- tion which may place them under some measure of restriction or guidance. It is due to them that they be given the earliest possible assurance on the score of their use of these lands. They should be encouraged to proceed with such improvements as may be in con- templation, and to this end it is to be hoped that agreement will be reached upon such measure of control or guid- ance as is finally deemed desirable and equitable in the premises. ———— By a fortunate arrangement under the American political system, a hard- working presidential candidate is guar- enteed a reasonably long vacation, whichever way the election goes. ——r——————— Sixteen Grade Crossing Victims, Sixteen persons lost their lives yes- terday in four grade-crossing accidents In this country—six at Bristol, Pa.; five near Massapequa, N. Y.; three at Erle, Pa, and two at Norwalk, Conn. This is an unusually Jarge toll of grade-crossing deaths for one day. It is a shocking re- minder that despite some advances in the correction of these death traps much remains to be done to make the roads safe. All four of these accidents oc- curred at unprotected crossings, places where highways and railways intersect ‘without barriers or guards. All of them were on frequented routes, not byways of light travel, but heavily used lines of transportation. The marvel is that more are not killed daily at these and other points. It is probable that at each of the four places where trains crashed into motor cars yesterday some measures will here- after be adopted to lessen the danger, some form of peremptory warning sig- nal, perhaps some style of barrier, pos- sibly the stationing of watchmen to give notice to road users of the approach of trains. This is the usual course of *locking the stable door after the horse s stolen.” It avails but little to point out the criminal folly of the motorists who try to rush over crossings when they know that trains are approaching, or to stress the negligence of railway companies in failing to erect barriers and establish the trap which ensnared it, and who observes with bated breath the daring maneuvers of America's service air- men, will have the satisfaction of know- ing that he is doing his bit to provide sustenance for the dependents of gal- lant soldiers who died for their country. Last year the Army Relief Society disbursed more than eighty-two thou- sand dollars. With the exception of that taken in at the carnival, this money came in the form of contributions by members of the military service. Army pay is not sufficlent to permit an offi- cer, much less an enlisted man, to build up a capital. With the work of the society going forward largely by aid of officers and men who can give but little out of their slender means, the time has assuredly arrived when the public, privileged to witness such exhibitions as will be shown on next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, should attend in large numbers and remove some of the burden from those who can 1l afford to bear the strain alone. ——————————— Insinuation that bootleggers are put- ting up money for election purposes seems far-fetched unless it can be shown that an enthusiastic racketeer has de- cided to proceed on his own account to the collection of funds. o New York’s Voting Machines. However it may affect the general result in the Nation, the presidential vote of New York City will at least be one of the first to be recorded and an- nounced on the night of November 6. For that vote will be registered by ma- chinery, for the first time. Voting ma- chines will be installed in every one of the 2,845 election districts. These ma- chines are now ready for installation, and 12,000 election inspectors are at present under instruction in their opera- tion. The procedure of machine in- stallation is provided by law with every coneelvable safeguard against tamper- ing with the mechanism. Four inspec- tors, two from each party, will be in charge at each polling place, and on election morning they will be provided with keys with which the machines will be opened and made ready for opera- tion. Reserve machines will be held ready for substitution in case any part of this mechanism fails. ‘With the voting machine thus in- stalled throughout Greater New York for the first time, it should be possible to know the result in that city within two hours after the closing of the polls. The machines are self-tabulating, and in each of the 2,845 districts the total of votes cast for the different candi- cates for office can be determined with- in a short time after the lever is pulled for the last vote. There remains, of course, the work of reporting these totals and tabulating them. Interest centers naturally in the vote for Presi- dent, but there are many other votes, for the Senate and Representatives in Congress. All these must take their turn, while the presidential totals are given precedence. The State of New York spent $3,- 000,000 for these 3,000 voting machines. Efforts to secure their complete instal- lation have persisted for some years, ever since, in fact, the development of the machine to the point of depend- ability. It is now believed to be thor- oughly trustworthy and almost “fool- proof.” Some instruction is required to cnable the voter to manipulate the machine properly, and this instruction is now in progress in the city with dem- onstration machines set up in registra- tion places and in political clubs. The insruction of the inspectors is virtually a normal course to provid> experisnced operators to guide the voters on elec- ! tion day. While speed in the casting and while the players have probably been under just as much strain as those of the Yankees during the closing weeks of the campaign they do not enter the series without the services of their best pitcher, nor with two of their stars in- capacitated by injuries. Herbert Pennock, one of the greatest twirlers who ever appeared in the blue- ribbon event of base ball, is lost to the Yankees. It was Pennock alone in 1926 who turned back St. Louis twice, but with neuritis in his trusty left arm it is practically a certainty that the Yanks will be without him this year. The New Yorkers are further handicapped by in- juries to Lazzeri, their star second base- man, and to Babe Ruth, the colossus of hitters. ‘When all is said and done, however, “you never can tell.” The crippled Yan- kees, in the few days’ lay-off, may re- gain their accustomed vigor and blast their way through to victory. May the best team win! o It is difficult at times for a campaign organization to calculate a reliable effi- clency rating for some of its most ardent and spontaneous workers. o Many a listener weary of conventional entertainment is grateful to the cam- paign speaker for at least an hour of guaranteed immunity from jazz. ———————— ‘The world has never been perfect. The art of politics consists in shifting the burden of blame as far as possible to the opposition. ot SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOENSCN. Specters. ‘When October owls are hooting while the skies are overcast, From the dim historic shadows come the specters of the past. They repeat the mournful story of some terror close at hand; They wail—or speak a language that we scarcely understand. We pause to see them gather and like children we are led To tremble as we listen, half afraid to 8o to bed— And even while their chatter brings mysterious dismay We know that these, like others, soon must hasten on their way. So we give fantastic greetings to the fantasies in turn, As we scan historic pages, of their manners old to learn; And we calmly face the future that has golden days in store. We don't really fear the specters. have met them all before. Preparation. “Is this a time for frivolous lux- ury?” asked the severe friend. “No,” answered Senator Sorghum. “Then why do you take a chafing dish to your office?” “For practice. I'm going to talk to it. I'm nervous when I broadcast, and it has a face something like a micro- phone.” We Impetuous Erudition. These problems linger through each Fall. They're difficult, both great and small. A man may sometimes seem a dunce With too much wisdom all at once. Jud Tunkins says late hours don't make so much difference when day- light saving has the clock so mixed up that no one in the family knows the exact time, anyhow. Carelessness. “Why are you afraid to have me go up in an airplane, Henrietta?” asked Mr. Meekton. “You might fall out.” “But there's the parachute.” “Parachute, indeed! Why, you can't even remember an umbrella!” “When a flatterer speaks,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “his words are like a song, with sweet sound but little meaning.” Billion-dollar Fad. | The Business World grows more or less Inclined to ways of friendliness. Men join in a stupendous urge And everybody wants to merge. “When a friend tells me to laugh at trouble,” said Uncle Eben, “Ah wonder STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €. MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1928.° THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Let's see, what is it one must do to appear sophisticated, since sophistica- tion seems to be the need of the hour? Everywhere those of us who were brought up by what are called Vic- torian standards are beginning to feel the urge for personal reform if we are to keep up with the times in which we live, To be worldly wise seems to be the be-all and end-all. And we possess an intense hankering to be regarded as ex- perieniced in or pertaining to the more artificial phases of life. We would be sophisticated, the state of being involved or subtle. We don't know exactly what we would find our- selves involved in, as the dictionary is silent on that phase of the matter. This sophistication for which we pine is bluntly defined as the “state of being without directness, simplicity or natu- ralness.” Directness, simplicity, naturalness— these are to be shunned as people once fled from the devil with horns, tail ana menacing pitchfork. Artificiality is the keynote. Let us be indirect, complex and artificial, and [no doubt we shall be regarded by all the gay ones as extremely sophisticated. Let us forget that last harsh dictionary phras.: “Scmething adulterated.” Dictionaries are so crude! * ok K x As far as we have been able to dis- cover, the aspirant for honors in this regard must do at least 10 things, and do them with apiomb, else he might as well not do them at all. 0 woman, to smoke a cigarette with a sly look at the door to see if any one is noticing you is to fail miserably in the high art of sophistication. Here is what one must do to be so- phisticated: I. Drink. II. Smoke. III. Play bridge. 1V. Dance. V. Flirt with your friend's wife. VI. Read naughty stories. VIL. Give “parties.” VIII. Be daring in conversation, IX. Be as noisy as possible. X. Stay up as late as possible. We present this list with pardon- able pride. It is the result of an inten- sive study made partly out of curiosity and partly because we had been made to feel somewhat “out of it,” as the result of our old-fashioned ideas as to how gentlemen and gentlewomen should act. As far as we know, this is the first time in the world’s history that so complete and honest a survey has been made in this interesting field. Others have presented aspects only. We pre- sent t?le whole thing. It is true that more than 10 cardinal requirements might be put forth, but the remainder are, after all, only “follow-ups” on those given here. Any one who earnestly applies him- self or herself to the acquisition of these sterling talents, and gets to_ the point where he stops thinking about them, but does them earnestly and conscientiously, as a sort of second nature, will be admitted without fur- ther question to the illustrious body of those merry ones whose word is law and whose antics are the delight of the civilized world. R Let no one think for an instant that these observations are a slander upon the United States, in general, or upon the city of Washington, D. C., in par- ticular. ‘These basic requirements of sophistication are of world-wide appli- cation and extent. They are one and indivisible everywhere. Our study has extended from the great Middle West to the Atlantic, in_this country, and through various European nations by the well known book route. One who WASHINGTON BY FREDERIC ‘When the times comes to write the full history of the 1928 “Romanism and rum-ridden” episode, Herbert Hoover’s first-blush reaction to that blazing in- discretion will probably be described in detail. The setting was highly dramatic. The scene was the study of his home. The hour approached midnight. Trust- ed Republican counselors were in con- clave. Realization of the gravity of the Incident was universal. Difference of opinion prevailed only as to how the situation should be met. Hoover was for meeting it “head on,” with a smash- ing, crashing statement over his own name, which would have blown all doubt of his intolerance of intolerance sky-high. The repudiation of the Cald- well letter, which the nominee favored, would have burned up every telegraph wire in the land, this observer learns. Hoover’s attitude was one of violent op- position to any suggestion of pussy- footing. But counsels of calm finally held sway. It was determined by all concerned that a terse disavowal of the letter, accompanied by a citation of the tolerance passage in Hoover's accept- ance speech, would satisfactorily dispose of the ugly afl:h‘;‘ sl It goes without saying that the Vir- ginia national committeewoman’s epls- tolary excess has thrown a first-class scare into the Republican high com- mand. Hardboiled politicians like Chair- man Work, Representative Fort, Sena- tor Moses and the rest of them know how the enemy in politics always seizes upon a happening like the Caldwell letter and exploits it to the limit. Given a similar opening, G. O. P. leaders make few bones about saying they'd do what they fearfully expect the Democrats to do with the “Romanism and rum-rid- den” business. There are a couple of Sunny-Jim spirits at national commit- tee headquarters, who are doing 1heir best to dispel the gloom by claiming that Mrs. Caldwell has done more good than harm. What they mean is that Hoover was given a useful opportunity to nail his tolerance colors to the mast. The bulk of opinion in the G. O. P. citadel is that the lady has rendered the party a dlsnngul.shed* dissc;vl:e, Now that Gov. Smith’s foray into the ‘West is ended, politicians in both camps are busily surveying and assessing its results. In terms of agtual votes won or lost, nothing, of course, can be known until the morning of November 7. From the Democratic standpoint several vitally important and specific things were ac- complished. Senator Norris of Ne- braska, acknowledged leader of the Republican progressives, has publicly and enthusiastically praised Smith’s stand on water power and farm relief. Senator Blaine of Wisconsin, another progressive, has officially renounced Hoover. Gov. Maddox of North Dakota, a former Non-Partisan Leaguer, osten- tatiously switched to the Democrats and crossed his State in Smith's train. Former Senator Magnus Johnson, Farmer-Labor, of Minnesota, is out for Smith, and Senator Henrik Shipstead, Farmer-Labor candidate for re-election in the Gopher State, resolutely refrains from espousing the Hoover cause. So does “Young Bob” La Follette of Wis- consin. Meantime ?ov. Lowden is iu:; cessfull; suppressing any pent-l enthuslism hl;pmsy have for the Re- publican ticket. * ok ok ok The Army is legitimately proud of its record in rushing relief supplies to hurricane-swept Porto_ Rico. ‘hief credit is given to Maj. Gen. M. W. Ire- land, the surgeon general of the mill- tary establishment. On September 17 Red Cross and Government officials conferred _about the urgent need of help for Porto Rico. To procure the would have taken weeks. Gen. Ireland was sent for. The emergency was ex- plained to him. He reported that the medical department of the Army was ready to ship without a single day's delay two complete 1,000-bed hospital counting of the votes is desirable, ac- warning signals ~nd station watchmen 8 Bugh points as these, where obviously a perfectly functioning machine and hiatlows about curacy and honesty are more so. With how it happens dat he don't 'pear to Ihave mo troubles of his own to git » equipments. Then he calmly announc- ed that the “entire outfit” was packed snd stored in the Army's New York If you are a | required supplies in the regular markets ; reads his Zola, for instance, may find there a perfect description of a “drunk party” no whit different from a similar merrymaking in this cquntry today. When the “boys” come to the party at 4 am, and begin to pour their wine into the piano—well, that is sophisti- cated enough for any one, is it not? How could anything be more “modern- istic” than that? And yet it is a | description written half a century ago. Our belief is that some one ought to | establish a School for Sophisticates, in order to train some of us old-timers who were basely deceived by our parents into believing that Heaven is the reward of the virtuous. Heaven help us for our stuffy, old-fashioned ideas! Some- how we still think it wrong for a man to flirt with his friend's wife, or for a wife to make “oogle” eyes at her friend’s husband. We are so innocent that a half-tipsy woman still strikes us as the most_pitiful sight in the world, and so hopelessly slow that to stay up until 2 or 3 o'clock to do something that could just as well be done at 11 o'clock scems highly unnecessary. We are so dublike in mental contour that to an- noy one's neighbors impresses us— think of it, Mabel!—as both, thoughtless and unkind. L Let no one think, either, that these requirements—or, rather, these studies— are in any way inimical to the better aspects of manhood and womanhood, if pursued within reason. What is vile in one becomes a dignified gesture in another. Everything depends upon the way it is done. Some of the sweetest girls in the world smoke, and many of the most indignantly righteous women play cards. All these points might be brought out perfectly In the annual catalogue of the School for Sophisticates. The outline of the various courses of study might run in some such fashion as follows: 1. Drinking—The ability to partake of cocktails nonchalantly, and as to the liquor born, is regarded as the very corner stone of this institution. All candidates for the degree of B. S. (Bachelor of Sophistication) will be re- quired to take Liq. I and maybe II, III and 1V, if natural aptitude is dis- played. II. Smoking.—Handling a cigarette, preferably nonchalantly, is a required study. Candidates for degrees must be able to smoke without coughing at all times and places. Blowing smoke in some scandalized old lady's eyes is a perfect score. III. Playing Bridge—Of course, no one pretends to be a social success any more without being able to play bridge. What if Schopenhauer does flay it, as the newspaper head-line writers say? One might as well be dead as not play bridge. Schopenhauer is. IV. Dancing.—This is just as neces- sary as smoking, and twice as much fun. Even experts can't smoke inces- santly, but any one can dance all night without half trying. V. Flirting With Bill's Wife.—This is one of the most interesting of our courses, and graduates are assured of the abllity to do this thing right, with- out giving any particular offense. Al- ternate course offered for woman students. VI. Reading Naughty Storles—This course and VIII go together. See Dar. Con. VIIL VII. Flipping Parties. — This on needs no lengthy discussion in 1928, It is simply the thing to do. VIII. Daring Conversations. — This is a fundamental study in the School of Sophisticates. How can one be sophisticated without learning this subject? IX and X. The “Noisy and Late” Twins, as our students laughingly say. We recommend these. They are good. OBSERVATIONS WILLIAM WILE. depot and in shape for instant dispatch. In less than 29 hours the whole ship- ment was on the docks ready to be loaded into the vessels that carried it to Porto Rico. Each unit consisted of 2,500 separate packages, weighing 225,000 pounds, and occupying 13,000 cubic feet of space. It included every solitary article needed in a large, mod- ern hospital. * ok Kk Instruction in “radio address tech- nique” is appropriately the latest thing under the sun. A charming young Washingtonian, Hester Walker Beall, Wwho functions as hostess at Station WRC, “the Volce of the Capital,” is the pioneer pedagogue. By profession she is a teacher of vocal expression. Miss Beall names “slow, distinct pro- nunciation and cultivation of diction” as the prime broadcasting requisites. She says most radio novices need to be coached against stage fright. Many of them approaching the microphone for the first time act as if it were going to bite ‘em. * ok x k Senator Borah has been “trailing” Gov. Smith through the West as part and parcel of the Republican strategy to undo any damage the Democratic presidential nominee may have wrought. Easterners who have picked up the silver-tongued Idahoan on the air think he's made an excellent job of his as- signment. At the same time, it's an unmistakable tribute to Gov. Smith that the opposition found it useful to follow up his oratorical path with the biggest gun in the whole G. O. speaking artillery, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Minnesota are some of the spots in which Borah was turned loose only & day or two after Smith had roused the rabble in those parts. * K Kk * Eugene Meyer, farm loan commis- sioner, has just returned to Washing- ton from one of his periodical surveys of economic conditions in the Western agricultural regions. Few men so closely identified with high finance en- joy the confidence which Meyer in- spires in the farming country. He made a particular hit in a speech at Des Moines the other night by predicting a gradual improvement in the demand for and in the price of land. Those were particularly sweet words in the ears of Iowans who've been almost knocked out by the deflation in post- war acreage values. The Hawkeyes trust Meyer's Erophccles, In 1927 he foreshadowed higher prices for their live stock, and they came to pass. (Copyright. 1923.) That French Mob. From the Nashville Banner. That French mob that endeavored with earnest ferocity to take the most recent Bluebeard away from the police at Marseille and lynch him was an interesting as well as a_horrible sort of thing. The object of the mob's fury, one Pierre Rey, is accused of having strangled 3 women and caused the disappearance of no fewer than 15 owners. The man is above 60, and that fact precludes the possibility of his going to the guillotine or being sent to Devils Island. The mob went into violent ac- tion at the thought of such a monster escaping the worst penalty the law provides for any sort of offender. If Rey 1is convicted, the worst that can come to him is to spend the rest of his life in a comparatively comfortable French prison. Utterly reprehensible though mobs are, either here or in France, or any- Wwhere, it should not be forgotten that they are frequently actuated by a not altogether unfounded belief that the courts will be slow and uncertain in handlirg the perpetrator of the outrage that happens to be in question. Cali- fornia, for example, has fooled about with the notorious Hickman since last December, and his fate is not yet defi- nitely settled. Such procrastination and delay do the law harm of the mest serfous sort, and are among the chief incitements to mob violence and the #pplication of lyach law, P.[1t is conceivable that the missionary PHILOSOPHIES BY GLENN FRANK Sometimes we learn much about nor- mal folk by studying abnormal folk. I heard the other day of a curious mental case in a nearby hospital for the | mentally sick, a nervous, restless, though seemingly harmless man, who could be soothed and satisfied only by keeping him busy ripping something apart. ‘The sound of ripping was medicine to his restless spirit. While observing him, the psychiatrist kept the patient surrounded with card- board boxes, large sheets of tough and resistant paper and bits of cast-off clothing that he could rip to his heart's content. I told the psychiatrist that I thought { T could show him a flourishing cult of rippers doing a vigorous business outside lour psychiatric hospitals—men who have become so enamored of ripping current ideas and institutions apart that they have lost interest in reconstructing them. This is the unavoldable temptation that comes even to the best minds when they undertake to subject their politics, their education or their reli- glon to a searching criticism. All kinds of modernisms tend to linger too long in their negative phase of _idol-breaking. Idol-breaking is a very necessary enterprise if a civilization is to be kept real. You must wage war against the false |gods before you can release the stim- julant ministry of the true gods, but it is important to remember that war, |even in a gogd cause, is dangerous for the warring s well as for the warred upon. ‘The spirit of the politics, of the education, of the religion of an age will wither if its major energies are wholly absorbed in even the most com- | mendable idol-breaking. Idol-breaking is an interim enter- prise, a preparatory maneuver leading to a more productive engagement. And men cannot afford to tarry too long in the temples of the obsolete after they have broken the old idols. Men must not allow themselves to like the business of idol-breaking too well, lest they unnecessarily prolong their purely negative criticism. ‘The cult of the rippers is very use- ful as society's wrecking crew, but the cult of the reconstructionists must work hand in hand with it, or reform degenerates into a mania instead of rising to the dignity of statesmanship. Copyright, McClure Newspapsr Syndicate. R Detention House Seen Gain to Neighborhood To the Editor of The Star: The “Detention House” and Mrs. Van Winkle have come in for quite a lot of space in the newspapers lately. I think it's all a mistake on the part of the citizens to rise up against this public home for women that have found themselves in conflict with society and government. When the Prisoners’ Relief Society purchased the property at 201 E street a lot of the people in this community made much about it and some sold their property and moved to other parts. Since we came to this square the property has continued to advance and now the neighbors like us fine, and they have learned that our insti- tution brings many visitors to this € |locality and with the result that prop- erty near us is hard to buy. Any in- stitution that brings visitors to a town or_community is an asset. I belleve that the “House of Deten- tion” would help to build up the South- west section. The fact that thousands of convicts come to our place each year makes this square look pretty busy, and in- vestors like to see things moving about property they seek to buy. I would bet that if the “House of Detention” stays property in that section will advance. E. E. DUDDING. —.————— Missionary Declared Whale Swallowed Him BY E. E. FREE, PH. D. The old problem of whether a whale could have swallowed Jonah is in the news once more. Inspired by other recent reports of such events, S. E. Campbell of Windsor, England, wrote recently to the London Times, repeat- ing a story related to him years ago by a friend of his father, This gentleman, a missionary to the sallors of the whaling fleet, then numer- ous in the South Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans, was an experienced swimmer, Mr. Campbell reports, and had trained himself to hold his breath under water much longer than is pos~ sible to the ordinary individual. One day he fell overboard, the story runs, and was instantly swallowed by one of a near-by school of whales. His companions on shipboard observed the accident and harpooned the whale. The animal immediately disgorged the lucky missionary, breathless but vir- tually unhurt. The common statement that whales have small throats is true enough, Mr. Campbell admits, of nearly all whales. But one variety, he says, is an excep- tion and might be able to swallow a human body without harming ~it. Meanwhile, scientists remain sceptical, pointing out that Mr. Campbell's story Is not one of personal experience but Is received at second hand and may have been influenced by the story of Jenah. Even if the facts are true as stated, was not swallowed but was merely swept under the water by the whale and imagined himself inside the animal Instead of merely underneath it. e reee Science Successful Raising Superwheat From the Dayton Daily News. Scientists at the University of Cali- fornia have been successful in growing & superwheat. Neither soil nor sunlight was used, but the stalks were brought to maturity in 13 weeks. Under ordi- nary fleld conditions it sometimes takes as long as five months to mature wheat. The quality of the laboratory wheat at maturity was much higher than that of the ordinary grain. The experiment was accomplished in a greenhouse laboratory. Artificial light was furnished by means of 12 argon- tilled electric lamps of 300 candlepower each. The wheat was sown in jars of water containing the necessary chemi- cal elements required for plant growth. ‘The lights were turned on for 16 hours a day, and the wheat grew rapidly. The fact that it matured in 13 weeks indi- ~ates how important the length of the light period is to growing plants. When the light exposure was doubled, the rate of plant development increased four- fold. According to the sclentists who made the experiment, the growth when a full 24-hour day of light was applied was “astounding.” Just now this is interesting merely as a scientific experiment. Production of wheat thus on a commercial scale is not possible. It is not necessary, since nat- ural methods produce a sufficiency for our needs. Yet who knows but that a time is coming when there will be neither space enough to grow five- month wheat nor time to wait for it? primm—— An Unkind Statement. From the New York Evening Post. It has been confirmed that light travels 186,000 miles a second. When it strikes a_human skull, however, it| l1ases most of its velocity. Lo Or Disregard the Doctors. From the Savannah Press. One thing we cannot understand s why the price of cotton goes down and BY FREDERI! Any reader can get the answer to any question by writing to our Infor- mation Bureau, in Washington, D. C. This offer applies strictly to informa- tion. The bureau cannot give advice on legal, medical and financial matters. It does not attempt to settle domestic troubles, nor undertake _exhaustive research on any subject. Write your questions plainly and briefly. Give full name and address and inclose 2 cents in coin or stamps for return postage. The reply is sent direct to the inquirer. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washington, D, C. Q. In mountain driving, does the car going down hill or the one coming up have the right of way?—C. K. A. The courtesy of the road gives the car coming up more consideration. Q. Please tell me how to get moths out of a fur collar—L. M. A. There are several methods that can be followed. A simple one is to place the fur over a warm radiator or on the top of a lighted gas oven with a very low flame. The moths will come to the surface and may be brushed off. Place the garment in the sun for sev- eral days. Q. Please name the national sports its base ball.—B. D. G. A. The national sport of Spain bullfighting; of Scotland, golf; land, cricket; Belgium, | Cuba and South America, jai alai. | Q. Is all or part of the human brain the seat of consclousness?—W. R. A. The cerebrum, or more narrowly 'usua]ly regarded as the seat of con- | sclousness. Q. When was the Commission of Fine Arts created?>—T. W. P. A. During President Taft's adminis- tration the Commission of Fine Arts was created—May 17, 1910. One of its first problems was the creation of the Lincoln Memorial. A site had been selected by the Senate commission in 1901 and this was indorsed by the Com- mission of Fine Arts, reported to Con- gress and finally agreed upon. The Lincoln Memorial is practically com- pleted, except for the bridge across the Potomac which will connect Arlington with the Speedway. Q. How does the coastline of Alaska compare with the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines of the United States?—D. C. A. The coastline of Alaska is longer than the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines of the United States put together. In nautical miles they measure: Alaska, 4,123; Atlantic coastline, 1,773; Pa- cific, 1,571. Q. Was there really a Betty Zane, and did she run the gantlet of In- dians for powder?—L. G. A. Elizabeth Zane was one of the most famous young heroines of the Revolutionary period. She dashed from an mclosure where the American col- onists were fighting to a log hut where she secured gunpowder and returned with the ammunition under fire from the Indians. Q. Who first calculated the distance around the earth?—B. M. A. Eratosthenes (C. 275-195 B.C.) of Cyrene was the first astronomer to at- tempt to measure the distance around the earth. Mis calculations of the cir- cumference came surprisingly near the truth, the degree of error being only a trifie more than 23 minutes, Q. What was the first fraternity in the United States?—A. B. T. A. The first American college fra- ternity of which there is a record was the Flat Hat Club that appeared at the College of Willlam and Mary in 1750 and continued in existence until after 1772, It was secret, literary and social. The oldest Greek letter fraternity in this country now in existence is the Phi Beta Kappa, organized in 1776. Q. What American city was called the “Paris of the Colonies”?—B. E. A. This name was applied to An- napolis. From a little settlement on the Severn in 1664, it grew in size and importance until it became the capital of Maryland. By 1750 it was famed for its gayety and luxury and was often referred to as the “Paris of the Colonies.” Q. Who was the challenger in the Burr-Hamilton duel?>—D. W. A. Aaron Burr in the year 1804 was a Federal candidate for Governor of New York and would probably have been elected but for Hamilton's oppo- sition. This opposition, aggravated by certain uncomplimentary epithets which Hamilton is alleged to have applied to Burr, gave rise to a quarrel which cul- minated in a duel July 7, 1804, Burr being the challenger. >f some nations other than America with | the gray matter of the cerebrum, is| ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS C J. HASKIN. e Ql.z ‘Where is the Rainbow Bridge?— A. This bridge is located within the Navajo Indian reservation, in San Juan County, Utah. The bridge is 309 feet above the water and its span is 270 feet. The bridge is unique among the natural bridges of the world in that it is not only a symmetrical arch below, | but presents a curved surface above 4&\15 having the appearance of a rain- w. Q. Are women more susceptible seasickness than men?—T. M. A. Women as a rule suffer from sickness more often than men. Y children and old people possess com parative immunity from this affectior Q. How many Washington block average a mile?—M. B. H. A. The District engineer's offic says that 12 or 13 Washington cii blocks average a mile. Q. What and where was the Vi d'Ys?—R. C. S. A. The Ville d'Ys (Town of Ys) de- rives its name from a well known legend in Brittany. Ys is supposed to have been a great city in Brittany, built by a powerful King, Gralon, and given to his daughter. The town was protected by huge dams, and these dams, one night, as a punishment for the wickedness of the Queen and the nhabitants, were stricken by lightning and destroyed. King Gralon tried to save his daughter on horseback, but was overtaken by the flood until she fell. There the tidal wave stopped and he made good his escape. The location Is in the “Baie des Trepasses” (South of Brest) and it has bcen a common belief among fishermen till lately that on tempestuous nights the bells of the 1ll-fated town were to be heard. This legend of flooded towns can be found in the folklore of nearly every nation. Q. What are the- degrees given in music?—R. N. A. The musical degrees most fre- quently conferred in English-speaking countries for work in music_are Mu B.—Bachelor of Music—and Mus. D.— Doctor of Music. Less frequently degree Mus. M.—Master of Musi granted. In Germany the Ph. D. gree is granted instead of Mus. D, thus placing specialized work in mus!: on a par with other studies. Q. Please give some informaticn about Dick's Castle, across from West Point, N. Y—E. H A. Dick’s Castle, near Nelsonville, N. Y., was intended for a residence. De- scription recently receive says that the building is a massive concrete structure of Spanish architecture, con- taining many spacious rooms. It was about two-thirds completed, but from neglect and exposure for the past 20 years the concrete has begun to de- teriorate and break down. If com- pleted, this building would have been one of the largest and most beautiful residences in America, or at least along the Hudson. Q. Are there any illiterates in Den- mark?—E. J. H. A. There are a few. Denmark is listed as having two-tenths of 1 per cent illiterates. Q. Why is there more wind by day than by night?—F. P. A. The Weather Bureau says that, owing to the friction at the surface of the earth, the air near the ground always has less velocity than the air a few hundred feet above it. In the daytime this faster air is mixed up with the surface air by convection in- duced by surface heating. In this way the surface air is given a greater velocity than it would have if not mixed with the upper and faster wind. At night, when there is no surface heating and no convection, the upper wind, except when quite strong, glides over the lower air, which is held relatively quiet by surface friction. When the upper winds are very strong they mix with the lower air by mechanical turbulence and the surface wind re- mains as strong by night as by day. Q. In playing auction bridge, should the dealer complete the cut?—T. T. A. The laws of auction bridge say: “Dealer, immediately before the deal, places the pack before his right-hand opponent, who lifts off the top portion and places it beside the bottom portion toward dealer, who then places the bot- tom portion on top. This constitutes the cut.” Q. What part of Hawaii belongs to England?—P. W. A. Hawaii is a detached territory of the United States. A small strip of ground on which the monument to Capt. Cook was erected in 1874 is Brit- ish territory, having been presented by a sister of a native king. The monu- ment is at Kealakekua, and marks the spot where Cook was killed in 1779. On New Plea for Efforts of the National Woman's Party leaders to make equal rights for women an issue in the presidential campaign failed to awaken any gen- eral enthusiasm, according to the re- flection of opinion in newspaper comment. Democratic editors give the matter little attention one way or the other, while Republican spokesmen em- phatically approve the action of Mr. Hoover in declining to be hurried into committing himself to another consti- tutional amendment. Quoting the proposed amendment, “Men and women shall have equal rights throughout the United States and every place subject to its jurisdiction,” the St. Paul Dispatch (independent) says: “Mr. Hoover unquestionably is well advised in his refusal to approve without deep study such a sweeping and doubtful proposition as that sponsored by the National Woman's Party.” This paper bases its attitude on the fact that the effect of such a constitutional law would be to scrap important pro- tective laws that now exist in regard to the employment of women, and declares that “to dispense with all these special laws might be to do great injury to the army of American working women.” Sharing this viewpoint, the Detroit Free Press (independent) remarks: “The fact that biological differences cannot be overcome by constitutional amend- ment should not be lost sight of. There are solid grounds for the protective legislation that has been thrown around womanhood and motherhood,” con- tends this journal, as it voices its belief that “sacrificing the substance of this protection for the shadow of equality wiuld be the height of misguided en- thusiasm.” The Kalamazoo Gazette (independent) expresses its opinion along similar lines, adding, “Some women leaders of the country, un- fortunately, do not seem to appreciate the fact that in many cases the grant- ing of ‘equal rights’ to women would amount, in effect, to an imposition of ‘equal wrongs.' " * ok K ¥ That the desire of the National Woman's Party for this legislation is not shared by the majority of the women of the United States is the con- tention in a number of newspapers, among which is the Philadelphia Eve- ning Bulletin (independent Republican). “Outside of the ranks of the Woman's | Party,” says the Bulletin, “women’s organizations in general hold that in| the interest of woman herself, of the| home and of the community, special legislation for the protection of woman as wife, mother and wage earner is needed.” Supporting this view also, the Hart- ford Daily Courant (independent Re- publican) observes: “The Woman's Party may be ‘all het up’ over its equal the price of calf liver goes up. We will rights proposal, but that does not.mean Enthusiasm Lacking for Issue Women’s Rights all the humane legislation that has been written into Federal and State statutes for tne benefit and protection of women in their various spheres of activity. When it is remembered that nearly all such legislation was brought about by women themselves, it seems quite possible that the Woman's Party speaks only for a relatively small group.” In reply to the contention that such of these legislative safeguards as were needed could be retained even if this “twentieth amendment” were adopted, the Jackson Citizen Patriot (inde- pendent) says: “It is hard to see how, with the Constitution decreeing ab- solute equality as between men and women, such laws could stand. They clearly impose certain handicaps against the employment of women and require some employers to refuse jobs to them,” explains the Jackson paper, as it argues that “the National ‘Woman's Party is not on firm ground when it contends that such laws could be enforced and others of similar character enacted under the constitu- tional amendment they advocate.” e “The time has come when petitions | for changes in the fundamental law should be treated as Mr. Hoover has treated this one,” declares the Spring- field Union (Republican), which upholds Mr. Hoover in “declining to commit himself to proposed changes in the fundamental law until he has studied them in all their implications. The New London Evening Day (Republican) cred- its the presidential candidate with hav- ing “shown courage in refusing to ac- quiesce to the Woman's Party demands. The demand was made in all sincerit and it is backed'by a well organiz group of people who are sure to vote on November 6,” continues the Day, “but it is not the kind of demand that can be acceded to out of hand.” The Salina Journal (independent) thinks the “frankness of Mr. Hoover is commendable and should add to the reputation in which he is held,” while the Albany Evening News (independent. Republican) comments: “That is just what might be expected from Mr. Hoover. * * * He is making no pledges for the sake of support in his campaign. He is studying this question and will take no stand thereon until he is fully informed. * * * The women of the land know him and that delegation can only respect him the more because of his honest and conscientious answer.” The decision afterward to throw the support this group to Hoover has caused a lit” in the organization, ac- cording to the Charlotte Observer (in- dependent Democratic), which points out that some of the charter members of the National Woman's Party have | Joined in the ojganization of a Wash- ington Woman's Smith Clnb in order to express their resentment. “It is just one have to get some doctors {0 write some that women generally would favor & more campaign split,” remarks the Qb= gotton prescriptions, sonstitutional amendment wiping out server,