Evening Star Newspaper, October 29, 1928, Page 8

- MONDAY.......Octobef 20, 1928 - 8~ HE EVENING T ——————————————————— e St il THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C . . Editor THEODORE W. NOYES. The Evening Star Newspaper Company usiness Office: 1 11th St. and Pennsylvaria Ave. | New York Office: 0 Ruropean Office: 14 Rezent St.. London, England. Rate by Carrier The Evening Star The Evening and Si (when 4 Sundays 4 The Evening and Sunday Star (when 5 Sundays)...... The Sundey Star .. Collection made at i Orders may be sent in Main he City. 5¢ per merth 60c per month 65¢ pe: o Within t & unday Star r month d 3 dac nail or. tel on ephone Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Dally cnd Sunday....1 yr., $10.00: 1 mo,, 85c Dally only 111 yril $6.00: 1 Sunday only . 1 $4.00: All Other States a! Delly and Sunday..l Daily onir 1 Sunday only .. nd Canada. $12.00: 1 mo., Member of the Associated Press. ssociated Pres usively cntitlec ".ITIHP!EEA\;:{(:Y!I‘!BIXM‘CINOW of all i ews dis- patches cradited to it or not otherwise cre { t r’ and elso the local ne: rliched herei ATl Tienes of oublica erein arm Alo spec Peace by Unprepavednes:. No weil halanced American has #n jiwans who erivade freienlion war’ o corollary, the prescrveiioa of poxs. Peace is part of what Herbert Hoover calls “the American system.” Since the foundation of the Republic, ti United States has waged no aggressive war. The Unlon's armed forees are maintained for defensive purposes. Their object is to protect the Amer- ican people, at home and ebroad, in the peaceful, legitimate pursuit of their individual and national purposes. 1In light of these almost commonplace statements of the justifiabllity of keeping the United States in what George Washingion quaintly termed “a respectable defensive posture,” it is in gocd temper the | 2m of the sel f for War.” | approximately the seme 2= air, to run th motors.” - Last-minute passenger lists | { berth, ? | thousands will he watehing the progress Capt. Eckener wisely decided that he might be placing the safe return of the ship to Germany in jeopardy if he sub- jected it to the buffeting of the winds on a junket. When the big ship left Lakehurst last night its damaged fin had been re- paired, its cells were refilled with fresh hydrogen for lifting power and with “blau gas” for fuel for the five motors. Two-thirds of each gas cell contains hydrogen, while the other third is re- served for the fuel gas, which weighs were given out and those on board this pioncer of sky transportation settled themselves for the long trip. While it took the Zeppelin nearly one hundred and twelve hours to make the Westward voyage, Dr. Eckener expects that with the wind on its tail no more than fifty or seventy-five hours will elapse before the ground crew at Fried- richchafen will ease the ship into its Whatever the time taken to reach Germany, however, there will be no abatement of interest in the remarkable flight. As on the trip to America, ! paign. It is evident, therefore, that the public interest has been aroused at an increasing rate with the progress of the campaign, and there 1§ reason to look | for a larger percentage of registrants | going to the polls next week than is | usually the case. The same factors of ! stimulation and arousal that caused more than 43,000,000 to register, an in- crease of nearly fifty per cent beyond the voting total of 1924, will probably send them to the polls next week at an unprecedented rate. Although no exact figures are avail- able—indeed in the case of a majority of the States the registration totals are of the sexes, it has been estimated that |at least 4,000,000 more women have registered this year. These are practi- cally first voters, regardless of age, wom- en who have not heretofore exercised the franchise which was granted them by the nineteenth amendment eight years ago. It may be that these 4,000, 000 additional voters hold the balance of power in this present contest, al- though there is no reason to believe that they are all of one way of politi- cal thinking. of the Teviathen of the air and wishing it God-cpeed until it 2gain reaches its el Wiash- ington, like foreign capital cities, is the art center of th: United States is pos- sible. In some weys it already may be, but in others it is decidedly not yet. The claim that Washington one day will be that center, as it is already the cen- ter of so many aspects of our national life, and that it is steadily and surely progressing to that point, is open to no dispute at all. It may take decades, but | it will without doubt attain that goal. Ranking high among the factors con- tributing to that end, along with its governmental ert treasures, are its art galleries, public and private, existing or contemplated. and the art exhibitions held from time to time by these insti- tutions. Notable emong the latter are | ! | the Biennie] Exhibitions of Cortemporary | Democratic impu American Oil Peintings held - by ‘the | In The Sunday Star there was dis- closed the council’s plan for “smash- ing” the sixteen-ship naval construce tion bill now pending in the Senate. ‘The council is the recognized central body of the Americen pacifist move- ment. Its members are national or- ganizations of unquestionable char- acter, representing men, women and assoclations whose patriotism there is no reason to challenge. The Federal Council of Churches is an active ally and associate of the council. Speaking on behalf of thes: affiliated bodies, the national council proclaims its intention of opposing the Coolidge administration’s project to build fiftzen new cruisers and a modern aircraft car- rier. That program was adopted by the House last Winter, but passage was blocked in the Senate during the no- torious March filibuster. The sixteen- ship program is the remnant of the original scheme to construct seventy- one ships. In particular, a twenty-five- cruiser plan was whittied down to a fifteen-cruiser plan. 1t is this program which the pacifists have now set out to shipwreck. . The national council denourices the Senate bill ‘as’ “provocative and com< petitive.”.. In' unbridled ferms it as- sails the program as the'Amarican end of an international “poker game.” It charges “naval zealots” in the United States and Great Britain with partici- pation in a “gamble” in which they “play” while “the people pay.” It seeks to divest the forthcoming tenth anni- versary of Armistice day of its sacred character as a tribute to men who made the great sacrifice in order ‘that pos- terity—including pacifists—might sur- vive. " It would convert November 11, by means of high-pressure “salesman- ship” methods, into an orgy of “pro- test against the mounting costs of war” —& euphonious and delibérately mis- leading definition of the expense of defensive armament, . The country will. doubtless dismiss as simply’ an exhibitibn of bad taste the proposed distortion of Armistice | day's solemn. purpose. What the N: tion cannot afford so lightly to ignore is the impending drive against the cur- | tailed - cruiser - bill. Propaganda tor- pedoes launched from the same quarter sank the original construction project. The House cowered under a ruthless “'campaign of education” declared to have been without parailel on Capitol HUl. Undoubtedly the Senate is to be subjected to - the -sam> concentrated, nation-wide fire in December. The friends of adequate national de- fense are thus face to face with another | challenge from the apostles of peace by unpreparedness, Vigilance is re- quired between now and the time Con- gress reassembles, if the potent guns of organized pacifism are not to send to Davy Jones' locker what is left of the Navy's reasonable and righteous eruiser program. | 1 applies | as toa v “Stop, Look and Listen” now to every city curbstone as well railway erossing. Off on the Return Trip. With none but the officers and men | of the Lakehurst Station and a few relatives and friends of passengers 1o bid her bon voyage, the Graf Zeppelin started on its homeward trip last night ‘Twenty passengers were aboard In addi. tion to the crew of forty men as the giant dirigible was “walked out” of the hangar at twelve-thirty o'clock in the morning. One hour and a half later the silvery bag was pointed on the great circle course to Germany. Except for an unusual bustle around the ship dur- ing the early hours of last night, there was no intimation that the start would be made, but Dr. Hugo Eckener, de- signer and navigator, evidently decided 1hat conditions were propitious to begin the long trip to Friedrichshaten. Although Americans throughout the country were disappointed that the glant ship' did not make its inland cruise, they realized that it was solely the exigencies of the situation that made Capt. Eckener decide to abandon it. The Zeppelin's main‘ purpose was to make a round trip from Germany to | unsurpassed opportunity to inspect, to Ienjoy and to learn, with consequent Corcoran Gallery of Art, the eleventh of which has just opened and will re- main on view until early December. After all, art is “a business,” when the term is construed in its best and highest sense. The commercialization of art is deplored by many; on the other hand, art has and always must have its distinctly commercial aspects. Here and there may be found artists of independ- ent means so ample that they can disre- gard a market for their creations. But in most cases painters must sell pictures in order that they may live and may paint more and better ones. In this virtuous circle which includes producer, consumer and what, for want of a better term, may b2 styled “middle- man,” the institution founded by the late W. W. Corcoran has for more than a score of years taken an important position pertaining, in soms degree, to all three categories. By reason of its ever more ample, ever more compre- hensive and excellent biennial displays. attended not only by thousands of ‘Washingtonians but by many visitors from all parts of the Nation, the art- loving and potentially art-purchasing public is brought face to face with the best in all modern schools and trends of pictorial art. The purchasing public of New York, for example, may be almost infinitely larger and infinitely more wealthy. Nevertheless a community composed so largely of homes, meaning houses in| contradistinction to apartments and hotel quarters, furnishes and will con- tinue to furnish an impcrtant market for wares of artistic merit. Many a fine painting in previous biennials has remained here, to become incorporated in the permanent collection of the Cor- coran Gallery and thereby to furnish inspiration end guidance to him who wishes artistically to adorn a commodi- ous home. Many a fine one has gone directly from such an exhibit to such a home. These displays are regarded as out- standing events in the world of art, and not without- justice. ' They offer an| direct benefit. to all concerned. 'The public of the Capital and of the Nation Whose focus it is, and the painting pro- fession, should be and are correspond- ingly grateful to' the Corcoran Gallery and to the late Senator William A. Clark and Mrs. Clark, his widow. threugh whose generosity thess exhibi- tions are so excellently organized and adequately displayed. The gifts of these two patrons of art make possible the bestowal of the valuable Clark prizes; take care of all expenses incidental to the assemblage - and display of the exhibits, and further furnish the funds for the purchase for the gallery’s permanent gollection of works of out- standing merit by Americans. The current exhibition has been proclaimed by those qualified to judge as excellent, comprehensive and colorful. May it prove a forerunner of even better things to come! e T AR, A growing, thrifty town gets but little publicity for its substantfal advance- ment in affairs. A homicide mystery, however, will give it disadvantageous publicity throughout the country. SRt s Record-Breaking Registration. Both in the character of the ques- | tions which have agitated the country {In this present political campaign, which closes a week from tonight, and in the intensity of spirit in which the | fight has been carried on in all sections, this contest stands forth as exceptional in history. In yet another respect, and perhaps in consequence of these factors | of unusual questions and vigor of prose- | cution, it is unprecedented. A compila- | tion of the returns of registration in | the States discloses that all records are broken, and that the largest number of | votes will be cast a week from tomorrow | ever recorded in the country. The total of the registered voters is set down, in a summary,of actual records and closely | approximate estimates, as 43,084,257, This is 13,992,765 more than the total ofthe votes cast in the 1924 election, when 29,091,492 people balloted for the United States to demonstrate, the feasibility of long-distance transporta- tion in lighter-than-air craft. The pro- Jected land voyage over the United States as far West as the .Mississippi was merely a side issus, and when weather conditions gréw steadily worse puted as a probability early in the cam-" A President. Estimates of the total number of peo- | ple who will vote next week, based upon | thisunprecedented ' registration, vary |so exhilarated by the These registration figures show @ most healthy condition of publie in- of ihe campaign. A conservaiive calcu- ‘ation of the totel possih'e vole of the wuy. vhich cannor be exactly enm- puwcd, places the poicaual number &b 45,000,000. If that is the case the regis- tration is a' truly extraordinary phe- nomenon. 1t is likely, however, that the total potential vote, after making all possible allowances for various disquali- fications, is higher than the figure named, is perhaps around 50,000,000 Even so, the recording of more than 43,000,000 names on the registration polls comes very close to a full arrayal of the American electorate in prepara- tion for the balloting. It is idle to attempt any foretelling of the result on the strength of the registration figures. They may mean an overwhelming Republican victory n | | +only approximate—to show the division | | | in the issues and in the outcome | eontinuation of the trend of 1920 and ' thet of 1924, Or they may mean 2 overcoming that Republican mergin. Partisan prophecies will be made elong both lines. Only the voters, whose will cannot be determined in advance, can answer the question. vt Although & man of most dignified and important attainments, Charles ‘E. Hughes has never shrunk from a call to talk matters over with his public, face to face. In =affairs national or world-wide he easily asserts himself as a statesman both conscientious and versatile. ) Al Smith fans are now Philadelphia crowd as to think the man from Man- hattan might have made a dent in the Maine returns if he had come through with an early speech in Bangor. Some of the Washington, in sctting an economy example to the Natton, should have an understanding that during election ex- citement telephone books will be locked up and not be torn up for confetti, — et A graceful and timely self-effacement has been achieved by Mayor Jimmy Walker. The arena of public discus- sion has become so serious that it is no place for a comedian. —— et — America has become crowd-minded. Many thousands of citizens would rather throng the streets than listen in com- fort to the arguments over the radio. The Graf Zeppelin scores a triumph in the attention it commands even during the finish of .& most exciting presidential campaign. —.— Numerous citizens have been inclined to demand shorter working hours so that they can listen to more political speeches. It needs no financial expert to pre- dict a slump next week in the cam- paign button market. —eat—— SHOOTING STARS, BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. ' The Big Day. There must be agitation And moments filled with care, As through this mighty Nation The ballots all prepare. And yet, there's joy complacent Defying the dismay, For, there is joy adjacent; Next comes Thanksgiving day. There must be wrath surprising; ‘There must be rough reproof, With discords oft arising That nearly raise the roof. But Autumn always finds us Still smiling on our way. ‘The calendar reminds us, Next comes Thanksgiving day. Oration. “How long did the audience cheer you?” “Almost an hour,” answered Senator Sorghum. “It seemed the folks had their minds made up in advance, and would rather listen to their own voices than hear any remarks from me.” Jud Tunkins says the man who tries to vote the way his grandfather did has no means of knowing how Grand- father would cast his ballot if he were alive today. Armor. A knight in iron armor stood Back in ancestral ages. His costume might just now seem good ‘Where motor traffic rages. New Instruction. 5 “Have you studied your lessons care- fully?” “Yes,” answered the schoolboy. “But authors of school books will have to hurry some if they want to hold up in competition with talks over the radio.” “Cheers of the multitude,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “are often like the songs of birds who re- jolce in the Springtime of hope and become silent in the Autumn of experi- ence.” Another Momentous Question. Great ' speeches stir the Nation. We ask, while in their grip, “Are they straight information, Or are they salemanship?” "Polltlm‘shqwx dat human - folks is trom 35,000,000 to 40,000,000 The lower figure Is higher, however, than %as com- purty sociable, after all,”' said Uncle Eben. “Everybody likes to hear some- body else talk.” STAR. WASHINGTO L o, MONDAY, " OCTOBER 29, ~1928; Halloween spells the end of garden activities for another year. Nature will do much in our back yards between now and Spring, but we will mot have a very active part to play in it. She will alternately free and thaw the clods, breaking stiff clay down into better soll, if we shall have had enough sense and energy to spade up beds and borders. Perhaps not every one knows that there is no better method of ameliora- ting harsh soil than this. Simply thrust in the spade and turn up huge clods, allowing them to stand in that position over the Winter. ‘This not only gives beds an interest- ing look, a businesslike air, as it were, but before all gives Nature her big chance to break down the clinging soil particles once and for all. ‘The separation of gummy elements thus secured, especially in clay, is per~ manent, and is better than that. secured from the admixture of ashes or sand, even, since it is the natura) method. It will be found that such soil next Spring is tractable and sweet, in the best sense, A< a matter of fact, there is ne earth betier for roses. if as good. as stiff clay which has been thus hroken down. i At thls season our ending out, mew s this trie of thooe , Padimvie and Radtance, Taese old swaud-byc of ihic amawur grower never stop growing, never cease attempting to put forth new roses. Perhaps it is unfair to them to call them the favorites only of the amateur, because the professional rosarian ap- preciates them fully as much, if not more so, owing to his larger acquaint- ance, The more roses one knows, the more surely he is to return to the Radiance sisters, and to find peace and happi- ness in their cultivation. Recently we advised a correspondent to select these two roses for chief plantings, and the more we think about it the more we think it good advice. What is it one wants in rosebushes? 1Is it not just two things, flower satisfaction and bush satisfaction? Rose rarities have their vlace, but he who goes in for the nn- usual must he willing to teke a chanee, No one tells the am: r—aft et precious few do--about the black spof, e ! which may afflict his bushes, about the failing of certain varieties, one “bull- nosing” in wet weather, one refusing to open in hot weather—about the hundred and one things which may go_wrong with his bushes. The only way that he may avold them is to select such sturdy varieties that they are almost, if not quite, im- mune. By choosing Radiance and Red Radiance, the amateur will not cnly get flower satisfaction, by reason cf good roses and pleniy of them, but ne will also receive full money's worth in bush satisfaction, which means ncthing more nor less than fast-growing, pretty bush- es, free from too many pesis end dis- eases. Let it be understood that even these roses have their faults, will “bull-nose” in wet weather. These bushes are no mor: frez from plant lice in Spring than any other varjeties. All in 2ll, however, they are surprisingly free from Cisease, 7 heir sturdiness is a constant surprise even to those who arc familar with their virtues, Again and egain we “Plant Radiance and Red Radiance. a* ok kK Gladiolus not yet out of ti ground should be spaded up, the :talks cut off, and the bulbs stored away in a cool place. We have got to a Dlace in our gardeninz operations vhere we tend to dispense with what we formerly WASHINGTON BY FREDERIC Smith headquarters at New York, this observer has reason to believe, claims Democratic victory on Novem- ber 6 by an electoral college fotal of roundly 282 votes—16 more than a ma- jority. Apparently this is the minimum of anticipated Smith strength. It scems to be computed by giving the Demo- cratic nomince the following States: Alabama, 12; Arkansas, 9; Connecticut, Florida, Georgla, 14: Kentucky, 13; Loulsiana, 10; Maryland, 8; Massa- chusetts, 18; Minnesota, 12; Mississippi, 10; Missouri, 18; Nebraska, 8; New Jersey, 14; New Mexico, 3; New York, 45; Rhode Island, 5; South Carolina, 9; Tennessee, 12; Texas, 20; Utah, 4; Vir- ginia, 12; Wisconsin, 13. Total, 282, * kK % ‘These rosy calculations are confessed- ly made by the Raskobian statisticians under the spell of Gov. Smith's recent roaring receptions South, West and East in the order named. The Demo- cratic_contention is that the candidate himself personally stemmed the Re- publican tide in doubtful communities like Virginia, North Carolina, Tennes- see and Missouri. Gov. Smith's thrust into New England is depicted as having “ecinched” Massachusetts for his cause, removed Rhode Island from the doubt- ful list and even brought. Connecticut. into the “strong probability” class. Sen- ator Norris' support is held to be worth at least 33 Western electoral votes, in- cluding those of Nebraska. The nominee’s eleventh-hour personal ap- peal in Maryland, New Jersey and New York during the closing days of the campaign is confidently expected by his managers to turn the scales in his di- rection in those States. New Jersey is the blackest spot in Democratic con- templations. Except for the official scandals lately hung on Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City, an Al Smith “buddy” and a national committee vice chairman, the Mosquito State would hardly have ranked as doubtful. Now, in the words of a shrewd Jersey politi- cal observer, “it will take a tidal wave to carry the State for Smith. * K % % Belief that “1928 is not a presidential campaign—it is a soclal and political revolution”—bolsters hopes of landing Smith by a slender, but sufficient, electorial vote. Declar- ing that the above description of the situation is absolutely accurate, Demo- cratic leaders explain that amid such conditions “trends” like straw-votes are meaningless. They make much of the poipt, for example, that only some 3,000,000 of the Literary Digest 19,000,- 000 “voters” actually sent in ballots. ‘The Democratic diagnosis of this vast abstention is twofold: (1) That millions of citizens have not made up their minds even yet as between Hoover and Smith, and (2) that it is on the- laps of the great, silent, inde- pendent vote that the result of the election rests. Even conservative Democrats warn thé country to be prepared for Surprises in rock-ribbed Republican regions like Pennsylvania. If wet Philadelphia and wet Pittsburgh respond to Smith's prohibition argu- ment as Philadelphia rose to it the other night, a political miracle may be wrought in Pennsylvania. The Key- stone rural counties are overwhelm- ingly Democratic. ~ “Billy” Wilson, former Secretary of Labor, carried 55 out of the 67 counties of the State for Senator against “Boss” Vare in 1926. Herbert Hoover's amended home- going itinerary, =beginning with de- parture from Washington on Thursday and reaching Palo Alto on the eve of election, has definite political earmarks. *| Originally the trip to California was rllnned to be more or less of a bee- ine expedition, Now it's going to be made by slow stages and will detour into Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Coln- rado and Utah. In addition to the one midjourney set speech at St. Lous, Hoover is now to hold forth at Puebls Dr. Work’s honte town, and less formal- 1y at half a dézen other stops arranged for . “ovation” purposes, Prudence Red Radiance | up Democratic | THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. | thought essential to success. Last Au- tumn we carefully alloved the bulbs, with their dried leaves attached, to | stand upright in the basement for sev- |eral days before cutting ff the fops. | This season we shall cut off the tops | immediately upon digging. and let the !operation go at that, One can be foo | careful in gardening.” Nature has put a |larger tolerance in her creatures than | worrying humanity gives her credit | sometimes for having done, ‘Two bushes which still hold their green leaves are the two snowberries most common in cultivation, Sym- phoricarpos _racemosus, with white berries, and 8. vulgaris, the coral berry, witih red fruits. These plants come | from the West, where they are exposed | to bitter winds, so that vigor is a part of their very being. One is torn be- tween admuration and dislixe for the snowberries. . They have a bad habit. of trailing ftbeir branches on the | ground, giving a fotal effect of messi- | iess none too pleasing. Perhaps their worst fault is that they are a breeeding ground for the worst looking caterpil- lars it is possible to find at this season | of the year. These caterpil'ars are some 3 or 4-inches long, hetween a ! half inch and an inch in diameler wiltingly do witnont They ace » be seenn i <0es 07 ouuts, Cvidudy 1o snug places to lay their eggs. * R Wk October is the month for putling in tulip bulbs, but unless Novemhber is continuously cold with prevailing freczes these bulbs may be planted in that month as well. Therefore there is plenty of time for the late planters. In regard to tulips, we would say but one word: Darwin. These are the tu- lips to plant for all-round satisfac- tion. Among Darwins there is none which will give more satisfaction than the varlety Clara Butt. This is the stately pink flower seen in so many of the public parks in May. If Uncle Sam cannot select a better, how can any one else? It has the merit of being cheap, too, 100 of these bulbs usvally selling for $3.50 or $4. Fifty will give any back vard a beautiful | display if planted in a mass. Lhe bulbs put in 4 inches deep and about 6 inches |apart cach way. They will do well he- | neath shrubs not put too near the main trunk, say, at least a foot away. Surely every one ought to plant a few tulips, and now is the time to plant them. While October is theoretically (he“ best month, November will do quite well. Petunias are putting out new shoots— it killing frosts do not come along, we shall have fresh blossoms within two weeks, Where is there a more satis- factory annual than this? The more one grows it, the better satisfied he be- | comes with'it, it is so ndaptable, 50 pleasing and so ever-blooming. In | the same classification come the zinnia | and ageratum. These grow and bloom | untit frosts cuts them down. With them may be put the marigolds, common but fine. Roses which showed the ravages of the black spot several weeks ago, and lost all their leaves thereby, are busily growing new leaves at this time. One must pause in astonishment—perpetual astonishment—at Nature, who never quits until she is compelled to by the rules of her own glorious game. Hence, with a little luck, we shall have flowers in the garden until very, very late, |until the snow comes. when, if we are very lucky, there will be roses in our garden—roses blooming in the snow. | On which bushes? Why Radiance, or | Red Radiance, of course. OBSERVATIONS in WILLIAM WILE. rather than alarm dictates the G. O. P. standard-bearer’s final traveling sched- ule. Much of Hoover's time at this witching hour is devoted to warnings (> party leaders against overconfidence. Doubtless he’s telling them that an en- gineer never sinks a shaft without mak- ing his soundings and measurements twice and thrice. Republican politi~ clans have discovered that Hoover brought a lot of engineering realism with him into politics. * kK k. Certain Democratic publicity man- agers have brought down upon them- selves an avalanche of criticism for utilizing the tomb of the Unknown Sol- dier for advertising purposes. The New York County Democratic committee.re- cently took .a full page in the Gotham daily papers with the tomb at Arling- | ton conspicuously in the foreground. The caption over it read, “Who Asked His Religion?” A reader of a promi- nent paper which published the adver- tisement writes in to say, “This busi- ness of seeking to exploit the Unknown Soldier for party gain is in bad taste and in my opinion will prove to be a boomerang.” Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson, who retires from the Navy to become presi- dent of the Gorgas Institute, is under- | stoodto have kept minute diaries dur- ing his long career as White House physician. He served three Presidents in a naval medical capacity—Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson. In the days when -that merciless matador. Col. Harvey, was assailing Woodrow Wilson, the late editor dubbed Grayson, ““Rear Doctor Grayson.” Now that the admiral has attalned the retired list, some of his friends express the hope that he may some day be induced to write his memoirs. No man was closer to Presi- dent Wilson than Grayson. They were fellow Virginians. During the last year and a half of the stricken Executive's life in the White House, Grayson played a role which should lend itself to dra- matic revelation. Dwight F. Davis, Secretary of War, was torn between cruelly conflicting cmotions the other day at Cambridge, Mass., when he went up to see Harvard play t ball against Army. Davis can write Harvard '00 after his name, and he is also a member of his alma mater’s board of overseers. He solved his prob- lem at Soldier Field by sitting on | opposite sides in different halves. (Copyright, 1928.) NITED STATES N WORLD WAR | 1 Ten Years Ago Today. American big guns are hammering away today, dropping 1,500-pound mis- siles on a large enemy troop concen- tration in the territory northwest of Verdun and shelling the Conflans rs- glon and the important railroad line running to Metz. * * * Eighteen Ger- man airplanes were shot down by Pershing’s aviators today and five American machines were lost in carry- ing out important reconnaissance mis- slons. * * * Allles push on in Italy and capture Conegliano, a railway cen- ter 5 miles east of the Piave. American troops are standing on reserve behind the British and Italian forces now driv- ing across the Plave River. The drive that is rapidly bringing complete defeat to the central powers. * * * Crumbling Austria asks President to hurry, and begs all her foes to heed her plea. Riots begin in Budapest and troops fire on adherents of Karolyl, who set up inde- | pendent state, and ask archduke to ap- point Karolyi as premier. * * * Prench army leaders think Austria’s action will force Germany to yleld very soon. Peace talk .is weakening the enemy - forces. French advance their lines in the Champagne sector by an' attack on. a 7-mile front. * * * Three hundred and sixty casualties on list given out Lnd;_’v; bririg “America’s total thus far to 62,873, A i and black and wholly. trulv fearsome- | lccking creatures. They ave denizens which even the arde is a definite part of the great offensive| Reasons Why Chief’s Cars| Must Make Speed to Fires To the Jditor of The Star: ‘The accident last Tuesday, in which a voung woman was killed by a fire chief's motor, is deplorable in its re- sults, both with respect to the tragic outcome and to the possible effect it may have on the morale and activities of the fire department. It is certain that no greater fecling of sorrow will be found than is present among the membership of the department. those who come into more or familfar nssocfation with tae men of the department can learn the under- | Iying thoughts of these men as they go | about their dafly duties. During one of the false alarm epidemics one of the men expressed the thought in this | fashion: ach time we leave the house in! answering a box call, we go with no certainty of return; some auto or be- wildered pedestrian ‘may block our way and in attempting to avold disaster the driver may run into a pole, a | tree or other obstruction at high speed: a tire may give way with disastrous | results, due o speed and heavy weight, tof ihe apparatus: a wet =pot on the street may lead fo a capsize. These are buf a few of the conditions we | face when running to the box, and are esent, with each run we make.” These are conditions present in an- swering the call end do not consider the hazards of fthe fire itself—they | | are the vhich mone of e concider—we ore f 3 t, | . the. are on the s every minuie of (he dav and e in line of dty, ant people of Waswngioa. L is safe to say that had there been the opportunity to swerve the “buggy” of the chief) away from the impend- ing catastrophe, the action would have been taken by the driver without a moment’s thought of the possible result to himself or chief—and he would have been commended by his chief for the action. That is the spirit of the men of the department, as has been made manifest repcatedly. Frequently, on re- turns from runs, the conversation has turned to “lucky escapes” and the re- marks indicated the course which had or_would have been followed. It is becausz of this that such an accident affects the morale. The fear may have become dulled because of the carofulness of the past--the reality of | ithe present accidenf brings the inevi- table vesult. It is pot the fear of the ifire hazerds—it the fear that life!l may be taken in rezching the scene of {the fire, These men are trained to) save life, and not take it—even.though it involves personal sacrifice. And be- cause of this we can glimpse the depth of sorrow present—life has been taken instead of being saved. In your admirable editoriel of Wed- nesday, a statement was made suggest- ing that the car of the chief be made subordinats to the apparatus for traffic conditions, since the question of time scemed unimportant; I am inclined to think the suggestion was made through possible misunderstanding of conditions. The details of the fire-fighting system are not generally known and under- stood, and we may be led to wrong im- pressions if we depend simply on the visible aspects presented by the appara- tus dashing along the streets, or in serv- Ice at the scene of the fire. Each alarm box falle within the thrze-company of the four-company status—the selection depending on the danger possibilities of a rapid spread of the fire. The three-company boxes call out three engine companies, a truck, a chief, and, in some cases, the rescue squad; the four-company boxes add a fourth engine company, an additional truck and an additional chief. These respond to the first alarm. Since each engine company includes two pleces of apparatus, the call places at least 8 pieces of apparatus on the streets at once—and this may be increased to 13 pleces with the four-company boxes. The first engine company arriving “takes the fire” and takes the closest plug. The responding companies ar- rive generally within a range of a few minutes, excepting where. a succession of alarms brings up the ratter of “fill- ing in” conditions. As the remaining companies arrive they take plugs as closz as can be found, in case of service. And, where the fire is such as to call for two or more companies to go into service, it becomes obvious that some system must be used in fighting the fire; each company is commanded by a captain, licutenant or sergeant, fully qualified to handle the work of the company—and needed for this service—and no hap- hazard method of leaving the com- pany to decide for itsalf the work it is to perform could bring successful results. Some officer is needed to di- rect the activities of the companies; to co-ordinate the work of the separate companies into an efficient machine— and this must be done without delay, since the first few moments of attack may determine the question of a small fire or a conflagration. This is the work of the battalion chief, since no company commander, located at 2 specific point, could determine the strategic positions of other companies without affecting the command of his own company. From this it can be understood why it is essential that the chief reach the scene of the fire as quickly as possible. His quarters may be far from the scene, but, unless he is present to take com- mand as the additional companies ar- rive, the haphazard conditions would prevail until his arrival, and with pos- sibly dangerous results. His car may need to travel the greatest distance of all of the apparatus, but his presence is needed as the supporting companies arrive, and sufficiently early for him to make that rapid survey of possibilities which will enable him to start his at- tack most efficiently: he may find the need of changing his plans because of unseen conditions, but he must make that initial decislon at once and sta- tion the men accordingly. Only the highest _training enables this to be done efficiently, and the chiefs are picked men for this service. This is why. we see the chief’s car dashing ahead of other apparatus—why he is equipped with a light. high-powered car, and given the right of way over other apparatus. He must be on the scene to fashion his machine as the machine parts—in the form of the com- panies—arrive in response to the alarm. An additional duty is placed on the chief because of this condition—the determination as to the need of help { He cannot base his decision simply on possibilities—the alarm has stripped the neighborhood of its apparatus, and @ second alarm would increase the dimensions of this neighborhood by calling out almost an equal number of companies. Hence, the chief must make his .decision on seeming cer- tainties instead of possibilities in deter- mining the need of help. And that de- cision must also be made without delay. The declsions must be made at once —the first few moments may determine the difference in the magnitude of the fire A five-minute delay, as sug- gested, could be fatal, since the at- tack must be concentrated at once, and no time for consultation between tom- pany commanders as to plan could 1is employed to help you. ,by the Zeppelin Airship Co. at Fried- (the term used {o distinguish the car | b7 through the use of additional alarms. |s ‘What Is there some point about your business or | do you need to know? personal life that puzzles you? Is there something you want to know without delay? ~Submit your question to Frederic J. Haskin, director of our | Washington Information Bureau. He | Address your | inquiry to The Evening Star Inform: tion Bureau, Prederic J. Haskin, di-) rector, Washington, D. C.,-and inclose | 2 cents in coin or stamps for return postage. Q. When and where were the Shen- andoah and the Los Angeles dirigibles | built?>—P. P. K. { A, The Los Angeles was constructed | 1 richshafen, Germany, for the United Stales Government as a replacement for two airships of smaller size to which this country was entitled at the close of the Great War. The Los | Angeles was completed in September, | 1924. The U S. S. Shenandoah was fabricated by the Naval Aircraft Fac- tory in FPhiladelphia, ascembled L hurst, N. J. The Shenandoah was completed in 1923 Q. Will you please tell me. in da ihe evcrage life of a honey ¥ 8. L majority of bees, which are wn 83 “workers.” are thought, to 1f n cnae io nine monile, The Yile o oucen X Jy mdre wied e Q. Which !s the most expencive for heating purposes, coal, oil or gas?— W. G. C. . The cost of heating with coal, ofl and gas varies with each installa- tion, depending on the heating plant, period of overation and relative unit cost of fuels. A very rough average figure is that it will cost a quarter to a half as much more to heat with cil as with coal and twice as much to heat with gas as with coal. This is con- sidering cost of fuel and equipment, but not labor. Q. What country has produced the most outstanding scientists?—C. G. A. Prof. Joseph Mayer of Tufts Col- lege states that in the last 100 years the United State it sin and Germe: more ihan 3 while no other c more than 6. Q. Which color is used for a girl baby, pink or blue?—E. V. R. A. The colors used for boys and girls differ in various localities. In the North blue is used for baby girls and pink for baby boy. In the South the order is ;;versed, pink for girls and blue for ys. Q. When were fire alarm boxes first used in America?>—C. R. W. A. Methods of transmitting news of fire are very old and until about the middle of ~the ninetcenth century watch towers with alarm bells were maintained in American cities. After the development of the clectric tele- graph, reliable apparatus was installed. As early as 1345 Dr. W. F. Channing of Boston published an article in the Advertiser outling a fire alarm tele- graph system. In 1850 Charles Rob- inson used Morse apparatus for signal- and engine houses in New York City to watchmen at tower bells, who sound- ed the signal of the appropriate dis- trict. A telegraph signal plan was put into operation in Boston April 29, 1262. New York installed a fire alarm tele- graph system in 1869, and by 1875 it had reached to 75 cities. Although va- rious systems are in use, that devised ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS RY FREDERIC erected at the Naval Air Station, Lake- | $ | twcen the hines : ng fire alarms from police staticns | HASKIN. by Channing and Farmer and improved - by Gamewell has been the one mo:t generally employed. in America. The keyless door was patented by Tooker in 1875 and the automatic keyless door by N. H. Suren in 1895. Q. Are blondes and brunettes d termined by the color of their: h eyes, or complexion?—IL R. T. A. A blonde is described as a person of fair complexion, wath light hair and eyes, while a brunette is one ha-- ing brown or olive skin and brown or black hair and eyes. Q. How far can one see with the most powerful fleld glasses?—R. G. A. The magnification of a fleld gla: is never given in terms of the distanc through which one can see through the glass, which depends upon ccndi- | tions of the atmosphere, quality of the field glass, and of the object in the ficld. ' The power of g field gla ranges usually from 6 to 16 times. Q. Does a rainbow ever strike surface of the earth?—M. P. | A. A rainbow does mot st It is caused by light mnto a drop of water, and out again after reflection fros Since the re nee are quite turned, follows angle be. o sun and v s com m aa casily see, ¥ W, 85 viewed by server, must appear circular, an cb- Q. How and when is a place plate used?—I. L. A. A strict rence to the rules of etiquette requires that a plate must remain at every cover, from the time of setting the table until it is cleared for dessert. The plate on which the oysters or hors d'oeuvres are served is put on top of the place plate. That plate is removed, leaving the place plate, upon which is placed the scup plate. The place plate is removed with the soup plate. Q. Who made the shortest inaugural address?>—H. K. N. A. Georgz Washington's second in- augural address was the shortest in the Ricpublic. It centai » much 300! pla estimated R that installment A It 1s £ selling has now reached a total of $5,000,000 annually, according to a survey made by the Chamber of Com- merce of the United States, which esti- mates 17 per cent of the entire amount of consumer goods sold at retail are disposed of in this manner. The in- stallment plan applies particularly to automobiles, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, phonographs, furniture, pianos, jewelry and radio apparatus, Q. Is the famous Dan Patch still living?>—W. I. R. A. He is dead. He was born at Ox: ford, Ind., in 1396. He was a hogany bay with black points and with a small white star on the forehead. Q. How long a time was Great Brit- ain a_Roman possession?—R. N. A. For approximately 300 years. Q. Who owns and | at Keokuk, Iowa?—N. A. The Keokuk Dam was built and is owned by the Mississippi River Power Co., Keokuk, Iowa. Both Illinois and Iowa derive benefit from this dam, as its power is evenly distributed. Q. What are the official langu the League of Nations?—M. A. A. English and French. operates the dam . N. ages of R. Warm tribute is paid by the Ameri- can press to the magnificent daring of Lieut. Comdr. H. C. MacDonald, the young British naval officer who dis- appeared in an attempt to fly the At- antic alone in a tiny airplane, although many observers regret what they regard as useless sacrifice of valuable life in such adventures. “The truth probably is,” in the opinion of the Charleston Evening Post, “that the public enthusiasm for th2 achievement of transatlantic flying virtually blew itself out in the celebra- tion of Lindbergh, the volume and in- tensity of which, it almost seems, must have surprised even those who were most delirious at the moment and who must sometimes wonder’ why the thrill cannot be recaptured. Perhaps it was out of all proportion to the actual value of the achievement, save as an exhibit of supreme human courage and self- confidence and of amazing endurance, but these, of course, have a moral value which is not to be estimated.” Further reference to the Lindbergh example is made by the Hartford Cou- rant with the suggestion that “while MacDonald’s venture may have looked reckless to many observers, it did not look a bit more reckless than Lind- bergh's looked when that fine young man was winging his way toward France. Nor should it be forgotten that not all Lindbergh’s skill and experience would have saved him from death had his motor gone dead while he was far from a_ship or a practicable landing place. It is to be hoped,” continues the Courant, “that this flight will not en- courage agitation to prevent aviators from making whatever exneriments they choose to mak: Their lives are their own, and they should be allowed to usa them as they will. Unless they are left free of restrictions the progress of aviation will be seriously hampered.” * ok ok % Similarly the Elmira Star-Gazette argues: “He knew the danger he faced, but ‘took a sporting chance.’ Such chances do not appeal to most men, sitting safe at home: nor is the value of the end to be attained in_another transatlantic flight clear. Yet the world owes too much to men to whom danger acts only as a spur to venture criticlsm of such gallant adventurers who play the game with their lives at stake.” until the apparatus is assembled to fight it—the fighting machine must be developed at the earliest possible moment, and that is the work of the chief. One word more needs to be said as to an inconspicuous member of that machine —the driver. The drivers of the ap- paratus are picked men and are com- pletely capable—they must be since upon their skill and coolness depend the lives of the men riding on the apparatus. But these men appreciate the conditions confronting them—the remark 2bove quoted was made by one of these. These conditions are in- creased in connection with the driver produce this result, Many of our fires might be handled without a chief, but when he is needed the need is impera- tive. And this is made more apparent as the scriousness of the fire increases, due to the fact that the men may be re- quired to go into danger; with a tried and efficient chief in whom the men have confidence, danger is met with greater assurance, since they know that the chief knows their location and serv- ice and will protect them. With an unknown director of ' a plan, this certainty by the men may be affected. ‘These ' are but a few dutles of the chief and are sufficient to.tell us of the essential need that the chief have the “right of way” and be unhampered by speed limits—the farther the dis- tance of his quarters from.the box, the greater is the need for speed on his part. The apparatus from his quarters may be one of the later com- panies due on the scene, but he is needed as quickly as possible.” The development of the fire does not wait of the chief’s car, The higher speed conditions required in presence of the conditions of traffic call for men of iron nerve, cool, quick perception and decision, and fearless—for upon them depends the delivery of the chief at the scene of the fire, regardless of speed required. They are members of the company for organization, but do not serve with the cqmpany at fires— they, are the aides to the chief. They also are imbued with that fundamental of the service—to save life and not to take it—and to them the difficulties of carrying this out are largely inereased. But, as we look back over the months and years of the past and note the few instances of injury to others, we can know that the selection has been with care, and that when we face con- ditions of a tragedy such as that of Tuesday, it has been truly an accident, and that the sorrow falls most deeply on these men—they are proud of their Tributé to MacDonald Marred By Th(_)ught Tragedy Was Futile ‘The value of proper preparedness for such ventures is emphasized by scveral papers. The Cleveland News declares: “A duplication of the Lindbergh achievement is not necessary. The Atlantic is still more than a match for haphazard stunt fyers. Courage alone is not a sufficient qualification for an ocean hop. With due respect to the memory of a brave man, we cannot rofrain from expressing our | conviction that MacDonald threw his |life away in a useless venture. How ifferent was the feat of the Zeppelin! Every minute detail was given prelimi- nary analysis. Ths ship was in com- mand of the ablest expert upon dirigibles the world has produced, and in spite of all this an accident. in mid- ocezn called for some heroic repair work.” “The Atlantic does not take note of couragz alone when it fights its in- vaders.” wams the St. Louis Times, with the suggestion that “MacDonald's plane apperently was inadequate for | the possible buffetings it might receive. His fuel store was of ghastly inade quacy’ for overriding the visitation of hard luck. The only outstanding arma- ment he had aboard was his courage. The Bay City Times adds that “at thi time of year the North Atlantic is generally upset with storms,” and “it was largely becaus> of this condition that the Graf Zeppelin went hundreds of miles to the south of the North At- lantic route on its trip to the United States.” ‘“He did what he had wanted to do,” says the Albany Evening News, with the comment that notwithstanding the fact that “he was not a very experienced pilot,” and that “the chances were against him, he was ready to risk his life for his dream and none could hold him back. not even the love of his wife And what of her?” continues the News. “There is the tragedy of it. She has lost him, who went out to make his dream come true. Was it worth while?" “He was not any publicity hound. such as so many of those others, women and men, who have undertaken the air passage of the Atlantic for the notoriety of it,” thinks Asheville ‘Times. with the comment Vhat hap- ‘The world will probably never Nor will it know why MacDon- ald, without much experience in fly- ing, was willing to risk his life alone in a far from powerful aireraft in flight across the ocean. Another brave man has, it now scems, thrown away his life without very good reason for it.” “The designation of his craft, the Gypsy Moth plane,” remarks the Beloit Daily News, “offers suggestive connota- tion of foolish creatures flying around a light till they burn off their wings. Some of our transatlantic flying has been very moth-minded. Fame's boa- con is a potent but illusory lure that has proved a will-o™-the-wisp for many.” The Manchester Union asserts, fur- ther: “It is a misfortune that these foolhardy attempts continue. They are robbing us of some of our most daring and efficient aviators, and all to no purpose. If any result were accom- plished by these flights, if they were helping in any way to promote trans- atlantic air travel, the sacrifices would be accepted as a necessary toll for those gains. But no purpose is being served other than to discourage that project and make it impracticable.” ~It may be hoped that no more flyers will be inclined to follow the tragic e nmffle of MacDonald,” contends the Kalamazoo Gazette, which explains: “He started forth with every conceiv- able odd against him. His plane was. a tiny craft of the Moth type, equipped with ‘none of the safety devices used on the larger aerial cruisers, and hardly sturdy enouEh to weather anything but the mildest kind of Atlantic storms. The aviator 'Picked a season of the year in which flying conditions are far from favorable to long-distance flights of the record, and a scar such as this hurts. HORACE G. SEITZ, e sort undertaken, and he elected to make his flight without the physical or moral support of a companion.”