Evening Star Newspaper, November 21, 1928, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY, November 21, 1928 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Of 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East i2n d Chicago_Office: Tower Buflding. European Office: 14 Regent St.. London, Englane Rate by Carrier Within the City. The Evenine Btar. ; 49 per month The Evening an G, Trie Evening and Sundey Sier re Evening an iy ehen' S ) 65¢ per month I Copy when 5 Sunda The Sunday Star . g el Collectioh made at the end of rach month. Orders may be sent In by mail or telephone Main 5000. Rate by Maif—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily and Sunday....]1 yr. $10.00; 1 mo., 85c Daily oniy 1 00; 1 mo.. 50c Bunday cnly - 1 mo.. 40¢ Dally and Sunday. Dally only Sunday onl: Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press 15 exclusively entitled | the use for republication of al] . ews dis- hy atches credited to it or not otherwise cred- ted in this paper and also the .ocal 7ews opublished herein. All rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. pees Another Nicaraguan Problem. Dr. W. W. Cumberland, an American economist, has at Nicaragua's request made an examination of that country under auspices of the American State Department, and now makes public his diagnosis of Nicaragua’s economic ills together with a suggested program of treatment. Briefly, he finds that Nica- ragua’s coffee is unduly predominating the economic life of the republic, that the lack of communication facilities hinders production and that the ab- sence of initiative and capital prevents cloud. [ the traditional Democratic opposition to the Republican theory of protective tariff and promised protection to Amer- ican industries. These are subjects which the Democratic rhembers of Con- gress will have to consider in shaping the party’s ‘future course. In the back of the heads of some of the Democr~ i the bellef that sooner or later the t.. > will come when money will not be so plentiful, when the great pace at which American industry is now traveling will be moderated. They do not wish American prosperity to vanish, it is true, but they are won- dering if a crash will come. They wish to be prepared to offer themselves and their party to the people as the means of bringing the country back to pros- perous times if there is a slump. Predictions are found on some Dem- ocratic lips that Mr. Hoover's admin- istration will not prove a success; that it will not please the Republican polit- ical leaders and that it will not please business. Some of them go so far as to predict that 1932 may be a repetition of 1912, with President Coolidge seek- ing to stage a come-back, even as the late Col. Roosevelt sought to regain the presidency which he had relin- quished to his Secretary of War, now Chief Justice Taft. A split in the Re- publican party, with Hoover leading one wing and President Coolidge lead- ing another, would be merely a case of history repeating itself, they say. Such a suggestion may well be consid- ered the wildest kind of speculation. But the Democrats are seeking every- where to find a silver lining to their e Protesting the Left Turn. As the Christmas season approaches and downtown traffic increases, it be- comes more and more apparent that development of natural resources. The cure suggested is the provision of capi- tal and a form of Americen financial control that would extend to collection of revenues, audit of expenditures and preparation of the natlona! budget. ‘Without such control he doubts the pos- sibility of arranging a loan large enough to meet Nicaragua's needs. In making public these recommenda- tions, the State Department announces that the program represents Dr. Cum- berland’s personal views, and is not, necessarily, the State Department’s view of the situation. For in this mat- ter the State Department is again placed in the hazardous position of de- ciding how far Uncle Sam may go in the “left-hand turn arrangement at intersections where traffic officers are stationed will never meet the needs of THE EVENTNG STAR. WASHINGTON. D. O. WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 2 1Y work properly, because it was imprac- ticable to make such a test in port with a pler on one side and coal barges on the other. It has been testified that at least two lifeboats filled with women and children went down with the Ves- tris because they stuck when they were being lowered. The inspectors say they found the half doors or working doors of the ship in good condition, with proper rubber caskets to keep them watertight. Mem- bers of the crew have testified that these doors on the starboard side have leaked during the last three or four round trips of the ship. The inspectors say they found no defective ports in the passengers' quarters. The head steward has testified that on several oc- casions, beginning six months ago, he has filed written reports of forty de- fective ports in the dining saloon and no repairs were made. He also has saild that in the crews' quarters iron deadlights, supposed to be clamped over the glass ports in rough weather, were immovable because of rust and paint and could not be closed. The inspectors say they found nothing wrong in the interior except some balky handpumps. The chief fireman has testified that the ash ejector valve in the stokehold had leaked for two years and was never repaired. These are illustrative examples of discrepancies that show one of two things: Either the testimony given by members of the cyew is false or the inspection was worthless. Inasmuch as these members of the crew are in no wise held accountable for the condition of the ship, it is fair to assume that they are telling the truth. It has been al- leged that the inspection by the Fed- eral representatives was perfunctory and that the inspectors spent most of the time while on board in drinking. This they deny. They are virtually on trial. It becomes vitally important for the Department of Commerce to find the truth regarding the manner in which the laws of the United States congested conditions. Washingtontans first became acquainted with the out- side left turn when the automatic traffic lights were installed and they gave to the authoritles a high degree of co- operation with the realization that per- haps special treatment should be accorded the new system in the matter of turning. So enamored were the traffic officlals with the outside method that its use was extended to caver not only the automatically lighted streets, but those on which traffic officers were posted as well. It was at this time that complaints began to be voiced by motor- ists and the protests steadily increased his friendly efforts to assist in the stabilization of the internal affairs of the neighboring republics. In those cases where, as suggested for Nicaragua, the American Government has taken control and put through programs of financial rehabilitation, undoubted benefits have followed. But the cost has been the surrender, to the United States, of what in effect amounts to the country’s inde- pendence. For financial control, to be successful, involves political control as well. And in the case of Nicaragua would be backed by a native) constabu- lary officered by Ames Marines. Santo Domingo and Haliti represent two cases where programs somewhat similar to Dr. Cumberland’s Nicaraguan project have been followed with success. But if the step is taken in Nicaragua as it has been elsewhere, what is to preventa succession of similar steps throughout the other countries bordering the Carib- bean? And will the benefits in the end accruing to these nations outweigh the danger to the United States of thus extending its financial sovereignty in a manner that is sure to arouse suspicion and distrust in the eyes of the world? —_———————————— Mayor Jimmy Walker is left with the responsibility of suppressing gangmen in New York. A gallant officer, Gen. Smedley Butler. could not accomplisha similar end in Philadelphia. While ora- tory charms general attention, the handling of intimate detail presents the real responsibility for reform. —e——————— Picking Up the Pieces. The Democrats have & happy faculty of being undismayed. Nor are they dismayed now, although they have just gone through a defeat at the polls— & defeat that showed bitter dissensions within the party itself. Those Demo- crats, leaders in their own States, who have returned to Washington prepara- tory to the opening of Congress are already considering how best to “pick up the pieces” and reorganize a strong minority party which shall be ready to take advantage of any mistakes which their Republican opponents may make. Already there is talk of what must be done two years hence, when the next congressional election takes place. The presidential election of 1932 is still too far in the future for the most hardy of the Democrats to hazard a prediction of what the party’s course shall be. There will undoubtedly be a period of watchful waiting before the leaders ‘formulate any plans for that election. Here and there has been talk of the disintegration of the Democratic party, with the formation of new party lines. But this seems premature, if not en- tirely idle, at the present time. The Democratic party is a hardy affair. Despite its defeat and the fact that Mr. Hoover won 444 of the 531 elec- toral votes in the presidential race, Gov. Smith polled upward of 15,000,000 popular votes. Such a vote, greater than that ever cast before for a Dem- ocratic presidential candidate, success- ful or defeated, is calculated to give the Democrats the impression that the party is anything but dead. It is quite conceivable that there will be readjustments in the affairs of the Democratic party. There may be even a new leadership before the next four years have gone by. At present Gov. Smith is still the titular leader of the party. It is within the realm of pos- sibility that he and his friends may 2gain seek to dominate the party coun- cils and that he will be the nominee of the party in 1932. But it is not probable. Much will depend upon the course pursued by the Democrats in Congress. They will still strongly represented in both the Senate and the House. Leaders in Congress are discussing even now the course the party shall pursue. During the recent campaign the Dem- ocratic nominee for President did all in volume until civic organizations be- gan to take notice of conditions created by a left-hand turn which was a viola- tion of one of the fundamental rules of the road. ‘The advisory board of the American Automobile Assoclation is the latest to take up the cudgels in behalf of the harassed motor car driver and has adopted a resolution calling on the Commissioners to give consideration to a change back to the old method which was in conformity with the provisions of the model municipal traffic ordinance of the National Conference for Stweet and Highway Safety and with the prac- tice of almost every large American city. ‘The inside left turn, the turning from the center of the street rather than the right-hand curb which is now in effect, is a fundamental rule of the road and is based on the sound theory that it is safer to breast only one line of traffic in making a ‘turn than two lines, one of which is in the rear and conse- quently out of the vision of the motorist making the maneuver. The use of the center-of-the-street left-hand turn is practically universal, and if it had no other merits its Nation-wide acceptance even from the early days of motoring should be a declding factor in its favor. While there are no apparent weak- nesses, therefore, to the inside turn system, the outside curb method lends itself to criticism on various grounds. These include the fact that if more than two or three drivers desire to turn at a given intersection the accummula- tion of machines blocks entirely those who want to make the innocuous right- hand turn, that it causes dangerous zigzagging from one traffic line to an- other before an intersection is reached becauge an inside turn will be necessary it there is no officer on duty at that particular moment and an outside turn required if an officer is controlling traffic, that many motorists are unable to differentiate between the two kinds of turns made in Washington and that they, out of force of habit, will make the outside turn even at uncontrolled crossings, and finally that the line of cars waiting' to make the outside turn tends constantly to close up street space, resulting in delays to traffic and a menacing of safety. + Prompt action should most assuredly be taken by the Commissioners to in- vestigate conditions that are rapidly getting out of bounds due to the further use of a system that should be applied, if at all, only to the automatic lighted intersections. There can be no excuse for it otherwise and there are many of the opinion that the inside turn should again be made standard under all cir- cumstances throughout the entire city. o Investigations cannot restore the lives lost in the Vestris catastrophe. They are most valuable in providing precau- tions for the future with penalties for the past as a contributory influence. ——or—s. Discrepancies in Vestris Facts. Discrepancies between the testimony on the steamship Vestris disaster given by members of the crew and the Fed- eral inspectors. who have appeared in the case indicate that there is plenty of reason for the prosecution of the inquiries now in progress, that con- ducted by the Federal district attorney in New York and that just begun by the Department of Commerce. The in- spectors who have appeared before the department’s representatives declare that they gave the Vestris a thorough examination before pronouncing her seaworthy. They admit, however, that they failed to inspect six of the coal ports of the ship and therefore cannot swear that they were securely fastened. This, they explain, was due to the fact that they could not get at these coal ports because they were covered with coal. It has been testified by the crew that most of the water that entered the ship came through a leaking port. The he could to put the party n the. po- sition of supporting amendment or re- Peal of the dry law. He mst‘nvrrbonrd inspectors have also admitted that they did not actually lower the Vestris' life- boats Lo the water to see if they would are enforced in respect to the sea- worthiness of ships plying from Ameri- can ports, regardless of clamor and criticism in Great Britain on the score of improper methods of investigation. ————————— Youthful Tendencies. ‘With two young girls who have dem- onstrated a fondness for appearing in public in boys' attire recelving the attentions of the police during the past month, it should be evident to parents that this form of dress is indicative neither of good taste nor conducive to the wholesome, healthy frame of mind normally expected of those who are about to blossom into womanhood. In spité of the fact that civilization is now passing through what is com- monly known as the “jazz age,” the experience and knowledge which these two fifteen-year-old girls have displayed in their quests for “thrills” are shocking to the average person. Not only should parents rebuke sharply youthful tend- encies to depart from the conventional in apparal, but follow up the rebuke, if necessary, by actions which are gen- erally calculated to make the recal- citrant child eat off the mantelplece for a few days. — et ‘With so much money easily available, it is but natural that Senator Borah should seek to cancel the Sinclair debt and so.declare for an ethical standard in political finance. ———— The battleship “Maryland” has a noble and respected title. Any political differences expressed by Gov. Ritchie have nothing whatever to do with its present peaceful mission. e Aviation has to come down to earth. The location of ' a landing field is a proposition that closely interests the realtor. ———— The title of high authority does not always designate the true hero when lifeboats and radio call for ‘devotion to duty. ——— All that Gov. Al Smith asks at pres- ent is a popular deference to the decree which put him’ out of the political spotlight. —————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Evolution. Old wheelbarrow! Next a hoss, Bullt to pull the load across! Then the auto comes to view; And the airplane carries through. In Mechanics we are wise, ‘With results that must surprise; Here the theory we refute That we do not Evolute. . Reward of Greatness. “Why do you persist in politics?” “For several reasons,” answered Sen- ator Sorghum. “One of them is the special privilege enjoyed by a Govern- ment official in parking his auto.” In the Drowsy Court. Why did the lawyer speak so loud, His argument to make? He felt it was his mission proud ‘To keep the Court awake. Jud Tunkins says a flapper's conver- sation is generally dumb. You stop, look, but it’s a waste of time to listen. Gift Expectancies. We're told there is no Santa Claus To gladden all creation. We'll miss him, only just because He's off on a vacation. A few months hence, we'll gladly pause For joyous demonstration. He'll reappear 'mid great applause, At next Inauguration. Playing Fair. “Why do you insist on placing this particular night club next on the raid< ing list?” asked one sleuth. “We have been accused of favoritism,” answered the other. “This night club has filed a complaint that it isn't get- ting a fair share of the publicity.” “Great power,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “is magnificent until it asserts the privilege of being unjust.” Convincing Vocalization. The Orator spoke of the Law In phrases sometimes rough. The foot ball cheerman saif, “Rah! Rah!"— And that was quite enough. “A man dat sells his vote,” sald Uncle Eben, “is liable to find dat he has drawed a pore dividend on a big politi- cal investmenk" THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Kind offers to lead us to the “best cup of coffee” in town have come pour- ing in since the printing here last week of an article on good and bad coffee and the intensive search for the former by the “connoisseur.” Men have rushed off trains to grasp the writer by the hand and thank him for the dissertation on “light coffee” and “black coffee.” As a sample of the communications received on the sub- ject, we subjoin the following: “Dear Sir: I would have been ac- cused of writing that article of yours on the light coffee question did I pos- sess the deftness of touch and grace of style that gave it distinction. I am an adherent of your school of thought and you are only expressing my senti- ments when you exhibit your own. “I have found on my travels that the stronger the coffee thd weaker the cream. When it gets so strong that it is as bitter as I imagine prussic acid tastes, then the-cream is reduced to a minimum in quantity and becomes most aenemic in quality. Always the black- ness of coffee is in adverse ratio to the paleness of the cream so that their con- sistency approaches sirup and skim milk at their respective limits. It works out 2s a case of being ‘double-crossed’ or ‘whipsawed.” “When I first came to this town, I would order half a cup of coffee so that the accompanying portionlet of cream would have twice the modifying power of the strong concoction served. Al- most invariably I was given but half the ordinary dose of cream served, on the assumption that the proportionate in- adequacy was desired to be maintained. It took much argumentation and con- siderable persistency, worthy, of course, of the cause, to persuade the servitor that it was no act of compensation to deny me the conventional measure of cream merely because of my dis- claimer of the large portion of the cof- fee normally dispensed. “However, things have changed for the better and permanently. I do not want to gloat over the new sityation, but if you are inclined to have demon- strated the difference between ‘this’ and ‘thet’ in the coffee I would be very glad to steer you to the place where the cupboard is not bare and where you will be served in accordance with the requirements of a persistent, serfous and sincere drinker of light coffee. Sincerely, LV One may ask, after all, whether the personal enjoyment of a cup of coffee does not depend largely upon the per- son drinking it. No one—least of all the writer— would deny that coffee roasting is a scl- ence and that coffee making is an art. Yet there is an elusive quality about a cup of coffee—any cup of coffee—that does not permit of lumping the whole blame for a bad cup onto the shoul- ders of others. ‘We, as champlon of the Light Coffee School, will admit that much does, in- deed, depend upon the mood of the drinker. Take music. The same thing holds true in music. Every one who is honest with himself will admit that the state of his stom- ach has a great deal to do with his personal enjoyment of a concert. Lest any one be shocked, let it be stated at once that perhaps the great- est violinist in the world scme years ago wrote and published an article in which he asserted that no violinist This may be contrary to the ideas of some people about “art,” but art, after all, is based solidly on human be- ings, and human beings can do their best work when well fed. The great artist of whom we speak went on to say that if he mounted the concert platform withoul eating a bite lor two, he invariably found that he could not play to the best of his ability. If, on the other hand, he ate just a bit before beginning to play, he found his nerves steady, his fingers sure and his tone quality (as drawn from his in- strument) more esthetic, distinctly more spiritual. * k% % Since good coffee is, in itself, in the realm of food and drink, it can draw no support from that end, but must derive its help from spiritual things. This means nothing more nor less than that the coffee drinker who ap- proaches his cup of coffee in the right mood will discover a better cup of cof- fee there than if he had taken it up in a bad frame of mind. Let no one go astray here. A really bad cup of coffee, a cup too strong, or made from poor coffee, will throw even the most optimistic consumer into the depths of misery, No amount of optimism will make up for sour cream! Wverything else being equal, however, the cup that cheers is the cup that is met with a cheerful mind and heart. This is not metaphysics, but simply sound common sense. Coffee “fans” who will take the trouble to review their experiences in the light of this thought will find that those rare “perfect cups” came upon occasions Wwhem certain states of being existed in themselves. Perhaps it was a visit to the sea- shore, the first in many years. The wanderer had been pining for a sight of the sea for a long time. : He longed with a perfect longing for reunion with the damp, salt air, for & sight of the breakers, for thestrong wind in his face. He had not thought of the sea for years, but suddenly it had asserted itself, had conjured up pictures, visions_and dreams which were not to be_denied, i ‘When the train got to the beach, the wandercr rushed up to the boardwalk as if unwilling to wait a secand for a whiff of salt air. Ah! He breathed deeply. This was the life! When he went to his hotel, he was in a perfect frame of mind. The menu said, “French Drip Coffee.” When it came, he expected something extra— and found it. Never before, never since —alas—had he ever tasted such a cup of coffee! It was pure in taste, without the slightest bit of bitterness, yet full- flavored. One might have added an ocean of cream without lessening its “pody” or changing its fragrance. It was, and it will remain, the per- fect cup. And then, with the frailty of human nature, which is never satisfied to let well enough alone, he ordered a second cup. Experfence should have stayed his hand, but most human beings never learn, even by experience. ‘“‘Bring me another cup, please,” he sald. He awaited with expectation, but drank in chagrin. It was no more like the first cup than most of the mugs secured in little hole-in-the-wall places. He might have known it! The mood had vanished. Much, alas, could play his best on an empty stomach. WASHINGTON The mood, the mood! lies in the mood! OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Judge John Barton Payne, chairman of the American Red Cross, and Col. Ernest P. Bicknell, vice chairman in charge of insular and foreign opera- tions, are back from a great Red Cross peace conference at The Hague. Thg occasion was the thirteenth quinquen- nial meeting of the Red Cross socleties of the world. The main business in hand was to patch up some bitter post- war differences with the old Interna- tional Red Cross Committee of Geneva. In 1919, on the initiative of Henry P, Davison, head of the American Red Cross, the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan formed the League of Red Cross Societies. ‘The league determined to devote itself e: clusively to peace-time activities, pecially disaster rellef. Since its es- tablishment in 1863, the international committee has always specialized in war-time work. As the league swung into action the committee rather felt itself sidetracked. In consequence, in- ternal strife has raged among Red Cross leaders all over the world for the past nine years. At The Hague+this Fall, mainly due to the peace-making efforts of Judge Payne, who is chair- man of the board of governors of the League of Red Cross Societies, friendly relations have been re-establishéd with the international committee. The latter will continue to have the fleld of war exclusively to itself, while the Red Cross Socletles will, as in the past, concentrate thelr efforts in the domain of peace-time mercy. * k¥ % Citrus fruit played ne inconsiderable role in taking Florida’s electoral vote into the Republican column. Thereby hangs a Hoover tale. Three or four years ago the fruit growers of the Alli- gator State sent a deputation to Wash- ington to see if Dr. Hoover could pre- scribe a remedy for the rack and ruin which faced their grapefruit and orange groves. The deputation had a typical seance at the Department of Comm:erce, Hoover listened in silence to its tale of woe, looked no member of the party in the face, scribbled geomefrical designs on a scratch-pad, and appeared only mildly interested in what was being sald. Suddenly, as soon as the spokes- man of the party quit talking, Hoover, in a series of short and snappy state- ments, pointed out exactly what was wrong. He recommended a scientific co-operative marketing scheme, which included in particular a search for mar- kets remote from those to which com- peting California fruit growers natural- 1y cater. The Floridians proceeded to act on Hoover's suggestions in toto. Today the industry is prosperous, and Hoover gets the principle credit. Last year's citrus crop was worth $50,000,000, or 10 times what the United States paid Spain for Florida. About $200,000,000 is in- vested in groves and $9,000,000 more in packing houses. * ok kK Those Communist flags waved at Hoover in Palo Alto give timeliness to the National Civic Federation's country- wide campaign to prevent American recognition of Soviet Russia. —The federation declares that “formidable in- fluences and continued pressure in favor of recognition and trade agreements tain American business and financial interests, Their allles, the federation declares, are “all the radical groups” in the United States. ~Matthew ~Woll, acting president of the federation, is seeking written pledges from prominent citizens, approving of the anti-recogni- tion drive. Woll is one of the vice presidents of the American Federation of Labor and for many years has been an influential factor in the workers movement. He specializes in keeping organized labor out of the red. * ok kK Though it'll be nearly four months before the Hoover administration ke- comes a target for the bouquets and brickbats to hurled, respectively, by its friends and foes, a nickname has already been coined for the personal friends of the next President, who are not professional politiclans. They're called “boy scouts.” G. O. P. organ- ization wheelhorses expect to have early with Russia” are being exerted by cer-| and frequent brushes with the ‘“boy scouts” beforgeit’s definitely established who's who and what's what in the scheme of things around the White House after March 4, 1929. Meantime it is noted with some pain in certain quarters that none but “boy scouts” has been invited to accompany the Presi- dent-elect to South America. * ok ok K Here’s a paean of triumph just sent up by the Anti-Saloon League of America: “There will be a dry gain of 6 in the next Senate and a gain of 11 in the new House. Even more signifi- cant than the figures of comparative wet and dry strength is the fact that the wet leadership in Congress has been practically annihilated. The fa- mous B-E-E-R quartet has been re- duced to a solo performance, only Edge remaining of the old Bruce-Ed- wards-Edge-Reed combination. And Edge was not up for re-glection this time.” * k ok k Next Saturday, November 24, will witness the formal opening of* the United States prison for women, known as the Federal Industrial Institution, at Alderson, W. Va. Its establishment is one of the things on which Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt has concentrated for the past few years. Federal prisons come under her jurisdiction as Assist- ant Attorney Generzl. The average “population” at Alderson is about 100, although the actual number confined there at the close of the last fiscal year was 174, Of this total, 119 were im- prisoned for violation of the narcotic act. Prisoners are taught Red Cross nursing, English, arithmetic, stenog- raphy and typewriting, Americaniza- tion, physical education, agriculture, table service, household science, hand work and dressmaking. cooking, power sewing, laundry work, gardening and poultry work. * kK K Herbert Hoover owns to a hobby to which Woodrow Wilson was addicted. He likes detective stories. When the hydraulics, coefficients and economics of the day are behind him the Presi- dent-elect likes nothing better than to bury himself in Sherlock Holmes or cotemporary thrillers which specialize in Hawkshaw stuff. For years it's been one of the jobs of Hoover’s secretaries to see that his reading table always contains the latest and best in de- tective lore. (Copyright, 1928.) UNITED STATES N WORLD WAR Ten Years Ago Today. President Wilson signs the bill to make the country “dry” from July 1, 11019, until the Army is demo- | bilized. * * * When hostilities were | suspended, American aviators had de- stroyed 661 more German airplanes and 25 more German balloons than they had lost. Nine hun and twenty-six enemy planes and 73*balloons were de- | stroyed while the Americans lost 265 | planes and 38 balloons. * * * On November 11, the day the armistice 1 was signed, 740 American planes were ] actually engaged on the battle ifront. * * * One hundred and forty- five American passenger and merchant vessels and 775 lives were lost at sea dur- ing cur participation in the war, * * * The German sea power ends as the German high seas fleet was surrendered to the allies today. At a great gather- ing of 400 British, French and Ameri- | can vessels in the North Sea the formal | ceremony seals the doom of the German 1Navy. v o ‘The progress of the American 3d Army across the Duchy of Luxemburg has taken on the na- ture of a triumphal procession. Through streets_lined ‘with American flags and through villages filled with cheering peoples the American doughboys march. * * * Residents bf French and Belgian towns are busy cleaning up the buildings which have been oc- cupled by the Germans. Some of them, used by German officers, show evidences of indescribable filth, Z Politics at Large By G. Gould Lincoln. ‘The case of Senator-elect William S. Vare of Pennsylvania promises to bob up again soon after the Congress meets December 3. Mr. Vare was elected to the Senate two years ago. In the ordi- nary course of events Mr. Vare would have been sworn in and would have taken his seat in the Senate a year ago. Two attacks, however, were made on him. The first was a contest brought by William B. Wilson, Democratic can- didate for the Senate, who was de- feated by Vare. The second was the charge brought by the Reed slush fund committee, which maintained that Vare'’s nomination for the Senate had been accomplished through the ex- penditure of huge sums of money and that he was unfit to sit in the Senate. The Wilson contest has been handled by the Senate committee on privileges and elections. The Reed committes charges were held in abeyance until this contest could be settled. * ok ok % Now the votes cast in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other places in Pennsyl- vania have been counted under the supervision of the Waterman subcomi- mittee of the privileges and elections committee and much testimony has been taken. It is expected the sub- committee will soon be ready to make its report to the full commitice and the full committee to the Senate. The im- pression prevails that the Wilson con- test will be dismissed; that Vare re- celved a sufficient number of votes, even though many are thrown out as improper, to give the Philadelphia boss the election. The Senate itself, how- ever, must pass upon the report of the committee. If it decides in favor of Mr. Vare and against Mr, Wilson, who was Secretary of Labor in Fresident Wil- son’s administration, Mr. Vare will have jumped the first hurdle. The second, the charges brought by the Reed com- mittee, may prove much more difficuit. ‘When the Senate met last December the Reed slush fund committee had two cases of alleged corruption and excessive expenditure to report to the Senate, those of Mr. Vare and of Frank | Di Senator-elect from I strengih of reports of the committee, both these Senators-eleci were compelled to stand aside while the other newly elected Senators were permitted to take the oath of office. Mr. Smith went back to Illinofs and resigned to submit his case to the voters of his State. He was badly beaten in the senatorial primary last April, and so his case is likely never to come be- fore the Senate again for formal action. * Kk K * But Mr. Vare has pursued no such course. He has hung on. For a time it looked as though his ill health might step in to dismiss his case, tco. He suffered a stroke of paralysis not long after the Republican naticnal conven- tion at Kansas City. His friends feared he might die. But Mr, Vare has shown marked improvement in condition in recent weeks. He went back to Phil- adelphia to register and to vote in the recent election, although he was forced to use a wheel chair. Even now it is | reported that he is golng back to Phil- adelphia to resume the active control of Republican politics there and to at- tempt to bring to an end the difficulties which have arisen between Mayor Harry Mackey and District Attorney Mona- ghan. Monaghan has turned the city police force upside down with his in- vestigations of police protection to the bootleggers and the like. A statement from Mr. Vare said: “I have been asked by a number of prominent Republicans to use my good offices in an attempt to bring about harmony in the Republican party and to straighten out differences belween the mayor’s department and the office of the district attorney, the uccl}pmxts of the two offices being my friends.” * K K Just what Mr. Vare will be able to accomplish along this lize remains to be seen. It remains to be seen also whether Mr. Vare's control of party matters in Philadelphia has “slipped” so far that he cannot again dominate the situation in the City of Brotherly Love. There is no doubt that factions in the party have been girding for the struggle for supremacy in Philadelphia when Mr. Vare should no longer be the “boss.” The so-called differences between the mayor and the district at- torney may have had their basis in this embryonic struggle for control of the city politics. The Senate has been distinctly un- favorable to the seating of Mr. Vare in the past. There is no indication so far that the sentiment against him has changed. A strong appeal has been made by Mr. Vare's supporters that he must be seated on the theory that a sovereign State has a right to send, with proper credentials, any man it de- sires to represent it in the Senate. If the Senate laier determined to throw him out, that was another thing. It requires a_two-thirds vote to oust a Senator. It is doubtful that a two- thirds vote could be mustered against Mr. Vare, once he has been seated. His opponents, therefore, have taken the ground that, a Senate commiitee having investigated his case thoroughly, the Senate is fully informed and capable of acting on the Vare case without his first being sworn in. The plan has been to deny him a seat. * kK Efforts. will be made to settle the Vare case at the coming session. With its close, Senator Reed of Missouri, the chairman of the slush fund committee, which reported against Mr. Vare, goes out of office. " Furthermore, the oppo- nents of the seating of Vare are more strongly intrenched than they might be in the new Senate which takes of- fice after March 4. It may be diffi- cult -to force the Vare matter to a vote in the short session, however, al- though the case is regarded as a priv- ileged matter. L The wets are taking hope from the result of a referendum in Massachusetts on a proposition that the eighteenth amendment be repealed. The reports are to the effect that with only six small precincts missing from the contest, which was conducted in 36 of the 40 State senatorial districts, 697,735 per- sons voted for repeal and only 414,512 voted against repeal. This gives the wets a margin of 283,223. Massachu- setts was one of the eight States which cast their electoral votes for Gov. Alfred E. Smith, who championed the cause of dry law amendment and repeal. * ok ok ok Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City, who has been- the Democratic boss not only of his own city, but of the State, will be summoned to appear before the bar of the State Legislature next Mon- day to answer charges of contempt. The mayor declined to appear before the Case committee, investigating al- leged corrupt practices in Hudson County, which includes Jersey City, when he was summoned a few days before the recent election. He main- tained that the legislative committee was seeking to play politics by calling him before it on the eve of an elec- tion. His refusal to appear and an- swer the committee's questions was criticized not only by Republicans, but by many of the Democrats themselves, who believed that his declination left in the minds of the voters the impres- sion he had something to conceal. On election day, New Jersey, notwithstand- ing its reputed wetness, went over- whelmingly for Hoover and ooainst Smith, and at the same time turned Senator Edwards, one of the principal opponents of prohibition in the Con- gress, out of office. Mr. Hague has ruled the Democratic organization in Jersey with an iron hand. His rule has made enemies as well as friends. Much hangs in the balance for him politically in the prose- cution of the case against him now under way. ‘It is entirely within the bounds of possibility that, when the mat- ter is concluded, a new hoss of ths Pemocratic party may loom in New ‘would be popular in many quarters. ANSWERS TO QUESTIO BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Many readers send in cuestions signed only with initials, asking that the answers appear in the newspaper. The space is limited and would not accom- modate a fraction of such requests. The answers published are ones that may interest many readers raiher than the one who asks the question only. All questions should be ac with the writer's name and 2 cents in coin or stamps for reply. Send your question to The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has- kin, director, Washington, D. C. Q. How can the death rate from motor accidents for 1928 be determined before the year is over?—L. K. A. The National Safety Council says that they are annual rates on a nine- month basis. They show :he number of motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 population for the entire vear 1928, if the average monthly deaths during the remainder of the year should be the same as in the first nine months. Q Did John Drew ever play any Shakespearean roles?—R. W. N. A. He was greatly admired for his role of’Petruchio in “The Taming of the Shrew.” He also played the role of Orlando in “As You Like It” and the King of Navarre in “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” Q. Did the Graf Zeppelin mail be; special stamps?—F. L. D. A. There were no special Graf Zep- pelin stamps issued. There was a spe- cial postmark for mail brought over on this airship. . Please give some data about the dikes of Holland.—M. McL. A. The dikes which protect the Nether ds from the North Sea in many cases go back to Roman times. Many are raised as much as 40 t above high-water mark and are wide enough st the top for a general road- way or canal. They are made of earth protected by stone slopes and by piles and at the more dangerous points by artificial structures of brushwood, laden with stcnes. The West Kapelle ike is 12,468 feet long and hes a sea- ope of 300 fe 2 Q. What is the purpose of the Lord's Day Allance?—FP. E. P. A. The Lord’s Day Alllance of the United States is an organization of 19 Christian denominations. Its pur- pese is to defend and preserve the Lord's day as a day of rest and worship, to secure a weekly rest day for the toiler, and to promote constructive Sun- day legislation and law enforcement. Q. When were rifles st: ized?— P rifles standardized?- A. Rifles were standardized only aft- 3’1 ;Lhcnspan{isa-.:]rlnencan ‘War, {Tp to ime, liter e ly hundreds of types Q. How large do turtl th% Fllo;ida f]oast?—J.LF. ;: e o ggerheads weighing more th: ’(WO;)" eprgunds have been found in floflgg Q. Why is ofte part of Y i called “West Riding"g—F. M. S A. Yorkshire in England is divided into three divisions or ridings, north, east and west. The word “riding” is g:rn:’ the old “thriding,” meaning “third Q. What is the purpose of the Cham- ber ofNCoé'nmerce of the United States? A. The purpose of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States is to encourage trade and commercial in- tercourse between the States and the insular possessions of the United States and also with foreign nations. It is also Interested in the co-operation be- tween chambers of commerce, boards of trade and other commercial and man- ufacturing organizations. It is inter- ested In promoting uniformity and equity in business usage laws and the proper consideration and_concentration of opinion on questions affecting finance and commerce. Q. Are there such things as blue, green and red diamonds?—V. B. A. The Geological Survey states that | blue, green and red diamonds are very rare, but that they are colored as their names indicate. Q For whom was Ellis Island E. C. named?—C. E. C. A i to a typewritten sketch loys Maerz, Ellis Island, on the origin of the name “Ellis Island,” which was also known by the names of “ 1 s Island” ‘Bucking Island,” it received the name of “Eillis Island” from Samuel Ellis, & butcher of Manhattan. Mr, Maerz states that no record has been found of the exact date of the naming of the island, but it is known from an advertisement that it was possessed by Sz el Ellis as early as February 21, 1785. His residence at that time, ac- cording to the advertisement, was 1 Greenwich street, at North River, near Bear Market. Q. Please give the names of the Three Furies and the Three Fates.—H. W. P. A. The Three Furles were named: Alecto, the unresisting; Megaera, the jealous; Tisiphone, the avenger. The three fates were: Clotho, the spinner; Lachesis, the disposer of lots; Atropos, the inevitable. Q. What Is the legend of the Flying Dutchman?—J. C. F. A. The Flying Dutchman was a Dutch sea captain named Van Stra: ho was condemned to safl the h seas in a spectral ship, the sight of which was regarded as a bad omen by sailors. Similar legends are current in Germany and in England. Originally, it is related, the captain was delayed by head winds while trying to turn the Cape of Good Hope and swore blas- phemously that he would beat around it if it tock him until judgment day. Q. When will the next Calcutta Derby be run?—C. C. P. A, It will be run the lact Wednesday in May or the first Wednesday in June. Q. How many States use voting ma- chines?—D. C. A. Twenty-two States are reported to gh%_m voting machins o Q. Did Canada h crop this year?—B. P. A. Canada had a wheat crop of 500,- 000,000 bushels, which is estimated to be the largest in Canadian history. moQfi.fiW?;]lt tStabes ha&i the most tall and short men during tr War?—N. K. e A. According to the surgeon general's report, Texas had the most g\ell men fx{:;x‘] Rhode Island had the most short Q. Does the President of the Unites Stgtef] h;ve an allowance for expensles(?' e & large wheat reé‘e.} The Pr:lsldentlog 7cé1e United States s a salary of ,000 a about $125,000 for the upkeep. of e mansion, and $25,000 for traveling cx- penses. Q. How much do the cabinet minis- figrsNar England cost the caum.ry?‘i- A. The aggregate sum expended en- nually for the 36 ministers of Greas Britain is estimated to be between £170,000 and £180,000. The cabinet system of government has been criti~ cized as unwieldy by Lord Lansdowne, Lord Haldane also has suggested im- provements in the system. Q. What organizations compose Arfiver;can Council of Learned Sp:cieute};g A. The American Council of Le: Societies consists of the Iollowm:mx cleties: American Philosophical So- clety, American Academy of Arts and Sclences, American Antiquarian Soclety, American _ Oriental Society, American Philological Association, Archaeological Institute of America, Modern Language Association of America, American His- torical Association, American Economic Association, American _Philosophical Association, American Political Science Association, American Sociological So- ciety, Linguistic Society of America, History of Science Society and Mediae- val Academy of America. Coolidge Armistice Day Speech Subject of National Comment Interpretations of President Coolidge’s Armstice day speech range all the way from warmly approving assertions that he correctly voiced the attitude of the United States and cleared the interna- tional atmosphere to sharply ecritical suggestions that he has turned jingois- tic o put through a naval building pro- ecognizing that “at home and abroad there is both praise and criticism,” the Utica Observer-Dispatch (independent) feels that “this was to be expected, and it is probable that the President an- ticipated discussion all along the line.” That paper on its own account expresses the belief that “the short session of Congress will pass the cruiser-building neasure without much trouble,” but that s Mr. Coolidge “is not an The Albany Evening News administration, which he reviewed i detail. It _was intended as delens’; of this policy against criticisms that have been made of it both at home and abroad, and as such should win universal respect.” The Rock Island Argus (independent) advises: “Europe will do well to heed the- President’s warning. He spoke as the President of Ehs United States should speak at this im: Charging that the Franco-British pact “is an affront to the League of Nations,” that “protesting British stat men _condemn it as ‘incompatible g1 the Locarno policy’” and that “it does violence to the Kellogg multi treaty,” the Spokane Spokesms view asks, “To what other conclu- sion can come an observing world than (independent Republican) iolds that “the address should clear the air,” and | that “if it has sharpness it is clean | sharpness, which should leave no| wound.” The Evening News concludes | that “he says plainly that America will | not weaken itself, but it will work for| peace.” | “Now that he is going out of office | and turning the Government over to| Mr. Foover, he is letting himself out a | bit,” says the Charleston Evening Post (independent Democratic), with the comment that “the British are said to be well pleased with Mr. Coolidge’s ut- terance, since they take it to mean that the United States will ultimately agree o Great Britain building up the kind of navy it wants while the United States | does likewise according to its supposed requirements.” * K ok ok “The world needs peace for its pros- | perity and the United States will never | disturb it,” according to the Indianapo- lis Star (independent Republican), hich offers also the interpretation that “Mr. Coolidge recognizes that mutual understanding is the only agency through which the age-old suspicion of Europe can be dissipated. ‘The Wi terloo Tribune (independent Progres- sive) suggests that “maybe it's more a naval agreement the President wants than a larger Navy.” “The most interesting feature of the message,” in the opinion of the Hart-| ford Times (independent Democratic), “was not his advocacy of a ]al‘gcr‘ cruiser-building program, but his clear presentation of the whole combined foreign and preparedness policy of his —_— Jersey. Mr. Hague is a member of the Democratic national committee and its vice chairman. * K kK Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes Gover- nor of New York the first of the year by | virtue of his recent election. No man in public life, barring President-elect Hoover, will be under closer scrutiny during the next year. His administra- tion as chief executive of the Empire State may make him the foremost figure in the Democratic party, much as it made Gov. Smith. Mr. Roosevelt's re- markable run against a strong candidate nominated by the Republicans has been the subject of much comment. If he makes good as governor, he is lkely to |t go far. Among the suggestions for places in the Hoover cabinet is one that proposes former Senator James W. Wadsworth of New York as Secretary of War. = Mr. ‘Wadsworth was formerly chairman of the Senate military affairs committee. He2 has a great grasp of matters afiect- ing the Army and his appointment the conclusion voiced by President Coolidge?” i K “The President’s speech, delivered on the tenth anniversary of the war to end war, sounded very much as if he did not put much faith in Secretary Kellogg’s muitilateral treaty.” remarks the Columbus Ohio State Journal (Re- publican). Nevertheless the Tulsa World (independent) thi ihe speech “will find warm and sympathetic ap- proval in every American breast.” The Montgomery Advertiser (Democratic) states: “We are glad that Mr. Cool- idge is at last stirred. Let us hope that he will impart some of his new- found enthusiasm to Congress when it meets in December.” The St. Louis Times (Republican) believes that “European editors are likely to admire a spunky statement.” Among the severest critics of the President is the Richmond News- eader (independent Democratic), which charges that the speech “shows very plainly that he is getting his informa- tion from men who only look down a gun barrel.” The St. Louis Post-Dis- paich (independent) finds “a_disquiet- ing certainty that what has happened ill give great strength to the big Navy bloc in Congress.” * ok koK Calling the address “brusque and out of tune with customary public utte ances upon questions touching relations between friendly powers,” the Louisville Times (independent) continues: "It is difficult to account for it otherwise than upon the ground that it may have been inspired by advisers, who, wanting the naval bill passed, regardless of trealy ratification, want'jingoistic popu- lar sentiment stirred up by the sort of appeal the unsophisticated can un- derstand and rejoice in.” “What many Americans would like to know,” remarks the Nashville Banner (independent), “is why our present Navy is insufficient. They are in no way criti- cal of the Armistice day speech and are ready to follow the Coolidge recom- mendation, but from what powers must we resume the building of control vessels to defend ourselves? Just wherein lies any menace?” The Raleigh News and Observer (Democratic) adds, ‘“Desir- able as large forelgn investments may be, it can scarcely be conceded by any patriotic American that a powerful I‘Lavy must be maintained to protect skl “The mitigating circumstance is that the address comes at a time when the speaker is preparing to evacuate the office in favor of another,” suggests the Omaha World-Herald _ (indcpendent). The Savannah Press (Democratic) ar- gues that “we were rather slow in help- ing the allics in war, and now we fre painfully so in advancing the cause of peace.” L