Evening Star Newspaper, February 14, 1929, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR |~ _With Sunday Morning Edition. ! WASHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY...February 14, 1920 | ,THEODORF W. NOYES....Editor mmmflmcm Business Office: wEE S R European Office; 14 E&m B Lotidon, Englan Rate by Carrier Within the City. The Evenine Star. ... 45cper month he Evening and Sunday St (when 4 Sundays) 60c per month 65¢ per month .5¢ per copy Collection made at the end of each month. Orders may be sent in by mail or telephone Main 5600 Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland l‘ d V;Ilrnxlnh; gmy only .. unday only Daily end Su Daily only . Sundsy only Member of the Associated Press. The Assoctated Press is exclusively entitled 1o the use for republization of all news dis- atches credited to it or not ofherwise cred- fted in this paper and also the local news published herein. All rights of publication of pecial dispatches herein are also reserved. = = Co-Operation Needed. Close co-operation between the forces that fight to expose and punish gambling, bootlegging, bribery and graft in Washington should bring wholesome results. Bitter wrangling, accompanied | by angry recrimination, between these forces can only help the guilty to escape. Fire should be concentrated upon the common enemy. The Commissioners, representing the President and the local community, are, the people of Washington believe, honestly endeavoring to separate the guilty from the innocent in the police force and to punish to the limit those convicted of criminality. They have sought in this campaign to observe the constitutional provisions which protect the accused against injustice. Their in- sistence that the accused be confronted by the witnesses against him should not be denounced. It is in the interest of the community and not merely of the accused. It tends to avoid miscarriage of justice by failure of proof even when the accused is guilty or by conviction on insufficient evidence which will not stand the test of appeal. In this campaign the Commissioners, representing the President, co-operate with the Attorney General, also repre- senting the President, and with Repre- sentatives and Senators, representing the legislative branch of the National Government, which makes our laws and suggestion of a Summer White House on December 9. Following that sug- gestion, many places were proposed and sites offered, mostly with the view of real estate promotion, The action of President Coolidge clears all this away and removes the question of a Summer ‘White House from the speculative mar- ket. ‘The proposal is warmly welcomed by the people of that region. A delegation of 250 leading citizens from thereabouts, under the leadership of Robert N. Harper, waited upon Senators Swanson and Glass and Representative R. Wal- ton Moore about six weeks ago, recom- mending that the Mount Weather property be taken and expressing their pride in the possibility that the Presi- dent might be a fellow citizen for at least part of the year. The Senate and House leaders have deferred action be- s50c | cause they had no intention of doing anything to interfere with the Presi- dent's plans. It is almost certain that both houses lo’: of Congress will act promptly on the | President’s proposal, and that the $48,000 he asks for repair work on the existing buildings will be appropriated in the second deficiency bill now being drafted. Herbert Hoover, who surprised the country by capturing the electoral vote of Virginia, may be a resident in the Blue Hills of Virginia, within a few months, as the first President to occupy a Government-owned Summer White House. It is “a consummation devoutly to be wished.” ) Maryland and Virginia Parks. One of the interesting aspects of the Cramton park bill is the questionable participation by the adjacent States in carrying out their part of the proposed creation of the memorial parkway along the banks of the Poiomac and in ex- tending the Capital's park system into Maryland. Speculation as to the reac- tion of Maryland and Virginia to the bill may be premature, as the Cramton bill has not been passed by Congress and each day of delay increases the odds against its passage at this short session of Congress. But if the bill passes Congress, the success of the measure in developing for park pur- poses the borders of the Federal Capi- tal will be tested in communities where the expenditure of the taxpayers’ money lles with the taxpayers themselves. The outcome of the experiment will be watched with interest here in Wash- ington, which has no voice in the use of its own tax-raised revenue. As far as Maryland and Virginia are concerned, the Cramton bill is gen- erous. It offers to match dollar for controls the Nation’s purse-strings. Let us hope that all these powerful agencies will heartily co-operate to give our police force a thorough cleansing from corruption, carefully separating the guilty from the innocent, and relentlessly punishing the former, on conviction. This combined campaign does not, of course, stop short with the conviction or acquittal of Capt. Burlingame. That event will doubtless be merely the be- ginning and not the termination of the battle, The whole police foree is to be cleansed from corruption and the guiltiess are to be relieved from the suspicion of corruption. ‘To this end the presence here of the prosecuting witness in the Bur- lingame case should be persuaded or compelled. If she is telling the truth and bribery is disclosed there are bribers as well as bribed to be punished. Let no guilty man escape! Why the World Loves Lindy. When Lindbergh was asked by news- Paper men about his engagement to Miss Morrow, he said: “I will confine my remarks to avia- tion.” He might have said: You may tell my public that this is the supremely haj moment of my life. Our betrof is the culmination of & romance that began when I was a mere lad of ten and she a lass of five. I was even then interested in aviation ask me whether our marriage will fere with my flying. You may tell my public that my art—for one may refer to flying as an art, may one not?— will not suffer by my a pilot on board. Exceg: to repeat that I count myself the happlest and the luckiest man in the world today, that is all that I can say at this time. I wish to "h.]:t;l: my public for its sincere good But he did not say that. And that is why the world loves Lindy. —ate. Where Mr. Coolidge will dwell when he becomes an ex-President is still a matter of question. Washington has become & fine large city, and the more or less austere dignities of the White House do not prevent the formation of many agreeable neighborly contacts. —————r—t— The Summer White House. ‘The Summer White House, on beauti- ful Mount Weather, Va,, seems assured. President Coolidge took the most direct short cut late yesterday by sending to Congress a supplemental estimate for putting in proper shape the buildings on a most desirable site which the Government already owns. Just as he is about to leave the White House, it was & most gracious act for President Coolidge to go to the limit of executive authority to provide & suit- able Summer White House that he will probably never occupy. An incoming President would hesitate to appear to be “feathering his own nest,” and Mr. Coolidge has done a really worth-while action for the future conduct of the office of Chief Executive. Mount Weather is an ideal place for 8 Summer White House, only 60 miles from the Capital City, an hour-and-a- half easy run. It is 1,800 feet above sea level, with wonderful temperature. It is some three or four miles off the thor- oughfare, which is a desirable feature, giving that exclusiveness so essential for the President. As regards recreational features, there are three golf courses nearby—at Berry- ville, Purcellville and Middleburg. It is adjacent to the fox-hunting section just south. There is abundant fishing in the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers close by. The area of the property is 83 acres. ‘The view of the valley and of the “Blue Hills of Virginia” is superb and unsur- passed in this part of the world. Four counties gre visible from this vantage point. The property itself laps into two countles, Clarke and Loudoun. Mount Weather was the President’s own selection. He had this particular place in mind when he made h;l first dollar expenditures in Maryland and Virginia for buying land and develop- ing the parkway along the Potomac. It offers to spend one dollar of Federal funds for every two dollars spent by Maryland in extending the Capital’s park system into that State. It offers to advance Federal money for the cost of the entire projects, provided the State will refund, without interest, their share of this money within five years. A suggested amendment to the Cram- ton bill would permit the Park and Commission, in co-operation with the State authorities, to decide upon subprojects and purchase the land and develop them, without making the development of the subprojects con- tingent upon the development of the whole. In other words, the entire bill is designed to make the way for Mary- land and Virginia as easy and attrac- tive as possible. The States, or the po- litical subdivisions of the States, may take advantage of the Cramton bill's provisions as their budgetary needs and their available revenue permit. 1If Maryland and Virginia fail to take advantage of the Cramton bill and ap- propriate the necessary funds, the ex- planation will be simple. Delegates in the Legislatures from counties far dis- tant from Washington will not permit the use of State funds for what they conceive to be benefits limited to the taxpayers of those counties adjacent to Washington. If the taxpayers of these counties cannot foot the bill themselves, the success of the Cramton bill would thus be endangered. ‘To Washington, this is a familiar complaint. It has been raised time and again by our legislators who have sought to block the expenditure of Fed- eral funds for developing the National Capital on the ground that the people of far-distant States will derive no di- rect benefit therefrom. It will always serve as a stumbling block to Capital development until such development is properly envisioned as a national un- dertaking, supported by all Americans without regard to the benefits, real or imaginary, accruing to those who hap- pen to be members of the Capital com- munity. ———————————— ‘There are many important economic matters to be considered, but all the British public has to say to King George, just now, is “Take care of your health.” The Cruiser Program, and After. President Coolidge, in signing the cruiser bill, has probably affixed his name to the last major piece of legis- lation he will be called upon to ap- prove before leaving office two weeks and a half hence. Though the ship- building program carries provisions to which he demurred, the President should derive satisfaction from the knowledge that, in the form in which it now becomes law, the cruiser bill com- mands the overwhelming support of the country. It was passed in both branches of Congress by enormous majorities. House and Senate were subjected to terrific and organized pressure to de- feat it. But rating the needs demon- strated of national defense higher than the specious arguments of the anti-preparedness groups, Congress voted the vessels the Navy requires. The cruisers are indispensable if Amer- ican sea power is to be kept commen- surate with our necessities and with our rightful ratio of strength as against that of Great Britain and Japan. ‘While we proceed to lay down the ships at the specified rate of five a year during 1929, 1930 and 1931, it is sincerely to be hoped by all friends of Anglo-American amity that the Borah- Reed amendment to the cruiser bill will not become a dead letter. In the womb of that proviso for international agreements on sea law lies the seed of future peace between the English- speaking nations. As long as there is {no genuine effort to bring 1t to life, | good Anglo-gmesican relations will be sur- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1929.° THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. | charged with the everlasting perfl of conflict. Once the rights of neutrals and belligerents are defined by a hard- and-fast Anglo-American understanding, or by a muiltilateral pact as world- wide as the Kellogg treaty, it is well- nigh impossible to conceive of a casus belli between Uncle Sam and John Bull. Common sense is the most vaunted quality of the peoples who nowadays claim Lincoln and Shakespeare as mu- tual traditions. Is there any reason- able ground for doubting that Ameri- James A. Reed and Charles Evans Hughes and Englishmen of the caliber of Stanley Baldwin, Lord Robert Cecil and Lord Lee of Fareham could get to- gether and evolve a sea-law code ac- ceptable to their respective peace-crav- ing countries? The admirals would have their places in such deliberations, but they would have to be secondary places. The people whose lives and fortunes are at stake would expect the statesmen to dominate and predomi- nate. The bringing about of a com- mon-sense discussion of maritime law is the highest practical ideal to which American and British leaders can at this hour devote themselves. They are assured immortality if, daring to achieve, they do so. Meantime, in deciding upon a cruiser- building program designed to bring us to the level of the 5—5—3 ratio con- templated, though not expressly speci- fied, by the Washington treaty, the United States has done the only logi- cal thing we could do. It is at once a measure of self-defense and a gesture to the world which will not be misunder- stood overseas. The debates in Con- gress showed clearly why the United States requires an armada‘ of fast, high-powered cruisers. Once remove the necessity for maintaining such a fleet—a necessity of which we, of course, have no monopoly—and the heavy burden of modern naval arma- ment will become superfluous. ‘What the Congress and the President of the United States this month have done, then, is to say to a hesitant world beyond our shores that if sea law is not so ordered as to afford our com- merce that protection to which it is entitled, we shall provide that protection in terms of ships and guns. e Lindbergh bears himself with charac- teristic security, whether figuring in the news of mail aviation or in the wedding announcements of the society columns. ———— Conferences may raise questions in the mind of President-elect Hoover as to when a vacation is in reality a period of particularly hard work. o Many jazz bands may feel inclined to complain of any inexpert navigation which permits so many interruptions by S O S signals. o American literature promises some exhilarating effects in the way of “zip- ple” items in.the Congressional Record. A Mexican high official may be par- doned if he is less concerned about his uniform than about his bulletproof vest. ) The ground hog saw his shadow, but goes into the discard along with witch- craft and various other superstitions, e A printed valentine saves the kind of embarrassment so often arising from an autograph love letter. E— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Buttin’ In. Just Buttin' In! It causes woe At first, to mortals here below, As it lets down the soclal bars And carries theories to the stars. ‘We greet with smiling and we say, “Let Gentle Folly have its way. To crash the party is no sin. ‘Who shall be blamed for Buttin' In?” Tom Edison once left us gay By promises of a later day, When new inventions that seemed strange To earth would bring tremendous change. The populace with one accord Laughed lightly at the ‘brief word, “Ford.” The men who now the honors win Are those who just kept “Buttin’ In.” Stern Necessity. “How did you happen to go into poli- tics?” “For the same reason,” said Senator Sorghum, “that in youth I once went into a restaurant as a waiter. I was out of politics and I hadn't any other place.” Jud Tunkins says it's a mistake to work too fast. In making money it's better to be a financier than a counter- feiter, Safety First. “You have refused at least a dozen times to marry me.” “Then, why,” asked Miss Cayenne, “do you insist on proposing?” “It makes agreeable conversation. And I feel that it is perfectly safe,” “Slight actions,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “often have great effects. Even so small a matter as placing a postage stamp on a letter may change the current of a lifetime.” Mentalities. ‘The valentine is now on show, With rhyming gayly gentle. It is not mental, as we know; It’s only sentimental, “I loves my fellowmen,” said Uncle Eben, “but de one I loves most of all is de good loser in a crap game.” Radiotorials. St. Valentine's the pilot now, And joyously he brings Lindbergh a chance of learning how To use Dan Cupid's wings. In Turkey Trotsky has been found; His life is tempest tossed. Nobody seems to want him round. He's luckiest when he's lost. Men's knowledge must be dearly bought. Now as you listen safe and warm To brave Comdr. Byrd give thought, Who faces unrelenting storm. A Woodpile! What's That? From the Muskegon Chronicle. A man who robbed a bank was found in a woodpile. “:I‘lmill;lls mb‘er;sz; ing, largely because will remin ' m:::;’ people that we still have We cans of the caliber of William E. Borah, | John Kieran, who writes a column of sport chat for the New York Times, re- cently told the diverting story of a rookie at a Florida training camp who entertained the boys by playing one of Liszt's “Hungarian Rhapsodies” on a harmonica from sheet music resting on a silver stand. Unusual, to say the least. But we have seen—and heard—queerer than that. You should have heard—and seen—TVirgil the cornetist, who no doubt has settled down by this time. Virgil came from a small country town where music was a thing of brass bands and parlor pianos. This was before the day of the radio, almost be- fore the phonograph. When the boys wanted some music they went to pay a call on Sallie Jones, the village belle, and stood around the pianoforte lout- ishly singing the praises of a certain sweet Adeline. Virgil, whose father was a preacher and whoce mother was the daughter of one, came by his classical name hon- estly. The other children were named Cicero, Horatius and Julius Caesar. Cicero played the bass drum, Horatius the trombone and Julius Caesar the big horn; baritone, we believe it is called. Virgil shone on the cornet. When little Virgie stepped out to the eight footlights on the stage of the music hall and held his shining instrument | aloft there was a glitter which was ex- ceeded only by the cascade of sounds which he blew through it. Virgil really could play the cornet, in other words. He could make it stand on its hind lers and chew air. He was a big, powerful brute, who had the lung capacity to instill respect into a cornet. * ok ok K If there ever was a rube, however, Virgil was he (or it, should you say it?). Anyway, Virgil had never been any place. It wasn't his fault. Nobody in his home town had been any place. A few of the older men had been up to the “big town,” 50 miles away, only to return singing the praiscs of home. They were stuck up, up there, and no mistake. When Virgil went to College and made the Glee. Club it was almost equivalent to joining the Navy and seeing the world, only Virgil's' world was restricted to his native State. It was a world big enough for Virgil, how- ever. The boys of the club were divided into pairs, and Virgil happened to draw a finicky young man from one of the big cities, a chap who had been around and knew how to act, as they say. You see, Virgil didn't. There was no occasion for acting at home. One just lived. Nobody had ever seen a finger bowl. There was a basin in the kitchen and a big towel with a red border on a rcller behind the door. The first thing Virgil ran into on his virgin trip was Cimex lectularius. His mother had been too good a house- keeper to ever have tolerated this blood-sucking hemipterous insect, but the hotel at which Virgil and his “roomie” put up had no such ideals. Quantities of Cimexes began to per- ambulate the moment the lights were out. Virgil's finicky roommate stood it for almost 10 minutes, but at the end of that time he turned on the light and then sat up in a chair for the remainder of the night. Virgil awoke, inquired the cause of the disturbance, smiled, rolled over, and went back to sleep. “They won't bite me,” he sald before unconsciousness overtook him. ‘They didn't, either. He was much too tough for any hemipterous insect that ever lived. ‘When Virgil got to the next town he was beginning to take on society airs. Travel broadens one so! The boys came from the train with their various musical instruments swung across their backs, and their clothes full of cinders. It had been a hot, dirty ride, and every one wanted a bath. ‘We trust no one will be offended by these details. People do take baths, just as they run up against the insect pre- viously mentioned. “Whatever is hu- man is not distasteful to me,” said some great somebody or other, and these things are essentially human. So_the boys were longing for baths. virgil's buddie jumped squarely into the tub, and when he emerged the water was tinged with coal soot. “Wait a minute,” said he. “I'll clean out the tub for you.” Virgil's answer was classic. It went ringing down the classic halls on a certain campus from then on, and no doubt is still echoing there. “Oh, that’s all right!” said Virgil. “Oh, that's all right!” And before the other could prevent him he leaped into the same tubful of water. He was economical, was Virgil. * % K ok We could give endless stories about Virgil—particularly those about his first meeting with a grapefruit, a thing that had never been seen in his home town, and his surprise at the sight of a poached egg—but we prefer to tell about some other unusual musicians. There was George, the mandolin player, who happened to be left-handed, and so strung his instrument up back- ward. He held the pick (sometimes fancily called the plectrum) with his left thumb and forefinger, and fingered the strings with his right hand. He was a Sicilian barber, who not only prided himself on being able to play a mandolin backward but with three fin- gers, at that, as the last two were miss- ing on his right hand. He cut hair with his trio of fingers, as strange as it may sound—he was left- handed musically but right-handed in a professional way—going over the heads of customers with such speed that often he got their hair entirely lopsided. If his attention was called to this deviation, he would insist that the cus- tomer had moved or he would attempt to divert their attention from their new peculiarity to the difficulties of playing the mandolin when the G string was where the E string ought to have been. ‘Tom was a zither expert. This is the national instrument of Switzerland, and a real expert can make real music on one. Bui Tom was a butcher bv pro- fession. His repertoire was limited to “Swanee River” and “Old Black Joe.” When he got tired of Flaying “Old Black Joe” he simply played “'Way Down Upon the Swanee Ribber.” He never permitted music to worry him much. Bill and his ocarina occupy a sepa- rate place in memory. A man who can make music on one of those clay sweet potatoes may not exactly be a musician, but he is something or other, and no mistake about it. Bill played the thing with both hands folded over, so. He might have done better by throwing it away entirely and simply whistling, but the fingering would have been missing in such an event, and no doubt the fingering is half of music to a musician. Virgil, George, Tom, Bill—there is a quartet fit to rank with Mr. Kieran's musical rookie. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. “For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: “To uphold and defend the Constitu- tion of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a 100 per cent Amer- icanism, ete.” All the other pledges and ideals set forth in the preamble of the constitu- tion of the American Legion are in di- rect harmony with the above-enunci- ated phrases. So the American Legion shuts its doors against atheists, gang- sters, lawbreakers and hyphenates, while it welcomes all veterans of the World War who continue to be law- abiding, God-fearing American patriots. There is not a word in the constitution making it a champion of “militarism,” but it opposes ‘“slackerism,” whether during war or peace, while “incuicating a sense of individual obligation to the community, State and Nation,” “to pro- mote peace and good will,on earth” and “to consecrate and sanctify our com- radeship by devotion to mutual’ help- fulness.” * ok ok ok Today, this organization numbers more than 860,000 members, with 1,100 posts, spotting the entire country. There has never before been in Ameri- ca so strong and national an organiza- tion of any class of citizens as the American Legion. The Grand Army of the Republic never held so nation-wide a position, however it may have set the example for the later patriotic organi- zation; for the G. A. R. could not in- clude the veterans of the Confederate Army, while with the Legion there is no North, no South, no East nor West. Neither is there any distinction of rank: all members are “buddies,” whether Gen. Pershing or the most humble dcughboy who never got be- yond his home camp. Gen. Pershing is an active member of the ploneer Legion post, and a member of its board of directors controlling its headquarters building. * ok ok ok ‘There is no region in America where the development of the American Legion has been so atrophied as in the National Capital. Sometimes this is explained by the “floating” character of our population. It is estimated that in the District of Columbia there are not fewer than 27,000 eligible veterans who might be members of the Legion, while the actual membership in the 23 posts is less than 3,000. Next Tuesday, there will be 100 Legionnaires who volunteer to devote their entire day to a membership drive among the eligibles, and for the fol- lowing two weeks this city will learn of the purposes of the modern peace army, sworn “to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses,” and ; “to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy.” * ok kK ‘The District commander, Harlan Wood, is determined not only to reach the quota assigned to the District of Co- lumbia for the coming year, 3,300, but then to add at least 2,000 besides. The mere incident of his being a successful practicing lawyer scems to have passed out of his mind, while he is devoting 25 to 30 hours a day to the plans and pur- poses of the trust given him as head of the American Legion in the National Capital. His enthusiasm and organiz- ing ability have stimulated unprece- dented intercst among Leglonnaires. Many silver trophies and other prizes are dazzling the eyes of the posts for increases in membership within the next two weeks, but of surpassing inter- est is the spirit of Legion accomplish- ments, according to the ideals set forth in the constitution and in the ten years’ practice since the Legion came into ex- istence. * ok ok ok The germ of the American Legion ormnnt'eil in the city of Washington through the initiative of Col. E. Lester Jones, head of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. He called a meet- ing of veterans which was held in the Cosmos Club in February, 1919, to con- sider the need of an organization of veterans, and at that preliminary meet- ing there was issued a call for an organ- izing meeting at the same place on March 7. There was an attendance of 1,100 veterans at this organizing meet- ing and a full organization was formed, under the title of the “John J. Pershing Post.” This was one week before a similar meeting (March 15) was held in Peris, engineered largely by Col. Theo- dore Roosevelt, jr, The principles still maintained were fully expressed in the original preamble written by Col. Jones and his pioneer associates. Months later, a national meeting was held in St. Louis, where, after some dis- cussion, it was decided that no post should use the name of any living per- son and so the name of the pioneer post was changed from “John J. Pershing Post” to George Washington Post, No. 1,” and the first post charter was then issued under that revised name and came to the National Capital. * Ok ok % ‘While the national headquarters of the Legion are in Indianapolis, the pivotal point of legislation bearing upon the vital interests of veterans is in Con- gress and of relief administration in the Veterans’ Bureau, the director of which, Gen. Frank T. Hines, is also a member of the pioneer post. Here is the center of activity in securing laws such as the veterans' preference law, developed especially by Comdr. Wood, who has been making a study of civil service in connection with preferential ratings for those who served in the war. All veterans’ legislation is under the direct guidance of Lieut. Col. John Thomas Taylor, vice chairman of the legislative committee of the American Legion, who devotes his whole time to the cause of legislative interests of the veterans and keeps in touch with Con- gress and the departments of Govern- ment, co-operating with other patriotic organizations in such matters as con- cern not merely veterans as such, but all patriotic interests. For example, at present the whole force of the American Legion, together with other restrictionists, is supporting the ‘“national origins” law for immi- gration restriction, to “foster and per- petuate a 100 per cent Americanism.” ‘With Col. Taylor and his staff on guard it has been impossible for alien influences to misrepresent the Legion’s position in protecting America from an overflow of undesirable aliens, regard- less of political partisan bias and hy- phenated interests. Under the direction of Col. Taylor the influence of the 860,000 Legionnaires was expressed in support of both the Kellogg multilateral treaty outlawing war as a national policy throughout civ- ilization and the cruiser bill making for national preparedness of defense. ‘While the Legion is anti-militaristic and hopes never to see any more war, it is emphatic in support of national preparedness for defense and watchful- ness against subversive activities jeop- ardizing the Nation. * ok ok Kk Another branch of Legion work cen- tering in Washington is the rehabilita- tion committee, of which Maj. Watson B. Miller is chairman. This work is in- creasing in volume and importance as the years go by and veterans succumb to their disabilities. The committee maintains an organization in the Bond Building, which acts as liaison between individual veterans and the Veterans’ Bureau, advising the claimants of their legal rights, pushing their just claims before the Veterans’ Bureau and seeing to the proper hospitalization in hun- dreds of cases every month. While the Veterans’ Bureau is de- centralized, with hospitals in various parts of the country, the headquarters remain in Washington, and to city come thousands of claimants despairing of more relief and justice. The reha- bilitation committee secures the neces- sary evidence or advises the veteran what steps to take. Through the combined efforts of all departments of the Legion, the insur- ance law for veterans is now bein, amended, and will reopen and exuns the term for veterans’ life insurance ap- Dlications, so that those who desive in- creased insurance, or even veterans who have not yet applied for a of the Government insurance, will still be able to do so after next week. The legal and rehabilitation departments of the Legion are confident that the amendment will Writer Submits Views Of “Nation in Exile” To the Editor of The Star: Prof. Strakhovsky's article—“A Na- tion Now in Exile"—depicts an unhappy situation, and, though no particular remedy for it suggests itself, it can do the Russian emigres no harm to en- list a favorable world opinion. It might prevent ill-considered interference with their purposes. With this in view, Prof. Strakhovsky might well go further into his_subject. The emigres are, of course, a matter of great concern to Russia, for, upon the rehabilitation of that country, they must be fitted into the body politic, if nothing more. Prof Strakhovsky as- sumes that they are to be the leaders, perhaps the rulers, of restored Russia. In that case the world is now host to a nation that is to be, and, in a great meaure, has the shaping of that nation’s destiny in its hands. It is for the world to decide whether these erst- while' Russians, who may some day be- | come Russians again, are meanwhile to be de-Russianized as a condition of their tolerance or aided in preserving their nationality. The view that Russia is to be re- stored by her exiles, as casually as they themselves may embrace it, will not be accepted by the rest of the world without some explanation. Interven- tion by foreign powers is an outdated system of changing dynasties, broadly speaking. It must be concluded that the Russian counter-revolution will be accomplished in Russia while the vast majority of the emigres remain in exile. When the masses are aroused from their lethargy and the Soviets are overthrown, will the emigres be recalled to share in the government? The bol- sheviks themselves came out of exile to set up the Soviets, and the emigres from the reign of terror later partici- pated in’ the French government. There is no stigma attached to the emigra- tion of the three million Russians; to remain might have been stigmatized as sheerest folly. Prior rights to leader- ship might vest in those who have lived through Soviet oppression; but every indication is that now opposition to the Soviets in Russia is crushed and leaderless. Revolution will probably come from a sudden general uprising. The exiles may at that point assume the leadership, if they have an ac- ceptable leadership to offer. A crucial consideration is: Are these three million exiles chiefly czarists? It is inconceivable, however hateful bolshevism may become to the Rus- sians, that they, having overthrown the Soviets and having all the historic and theoretic forms of government to choose from, will revert to czarism, which could hardly be more than a few de- grees less obnoxious than bolshevism it- self. To be sure, Prof. Strakhovsky's article has no czarist bias, but if the three millions are to be 2 unit, what is to unite them? For all we know, might say “czarism,” with none of its implications modified. It is a reason- able conjecture that the years have taught the exiles that czarism had cer- tain unpopular aspects. The probability of the formation of a government ac- ceptable to both the Russians who re- main in Russia and the emigres is measured, if ordinary criteria apply, by the extent to which the emigres have relinquished, or are willing to relin- quish, the czarist ideal. To extend the thought, would the same generation which enjoyed great landed estates and special privileges under the Romanoffs be willing to forswear them? That would set a historic precedent of no mean proportions. Not the least in- teresting question that might be asked about the emigres is what political de- signs they harbor. Perhaps, through Prof. Strakhovsky, the emigres themselves will inform ‘Washington Star readers as to that. If they cannot answer the question, there is all the more reason why intercourse and union between them should be facilitated. Let the nations among whom they are cast give them the op- portunity to formulate a government contingent for its application on a revo- lution which neither the emigres nor the world powers can, presumably, have any part, but’ which neither the emigres nor the powers are likelv to deplore. JOHN J. GERMAIN. Sees W;g—ner Genius As That of Superman T4 the Editor of The Star: The’ Wagner cycle of “The Ring” has just been given in Washington with a success that might suggest a speedy re- we | C. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN. Many readers send in questions signed only with initials, asking that the answers appear in the newspaper. The space is limited and would not accommodate a fraction of such re- quests. The answers published are the ones that may interest many readers, rather than the one who asks the ques- tion only. All questions should be ac- companied by the writer's name and address and 2 cents in coin or stamps Evening Star Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washing~ ton, D. C. Q. What was the Black Masspw G.F.T. A. The Black Mass was a ceremony practiced in the so-called worship of Satan as a burlesque of the Christian Mass, during the time of the sixteenth century. . What American city was known as the “modern Rome”?—E. T. T. A. Richmond, Va. was originally built on seven hills and was popularly known as the “modern Rome.” In 1842, when Charles Dickens visited the city, it had extended its limit to another hill, and he alluded to it as “delight- fully situated on eight hills overhang- ing the James River.” Q. When did George McCutcheon die?—S. M. A. G. B. McCutcheon, newspaper man and novelist, died in New York | City, October 23, 1928, at the age of 62. { Q. How does apple wood compare to coal in heating value?—R. F. A If it is dry and well seasoned, one cord of apple wood will equal one short ton (2,000 pounds) of coal. Q. At what age did Dr. Osler say {’hxt men should be chloroformed?— . B. B. A. In an address widely quoted and distorted, made on leaving America, Osler mentioned “the comparative use- lessness of men over 40 years of age,” |and said: “Take the sum of human achievement in action, in science, in art, in literature; subtract the work of the men above 40 * * * we should practically be where we are today.” Q. What is meant by “January thaw”?—B. C. E. A. The Weather Bureau says the term “January thaw” is rather loosely applied to any consecutive two or three days, or more, in January when the temperature is decidedly and noticeably above the average for that month. For much of this country that implies a temperature above the freezing point, accompanied, as a rule, by conspicuous thawing, at least through the day. . Is the gum on postage stamps mndRe of vegetable or animal matter?— A. The gum used on postage stamps is of vegetable matter, made from the Casaba bean from South America. When it is applied to stamps, it is heated to a temperature of 80 degrees or 90 de- grees. Q. Was work ever begun on the Eng- lish Channel Tunnel>—E. S. A. About two and a half miles of the tunnel were constructed by 1885, in which year the project was abandoned on military grounds. Three-quarters of {a mile was completed on the English side, beginning at Shakespeare CIiff, Dover, and one and a half-mile on the French side. Q. What is going to be the next commemorative stamp issued?—R. I G. A. The Post Office Department plans to issue a George Rogers Clark com- | memorative stamp and it will be placed | on sale February 26, 1929, the anniver- | sary of the fall of Fort Sackville at | Vincennes, Ind. . Q. Please give the location of Buck- ‘ingham Palace and its size?—B. G. A. Buckingham Pance is situated in London at the west end of St. James Park. The building has been many times changed and the present facade is 360 feet in length. The great state rooms are the throhé room, 66 feet long; the green room, 50 feet long, 33 feet high; the grand salon, 110 feet long, 60 feet broad: the picture gallery, 180 feet long. There are 40 acres in the garden. : Q. What makes some soaps float while others do not?>—G. S. R. A. Air is incorporated into some | soaps, causing them to float. Q. Were the State constitutions mod- cled after the Federal Constitution?— turn. Wagner arouses the imagination | F- R. of his audiences and carries them to the very gates of Walhalla. His power les in such stimulation. ‘Wagner’s genius is that of the super- man, and with incisive stroke it hews its way ever to increased acceptance. An iconoclast, overthrowing smaller forms, superficialities and shams, he re- creates a noble and massive structure on intellectual and seecthing cmotional values. He makes the orchestra, in its kalei- doscopic possibilities of dynamics and tonal coloring, the vehicle for emotional stress and appeal. He discards foolish and sentimental texts and weaves from Scandinavian mythology a literary structure of heroic proportions. alone would have given him unique distinction. He dismisses the chorus as conventional and unnecessary, takes from the singer his tuneful aria, de- thrones him from his peak of vanity, and after such excision surrounds him with a greater and real personality through the leitmotif. Minute in his description of scenic effects, rarely realized, these seem in their reading to stimulate more as subtle incense than something to be painted on wood and canvas. ‘Wagner, then, as supergenius and artist, chooses to depict the loves, ex- hila n, sorrows, tragedies of the gods and surcharges these with super- human emotion. It was his wisdom and gift. And from this came a precious overflow, given to the human lovers in Tristan and Isolde. Yet with all his seething passion he wrote serene and beautiful things with muted strings, as it were; and none lovelier than Lohen- grin, the chivalrous knight of the swan. It is in his “Meistersinger” that he glorifies pure art and heralds this as the great element for spiritual stimulation and regeneration. He sends out in the noblest of all chorals, tempered by a gentle suavity, this clarion call: “Awake! The dawn of day is near. I hear singing so loud and clear— A wondrous throated nightingale, Whose song fills every hill and vale. The night sinks to the Occident, The day breaks from the Orient, And morn’s purple glories loom From the realm of night and gloom.” OTTO T. SIMON. pass next Monday reopening the door for veterans’ life insurance. The national commander, Col. Paul V. McNutt, is recognized as one of the most_eloquent_orators in America and a powerful influence in developing the highest ideals of the Legion, and he is devoting his full time to stimulating the Legion all over the country. * X % ¥ In addition to the speclal drive for new members, to begin next Tuesday through personal canvassing and post activity, Comdr. Wood has announced a mass meeting at D. A. R. Continental Hall next Monday evening. _Another meeting of national import will be held in the same hall March 7 in celebrating the tenth birthday of the John J. Pershing, alias George Washington, Posty No. 1, and of the whole American Legion. On that occasion there will speakers of national standing and a most unusual prof , including music %{ ‘t,.hn entire United States Marine in As Comdr. Wood has expressed it, “if the Leglon in the District has ever been given an anesthetic, it is now receiving a full dose of belladonna.” (Copyright, 1929, by Paul V. Coliins.) This | 1 be | resurrected, that Stalin has repudiated "A.'The States in existence at the time of the drafting of the Canstitu- tion of the United States had consti- for reply. Send your question to The | Information Bureau, | tutions of their own and it was upon these that the Federal one was pat- terned. The States developed their documents from Colonial charters, which in turn were modeled upon the charters of mercantile companies of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Mas- sachusetts is the only State which re- tains the constitution framed at that period, but it has been revised and amended. All the States, however, in their modern constitutions retain many of the principles and much of the framework of the older documents. Q. What is the difference between an grdinary well and an ariesian weli2- B. P. A. This is a term applied to water which is secured by deep borings in the earth. An ordinary well is u: y under 100 and at most 150 feet in depth. If it is required to go 200 to 500 feet in depth or more, the water is usually termed “artesian.” Often in artesian wells the water rises abo he earth’s surface of its own force; in other words, it forms a flowing well. Any deep well, whether flowing of its own accord or not, is now regarded as an artesian well. Many artesian wells vield sulphur, chalybeate or alum waters; in others the water is so impregnated with common salt as to be unsuitable for consumption, while in many others the water is of excellent quality. Q. Was the “State of Indiana” the first territory to be given that name? —N. D. A. The word “Indiana” was first used as the name of a triangular tract of territory containing about 5,000 square miles which is now a part of West Vir- ginia. The tract was given by the Six Nations_of Iroquois Indians about 1778 to the Indiana Land Co. as indemnity in the settlement of a claim for mer- chandise taken by a war party of In- dians. Later the State government re- fused to recognize the transaction and Indiana ceased to exist. In 1800 the Northwest Territory was divided and |part of it called “Indiana Territory.” ]Afl(‘!‘ several changes of boundary it | became the section that later became the State of Indiana. Q. What is the name of the maga- zine published at the Leavenworth Pen- itentiary?—N. A. R. A. It is called the “New Era.” The current number is Vol. XV, Number XII. Dr. Frederick A. Cook is the present editor. Q. What is Richard Talmadge's real name?—E. D. A. Richard Talmadge was born in Caumberg, Switzerland. His real name is Melzette. Before he played in pic- tures he and three of his brothers used to have an acrobatic act in vaudeville. Q. Who gets the wage dole in Eng- land?—D. C. A. What is known as the “wage dole” in England is actually unemployment insurance. It is paid to those who at one time were in work and may at some future date be again in work and who when employed contribute toward the premium. Q. Name some of the famous statues of women.—L. M. S. A. There are comparatively few statues of women except those of god- desses or symbolical figures. Joan of Arc is probably the most popular sub- ject. There are also famous statues of Cleopatra, Beatrice Cenci and Frances E. Willard and a group of portrait bus:s of Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Q What does the word “Hapag” mean?—A. J. A. It is a coined word, formed from the initials of the Hamburg-Amerika ische-Packenfahrt-Actien - Gesellsc A In this country it is wn as the “Hamburg-American Lin: Q. What is the daily pay roll of the Government Printing Oftice?—P. T. A. It is approximately $28,000. Q. Are scientific discoveries ever acci- dental?>—F. S. A. They often are. “They are usually made by men trained in the line of scientific _invention or observation. Oxygen, discovered by Priestley; cal- cium carbide, by Willson; vulcanization, by Goodyear; X-rays, by Roentgen, and radioactivity, by Becherel, fall in this class. Q. Why do many telegraph poles look as though they had been charred or burned?—D. J. A. Many untreated poles now in use are being preserved and protected by surface charring, followed by applica= tion of creosote. Split Between S , May Bring Facts About Russia Leon Trotsky’s exile to Turkey while Josef Stalin seeks to increase the power of his dictatorship in Russia causes much speculation in the rest of the ;“ofldA The consensus among American observers is that the incident is not closed, and that the battle of these two former associates of the Soviet regime is likely to result in disclosures con- cerning Russian conditions which here- tofore have been kept from the rest of the world. A statement from Trotsky, in which he visualizes a “man on horseback,” in- spires the comment from the Albany Knickerbocker Press: “Stalin is the algebraic ‘x’ in the Russian equation. He is hailed as a man of steel, as cold 1and as heartless, and as a genius. Once he was quoted as saying, ‘We are not forgetful of ou: duties abroad, but our major task is to make the Bolshevik ex- periment in Russia“”succeed.” This was construed as meaning that he would take no part in assisting revolutionary movements in other lands, but it may also mean that any opposition to the Bolshevik regime at home will be smothered with an iron heel. Evi- dently that is what Trotsky means in his reference to the approaching struggle.” Assuming that Stalin fears Trotsky, the Charleston Daily Mail points out that “an assassin’s bullet could have ended Trotsky’s life in the fastnesses of his Russian exile and the responsibility could have been placed upon a personal enemy.” Continuing, the Mail states: “The probability, though, is that the Moscow authorities feared to adopt such a course. Apparently they were con- vinced that followers of the deposed leader could not be fooled, and that whatever indirect and furtive means might be used in doing away with the man who still is the idol of hordes of Russians his sympathizers would have placed the blame on the central gov- ernment.” bt “There is a kind of grim whimsical- ity,” thinks the Omaha World-Herald, “about all this pothe: which is being| made over Trotsky. While the elder statesmen all over the world raise their voices in protest against the Soviet because it is too radical, Trotsky has) been pin-pricking its leaders bzcause! they aren't radical enough. * * ¢ From his viewpoint the revolution has failed from within and the government needs an opposition. He had under- taken to fill the rcle of leader of that opposition. It is a weakness of the Soviet system of government that it fears an opposition.” “Trotsky is ‘out,” Stalin is ‘in’ Leon of the New York school,” suggests the Oakland Tribune, “insists that the early doctrines of the Bolshevists should be them; and Stalin; knowing the reason for the changes and the necessities of his government, is standing pat ‘The oviet Leaders the entire world. Nations may accept Kellogg treaties to outlaw war between governments, but what can be done about revolutions in one state, upheavals that are bound to have an effect on peoples living beyond the borders of the affected state?” * ok ok ok ‘The Hamilton Spectator, discussing the probable future plans of the deposed dictator, offers the thought: “There are many rumors, the most likely being that he will seek an asylum in England. Should this be the case, there could scarcely be a more ironical commentary on Bolshevism, which, while denying liberty of speech and action to its own countryman, the founder of its govern- mental system, execrates the British government, which apparently is ex- pected to provide a safe retreat for the Russian exile. It is a fine illustration of the difference between precept and practice. Here is a man escaping from his own country because of intolerance seeking a sanctuary in ‘intolerant,’ “bourgeoise’ Englan “With Lenin gone,” in the opinion of the Nashville Banner, “Trotsky was inadequate. He lacked the strength to bring the masses into submission to the great idea. Other leaders arose who have done little. They have been only strong enough to obliterate Trotsky. ‘They seemed to lack courage to put him to death. * * * The 2id of the world is nesded to bring Russia out of its almost helpless chaos. Unfortunately, the world is rather too busy with its own affairs to venture the needed a'd Other nations have their own problems to be solved before they can devole their attention to Russia. The exil> of ‘Trotsky may have been essential. Yet it has not materially relieved the Ruse sian situation.” * ok ok ok “One cannot be too sure about even- tualities,” advises the Indianapolis Star. “Trotsky's is a virile and dynamic p sonality. He was banished twice the czars, only to return in the participation in an amazing series of events. He is not far past 50 y age, although his health is under: to be none too good. Turning out of Russia is one thing; keeping quiet is quite enother.” ‘The New York World sees an phase of the matter in the fact “the Russian rulers are a little embare rassed before the contemptuous dc of an cld man of 80—Ivan Petrovich Pavioff. This old man,” continues the New York paper, “cares nothing for tha politicians of the old regime or the new. His domain is science, and as a scien- tist he is the most distinguished figure in the Russia of today. Through all the various disturbances in the govern- mental structure he has remained un- moved and disinterested, feeling that all governmental forms are but ephem- Providence Bulletin observes: “What the effect of a new revolution in Russia will be on European countries that are struggling to recover from the effects of the World War is a question of suprcme importance, not only to Europe but to eral, while the advances of science can know no retreat. The Academy ol Eclence, of which Paviofl is a member, made peace with the Soviet and had since gone about its business. This hag aunoyed the rulers.”