Evening Star Newspaper, February 28, 1929, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR . With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY...February 28, 1929 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Omce: 11th 8t. and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office; 110 East 4and 8t. Chicago Office: Tower Bullding. Furopean Office: 14 Rerent St., London. England. Rate by Carrier Within the City. e Evening Star... _...45c per month e Evening and Surday Star (when 4 Bundays) . and Sund ndays). The Sunday St ? Collection made at'the end of E Orders may be sent in by mail or telephone Main 5000. Rate by Mall—Payable in Advance. ' Maryland and Virginia. fly and Sonda: FH only . junday only All Other States and Canada. ily end Sunday..1 yr, $12.00: 1 mo., $1 00 Fl] only . yr., $800: 1 mo., 8¢ unday only $5.00; 1 mo., S0c 1yr. 310,000 1 mo. g8 i 137 3600 1 mo., S0¢ 15r. $400; 1 mo., 40c Member of the Associated Press. ‘The Associated Press is exclusively entitles. to the use for republication of all rews ais- atches credited Yo it or not otherwise ered- ted in this paper and also the local news pubiished herein. All rights of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. —_— Gen. Dawes. It has been said of recurring months | ©of March that they came in like lions and went out like lambs. Charles Gates | Dawes is relinquishing the Vice Presi- dency under conditions which recall that celebrated aphorism. On March 4, 1925, Gen. Dawes stag- gered political mankind with an inau- gural outburst that shivered every tim- ber in the Senate chamber. His de- mand for reform of the rules of pro- cedure, particularly in the direction of curtailed debate, was the overtowering feature of the day. In popular interest —certainly in emotional appeal—it dwarfed the incoming President's ad- dress. It was Coolidge's “show,” but Dawes “stole” it. Four years have come and gone since that tempestuous scene. But the Senate rules, like the Rock of Gibraltar, are | still there—unreformed. Prince Bis- marck once thundered that they who essayed to snap at Germany would “bite on granite.” The rules permitting un- limited debate in the Senate proved to be of the same wmpervious fiber. Gen. Dawes tilted against them in vain. Be- yond existing provisions for cloture, he found the Senate unwilling to muzzle Atself. Wise man that he is, the Vice Presi- dent, in the course of time, folded up | his reform tent and proceeded to con- tent himself with the perpetuation of traditions. A true statesman faces realities. He concentrates upon the at- tainable. Gen. Dawes has promptly demonstrated his capacity to cement friendships in the body which he had assailed hip and thigh and accused of elocutiona®y practices “subversive of the processes of governm-nt.” It is no small tribute to his finesse that he is about to return to private life strongly fortified in the esteem of the ninety-six gentlemen whose Niagara of eloquence he vainly sought to harness. ‘Though the presiding officer of the Benate is condemned to silence except for parliamentary rulings, his role is far from innocuous. President Coolidge and Charles Beecher Warren, for exam- ple, have eternal cause to remember that the Vice President's power for good or for evil can on occasion be of most decisive importance. The privilege, which is his, of voting to break a tie, ‘was established by the founding fathers with full recognition of the vitality of the deciding vote in given emergencies. Gen. and Mrs. Dawes, whose vice presidential dutles included almost in- cessant dining out on their country's behalf, leave behind them in Washing- ton a host of devoted friends. As for himself, the man who made the under- slung pipe world-famous quits the Sen- ate with no embitterments on either side of the chamber. Gen. Dawes is a per- sonality unburdened with common- place qualities. They are assured a secure and honorable place in the an- nals of our Vice Presidents, even though an unkind tradition condemns these responsible officials of the Republic to @ swift oblivion. ] Many American citizens have attend- ed previous inaugurations. On their return this year they cannot fail to be gratified by observing the extent to| which the Capital of their country has grown greater and more beautiful. ———————— Cabinet Probabilities. ‘The flurry over the probable person- mel of Mr. Hoover's cabinet is almost | at an end. Despite the desire of the President-elect that the selections for | membership in his official family be kept secret until approximately the hour * they are to be sent to the Senate, there 8 cumulative evidence which points to the appointment of a majority of the cabinet. For exalnple, failure to find Henry L. Stimson of New York listed as Secretary of State, Andrew W. Mellon of Pennsylvania as Secretary of the Treasury, or Ray Lyman Wilbur of California as Becretary of the Interior would be a real surprise. Walter F. Brown of Ohio is regarded as certain of appointment to the office of Post- master General, James W. Good of Iowa | as certain of fllling the post of Sec- retary of War, Charles Francis Adams of Massachusetts as certain to fill the berth of Secretary of the Navy and Willlam D. Mitchell of Minnesota as certain to head the Department of Jus- Hce. There is less certainty, however, with sk=mrd to the appointments of the Becretaries of Agriculture; Commerce and Labor. In connection with the last-named office, the retention of Secretary James J. Davis of Pennsylvania, who has been Secretary of Labor for the last eight years, would be entirely satisfactory to organized labor, according to labor lead- ers themselves. Mr. Davis has become genuinely liked by labor during his long term of office in Washington and a number of the leaders have expressed the opinion that Mr. Hoover would be wise to reappoint him. Willlam N. Doak of Virginia, a Railroad Brotherhood man, has been mentioned very fre- quently for the office and has been under consideration. He is an ardent Republican and played an active part in the recent campaign, and, further- more, his appointment would bring a Bouthern man into the cabinet. How- ever, there are indications that labor itself is not united in support of the eppointment of Mr. Doak. Up to today there has been more un- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, 1 of a Secretary of Commerce and & Sccretary of Agriculture than there has been in regard to other posts. Mr. Hoover, quite naturally, may have strong | ideas of his own about the man to head the Department of Commerce, | over which he himself presided for so long and which he did so much to build up. A score of men have been suggested as possible appointees for t] , but there has been a lack of tangible evi- dence to confirm the reports about any of them. Even now it is suggested that Secretary Whiting may be requested to hold the office for a time, in order that Mr. Hoover may have further op- portunity to make the selection. ‘The appointment of William D. Mitchell, a Minnesota Democrat, to be Attorney General, now regarded as cer- tain, brings perhaps the greatest ele- ment of surprise developed in the cab- inet making so far. Mr. Mitchell is Solicitor General of the United States, | a man of great ability. It is an open secret that he has had strong backing | L G cabinet post from members of | ine Supreme Court of the United States, before whom he practices. In the past | other Republican Presidents have placed In their cabinets men of the opposite political faith and here and there a Democratic President has done the same. If reports be true, Mr. Mitchell has been more of a Democrat in prin- | ciple than in practice in recent years, for it is said that he voted for Hughes, Coolidge and Hoover in the presidential | races of 1916, 1924 and 1928. Further- | more, & Minnesota Democrat is a rara avis, almost as much so as a Texas Republican until the recent presiden« tial election. At all events, Democrat | or not, Mr. Mitchell has been recom- mended by a former Republican Presi- dent to the incoming Republican Presi- dent. Under Mr. Mitchell, it is said, the Department of Justice will be ad- | ministered without fear or favor. o Motorist Liability. Modeled somewhat on the lines of the “safety-responsibility law” of the Amer- ican Automobile Association, a bill has been introduced in the Maryland Legis- lature which will bar from the roads lmv:lmlst.s who fail to satisty judgments | against them of $1,000 for property damage or $5,000 for personal injury or | death. Ninety days is given, under the | terms of the Maryland measure, for the payment of judgments. If the motorist does not in this perfod pay his obliga- tion, he is given ten days to appear be- fore the Commissioner of Motor Ve- hicles, where he must either show proof that the judgment has been satisfied or his license to operate an automobile will be revoked. Failure to surrender an operator's permit is punishable by @ fine of from one hundred dollars to one thousand dollars and imprisonment for not more than a year, or both. The law also provides that operators holding licenses of other States are liable under the same conditions. While the Maryland bill undoubtedly carries most of the main features of the American Automobile Association pro- posal, which was worked out after more than a year’s intensive study by a com- mittee of experts, it tends to “lock the door after the horse is stolen,” inas- much as it gives each motorist one free accident, the law not beginning to op- erate until the accident has occurred and the judgment ignored. For this reason the A. A. A. law is superior, as it operates to compel re- sponsibility the moment recklessness is shown on the part of the motorist. Any driver convicted of reckless operation of his car, driving while drunk, leaving the scene of an accident without mak- in~ his identity known, or any of the major violations of the traffic regula- tions, is immediately required to show financial responsibility, else his permit is revoked. Except that the A. A. A. bill goes further to bar from the highways the driver who cannot, or will not, pay for his recklessness the proposals are much alike. Sooner or later similar laws will be in effect in every State of the Union and the District of Columbia. The un- restricted career of the reckless, irre- sponsible and insolvent automobile op- erator is about to end. Massachusetts attempted to bring drivers of this kind to book by the enactment of the com- pulsory insurance law, but, due to causes which could not be foreseen and which were outside of the actual ad- ministration of the act, it has not proved a conspicuous success. The Maryland measure, however, and the A. A. A law have most of the advan- tages of the compulsory insurance stat- ute with practically none of its disad- vantages. Before acting on its bill Mary- land could, with benefit, study the Three | A proposal, In order that at leasta good | percentage of the recklessly inclined would be compelled to prove financial responsibility before an accident involv- Ing personal injury or death occurred. It | is this feature that would add strength to the propcsed law. e Pugilism has kept pace with the humane spirit of the time. A success- ful prize fight is one in which nobody is seriously hurt. — .- All's Well That Ends Well. ‘Their picnic over, Col. Lindbergh and !Miss Morrow started back to Valbuena | Fleld, Mexico City. Taking off, their plane iost a wheel. A few seconds later | they were in the air and there was no turning back. No turning back! No one will ever know the thoughts that must have | | flashed through Col. Lindbeygh's mind | | —thoughts that cut away his past, left | his future dangling by a thread that | might, or might not, hold. No one! | will ever know his thoughts, for he is | an uncommunicative gentleman. But | | being a gentleman, they must have cen- tered largely on the lady who sat be- side him, unconscious of the trouble or the danger that lay ahead. Should he {tell her? If he did, she might become frightened, panicky. She might unwit- {tingly destroy the only hope left for their safety. But he told her. What he told her, what she said, what she did—these things are sacred, and nobody's busi- ness. But when he told her he had decided what he would do. He care- fully packed cushions around her, in case there would be a crash. He flew up and down over the landing field to drain his gas tanks, lessening the chances of an explosion. When the time came he maneuvered the plane down so that it landed on one wheel and the tail skid—a perfect landing. certainty, perhaps, about the ulecflen!wothlng untoward would have hap- pened, but the axle, off which the wheel had dropped, struck a hummock and over they went, upside down. All's well that ends well, and a few minutes later they were driving away from the fleld. No tale of lovers in distress ever ended more happily, And while Col. Lindbergh will be showered with encomiastic praise for his skill as an aviator—fiddlesticks with all that! Our Lindy rescued his lady, she came off unscathed, and he has a romantic- ally bandaged arm to show for it. And what she thinks of him for what he did, and what he thinks of her for what she did—that is what paints the clouds with roses and keeps this old world smiling. ————r e A half million is no great return for & ring encounter. This shows the ad- vantage of avoiding loss of temper. A fight conducted in Impulsive anger yields no returns and incurs penalties. e Literary expression and not oratory has been Trotsky's main reliance. Per- | haps he would have more to tell if some one would hand him a typewriter in- stead of a megaphone. R Horsemanship will be given up by the Prince of Wales after enabling him to demonstrate that while he may some- times lack skill, he always has nerve, e Heavy penalties for bootlegging may create a risk calculated to put the price of liquor out of the reach of the ordi- nary ultimate consumer. —————— A number of slight mishaps have be- fallen Lindbergh. However intrepid an aviator may be, a bridegroom is natu- rally a little nervous. ————— The Nicaragua plans call for wa- terway activities beyond the fondest dreams of the old-time rivers and har- bors experts. Lo e Hammer and nail work on the re- viewing stands has disposed once and for all of any idea of a “quiet inaugu- ration.” o tion as to whether the actors or the stage hands are in reality giving the show. ———r——— His difficulty in changing his abode must suggest to Trotsky that he made a mistake in not becoming an aviator. e President Coolidge will soon be able to go fishing without fear of undue publicity for the fish that got away. ————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. . Mercenary Valor. Heard about the cruel blows That landed left and right; Sacrificed my sweet repose Upon a Winter night? Heard about a winner new Who, with his fistic pow'r, Made a dream of wealth come true Within a fleeting hour. While upon the honored list Of Fame he must appear, We ask, “Is he a pugilist— Is he a financier Good as New. “Haven't you said the same things many times “Yes” answered Senator Sorghum. “So little attention was pald to them that the same old talk remains good as new.” Jud Tunkins says, in the midst of the splendor, the patient man with an umbrella and a raincoat also has the uniform of true patriotism. Restraining Influence. “You never dan “Never,” answered Miss Cayenne. “I am trying to set a sedate example for mother.” “A few friends,” sald Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “are true and many enemies are only imaginary.” Unanimous Tribute, All kinds of men, both high and low, Respects will surely seek to pay. Even the pickpurse haunts the show Upon Inauguration day. “A man who works wishes he was loafin’,” said Uncle Eben; “but not as hard as de man dat loafs wishes he was workin".” RADIOTORIAL. Pugilists Declare National Holiday. ‘Who cares for the weather that leads us a dance? Who carcs for the perils of modern finance? ‘We cast all our usual troubles away— Big men are declering a new holiday. Each pugilist, with Rospitality’s hunch Instead of a cocktail, will hand out a pungh. A peaceable public takes note with delight Of Stribling and Sharkey engaged in a fight. Coolidge and His Dogs. A dog's affection is so deep His master in his heart he’ll keep; And separation makes him grieve For one he is compelled Yo leave. Among the problems of the day Here's one for the 8. P. C. A— One in which sentiment is strong— Can Coolidge take his dogs along? —_—ra——————— Keeping Family Intact. From the Seattle Daily Times. A Missouri court has sentenced an entire family of five to the same prison. Well, it is a stern but effective way of keeping the family circle intact. . Another Worry Is Over. From the Stoux Falls Daily Argus-Leader. We presume that the early worries about the ice crop have subsided by this time. vt Most Superlative Scarcity. From the Detroit News, Four of the large circuses have merged during the Winter. It had been felt for some time there were not ad- jectives enough to go round. —— e Or Lard Advertising. From the Wheeling Intellizencer News that a Huntington wpman found a §700 diamond in a pail of lard is probably anti-bakery propaganda. ———— No; Just in Hard Luck. Prom the Terre Haute Star. A motorist arrested twice in one day for ezeedln; should be a semi-habitual spe Theater contentions open up a ques- | n o, THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Man’s inhumanity to man is shown in more ways than one. There are at least 12 ways in which the male human being makes himself obnoxious to his comrades. ‘We speak not of grand crimes, large cruelties or major wrongs, but simply of petty misdeeds committed daily by “smart-alecks.” There is not an office in the United States where one or more of these nuisances do not ply their nefarious work, under the impression that they are funny. Surcharged with misguided ideas of humor, these pests daily indulge in their ideas of jokes. . T E s Let us see what they do. This sum- mary of their misdeeds may be of in- terest not only to men, but also to women,’ who not always are experts on masculine psychology. Most women have a secret hanker- ing to see a burlesque show; we pre- sent one here and now, choice speci- mens of clowning which display the human male creature at his silliest. One of the favorite tricks of the office joker is to pull a mate’s hat down over his eyes with a sudden and un- expected motion. . This may be done either to his face or behind his back, but in either case the hat is wedged down over his ears S0 that it becomes difficult to remove it. Then the perpetrator of this “joke"” laughs heartily. * K kX Another favorite trick consists in the following maneuver: Coming up stealthily behind an asso- clate when he is talking to another, gently punch him in the bend of the | knees. This will occasion an unconscious conditioned reflex, killingly funny to every one except the reflexer. This is one of the mildest of these | humorous happenings, but it may be accentuated by increasing the vigor of the punch. If the victim does not seem to mind it much, lie in wait for him the second time, and hit him harder this time. Actual pain won't really harm him and it will do you a world of good. * oK K K Suddenly pulling out & man’s necktie is a standard laughable incident. It is especially good if the poor sport has his cravat tied very nicely. Untying a bow tie is a branch. By tricking him into a conversation one gets him off his guard, when it is easy enough to dart forth a hand, grab the tie and yank it' completely from beneath his v ‘This makes 3 a very modest creature, feel completely undressed. There is but one other humorous in- cident which makes him feel worse, and that is the old standby of all the smart- alecks of the world—to pull his shirt- tail out. This latter infringement of good man- ners is slowly dying out, except in all- male offices, where it persists valiantly. R Rumpling up the hair of an associate with plenty of it is one of the most screamingly funny of all these sportive byplays. ur average male, who is | Especially if he is particular about his hair. If he wears it brushed well back off his forehead, the thing to do is to rumple it forward, and if he likes it forward, to rumple it backward. The thing is as simple as that. Men who wear fancy handkerchiefs for show in thelr vest pockets are easy marks for the practical joker. ‘When it is seen that he has the square of linen folded just to a nicety and ex- actly to his liking, the thing to do is to unfold it. of course. 7 A quick yank at one corner will drag it forth, unfold it, and rumple it in one neat motion. ‘What more could you ask? * ok ok X ‘Then there is the ass who fnsists on slapping you too heartily on the back, in an excess of fellowship. He calls it friendliness, but in reality it is nothing but meanness, for all these little pleasantries are branded with the mark of the “bully.” ‘Women say that men never grow up, and some of them never do, that is sure. ‘There is the Peter Pan who insists on leaning heavily on your shoulder when he meets you, especially if his hands are dirty and you have on a nice new light-colored sult. ‘The man who gives you a bear's grip when he shakes hands with you per- haps ought to be included in this rogue's gallery, although often enough he is perfectly unconscious of the fact that he has neatly crushed the bones in your hand. | b What can be said in extenuation of | the sap who tips up your derby or stiff | straw hat over vour eves, especially just when you are trying to impress a lady | friend in serious conversation? Such a crazy tilt on one's hat in- stantly upsets all ideas of serious talk, {giving the hat wearer the attitude and appearance of one who has imbibed too | freely of unlawful liquors. Something ought to be done, too, about the playful gentleman who keeps an electric chair in his office. For the benefit of feminine readers, we will say that this is usually an innocent-appear= ing chair with a cane bottom, but that beneath the seat is hitched a small electric battery of the “shocker” type. When the victim sits down he gets considerable of a shock, depending on his innocence, his susceptibility and his physical and nervous condition. * ok Kk ‘The most serious of these “jokes” is that which consists of pulling a chair out from under one just as he attempts to sit down. More than one person has been in- jured by this bit of—horse play, we were about to- say, but horses have more sense. We have heard of one woman who went through life with a broken back as the result of such a *joke" played upon her at the age of 10 years. All of them are manifestations of the “pully” instinct in mankind, and depend chiefly upon their unexpectedness and the fact that most bystanders will laugh, glad that the thing wasn't tried on ‘hem. Somehow the world resents the serious man, so these tricks “work” best on serfous men who mind their own busi. ness and who expect—alas, foolishly!— that others will mind theirs. BACKGROUND OF EVENTS BY PAUL V. COLLINS. “Somewhere in France,” there is to- day. a soldler fighting the greatest bat- te of his life—the soldier who once commanded greater armies than any | other general ever led into battle. Marshal Perdinand Foch is making his last stand, not weakly facing de- fact, but confronting irresistible power, against which all the strategy of man is vain. Even our own Gen. Pershing, calling to pay his respects to the only man in the World War whom he saluted as his superior in rank (superior when Mar- shal Foch became supreme commander of the Allied and Associated Armies), was halted at the door, and could but leave his message of sympathy. * k% % ‘The world knows the success of the one who contrdlled the fate of civiliza- tion upon the battlefleld, for he was victorious, and the world honors Suc- cess. But how little do ‘the mass of people know of the great courage and morale of the victor! His was the spirit of Victory personified, because he be- lieved victory was ever measured by will to succeed, rather than by conditions over which he had no control. There are lessons in his maxims, applicable to “fights” in peace as well as of war. The struggler with a Foch spirit cannot fail. Who could overcome this spirit? “My right is crushed, my left is in| I am attacking with my| retre: center.” Just an official routine report of the general in command of one of the armies facing the second battle of the Marne. The secret of why later he was given supreme command! It were easy—but unfair for an un- disabled observer—to contrast that grit with the quivering lips of a certain shell-shacked patient from qne of the military hospitals, whom I met this morning—a highly trained young man, expert in certain technique, but wholly incapacitated by nervous breakdown. Wholly? No—the Veterans' Bureau rates him “less than 10 per cent in- capacitated,” hence, awards him no “compensation,” and he is hogpitalized without a cent of income, and no physical ability to earn any. “He is taken carg of!"” Yes, but he loves his dependent wife, who, though a normal school graduate and experienced teacher, is earning only enough to pay rent, with hardly any- thing for food and—sick, with no money for medical attendance. He gave his nerves in battle. “His right is crushed, his left is in retreat; he might attack with his center.” Just how? Let's be practical! He can walk about—feebly. But the Veterans' Bureau says that walking about proves that his disabllity is “less than 10 per cent” and his walking legs are 90 per cent. . How glorious it would be if everybody were a Marshal Foch! When in re- treat, when one's right is crushed— then fight with your center. How simple! Take a correspondence course with the V. B. “God reigns and the Government at Washington still lives!"” SR Said Marshal Foch: “A battle lost is a battle which one believes fo be lost. For battles are not lost mate- rially.” ‘There is such a lot of truth in that aphorism! The converse is that only when one gives up Is he defeated. Let's refer to the Boston doctrine of “mind over matter” and rise aboye all de- feats by denying their existence. Na- poleon retreated from Russia and fought his Waterloo, but why admit defeat when mind rules matter so absolutely? ‘What a mystery is this control by “mind over matter!” Two people with one finger each can lift high in the alr a third person, though the lifters scarcely feel the weight of the 150 or 200 pounds they lift. Explain it; I can't. TI've seen it done; I have as- sisted in doing it, but explain it? Jamais de la vie! Yet every general recognizes the vast power of morale in winning victories. Read their orders whose sole purpose has been directed to equipping the army, not with “materiai,” but with morale. * ko ok The French had been forced to re- treat at the first battle of the Marne untll Marshal Joffre was prepared to face about, and he issued this rally: “As we are about to begin the battle on which depends the future of our country, it is necessary to remind all that the time for retreat is ended. | back the enemy. A soldier who can no longer advance must guard the terri- tory already held, no matter what the cost. He must be killed in his track rather_than draw back.” In line with that hard decree is cited a maxim of Marshal Foch: “Victory goes always to those who merit it by their greater force of will and intelligence.” * K Kk X Here is what Marshal Foch sald of the supreme importance of the responsi- bility of a general in, command—the high position which he assumed when he was given command over all the |alliedarmies, including that of the Americans: L “Great_results in war are due to the commander. History is therefore right in making generals responsible for vic- tories—in which case they are glorified; and for defeats—in which case they are disgraced. Without a commander, no battle, no victory is possible. “Is it not again this influence of the commander, the very enthusiasm derived from him, which alone can explain the unconscious movements of the human masses at those solemn moments when, without knowing why it is doing so, an army on the battlefleld feels it is being carried forward as if it were gliding down & slope?” The same principles fit the battles of civil life—Aghting for health or business success. There wes no personal glori- fication intended in the above expres- sion; it is but the doctrine which Marshal Foch had taught when he was in command of the Military Academy of France—the tremendous responsibility of the supreme command. And today, in disease or in business, “I am captain of my soul!” * kK X Three years after the armistice Marshal Foch visited America as guest of the American Legion and” this is what he said at the Legion meeting in Kansas City concerning the American Expeditionary Forces and their com- mander: After reviewing the work of the 1st Army of America at St. Mihiel, the Meuse and Argonne and the readi- ness of the 2d Army for the attack on Metz, he referred to Armistice day and added: “A solemn hour which compensated for all the sacrifices so freely given for the cause of the right. “It is you who have made these sac- rifices—more than 75,000 of your coun- trymen were buried in the soil of France. May they rest in peace! Glory to you who survive them and who' enjoy victorlous peace! Your French brothers: in arms watch over them. You may well be proud of your past exploits. Your country had asked of you to lay low -a redoubtable enemy. You have placed him at your mercy, and after having assured every guar- anty for the liberty of our peoples you have imposed upon him the peace which our governments have dictated. Has not your task been completely fulfilled? “As for me, the great honor of my life will be to have guided along the road to victory the American Army of 1918, which was a real ‘Grand Army,’ beginning with its commander.” He became, and has since remained, a member of George Washington Post, No. 1, American Legion, of the National Capital, * K ok ok An anonymous writer of a book en- titled “Foch: Essai de Psychologie Mili- taire,” the author describing himself as & former pupil of the Higher Military School, when it was.commanded by Gen. Foch, thus sums up his character: “In every way Foch will be the gen- eralissimo of free nations, in contrast with the races of prey; he shall save civilization of the West from those who would revert to the barbarism of the East. Successor of the Caesars of the Roman Empire, he will be, like them, the as- surance of human progress, so that no more shall run the conquest of the world, thereby doubly contributing to the glory of his own country.” i (Copsright, 1929, by Paul V. Collins.) The Wages of Gin, So to Speak. From the Hartford Daily Courant. The Hoboken man who took a drink in his own saloon and became tempo- rarily blind should congratulate himselt ‘on not betng one of cus- tomers, A Every effort must be made to drive |u: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1929. China Is Held Wisest Nation in World History To the Editor of The Star: An article in Monday's Star advo- cating greater attention to things Chi- nese in this country suggested to me that I would like to say a few words on the subject. China is, in my opinion, the greatest, wisest and most venerable nation in the world’s history. She has, for one thing, lived throughout the eons of time in peace and orderly behavior while her neighbors of the Western World were constantly or periodically involved in military strife and social upheaval. A single aphorism of Confucian philoso- phy means more to the skeptic mind than all the religious doctrine ever preached. Chinese culture is higher and finer than that of any European nation, ancient or modern. But I am best qualified to speak of | the Chinese lanz\*, which, after all, like all language: the embodiment and soul of the people who use it. After studying the various languages of Eu- rope, from German to Finnish, I pro- ceeded eastward and concluded with Chinese, which I found and do not hesitate to pronounce the greatest of |all forms of human speech. It is mono- |syllabic and tonic, and without doubt represents the original type of civilized | thought expression, the other two lin- guistic branches, viz, the agglutinative and inflectional, being evidently but successive overgrowths and corruptions of this basic pristine stock. I was sur- prised and delighted beyond measure to rendering the subtlest concepts with superlative elegance and crystallized precision in sentences consisting of a few judiciously chosen and syntactically co-ordinated syllables, in striking con- trast to the complicated, cumbersome verbiage of Indo-European and allied tongues. The Chinese have never felt the need of any grammatical prefixe suffixes, inflections, declensions, conju- gations, prepositional constructions or the like to guide them in creating the most profound and subtle philosophy and the most elaborate literature. In sound, well spoken Chinese is harmoni- ous and musical as the song of a bird, making English and most European languages seem coarse and dissonant in comparison. It is indeed a question whether it would not be more appropriate for American pupils, bred to so terse a | speech as English, to study a language thus free from structural intricacies and brain-racking perplexities than to impress upon their minds the myriads of verbal variations embraced in the ac- cidence of Latin, Greek, German or other European tongues. One of the most interesting and fas- cinating features of Chinese is the idio- graphic symbols which serve to visualize the vocabulary. This system of writing, the most ingenipus ever invented by man, while seemingly invincible at first view, can really be mastered in a rea- sonable period if the student will but persevere till the turning point is reached. It is in fact not harder to ac- quaint one’s self with the 10,000 Chinese characters chiefly in use than to learn, for instance, the chaotic English orthog- raphy or the irregular and arbitrary mutations that words undergo for grammatical reasons in other Ocel- dental languages. To read and grasp the meaning of a literary composition in Chinese is, in my experience, more edifying and satis- factory as a purely mental feat than to plod through a Ciceronian oration or a labyrinthian German philosophical or scientific disquisition. It is devoutly to be hoped that the Chinese people will be sane and patri- otic enough not to allow any sordid modern materialistic consideration to induce them to abandon their pictur- esque and intensely characteristic ideo- graphs for some trivial phonetical alphabet or syllabary. If the Japanese, sing the same symbols in combination with a double syllabary of their own, have been able to educate their youth and make such remarkable progress along every line of modern activity, why should old China not be able to do like- wise without sacrificing the priceless heritage of untold ages for the sake of i some perhaps imaginary expediency? Let the Americans learn Chinese and thus become really acquainted with the greater half of civilized humanity, and let thein, by manifesting their willing- ness to acquire a knowledge of the grand old parent idiom of all mankind, lend encouragement to the modern Chinesé in fostering and preserving their language for all time to come in- stead of weakening and impairing it by attempting to adapt it to the very forms of speech which are philologically known to be but its own abortive off- spring and some of which, notably Eng- lish, are right now showing a marked tendency to revert to the monosyllabic type by abbreviating and cutting down their words wherever possible! ‘WILFRED STEVENS. .o Tax on Intangibles Described as Unjust To the Editor of The Star: : The present’ unjust intangible tax works as follows: 1. An heirloom worth $500 is left or given during life and $2.50 annualiy is patd, though it wouldn't be sold and is non-productive. 2. A Governmznt employe is retired on $1,000 maxim®® and through thrift and extra work accumulated taxabie securities worth $10,000, yielding 5 per cent, making total income $1.500; mighty little for two to live on with apartment rent of even $40, yet he is taxes $50. Hard sledding if he required medical attention! 3. A widow with two children is left $20,000 of taxable securities, yielding 5 per cent, or $1,000, and $5,000 of non- ylelding securities. The District takes $125, leaving $875, and In this case the tax is 125 per cent of income. 4. A family in Pennsylvania lives on $2,500 annually—5 per cent on $50,000 securities—having also $20,000 of non- income securities. The four-mill tax would amount to but $10 on income, but even more than that is exempt. Here the tax would be $350, reducing income to $2,150, and amount to about 14 per cent of income—downright con- fiscation! 5. The real estate tax educates children; removes ashes, garbage, trash, and sewerage; delives water; lays, lights and cleans roadways, and gives fire and police protection. How is th> unfair intangible tax earned? If our legislators care to right a wrong, here is their chance by either enacting a reasonable income-tax law patterned after New York or Pennsyl- vania or other State or the National law. or by at least a graduated intan- gible tax, beginning, after certain ex- emptions, with one mill, two mills, three mills, etc,; but a five-mill tax is hardly justified in war time unless securities earn 6 per cent. The present tax no doubt loses many desirable citizens to the District. What do others say on this? Our Senators and Representatives have overlooked this. MRS. J. W. SMITH. e Canadian Is Declared G. U.’s Oldest Alumnus | To the Editor of The Star: Your issue of Thursday, February 21, credits the late Dr. Willlam R. Good- man with being “the oldest living alum- nus of Georgetown University.” With all respect to the memory of the good doctor, this statement is incorrect. As one who is somewhat acquainted with the history of that estimable institu- tion, I beg leave to correct your mis- apprehension. The Horr. George Casmir Dessaulles of Camada is the oldest living alumnus of *Georgetown. This gentleman re- ceived the degree of bachelor of arts!| at the Hilltop in June, 1848. Thus he | whs quite old when the late Dr. Good- man was matriculating at the local institution. Hon. Mr. Dessaulles enjoys good health despite his advanced age of 101 years. He still takes an active part in the affairs of the Canadian Legislature, of which he has long been a member. MILBURN PETTY, discover in Chinese a vehicle capable of | y | | ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. There is no other agency in the world that can_answer ‘as many legitimate questions as our free Information Bu- reau in Washington, D. C. This highly organized institution has been built up and is under the personal direction of Frederic J. Haskin. By keeping in con- stant touch with Federal bureaus and other educational enterprises it it in a position to pass on to you authoritative information of the highest order. Sub- mit your queries to the staff of exper whose services are put at your free di: posal. There is no charge except 2 cents In coin or stamps for return post- age. Address The Evening Star Informa. tion Bureau, Frederic J. Haskim, dire tor, Washington, D. C. Q. In the count of 10 in a prize fight how fast does the referee count? E.E S A. The New York State Athletic Commission rules provide that “when a contestant is down the referee shall at once commence calling seconds, and if the contestant, fails to arise before the count. of 10 the referee shall declare | him the loser.” When were Norway and Sweden separated?—J. T. A. The union of Norway with Sweden was dissolved on June 7, 1905, after lasting 91 years, Q. How soon will burial space in Westminster - Abbey be exhausted?— . B. B A. A recent report stated that there was no further room for burial within the abbey. Q. If the Prince of Wales should be- come King, would the Duke of York become the Prince of Wales?—W. A. B. A. If the present King of England were to die, the Prince of Wales would become King. necessarily assume the title of Prince of Wales. The heir to the throne has to be so created. The Duke of York would be the heir presumptive, since there would be a possibility of the Prince of Wales marrying and having | { sons of his own to succeed. Q. What is the present strength of the Army?—L. D. H. A. The actual strength of the United States Army is: Commissioned officers, including Philippine Scouts, 11,806; en- listed men, 118,134; Philippine Scouts, enlisted, 6,329. National Guard (June 30, 1928): Commissioned, 12,428; en- listed men, 168,793. Q. What is the duty of a whip in a legislative body?>—S. H. B. A. Party whips are of recent intro- duction into the Congress of the United States. The office has long been in ex- istence in the British Parliament. The duties of whips are (1) to inform the leader of the state of party opinion, (2) to count the vote in every division and report the- results to the Speaker, (3) to inform members when important divisions are expected and detain them until division occurs and (4) to tell members how to vote. The government whip must also “keep a house,” or quorum, when government business is transacted. Q. How can the pineapple be grown as a house plant?—D. F. To grow a pineapple as a house plant select a sound fruit with the green top still attached. Remove the top and plant in a sandy soil in a three or four inch pot. Keep the sofl wet for a few days and in partial shade. Q. Please give a list of Thomas A. Edison’s_inventions.—W. T. C. Thomas A. Edison has applied for more than 1,000 patents. The fol- lowing are among the most important: ‘Telegraphic appliances—automatic re- peater, quadruplex telegraph, printing telegraph: electric pen; carbon telephone transmitter, micro- tasimeter, megaphone, phonograph, in- candescent lamp, electric valve, motion pictures and alkaline storage battery. Q. How tall was Queen Victoria?— F. A R. A." She is described as a little less than 5 feet in height. Q. Were any of the signers of the Constitution Masons?—C. C. George Washington, Benjamin His brother would not | mimeograph, bee: Franklin, Alexander Hamilton David Brearley were Masons, Q. When w the United Army formed?. MeG. A. The first regiments of the Requ- lar Army were forraed in 1789. Q. What colors be seen at the greatest distance’—&. D. 11 A. Experiments in+ | colors as red and o and States ange are clearly visible at a great atstance. Q. How large is Lake W W. P A. This Wisconsin Iake is 30 mils long and from 3 to 11 miles wide. Q. To what body of judges wera A: miral Peary’s proofs of reaching £ A. Peary submitted records of observations to a committee consistir of members of the Nationa] Geographic Society and the superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Su vey. This committee reported t Peary's material supplied proof that : | had ‘attained the North Pole on April ¢ 1900. Q. What is t difference between “admission” and “admittance”?—L. R. B. A. In present usage “admittance” is mostly confined to a literal sense of al- lowing one to enter a locality ing: as, “No admittance.” to the grounds.” “Admission” has ac- quired the figurative sense of admitting to rights, privileges, standing. member- ship: as, “admission to the church, to the best soclety; the admission of new words to the language.” When entrance into a building or a locality takes with it certain privileges, “admission” rather than ‘admittance” is used; as, “admis- sion to a theater: the admission of aliens into a country.” Q. Please quote some scientist who does not believe that, the theory of evo- lution conflicts with religion.—E. E. G. A. Modern scientists are of the opin- fon that the theory of evolution does | not necessarily conflict with religion Dr. George S. Duncan, in his book “An Introduction to Biblical Archeology.” quotes from Charles Darwin, the fore- most. pioneer and interpreter of evolu- tion: “But I may say that impossibility of believing that this grand and won- | drous universe without conscious cells |arose fhrough chance seems to me the | chief reason for the existence of God." Sir Oliver Lodge says that evolution is not a haphazard chance process. More | and more our leaders in sclence come to recognize design, purpose and plan. Q. Were Henry Ford's mother and father Americans?>—J. G. F. A. Henry Ford is American born. His mother also was American born His father was born in Ireland of Eng- lish ancestry and came to the Unite . States in early life. Q. At what age should a child b taught to use a toothbrush?—J. 8. A A brush should be used on a child's teeth from the time they come in. A child should be taught to brush his own teeth as soon as possible. At 2 years is not too young for him to begin. Q. In what year was the Pohick Church in Virginia built>—H. C. H. A. The Protestant Episcopal Church at Pohick, Va., was projected in 1767, George Washington being one of the interested parties. ‘The completed church was turned over to the vestry February 15, 1774. It was in fairly good condition until the Civil War, dur- ing which time the whole interior was ripped out and the edifice used as a stable for Army horses. After the war only the brick walls and roof remained, and it was left practically in this con- dition for many years. It has now n restored. Q. What is the history of the black shirt of Italy?>—F. J. P, A. The black shirt was originally worn by the Itallan shock troops dur- ing the war. Later it became part of the uniform of the Legionnalres of D'Annunzio at Fiume. ,The Fascisti adopted it as a symbol of the new patriotism. The Fascisti organization was founded by Mussolini in March, 1919, at Milan. Entrance Into World Court Nearer Through Root Missio: The country’s reaction to the mission of Elihu Root abroad, in connection with the statutes of the World Court, indicates a general belief that the pres- ent effort to bring about American membership in that tribunal is likely to be successful. The sending of Mr. Root is viewed as an outstanding last act of the Coolidge administration. In the opinion of the New York Times “the country is warranted in believing that a real effort will now be made to open the door for our entrance into the World Court. It has been long and unnecessarily delayed, but it is sure to come. The court is a fitting and needed sequel to the Kellogg peace treaty. It is an effective agent of the League of Nations and of the countries compos- ing it. In time the United States will probably go the whole figure and join the League of Nations. For the present it is encouragement enough and satis- faction enough to see this country pre- paring to take its place as a member of the World Court.” “Elihu Root is due to reach Geneva soon,” says the Charlotte Observer, “and ‘well informed circles’ there are confidently predicting that as soon as Mr. Root's voice is heard results will follow. The one trouble is formulating a plan by which the fifth reservation by the United States Senate can be rec- onciled, and the Geneva statesmen be- lieve Mr. Root is coming with the for- mula. This committee of judicial ex- perts, of which Mr. Root is a member, is likely to bring a desired situation through revisions of the World Court statutes to fit developed conditions.” £ “It is inevitable that this country will sooner or later enter the court,” asserts the Rock Island Argus, which reviews the progress of the matter: “Originally favoring our entrance into the World Court, President Coolidge seemed for a time to be less enthusiastic about advo- cating American entrance. Now that he is about to retire from office, he re- opens the question, being evidently de- sirous of seeking a basis for our entrance.” The Chattanooga News volces the judgment, “Of course, it is hardly ts)os- sible that anything further can be done during the Coolidge administration along this line, but Mr. Hoover is friendly to the World Court, and the Kellogg- Coolidge identical note can be taken as a definite step toward bringing the United States into the tribunal.” Referring to the fact that Mr. Root sailed for Europe on ‘his eighty-fourth birthday, the . Long Beach Press- Telegram comments, “He is undertak- ing a gigantic task, but he has the courage and the hopefulness of youth as he makes his quest.” The e nectady Gazette points out that “what is plainly most needed is agreement among the other members of the court upon the moot point in the procedure involving advisory opinions. The United States is little likely to change its attitude upon the matter. President Ceolidge expressed the sentiment of the country and the Senate in his address at Kansas City when he approved the reservations of the Senate as necessary for the protectlon of American inter- ests.” ol “The public is justified in inferring.” it appears to the Ithaca Journal-News, “that the stumbling block may be hur- dled before long.” The Trenton Eve- ning Times feels that “it is much to be hoped that Mr. Root will be success- of world sentiment and in paving th way for an understanding which wi facllitate entry of the United States The Columbus Evening Dispatch says “We can see no good reason for th~ recalcitrant attitude which the major- ity in the Senate has taken with regare to the court. Its alleged fears of ‘en- tanglement’ by adherence to the court without a long string of reservation are not shared by the great majorit: of the American people.” Still another view of the existing ob- stacle is taken by the Charlesion Evo- ning Post: “It is not unlikely that th nations can be brought to take us on our own terms for this assoclation but they are very apt to ask Mr. Root for guarantees that the United States will stand up to its own proj s if they are accepted. Mr. Root will doubt- less be able to assure the full support of President Hoover. So could he have promised the approval of President Coolidge and President Harding. But will Mr. Root be able to pledge the acquiescence of the United States Sen- ate? * * * It is to be hoped, how- ever, that Mr. Root'’s mission will b- successful.” * k¥ ¥ A nation doesn't want to yield to an- other, because it must preserve its hon- remarks the Worcester Telegram. ut when two disputing nations put their case before some kind of an in- ternational body, then neither one has occaslon for feeling that it has bowed in humiliating fashion to the other." The Utica Observer-Dispatch says: “Mr. Root's visit may well offer a favor- able opportunity for threshing out the whole problem ain with the high diplomatic skill of which Mr. Root is master. It should be taken as an ear- nest of our desire to come to an unde: standing on the matter and bring into the realm of face-to-face discus- sion rather than of long-distance diplo- matic exchanges.” “Mr. Root. is one of our ablest, as he is one of our most. highly respected, eld- er statesmen,” says the Roanoke Times. * * * “Age has ripened his judgment without dulling his keen intellsct. Eu- ropean statesmen will receive in the person of Mr. Root a representative of the best and highest type of American statesmanship.” * ok ok X In opposition to the court, the Detroit Free Press argues: “Whether or not the United States enters the court is a ma ter of indifference to probably ninet; aine out of one hundred Americans. * The fact that three years have elapsed without the court even being mentioned shows that there is no present demand for our rushing into it. * * * The lan- guage of the reservations is not im- portant. Some other formula might do Just as well. The indispensable quality Is certainly that the interests of this country would be safeguarded, and no formula can hope for ratification by the Senate, whatever the Executive may think of it, which does not meet that test squarely and unequivocally. “With its numerous arbitration treaties and with The Hague Court still open, the United States can very well get along without membership in the World Court,” the Lexington Leader also declares, with the comment on the present effort: “In the conference which is to be held on revision of the statute, Mr. Root will do what he can S0 to remodel it that objections may be wholly or partially removed. He ful in obtaining & clean-cut definition should succeed if any man has the power. mmcn"vmuammm."