Evening Star Newspaper, December 7, 1930, Page 41

ECONOMIC SITUATION DISCUSSED BY LAMONT h d industri already accepting 8ecretary of Commerce Tells of Efforts | rporiuli i song jorvart Made to Relieve Unemployment and Depression. ' the National Radio Porum last night, follows: A little over a year ago we, in com. mon with the rest of the world, e tered upon a period of declining bus! ness which has since developed into a depression of serious proportions. World Pprices of securities have dropped pre- cipitously and prices of commodities, particularly raw materials, have fallen oonsiderably, the profits of industry have shrunk, output of manufactures and minerals has been curtailed, pur- chasing power has been reduced, and many thousands of our fellow citizens have become unemployed. While there s good reason to belleve that we have already weathered the worst of the storm and that signs of stability and Tecovery are already appearing, it is clear that we are faced this Winter with the vital problem of providing employ- ment and relief for the unfortunate * eltizens of our country who find them- selves through no fault of their own without work and without income. To- night I want to discuss some aspects of this important problem as the re- sult of our experience of the past year in_dealing with it. # When the depression began a year ago the President promptly called into conference the business and labor lead- ers of the Nation and mobilized the in- dustries of the country for co-operation in meeting the emergency. The White House conferences were the mo rompt and effective marshalling orces under public leadership for deal- ing with this problem that has ever occurred in this or any other country. At these conferences the President out- lned several important lines of action, including the maintenance of wage rates, avoidance of industrial disputes, the extension of public and industrial construction and the organization of community efforts for unemployment Telief. measures have been suc- cessful to & marked degree. Agree- ments made at these conferences have, ‘with few exceptions, been adhered to in spite of the longation of the de- pression and the stresses and strains to which business has been put, with .the result that we have escaped many of the painful occurrences which have ac- companied other major depressions. Have Avoided Disputes. For the first time in our entire his- tory we have passed through a depres- sion period without experiencing serious industrial disputes. Strikes and lock- outs during the past several months have been so few in number as to be almost insignificant. At the end of September—the last month for which complete records are available—only 48 strikes involvi less than 15,000 work- ers were actually in existence. During the first six months of this year only 313 disputes were recorded by the De- partment of Labor. In the aggregate these industrial disputes, most of them of a few days’ duration, affected only 90,000 workers—an insignificant frac- tion of the nearly 40,000,000 wage and salary workers of the United States. Contrast this situation with the serious muny disputes were recorded, ‘many ual strikes involving thousands and in tens of workers. Approximately & milllon workers participated in the strikes occu! in the six-month pe- riod of 1921—eleven times as many as in the prese: ‘This re times as y of the indivic p of our labor lead- venting industrial strife and the vision of our industrial leaders in maintain! wage rates at the high levels attal in 1928 and 1920. For it is important to note that the ma- Jority of the strikes in fi'x:s ::epr;:s’g: & decade ago were prof a hich were being made so that time. In the pres- ent emergency the employers of the Nation, with few exceptions, have held to the agreement of last Winter in wisely avolding the “penny-wise and pound-foolish” policy of slashing wages and thereby reducing purchasing power. Here again the contrast with 1921 is impressive. In the earlier depression wage reductions were the order of the|in day. The Monthly Labor Review in each month of that year carried a muititude of items such as this: “The entire force of these plants had respec- tive wage rate decreases of 25 per cent, 18 ?er cent and 16 per cent”s “prac- tically all laborers in this concern were - reduced 17%; per cent”, “30 per cent of the men in this plant were reduced | 15 per cent”; “95 per cent of the men in a second plant were reduced 14 per oent,” ete. Few Wage Cuts. What does the record show for the 1930? In the month of Septem- Eromy 118 of the nearly 14,000 in- dustrial establishments reporting to the |- bureau announced wage cuts. These | reductions, which were of 10 per cent | or less in most cases, affected the earn- ings of some 9,000 to 10,000 men, or | less than one-third of 1 per cent of | the total of more than 3,000,000 work- ers on the pay rolls of reporting estab- lishments. In August wage reductions affecting about the same number of | workers were announced, while the| record for the earlier months was even more favorable, such small decreases 85 were made being offset or nearly offset in many instances by announce- ments of wage increases. Indeed, in every single month of this year, ex- cept August, some firms actually in- creased wages despite the declining | tendency in production and profits. A recent survey made by a large blishing house of conditions in 103 ical industrial concerns employing | more than 82,000 workers confirms| these findings. Of the 26 firms in this | oup reporting changes in wage rates | ring the past year, 16 reported in- creasss while only half as many re- ted reductions. %nlon ‘wage lczl'e;] also h:ve beel': maintained during the present year a or above the levels attained during the t few prosperous years. o s unskilled and unorganized labor fared in the present depression? One might expect that common labor SECRETARY LAMONT. ment of factory output has been prac- tically as great as in 1921, but em- ployment has been maintained at a much higher relative level, having fal- len less than 19 per cent from the high average of last year. & This striking evidence that employers have recognized the justice of spread- ing out work opportunities among as many workers as possible and the wis- dom of thereby maintaining their or- ganizations intact, s further confirmed by the study to which I referred a few moments ago. These 103 plants, em- ploying 82,000 persons, reported that they were keeping on their pay rolls nearly 10,000 more workers than were actually needed in direct production. Many of these establishments were ro- tating work among available employes or were utilizing their extra labor on much needed repair and maintenance work. I can not emphasize too strongly the desirability of some such system of staggering employment so that many industrial workers now unemployed wiil be offered at least part-time employ- ment during the coming Winter. An even wider adoption of such measures aleviation of our present problems. Important Gains. The maintenance of wage rates vir- fually unchanged at the high levels of last year, the avoidance of serious in- dustrial strife and the relatively greater stability of employment in the present defression represent very important gains over our experience in previous depression ferlods—gllm which are im- portant not only for their present in- fluence uj the employment situation, but for the influence they will exert in the future. President Hoover has always advo- cated the pushing of public and other large scale construction programs as a corrective o perfods of, depression. At the White House conferences last Fall the railroads and other utilities an- nounced an expanded program of con- struction and betterment for the year of [ 1930 which amounted in the aggregate to nearly three and a half billion dol- lars—an amount well in excess of the large total for the previous year. Pub- lic works and highway construction un- dertaken this year aggregated another three and a half billion dollars. The' combined total will thus be close to seven billion dollars, representing an increase of 10 per cent over the previous year instead of the aecrease which usually occurs in periods of business decline. Translated into terms of em- ployment, this means that 1,500,000 or more men are gaining their livelihood directly from this vast program of public works and public utility con- struction and that the increase in this class of work this year has resulted in the additional employment of close to 200,000 workers who would otherwise be unemployed. In this program’the Federal Govern- ment has contributed an important share. Federal expenditures for con- struction of all kinds will exceed half & biliion dollars for the year resulting the direct employment of between 100,000 and 200,000 men, while the President has recommended to Congress an additional appropriation of from $100/000,000 to $150,000,000. On Fed- eral-aid highways alone during the it three months, 21 per cent more workers have been engaged than in the cor- responding period of last year. ‘Thus, at a time when industry.has been lay- ing off workers, the Federal, State and local governments, and the. railroads and public utilities, have been helping to take up the slack by adhering closely to the expanded prpgram of construc- tion announced last Winter, Few Order Cancellations, It was generally hoped and believed in the earlier months of the depression that it would prove no more serious than that of 1924, which most of us have forgotten. The conferences held by the President added to the hope of an early upturn. Many of the country’s leading economists and _statisticlans prophicied with considerable confidence that business would recover promptly in the Spring of 1930, Money rates, which had been swollen during ‘the stock market boom, had dropped to normal, and capital for the conduct of business and for investment was reasonably abundant. There were apparently few excessive inventories and few cancellations of orders—factors which had precipitated swift price de- clines in 1921. No serious failure of banks, brokers or industrial and com- great business enterprises were then, as they are today, in strong financial po- sition. As a matter of fact, this hopeful out- look seemed at first to be justified by various business indicators. ‘In the first quarter of this year some improvement appeared in bullding construction, in the production of steel and of automo- prices swung upward and commodity prices temporarily stopped their down- ward turn, As the Spring and Summer advanced, would be the first to bear the brunt of wage reductions. On the contrary s recent official study shows that on July 1, 1930, the average hiring or entrance rate actually paid to common labor in & large number of establish ments in 13 important industries tenths of a cent less than the average for 1929 and well above the levels of 1926 and 1927. Common labor em- loyed on Pederal aid highways, accor fng to data published by th: Bureau of Public Roads, has averaged 39 and 40 cents an hour during the first ten | months of this year—a rate actually above the average paid in 1929. Hit Common Labor Harder. In contrast with the present situation eommon labor suffered even more than the skilled trades in the slashing of wages in 1921. Following the collapse in 1920, the wages of road labor were cut more than 25 rumnt‘{::mme average rate prevailing it year to 36 cents hour in 1921 and to 32 eents in 1922, Another indication of the whole- co-operation of industry in the President’s stabilization program is shown by the fact that workihg forces have been held more nearly intact in the present depression than in 1921. In tge earlier period the decline of nearly 28 per cent in output of manu- factured goods from the average of the boom year was paralleled by decline of nearly as large proportion 26 per cent—in employrient. current m‘m recession curtall- however, it became evident that general | business was still sick. From time to | time turns of a favorable character ap- peared in this or that statistical indi- | cator, giving hope that the bottom had { been reached, but a number of ab- normal and disturbing factors inter- |vened and dampened these hopes. | Among such factors were the tariff agi- tation, exaggerated for political pur- poses; a widespread and prolonged drought threatening the supplies of feed for anjmals and cutting down the buy- ing power of farmers, upheavals in Latin America, political difficulties in Eurcpe and continued declines in world | commodity prices. With Autumn the big problem before us was that of further relleving the actual hardships of unemployment. We should be able to handle the pres- ent situation more successfully than the task that confronted us a decade ago. That depression, it is true, marked the first occasion in the history of the coun- try when a nationally organized effort was mede to cope with the problem. But in this earlier ?('flod neither the Federal, State and local governments nor industries organized to mee the problem untfl the Fall of 1921, when the most acute phase of the de- pression was upon us. In the present emergency, on the cther hand, the con- ferences called by the President imme- diately after the stock market crash a yoar M0 gave s start fo movements which have not only furnished consid- erable relief, but are now ripening into a much larger progrem In October when P:sldent Hoovq offers the best opportunity for prompt | date, mercial concerns had occurred. Our | biles and in factory pay rolls. Stock | THE SUNDAY STAR, movement found that fimu ':m alre: . many employers had made their own plans to take care of their idle employes. In short, communities were own account to handle this problem of unemployment. Extraordinary Response. The Committee of the Cabinet and the Emergency Committee under Col. Arthur Woods, the same efficient leader who guided the relief activities in 1921-2, have met with extraordinary re- sponse from the country. Reports from every one of the forty-eight States and from hundreds of citles through- | LA out the country show earnest, confident work already in progress. Nothing, I think, since 1917 and 1018 has been quite so spontaneous, so courageous, and so unanimous. Not only are the regular local relief organizations well integrated and more adeguately financed than in previous years, but speclal community committees are be: set up to co-ordinate and unify the efforts of various interests to remedy the situation. The municipalities them- selves are setting a fine example by maintaining and increasing their work- and offering emergency em- to the jobless. Within the ast few days, Col. Woods has asked the mayors of the 363 largest cities and e Governors of States to report on the number of persons on public pay rolls. Reports received to date show that both the citles and the States, instead of laying off men as is usual at this sea- son, actually increased working forces from October to November. One hun- dred and eighty-four of the cities, not including any of the largest, which have not yet replied, reported 209,541 persons :nnflnb::lplklflp:y xol).; in November— Which was 3 per cent larger than in October and nearly 12 per cent above the total of 187,500 in Novem- ports already received from a few of the States show a similar tendency: a slight increase from October to November of this ycar and nearly 6 per cent more workers than at the same time last year. If these increases are typical it is estimated that increases in public emph;{men& at a time when in- dustrial workers have been released, have served to relieve the unemploy- ment situation to the extent of 200,000 Or more persons, Cutting Red Tape. Still more encor is the evidence that many States municipalities are cutting red tape in getting started on enlarged construction p . ;flh and :&mlt:lpu long-term ne- g amoun more than $157,000,- 000 in October, an amount practically double the September total and larger than for any October in the last decade. New bond issues approved by voters at recent elections were in excess of $400,- 000,000 and nt the largest No- vember -uumn for any year to ate. The authorities of many cities, and other local ~governments, moreover, Tealize that there is much needed work that can be undertaken without delay and that can be pursued during Winter months. The present appears to be a favorable time to undertake community house-cleaning of various kinds such as cleaning streets, parks and other public properties, improvement of traf- fic signs so badly needed in many locali- ties, removal of obstructions to view at highway intersections and grade cross- ings, construction of curb cut-backs on arterial highways and pedestrian safety islands and removal of obstructions. In addition there are many improvements of a more ex- tensive character, such as widening of streets and roads and removal of high- way grade crossings which can in many cases be profgfably undertaken during the Winter. oreover, these types of work do not involve large expenditures for material as they are of such char- acter that a large part of the cost is represented by labor. I have 5] efforts to provide part-time em- ployment in the homes and industries of the community. The Emergency Com- mittee for Employment has reports from all parts of the country showing the great interest in this type of work— work which is not reflected in our ordi- nary statistics of employment, which must total a very substantial number of days of activity and a tidy sum in the pay envelope. In organizing for the distribution of this type of work many cities have undertaken registra- tion of the unemployed and have estab- lished central employment services where the job and man are brought to- ' gether. \ Co-operation Necessary. Meeting an emergency of this sort, it must be realized, is a joint undertak- ing; one in which the Federal and local | governments, industry and labor or- | ganizations, and the community as I“ whole must co-operate to a common end—that of providing work for the jobless and direct relief for those in dis- tress. The Federal Government has exerted and 18 exerting its every effort to alleviate the present situation, di- rectly through additional employment afforded by its expanded construction and road-building program, and indi- rectly through its influence in maintain- ing wage levels and preserving indus- trial peace and in accelerating and co- ordinating the Nation-wide community efforts provide relief. I have every confidence that our common. effort will be suc- cessful in preventing the suffering which has always characterized such depressions in the past. Our imme- diate problem is to “carry on” through the coming Winter. As for the future, no person who is familiar with the his- tory of our country can fail to appre- clate the wisdom of President Hoover's words, “that our country today stronger and richer in resources, in equipment, in skill, than ever before in its history. We are in an extraordi- hary degree self-sustaining, we will lead the march of progperity as we have always done hithento.” The North Star Union met Tuesday at the Francls Asbury M. E. Church South, with Mrs. A. C. Jordan, hostess, as- sisted by Mrs. Laura B. Townshend, Mrs, J. W. Cranford, Mrs. Mamie Jenny, Mrs. Louis F. Holden, Mrs. Oliver U. Ports, Mrs, E. M. Gustafson and Mrs. Willlam M. Hurley. The president, Mrs, Marie . Brinley, presided. Mrs. Francis Browne led the devotionals. Mrs. E. M. Gustafson, corresponding secretary, gave a talk on her work. Rev. J. J. Rives, pastor of the church, gave a short talk on “Ideals.” Mrs. Louise Dudley, soprano, rendered & selection, accompanied by Mrs. W. L. Evans, at the plano. Mrs. E. E. Nor- wood, the retiring president, spoke briefly. Mrs. H. B. Linton, chairman of the Membership Committee, assisted by Mrs. A. L. Howard, gave a report on this work. Mrs. Mildred K. Hicks, chairman of the flower mission, assisted by J. E. Fox, spoke on the work she had outlined during the Christmas holidays. ‘They will purchase gifts for the patients of the Upshur and Fourteenth Street Hospital. Mrs. J. E. Fowler, chairman of goldlm, Sallors and Marines, with her assistants, will make cretonne bags for the patients of Walter Reed Hospital. Mrs. E. E. Norwood and Mrs. Marie N. Brinley each donated cretonne to make | these bags. Mrs. Zelah Farmer, chair- man of White Ribbon Recruits, reported the condition of her branch among | young mothers with their bables, also grandmothers with their grandchildren. Mrs. Ella M. Hayward, assoclate Miss Ethel Young, will have charge of the L. T. L. work this year. Mrs. Newton N. Minnix, chairman of PFinance and t | B t, outlined the budget. D. Stew- art Patterson, secretary of Inter-Colle- igiate Prohibition Assoclation, gave a talk on prohibition. Mrs. J. J. Rives, Mrs, F. T. Grifith and Mrs. B. J. How- ard were admitted to membership. Guests of honor were Miss Julia Bell of | Shepherd Park Union, Mrs. H. B. Den- ham of Columbia Union, Mrs. of Richmond, Va., and several members of the Francis Asbury Church, Northwest Uaion met recently at increase employment and | I WASHI Is Diplomacy Changing? (Continued From First Page.) and yet it was powerless to restrain the g-lm-d'-hocmwd.vmfl:vu,lo drunk with fury. great difference between the wars of the past and the future is the feeling of animosity which the latter-will leave behind them, because they bring na- tional feeling into play. Even the small- est hamlet will have its dead and the whols country will be devastated. Tal- leyrand said that a man should know how to renounce his hatreds. Unfor- tely, some people like to hate; they find it gives them fresh energy. If we are to discover a force that will prevent nations from fighting among themselves, we must look beyond democratic senti- ments. We have the League of Nations. Must Guard Interests. Foreign policy is not a matter of sen- timent. Its object is to accommodate 10g | accidental circumstances to the perma~ nent laws that control the destinies of nations. These laws exist independently of ourselves. The interests of people do . _They are determined na- thetr aphical position and thelr own character. History repeats itself; Phillp Augustus at Bonvines and Joffre on the Marne were defending the same cause. It is the same in peace as in war. The same political ideas show themselves in the same way as in for- mer times. Montesquieu notes that the Romans ofteh compelled conquered countries to settle their differences by arbitration and to sink their ships. It is not so long ago that others the same principle. There is m new under the sun. Inasmuch as national interests do not change the foreign policy of a country, Wwhatever upheavals may take place in its internal concerns must n be traditional, and whenever a new pol- icy is embarked upon we must deter- mine its conditions and accept its con- sequences. The old French monarchy discovered this in the eighteenth cen- tury when its alllances were reversed. To take a later example, a colonial pol- icy implies a naval policy, and thereby leads to a policy of union or hostility in respect to other maritime powers. Em- peror William was logical when he sald that Germany’s future was on the sea, but we may question whether Berlin tully realized to what extent the tradi- between Germany and England would be affected thereby. Diplomacy Not All Intrigue. ‘The bulk of the public im: that diplos is nothing but !nlm. and vgn ) ilplomlmc does not intrigue he Is looked upon as a votary of pleasure chiefly concerned with banquets and en- tertainment. A few people, however, are not satisfied with this rather sum- mary way of treating the question, They want to get to the bottom of things. They take the world to be a kind of theater, and talk about what happens “behind the scenes” of politics. From their point of view policy is a stage provided with plenty of changes of scenery, trapdoors, and so on. ing convinced that whatever happens is prepared afid premeditated, they do diplomatists the honor of taking them for s0o many Machiavellls and great contrivers of catastrophes. These peo- ple cannot believe that things happen of themselves, that neither Richelieu nor Bismarck could control the events that favored or hampered their plans, and that, as Prederick the Great once remarked, “the art of politics is not to make events happen, but to take ad- vantage of them when they do hap- pen.” The fact is that the qualities that 80 to make up a successful ambassa- dor are not those needed by a minister of foreign affairs. The la concen- trates, 50 to speak, the actlon of his Tepresentatives scattered all over the world. He compares the reports they send him, draws the balance and main- tains in the conduct of his foreign policy that harmony which results in unity and success; but he lives in his own country and is not in contact with the outside world. The ambassador, on the other hand, has this direct con- tact. He follows his own government's instructions, but at the same time he informs, enlightens and warns it, and sometimes he has to hold it back. His freedom of judgment should not, of course, amount to lack of discipline, but & governing minister who objected to it would have no more sense than a man who puts out his eyes in order to see. On the other hand, an ambassa- dor who does not dare to be anything more than a letter box is a source of danger to his government. Diplomat Must Have Character. ‘We can thus see that the most neces- sary qualification of a diplomatic rep- resentative is character. While a diplomatist should try to succeed, he would be well advised not to do it too openly. Success is some- times embarrassing. Nothing is more dangerous than to excite the amour propre of an adversary, and no suc- cess can be lasting unless it is by both sides. To my mind the high- est duty of a diplomatist 5 and always will be to avert war. For this reason I consider that the happlest moment in my career was when I succeeded, as French Ambassador to Germany in 1911, in averting war over the Agadir incident. ~ Although hostilities broke out in 1914, we diplomatists neverthe- u-wmuvl'cmrymnuhyucumg peace. ears of . A a(plommc representative also must exercise self-control. A Minister who cannot contain himself gives his oppo- nents an incalculable advantage. As an instance of this, I need only quote what happened in 1914. I always had a high opinion of the moderation with which the imperial chancellor, Herr von nn-Hollweg, expressed him- self; but when, on the eve of war and under the influence of his excitement in discovering that England was siding '.g!;uu “8 SCrap treaty signe gua! thy lum, he was eviden control 'hirnulr, lx:'dfl lhll l‘pl:lr.l.l" vfl. scrap of paper,” we! eavily against his country in the scales of history. Belf-Mastery Is Necessity. Sometimes an Ambassador may find himself in an awkward position, in which self-mastery is than ever necessary. An old Spanish author re- lates excellent repartee by an Aml sador who represented King Philip III of Spain at the French court. This Ambassador, Don Pedro de Toledo, was in conversation one day at the Louvre with Henri IV. The latter, who some- times acted in rather cavaller fashion and who never forgot that he was King of Navarre, began to talk about his rights over Spanish Navarre. When the Ambassador took a differ- ent view the King said, “Your reasons are all very well until I am at Pampe- luna, and then we will see who will undertake to defend it against me.” Thereupon Don Pedro rose and made for the dpor. “Where are you going in —_— Calvary Baptist Church, with the pres- ident, Mrs. George Ross, presiding. Mrs. John Thomas had charge of de- votionals. Mrs. Ross announced the quarterly convention would be held at the Roorevelt Hotel January 16 and luncheon would be served at 1 o'clock. It was decided to hold the next meet- ing December 26 at W. C. T. U. head- quarters. Members were asked to bring toys for children of the Gospel Mission. New directors of this union were ap- pointed, as follows: Auditor, Mrs, Copeland; child welfare, Mrs. Garner; evangelistic, Mrs. John Thomas; Flower Mission, Mrs. W. H. Moore; musical director, Mrs. Blanche Burton; asso- ciate musical director, Mrs. Mason McArter; publicity, Mrs. John Faris; sclentific temperance, Mrs. Tilden; Sunday school, Mrs. Manuel Kline; literature, Mrs. Robert Baily and Mrs. Todd; L. T. L, Mrs. Joseph Verga; W. R. R, Mrs. Lillard. Mrs. Doran, second vice president of District of Columbia, who had just re- turned from the convention at Houston, Tex., gave an account of her trip. Mr. Allbright and Mrs. Blanche tonnn[,mmptnudlflm.lohnl A successful diplomatist. is not favorable you bave to luff to reach port. In the course of long negotiations I was car- rying on with Herr von Kinderlen- ‘Waechter, public b&mkm showed signs of irritation in countries. When I him to settle the matter, the secretary of state, cong s good deal of finesse under occasionally rusque language, remarked: Patience May Work Wonders. “Let them say what they like. You want a settlement and so do I, but we must wear out the “amour propre” of others. What was impossible yesterday and is difficult today will be accepted with relief tomorro Unfortunately the relief alluded to by Herr von Kinderlen-Waechter was only temporary. _Pacification was not peace, but, precarious as it was, it was none the less an advantage, A negotiator must be discreet. This is a strict obligation, not only for the sake of his own Minister but for that of the person with whom he is nego- tiating. I must admit that discretion is not fashionable at present. The public loves gossip, and some news- papers make a point of stimulating this taste to an exaggerated extent. Gov- ernments are not as free as they need to be. They must reckon with im- patience of public opinion, but this is very different from open discussion. Moreover, in all free countries Parlia- ment is the final court of appeal, as most treaties must be submitted to it before being ratified. One might per- haps say without falling into paradox that if 1s any secrecy in the nego- tlations this secrecy ceases to exist when the time comes to put the results on paper, and that finally no diplomacy exists which can properly be called secret. Resistance Is Big Item. In policy, as in applied mechanics, the calculation of forces must be ac- companied by the calculation of zesist- ances. Many reasons seldom avowed, such as amour me, private interests, :ldlfloull preji and internal on, are view of the critical public. Bismarck, Wwho had some experience in these mat- ters, remarked to the Prusslan Landtag in 187 Innthe bome'xth;z’he:wn adopted: “If you want a horse, u do not go about telling people the hest price you will give, and if you want to g! rid of your own horse you do not state the lowest price you will take. Diplomacy must act with the same elementary wisdom.” Many people imagine that as soon as an Ambassador has presented his cre- dentials he can negotiate on every ques- tion affecting his country. This is quite a mistake. The only object af credentials is to establish the holder’s diplomatic position. When he has pre- sented them, the Ambassador begins to enjoy the privileges of his office. He enters into official relations with the government to which he is accredited, and he can speak authoritatively as the representative of his sovereign, but he is not qualified to conclude any arrange- ment on any particular point. To do this he must have special powers. It is for this reason that the preamble of every treaty contains, after the enumer- ation of the signatories, the statement that the plenipotentiaries have mutu- ally produced their plein pouvoirs and that these have been found to be in order. Practice May Be Modified. ‘The force of circumstances, however, sometimes prevails against strict offictal practice, and I can cite an example from my own experience. I was French Ambassador in Washington in 1898, during the war between Spain and the United States. In response to an appli- cation from Madrid the French govern- ment asked me if I thought could hflflf about an arrangement which would put an end to war. After due reflection I replied in the affirm- ative. I thus haq the rare honor of being doubl{ an Ambassador, so to speak, and of representing Spain as well as France for several months. I carried on negotiations directly with President McKin! of State, Mr. Day. I was fortunate enough to have the assistance of M. Thiebabut, our counselor of embassy in Washington. The porparlers were de- layed only by the necessity of constantly referring to Madrid. Mr, McKinley be- longed to the Republican party. He had been Senator for Ohio and had been popular by advocating & protective tariff in favor of American industries. This tariff was named after him. He was & fervent friend of peace, and learned from him that a statesman who loves peace can nevertheless involve his country in war. Such negotiations are not always easy. The Puritan spirit still prevailed among a_great many Americans, espe- cially in New England, and innumerable people concelved modern Spain to be what the country was in the sixteenth century. At last we succeeded in com- ing to an understanding. I maintained that Spain, which gave Porto Rico and the Philippines, should not pay a war indemnity, but should actuafly re-. celve $20,000,000, the whole of which sum was hanced to me immediately after the signature of the peace treaty. Formalities May Be Walved. ‘The Madrid government approved the arrangement and cabled t it was sending me full powers to sign the agreement. It was obvious that a many days would elapse before the docu. me'xju. could ml:o me, and I% "11355' ently necessary to avert useless. - ;hc! by putting an end to hostilities. ‘We hurried up the peace preliminaries, but I had no powers except a cable message. Mr. Day very kindly said he would take my word for it, and we signed without waiting any longer. On ey and the Secretary | b; #I'ON, D. C, DECEMBER 7, 1930—PART TWO. Hurried Decisions Often Poor. The telegraph wire and the raliway have changed all that. Nowadays an Ambassador rarely receives written in- ;trucuom, ll:guwhen he hh‘l‘n no_tasf or respons! 'y telegraphing spares him any initiative. Moreover, head- quarters do not encourage that quality. Heads of governments have always had & tendency to negotiate Ives, and this tendency is becor a habit which I personally deplore. ministers of foreign affairs are not of their craft, and it is not always advisable for them to make decisions in the course of hurried negotiations. If they have, between themselves and the government. with which they are dealing, representa~ tives who cannot decide anything, they abhln time for consultation and reflec- lon. In the future diplomatists will play B e e I eirs when policy was s statesman’s vate room. To their original qualf they must add & keen sense of modern life and a of the economic necessities which now dominate the policy of states. Many of the cond! which once added charm to diplomatic life will have van- ished. We may regret them, as Roland regretted his charger, but it is vain and foolish to wish to revive what is no more, (Copyright. 1930.) Spanish War Veteran MEETINGS THIS WEEK. Monday—Pettit Auxillary, Naval Lodge Hall. e 1y_|.n :nnn '::ulfixut. sylvan! o q Lawton Auxiliary, Pythian Priday b Ounp, Pythian lay—Miles 3 Northedst Masonte Tomgie: 'as! [asonic ‘emple; Pythian Miles Auxiliary, ‘Temple. Gen. Nelson A. Miles Camp met No- vember 28 with Comdr. A. T. Jenkins presiding. Harry G. Carroll and Albert Potter were mustered into active mem- bership. The following were nominated as officers: Commander, Gerald F. Mc- Gillicudy; senior vice commander, Cleveland Kennicutt; junior vice com- mander, Milton D. Mettee and John M. Watts; officer of the day, Charles W. McCaflrey; officer of the guard, Robert E. Culin; trustee for three years, A. T. Jenkins. Remarks were made by Q. M. Gen. James J. Murphy, Dept. Comdr. Ben- Jamin F. Motley, National Historian Lorin C. Nelson, Edward C. Barstow of Lawton Gamp and Frank C. Huhn of Harden Camp. Miss Catherine M Caffrey, “the typical Washington gir] was presented with a purse as a token of appreciation for the services she has given to the United Spanish War Vet- erans of the District of Columbla. Speeches eulogizing Miss McCaffrey were made by Comdr. A. T. Jenkins, Jere A. Costello, P. D. C., and Junior Vice Comdr. Cleveland Kennicutt. Senior Vice Comdr. G. P. McGillicuddy made the presentation. Pettit Camp met November 25 and was visited by Dewey Camp. Comdr. Strobel was praised for the work he has done during the past year. Harry N. Cootes, Company L, 4th United States Volunteers, Infantry, and Jay E. Fitzgerald, Company D, 15th Pennsylvania Infantry, were voted into membership. Remarks were made b Dept. Comdr. Benjamin F. Motley, Ar- thur H. League, P. D. C., and others, ‘The meeting of Colonel John Jacob Astor Camp was called to order Monday Comdr. John D. Patton. Officers elected were: Commander, Thomas F. Donovan; senior vice commander, Wil- liam = McGlinchey; junior vice com- mander, James P. Malloy; officer of the day, George H. Kennedy; officer of the rd, John Leishman; trustee, John D. tton; _Auditing Committee, James Byrne, Edward Barrett and James Miles. Department Comdr. Benjamin F. Motley addressed the camp. Astor Camp wiil visit General Nelson A. Miles Camp December 12, General Nelson A. Miles Auxiliary met November 28, with the president, Susie Adams, presiding. Junior Vice Depart- ment President Catherine -Huhn and Department Inspector Loulse Moore e. At the meeting December 12 election of officers will %e held. Colonel James 8. Pettit Auxiliary at its last meeting entertained with a mas- hnwnde party and dance at the Naval Hall" At the next meeting elec- tion of officers will take place. Edward 8. Matthias, commander-in- chief, in his general orders No. 3 calls upon vegl;ma to m.keth:k'l‘:b;:mm re- sponse peal ing made to furnish needed relief to the citizens of Porto Rico. He also re}uesu that all camps make preparation for the proper observance of the anniversary of the destruction of the battleship Maine, February 15, and asks that every camp take action urging the passage of the bill now before Con- gress providing that the cruiser Olym- mn, “Dewey’s flagship at Manila Bay,” preserved as a memorial for future generations. —_— More than one meteor has been found fl::L contains diamonds, both black and w soothe your cold away with ~ this modern oil spray “Pineoleum™ is the newer type of cold treatment—speedy, modern, effective. Its double ability to soothe while it drives away a cold is the re- sult of its special blend of oils, Thousands of doctors recommend it. “Pincoleum"’ bathes inflamed mem- branes in 2 spreading, pene- trating film of oil that pro- tects the tissues, clears the air passages and rids you of that stuffed- upfeeling. Germs can’t thrive—your cold is “soothed”” away. Get “Pincoleum™ today and have it in the house. Use it at the first sign of a sneeze or & sniffle. Children like its refreshing taste and use it willingly. A good precaution before they startoff forschool, too! All druggists have it. OLDS YIELD QUICKLY TO Pineoleum " L6 Mt RAROSS * | new grou the Legislative Committee teachers' oath, making “The Star Spangled Banner” the national anthem, and admission of Mexican laborers into the United States. The placing of & marker on the picture of Theodore Roosevelt, presented to the American- ization School, was discussed. A report on the Continental Ball, November 21, by the chapter, was given by Miss Ra- mona Newman. A tea dance will be given December 27, from 4 to 7 o'clock, l&’the Thomas Circle Club. Mrs. Win- ston Holt gave a talk on national de- fense. Genealogical Research Committee.— A second meeting was held at the Mount Pleasant Library, November 20. Mrs. Elmer E. Curry presided. The fol- lowing chapters, E. Pluribus Unum, Liv- ingstone Manor, Maj. L'Enfant, Arny id Navy, Constitution, Descendants of | to Miss '76, Mary Bartlett, Potomac and Capi- tol, turned in unpublished records con- sisting of muster rolls, marriage licenses, wills, coples of original sheets from fam- ily Bibles and snapshots from Revolu- tionary soldiers’ gravestones. Coples of all records presented should be turned in by February 1, so the chairman, Mrs. Elmer E. Curry, can make her report, which must be sent to the national chairman, Mrs, G. B. Puller, by Febru- ary 10. r'};'lu vice chairman of Eastern Divi- sion, G. R. C., Mrs. Letitia P. Wilson's teport to the divisjonal conference at At~ lantic City, was read. , The fcllowing motion was made by Miss Margaret I. Fraser and seconded by Dr. O. Josephine Baird, “that each D. A. R. G. R. C. chairman ask that members of her chapter bring in a copy giving authentic record of their services either Army, Navy or civillan service in the World War, such information to be placed on record with genealogical re- search records in Continental Hall, n, January 17, lated. Mrs. Robert M. Ferguson will be chairman of ticket distribution. Others assisting will be Mrs. Ralph Wilson, treasurer of the committee; Mrs. Childress Buckger Gwyn, chalr- man of table accessories; Mrs. J. F. Gross, chatrman of posters. and Mrs, W, B. Binnott, chatrman of phizes. The State Committee of the Sons and Daughters of the Republic met Novem- ber 28 at the Mount Pleasant Library, with the chairman, Miss El Marlott Barnes, ding. Plans were made for the istmas party to be given to the children who are members of the clubs at Peck Chapel December 19 at 3:30 o'clock. There will be & Christmas tree, with gifts for each child, and & program. Members of the D. A. R. or others interested in the work may send gifts for the children Elizabeth Marlott Barnes at Argonne. Mary Washing Chapter, — Miss Janet Richards, lecturer, will speak for the benefit of patriotic work December 9 at 8:15 pm. at the Washington Club, 1010 Seventeenth street. The subject of her talk will be “Europe, Scenic and Political, in 1930 and the Surprises of Travel In Modern Spain.” Capt. Molly Pitcher Chapter.—Miss Emma Strider, Miss Grace Edwards and Miss Ella 8. Ford will entértain the chapter at tea December 9 at the American _ Assoclation of University Women. The guests have been invited to hear a lecture with lantern slides en- titled “The Old West.” A guest of honor will be Miss Ramona Newman, | State chairman for the District of Co- | lumbia of the D. A. R. Magazine. Miss Newman will speak on the subject of the magazine, of which Miss Natalie Sumner Lincoln is editor. Mrs. John Lester Barr will preside. the At Community Centers ‘Communi Center Admll'l.lfi‘v tion tional 1300. ‘The District of Columbia Model Air- craft League will hold & model aircraft meet at the Stuart Junior High School, | Fourth and E strects northeast, Decem- ber 13, 4t 9:30 a.m. Central Center, Thirteenth and Clif- ton streets: The Community Institute | presents Oliver La Farge, author of “Laughing Boy,” 1929 Pulitzer prize winner, in the lecture “Indians Are People” tomorrow at 8:15 pm. In ad- dition, athletics, drills and rifie practice make a full schedule for the evenings of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. . Chevy Chase Center (E. V. Brown School), Connecticut avenue and Mc- Kinley street: Carpentry for boys; a will be started early in Jan- uary in the Ben Murch School. By a vote of the Bridge Club meeting on Mondays at the Ben Murch, ad- vanced lessons in contract will be given on the first three Mondays in January. Columbia Helghts Center, Wilson Nor- mal, Eleventh and Harvard: Ye Olde Time Dancing Club is rehearsing a dem- onstration dance to be glven in other local centers throughout the city. Chil- dren's work in rhythm, athletics for adults, rehearsals by the Columbia Players and orchestra practice open the center on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings and Wednesday after- noon and Saturday morning. East Washington Cep and East Capitol streets: The semi annual concert by the Boys' Independ- ent Band will be Tuesday at 8 p.m. Other activitles on Tuesday are athlet- community-dancing. Thursday features drill teams and athletics, and on Satur- day moving pictures and social danc- ing are two important events. The library is open Tuesday and Thursday Rl e faps aknitn ythm and tap-dancing groups meet each Thursday at 3 o'clock in the g:god-rmwn Center, Gordon Junior High Langley Center, Second and T streets northeast: Athletic games every Mon- day and Friday. Boys’ play group every Friday from 7 to 8. All boys are given an opportunity to play. Rhythmic and natural dancing, registration in bridge instruction, Dennison art, etc., received, Ci dance December 20. Macfarland Center, Iowa avenue and Webster street: * on Monday eve- ning with tap and social dancing and drama for adults as the principal activi- ties; on Wednesday with athletics and play-glving rehearsals, and on Priday for community dancing and children’s recreation. A number of children at- the rhythm and tap-dancing groups at the Barnard School on Mon- day at 3 o'clock. McKinley, Second and T streets north- east: Rehearsals and performances of E«) %rlcloua, rey,” by the rge Was| urs open the center on Tuesday to Saturday. Park View, Warder and Newton streets: Open on Priday night for chil- dren’s' recreation, scouting and adult recreation, including play producing and vfiwk in leather tooling and hammered silver. e Southeast Center, Hlx’o Junior High, Seventh and C streets southeast: An entertainment arranged by the South- ul evenings of t, | east W iter, Seventeenth | ta), ics, Community Players® rehearsals and | stran. ‘ashington Citizens' Association on Tuesday, at 8 p.m., is the first entry of the competition of evening entertain- mentg by invitation of the Entertaine ment Committee of the Southeast Cen- ter. Athletic and orchestra practice on Monday; tap for adults and play pro= ducing for adults are the principal ine terests on Wednesday evening; danc! on Friday for community folks over 1 in addition to children’s activities; Sat urday is devoted to children's recreation groups. Takoma Center, Piney Branch road and Dahlia street: This center, open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after gloomhmfi sn't';x"r:ny mcrnlngl and eve- ng, is alive young people’s groups in rhythm, tap, scouting and athletics, Both seniors and ‘j'\ln'nlors enjoy dancing on Saturday evening. Thy Center, Twelfth and % streets: Open on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening for adult recreation, ine cluding t4p, study of drama technique, conversational French and S speed-up dictation, bridge instruction and practice. On fildl?’ evening there are adult groups in social dancing ine struction and practice, followed by ine struction in old-fashioned dancing and eommunna/ singing with the use of {llus= trated slides. Children's recreation on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday aft- ernoons and Saturday morning includes Instriction in rhythm, piano, violin, saxophone, trombone, clarinet, drums and xylophone, also tap and dramatics. Mrs. Gabrielle Pelham, general secre- enters 10-13, announces that tion is issued to the public to 31 e o o Lt . 4 tarles of the local centers are or{duvw- ing to reach clubs and groups to inform them of the time and places for the Birney Center, Nichols avenue and Howard street southeast: Music, indus- trial art athletics, and drama are the adult recreations on Monday evening. g:r'm.udncy and ’;;h’ur.sdny afternoons ‘e are commun b W L &roups in musie Burrville Center, Division avenue and n street northeast: Adults have the chorus singing, art craft, folk dances, games' and athletics on Tues~ day evening. Children meet to study music and Spanish, rehearse plays and play games on Monday, Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Dunbar Center, Pirst and N s Thursday features athletics, ".:fl clubs, dramatics and swimming. On Friday the Dunbar Dramatic Club, Dunbar acrobats and athletics are some of the activities, Garnet-Patterson Center, Tenth U streets: Athletics on Monday Wednesday evenings; the Amphion Glee Club, study groups in home hy- glene and dietetics, dramatics, leaders’ institute and industrial art groups, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, are some of the activities at this center de~ voted to adult recreation, Lovejoy Center, Twelfth and D streets northeast: Adult groups in art and soclal recreation, mect on Mone day and Wednesday evenings. Children R 4t on’ Momes, e and ustrial art on Monday, Thursda; Friday afternoons. a4 i West Washington Center, Francis Junior High, Twenty-fourth and N streets: Open Wednesday and Friday evenings for drill teams and basket h‘ practice, handcraft and games, of OPTICAL %M DEPARTMEN A Pair Glasses for of New Christmas! —Our Optical Department will help solve your Christmas problem. Optical gifts are among the most appreciated. Talk it over with our Optom- etrist. N"’flflm»fi —This beautiful new frame of flesh colored gold , with pearltex pads to insure complete comfort. Have Your Eyes Examined Qculists’ Prescriptions Filled i Kann's—Street Floor.