Evening Star Newspaper, February 1, 1932, Page 8

THE EVENIN THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning llflm WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY......February 1, 1832 THEODORE W. NOYES....Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office 11th 8t Pennsylvania Ave New York Office: 110, East 420d g icago Office: Lake Michigan Building. uropean Offce: 14 Regent .. London, England. Rate by Carrler Within the City. e Evening Btar .......48¢c per month e Evening and Sunday Siar days) 600 per month The Bvenjog and Sunday it e Evenjng and Sunday Cwnen 3 Sundays) 85¢ per month The Sunduy Star .. < her copy Opllection made at the end of each mont rders may be sent in by mail or telepnone Ational 8000 Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. B All Other States and Canada. d Sunday. 1yr.$1000: 1 mo., 85¢ ? :21\' . L.1yr., $8.00: afly and Bunday...lyr.$1200: 1 mo.§ ay only Ll 1,00 8¢ r ; 1 mo.. §0c L §800: 1 nday only 1 BEARS: 468 Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dis- atches credited to it or not otherwise cred- ted in this paper and also the local rews published herein. Al riehts of publication of special dispatches herein are also reserve BED The District Is Not Undertaxed. The only tenable theory behind the present attempt to increase the burden of taxation in the District of Columbia 18 that the people of this city are evad- ing the payment of taxes in an amount that a majority of fair-minded persons will agree upon &s necessary and equitable Of course, there are other theories, | such as the theory that taxation should be increased here in order to reduce the Federal contribution, or because the Lincoln Memorial is a beautiful thing, | or because American tourists buy food | and shelter here, or because the ab- sence of industrial development has prevented unemployment and resultant for great numbers of Wash- But such theories cannot be openly advanced, as they do not hold g intelligent men. s tenable theory is the one stated above. The Star b publica- tion today of a ser articles review- ing some of the attempts in the past based on that theory to show that Washington was undertaxed and the significantly coincidental attempts to couple the charge of undertaxation with moves to reduce or to eliminate the Federal contribution. If it s true that the only thing we learn from a study % history is that we learn nothing from & study of history, such knowledge s | nevertheless valuable | After almost a century of disgraceful | neglect of the Capital and sporadic hif or-miss attempts to remedy the re: Congress in 1878 enacted the prov of organic law that would substitute definite fiscal policy appropriation for the Capital for indefinite and vacillating practice. But within a com- paratively few years a bill was intro- duced in the House to nullify fixed ratio Reporting adversely against that pro- posal, the Babcock report from the House District Committee of 1896 went at length into a description of the patriotic and financlal obligations as- sumed as citizens by the people of Waahington, and in regard to the effect | of the bill in question pointed out that— al a To change the act of 1878, as pro- | posed by this bill would be a clear repudiation of both the equitable and | legal obligations assumed by the Nation | in regard to its National Capital. This | we cannot believe Congress will do. A repudiation of national obligations in respect to the Nation's City would result either in a discreditable Capital, poorly sustained by reasonable taxation upon local resources, or in the virtual confiscation of local property through excessive taxation. * * * ‘The grave threat of “virtual confisca- tion” of local property was raised in 1912, as described in the first article of the series appearing elsewhere in today’s Star, through a report from a House committee that showed Wash- ington to be escaping payment of taxa- tion by underassessment of property. That report was the signal for a series of attacks in the House lasting several years, temporarily abated by the results of inquiry by a joint committee of Con- gress. It is less Interesting here to dis- cuss the findings of that joint com- mittee, showing Washington to be fairly taxed, than to consider the results had Congress acted on the basis of informa- tion developed in the House committee report. Had Washington been taxed according to the House committee's finding, it would have been taxed on $200,000,000 worth of property that did not even exist. The community would have received a blow from which it might still be staggering. The findings of that House committee of 1912, which, curiously enough, turned out to be the findings of one man, whose word was sccepted without question, whose un- fortunate error of calculation was never checked, were accepted as gospel. It required four or five years to correct the error. And, as will be shown in subsequent articles of The Star series, that error has obviously lived, if only to perpetuate itself in new forms of “fact finding" undertaken to support conclusions and to bolster theories previously accepted and tenaciously held. e Mrs. Rudy Vallee, married last July, has In her brief married life made three trips home to Californis. The click of the rails must have proved a pleasant relief from the sob of the croon. Bicentennial Music. Music should play a part in the com- memoration of the bicentennial of the birth of George Washington. The officlal United States Bicentennial Commission has & music division. The music of Washington's own time has been collected and published. Two booklets of musical data relating to the celebration have been issued. Musical settings for school plays and pageants in honor of Washington have been made aveilable. = ‘The occasion naturally suggested the composition of original musical works, and the Commission requested John Alden Carpenter, an artist of high repu- tation, to produce an official choral ode. John Philip Sousa has written a “George Washington Bicentennial March.” But George M. Cohan, for good or 11, has run away with the laurels. He has written a so-called “popular song” entitled “Father of the Land We Love,” and this ballad has been authorized by the Commission as “the representative bicentennial song.” The editors of Musical America, {1t would seem, to engage in any pro- | misunderstood to be a “declaration” of | condittons, New York, speak of Mr. Cohan's effort as “lacking in dignity” and as being “of doubtful taste.” They conclude: “To have a work of this caliber repre- sent us to other nations is to deepen an already existing impression that we are lacking in seriousness in our musical culture.” One need not be a professional critic of music to deplore the official sanction accorded Mr. Cohan's effusion. It is not merely “of doubtful taste” It is, very definitely, of intolerable bad taste. It is utterly Cohanesque. Which im- plies that from the viewpoint of music it is deplorable. Probably it is true that Mr. Cohan is equipped to repre- sent a very considerable number of sincere admirers of the Father of His Country. But he is not entitled to an exclusive patent in the circumstances. He cannot represent those lovers of music whose discrimination and experi- ence exceed his own. He has written a “popular song.” And what he has written should constitute a challenge to more mature musicians to write some- thing truly deserving of popularity. The opportunity is open to all. If America has composers capable of meet- ing the test, it is to be hoped that they will not be discouraged by the “official action” of the Commission. After all, the Commission does not exist for its own sake; it is but a promotion agency. George Washington is the Nation's property, not the Commission Every American has the right to celebrate him. Mr. Coban has celebrated him in his own particular manner. Others are at liberty to celebrate him more fittingly if they have the genius so to do. They do not require either the permission or the indorsement of the Commission ——r————— International Unity at Shanghai. With assurances from France and Italy of participation in the movement at Shanghai, initiated by the United States and Great Britain, to prevent encroachments upon the International Settlement in that city by Japanese or Chinese forces, the situation in the Far East becomes less menacing. Those powers have been somewhat reluctant, tective action, but now there is evidence of a purpose to fulfill the obligations involved in the maintenance of the Settlement as a place of security Orders have been given for the dispatch of additional ships of war, with landing forces, and these accessions to the pro- tective organization should be sufficient to assure peace. From Nanking comes & correcticn of | the report that the Chinese government has declared war on Japan. The expla- | nation is given that the Chinese “char- acter” used in the announcement was war, whereas it was intended to signify a “state of war’ without declaration. It has occurred heretofore that the Chinese official proclamations have been subject to mistake, owing to the elusive | differentiations between slight shades | of meaning. The fact appears to be | that the Nanking government has merely acceptgd the Japanese onset as involving & state of war. There is no material difference between the two as far as the situation is concerned. China is evi- dently seeking to avoid making a record of having itself declared war, leaving the burden of responsibility for the condition upon the Japanese. Efforts have been made to establish a neutral zone in Shanghal, but Japan declines to agree to give up its own “defense” of its sector of the Interna- tional Settlement against the Chinese to a third power. Not unreasonably it is pointed out that Japan fears that the withdrawal of Japanese subjects from that area would be required and that this would arouse Japanese feel- ing through its occupation by the forces of another nation. If the net effect is to keep the Settlement free from fighting it makes little difference whether the peace-maintaining force is Japanese or international, assuming good faith on the part of the former. ‘Taken altogether, it would seem that at least for the present the tension has been lessened, although there remains the possibility of a sudden flare up of hostilities close to the International Settlement or even within its bound- aries. No truce has been declared be- tween the Japanese and Chinese sol- diery. The latter are not well disci- plined and their leadership is somewhat vague. The Chinese government is in disorder. Removal of the capital from Nanking to Loyang has caused a new political split, Cantonese leaders at Shanghai accusing Chiang Kai-8hek of “flight.” Disintegration of author- ity in China is feared, with disappear- ance of responsibility. In such case & grave burden would rest upon the international powers to prevent utter chaos. e Apparently Japan is convinced that the Great Wall of China is made of nothing much stronger than ginger- bread. . Eddie Stinson. In the death of Eddle Stinson, who was killed recently in a crash on the lake front in Chicago, America loses one of its ploneer airmen, who has con- tributed much to the advancement of aviation. President of the airplane com- pany bearing his name, Stinson had more hours in the air—a total of six- teen thousand—than any other pilot in the history of flying. He was only fifteen when his famous sister, Kath- erine, one of America’s first aviatrixes, interested him in the art of piloting the boxlike contraptions of those days. S8ince then, with practically no cessation, Ed- die Stinson rode the skies and was at the forefront in making aviation what it is today. Perhaps he will be best remembered for his drastic action with his then struggling company in refusing to sell planes to those who were contemplat- ing over-water flights in the orgy of dangerous flying after Col. Lindbergh's successful crossing of the Atlantic. Stinson claimed, and rightly, that the land plane had not been developed to a point of dependability necessary for long trips of this kind and turned his back squarely on those who wished to purchase his ships for “stunts” of peril- ous nature. In view of the many deaths immediate | that occurred following Lindbergh's exploit, Stinson was proved absolutely correct in his stand. Beside his record-breaking accom- plishments in the air—and at one time or another he held many world titles— Stinson was the designer of the brakes now required on &l transport planes. He saw the need of stopping & ship soon after it reached the ground, and his application of the brake principle to airplane wheels soon followed. Probably more than any other ‘.ndi-| vidual, Eddie Stinson promoted public interest in commercial flying. He did this by the simple expedient of building and selling his transport planes so cheaply—less than half the cost of others of the same classification—that air services using his ships were able to cut their rates to a point that compared favorably with the rallroads and thus attract large patronage. It can be seen, then, that Stinson's career was devoted to the advancement of the art that he loved. America can i1l afford to lose men of his caliber, and all will mourn the tragic accident which cut short a career in the full flush of manhood. r——— Passing a Red Light. The more judges of traffic courts who adopt the ideas of Magistrate Har- Tis of New York as to the degree of seri- ousness of the offense of passing a red signal, the safer will the streets in every city become. Magistrate Harris holds, and rightly, that it should be classified as a major traffic breach, and has been imposing stiff fines on those brought before him. By no logical rea- soning can the offense of passing the red light be considered trivial. It is menacing to life, limb and property and should invariably be considered a major violation. Too often courts are inclined to minimize the seriousness of the of- fense and place it in the category of parking cases and innocuous infractions of the regulations. It is to be hoped that Magistrate Harris' method of deal- ing with motorists will be universally adopted. - Eurythmic dance recitals have at last ended at old St. Mark’s-in-the-Bou- werie Church, New York, and Bishop Manning and the rector are sald to have buried their nine-year-old hatchet Oh, just suppose that, on the threshold of this reconciliation, the congregation | should go in for steeple-sitting! ——— A broadcasting company which ad- vertised for a man “possessing the Har- vard accent” had to give up its quest because nobody could adequately ex- plain just what this accent is. All that many people know about it is that it is often placed on the first person, both singular and plural. M S A movie actor kissed the great Greta Garbo the first time he ever saw her Of course it was on a set, but it must have been a thriller, just the same “Rookies” used to get hits off Walter | Johnson and Christy Mathewson their first time up at bat against them. But— seldom again! - In a charity raffle held recently at| Wandworth, England, a teetotaler won a bottle of fine whisky. Vegetarians often win turkey raffles, too. The solu- tion always is easy: & hospital will| gladly find use for both A party of English choir boys has been touring the world for three years Many a departing soprano will return as 4 basso. And their parents have been spared the agonies of the transition period. SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. “Dis OI' World.” Dis ol* world's got its habits, jes' de same as you an’ me, An’ one o' dem is sumpin’ dat I sho'ly likes to see It has its share o troubles; wind begins to blow An’ de trees begin to shiver ‘cause dey know it's gwinter snow. It struggles foh de sunshine, but de struggle ain’ no use, De clouds keep growin’ blacker an’ de storm keep turnin’ loose, But it doen’ lose its courage as de days pass, one by one, Dis ol' world keeps a swingin' an’ leanin' toward de sun. when de Dar’s got to be some sorrow, like dat's got to be some storm; Dis life dat we’'s a Hvin’ can't be always snug an’ warm. Awaitin’ foh de Summer on a bleak an’ wintry day— Dat takes a heap o' patience Summer's on de way. But de heart mus’ keep a-beatin' an’ a hopin’ through de gloom Or else de fros’ will catch it an’ de rose will never bloom. Dis ol’ world sets de lesson, jes' to show us how it's done, An’ goes ahead a-swingin' an’ a-leanin’ toward de sun One of the Many. “There is a great deal of talk about you as a presidential possibility,” sald the friend. “I know it,” answered Senator Sor- ghum. - “Doesn’t it milke you proud?” “Not especially proud. But I own I should have felt slighted if I had been overlooked in so general a distribution of glory.” But de Suspicion. “What you want,” said the stranger, “is a more centralized form of govern- ment for Crimson Gulch.” “Stranger,” answered Broncho Bob, “don’t start anything. Whether it's in a poker game or elsewhere, we're allus suspicious of a man who knows what we want afore we have expressed our- selves. He's too blame dextfous.” The Partisan’s Profession. I love the right. With courage strong I'll ever battle 'gainst the wrong. And they are always right, you see, Who in their views agree with me. Encouraging. “Of course you entertained during the social season?” “Well,” answered Mr. Cumrox, “moth- er and the girls didn’t think much of me as an entertainer, but I overheard several visitors say I was one of the most amusin’ people that ever broke in.” Invariably the Case. Strive on, O toiler, as you may To make mankind your debtor; Some other man will always say He could have done it better. “I ain’ got no patience,” said Uncle Eben, “wif de kind o’ patience dat con- sists in jes’ settin’ down comf'able an’ waitin’ foh good luck to strike you” 1 which every man may THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Senator Glass recently instructed and amused the Senate by reading a de- scription from the works of James Henry Jones of the man with whom it is a waste of time to argue. “I had spent a whole hour arguin with a turnip,” the author sald. “Bul it looked very much like a head.” There are few human beings who have not at some time or other come to the conclusion that some one or other with whom they were in conver- sation had & head scarcely more than vegetable in composition. * Now, there are 10 infallible signs by know one of these “turnips” when he meets one, especially when he talks to one. Some of these signs are physical, some mental. Taken together—and they usu- | ally go together—they constitute a very fair portrait of a human turnip. Detection does not come about alto- gether through the eyes. If it were that easy, no man who prides himself on his mental integrity womld have any difficulty at all in distinguishing rad- ishes, cabbages, turnips and other round vegetables from true human heads. A ‘The signs of the genuine turnip under our definition are at least tenfold, and perhaps as many more, which any rea- sonably industrious person may figure | out for himself. ‘The primary signs are as follows: 1. Red face. 2. Loud voice. 3. Hand Waving. 4. Evident anger, 5. Intolerance of any difference of opinion. 6. Descent to ridicule 7. No respect for opinions of another. 8. Disrespect for new ideas. 9. Contempt for ideas new to turnips. 10. Refusal to admit the integrity of thought of any opponent. hysical signs ERE Tt is evident that the E which lead our list are the product of the mental states which end it, but for the sake of convenience we put them in | the above onger. | It is easier to grasp the physical signs | Buppose you are talking to a man and the conversation suddenly happens to switch to a question about which you do not know the fellow's opinions. | Up to now you had been conversing amicably enough. Such matters as the weather, of course, and the old ball game and a hundred others do not call for much heat. They are not direct attacks, as it were. Then a toplc is thrown into the ring which the other regards as settled. To him, it soon becomes evident, the mat- ter is in a way sacred, and, strangely enough, his side has sanctified it | First he begins to get red in the face. You note it but, innocently belleving that facts have some weight, you go ahead attempting to pile them up. s o | Right there wave his arms. He is trying to brush your facts aside. vou #ee; and the physical being must do something about it, although facts are such intangible tangfbles that no amount of physical stress can do a thing about the least one of them The voice of the turnip becomes louder. At each new hurdle of fact placed in his path his volume increases perceptibly. If he were a radio set and the nose were a knob, one might secure the same effect by turning it a bit. is where he begins to s e SN i ST WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS Gov. Pranklin D. Roosevelt of New York is so far out in front now in the race for the Democratic presi- dential nomination that few observers see much chance of his being denied the prize. The Garner presidential boomlet is being carefully nursed and has interesting possibilities, but by it- self will not be big enough soon enough | to stop Roosevelt. Newton D. Baker | has done an amazing back track on the League of Nations question, creat- ing a widespread inference that he is willing to be drafted despite his out ward detachment. Ritchie of Mary- | land seems to have hosts of friends everywhere, but all too few convention delegates in sight. Al Smith continues in the role of the great question mark, and by his reticence and his bearing creates the impression that he secretly covets a second try at the presidency. The South. under the implied threat |of the Smith candidacy, is rushing to the Roosevelt bandwagon, fearful that | if they don't put Roosevelt over they may get Smith as the Democratic | | standard bearer. | %tk ! Sooner or later the wearer of the brown derby will be compelled by cir- cumstances beyond his control to de- clare himself in the presidential rac and maybe driven to come out openly for Smith delegates. If later, it is likely to be too late to halt Roosevelt,. | In the opinion of many of the political bystanders there is still a chance, how- ever, that if Smith goes into the pre- convention campaign in & big way he may corral encugh delegates in the North and East and Garner in the South and West, so_that between them they can prevent Roosevelt's nomin tion. 1If the latter does win it and becomes Mr. Hoover's opponent in the campaign, the President's friends and managers are prone to view that event- uality as & lucky break for Mr. Hoover. Roosevelt is the one Democratic presi- dential possibility in sight whom the Toover high command are supremely confident the Republican nominee can defeat. K ok A battle royal between Col. William J. Donovan, former assistant to the Attorney General, and now engaged in private law practice, and his successor in the Department of Justice, John Lord O'Brian, impends in consequence of the demand of the Department of Justice that the bituminous coal opera- tors halt their plans for the creation of a general sales agency for the co- operative marketing of their coal, and the determination of the operators to go ahead with their program. Col. Donovan as counsel for the operators passed on their plans and oked them a8 not in violation of the anti-trust laws. Mr. O'Brian has served notice that the department holds & contrary | view and regards the Donovan-vised plan as clearly illegal. A test case is to be brought and the issue threshed out with an appeal to the Supreme Court as the final arbiter. Donovan and O'Brian will cross swords then, with both supremely confident of vic- tory. XXX Representative Willis,C. Hawley is on the defensive with his Ponstituents back home in Oregon all on account of a new overcost which the veteran Re- gubllun stalwart purchased in his ome town of Salem this Autumn pre- paratory to his journey to Washington. The Salem merchant mentioned Mr. Hawley'’s purchase to the Portland, Oreg., house that supplied the coat The latler wrote mwg for & test! monial and he responded with a glow- ing letter in which he declared the overcoat was the finest that he had ever worn or ever seen, that he espe- cially liked its fine texture, fine work- manship and fine fit. This letter was promptly published by the wholesale clothing house, together with the in- formation that the Hawley overcoat was one of their exceedingly modish im- ported English fabric and English tailor- ed coats. Hawley's political enemies pounced upon this with glee and are riding him hard, for Mr. Hawley, as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was co-author of the famous Smoot-Hawley tariff bill, and if any member of Congress has excelled the Oregonian in championship of the cause of the domestic producer and de- nouncement of the iniquities of foreign goods in our home markets, his identity is unknown. *x K % offered dally ‘The prayers the Rev. James Shera Montgomery, aplain of |to be paid | time they may devote to the enterprise. |b2 charged with the administration of | | investigations and reports; may appoint |and fix the compensation of experts and |tive stamp bearing a depiction of the |at Wakefield. This curious machine of a human head, however, requires only words to set it off. It has one of the best audiq systems, as the radio people say, in existence. All you have to do is say something and those big ears, one on each side of what ‘I very much like & head,” pick it up instantly. ‘These Ehyncul signs show anger, which we have allotted a number all to itself, mainly because anger may be Eresnnt and these more crass signs otally lacking. ‘That is because some of these turnips have better control than others and come to look astonish- ingly like heads. * x * A red face and & loud voice, combined with much arm and hand waving, mean mental warfare. At least they do among turnipian peoples. When the person with whom you are arguing begins to grow red and start waving his arms about, it s high time for the man who belleves in rational processes to retire. ‘The affair 15 turning from the intel- lectual to the physical plane, and the two do not mix. The one supports the other, but also it undermines the other whenever the brain which it supports 50 wills, The “old bean,” as the brain, the mind, the head, is called disrespect- fully, sets physiological processes going merely as signs of inner stresees. ‘The first of these s the attitude that any difference of opinion is intolerable. We have discussed this in past lssues of this column. It will be sufficient to mention the matter now. Somehow many human beings—and not all of them turnips by any means— attaln to such a high regard for their own opinions that they do not readily listen to those of others. This is the fundamental mental de- parture of the turnip, so-called, from the honest plane of give-and-take which distinguishes true debate. It causes the descent to ridicule, our No. 6, one of the most obvious ways to end an argument which is going against you, especially before a crowd. Man- kind is pathetically eager for something to laugh at, particularly in groups. i No respect for the opinions of others, the next sure sign of the turnip head, merely means that one is obsessed with his own opinions to the exclusion of those of others. Often it shows that the holder grades mental values solely on a physical basis; that is, that the other fellow is not making as much money per year perhaps Disrespect for new ideas the turnip explains as loyalty to established in- stitutions. etc. One of the hidden signs of the turnip, but very difficult to ex- plain, s that he always has an expla- nation, especially for something which is as plain as day to honest intelligence Contempt for ideas new to turnips! This is a different facet of the former. 1t politely informs the world that the turnip has thought of everything, and | that therefore no one else could have | found any new and untried field. It fs | just as easy as that! Our tenth and last sign of the true turnip, & “‘refusal to admit the integrity of thought of any opponent,” is the basis for the other nine. It Indicates that the turnip does not, after all, believe in the power of the mind, but rests his cage in life solely and com- pletely on the power of brawn. You see, there is no use trying to argue with a turnip. You are a human being and speak & human language. The thoughts of a turnip are all turnip. the House of Representatives, during | the Seventieth and Seventy-first Congresses to be disinterred from their burial in the dry dust of the Congressional Record, re- | printed and bound in book form “for the use of the House.” A resolution | authorizing the printing of five thou- | sand copies of this “public document” was adopted last week. Since this al- lows each member of the House only eleven copies of the prayer book, it is sald to attest the sincerity of the desire of Congress for drastic economy in gov- ernmental expenditures. * %ok % If the proposals for Federal aid to the States in the matter of “emergency re- | lief,” as embodied in the Costigan-La | Follette bill, are enacted into law, Miss | Qrace Abbott, chief of the Children’s Bureau, will become the Gen. Dawes of the undertaking and have at her dis- posal $375,000,000 dollars to dole out to the States, principally “on the basis of their needs.” The bill creates a Federal emergency relief board, to consist of Miss Abbott, C. W. Warburton, director of extenston work in the Department of Agriculture; John Aubel Kratz of Balti- more, chief of the Vocational Rehabili- tation Service of the Federal Board of Vocational Education, and two persons to be nominated by the President and | per day for whatever are Miss Abbott, however, is made the real dictator. 1t is provided that she shall | the law; shall insure that the conditions under which the funds are allocated are complied with; shall make studies and investigators, and shall supply informa- tion for the guidance of the States. * % % o 8tamp collectors are soon to have an- other opportunity to acquire a unique Washington Bicentenary stamp. On February 22 there will be placed on sale at Mount Vernon a special commemora- Washington birthplace at Wakefleld, Va, and the numerals 1732 -1932 The stamps are being issued at Mount Vernon because there is no post office The first Bicentennial cigar has fust made its appearance this week. It is the Washington Longfellow Bicentenary Special and measures eight and one-half inches. (Copyright, 1032.) o Dance Marathon Ban Proposed for Capital | To the Editor of The Star: It certainly is refreshing to see The Star come out with an editorial on the so-called “world champion dance mara- thon" just closed. I know Commis- sloner Crosby and Corporation Counsel Bride have expressed themselves de- cidedly against this thing, and I heard Mr. Bride state that something must be done to prevent the return of such a barbarian performance. He is of the opinion, however, that the matter will have to be taken to Congress for spe- cial legislation. I do not agree with him and offer the following amendment to section 15 (article XV) of Police Regulations, Edition of 1925. The Com- missioners made this section as it stands, and they can add the amend- ment if it meets with their approval: ‘Section 15. No person smf’&n part in any entertainment, play, opera, lec- ture, museum, circus, menagerie or ex- hibition of animals, panorama, exhibit of a painting, sculpture, wax works or other representations, tricks of legerde- main, gymnastics, game, ball, musical party, concert or any other exhibition, entertainment, show or amusement of whatever name or nature, in any build- ing, tent or place in the District of Columbia, whether as an actor, per- former, director, manager, exhibitor, lecturer or employe, in which enter- talnment any person shall’—(amend- ment follows) : —*“take part in a continuous per- formance or exhibition of any kind for more than four consecutive hours, and Ta contest, 1932, The Political Mill By G. Gould Lincoln. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Alfred E. Smith_will, according to| There is no other agency in the world | ment headquarters in Canton, the city a dispatch In the Brooklyn Eagle, an- nounce his availability as a Demo- cratic nominee for President within a short time, This has been a con- tingency which a great many Demo- crats have feared, but hoped would be avolded. If Gov. Smith becomes a candidate for the presidential nom- ination, the party is likely to be split wide open, they hold, with a row the proportions of which will resemble the 1924 conflict, when McAdoo led the forces of the South and West against the democracy of the North and East. In 1928 the South and West had no rallying post against the Smith nom- ination. They accepted it in the Dem- ocratic convention with scarcely a struggle. 'What happened after the nomination had been made is a mat- ter of history, with four of the States of the “solid” South going for Hoover and all the States of the West. R his year the Democrats of the sQ’\mtx tand yme West have a rallying post: they have a candidate ready to their hands, Gov. Franklin D. Roose- velt of New York. He is not wet enough to offend them, it appears, and they count on being able to beat Smith with him in the convention. If the battle for the nomination really be- comes one between the Governor of New York and the former Governor of that State, it is likely to tear things wide open. No better set-up could be hoped by the Republicans, for such with the South and the West ranged against the North and East, with all the contset involves, would leave sores that months of cam- paigning could not heal, whichever side won. And yet it is toward such a contest that things in the Democratic party seem to be drifting, if reports from Smith strongholds are correct. And the Democrats who are opposed to the nomination of Roosevelt and who have hoped to use Bmith to “stop” the Roose- velt bandwagon are doing all in their power to bring it about. It is a dan- gerous course, one which may lead to the nomination of a “compromise” candidate. What will happen to such a compromise candidate in the general election is problematical. The last time the Democrats had a compromise can- didate, John W. Davis, in 1924, they met disastrous defeat. On the other hand the Republicans, after a hard battle in Chicago in 1920, produced the promise candidate and he was swept into ofice. The people were aroused against_the Wilson administration in 1920, If they are aroused against the Hoover administration_because of hard times this year, a Democratic com- promise candidate may sweep the country as Harding did in 1920. % % % The effort to keep Smith before the country as a presidential possibility is being made, it appears, particularly in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, where Smith has many followers. What would happen in New York State, with Roosevelt and Smith locking horns, remains Smith is no longer Governor. He has not the solid backing of Tammany in New York. Indeed, the Tammany leader, John F. Curry, is no friend of his, and became leader over the pro- test of Smith. Roosevelt may go to the convention with a large propor- tion of the New York delegation, even with Smith opposing him. The nomination of Alfred E. Smith by the Democrats does not appear at all to be within the realm of proba- bility. Suppose he “stops” Roocsevelt, as he may do. What Democratic lead- er actually believes that those elements in the party backing Roosevelt today will swing over to Smith and accept him? It doesn't appear to be in the cards. * X X In no State more than in Indiana does the desperateness of the Republi- can cause today appear to be bette exemplified. The Hoosier State has gone Democratic in the past, but gen- erally it is regarded as Republican ter- ritory; one of those States that a Re- publican candidate for President us- ually has to have to win an election What happened there in 1930 and since then in city and town elections is sig- nificant, to say the least. In 1930 the Democrats won nine seats in the House of Representatives, leaving only four to the Republicans. This actually rep- resented a gain of six congreseional districts for the Democrats. —Today three-fourths of the citles and towns in Indana have elected Democratic officials, including all of the citles. If these elections mean any- thing, Indiana is today strongly Dem- ocratic. Whether it will change before election day, November 8, time alone will tell, Under such circumstances, it 1s obvious that Senator “Jim” Watson Republican leader of the Senate, faces a real fight for re-election this vear He has come through many a severe contest before, but those contests have been severe more particularly because of factional fights among the Repub- {llcans rather than because of Demo- cratic strength against him. He fis lucky this yesr in having practically the solid backing of the Republicans. Many of his old enemies are lining up for him. His danger lies in what may happen to him if the Democratic presi- dential ticket should sweep the State. Under those circumstances, Senator Watson might easily go down under an avalanche of Democratic votes. EExi One Democrat already has announced for the senatorial nomination in In- diana and there are a half dozen others who would get into the race on slight provocation. Senator Watson's chances would be enhanced if out of a severe primary fight a Democrat of no great standing in the State were to be nom- inated against him. Walter Muyers, Democratic Speaker of the House in Indiana, has declared himself a candi- date for the nomination. At last two Democratic Representatives in Washing- ton—Ludlow and Greenwood—are poten- tial candidates. 8o is Albert Stump, twice a Democratic nominee for the Senate and twice defeated, once by Watson in 1926 and again by Robin- son in 1928. Lew O'Bannon, a Demo- cratic editor, also has given signs that ne would like the senatorial nomina- tion. This year in Indiana senatorial nom- inations will be made in party conven- tions instead of in primary elections. The law has been changed. The State conventions follow the primary elec- tions in which nominees for Represent- atives in Congress and county and local officials are nominated. That being the case, it is possible for Ludlow and Greenwood to go into the primaries in their congressional districts, win renom- ination and later become candidates for the senatorial nomination at the Demo- cratic State Convention. And it seems likely they will pursue that course if they are to be senatorial candidates. Renomination in their own districts will add to their prestige in the State convention. Al There is one Democrat outstanding in Indiana who might easily have the Democratic senatorial nomination or that for Governor if he went after it. Frank C. Dailey, former United States attorney and the prosecutor of former Senator Newberry of Michigan in the contest made against the seating of Newberry. So far, however, Mr. Dailey has not indicated any intention of seeking public office. He was the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1928 and ran 230,000 votes ahead of his ticket, losing | === by only 50,000, while Smith was losing to Hoover in Indiana by 280,000 votes. What the Republicans do about a any recesses or intermissions shall be considered part of a continuous per- formance or exhibition.” I am hearing from many sources that another scandal of this type is to open in Washington on February 12, put on this time by a group of New Yorkers, or a New York firm. This recent one was and ed by & firm, 50 I am told. * J!x{!m gubernatorial candidate may have its effect on_the general election and the fate of Watson and the presidential ticket. M. Bert Thurman, Republican National committeeman, who man: campaings for Watson in the past, announced for the Republican nomi- nation. He is maog‘ngdm :fl_ pn; ticularly 3 " mncnm. '3)‘.': would some of to be seen. | larger | 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 is in a position to pass on to you authoritative Information of the highest order. Sub- mit your queries to the stafl of experts whose services are put at your free disposal. There is no charge except 2 cents in coin or stamps for return | postage. Address The Evening Star Information Bureau, Prederic J. Has- kin director, Washington, D. C. Q. How are the expenses of the Olympic games defraved’—K. M. G A. Each nation participating in the Olympic games defrays its own expenses In the case of many of the foreign na- tions they receive a subsidy from their respective governments, States the Olympic fund has always been raised by voluntary contributions. With regard to the third Olympic Winter games to be held at Lake Placid Feb- ruary 4 to 13, 1932, the cost of the preparation for these games will exceed $1,000,000. Of this amount the State of New York has appropriated $500,000, the County of Essex $200,000 and the Town of North Elba $50,000. The bal- ance will be made up by admissions to the games. In the case of the games of the tenth Olmypiad, to be held at Los Angeles July 30 to August 14, the State of California has appropriated $1,00 000 and the City of Los Angeles $1,250, 000. erection of the various stadlums, swim- ming pools and other facilities necessary to conduct the games. Q. On the physicians’ prescriptions for alcoholic beverages how much whisky is called for?—D. D. A. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 1931, there were 9,575,744 prescriptions given. They called for 1,121,115.01 wine gallons of whisky, 8238.23 gallons of brandy, 24,141.34 galions of wine, 2,001.48 gallons of rum, 2,029.07 gallons of gin and 1,094.09 gallons of alcohol. | Q In weather forecasts for the East |ern States what hours are meant by | afternoon and what hours are consid- | ered night>—G. G | A. Whenever afternoon appears in | the weather forecast it refers to the { period noon to 8 p.m., Eastern standard {time. Night refers to the period 8 p.m | late President Harding as their com-|/to 8 a.m., Eastern standard time. Q. Upon what date was the Vatican | City established as an independent gov- | ernment? —B. 8 A. The concordat between the Vati- | can and Rome establishing the Vatican | City was signed February 11, 1929, and |the ratifications declared complete on June 7. Q. How long can a person talk with- | out stopping?—C. | A Recently a “talking marathon” | was held in New York City, and the | winner was Miss Betty Wilson, who | talked for 79 straight hours. { Q. What is a snark?>—M. T. A. It is merely a word colned by | Lewis Carroll in his ingenious poem for { children, “The Hunting of the Snark." | The author intended it to mean some | sort of ferocious beast. What 1s the name, age and re- ligion of the President of China?—E. R S. A. The former President of the Re- public of China, Chiang Kai-Shek, was |a man in his late thirties or early forties, married to a very well educated |voung Christian Chinese woman, and due to the fact that he had so many | Christlans in his cabinet, President | Chiang was considered unofficially to |be a Christian himself. Under great pressure from the Nationalist govern- In the United | This 18 to cover the cost of the | | from which 99 per cent of the Chinese | revolutions begin, President Chiang re- | signed late last year and went back to his native province with his family, lelvin; the republic without a govern- ment for the time being. Q. Why were the Athenlan soldiers called “Hoplites"?>—C. K. A. The Hoplites were the heavily |armed foot soldiers of ancient Greece, The word is derived from the Greek “oplon,” which originally meant an implement, and the piural “opla” used to designate implements of war and armor. Q. How much linen is used by the Pullman company and what is the an- nuel laundry bill>—C. L. M. A. There are 10,000,000 pieces of linen in the stock on hand. ‘The laun- dry bill for one year is $3,973,359.08. Q. How much of the water of the | Niagara River can be used for power purposes?—R. B. A. By treaty stipulations the amount | of water that may be diverted from the | Niagara River for power purposes has | been limited to 36,000 cubic feet per | second on the Canadian side and 20,000 cubic feet per second on the United States side Q. What was the Pythagorian pl |losophy as applied to given names?— IN. K. A. This was the teaching that the soul of one person at death entered into those called by the name of the dylng man Hence the custom of giving | children the names of relatives. Q. Who was the first person whose life was saved by Pisteur treatment for hydrophobia? P. A. A young Alsatian lad, Joseph | Meister, was treated on July 6, 1885 | This is the first recorded case of a | human being rescued from death from | hydrophobia. He later became con- | clerge of the Pasteur Institut in Paris Q. How did the United States come into possession of Hawaii’—A. J. C | A. The Hawaiian Islands became a Territory of the United States of Amer- ica at the request of the Hawaiians on July 7, 1898. This was after a previous request for annexation had fatled and ad existed from 1894 to the oned date Q. Has T the stage? A Her in “Brief M more at pr rene Rich a daughter on S, L. . Frances, with Pran playing e Larri- Q. How is the notification of a pri- eral sent?>—T. G. B. is telephoned or the friend in \arge mails his or her personal card inscribed “Mr. Blank's funeral will be irst Presbyterian Church Mon- day at 11 am.” Q What was the origin of the ex- pression “Half-past kissing time"?— F. A. “It's half-past kissing time and time to kiss again” is an old English slang phrase used as a “smart” retort by & male to a female who had asked the time. Q Is Frank B. Kellogg a native of Minnesota’—V. B. N Ay, Mr Kellogg was born at Postdum ~Island in San- Erie) used as a prison Q. Was Johnso! dusky Bey (Lak after the Civil War?—J. T, A. Johnsons Island was abandoned as a prison post in September, 1365 Q. Where is the Gate of Ta B.W. A. It is the passage into the Red Sea and was so called by the Arabs because of the number of shipwrecks that hap- oened there. l;ubli(" Stfidies Cami)aig ns Of Democratic Candidates | Estimates of the chances of candi- | dates for the Democratic nomination for President are made by the public, as support in North Dakota of Gov. Frank- link D. Roosevelt of New York gives the signal for a wide study of the vari- ous contenders. The standing of Gov. Roosevelt is a subject of much favor- able comment, while former Gov. Smith of New York, Gov. Ritchie of Maryland, Newton D. Baker of Ohio, Speaker Garner of Texas and former Gov. Byrd jof Virginia are recognized, with Gov. | Murray of Oklahoma as a vigorous con- tender. | “Who will dare to try to be very | definite except those whose work it is to whoop it up for this. that or the other candicate?” asks the Lynchburg ews (Democratic), while the Spokane | Spokesman-Review = (incependent Re- | publican) thinks the Democratic con- | vention “will stage a double conflict— | of personalities and principles"—and adds: “The conflict of personalities 0’ Roosevelt and ex-Gov Smith conspicuously on the stage. In hectation and hope that a deadlock will follow and Roosevelt be beaten, half a dozen candidates, trying to con- ceal their eagerness and disavowing their ambitions, are lurking in the wings."” “Obviously, Gov. Franklin D. Roose- velt is the one man above all others who should be nominated,” declares the Atlenta Constitution (Democratic), and the Oklahoma City Oklahoman (inde- pendent), commenting on ‘‘unanimous indorsement of Roosevelt by the Demo- cratic State Convention of North Da- kota,” contends that “the victory achieved there by the Roosevelt forces will very natur; lend strength to the Roosevelt candidacy elsewhere.” The Hartford Times (independent Demo- cratic) believes that following “the an- nouncement of Gov. Roosevelt's formal cntrance into the race” there should be “an open drive for delegates pledged to him, and his every word and act will | be scrutinized for any significance the: may have as bearing on the presidency.” *ox % % “We greet Gov. Roosevelt's candidacy as an opportunity to place in the White House a representative, not of special interests, but of the American people,” declares the Asbury Park Evening Press (independent Democratic), while the Rochester Times-Union (independent), observing that he “has more delegates in sight than any other candidate,” con- cludes that “if this total should amount to a majority when the convention opens in Chicago, it is quite likely, though not certain, that he will go on to the two-thirds vote and the nomi- nation.” The Scranton Times (Demo- cratic) offers the estimate: ‘“‘Already it is said that tentative support of States with more than a majority of the dele- gates in the convention has been ten- dered Mr. Roosevelt. On the other hand, it is pointed out that with a two- thirds vote required for nomination a combination of support of other candi- dates will prevent his being nominated.” The Houston Post-Dispatch (inde- pendent Democratic) indorses Speaker Qarner as one who “has high creden- tials for leadership and is really the only important Democratic timber in the South and West,” while the Osh- koeh Daily Northwestern (Republican) appraises him as “a man of attractive personality who has many friends in | Congress."” “Newton D. Baker,” states the Roan- oke Times (Democratic), “would be ex- prefer Fred Landis, for example, for- mer member of the House and & news- paper columnist. Theye is talk, too, of James M. Ogden, attorney general, as | a possible gubernatorial nominee. Col. Paul McNutt, former national com- mander of the American on and at present dean of the Law Sohool of the University of Indiana, is after the Democratic nomination for Governor a will be nominated un- it Bevey Boouid ger 1o the sace. ceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to defeat if put forward by the Democratic party as its candidate for President The times call for courage, frankness and ability in those who occupy high offices of trust and responsibility, and Mr. Baker possesses all three qualities in abundant measure.” With a tribute to “the winning per- sonality and sound grasp of public questions” possessed by former Gov. Byrd, the Roanoke Wotld-News (Demo- cratic) says: “The invitation extended to him to address a joint session of the Kentucky Legislature at some future date constitutes significant recognition of the Virginian's status as a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomi- nation, an honor for which he has been put forward by official action of the General Assembly of Virginia.” * % % ox While some view the position of for- mer Gov. Smith of New York as a mys- tery, the Minneapolis Journal (indepen- dent Republicen) advises: “If he really wants Gov. Roosevelt nominated, Mr. Smith will have to say so in plain lan- guage soon. If he does not say so, the Democrats of the Nation must conclude that he prefers another nomination | The ‘draft Smith' promoters will have license to assume that their efforts are ‘nnt running counter to their favorite's wishes.” iving attention to the prices being | received by public men for their literary | contributions, the S8an Francisco Chron- icle (independent Republican) con- clud “Some of the genial ex-gov- ernor's words are priceless. What, for instance, would not any one of the can- didates for the Democratic nomination Aplny" for a word of indorsement from “Roosevelt is far in the lead.,” ae- cording to the Charleston (8. C.) Eve- ning Post (Democratic), “but he is not making the progress toward the neces- sary two-thirds vote of the convention | which he made in the early stages of bis acclaim. That Smith can stop him | is reasonably certain. That he will in the end break his former close associate and friend is not yet certain. Al Smith is an able politician, and more. He | ought to be able to see that the presi- | dency will never be his, and pérhaps he does. But it is not easy for any man | who has looked close range at the glit- | tering prize to take his eyes from it, | and he may think that he could win on a second trial. If he has that belief, | he will make a tremendous fight in the | convention, but he will fail in the end, leaving some deep wounds." | “Smith’s power within the party s so great that his opposition would easily upset the New Yorker's chances,” avers the Youngstown Vindicator (indepen- | dent Democratic), while the Providence Journal (independent) concludes: “It |1s too soon to predict how New Eng- land will line up at Chicago, but ‘Al's’" enthusiastic friends in this corner of "the country evidently do not propose to let Qov. Roosevelt walk off unopposed with the nomination under his arm.” “Smith’s _hope of getting elected,” states the Dallas Journal (independent Democratic), “would depend upon other States than those of the South, which is less solid than it used to be. That is true, if regrettable. Smith might be able to win the presidency without the luprorc of the South. His personality still appeals and he still has a way that wins and holds followers.” ————————___ 47 Not So Many. | Prom the Dayton Daily News | A New Jersey man wants a divorce | because his wife laid down 47 rules of conduct for him. Somebody should | wise him to the fact that 47 is really | the minimum. - Should Be Sharper. From the New York Sun. Senator Carey of Wyoming has in- troduced a bill to provide for the com- memoration of the battle of Duu& If he means Thanksgtving, he say s0?