Evening Star Newspaper, February 4, 1932, Page 6

A6 "THE EVENING STAR THE EVENING STAR ‘With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. THURSDAY. ...February 4, 1932 THEODORE W. NOYES. ...Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Of 11th 8t. and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 E: I o Office: Lake Mich ropean Office; 14 Regent 8t.. London, Englan Rate by Carrier Within the City. Btar 45¢ per month d_Sunday Star vs) 80¢ per month r #5c per month &t Bc_per copy Collection made at the snd of each mont) Orders may be semt in by mail or telephone. NAtional 5000 Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Buffy and sunday.....1vr. 51000 1 mo. g8 il only 1yr. $600:1mo’ S0 Bunday only $4.00. 1 mo.. 40e All Other States and Canada. fly and Bunday..1yr.$1200: 1mo. 8 aily only 1yr. $8.00: 1mo. Bunday only . 1yr. $5.00; 1 mo. Member of the Associated Press. The Assoctated Press is exclusivelv entitled to the use for republication of rews dig- patchey oredited to it or not otherwise cred- ited in this paper and also the local news published heremn All riehts of publication of special aispatches herein are also reserved. — 15, 1.00 3¢ 50¢ Double-Barreled Threats. Oume of the ironies emphasized by the double-barreled attack on the District, represented in the Mapes tax bills and the bill to abolish fixed ratio, is the fact that should both attacks b= successful the District would be paying $4.000,000 more a year in order to receive approxi- mately $1,000000 a year additional revenue. The figures may not be exact. They are the estimated revenue receipts of the proposed tax bills. coupled with the $3.000,000 proposed reduction of the lump sum. But under the House pro- posals the District would be denied the single compensatory feature of higher taxes, which is additional revenue with which to finance needed public improvements. To consider essential improvements | that must be made and to levy taxa- tion to meet the increased revenue de- mands is one thing; to curtail expendi- tures to avoid higher taxation s still another. But to increase taxation and to deny the taxed any single benefit, | and in addition to threaten them with a varying and uncertain program of development in the future, is another radically differing procedure, demand- ing searching examination Tt is a fact of damaging significance | that proposals to boost local taxes are | in some manner always connected with propasals to relieve the Federal partner of self-imposed obligations. The House proposals probably surpass in bold frankness similar attempts of this na- | ture. But today's article of The Star | series on District taxation recalls the | situation confronting the District in 1920, similar in many respects to the | situation today. At that time the Dis- trict was threatened with higher taxa- tion that would have increased its burden excessively in comparison with the burden of taxation borne by other cities, and with two efforts, by two different routes. to repeal the fixed ratio provision and to reduce the Fed- | eral contribution Had it not been for the thankless labor and pains of Washingtonians who collected the data to refute charges against Washington leveled by mem- bers of the House, and ths firm stand taken by the Senate and a minority of | the House, the District would have been paying grossly excessive taxes and the system of fixed appropriations would have been supplanted perma- nently by the variant and uncertain practice that again is recommended today. The District s eonfronted now not only with an increase in taxation but an increase that would be excessive in comparison with what other comparable cities pay. The danger of accepting unquestioned the conclusion of the Man=s Committee that the District {s undertaxed may be pointed out here by a partial amalysis of some of its figures. Discussing per capita comparisons, the Mapes Com- mittee says that the District'’s per capita realty tax levy is $41.29, or $7.06 less than the average per capita of the 22 other cities. Yet the Mapes Com- mittee does not show anywhere the far more important fact that the District's per capita realty tax levy exceeds the per capitas of 10 of the 22 cities with which it s compared, and approximates the per capitas of at least two others, ‘The Mapes Commitiee finds that Wash- ington's per capita of total taxes levied is $55.21, or $3.06 less than the aver- age per capita for the other cities compared. Yet the Mapes Com- mittee does not state that the District's per capita of total taxes levied cxceeds 11 of the cities compared—St. Louis, Baltimore, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Denver, At- lanta, Dallas, Memphis and Providence | —closely approximating the per cap- itas of three—Cincinnati, Cleveland and Portland. Miraculous results may be achleved by a comparison of averages. In this case the miracle is made less difficult by the fact that Boston and Newark, N. J. have high per capitas that are not approached by such citles as Cleveland, St. Louls, Cincinnati, Portland or Washington. Is it not as important to list the faet that Washington exceeds in per capita of total taxes levied 11 of 22 cities as to state that it is below an “average" that would be materially reduced by the elimination of Boston alone? Should ok some attention be given to the rea- sons for the excessive per capitas in some cities as well as to the low per capitas in others? If Washington's per capita exceeds in per capita of realty and total taxes such cities as Balti- more and St. Louis and closely approxi- mates the per capitas of Cleveland, Cincinnati and Portland, 45 not that significant? And why does the Mapes report fail to mention the highly significant fact that Washington's actual per capita assessment is far in excess of that of any of the cities compared, its per capita of $2428.70 being most nearly approached by Boston's $2,321.267 Such findings were reached. Why ‘were they not announced? These are some of the reasons that the fair investigation promised by the Senate is necessary to prevent a grave injustice. Stop Hoarding! President Hoover calls upon the Na- tion to stop hoarding and to return to | became Secretary of the Treasury and nounced that leadefs of practically every important civic organization in the United States have been invited to a conference to be held next Saturday to start a national campaign to that ef- fect. “Every one hoarding currency injures not only his own prospects and those of his family,” says the President, “but is acting contrary to the common good; it s to their own interest to return it to circulation, as well as & patriotic service to the country as a whole.” In every “ sion” from which this country has ered, during more than a century, the withdrawal ef currency from circulation, in fear of loss, has contribut to the troubles that have affected business and retarded recov- ery. Money so withheld is a double loss, to the individual and to business, upon which the general welfare depends. The failure of banks in which cash has been deposited for safe keeping and for the sake of interest has caused the spread cof a state of fear amounting to panic. With the establishment of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation the danger of such failures is greatly les- sened, if not wholly avesked. The Gov- ernment's interventism with the estab- lishment of & great borrowing fund to tide business and financial institutions over the pericd of stress should re- assure the people. Currency placed in deposit boxes or in home safes is not money. It is just so much metal and printed paper, of no value during the time of its seques- tration. It becomes money only when it is spent for goods or invested in securities or deposited in banks. This fundamental economic fact is brought squarely before the people by the Presi- dent’s “call to arms" sounded yesterday, as significant a call as any given to the Nation in time of war. e e Mr. Mellon Goes to London. President Hoover's selection of An- drew Mellon as Ambassador to Great | Britain is a total surprise to the coun- try, but altogether an agreeable one Mr. Mellon's name had not been men- tioned in all the discussion of the pos- sibilities of appointment that followed the resignation of Gen. Dawes. It had been taken for granted, it would seem, that the veteran head of the Treasury Department would desire to complete his third term in that office, to equal the record of Albert Gallatin, who served from May, 1801, to May, 1813, But, as the President states in his pub- lic announcement of the appoirftment, “the critical situation facing all coun- tries in their international relations, the manifold economic and other prob- lems demanding wise solution in oyr national interests, call for experience and judgment of the highest order.” Such cireumstances led him, therefore, “to call upon one of our wisest and most experienced public servants to ac- cept & position which will enable him, after many years of distinguished pub- lic service at home, to render equal service to his country in the foreign field.” The international questions of great- est importance at this time are chiefly financial in character. Mr. Mellon's | long experience in finance before he | his almost unequaled length of service at the head of the ‘Treasury Depart- ment, spanning a period of exceptional difficulty in the readjustment of the national finances in the. years follow- ing the Great War, qualify him to an ex- ceptional degree to participate in the conduct of American foreign relations at this critical time. The knowledge of his ability and strict integrity that pre. vails in this country is shared by the people of Europe. At London he will command entire respect and complete confidence. Comparison of the remarkable record of Mr. Mellon as the holder of the post of Secretary of the Treasury during al- most all of three presidential terms | with that of Albert G- litin becomes the more significant whea it is recalled that Gallatin likewise went from the Treasury into the diplomatic field. He was eent to St. Petersburg in 1813 as one of the commissioners to urge Rus- sian mediation between Great Britafn and the United States, to end the sec- ond war between this country and Eng- land. He then became one of the com- missioners of peace and -materially in- fluenced the shaping of the Treaty of Ghent. That was the beginning of an extensive career in diplomacy, he serving from 1816 to 1823 as Minister to France and some years later as Minister to Great Britain. It is perhaps not to be expected, in view of Mr. Mellon’s more advanced age, that he will parallel the career of Gallatin in diplomacy as he has so nearly paralleled it in the Treasury But that he will be able to render equally important service as Ambass2dor. is assured by the cireumstances that now exist in the arena of foreign rela- tions and his long experience in hin- dling in an administrative capacity the questions that are foremost in the for- eign fleld. Tn the pressnt Undersecretary of the Treasury, Ogden Mills, the President has a prospective successor to the now retiring Secretary. Mr. Mills, In service since March 4, 1027, has acted as head of the Department at intervals in the absence of his chief and has proved himself eminently capable in meeting that responsibility. He has the confi- dence of all who have had dealings with him. He thoroughly understands the problems of fiscal sdministration. His advancement to the secretaryship will ensure the maintenance of the policies and practices that have marked the post-war period. 7 —_——rw——————~ The “governmental reins” have been seized and reseized 50 many times down in Louisiana that the old State must think she has been taken for & buggy ride. Bobsledding at Lake Placid. Bobeledding has frequently . been called the most dangerous of sports and 0 it is turning out to be on the two- hundred-thousand-dollar Olympie run at Lake Placid, N. Y. Already, with only & few days of practice behind the | satety. most skillful pilots in the world, the German team has been practically wiped out by two serious accidents, and spills and minor injuries have over- taken the teams of other nations. On Sundsy Capt. Werner Zahn, ackhowl- edged as one of the premier bobsledders of international prestige, crashed his five-hundred-pound contraption of steel and oak over the treacherous rig-zig circulation money that is now being held in Jpecurity.” In a statement is- -k the White House it is an- turn, bres this right arm and in- juring the otii members of his crew. Yesterday, however, occurred the most- serious aceident of ihe trials, which may | result in the loss of one or more lives. Capt. Fritz Grau, hitting. Shady Cprner at an estimated speed of sixty-five miles an hour, shot up the almost perpen- dicular twenty-eight-foot emhankment, fatled to make the turn down and catapulted himself and crew eighty-five feet off into space. He and his brake- man suffered skull fractures and other injuries, while the other two members of his team were less seribusly hurt. In view of these accidents to expert pilots it looks very much as if- the Lake Placid course should be modified. It has been pronounced the fastest in the world and was constructed with the view of meking it so. Hairpin turns abound, and when these are sheathed in ice instead of snow the runners of the heavy sleds are afforded only the minimum of traetion. Compared to Lake Placid the course at St. Moritz, in Switzerland, is conceded to be slow, and this is emphasized by the fact that it was at the former that the world'’s record of one minute and fifty- two seconds for a mile and one-half was made a year ago. : Bobsledding is unquestionably a thrilling sport. It probably gives more tingles to the nerves of even the most stolid than any other form of athletics. But there should be a limit to the thrills and it should be within the bounds of Sleds have been known to reach more than seventy-five miles an hour on the Lake Placid run, and, con- sidering the curves which must be negotiated, it has been proved too fast for even the most skillful. If any more accidents occur the Lake Placid authori- ties should give serious consideration to removing some of the perils from the course. e How crude was the gg-time press agent with his moth-eaten tales about the lost jewels of actresses and “divas” Now, to gain public attention and sym- pathy, the star of the celluloids recov- ers from an iliness in some sylvan spot, wearing “shorts” to soak up the ultra- violet rays, or else flowing pajamas cal- culated to do something or other about the infra-red ones. Sometimes she lolls and sips weak tea; sometimes she en- gages in every form of sport from “yo- yoing” to bulldogging steers. ——————— A New York girl is a professional “bathing suit tester.” It is explained that frequent tests are absolutely nec- essary to prove that such garments will hold their shape. Ignorant males were of the opinion that the suit held its shape as long as the wearer held hers. e Eastchester, N. Y. policemen re- cently had to spend an entire after- noon mowing the lawn in front of their headquarters. It is hoped that they ran the machine most carefully around those crocuses R Naval vessels of various nations aré hustling toward the Far East. Portugal, however, with her concession or colony of Macao undisturbed, will probably not send that sponson canoe. ———— 5 Hot water, it is stated, is fatal to the Japanese beetle. The Japanese them- selves seem to thrive on it. —————t——————. Fascism was nine years old on Pebru- ary 1. But, explains its proud father, it usually takes thirteen-year-old sizes. ———— ‘_SHOOTING STARS. ~ BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. The Far-Seeing Myope. “You ought to have glasses,” the doctor explained F“Your sight is deficient and scantily trained You're missing a lot as you travel your way, And you might get run over and hurt by a dray. Now, spectacles give grace. Some windows you need for s well fur- nished face. The world for its beauties in vain you will scan If you go on your way as & near-sighted man.” = you & dignified But the patient replied with a shake of his head, 1 have frequently thought of the things you have said. I once took a peek through a lens just my size, And the things I beheld caused regret- ful surprise The hats and the clothes that came by in a stream Made me feel like a man in & curious dream. A stranger was I in a weird elfin clan— Just let me plod on as & near-sighted man.” A Harrowing Doubt. “You have made some fine speeches to your constituents.” “Yes” answered Senator Sorghum; but T am never able to be surg whether my audience is being instructed and persuaded or merely entertained.” Suspicious Nature, “Why did you jilt that man who wanted to marry you?” “Because,” replied the prima donna, “I couldn’t make up my mind whether he was in love with me or merely wanted to hear me sing for nothing.” Problems. Life's problems after all are few. Thogh each may fill us with surprise, The problems which we think are new Are only old ones in disguise, Encouragement, “Well,” said one art critic, “I think our efforts have improved the display of public statuary in one respect.” “What is that?" “You don't see Wooden Indians in front of cigar store any more.” 1-Dolatry. Far have we passed from grim ancestral ways. We scorn the idols of barbaric days. No images persuade us to bow down In fear before a crudely sculptured frown, No gifts we bring as benefit we crave From figures which men cunningly en- grave. A shaft stands forth with outlines sharp and clear, Simple of base, with capital severe, And each adores it with a reverent sigh, That mighty monument, the pronoun “Some men hates work s Uncle Eben, “dat dey would responsibility of keepin’ an '\ clogk wound up,” " said t-day t WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 4, 1932. THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES B. TRACEWELL. Portunate is any reader if he knows one person whose judgment on books is final. By final one means correct, and not only correct for himself, but even more for you. This presupposes that he knows you. This good judge of books will be, therefore, & judge of you as well. He will know you “like & book” as we say; he will realize what you should ! read and what you should not read. His recommendations and withhold- ings will not be based on any idea of what is good for you or what is bad for you, but solely on whether or not you will be interested. * kK * This means that, first of all, such a good judge of books—and we repeat that any one is fortunate who knows such—will speak to you only of the books he thinks there is & chance of your liking. The greatest art of the critic, that of selection, he will exercise in your be- half, bless him. He knows better than others that there is no use recommending & book which his knowledge of you tells him will be unwelcome to you. This lack of welcome on your part, he knows, would not be based on any offense at what the writer says, b\*t simply on the fact that the writer's brain and yours do not harmonize. Now there is harmony between brains, and this harmony often means disagreement. This is not difficult to understand. Harmony does not always mean agreement, but only a like desire on both sides to find the truth. Respect for the truth is essential on both sides, but whether you both shall sgree on it is another matter. Per- haps you will not. So much the better, then! * ok ok The good judge of books makes his most, effective criticisms, in the sense the word is commonly taken, by omit- ting mention of them. A} good book critics do as much. of co¥Yfie. Here is a popular critic who reviews one book a day for, say, 300 days a year. During the year 10,000 books were published. Of this number perhaps 2,000 came to the reviewer's desk. He wrote about 300. That means that 1,700 were not considered of suffi- clent worth by him to merit a formal review. Their omission constituted his most devastating condemnation. The very fact that he had nothing to say about them meant that he had a great deal to say, if he had so chosen. ‘The good reader who makes & habit of recommending certain books to his tlose friends has a larger job, in many ways, than the man who tries to select cuch books as he regards as good. and which he therefore recommends to the world at large. The professional reviewer cannot, the “very nature of things, take into consideration the likes and dislikes, the habits of mind. of all those who may run across his reviews. But this is exactly what the man of whom we are writing does, in relation to his book friends. He considers every one of them, that is why his recom- mendations mean something to each one of them. * % He knows that Jones. for instance, likes a good novel better than any other form of writing. Therefore he selects good novels for Jones. And Jones, in his turn, mbw retty sure that the story which nd tells hmdsormumeommhm-a Now what does one mean by a “good” novel? Not necessarily of a moral tone to please persons of a certain training. Not necessarily conforming to any one’s particular views as to morals or knowledge or life. No, a good novel as Jones sees it, the good book selector, sees it, is simply a story in which the author accom- plishes what he set out to do. ‘What if the words the writer chooses do not altogether meet Jones' sense of the eternal fitness of things? Jones, the reader, has enough common sense to realize that when becomes Jones, | the writer, if J® ever does, he will use such words as he chooses himself. He accords the same right to the author whose book he is reading. He realizes that his friend, the critic, knew | he would feel so, knowing him; that he would know that while he (Jones) might question the use of certain words, he woud not be offended at them. There is ® great deal of difference between ‘qltm‘a:iomng a thing and being offended at it. * ok ok ‘To select a book for another human | being to read is not a slight matter, to be done ofthand, as it were, the same as one might pick an apple from a tree of apples. All apples of the same tree are more or | less afike, but books, even though they | look alike, uihfl.ngely dissimilar. He who can' select a book for you | must know you, to begin with. His knowledge of books must be secondary. | All the intangible sympathies which |exist betwen ‘attuned human beings must be in existence, if you are to like the book which he recommends. ‘The basis for this attunement of | two human beings, whether man and | wife, or man and man, friends at work or play, is simple honesty. You two can | be honest with each other, without one taking advantage of statements made. 1t is the basis of all true life, the only life worth while for an intelligent being. The animals know something of the | same glorious state of being, because they do not talk, and therefore no syn- copl t, no hypocrite, no trouble maker, can distort what is said, or put a wrong construction on it, or deliberately twist it to mean something which it did not mean. | But honesty among the animals, while great for them, is not the same as honesty between human beings. The latter must know where the opportuni- ties for distortion exist. and must de- liberately withdraw from them as un- worthy of them. This is the great dis- tinction. Until one realizes it, and knows it in a given situation, he will not be able to do fo simple a thing as select a book for another human being. How, then, could he select a way of life for another? | * ook % It might seem an easy thing to do, | to recommend a book, but it is rather more difficult than deciding what type of hat “looks good” on another | The appearance of things in the ex- ternal world is more a matter of angles and curves, and of harmonies wrought | with them, but in the mental atmos- | phere where books really have their | being a great many more indefinite | points must be taken into consideration. My friend’s life has been so and so, his likes and dislikes are such and such, | his spmpathies are this way, his in- clination is that way. He has had so | much training, and he has trained him- | self to & polint of his own making. | Will this book which I reccommend | to him it in with all that? If it does, | (and he has not changed since yester- | day), then he may like this book. Highlights on the Wide World Excerpis From Newspapers of Other Lands ENCHING GAZETTE, Chengfu: Complaints have been heard around the campus of Yenching University that stones have been thrown through the win-| dows of a second-story class room The stones were directed at faculty and students studying music. It has been alleged that the nuisance was committed by no others than some of the students on the ground. University students are not ruffan children from unruly homes where in- dividual rights and personal liberty are not taught and usually unknown. Uni- versity students certainly understand that such an offense may lead to se- rious consequence, including the en- dangering of life and the destroying of | property. It cannot be imagined that university students would do such a mean act, and it is an insult to the large body of brave young men and women of that great university to even suggest that such an unmanly move would come from any one of them. No! University students will never throw stones in the dark Some have suggested that the act might have been moved by a wrong interpretation of patriotism. Certainly no common sense will accept the sug- gestion. All university students have common sense, and common sense alone will tell them that a patriot should ac- cept the three people’s principles. You are 2 citizen. He is a citizen. I am a citizen. You have just as much right as he and I have and you cannot force him and me to believe what you only believe. I, you and he, we all three, are the people. All university students are lovers of the three principles, and they will be the last persons to inter- fere with othérs’ rights and privileges. The ones responsible for the offense complained of are not university stu- dents. No true university student will commit acts unworthy of children from an ordinary home. * ok k% Suggests Buying Railway Map of Scotiand. Evenng Times, Glasgow: Certain “Whiteinch Bairns,” now located in De- troft, Mich., are at daggers drawn over a very simple question, which they have acked me to settle. The conversation had_one nléht. drifted round as usual to the Old Country and one bloke said that in 1917, when going 0 Stranraer, he entered the train at St. Enoch's, Glasgow, changed at Dumfries, walted two hours, joined another train, which carried him through Dunfermline to Stranraer. Then the debate became heated, and ultimately it was agreed to ask me if it could be done. It might be done if you had a lot of money, plenty of time, and & desire to indulge a wandering fancy, just as one might g0 from Glasgow to London via Oban, Wick, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Auch- enshuggle. But Dunfermline is neither on nor near the direct route from 8t. Enoch’s to Stranraer. Might I suggest that the Whiteinch wanderers buy a railway map of Scotland? * ok ok ¥ Mexico A “Timne of the Mountain.” Fl Universal, Mexico, D. F.. The time of the one hundred and ffth meridlan, commonly knowa as the “time of the mountain,” wiil be used universally in Mexico hereafter. This will give a uniform chronometrical sys- tem for the entire country, and obviate the complications and ~uncertainties hitherto existing when a coincidence of events or co-operatfon in action was desired. The new standard of time wilk become effective by order of the cham- bers: and & decrez of the cxecutive power. In the peninsula of Yucatan and in the southeast of Mexico_clocks will be advanced one hour. In the penfnsula of California they will be put back’'60 minutes. Xk % % Panama N ewspaper on de! Will Again Deliver to Homes. Diario de Panama, Panama: We ¥ public that we have again for the delivery of our periodical to the hom=s of subscribers. ‘This servies was discontinued some time ago by the previous management of the PR | ‘e suggest, therefore. that all desir- | ing to have the publication delivered to | their homes send their orders to our | office as soon as possible, to the end |that we may complete our arrange- | ments to restore this feature of dis- | tribution. We request that orders be | accompanied with not less than one | and a quarter balboas ($1.25), which is the charge for a month's subscription. 'Bruening’s Debt Stand Deplored as Untimely Prom the Birmingham Age-Herald | A Basel dispatch quotes international | bankers there as seeing nothing new in the Bruening declaration that Ger- ‘mlny is unable to pay reparations. That is true enough. The chancellor ‘ based his statement on the findings of the Advisory Committee which has just | Anished the study of Germany's ca- | pacty to pay. But this report does not | Justify his demand for a wiping gut of | the bill. All it does is to give expert approval to the general understanding that a radical readjustment would have | to be made in the reparations account. | The powers had evidently steeled them- | selves for such an arrangement. What is new, and what cannot be de- | plored too much, was the manner and | time chosen by Bruening for his an- nouncement. It was just that which has angered public opinion in France and Belgium. There is a season for everything, according to Ecclesiastes, but the hour selected by Bruening was surely not the appointed time for re- laying a Hitlerian ultimatum to the rest of the world. In a week or two, a European financial conference is to be held, when the survey of German capacity to pay is to be passed upon. To anticipate the conclusions of that conference is bad manners and rotten strategy. It has had the effect of solidifying French sentiment against the Germans. Laval, who has none of Briand's tol- erance and sympathy, was by no means sure of his political position before Bruening spoke. Now all shades of opinion are united behind him in a policy of stern and rigid compulsion. Even the Left, which was counted on to give the premier trouble. has been swamped by the tidal wave of national- ism evoked by Bruening's unfortunate pronouncement. A melting France has become again the unylelding ‘force which we have come to know during the post-war era. Briand is now a broken man, who has had to retire because of ill health. For some months he has been little more than a figurehead, though re- taining the post of foreign minister. He is now out, and his influence will not be felt at all in the course pur- sued by Laval. It begins to loak as though we are to have a recrudescence of Poincareism. That argues continued unrest and danger in Europe, instead of tha fulness which seems to be in the cards. That argues, also, a post- ponement of the economic healing, on which the g:csvect of an early emerg- ence from depression was d, The United States has a direct inter- est in this Jatest cloud on the horizon. The hope of our escape from dolor is believed by the best authorities to hinge on European stabilization. With the outlook of financial agreement abroad darkened by recent developments, Americans may have good reason to revise their expectations. The snarl in which the world is caught continues to hold, tight. The only factor which can be thought of as offsetting this unfa- vorable change in the face of affairs is in the circumstance that the French, however resentful tfiey may be, are too realistic to endanger their own eco- nomie lite by gi away to pession, - and as Jones' friend, the good critic, | The Politieal Mill By G. Gould Lincoln. The right-about-face of Gov. Frank- 1in D. Roosevelt on the League of Ni tions issue has stirred the souls of the pro-leaguers and the risibilities of the anti-leaguers. His recantation of his former advocacy of the entry of the United States into the League of Na- tions will make him some enemies among the standpat advocates of the League. But it is obvious that no candidate for President, Democral or of any other political faith, who de- manded the entry of the United States into the League of Nations would stand a ghost of & show either of the presi- denttal nomination or of the presiden- tial election. It was obvious that, soomer or later, any Democrat who be- { comes his party’s presidential nominee this year would be compelled to take a stand on the League issue, particu- larly if in the gn he had supported in any way tl proposal that the United States become a member of the League. Republicans would see 1o that. It matters very little, there- fore, whether Mr. Roosevelt took the leap now or whether he had postponed saying anything about the League un- til after he had been nominated. As it is, he is accused of w the League, which he defended as a vice presidential candidate in 1920, in order to obtain the Democratic nomi- nation. If he had waited until after he was nominated he would have been accused by the same people of recant- ing his former faith in order to win the election. s Newton D. Baker of Ohio, who dedi- czted himself to the cause of the League not so many years ago, the other day came out with a statement while he continued personally to believe in the League, he did not propose and would not take the United States into the League right now. While his statement also roused the indignation of some of the ardent pro-Leaguers, they now lock on Baker as an angel of light as com- pared to Gov. Roosevelt, who h: ed back flatly upon the League ¥nd all its works. Unless in the future Mr Baker measures up to the standard of Gov. Roosevelt in opposition to entry into the League. he will be the target of the anti-Leaguers, if he becomes a serious contender for either the nomi- nation for President or election to that office. e k% The New York Times editorially scores Gov. Roosevelt for his an- nouMced opposition to the League. That newspaper favpred strongly American adherence to the League and has favored co-operation of the United States with foreign nations on many occasions. It has attacked the “isola- tionists” i this country. The Times in its editorial: “It will be gen- regretted. we think, that Gov, Roosevelt should have been so plainly swayed by political motives in this pub- lic recantation " Generally speaking, it is admitted by every one that a pub- lic man has a right to change his mind and his position on any given subject if he becomes convinced that his earlier position was in error, or if circum- stances have arisen which make the change of position advisable the in- terests of the public. But wi at public man has ever yet announced 1 change of mind on an important subiect who has not been accused of seek. politi- cal advantage? Those who con .nue to favor his earlier position always .°e in a change by their former champion a deal with the enemy. Se Gov. Roose- velt will be so accused. * ox & x Entry into the League of Nations by this country has not been a serious is- sue, it is grue, in this country since the general election of 1920. when it was buried under an avalanche of votes. But tflom# get the United States into the orld Court, called the “League court” by the irreconcilables of the Senate, not only have met with serfous opposition, but have brought about the defeat of senatorial aspirants at the polls. An outstanding case was that of the late Senator Willlam B. McKinley of Tilinois, who. when he voted for American adherence to tre court, admitted to some of his col- leagues that he was sealing his polit- jcal death warrant. At least Gov. Roosevelt's recantation of the League, for whatever reason, has not been half- hedrted or equivocal. He has announced himself flatly agasinst American ad- herence. * ok Senator James J. Davis of Pennsyl- vania apparently has found it neces- sary to announce his stand on another issue than the league of Nations— prohibition. He is up for renomina- tion this year and the primaries in Pennsylvania take place in May. Tt had been strongly intimated to him by the powers that be in Republican politics in Philadelphia that unless he ran as a wet ne would have a hard time. Representative James M. Beck made a statement some time ago, in- sisting that a wet should be nominated by the Republicans for the Senate, and suggesting that the man who really should make the race was William S. Vare, the Philadelphia boss, himself, who was denied a seat in the Senate after the election of 1926 because of heavy expenditures of money. A couple of years ago Mr. Davis, while still Seeretary of Labor in the Hoover cab- inet, ran for the senatorial nomina- tion and won against former Senator “Joe” Grundy and the candidate of the wringing wets among the Republicans of Penn: ania. Senator Davis at that time contented himself with sup- port of the enforcement of the prohi- bition law. He won hane’y in the three-cornered race, and later was elected by a big vote to the Senate. But now it seems Mr. Davis has found it necessary to clarify his stand on the liquor issue. He has adopted the so- called “Morrow plan,” announced by the late Senator Dwight W. Morrow of New Jersey, for a return of the liquor control to the States, but has gone even farther, saying that he would favor light wines and beer until the Constitution can be amended. He's a wet from now on and if he is renomi- nated and re-elected the drys will have lost a seat in the Senate which they claimed after the 1930 election. * % ok % ‘The_Governor of Pennsylvania, A ford Pinchot, is suspected of n.fi‘é, senatorial ambitions. If in any way it could be arranged so that a three-cor- nered race for the Republican sena- torial nomination would materialize, some of the politicians believe that the Pennsylvania Governor would get into the fracas. He may, anyway. But if Gov. Pinchot, who espouses the dry cause ardently, finds that Senator Davis is to be opposed by another wet or moist candidate of standing, he might easily leap in and with the backing of the drys and his influence as Governor win the nomination for himself. Cer- tainly he will get into the race if some of the drys have their way. The senior Senator from Pennsylvania, David A. Reed, does not discuss the prohibition issue in the public prints. He does not come up for re-election until 1934. If he is a candidate for re-election, un- doubtedly he will take & definite stand if prohibition is an issue. Reed is no trimmer, and while an’sble politician, at the same time has cour- age and the common sense to know that a candidate gets nowhere who straddles an issue. £ * k¥ * The last of the Hare . cabinet members is out ofdmmm with the appointment of Andrew W. Mellon to be Ambassador to Great Britain. President Hoover was, him- selfy & member of cabinet in the Hard- ing” and Coolidge administrations. Clarles Evans Hughes, who was Secre- tary of State, is now Chief Justice of the United States. James J. Davis, who lasted in cabinet office almost as long a5 Mr. Mellon, is Senator from Pennsylvania. Dwight Davis has been Governor General of the recently retiring out on | turn- | ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Wi ton is the world's greatest storehouse of all kinds of knowledge. You can draw on it free of charge | through out bureau there. Any ques-| tion of fact you may ask will be an-| swered promptly in a personal letter | to you. Be careful to write clearly, | give your full name and address and | inclose 3-cent stamp for reply postage Send your inquiry to The Washington Star Information Bureau, Prederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Q. What is meant by the national and international demonstrations, with reference to the Olympic games?—W. A. A. The national demonstration will| be a game of American foot ball, played in Olympic Stadium the night of Au- gust 8 between two teams, one made up of players from Yale, Harvard and | Princeton, with T. A. D. Jones as chairman of the Coaching Committee, and the other made up of players from California, Stanford and Southern Cal- ifornia, with Howard Jones as chair- man of the Coaching Committee. The six participating universities have of- ficially sanctioned the game and they are assisting in the preparations. The international demonstration will be a series of three games of lacrosse, played by teams representing three nations. Q. How long did the depression of 1873 last?>—F. V. C. e A. The acute depression lasted be- tween four and five years. Q What became of the Mayflower, |the former presidential yacht?—E. H A. After being reduced to'a hulk by | fire, it sold and is now at Wil- | mington,"N. C. It will be reconditioned and preserved as a national relic. The vessel i6 being planned to exemplify the characteristics of early twentieth century design. When completed, it will visit Eastern seaports, take part in the Washington Bicentennial Cele- bration and in all probability bs en exhibition at Chicago during the 1933 World Fair. Q. Is ft all right to thank people verbally for wedding presents?—T. H. D. A It is not A personal letter must be written for each present Q. What is the name of the school in Alabama which has neither grades nor promotions?—R. L. M A. The School of Organic Education at Pairhope, Ala. is organized along such lines. It was begun 25 years ago as an experiment bv Mrs. Marietia Johnson, its present director, who de- veloped it according to her belief that education is life, and a school program should be life-giving to the body as well as mind. No standards are set up to measure a child's achievements in this curriculum, consequently there are no grades, marks or promotions. Q How much coal does the ordinary locomotive carry?—B. §. A A. The modern coal tender has a ca- pacity of from 16 to 30 tons Q. Who invented linoleum”>—R. F. C A. Prederick Walton. an Englishman, in 1880 secured a patent on floor ma- terial to which he gave the name li- noleum, a term which he coined. Q. What flag has been adopted by Mahatma Gandhij in his "war" for the independence of India’>—E. V. M A. No flag has been adopted to sym- bolize the Swaraj movement for Indian independence. 1t is doubtful whether this movement has advanced far enough | to warrant an individual flag. | Q. What inspired Schubert to write “Who Is Silvia"?—A. B. A. This is one of his best known compositions of its kind. At the writ- ing of the piece. Schuberf was un- questionably in love with the name,| Silvia, or his conception of her. The song Was ired by Shakespeare’s BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” It is zald that the song inspired Arthur 8 to write “Orpheus and His Lute.’ ho Is Silvia” was published shortly after Schubert’s death, together with three songs of 1827 (later called Opus 106) which were dedicated to Marie Pachler, Schubert’s kind hostess in Graz. Q. What is the name of the viole( l‘n(‘h“;fi jultlvlted and sold by florists, A. The violet which is commonly used by florists is the European variety viola odorata. This is the common sweet violet, which has been cultivated in Europe for hundreds of years. Q. How does England proceed with- rAut a definite written constitution?— . W. A. While it is true that England has not a written constitution similar to that of the United States, she has s vast accumulation of what are known as the common laws. When a new measure is before Parliament search is made to find out whether the matter is covered by the common law or whether there is precedent for the proposed ac- tion. In the event of neither of these sources governing the matter, the new law to meet the situation may passed by the Parliament. Q What do the terms pinxit and sculpsit mean after men's names?— {J. D. B A. A painting sometimes bears the inseription pinxit after the name of the painter and means “he painted this.” Similarly, sculpsit after the name of the sculptor means that he sculptured it. Were horses native to North America?—J. J. A. The horse was not native to the Western Hemisphere in historic times, although a pre-equine mammal did oc- cur here several million years ago. The wild horses on the Western plains of this continent today are descended from domesticated horses brought to America by Cortez and other Spanish conquista- dores. Q How old is Theodore Roosevelt, T. G A. He is 4. Q. How many members are there in the United States Army Band, the Navy Band, and the Marine Band?—D. C. A. Each organization has 76 mem- ir | bers. How does Russia intend to carry on when the Five-Year Plan is accom- plished?—C. B. 8. A. It is understood that, according the end of the present will be another plan, and at the end of that there will be another plan, so that the stat> has constantly a definite goal in view which is to be accom- plished within a definite period. How many gasoline filling stations | are there in the United States?—B A The number is estimated at | 317,000. Q. Which Presidents have had their portraits on stamps?—E. J. George Washington, Thomas Jef- ferson, James Madison, James Mon Andrew Jackson. Zachary Taylor. Abr ham Lincoln. U S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Warren G. Harding. Woodrow Wilson and Wil- liam Howard Taft Q. When was the old Waldorf- Astoria closed and when did the new Waldorf open?—B. M. A._The last guests moved out of the old Waldorf-Astoria_Hotel May 2. 1929, The razing of the building was begun September 27, 1929. The new Waldorf was opened officially on September 30, 1931, and opened to the public the fol- lowing dav. Much attention is paid to the state- ment by President Hoover that in enact- ing the Reconstruction Finance Corpo- | ration law the legislative department of | the Government buried partizanship in | the performance of a national duty. He | said: “I wish to pay tribute to the patriotism of the men in both Houses of Congress who have given proof of their devotion to the welfare of their country, irrespective of political affilia- tion." “The situation discloses Congress at its best.” says the Peoria Journal, ob- serving that “Democrats in both Houses have substantially increased their par- tisan advantage without pretense or ballyhoo.” The Charlotte Observer holds that “the Senator who would undertake to play politics in the pres- ent instance ought to be signing the warrant for his own retirement from public life.” “Within a fortnight," according to the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, “thanks to the non-partisan co-opera- tion of .Congress in mobilizing the country's credit resources for the resto- retion of business confidence, the Re- construction Finance Corporation should be functioning to thaw the frozen assets that have chilled the life blood of commerce. In its final form. the legislation creates an agency for | bringing Uncle Sam’s aid to the financ- | ing of agriculture, commerce, industry, transportation and the exports trade by establishing a new resource behind existing credit.” “Republican and Democratic Sena- | tors and Representatives voted as | patriots who love their country.” de- clares the Toledo Blade, while the Ok- lahoma City Times indorses the Presi- dent’s statement that it is “an oppor- | tunity to mobllize the gigantic strength of the country for recovery.” The Boise | Idaho Satesman feels that “it is note- worthy that leaders of both parties, as well as business experts, hold out high hope that the measure will accomplish | its objective,” though that paper ld-_‘ vises that “what benefits are to result | probably will not come speedily.” | “The entire movement,” remarks the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “appears to be noteworthy for its absence of the| familiar political tinkering with indus- try b{ Congress. The whole proposition has transcended the usual .party-line | war of votes in the House and Senate. Few acts of government in the memory | of most of us have been met with less | plruunahig than this one. The Demo-| crats and the Republicans having to do with the measure disregarded ‘party lines' superbly and held tenaciously to| the intent of giving the country a re- | constructive measure equipped by men | and means capable of meeting the situ- ation and improving it. It will be ex-| tremely difficult for those so inclined to | make the measure over into a ‘party’| accomplishment.” “Nomination of Harvey ©. Couch of | Pine Bluff, Ark, and Jessg H. Jones of Houston, Tex., for Democr®ic members | of the corporation,” states the Tex- arkana Gazette, “extends to the South- west recognition in business affairs equal to that it has won in political affairs, a Texas Representative being Speaker of the House and an Arkansas Senator Democratic minority leader in the Senate. Senator Robinson was vice presidential candidate on the Demo- cratic ticket in 1928 and Speaker Gar- ner is frequently being mentioned these days as a possible presidential nominee in 1932. Bankers, railroad executives and other leaders of business and industry frequently have said in recent weeks that conditions in the Southwest are better than in the North and East. All these things taken in the aggregate, tend to turn the atten- tion of the Nation in this direction and to give the great empire of the South- west proper perspective in the eyes of business and palitical observer: “The disf on paid Texas" avers Non-Partisanship , In Reconstruction Praised of Effort Jesse H. Jones, the Houston capitalist community builder —a generous friend to the Democratic party—long has been active m public affairs. In his own city and wherever his extensive interests have reached he already has been combating the depression effec- tively, bringing the large resources at his command into action at many & critical juncture to keep an industry going and men at work. Like several other eminent Texans, Mr. Jones was a close friend to Woodrow Wilson. For that reason his appointment doubtless will be partiemarly pleasing to Demo- crats the countrg ever. Thus. by broad outlook and un tanding of the hu- man, as well as financial, problems involved, both Mry Couch and Mr. Jones are qualified to bear the heavy re- sponsibilities imp@sed upon them. These appointments further will' strengthen popular confidence in the efficacy of the Nation's new machinery for bring- ing back better times.” Indorsing the President’s tribute to Congress, the Indianapolis News asserts that “it is such examples as this that resiore the confidence of the country in the ability of Congress to act for the greatest good when an emergency arises.” The Appleton Post Crescent believes that “had President Hoover recommended his program, including this measure, two years ago, it is well- nigh certain that a long line of busi- ness crashes, bank failures and railroad receiverships might have been averted.” Considering the needs of the Do- minion, the Hamilton (Ontario) Spec- tator offers the judgment: “It is im- portant in this country that financial and busimess institutions should be given helpful assistance, if only legisia- tive, in this time of stress as it is in the United States—for exactly the sams reason—that what helps business helps everybody, Men must be put to work, public purchasing power must be in- creased and the economic equilibrium restored.” - Laval to Adjust Policy To Changing Situation From the Birmingham Age-Herald Laval returns to power because he was the only man who stood ready to undertake the responsibility of being premier under current conditions. Presi- dent Doumer turned to him after he found it impossible to persuade the radicals to join in a broad-gauged gov- ernment. Since Briand has been drop- ped, Socialist hostility toward Laval is certain to be more bitter than ever. Whether that means that in the end he will not be in a position to with- stand attacks from the left remains to be seen. In the interim, however, the general policy for which Laval has stood will be adhered to. It will be adjusted, of course, to the demands of an evolving situation. It is by no means assured that France can continue to assume the nonchalance it has shown heretofore. depres- sion is almost as unpleasant a reality among Frenchmen as it is .elsewhere. Unemployment has increased by \El(\! and bounds. It is estimated that tlie number of totally unemployed in France is 1,000,000, while 25 many as 3, 000,000 are only partially employed. - With the luxury trac~s badly hit and with tourists staying cway, it is not surprising that Paris is quite gloomy these days: What effect will this have on the French attitude at Lausa-ne? The re- port is that Laval will ii0t be too in- sistent as to reparations, but is pre- pared to waive virtually everything, provided England and America relisve France of its debt obligations. The balance over the sum involved in the debts France will take in German rail- way bonds. This scheme has not been received with pleasure in London, where the French are Eumrul-rly suspect just now. The British seem to think that the political “crisis” was a trumped-up affair in order to justify ¥ ment of e Anancial sonfersncn,