Evening Star Newspaper, December 20, 1934, Page 10

A—10 {THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON,D.C. THURSDAY. .December 20, 1034 THEODORE W. NOYES..Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company 11tn et Sand Fenosyivanta _Ave. and Penns 3 New York' Office: 110 East 42nd Bt Ghicaso Office: Lake Michisan Bullding. uropean Offce: 14 Regent Gt.. London. England. Rate by Carrier Within the City. Regular Edition, ;flo Evening Star. . . . 456 “er month 'he Evening and 8 ar ‘'when 4 Sundays)...... 60cper month The Evening and Sunday Star (when 5 Sunday: 5¢ per month The Sundav Star. .66 per coby Night F ght Pinal and Sunday Star, !%M Pinal Star N ollection made’ at the en month. Orders may be sent by mail telephone NAtional 5000 Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. B:“Y and Sunday. .1 yr.. $10.00; 1 mo., 85 ily only 1yr. $6.00:1 mo., 50c Sundav’ only. .l $4.00; 1 mo.. 40¢ All Other States and Canada. 137.812.00: 1 mo.. $1.00 Member of the Assoclated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively en- titied to the use for republication of all aews dispatches credited to it or not othe}:- ublished herein righ n of special dispatches herein a o reserved. e e Japan Kills the Treaty. Carrying out her long-proclaimed intention to denounce the Washing- ton treaty of 1922, Japan has now finally acted in that direction. On ‘Wednesday the Privy Council at Tokio decided unanimously to recommend to Emperor Hirohito the immediate abrogation of the pact. With the im- perial sanction a mere matter of form, Ambassador Saito is expected to pre- sent formal documentary notification to the State Department in Washing- ton any day from now on. Thereupon naval limitation on the 5—5—3 ratio basis will automatically come to an end. ‘The Japanese contend that dictates of national prestige leave them no alternative except to refuse further to accept naval inferiority to Great Brit- ain and the United States. Two months of appeal and argument dur- ing the London “corversations” failed to budge Japan from that position. The thesis that the existing ratio gives her actual “equality of security” fell upon deaf ears. Tokio directed Ad- miral Yamamoto and Ambassador Matsudaira to stand unalterably for equality of armaments. On that rock of Japanese determination the Wash- ington treaty has gone to smash. That the way is now paved for re- newal of the naval race which the ‘Washington Conference ended is un- fortunately undeniable. The sole ray | of hope is that during the two years which must elapse before the 1922 treaty actually gives up the ghost— December 31, 1936, is the technical date of its expiration—ways and means may yet prove discoverable for reaching agreements unattainable in London. Japan attempted to have a date set for renewal of the talks in 1935, but both the British and Amer- ican delegations held there is no virtue in making such arrangements as long as Japan remains inflexible on equal- Ity. It now becomes doubtful whether the 1935 conference contemplated by the 1922 treaty will be held. The purpose of the London conversations was to lay the foundations for the conference. Clear definition of the United States position was given in London by Am- bassador Davis a few days ago. “The American Government,” he said, “stands for continuance of the equi- librium worked out in the Washing- ton treaty. * * * We believe that the system then established has been of advantage to all concerned and that abandonment now of the princi- Pples involved would lead to conditions of insecurity, of international suspicion and of costly competition, with no real advantage to any nation.” In those carefully chosen words the United States plainly discloses its purpose to maintain a fleet that will provide this country its present mar- gin of strength at sea. Japan cannot be unaware of the financial burdens that will be imposed upon all con- cerned if she adheres to her equality program, nor be blind to the incal- culable political consequences of that policy. The American people do not relish the prospect thus opened up, but they have the satisfaction of knowing that in firm co-operation with the British the Washington govern- ment did its utmost to avert an alto- gether undesirable, not to say dis- qQuieting, situation. o ‘The old Christmas reindeer are re- ported ready for action, regardless of what economic science may have done to other valued live stock. Eugene R. Black. One of the mysteries of life is that of the sudden termination of careers which, it might be supposed, should be prolonged. The case of Eugene R. Black is an example. Only a few ‘weeks ago he was a familiar figure in Washington—active, energetic, force- ful, a definite personality, with vitality. None of his friends ‘would have supposed that his course was 8o soon to finish. It appears in- credible that he should have passed from the world just at the moment when, with all his powers matured and disciplined by experience, he had reached the apex of achievement. News of his death, therefore, comes with a sense of shock to his friends. He seemed destined to enjoy far greater length of days, and it is a pity that he has been denied fulfilment of that promise. But it should not be forgotten that he packed into his sixty-one years of existence an ex- traordinary measure of activity. He was an enthusiast, militant in his ap- proach to the things which engaged his interest, vigorous in his handling of affairs, quick to comprehend and forthright to complete any business to which he set his hand. His mind was progressive. He believed in “going ahead” and was courageous in his will- fngness to try new philosophies and mew methods. To a large extent he 4 instinct | personified the “new South,” toward which he contributed his gentus. Charitable, tolerant, witty and kind- 1y in manner, he was welcome in any company. His talents as a raconteur were deservedly famous, and the stories he preferred were those which gently and not too obviously pointed 2 moral. He traveled widely and with appreciation, cultivated a liking for other countries and other cities, but it was to Atlanta that he returned— the town in which his neighbors were proud to call him “first citizen.” His service, however, as Secretary Mor- genthau has said, was for the Nation. He was drafted to the chairmanship of the Federal Reserve Board at a time when a man whom people could trust was required for that post, and he was that man. Hence it is that he is mourned by men and women who never knew his smile or saw the quick flash of his eyes—a patriot, a leader and yet a servant of the com- mon good. N The Business Recovery Program. Business and industrial leaders as- sembled at White Sulphur Springs ex- plain that in adopting their program for recovery they realize that the task of recovery is one “which calls for the unselfish co-operation of all” and that the Government “in exer- leadership is entitled to their whole- | hearted support.” Reconciliation of | divergent views and concentration “of | national effort upon the one great i purpose” of recovery require “patience and tolerance.” And motivated by this desire to be patient and tolerant, not unlike the father who explains that the busi- ness before him “is going to hurt me more than it hurts you,” the White Sulphur Springs program drafters have completed their work. ‘The program indicates a willing- ness to let by-gones be by-gones in the hope that the future will correct errors of the past. Admitting that reliet is one of the foremost problems confronting the Nation, the program suggests that “relief is not properly a function of the Federal Government, but is primarily the obligation of the family, or private charity, of the municipality and the State” and is hopeful that the unwillingness of States and municipalities to share relief responsibilities will be overcome “as soon as practicable” by returning the burden of relief back to the States and municipalities. The program ap- proves “thorough and sympathetic” study of the problem of unemploy- ment insurance, but doubts the effi- cacy of applying unemployment re- serves in the present situation, and suggests a committee representing business and industry for the study of such matters as unemployment re- serves and old-age pensions. The program advocates “definite evidence of a determined effort by Congress and the administration to balance the budget” as fundamental to any sound recovery program. It feels that stabilization of the dollar by inter- national agreement would be of “im- measurable benefit,” and suggests that the free flow of capital in private enterprise would be helped by modi- fication of the securities act. It be- lieves that the failure in the durable goods industry to create employment despite the vast accumulation of de- ferred demands is still to be blamed on a certain lack of confidence and suggests various conditions necessary in the revival of confidence and the durable goods industry. The program is strongly opposed to continuation and extension of the Government's competition with private business and remarks that “this destructive com- | petition, carrying with it the threat of extension into other flelds, has profoundly shaken confidence.” On the national industrial recovery act, the program favors its extension for another year, with modifications that would make code acceptance voluntary for industry. On price-fixing and production control, the program believes that “In proper cases, in the public interest” practical measures should be permitted to prevent “price demoralization.” Collective bargaining is approved, along with elimination of child labor, but in reference to the former the program remarks signifi- cantly that “men should be protected in their right to work as well as in their right to strike.” This program for the most part looks into the future, and is doubtless full of hope. But examined against the present background of discussions and proposals in Washington it leaves the reader searching in vain for the common ground on which the admin- istration and business are going to get together. Perhaps it will be found later. Hitler is not the first historic figure to trouble the world by an effort to magnify a personal prejudice into a political issue. Toy Time. ‘Toy time has come again, and adults perforce must think of the oc- casion. It is an aspect of Christmas, |and its importance to the junior ele- ment of the population cannot be overestimated. Children, as parents again and again have observed, would rather play than eat, and uncounted centuries of tradition support their instinctive preference for amusement. But the problem of which toys to choose for the gratification of the youngsters’ instinct remains unsolved. Each year the difficulty recurs, and fathers and mothers wrestle with it i more or less vainly. For example, what is to be done about a boy who has requisitioned from Santa Claus a “rifle like dad’s”? Half a dozen other lads in the neigh- borhood already have weapons, and nothing very dreadful has happened in consequence. But, on the other hand, there have been cases of fatal accidents in other communities, and mother “views with alarm” the pros- pect of Junior experimentally shoot- ing up the general landscape. Sub- stitute gifts are suggested, but the proposed. recipient sticks to his point, L : cising the proper responsibilities of | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, | insisting that nothing else will do— “All I want is a rifle.” Meanwhile, another home is dis- turbed by the desire of an only daugh- ter, seventeen years old, to have her own automobile. Her parents think she is too young to drive, but, more serious still, they are troubled &s to how to adjust Gwendolyn's expensive tastes with the family's depreciated re- sources. The girl has an answer for every objection. Her particular friend Betty has a car, and her father’s in- come is known to be less than that of Gwendolyn's “pater.” The logic of her argument is summarized in the statement: “The Joneses will think it darned funny if you can't do as much for me as they do for Betty.” But the day of decision ‘cannot be postponed indefinitely. Christmas is knocking at the door. And the stores and shops are bursting with things that young people desire—toys of every conceivable variety. By one process or another, selection will be accomplished, and on December 25 practically everybody will be satisfled. It is all pretty strenuous, but it is part of the season's activity and cannot be avoided. Mob Violence at Its Worst. The acme of the lynching evil was reached yesterday at Shelbyville, Tenn., when a mob undertook to seize and lynch a man on trial for his life for the crime of rape. There had been no delay in the prosecution. The trial started in the morning with the prospect of an early completion, with- in the day, with a verdict of guilty. There was no provocation on the ground of dilatory justice. The mob challenged the law. The challenge was accepted, troops were summoned, the court house was defended, the prisoner was taken away to a place of greater security, lives were lost in the melee and later in vengeance the mob burned the court house. A more shocking chapter of lawlessness has never been written in American history. Mob violence is & crime, no matter what the cause of its incitement may be. It is possible to condone that crime when it is induced by rage against a failure of the law in the ad- ministration of justice. But only in extreme cases of flagrant failure, and then with fear lest the replacement of the law by an irresponsible crowd may breed unwarranted atrocities. When the mob demands the right of trial and execution in replacement of the court in the very act of func- tioning, with assurance of speedy jus- tice, the climax of abomination is reached. When in its disappointment the mob destroys the very hall of Justice it confesses its possession by a criminal impulse more shocking and more menacing than the crime that inflamed its passions. ——————— Business men in conference an- nounce the intention to co-operate with the Government. The Govern- ment is desirous to co-operate with business. Thus far the proposition is perfectly simple and satisfactory. ——r e Machado has quitted Hamburg with- out leaving a forwarding address, His experience with Cuban politics has left him with no statesmanlike aspiration except to avold foreign entanglements. “Reds” cannot point to Russia with confidence. Nobody likes to live under a government that leaves every citizen in doubt as to whose turn it will be to be shot at sunrise. —————— Reckless driving is causing so many deaths that the motor factories may be required to speed up the supply of ambulances as well as pleasure cars. —————— SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON, Madam Santa Claus. Of course, there is a gentle saint, Who comes from realms where all is cold, To share with us in humor quaint A wreath of kindliness untold. But life will lose its usefulness As we for modern manners pause We'd all be happier, more or less, Were there a Mrs. Santa Claus. For she the sweetmeats could design For which at holidays we sigh, And then, arrayed in ermine fine, Ride with him from the frosty sky. Arts feminine, we all agree, Are needed when we crave applause, ‘There can’t be any doubt, you see, ‘We need a Mrs. Santa Claus. Successful Parent. “Do you feel that you are a success- ful parent?” “I do,” answered Senator Sorghum. “I have a son who knows more about politics than I do.” “How do you know?" “He keeps out of it.” Constancy. I saw you there some years ago, My brain was in a whirl. It’s not the same old mistletoe, But it's the same old girl. Juvenile Joyousness. “Do you think wisdom necessarily goes with solemnity?” “Certainly not,” answered Miss Cay- enne. “Any number of college pro- fessors manage to retain a Peck's Bad Boy sense of humor.” “My neighbor Hi Hat was most affa- ble today,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown. “He condescended to borrow silver enough to have his high hat ironed.” Dependable. Curious 'bout my Uncle Jim, Trouble kind o’ clings to him. Never ventures to complain ’Bout the hardship or the pain. Listens to the radio Faithfully and says, “I know Surely that in it Il find Cures for ills of every kind.” “Don’t tell hard luck stories,” said Uncle Eben. “Dey simply gits folks in de habit of regarding you as an easy mark” THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Many persons give Christmas feasts where they never intend them. ‘We speak of the thousand and one young people who scatter crumbs along the downtown streets. ‘These bits of food, from cookies, cakes, buns, sandwiches, and the like, are the sparrows’ Christmas d'"ner. It is not fashionable nowadays to praise these small Britishers, any more than it's quite the thing to do to say something nice about their fellows, the starlings, but surely at this sea- 5on even these feathered street gamins may be included. All those interested in the smaller creatures have at times wondered just how sparrows exist. Despite their vigor and gameness, qualities praised in other living things, the sparrows often strike a woeful note in an otherwise cheerful city. There are scores of human beings looking out for misery among human beings. The Government has come to the rescue, to ald the agencies which for years carried on the struggle. Few persons, however, give the sparrows a thought. * kX X A glance along the sidewalk often shows half a dozen or more of these birds feasting on a bit of bread. Their table is hard and bare, but from it they manage to pick up & precarious living. Where they get water is another question. Evidently they are able to go for long periods without any. And then, too, there are always little pools formed by rain, and especially by the hoses of janitors who wash off the sidewalks. Perhaps never a thought is given to the birds, in the course of these duties, but the sparrows can get a drink just the same. As for warmth, they have the chim- neys of mercantile establishments to hnddle near, and in this respect prob- ably fare better than the uptown and suburban birds. Those interested will wonder why the downtown sparrows do not migrate to the residential sections. There is no way, of course, of knowing whether they do, but they probably do not go very far from the downtown areas. Perhaps they fare better there than most would think, owing to the steady consumption of foodstuffs by pedes- trians at all hours of the day. * K K % Some choice bit or other is forever falling down. It may seem but a few crumbs, still it 1s food, and the little birds are not long in finding it. ‘Their existence depends upon fit. ‘Whether it is scent or sight remains a question. It is here as with fishes, it is extremely difficult to tell whether they smell their food or see it first. Long observation of aquarium in- mates scarcely enables an observer to make a definite pronouncement. Similarly, with birds, which in many ways remind one of fishes, it is im- possible to tell whether they first see food or smell it out. Our belief is that mostly they see it. Just how they can tell a small bit of bread on snow, for instance, is another matter, but that they ulti- mately do is a well known fact. If there are any birds at all in a vicinity, & freshly laid patch of bread- crumbs will not remain unvisited very long. ‘This is such universal experience that it lends support to the belief that Failure to Think Is the Princi D. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1934. - ThePolitical Mill By G. Gould Lincoln. years ago the Washington ‘Thirteen the meal is seen. not smelled. It 18| Arms Conference produced the first somewhat difficult to believe that the birds can smell, on such cold morn- ings. Probably a better way to put it would be that it is difficult to believe that bread crumbs would throw off enough fragrance in such cold. % k% ‘The person fond of birds can sup- ply just a little extra for their Christ- mas dinner, by deliberately throwing down & few more crumbs in the streets. Even sedate persons at times do a little eating as they go along. Commonly this is called munching, a quite horrible word, but very ex- pressive. Apples, popcorn, cakes, cookies of all sorts, all are freely vended at what used to be called cigar stands, but now are combined cigar, cigarette, fruit and candy counters. These are some of the foodstuffs that downtown birds, particularly the English sparrows, depend upon for their living. Banana skins are a great delicacy to them, Every one interested in the birds— and thousands of persons are who never say much about it—will have seen & dozen sparrows pecking away at a grimy old banana skin. The birds are getting vitamins from the skin, as well as nutritious carbo- hydrates. They have sense enough to utilize what wasteful man, or per- haps boy, throws away. They do not know anything about it, they just eat it. One will not be dirtying up the streets by dropping a few more crumbs of food st this season. The streets are wide, and a few more crumbs will not hurt. Nor will the friend of birds be en- couraging the sparrows, as some la- ment. They need no encouragement! * ok k¥ Of all the creatures of nature to win the admiration of the fair per- son, none outdoes the English sparrow. A nuisance, in a sense, yes—but not half the nuisance the starling. The truth is that neither of these birds is a bad bird. Their faults are man-made, that is, the birds had and have nothing to do with the matter. Neither has any business in Amer- ica, that is the gist of it. Being here. each simply adopts the American custom, and does the best for itself it can. Nothing bad about that, is there? Those who were instrumental in bringing the first sparrows and star- lings to America failed to think far enough. They did not bring these birds’ natural enemies with them. Free from these enemies, the birds have waxed and grown fat. They are just another example of “planning” gone wrong. Those who brought them over weren't as smart as they thought they were, * x x % In England, where the population is kept down by natural means, the starling is a valued bird. It has a place in literature over there. The latest children’s book, “Mary Poppins,” has a scene in which one is a welcomed actor. What if sparrows and starlings get some of the extra food put out for the birds' Christmas present? Let them! They like to eat, as much as any, no doubt of it. The real bird lover will not be- grudge them their share. pal Cause of Frightful Traffic Carnage To the Editor of The Star: The enormous and tragic toll of lives taken by reckless auto drivers has appearently failed to make much impression on the public. The fact, as recently shown in your paper, that in the past five years more people have been killed in auto accidents in Mary- land than the total number killed in the World War from that State should cause us to stop, look and listen. But no. The public still is more interested in the story of the man that bit & dog or in the exploits of some moron. If I may venture an opinion which I believe to be true and helpful, I would say first, last and all the time that the principal cause of this frightful carnage, with its unseen aftermath of cripples and suffering, is selfishness; or, in other words, the failure to think. Not merely the other fellow'’s selfish- ness, but your selfishness and mine. ‘We take the attitude that improved mechanism, automatic chokes, traffic devices, laws and more laws, are what are needed. But with a fool behind the wheel all the laws and safety de- vices in the world are utterly futile, Small satisfaction to be gained from saying that the law will eventually catch the fool. What about the inno- cent lives he has snuffed out under cover of darkness and his hit-and- run escape? Not until we, the re- sponsible driving public, drive with the attitude that the little girl at the next intersection may be our own little girl, or that feeble old gentleman may be our grandfather, will there be any appreciable diminution of the frighttul toll. So many people, educated ones, too, take the attitude that “accidents will happen.” How often we see that atti- tude adopted, even by the courts, in their reports of “unavoidable acci- dents.” What was really meant was that the court was unable to decide which party was most responsible. What should be done in many such cases is to fine or imprison both drivers. I wish every driver might read an article on driving, the best I have ever read. It is entitled “Accidents Don't Midblock Crossings For Pedestrians Urged To the Editor of The Star: Protection for the pedestrian, may I suggest to the city fathers, might be procured by denying to them right of a crossing at any street inter- section at all times. Provide for them a path, well defined by two white strips, as near the center of all blocks as possible, and transfer the traffic “cop” to this particular spot, leaving the automatic signal as at present for the guidance of vehicular traffic at all intersections and have all of this traffic come to a full stop before proceeding to cross the pedestrian strips between street crossings. = The objection to this plan will naturally be that congestion and & slowing down for traffic will result, but is that the “fathers” desire? Human life, it seems to me, sir, should be the first consideration. Dis- tances are not so vast and time so important as to weigh against some slight sacrifice in the protection of life within the few square miles of | is city’s boundaries. 4 1. R. GRIMES, it not exactly this halting of | bl Happen—They’re Caused,” appearing in the November issue of “The Ameri- can Legion.” It is written by a man who, through wide experience, knows whereof he speaks—the first vice pres- ident of the Greyhound Bus Lines. I suggest that as a civic aid The Star could print nothing more timely or helpful than that article in its en- tirety. “Accidents don't happen!” Think that over. Not one accident in a thousand “just happens.” If a mov- ing car were struck by a falling tree in a hurricane, or if a collision oc- curred during a sudden earthquake, there would be an unavoidable acci- dent; but nearly all other “accidents” are really due to haste, negligence or selfishness of the driver. Mr. Smug, Self-satisfied Driver, you get up 20 minutes late, grab your breakfast, and then, get behind your wheel hell-bent-for-election. You Jjump the amber light, chuckle as you honk your horn and startle some un- wary walker, and cuss beneath your breath as some other driver, approach- ing on the right, beats you to the right of way. Isn't that true? As a driver myself, I think I know a lit- tle about driver's psychology. That attitude is all wrong. Get up & little earlier, as Ben Franklin ad- vised. Some men will figuratively “break their neck” in clipping off a minute or two in their driving time, and then waste hours during the rest of the day. ‘There has long been & maxim in our common law, “So use your own as not to endanger the rights or prop- erty of others.” Unfortunately, in our mad scramble for wealth and amuse- ment, this rule, along with many others, is now little known and less regarded—in our naive reliance upon more up-to-date cure-alls. Drivers! One and all, in the name of God, and for the sake of that “more abundant life” of which we have heard so much today, try being thoughtful, considerate and generous when on the road. It pays; it pays in miles and smiles, better nerves, fewer accidents and self-respect. More peo- ple have missed appointments through bull-headed selfish driving than through safe driving, and respect for law and the feelings of others. L. B. DUNN. Seamen Do Not Vote Red. From the San Prancisco Chronicle. The first vote announced in the bal- loting of the seamen as to which or- ganization they wished to represent them for collective bargaining with employers at least lays the ghost of Communist domination among the maritime workers. This vote was of the personnel of the Pacific Coast oil tankers. Of the 977 votes: cast only 24 were for the Marine Workers’ Union, regarded as a radical organization. The Interna- tional Seamen’s Union, the regular American Federation body, received 709 votes, and the unions 220, practically all from the employes of one company in which such a union is already established. There was no expression of a desire by the em- ployes of other companies to establish such a union, and the Communist minority was so small as to be negligi- le. ‘The chief point to the whole result was that it was obtained peaceably, by vote, and that it showed that the workers, in overwhelming majority, want to be represented by the regular established and responsible unions. It better to find this out by vote than to establish it by, or to yield to it after, Sghting. ] I major naval limitation treaty the world had ever seen. The world was thrilled. War weary, it had visions of permanent peace. Within a day or two it is expected that Japan, one of the principal naval powers and signa- tory to the Washington naval limita- tion treaty, will formally denounce that pact. It has been generally in- terpreted that this will mean a naval building race, in which the United States, Great Britain and Japan will all be involved, and perhaps France and Italy. If this happens, the United States Government will have itself to blame. The course it has pursued with regard to naval building—until the last few years—undoubtedly is responsible, * k¥ % ‘When the Washington Naval Limi- tation treaty was written and signed it was agreed that the ratio of naval strength of the three major naval powers should be 5—5—3, with the United States and Great Britain hav- ing equal strength and Japan's naval strength in the ratio of 3 to 5, as compared to the others. Did the United States build its Navy up to treaty strength? It did not. Con- gress and the Executive both falled to take the necessary action. While the United States lagged and allowed its naval strength to fall more and more behind its treaty strength, Japan, and to a somewhat lesser degree, Great Britain, continued to build new naval vessel. The result was that when in 1930 the London Naval Con- ference took place the United States was in no position to make effective demands for further naval reduction. Japan at that time inched up appre- clably in ratio strength. And now, Japan, demanding equal strength on the sea with the United States and Great Britain, is about to denounce the treaty, and the whole vicious sys- tem of competitive naval building is to begin all over. * ok ox x It may be too late to cry over spilled milk. But it certainly seems clear that if the United States had gone ahead with naval construction and kept its Navy at full treaty strength— that is, as 5 is to 5 so far as Great Britain is concerned and 5 is to 3 in comparison with the Japanese Navy— the proposal to continue and extend the naval limitation treaties of Wash- ington and London would have had a very different reception in the recent London conferences. The prospects of a new naval building race then would have been exceedingly dim. * ok % The British have sided with the United States in the discussions which have just wound up in London over the naval treaty. The contention of the United States, in which the British have joined, is that equality in security is the main thing to be demanded, and that Japan has equal security within her own waters and sphere of oper- ation, even though her naval strength was maintained at a ratio of 3 to 5. Great Britain has wide interests in the East and the Pacific. The United States has the Philippines, Hawali and other possessions in the Pacific. To give them equal security they must have greater naval strength. The naval limitation treaty runs for another two years, even though now denounced by Japan. The hope is expressed both by the British and the Americans that Japan may even- tually be persuaded to revise her pres- ent stand and enter again into naval limitation agreements. However, in the meantime, if the United States fals to go ahead and build its Navy up to the full treaty strength it will be left again in a weak position when it comes to negotiations with the other powers, and weaker still should con- flict arise. * o x Without going into the merits of the contention that the public utilities in New York have been holding up the city government in their charges for electricity, the announcement that the Federal Government is going into the manufacture of electric power in a big way in New York is something to think about. It is going to lend $15,000,000 and, apparently, as much more as may be necessary to the City of New York to go ahead and build a plant. Mayor La Guardia, after his conferences here with the President and with Secretary Ickes of the In- terior Department, head of the P, W. A, whose funds will be used in the construction of this municipal power plant, indicated that if the utility companies did not bring their rates down to the general public, the Gov- ernment plant would go ahead and sell power to the people generally. ore, he insisted that the Government plant would be con- structed whether or not the utility companies agree to make better terms with the city and with the Federal Government for power and light. It does not look “so hot” for the utilities. The President insists that properly financed and properly run utilities need have no fear from the competi- tion of the Government. But who is going to determine what is or is not properly run? In addition, once let the Government get into the manu- facture and sale of electric power in a big way, and the men who run those operations for the Government will want to branch out, and the good little companies, if there are any, will have just about as much chance to survive as the bad ones. * k¥ X The soldiers’ bonus was the child of politics when it was born back in 1924. It has been in politics ever since. Both the Demccrats and Re- publicans have made what they could of the bonus for political advantage. It is scarcely surprising, perhaps, that the Republicans in Congress, gen- erally speaking are preparing now to get behind the immediate cash payment of the bonus, when the Democratic President is inclined to oppose the pavment. The fact that the payment of the bonus now may seriously impair the Nation's credit apparently sinks into insignificance as compared to the need for being on the popular side of this ques- tion. Whether the administration will be able to head off the need for this big outlay of $2,200,000,000 at A time when the Goiernment is ter- ribly in debt and 10 years before the time when the bonus payments are due remains to be seen. It looks now as though the bonus supporters would have their way at last. * ok ok % The old-age pension plan F. L. Townsend of California large e indluluo:. of how far e American e have on the road to expecmp mt: be ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. What city was Orst to use T. V. A. electricity?—P. T. 8. A. Tupelo, Miss, a town of about 6,000 population. Q. What is the disease which is attacking thousands of elm trees?— A.P. A. 1t is the Dutch elm disease. The center of infection is New York, Con- necticut, and New Jersey, within a ra- dius of 50 miles of New York City. ‘The Public Works Administration has allotted $527,000 to the Department of Agriculture for this Winter's work in an effort to check the spread of the disease. Q. What do La Cucaracha and Carioca mean in English?—P. D. A. La Cucaracha means the cock- roach. There is no fiteral translation for the word, Carioca. It originally referred to a spring that was located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, but has now become a slang phrase that re- fers to any one or .ny thing belong- ing to that section of the country. Q. How much money is spent by the public on the numbers racket? How much profit is made by the oper- ators?—W. C. G. A. The people of this country con- tribute $300,000,000 & year to the num- bers game. The net profits of the operators aggregate $75,000,000 an- nually. Q. Is the newly married British prince a member of the House of Lords?—J. L. A. He became a member recently on his creation as Duke of Kent. Royal princes are not members of the House of Lords unless they have baronies conferred upon them. The Prince of Wales sits as a member of the House of Lords not as prince of ‘Walés, but as Duke of Cornwall. Q. Where is the oldest working coal mine?—C. B. A. Probably it is one in the Fushun district, Manchoukuo, which is said to have been first worked 3,000 years ago to obtain coal for copper smeiting. Q. What is the name of the doctor in New York who is opposed to tea, coffee, tobacco and liquor?—M. K. A. Dr. Charles Giffin Pease has de- voted his life to a crusade against to- bacco, meat, liquor, tea and coffee. Q. Who is the president of the famous Jekyll Island Club off the coast of Georgia?—H. H. A. J. P. Morgan is the president of the Jekyll Island Club. Q. Please give a biography of the radio speaker known as the “Voice of Experience.”—O. J. T. A. Marion Sayle Taylor was born in Louisville, Ky., August 16, 1889. He was a student at William Jewell College, received his A. B. from Pa- cific University in 1911 and took post- graduate work at Oregon Agricultural College and the University of Oregon. | He began as a pipe organist in 1904, but his hands were crushed in an a cident. For three yefrs he was su- perintendent of schools at North Bend, | Oreg., and he was a chautauqua lec- turer for four years. He is a con- tributor to various newspapers and periodicals and is associate editor of “Modern Psychologist and Successful Living." “Q. Who is president of the Federal Council of Churches?—E. F. A. Dr. Ivan Lee Holt has recently been elected to that office, succeeding | Dr. Albert W. Beaven. Q. What city in Europe was the first center of learning?—N. E. D. A. Athens. It was here that ele- mentary schools were estabiished at least 600 years before Christ. Educa- tion was confined to the wealthier classes and girls were not included. Q. Is there any kind of an exhibi- tion exclusively of rock gardens?— A. The first national rock garden exhibition under the sponsorship of the American Rock Garden Soclety will be held in Cincinnati on the 16th, 17th and 18th of next May. Q. What is the name of the house in the poem, “Ours Is & Nice House, Ours Is?"—A. H. D. A. The name of the house is Dear« wood. The author of the poem is Dr. Allen Stockdale, pastor of the First Congregational Church, Washington, D.C. Q. Do as many people in Europe collect stamps as in America?— J.P. K. i A. The Scott Stamp Co. says that it believes that about 2 per cent of the population in the United States collects stamps and that a very much larger percentage follows the hobby on the continent. Q. When was the franc stabilized? —J. T. B. A. The French government began stabilizing the franc in 1926 and by 1927 had it well in hand. Pre-war par had been about 19 cents and it did not go higher. It was stabilized at about 4 cents. It now is worth 625 cents but fluctuates because of the instability of the dollar. Q. What are the three peninsulas in Southern Europe?—J. A. H. A. The three principal peninsulas into which Southern Europe is di- vided and which divide the Northern Mediterranean Sea into three parts are the Iberian Peninsula, comprising Spain and Portugal and separated from France by the Pyrenees; Italy, separated from Central Europe by the Alps, and the Balkan Peninsula, separated from Central Europe by the Balkan Mountains and ending in Greece. Q. How many married women are working now?—L. M. C. A. There are now approximately 3,000,000 married women employed in the various industries and profes- sions. Q. Please give a good definition of gh;m Iam familiar with Barrie's— A. Margery Wilson, an authority on charm, gives the following defini- tion: Charm is the ability to create an agreeable effect at any given point. Q. What is the origin of the expres- slon “by jingo”?—E. N. A. The word jingo was first used as a political term in the Russo- Turkish War of 1877-78, and was applied to a class of British poli- ticians who continually urged on Dis- raeli, then prime minister, the neces- sity of taking sides with the Turks. The word was adopted from Mc- Dermott’s war song, the chorus run- ning thus: We don't want to fight, but, by jingo! if we do, We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money, too. Q. Why do some cornetists produce clear high notes with ease?—M. B. A. Lieut. Charles Benter, leader of the United States Navy Band, says that some cornetists produce the high tones with ease because of constant practice; then it may be due to the proper instruction; the mouthpiece; the general condition (physical) of the student. Seen in U. S. Aid in the drive toward recovery is recognized by the public in the large | subscription to the latest offering of | Government securities. New issues in the December 15 Treasury finan- cing were oversubscribed seven and five times, affording evidence that Government credit is unimpaired. The general interpretation is that financial circles are convinced that moderate policies are to be followed by the administration. The spon- taneous eo-operation of the banks is also a subject of comment. “If we were engaged in a great war,” says the Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette, “this tremendous over- subscription would be heralded as an unmistakable evidence of patriotism and the national will to win. And yet today, without a fife or drum, the Nation absorbs this loan and pre- pares for more with the same lack of formality that it drinks its break- fast coffee. There are many points of similarity between a period of busi- ness stagnation and a war. Each de- mands huge expenditures. But things that are commonplace in the one be- come indispensable in the other.” The Press-Gazette advises that this suc- cess should not encourage the admin- istration to “waste its substance.” The New York Times finds un- mistakable proof of “the belief of the financial community that the danger of wholesale inflation of the cur- rency has passed,” while the Youngs- ‘Confidence in New Deal Plans Bonds’ Success the New York Herald Tribune, “is desperately off for some place to put its funds, so that it will get at least some yield. How great the pressure is may be seen from the fact that excess reserves of the member banks of the Reserve system stand today at nearly $2,000,000,000 and from the fact that savings deposits currently yield but 2) per cent, & record low. Finally, there is litfle doubt that the average investor has been persuaded in the last few weeks that the tendency of the administration was away from further experiments with the Nation's money. All of which makes one won- der on what terms the Government would be able to do its financing if it committed itself, once and for all, to a stable currency and a balanced budget!” “Tangible expression of the recently pledged co-operation of the banks” is seen by the Davenport (Iowa) Times. The Asbury Park Evening Press hails “the supreme test of the Govern- ment’s credit.” The Manchester (N. H.) Union feels that “so long as a disposition is shown to taper off ex- penditures and achieve a balanced budget as soon as possible, public confidence will continue.” The Wichita Eagle concludes: “While the recent borrowings have pushed the peak until it is now sky high, the bulk of Gov- ernment paper is still above par, the capacity of the Nation to absorb is undiminished and credit remains in- comparable.” town Vindicator points out that “sub- scribing banks do not expect the Government'’s credit to be impaired during the life ef the bonds,” and that “the prospect of future Govern- ment expenditures for relief does not frighten the bankers.” The Kansas City Star emphasizes “the’ prospect of a more moderate spending policy” and the “superabundance of bank credit.” The San Francisco Chronicle observes that while the Government “has been borrowing on short-term notes,” it has now “taken a fiyer in the long-term market.” “It speaks well for the national confidence and sense of ultimate se- curity,” thinks the Knoxville' (Tenn.) Journal. The Syracuse Herald finds “eagerness of the market for Govern- ment securities, in apparent disre- gard for the interest rates,” and gives this of the T “On The conversion accepted all along the the cash alternatives being re- . Next came the Government five times oversubscribed. Concur- rently the quotations for United States bonds reach nearly the highest point Exchange terpreted tinued lowering of the interest charges on the public debt—an incidental Ludwig Halberg Was Norwegian, Not Dane To the Editor of The Star: Among the notes on stamps by James Waldo Fawcett in The Star for December 16, 1934, is mentioned a Norwegian stamp in commemoration of “a Danish humorist, Ludwig von Halberg.” Ludwig Halberg was & Norwegian and not a Dane. He was born and reared in Norway by Norwegian par- ents. As a young man he made sev- eral journeys abroad and studied at a number of European universities. He was also more than a common hu- morist. He was a scientist with broad knowledge. Halberg lived during a time when Norway and Denmark were united un- der the same king. Copenhagen was at that time the center of culture for countries and & natural place of for a man of Halberg’s qual- tions. And although he lived there later years, he always re- mained a Norwegian in spirit. That also considered himself a Nor- can be seen from his own writ , for example, his description of trymen, in which he refers to the Norwegians as “my people.” On account of his father's rank in the Norwegian Army Ludwig Halberg inherited some kind of nobility. But he did not write his name in the Ger- man fashion with the preposition “von.” ALFRED EINHAUG. u) A Chance for Legislation. Prom the Charleston (8. C.) Evening Post. is for some Congressman to devise & bfllth:rtowm prevent flrflm ign countries with the South., .