Evening Star Newspaper, February 27, 1935, Page 8

-A-8 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1935. THIS AND THAT THE EVENING STAR | ‘With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY, February 27, 1935 THEODORE W. NOYES. . .Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company Business Office: 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave, New York Offic 10 Es 42nd St. Chicago Office: Lake Michigan Building. European Office; 14 RE;!nl 8t., London. Ensland. Rate by Carrier Within the City. Regular Edition. _ e Evening Star... .. 45¢c per month e Evening and Sunday Star .o (when 4 Sundays)...._.60cper month The Evening and Sunday Star | (when 5 Sundays)......05cDer month The Sunday Star.. . . ¢ per copy Night Final Edition. ight Final and Sunday Star.70c per month . . 55¢ per month £ ' the fontb. elephone end of each | Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. & d Sunday. .1 yr., $10.00; 1 mo.. 85¢ B::l, o noe 1 3E: P56.00: 1 mo soe 8ul 1yr. $4.00:1mo. 40c Orders m National li be sent by mail or 000. nly. . ay only. All Other States and Canada. Dally andSunday .1 yr., $12.00: 1 mo.. ily only. .. : 1 mo.. unlly only.. . iy ..1yr. $500;1mo. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively ens titled to the use for republication of all - news dispatches credited to it or not other- wise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein. All rients of publication of special dispatches herein are also recerved. 1.00 75¢ 60c Off on a New Tack. Having demonstrated that a straight line is not always the shortest dis- tance between two points. the Com- | missioners are now approaching fl'mi Municipal Center project by what . might be described as the Great Circle | Toute. Senator King, at the Commissioners’ | request, has introduced a bill amend- ing the P. W. A. loan authorizing | legislation of last year to permit the District to borrow money for erection | of three minor court buildings—one | for the Police Court, one for the| Juvenile Court and one for the | Municipal Court. The estimated cost of the structures is $2,800,000 and the location, specified in the bill, is Judiciary Square. This would mean that the new buildings would be placed to the north of, or behind, the Court House. Provided Congress accepts the measure, the next question relates to * the Public Works Administration’s willingness to lend the District the necessary funds. The P. W. A. has notified recent applicants for loans that it is out of cash. The P. W. A moreover, expires at the end of this | fiscal year. It may be perpetuated under the same or under some other name, but that depends on the fate of the work-relief bill now languish- ing in the Senate Appropriations Com- mittee, uncertain which way to go. But possibly as important as the Commissioners’ ability to get the money, once the loan is authorized, is the tacit permission which would be given the District by Congress to utilize Judiciary Square for the lower courts buildings. The complicating element here is that the District still owns about six million dollars’ worth of land to the south of Judiciary Square, between the square and Penn- 1 sylvania avenue. The next legislative step, therefore, would be a measure authorizing sale of part of this land to the National Government as the site for one of its agencies—possibly the General Accounting Office, now housed in the old Pension Office. Should the whole plan as visualized by the Commissioners materialize, therefcre, the lower courts buildings would occupy Judiciary Square; some time later the District's new Admin- istration Building would be erected south of Judiciary Square, between C and D, Third and Sixth streets; a National Government agency would occupy the land fronting on Pennsyl- vania avenue south of C. And pos- sibly in the even more distant fu- ture the desirable razing of the Pen- sion Office would make room for other municipal structures. ‘Thus the original conception of the | Municipal Center has vanished en- tirely and a brand-new scheme is in the making, the success of which de- pends upon any number of contin- | gencies. The change in plans has been dictated, first, by the failure of Congress to proceed with its part of the financing; second, by the belated realization that the cost of the orig- inal plans far exceeds the District's » pocketbook, The Commissioners are to be commended for persistently seeking to bring about some solution of the impasse that would permit construction of the courts buildings, @ need that Congress recognized as pressing as long as six years ago. Once a start is made on these build- ings, there is hope that other Mu- nicipal Center units will be provided in time. 5 ‘The New York Stock Exchange gave & display of profit taking, leaving the matter of advice taking to future de- velopments, Religious Unity. Protestant, Catholic and Jewish leaders have joined in a movement to promote religious life in the Na- tion’s Capital. A new organization, dedicated to spiritual progress, has been launched under the sponsorship of representative clergymen of all branches of the “common faith of man.” The need for such a co-opera- tive establishment was summarized by Right Rev. James E. Freeman, Bishop of Washington, in the state- ment: ‘The moral and spiritual well-being of our citizens is the greatest issue of the day. We all know of the laxity and moral sag in the life of the Nation. Catholic, Protestant and Hebrew—we have a common respon- sibility in this momentous hour in bringing our citizens to the feet of God. And Rev. Dr. John OCartwright, pastor of the Church of the Immacu- late Conception, declared: The Catholic Church will stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this movement. The great differences in our creeds cannot be minimized, but we nevertheless have very specific common grounds. There is very great spiritual want among our citi- zenry, which has been weaned away from the church gradually. We have A a duty In bringing them back. Let us perform that duty. For the Jewish community, Dr. Abram Simon, rabbi of Washington Hebrew Congregation, pledged assist- ance to the end that the Capital may be “the city ethical and the city re- ligious, as well as the city beautiful.” All of which signifies a development of a new ideal of religious unity and & new projection of ways and means for the attainment of a goal desired by thoughtful souls for generations. It means that theology will be undis- turbed, that denominationalism will remain unaffected, but that the cen- tral objective of human longing will be advanced—the relation of love and confidence between the Creator and the created strengthened. In plain language, it suggests a pragmatic solu- tion for one of the oldest and most compelling problems in the world—it is an appeal to the instinct of the average person to believe in some- thing more important than himself and to relate himself to a fellowship of faith of one kind or another. -t — New Turmoil in Cuba. Cuba, isiand of chronic unrest, is ance again in political turmoil, Grow- ing out of a “schoolboy strike,” so called pbecause more than 300,000 per- sons, infcluding pupils, teachers and sympathizers, are leagued in a new anti-government movement, President Carlos Mendieta's troubles are now at | a point where the security of his regime is gravely menaced. Last week's resignations of his ministers of education and commerce were fol- lowed on Tuesday by the retirement of his two right-hand men, Secretary | of State de la Torriente and Secretary of Interior and Justice de Cordenas. Ostensibly the retired cabinet officers | laid down their portfolios in dis- approval of President Mendieta's plan to hold general elections this year. Another and more plausible version is that they resent the President's unwillingness to resort measures to crush the’school strike, although its leaders openly avow that their purpose is to overthrow the Mendieta government. Amid widespread and manifestations of belligerency, the National Confederation of Labor, which controls the Communist ele- | ment among Cuban workers, has pledged its support to a general strike, along with various individual unions. | Government employes display a wil- lingness to entertain the idea of a strike in co-operation with labor. | Meantime, strike fomenters have is- sued a manifesto calling on all Cubans to refuse to pay taxes, thus tying the ! government's hands. | The Mendieta authorities hold Com- i munist agitators responsible for this | latest outburst of revolt. Whatever | the basic cause, the island rocks with idlscontent and political rancor. Once upon a time it was argued by anti- “Amerlcnn agitators that all that was | needed to restore tranquillity in Cuba {was the abrogation of the Platt { amendment, while hopes of economic | revival were pinned on a revised trade | treaty with the United States, grant- | ing extensive new openings for island | produce, especially sugar. in the rich | American market. The Platt amend- | ment is gone and a new commercial | pact with this country is in operation. | Yet Cuba's internal troubles endure. | Politics 1s undoubtedly at their root —the unquenchable desire of the | “outs” to be the “ins” at Havana. President Mendieta apparently retains control of the army. So long as he possesses its confidence he is prob- ably secure in office. But events of the past two years are there to re- mind him that conditions in Cuba are mercurial, and if the Communist movement is as widespread and ruth- less as current events would indicate. the Mendieta regime may be headed for the discard like the various short- lived ones that followed the fall of Machado in the Summer of 1933. - P violence Bootleggers are in evidence in all phases of activity. Even reputations are often attained by an industrious ego which puts them in the home brew class. Babe Ruth’s New Role. George Herman Ruth, far better known to millions of Americans as “Babe,” has held the limelight in base ball for so many years that it is not surprising now, when he has reached the end of his playing days, owing to the inexorable penalty of failing muscles, that there should be general rejoicing that his retirement from the active role of performer does not remove him altogether from the game. He has achleved his ambition to become a manager. True, it is only as an assistant manager that he is to carry on, and in a different league from that in which he gained his great repute. Yet that is enough to keep him for a time in the public eye, and the circumstances are such as to assure that he will remain a drawing card, 1t was in Boston that Ruth became a celebrity and it is in Boston that he will now perform in his new role. While full details of his duties and responsibilities in the new set-up are lacking, it may be assumed that he will still appear on the field in the “spangles” of a player and he may have officially that rating on the roster to permit him on occasion to serve as a pinch hitter. That possibility and the chance that on such an oc- casion he will belt one of his famous homers will suffice to make the turn- stiles click a little faster. The team to which he goes has for some years been in the doldrums financially and otherwise, and it is possible that he may change the tide of its fortunes. Sentiment has undoubtedly played a large part in the development and maintenance of base ball as a national sport, and there is unquestionably a decided sentiment for this big chap who started his career as a nearly great pitcher, but whose extraordinary batting skill caused his transfer to an outfielding position in which he could play in every game. In his best days he was a far better than average » (24 to stronger | }oumelder. His chief fame, however, was as a batsman, the terror of pitch- ers, probably sending more balls over the fences than any other two players in the course of his long service. Now his eyes have lost their keenness and his legs have weakened, but -here he is, still a center of interest in the base ball world, and in the role of an as- sistant manager and probably a base line coach and an occasional batter in emergencies he will continue to hold attention, proof of the fact that base ball's great success as & national game is chiefly due to interest in person- alities. ————etet Disturbing Sounds to the Right. ‘The loud popping noise, followed by & dismal thud, which may have been heard by some New Dealers skating on their way to work this morning was nothing less than a decision by Federal Judge John P. Neilds at Wilmington, Del., holding unconstitutional and trial recovery act as applied to the husiness of the Weirton Steel Co., and dismissing the Government's suit for ian injunction against that company, sought on the grounds of violating 7-A. And if these same New Dealers { jumped at the sound, they were fully justified.” The air has been filled of late with the noise of things breaking |up. Something gave way under the | decision of the Supreme Court in the Government bond case. Something else cracked up badly when Federal Judge’ Grubb threw a monkey wrench into the Tennessee Valley power schemes. Something else exploded when the Senate, by a margin of one vote, enacted the part of an irre- sistible force colliding with an im- movable object by accepting the Mc- Carran amendment to the work-relief bill. And now—Section 7-A. The Weir- ton case was the big test of this most contested provision of N. R. A.-ism. The result is still in doubt—but not much doubt. The case was argued for about seven weeks. And the upshot of the decision seems to be, as far as the lower court is concerned, that Con- gress cannot regulate the relationships between a company and its employes { which are not of an interstate nature. The logical course would be another appeal to the Supreme Court, not so | much, perhaps, to settle the final validity of Section 7-A, which, in the | opinion even of friends, was headed for no good end, but to obtain ju- | dicial clarification of the extent to | which Congress may go in 7-A's di- |1t would be well to settle in advance jfor them the course they may safely | pursue. | B ) ‘War on crime goes on in spite of the fact that it remains much harder to get fingerprints than it is to tag an automobile for overparking. ————— A cheery note in the news is pro- {vided by the youngsters who simply wandered away and got lost with no suspicion of kidnaping. —_—————— Foot ball players have an advantage in college life. A college degree may i be arbitrarily awarded, but a foot ball player has to make good. ] SHOOTING STARS. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Passing the Initials. How often in an argument ‘We hear with growing discontent A form of speech that fills us with regret. It arises very smugly. B is short and it is ugly— That Little Irritating Epithet! When we with dignity await ‘The honest issue of debate, While all the Nation is with beset, The bravest of officials May turn pale at the initials Of that Little Irritating Epithet! Hoping for the Happy Ending. “What do you think about the pink slip in your income tax return?” “Amid so many cares” answered Senator Sorghum, “I haven't quite been able to study it out. I hope it will turn out to have a funny re- I(nln. like Mark Twain's ‘Punch in the Presence of the Passenjaire.’” Jud Tunkins says lives of great men all remind us that politics can make a man more ridiculous than sublime. Home Owning. A flower pot where windows face The sunshine, in a row, May still afford a little space Where violets can grow. Broad acres or a little lot As seasons come and go— Home always means a little spot ‘Where violets can grow. Exploitation. “I think,” sald Mr. Dustin Stax, “that I shall make my home abroad.” “Don’t you love your country?” asked the typist. “Of course. But a millionaire no longer has a chance at admiring pub- licity unless he is a motion picture promoter, and it seems impossible for me to get the right kind of a scepario.” " “My ancestors taught me to speak the truth,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “but they neglected to in- struct me in some of their own sys- tems of mental reservations.” Rolling Along. Wisht I was a Cangressman, To have my little say void Section 7-A of the national indus- | | rection. For Section 7-A has its suc- | | cessors even now in the making, and | BY CHARLES E. Censure by pity is the worst kind. He who criticizes you openly and to your face, as the saying is, may make you angry, and properly so, but he at least gives you a chance to talk back. Censure by pity, on the other hand, leaves you with not a leg to stand on. ‘You have no opportunity to defend yourself, Because your pride prevents you from even admitting that you are attacked. Hence you are left in somewhat the porition of the old father in one of ‘Whitcomb Riley’s poems, “Nuthin’ to &2y, darter, nuthin’ to sa * x * *x The common way of criticism by pity is to expect more of others than they can perform. ‘Then, of course, when the perform- ance is not forthcoming, the failure is pitied. Many a man is half-successful, when his friends think he ought to be | wholly so. In this they but agree with the gen- tleman aforesaid, but his ability to see himself face to face makes him realize that the remainder of the per- formance is not in him. It is here his friends come to the | | ;‘ucne. They insist that he “has it in im."” No doubt this attitude, cases, has helped. In the great majority of instances, however, it is simply censure by pity. It does no good at all in prodding another on to complete success, but surely helps detract from such suc- cess as he has won, because no man likes the covert pity incorporated in it. * X X X% The great mistake so many make is the implied belief that all persons have in them the complete and over- whelming possibilities which some few men possess. 1t is fashionable to believe this way, | and only now and then arises one mentally brave enough to combat the | idea and say it isn't true, that it is a | lie made out of the whole cloth. | Still mankind goes right ahead pre- tending that all success is possible to all persons, that all the average per- son has to do is apply himself just a little more, and he, too, will walk be- neath the portals of a complete and illuminating achievement. Mostly that success is the sort her- alded by tremendous publicity on the grand scale. It is the fashion now- adays. Not every one, however, has the right combination, and some there be, too. who would hesitate to employ it if they had. in some * X A Nevertheless, most persons go right ahead implying that any one who has attained a certain measure of success | ought to be able to encompass the | rest of it. As if they could! The semi-successful grand majority. They hold down most of the jobs of | | the world, and they hold them down | | well. To other eyes than their own they | sometimes seem complete successes, in a worldly sense, but in their own minds they know differently. They, too, alas, are victims of the same belief. that they ought to be able | to do whatever any one else in the are in the | Still, they suffer under the same ! No one on Capitol Hill can recall | a situation just like the Senate work relief snarl, which has tied Congress | into & knot, baffled the administra- | tion and perplexed Senate Demo- | cratic leadership. Wishes are fathers | to many thoughts, but until Vox Populi has been heard from in un- mistakable fashion prognostication of ! the outcome remains sheer guess- work. White House spokesmen as- sert that the switch of a couple of Senate votes will suffice to turn the tide definitely in the President’s favor and give him the bill he wants. Just where the votes are to come from is a mystery, with no sign of a breach in the enemy front. To what extent F. D. R. intends to wield the big stick, to mobilize public opinion against insurgents, will develop as soon as he’s back at the White House tomorrow. Not all of his senatorial lieutenants favor his making a direct appeal to the country through a fireside broadcast. They are con- fident that popular reaction will man- ifest itself sufficiently through tele- grams and letters to Senators. Ad- ministration forces are not unmind- ful that the other side is also zeal- ously at work and will fight to the last ditch for prevailing wages. Alto- gether, it is one of the most amazing congressional scraps on record and the persuasive tactics now in progress are likely to be a pattern for con- troversial occasions in the future. * k% % ‘William C. Hushing, principal fig- ure in the American Federation of Labor forces, which proved so effective in securing passage of the McCarran prevailing-wages amendment, was for many years an associate of Assistant Secretary of Labor Edward F. Mc- Grady as an A. F. of L. legislative representative at Washington. Fifty- one years old, Mr. Hushing hails from Litchfield, Il. He is a patternmaker by trade and has been a shop foreman and superintendent in that craft in many parts of the eountry. While res- ident in the Panama Canal Zone he ‘was for six years the labor representa- tive on Government boards dealing with wages and grievances. In 1924 he was a delegate from the Canal Zone to the Democratic National Con- vention in Madison Square Garden, New York, and was & member of its Committee on Resolutions. * ok ok ok So thoroughly organized was the barrage laid down by labor that one Eastern Senator was deluged with telegrams from practically ev- ery American Federation “local” in his State, asking for support of the prevailing-wages proposal. He never- theless failed to react to them and voted to support the President. His office reports that subsequently many letters have approved his action, while not a single one in disapproval had come to hand up to the middle of this week. Another administration supporter decided to mail a form let- ter to advocates of the prevailing- wages proposal, setting forth that in his opinion relief work is not entitled to the same scale of pay as private employment. In several instances, the Senator in question says, the cor- TRACEWELL. belief in others, when these others apply it in their own direction! * % % X How, then, is the great average man, who 18 not the complete success, either in his own mind, or the minds of others, which he would like to be, and which they say he should be—how shall he come to some accord with himself on this matter? He must understand, better than those who imply that he should be able to do a great deal more than he has done; that, just as life itseif is full of infinite degrees, from the one-cell animal to that so-called peak of crea- tion, man, so he himself is one degree in a line of success which runs from nothing at one end to something at the other. Along this scale every person will gradually fall into his place, always with the chance of moving up or down in it, but seldom with the opportunity to move to the highest peak. ‘What he must keep firmly in mind, because it is against the popular tra- dition, is that whatever he has done is very likely to prove the best he can do. ‘This is giving himself credit for sincerity of purpose, a certain amount of ability and loyalty. He sees better than most that the sum is about the best he can do. He does not quarrel with it, and that att} tude sets him apart. When you find such a man, you have seen one who refuses to be weakened by the censure of pity for his supposed failure to do what a few exceptional persons have achieved, ] * ok X No doubt many a passerby pitied the old sandwich man, as he went by carrying his signs, just as later they envied him when he became compara- tively rich, only to go mad at last. Neither their pity nor their envy, however, was justified. In that case every one can under- stand this, but in the case of the great “average man” often enough it is not so easily seen. CRIMSON ICE. By Cortland Fitz- simmons. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Co. Before a crowd of twelve thousand fans gathered in Boston Hockey Arena to witness the first game of the season between the Boston Cougars and the Quebec: Blue Devils death strikes swiftly, the blood of its victim sketch- ing an unlovely pattern in crimson upon the ice. Evidences of bad feeling between Ace Kellie, star of the Boston team, and Gaston Lemaire, known gs the Blue Flash of the Quebec team, were noticeable in the early stages of the game. Both players were guilty of engaging in outbursts of temper, though Lemaire was forced into per- sonal combat by Kellie's persistent unethical performances. Returning to the game from the | penalty box, Kellie continued the feud | and sent Lemaire head first along the ice for about ten feet, his face scrap- ing the rough surface as he slid. Struggling to his feet, Lemaire worked his way out of the gathering crowd, slowly recovered his stick and started | feebly down the ice toward his own goal. His face raw, and his nose ! bleeding freely, he was no longer the | Blue Flash, but the semblance of a hurt and broken boy. He coasted a few feet, floundered on his skates for a second, then pitched forward and lay still. Referees and players rushed to his aid and suddenly turned to each | other in horror. Through the broad | of his back stuck the blade of & clasp | knife. | Dick Bowers, wealthy and prominent | in Boston society, had been a warm friend of Lemaire's during their col- lege days, and was still deeply in love with Jullette Lemaire. For some rea- son that Dick was unable to fathom | Gaston and Juliette had severed their friendship with him. He had gone to the game for the purpose of forcing Lemaire to tell him why he and his sister were refusing to be friendly. He saw Lemaire and was heard quarreling ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC ). HASKIN, Q. When will the Kentucky Derby be run this Spring—H. L. A. It will be run at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 4. Q. What is the total of all gold reserves in all countries?-—M. C. A. A. According to figures published in the December, 1934, Federal Re- serve Bulletin, the total gold reserves of central banks and governments (50 countries) amounted to about $21,- 585,000,000, Q. What is the religion of Huey Long?—E. L. A. He is a Baptist. > Q. Are there some tea leaves which are eaten as a salad?—R. D. A. There is a tea called Lung-Soo which the Chinese use in making tea, and the leaves of which they eat as a | salad. Q. Did the people of Martinique | have any warning that Mount Pelee would erupt?—N. A. \ A. For two or three weeks before the eruption on May 8, 1902, the vol- cano was increasingly active. The eruption almost destroyed St. Pierre in two minutes. Q. What was meant by “the un- sheathed sword of Stratford-upon- Avon” during the World War?— N.G. T. A. According to the traditions of | the place, the “sword of state” which | hangs in Shakespeare’s birthplace was | removed from its scabbard in August, 1914, as an official notice to the town that England was at war. The sword was carried by Shakespeare's father when he was high bailiff, 1508 to 1509. | Custom unsheathes the sword when wegians drink the most coffee. People in the United States come next, while Belgium, Pinland and Cuba follow in close succession. Q. When was definite provision made for women in the United States Government service?—N. E. A. The United 8States Congress passed an act July 12, 1870, which provided that “women may, in the discretion of the head of any dcpart- ment, be appointed to wny of the clerkships therein authorized by law, upon the same requisites and condi= tions, and with the same compensa- tions, as are prescribed for men.” Q. How old is the Actors’ Fund of America>—J. R. L. A. The Actors’ Pund of America was incorporated June 8, 1882, by Edwin Booth, Joseph Jefferson, Law- rence Barrett, Willlam J. Florence, Bartley Campbell, Louis Aldrich, A. M. Palmer. Augustin Daly, Lester Wallack, Edward Harrigan and others. Q. How much did Grant’s Tomb on | Riverside drive cost?—S. B. H. A. The tomb of Gen. Ulysses 8. Grant, overlooking the Hudson River, was built by popular subscrip- | tion at a cost of $600,000. Q. In what country is the southern- | most city in the world?—H. J. A. Punte Arenas is in Chile. It has a population of about 30,000. In | the center of the main plaza of the city is a monument to the navigator, Magellan, who in 1520 discovered the Straits which bear his name. Q. When were $5 gold notes issued by the Treasury Department?>—R. 8. C. A. The Treasury has never issued $5 gold certificates. Ten dollars is the lowest denomination. Q. How many organizations ate tended the meeting looking to world- England is at war and does not return | wide federation of mystical societies One may belicve that it is just as | With him before the game started, and certain, though, just as unescapable, | 88ain before the beginning of the third in the case of the average man whose |2nd fatal period. In the investigation success is not brilliant, yet is sure, as | mmediately following Lemaire's death far as it goes. Dick is recognized as the man with The fact that he has gone a certain | Whom he had words, and is promptly | way along the path does not mean, as | Arrested and jailed. The next morning | his unthinking but hopeful friends |Proof is established that Lemaire was | as well in life as their abilities would world has done. | m WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY tREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. think, that he can go all the way. Maybe he is just as well where he is. k% ‘There is an old saying, that content is a continual feast. And every one of us has seen some person who has exemplified it. | No matter his position in life, he | has lived a life that we might call a | continual feast, at least in the mental | acceptance of what his conditions are. Perhaps a great many more persons might achieve this peace of mind if | it were not for the plain fact that somebody or other thinks fit to sug- gest to them that they have not done seem to demand. This is what is called censure by | pity and it plays a great part, in a dissatisfied world, in making people everywhere more dissatisfied. Every one should think twice be- fore suggesting to another that it is rather a pity that he has not written a great novel or become a bank presi- dent. “I know you have it in you, old an.” The truth is that he knows othing of the kind. {from Judge Grubb's court in Alabama. It is known as the Belcher case. An- other decision will be concerned with Government operations in housing and slum clearance. Two eleventh-hour acts of the Seventy-third Congress— the railroad pension law and the Frazier-Lemke five-year mortgage moratorium amendment to the bank- ing act—are also due for early rulings by the highest tribunal. * x ® x Speaking of Judge Grubb and the Supreme Court, Alabamans in Wash- ington point out that the Federal Jjurist who has just declared certain T. V. A. operations illegal and who had previously branded N. R. A. as unconstitutional, has a notable record for not having his decisions reversed. The Alabamans are, of course, mak- ing no prophecies about how the Su- preme Court will view the judge's various New Deal findings, but, on his batting average, they venture to think it at least highly probable that he will be sustained. Although Judge Grubb is & Northerner and the ap- pointee of a Republican President, he enjoys high repute throughout Dixie a man not only of unusual legal earning but of outstanding non- partisanship. * % x x Representative O'Connor, Demo- crat, of New York, chairman of the House Committee on Rules, would like to have the relations between the two branches of Congress amend- e?u‘:m‘n‘:]menmuewmbenneved of e ominy of 1 tion in the first uumc’:u o:fll;&llw have it “emasculated” in the Senate. A case in point is the present bone of contention—the $4,880,000,000 work relief bill. Mr. O'Connor aired his views on the House floor this week in discussing the proposal to have the income tax publicity provision repealed. He believes the Senate should first vote repeal, and de- clared that if this happens he is sure there would be support in the House to do away with the measure that is now under such heavy fire throughout the country. * k% % Miss Marion Dickerman, Mrs. Roosevelt’s partner in the Todhunter School and the Val-Kill furniture factory at Hyde Park, told an audi- ence in Brooklyn this week that the First Lady has received 204,000 let- ters during the past year. These poisoned in circumstances that made it impossible for Dick to have admin- istered the dose. Released as a suspect. Dick becomes sleuth, determined to run to earth the slayer, to clear his own name and to | protect Jullette from what he belleves to be a plot to gain possession of & map that had certainly brought death to her father, that had probably been the motive for murdering her brother and that threatens her with a like fate. Members of both hockey teams, radio announcers, pop boys, Dick's father and aunt and his trusted and loved friend Bill Sturgis constitute the working group of a mystery that is clever in design, rapid and stimulating in movement, with a warmly human and satisfactory romance for good measure. * x * % THE ADVENTURES OF ELLERY QUEEN. By Ellery Queen. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Co. Eleven problems in deduction are | contained in this collection of short storles, which set forth some of the most daring and exciting cases that the popular and erudite logician known as Mr. solved pages the dimensions are the same as those of the average Queen novel. It may be enjoyed in nibbles, in dinner | proportions, or spread over the eve- ning in banquet fashion by those who ! like a prolonged and steady serving ! of mystery thrillers. “The African Traveler,” Hanging Acrobat,” “The One-Penny Black,” “The Bearded Lady,” “The Three Lame Men,” Lover,™ “The Te Clock,” “The Seven Biack Cats” and “The Mad Tea Party” make up the menu of this feast of adventures in criminology, an assortment of excit- ing episodes from which any taste may be gratified. * Eh i CRIME AT CHRISTMAS. By C. H. B. Kitchin. New York: Har- court, Brace & Co Malcolm Warren, employe of a brokerage firm, is invited to spend Christmes at the palatial home in Hampstead of one of his firm's wealthy clients. On his arrival he is impressed by the oddity of the other house guests, as well as by the wide difference in temperament between the children representing the three marriages of his hostess. After dinner on the first evening the guests gather to play games, and in one of the progressions Warren is thrown by a rug and has his wrist badly twisted. A physician among the guests treats the injured arm and hurries off to another room to attend a woman of the party who has suffered an attack of herves. The next morning Warren discovers the woman's body on the balcony outside his window, she apparently having walked in her sleep and fallen through | 5% the low window of her room. Later in the day he is pussled by the queer performance of a trampish looking man loitering about the grounds. His second night is spent listening to the very late comings and goings of vari- ous members of the household and partly heard conversations drifting into his room. The following day another member of the house party is found murdered in the woods. This discovery brings to light the fact that the woman was also murdered, and among the strange group congregated under one roof there is practically no one who is not a suspect. Quick and efficient work on the part of Parris of Scotland Yard brings sorrow to some, a bit of glory to Mr. Warren and a surprise to all in the solving of an intricately interwoven plot in which a_man who has striven for years communications, said Miss Dicker- man, “keep both Mrs. Roosevelt and the President in touch with the lives of the people.” The letters range “all the way from the trivial to the tragic,” but the greater part consists of appeals for aid. “The essential thing” in Mrs. Roosevelt’s corre- spondence, according to her business associate, is that “the people feel they can write to the White House to escape from himself becomes en- tangled in the net of his own ‘weaving. * % % * I AM YOUR BROTHER. By Gabriel Marlowe. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co. ‘The interest in this tale of creeping horror lies in the indefinable under- current of impending tragedy that hangs like a millstone about the neck | recovered, but his death did not eccur Ellery Queen has| In size, print and number of | “The , “The Invisible | wood Case,” “The | ‘Two-Headed Dog,” “The Glass-Domed | and reach an understanding ear.” | o' 0 no" man whose talents are of * X ok % the sort that might develop into genius Senator Vandenberg, Republican, of | jf the complexities of his life were not Michigan, has adopted a fixed rule | go overwhelming. It is the story of & about appointments to Annapolis and | .ondon family, 8 mother and one son West Point. He has rejected the old- | who is a brilliant musiclan and an- fashioned congressional “pull” system | other dweller under the same foof who and all other forms of influence, and | has no capacity for adding joy or hap- respondents have written back to say thought Promoting some great patriotic plan— | they ‘Which cannot raise my pay. Wisht I was a Congressman, ‘Whose name brings praise or blame. Each roll call calls on folks to scan Mine on the roll of fame. “I goes to church regular,” said Uncle Eben, “and I knows de preach- er sympathizes wif my poverty, be- cause his income ain’ big enough to keep him f'um knowin’ how it 18 his- selt.” adheres to the principle of appoint- ing of the Naval and Military acad- pm ml:e:’v';. :‘::;fi;r; Julian emies only the winners of State-wide | gpencer forges ahead in his work until competitive examinations. “It is my finally achieves ccess View” the G. O. P. 1936 white hope | 15 e e ments belong to the people of the State, and should be made strictly the competitive and merit basis.” (Copyright, 1038.) — . ——————— Alibi. Prom the Toledo Blade. A Western Governor declares civili- zation is on trial. Nothing to about. Itl be no trick at all to alibl witnesses. Hybrid Hunters. From the Kansas City Star, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson, wild head of & giraffe. That G. O. P, elephant. is still it to its scabbard until peace is de- clared. | Q. Why do herons stand so often on one foot?—P. K. A. 'The Bureau of Biological Survey says that long-legged birds of the wad- | ing type, such as herons, stand on one leg in order to rest the other leg. This is their characteristic resting position, Q. What Emperor was the last of the Caesars?—J. V. B. A. The first five Roman Emperors bore the family name of Caesar. Nero was the last of this imperial family. Q. What is meant by register ton- nage?—P. T. A. The Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection defines it as net or register tonnage which remains after deducting from the gross ton- nage the spaces occupied® by the pro- pelling machinery (including allow- ance for fuel), crew quarters, master's cabin and navigation spaces. Q. What was the role which Caruso | was singing when he was stricken with his fatal illness>—M. E. F. A. He was singing Canio (Punchi- nello) in “Pagliacci” when a blood vessel burst in his throat. He never for some time. Q. Where s the Woodrow Memorial Library?—S. M. A. The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Library, formerly the League of Na- tions' Association Library, was rcor- ganized in May, 1920, and is now housed in the Woodrow Wilson Foun- dation. 8 West Fortieth street, New York City. Q. What nations drink the most coffee?—M. F. A. The Danes, Swedes and Nor- | Wilson last year?>—B. M. W. A. The meeting was held in Brus- sels, Belgium, and was attended by representatives of 14 organizations. Q. How many people suffered the death penalty in this country in 19332 —W. W. A. There were 156 legal executions in 1933. Q. What is the population of Tel Aviv>—M. C. A. Tel Aviv, Palestine, was founded in 1909 as a suburb of Jaffa, with a population of less than 500. The pres- ent population is over 46,000. It is the first town in the world since the Dispersion to be built and populated wholly by Jews. It has excellent schools, many public institutions, hos- pitals and a constantly increasing list of prosperous industries. It sup- ports two daily newspapers and eight banks. Q. Who invented peach Melba and how is it prepared?>—E. R. A. The late Auguste Escoffier. fa- mous chef, created peach Melba in honor of Dame Nellie Melba. The peaches are peeled. poached, covered with vanilla-flavord sirup and placed on a layer of vanilla ice cream. The whole is then coated with sauce ca dinale, a red, sweetened raspberry | puree flavored with ancient kirsch. Q. How many Crusades were there? —M. B A. There were seven principal Cru- sades between 1096 and 1270 and nu- merous other expeditions called cru- sades. Q Who was the English novelist who wrote under the initials L. E. L.? —F. C. A. Letitia Elizabeth Landon, poet and novelist, wrote under her initials. She died in 1838, at the age of 36. Border clashes between Abyssinia and Itallan Somaliland and the indi- cations that Mussolini has definite plans to extend his colonial empire lead to much speculation over the possible roles which Prance and Eng- |land may play in the drama. The impression of most American com- mentators is that tacit consent has | been given for Italy's African expan- | sion. “Italy’s frustrated ambition to gain for itself a greater colonial empire seems about to be realized” says the | Louisville Courier-Journal, “with the | resumption of border clashes between | Italian Somaliland and Abyssinia, and with tacit agreement on the part of France to give the Fascist state a free hand in dealing with the African country, even to the point of taking over most of the country.” The Tul- (Okla.) Daily World is sure that “carrying the war into Africa has been determined upon by Mussolini, ostensibly due to some minor upris- ings, but actually on account of a de- sire for another colony in Africa.” To the Williamsport (Pa.) Sun it seems that “a glance at the map will give credence to such a belief,” for, “if Italy were able to gain possession of enough of Abyssinia to unite Somaliland to the south, her position in an area where she apparently hopes to do much in the way of colonization, looking to disposition of her increasingly serious domestic population problems, would be im- mensely strengthened.” The San Francisco Chronicle, on the other hand, calls attention to the fact that “peace negotiations are un- der way,” and that, “under the tri- partite treaty of 1906, Italy is bound to consult with Great Britain and France on matters involving Ethiopia | with any of the three powers.” This argument has little weight with the Manchester (N. H) Union, however, | which declares that “the world is wondering today whether France and Great Britain have given Italy a free hand to carve up Abyssinia, the last | independent kingdom on the conti- nent of Africa,” and the St. Joseph | (Mo.) Free Press believes this is likely, and holds that “certain modi- fications of Italian policy in Central | Europe” have been promised in re- | tul | ! rn. “Just how far they are prepared to let Italy go,” asserts the New York Herald Tribune, “is not yet clear. But the fact that they have made no effec- tive protest to Signop Mussolini and have, instead, urged moderation on the Abyssinians, even though this is a little like urging ‘moderation’ on Belgium in 1914, suggests that Italy is to have a free hand.” "Similar con- clusions are reached by the Elkhart (Ind.) Truth, the La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune and the Milwaukee Journal, the last mentioned pointing out that | “not one great nation can go to Italy | with clean hands.” “It may be that the Duce intends to | carry out an extension program mi Africa similar to the Japanese pro- | gram in Manchuria,” suggests the Rock Island Argus, and the Goshen Dally | A Eritrea to the ,north with Italian| Italy Believed to Have Won Support for New Expansion News-Times believes that * ‘bandits’ will provide the excuse in Africa, just as they have in China. and a defense- less nation will be seized to satisfy the ambitions of a European dictator.” It is the opinion of the Charleston (8.C.) Evening Post that, “as a matter of fact, Italy need not even declare a ‘punitive expedition.’” Instead she will call her legions to arms, “for de- fense of their country, just as Julius Caesar used his legions to destroy a | German army at the confluence of the | Rhine and the Scheldt, in order to | protect Rome.” To the New Haven Journal-Courier, “moral judgments are inadequate,” because “we may be sure the Italiaps do not push their dreams of empire for the fun of the thing,” but because “they need the rome.” “If Mussolini has picked Abyssinia for his Manchoukuo, he has picked perhaps the richest African territory | not already under foreign domina- | tion,” observes the Youngstown Vindi- | cafor. The Boston Transcript likewise re- gards the prize as a rich one, but sug- | gests that “the price might by too | high,” considering the difficulties of desert warfare. This point is also made by the New York Times, which | declares that “Mussolini is bound to think very hard before letting himself in for the uncertainties of a large- scale African campaign.” ‘The Columbus (Ohio) Evening Dis- patch directs attention to the fact that “incidents such as these may divert the attention of the Italian people from trouble at home,” but the Buffalo Evening News regards it as “doubtful that, in the long run, either nation could benefit by & war which, in the nature of things, would be & costly and uncertain business.” - Ttaly’s Safe War Zone. From the Charlotte (N. C.) News. Wkhen it comes to selecting a safe place to have a war Il Duce is prac- tically a genius. Where—except at the South Pole, perhaps—is a better place than “in the vicinity of Ualual?” — b There Lies Italy. From the Grand Island (Nebr.) Independent. Mussolini says women can be sub- jected to their husbands and made to stay in the home. This changes the old saying to “Beyond the Alps Italy lies.” — e A Rhyme at Twilight By Gertrude Brooke Hamilton Dusk Magic I blow a breath of beauty into dusk And s:Il with loveliness each empty ‘husk; 1 rob the shadows of their somber chill And touch with far, faint starlight every hill. ‘With magic I erase from all the town The money rush. And as the sun goes down, Like a soft kiss upon hot, thed eyes, I pour enchantment from the evening L] A