Evening Star Newspaper, September 2, 1935, Page 6

A—6 THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, ’ THE EVENING STAR ‘With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY . .September 2, 1935 e e i e v e O A o SRR THEODORE W. NOYES...........Editor — The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Business Office: e Europesa Omee. 14 Hekent Si., Londor. Butiand. Rate by Cerrier Within the City. Resular Editien. —--45¢ per month 60c per month 65¢ per month --5¢ DeT copY. 70c per month Nisht winal and P R ight Final Star. Collection mad ach month. Orders may be sent by mail or telephone l}u- tional 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. Daily ard Sunda: Daily only_ Sunday onli All Other States & Daily and Sunday..1 yr.. Sl Daily only__. 1 yr., 8 Sunday only-. 1 yro $5. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press 15 exclusively entitled to the e e reublication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this Paper and also the local news published herein. fil_risnts of publication of special dispatches erein are also reserved. —_— Russia Gets a Chance. Something distinctly savoring of an gnti-climax—and a rather inglorious one —is the result of the United States’ “most emphatic protest” against the “flagrant violation” of the Soviet pledge to prevent Communist agitation for overthrow of the American Government. Moscow's reply to Washington's protest was a repudiation of the United States’ charges and a flat refusal to consider them. The Soviet government dis- avowed its responsibility for activities of the Communist International, on which American remonstrances were based. The stern attitude assumed by Wash- ington at the outset of the incident justified the belief that the “serious consequences” which were suggested would ensue if the Soviet did not at once undertake measures designed to make impossible a recurrence of the conditions which called forth America’s objections. By “serious consequences” was generally understood a revocation of the diplomatic recognition accorded to Russia on plainly defined conditions. Guarantees of the required kind are withheld by Moscow, but the Com- munist government is to be given an- other chance. It is now informed, through the medium of a statement by Secretary Hull, that relations between the two countries will be “seriously im- paired” if the Soviet continues to permit on its territory “activities involving in- terference in the internal affairs of the United States.” Moscow is apparently to be left in no doubt that Washington will not tolerate further meddling machinations by the Communist International. The Soviet is told that the United States considers there has been: “a clean-cut disregard and disavowal” of Russia's pledge. In indicating its intention “en- tirely to ignore its promise to prevent such occurrences as those complained of,” Secretary Hull declares that the Soviet government “has struck a severe blow at the fabric of friendly relations between the two countries.” The administration has chosen to make a public statement instead of ad- dressing another note to Moscow, obvi- ously for the purpose of terminating a recriminatory correspondence. The statement mentions Washington’s “deep concern over the growing instability of international relations and the danger- ous consequences thereof to peace and economic recovery.” Herein is plain indication of the United States’ reluc- tance to aggravate existing world con- ditions by a summary break with the Soviet, but the Moscow government is placed on formal and final notice, if Secretary Hull's language means what it clearly implies, that such a break will automatically ensue if there is continued toleration of Communist In- ternational plottings against this country. The American people will unre- servedly approve such action if and when it becomes necessary. They will especially hope that whatever betides, strong words in Washington will be followed by correspondingly brave deeds and by 2 minimum of circumlocution. mo, b0c — Ancient fights in the Mediterranean used only sea craft. They were made to seem magnificent through the im- _agination of poets. With bombing planes and submarines available only mechanics and mathematicians are able to discuss them intelligently. r . o Attacking the Spoils System. Revival of the spoils system under the New Deal undoubtedly represents & weak spot in Democratic defenses that will be subjected to continued bombard- ment by the Republican party. Today's assault, in the form of a statement from the Republican National Commit- tee, indicates the nature of the attack on this front. It charges the President with insincerity in his recent broadcast to the Young Democrats when he al- luded to the “higher conception of abil- ity and devotion that modern govern- ment requires” at a time when “the standard of public service in all Fed- eral activities is today at the lowest level it has ever been.” “No administration,” the Republican statement charges, “has gone to the lengths the Roosevelt ad- ministration has gone to debauch the public service by filling every possible office * * * with individuals who had no other recommendation than the in- dorsement of Democratic politicians.” The statement, being. a partisan method of attack, is not wholly accurate. The President, in his own selection of men to carry forward his conceptions of the New Deal, has been strangely un- arthodox in some of his important ap- pointments, including the appointment. of his own cabinet. Party regularity has not counted with him in any great degree—although another trait, which % might be called Roosevelt regularity— has figured in his personal selections. But along with the Chief Executive’s own selections there has been an un- doubted break-down, at the hands of Congress, in applying the spirit of civil service and merit system. Patronage politics has been flagrant and un- ashamed. With bold disregard for the principle that merit alone should de- termine eligibility to public service, Con= gress has again and again made specific exemptions from civil service reguld- tions and principles in establishing New Deal agencies. It has provided not only that new positions may be filled with- out regard to civil service, but that they shall be filled without regard to civil service. And the civil service has been subjected to open attack in Congress as merely the device of a preceding ad- ministration to protect its partisan office holders. Something may come from Republican attack on the administration for its part in breaking down civil service standards to advance the system of rewarding vic- tors with the spoils of public office. Such attacks may serve to center public at- tention on the spoils system and re- kindle the public sentiment that more than half,a century ago led to the orig- inal establishment of the Civil Service Commission. Where the President has failed has been in his adoption of com- placent acquiescence to the wholesale exemptions from civil service of his new agencies. His non-partisan attitude in regard to high standards of Government service might have been made effective by utilizing the influence of his office to demand that Congress practice what he preaches. Labor Day. Time was, a generation or so ago, when Labor Day seemed necessary as a reminder of the rights of the toiling masses of the Nation, the “forgotten” men and women who did the Nation's work. But that was a period when labor was considered a ‘“commodity” and when the workers as a class were unor- ganized, generally unprotected under the law and largely unrecognized by society as a whole. Setting aside the first Monday in September for parades and meetings was designed to drama- tize the cause of the humble and the lowly, and the annual occasion was an effective device. But the utility for such a demon- stration now appears to have passed. No special program has been planned for today. In contrast with other, earlier years, there will be no procession down Pennsylvania avenue, no march- ing multitudes, no feast of oratory, few protests against “injustice,” no appeals for solidarity and unity of purpose. The practical use of Labor day has declined. It does not justify the effort and ex- pense. In the short space of two or three decades it has become an oppor- tunity for quiet rest instead of an oppor- tunity for the expression of social unrest. Obviously, the significance of the change is one of victory. If labor were oppressed in America, the chance to call attention to that fact would not be missed. The sober truth is that the hardest battle has been won. No rea- sonable citizen of the Republic in 19835 denies the privilegé of workers to band together for mutual benefit nor ques- tions the privilege of workers to bargain collectively. Ideals which once were deemed utopian—workmen’s compensa- tion, for example—now are taken for granted as commonplaces of the Na- tion’s life. The processes of education which the American Federation of Labor and other bodies initiated have accomplished a basic alteration in the mind of the entire people. Principles which originally had to be fought for have become established regulations of industry, written into the codes of the Federal Union and of the several States and confirmed by the courts and by practice. Labor Day, then, in effect, is observed every day. And gradually, it may be supposed, there will be an expansion of the humane doctrines for which it stands. The far-reaching influences of war and revolution in Europe, the im- provement in facilities of education and culture, the economic results—both good and bad—of the depression, some ele- ments the New Deal sponsored by President Roosevelt, and many other forces combine to insure continued progress. There will be no turning back. The workers of the Nation are free as they never have been before, and they will be freer still when the powers at present operating toward that end have attained completes maturity. “Fair” Bargaining. ‘The first public comment of J. Warren Madden, chairman of the new National Labor Relations Board, on future opera- tion of that agency indicates the board will seek to establish its own interpre- tations of the scope within which it may operate. Speaking last night on the radio, Mr. Madden first admitted the express con- stitutional limitations of “the Federal Government in dealing with affairs be- yond the range of interstate commerce. From there, however, the chairman pointed out that the commerce clause of the Constitution, “as interpreted by the Congress and the courts, proved to be a very brodd grant of power.” In determining the scope of this power, he continued, the boundary line between interstate and intrastate may be defined upon a basis “of historical facts, prece- dents and the practical considerations of the situation.” ‘This pronouncement .of opinion, it would seem, is easily reconcilable with the long preamble to the labor relations act in which Congress sought to fore- stall constitutional criticism by linking many factors of intrastate relations be- tween _employer and employe with the free flow of interstate commerce. Aside from his views on the possible application of the board’s powers, Mr. Madden gave volce to an attitude of impartialily which may brighten the future of the tribunal. Strong labor or- ganizations and strong employers, he declared, frequently have forced condi- (A tions damaging to both parties and to the public. The board, he said, “con- templates a process of bargaining be- tween parties of more nearly equal strength * * * in the generality of cases * * * a moderate bargain, fair to the parties and beneficial to the public.” . With court tests already in sight, the degree of this impartiality and the ju- dicial wisdom with which the board de- fines its own jurisdiction will be deeply important in determining the life of this newest employe-employer “court of do- mestic relations.” Anna Wilmarth Ickes. The sudden death of Anna Wilmarth Ickes, wife of the Secretary of the Interior, has shocked Washington. News of the accident which cost her life came to the Capital with a poignancy which in itself was a tribute to her gracious personality, her fine mind and her brave heart. Mrs. Ickes was a woman ‘of far greater importance than she ever would have supposed. As the wife of a citi- zen for whom the Nation has admiration and respect and as the mother of a family, she had one career of distinc- tion, but her gifts were comprehensive enough to permit her to accomplish valuable public service also. Indeed, there was a time when she was better known in Illinois than her husband. She served three terms in the State Legis- lature and might have had higher office for the asking. A clear and unpre- tending speaker, she argued convincingly for necessary social reforms during half a dozen campaigns. Education and all that is wanted for cultural and hu- manitarian progress were her special concerns. -She called herself a “pro- gressive,” but reserved the right to be “conservative” when she chose. In tem- perament and intelligence she was ra- tionalistic, liberal and just. A deep sympathy with struggling humanity, it seems, was the motive of her every thought and action. ‘The American Indian, particularly, owes much to Mrs. Ickes' help. She had a penchant for archeological re- search, and for many years spent her holidays in the Southwest. Her travels, naturally, brought her into contact with the problems of the red man in that part of the country. And one result of her interest has been the pro- gram of reconstruction now being put into effect by the Federasl Government through the Ipdian Bureau. Mrs. Ickes died at work. That cir- cumstance gives comfort to her friends. Her contribution to the world was good, her example will be an inspiration. With Jane Addams, Helen Keller and a few others, she has her place. She was one of the great and useful American women of her generation. Intimations cannot be withheld that recognition of Russia has made it pos- sible to revise the relationship eventually into sad harmony with the old song, “We Never Speak as We Pass By."” Emperor Haile Selassie is credited with a degree of shrewdness that prefers an oil trust to a homemade brain trust. ———ate— Lenin’s mortal remains are marvel- ously preserved and may easily outlast some of the ideas which gave him fame. — e Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Trouble, With or Without Congress. We looked for peace and happiness ‘When Congress went its way; * ‘We hoped to banish all distress And laugh dull care away. But here a friend has met his end In some wild motor dash, Or, as he skyward would ascend, Come tumbling to a crash. We hear the threats of distant fray, A fear we cannot smother ‘That fellow beings will one day Be eating one another. By day or night some sudden fright Brings sorrow all severe, And we suspect that Congress might As well have stayed right here. Simple Means. “We can't be bothered with horse and buggy days.” “No,” sald Senator Sorghum. “Yet some pretty good work was done with- out modern improvements. Before we had electric lights and typewriters, some of our best statesmanship per- formed with a tallow candle and & goose quill.” Jud Tunkins says when a friend agrees with everything you say it's time to stop boring him with your talk and turn on the radio. Food Shertage. Old Mother Hubbard # ‘Went to the cupboard, There wasn't a pork chop in sight. " Tom, the piper’s son, As he danced in fun, Had stolen the pigs overnight. Not Running. “Have you ever thought of running for office?” #Never,” said Mesa Bill. “When I am a candidate, I don’t run. I stand with my back to the wall and shoot it out with all comers.” Too Proud to Weep. For years I tried to laugh at ‘care. I always had a laugh to spare. He who would hold a laughing job Must learn to grin instead of sob. My laughter I intend to be Accepted as a sign of glee. The laughing mask is a disguise That ne'er deceives discerning eyes. It hides a face that is too proud ‘To share its sorrows with the crowd. “Luck,” sald Uncle Eben, “is what lets you win a few times and fools you into de notion dat & crap game is & system | of regular relief.” t THE POLITICAL MILL By G. Gould Lincoln. Not satisfied merely with the results of the Rhode Island first congressional district election in which the Republican candidate, Representative Risk, defeated Prince, his Democratic opponent, agents of the Republican National Committee have been investigating thoroughly po- litical sentiment in two of the New England States. The States are Rhode Island and New Hampshire, The can- vass made by the agents of the G. O. P. committee covered all classes of per- sons. It revealed a decided swing in both these States against President Roosevelt and the New Deal. ' * kK X In 1932 New Hampshire was carried by former President Hoover agaifist President Roosevelt by the narrow margin of 3,000 votes. The prediction is now made by Republicans, in the light of the canvasses just completed, that the State would go against Roose- velt, if another presidential election were held this year, by from 25000 to 30,000 votes. That is more like the normal Republican majority in the White Mountain State, although Hoover carried it in 1928 over Al Smith by 35,000 votes, and the late Calvin Coolidge car- ried the State in 1924 by 32,000 over the combined opposition of Davis, Democrat; and La Follette, Progressive. Four main reasons are assigned by the Republican investigators to the change in sentiment so far as the New Deal is concerned in New Hampshire. Pirst stands the high cost of living. The other causes, in turn, are the fail- ure of the Roosevelt administration to provide adequate tariff protection, oppo- sition to the A. A. A. as reflected in the processing taxes, which it is charged has increased the cost of living and also has taken away jobs in the textile mills, and, finally, the imminence of high taxes. * % ¥ ¥ Tt was further developed that when the N. R. A. was first put into operation it had many supporters among the larger manufacturers in New Hampshire. But since then other issues have crop- ped up to change the attitude of these manufacturers, among them the sound money issue and the constant fear of increased taxation—a fear that has al- ready been realized in the new Roose- velt “share-the-wealth” tax law. More interesting were the reports about the sentiment of the labor group, which earlier was strongly pro-Roosevelt. This group, it is said, is no longer fol- lowing Roosevelt, although it has not come out affirmatively for the Repub- lican party. It is represented as occu- pying a position of “political neutrality, where at first it was strongly pro-New Deal. Labor is doing a lot of thinking these days. It wants jobs instead of relief, and it wants jobs in industry rather than jobs with the Govemment‘; particularly on the “subsistence wage' offered by the administration. % % X *x The “constitutional issue.” while It may register later, apparently has hot vet had much to do with the change in sentiment among the rank and file of the people, the reports from New Hamp- shire indicate. 1f the issue is dramatized more effectively, however, the Repub- lican scouts say, it may have much to do with the next campaign. PR The Republican high command, while overjoyed at the result in Rhode Island last August 6, when Risk won election by more than 12,000 votes over his Dem- ocratic opponent in a congressional dis- trict which went Democratic nine months earlier by 21,000, decided to in- vestigate political sentiment there. ‘There had been reports of Democratic dissen- tion in the district and of a religious warfare. The results of the new can- vass, however, are that the Republican won in a real rush of disapproval of the Roosevelt administration. ~He won, furthermore, it was reported to head- quarters, in spite of the fact that many persons were receiving “relief” and in spite of the political pressure brought to bear by the Democratic command. Furthermore, the relief workers were found to be not satisfied, and the work- ers in the mills are reported to be doing a lot of hard thinking for themselves, and the results of that thinking are not favorable to the Roosevelt New Deal. Rhode Island was one of the two New England States which went for Roosevelt in 1932 against Herbert Hoover. It gave the President a lead of about 11,000 votes. It has but two congressional dis- tricts, and one of these went Republican by 12,000 in the recent congressional race. The Republicans at headquarters are more convinced than ever, since they made their post-election canvass in Rhode Island, that much significance is to be attached to the Rhode Island re- sults in August. * * x x Having satisfied themselves that the swing in New England is distinctly away from the Roosevelt New Deal and the President, the G. O. P. high command is centering more and more on the Middle West. The Republicans have a feeling that the sentiment of the East, which includes New York, with its great b'ac of electoral votes, is pretty well represented in the New England States. They must have Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and other States of the Middle West and the West, they realize. So they are industriously working in those sections of the country. They say they are con- vinced that the tide has turned against Roosevelt there, particularly in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. But in the States like Kansas and Iowa and Nebraska, where the farmers are greatly predomi- nant, there is still a considerable fond- ness for the checks which the A. A. A. is handing out for not growing wheat and corn and hogs. Furthermore, farm prices are higher, much, than they were during the last Republican administra- tion. X XX An astute political leader from Kansas recently said that he believed that his State would go for & Republican nom- inee for President next year against Roosevelt. A little later he declared he believed the carrying of Kansas by the G, O. P. was a “cinch.” This particular Kansas politician has rarely been known to be in error about his own State. Nevertheless, the Republicans feel that they must develop some plan that will appeal to the farmers as a substitute for the A. A. A, as well as convince the the Western Republicans are working on. this problem, among them Senator Mc- Nary of Oregon. - ERE John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers, speaking yesterday in West Virginia, declared that his ergani- zation would fight next year for the re- election of President Roosevelt. That statement is made before the Repub- lcans have nominated a candidate. A Success. From the Pasadens (Calif.) Post. Having shot her husband to death, an eastern woman explained that she had done so to save him from himsel!. The operation must be regarded as MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1935. THIS. AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. Late Summer has its compensations for the gardener by bringing him many queer flowers. One of the most unusual is the old- fashioned turtlehead, or shellfiower, scientifically designated by the charming syllables, Chelone glabra. This is another example of the fan- ciful minds of the common people of the world, who have given the so-called common names to plants. One glance at the creamy white, pentstemonlike flowers of the turtlehead shows why it got the latter name. The main portion of the flower is very much like the shell of a turtle, from which protrudes a small roll ex- actly resembling the neck and head of the creature. It is the inflated, nearly closed corolla of the plant which gives this re- semblance * kX K The word “chelone” comes from the Greek for tortoise. The chelonia is & subclass of reptiles constituting the tor- toises or turtles. In prevailing usage the word “tor- toise” is restricted to land or fresh water turtles, or sometimes to the for- mer only. Thus the land specimens seen every- where really should be called tortoises, not turtles. The latter is more prop- erly applied to the great sea specimens, some of which are to be seen at the National Zoological Park. Yet “turtle” and “tortoise” are really interchangeable in the common speech. It is interesting to note that such words as “tortoise” and “contorted” have a common root, meaning twisted or crooked. The word “tortoise” (like “porpoise™ is pronounced as if written “tor-tus,” but other pronunciations are he of course, * k¥ ¥ The turtlehead, or shellflower, usually grows to a height of 18 to 30 inches, de- pending entirely on its situation. In shady places it is likely to be somewhat sprawly, a character which it loses in the sun. There are many other things coming into bloom which lack the unusualness of the chelone (pronounced ke-lo-ne, accent on the second syllable), but which are beloved of all gardeners. Among the most pleasant of these are the clematis and the double-flow- ered althea. The panniculata form of the clematis grows sweet along many a fence at this time, If it is background to the dark red double althea blossoms, it becomes a beautiful exhibition of what may be done with common plants known to every one. The home gardener is apt to think that he can achieve only common effects with common plants. The truth is that he has as much chance to use imagination with them as with the more exotic (and usually more expen- sive) creations of Nature. * Kk % ¥ Our chelone glabra of the garden is, after all, one of the common wild- flowers, now again coming into vogue. It is interesting to note this re- crudescence of interest in all the wild- ings, as some one has called them. Not only are large and handsome books devoted to them being multi- plied year by year, but modern city people who never would come across them naturally are growing them in their yards. This is as it should be, for no group of plants is more interesting. Consider for a moment that subject | of what flowers the home gardener should grow. Broadly speaking, the selections open to him may be classed as ornamentals and wildflowers. Herbs come in the second classification. The two classes merge at many points. Many wildflowers are grown in gar- dens solely as ornamentals. On the other hand, many of our strict ornamentals, from the modern standpoint, were nothing but wildflowers in the beginning of their careers. So we see that these classifications have nothing hard and fast about them, but include simply certain well-known plants, * % % % Let us point again to the fact that old favorites are best. Whatever is grown widely, by many persons, is a good flower. Hence no gardener need be ashamed, as some are, unfortunately, of such common things as zinnias and mari- golds and petunias. Suppose a million persons do plant them—what of it? They do so because the flowers are lovely and the plants easy to grow. No one ought to get the precious belief that- because a plant is thor- oughly difficult to grow it is therefore very much worth while. It does not hold for an instant. ‘The truth is nearer the other way around. The flower easy to grow is the best. Put another way, the best things are those grown. ‘The fact that they are planted by everybody proves them today, as it has proved them for many years. * ok ok % Every one familiar with seed cata- logues knows the annual temptation of unfamiliar plants. He may say to himeelf, “Well, if they are that beautiful, why do I not see them more?” Even with this caution, however, he is tempted and often falls. In the end he proves to himself what other people have found out, that the unfamiliar plants are, almost without exception, either difficult to grow or have some other drawback which renders them one-time only plants. There are plenty of these and each one is interesting, but in the end one de- cides not to try them again, for any one of a number of reasons. Perhaps the seeds do not germinate readily. Maybe the plants last only for a month, after which they fade and become unsightly in the garden. Maybe the catalogue did not say any- thing about the leaves, which are cov- ered with fine white hairs, each one capable of inflicting a rather distressing wound if grasped carelessly. 8 ® The people are right. y “The voice of the people is the voice of God,” so goes the old saying. It simply means that, by and large, what a great many thousands of peo- ple have tested and then adopted per- manently is likely to be the best. Who has not had the experience, fingering over old volumes on the book stalls, of believing that he had found, in a book whose title was utterly un- known to him—or any one else—a work unfairly rejected by the generations of men? After he reads it he discovers that the readers of old were right in re- fusing to keep it alive as a “classic.” It is the same with plants. The really good ones are the best known ones. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS As labor throughout the country this year holds its annual observance of Labor day, it can point to the session of Congress which adjourned one week ago as having passed more legislation of a broad, constructive character for the benefit of the worker and his family than any other session during the half century or more since the Labor day idea - originated. In spite of the fact that labor did not gain all it sought and will seek to have further measures adopted next year, nevertheless the so- cial security act, the national labor re- lations act and the railway pension act —to mention the most important—con=- stituted great advances from labor’s side of the national economy. So sweeping and fundamental in its scope was one of these, the social security act, that President Roosevelt in signing the bill declared that if the recent session had done nothing more it “would be regarded as histaric for all time.” No other Labor day has been able to boast of so much favorable legislation. * * ¥k X Issues and individuals, these two will claim equal attention in the great Amer- jcan political arena from now until after the elections next year. Many of the issues are already defined to some extent and have been the subject of debate in connection with legislation adopted or proposed during the session of Congress just closed. There will be further analysis and clarification of these issues, however, before the plat- forms of the national parties are adopted next Summer. A majority of them will be domestic in character, relating to problems that affect the United States alone; but others, such as the question of neutrality, will be of international interest. Along with the issues involved in the campaign, the question of in- dividuals and their attitude on these issues will receive equally careful atten= tion. * k x x Finishing interior touches are being rapidly put on the palatial building of the Supreme Court of the United States, and when that august body meets in its new “home” it will be in surroundings more imposing and stately than those of any other judicial body in the world. Not because of this, however, will the eyes of the Nation—of the world, in fact—be focused on this tribunal in the near future, but because of weighty de- cisions, far-reaching in their signifi- cance, which it is expected to render affecting the question of constitutional- ity of vital economic measures. PR International questions occupied the center of the stage in Washington dur- ing the past few days, the spotlight be- ing turned particularly on Ethiopia and the Soviet Union. Eager correspondents thronged to the State Department, seek- ing to learn the attitude of this Govern- ment regarding the vast oil and mineral concession which Emperor Haile Selassie was reported to have given to an Amer- ican-chartered company. With almost equal zeal they waited to ascertain the nature of the reply the State Depart- ment would make to the Soviet refusal to admit its responsibility for the acts of the Communist International, as this involved interference in the internal af- fairs of the United States. * X X K Incident to the coming trip of a con- Philippines to his famous trip to the islands 30 this connection they ¢ stated that he had expressed the opinion there was no work in his whole career, with the possible exception of his serv- ice as Chief Justice of the United States, which he found so enjoyable as that he performed in the Philippines. This was attributed mainly to the fact that a great part of his work there right after American occupancy was of a broad legal character, consisting of drafting a complete new corpus of law for the government of the islands, in which there was an admixture of the old Spanish code with that of the United States. In this Mr. Taft took keen delight. i The whole world comes to America for correct time, especially when im- portant scientific tests or observations are to be made, according to Capt. J. N. Hellweg, superintendent of the Ar- lington radio station. The time signals sent from there for the Naval Observa- tory have been since September 7, 1934, within one one-thousandth of a second accurate. This extreme accuracy has been made possible, he stated, by the almost complete elimination of the hu- man element in making the necessary photographs of the sky and calculations based on them and in having this done automatically by machine. x K x % Co-operation with practically every other department of the Government and with hundreds of private outside agencies is necessary in gathering the material on which is based the balance of international payments of the United States, defined by Dr. Amos E. Taylor, assistant chief of the finance division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, as “an itemized account of the commercial and financial transac- tions conducted within a stated period of time by all the people of one Nation with the people of all other nations.” Investments of foreigners in the United States and of Americans abroad, immi- grant remittances to.their friends and relatives at home, tourist expenditures in all parts of the world and a score of other items have to be taken into consideration in “striking this balance.” * X X % ‘While efforts are being made to stimulate tea drinking in the United States, three of the South American countries—Argentina, Brazil and Para- guay—are interested in extending the use in this country of a beverage, yerba mate, often referred to as “Paraguayan tea.” It is used extensively in the three countries named and their represent- atives here, particularly those of Ar- fi;mm and Paraguay, have been seek- to make it popular in the United States. (Copyright. 1935.) Frightful Prospect. From the Paducah (Ky.) Sun-Democrat. In case all swains followed the lead of the Ohio youth who killed his girl because he caught her smoking the slaughter would be appalling. Spotproof. Prom the Davenport (Iowa) Dally News. Stained silk, says a style scout, will be the mode this Fall. Lovers of blueberry pie will therefore carry on freely and fearlessly. —_——————— % Sympathy. Prom the Lowell (Mass.) Evening Leader. pathizes: with Congressm President gets after them to attend to ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS By Frederic J. Haskin. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Washing= ton Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washing- ton, D.C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. Are any Jews ettending the United States Naval Academy?—J. A. fiéd'rhere are 32 Jewish students en- rolled. Q."Was Frederick, Md., ever actually called Fredricktown?—M. H. A. It was established as Fredricktown April 20, 1793. The name was to Frederick between 1825 and 1829. Q. What is a kibitzer?—J. T. D. A. Kibitzer is a Yiddish slang term for one who meddles with others’ affairs. In bridge playing, it is specifically a per- son who, although not a player, makes suggestions and gives unasked advice to the players. . Q. When was the first sleeping car used?—B. F. A.In 1836 the Cumberland Valley Railroad of Pennsylvania installed a sleeping-car service between Harrisburg and Chambersburg. The sleeping car was an adaptation of an ordinary day coach to sleeping requirements. The first fundamental improvement came in 1858, when George Pullman remodeled two Chicago & Alton coaches into sleep- ing cars. Q. Who designed the Taj Mahal?— H. R. A. It was probably designed by an architect named Ustad Isa, traditionally supposed to have been either Turkish or Persian. Q. What is the Human Betterment Foundation?—R. F. L. A. The purpose and activities of the organization are to investigate the re- sults and possibilities for human better- ment by a safe, conservative application of the discoveries made by science, and to give this information to the public. Its first major problem is to promote the investigation of the possibilities of race betterment by eugenic sterilization, and to make public the results. The foundation is not designed to take up original scientific research work. Q. How many potatoes are raised in the United States?—S. W. A. The 1934 crop was estimated at 385,287,000 bushels. The market value of the crop was about $160,099,000. Q. Who was called the father of Eng- lish cathedral music?—W. M. A. Thomas Tallis, born before 1515. He is known to have become organist at Waltham Abbey, where, on the dis- solution of the monastery in 1540, he received in compensation for the loss of his preferment 20 shillings for wages and 20 shillings for reward. In the library of the British Museum is pre- served ‘a volume of treatises on music, on the last page of which appears his autograph—the only specimen known. Q. How long has Cannes, France, been a health resort?—H. R. \ A. Lord Brougham discovered it as a health resort in 1831. Q. What proportion of the rubber pro- guz_:red is used in the United States?— ‘A This country consumes about half of the world production. Q. Please explain the expression, “Telling the bees.”—M. D. A. It is an old English custom, and ex- ists in sections of widely separated areas such as Sussex and Yorkshire. The sup- position is that when & member of the family dies thé bees must be informed immediately or they will leave the place and seek another spot to make their hive. Q. For whom was the Chilkoot Pass named?—J. M. A. It was named for a tribe of Indians living in its vicinity. Q. Why was the world's largest post office built in Chicago?—H. M. A. It was largely because it had the business of the largest mail order houses in the world. Q. Please name a few of the stars, tell- ing how they compare in size with our sun—D. M. A. Arcturus is 27 times the size of our sun; Aldebaran, 38 times; B. Pegasl, 40 times; Betelgeuse, 210 to 300 times; Mira, 250 times; A. Hercules, 400; Antares, 450 times. Q. What is an apologue?—C. B. A. A story or relation of fictitious events intended to convey some useful truth. It differs from a parable in that the latter is drawn from events that pass among mankind, whereas the apologue may be founded on supposed actions of brutes or inanimate things. Aesop's fables furnish excellent examples of apologues. Q. What is Hi-Y?—H. M. A. The Hi-Y Club is an organization of the Y. M. C. A. It is an organization of high school boys to promote clean speech, clean sport, clean scholarship and clean living. Q. Where was the first public museum in America?—P. N. A. It is the Charleston (S.C.) Museum, founded by the Charlestown Library So- cety in 1773. Q. Who was the first European who saw the site of what is now New York City?—A. S. A. Tt is believed that Giovanni da Ver- razano, a Florentine navigator, was first. In 1524 he entered the lower bay of what is now New York Harbor. He sailed as far north as the confluence of the Hud- son and East Rivers. It was not until after 1609, when Hudson sailed up the river which bears his name, that settle- ment began. Q. What is the name of the writer who u.sesB the pen name, Ozark Ripley? —R. A. B. A. It is the pen name used by John Baptiste de Macklot Thompson. A Rhyme at Twilight B: Gertrude Bro:)ke Hamilton A Simple Rule How do you know your loyal man, The man whose word is rock, Who once his banner slung on high Guards it from stain or shock? How choose him, nor lose him, ‘Whose worth no wage can span, Your true and loyal man? The corporation boss replied, Shrewd twinkle in his eye, My ruling, lecgnn'nn;. Yet not devoid of guile— I gage him by his smile.” Al