Evening Star Newspaper, September 20, 1935, Page 10

THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY ............September 20, 1935 THEODORE W. NOYES...........Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company. New Yurk Offce. 110 Enst 42nd &t. Chicago Office: Lake Michigan Building Europesn Offce: 14 Regent St.. London. Engiand. Rate by Carrier Within the City. Regular Edition. The Evening Star.__ The Evering and Sund; (when 4 Sundays) Tie Evening and Sunday (when 5 Sundays) The Sunday Star. Night Final Editlon. ight Final and Sunday Star. ight Pinal Star—-— - Coilection mude at {he end_of each month, Orders may be sent by mail or telephone Na- tional 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia. 1 Daily ar.g Sunday Daily only. Sunday only- -45¢ per month -80c per month 65¢ per month .--BC Der cop: All Other States and Ca Paily and Sunday..l yr. $12.00; 1 m Daily only_ 1 yr. $R00i 1 Sunday only. 1yr, $500i 1 Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively eatitled to the use for republication of news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this Paper and also the local news published herein I Fights of pubiication of special dispatches fierein are also Teserved. — Anglo-Italian War? With staggering swiftness danger of war has shifted from its original cause— the Italo-Ethiopian conflict—to an Anglo-Italian crisis. That the perils of a world-wide conflagration are thus en- hanced is obvious. Even with applica- tion of League sanctions, in case Italy were to be branded an aggressor, a cam-= paign in Ethiopia might conceivably be *Jocalized” within the bounds of that #colonial” affair which Mussolini pro- fesses to regard it. But with Great Britain and Italy at war, the situation automatically assumes ramifications of illimitable international dimensions. Every scrap of news coming out of nerve= racked Europe reflects something akin to a spirit of resignation in the face of the inevitable. It is 1914 all over again. The Italians are being systematically drilled in the belief that Britain aims deliberately at their humiliation. Their irritation over League plans for settle- ment of the African quarrel has given way to rabid indignation over British action in massing naval forces in the Mediterranean, especially in the vicinity of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. Rome considers these mobilizations deliberately provocative and leaves no doubt that they will be met by counter measures, notably in the region of Malta, which is susceptible to submarine attack, and mine-laying operations capable of harassing even the strongest British fleet. The imagination shrinks from con- templating the complications to which Anglo-Ttalian hostilities might lead. Britain's determination to retain su- premacy in the Mediterranean may be taken for granted. She will shrink from no recourse to preserve the Empire's “life line” to the East. No less at stake is the British position in Africa, with Egypt and the Sudan menaced by an expanding Italian colonial domain. British naval strength is estimated to be at least two and a half times that of Ttaly. On the face of such figures, it would seem suicidal for Mussolini to risk combat in the Mediterranean. He relies upon his formidable submarine and air- craft forces as an offset against British superiority in battleships and battle cruisers. The Italians are well equipped with bases both in the middle sea and in the Adriatic. The preponderance of actual British power, nevertheless, is so overwhelming that the conclusion is inescapable that Mussolini must be thinking in terms of allies. He may fancy, too, that if it comes to a question of sanctions, the French may not be minded to give the British complete co-operation. It has to be remembered that Britain has in- sisted throughout upon “collective” re- sistance to Italy’s pretensions. She has clearly intimated her unwillingness to oppose them single-handedly. In the event of Anglo-Italian war, what would be the role of Germany? Has Il Duce a private understanding with Hitler, with Austria as its base? Is he holding such a contingency as a club with which to ward off British extremes and French support of them? How long would Yugoslavia refrain from attacking an Italy locked in a death grapple with Britain? How soon, then, would the Little Entente powers march? Would Soviet Russia's legions be held in leash? Matters are has- tening with deadly rapidity to a point at which early answers to these ques- tions should be possible. The world awaits them in gravest anxiety, appalled by the thought that in this enlightened hour the idea of another great war can be seriously harbored by civilized nations. —_————— ‘The power of ridicule is enormous, but history has been made by men and ideas that refused to be laughed off. e They Got Their Man. Capture in a New Jersey suburban town of a highly skilled counterfeiter ends a search that has been in progress for several years. It illustrates also the highly improved methods of both coun- terfeiting and its detection and defeat. The agents of the Treasury whose job 1t is to protect the currency from fraud- ulent imitation have applied to the pur- suit of the makers of fake money the same technique that has been developed in the other branch of Federal criminal investigation under the Department of Justice. In short, the business of crime detection and the identification of crim- inals has become scientific in its pro- cedure. About five years ago a large quantity of first-class counterfeits began to ap- pear. They were at once recognized as the work of an expert. To find that man became the object of a hunt that ceased only yesterday when William Watts was caught in his apart- ment, with evidence of his craft about him in such abundance as to leave no question of his guilt. } THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1935. THIS AND THAT The concentration of the pursuit upon a single individual who, though un- identified, was distinct through the nature of his product led eventually to his capture. The places where the “green goods” appeared gave first clue to his headquarters. Then came arrests, some two hundred “shovers” having been caught while the hunt for Watts was on, and the character and records of these persons furnished vague but valuable clues to the personality of the fabricator. The immediate means of the capture was the close watching of all establish- ments in the metropolitan area where chemicals were sold in larger than “drug store” quantities. For the counterfeits were all of the etched rather than the engraved variety, this fact having been proved by microscopic examination. After a long wait a man was fially spotted buying materials such as would | be used in that work. He was trailed to his home and later was caught with his paraphernalia and imitation bills of the face value of $63,000. There is no knowing how great an amount of counterfeit money was made by this man and spread by agents. It is known that an immense sum was passed at the race tracks in New York State. The fake bills were so excellent in character that the counterfeiter seemingly had no difficulty” in getting “shovers,” to whom he sold his wares. Now that he is caught and will probably be sent away for a good long time this source of menace to the integrity of the currency is closed. High tribute is to be paid to the agents who, through their skill and patience, finally got their man and thus maintained the reputation of one of the most valuable branches of the Government. e Pennsylvania Regrets. Pennsylvanians have decided by & substantial majority to stick by their sixty-one-year-old State constitution rather than to call a constitutional con- vention to revise that document. The issue presented to the voters was whether they wished to bring the State consti- tution into line with the Roosevelt New Deal. The result was distinctly a dis- appointment to Gov. Earle and to Sen- ator Guffey, Roosevelt Democratic lead- ers in the State. The Pennsylvania State constitution may need amendment. Indeed, there is reason to believe that it might be changed with advantage in somg re- spects. The voters, however, were not willing to throw the constitution open to general revision at the behest of the New Dealers. It is clear that their action last Tuesday at the polls did not mean that specific amendments to the consti- tution, submitted individually to the people, would not receive consideration. Governor Earle, in his campaign for the constitutional convention, argued that a general revision was necessary to give the people of Pennsylvania a chance for the “more abundant life.” He referred to the present State constitution as a docu- ment of the “horse and buggy days.” On a State-wide scale, he made the same attack on the State constitution that the President has made on the Con- stitution of the United States. Had the people of Pennsylvania sig- nified their willingness to revise their State constitution, the New Dealers would have hailed their action as a vic- tory for revision of the Federal Consti- tution. They might have come forward with a proposal for a Federal constitu- tional convention, to revise the funda- mental law of the United States. Then, indeed, the Constitution would have been open to rewriting along New Deal lines. It may be that the New Dealers in the Roosevelt administration have had such a course in mind. It is evident that the administration is so far not willing to lay before the public a specific amend- ment to the Constitution to ratify the New Deal. But it might be more willing to go into a fight merely for the purpose of holding a constitutional convention. If ‘'such & fight were waged and won, it would be easier then to become specific and perhaps in the convention to put through amendments designed to cover the regimentation of business and agri- culture and the people. In the campaign for the revision of the Pennsylvania constitution the Guffey and Earle combination told the voters that only by changing that document could they hope for social justice. At the same time there was the argument that the borrowing power of the State, which is kept down to a low figure by the constitution, should be considerably en- larged. Right there the people of the State apparently decided that social justice, under the Guffey-Earle set-up, would be too costly. Perhaps they took a look at what has happened to the National Government and its Treasury under the Roosevelt New Deal, shuddered and retreated. With no great pretensions to scholar- ship, George Washington wrote a fare- well address of deeper philosophic beauty than any college valedictory has been able to attain. e Aviation claims the attention of all groups of thinking men from a brain trust to a coroner’s jury. Chance to Be Great. The zero hour, it seems, has dawned and the peace of the world lies in the hands of Benito Mussolini. But hu- manity still hopes. The average man, remembering, as perforce he must, the bitter history of the past two decades, humbly prays that the erstwhile black- smith who now is dictator of Italy may choose to avoid the conflict. Obviously, there are many practical reasons why he should abstain from the irrevocable final step which, as he must realize, is likely to involve him with nations far more formidable than Ethiopia. Wis- dom, a consciousness of the dangers of his position and the conviction that the fruits of the ctory over Emperor Haile Selassie at which he aims are not worth having, should give him pause. But there also are idealistic pur- poses which Il Duce could serve by a \ | Miss Summertime were goin’ it, so happy | Miss Summertime was busy an’ as happy | frank decision not to proceed any fur- ther in his venture toward disaster. Napoleon at St. Helena and William II at Doorn each in his respective turn had a similar opportunity to show mercy to mankind. Each might have thrust the sword back into the scabbard, spared his country the agony of vain war and costly defeat. Ambition, supposedly, blinded them to the penalty of gam- bling with fate. They preferred the speculation of mass murder and earned thereby the execration of millions. And each survived to hear the verdict of universal condemnation, each was branded a traitor to his species. Mus- solini, keenly intelligent, is familiar with their punishment. Yet he stands today in the same dock, charged with the same cruel disregard of world opinion. And only by heeding the warning of his own soul can he escape the nemesis which disciplines those who inconti- nently betray the race to which they belong. Suppose, however, that I1 Duce should have the courage and the spiritual | grace to admit his mistake before it is | too late; suppose he should be noble enough to abandon his presumption and to concede recognition to the protests of civilized society against his errors— would he not then be applauded as a truly great leader? The question an- swers itself. In sober truth, Mussolini has a chance to win and to deserve the appreciation which humanity freely ac- cords to authentic nobility. Surrender in such an event would be triumph. Any character capable of so generous an action would be assured of the bright and glorious immortality which accrues i from the gratitude of millions. oo Chicago might have been spared a great deal of suffering if there had been a system of cattle slaughtering to include Mrs. O'Leary’s cow, which kicked over the lantern in the barn and started the | historic fire. e The term “constitutional lawyer” still carries an assurance of scholarship and patriotism that must outweigh the influ- ence of any possible “anti-Constitution pedagogue.” — So many differences of opinion exist in Europe that no war, however devas- tating, can be expected to settle them all. e Civilization is sometimes so light- minded as to pause and test out new gadgets of war as if they were play toys. B Shooting Stars, BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Falling Asleep. and so gay, | A-dancing’ th'oo de blossoms an’' | a-singin’ all de day! A-splashin’ in de river, an’ a-racin’ down | de hill, An’ even in de moonlight you would find | her rompin’ still. Followin' de butterfly, or swingin’ in a tree, | as could be. | But de blossoms dey is faded, an’ de | leaves begin to fall, i An’ Miss Summertime she's she hear de sleepy call. actin’ like | effort to accomplish his purpose. would step out briskly and hotfoot it up | She keeps a-laughin’ faintly, same as little gals or boys | Dat's gettin’ kind o' drowsy, but don't want to leave deir toys. | Well miss her merry singin’ an’ her | dancin’ an’ her smile, | But you sholy couldn't blame her if she wants to rest a while, Vote Getting. “How do you expect people to listen to your speeches if you don't make your ideas clear?” “I don't want 'em to listen,” replied Senator Sorghum. “I simply want to talk enough to get a good crowd together and then shake hands with everybody.” Psychological study. “What makes you think that man has a melancholy disposition? His remarks are always highly optimistic.” “That's the point,” replied Miss Cay- enne. “Only a person of melancholy tendencies would have to go to so much pains to cheer himself up.” Responsibilities. The sunbeams lightly dance and play; ‘The breezes gayly fly. The waters, singing as they stray, All unrestrained go by. And everything seems more or less Inclined to blissful idleness. And yet the sunshine builds the corn; "The wind helps out the yield, And bears the clouds on which are borne Rains for the thirsting field. And everything seems, after all, Compelled to toil at duty’s call. The Interest of the Game. “What we want,” said the patriotic citizen, “is a government that will give every man an absolutely equal show.” “It can’t be arranged,” replied Three- finger Sam; “anyway, not here in Crim- son Gulch. There’s no sense in expecting everybody to have four aces when a jack pot is opened.” Unidentified Joys. Philosophy may bid us prize The things called “blessings in disguise.” But man’s appreciation fades. ‘We scon grow tired of masquerades. “Business befo’ pleasure’ is a good rule,” said Uncle Eben; “but it ain't as good as takin’ pleasure in yoh business.” o ————— Feminism and Law. From the Philadelphia Inquirer. A feminist deplores the fact that so few women take up law in this country. This seems so unnecessary when they can get what they want by laying it down. —————————— Reverse. From the Winston-Salem (N. C.) Journal. The principle of easy come, easy go doesn’t seem to have worked so well in the case of the deprossion, )3} Ly Eastern Shore Reasoning And Public Works Money To the Editor of The Star: I see the administration has about decided to turn over to Works Progress Administrator Hopkins the lion’s share of what remains of the $4880,000,000 1936 campaign fund. No one imagines for a minute that he has any definite, sensible plan for spending this huge sum of tax-raised money. The only thing that is apparent to the public is his extreme haste to continue getting rid of it in large gobs. The lost motion and misguided hurry of the whole thing reminds me of a little old fellow named Isaac “Jeems” Bowen, who was quite a character down on the Eastern Shore of Maryland many years ago. He, also, was in a constant state of muddle-headedness. He lived 6 miles from town and made his weekly trip there with an oxcart. No matter how bad the weather or how tired he was, no one ever saw Isaac riding in the cart, even when he had no load. The old ox never walked faster than a snail’s- pace and as Isaac was always in a hurry either to get to town or to get back home he employed a novel expedient in an He the road to a point a couple of hundred yards ahead of the ox and then wheel sharply and march back to meet him. | He would then flick the ox gently around his horns with his whip and mutter, | He | “Come on, Rock! Come on, Rock!” would continue this senseless perform- ance all the way to his destination. Of course Rock paid no attention to either the sorties or the admonitions, but Isaac had deluded himself into the belief that he was making good time. It would take Einstein to figure out how far Isaac actually walked on one of these 12-mile trips. The hell of it was that there was nothing either in town or at home worth the haste and effort he expended to get there. Speaking about the Eastern Shore re- | it—as you or your friend did—a sym- minds me that the folks down there are | getting worried about an unusual situa- tion. It seems that since the “slaughter | of the pigs” caused the price of pork to | g0 so high the Eastern Shoremen have been planning to eat ‘possum this Winter as a substitute. It is reported that Sec- retary of Agriculture Henry Wallace has heard of this vile, anti-communistic | each day substitute for just one unime | wish that you had enough influence scheme to thwart the “more abundant | life” and balk the “planned economy.” Knowing that the ‘possum lives very largely on persimmons, Henry is going to issue a command that the farmers cut down every persimmon tree that has more than a dozen persimmons on it. | If the 'possums don't all starve each fam- ily with 14 members will be allowed to catch one ‘possum per season. A processing tax must be paid on each one killed, however. S. H. MUMFORD. — Judge Blaiklock Pays Tribute to Americans To the Editor of The Star The interesting interview in vour Wednesday's issue with your able repre- sentative may convey the impression that I was somewhat too critical of the judicial procedure in your courts. The interview took place in a busy corridor of the Police Court, and the points dealt BY CHARLES E. What is this world coming to? Many people are asking themselves that question today as they witness the inimical forces, both human and me- chanical, which encompass them. The following letter from Bethesda, Md.. puts the problem plainly: “Dear Sir: I must drop you a line re- garding the story of the squirrel which I read with considerable feeling. Poor little duffer. You know, I more and more tend to believe that Mark Twain told the whole story when he said, ‘The damned human race!” “Each potential blessing seems merely to serve as a means of converting in- herent cruelty into action. “Inevitable, I suppose, that our civili- zation, with all its beauty, all of its in- teresting things, is to be wiped out as more and more instrumentalities capable of yielding untold benefits to all of us® are developed. “And none of us who care can do a thing to stop it. All we can do, as far as I see, is to pause now and then, re- gardless of the whirl of things around us, and pick up some unfortunate squir- rel or other wretched creature, giving pathetic pat before we pass along. Sin- cerely yours, B. E. H.” * ox ok % From Flushing, N. Y.: “Dear Sir: Your remarks in’your col- umn of September 3 compel my grati- tude and my admiration. Every animal lover, as well as every really thinking person, who read your column that day must thank you from his heart. “Those of us who love animals suffer so greatly when we see any cruelty in- flicted on them, that, in kindness to us, as well as to animals, something should be done about it! “It seems to me that an immense amount of good could be accomplished if the editors of influential papers would portant (and far better unpublished) murder story an article of some sort teaching kindness to animals. I could with your editor to persuade him to do this—that is, if you agree with me “It is utterly igcredible to me that newspaper publishers continue to be so blind to the great power for good which is in their hands. Why can’t they realize | that the public would welcome a con- sistent substitution of really constructive articles for the usual filth that fills our | daily papers. “With my deepest thanks for vour | championship of ‘small things that have with were in answer to questions by ' your representative, and somewhat hur- riedly given. Other than the matters mentioned by me, I may say I have the greatest admiration for the wonderful and beautifu! City of Washington, and for the friendly character of all the good people I had the pleasure of meet- ing in Washington and the other parts of the United States of America. In particular I wish to express to my friend Judge I. R. Hitt my gratitude for the luncheon he gave in my honor at the Press Club. and thus enabling me to meet socially many of the eminent judges and counsel of Washington. leaving vour shores we shall have many pleasant memories of our stay. And in conclusion may I again plead for a closer union between the people of America and the old country. We are proud to have in Trafalgar Square the | statue of George Washington, and under the shadow of Westminster Abbey we have the fine statue of Abraham Lin- coln. Let us all work and pray for uni- | versal peace and good will among all peoples. GEORGE BLAIKLOCK. New York City. ——— Dollar Mark Is Traced To “Pesos™ Abbreviation To the Editor of The Star: In his interesting essay on “Small Change for Nation,” published in The Sunday Star of September 8 on page D-3, Prof. Neil Carothers states: “But if you think you know where our dollar mark comes from you are mis- taken. probably does not come from the pillars of Hercules on the Spanish doHar or from the monogram of the initials of Uncle Sam.” Permit me to suggest that the origin or rather the evolution of the dollar mark has been investigated by Amer- ican scholars through numerous docu- ments, written and printed, reaching far back into the eighteenth century. ‘The investigation has shown that the dollar mark ($) is simply a printed form of the written letters “ps.” the first and the last letters of the Spanish word “pesos” (dollars), which always preceded the numerals. In the oldest documents the letters were written closely to- gether; in the later ones the “s” was printed form shows the “s” superim- posed on the letter “p” as formerly written. The results of the investiga- tion were published more than a decade ago in a Hispano-American magazine with facsimiles showing the gradual evolution of the mark. J. J. KRAL. —— Deplores the Noise Of Loud Radios To the Editor of The Star: For some time I have been thinking of writing to some one on your staff to write up an article on using radios. Frequently when I am walking the streets, also at home, I hear radios tuned up so loud they can be heard more than a half of a square, as though the owners of them are trying to entertain people on the street or their neighbors across the street or half a square away. I see no need of such loud noise when we are sitting in our rooms. For various reasons we should respect others' comforts, etc., and keep our city free from so much unnecessary noise. 1 see quite a number of cities are going after the automobiles tooting their horns, etc. I am an owner of a large radio, can tune it loud enough to be heard all over the square, but when I use it I am in my room and only need it loud enough for the room, not all over the house or my neighbors across the street or down to the corners (as I live midway in the block). ' For various reasons I make that point. Some people have to sleep through the day time. Others may have to go to bed early at night. Others may be on a bed of sickness, They should have our sympathy. Ko o Its origin is uncertain, but it | no words,’ sincereley vours, L. L.-S.” * x ¥ x Newspapers are—they necessarily must be—reflections of life. As life is good or bad. so must journal- ism reflect it, if it is true to its duty. The problems of journalism, like life itself. are not easily solved to the satis- faction of all person: Editors necessarily consider all the problems posed by readers, and usually are way ahead of them., through the very necessities of the case. Prattically all newspapers give more space to animal news than ever before, | and many do exactly what our corre- | spondent suggests above, only sensitive | | On | | Gov. Earle of Pennsylvania, but also for | Some of his friends profess confidence | violent attack. | sistent purpose and fulfillment of prom- written above or over the “p.” and the | readers seldom stop to realize it. not knowing what may or may not be left out. The problem of cruelty to animals (our article was about a squirrel being run over quite needlessly) 1s an ever-present | one in a great city. { The hurry and bustle of traffic makes | the slaughter of a four-footed animal a | | practical. TRACEWELL. :llnor affair in the great doings of the ay. Yet he who thoughtlessly runs over a squirrel today may run over a child or an old person tomorrow with much the ,same indifference and shout that the victim “ran right out in front of me.” * 0 ¢ The advent of mechanical forces which humanity does not seem altogether able to control has thrown the kind-hearted person more and more back on his own spiritual resources. Thousands of these persons have been compelled to admit to themselves that there is not much that they can do about it. They are so far outnumbered and out- shouted that they tend to withdraw into themselves, finding such solace as they can in being kind to others, and especi- ally to the members of the great brute creation. This kindness to animals is not a sub- stitution for kindness to children, al- though some think it is. It is something in itself; a special feel- ing one either has or hasn’t. The mul- titudes of hunters and fishermen, trap- pers and others show the opposite side. With them the others have no quarrel. The world is wide and life seems built on death in the final analysis. So the world wags along. Even little kittens, beloved of many friends of animals, scarce could exist if it were not for the killing of cattle and salmon. Fresh raw beef and canned salmon are the staples of cat fare in civilization. Neither of these would a cat get in the wild, but they are good substitutes for what they would eat if “on their own.” It might be possible to bring up a cat entirely on cow’s milk. raw cottage cheese, but we doubt it. They need, even little kittens. plenty of raw meat, high protein foods; in other words, with natural vitamins intact. ok We may reasonably expect a great | growth in the number of hermits in the | world within the next half century. Many of these modern hermits will be city dwellers, men and women who are unable to cope with the steady increase of traffic, which by that time will include vast fleets of airplanes and ships. All these things, combined with the in- cessant drone of motor cars and busses and the unending svmphony and cacophony of the radio. will drive these thousands of persons into the retirement of their own souls. Thev will find it expedient to go back | to simple things, to the companionship of a few friends, both among humans and books. They will be regarded as “cranks” and worse by the other thousands who will not understand ghem. who have never understood them, indeed. For such per- sons always have existed. Thev make no claims of superiority for themselves, merely ask to be let alone. and. not find- ing that modern life will let them alone, tend more and more to withdraw into | the sanctity of their own thoughts and ideals. Such persons have found that it takes a certain sort of bravery to do this, and increasing thousands in the future will | find the same state of affairs. They will discover, however, that this mode of life is the only way in which they can be true to themselves in a idealistic way. Idealism as such must be practical to be really idgal. If any one does not understand this, then he must think about it until he does, for there is no other solution. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WL Whether he is doing so deliberately or not, Herbert Hoover continues to cut the figure of a man who wishes to be re- garded at least as a receptive candidate for renomination. Those who persist- ently ascribe this attitude to the Cali- fornian are strengthened anew in their belief by his Constitution day address at San Diego. In any event, the former President is omitting no opportunity to keep himself in the limelight. Nothing savoring of an organized Hoover move- ment is visible, butr that the sage of Palo Alto is keeping his fences in repair | through a far-flung system of grapevine contacts is generally taken for granted. that when the dozen-odd *“possibilites” now out in front have run their conven- tion course “the Chief” will loom either as the logical choice or as dictator of the nomination. Mr. Hoover is unquestion- ably the Democrats’ favorite son for the Republican leadership in 1936. They say he is so indelibly tarred with the de- pression brush that he would be far and away the easiest man for Roosevelt to beat. * k ¥ x . Senator Frederick Steiwer of ‘Oregon | continues to find favor as a Republican white hope. Of all the Constitution day | spellbinders who lambasted the New Deal, the Oregonian delivered the most He drew a parallel be- tween Rooseveltism and the Long dic- tatorship in Louisiana, declaring that the comparison on the whole is favorable to the latter. “The New Deal excels,” Steiwer said, “in subtle method and fur- tive approach, but lacks the candor, con- ises which characterized the Long regime.” One of the lighter notes struck on Constitution day was the suggestion of Mrs. Robert Lincoln Hoyal of Arizona, new director of Republican Women's activities, that the presidential theme song of “Happy Days Are Here Again” ought to be replaced by “I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles.” * Xk ¥ x Primary elections on September 17 were a Waterloo not only for Democratic neighboring Republican Gov. Hoffman of New Jersey. Senator Joe Guffey's co- boss was overwhelmingly defeated in his effort to bring about a constitutional “New Deal” for Penn State. He had assailed the existing Keystone consti- tution, in President Roosevelt's idiom, “as a relic of horse and buggy days.” By the time all returns are in, it's expected that Earle’s plan for calling a constitu- tion revision convention will have been rejected by 250,000 votes. In Jersey, Gov. Hoffman suffered a rebuff in the vote which foreshadows that the Legislature will repeal the 2 per cent sales tax re- cently. enacted under his leadership. Apparently the only chance of saving the tax is in the Senate, where the Gov- ernor may be able by a vote or two to prevent the overriding of a repeal veto. The sales tax setback is not designed to bolster Gov. Hoffman's presidential availability, though New Jersey doubtless will present him as her favorite son. Ocean County, N. J., nominated Ulysses S. Grant for freeholder on the Demo- cratic ticket. * ok ok * Z As evidence of unremitting devotion to his job, it is related that Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who will quit as chief of staff in December, to become military adviser to the new Philippines govern- ment, has served nearly five years without lfllflllfl"dlfll?. He has left N AM WILE. the War Department on “detached serv- ice.” including an inspection trip to Europe. but on no occasion, so the story goes, has he been away on furlough. It is believed. like so many of the marks MacArthur has hung up, to set a record in the Army. * % ¥ k Mrs. Margaret Sanger, indefatigable leader of the American birth control movement, is going to attend the All- | India Women's Conference in December, for the purpose of propagating the prin- ciples of contraception among India's teeming masses. The conference is the largest women's organization in the world, consisting of 12,000.000 members, mostly adherents of Gandhi. Mrs. Sanger plans to establish clinics throughout the realm of the rajahs. As India had an increase in population of 34,000.000 in the last 10 years, with re- sultant density ratio of 195 inhaHitants to the square mile, Mrs. Sanger thinks it is literally a fertile field for her cuit. * ¥ ¥ % Our naval people are watching with keenest professional interest the mobili- zation of the British and Italian fleets in waters. The promptness, skill strength with which the British have : established themselves in strategic posi- tion around Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus and the Suez Canal induce some experts to predict that if war breaks out Mussolini is liable to find his Navy bottled up in the Adriatic, powerless either to safe- guard transport of troops and munitions to Africa or break an economic blockade. | I1 Duce relies upon his submarines and aircraft to overcome British preponder- ance in battleships and battle cruise: In diplomatic, military and naval Wash- ington, opinion is about equally divided | on the question whether Italy will bluff things through or quit with as much grace as conditions permit. =% " Sara Delano Roosevelt, the President’s mother, will be 81 years old tomorrow. The occasion is to be marked by the Ppublication of her authorized biography | under the title of “Gracious Lady,” from the pen of Rita Halle Kleeman. Mrs. Kleeman has had the advantage of the close co-operation of both the Roosevelt | and Delano families in the preparation of the volume, including access to diaries, | private papers ‘and letters hitherto in obscurity. The book gives an intimate glimpse of the President’s childhood and youth, and, in the course of a day-by- day record of F. D. R’’s devélopment and training, reveals his early ideas on social and political problems. 2% E® “War Memoirs of Robert Lansing,” just published, do not deal with the late Secretary of State’s break with ‘Woodrow Wilson, but contain this little character sketch: “The President’s power of detachment put his statesmanship on a high plane, though his judgment in internal affairs was often colored by his feelings toward those who opposed him, and especially those who questioned or denounced his motives. He apparently considered any opposition of this char- acter as a personal affront.” Y (Copyright, 1935.) —_— e A Puzzling Problem. Prom the Marshalltown (Iowa) Times-Republican, Say, if a feller is caught with an extra potato without a stamp, can he get by with declaring that it was a pre-war potato kept in the cellar just in case a friend should come along? eggs and | the Mediterranean and adjacent | and | ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS By Frederic ]. Haskin. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Washing- ton Evening Star Injormation Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washing- ton, D.C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. When does the rainy season begin and end in Ethiopia?—V. O. A. The regular annual rainy season lasta from the first of June to the third week in September. In some parts of the highland country what are known as the little rains occur spasmodically in May. However, the country in general is dry from October to May. Q. Do actors often receive injuries when playing in battle scenes such as the ones in “The Crusades’?—H. B. A. During the battle of Acre ih this picture there were 17 minor injuries, the director, himself, being hit by an arrow. Q. What is the meaning of the name Matecumbe with reference to the Mate- cumbe Keys in Florida?—J. N A. The name is derived from the language of the aboriginal Indian in- habitants and means place of sorrows. Q. How many States have laws pro- hibiting hitch-hiking?—R. K. A. Fourteen States and the District of Columbia now have such laws. They are: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Michigan (local ordi- nance), Minnesota, North Dakota, Penne« sylvania, Uteh, Virginia, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Illinois. Q. Is there an estimate of how many cars were used by tourists to take Sum-= mer trips this year?—H. S. A. It is estimated that 9,750,000 cars | carried nearly 35,000,000 persons on | Summer trips. Q. What is cross-fox?—R. 8. A. A cross-fox is simply a color va- riety of the common red fox, having a more or less definite dark cross-shaped mark on the back and shoulders. Q. Did ancient Rome have an archives of its state records?—L. C. ¢ A. A large building on the slope of the Capitoline Hill. facing the Forum, was erected in 78 B.C. for this purpose. It was called the Tabularium. Q. What is the population now of the town where Shakespeare was born? —R. N A. Stratford-on-Avon has a popula- tion of about 12350. Q. How high are the Victoria Falls in Africa?—V. G A. The Victoria Falls in Southern Rhodesia on the Zambesi River are a mile wide and from 250 to nearly 350 feet high. The river forces itself through a hundred-foot outlet into a yawning gorge that winds away for 40 miles. The railroad bridge crosses the gorge nearly 400 feet above the water level. Q. How many lives were lost in Ger- many during the war?—A. F. L. A. A correspondent of the London Economist estimates that Germany lost 2,000,000 men in the World War, of whom 25 per cent were between the ages of 19 and 22, and 60 per cent between the ages of 19 and 29; that 800,000 ! civilians died for lack of food; and that there was a decrease in births amount- ing to 3,500,000. Q. Who was Mother Bickerdyke? — 1J.d.C. A. Mary Ann Ball Bickerdyke was an | American Civil War nurse. In 1861 she was assigned to field hospitals at Fort Donelson; later she was on duty on several warships on the Mississippi. She also served with Grant's' army at the siege of Vicksburg. Q. How many families from the United States are in Matanuska Valley, Alaska?—C. J. A. One hundred ninety-one American families are living in this co-operative farming colony. Q. Who is the highest paid actor in the colored race?—A. W. * A. Bill Robinson, the 57-year-old tap dancer and actor. is said to command the highest salary of any Negro male performer. Q. What kind of pie is in greatest demand in bakeries?—P. E. A. Apple pie. More of it is sold than any other. and it is believed that it leads among homemade pies in this country. \l Q. Is the picture in the Victor ads that of a real dog?—K. C. A. The dog used as a trade mark be- longed to Francis Barraud, who painted the picture. Officials of the company bought the painting and later awarded Barraud a pension in appreciation. Q. When was Yugoslavia officially given that name?—E. G. A. By a royal decree signed October 3, 1929, by King Alexander, the name of the Kingdom of the Serbes, Croats and Slovenes was changed to the Kingdom | of Yugoslavia, an appellation long in popular use. Q. How old is the evangelist Sunday?—H. W. A. He was born in 1853, so is 72 years old. - Billy Q. How tall was the Duke of Welling- ton who met Napoleon at Waterloo? —S. 8. 8. A. He was 5 feet 9 inches. Q. What is meant by humor as a physiological term?—H. M. A. Humor is a fluid of the living body, of which Hippocrates enumerated four, namely, blood. phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. These were considered to be the principal seats of disease in man. In modern medicine humor is a term generally applied to the thinner fluids, whether natural or morbid, limpid, ser- ous or sanious, such as the humors of the eye or the watery matter in a blister. A Rhyme at Twilight Gertrude B;ggke Hamilton His Slumber Song Magnate of commerce on top of life, His day is one of dynamic strife. Nights when he finds sleep elusive And his foemen in the fray Become spectral and obtrusive, Keeping peaceful rest away, His nepenthe, bringing slumber, Often is a doggerel verse Sung in years too few to number By a comforting old nurse: “Rock-a-by, my bouncing master, Down the mountain come the sheep. One by one they come and faster, White ones, black one—down the steep. Count them slow or count them faster, Sleep and let them bleat, my master; Slower, faster, faster, faster. Sleepy and let them bleat, my master.” {