Evening Star Newspaper, December 9, 1935, Page 10

_ THE EVENING STAR ‘With Sunday Morning Edmu. WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY .............Decembe: 9, 1935 "THEODORE W. NOYES...........Editor The Evening Star Newspaper Company. e O nta, Ave New York Offce: 110 East 4204 8t 2nd 8t Chicago Office; Lake Michigen Building, Buropean Ormce: 14 Hegent St. London. Ensiand Rate by Carrier Within the City. Regular Editio ———-45¢ per Month --60¢ per month ‘whe: ---65¢ per month The Sunday Star.. .- BC per copy Night Final Edition i ght Pinal and Sunday Star-...70c per month ight Pinal Star. ~Z56¢ per month Collection made at the end of esch month. Orders may be sent by mail or telephone Na- tional 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. ,jarvland and Virginia. Bally ang Sinday_. aily only_ .. . Bun only ... All Other States and Canada. Member of the Assoclated Press. The Associated Press s exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this aper and also the local news publisl ¥ AN Tights of publication of special dispatches erein are also reserved. - The Naval Conference. It is under clouded international skies that the London Naval Conference today embarks upon its task. That task is to bring about a renewal of existing treaties of limitation or negotiation of others to take their place when they expire in 1936. Conditions could hardly be more unfavorable than those which surround this newest effort to reach agreements which, while safeguarding the defensive necessities of all concerned, would repre- sent progress in lifting excessive burdens from the backs of taxpayers throughout the world. 1In the Far East Japan is in the midst of fresh activities designed to impose her domination over extensive areas of North China, a species of aggression which has evoked protests from both London and Washington. In Europe the Italian-League controversy has reached its most critical point, with a general war looming as a, menacing possibility if the Geneva powers resort to an em- bargo on Mussolini’s oil as a last recourse to compel peace in East Africa. Acute as are the world conditions that darken the outlook for a mnew naval accord, it is the uncompromising attitude of Japan that mainly dampens hopes of success. Tokio ins on obliteration of the 5—5—3 ratio and supplanting it with one that will give the Japanese com- plete equality with the respective fleets of Great Britain and the United States. The two English-speaking countries favor maintenance of the 5—5—3 balance, believing it adequately provides for the legitimate requirements of all three nations. American insistence upon preservation of the present ratio is be- lieved to be somewhat firmer than that of the British, and our delegation at London, as conference strategy de- velops, may find itself bearing the brunt of the struggle to keep Anglo-American- Japanese strength at current levels. A Japanese fleet augmented to the degree Tokio seeks would make the island em- pire invincible in Far Eastern waters and virtually seal its mastery of Asia. European naval problems, no less vital than those provoked by Japan’s im- perialistic ambitions, also overcast the London conference. Italy’s unabated demand for parity with France continues to he resisted by the French. Germany’s re-entry into the ranks of naval powers presents France with additional anxiety “and necessities. Mussolini’s struggle with Great Britain over the balance of power in the Mediterranean is yet another vexatious factor. Britain is building more cruisers. It will be .a miracle if out of so seething a cauldron of rivalries, suspicions and genuine naval needs an even approximately satisfac- tory agreement emerges. As President Roosevelt declared on Armistice day, the American people can- not hide their heads in the sand. They must take realistic cognizance of what is going on in the world. This country consistently favors progressive, propor- tionate limitation and reduction of armaments, but a United States Navy second to none is the irreducitle mini- mum. To it Washington’s spokesmen at London may be expected resolutely to adhere. —————— The social life of this Nation’s Capital has become so complex that an invitation card is liable to carry more. political pull than a radio speech. The Largest Eye. The world's largest equivalent of a human eye has been advanced a further degree toward completion. Dispatches from Corning, New York, tell that the mirror disk for the two-hundred-inch telescope to be built at Mount Palomar, California, has been taken from the annealing oven in which it had been cooling for a year. The casting of the glass, it is indicated, now has been fin- ished to the satisfaction of the scientists superintending the work. But, of course, much remains to be done. The disk must be smoothed, ground, polished, coated with aluminum, transported to its final location and installed in the elaborate machine pre- pared to receive it.- Each detail of the task will have to be performed with care. The fabric itself is both delicate and sensitive; also the tools and instruments employed in dealing with it are devices which require a perfection of skill on- the part of those operating them. Even the slightest error might result in the zuin of the entire project. Thus mankind is reminded of the in- finite genius of the Universal Architect. The astronomers, mathematicians, physi~ cists, chemists and engineers engaged in the construction of this modern miracle, 1t’is obvious, are trying to surpass the Creator. In effect, their goal is the in- vention of an optical marvel more pow- erful and accurate than any ever before {possessed by an individual human being. ‘They aspire to develop an eye compe- tent to search the uncharted ocean of ) THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1935. THIS AND THAT outer space where unguessed stars are supposed to shine. But their attitude toward their dream is humble and contrite, It represents no ambition save that of learning more about the wonderful universe in which they live and the glorious truth to which by their devotion they testify. For precedent, if any such were needed, they might cite the case of the forgotten benefactor of the race who enhanced the reach and forcefulness of the human arm and hand by designing the hammer. Likewise, they are related to all the other thinkers who, since before history was written, have labored to increase the abundance, the efficiency and the comfort of life—the sponsors of civiliza- tion who have made the planet a unit and bound distant nations together in ties of culture and custom. All things considered, then, the largest eye may have divine blessing. That, surely, will be the hope of thousands of plain people who find each step in its manufacture fascinating. % — District-Virginia Boundary. The perennial question of what con= stitutes the boundary between the Dis- trict of Columbia and the State of Vir- ginia was referred by an act of Congress in 1932 to a commission, on which were representatives of both Virginia and the United States. That commission, after long inquiry, has reported. Its re= port is such as to assure further atten= tion, mainly on the part of the United States, and thus the prospect of an early settlement of this disputed question is net in immediate prospect. The com- mission in its findings has rejected claims of the Government to a large section of the area in question, including the Wash= ington Airport and that of nearby prop= erty, which is valued at more than $1,= 000,000. The Government's contention in this matter, supported by three rul- ings by the United States Supreme Court, is that the boundary is the high water mark on the Virginia shore. The commission holds that the “fair and proper boundary” is the low water mark on that shore, running from head= land to headland across creeks and in- lets, citing other Supreme Court cases in support of that contentibn. One excep- tion is made to this principle in respect “to the area which comprises the inland basin that has been developed as a bird sanctuary, where the commission recom= | mends that the boundary line be drawn 150 feet west of the Mount Vernon boulevard and running parallel to it. The public park authorijies estimate that ‘the boundary proposed by the commis- sion’s finding would deprive the Federal Government of jurisdiction over ap- proximately 284 acres of submerged land and some “made land” over which juris- diction has been claimed for park and boulevard purposes. This commission has been taking tes- timony and hearing arguments since March, 1934, and it would seem from the contentions of the representatives of the Park and Planning Commission, which has represented the Government as a party to the case, that the prin- ciple of possession and improvement has not been followed in this final finding. The original District of Columbia in= cluded a considerable portion of Virginia territory. When that portion was retro- ceded to the State the principle of “high water mark” was supposedly adopted as marking the new boundary line, the District thus extending across the Po- tomac to the Virginia shore. The lands lying between low water mark and high’ water mark were unimproved, were, in fact, mostly submerged, of no value and indeed a menace to health because of the noxious influence of the marshes of which they were mainly comprised. The river improvements corrected this condi=- tion and the lowlands were filled by the Government. From time to time im- provements have been made in that area, notably and chiefly the develop- ment of park conditions, climaxing in the establishment of the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, together with the development of Columbia Island and latterly Analostan, or Masons Island, "now Roosevelt Island. Other areas re- claimed from the marsh have passed into private possession. A final definition of this matter must soon be given. Congress has referred the case to a commission, and the commission has reported in terms which will lead to further disputation. Would another reference to a second commission, if this further report is not accepted by Con- gress, lead more assuredly to a final de- cision? That question complicates a condition which is now to be met in the consideration of the present report at the coming session. —_———— ‘Young Mr. Roosevelt was photographed laughing when he shot a bison. The bison may become extinct, but the Roose- velts never will. Usurpation of Power. Senator Borah’s joint attack on monopoly and on bureaucracy will be regarded with mixed feelings by both the Roosevelt New Dealers and the rep- resentatives of big business. The New Deal Democrats may wince under the criticism of the N. R. A. and the A. A. A. contained in the Borah speech of Sat- urday night. On the other hand, they will probably be pleased to find in the Senator’s address strictures on great aggregations of industry and business, monopolies, aligned, generally speaking, against the Roosevelt administration and ready to open their coffers to the G. O. P. in the coming presidential campaign. Many conservative Republicans, espe- cially big business Republicans, are urg- ing that Government let business alone. The firm declaration of the Idaho Sen- ator that President Roosevelt’s successor should wipe out the trusts and monop- olies rather indicates a split on the Re- publican side of the fence. For Borah himself has the support of many Re- publicans for the presidential nomina- tion. The representatives of big business, on the other hand, will find Senator Borah’s comments upon constitutional democracy, his demand for less centrali- zation of Government in Washington, not only appealing, but satisfactory. .They will view with approval his decl'u- ration that business recovery has been aided, not retarded, by the Supreme Court’s decision holding unconstitutional the national industrial recovery act. While the N. R. A. offered benefits of a kind to big business, it also held a threat. There was always the possi- bility that after buslness had been well organized the real control would pass to the hands of the Government. In- deed, it has been the contention of critics of the N. R. A, among them Senator Borah, that New Deal supporters of the N. R. A. were looking forward to that ultimate result. The Idaho Senator, however, is desir- ous not alone of protecting the individual from encroachment upon his liberty by Federal bureaucracy, but also from “usurped economic power” in the hands of private monopolies. Both political parties in the past have promised to prevent the usurpation of such power, and to strike down monopolies. But, he contends, they have failed to do so. Doubtless both parties will attack mo- nopoly in their platforms for 1936, but Senator Borah is skeptical. He would so carry the fight against monopoly into the coming campaign that the avoidance of the issue by the next administration would be impossible. Senator Borah finds the answer to the problem of unemployment and recovery in a better distribution of the purchasing power of the people. Until industry gen- erally recognizes this to be a fact, he sees little hope. Great aggregations of industry in a few hands, he insists, make such distribution of purchasing power more and more difficult. If the “horse and buggy days” and their impli- cations are desirable, politically speak- ing, they are also desirable from an economic point of view. Senator Borah's is a powerful voice. He has not indicated that he will be- come a candidate for the presidential nomination next year. If he does, and wins a nomination, big busines$ will have to make up its mind whether it prefers to go along with the Roosevelt New Deal for another four years or is willing to have such a critic of the “usurpation” of economic power” as the Chief Executive of the Nation. Usurpa- tion of power, whether by Government or by private individuals, Senator Borah finds intolerable. B ————— G. Bernard Shaw is one of Mussolini's favorite authors, which fact places him along with Dante and Tasso and several other distinguished poets. Shaw has usually devoted himself, like Moliere's Bourgois Gentilhomme, to plain prose and avoided danger of philandering with the poetic muse. —————————— A radio address is usually limited to a quarter of an hour. Some of the printed material with political purpose be- hind it might be more succinctly clarified if limited to a quarter of a column. P Tax dodging is indisputably worthy of punishment. Finland, without ostenta- tion, has suggested that debt dodging is not a practice worthy of national ap- proval. —o—————— The campaign of the near future will call on the public to consider so many questions that the really big issue in the debate may not be easy to select. ———— Maine no longer controls attention in election forecasts. The public waits to see what Nebraska is going to do about Senator Norris. o Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. This Little World. “There is trouble.” But we say “It's a thousand miles away.’ Swiftly comes the sound of grief That's demanding new relief, With the speed of light aglow Comes the call of human woe. With their mighty wings unfurled Airplanes hasten 'round the world. It's a world which, after all, Grows so neighborly and small! What's a thousand miles or more? When Grief knocks at every door. Footprints. “Do you expect to leave footprints in the sands of time?” “I did have some such idea,” said Sen- ator Sorghum, “but as I note the paths of glory scattered around the world, I must admit that the going here and there seems a bit muddy.” Jud Tunkins says he can't help wish- ing there’d be a prospect of a scarcity of bombs as well as potatoes.” Juniper. “I would not chew tobacco! Said Little Robert Reed, But botany will plainly show That juniper’s a weed. Why should a cocktail make a hit? This weed—why now begin To shake it up and swallow it Because it flavors gin. No!” Audience. “You can always tell your troubles fo a policeman.” “You can if you're lucky,” said the po- liceman, who was writing a ticket. “But a driver like you is lucky not to be telling ‘em to a grand jury.” Earth Revolves. We turn this old world upside down Each century or so, But every day this world goes 'round, The almanac will show. And if the hours are insecure In darkness few complain, It will, we're always very sure, gomz right side up again, “T used to wish I was a foot ball player,” said Uncle Eben, “so’s I could be cheered when I got in a scrimmage, 'sted o’ bein’ arrested.” i THE POLITICAL MILL By G. Gould Lincoln, ‘This promises to be a red-letter day in New Deal history. In the Supreme Court of the United States arguments begin over the constitutionality of the agricultural adjustment act and the processing taxes levied thereunder. President Roosevelt speaks in Chicago before the Farm Bureau Federation in defense of the agricultural program of his administration. And, in Washington, Maj. George L. Berry, N. R. A. industrial co-ordinator, opens a much-heralded meeting with industrial leaders and labor for the avowed purpose of outlin- ing a program of returning the unem- ploved to work. It has been suggested that the meeting is to be devoted in part to plans for restoration of the N. R. A. in some new form. * Kk kX Upon the A. A. A. and its benefit checks 4o the farmers the Roosevelt Democrats are basing much of their hope of carrying the great farm States of the West next year. If the Supreme Court holds the act unconstitutional, as it did the N. R. A, what then becomes the attitude of the President and his administration? The decision of the court - unhorsing the N. R. A. brought from the President statements in which he seemed to indicate that the Govern- ment was helpless to aid the people meet certain problems of modern life. Will he have something to say further along such lines if the court eventually rules out the A. A, A.? And what if the court finally holds unconstitutional other New Deal acts—perhaps the Wagner labor act, the Guffey coal act and the public utility holding companies act? It seems impossible that the question of a con- stitutional amendment giving the Fed- eral Government meager powers to deal with the problems outlined by the Presi- dent after the N. R. A. decision will not bob up in the national political campaign. * k ¥ x Senator Guffey of Pennsylvania, new chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, promises to be an active and aggressive leader in the 1936 campaign. It is his job to hold for the Democratic party all the seats it now has in the Upper House and to increase, if possible, that already overwhelming majority. He has a real job on his hands to hold all the seats occupied by Democrats who come up for re-elec- tion. On the other hand, with only a third of the Senate membership to be chosen, it is mathematically impossible for the party in power to lose control of the Senate, even if there were a Repub- lican sweep next year against the New Deal. x k k *x ‘The Pennsylvania Senator has no fear of such a sweep. Indeed. in a statement made public today, he said: “It is my belief, generally speaking, sitting Demo- cratic members of the Senate will be renominated and re-elected.” He has still to take a leaf from the book of Post- master General James A. Farley, Demo- cratic national chairman, when it comes to making claims of Democratic success at the coming election. Mr. Farley would certainly have omitted that “generally speaking.” However, Senator Guffey is quite positive in his statement about Democratic successes next year. He said, for example: “Issues in the States will be sharpened by the individual candidates. National issues will necessarily predominate in our senatorial contests. President Rodse- velt’s popularity and the New Deal ac- complishments will undoubtedly be the main issues, both nationally and locally. The American people will express their gratitude by their votes and it is un- believable that they will repudiate the splendid administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.” * ok ok x The first senatorial primary will be held in Louisiana January 21. In that primary a successor to the late Senator Huey P. Long, bitter foe of President Roosevelt and all his acts, will be chosen. No one doubts that the nominee of that primary will be elected to the Senate in the following November. Louisiana will send a Democrat to the Senate. The only question is whether he will be a critic of the Roosevelt New Deal or will go along with the President. The death of Senator Long removed from the next campaign one of the thorns in the side of the Roosevelt Democrats. The dates on which primary elections for the nomination of Senators will take place, together with the names of those States which hold conventions for mak- ing such nominations, are given by Sen- ator Guffey, along with the names of the Senators who are up for re-election, as follows: s January 21, Louisiana, vacancy, Demo- crat; April 14, Nebraska, George W. Nor= ris, Republican; April 14, Illinois, J. Ham= ilton Lewis, Democrat; May 5, Alabama, John H. Bankhead, Democfat; May 5, South Dakota, W. J. Bulow, Democrat; May 12, West Virginia, M. M. Neely, Democrat; May 15, Oregon, Charles L. McNary, Republican; May 19, New Jer- sey, W. Warren Barbour, Republican; June 1, Iowa, L. J. Dickinson, Repub- lican; June 6, North Carolina, Josiah ‘William Bailey, Democrat; June 15, Min- nesota, Thomas D. Schall, Republican; June 15, Maine, Wallace H. White, jr., Republican; July 7, Oklahoma, Thomas P. Gore, Democrat; July 21, Montana, James E. Murray, Democrat; July 25, Texas, Morris Sheppard, Democrat; Au- gust 1, Kentucky, M. M. Logan, Demo- crat; August 4, Kansas, Arthfiy Capper, Republican; August 4. Virginia, Carter Glass, Democrat; August 6, Tennessee, Nathan L. Bachman, Democrat; August 11, Arkansas, Joseph T. Robinson, Demo= crat; August 11, Idaho, William E. Borah, Republican; August 18, Wyoming, Rob- ert D. Carey, Republican; August 25, South Carolina, James F. Byrnes, Demo- crat; August 25, Mississippi, Pat Harri= | son, Democrat; September 1, New Hamp- shire, Henry W. Keyes, Republican; Sep- tember 8, Michigan, James Couzens, Re= publican; September 8, Colorado, Ed- ward P. Costigan, Democrat; September 15, Massachusetts, Marcus A. Coolidge, Democrat. Convention: New Mexico; Carl A. Hatch, Democrat; New Mexico, Dennis Chavez, Democrat; Georgia, Richard B. Russell, jr, Democrat; Dela= ware, Daniel Hastings, Republican; Rhode Island, Jesse H. Metcalf, -Repub- lican. * % * x Perhaps Senator Guffey had in mind the Massachusetts situation when he said that “generally speaking” he ex- pected the sitting Democratic Senators to be renominated. Up in the Bay State Gov. James M. Curley has thrown a monkey wrench into the machinery. He has announced that he wants the Senate seat held now by Senator Marcus A. Coolidge, a Democrat. In Massachusetts it has been said that if Curley wants the senatorial nomination, undoubtedly he can have it. The public is still wait- ing for a statement from Senator Coolidge about his plans for next year— whether he will be a candidate to suc- ceed himself or leave the field open to Curley. Curley has plenty of enemies among the Democrats of usetts. They tried to keep him from being nomi- nated for Governor, but failed. Whether they will unite with Senator Coolidge and seek to thwart Curley if he persists for the Senaie remains to There has been & rumor that BY CHARLES A correspondent wants advice as to raising sheep. 2 Another asks for a list of books for a young girl who must take a long rest cure. “She thinks that, having read much, T am the person to help her. But I do not feel capable. The task is too big for e ™ The Department of Agriculture issues farmers’ bulletins dealing with the rais- ing of wool-bearing animals. But who is so bold as to tell another human being what to read? Who but ‘Woollcott? There are, of course, numerous check lists of good books, the “best books,” the “hest sellers,” the books of the last year, and so on. Who is there, however, who actually believes that he is helping another reader by giving him such a list? The writer here, many years ago in this column, gave a list of books which had appealed to him, that was all. It is as much as any one can do. We are afraid if we referred to that list it _would seem hopelessly old-fash=- ioned and out of date. . Reading habits change, along with the fashions of clothes and hats. Alexander Woollcott, self-appointed guide to literature, recently got himself gently “panned” by reviewers of his “Reader” for daring to include the fa- mous “Dolly Dialogues” in his compila- tion. He liked Hope's sentimental treatment of an ageless theme, just as he liked “Mr. Chips,” and for much the same reason. It is not necessary to agree with all his selections to applaud his determina- tion to like what he likes. If readers of all sorts, and of whatever age, would rely on their own likes and dislikes more, we would have better readers everywhere and less bowing down to critics, who, after all, are just as likely to be wrong as the rest of us. It is easy for any one of ordinary intelligence to draw up a list of good books, but whether the list actually fits the reading mind of another human being is another question. Recall the lists of “required reading” in the schools. Probably more book haters have re- sulted from those lists than from any -other two causes. We do not mean book haters in the sense of “woman haters,” but simply of individual books. Many a book which would have found its way naturally into a reader’s life has been spoiled for him beyond repair by its inclusion in some list of “required reading.” ‘The writer here, while a great admirer of Charles Dickens, has never been able to read “A Tale of Two Cities.” It was wrecked for him, many years ago, by a forced reading. It is needless to say that this forcing was not physical. No one held us down and compelled us to read the book. The compulsion was entirely of an- other sort, but it did its work just as thoroughly. * kK % We wonder how many persons there are who have gotten a genuine distaste, E. TRACEWELL. not only for individual books, but also for literature, through the praise of The very word “literature” has come to take on some of the scorn which today adorns the formerly good word “journal- list.” And it may be—we think it is—due in part, at least, to the too ardent press- ing of information on others. If the friends we seck are seeking us, as a good man once said, it must apply to books as well as to human beings. All this critical pother is confusing and at times even disgusting. Mostly it is unnecessary. There are good books everywhere, in the best sense of the term, and if we turn a child loose among them we have done about all that can be done for him. If he has the reading temperament he will find his own books, the ones he likes, and will build up his own critical standards. One of the best ways to get a “list of the best books” is to go personally to any good library and roam among the stacks. There is nothing like handling a book, for the race is hand-minded as well as eye-minded. ‘The very “heft” of some books in the hand is encouraging. Good librarians everywhere are anxious to help such readers, not so much by suggesting, perhaps, as by pointing out | the unlimited treasures of such insti- tutions. * ¥ *x % As for sheep raising, we do not know whether these animals would be suc- cessful on “an eight-acre farm” or not, but offhand see no reason why they wouldn't. We must confess to a secret desire to own a few sheep. Ever since we saw a pair of them tethered a few years ago in a suburban yard we have had a longing for just one pair of them. No doubt there are ticks and other | matters which come up to bother the sheep owner, and the larger his flock, the more ticks, etc. Wherefore, our advice is to proceed carefully in going into the sheep business on a small or large scale. They must be sheltered in Winter, and have fodder, or whatever sheep food is called. ‘There must be good reasons why one so seldom sees them on small places, | all cotton fabrics having an equal nume- for offhand it would seem that a sheep is one of the most intriguing animals possible, They ought to make genuine adorn- ments for the small place, at the same time keep the lawn neatly mowed. Sheep somehow remind us of rabbits. We understand that they are not as gentle as they look, but surely they have a wonderful background of life and literature behind them, from “Lamb in His Bosom” to “Done Found My Lost | Sheep,” an old Negro spiritual. Echoes of Handel comes to mind, along with the ancient spiritual aspects. If we had eight acres we would try a few sheep, by all means. They must be immeasurably superior to hogs, and every one with that many acres, even less, goes in for swine, WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. Now that the “congress of American industry,” as represented by last week's militant meeting of the National Asso- ciation of Manufacturers, has declared open warfare in 1936 against the New Deal, it becomes certain that a titantic battle reminiscent of the McKinley- Bryan campaign is in sight. As things are shaping up, it looks broadly like a struggle between the industrial North and East against the agricultural South and West. The prospective anti-Roose- velt alliance between big business and the G. O. P. assures the elephant a war chest that may be as opulent as the one mobilized by Mark Hanna to beat free silver 40 years ago. There are already ample indications that the impending political unpleasantness is going to de- | velop into one of the most fiercely-fought contests of our day and generation. Re- publicans contend that the scramble for their presidential nomination is prima | facie evidence of party faith that the President, can and will be defeated. They are not impressed by Jim Farley's boast that the election is already in the bag for F. D. R. and point to the elaborate arrangements the New Deal field mar- shal is already perfecting as proof that he knows the Democrats have a fight on their hands. * X Xx % Even though Senator Millard E. Ty- dings, Demotrat, of Maryland has de- -cided to resign from the senatorial bache- lors’ club, there are still seven members left in good standing. They arve Messrs. Rush D. Holt, Democrat, of West Vir- ginia; Richard B. Russell, jr., Democrat, of Georgia; Lewis B. Schwellenbach, Democrat, of Washington; Joseph F. Guffey, Democrat, of Pennsylvania; Frederick Hale, Republican, of Maine; David I. Walsh, Democrat, of Massa- chusetts, and Kenneth McKellar, Demo- crat, of Tennessee. In addition to its seven bachelors, the Senate contains four or five widowers. * x x % British Labor’s new party leader in the House of Commons is no horny- handed son of toil, but an Oxford man and former military officer. He is Maj. Clement Richard Attlee, who has been identified with the labor political move= ment for more than a quarter of a cen- tury. Beginning life as a barrister of the Inner Temple, he later became a social worker in the East End of Lon- don and served. with distinction in the Tank Corps throughout the World War, including the campaigns in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia and France. Long a lieu- tenant of Ramsay MacDonald, Attlee was undersecretary of state for war in the first Labor government in 1922-4 and chancellor of the Duchy of Lan= caster in 1930-1. Now M. P. for the fa= Coolidge may be handed a diplomatic appointment abroad by President Roose- velt during the coming Winter months; that he will accept and so ease the situ- ation in Massachusetts. * ¥ X ¥ Guffey had a good word to say for Senator Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas, the Democratic leader of the Senate. “It is inconceivable,” he said, “that Sen- ator Robinson’s seat can be seriously contested, for it is believed that the good people of Arkansas will feel, as the administration does, that he has ren- dered invaluable service to his State and the Nation.” Guffey did not omit Sen- ator Carter Glass of Virginia, although the Virginia Senator has at times been a vigorous critic of the administration policies, “Senator Glass,” said Guffey, “exemplifies the finest traditions of the representatives of the Old Dominion, and has the well wishes of his friends for a long continuation of his distinguished services.” The Democratic high com- mand looks to both Senator Glass and Senator Harry Flood Byrd, also of Vir- ginia, to line up behind the President in his fight for re-election next year— ustification. and apparently with J . : ¢ | mois Limehouse division of London, Maj. Attlee, who is 53 years old, is headed | for the prime ministership should Labor | | no pies, puddings qr dessert. once again rule in Downing Street. * ¥ X x America's foreign service—diplomatic and consular—is steadily coming to com- prise an all-America team. The most recent promotion and appointment list includes representatives of 43 States and the District of Columbia. * x *x x Uncle Sam is in position to turn on the heat, literally, on an extensive scale in Washington. With the recent inclu- Building, the seventy-second on the list, the huge new Government central heat- ing plant is warming a total gross :loor area of nearly 17,000,000 square feet from one spot—believed to be one of the big- in the United States. In Midwinter the G. C. H. P. manufactures and pumps steam along miles of underground pipes throughout official Washington at the rate of about 700,000 pounds an hour. T EE In quarters in this country which have a deciding voice in nominating an Ameri- can jurist for the existing vacancy on the World Court bench—for which Dr. Manley O. Hudson of Harvard Univer- sity is now slated—it appears that a movement has recently arisen to with- hold the recommendation of any Ameri= can. Those who take this position, even though ardently pro-court, believe it is inappropriate to ask the tribunal to ac- cept any more citizens of the United States as judges, seeing that the Senate has definitely put the Indian sign on the institution. = Current events in China make it al- most, certain that Great Britain and the | United States will march shoulder to ence against Japanese demands for equality with the “English-shooting” fleets. Foreign diplomats in Washing= ton consider it something more than a coincidence that Secretary Hull's recent blast against the violation of interna- tional treaty rights in North China vir- tually coincided with similar declara- tions by British Foreign Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare in the House of Commons. The outlook for naval reduction at Lon- don was never bright. It is dimmer than ever, now that John Bull and Uncle Sam have jointly rebuked Japan for attempt- ing to gobble up another gigantic slice of Chinese territory under the so-called “autonomy movement” in the five prov- inces just south of the Great Wall. If and when the Italo-Ethiopian mess is cleared up, some concerted international action to check the Tokio war lords is in the cards. * Xk X x President Roosevelt, who is receiving an LL. D. at a “Philippines day” con- vocation at Notre Dame this afternoon, is the first Chief Executive of the United States to visit the “Fighting Irish” cam- pus. He will be greeted by the largest student body in Notre Dame’s history— 2,750. Men of national reputation who received the university’s honorary LL. D. in former years include the late Vice President Thomas R. Marshall and Sen- ator Thomas J. Walsh of Montana, as well as former Senators Joseph E. Rans- dell of Louisiana and James E. Watson of Indiana. Among present-day public men upon whom the honor has been bestowed are Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Senator David I. Walsh of Massa= chusetts and Frank C. Walker, director of the National Emergency Council and member of the Notre Dame Board of Trustees. Today’s convocation is de- signed as a tribute to the new Filipino republic. President Roosevelt’s address will be broadcast to the islands. Carlos P. Romulo, Manila publisher, will re- ceive the LL, D. degree on the same occasion. (Copyrieht. 1035.) | fore the Christian era. | That was all! sion of the mammoth new Archives | | the locks at Sault Sainte Marie?—G. A.E. gest installations in operation anywhere ' | shoulder at the London Naval Confer- | 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 repiy. Q. Are the Philippines now entirely independent?—W. B. A. While the commonwealth has now been established, it will be 10 years bee fore the country will be entirely inde- pendent. Manuel Quezon is the first President of the commonwealth. Q. How many times has Stanley Bald- win been Great Britain's prime min- ister?—V. A. A. On June 3, 1935, he became prime minister for the third time. In the No- vember general elections he was ree turned to power. Q. What causes the largest number of deaths of persons from the ages of 15 to 45?—J. B. A. Tuberculosis is the leading cause of deaths between those ages. Q. What circumstance led to the ine | vention of the bicycle?>—E. H. A. Baron von Drais is referred to as the father of the bicycle. In 1816 he invented a vehicle to assist him in per- forming his duties as chief forester to the Duke of Baden. Q. How many people did Pompeil hagc gt the time that it was destroyed? A. At the time of its complete destruc- tion, AD. 79, about 2,000 persons per- ished. Tt is believed that the entire population was about 20,000. Q. What is the name of the book by Herman Melville that led to the abolition of flogging in the Navy?—B. M. A. By its graphic description of the ill treatment of enlisted men, “The World in a Man of War” (1850) had this effect, Q. How long has calico been manuface tured?—H. M. A. This flowered or printed cloth of India was mentioned by historians be When Indian fabrics began to be imported into Eue rope, about 1631, they were called cali- cuts. The name came to be applied to ber of warp and weft threads crossing each other at right angles. Q. Does occupational therapy trace its origin to the World War?—A. F. A. This form of treatment was used by ancient Greeks and Egyptians, especially in the case of mental disorders. It be- came known by this name in the World War when some system of occupation was used in treating disabled soldiers. In 1917 the National Association of Oc= cupational Therapists was organized in the United States. Q. What food was served for Christmas dinner at Valley Forge when George Washington entertained the Marquis de Lafayette?—B. E. S. A. J. C. Fitzpatrick, by means of de= tailed research, has learned what articles of food were served at this Christmas dinner. “A little veal, a little mutton; not much, for it is probable that the | turkeys, geese and ‘fowls’ were husbandz=d for the occasion; a small gquantity of potatoes and cabbage and less turnips. No tea. no coffee, no milk, a small amount of butter, perhaps, but no bread, no eggs, no flour, so there were If there was either whisky or rum, which is doubtful, as none was issued to the troops that day, there was no punch, for sugar was lacking. A minor, though irritating difficulty was the probable lack of suffi- | cient knives, forks and spoons, for Wash= ington had been separated from his bag= gage during Brandywine and German- town maneuvers and did not obtain it again until the middle of January.” Q. Can an ocean steamer go through A. It could not. Q. What is the origin of the word “parchment”?—C. L. B, A. The word “parchment” is derived from the name of the city, Pergamum, where parchment is said to have been invented in the second century B.C. and where it was manufactured. Q. What is the translation of the Ital- | ian motto on the seal of the State of Maryland?—T. 1. A. It is the Calvert motto, translated, “Manly Deeds, Womanly Words.” Q. Please give some information about Belle Boyd, the spy.—E. T. A. Belle Boyd, Confederate spy in the Civil War, was but 17 when her exploits began. During the next two years she made use of opportunities in her home towns of Martinsburg and Front Royal, Va., for gathering information on Union | activities, unsuspected, and conveying it to Stonewall Jackson. She was twice arrested and imprisoned, but each time soon released. In 1863 she escaped to England, where she went on the stage. | Subsequently she played in New York nd in stock companies in the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. Q. Are the street car tracks in Wash- ington, D. C., standard gauge?—G. T. T. A. They are standard gauge, 4 feet 812 inches. Q. What is an espalier?—J. F. M. A. It is a trellis or lattice used in hor= ticulture for training a tree or vine, either for ornament or to fit it into a small space, allowing it to get a maxi- mum of air and sun, and bringing the fruit within easy reach for gathering. The plant may be trained into various | shapes, such as a fan or fork. The term is also used for the tree or vine so trained. Q. What proportion of the gold of the world is held by the United States?— {E P8 A. The United States holds the largest percentage of gold in the world, having 43.7 per cent. France comes second, with 223 per cent, and England third, with only 7.4 per cent. The percentage of gold held by all other nations is 26.6 per cent. A Rhyme at Twilight By Gertrude Brooke Hamilton A Friend of Mine. There is a high post he will claim. He rates its grandeur with a smile, Summing up all the weight and power That will be his for life’s brief mile. And yet he puts thru crucial days, Dynamic in their forward sweep; Foes to be struck with all his force And every valiant friend to keep, The fight s hard and hot and strong. Amid the tumult, and alone, In leadership warm-blooded, calm, Hellhk;t.hepoltflutllhhm