Evening Star Newspaper, December 7, 1936, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTO! D. C, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1836. A e e e THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Edition. WASHINGTON, D. C. December 7, 1936 THEODORE W. NOYES Yhe Evening Star Newspaper Company. 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd St. Ohicago Office: Lake Michikan Building. Rate by Carrier Within the City. Regular Edition, s Evening Star e -—~--45¢ per month tar e ooy ---60c per month u r 65c per month ¢ per copy (when ¢ The Sunday Star-- Night Final Editie: ight Pinal and Sunday Star-...70c per month E)lgt Pinal Star . .. .---B0c per month Collection made at the end of each month. ers may be sent by mail or telephone Na- tonal 5000 Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Mary and Virginia, {ly and Sunda 1 yr., $10.00: 1 mo., 85c Fi!\' only i %6.00; 1 mo., B0c junday only. $400; 1 mo., 40c All Other St 1y and Suncay.. aily only.._. junday oniy - $5.00; 1 Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches eredited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein Il rights of publication of special dispatches erein are also reserved. —_— mo., Neutrality Program. The project of the United States for inter-American peace and neutrality, in- troduced yesterday before the Buenos Aires conference, is noteworthy for the limitation of its scope to American na- tions and to strictly American causes. Noticeably lacking is any reference to an inter-American attitude toward non- American warfare, for the crux of New ‘World peace lies in divorcing the rela- tionships of the Western from the East- ern Hemisphere. The American draft convention also leaves untouched the matter of an American League of Nations, confining its articles to provision for consultative action against war and for neutrality of non-involved American nations in case these means of war prevention fail. Five treaties and conventions would be co- ordinated by the American project in creation of an Inter-American Consul- tative Committee composed of the secre- taries of state and foreign ministers of the 21 American republics. Determination of & state of war— always the decisive factor in neutrality— is the basis for action by non-involved American states. The neutrality act of 1935, under which President Roosevelt applied embargoes on arms, ammunition and implements of war going to Italy or FEthiopia, was never clear on what con- stituted a “state of war,” although it gave the President the power to pro- claim it. The question always existed whether a government, not involved in armed struggle, could brand it war— against the wishes of involved nations— for the purpose of bringing into force rights of third nations as neutrals. The same problem arises in the case of any American conflict lacking decla- rations of war. Is there actually a state of war? The draft convention under- takes to provide for this contingency by stating that the parties “shall, * * ¢ acting through the permanent Inter- American Consultati;e Committee, im- mediately take cognizance of the out- break of hostilities in order that they may determine forthwith, either jointly or individually, whether such hostilities shall be regarded as constituting a state of war so as to call into effect the neu- trality provisions of the present con- vention.” If the convention makes no provision for co-operation in a world system, it does take cognizance of obligations of certain American states under the League Covenant, and acts as no bar thereto. A hint of the tack new neutrality leg- fslation in this country may take also may be gleaned from the draft. The provision in article VII that “individual neutral powers shall be free to impose such prohibitions or restrictions on trade and commerce between them and belligerents, * * * as they may deem appropriate in the interest of their do- mestic policy or of international peace,” leaves ample room for authority for embargoes on such primary raw mate- rials as cotton, oil, copper and iron, the trade in which was bitterly fought dur- Mg the Italian invasion of Ethiopia. In order to avoid complications in com- mercial treaties it is further stated that such restrictions shall not be deemed contraventions of commercial agree- ments. The convention would forbid the traffic in arms to belligerents, just as existing United States legislation does. The effect of the convention would be, however, to put such prohibition upon a treaty rather than a statutory basis, thus leaving it intact in the event the present Federal statute should go out of force for any reason. Welcome Help. Will the inspection of the District jail by Attorney General Cummings and other officials of the Department of Justice end as so many other inspections of the past have ended—in indignant protest that such conditions should not be permitted to continue in the Cavital and that something ought to be done? Hardly that. For the very fact that Mr. Cummings and Sanford Bates, Fed- eral director of prisons, have accepted the invitation of the Board of Public Welfare to see for themselves the condi- tions at the jail indicates that they feel some responsibility and are prepared to see what they can do in discharging it. Of course, there is a very definite re- sponsibility by the Federal Government in the penal institutions of the Capital. The Federal Government is, as a matter of fact, exclusively responsible. It is merely the.long-existing snarl in the fiscal relationship between the Federal Government and the District that has served to create & condition where every- body is interested and nobody appears to have the responsibility. What the Board of Public Welfare can do about the jail depends on the merits of their case as the Commissioners see it in rela- tion to other District needs. What the Commissioners might be able to do about r the jail depends upon how the Bureau of the Budget feels about it. And what the Bureau of the Budget might decide is unimportant, unless the committees and the houses of Congress agree. In the meantime the jail, character- ized as & “sixty-year-old pile of junk,” stands as & contradiction to about every- thing that penologists, including those who represent the Federal Government, have advocated. Efficient and even skilled administration have been able to accomplish little, though it is doubt- less true that under less efficient or skilled administration there might easily have been disorder and a major scandal. It is time for some one with the in- fluence and the determination of the Attorney General to step in and give weight to the efforts of those who have been working to correct the conditions that exist today. Unhappily, our unly remedy for crowded jails seems to lie in building bigger jails. But as long as that is the only remedy applicable now, it should not be longer delayed. POV — The Politics of It. Until the constitutional issues are clarified, particularly as they affect relations of the crown with cabinet ana Parliament, final repercussions on party government in Great Britain, long the world’s model for democracies, will not be apparent. But even in the melting- pot stage into which King Edwards matrimonial plans have plungea the empire’s system of government, some of the purely political bearings of the crisis are discernible. They disclose a mesh of rivalries and ambitions for power altogether remote from the Simpson affair, which may turn out to have been a mere pretext for producing sweeping changes in control at London. Even before the present sovereign came to the throne, the Baldwin govern- ment feared he was destined to ruffle the complacency of the present regime and upset laissez-faire conservatism by his fondness for unconventionalities. Since his accession, Tory anxieties have been whetted by the repeated public admis- sions of Edward VIII that the working classes are entitled to better conditions than the government makes possiole. The cabinet’s resentment reached acri- monious proportions when the King paid his recent visit to the depressed areas of South Wales, constituting, in the gov- ernment’s estimation, an intolerable demonstration against its do-nothing policy. . Downing Street may have concluded that the dramatic development of the marriage question presented an 1deal opportunity for a showdown with the headstrong young monarch wno advo- cates a square deal for his submerged subjects. Edward’s conception of the throne’s prerogatives and duties was considered a deflance of the tradition- bound aristocracy and court, 2s well as of the government, and, as current events reveal, the established church, too, feels that the King was neglectful of its vested rights. Justly or unjustly, these various elements are suspected of de- siring on the throne a more pliable per- sonality. During the development of this embittered situation Mr. Baldwin's foes have been neither quiescent nor blind to their opportunities. They have their own axes to grind and ancient grudges to avenge. Among them King Edward finds eager and natural support. It is now being organized by Winston Churchill, perennially covetous of the prime min- ister’s place, with the powerful aid of the newspaper peers, Lords Rothermere and Beaverbrook, who also have long thirsted for Baldwin’s blood. Plainly, the Edwardian allies consider that the abdication crisis is their great moment. And regardless of the imme- diate outcome, it is obvious that Mr. Churchill hopes to be entrusted with the task of forming a new government. At present the Churchill-Rothermere- Bea- verbrook coalition numbers no more than sixty members of the House of Commons, but, with popular sympathy for Edward steadily crystallizing, it fig- ures that the “King's party” eventually would become a formidable phalanx. Things are moving with kaleidoscopic speed in London. At any moment they may “confound the politics” and “frus- trate the knavish tricks” alike of the Baldwinites and the “King’s party.” But history may record that the empire’s supreme ordeal had its real origin in motives wholly disassociated from s romantic monarch’s desire to wed the woman of his choice. Third Term. George Creel, writing in Collier’s, makes the assertion that President Roosevelt has no idea of seeking a third term in the White House. He quotes an unnamed intimate of the President to whom the President said: “On Jan- uary 21, 1941, when a new President takes over, I will be in Hyde Park hav- ing the time of my life.” This would seem to settle a question which has been widely discussed, although President Roosevelt has not yet begun his second term. The third-term talk grows out of the sweeping victory which President Roose- velt recently won at the polls, with a vote greater by many millions than that given to any other candidate. The great personal popularity of the President, at the present time. gives it added impetus. Other Presidents in the past, from Washington down, have been discussed as third-term possibilities, Washington wisely declined and set a precedent that has been upheld in American politics and government, The friends of President Ulysses 8. Grant talked of a third term for the soldier who commanded the Union forces at the close of the Civil War. Theodore Roosevelt, after having served as Presi- dent almost all of the second term to which President McKinley had been elected and after having been elected President in his own right in 1904, made & statement declaring that he would not seek a “third term.” Calvin Coolidge, who became President following the death of President Harding, and later was elected President to succeed him- self, turned his back also on & “third term.” He issued his famous “I do not choose to run” statement in the Summer preceding the national campaign of 1928, although many of his admirers were pressing him to enter the lists again. Dissatisfied with the administration of the man of his own choice for President, the late Chief Justice Willlam Howard ‘Taft, Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 sought another term in the White House. It was not, of course, & third consecutive term as President. What would have happened had Theodore Roosevelt re- ceived the Republican nomination for President in that year can only be a matter of conjecture. He might have defeated Woodrow Wilson, although the tide was running strongly against the Republican party in that year. And had the earlier Roosevelt lived until the Republican National Convention in 1920, he would have had strong backing for the Republican presidential nomination at that time. Viewed in retrospect, Calvin Coolidge showed his shrewdness when he took himself out of the race for President in 1928. He had served through one complete term and the greater part of another, The United States of his day had reached the heights of prosperity. Had he been President in 1929 he could not have averted the crash which came, or the depression that followed. For his own place in history and his own peace of mind, he was well out of it. President Franklin D. Roosevelt has served through nearly four tough years. He has before him four years in which to round out the program and the policies for which he has fought. All signs point to four years of increasing prosperity in this country. Four such years should be enough for any President. And if his administration be successful, the Presi- dent may well retire to Hyde Park and have “the time of his life.” Friends and supporters of the Presi- dent may three years hence begin a drive to re-elect him, believing that his con- tinuance in office will be a good thing for the country. That the President will yield to their demands, however, seems at this time incredible. He doubtless will take the stand that two four-year terms as Chief Executive is sufficient and that the precedent established by Washing- ton should stand. — e Lawyers are referred to by Attorney General Cummings as “servants of so- ciety.” There will always be enough rigid politicians among them to keep the office typists tuning up on “now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party.” —————— “Utopia” has been frequently men- tioned. The only thing positively ascer- tained about it is that there never was any such place. ————— English radiocasters have defined a social crisis which is not to reveal any- body as conspicuously eligible to the Nobel peace prize. Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Change in the Country Store. I think upon the days of yore ‘When in the good old country store The words of wisdom we would hear With now and then a song of cheer, A touch of hunger no one knew, For we had cheese and crackers, too, But that was several years ago Before they got a radio. ‘We give attention most profound As words of wiser men resound. Our gift of eloquence and song And now put back where they helong. While men accounted truly great Instruct the people of the state. ‘We simply keep the fire aglow And listen to the radio. Approaching an Agreement. “I have forgotten more about states- manship than you ever knew,” said the rude visitor. “I don’t know how much you knew in the first place,” answered Senator Sorghum, “but there is no doubt in my mind about your having forgotten it.” Restored to Circulation. They put & shiny dollar in A little “bank” made out of tin. A cautious boy, I let it stay— And there it rests until this day! It hasn't bought a single thing; No pleasure has it helped to bring. I send it, with no more delay, To function in its proper way. Jud Tunkins says he never yet knew a man who felt like bragging about his wealth when it came to reporting his income tax. “One who can talk cleverly on both sides of a question,” said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “will have little of value to say on either side.” Perfect Traffic Rules. In heaven, where streets are paved with gold, He who its glory gains May find new traffic rules, we're told, Of which no one complains. Delicate Intimation. “We have put up a monument to our greatest gunman,” said Cactus Joe. “What kind of & monument?” “One of those simple stone slabs that has ‘Rest in Peace’ carved over his name. We're hopin’ that when he happens to be passin’ he'll notice it and maybe take ‘warnin’.” Fickle Audiences. ‘The changes time may bring are such As to produce surprise immense. The gentleman who “talked too much” Now gets the largest audience, “If you has made mistakes,” said Uncle Eben, “don’t be discouraged. It's less than a month now before you kin start in celebratin’ new resolutions.” 4\ THE POLITICAL MILL BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. In time of peace prepare for—peace. ‘This, in brief, is the plea which Secre- tary of State Cordell Hull made at the second plenary meeting of the Inter- American Peace Conference in Buenocs Aires on Saturday. It sounds sensible enough, although there may be those who reply that it does not dovetail with George Washington's speech to Congress in 1790 when he said: “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” It was Vegetius who said long before that: “Qui desiderat pacem praeparet bellum.” * Kk ok X Preparing for war in time of peace, somehow, has never prevented wars, although it may have been a means of keeping the prepared nation from attack until the would-be attacker considered itself even better prepared. Just at present, a lot of the nations of the worid are preparing for war, and the peace conference of the American nations was called to see what could be done to keep the Americas out of conflict, not alone with each other, but out of conflict with the nations of the old world. Secretary Hull, in his address, urged upon the American nations—and upon the world through the forum of the peace conference—the need of education along peace lines. There seems no doubt about that need. The value of peace has been discussed at international meetings for many years. Fifteen years ago, when the world was still sick of the World War. a great conference for the reduc- tion of armaments as & means of insur- ing international peace, was convened in Washington. The then Secretary of State, Charles Evans Hughes, now Chief Justice, thrilled the peoples of all nations with a generous proposal of the United States to reduce its naval armament. Tt looked, for a time, as if this plan for disarmament might work. Gradually as the years passed, however, the plan was thrown into the discard. The nations went back to preparing for war on a huge scale—in time of peace. X K oKX K Mr. Hull went much further in his plea than a mere matter of education. He stressed the need of a change in the dealings of the nations with each other in the matter of trade. He called for & restoration of “fair and friendly eco- nomic relations.” If he could bring that about, there would be a real chance for world peace: It's a tough nut to crack, this matter of economic relations. * * % % The Dominican Republic has come forward at the peace conference with a proposal for a league of American nations in the interest of peace, Whether such a league would work is a question. The last League of Nations has not been eminently successful. The United States remained aloof from that League, al- though it was conceived by the late President Woodrow Wilson. The League became a political foot ball in this country. President Franklin D. Roose- velt, in 1920, ran as a candidate for Vice President on a ticket that made the adherence of the United States to the League an issue and was defeated. It scarcely seems likely that President Roosevelt would undertake to bring the United States into a league of nations— American nations—at this juncture. The old repugnance of the American people to entangling alliances with foreign nations would surely raise its head again. Secretary Hull made no gesture toward a league of nations. But he did say that the Americas might well do a great deal through co-operation toward the maintenance of peace in the world. x K K X Senator Burke of Nebraska is pre- pared to offer a resolution at the ap- proaching session of Congress for the presentation of a constitutional amend- ment limiting a President of the United States to one term of six years. The chances are that he will not get to first base with the proposal. The argumcnts in favor of the plan for a single term have been heard often and have becn advanced frequently in the past. So have the arguments against it. If Presi- dent Roosevelt should throw his great influence back of the proposed amend- ment it doubtless would receive many votes in both houses of Congress. It must be supported by a two-thirds vete of both houses in order to be submitted to the States for their ratification, how- ever. Support for the single term by the President might go far toward still- ing the suggestions, heard frequently, that Roosevelt may be a tandidate for a third term. The President, however, could put an end to all third-term gossip, on the other hand, by merely announc- ing that he has no intention of being a candidate for re-election. ERE I Senator Burke also let it be known that he may include in his amendment proposal a change from two-year terms for members of the House to four-year terms. This might receive considerable support from the members of Congress who are under the necessity of seeking re-election every two years. But if that plan were adopted, the close touch which the members of the House must have now with their constitutents and their wishes might be diminished. The idea in providing & two-year term Ifor the members of the popular House of Con- gress was to foster the closest kind of relationship with the wishes and senti- ment of the people. * k kX Tt looks as though the coming session of Congress would see a large crop of proposed constitutional amendments, all of which must be referred to the Judi- clary Committees of the House and the Senate before they can hope for con- sideration. Amendments to give Con- gress the power to legislate in the matter of hours of labor and the minimum wage. to give the Congress the power to deal with agriculture and industry and social and economic problems of national scope will be thrown into the hopper in the House and introduced more formally in the Senate. There will be amendments to limit the power of the courts in pass- ing on legislation of Congress and amendments to make the issuance of further Government securities free to taxation. During the history of the United States there have been only 21 amendments to the Constitution—one of them to nullify an earlier amendment dealing with national prohibition and the liquor traffic. Not many of the new proposals for amendment, and perhaps none, will get by the coming Congress. * X X X The meeting of the Republican Na- tional Committee in Chicago on Decem- ber 17, called by Chairman John Hamil- ton to have a showdown on whether he shall remain as chairman or not, will be followed with much interest. It will be the first meeting of the committee since the national election and the Republican defeat at the polls. Further- more, it will be an unusually early meet- ing of a national committee following a national election. The committee, if it desires, will be in a position to draft resolutions embodying the ideas of the committee as to the course which should days to come. It cannot, of course, adopt a national platform. That is reserved for the party meeting in national conven- 4} High number of cardinals for one yard at one time has been reached in a local yard, with 12 of these beautiful birds appearing December 1 at 3:30 pm. The scene, according to a correspondent, is placed in a garden on Porter street between Connecticut avenue and Thirty- fourth street. This is & wonderful record for early in the season. Usually the cardinals, often called redbirds, do not arrive in such numbers until around Christmas, and even then only on snowy days. 1t is significant that snow fell that night. Probably the birds “smelled” the coming snow as well as the food put out for them! Cardinals in such numbers are secured for the home garden only through put- ting out a feeding station, well stocked with grains and seeds, particularly sun- flower seed. The latter, as most persons know, is the cardinal’s favorite Winter food when he can get it. He cracks the outer. cov- ering, eats the inside containing the germ. Thus he gets both carbohydrate, necessary for keeping him warm in the cold, and all of the vitamin content of a natural unprocessed food. Leave it to the creatures of nature to know what is good for them. We have heard this satisfying theory assailed, and, no doubt, it may be properly doubted, when it concerns man. Man. of all the creatures, has a mind to upset the divine plan. The beasts and birds and fishes, however, are not permitted to intrude their brains into their every- day affairs in the same way man is in his. Therefore what they do is by instinct. It is only man who perverts his instincts. * ok Kk ok The name cardinal is a better one than redbird. The latter seems to be a favorite of older persons, but it shows the fault of such names, because in some sections of the country a “redbud” means the scarlet tanager. Almost any wild bird of a red hue is called redbird some place. The name “cardinal” is taken from the scientific name, Cardi- nalis cardinalis, and refers only o the right bird Even the common name of bluebird, a favorite the world around, is some- times given to the blue jay, quite an- other bird. It will remain a question in many minds, whether the cardinal or the blue jay is the prettiest bird of the Winter garden here. We never thought there was any doubt about this until recently, when we had the pleasure of iuspecting eight blue jays at a feeding station on a tree trunk. These fellows come every morning exactly at 7 o'clock, within a few min- utes Their flashing colors, adorning their large, well-built bodies; their capable ways, their fighting attitudes, combine to make very beautiful birds. There can be little doubt, however, that the cardinal, especially the male, will remain the general faverite. For one thing he is very easily seen. Even when perched in a shrub he is plainly in sight, owing to his beautiful bright coloration. In the snow he be- comes something absolutely vivid, with his black ruff and crest atop the blood- red body. The female cardinal is even more beautiful, to the discriminating eye, but in a quiet way. She is the demure one of the family, although her mate par- takes of something of the same nature, especially in feeding habits. Both male and female cardinals are quiet eaters. If they were human, we would say refined eaters, but since they are birds we can merely contrast their | tion actions with other birds and say that they are quiet. * k% % ‘There is one female which comes to a feeder placed on a stake about 4 feet high. At this time of the year the spar- row population departs the feeding scene about 4 o'clock. Not until the sparrows have left does this varticular cardinal arrive. Then she appears, al- most as if by magic, in the tray of the feeder. ‘There she partakes of sunflower seed for half an hour or more, all by herself, turning her head from time to time to drop overboard the outer covering of the seed. She is a very fine specimen, with soft gray browns mingling with subdued pas- tel reds, with just a hint of green here and there. Her bill is exquisite, and her entire aspect is more kindly than that of her more brilliant mate, mostly to her lack of the black ruff aforementioned. She reminds one of a sedate grand- mother, neatly done up in Paisley shawl and cap. *x ok Our correspondent says that along with the dozen cardinals were a few nut- hatches and a titmouse and some Eng- lish sparrows. “but they are good friends with the other birds.” The titmouse is one of the finest of all the birds which Winter hereabouts. It is most often seen with its friend, the chickadee. These two small creatures are the de- light of the discriminating bird watcher, and he or she will be repaid for the sharp outlook necessary to spot them among the sparrows. These are among the aristocrats of the better birds. It is a curious thing, how birds, in a sense, emulate mankind. There is distinctly nothing snobbish about this, certainly not among the birds, and in no sense among their watchers. We find the English sparrows make up the mass of the bird people. They are hustling, bustling fellows, pushing and shoving each other out of the way, each trying to get the good things of life and not minding a bit stepping on another’s toes. The titmice, nuthatches, chickadees. cardinals (especially the females), be- long to the bird aristocracy. They seem to have more background. They do not rush at food, but approach more daintily. They actually appear to be better bred. They do not seem to scatter their food around, to eat so fast, or to be in so great a hurry about it. They do not, in other words, gobble. * *x %X X It is & toss-up which is the favorite bird of most watchers. the chickadee or the crested titmouse. They are much alike, especially in habits. We speak up for the chickadee. Now there is a bird for you! It is supposed to cry “chickadee—dee.” but the listener must use his imagina- It does utter, however, four dis- tinct notes, with the pause as indicated by the dash in “chickadee—dee.” Just what it is which makes a watcher admire one fine bird more than another is almost as much of a mystery as a similar preference for one human over another. It must be a matter of character plus | appearance. Birds have character, there can be no doubt of that, not only of their species. but also differing from each other. . The discovery of these differences, bird from bird, is one of the higher | reaches of bird observation as it is prac- ticed in the back yard, aided by a feed- ing station well stocked with seeds and grains. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. It goes without saying that the United States Government maintains the strict- est neutrality toward the British consti- tutional crisis. But there is speculation in some Washington quarters as to whether it will end without certain effects on Anglo-American relations. Last week, when the British press was suddenly ungagged, leading London newspapers which rushed to the support of the Baldwin cabinet subtly suggested that the whole tremendous incident might never have reached its critical climax except for the enterprise of American newspapers in bringing all the facts promptly and fully to public notice. Between the lines of these far-fetched and more or less officially inspired Brit- ish editorial utterances there’s a tinge of complaint that our newspapers are therefore not wholly blameless for the upheaval that is shaking the empire to its foundations. Diplomats will tell you there’s dynamite in such innuendoes. They think it's capable of undermining even as fervent an entente cordiale as that which traditionally unites John Bull and Uncle Sam. In at least one or two European and Asiatic quarters, the wish is father to such thoughts—a wish not at all likely to be gratified. * ok ok % Undoubtedly his Britannic Majesty’s Embassy in Washington has not viewed with anything resembling equanimity the faithful reporting of the British royal romance, including all and sundry there- with connected, by American newspapers and periodicals. It’s understood that press clippings accumulated at the em- bassy in such piles that they threatened to require provision of additional storage room even at the sprawling premises out on Massachusetts avenue, over which Sir Ronald Lindsay presides. But the King's seasoned envoy has far too keen knowl- edge of American conditions ever re- motely to have thought of launching any protest at the State Department. He knows what. happened in the case of Japan a year or so ago, when Tokio objected to a mere cartoon of Emperor Hirihito in a New York magazine. The Mikado’s government discovered that the last thing in the world into which any Washington administration would ever poke its nose is interference with the freedom of the press. * x X X Should Winston Churchill, M. P, emerge as prime minister at the head of a government pledged to support King Edward’s matrimonial program, the monarch’s chief adviser would appropri- ately be an Englishman sometimes de- scribed as half American. “Winston,” as he's popularly dubbed, is so known because his mother was Lady Randolph Churchill, native daughter of the United States and wife of Lord Randolph Churchill, one of the outstanding states- man of the Victorian era. Journalist and soldier, the present Churchill, for 25 years the Peck’s Bad Boy of British politics, has always been considered, because of his semi-transatlantic origin, more American in methods and tempera- ment than British, even though he has not always ed himself by aggressive friendship for the native land of his maternal ancestor. * ok x x What's in & name? The Right Rev. Bishop of Bradford, whose plain speak- ing about King Edward’s lack of re- a [ ligious enthusiasm immediately precipi- tated the Simpson storm, is in private life Alfred Walter Frank Blunt. History is sure to record that he lived up to his family title on the critical occasion now gripping the world’s attention. * x * X Predictions are freely made that John Hamilton will receive a vote of confi- dence and be retained as chairman of the Republican National Committee when he assembles it on December 17 to receive his resignation and pass judg- ment on his conduct of the recent cam- paign. Despite the inevitable enmities that the young Kansan engendered dur- ing his ill-starred maiden venture into big-time politics, and the mistakes he made, it’s considered by many Repub- licans that angels could have done no more under the circumstances Hamilten faced. The argument runs that this was so invincibly a Roosevelt year, everything considered, that even a Mark Hanna could not have elected a Republican to the presidency. Hamilton himself said a mouthful the other day when he de- clared that if New Dealers had been up against the sort of opposition the G. O. P. had to combat, Roosevelt would have been as overwhelmingly defeated as Landon was. Hamilton’s friends think he should have a chance to fight again when the odds are not so hopeless. S If Representative Sam Rayburn of Texas captures the Democratic House leadership, as now seems probable, he can mainly thank two “G” men—Garner and Guffey. By general consent, it's the intervention of the Vice President and the Pennsylvania boss that turned the to the coveted post will accentuate the ascendancy of Dixie and of Texas in par- ticular in Congress. The South now has the vice presidency, the speakership and 11 Senate chairmanships, including the most powerful ones. The same sort of Southern preponderance prevails in the House, where Texans head key commit- tees like Agriculture, Appropriations, In- terstate and Foreign Commerce, Judi- ciary, Public Buildings and Grounds and Rivers and Harbors. It was once thought that heavy Democratic gains in North- ern representation, as the result of the '32, '3¢ and '36 elections, would break Dixie's stranglehold on congressional plums, but for the immediate future seniority will keep the South in the saddle. 3 * % x % Uncle Sam’s newest 10,000-ton cruiser, the $15,000,000 Brooklyn, just launched at New York Navy Yard, is the third American warship to bear that name. The first Brooklyn was constructed at Philadelphia in 1858 just before the Civil War. She took part in the capture ot New Orleans, the bombardment of Galveston and the battle of Mobile Bay. The second Brooklyn, also buiit at Philadelphia, in 1895, achieved a record of 12 captures during the Spanish- American war and received 20 direct hits in the battle of Santiago. * ok x % Although not an official of the admin- istration no man in Washington has done more to promote the new era of inter- American fraternity now finding expres- sion at Buenos Aires than Dr. Leo S. Rowe, who is complefing his sixteenth successive year as director general of the Pan-American Union. It is Rowe's job A ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Evening Star Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. How far is it around the promenade deck of the Queen Mary?—L. L. A. Once around the promenade deck is equal to one-third of a mile. Q. Does the soclal security act apply to aliens?—E. J. A. The act applies to aliens unless they fall into one of the specifically excluded groups. Citizenship has nothing to do with eligibility. Q. What is meant by the President’s brain trust?>—G. M. B. A. It is a more or less figurative term, but describes a group of unofficial ad- visers. It is our understanding that as, Governor of New York the President gathered about him for consultation men who by experience and study were in a position to know the forces which motivated the social economy of the country. He consulted them as to what he thought was wrong and what could be done to remedy it. Q. Where is the Rose Croix Univer- versity?—J. L. A. 1t is located at San Jose, Calif, Q. Can you give me figures showing the larger groups of installment plan buyers?—P. L. O. A. Unskilled labor, 1245 per cent; semi-skilled labor, 25 per cent; me- chanics, 14.87 per cent; merchants, 11.21 per cent; salesmen, 645 per cent; pro- fessional men and women, 5.66 per cent; farmers, 566 per cent; clerks, 4.74 per cent. These figures are from an article by Isaac F. Marcosson in the American Magazine, Q. What actress in New York was arrested for playing “Sappho” about 1900?—W. H. G. A. On February 21, 1900, Olga Nether- sole and her managers were arrested in that city for producing “Sappho.” Q. Is the person living to whom Robert Louis Stevenson gave his birthday?— H K. A. Mrs. W. Bourke Cochran, who is at present living in New York City, was born on Christmas and as a child re- ceived gifts only once, instead of twice a year. The author in a formal docu- ment transferred to her “all my rights and privileges in the 13th day of Noveme ber, formerly my birthday. to have, to hold, exercise and enjoy the same in customary manner.” Q. Who originated the idea of national corn-husking contests?—E. G. A. They were started 13 vears ago at the suggestion of Henry Wallace, then editor of Wallace's Farmer. Q. Where and when was the first auto- mobile race held>—O. R. F. A. In France in June, 1895. The course was from Paris, or Versailles, to Bor- deaux and return. There were 50 entries out of the then 250 automobiles :n France, but only 19 reached the starting point at Versailles before starting ttme. The winner was Emile Levassor; time, 48 hours 48 minutes, but he could not | ‘claim the first prize because he did not carry at least four persons in his car. Q. What is a whale shark?—C. R. W. A. The whale shark (Rhinodon typicus) is an immense shark, also called basking shark, of the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean. It attains the greatest length of all known living fishes, sometimes exceed« ing 50 feet and reputed to reach 70 feet. It is a sluggish monster with mouth and nostrils near the end of the muzzle and with feeble teeth. It pursues no prey but feeds on small marine creatures taken without effort. Q. What is the earliest postmark?— H M A. An example of the earliest postmark known was recently auctioned in London. It was a Bishop mark, dated 1662, im- printed on the envelope of a letter from Bartholomew Hussey of Dublin to John Morris at the Flying Horse at Cornhill. Henry Bishop introduced his mark, a date in a circle a year earlier when hs paid his first installment of $107,300 for the office of Farmer of the Posts, the equivalent of Postmaster General. Q. Who executed the bronze tablet on which is Lizette Reese's poem “Tegrs"?— S.D. A. The distinguished Baltimore sculp= tor, Hans Schouler. His statue of Presie dent Buchanan is in Meridian Park, Washington, D. C Q. Please give a biography of Mabel Dodge Luhan, author of “Movers and Shakers.”—E. J. A. Mrs. Luhan was born at Buffalo, N. Y, February 26, 1879, daughter of Charles F. and Sara McKay Ganson. She was educated at St. Margaret's School, Buffalo, and at the Chevy Chase School, Washington, D. C. She was married to Carl Evans in 1900; Edwin Dodge, 1903; Maurice Sterne, 1916. In 1923 she married Antonio Luhan of Taos, N. Mex., where she now makes her home. Among her books are: “Lorenzo in Taos,” “Intimate Memories, Vol. 1,* “Background, Vol II,” ‘European Ex- | periences” and “Winter in Taos.” scales in Rayburn’s favor. His succession | A Rhyme at Twilight By Gertrude Brooke Hamilton The Wastrel. A good-for-nothing prodigal, A vagabond, a rover, ‘Who chose, instead of dignity, To trail the whole world over. His father stormed, his mother wept. Yet from each steadfast mooring He sailed away with each new tide To find scenes more alluring. Somewhere a bright eye caught his own, And in the port he tarried; ‘Then, as the idea novel seemed, He stayed along, and married. Now he is rising in the world. ‘When wanderlust enfolds him He tosses high his little son And laughs, because he holds him. —_—— to cement the ties among the 21 Amer- icas in a variety of ways outside the scope of official relations, but which require no less skill, tact and diplomacy, One of the main items on the confer- ence agenda in Argentina is “intellectual co-operation.” In that field the Pan- American Union, under Dr. Rowe’s in- dustrious leadership, is restlessly active. The notable series of Latin American concerts held during the past twe or three years has been a recognized friend- ship-building factor. (Coprright, 1686.)