Evening Star Newspaper, May 17, 1937, Page 12

"A—12 THE EVENING STAR With Sunday Morning Editien. The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 11th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd 8t. Chicago OfMce: ¢35 North Michigan Ave, Rate by Carrier--City and Suburban. Regalar Editlon. day Star A0 '"::" :deflmmr’mnm or 156 per week The EYERIng St%,. er month or 10c per week The Sunday Star . _-6c per oDy Night Fis Night Final and 70¢ per month Night Final 8t _85¢ per month a, t each month or esch week, Orders may be sent by mall or tele= phone Natloral 5000 Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. Maryland and Virginia, Bunday only’ All Other States and Canada. Daily and Sundsy. 1 yr., $12.00; 1 mo., $14 Dally "oilyoundeY- § 35, 1200 1 mn..”fg?: Sunday only_ - 1 yr.. $5.00; 1 mo., ' 50¢c Member of the Associated Press. ‘The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this RT‘DG;“:PG :l,xoptl;‘e‘ IO[C,I\ n':l Bub’lil!h!?s here{n. 8 ublication o a hereln are also reserved,” °F ‘oo Gspaiches District Bill Riders. One of the important tasks facing Chairman Thomas and the members of the Senate subcommittee on District sppropriations is to rid the District eppropriation bill, which they take up for consideration this week, of some of the curious anomalies caused by legis- lative riders. The safest and wisest course is to eliminate the riders. The rider transferring control over public hospitals from the Board of Public Welfare to the Health Department was emasculated by the House. But while administrative control remains with the Board of Public Welfare, the money is transferred to the Health Department. The funds and the administration should remain with the Board of Public Welfare until properly considered legislation is enacted providing for a change—if change is shown to be desirable—in the existing system. The rider prohibiting school teachers from engaging in clerical work was aimed at the so-called psychological tests in the schools. The actual effect, if the rider remains in the bill, will be to cause confusion and uncertainty second only to that caused by the lamented red rider. The rider should be eliminated. The rider transferring school play- grounds and other playgrounds to the Community Center Department sets up another administrative agency for play- ground control, is contradictory to the established policy of co-ordinating al- ready divided control of recreational facilities and should be eliminated from the bill. If there is merit in the con- tention that playground activities should be under direction of the Board of Education, this rider does not accom- plish the purpose. It is a half-baked proposition, neither fish nor fowl nor good red herring, and should be stricken from the bill. The provisions for a fire insurance rating expert and for a bonding com- missioner for the District were carried in the bill in the expectation that there would be legislative authorization for the creation of such posts, with powers and functions provided for the incum- bents. Unfortunately, for it is believed the theory behind the creation of such positions may be sound, no accompany- ing legislation has been proposed. Until the legislation is enacted, is it not unwise to appropriate needed revenue for new positions that may not be authorized by legislation? The rider which sought to divert gasoline tax funds to support of the Department of Vehicles and Traffic was killed in the House, but the traffic department was left high and dry, without the funds necessary to support it. That condition will be easily reme- died. But the bill should avoid gas tax diversion in every case. Threats of such diversion are already blamed for de- priving the District—through tabling of the House bill passed by the Senate—of its share of Federal road-aid funds. The appropriation bill should provide no new channels of diverting gasoline taxes. The rider prohibiting salary realloca- tions under the Reclassification Act re- flects the personal opinion of House committee members that reallocation salary step-ups are being abused by.the municipal government. Is that opinion sound? What supports it? As it is, the rider is a discrimination against muni- cipal employes who in ather respects are placed on the same basis with other Federal employes. As such, it is unjust. These are some of the riders remain- ing in the District bill. Experience has amply demonstrated the danger of this sort of legislation, a danger best avoided by eliminating the riders and leaving legislation to the legislative committees. —_———————— 1{ anything happens to be going wrong with your affairs, there is always Sen- ator Copeland, who knows how to give you valuable advice, if you have the ability to take it. He is another man who knows more about how a family ought to be reared than he usually gets & chance to tell. Movies in Color. One of the largest and most active motion picture producing companies has announced that hereafter it will make movies in color exclusively. Like the silent films, it seems black-and-white photoplays soon are to be at one with Babylon and Tyre. Cinema has out- grown a technique which formerly was “good enough.” It now marches on to an improved method of manufacture, & higher and a truer form of art. The bystanding philosopher finds the news immensely interesting. He re- members the first telephone, the first phonograph, the first automobile, the first airplane, the first spluttering crys- tal set, and, of course, the first pathetic efforts of the pioneers of celluloid drama. Within the span of half a century—so fleeting & moment of cosmic timel—he has seen a cultural expansion unprece- A dented in the history of human experi- ence. Yet he understands that the future is certain to be infinitely richer in such achievement. Movies in color are but a single symptom of the pro- gressive oonquest of gircumstance which the race is accomplishing day by day. And it is upon growth of this basic and elemental type that humanity most reasonably can rely for the winning of “the more abundant life” it visions for tomorrow. The short cuts recommended by reformers too often lead to failure, the panaceas loudly preached by poli- ticians too frequently prove mere" oplates for the masses. On the other hand, the average man may testify from his own knowledge that science— “organized common sense,” as Huxley defined it—is trustworthy. It may be slow, it may demand hard labor, it may be costly to capitalize, but it does not disappoint. Neither does it lend itself to selfish or partisan uses. Few, in- deed, are the critics of the so-called “machine age” who deliberately would advocate return to the conditions of the era of primitive struggle whose emblem is the ox. Perhaps all that is currently wanted 18 general comprehension. Civilization, properly appraised, is dynamic. It connotes power to do things, intelligence to do them well and spiritual maturity sufficlent to assure their being done for the benefit of everybody. Spain’s Unending Ordeal. Americans’ preoccupation with more absorbing topics at home and abroad have diverted attention from Spain’s civil war. That fratricidal strife, marked by rising intensity and, as was proved at Guernica, by increased savagery, will soon be a year old, with no signs that the end is in sight. The nation seems condemned to indefinite continuance of its sanguinary ordeal. Hopes that en- forcement of effective international measures against further outside aid to the belligerents would hasten peace have so far proved illusory. Neither Loyalists nor insurgents show any indication that military exhaustion might suddenly halt hostilities. On all fronts fighting of undiminished vigor is in progress. Until Italian and German forces, long since admitted to be the backbone of Franco’s armies, retire from the fray, there is little chance that the conflict will be brought to early conclusion by decisions in the fleld. The situation has recently undergone & certain improvement for the insurgents, Two months ago the tide was running strongly against them. The government won smashing victories at Guadalajara and Cordoba. Madrid's defense tight- ened. Russian aircraft established un- mistakable superiority over German and Italian planes flying for the rebels. .Frnnco's lines were reported to be seeth- Ing with mutiny. His principal naval unit, the battleship Espana, was a victim of Loyalist fire. During the past few weeks the picture has somewhat changed. Rebel attacks are heing pressed with growing success against Bilbao, capital and leading seaport of the Basque coun- try and heart of a rich mining region. Franco yearns to conquer the stubbornly defended province because he would not only capture a wealth of material booty, but immensely bolster insurgent morale and liberate the northern armies for a final assault on Madrid. Meantime at- tacks on the old capital and, during the week end, on the emergency seat of government at Valencia, have been re- vived on a flerce scale. At Toledo, in the south, Loyalists are making desperate efforts to regain that ancient strong- hold, rebel-held since the relief of the Alcazar last Fall. Amid military trials and tribulations the Loyalists are having a recurrence of political troubles. Premier Largo Caballero, who for eight months led the struggle to crush the rebellion, has just assumed the task of forming still an- other “win the war” cabinet, minus sus- pected anarchist elements. Perhaps the most promising development in the tangled Spanish skein is the reputedly budding Anglo-French-German entente incidental to King George'’s coronation. As part and parcel of the attempt to effect such an understanding, the British are trying to make Hitler see the dan- gerous disadvantage of prolonged part- nership with Mussolini in the peninsular adventure, Odd forms of question as to racing con- tinue to arise. The ancient doubts con- tinue to assert themselves, however, and the methods of decision are at least more satisfactory than those applying to air racing. Under the Big Top. Advent of the circus is an event of no less definite importance to any com- munity because of the fact that it is an annual occurrence. Indeed, the regu- larity of this visitation adds to its sig- nificance. For the circus, a truly American institution, appeals to the multitude as does few forms of enter- tainment. It has grown to great pro- portions. Its features have multiplied and its splendor of presentation has in- creased, but basically it remains the same as in the early days of the one- ring show, with its single ringmaster, its solitary clown, its combination of feats of daring and skill, its show of strange creatures, its moments of thrilling suspense. The enlargement of the circus 18 characteristic of American enterprise in all lines. Once it traveled about on its own power, horse power in the main, trailing from town to town on the high- ways, with its wonders and splendors shielded from view. Now it tours the land in special trains, a great caravan of many hundreds of people and scores of animals. Its schedule is faithfully maintained, to the minute. It is “mass production” in typical American style. Many circus devotees remain who would like to see the old-time one-ring show come along, with its concentration upon single acts, instead of a dispersal of attention upon several features on display at the same #ime. But that may not be now, for it is necessary, in f THE EVEN order to maintain the enterprise upon & paying basis—and it must pay or it would languish—to present a multiple array of features simultaneously, in order to serve tens of thousands as hun+ dreds were served in former times. Fundamentally there are only & few genuine circus attractions, the deeds of daring in acrobatics, the equestrian dis- plays, the trained animals, the clowns. Skill is the easence of all of them, no less 50 in the clowning than in the acts that require long and arduous and dan- gerous training. The spectators who sit in comparative ease in their seats—most of them on bare boards without backs— appreciate the results, though they may not all realize the strict regimen that has made them possible. It has often been demurred that the circus “takes a lot of money out of & town.” That is true. But it also brings keen pleasure to a great number, and incidentally it leaves a goodly per- centage of the takings in the place of performance, in the expenses which must be met “on the lot,” as the circus saying goes. It is a fair trade, and the com- munity that is favored by its inclusion upon the regular circuit is really blessed. ——ee—s. One of the elements of charm in the discourses of Mrs. Roosevelt on public affairs is her fine appreciation of the art of using generalities in the face of defi- nite emergencies of thought. Even a question of the number of Supreme Court Justices is not taken up by her in off- hand comment. ————— Every now and then Sam Gompers is mentioned in connection with a strike situation. Sam Gompers had a way of getting things done without allowing the element of personal profit to become con- spicuous. How he managed to remain so powerful and yet so poor would be worthy of current study. —en—s. If length of service is to be a reward of genius, public servants will do well to take up playwriting in a serious as well as in a jestful mood. Aristophanes found a great deal of appreciation until his work seemed to apply to phases of modern thought. Then came the ques- tion of discreet censorship. —aee. Members of the United States Supreme Court signify a willingness to quit work at any age, but the temptation to write for publication would be a continual mducement to line up for new kinds of argument with a large element of public opinion already on their side. S After a few changes in governmental personnel, Spain may be able to reach an understanding of the methods of preserving her art works even if the necessity of promiscuous sacrifice con- tinues. Shooting Stars. BY PHILANDER JOHNSON. Summer Relaxation. Goin’ to the circus, For the day is fair. 8hort-change men will work us If we don't take care; Elephant and donkey Give a grand parade, By the agile monkey Tricks will be displayed. What care we for taxes, ‘What care we for wealth; Trouble soon relaxes ‘When you've got your health. Various cares may irk us— Put ’em all on ice; Goin’ to the circus And glad we’ve got the price. Deference to Custom. “What are you going to do this Sum- er?” “I am going fishing,” answered Sen- ator Sorghum, “not that I care for the sport so much, but I like to indicate that in my pleasures I respect the usual cus- tom of statesmanship.” “To be perpetually anxious eoncerning your dignity,” sald Hi-Ho, the sage of Chinatown, “may create a fear that you have not so much, that you can spare any.” Heroes. The aviator sails the sky And is a hero none deny, But there are other heroes true Who in esteem arise anew. A man with senses all alert That we may travel without hurt, Let us salute both far and near The locomotive engineer. He does not pose for cameramen, He knows where to go and when. ‘Time tables brief that all men read Are all the fame he seems to need. Jud Tunkins says the thermometer is another reminder that it's hard to be popular simply by telling the absolute truth. Too Small Even for Jest. “Do you approve of jokes about bath- ing suits?” “No,” answered Miss Cayenne, “any- thing as small as a bathing suit is not worth mentioning.” Economic Assertion. Supply exceeds, a student states, Demand and always will. That's why there are more candidates Than offices to fill. “De only critter I has met,” said Uncle Eben, “dat gits along by nosin’ into things is an elephant.” —oon—. Still True. PFrom the Des Moines Register. Jesse Owens outran a racing nag at Havana, but the old track maxim still stands. A man can beat a horse, but he can’t beat the horses. Cash-Basis Surplus. Prom the Pontiac (Mich.) Press. British tax schedules appear $o show x&mwwm.muhbw v { NG STAR, WASHINGTON. Clock Change Defense Goes Overboard With a Splash To the Editor of The Btar: I had not fully realized the menace in the pending legislation for daylight saving in Washington until I listened to a radio address on the subject last night, and I am of the opinion that the majority have not expressed themselves in regard to this matter. The statement was made that those who had so expressed them- selves were overwhelmingly in favor of it, and I have yet to come across one person who wants it. The only argument in favor of it was that those who play golf, tennis or other outdoor games would have an extra hour of daylight in which to enjoy themselves. That would be just dandy, and they are at liberty to get up an hour earlier whenever they want to in the early morning hours, when it is fresh and cool. It is a free country, at least it is sup- posed to be, but if the minority continues to regulate the majority as it seems to be doing in the present instance, be- fore long we might as well be living in Russia. As far as I am concerned, I am glad to see the sun go down on a hot Summer day. If daylight saving were to become effective, I would have to get up before 6 in order to get to work at 7:30. I would leave the office in the heat of the middle of a Summer afternoon and sit down to a hot dinner at 5 o’clock with the sun blazing overhead. It is difficult enough now, when it is light after dinner, to get the children in to their lessons, but it would be even worse with another hour of daylight tacked on. I am sure that their studies would suffer. I am not unmindful of the golfers. My father is one, and he is always late to dinner in the Summertime. The cook grumbles because he is late and he grumbles because he has to leave the links just when it is beginning to get cool. Having to come home an hour earlier would be just that much worse. Looking at the matter from this point of view, the only argument in favor of daylight saving goes overboard with a splash. Why can't those who want to enjoy outdoor sports get up an hour earlier in the cooler part of the day and leave the clocks alone? The only fair way to give the majority what they really want is to have a vote on the matter. DOROTHY T. BARCLAY. Tribute to Beauty of the Trees of Nation’s Capital To the Editor of The Star: There'’s a stately tree on a clay bank at left of the house—a gracious green- mantled giant, an erect, splendidly tall, gloriously rggal king of the green, green trees that clothe northeast Washington in beauty, a symphony that the years repeat! Yonder, in the sun-kissed distance, the Washington Monument, its imperial white finger sometimes seeming to touch the skies and holding speech with the stars when I look from my fifth-story, outdoor porch, across the green miles of tree tops. That's down by the Potomac, off in the southwest and off to the northwest, the spire of a church, white-glowing in the lights that flood it in mystic sym- bolism in the night’s black silence, an- swering the red light that burns un- winkingly from the window in the Monu- ment. Sentries of liberty, on guard mount over the city. As I sit on this porch. with the rain spangling the screening, a gigantic tree, black leaved, tops a little green-grassed hill on the left, at Thirteenth street; almost twice the height of the two- story “tourists’” caravansary at its foot. Intensely black, apparently; a “dark ferash,” unapproachable! The trees—ah, friends, the trees! The only diadem, God-made, in all the earth’s endless round of miles and peoples. The beautiful, singing, whispering, chanting trees! “Te Deum laudamus,” they pray for me—for you and me! Earth’s deathless crown of glory— earth’'s wordless great symphony! LOUIS DUNHAM GOLDSBERRY. ————ve— Protest Against Misuse Of Washington’s Parks To the Editor of The Star: May I voice a protest through your pages against the perversion of parks uses? For years the public has longed for a driveway to connect Rock Creek Park and Potomac Park so that those seeking afternoon pleasure drives might pass from one park to the other without entering city traffic, confusion and dust. During the last year this seemed to have finally been accomplished. Now comes the news that during the very hours when the parks are most sought for driving after the busy day’s work, the drive is to be cut off from any save those who happen to be south of the, White House. It certainly seems & most unnecessary step. Twenty-second street is one way north in the afternoon and should be sufficient for uptown traffic from those buildings near it. Also Sixth, Twelfth, Thirteenth and Eighteenth are one way north at that hour. It seems the height of absurdity to make a park- way for the health and pleasure of the people and then to turn it into an arterial highway, driving out of the park those who would seek its natural use, the recreational feature. Many after work hours go home and gather up a sick relative or friend and wish to reach the river. Why should they have to drive through the close city? Moreover, speeding in the parks is thus encouraged and is a menace to the young people playing there at that time of day. M. C. GUNTHER, Dictator Suspect May Be Well Known to Mr. Dodd To the Edi‘or of The Star: Your editorial on “Who is the Bil- lionaire?” drew some possible meanings to the letter from Ambassador Dodd. There are only a very few men in this country who can command a billion dollars. It seems to me that since our history shows that dictators never spend their own money, the most likely suspect might be some one the Ambassador knows very well. . Perhaps Mr. Dodd had in mind the only group in this country who can command billions at will, the President and his subservient Congress. And per- haps the Ambassador received his in- formation from his master. If we attach this conjecture to the court-packing scheme, we might be able to understand another astute and adroit trick the President seems to be so proud of. GEORGE H. BURKE. —ree————— Aviation Apothegm. From the Wall Street Journal. The aviation instructor, having de- livered a lecture on parachute work,'con- cludes: “And if it doesn’t open—well, gentlemen, that’s what is known as ‘jumping to & conclusion.’” Conceded. Prom the Greensboro News. No one has yet contended u:':e that proposed Florids cenal wouldn't drain the Treasury. ! D. C, MONDAY, MAY 13, 1937 THIS AND THAT BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL. “Philadelphia, Pa. “Dear 8ir: When I'm in Washington, I frequently read and invariably enjoy your column. I liked particularly the one of April 20, when you commented on the arrival of the first wood thrushes. “Incidentally, although I hadn’t planned to tell you this, you may get & smile out of it: “The other day, my wife, who is an ardent Roosevelt rooter, and I, who like him a lot, got into a political discussion with & group of Philadelphia Re- publicans. “The air became charged—and for no sound reason. 5 c: “Finally I interrupted to say.that politics, world economics, are unim- rtant. “I said, ‘Let me read you something that really is important.’ “Then, taking out of my pocket your column, which I had clipped that day, I read the fascinating letter which ap- peared in the column. * % x % “There was a pause. One friend turned and remarked that I am a diplomat. I'll admit that my gesture was one of diplomacy. But I would have been complimented more had I been told I am a poet. “With this long preamble, I write to tell you my problem. I would like to have not one, but a couple of fami- lies of mockingbirds around my home in the country just outside of Phila- delphia. “I probably inherit my love of their celestial music from my father, who was born on the Eastern Shore, and from his ancestors, who came from the shore of Virginia. “What I would like to do is to get a nest or two of fledgling mockingbirds— put them, not in the usual cage, but in a big pen where they could fly about. “Since, from my little knowledge of mockingbirds, I observe that they like people, I assume that they would be content to be close to my house. “After several months when they had become used to us, I would like to open the pen, let them out, but hope that they would continue to use the pen as their home. “Thus I reason that they would be protected from our Winters, which, under normal circumstances, would be too rigorous for them. “Is this thing feasible? And if so, how could I go about attempting this experi- ment without becoming enmeshed in the law? For I understand that in several States there is a law against shipping them out. Could the Biological Survey help me in what frankly is an experi- ment? Yours cordially, “G. P.M” * xok % Experiments such as this are not to be recommended, since they would intro- duce the very factors which much time, work, effort and money have been spent in fighting. Most States now have laws against the caging of our song birds. These laws probably are violated through the expedient of catching some of them while in Mexico, and shipping them to the United States as “Mexican cardinals,” and the like. In the main, however, the caging of our glorious redbird is a thing of the past, due to the conservation work of the Audubon Societies and the untiring work of ornithologists. There is little doubt that without this work, the sight of many of our wildbirds in cages would be & common thing. * k% % Hence, such an experiment, such as outlined above cannot be contemplated, except in theory. It would be interesting, of course, to see how it worked out. ‘Would the birds “take” to their pen after being liberated? We doubt it very much. Any one who ever has watched a mockingbird in flight, white flashing in the sunlight, knows that it is as free & bird as lives. Somehow the idea of one in a pen or cage is repugnant, and we feel sure that after our correspondent has taken up the matter with the Biological Sur- vey he will feel much the same. * X X % A few mockingbirds stay in this climate all the year ’round. Probably some remain in and around Philadelphia, which, after all, is not much colder than here. When we think of those three cold ‘Winters hereabouts (not last year, but the three before that) we may feel that a mocker which remained then will stay always. * ox ok X Distribution of this bird is regularly to Maryland, but irregularly to Penn- sylvania. It is even found at breeding time in Southern Wisconsin and Min- nesota. This is & brave, beautiful bird, whose powers of song have stirred the hearts of thousands of listeners. ' After the eggs are hatched, and the baby birds are in the nest, the male sings his most powerful songs, and thereby attracts humans, alas, to his nest. In the old days when these birds were permitted to be caged, this song of pride served to notify all of the location of the young. No doubt the mockingbird, in thus giving away the location of its nest, was right, as far as i{ts bird enemies were concerned, for it is afraid of none of them, and usually deals successfully with them. It did not reckon, how- ever, with sly and crafty man. * % ok X Few birds demonstrate the so-called territorial theory of bird song better than the mocker. When he takes up residence in a yard, and decided with his mate to make it their home ground, his song rings out widely, letting all other birds know who is in control. Not only that, however, he threatens, and drives away, by force of wing, every bird which comes near. He has been known to chase cats and even humans. ‘When he remains hereabouts in Win- ter, he is the distress of many kind- hearted persons who put out feeding stations. They discover that the mockingbird, as beautiful and as interesting~as he is, is considerable of a bully. Instead of 50 or a hundred birds at the feeder, there will be but one— Mr. Mocker, himself. Life is a curious thing. Our Phila- delphia friend wants more mocking- birds. And we know a local resident who, living near a great park, swears that scores of mockingbirds keep him awake by singing all night long! No doubt it is the old trouble of supply and demand. The man who would have mockingbirds has few or none, and the man who has them has too many! As for us, we hope that nobody, any- Wwhere, ever cages a mockingbird again. WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILE. President Roosevelt's refusal to budge an inch on the Supreme Court proposi- tion assures a political battle royal. Cer- tainly no White House-Congress feud to equal it has raged since the League of Nations knockdown and dragout between Woodrow Wilson and the Senate. Be- fore the smoke of battle clears away, the fray is likely to take rank with the flercest struggles American Presidents have ever waged with the legislative branch. Passions on both sides are al- ready at the boiling point. They're not likely to simmer down with the lapse of time. F.D. R. has manifestly come home in full war paint. Opponents of court packing are no less belligerent. It hasn’t been disclosed to just what extent Sen- ator Joe Robinson acquainted Mr. Roose= velt with the fisticuffs of the situation, but the Arkansan’s admission, on leaving the executive offices, that there is only “a fair prospect” of the judiciary bill's pass- age, pretty clearly suggests that the ma- Jority leader minced no words in por- traying the dimensions and intensity of the revolt against it. * X %k X Politicians are compelled to believe that the President accepts at face value Jim Farley's persistent claim that “we have the votes.” Otherwise, they cannot ac- count for Mr. Roosevelt’s stubborn un- willingness to consider any yielding. The Postmaster General continues to indi- cate that the high command expects .Democratic Senators, in a spirit of party loyalty, not to leave Mr. Roosevelt in the lurch. Nobody doubts that the whip will be cracked relentlessly from now on, with a view to bringing both opposition and wavering legislators into line. Many of them shortly must face the guns in renomination primaries. They are vir- tually on notice to toe the mark on the court issue—or else! Nor is there any lack of hints that all the arts and powers of patronage and legislative trading will be invoked to avert defeat of the judi- ciary bill and a crushing rebuke for the administration. The President is a sea- soned and resourceful political matador in such a crisis. The moment is not far distant when hell have to reveal his strategy for the decisive battle of the New Deal. * K K K Despite the fact that the “no sur- render” signal has been hoisted at the ‘White House, more than one authority is convinced that Mr. Roosevelt may yet be persuaded that compromise is the part of wisdom. In the event he should finally be induced to accept half a loaf rather than no Supreme Court bread at all, the guess is hazarded that the peril of a fatal split in the Democratic party will be the clinching argument. That a breach is in the offing as wide as the one that tore Democrats asunder during Bryan silver days is acknowledged on all hands. Even if some of the insurgents return to the fold when the court issue is out of the way, things have been done and said in the course of the vendetta that bode no good for ony in the congressional campaign of 1938 or the presidential contest of 1940. * K ok X Another little difference prevailing be- tween the administration and Congress is in the realm of Latin-American trade affairs. It concerns the desire of the President and Secretary Hull for ratifi- cation of the uniht:‘rymemmfion pr;;ig; ing for importat: to count Argentine live stock from areas certified a8 not infected with hoof and mouth ’ disease. Secretary Hull ardently favors the convention and has publicly indi- cated his impatience with senatorial opposition originating in a group of Southwestern cattle-raising States. The Hull contention is that the United States’ “‘good neighbor” policy toward the other Americas must have commercial, as well as political and cultural, advantages in mind. He is plainly of opinion that Uncle Sam’s refusal to give Argentine meat a square deal is far from good neigh- Borliness. Meantime, the sanitary con- vention remains hermetically pigeon- holed in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. * R ok % In Washington over the week end was & man who made a special trip to the Capital just to pick up a quartet of cock- roaches—each four inches in length. They are of the giant Central American breed, of which a considerable flotilla is in the exclusive and closely guarded pos- session of the National Zoological Park here. The visitor in question was George Francis Pierrot, traveler, lecturer and former editor of the American Boy Maga- zine, who is now devoting himself to establishment of the United States’ first important museum of entomology. It will be located at Detroit and called the Michigan Insect Zoo. At first, its ex- hibits, elaborately arranged, will be con- fined to some 200 different kinds of insects extant in Michigan—a tiny pro- portion of the 600,000 varieties said to exist throughout the world. Mr. Pierrot has had the co-operation of the Bureau of Entomology of the Agriculture Depart- ment and the National Zoological Park in organizing his zoo, which is conceived primarily as an incentive to youth in the study of natural history. A confessed “bug” on the subject of insects, Pierrot plans a trip around the world next Fall in pursuit of his hobby, after seeing the Detroit zoo started on its novel career. * Xk Kk % Viscount Snowden, veteran British So- cialist statesman, who has just passed away, had many ties and friendships in the United States, as has his widow, who proudly boasts that she has lec- tured in every State of the Union. At home and abroad one always spoke of “the Snowdens,” for husband and wife were intimately associated in their many public, literary and sociological activities. ‘Though as Philip Snowden, M. P, the former chancellor of the exchequer and labor leader generated bitter enmities through the years, politicians of all hues greatly respected his brilliant attain- ments and gallant fight against a phys- ical infirmity dating from earliest man- hood. Snowden perpetrated a celebrated passage in one of his farewell budget speeches in Parliament. Lamenting the failure of the inheritance tax to pro- duce anticipated returns, he explained that “Britons had not been dying up to expectations.” * k% X Beer is by way of suing for a divorce from hard liquor. At any rate, incom- patibility seems to have developed be- tween the newly organized United Brew- ers Industrial Foundation and the Dis- tilled Spirits” Institute. Brewers think they have more to lose than gain in being linked in the public mind with beverages of high alcoholic content. The breweries would like to establish popular accept- ance of beer as a mild drink or “liquid food.” Once the product is effectually disassociated from hard liquor, brewers believe they would have little to fear in ~ V7 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 many men who have received Congressional ‘Medals of Honor are now living?—J. W. M. A. About 225, Q. Where were the first traffic lights installed?—8. M. A. The first installation of traffic sig- nals was at East 105th and Euclid avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. Q. Was President Garfield left-handed? —N. M. R. A. James A. Garfield was left-handed. As in the case of many children, his teachers insisted upon his learning to write with his right hand, and in the Army he had to carry his sword in his right hand. In all other respects he was left-handed. Q. How many hotels iIn Washington, D. C., are members of the hotel associa= tion?—M. F. A. Thirty-five, Q. What is the most popular gambling game played at Monte Carlo?—S. L., A. Roulette is the favorite game, Q. In what show is Ethel Waters, the Negro singer, appearing?—H. G. A. She is singing at the Cotton Club in New York City. Q. Who discovered the theory?—H. W. A. Rudolph W, Mandl was recently announced by Dr. Albert Einstein as the discoverer of the space-lens theory. The importance of the discovery lies not only in that it offers proof of Einstein's theory, but it makes possible for the first time visual proof to the amateur astronomer with a home-made telescope. space-lens Q. When did John L. Sulllvan fight last?—J. McW. A. The last fight of the famous John L. Sullivan was in defense of London prize ring title on July 8, 1889. Ha fought Jake Kilrain in Richburg, Miss., and he won the fight in the seventy-fifti round. Q. What garden did Galsworthy say is the loveliest one in the world?>—C. J. B. A. The Magnolia Gardens on the Ashl River, 12 miles from Charleston, 8. C. They were laid out early in the last century by the Rev. John Grimke Dray- ton, who brought the first azalea indica plants from the Orient. Now there are millions of azalea blossoms, camellias, wisteria, roses, magnolia grandifiora, live oaks with special moss and pools, artist- ically arranged to bring out the beauties of the gardens. Galsworthy said: “Noth- ing so free and gracious, so lovely and wistful, nothing so richly colored yet so ghostlike exists, planted by the sons of men. Beyond anything I have ever seen, it is other-worldly. To this day I have seen no garden so beautiful as Magnolia Gardens.” Q. Do many people travel by air in the Soviet Union?—C. H. A. In 1936 over 200.000 passengers were carried by airplanes in the Soviet Union. Q. Is Helene Madison, the swimmer, married?—E. F. A. She is the wife of Luther C. McIvor. Q. What does the figure on top of the Municipal Building in New York City represent?>—H. G. A. The copper figure surmeunting the tower represents civic fame and is that of a woman in a flowing robe. Her height is twenty feet and she is poised on a copper ball. Her left hand holds a mural crown of five parapets, repre- senting the five boroughs, surrounded by dolphins, emblem of a seaport. On her right arm is a shield on which is the city’s coat of arms. Q. Which of the great game sanctuaries was the first to be established in the United States?>—F. L. A. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Sanctuary. It was set aside as a forest reserve and game preserve in 1905. Q. How much did Barnum pay far the famous elephant, Jumbo?—M. G. A. He purchased it from the London Zoological Gardens for $10,000. In six weeks in this country he brought $336,- 000 to the circus. Q. Did Cicero memorize his orations? —B. M. A. Cicero delivered his orations, then committed them to writing. Q. How large an organization is the Future Farmers of America? Is it solely agricultural?—J. W. A. The Future Farmers of America is composed of 122,000 members represent= ing more than 4.600 local chapters in the United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Its purpose is to create amon boys in high school vocational agric ture departments a greater interest in farming, to foster in them a love of country life, to instill in them habits of thrift, to give them experience in co-operative and leadership activities and to promote scholarship. Q. Please give the names of some of the earliest California missions.—H. W. A. Some of the earliest missions in the order of their establishment were: San Diego, 1769; San Carlos, 1770; San Antonio, 1771; San Gabriel, 1771; San Luis Obispo, 1772; San Francisco de Asis (Dolores), 1776; San Juan Capi- strano, 1776; Santa Clara, 1777; San Buenaventura, 1782; Santa Barbara, 1786; La Purisima Concepcion, 1787; Santa Cruz, 1790; La Soledad, 1791; San Fernando, 1797; San Miguel, 1797; San Juan Bautista, 1797; San Jose, 1797; San Luis Rey. 1798; Santa Ynes, 1804; San Rafael, 1817, and San Francisco Solano, 1823, A Rhyme at Twilight Gertrude Bn?aykr Hamilton. Fledglings The sweetest sound in all the Spring Is nesting mothers chirruping High in the green-leafed trees. ‘The naked fledglings safe abide Under the patient wings, that hide Them from the twilight breeze. And in the dawn again there floats Soft chirrups from the mother-throats, Bidding the young be still While they fly downward to the ground, ‘Where tasty morsels may be found ‘The gaping mouths to fill. the event of a return to prohibition. Dise tillers, lately embarked upon a syse tematic crusade to establish cordial pube lic relations, look upon the brewers’ dis= affection as an unfortunate development which plays directly into the hands of the newly militant drys. (Coprrisht, 1087.) A