Evening Star Newspaper, April 23, 1940, Page 8

A—8 The Foening Ftar With Sunday Morning Edition. THEODORE W. NOYES, Editor. WASHINGTON, D. C. TUESDAY. ... _ __ April 23, 1940 The Evening Star Newspaper Company. Main Office: 1)th 8t and Benneylvanis Ave. New York Office: 110 East 42nd St. Chicago Office: 435 North Michigan Ave. Delivered by Carrier—City and Suburban. Regular Edition. Evening and Sunday 75¢ per mo. or 1 The Evening Star .. 43¢ per mo. or 1 The Sunday Star £ 8¢ per wee] 0c per weel 10c per copy _ 850 per month ight Pinal and Sunc Star i 8 7 Btar- - 38 ber month ight Pinal Star Rural Tube Delivery. 85c per monl: The Evening Star_. __ - 85¢ per mont] The Sunday Star ____~ " -10c¢ per copy Collection made at the end of each month or each week. Orders may be sent by mail or tele- Paone National 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. 7 ard Sunday..1 ar. 81200: 1 mo. 81,00 ily onl; .. $8.00: 1 mo.. 7] génl-gno’nb o 8880 1 men 4oe d-cli tt Mce, Boared e it T oo Member of the Associated Press, The Associated Press ia exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispaiches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this Baper and also the local news published herein All rights of publication of special dispatehes herein also are reserved. e No Realty Tax Increase The shameful refusal by the House yesterday either to amend the un- Jjustly discriminatory local income tax or to substitute for it a combina- tion sales and income tax brings to an end for this session the noble ex- periment undertaken two years ago to seek a more equitable distribution of the local tax burden. The experiment has been an utter failure, for instead of accomplishing its purpose, the tax burden is more highly concentrated than before on the shoulders of that portion of the District’s population which claims residence nowhere else. At the beginning of the proposed local tax reform, it was argued that taxes on persons in the District were relatively low while taxes on prop- erty were relatively high, in propor- tion to the total tax burden. And the proposal was, by substitute taxa- tion designed to increase the tax on persons, to reduce the tax on real estate. The result now is that the District has a local income tax, badly drawn and, through court decision and wording, grossly discriminatory in its provisions. Regardless of whether a District resident voting in another State (though living indefinitely in the District) pays to his home State any income tax, he escapes the tax here, while the District also will fail to collect its due share of the income tax paid by those of its residents who claim a voting status in their home States. Congressmen and a few other officeholders with fat Fed- eral salaries are specifically exempted | from the local tax. Thus the income tax does not apply equally to all of those who earn their livelihood in the District and benefit from its governmental serv- ices. It is not an income tax levied according to ability to pay, but is a tax levied according to ability to dodge payment. And because of the large exemptions thus represented, the yield from the local income tax will not produce the necessary reve- nue. The great danger which results is that this surviving part of a tax plan originally designed to decrease the real estate tax, will tend to increase it. For the real estate tax can be increased to avoid deficits, and a deficit in 1941 appears likely. Assessor Dent argued yesterday, in his appearance before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in charge of the District bill, that the real estate tax—already high—should not be further increased. There are pressing demands for increases in the Senate appropriations over those approved by the House. The House having flatly refused to take the steps which would have increased the yield of local taxes,-these needed increases in National Capital appropriations can fairly come from one source alone—an increase in the Federal Ppayment. " Mr. Scalise’s Case George Scalise, convicted white slaver ard youthful president of the Building Service Employes’ Interna- tional Union, answers the charge that he recently has engaged in an extortion conspiracy by asserting that he is being made the victim of &n anti-labor rampaign designed to undermine the working standards of the charwomen and chambermaids belonging to his union. That is a familiar cry, but it may be doubted whether it ever has had a more hollot ring. It is clear that Mr. Scalise is not being made the victim of an anti-lanor movement. The charge against him is entirely personal in nature and in no wise re- flects in any way on any legitimate activity of his union. On the con- trary, if the charges are true, the union as well as the public has been victimized by Mr. Scalise’s activities, and, if he is found guilty after trial, each should benefit by his removal from the labor picture. An assistant district attorney, during a court hear- ing to fix bond for the defendant, charged that Mr. Scalise ruled by “fear and force” and used his union as a “burglar would use a jimmy.” Certainly, if that be true, the 70,000 scrubwomen and elevator operators, who had no voice in his election as head of their union, bit who must put up the money for his $25,000-a- year salary and his unlimited expense account, stand to lose nothing by his conviction. For the American Federation of Labor, of which Mr. Scalise’s union is an affiliate, an even more serious question is presented. So far as is known, the A. F. of L. has done noth- ing to correct the alleged abuses in ! ‘reports that the Nazi air armada the Service Employes’ Union. Wil- liam Green, A. F. of L. president, sup- ported an effort to secure an execu- tive pardon for Mr. Scalise in the white slavery matter, which, if suc- cessful, would have restored to him his full civil rights. In the light of the new charges, it will be difficult for the average citizen to understand why the re- sponsible leaders of the A. F. of L. apparently have done nothing to re- sist the growth of the Scalise influ- ence. If it be a fact that the govern- ing body of the Federation can do nothing to prevent the rise to power within its ranks of a known criminal, then it would seem that prompt and determined action should be taken to correct that most serious flaw in its organizational setup. — Stalemate the North? It is, of course, too early to foresee the outcome of the grim duel which the allies are fighting with the Ger- mans for control of Norway. Al- though hostilities have raged for two weeks, and fierce combat has been waged in the air and waters adjacent to the fjord-bound Nor- weglan west coast, conditions some- what approaching a stalemate have arrived. Meanwhile, perhaps as many as 70,000 troops, more or less evenly divided between the allied expedi- tionary forces and the Norwegian Army, on one side, and the Nazi invaders, on the other, are at grips in the northern and southern coastal theaters of action and in the east, flanking the Swedish border. The Germans’ hold on Oslo, Trond- heim, Bergen and Stavanger is pre- carious. Unconfirmed reports that Hamar and Elverum, strategic points northeast of Oslo, have been recap- tured from the Germans would indi- cate that the Nazi advance to the north has been checked. In the far north Narvik and the cross-country approaches to the Swedish iron fields seem to be within allied grasp. But from none of these operations is it yet apparent that either the invaders or Norway and her Anglo-French allies have achieved results connoting command of the situation. Time is of the essence for the bel- ligerents. As for the allies, everything depends on their ability to place on the various fighting lines forces able not only to check the Germans, but to dislodge them from Norway. That is not going to be a matter of hours or days. The Nazis are under no less necessity to reinforce their garrisons at the earliest possible moment. Hitler’s grip on the coun- try, according to expert observers like Major George Fielding Eliot, de- pends now on the air force Der Fuehrer can muster for the purpose. It is the lack of bases for bombers, Eliot points out, that is the Germans’ main difficulty. The allies have no bases in Norway at all and must have them if they | are to overcome the Germans there, but Britain and France can use the sea to bring troops to seize the nec- essary positions, and afterward land | equipment to establish and maintain air bases. The allies through their command of the sea would thus seem to be in superior position to achieve supremacy in the element wherein the issue' of victory or defeat may eventually be decided. Germany might alter in her favor present military conditions on the peninsula by invasion of Sweden, but whether Hitler’s general staff is ready to take on, as an additional foe, the small but highly efficient Swedisk Army, is questionable. One of the mysteries of warfare in the north is why the Nazis have been slow to exploit their vaunted su- periority in the air. With the failura of their latest blitzkrieg to subjugate Norway on the Polish model, it would look either as if the “superiority” were mythical or that Goering is reluctant to drain the Reich’s oid supplies too heavily at this time. But it is easy to credit this morning’s “Is loosing its force with mounting intensity” against debarking British troops. Meantime, all the world continues anxiously to await the supreme test, bound sooner or later to come, which should decide with some finality the question of sea power versus air power. To date, mastery of the sea has not been effectively challenged. Aircraft’s ability to wound a fleet has been demonstrated, but, to para- phrase Napoleon, God appears still to fight on the side with more battle- ships. One of Germany’s urgent motives to achieve decisive victory in Norway 1s the moral effect it would have on Italy, now the object of high pressure from Berlin to turn the axis to military account in the Reich’s interest. Politics and W. P. A. In language that permits of no misunderstanding, Colonel F. C. Har- rington, who was drafted from the Army to head the Work Projects Administration, issues a timely warn- ing to W. P. A. employes against en- gaging in political activity. Five rules are set down for the guidance of the huge force under his supervision, and to impress the necessity for observance upon those to whom they are directed, this trenchant advice is appended: “As Commissioner of Work Proj- ects, I will not tolerate any violation of the above regulations. The Work Projects Administration is not in politics and does not take part in politics, either directly or indi- rectly.” The regulations are based on the Hatch Act, but go beyond that leg- islation in the sense that su- pervisory and administrative officials are required to confine their opinions on political subjects to private ex- pression. This is the same restric- A | den growth. tion imposed on civil service em- ployes, and is applicable to the W. P. A. by an express provision of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1939. Under the Hatch Act, em- ployes outside of civil service may give public expression to their po- litical beliefs. For the rest of it, the W. P. A, workers are told that they can vote or not, just as they desire, and can belong to a political party or not, without any fear of reprisal by su- periors. Attention also is called to the fact that they may not be so- licited for political campaigns. “Voting is your own business. Keep it that way,” says the commis- sioner. Colonel Harrington no doubt was moved to promulgate his “orders of the day”—which are being distrib- uted with pay checks so they cannot be overlooked—by recalling the his- tory of the last congressional cam- paign when the use of the W. P. A, as a political force reached such scandalous proportions that Con- gress passed the Hatch Act to curb political activity by Federal employes generally to forestall a repetition of such conditions. The country will applaud this ac- tion, which gives assurance that the strict letter of the law will be en- forced to the full extent of the powers of the head of the W. P. A, Orchestra Settlement The hopes of thousands of friends of the National Symphony Orchestra appear to have been fulfilled in the announcement that an agreement has been reached between the union representing the musicians and the board of directors of the symphony association. Credit for the success of the nego- tiations must be given to all con- cerned with them, and particularly to John R. Steelman, director of conciliation for the Department of Labor, and Samuel R. Rosenbaum, vice president of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association. The “treaty of peace” which has been arranged necessarily involves concessions by | both sides, and the public rejoices that they have been made. But it should not be forgotten that the future of the orchestra is de- pendent upon financial support, which must be subscribed by the people of the Nation's Capital. They and they alone will pay the bill, and it is only right that musicians and managers alike should recognize their increased obligation to provide con- vincing proof that the orchestra truly merits maintenance. In the campaign for funds which soon is to ke launched the aid of every friend of music will be needed. The enthusiasm for the orchestra manifested by audiences in recent weeks is an asset which should be effective, if preserved. Toward that end all groups should co-operate. And possibly it may be helpful to remember that a great musical organization develops slowly, by processes of steady rather than sud- No miracles can be expected. Instead, hard )work, abiding faith, appreciation abun- | dantly earned are required for the | only results worth having. Shakespeare It sometimes is said that the world knows very little of its greatest poet, but each recurrent anniversary of the birth and of the death of William Shakespeare serves to show that the truth is otherwise. The Bard of Avon is a mystery only to those who vainly imagine that they never have met him. Present generations of his heirs are much better acquainted with the essential values of his life and work than his contemporaries were. A seeming paradox is involved, no doubt; yet it is a fact that he is more definitely a power and an in- fluence in the current age than he was in that in which he had his being. In his own day he belonged exclu- sively to England, a little country sparsely populated; he moved in a circle necessarily narrow and among people not notably equipped to ap- preciate him fully. Now he is a citizen of the whole wide earth, a friend to millions not excluding many who perhaps are not aware of the debt which they owe to him for the patterns of their thoughts and the fashions of their speech. Most commonly quoted of all writers who ever have lived, he might be supposed to be merely a-convenience—an au- thority to be cited when required, neglected on all other occasions. But the magic of Shakespeare is more potent than that. He performs his miracle largely unguessed. His book is in the heart of the race, and the beneficiaries of his surpassing genius draw upon its wealth without invariably understanding that it is to him that they are obligated for their capital. Thus it happens that he is both known and unknown as few authors have been since pen first was put to paper. At one extreme he is studied as no character save Jesus of Nazareth has been; at the other he is paid the tribute of un- conscious but nonetheless dynamic acceptance. It was not to create Shakespeare’s immortality, then, that Henry and Emily Folger built their beautiful library in Washington and gave it to their country. Their purpose is achieved and will be expanded in its application when at last, however late, humanity has learned the futility of strife. 1In gratitude to them, let these lines which they loved be repeated: “We defy augury; there’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. It it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come; the readiness is all.” A A Of Stars, Men And Atoms Notebook of Science Progress In Field, Laboratory And Study By Thomas R. Henry. Growing iron, copper and other ele- ments in plants is the objective of a large-scale project just launched by the United States Department of Agricul- ture. = A co-operative laboratory is being set up at Cornell University, it is anngunced by Dr. E. C. Auchter, chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry, where plant breeders, animal physiologists, soil experts, bot- anists and medical men will work to- gether to this end. They will study first how different food plants take up minerals from the so0il. Then efforts will be made to breed plants which will do this more efficiently. At the same time intensive tests are planned on the effects of minute quanti- ties of certain elements in animal and human diet. In the past the Bureau of Plant In- dustry has combed the world to secure agricultural plants with better ylelds, resistance to disease and flavors. It also has conducted extensive breeding ex- periments. Now it will turn to the nutritional values, some of which are very obscure and have only been recog- nized in the past few years. There has recently been found, Dr. Auchter 'said, a severe anemia among farm children in certain areas of the South. This was thought at first to be due to hookworms. Investigation showed that these parasites were practi- cally absent, but that the children were living almost entirely on home grown food in a region where the soil was deficient in iron. From 50 to 96 per cent of the children in some Florida arcas were found suffering from this condition, and in the same regions was found a peculiar ailment among the cattle known as “salt sickness,” which has been traced to the same cause. This is only a striking example, Dr, Auchter pointed out, of nutritional afl- ments due to lack of elements—of some of which only extremely small amounts are needed in the human diet—which may exist in other parts of the country, Said Dr. Auchter: “Information re- garding the soils of the country with particular reference to their origin and chemical and physical composition, amenability to various treatments, and effectiveness in producing plants, available to some extent. Now, how- | ever. one of the great needs appears 0 be that of making more comprehen- that grow upon them under known conditions of climate, fertilization, ir- rigation and stage of maturity, “Such information would enable us to determine if deficiencies or excesses of certain elements occur in such soils and plants and, if so, to correct the condi- tlons with the ultimate view of im- proving the health of human beings. An attempt will be made to correlate the composition and nutritional value of foods with soil type, climatic condition and the practices followed in produc- tion, “Special attention will be given to the physiological effects of the so-called rare, or trace, elements. Little is known in detail of the functions of most of these. We plan studies of the periodicity of tne intake or distribution of the ele- ments within the plant or in the differ- ences among species in their need for mineral elements and their ability to accumulate them. The effects of chem- ical additions to the soil upon the com- position of the plant at various stages of growth will be made. “Eventually it should be possible to test the effects of plants of known com- position upon human beings. It may be found desirable to conduct breeding in- vestigations to develop special varieties of plants in relation to their nutritional value. The problems will require con- siderable time and funds for their solu- tion, but their great importance to American life demands that they be made. It is impossible to predict the potential value to the health of the American people and the national econ- omy. But we do know that raising the level of health of the population is im- portant in all phases of our national life.” Physicians have shown clearly during the past few years, Dr. Auchter said, the immense possibilities of building up a more robust citizenship in the United States through improvements in the diet which often consist of minute quan- tities of substances unheard of a few years ago. As a practical measure, most of these things must be supplied in the food ordinarily eaten, such as the com- mon vegetables, fruits and meats. At the same time, he said, surveys have shown that large numbers of Americans still are poorly nourished, even though the quantity of food they eat may be suffi- clent. There is also evidence that in- clusion of some elements in the diet may act as a barrier to certain infecti- ous diseases. Even old age may be post- poned by getting the proper elements. Opposes Increasing Pay Of Congressmen. To the Editor of The Star: In & news item of the 20th, The Star reports that a Mr. Labert St. Clair, Washington writer, in & speech before the American Pen Women, advocated raising the salaries of Congressmen to $15,000 or $20,000. The salary at present is $10,000, but with all the allowances for clerk hire, etc, a member of Con- gress costs the taxpayers about $25,000 a year. Permit me to dissent from this pro- posal. While there are many good and capable men in Congress, others are not worth their present salaries. Instead of any salary at all I am sure better results would be obtained if mem- bers were allowed only a very liberal expense account while in actual attend- ance upon the sessions, together with mileage to and from their homes. This would have two most beneficial results, namely, it would bring to Congress higher types of men, and instead of wasting time as at present in useless and endless discussions they would attend strictly to business so as to return to their homes as soon as possible, thus shortening the sessions and greatly bene- fiting the country at large. Business in- terests are always jittery and uncertain during sessions of Congress, which is not good for the Nation. April 20. ALEXANDER 8. LANIER. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1940. THIS AND THAT By Charles E. Tracewell. “KING PLACE. “Dear 8ir: “My feeding station is a large board, suspended chandelier fashion, in the center of a little roofed rustic house. It is the garden variety of rustic house, made of cedar into geometric designs, and offers many perching spots to the birds. “They didn't hesitate to use it, during the recent rainy days. They simply rested there, ignoring the food. One bluebird, except for an occasional turn of his head, might have been a little Buddha, so long and quietly did he sit, in a hunched up position. ’ “One male and two female cardinals were continually moving about, giving themselves thorough shakings, dog fashion. “A phoebe made innumerable swoops to the ground, to retrieve a bug or nsect battered into helplessness by the rain. “The eyesight of a bird is something to marvel at, so accurately do they locate food 15 or 20 feet away. *xxx “It is a delight, every day or so, to recognize a new song added to the bird chorus. The robin’s cheerful chirpings, the song sparrow’s bubbling trill, the high, sweet melody of the white-throat, the clarion call of the flicker, the dove's plaintive mourning, the towhee, with his ‘chewink,’ 1n addition to the bluebird's warbling and the cardinal's four little theme songs. “All these indicate spring is here, con- firming the calendar; but, to me, this is not yet the case. “‘One fine day I will step outside, when I hear a sweet, muted melody, and a sleek, trim gray form will drop in front of me, to pick up a cutworm or a grub, and, cocking a gleaming ‘eye, he will squawk an impudent ‘yank’ at me. Ah, yes, spring is really here to stay. The catbird is back! “Very truly yours, A. H. B.” * x x x Our correspondent’s rendition of the catbird’s cry as “yank” leaves the nut- hatch out on a limb. The catbird, to our ear, more nearly says “ma-a,” or, as usually given, “meow.” Certalnly there is neither the sound of “y” at the beginning nor of “k” at the end. The typical catbird utterance more nearly approximates the mew of a Kkitten or very young cat, the normal “meow"” | of the house cat. 1s | But it makes no difference, after all— the main thing is that by this time many of them ought to be back with us for | a long stay. ive studies and complete analyses of | | agricultural soil types, and the crops | We have had definite word, too, of the return of the wood thrush, April 15, ; earlier than usual, but to be expected | in such a topsy-turvy season. * x % 3 The catbird is often overlooked by many persons interested in birds. This s too bad. Surely there are few finer creatures. But somehow the popular name has worked against it, inclining even ardent admirers of the tribes of the air to look upon it with something akin to conde- scension. To be completely overlooked is one thing; to be made too much of is another, but to be regarded with amused toler- ance is the worst of all. The catbird faces this. Fortunately for him, he does not know it, so he makes out very well, no matter how you re- gard him. * % % X Garden observers who pay no atten- tion to the catbird miss one of the finest guests which come to our yards. The flash of the cardinal is “sure fire” in every eye. The jay seldom fails to attract atten- tion, There is something so subdued, how- ever, about the catbird, that many an observer, with the best will in the world, tends to pay little or no attention to it. This is a mistake, for really there is no bird in our gardens which is prettier, or more interesting, provided we take the time to really study the creature. This is the way of sleek animals. They do not “hit us in the eye,” as the saying has it. We have to go to them, in other words, by really looking at them care- fully. Then, in time, we are rather surprised to find ourselves admiring the creature. There are some people this way. Among the birds, the catbird is an outstanding example. It is so common, that- many people, who will admit they care only for the rare, fail to enthuse over it, “Oh, just a catbird,” they say, with some sense of derision. If they were brought up in the country, maybe they will say, “Oh, just a snake bird,” for the usual cry is popularly sup- posed by some to be “Sna-a-a-ke.” The soft combination of grays and black make the catbird a perfect sym- phony. Even its cry, in time, comes to be ac- ceptable. It is really quite a songster, when it gets started, but most listeners think it is a mockingbird. It likes wild cherries, elderberries and berries of the bush dogwood. The latter is a favorite with them. The catbird is very chummy in its nestihg habits, preferring a large shrub close to the porch. Like so many species, it does not use very good sense in placing its nest, usually locating it too low for safety. If you have a catbird nest this year, try to keep a good watch on it, not only for the interest in the watching, but also in order to be able to render aid In case the nest is attacked. Letters to Invasion of Scandinavia A Lesson to Americans. To the Editor of The Star: When I first heard the news of Ger- many’s ruthless invasion of Denmark and Norway, I was too stunned to figure out just how it might have been accomplished. Norway as I do, I knew that they would not let any foreign enemy, least of all Germany, walk right in and take pos- session. Leland Stowe’s story in yes- terday’s Star told the story. It is considered a point of honor among men to fight fair, but such are not the tactics of the Huns. Treachery, deceit, lies, terrorism, espionage and false propaganda—those are the means by which the brave Huns attempted to sub- due a free nation. Denmark, of course, is powerless to do anything at all. Nor- way, though handicapped greatly by the treachery of a few, will in the end make Germany rue the day she invaded Nor- wegian soil. But sickening as this story of Ger- many's “protection” of a proud people is, the lesson for Americans is invaluable. The press of the United States has made a mockery out of efforts to unmask subversive forces in this country. It is time the gentlemen of the press wake up and do something besides slumbering. We have just seen an object lesson in sabotage which should find quick re- sponse in every American who loves life and liberty. The Huns have shown that the strongest fort is of no account when sabotaged from within. America may boast of her great Navy, but even the Navy can be sabotaged as we have seen so convincingly demonstrated in Nor- way. I know that no enemy in the world could have penetrated into the Oslo harbor under ordinary circum- stances. Yet in a few hours the nation’s capital was at the mesdy of a ruthless enemy. For every Nazi agent in Norway, we have 50 in America. Although there is no danger of Germany taking possgssion of the United States at this moment, we are in grave danger if Germany together with Russia, Italy and Japan should overcome the democracies of Eu- rope. These four are all gangster na- tions, as we have had so amply demon- strated in Finland, Poland, Czecho- Slovakia, Austria, Albania, Ethiopia and China. The people of the United States would save themselves rquch grief later, if they would face the situation as it is now, and fight the enemy with every weapon short of an expeditionary force. If Germany can invade Norway, kill, terrorize and plunder, and still not be at war with her (Germany’s claim), then we should be able to give the allles all they need of ammunition and guns, and still consider ourselves neutral. H.R. April 18, Takes Issue With Claim of Lord Lothian. To the Editor of The Star: In the April 20 edition of The Evening Star Lord Lothian, the British Ambas- sador, is quoted as having said in effect that Britain has supported the Monroe Doctrine ever since the days of the Holy Alliance, and that the effectiveness of the Monroe Doctrine was due to Britain, our friend. History shows otherwise, and in all fairness the facts should be printed. Actually Britain has defled our Monroe Doctrine, our neutrality gone, and has been our only traditional enemy. Evi- April 18 ’ Knowing the people of | the Editor Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address of the writer. although the use of a pseudonym for publication is permissible. Please be brief! dently Lord Lothian does not know | that many of Britain's possessions in this Hemisphere were obtained since that famous doctrine was enunciated. Argentina never has relinquished claim to the Falkland Islands, acquired by Britain 10 years after the Monroe Doc- trine was enunciated, and whose naval base commands commerce around the Horn. Another near Venezuela compro- mises our Panama Canal, and a third island just off the Florida coast guards the Windward Passage into the Carib- bean. All are threets to our lifeline, During our preoccupation at the time | of the War Between the States Britain did nothing to prevent France from setting up a protectorate in Mexico; in fact, Britain did all she could short of war to break up the Union, running the blockade with munitions to the seceding States. President Cleveland in 1895 threatened Britain with war unless the boundary dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela was settled by arbitration. History is full of incidents which show Britain’s jealousy of our commerce. This jealousy goes back to the days when our wooden sailing vessels replaced British ships on the seas. We nearly became involved in a war against France and actually fought one against Britain because of piratical acts against our shipping and sailors. Piracy has be- come modernized. Under flimsy pre- texts our ships are forced into danger zones, searched, and cargoes removed. Our mails are ransacked and our ship- pers claim, as they did during the World War, that the British ascertain all the details of the transactions and use this information to further their own trade to our detriment. These are just a few instances. His- tory shows Britain is the only nation which has consistently been our rival and our enemy, and this rivalry and animosity toward us is just as keen to- day as it has ever been, even if re- strained—and restrained for a purpose, namely, to keep from antagonizing us in order that we may be enticed to drag some more of her chestnuts from the coals. JAMES C. COE. April 20. Urges Drastic Action Against Foreign Agents. To the Editor of The Star: Reading the article in your paper writ- ten by Leland Stowe about the manner in which Norwegians in key positions actually handed over Norway to the Ger- man invaders makes me think we should do a littie housecleaning here. I think we have men in this country who would do the same as the Norwegians. The Dies Committee has done its ut- most to bring foreign agents to trial for plotting against our Government. Some of our key men seem reluctant to have these foreign agents prosecuted. Nor- way's plight should be a lesson to us. Let the true Americans start now to clean out all persons in our try who are sympathizers of Nazi-ism, Communism or Fascism. We should at least be as alert as France is about cleaning out Communists. I say put all foreign agents where they belong. Arlington, Va, MRS, B. Answers To Questions By Frederic J. Haskin. A reader can get the answer to any question of fact by writing The Eve= ning Star Information Bureau, Fred- eric J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. Q. By whose official edict was it de- creed that a handkerchief should be square?—B. G. A. The edict determining the pro- portions of handkerchiefs was issued by Louis XVI, on June 2, 1785. Until then, handkerchiefs had been all sizes and all shapes. Queen Marie Antoinette thought a square handkerchief would be much more convenient. The decree determe ined: “The length of handkerchiefs shall equal their width throughout my king- dom.” Q. When was the Yellow Day in New England?—G. 8. A. The Yellow Day occurred on Tues- day, Septgmber 6, 1881. It was chare acterized by an intense brassy appear- ance and many persons reported a smell of smoke in the air. It is believed to have been due to the fact that the veil of smoke was rather thin, permite ting a small amount of sunlight to pass through, which cast a yellow tinge over the landscape. Q. How many junior colleges are there in the United States? What State has the largest number?—M. B. 8. A. According to the 1940 Junior Col- lege Directory, there are now 575 junior colleges. California leads the Nation with 64, Texas is second with 40, Q. When was the first parcel post map printed?>—R. W. H. A. The Post Office Department says that the first parcel post map was issued on January 1, 1913, Q. Please list several foods that will supply vitamin A in the diet—D. J. N. A. According to scientists of the United States Department of Agriculture, the vitamin A requirement of a normal adult can be supplied by a daily allow= ance of a pint of whole milk, one egg, two ordinary-sized pats (one-third of an ounce) of butter and an average serve ing of leafy green or yellow vegetable. Q. What kind of wood is used in making baseball bats?—S. M. A. Seventy-five per cent of all base- ball bats are made of second-growth white ash and the remainder of hickory. Q. Where in the Bible is the quota= tion “For, lo! the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth"?—C. H. A. It is from the Song of Solomon, Chapter II, verses 11 and 12. Q. Who are Joe Louis’ managers and trainer?—W. T. W. A. His managers are John Roxborough and Julian Black and his trainer is Jack Blackburn. Mike Jacobs is his promoter. Q. What is a feist?—D. S. A. This is a colloquial term for a small dog. Q. Who took the role of the doctor In the motion picture “Four Wives"?— H.J.C. A. Eddie Albert played the part of the young doctor. Q. What is the name of the song about Casey waltzing with the strawberry blond?—E. H. 8. A. 1t is entitled “And the Band Played On,” and is by Palmer-Ward. Q. When was the last total eclipse of the sun visible in Massachusetts?—J. C. A. The last eclipse of the sun visible as total in the Northeastern section of the United States occurred on August 31, 1932. Q. Who was Prime Minister of Eng- land before he was 25 years old?—W. N.S. A. William Pitt, who is considered by many historians the greatest Prime Min- ister England has ever had. Q. How many liquor dealers are there in Washington, D. C.?—F. F. G. A. In the District of Columbia there are 1828 establishments licensed to sell liquor. Q. On what date was the United States Fleet in New York City last year?—T. L. A. The United States Fleet was in New York Harbor between April 29 and May 17. Q. Who was responsible for the pur- chase of Alaska by the United States?— C. H. B. A. Credit for the final purchase of Alaska is given to William 8. Seward, Secretary of State at the time of the purchase. The treaty of purchase was signed at 4 am. March 30, 1867, and sent to the Senate for ratification the following day. Q. For whom was W. Va, named?—M. 8. A. Harpers Ferry was named for Rob- ert Harper, who settled there about 1747 and established a ferry across the Potomac River. Harpers Ferry, Q. What is an antimacassar?—C.D. E. A. It is an ornamental covering to pro= tect the backs of chairs, sofas, etc., from oil or dressing on the hair. Macassar is a type of oll used in hairdressing. William Shakespeare (Born April 23, 1564) Immortal mind! ¥Your alchemy has taught Men to endure life’s slings. You bring repose To troubled hearts forsaken and dise traught, Your art deflects the stoutest giant's blows. When you remind us “All the world's a stage,” We recognize the truth of that apt gibe, If you bring tears you penned more than one page That makes us laugh at Sorrow and her tribe. Wise Will! Your works are uneffaced by Time, Your name and fame extend to distant lands, Your beauty, grace and scholarship sublime Inspire the brave. Your golden voice commands Our reverence. Your philosophic wit Evokes a beggar's smile. Enthroned you sit In Time's Memorial. You are secure! ‘That man whe knows not you indeed ig poor. ' NORMAN STUCEEY.