Evening Star Newspaper, May 3, 1940, Page 14

The Foening Star - With Sunday Morning Edition. THEODORE W. NOYES, Editor. WASHINGTON, D. C. The Evening Star Newspaper Company. : 11th Bt. and Pennsylvania Ave. e ek Oes: 116 B Ihnr's, Chicago Office: 435 North Michigan Ave. Delivered by Carrier—City and Suburban. Reeular Edition, vening and Sunday 75C per mo. or 18c per week e ventng arar " 15 Der me: oF 10 per week The Sunday Star 10¢ per copy Night Final Edition. ight Fingl and Sundey Star &3¢ per month 1eht Fink} ATy Son 60¢ per month Rural Tube Delivery. The Evening and Sunday Star __.85c per month o InE Biarsooisl ST 3¢ per month ‘The Sunday Star Oc per copy Collection made at the end of each month or ench week. Orders may be sent by mail or tele- Phone Natlonal 5000. Rate by Mail—Payable in Advance. T, $12.00: 1 mo. $1,00 . "8$8.00: 1 mo. - 35c yr. $5.00: 1 mo, Entered as second-class matter post office, Washington. D. C. Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it cr not otherwise credited in this Daper and also the local news published hercin. Al rights of publication of svecial dispatches herein also are reserved. = New Front in Norway British troops have retired from their positions south of Trondheim, relinquishing under relentless Ger- man attacks the valuable Andalsnes coastal base, from which, it was hoped, with the help of an allied column pushing south from Namsos, to invest Trondheim and establish a battle line against the Germans well in the heart of Norway. Prime Minister Chamberlain’s re- port in the House of Commons yes- terday of the failure in this sector closes a major phase of the allied campaign in Norway and reveals the magnitude of the German victory which has been developing the past week. At the same time, it is the starting point of a new phase, a new task and a more difficult one for the allies. Mr. Chamberlain made little effort to mask the proportions of the defeat. He painted the setback in all its blackness. German air superiority prevented the landing of artillery and tanks necessary to maintain the columns thrown out from Andalsnes. The withdrawal was carried out “in | the face of ever-increasing enemy | strength,” the war office communique added. Allied forées are now being concentrated ‘“elsewhere”—presum- | ably around Namsos—to continue the campaign, although unconfirmed re- | ports from Stockholm indicate that | the allies may be withdrawing from this sector, too. Implications of the allied reverses are clear. Germany is free now, ex- cept for local Norwegian resistance, to consolidate her hold on all South- ern and Central Norway. Any allied land offensive must come directly | from the north, from Namsos, where reinforcements have been pouring in, | a large number, no doubt, from evacuated Andalsnes. The German task is immensely simplified, by release from the allied pincers on Trondheim and the neces- sity now of defending only a single, narrow line across Norway. By the same token, the allies’ task is made vastly more difficult by the necessity | of attacking Trondheim along that narrow front, unless a daring assault by sea is to be attempted. In spite of this shifting of the balance, one major allied objective in Norway—to force Germany to extend herself and to make a major effort there—is being achieved, and the allies will | continue the campaign if for no other reason than this. Whatever has happened to the British on land, their control of the sea is even stronger than before the Norwegian invasion, by reason of the heavy German naval losses.. The Reich’s depletion of sea power is so marked as to permit Britain to divert some major units to the Eastern Mediterranean to fnpress Premier Mussolini with the foolhardiness of Joining Hitler in the war. —_——— Topside Armog Europe’s war and the American Navy’s sham battles recently Jn the Pacific have strengthened the con- viction of Navy Departraent officials that it is imperative to provide greater topside protection against- air bombs for our fighting ships, especially cruisers armi destroyers. 'That warships in the categories be- low that of heavily armored battlé- ships are vulnerable to attack by bombing planes has been demon- strated clearly in the bitter battle for supremacy being waged in Scan- dinavian waters between the British Navy and the German air force. Although there is no autheanticated record of battleships having ‘been sunk by bombs, several capital ships apparently have suffered serious damage. Cruisers and destroyers un- doubtedly have taken a terrible beat- ing from the sky raiders, however, with the Nazis boasting of numerous sinkings among British ships of these classes. Since the heavy deck armor of battleships has been able to resist the heaviest bombs, naval experts naturally have been giving serious attention to the problem of provid- ing better deck protection for the lighter ships. Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison was impressed with the need for thicker armor above the water line during his inspection of the fleet in maneuvers off the West Coast recently. Simulated air raids theoretically wrecked the communi- cations and fire control apparatus of several vessels. Damage of this sort would be disastrous in actual com- bat. In the past, naval designers have concentrated on improving armor protection against shell fire and against such underwater haz- ards as torpedoes and mines. Ger- man bombers have shown that special attention also’ must be given to the problem of protecting the super- structure of ships from the highly destructive effects of heavy bombs. Any substantial addition of armor above the water line, of course, would involve major changes in funda- mental design to preclude topheavi- ness. For that reason it probably would be inadvisable to attempt any major last-minute changes on the ships now under construction for the Navy. But Mr. Edison will make no mistake if he institutes a thorough study of the new problem at once, with a view to preparing designs for future ships that will meet the test of modern aerial warfare at its worst. Air Merger Critics President Roosevelt said that crit- ics of his Reorganization Plan No. IV, which would transfer the Civil Aero- nautics Authority to the Commerce Department and abolish the Air Safety Board, are actuated by igno- rance, gullibility or politics. Who are these ignorant, gullible or politically motivated critics? Op- ponents of the change include mem- bers of both political parties in Con- gress, the Air Transport Association of America, representing all of the air transport lines; the National Air Line Pilots’ Association, with more than ninety per cent of all air trans- port pilots as members; the Nationgl Aeronautic Association, which sanc- tions all official aircraft records and performance trials, and such non- aviation organizations as the Amer- ican Federation of Labor and the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. Mayor La Guardia of New York is one of many distinguished individuals publicly opposed to the plan. Not content with mere opposition through their association, many of the airlines have voiced individual protests. The pilots, likewise, have joined in the opposition, sixty-five of them meeting in Chicago to ad- dress appeals to members of Con- gress and the representatives of | eleven airlines ceming to Washing- ton in person to protest. Is their protest the result of ignorance, gul- libility or politics? On the other hand, who are the supporters of this plan? Only two, so far as The Star has been in- formed, have expressed any opinion favorable to the transfer—Senators Connally, Democrat, of Texas, and Byrnes, Democrat, of South Caro- | lina—and they offered no reasons in | favor of the transfer. The Star has | | but actually outlaws activities which made fruitless efforts to find who sponsored the C. A. A. transfer. There has been speculation as to who they might be and Secretary of Commerce Hopkins, Civil Aeronau- | tics Administrator Clinton M. Hester and Louis Brownlow, who was en- | trusted with the Federal reorgani- zation studies, have been suggested. But they have denied having inspired the plan or of knowing about it before the order was announced. So far as can be determined, members of the Civil Aeronautics Authority were not consulted. Are the known critics of the reor- ganization order ignorant? The Star | does not think so. These men and organizations are thoroughly famil- | iar, many of them through bitter experience, with the background of this controversial matter. Are they gullible? It is hardly likely that men who have studied the problems of Federal aviation control as care- fully as have these critics are going to be hoodwinked or misled at this | stage of the proceedings. They are t various hands which prune the esti- pretty careful by now about what they swallow. Are they actuated by politics? In view of the non-political, non-partisan character of the men and organizations openly criticizing this plan, it should be perfectly ap- parent that there is more behind this than mere politics. Traffic Deaths While thousands die on the battle fields of Europe, America’s perpetual Armageddon continues. A report of the National Safety Council for the first quarter of this year reveals that so far seven thousand two hun- dred persons have lost their lives in traffic accidents. This is an increase of seven per cent over the same months of 1939. And the period of heavy vacation traffic is just ap- proach}ng. As the year progresses, the percentage of deaths is going up. In March two thousand four hundred and forty were killed, an increase of* eleven per cent over the same month of last year. To add to the horror of these figures, March was the sixth consecutive month in which the number of such fatalities was greater than the month before. So fay, Washington has been mak- ing a determined and effective effort to reduce the fatalities on its streets. While the Nation as a whole was ‘compiling a death list seven per cent larger than a year ago, the Capital showed a reduction of approximately twenty per cent..In the first three months of 1939 twenty-one persons were killed. This year the figure for the same period was sikteen, of whom thirteen were pedestrians, but all were adults. In view of the plans being carried out by officials and organized citizens, there is every expectation that a much better safety showing will be made before the year is over. But it must be borne in mind that the city still has not reached the “top flight” of safe communities. It is not mentioned among the leaders in the Safety Council’s report. Buffalo, New York City and St. Louis lead the cities of more than five hundred thousand population, and Providence, Jersey City and Memphis head the list of those in the next population group. Constant attention to safety.and | them Government workers. THE EVENING STAR, perpetual acknowledgment' of per- sonal responsibility remain the prime weapons in the campaign against traffic accidents. Unmerited Restriction If the efforis of Representative Dempsey of New Mexico to revive the Hatch Act fail, one of the most unfor- tunate results, from a local stand- point, will be the loss to nearby Mary- land and Virginia towns of the serv- ices of experienced municipal offi- cials. A provision of the bill that was killed, temporarily at least, by the House Judiciary Committee, would restore, to Government employes re- siding in the nearby area the right to hold municipal office. That privilege was, inadvertently taken from them when the original Hatch Act, banning political activity by Federal workers, was passed last year. Under interpretations of the act, Government employes already hold- ing office will be permitted to serve out their terms, but cannot run for re-election nor participate in the selection of their successors. * The effect of this already has been felt in several towns where experienced of- ficials, many serving without pay in the part-time but important task of administering their home communi- ties, already have resigned or retired from their posts. In the town elec- tions to be held this week many new and inexperienced men will be chosen, and, if the law is strictly obeyed, will have to perform the tasks with which they are unfamiliar without the advice or counsel of their predecessors. When the original Hatch Act was passed last vear President Roosevelt proposed that at the next session Congress specifically exempt local officials from the operation of the measure, recalling that for many years there has been an exception to the civil service regulations to care for them. The situation deserves the atten- tion of Congress. The legislators who will take the trouble to study the make-up of suburban Maryland and Virginia communities quickly will learn that they are composed largely of Government workers. Among the most desirable residents of the com- munities are the civic-minded citi- zens who participate in the manage- ment of municipal affairs, many of Such individuals and their neighbors will benefit if their interest is encouraged. Both will suffer under the present statute, which not only discourages would be permitted normally under our system of representative govern- ment. Certainly the lawmakers should see to it that the much desired and wholly merited exemption provided under the civil service regulations is restored. School Needs District civic groups again have | advised the Board of Education of | the needs of their communities, | needs which they hope to see realized in the 1942 school budget. In many instances these items are “old faith- fuls”—requests which reappear each yéar and which will continue to reappear until they are met. The bulk of the requests may be grouped in two categories—new buildings and construction work, and general repairs. Since these two items as a rule experience difficulty in finding safe passage through the mates, too much optimism as to their fate this time is not warranted. But whether or not all groups will be satisfied with what school officials eventually decide to ask for and with what Congress allows, it is a healthy thing for citizens of a vote- less community to confer with public officials as to the way in which their tax dollars should be spent. And some day, if not next year, these requests may bear fruit in the form of appropriated funds. Meanest Woman The meanest man, according to legend, steals pennies from blind beggars and candy from children. The meanest woman, who has pre- viously escaped publicity, has just been discovered in Kansas City, where her shame has been broadcast to an astounded and horrified community. It seems that Mrs. X of K. C. is in one respect just like any other nors mal wife, in that she never mails letters if it is humanly possible to delegate this job to her husband. Why this is so not even the greatest psychologists understand, when it is commonly known by all parties con- cerned that about half the time the husband will forget to mail them. The difference, however, between Mrs. X and ordinary run-of-the-mine wives consists in her use of a fiendish device which should be barred by any one with even a trace of a sense of fairness. In every letter, she in- closes a self-addressed postal card, and waits for time to march on. If the card comes back, all is well; if it does not, the storm signals go up, as it proves that her husband forgot to mail the letters. Any competent referee would de- clare the practice illegal. To begin with, the cards are heavily stacked against the husband anyhow, and it is unfair to make the odds any worse. ‘The poor devil should be given a bet- ter break, and afforded at least a feeble chance of putting over his story that he mailed the letters with- out having the entire resourceg of the post office summoned to smash his alibi. There should be a special hoosegow for radio hoaxers. WASHINGTON, D. C, Says All Picketing . Is Unconstitutional Recent Supreme Court Decision Held Contrary To Basic Law ‘To the Editor of The Star: ~ Please permit me to discuss the opinion of the Supreme Court, written by Justice Murphy, on the question of peacetul picketing and sustalnlng the right thereof on the ground that it is the exercise of the right of freedom of speech which may not be abridged. It would seem that the Justice went very far afield for an argument to sus- tain such acts. To one of ordinary in- telligence and discernment there seems’ to be little connection or relation between picketing and the freedom of speech, nor is it clear how tienying the right or pickeling abridges in any way the freedom of speech of the would-be picketers, for if workmen have a dis- pute with their employer the papers and the hustings gre available to them to tell their side of the dispute, and to say whatever they choose with untrammeled freedom, subject only to the law of libel. Under this decision a logical infer- ence is that picketing accompanied by violence .o gain the ends sought and bring the issue before the public is also an element of freedom of speech, and that, therefore, violencé in labor dis- putes is sanctioned and protected by the Constitution which provides that free- dom of speech shall not be abridged. Just a word now as to the legal right of picketing. True, the courts have sustained the right, but did they not err in doing so through ineptitude or because the law of the subject was not fully and intelligently presented to them? The Constitution of the United States, that great charter of our liberties, guarantees to every individual security of life, liberty, and property. The word liberty was not used in the Constitus tion in any narrow sense, but in the broadest meaning as a result of the abuses of individual liberty in the past with which the framers of the Constitu- tion were perfectly familiar. It em- braces and was intended to embrace all of the natural rights of man, such for example as freedom of locomotion, free- dom of conscience, and speech, free- dom of contract with respect to the ordinary and usual matters,of daily life and intercourse, private ownership of property with security in the use and the possession thereof, the right to engage | in the pursuit of any and all legitimate | business and professional undertakings | | for pleasure or profit, without let, hin- | drance, or interference, except in so far as such pursuits may be affected with a public interest, and which may be therefore subject to governmental regu- lation for the public welfare, such for example as the operation of a railroad. The liberty to engage in a legitimate business, free from coercion, molestation, | or interference by others is unques- tionably a right recognized and guar- anteed by the Constitution, and is en- titled to the protection 8f all the powers of Government. It is an unfortunate fact, as stated, that ofttimes in the past our courts, probably for the reasons given, have failed to affirm and uphold the con- stitutional rights of the citizen to im- munity from picketing. It is also true that the right to such protection often has been denied by politicians, but they | are frequently found on that side of every question that political prudence and expedience dictate. Nevertheless, it exists as a fundamental right of the citizen, which the Constitution simply recognizes and proclaims. Now what is the object of union labor in picketing one's place of business, whether it be done with violence or peacefully? It is to coerce the propri- etor into acceding to the demands of the parties the picketers represent, and that too often without regard to the practi- cability or justice of the demands made upon him, or his ability to pay an in- creased wage when that is the issue. Under such circumstances what becomes of the Constitutional liberty of the proprietor, of his property rights, and | of the free and untrammeled conduct of his business? To sanction or approve of picketing, no matter how peaceful, is to make a hollow mockery of the Con- stitutional guarantees mentioned, to en- courage violence, to deny the business- man the “equal protection of the law,” and to strike a fatal blow at the funda- mental right of the ownership of property, all of which are the bases of social arder, and bulwarks of civilization. Strike down these. securities, that have become our heritage after 2,000 years of bloody struggle, and what will be the inevitable results? Russla and Ger- many of today give us the melancholy and terrifying answer. Aside from the wrong and injury to the person whose place of business is picketed, and the infringement of his most elemental rights, picketing is also an annoyance to and an encroachment upon the rights of the public, and is well calculated to, and often does lead to violence and disturbance of the peace and good order of the community. In the hotel strikes in the city of Wash- ington a short time ago pickets were S0 numerous on the sidewalk and im- thediately in. front of the entrance to the Mayflower Hotel that pedestrians had to go out of their way to get by them, 4nd guests of the hotel had diffi- culty in entering the hotel, and yet the police did nothing about it, and similar conditions prevailed at other hotels in the city. Picketing is now done by persons hired for the purpose who have never been employed in the place picketed, and has become a racket. At this time when soclety seems in a state of flux, when lawlessness fs rampant, and the moral code seems no longer to restrain; when the forces of evil and anarchy are marshaling for the overthrow of the social order, and even Government itself, and when principles of Government heretofore regarded and accepted as axiomatic are being scoffed at, and resented as hindrances to every crazy scheme for social betterment, it is unfortunate that the Supreme Court should put its approval upon a labor policy so destructive of individual liberty, and attempt to sustain its approval by such sophistical reasoning as is given in the Murphy opinion. This decision will but encourage the enemies of Gov- ernment and the social order, and aug- ment the grave ills that now beset us. April 35. ALEXANDER 8. LANIER. « FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1940, THIS AND THAT By Charles E. Tracewell. “CHEVY CHASE, Md. “Dear Sir: - “A robin has been. pecking at our base- ment windows for several days s though he wanted to get in. “It is so unusual that we wondered if you might be able to suggest the reason. “We are afraid the cats will get him. “Any suggestion will be appreciated. Reflection of grass and trees m_lght have something to do with it. “Yours, P. R.” * ok ok So begins the annual procession of robins fighting their own reflections! ‘The bird is not trying to get in. It is attempting to drive away another male robin, as it thinks. It literally sees itself in & mirror. The fact that it may see trees and shrubbery makes the apparent robin more real to it. The way to break up this reflection is to soap the window, or hang a piece of paper in jt. * * % X Just what makes robins, more than other birds, indulge in this little habit is unknown. Spring does strange things, and this evidently is one of them. Usually the robin selects a higher win- dow. Perhaps it is all a matter of chance. But mostly this spring phe- nomenon occurs at kitchen or bedroom windows, or some other window on the first floor. Many instances have been reported for the past 10 years, but there is no dopbt that it has been going on since there were robins and window panes. * X X X Some people hang strips of paper out- side the window, to flutter in the breeze and act as a sort of scarecrow, in this case, literally, a scare-robin. Some householders have even gone so far as to call the, police, who respond by stating tHat they can do nothing about the matter. Most persons would find this antic of this fine bird merely amusing, if it were not done sometimes so very early, and if it did not seem to be on the point of breaking the glass. There is not much chance of the bird either harming itself or shattering the window. At times, however, to the per- turbed householder, a robin can seem al- most on the point of doing the latter. It must be remembered, however, that window glass has high tensile strength, and this is what saves it. * X %X X He who has pecking robins should be glad that they are not woodpeckers! There he would have something, for the various woodpeckers undoubtedly would go through glass in one or two | taps. the powerful beak and neck muscles of | Fortunately, the members of this bird family confine themselves mostly to trees and metal downspouts, although oc- casionally they have been known to show a taste for cornices and wooden over- hangs. The clear tattoo of the woodpecker on a galvanized or copper downspout or trough has to be heard to be believed. When it takes fo metal, it is supposed to be drumming out a love call to its mate. i ok % Cardinals and scarlet tanagers have been known to peck at windows, as well as the sides of shiny automobiles. There, too, little damage is done. All in all, this habit of our spring birds —for it is never done at any other time of year—is an interesting one, and should be so regarded, without fear that anything particularly bad will occur as a result, Mostly the birds give up the habit after awhile. They must sense that there is no real enemy there, or even may realize that the enemy looks suspiciously familiar, after all. Then, too, there may be an element of that old male habit of trying to im- press the female. Most of the species preen themselves, sing mightily, and indulge 'in various acrobatic flights in the springtime. The object of all this is a plain bird over there on a bough. Often the fe- male of the species, among the birds,-is extremely plain, and would not for a second be taken to be related except by those in the know. * ok ok % ‘We are glad that it is the robin which likes to peck at windows. Somehow, it seems to fit his character. A bold, free fellow, our robin, but one with a sense of humor. He is rather proud of himseif, without a doubt, but all the time he sort of laughs at himself up his sleeve. Z We suspect that it is people who never laugh at themselves who are_ causing all the trouble in the world. Among the birds, some species un- doubtedly have the facility of not taking themselves too seriously. The clumsy old starling undoubtedly has a sense of humor. Perhaps some of this is only physical, due to his short tail and waddling walk, but those who have watched this bird the most will be willing' to say that he displays a real sense of fun. Once we saw a starling land squarely on the back of another in the snow, for | no other reason in the world, we felt sure, than to keep his feet from getting wet. He did this with an air, as if to say, “Well, T am pretty smart, en?” And he was. Letters to Interest Is in Military Equation of War. To the Editor of The Star: The present war and its various as- pects are frequently being treated by us inglorious Apollos. Mr. Elliogen lately has written of the “moralities,” the right | and the wrong of it. As for me, I am in- terested in the military situation. ment that goes back to the World War, certainly ought to knock the but recently organized Nazis into a cocked hat in no ing on them. On the face of it, nations that in seven months make so little headway shouldn't be too quick on the trigger about helping the little guys. But then these small nations are neces- sary parts of the Anglo-French European setup—supremacy. It is in the cause of this supremacy that they are fighting. Not for Danzig. When Czarist Russia suppressed the Polish rebellions of 1830 and 1863 with ruthless brutality, there wasn't a squawk out of Britain. No British interests. Not even the Arch- bishop of Canterbury preached a ser- mon agin them. Said Bill Nye: “When I see a rattle- snake sticking its head out of its hole, then I say to myself: ‘That thar hole belongs to that thar snake. And then I walk around.’” same. That thar hole (Central Europe) belongs to that thar snake (Adolf Hit- ler). And so let them keep off—or else hurry up in the war. “Don’t tread on me,” so proclaimed our own “rattlesnake flag” during the Revolutionary War. FRED VETTER. April 24, Deplores Criticism of Dies Committee. To the Editor of The Star: " Despite its front pages being neces- sarily jammed with interesting facts and rumors concerning the international chaos over the seas, The Star has man- aged to give due and authoritative publicity to the revelations of the Com- mittee on Un-American Activities, led by that competent Congressman from wide-spread Texas, Martin Dies. It may be that I am a bit prejudiced, but I was born and raised in the United States! I am baffled, amazed, and ap- palled at the injurious criticisms that have heaped upon this committee since its very inception. To us, pro-Americans, this reaction resembles the first blasts from the in- vading bomber. Man the anti-aircraft guns, more will follow in waves. ; The Dies agents have made mistakes. Name any great man, delegation, or ruling body that has not failed “to stick their chins out” occasionally. The very caption, Committee on Un-American Activities, should carry the support and confidence of a vast majority. Remember what one erudite and astute individual once said: “Usually in order to make a mistake, one must first make a move.” Over in London, while forces from without besiege, the populace cry out, “God save the King.” Let us, who are besieged from within, cry out, “God save the Dies Committee.” April 27. DANIEL J. CARR, JR. Senator Radcliffe Praised For Political Courage. To the Editor of The Star: Seven years ago the Constitution of the United States was divided into two parts by certain of those who had under- taken to preserve, protect, and defend this stronghold of the liberties of the Two powerful nations, the English and | the French, with a land and sea equip- | time at all. But so far we are still wait- | Let_ the allies do the | 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! people and basis of the form of our Government. One of these parts—the prohibition amendment—they permitted the people to repeal. The other part they under- took to repeal themselves, as suited their purposes. In the process of the disregard of the Constitution it was found that some of those who had undertaken to preserve, protect and defend it, could not be turned from their oath and obligation. Upon them the “purge” was turned. Among them was Senator Tydings of Maryland. The people of the State, however, were not deluded, nor did they accept the tempting offers with which the effort was presented. At that time Senator Radcliffe, who could very easily have avoided it, came to the support of his colleague and managed successfully his campaign for | re-election. Now Senator Radcliffe presents him- self for re-election, and an effort is under way to supplant him. Why sur- | render the tried, true and conscientious? | The Senate does not exist to serve the ambitions of any man, but to legislate for the people in accordance with the powers conferred upon it. A display of courage, which would not have been forthcoming by a lesser man when his colleague was under attack for performing his duty, is alone sufficient to justify the re-election of Senator Radcliffe. With that, however, he couples integrity, ability and attention to duty He deserves well of the people, and should be returned to the Senate, where his past record augurs so well for the record which he will make in the try- ing days which are yet to come. HARRISON TILGHMAN. Easton, Md. April 30. Anticipates Re-election Of Senator Guffey. To the Editor of The Star: The article of Messrs. Alsop and Kint- mer in The Star of April 29 which con- trasted the two senatorial nominees in Pennsylvania was interesting but re- quires a footnote or two to give it strict accuracy in some particulars. Both Joseph F. Guffey and Jay Cooke make good copy, but I think that, unlike the latter, Mr. Guffey worked his way up with little family help; in fact, with fam- ily opposition. More than any Demo- cratic leader in the State of Pennsyl- vania he kept the party together from 1921 until its resurgence in 1928 and 1932. His uncle, the late Col. James M. Guffey, was not a Wilson man in the Baltimore convention of 1912, and Joseph F. Guffey was. This led to the parting of the ways. It was the Palmer-McCormick-Guffey group that aided measurably in giving | Mr. Wilson the nomination. Mr. Guffey financed the Western trip of President Wilson in 1919 and I have seen the letter of appreciation from the President. Senator Guffey has been in political life too long not to have developed enemies for one reason or another. Because of his consistent support of the present ad- ministration, it i§ not unreasonable ‘to think that with the President again the nominee, Senator Guffey will be re- elected for another term with the privi- lege of remaining indefinitely in the Senate. PENNSYLVANIAN, April 30. Haskin’s Answers To Readers’ Questions * ByFrederic J. Haskin. A reader can get the answer to any question of tact by writing The Evee ning Star Information Bureau, Fred= eric J. Haskin, director, Washington, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply. ‘Q. What was the first transcontinental telegraph message?—M. B. A. The first transcontinental tele- graph message was sent to Abraham Lincoln from Stephen J. Field, chief jus- tice of California, on October 24, 1861. The message was as follows: “In the temporary absence of the Governor of the State I am requested to send you the first message which will be trans- mitted over the wires of the telegraph line which connects the Pacific with the Atlantic States. The people of Cali- fornia desire to congratulate you upon the completion of your great work. They believe that it will be the means of strengthening the attachment which binds both the East and the West to the Union and they desire in this—the first message across the contirent—to express their loyalty to the Unica and their election to stand by their Govern- ment on this day of trial.” Q. In which of Kipling's poems is the line “He travels the faswst who travels alone?”"—H. B. A. It is froms the poem entitled “The Winners.” Q. For whom is Maury-Brooke Science Hall at Virginia Military Institute named?—G. B. H. A. Maury-Brooke Hall is a memorial to Commodore Matthew Fontaine Maury, the pathfinder of the seas, con= sidered by many the foremost American scientist of his day, and Comdr. John Mercer Brooke, inventor of the deep-sea sounding apparatus and originator of the Brooke or jacketed gun now in gene eral use. Both of these men served as officers in the United States Navy. Later they resigned and served with the Con- federate Navy.. After the Civil War, and until their deaths, they were members of the academic staff of the Virginia Military Institute. Q. What cities have been the capital of Ohio?—G. C. A. Chillicothe was the capital of Ohio from 1803 to 1810, Zaresville from 1810 to 1816 and Columbus from 1816 on. Q. How many telephone calls a minute are handled by exchanges in New York City?>—R. H. M. A. There were slightly more than 6,000 telephone calls handled every minute by all telephone exchanges in New York City on an average business day during the year 1939. This figure includes both local and toll calls originating in New York City as well as an estimate for in- coming calls terminating in New York City. Q. Has Seabiscuit a brother?—J. E. C. A. The Jockey Club says that the 2-year-hold chestnut colt Naval Reserve is registered as Seabiseuit’s full brother. Q. When was Mr. McNutt Governor of Indiana?—H. K. H. A. Paul V. McNutt was Governor of Indiana from 1933 to 1937, when he was appointed United States High Commis- sioner to the Philippines. vy Q. How much oil is produced in Ru- mania?—F. W. A. The total production of oil in Ru- mania in 1939 was 45,996,000 barrels. Q. Please give the date of the Bach Music Festival in Bethlehem, Pa—K. R. D. A. The annual Bach festival will be held on Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, in Packer Memorial Chapel at Lehigh University under the direction of Ifor Jones. Q. Which one of the Fox sisters mar- ried Dr. Elisha Kent Kane?—W. M. C. A. Margaret met the Arctic explorer, Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, while in Phila- delphia. After his return from the Arctic he saw her only briefly before he left on the journey on which he died in 1857. She proclaimed that he had acknowl- edged a common-law marriage with her before her relatives, and, to the distress of his family, assumed his name. The National Cyclopedia of American Biog- raphy states, “There is slight authority for the statement made by Margaret Fox, one of the family of celebrated spiritualists, that she and Kane had been privately married before he left England, as his long correspondence with her has since been published.” Q. What is the fastest pursuit plane ever built?>—G. H. A. It is believed to be the Grumman Skyrocket, which is America’s latest con- tribution to the air power of the world. The Skyrocket’s speed is estimated at 450 miles per hour. With a wingspread of 42 feet and a length of 28 feet, it car- ries two 1,200-horsepower engines. Q. Please explain the term “off the coast” in a weather forecast.—C. N. A. The United States Weather Bu- reau says that it refers to the water area immediately adjacent to and extending from 100 to 150 miles from the coast. Q. When did Wes Ferrell pitch a no- hit game?—<F. G. A. Wes Ferrell pitched a no-hit game against St. Louis April 29, 1931, The Old Mailman He pauses on the bottom step, Sorts letters out, and tells the news. (The hand that brought Smiths' wed- ding cards Now brings their grandson billets- doux.) “Old Miss Alden’s sick again . .. McGregors’ son will be home soon . . , Only an ad for you this time. Better luck this afternoon!” Straightening his shoulders to the load, He trudges off across the lawn, And households settle back to work Now that the mailman’s come and . gone. Through sultry sun, through blinding snow, = He still goes plodding down the years— Bearer of loyalty and faith, Unwitting harbinger of tears, . Twice daily spanner of the miles, ‘Whom none can hasten or defer, Cupid, Nemesis and friend— Fate’s worn and patient messenger. HORTENSE ROBERTA ROBERTS.