davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1919-03-16
An All-American Exposition.

In an address at the Y. M. c. A. the
other night John Barrett, director gen.
erai of the Pan-American Union, urged
the establishment here in Washington
of a permanent international exposi-
tion. He declared that there should
be erected here a magnificent and
immense international exhibition
building in which could be permanent
ly displayed comprehensive and in
formative exhibits from every state in
the United States, of every country,
at least of the western hemisphere,
and possibly of all the world" This
project Of an international, or at least
an all-American, permanent exposition
in Washington, has been often advo-
Gated, but has never reached the point
Of practical consideration. Now is a
good time to press for action. As
never before, the relations Of the coun-
tries Of the western hemisphere are
close and intimate. Business is ex-
panding and developing. There is ur-
gent need Of some definite focal point
Of trade demonstration, and there is
no better place for it than here at
the capital Of the United States, vis-
tied by representatives Of all parts Of
this country and all the countries to
the south. An all-American exposition
situated here would very soon develop
into a truly international, permanent
world fair. It would easily pay for
its cost many times over in the slim
ulation Of trade.
Evening star., 1919-03-16
POLITICS AT HOME
Beyond His Powers.

The chairman Of the democratic na.
tional committee asks this question OF
the chairman of the republican national
committee:
"Is there any reason why Mr.. hays
should not put his party on record in
this matter so that the league of ma.
tions may have the support of both
political parties and of all forward.
looking citizens generallys"
One reason-and a sufficient one-is
that Mr.. Hays does not control the re.
publican party. He does not assume
to. He could not Of his own motion
put it on record with regard to any
issue. he is the chairman of its ma.
tional committee, with we'll defined but
limited powers, and too wise and capa.
bic man to attempt anything be.
yond them.
By the same token, Mr.. Cummings
could not put the democratic party on
record on any issue. He lacks the
power. His duties are limited and de.
fined, and he would risk much in any
attempt to 60 beyond them.
Discussion for the moment has pri.
marily to do not so much with the idea
Of a league of nations to insure peace
as with the particular plan the Presi'
dent brought with him from Paris and
introduced to the American public.
That plan was not Of his drafting
He did not claim paternity. he had
taken no plan abroad with him, and
upon arrival On the other side had
found none in existence there. After
many conferences-English, French
Italians and Americans participating
plan was hastily knocked together in
order that the President, whose de.
parture for home was approaching
might have something to show for hi,
labors.
The paternity Of the plan is in dis.
pute. In some quarters Gen. Smuts is
recognized. He is man of some abil.
ity, but of only parochial reputation
and achievement. he has served the
British empire weH on q small scale in
South Africa, but is not associated with
anything Of empire-large proportions
This fact has led to the suggestion
that a document Of so much conse.
quence must have been "wished on
Gen. smuts; that it is Of more dis.
tinguished origin; that, in all prob
ability, it is Of the devisement Of Mr.
Balfour, Lloyd George, A. Bonar Law
and Lord Robert Cecil, all men Of em'
pire-wide consequence and one Of
them-Mr. Balfour-the shrewdest OF
living English politicians.
American opponents Of this plan are
not attacking the aspiration, the hope
Of insuring peace Of a lasting char
acter to the world, but only plan
which as they think would put Amer
lea, if she adopted it, in dangerous
and un-American position.
Evening star., 1919-03-16
Germany Responsible for the War,

Disclosure Of two dispatches sent
during the last days Of July, 1914, to
the Vienna government by the Aus
trian ambassador at Berlin virtually
completes the proof that Germany was
determined to precipitate the war and
to prevent intervention that would
lead to arbitration or even to discus
sion. Count Won Szogyeny- -Marich mott
fed his government on the 25th Of
July that a rejection Of the Austrian
demands by Serbia was anticipated at
Berlin, to be followed Immediately by
military operations by Austria; Ger
many believed that q delay Of opera
tions would be dangerous, as opening
the way to Intervention, and the Ger
man government was urging with the
greatest insistence to pass Immediately
to action and thus put the world in
face Of an accomplished fact"
The Austrian ambassadors second
dispatch, dated July q, is even moro
significant. Under the seal Of the
most strict secrecy tho German score
tary of state had notified the ambas-
sador that England was about to pro-
pose mediation and that Germany was
absolutely against" this proposition
being taken into consideration, and was
transmitting it solely to comply with
the British request. In other words,
Germany had NO thought at any time
Of permitting any mediation, while ap-
pearing to be willing to serve as . me-
dium Of communication.
These dispatches, it win be noted,
were sent before the Russian mobi3iza-
ton order was issued. They leave NO
doubt whatever that a. early as July
probably much earlier than that
Germany planned to precipitate the
war, regardless Of what other nations
might do, "to put the world in faes
Of an accomplished fact"
These revelations fit into the record
perfectly. There is nothing ineon-
sistent with the deduction to be drawn
from them in all the white books"
and books Of other colors issued after
the war began by the various powers
Whatever the decision at Paris may be
with respect to individual responsible
ity, there can be no question that Ger
many wished to start a war between
Austria and Serbia, with the certain
knowledge that Russia and France
would intervene and become parties to
tho conflict; in short, that Germany
wished to make use Of the issue grow
ing out Of the assassination at Serajevo
to bring about the general conflict for
which she had been systematically pre-
pairing for many years.
Evening star., 1919-03-16
SAM BROWNE BELTS.

pline and regulations with urasssi
able accuracy, with unimpeachahl-
precision, when he orders the offend
ing belt removed from the manly
forms it compasses: yet even his au
thority cannot obliterate the marks of
its former presence. Though it be not
worn. still shall all beholders know
1t once was worn, save only on jack
cts that have never known it,
The officers whose uniforms worn
without the Sam Browne belt do not
come up to Army standards of neat
ness, but whose return to civilian
dress is near, are in a bad situa-
ton. If they cover their honorable
service stripes with leather. Gen.
ORyan viii get them: IL they don't
some other superior officer may r.
buke them for untidiness.
Evening star., 1919-03-16

John Hancock was the first to sign
the Declaration Of Independence, not
because Of his dominant responsibility
for the composition, but apparently be-
cause he wrote good hand. This fact
has not led to popular reference to the
document as q "round robin"
Evening star., 1919-03-16
The McAdoo Boom.

Former Secretary McAdoo, refreshed
by his sojourn in California, will soon
take up his residence in New York, and
expectation is that from that time
presidential gossip in the Empire state
will be quickened.
There is a McAdoo boom, condition
ed, of course, as all democratic booms
must be, on Mr.. Wilson's plans. Mr..
McAdoo's friends would not expect him
to stand for his party's nomination
next year as against a manifested de-
sire Of Mr.. Wilson for q third term.
At present Mr.sMcAdoo's strength is
with business men. While at the head
of the Treasury Department he con-
Quoted financial affairs Of colossal size,
and in that way came into intimate
touch with large business interests. he
was the only member Of the cabinet
discussed in connection with tho presi.
dency.
Free-handed now, with all official
cares put aside, he will be at liberty
to look out for his political fortunes
in his own way.
If he offers for his party's presi-
Dental nomination it will be as a New
Yorker, and if he is to gain foot
hold in the democratic national con-
vention it must be with New York's
support. Can he secure itf
Gov. Smith is the only other New
York democrat mentioned in connec-
ton with next years prize, and the
mention of him is not taken very
seriously at home or anywhere. He is
a competent man, and personally popu-
lar, but a Tammanyite, and on that ac-
count would be at a disadvantage in a
national contest.
If Mr.. McAdoo announces, or his
friends take such steps in his behalf
as indicate his encouragement and ap-
proval, it will be assumed at once that
Mr.. Wilson will not be in the race
And it will probably be assumed also
that the administrations support will
be thrown to Mr.. McAdoo.
In that event other announcements
will likely follow, and the friends of
other aspirants get busy. Bucking the
President is one thing. Bucking pur-
pose of the President to name his sue
cessor would be another thing.
There are Mr.. Clark, Mr.. Bryan, Mr..
Underwood, Gov. Cox Of Ohio, Vice
President Marshall and others, good
men and true, all considered Of presi-
Dental size, and each with devoted
following. If Mr.. Wilson does not en-
ter, next years race for the democratic
nomination viii. be spirited.
Evening star., 1919-03-16
The Ship of State.

The language which men now employ
In statesmanlike commotion
Commingles with unstinted joy
The speech Of land and ocean.
Each mind in its attention has
These phrases in a row:
1Be it resolved; also, "Whereas";
And likewise, "Yo, heave, hoi"
So bring the hardtack adj aboard.
It's good for the digestion.
And when saluting guns have roared
We'll csll the previous question.
A symphony combined with jazz
Seems to make up the show
"Be it resolved" also, "Whereas';
And likewise, "Yo. heave. ho!s
Evening star., 1919-03-16
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
Many q Sam Browne belt rises and
falls on tho breast Of q returned ofn-
Ger whose guilty conscience tells him
he is violating orders, but whose fiat-
tened pocketbook and imminent dis
charge from the Army counsel pru-
dence in the purchase of new uni
forms. The Sam Browne belt, per-
mitted in overseas service, taboo here,
marks the jacket of the wearer in
delibly. The tailor's art is useless
to remove those deep worn creases.
and the best of uniform cloth will
fade a little in sun and snow and
rain where it is not protected by the
leather of this favorite harness.
Gen. ORyan lnterprets e.sci-
Evening star., 1919-03-16
Gas Rates, Public and Private.

While the public, unfamiliar with
the items of cost and the technical de-
tails of gas production, cannot ques-
tion the equity of the Public Utility
Commissions order increasing the gas
rate to private consumers from 80
cents to 95 cents per thousand cubic
feet for period of six months, it can
and does see the injustice of putting
wholly on the private consumer the
burden of bringing the rate up to a
point at which the company can pay
6 per cent dividends.
In its decision the commission states
that the per cent dividend rate is in
normal conditions not unreasonable
and that rates should be so fixed as to
permit that percentage of earnings.
But in these abnormal times it holds
that the burden of the war should not
be borne wholly by the consumer, and
thus it compromises on per cent
dividend rate, to permit which the 95-
cent gas rate is ordered.
By the same reasoning of an equi-
table distribution of the burden, why
should the cost of gas to the Dis
trict of Columbia and the government
be maintained at 70 cents per thousand
cubic feet while the rate for the pri-
vate consumer is increased first to 80
and then to 95 centsf It costs just
as much to make the gas used by the
government and by the District as that
which is consumed by the individual.
Washingtonians who use gas are as
federal taxpayers paying their part Of
the governments gas bills at 20 cents
per thousand. As District taxpayers
they are paying their part Of the 10
cent rate for the gas used by the
municipal government. As individuals
they arc paying henceforth a 95-cent
rate for gas used in their homes, the
same kind Of gas, made in the same
retorts and carried by the same sys-
TEN Of distribution.
ss Az individuals, therefore, the Dis
tfict people are paying over IS per
cent moro for their own household
gas than for the gas they use, or
rather pay for, in the government and
municipal service. If the government
and District gas were paid. for at cost
plus . reasonable dividend-earning
profit the privately consumed gas
oculd be distributed for probably 80
cents . Thousand, as heretofore. In
other words, tho private consumers are
carrying the whole burden of the divi-
Aend while the government and the
District arc getting gas at and per-
haps below cost.
= This ID 90 plainly unjust and illog-
ieal that il would seem to be the first
concern Of the Public Utilities Com
mission to seek . modification Of the
contracts for public gas consumption
in an effort TO equalize the burden be-
fore adding to the already high cost
imposed upon the private consumer.
Evening star., 1919-03-16
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANpHR JOHNSON.
Abrupt Effect.

Abrupt Effect.
II don't quite get our eloquent
friends views on this subject"
"Nor l." rejoined Senator Sorghum.
"They don't appear to connect up. They
remind me Of . motion picture film
which has had thousand feet or so
chopped out here and there by tho
censor"
Evening star., 1919-03-16

A New York harbor strike is not
proper thing to be brought under the
immediate observation Of the. Bartholdi
liberty girl.
Evening star., 1919-03-16

Owed to . Revenue Collector.
Should my old income tax be shy,
know that your correcting eye
Across the page will stern1y range,
ask it with humble sigh,
If I have figured it too high,
Oh, will you send me back the
changei
Evening star., 1919-03-16

Activities Of the Senate's republican
steering committee cannot assume to
render the republican party as nautical
as the democrats have become.
Evening star., 1919-03-16
HEARD AND SEEN.

occupy the building jointly with the
lions have been slighted, and the
lions have got the usual lions share
of glory.
there is another name for that resi-
dence of many animals, to say moth
ing of the snakes and the crocodiles.
1t may be heard waited on the breeze.
any bright Sunday afternoon, as you
walk around in the Geological Park.
It has not superseded lion house."
but believe it will, ultimately.
At least, as long as that baby hip
popotamus keeps on growing.
| Sure. that's what they call it-hippo
house.
2
Presence of Frank j. Marshall, chess
champion of the United States. in
Washington last week recalled TO
some chess story that has nothing
to do with Mr.. Marshall, only with
the wonderful game of which he is
such an able exponent.
A man from the middle west was
visiting the south. and while at
famous seaside place met a woman
who said she was fond of. playing
chess. The man had played the game
IN Tie lllll6 "" ii ne lfoHis 80
agreed to play the woman.
That was the beginning of many
games between the two. 1t must be
confessed that the woman won most
of the games. although the man
would hardly confess to it. After
while, in fact, his enthusiasm for
chess play became noticeably less.
But the woman in the case insisted
on playing, so much SO that the man
finally lodged corners when he saw
her coming his way.
Upon his return to his home town
he was amused, and little annoyed.
to receive letter from the fair chess
player, in which she suggested "A
game correspondence.
Crazy about chess" he commented.
to a friend who was u really fine
player. you know. L just played with
her because I had nothing else to
do"
What was her name?" asked The
friend. And: when he had heard it:
well, no wonder you didn't win ali
your games-she is the chess cham
pion of Wyoming"
* X
Speaking of traffic accidents ami
related matters:s
There is a woman in this town who
has a son noted for reckless driving
of the family automobile. His mother
was recently taken very i'll, and the
family doctor was called in.
You have auto-intoxication." he
finally pronounced.
The mother was telling friend
about it later.
And to think that he said had
auto o-intoxication, when he ktiows
howl hate automobiles
CHARLES f. TRACEVEf.L
Evening star., 1919-03-16

Since the reds have asserted them
selves in Berlin, no German statesman
has boasted Of any program. for teach
ing the Russian rioters the goose step.
Evening star., 1919-03-16

II the socialists" could have had
their way Debs and Berger might have
been the Trotsky and Lenin of Chi
cagc.
Evening star., 1919-03-16

: The old-fashioned bully who was
described ss "a man who would rather
fight than eat" has como to lfe in the
modern bolshevik.
Evening star., 1919-03-16

No doubt a number Of cases Of plain
old-fashioned spring fever" will be
mistaken by hypochondriacs for sleep
ing sickness"
Evening star., 1919-03-16

Lack Of trolley facilities in New Jer-
sey may temporarily do something to
ease the evererovding in New York
city.
Evening star., 1919-03-16

Too Small for Superstition.
do you regard tvo-dollar bill as
unluckyT
NO." replied the man with market
basket. ut simply isn't worth notic-
ing"
Evening star., 1919-03-16

The Hoheuzollerns win not send any
flowers to that eminent exponent Of
@shrecklichkeit," the assai1ant of Glenn
enceau.
Evening star., 1919-03-16

Among the thing that tho United
States Senate distinctly does not desire
are rest and recreation.
Evening star., 1919-03-16

Towns now voting "wet" are wasting
their tributes to John Barleycorn on
tardy epitaph.
Evening star., 1919-03-16
Rough Specimen.

Rough Specimen.
@What's a parlor socialist"
1 don't knew precisely" said Miss
Cayenne. "I assume that it is a man
who insists on throwing cigar stumps
on the rug and breaking up the bric-a-
brac."
Evening star., 1919-03-16

Constitution Of the United States"
Monroe doctrine" League Of ma
tons" The eternal triangle!
Evening star., 1919-03-16

Mr.. George Creel still carries an un-
censored vocabulary.
Evening star., 1919-03-16
A. I. Stewards
Nomination.

the Treasury. Mr.. Stewart accepted.
the nomination was sent to the Senate
and was confirmed. Then somebody
discovered that law enacted in 1889
prohibited the Secretary of the Treas
ury from being directly or indirectly
interested in carrying on the business
of trade or commerce. Immediately
there was a furore. The Star of March
9. 1869. says:
Among the reports current last
evening and today is one, which is
generally believed, to the effect that
Hon A. T. Stewart proposes to arrange
for the transfer of his business to
three trustees, who will conduct 1t for
the next four years and devote the
profits for that time to charitable pur-
poses. This course, it is thought by
some, would enable Mr.. s. to fill
the ONCE Of Secretary without violat-
ing the act Of 1888. On the other hand,
able lawyers hold that this step would
not remove the difnculty. inasmuch as
the act in question provides that the
incumbent of the Office shall not 'di-
rectly or indirectly be concerned in
carrying on the business Of trade or
commerce. etc. ETC., and they main
tain that tho partial withdrawal pro-
posed by Mr.. Stewart would not be
such total disconnection from trade as
is contemplated by either the letter
or the spirit of the LAWN other
Evening star., 1919-03-16
Trying to Be Cheerfl

Trying to Be Cheerful.
March came in like lamb"
"Then it will 60 out like a lion"
@There is still hope. The tamest
creature ! ever saw was a sleepy, over
fed old circus lion"
Evening star., 1919-03-16

How to get rid Of Washington's
sparrow population has been a prob
lem for years. Many have upheld the
homely little birds. Of course. but
more have wished them eradicated. II
for no other reason than that they
drive away the song birds. Small boys
equipped with small stones have done
their best, but the sparrows have not
diminished in number.
It has recently occurred to some
that perhaps strategy might be en-
ployed. The great war has taught
many lessons. and these lessons, COM
bined with the springlike weather
which prevailed last week. led one to
the following thought:
why not lure the sparrows from the
city to the Zoo?
Such a feat OF grand tactics would
be fine for the little birds and great
for the great city. feel quite con-
fident, too, that II the sparrows OF the
National Capital only knew what a
quantity of food is lying every after
noon on the shores Of that new duck
pond at the Zoo they would bid fare
well to the city, one and all, and HE
or, better. hy-back to Natures
haunts.
yasback duck, the Mallard and other
birds of that ilk, swim and cavort
over the water, not far from the foot
of the stone steps that lead down into
the Zoo from Adams Mill ROAD. spar
rows would find natural home
Rich grains, spread out for the
ducks. would fall easy prey to the
marauders from sparrowdom. Ihe
white swans. standing on one leg
like storks. would scarcely move II
10 900 sparrows should descend in one
drove. il seems. AS for that. the
Geological Park ia large enough TO
hold many times 10000 sparrows.
Every brilliant scheme, however,
always has its drawback. The trou-
Bile with this one Is;
How are you going to tell the spar
rows?
Nomenclature is great study What
a world of meaning is contained In
the word "hun," for instance. The rise
and fall of words is as tide. now
sweeping some word or phrase high
ON the crest of popular favor. only
to drift it down out of sight the next
decade.
One would hardly look fer word
study at the Zoo, yet that may be
found there. as we'll as animals, if one
is looking for just that sort Of thing.
Take the main animal building that
sits on the hill to the right as one
comes along the path leading in from
Harvard street.
That building has been known as
the Lion house" for many years.
some way or other the tigers. which
Evening star., 1919-03-16

During the great war tho neWspa-
pers OF this country suffered from pa
per shortage, The Star
Print Paper included. 1t is inter-
cl esting to note in the
Of March s. 1869. an editorial an
nouncement relative to a paper short
age at that time, from a peculiar
cause. as follows:
1T is perhaps wicked to grumble at
success. and explanations are always
more or less Objectionable; but the
lop-sided proportions of The Star on
Saturday evening seem to justify us
in departing from our rule on both
points. 1t happened in this wise: Our
circulation. which is all the time rap
idly increasing. reached such figures
during the Inauguration season as to
require a much larger quantity of
paper than We had at the very best
calculated upon. Then, to the dim
added the withdrawal, during the
great passenger rush. Of all freight
trains between here and Philadelphia
whence We draw our supply-leav-
ing US with a large stock switched of
upon some unknown sidetrack. in
stead of at our door. as We had a
right to expect. The result was that
the last sheet on hand was printed on
Friday evening. and, as we are
obliged, on account of the size of the
press, to print the sheets double in
order to get our immense edition out
! in time. and were unable to find either
in Washington or Baltimore any pa
per large enough in size for our pur-
pose. we were forced to choose be-
tween dropping a column from two
OF the pages or omitting the publica-
ton altogether. OF course, we chose
the former alternative. knowing full
well that between going without its
dinner and going without The Star, in
any shape. all Washington would pre-
Ter to give up the former. The pre-
dfcament we find ourselves in seems
TO be one OF the taxes levied upon us
Tor being in advance of all compet-
itors. and we suppose we ought to
pay it cheerfully. but We don't like it.
In future we shall most certainly pro-
VIDE ourselves with paper enough not
only for any extraordinary increase
OF circulation. but also to tide over
such breaks in freight connections as
that Just experienced"