Evening star., 1922-12-11
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

that the government. and not indi-
vtduals. should 60 into business. And
this soctalistic or soviet principle
VIII probably crop out In various
Eu.ses-look out for II. That's what is
the matter with North Dakota and
Russia.
What a coincidence of name with
need! vein of fine camel coal
has been discovered near Frostburs.
Nd. Where else would it come SO
handy as In a city Of frosts? Ex-
perts are discussing whether It is an
extensive vein or merely big pockA.
They will not act in vein" II they
enlarge the pockets of the owners.
There is no local need comparable
to the need Of ampler school build
ings and greater equipment. so that
every child Of school age will be en-
abied to get a full days schooling.
every day Of the school year. Repre-
sentatives OF all citizens associations
have agreed unanimously upon that
demand Of Congress, despite the cut
ting down Of estimates by the budget
commission. There are over 10000
illfterates in the Nations Capital--a
national disgrace. There is no ex-
cuse now for our not providing suf-
acient housing facilities. and then en-
Forcing compulsory education in the
Dfstrict. II that cannot be done by
federal authority in the states. the
government ought at least to set 4
good example to the states by making
1T Impossible to remain in the Dis
appropriations made hv Congress in
recent years have barely kept up with
the yearly growth of population. leav-
ing no FUNDS to increase housing
capacity, TO take up the slack" The
result is robber~ of half a day from
thousands Of children and making II
impracticable to insist on attendance
by the truants. No wonder that this
nation IL tagging behind several Eu-
ropean countries in the matter Of
eaos1s Of T. The masses It is ooa
illiterates in he District to which
reference is made are over twenty
ono years of age: there are many
more than 10000 between the ages Of
six and twenty-one who do hot know
single illiterate in the capital.
Tie birth rate in America is lower
for the first six months Of 1922 than
for the corresponding period Of last
year. And the significant point is
that it reaches it's highest figure
20 per 1.o00-in the most illitera.e
states. as compared With only 1871
per 1000 in New England.
How often il is found that folks
who persistently quarrel among
themselves are quick to combine
against an outsider who mixes in.
The United States is an outsider when
1t comes to the Latin nations south
of US. The republics of Central
America were glad to accept the in
vitation OF Secretary Hughes to meet
in conference in Washington. with
the view to composing their differ
ences. and. II possible. devise some
basis OF union into one great re-
public Of Central America But they
no sooner assemble before they begin
to call the roll, and Mexico is called
thrice in vain. The call for Tubal
Mexico results Is usual in confusion
and near riot. Where is Mexico: A
found. An order goes forth to seek
the guilty. even to raise q Hughes
and Cry" until Mexico is found. Per-
haps the whole conference Will break
up II Mexico cannot be raised from
the dead. The Obreeon government
is recognized by all the Central and
South American governments. and the
sensitive Latins feel that the refusal
of America to grant the same recog-
milton to one of the Latin nations is
an affront to all the other Latins.
They do not consider the pledges
from President Obregon first de-
manded by our government-they
only see that the United States sits
in judgment upon Latin.
The position of the State Depart
ment is that the five Central Amer
ican countries which were invited to
this conference are the only ones in
terested in its problems. Mexico is
mute.