davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1922-12-10
Americas Fire Waste.

Astoria. Oreg., furnishes the latest
example Of American wastefulness
through fire. Flames have swept
through that city taking a toll Of s15.-
100000 in destroyed property. cover
ing twenty-seven blocks. Fortunately
no lives were lost directly, and not as
many people were rendered homeless
as In other conhagrations which have
swept residential sections. Still 1t was
an appalling loss. and the moro SO as
doubtless investigation will prove it to
be due to a careless cause-neglect of
some simple rule Of protection and
prevention.
At Newbern, N. c.. recently a fire
caused destruction Of property valued
at $3.50, 900. and rendered many hun
dreds homeless. In that case investi-
CATION indicates incendiarism and an
amazing slackness on tho part Of the
fire-.ighting forces. suggestive Of a
willingness that the flames should
sweep unchecked. Flimsy construction
caused the mounting Of the loss.
From the beginning of this year, as
the records Of news dispatches show.
fires have been raging in all parts Of
the United States with tremendous
losses. Destruction Of less than $780,
900 scarcely attracts attention. Now
it is an office building. again depart
ment store, or an apartment house or
hotel. an Industrial plant. or a series
of buildings. or an area Of residences.
In some cases tho heart Of city is
destroyed. At the present rate the
losses in this country from flames will
be in this year 1922 greater than ever,
save, perhaps, in some year Of q holo-
caust like that Of Chicago. Boston.
Baltimore or San Francisco.
In 1921 New York city's losses from
fire were $15,00o.000 greater than In
1920. And yet the fire department Of
that city is constantly being developed.
as are those OF other municipalities.
Better apparatus. more highly-trained
men, abundance OF water seem to
make no difference in the matter Of
keeping down this waste. Fires start
with small beginnings and gain head
way before discovery or check. Con-
centration of values is attributable In
great measure to this steadily mount
ing loss in terms Of billions.
Better construction should always
follow such a fire as that In Astoria.
Better construction should precede, in
deed, but it seems to take disaster
to teach this lesson. Constant inspec-
ton is necessary. with severe penal
ties for violation Of fire-prevention
rules.
Washington has one paramount
need in this respect. 1t should have
a high.pressure water service, to in
sure the business district against
heavy loss. Such a system. whatever
1t may cost, is made essential by
the examples Of other cities that are
swept by flames. The Immunity Of
the capital from heavy destruction
thus Tar does not guarantee against a
disaster Of unmeasurable magnitude
in the future.
Evening star., 1922-12-10
YNwARRANTED reputation Of
| contracts In foreign trade IL
a growing menace and the

establishment Of some fed
eral agency that will issue certificates
of examination attesting conformity
of shipment with samples Is proposed
to relieve tho situation and aid in
building up commercial honor.
Mercantile circles In many lands are
considering this problem and its solu-
ton Is Of vital Importance to foreign
trade, A. J. Wolfe. chief of the division
OF commercial law OF the United
States bureau Of foreign and domes-
tic commerce, points out
Enlightened merchants Of the prin-
cipal commercial nations. who fecog-
nize the sacredness Of commercial
honor, are seeking to eliminate the
evil Of unwarranted contract repudia.
ton based on specious pleas. and to
facilitate an equitable adjustment OF
complaints that are justified.
1t has been pointed out by men
high in commercial circles and stress.
ed in conferences with officials Of the
would be q fine thing II buyers and
sellers were to agree that the certifl.
cate Of examination by some author.
ised agency, showing conformity Of
goods shipped with the samples or
which the order was based. should b
subseouent complaint impossible.
The Department Of Commerce haa
been entertaining the proposal thai
a start be made with certain com.
modities and with countries in whicf
commercial discipline has attained 6
high standard. 1t 10 patent that ths
Qhfnnn an
would have to enjoy the confidence
OF both parties to the sales contract
the buyer and seller.
It is q severe test Of both to abide
by the consequence Of bargain tha'
eventually proves Improbable. Il !.
conditions are normal or better. Blu
whom all about him failures, cfisei
and uncertainties shake the structure
Of business and undermine prosper
ity. the merchant must bo upheld b
4 sense of Integrity, by positive
munity % and BY . knowiedge that tn
other party to tho contract. while
in no way responsible for the sttua'
ton which has arisen, sympathf.ei
with him and il willing, voluntarily
to give him all the moral support
A card index OF commercial honor
in kent by the export director Of one
of the foremost american interna'
tional merchandising concerns. Or
white cards he keeps the names o.
those who honor their Signature tt
q contract at all costs. The custom
OF those foreign houses r 5salously
guarded and there 10 nothing In thu
way Of accommodation they mey all
FOR that 10 denied them. A black list
IL correspondinS1y kept of those w
took advantage Of troubled o0ndl.
|tiona to sx'ort eenev'tons BY un'
Evening star., 1922-12-10

tnaC ne purposes SummOnlu8 ot ~
early day q conference Of governors to
seek better cooperation between state
and federal agencies in enforcement
Of the law. Whatever personal opin-
ion may be as to the wisdom OF the
Volstead act, that act is the law It
the land, and every good American
win applaud the Presidents firm re.
solve that the law shall be respected.
Illiteracy, immigration and child
labor are other subjects which tho
President urges upon the serious At
tention Of Congress. While recogniz-
ing that education OF youths is prt-
marily the function Of the states, he
conceives 1t to be the duty Of the fed
eral government to look after aliens
who are admitted to our shores. He
urges passage of pending bills for the
registration Of aliens and the estab-
lishment Of examining boards abroad
to weed out undesirables at the
source. Then he would have the fed
eral government devise means and
effectively assist in the education Of
the newcomers, SO that the level OF
American education may be made the
highest that Is humanity possible.
The President sees close relation
ship between the problems Of educa-
ton and child labor. AZ the Supreme
Court has twice held that legislation
for the regulation of child labor is out
side the province Of Congress. he
recommends submission to the states
OF an amendment to the Constitution
giving Congress the authority it lacks.
In the Presidents review Of our
foreign relations much Is to be found
to crafty Americans and to provide
food for thought to the statesmen and
inhabitants Of other lands. II would
like the Congress and the people Of
the nation to believe" he says. that
in a firm and considerate way we are
insistent upon American rights wher-
ever they may be questioned. and
deny no rights Of others In the asser-
ton Of our own" He insists that We
have shirked no duty which comes Of
sympathy or fraternity or highest fell
lowship among nations, and that every
obligation consonant with American
ideals and sanctioned under our form
Of government is willingly met.
And, in conclusion: I'VE ask no one
to assume responsibility for US; we as.
sumo no responsibility which others
must bear for themselves. unless ma
tionality is hopelessly swallowed up
in internationalism."
On the whole. the Presidents mes
sage Is an able state paper. refreshing
for its stalwart Americanism and
valuable for its clear thinking at a
time when there is so much muddled
thought in the world. Also it IS note
worthy because Of the high political
courage it n,anifests, for some Of the
things he recommends are bound to
bring down upon his head a storm Of
criticism. One thing else 1t makes
clear. However much he may have
appeared to have slackened the reins
in the past. President Harding IS the
leader Of his party today. He has
stepped firmly into that position by
giving his party the one thing 1t con.
spicuously 1acked-a program. BY
that program now the republican
PARTY. no less than the President, must
stand or fall.
Evening star., 1922-12-10
Politics at Home
Mr. Wilson Keeps in Touch.

In q letter to O Florida editor
! written probably in response to one
| Observation-Disclosures Wilson recently
said:
The task Of 1924 is to SO mobilize
our intellectual and moral forces as
| to assure q complete defeat Of the
| party which has done the country SO
| serious disservice and to win again
for our government the leadership in
publicans for the time being have
deprived 1t. and personally feel con-
| fident this can and will be done. My
pulses are quickened by the prospect
OF battle.
Mr.. Wilson keeps in touch with his
friends all over the country. Now from
this, now from that. section, a letter
| on the subject OF politics written by
Mr.. Wilson to some admirer finds its
! way into print. The recipient is al
ways proud Of his good fortune. and
willing that the public shall share the
! missive with him.
It was in this way that Mr.. Cleve-
land. between March, 1889. when he
retired from the White House. until
the meeting time Of the democratic
national convention in the summer Of
1892. largely occupied himself. He
conducted a voluminous correspond
ence with admirers-many Of whom
he had never seen-on the subject Of
the democracy's future, uttering
cheering words.
The result was that at that conven.
tion sentiment for Mr.. Cleveland was
overwhelmingly strong, and he was
nominated. hands down, for another
his third-try at the presidency.
Mr.. Wilson can hardly have q
thought OF heading his party's ticket
himself in 1924, but it Is most likely
that he desires a voice in the choosing
Of the man. and in the construction Of
the platform on which the candidate
shall stand. And letters in line with
the one this Floridian has just re-
ceived will serve that purpose WELL
With ample leisure. and interest in
politics keen. Mr.. Wilson. from his
residence in this town. can make his
influence felt in every state in the
Union. And Florida, it may not be un-
important to remember, is now the
home state Of William ]. Bryan, who
also. alert as at all times. is giving
more or less attention to 1924.
Evening star., 1922-12-10
The Presidents Program.

Yest rday The Star commented
upon he Presidents message with es-
pecial reference to the remedies which
lie pl sposes to cure transp 'ation
evils.
Cor sideration Of the transpo; .ation
problem flows naturally into con-
sideration of the problems of the
farmer. and the problems Of the
farmer into those Of the consuming
public. Present difficulties Of the
farmer, the President finds. are due
chiefly to the unevenness of de1ation
from wartime price levels and to the
inequities Of transportation charges.
From the latter of these causes the
consumers of farm products suffer
along with the producers.
Already a good deal has been done
for the relief Of agriculture. and the
President recommends that temporary
improvement in credit facilities should
he made permanent. But he recog-
nizes that this alone is not sufficient
to reach the fundamental difficulties
Of the farmer. Cheaper and better
transportation, he insists, is necessary
to permanent and deserved agricul-
tural good fortune. And he would have
searching inquiry made into the
unwarranted spread" in prices be-
tween the producer and consumer. to
the end that ways may be devised
whereby the farmer will receive more
Of what the consumer pays and the
consumer pay less for what the
farmer grows.
Better respect for the law is de.
manded by the President, not only
from aliens. but from Americans as
well He believes the contempt In
which DO many citizens hold the pro-
hibitdon enforcement law il de.
moFalizinE example to newlyarrived
immigrants, and that 1t threatens to
undermine the very foundations Of the
republic. He thinks It unlikely the
eighteenth amendment ever will be
repealed, and he doubts II the legisla-
tion enacted for its enforcement is
contrary to the wishes Of majority
Of the people. II it is contrary to the
popular will, he argues that rigorous
and literal enforcement Is the way to
concentrate public attention on any
regulate modification. and he calls
upon all good citizens to support the
government in such q program.
1s this is added the announcement
Evening star., 1922-12-10
The PEOPLES Parks.

An increase Of 44.4s3 persons visit.
ing the national parks Of this country
during the past fiscal year over the
year previous is a most gratifying in
dication that the people Of the United
States are coming to appreciate the
remarkable advantages which these
federal reservations offer to them.
The total attendance In the parks was
1916 .490. 60 per cent Of these people
travelling in their own motors. More
than two-thirds Of these motor tourists
camped out in the parks. No wonder
the director of the national park serv-
ice in his annual report says that "it
Is obvious that the parks are among
the most popular institutions foetered
by the government"
Not only did these 1,21e.4s0 people
enjoy the natural wonders for the
preservation Of which the parks have
been created. but In reaching them
they Travelled considerable Distances,
many Of them crossing the continent.
The travel entatled thus amounted to
hundreds Of millions Of miles. In no
other way. probably, could SO many
Americans have been made acquainted
| with the country, with its vast extent,
it's great variety Of features and re-
sources.
Such travel is certain to make for
good citizenship, for a feeling Of part
nership in the most wonderful country
in the world, for greater loyalty to
American Institutions.
These visits to the national parks.
moreover, were health.sivine. Accord
Ing to the directors estimates, nearly
500 900 people camped out In the parks
during the fiscal year. and they were
undoubtedly benefited physically BY
this experience. With the constant
increase in motoring 1t is likely that
much greater number will in the
course Of the current fiscal year un-
dertake this method Of park visiting.
Facilities have been provided in the
parks for camping. and every induce
msnt has been offered to the people
to take advantage of them. In conse-
quence q transcontfnmtl tour BY
motor. with the parks ~ the main
Evening star., 1922-12-10
jackson Day.

On the suggestion of Chairman Hull
Of tho democratic national committee
the coming Jackson day will be cele-
brated throughout the country with
dinners, eaten in memory Of Old IIick-
ory and as an inspiration to the best
party endeavors in 1924.
When 1t comes to the rank and file,
Jackson holds over Jefferson. The lat
ter was sage, and played the part
to perfection. He had learning, and
was Of q speculative disposition. He
was In character and at his best at
Monticello, after the fret Of Office and
action was over. He reveled in his
library, and entertained what in that
day was called carriage company
to the queens taste. The perfect high
brow, If you please.
Jackson was not lowbrow, in any
sense. But he was more.sided than
Jefferson, and touched the everyday
at more points. He was man Of &C.
ton as we'll as Of thought-was sol.
der, lawyer, statesman. politician,
lllc&A1 u LILO IL O"us Ola AAA OAAOs 4n S6AlP
planning and in the field fighting; at
the political council table advising as
to policies; on the race track inspect
ing the "ponies'' and picking winners,
he was equally at homo and deferred
to. Old Hickory at the Hermitage,
spent and awaiting the end. was not
as happy or impressive as Jefferson
had been at Monticello.
Jackson, then, is the man. He makes
q strong appeal to the individual and
to the crowd. In his grave nearly
eighty years, he stands out still as a
democrat Of democrats, in whose name
and in memory Of whose achievements
much can be, and much is, invoked in
campaign years, when party blood is
up and spellbinders are exercising
their voices on the voters.
Chairman Hull, . Tennessean, pro
poses for January 8. 1923. the well
known ana oft.repeated toast, Andrew
Jackson.
Evening star., 1922-12-10
Foreign Trade Contract Court
warranted complaints, by threats Of
reputation and BY brazen defiance.

warranted complaints, by threats of
reputation and BY brazen defiance.
It 10 . comforting realization that
In all countries and At all times
there are found firms that belong on
this white index, Mr.. Wolfe points
,ut And 1t 10 q Christening thought
that the black index is not free from
the names OF any nationality. A sys-
tenn. therefore, whereby the tempta-
ton to make unwarranted claims
could be reduced to a minimum would
be welcomed by trade-square con-
Germs in all countries. Such a sys-
tom must be practical, economical,
equitable.
Here again, We find that some COM
modities lend themselves more read
lily to such tests and examination
than others. It is perfectly feasible
in the case Of steel. oil, cotton. grain.
etc, since trade associations have es-
tablished recognized standards for
certain Of these, but in many other
commodities the situation Is different.
standardization. Having its origin in
the skin Of = living animal, it starts
as an tndtvidualistic article. which,
by sorting. may fall into certain
roughly Distinguished groups. The
the akin to the action Of chemicals.
varying in their effect, the fallibiiity
OF the Dorter. the disposition Of the
buyer . destination to be over-exact-
ing, the difference in assortment in
two countries-all these make fertile
In many cases OF packing the goods
at the factory into strong and ex-
pensive cases renders an outside ex-
animation at the port Of shipment
impractical.
The trade association OF the Amer
ican leather industry. the Tanners
Council. has suggested an arrange
msnt for dealing with such COM
plants before they arise, - follows:
The shipper Of American leather to
foreign countries 10 to specify that
should there be complaint - to quail
ity the buyer may refer the case to
the nearest American consul or
representative Of the bureau Of
foreign and domestic commerce, and
may return what may be determined
with an ahidavit reciting the circum-
stances) to the Tanners Council. with
the request that its arbitration board
pass on the complaint.
There are indications that similar r
plan may be adopted by other trade
associations, with notifications to
meet the specific needs Of each trade
and Of csrtain marksts.- The plan Of
q central agency for dealing with
commodities lending themselves to
quick and elective examinAtion II by
no nsea4s Impossible q reAlisation.
Mr.. wolfe says aftsf having given
this entire subject very close study.
Evening star., 1922-12-10
Interest I'm the West.

A LTHOUGH New York is often ac-
1 cused Of believing that America
ends at the Hudson river. and of being
uninterested and uninformed about
the rest Of the country. there are sew
eral indications OF growing desire
ON the part of New Workers. for more
Evening star., 1922-12-10

The Presidents Thanksgiving proc
lamation is soon followed by a mes
sage to Congress indicating number
Of things for which we may hope to be
thankful Q year hence.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

II every proposed amendment were
to be adopted the United States Con-
stitutfon would become almost as un-
wieldy as the treaty Of Versailles.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

If the claims Of medical science as
to prolonging human life continue to
develop, the old story Of DR.. Faustus
and Mephisto will be due for revision
in a modern setting.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

Husband killers have become SO
numerous that the promise to love.
honor and obey in the marriage cere-
nony may be superseded by n simple
request not to shoot.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

America might be Of assistance to
Europe if some practical program
could be evolved permitting reference
Of the Dardanelles question to the
rivers and harbors committee.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

Berlin extravaganza is attributed to
the desire Of paper mark owners to
get rid Of them while there Is still
something they will buy.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

Events continue to call attention to
the fact that as compared with most
international assemblages the WASH
ington conference got . remarkable
amount Of action.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

There Is not much encouragement
In the theory that SO long as various
military experts regard another war
as inevitable the L. s. A. might as
well get in early.
Evening star., 1922-12-10
NEW YORK. December 9.
EVERYBODY sits around as II
r. they were expecting some
i thing to happen that never

l<ITvERYBoDY sits around as if
r. they were expecting some
IL thing to happen that never
! does" a Denver man COM
mented to me. after an evening spent in
visiting various Of the restaurants and
night clubs.
! what he said was true. Night after
night there goes on in New York a
ceaseless search for pleasure-for some
thing novel and exciting that will break
the monotony of life for those who have
too much money and too little to do.
| The jaded rich. New Yorkers and visi-
tors. rush frantically to each new musi-
cal comedy. each new dancing club.
each new restaurant as it opens, paying
f1ve dollars. ten dollars. any price for
places. hoping always for a new thrill.
and finding always the same old stuff.
sitting and letting themselves be bored
as they wait for something new TO
happen" which seldom occurs.
Having good time all the time is
hard work.
Bargains in Smart shops,
lNF COURSE it would be beneath the
~ dignity Of the smart avenue shops
that cater to the ultra rich ever to
hold bargain sales" II such vulgar
methods were ever attempted their
supercilious salesladies would probably
60 on strike. but nevertheless some-
thing does happen.
AS the end Of each selling season ap-
proaches. these smart shops on and
near 9Th avenue send out to the en-
| vftations to "a private SALE" At these
! sales gowns. hats. everything in stock.
| is closed out at prices about one-third
OF what they were at the beginning of
| the season. This enables the shop to
start each new season with all fresh
| stock, and also enables women whose
social position is better than their in
come to have hats and gowns from a
| smart shop at prices they can afford.
Strange Holiday Customs.
lNIEW YORKs big foreign population
has brought with 1t many foreign
customs that look strange to Amer
| ican eyes. l have never forgotten how
astonished / was the first Thanksgiving
spent in New York to see the streets
| alled with masquerading youngsters all
| begging for pennies. some of the boys
with their faces blacked, others dressed
| in girls clothes. and some with gro
| tesQue masks. suspect 1t is an i'm
| ported Italian carnival habit The beg
slne. however. has become so annoying
that recently the police have forbid
den it.
While the Christmas tree still prevails
in families where there are children
| the difficulties and fire-peril of having
1t set up in small apartment. and the
bother OF disposing Of it afterward. are
gradually diminishing the use OF trees
| The custom OF exchanging gifts in New
York is now confined in most cases to
| members Of the family. With the long
| list Of acquaintances that one inevitably
gets in big city it is much simpler
and cheaper to exchange Christmas
cards.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

Legal authority has its limitations.
There is no way of securing an in
junction to prevent the thermometer
from dropping in the presence Of q
coal shortage.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

Uncle Sam as Il rcSui;t: participant
in the Lausanne conference might re-
.eive less aler. and deferential con-
sideration than he gets in his present
position.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

Fighting In ireland has acquired q
momentum which even under new
conditions It will take time to over
como.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

Public interest shifts rapidly. BY this
time people who collected ':relics" at
New Brunswick are beginning to
wonder what they wanted with thsm.
Evening star., 1922-12-10

There are doubts as to whether the
sick man Of Europe" is regaining
strength or falling into greater de-
lirtum.