davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1922-12-22
Plan
Is Almost Complete

To the Editor Of The Star:
Perhaps the most promising rift III
the somewhat clouded sky Of democ-
racy is tho possibility that in a few
years the people will have IN their
hands scientific mail referendum.
Experienced mailing mon have been
working on plans and conditions of
a practicable mail ballot for some
time. and have advanced to a point
where its application to the referen-
dunn at least Is about perfected. and
only actual operation is needed to
prove it more safe and feasible than
the ballot in the polling place.
However, voting by mail-now be-
ginning to loom on the political hori-
zon-ls open to everv American bless
ed with ingenuity mixed with pa
triotism. and the development OF its
undoubted possibilities is creating q
rapidly growing interest.
To the citizens own imagination
feasible mail referendum would mean
ultimately to the welfare and hap
piness Of tho whole people. Compar-
ed with its significance to him the
noisy plans Of big politicians. pro-
gressive or retrogressive. are those
Because the mail referendum will
place under his direct dictation the
moldIng OF all government. big and
little It will be SO inexpensive that
reference can be made once q week
with no hardship to voter or state.
considering the substantial returns
for thcoming.
These viii be concrete. The citizen
awaiting impatiently the invisible
street car, or doing out his final
quid for taxes. is advised to Coue.ixe
on the prospect Of tho mail refer
endurn. RUSSELL THOMPSON.
Evening star., 1922-12-22
Asks Jail for Drunken
And "Lovesick" Drivers

To the Editor of The Star;
In all the discussion Of traffic dan
gers no one has mentioned the danger
arising from the efforts Of q male
(sic, also lovesick) driver to protect(?)
his lady companion while she is seat
ed at his side in an automobile.
Every one has noticed how the driver
holds the lady with his right arm.
This IL explained to be for her pro-
tection; that IL. to keep her from
being tolted out. However. this kind
Of protection fails to protect pedes-
trians and vehicles that are liable
to collide while a drivers right arm
in away from the wheel. Driving \
car while under the influence OF liquor
or love is dangerous to all concerned.
But all the talk in the world will
never make the streets even ap-
uroximately safe until jail sentences
sro lnposSl without fear or favor; i.
THOMAS ". G1LMER. :
Evening star., 1922-12-22

be busy body, and viii need Ill the
time at its disposal for the labor prop
erly assigned to it.
That labor, too. will be transacted
under new conditions. What 10 called
the bloc plan Of securing Legislative
results will be tried out.
1t II something novel In our affairs
and 10 not today fully understood by
the rank and file on Capitol Hill
Whether its sponsors and naanipula
tors understand It and can make II
work 10 a question. They seem bent
On the experiment
The old party plan Of action Is moi
perfect by any means. but upon the
whole it has produced well. The coun
try has prospered under it. and every
body has become more or less familiar
with it..
But new times. new schemes. That
these times are new Is widely atteeted
and that they have brought forth any
number Of new schemes. govern
mental and other. 10 Of record In Con
Eress and elsewhere.
The Sixty-eishth Congress-. there
fore, ID scheduled for . strenuous ex
perience, and should have plenty Of
elbow room.
Evening star., 1922-12-22

- 4 -.
ence at Genoa, conceived by Lloyd
George and upon which he practically
staked his future as the leader Of
European .statesmanship. The Genoa
conferences failed chiefly because
France was unwilling that reparations
should be discussed there. and repara-
tions are inseparably intertwined with
Europe's economic problems.
How much better would the chances
be of success for a conference to be
held in Washington? II France came
here with the same reservations she
took to Genoa the same obstacles to
a successful outcome would be pre-
sented. If President Harding invited
France to an international conference
and stipulated that reparauons should
have a place on the agenda. France
very likely would accept with the.
qualifying provision that the inter
allied indebtedness also .shoulf be a
subject of discussion. And the Presi;
dent would be In q most embarrassing
position. 1t would be diMcult for him
to insist upon international discussion
OF the debt owed by Germany to
France and refuse discussion Of the
debt owed by France to the United
States. The American position has
been that reparations and interallied
Indebtedness were separate and dis
tinct questions, but Europe has con-
tended that both debts and reparations
were inseparable parts of the whole
economic problem. Europe has as
much right to maintain its contention
as the United States has to insist upon
its own views. But there would not
he much chance that an international
economic conference would succeed
unless one party or the other recedcd.
AS matter of fact, most people
will subscribe to the view that the
calling OF a conference such as the one
proposed iS a matter which should be
left to the President and his Secretary
Of State. without any effort by Con-
gress to force their hands. They have
better sources of information. and in
the very nature Of things are better
qualified than any senator or repre-
sentative to Judge whether such con-
ference would be helpful. Laudable
as are the impulses which influence
the authors OF such moves. they ought
always to have in mind the havoc
which might be wrought by the care
less dropping Of monkey wrench.
Evening star., 1922-12-22
Up to the People.

Restoration to the screen of a movie
comedian who some months ago fS-
ured In an atrocious affair in Call
fornia and who. after two trials. was
acquitted Of tho charge against him
puts up to the American public the
question Of his reception. Technically.
ne is cleared OF accusation, but the
fact remains that he Is associated
with an abominable proceeding. and
however he may have reformed In his
habits and character. this association
cannot be forgotten.
1t is said in his behalf that he has
a right TO earn his living In the only
way he knows and the public is, in
effect. asked to accept him on the
screen for what he Is today. and not
what he appeared to be in the past.
Some sympathy for reformed man
may be expressed by public patronage
OF the places in which his pictures
are shown, but the test IL to come
whether that patronage will equal the
refusal of others to attend picture
shows where his Aims are exhibited.
II those who are financing this per
former are willing to take the chance
Of a balance In his favor. and. there
fore. their favor. there is no particular
harm in making the experiment. A
very brief period Will suf1ice to dem
onstrate. The box offices will soon
show where lies the weight Of senti.
ment. translated into terms OF pa.
tronage.
In a way, the American public taste
and sense Of propriety are to be test
ed, rather than the performer himself.
Evening star., 1922-12-22
His Christmas Eve Romance
Soon to Be a Golden Wedding

at CaZenovia, and went to the home
Of Mrs Ives. with whom he formerly
boarded and of whom he cherishes
fond memories. He reached her home
in the evening. and knocked. Here
his eyes Frightened and q smile OF Do
lighting remembrance breaks out on
his countenance as he continues:
Il was surprised and delighted tn
have the door opened by young lady
tiful had ever seen. She had rosy
cheeks. eyes of heavens own blue.
and everything to delight the unex-
pectfng gaze Of a lonesome youth. In
those days there was neither gas nor
electricity, and she had a kerosene
lamp in her hand. I had never seen
her before and commenced to explain
who was. I was very nervous. and
she must have been nervous. too. as
between us We managed to shake off
the chimney from the lamp and smash
II on the floor.
Il made a resolution right then and
there" Osborne confesses, that
~OOlQ tulS " no
was attending the seminary. but that
I must make my little pile Of SIC. 200
before could think OF starting mar
ried life. AS Jacob served seven years
for Rachel. so I worked seven years
to get together $4,000 for Helen ana
myself-but without success.
FINALLY gave up the financial
limit I had placed upon my hopes. and
this young lady did me the honor 10
become my wife. We have now en-
joyed fifty years OF happiness TO :
gether while I invaded many far
fiung newspaper fields and gold min :
ing camps and saw the city OF Los
Angeles grow from $4,000 inhabitants $
to more than 100000. We now have
four grown sons and a daughter, and
our golden jubilee Christmas will be
celebrated with the laughter OF child
hood. which Il the truest Christmas s
music. because we have ton grand
children
Evening star., 1922-12-22

president Of the International Typo
graphical ULion-that was in 1876.
He was senior vice commander-in-
chief OF the Grand Army of the Re-
public, 1913, and for thirty-eight
years has been an active member Of
the G. A. r.
Osborne is one of the most stolfd.
sedate, prosaic of our national solons.
and so this little romance will come
with n richer flavor.
LAS look back, the Christmas that
is most distinct in my memory was
not connected with the civil war. but
IL Immediately followed the close of
the war-Christmas. 1867" says Os-
borne, reminiscently.
BY way of background for his
Christmas eve tableau. Representa-
tive Osborne explains that he left the
little seminary town of Cazenovia.
N. Y, to do his soldering. but on his
return went to work on the Utica
Herald. He was then seventeen years
old. He decidedsto spend his holidays
Evening star., 1922-12-22
An Economic Conference.

senator Borah's proposal for a
world economic conference, to be
called by the President Of the United
States, is an interesting contribution
to current discussion Of ways to re-
lieve the plight Of Europe. Whether it
is as valuable a. 1t is interesting is
another matter. Much would depend
upon surrounding circumstances and
upon the scope discussion at such a
conference would be permitted to
have.
The idea of an international eco
nornic conference, Of course. is not
new. Europe has been holding such
conferences. one after another. ever
since the armistice was signed, but
nothing Of striking .benefit in the way
of results has been produced. The
most ambitious Of these attempts, and
the one which resulted In probably the
most notable failure. was the confer
Evening star., 1922-12-22
y HE experiment that has Just
been partially completed In
.>.>.sa .aS>~n1n fhpasa0hAmt

he experiment tnet ms JVst
been partially completed in
several schools throughout
/ i the city shows that the milk
and hot luncheon program that y
being carried out 10 most beneficial.
A recent report made by Mrs. Hugh
Hanna Of the Johnson-P Powell Moth
ers Club shows that over 10 per cent
more children Of the Johnson-Poweli
School are Of average weight and In
better physical condition this year
than last. I remember = number OF
years ago when the plan that 10 now
being employed successfully In nu-
merous cities throughout the country
was first suggested. and I have very
vivid recoliections OF how many old
fogies styled the proposed plan n
being lone Of those newfangled no
tions" Time, however. has demon
strated the wisdom Of the originAtors
Of the movement.
TT II not an easy matter to picture
i to ones self q breeder OF Here
ford cattle. q former cowboy and an
all around politician, being . success-
full writer Of verses. Just outside the
door Of Vice President Coolidge,s r
room 10 a doorkeeper by the name OF
Scott. who has for a number Of years
not only guarded the east entrance
has also for many years been 4 door
keeper at tho republican national
conventions. and this is the man
who wrote "Our Soldiers in France.
Christmas. 1913" a versatile chap.
\
GONE time ago there appeared in
y this column a suggestion that 1t
might not be = bad idea to have some
Of the lawmakers who pass upon the
appropriations given a ride over the
streets OF the city, in order that
they might have q physical demon
stration Of just how badly repairs
are nedeed in practically every sec
tion Of the city. In the same article
{ gently hinted that there WAS some
thing wrong IN the method or
methods employed by those who have
charge of this work. The civic bodies
of the city have at last taken more
than a passive interest in the mat
ter and according to late reports
are going to back a drive for better
highways for the city. 1t might not
be a bad idea to have made public
Just how much work has been done
during the past year and Just how
many complaints have been received
and not acted upon. II there is neg
lcct or incompetercy In the depart
ment Of the city's government thai
has charge OF these matters then II
is the duty Of the Commissioners to
remedy the evil: If. on the other hand,
the greatest amount of work that
.ould be accomplished with the exist
ing appropriations has been done
then it Is up to Congress to furnish
a SUFFICIENT amount of money TO keep
the highways in condition. The thou
sands Of those who pay taxes in the
form Of licenses are entitled to good
streets. There certainly is some way
In which this matter can be honestly
adjusted.
THE other day I received letter
which speaks for itself. and It
is reproduced herewith verbatim
my dear Major: ''Some time ago
you called attention to the danger
brought about by fleeing booueggers
Last Saturday two men were pursued
Evening star., 1922-12-22
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

The Lonely Christmas.
When with a smile
Each friend draws near
It's well worth while.
This Christmas cheer.
With heart 30 gay
You lift q lay
To the mefriest day
OF all the year.
When friends all dwell
In some Tar cline.
You hear q knell
And not q chime.
Youn heart must stray
A long. long way
On the loneliest day
OF all the year!
Evening star., 1922-12-22

man IN the ma
tional House of
Representa- V e S
today who served
in the Union army
during the civil
war. He enlisted
as a private at the
age of sixteen in
Company E, 1929
New York Volun-
teer Infantry. He
is a printer by
trade and q pub
Usher. of news
papers by profes-
sion. At the age
Of twenty = seven
he waS first vice
Evening star., 1922-12-22
"Jay.Walking" Often Necessary.

A campaign against "jay-walking'
has been inaugurated by the New
York police. They say they will break
| up the practice. which they hold re-
| ventable accidents. The rest Of the
| country will watch interestedly for
results. If any good comes of it the
New York system will be widely
| copied. But we have little confidence
in the scheme. Other cities have
Ordinances forbidding the crossing Of
! streets in the middle Of blocks are
| more honored In the breach than in
| the observance. The chief reason for
this 10 that no suhicient pains are
taken, as g rule, to make corner cross
ing safe and expeditions. Why a
chicken crosses a street may still be
! riddle. but human beings cross be-
cause they want to get on the other
side. and they want to. Traffic con-
! troll is better organized in New York
/ than in any other American city. but
it Is not well enough managed to
| make cutting. unnecessary. Where
little attention 10 given by corner po-
licemen to people afoot, "jay-walk-
ing" Is often compulsory on those who
| want to get somewhere.-Pfttsbu
Gazette Times.
Diplomatic man in silk hat and
a Quandary.-Baltimor Sun.
Some adults are 30 childish that
Claus.-Asheville Times.
chivairy has given US a number of
charming phrases. Modern chivalry
has given. US Not guilty."-Hartford
Times.
1t is now possible to do ones court
ing BY radio-tf you are courting only
one at a time.-san Francisco Bull
letin.
Juries may yet have to ask for the
services OF q beauty expert to de-
termine whether the woman 10 in
nocent or euifty.-Toledo Blade.
Splitting -infinitives. according to
recognized grammatical authorities,
does not hurt them. They have been
split so often that they no longer
suffer-Chicago News.
The reason that making of books
has sent world dtzzily onto the skids
! IL that all writer's are driven mad by
rejection slips before they get the
public ear-PittsburEf, Sun.
I Wrap your Christmas packages
we'll. says the Post ONCE Department.
And II the package. after being
EiinE sound, better not mail it at all.
-Kansas City Star
Now comes q detective who thinks
he has found another person who saw
the Mills murder being COM
mitted. II they could just get the fel-
! low who sold tickets to that affair,
they might ind out something
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
DR.. Rupert Blue will aid in the
work Of An opium tra6lc commission
| Of the league Of nations. Members Of
the league will rise and sing 'The
Opium Trafhc Blues."-St. Paul
'Pioneer.Press.
Evening star., 1922-12-22
= Clearing the Tables.

BY abridgtng the usual Christmas
recess, Congress takes step toward
clearing the tables and leaving nc
hang-overs for its successor. An ex'
cellent start with the sessions routine
business has been made. and II the
lick 10 kept up everything will be
well at the close.
The tables should by all means be
cleared. The new Congress should
begin with clean slate. It is going tc
Evening star., 1922-12-22

Detroit is establishing a sanity test
for motorists This will dispense with
the need now felt by drivers Of ex-
pressing their opinions Of one an.
others mental capacities in terms Of
impromptu objurgation.
Evening star., 1922-12-22
HERE and THERE in WASHINGTON
BY THE MAJOR"

By government agents and. according
to the latter. the fugItivas were deal
srs In bootleg whisky: In the chase
down lith street two automobiies
were badly damaged, citissns hurt
and Q horse and wagon overturned.
That no one vas killed was . miracle:
Lav-sbiding citisens recognise the
fact that there are times when those
having police power must bfeak traf-
nc regulations. but the breaking OF
these regulations endangers life and
property. and II 10 rather . hard
matter 70 secure prompt damages a.
the result Of such an accident There
10 ono way. however. by whick these
unfortunate occurrences can be elm j.
mated: namely. II. upon . conviction.
the sitting Judge will impose sen-
tence that will strike terror TO these
iawbreakers who are the primary
cause Of such accidents. As President
Harding has pointed out. while . law
exists II should be enforced: II 1t IL
obnoxious 70 the great majority Of
people II can bo repealed. I. for one
. law.abiding citizen. am sick and
tired Of seeing bootlsggers put MP
few dollars for bail or bond and then
be permitted to 80. out and per-
form their criminal acts few hours
afterward. There surely must be
some way to stop this sort OF thing
Some day an innocent bystander will
be killed by q flying bootiegger or
q pursuing officer. and then q great
fuss will be made about the-matter.
why not let US lock the barn door
before the horse is stolen, as II
wcrco"
iVIyHEN Capt. John Paul of Har-
w risonburg. Va. was declared to
be entitled to the scat occupied until
Saturday last by Thomas ". Har-
in the political life of the Paul fam
lily. A number of years ago the
father Of the present representative
from the seventh congressional dis
trict of Virginia was ousted from his
seat in Congress by. his political op-
ponents after a long and hotly con-
tested fight in the House Of >Repre-
sentatives. Capt. Paul. one Of the
most progressive of virginia's young
er members of the bar. will occupy
his seat in Congress until March
next. at which time Mr.. Harrison will
be sworn in, having been declared
chosen by the voters during the elec-
tion Just past. There was senti-
mental as we'll as 4 political reason
why the world war veteran desired
TO be awarded his seat in Congress
and he feels. no doubt. that the po-
iitical score has been partly evened
X y -
two youths arrived in Washington
l. this week, and will spepd the
hristmas holidays with their parents
The vacation was earned by hard
work in the classrooms and during
the study hours. for in the school
which they attend pupil must have
successfully passed his examination
before he IL permitted to enjoy the
Christmas season. II some afternoon
or evening you thould happen to be
walking through the New Willard
Hotel and your gaze rests upon two
dignined young Americans in whose
eyes. however, may be noted signs
that stamp them as normal healthy
boys. you will be gazing upon John
and Calvin Coolidge. tr.. who sue
cessful passed their December exams
Evening star., 1922-12-22

Ono Of the dangers Of the gasoline
tax is the possibility OF irritating the
big oil interests by calling attention to
their oversight Of the consumers
ability to stand raise:
Evening star., 1922-12-22

Holding post office trucks down to
a safety speed limit will prove a
widespread blessing If the plain citizen
drivers all follow the example set by
the government.
Evening star., 1922-12-22

The next New Year resolution
should include q pledge on the part
Of each law,abiding citizen to refrain
from encouraging a pet bootlegger.
Evening star., 1922-12-22

Mustapha Kemal has permitted
schools to open in Smyrna. The daily
fire drill should be particularly inter-
esting to the classes.
Evening star., 1922-12-22

The gentlemen referred to as lame
ducks" are properly permitted to ap-
proach an unemployment problem
with dignity and deliberation.
Evening star., 1922-12-22

In some parts Of Europe the cashier
inquiries, How will you, have your
money-in gold or by the bale:"
Evening star., 1922-12-22

When Clemenceau lauds the wom-
en- of America he pays tribute to some
Of the country's ablest politicians.
Evening star., 1922-12-22

The democratic managers are pro.
ceeding energetically on the theory
that a landslide is not subject to any
one-way traffic rules.
Evening star., 1922-12-22
Holiday Mail.

The postman made a little pause
And said, There is no Santa Claus
I wish there were one to help out
With the deliveries on my route."
Evening star., 1922-12-22

ERE'S a member Of Congress
- who says that the breaking
of q lamp chimney on a GER
tain Christmas eve influenced
his whole after life.
Evening star., 1922-12-22
EDITORIAL DIGEST

lates,' ut denied to the people the
right Of reviewing the acts of the
general assembly and II sought 70
limit the representation in the legis-
lature Of the residents OF Chicago"
Since. as the Scranton Times points
out. Cook county (Chicago) already
has one-haif the population of the en-
tire state denying II the represen-
tation in the legislature to which its
population entitled 1t was de-
nounced." according to the st. Joseph
News-Press. ''as a step toward MI
nority rule and, therefore, a step to-
ward autocracy." Finally. when
the leading jurists Of the state were
unable to agree as to what many OF
its provisions really meant. the aver
age layman evidently concluded that
its adoption would mean endless liti-
CATION" and. in the words of the
Champaign (Nl.) NewsGa.ette. he
rafhse tbsn % ,o etSss ths,
not Of"
Evening star., 1922-12-22

Germany's financial policy consists
largely in waiting to see what some
one else is going to do about it.
Evening star., 1922-12-22

Peace has its fuel ratloning system
as well as war.
Evening star., 1922-12-22
Scattering Sunshine.

"You should rejoice at the happiness
Of Others"
at do" replied Farmer Corntossel.
''only I can't help feelin' that I've
done my full share to make the com.
mission man cheerful an that he
ought to begin to reciprocate."
Evening star., 1922-12-22
Rate BY AlaiHPsyable in Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
All Other States,
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press In exclusively entitled
20 the use for republica tIon Of all news dts
patches credited to II or not oth<rwise eredited
in this paper and also the local news pup.
liahed herein. All rights Of publication OF
special dispatches herein arc also reserved
Evening star., 1922-12-22

'..Dar wouldn' be much to complain
a." said~ Uncle Eben, ''if money was
as easy to borrow as trouble"
Evening star., 1922-12-22
Strstegic Obscurity,

"You are not as prominent in politi-
cal discussion az you were."
NO" replied Senator Sorghum.
Things out home are SO uncertain
that I consider, it prudent to come as
near as possible to being dark
horse"
Jud Tunlzins says he's sorry to note
that parking space around the church
on Sunday is more plentiful than it
ought to be. . -.