davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1923-01-28
DR.. Buffers Wild Talk.

sTDr. Nicholas Murray Butler now
Joins the ranks of the "defeatists"
with respect to enforcement OF the
eighteenth amendment. In an address
before the Ohio Bar Association he
declared belief that the amendment
never can be enforced, mo matter at
what expenditure Of money or OF ef-
fort" and as he does not expect the
amendment to be repealed within
measurable time he sees no hope but
that America will continue to be a
nation Of law-breakers. with full ap-
proval Of "men and women OF intel
ligence and moral sensitiveness."
s,The eminent educators belief that
the eighteenth amendment and laws
enacted under it for suppression OF
The liquor traffic are unenforceable
perhaps would carry greater weight
if he were a little less reckless in lay
ing the groundwork Of his argument.
But when he tells US that tine
methods Of czarist Russia and the
Spanish inquisition" have been re-
Sorted to in futile efforts to enforce
the law he tells us what we know is
not true, and therefore we feel justi-
fled in harboring a reasonable doubt
as to the infallibility Of his judgment
of the ultimate outcome. When SO
learned a man as DIR. Butler INDUCES
in such extravaganza of statement 1t
is to be feared his protest is more in
spired by passion than by zeal Tor the
well-being Of the nation.
DR.. Butler succeeds only in making
himself look foolish when he declares
at this stage of the contest that the
liquor traffic cannot be suppressed. AS
matter of fact, American sentiment
day by day grows more determined
that it must and shall be suppressed.
There was a time when ordinarily
good citizens thought it was smart
and something Of a joke to buy boot
leg whisky. but their number is rapid
ly diminishing. DIR. Butler asserts that
revolt against prohibition enforcement
among "men and women of intelli-
tence and moral sensitiveness" is na-
fion wide. That statement carries its
own refutation. No intelligent man or
woman could view with equanimity
the moral debauchery resulting from
the business of the bootleggers. and to
give countenance to their carnival of
crime is complete proof that moral
ssnsitiveness" is lacking. 1t may be
that some day the eighteenth amend.
ment will be repealed, or that the laws
for its enforcement will be modified,
but repeal or amendment will not be
the result of such attacks as that
launched by DIR. Butler at Columbus.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

ture development Of the city rs well
as the cure Of present conditions.
Washington will grow larger, and as
it grows the traffic in this ganglion To-
Gated at l4th street and New York
avenue and 18th street and Pennsyl.
vania avenue will increase. A subway
down 14th street to Pennsylvania ave-
nue., with perhaps a branch westward
to supply the needs Of the section west
Of 18th street and south Of Pennsyl-
vania avenue. would seem to promise
a maximum Of advantage.
The problem here Is chiefly one Of
regulating the north and south traf.
f1c. Car lines occupy the following
streets: Fifth. for part Of the way;
7th, 9th, 11th and 14th and Con-
necticut avenue. Sixth. 8th. which is
interrupted by public buildings; 10th.
18th, 18th, 18th. 18th and 18th. save
for short distances on 18th and 18th,
are unoccupied. 1t is undesirable to
place tracks on sany more Of these
streets. Some ofsthe streets should be
left vacant for ordinary traffic, which
is always slowed and blocked by the
presence Of car lines.
This matter is broader than the
mere question of the 14th and New
York avenue conditions, and requires
study from the point Of view Of the
Washington Of ten or more years
hence. Certainly some means should
be found of relieving a congestion
which is both dangerous and discom-
Evening star., 1923-01-28
Imitation Coal.

That coal dealer should be
swindled by artificially blackened stone
will strike many persons as curious.
Men who are merely coal consumers
might be so deceived without stirring
up much comment, but a coal dealer
to be taken in" by this means argues
that the Job was beautifully done, or
that the coal dealer was not a con-
i,oisseur in coal. One account has 1t
that the counterfeit coal consisted OF
stone painted black, and another that
the stones were dyed black. In the
FIRST account one might congratulate
ore's self on the development os the
painting art in America, and in the
other on the development Of the dye
ing industry. A Brooklyn coal dealer
has brought suit for 81 400 against a
man who sold him coal which turned
out to be stones dyed or painted black.
Evening star., 1923-01-28
Bavaria q Storm Center.

A peculiar state Of affairs Is report.
ed from Munich, where Adolph Hit
tier, leader Of the Bavarian gray
Shirts" or fascist, has declared war
on the government. Ludendorff, for.
merly one of the leaders of the Ger
man army in the great war. is reputed
to be behind this movement, and it is
understood that at least $4,000 men
have been enrolled. A mass meeting
called for today has been forbidden,
and reichswehr troops and police
forces have been called out for pos
sible service in case the fascist un-
dertake to hold the meeting or to move
against the government.
Bavaria is notoriously a monarchical
center. 1t is more strongly anti-repub-
lican than any other part Of Germany.
A monarchist movement there, how
ever, would not be in the direction Of
a restoration Of the Hohenzollerns,
but would aim at the re-establishment
Of the Bavarian throne in favor OF the
Wittelsbach family, with doubtless
Crown Prince Ruppecht as king. In
deed, such a development has been
expected ever since the armistice.
A fascist movement" in Bavaria
is logical outcome Of the present
troubles of the government at Berlin.
Separation Of Bavaria from the Ger.
man republic would be a serious blow
to the Ebert organization, for it would
include the most prosperous and pro-
gressive portion of the country. 1t is
impossible to foresee the full conse-
self, succeeded by minor monarchies If
not by communist states, would be
within the possibilities. -
Such breakup OF the German re-
public would, Of course, have pro-
found effect upon all Europe. The
reparations problem, already difficult,
would be increased. At present the al
lied powers have to look to but a sim
gle organization for the satisfaction OF
war claims If they have to look to
two or more governments, harmonious
only in their indisposition to pay, the
task OF collection Will De greatIy COM
plicated.
But Bavaria will not necessarily fall
under monarchical rule easily. The
government at Munich has taken pre-
cautions to protect itself. and 1t would
seem that Hitler, who appears to be
but a figurehead for more important
and influential persons. has blundered
in announcing his plans prematurely.
Today may witness a conflict at
Munich, may, indeed, see an overturn,
or the beginning of German disintegra-
tion. Or. on the other hand, 1t may
see another flash in the pan such as
that Of the Kapp "putsch," which was
such a miserable failure in the way Of
reactionary revolution.
Evening star., 1923-01-28
Fort Myer Enlargement.

1t would seem that there ought not
to be any argument as to the desira-
bility of the plan advanced by the War
Department for the enlargement Of
Fort Myer to accommodate q regiment
Of infantry in addition to its present
garrison Of cavalry and field artillery.
Adequate protection Of the National
Capital ought to be a first considera.
ton in any scheme Of national de.
fense. and it is shown conclusively
that this can be best and most eco
nomically accomplished by taking ad.
vantage Of facilities already existing
at the post across the Potomac. The
government now owns ample acreage
there, provided with roads. dri1
grounds. water and sewerage, and the
department asks only for $500. 900 for
the erection Of barracks for the troops
and quarters for officers.
Half a million dollars would be a
very small premium to pay for q per-
manent policy OF insurance on the
scores Of millions the government has
invested in its plant" in Washington.
An armed enemy invaded the capital
once in the nations history, and there
is no guarantee that it could not be
accomplished again. But there are
other things than war which might
endanger the government establish.
ment. An outbreak OF mob violence
on scale too large to be handled by
the police-possible, even II improba-
ble-or a confagration, might make
the presence of an adequate force OF
organized and disciplined men the very
essence Of safety.
The proposal does not involve any
increase in the military establishment.
With the small regular establishment
which has been decreed by Congress.
the necessities OF national defense call
for the concentration OF troops at
strategic points, and the War Depart
ment program proposes only that there
shall be stationed at Fort Myer a regf-
ment now stationed somewhere else.
that somewhere else being point Of
less strategic value. Because some in
terror point Is unwilling to lose what
ever benefits may accrue from a neigh
boring Army post ought not to be per-
mitted to stand in the way Of ade.
ouate protection of the capital as a
part of a carefully thought-out scheme
of national defense.
Evening star., 1923-01-28
Fifty Years Ago in The Star

bridge company the remarkable char
ter by which 1t took possession of the
Aqueduct and was permitted to charge
the enormous tolls which the Virginia
farmers have found SO oppressive.
Ames it was, too, who succeeded in de-
feating an appropriation for the re-
construction of the Chain bridge
(free). in order that all the travel and
produce should be compelled to go
over his Aqueduct bridge and pay ex-
orbitant tolls. The bridge company
resists any Improvement on the river
front which will interfere with the
Aqueduct bridge or compel them TO put
draw in it.
Il X = :.
Interest No. 2 represented yester-
day was the Wilson-Kidwell combi-
nation for the grab possession of all
the river flats from Easby's wharf TO
the arsenal. BY this modest operation
the parties named hope to get posses
sion of some $50 acres above and below
the Long bridge, covering nearly the
entire river front Of the city. The
first move in this speculative little
game was the taking out OF a land
patent for some sixty acres of the
flats opposite the observatory.
This patent was granted when 10
wilson was commissioner OF the land
office, and his brother, John Wilson.
who took the deed to be recorded at
the city hall. sought laboriously to have
the fact concealed from the reporters
that such a document was in existence
The sum Of $23 was paid by the Wilson
kidweu combination to the land office
for this tract as government land. Sub
sequently they tried to 'pre-empt' some
500 acres of the fats above and~below
the Long Bridge; bat whether from the
change OF land commissioner or from
hitch in the easy process OF acquiring
the whole harbor front of q large city
and they haven't got the patent for the
900 acres.
"These enterprising gentlemen who
have invested SIS in the little grab
game TOR the haTbor front are, OF
course, very much outraged that any
plan OF Improvement that does not leave
them in full possession Of all the land
reclaimed. Messrs. Wilson. Kidweli and
H.. II. Wells, therefore. strike hands
with Messrs. Aaaes, McComb, ex-Gov
Wells and DUNCAN in resisting any
practical measures of river improve
ment.' -.
In a further comment, on this ques-
tion The Star in its issue or JANUARY
%, 1873, says:
1.-THE advance in the value of property
along the river front since the question
Of improving our farbor and chaaael
has been before Congress fs wonderful.
Those reeking marshes, the. Kidwell
meadows have risen from $23,te Si.00e.-
900 or thereabouts. and IL we are to be-
lieve President German of, the c. e. o.
Canal Co. and the other honorable gem
tlemen who appeared before the House
committee for the District in behalf of
that company yesterday, even that use
less, foul and uasghtly ditch from Rock
Creek to. 18th ST. a rival of our filled
up Washington canal in worthlessness
and fiithiness-has suddenly come to be
considered great artery OF trade. more
from, Georgetown to. Cumberland, es-
sential not only to the prosperity. OF
the canal company. but The future OF
thu coal trade Of Maryland, Who would
have thought it?"
Evening star., 1923-01-28
The Building Material Shortage

According to an article printed in
yesterdays Star a serious shortage Of
building materials threatens to delay
the numerous construction projects
planned for early undertaking in
Washington. In practically every line
Of supplies there Is a failure Of de.
Hveries-steel, cement. brick, lumber,
pipe, enamelware. In fact, everything
that enters into building is short,
and those who contract for construc-
ton are at the mercy of q slow market
and congested rail lines.
In these circumstances Washington
will be fortunate, indeed, IL the pro-
iected constructions, estimated at a
value Of Sls.0o0,o 900. are finished dur.
ing this present year. Every other city
in the country Is feeling the effects OF
this condition. The material shortage
is due partly to strikes in specific in
dustries. partly to slow railroad de.
liveries caused by the rail strike Of
last summer and the deterioration Of
the motive power. and to the coal
strike, which affected virtually all
manufacturing establishments. These
conditions, moreover, developed just
when industry was reviving and when
building was booming. In short. they
came at a time Of rapidly increasing
demand. Consequently there is sharp
competition for deliveries, which has
had an effect upon prices. NaturaIly
dealers and contractors have been i'm
PEELED to offer special prices for early
Evening star., 1923-01-28
Prison for Reckless Motoring.

Imposition Of term Of Ave years
in the penitentiary upon a motorist
whose machine hit and killed a small
boy may have a wholesome effect in
this city. 1t is a notice of the punish
ment that awaits any driver who runs
his machine recklessly and without
regard for the rights and safety OF
others. -...
These cases are SO rare that they
are the more impressive when they
occur. It has been often said that
motor carelessness is not punished in
Washington, but with this conviction
and sentence it becomes evident that
reckless motoring Is attended with
serious risks not only to the people in
the streets, but to the drivers as well.
Evening star., 1923-01-28
Robblng the Visitor.

Americans who complain about the
extortions with which they meet
while travelling abroad might do well
to look about at home before they
start criticizing other countries. A
recent Investigation showed that at
Ellis Island. where. the immigrants
arrive, or, rather, at the Battery.
whers they land. q band OF taxicab
tematically fleeing them. One family
paid SIS to ride a few blocks to
Evening star., 1923-01-28

deliveries, which II. in effect, the Of
fering of higher rates Tor goods.
It is most unfortunate that this con-
dition should prevail at present. when
there is such urgent need Of construc.
tions to supply the housing needs Of
the people, and to aid In the develop
ment Of business and industry,
checked by the wartime stringencies.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

The question of improving the river
front and sharbor was complicated
fifty years ago by
Interests R1ock certain private in
rerests and it re-
Improvements. ou,red some skill
full maneuvering and involved a long
delay in overcoming objections to
clear the way for this work. which
meant so much to Washington. The
reclamation of the flats indeed, led
to suits which were not settled by
Supreme Court decision until years
after the great enterprise was start
ed The first stage in this matter is
thus described in The Star of January
81, 1873:
1.-THE need of improving the river
front and harbor and reclaiming the
malarious marshes opposite the city
has been long felt and various desul-
tory projects thereto have been start
ed and died out without results The
District government has now taken
hold of the matter in earnest and 1t
is to be hoped that either through
government assistance or the opera
tions of private enterprise the two
desired objects, 1. e., first-class har-
bor for the District cities and the
reclamation of the fever-lair marshes,
may be accomplished.
"There are two bills now before the
House District committee for this
purpose. One proposes that the i'm
proyement shall be. done by. the gov
ernment, the proceeds of the sale OF
lands reclaimed to- go hrst to reim-
burse the United States and after.
wards for the beneht OF the District
that the work shall be done by a pri-
vate company. The main feature OF
the plan is the closing of the present
channel Of the Potomac between
Easbys point and the line OF the Ana
costa channel: the fllitng Of the flats
north shore of the river and the exca-
walton OF the main channel between
the above points. -
"The House District committee met
Yesterday to consider these bills and
there was a general rally of opposing
interests to show why the improve
ments should not be undertaken.
"Among the interests thus repre-
sented were the Auueduct Bridge Com
pany. the KidweiI John -Wiison-Jo
Wilson meadow land party. the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company
and the owners Of those pretending
to own present wharf sites. The hrst
two interests were heard yesterday
and the hearing was continued.
"The pretensions sent up by these
two interests are worthy of note as
illustrating the sort of obstacles met
all the way through in carrying out
any important plan of Improvement
here. They are both speculative con-
Germs Of the credit mobilier' stamp;
in fact the. first named, the Aqueduot
Bridge Company, Is an offshoot Of the
credit mobilier. the principal operators
In it being the very oakes, Ames and
McComb- who are now snarling at
each other over the lions share OF the
credit mobiIier spells. Ames got the
bill through Congress giving his
Evening star., 1923-01-28
BY THOMAS n. MARSHALL.


TINE uplifter. IL he IL the
right kind. has a hard Job
to keep from being a
downpusher at the same
time: to do good only without
doing evil as we'll. Men do not
object to the uplift as one of. the
forces moving toward what the
world views as q better and fairer
civilization or to the real uplifter,
but even superficial thinkers re-
alixe there is more than one kind
OF uplift and not a few different
kinds OF uplifters. The constitu-
ton OF man in all primal instincts,
passions and comparative aTnbi-
tions has not changed In form from
age to age. although It has In
creased in intensity. The struggle
now. as always. has to do with the
survival Of the httest. Just judg-
ments are to be obtained not by
assauiting the law Of the survival
Of the fittest, but by an endeayor
to educate the people as to who
are the fittest to survive. And by
education do not mean academic
theories. Intellectually assented to.
but academic theories so thorough
ly and universally accepted that
men Of their own volition gladly
govern their lives by them. al
though they run counter to fndi-
vidual success.
* W X *
In the economic life Of today the
man who arbitrarily insists upon
lowering the wage of the working
man is downpusher. I use the
phrase with no meaning Of disre-
spect. admit that as he sees the
wage scale he is convinced that
its lowering would benefit all con-
sumers Of the land. But men of the
largest vision often see only
they look. That employer Is un-
usually wise and just who takes
into consideration when he starts
on q salary-reducing and wage
lowering policy what his employees
have to buy in order to live in
comfort and how much they have
to pay for these things.
90 much work to be done in Amer
lea and so many men to do It.
mot beasts with lower
passions and beasts with
lower palms." but men accustomed
to the standard of American citi-
zenship; If he will not forget that
a crust OF black bread and a glass
of vodka will not bring content
ment; IL he will remember that
hn ~ In ffttf fa
such that a man is entitled to any
living that he can obtain by means
of his labor, and II he will grant
that any wage should be some
what commensurate with the re-
quirement OF decent living, tho
irritation between the downpusher
and the right kind OF an uplifter
will be measurably lessened.
*,x
Whenever I think OF the effort
by law. either crystallized in
statute or attempted to be made
by the customs of business, with
reference to the wage OF the work.
ingman. I recall an incident Of
English history at the end of that
great plague known as the BLACK
death" The agricultural labor OF
Great Britain had been decimated.
1t was the judgment of parlia-
ment, as 1t is the judgment of
many employers today, that some-
thing should be done to prevent
farm laborers of the kingdom from
demanding and receiving extor-
tionate wages. A maximum wage
law. fixing & wage higher than
which no laborer should contract
for his hire, was enacted. The
law proved n-enforceable. It
was supplemented by laws pun
ishing the yeomanry for contract
ing to pay or for paying any
higher wage. These. too, proved
Evening star., 1923-01-28

This country Is already involved in
the affairs of Europe. The question is
one of degree. The very fact Of in
habiting the same earth involves
Americans to some extent with Euro
peans.
Evening star., 1923-01-28


management Of the naval ratios is
being studied for methods slightly re-
sembling the old-fashioned state
~serrymander," which obeyed the let
ter Of the law, but concentrated forces
by means Of statistical manipulation.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

The proceedings to impeach the At
torney General afforded another ex-
ample Of the details which arise to
consume time and leave Congress with
unfinished business on hand at the
close Of the session.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

European nations occasionally try to
be complimentary by assuring Amer.
lea that no war will be complete un-
less the western hemisphere Is in it.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

AS France goes farther into the
Rhine region the demonstration may
cause perplexities calculated to remind
the reader Of the Uncle Remus story
about Br'er Rabbit and the tar baby.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

The Turks claim to be actuated by
noble patriotic purposes. This claim
is one Of the formalities OF every auto
cratic enterprise.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

Germany goes on issuing paper
money with a lavishness which may
make a bale Of marks cheap enough
to serve as a substitute for coal.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

II the ex-kaiser wanted to establish
a happy household he should have
studied a number Of the United States
soldiers on the Rhine.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

Prohibition has gotten rid Of most
of the whisky, and is now confronted
by the task Of getting rid Of the even
more pernicious substitutes. --.,
Evening star., 1923-01-28

A magician is suing another for
stealing his tricks. Magicians should
be content to fool the public without
practicing on one another.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

The only kind word to be said for
the bootleg bandit Is that he never
stops long enough at a time to crowd
the parking space.
Evening star., 1923-01-28
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance
MARYLAND and Virginia.
All Other States.
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
patches credited to 1t or not otherwise credited
in this paper and also the local news pup,
lished herein. All rights OF publication Oh
special dispatche herein are also reserved.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

Lloyd George declines to retire from
public discussion in a manner which
might give him any future advantage
as a. dark horse.
Evening star., 1923-01-28

Clemenceau will not return to Amer
ica, the interest OF events at home
being beyond anything this country
can hope to provide.
Evening star., 1923-01-28
Inside Stuff About New York
BY WILLIAM JOHNSTON.

the Pennsylvania station. In another
case a family going to Kansas were
sold a strip of subway tickets for
$3.50.
Another alien. who dropped into a
barber shop near the Pennsylvania
station and permitted the barber to
give him all the extras he suggested,
out Of a SO bill received only $4.05
change. This particular victim went
to court-and the court upheld the
barber
Evening star., 1923-01-28

rrThe Ruhr credit experts are an
nouncing that collections are likely to
be slow and not very sure.