davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
EDITORIAL DIGEST

rhyme or reason. and the plan now
brought forward contempIates great
changes clearly intended to produce
order" out of the resulting chaos.
There is no question" the Brook
lyn Eagle contends. that many OF
the agencies of federal government
ought To be regrouped-' and II looks
upon the proposed program as a
means of making government more
simple However. in common with
several papers. il feels that the
only doubtful phase OF the report is
that relating to the consolidation of
the War and Navy departments"
While much may be said in favor OF
consolidating them under one head"
il is. on ths other hand. plain that
they have relatively few points OF
contact. especially in times of peace"
From the viewpoint OF the New York
World this proposal is only a little
less dubious than that other pet
project of the President's-thec rea-
ton Of the new department of well
fare" The World feels that by in
cIudinp the recommendation for this
consolidation experiment which rs
certain to arouse bitter opposition"
the Brown organization plan has
been greatly weakened"
On the other hand. the Chatta-
nooga News believes that the coun-
try favors' such a merger, which,
the WATERFOWL Standard points out.
every administration" In the opin-
ion Of the Standard. mo other two
departments dovetail SO completely
as the War and Navy. They neces-
sarily must work together in har-
mony in time of emergency. With
two separate heads differences or
opinion arose and it was frequently
necessary for the President to take a
hand With a single cabinet officer
responsible for all defense. both land
and sea. direction and cooperation
might be easier" The Minneapolis
Tribune agrees that the business OF
war can never be ideally conducted
by two distinct and independent
bureaueraces People who know
anything about bureaucratic jeal-
ousies know that cooperation is by
no means always to be depended
upon More than that. as the
Tribune sees it. ANY program OF ma
tional defense ought to consider all
branches of the service as means
contributing to a single end. Land
service. naval service and aerial serv-
ice must he studied each in its re-
la ton to the other. There should be
no ACKNOWLEDGMENT of one at the ex-
Of centralized control presided over
by man who feels no partisanship
toward any specific branch of the
service"
Viewing the program as whole,
while there is abundant room for
simplification and reduction in costs.
the Ohio State journal feels that its
adoption is far from certain. since
ANY reorganization that displaces
men or reduces their official impor-
lance or compensation would be I'M
popular with members OF Congress.
places and all congressman
are politicians at times"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
Summer White House
Called a Restriction
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
There is an agitation on foot, since
a Washington home is likely to be
found for the Vice President, which is
perhaps admissible-to get summe"
White House for the President.
Though we honor our Presidents as
much as subjects do their kings. |
wish to say that Presidents would
not and never Will like to 1--we in
summer White Houses. as 1t is sure
that our American Presidents will
seek an independent free will privacy
to liberate themselves from official
dom.
1t should not be our desire in our
America to start on a career Of White
Houses here and White HOUSES there
on the pattern of castles here and
castles there az in the old country
The royal families and all their sons
and daughters are each provided with
to follow the line of old traditions.
we might do as well and better by
setting up things for our much more
worthy officials--the secretary OF
state and the rest OF the Presidents
cabinet, and lay out park for that
purpose.
We have passed the out-of-date old
world methods. Our aspirations are
great, and we have made this country
great by the plain policies of its
1OunQerS. we can sui De content I'D
follow their plain policies, the poll
cies of a republic.
If anything is to be done, II would
be grateful country to reward with
a pension our ex-Presidents who have
born the terrifying perplexities to
please all. parties and who boldly
stand for our principles-the repre-
! sentatives Of our republic. the great =,
est republic yet born in deeds and
idean
MICHAEL H.ISS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
Senator Williams.

Everybody who knows Senator John
Sharp Williams will wish that he finds
his Arcadia, and that he will find
there as much happiness as the Greek
poets celebrated in their songs. Ar
cadia was beautiful district Of Greece
inhabited by a simple pastoral people
who were believed to be distinguished
above all other people for their hap
piness. In retiring from public life
Senator Williams told the Mississippi
Society of Washington that on going
home to Mississippi he would rise
when the cock crows, gather flowers
while the dew is on them, read his
books, eat his dinner in the middle Of
the day, return to books and letter
writing in the afternoon. eat supper.
not dinner, in the evening, listen to the
sweet serenade of his band of mock
ing birds in the twilight and live out a
happy old age surrounded by troops
of friends. There is no doubt that
'Marse John" phrased those senti-
mcnts in the most delightful English.
The gift of language is his. 1t has dis
tinguished him all through his career.
Here is man with a wonderfully fine
natural intelligence on which was i'm
posed a classical schooling. His mind
was kept rich by steady reading of
good books. When the senator was a
young and energetic debater in the
House nearly all members listened
when he spoke because of his broad
knowledge of every subject he under
took TO discuss. Another gift of John
Sharp Williams is that of friendship.
He has always been q man of simple,
easy and courteous ways and he has
drawn men TO him. Washington peo-
pie regret that he is retire from pub
lie life. and the people of Mississippi
have cause to regret it. But if he
should find Arcadia a trife dull, and
should long for the clamor and action
of public life, the door is wide open
for his return
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
Plan Submitted for Study Rather
Than Immediate Action.

The long discussed effort TO
straighten GU. some of the complex
tiles of governmental functions has
progressed as far as the submission
TO Congress by the President OF a
definite plan of reorganization of fed
eral departments. While its imme di-
ate adoption is out of the question
the plan affords a basis for future
action and theme for present dis
cussion which editors find well worth
considering. And already editorial
opinion is showing wide divergence
in some of the controversial points.
AS summarized by the Nashville
Tennessean the salient points in the
new program are:
consolidation of the War Depart
ment and Navy Department into a
single department of national de-
Tense; department of education and
welfare, to be in charge OF education.
health, social service and veterans
relief activities. The women's and
children's bureaus of the department
of Labor would be transferred to the
new department, as would the bureau
of education, now under the Depart
ment of the Interior: the superin-
tendent of prisons. from the Depart
mcnt of Justice: public health, from
the Treasury. Extension of the postal
service SO as to provide for develop
ment of telephone, telegraph and
wireless communications, with a
change in the name to Department OF
communications.
1t is well, the Louisville Courier
Journal suggests. to refer to the plan
Of Presidents Hardings agent. Wal
ter F. Brown, las proposed plan.
For Brown proposes, while the COM
mittee, and after the committee, Con-
gress, disposes." Expanding on the
thought which the Boston Herald eN-
stituted the cabinet does not rep
resent any intelligent attempt to Gre
ate a simple and efficient machine.
The cabinet just growed.
The Star recently pointed out that the
government organization, which Is "a
veritable patchwork" has been
evolved from only four departments.
State. Treasury. War and Navy. In
the beginning each had its definite
General was added as a legal adviser.
without a department at first, and the
Postmaster General was next created
as the officer in charge of mail serv-
ice, also without cabinet seat. Before
the Interior Department was created
these other two officials had been
given cabinet rank Then came Asri--
culture and finally Commerce and
Labor. which soon was divided into
the number of executive branches up
TO ten. the present number" Further.
the Boston paper goes. on to say,
Congress created one bureau after
another, and hitched them on to the
several departments, usually without
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
Redistribution Equity.

Qualification at the terms OF the re-
classification compromise bill was ex-
pressed by the government employees
who met in this city last night and
pointed out some particulars i'll which
the measure can he made more equita-
bic in its practical application. For
the Incorporation of these amendments
there will undoubtedly be opportunity.
as the bill. if passed by the Senate,
will in all likelihood he sent into con-
ference. assuming that the House ac-
cepts it in principle but asks a settle
ment of differences.
If the bill as now drawn is in the
main enacted the personnel classified
ton board created to administer the
law will have responsibilities and op.
portunities unique in the government
service. The bitterness and animos-
ties that have arisen during the long
period required to frame this legisla-
tion should make the board keen to
prove to the government personnel its
entire fairness and impartiality in al
locating employees to positions, in
making efficiency ratings and all other
complicated duties devolviug upon it.
This board will have the opportunity
to pull the government service out of
the slough Of despond into which it
has fallen because of the present
chaos and unfairness, by working out
and putting into operation fair, hu-
name and scientific system Of per-
sonnet administration.
The first problem is to get this bill
enacted into law, then to adopt meas
ures to reassure the workers that this
is plan for the Improvement of their
conditions, as well as to make the gov
crnment more efficient and economi-
cal. If that can be accomplished it
will so stimulate the government en-
ployes to achieve work of such guam
tity and quality that Congress and the
country will soon be convinced that
fully 100 per cent return in the serv-
ice is being received.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27

Enthusiastically, the sound was that
OF footsteps. Moreover, the tread was
quick and impatient. AS he listened,
wondering If a Waterman was try
jumbled tongue, pitched and
clear. came to his ear.
The Secretary of War retraced his
steps quietly to his own door and
then tiptoed down the corridor in
the direction whence came the
sounds. He reached the end and just
around the cor"er beheld the figure
of clerk. ON he knew well,
walking rapidly back and forth
ancient Greek. The Secretary recog-
nized the passage as a long extract
from an old Greek tragedy. written
by one Of the major poets. The clerk
was declaiming: he was giving the
old Greek tragedy. In tonal express
sion, all he was worth.
For half a minute, perhaps. Mr..
Baker looked on, unobserved. Pres
entity the clerk saw him and. much
abashed, halted his passionate elo-
auence. They exchanged few
out into the night.
Such an incident, naturally. would
leave its imprint on a mind far less
sensitive than that of the Secretary
of war. During the weeks that fol-
lowed Mr.. Baker thought often OF
the midnight incident He maTveled
that the clerk should be there. and.
still more, that the clerk should know
SO well the lines of the Greek tragedy.
From time to time he saw the
clerk. Then one day the little fellow
appeared no more at his desk. He
had gone into the ranks. And there
after Mr.. Baker thought less of the
incident.
Some time afterward Mr.. Baker
went to France. lie visited the ex-
branches of the service. learned at
first hand Of all that was going on
and contemplated, and returned to
the United States.
He came back aboard an Army
transport On board he mingled with
men as well as officers. chatted with
the doughboys, spent long hours in
their quarters. learned Of their veiw-
point with respect TO the war.
He visited also the ship hospital.
He went among the sick and wounded
and finally asked TO be shown into
the ward where were kept the poor
fellows who had become dementcd.
They took him there. AS the door
opened and he stood on the threshold
there smote his ear volley of Greek
poured out in a voice high pitched
and clear.
He stopped. thunder struck. He lis
tened He recognized the theme. 1t
was from an old Greek tragedy writ
ten by one of the major poets.
He went to the bedside whence II
came. And there. as the reader
already has surmised. he saw once
more the clerk with whom he had
parted in the dim corridor of the War
Department building at Washington
months before.
Mad. ladies and gentlemen; stark.
raying mad.
and that" said Mr.. Baker Few
days ago, lis my one outstanding
recollection of the world war"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
The Teachers Bill.

While disappointment is naturally
felt that the House yesterday did not
recognize District day" for the pur-
pose of considering the teachers pay
bill, with other local measures of i'm.
portanCc. hope is not lost that oppor.
1uEity will soon be afforded for the
transaction of this bit of legislative
business. 50 essential to the welfare of
the Districts school system. The
House committee on rules has prom
ised such a chance. Yesterday the
conflict was between the District bust
ness and the deficiency appropriation
bill. which, strictly under the rules Of
thu House, had right of way. 1t must
be assumed that the promise of con-
sideration for the teachers bill holds
good, and that the way will be open
before adjournment. and in. sea son to
permit conference on the differences
between House and Senate bills to put
this measure on its passage.
II has been repeatedly stated that
there is no serious objection to the
amendments proposed by the House
District committee making certain
changes in the pay scale and adjust
ments. If that is the fact this bill
should lead TO little OF no debate 1t
has behind it favorable report from
the committee and a powerful public
sentiment, manifested yesterday, per-
h3ps indiScreetly. by the presence in
the galleries of the House of hundreds
of Washngtonians who are anxious
for enactment. II would seem that the
presence Of these parents of the CAPT
tai, and particularly their manifesto
tons Of disapproval in the galleries.
gave some offenSc TO members. But
the latter must bear III mind that the
people of Washington are denied any
effective representation in the shap-
ing of laws affecting their welfare.
and that yesterdays gathering in the
galleries was but a natural exhibition
OF public feeling which is to be con-
doned and rated as rather to the credit
than the discredit of the community.
II this bill is being sincerely sup
ported, with its amendments. there
should be no trouble about its passage
when il gets before the House. and If
the promise OF time is also sincere.
which there is no reason 10 doubt, that
opportunity should be afforded
Until the gavel falls to end the life
of this Congress hope will remain that
the teachers pay bill, so urgently re-
CURED in justice to the public school
staff, will be enacted.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
cost Of lumber, brick, steel and all

cost Of lumber, brick, steel and all
other supplies.
To put the cost of building to q
higher level will have a tendency to
check building. reduce employment In
the building trades and raise the cost
Of shelter. To put construction costs
much higher might stop it altogether
except in very urgent cases. There
ought to be peace. There ought 70 be
no discord between contractors and
the men working with them. Yet we
are hearing much tai; of clashes, and
strikes, and the whole train of evils
that follow such things. The most
energetic get-together means should
be adopted. This is the worst time for
a break between the building contrac-
tors and their men. Everybody would
be hurt.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
THE WAYS OF WASHINGTON
BY WILLIAM PICKETT HELM.

To him whose fancy leads him to
explore our yesterdays, Washington
is as a mine of gold. Old memories
sweep I'm cohorts invisible over our
wide avenues and pleasant, tree
fringed streets. Old associations
cluster around almost every corner.
Old landmarks rear their timeworn
and familiar forms wherever human
eyes are turned.
Here but a few brief years ago a
smiling farmland: today the fairest
city of the western world. Where
now our statesmen tread, there trod
but yesterday, undisturbed, the far
mers cattle.
pages Of our history since that day
George Washington first gazed down
upon the future site of Americas
future capital! How many giants
have come and gone! What impress
sive tread was that which wore
smooth the stones over which we now
are stepping?
Time touches with light and caress-
ing hand some Of the old, old things.
The clock that licked away the hours
when JEFF Davis was Secretary of
War sits in its self-same place today
and still ticks away the hours. 1t is
good clock; good. we hope. for
another sixty-odd years Of useful
ness.
The old oil lamps that Davis used
are reposing still in the office of the
Secretary of War. They stand where
they stood In the days when the
shadow of the civil war darkened
the nation. They are not used, for
coal oil has long since been van
quished by the incandescent bulb, but
there they stand on the mantel, Wicks
neatly trimmed, just as they were in
Davis day and time.
There are old stories that, still are
told in the government buildings.
stories of those days and before.
Every passing year bings more.
Some of them are filled with hearty
laughter. better for ones health
than eighteen holes of golf, and some
Of them are eerie.
One summer night, early in the
season of 1918. the light burned
brightly till after midnight in the
office Of the Secretary of War. The
tide of battle was fast flowing to the
food across three thousand miles of
ocean; troop movements We're pour
ing eastward from our shores;
Belleau Wood was in the making.
Secretary Baker sent home the
last Of his clerks and continued on
at his desk alone. The lights in the
other offices flashed off. one by one,
TIL his was the only light left. The
building was quiet. deserted save by
him and the few watchmen.
AS l O'Clock neared. Mr.. Baker
decided 10 go home. He turned off
the light and stepped into the corri-
dor. 1t was almost darkened the
light being so poor that the Secre-
tary could just make out his way to
the door.
He had gone three or four PAGES
toward the exit when he heard foot
steps at the farther end of the corri-
any one should be pacing the corri-
dor at so unseemly All hour. and
listened.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
The School Report.

The report of the joint congressional
committee on District public schools.
presented to the Senate yesterday, fol
lows the lines of general expectation
in recommending first change in the
method of organization and admins
tration; second. an improvement in the
courses of study: third, adoption of a
long.ternl constructive building pro-
gram, and fourth, enlargement of the
teaching force, with better scale Of
pay.
In respect to the first item the com.
mittee follows the lines Of recon-.
mendation of the state superintendent
of education Of Pennsylvania, who
was consulted as an expert, and who
urged that the board Of education bs
appointed by the. President and given
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27

To the Editor OF The Star:
In Mr. Edward Berwick's letter in
The Star of Friday. February %, the
impression is given that all of Mon
roe's verbose message Of December
., 1928. is Monroe doctrine and that
all of the doctrine is contained in
that message.
AS a matter of fact, the doctrine.
today. is made up of four definitely
enunciated principles, no more and
no less. no matter what may be
the notifications in the future.
These four principles are:
l. Monroe principle: No extension
of European territorial holdings in
the Americas, but perfect freedom of
European powers to deal and shuttle
with their American colonies as they
chose.
II: Grant principle: No territory
In the Americas subject to transfer
to a. European power.
III. Olney principle: No intrusion
by any European power in the politics
of any state in North or South Amer
lea and the fat of the United States
is law upon the subjects to which
it confines its interposition.
w The Root principle: What We
will not permit the great powers of
Europe to do. we will not permit any
American republic to make it neces
sary for the great powers OF Europe
to do.
Mr. Berwick seems to think that the
Monroe doctrine remained, even unto
this day, as Monroe formulated
it. after it had been suggested by
canning the British premier, and mod
flied by Rush. Madison and others.
History tells US that within three
years from the Monroe pronounce
ment Clay modified it by declaring
that the United States would not al
low European powers to trade
their American colonies at will, in
that Spain would not be allowed to
transfer Cuba and Porto Rico to any
other European power. Van Buren,
declared the same thing in 1880 and
in lS45 Polk declared that the United
states would never acknowledge any
transfer Of territory. whether made
by the desire of the inhabitants. by
purchase or by force, from any coun-
try of North America to any nation Of
Europe.
Apparently Polk did not think. the
Guianas in South America worth
considering. The logic Of events
proved that one Of those colonies had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-02-27
The Monroe Doctrine Only 25 Per Cent Monroe

TO be very seriously considered -
Cleveland's administration.
The matter of transfer of Eurupeaa
colonies IN the Americas was finally
settled by the Grant principle.
While there are many decisions COLI
nected with our national relations ~
the Americas, such the Roosevelt
decision that European powers Nigh,
temporarily occupy territory IL
American countries, the Lodge prohi-
bition of the gaining of STRATEGY
foothods in the Americas are no
more a part of the Monroe doctrine
than is the Bolivar dogma Las
Americas para las AmericanoS."
Today. the old doctrine stands. AL
fours upon its four basic principles.
AS the doctrine is ours, and ours
alone. our government alone can
violate it, which it has done upon
several occasions. European countries
may contravene the doctrine. They
have, now and again.
Mr.. Berwick injectS, in parentheses.
the idea that Monroe. when he men
toned the system of the Europcan
powers. had in mind the system OF
system. Imperialism and militarism
had absolutely nothing to do with the
case. Our country was even then
headed upon the westward course Of
and our country with it, through
exercise of military power, first 10
the Pacific and later to the far east,
via the westward course Of the
American empire.
At present our course OF empire
seems to be laid to the southwark. Via
Porto Rico, Haiti, Panama ct al
No, Monroe had no notion Of tn"
evils of militarism and imperialism.
IF he had had such a notion. we. the
people. in our empire by military
wer-built glass house, should he tn"
last to throw stones at other peoples
for indulging in those national sins
Incidentally, If we can differentiate
patriotism from national self-conceit
sufficiently to feel patriotic shame. as
we'll as patriotic pride, it might b"
we'll for us to remember that apart
from the commonplace national sins
of imperialism and militarism We
have a number of darling ones Of
our very own, among which may hr
mentioned oratorism. Liberalism.
lswyorism, pedagogism, parsonism.
sumptuarism. meddleism. prohiblti"n-
Of -libertyism and war-provoklng
pacifism, each a more deadly sin for
q nations soul than either militarism
or imperialism.
VIM. w. KIMBALT.