davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04

dense concentrations such as those
that mark practically all other COM
munities of this size. 1t is true that
firefighting conditions are here most
favorable. But it is also true that
here almost alone Of the larger cities
of the country fires are fought with
the impounded water of the drinking
supply. which is limited and at times
is subject to depicting demands for
ordinary uses.
Washington has never stood the
test of a great fire covering several
blocks. AS far as water supply for
fire fighting is concerned. it is ex-
tremely doubtful if ii ever could stand
that test. 1t has escaped by good for
tune. But there is no assurance
there any possibility of such as
surance, especially in view of the ex.
tremely narrow margin of the water
service.
1t should not be difficult to per-
suade Congress that the high pressure
service Is q needed equipment for both
municipal and federal protection. The
matter should be put up to Congress.
indeed, on the basis of joint interest.
not as a purely local project. The
map of the proposed high pressure
area within which lie practically all
the governments buildings is the best
possible argument for this proposal,
which has already. through The Stars
inquiry, ELECTED the approval of d
large majority of those members of
Congress who have responded to the
question.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04

II has been decided in Germany to
discontinue lessons in cooking at girls
schools, and it is declared that hus-
bands of the future will be indignant
Maybe not. 1t all depends on the apti-
tude of the particular pupil, and the
home kitchen stove has produced some
excellent performers. The cooking
school has to encounter its share of
skepticsm in this country owing TO it's
appearance in the same era that de.
veloped the kitchenette and the deli
catessen shop.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04
perplexes a COW. But we all have our
frihIyla tiopS


fluctuations.
1t is worth noting that city milk is
very much better than it used to be.
Even country people have a higher
conception of milk than in the good
old days. Once upon a time, and not
so long ago, no official cognizance was
taken of how n cow lived or what care
she got. Her health was not a matter
OF public concern. A COW was COW
and milk was milk.
Many Washingtonians recall that
the milkman came around with big
cans in his wagon and that con.
sumner would go to the street with
pitcher or tin bucket and buy a pint.
Sometimes the Washington boy or girl
or the maid, then called the hired
girl" would go to the little grocery
store with a pitcher and have the milk
poured or dipped from can. Often
this milk was quite thin. 1t came
from Mrs. Jones cow that pastured
on the commons. Blue milk was not
rare and We had an old joke about
the cow-keeper and his pump. We
have made remarka BILE progress in the
regulation OF cows, dairymen and the
ale and distribution of milk.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04
The Changed Political Aspect.

In the twinklnG Of an eye the
political situation has been changed.
The death of President Harding,
land recognized as inevitably the choice
of the next republican national con-
vention for the presidential nomina-
ton. has brought about a condition
that promises far-reaching conse-
quences. While the country is still
mourning the loss of it's chief the vari-
Gus political camps are taking stock.
Before Mr.. Harding's death il was
Mr.. Harding against the field with all
the Indications that the field would
make little Roadway. But now the
race for the nomination is open. A
certain progressive element in the
party-not all the progressives by any
means-was seriously contemplating
party. But now the progressives will
so into the republican convention be-
| lieving in their power to select a
nominee. The chances for a party
split. it seems. have been minimzed
at this time. If there is to be a split
| ii will not. come until after the re-
publican national convention, just as
il came in 1912.
Into the republican national CON
vention will so the followers of Calvin
Coolidge, of Herbert c. Hoover, of
Hiram Johnson, of Charles Evans
Hughes, of Robert NJ. La Toilette, of
William E. Borah, of Judge Kenyon,
of Gen. Wood and probably of other
favorite sons. There will be. in all
probability. much the same situation
! which existed at the last republican
national convention, unless some one
Of the candidates should become an
outstanding choice in the country
prior to the assembling of the dele
gates. There in the convention the
| matter of picking a candidate will be
fought out. And after the dust of
battle has cleared away the democrats
may find they have a united repub-
yember.
One great difficulty among the pro-
gressives in the past has been TO settle
upon a single candidate for the re-
publican nomination. 1t may be they
will be able to do so in the next eight
months and so go into the convention
presenting a united front. Ambitions
exist in the hearts of progressives
just as they do in the hearts of their
more conservative brethren, and some
times they are difficult to curb.
Just at this time Senator Hiram
Johnson apparently occupies a strate-
gic position. He has returned to the
United States and delivered a message
to the people in regard to European
affairs, and he has suggested that if
the country is not willing to accept
progressivism it may have to take
radicalism. Senator La Toilette, who
has always gone into the republican
national conventions in recent years
with group Of delegates from Wis
consin and one or two Of the nearby
states, is now on the ocean bound for
Europe, not to return for many weeks.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
By Frederic J. Haskin

Q. What is the average rainfall in
the District?-L. j. p.
A. The mean annual precipitation is
40.S inches. The total rainfall for the
driest year for which there is a record
was 1919 inches. in 1925; for the wet
test GSs9) was 61.33 inches.
Q. What are the anthracite miners
asking the operators for in the present
negotiations?-K. F.
A. The principal demands of the an
thracite miners are for 20 per cent
increase in the contract wage scale, an
increase of 50 per day for all men paid
by the day, with time and a half for
overtime and double time for Sunday
work, and two-year contract on this
basis
Q. What country now has the great
est aviation force?-H. G. B.
A. France, with 1852 first line air
planes, ia airplane squadrons and a
personnel of 37,73O. OF the ia squad
rons. lS1 are at home. 80 are overseas
and are with fleets.
Q. Why is lobster meat so high in
price:-J. D. b.
A. The rise in the price of lobster is
due TO the increasing scarcity of this
shellfiSh and the difficulty with which IL
is propagated. An expert at the lobster
hatchery of Woods Hole stated that II
only two out of 10000 eggs Matched sur
vived the fourth year the present con-
dition might be maintained, but that
undoubtedly greater percentage than
this perishes.
Q. How many miles of railway had
the United States 100 years ago
T. L. r.
A. There were no railroads with
steam locomotives until 1929. but by
1882 the United States had 500 miles of
railway, distributed as follows: Balti-
more and Ohio. $50 miles; Albany and
Schenectady. Is miles; Charleston and
Hamburg, l35 miles: Mauch Chunk, 8
miles Ithaca and Oswego. 20 miles;
Richmond and Chesterfield II miles
Camden and Amboy. so miles: Lacka-
waxen. 16 miles. These figures are
taken from a file OF the Railroad Advo-
cate at Atlanta. Ga. which includes
also list of about twenty other rail-
roads that had been started or were
about to be CONNIE nced.
Q. Is the portico of the mansian at
Arlington a copy of a classic one
c. r. c.
A. The psrtico of the old Custis-Lee
mansion was modelled after that of the
Temple OF Thesus at Athens.
g.. is il correct TO say man and
wife" when husband and WIFE is
meant r. A. NJ.
A. The use of man" in the sense of
husband has the sanction OF time
dating back to 1900.
Q. Is the man who succeeds Volstead
in Congress wet ?-F. H.
A. The Rev. o. J. kvale of Benson,
Mimi. who defeated Andrew ]. Vol
stead, has described himself as being
"drier than Nolstead."
@ Who said Don't cut off your nose
to spite your face"?-L. O.
A. The origin Of the proverb. DO not
cut off your nose TO spite your face" is
unknown. Its earliest recorded use was
by the French writer. Tallemant des
ReauX, c. l651-l659.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04
Crossing the Threshold.

Deeply impressive is the story of
how Calvin Coolidge took the oath of
office as President of the United States
in the farmhouse at Plymouth Notch,
VT, in the early hours of the morning
following the death of his chief in
office, the head of the nation. Across
the continent had flashed the word of
the tragedy at San Francisco, the sud
den swapping of the thread of life of
Warren Harding. To that lonely
homestead where Calvin Coolidge had
spent his boyhood went the word that
was a summons to duty, duty for
which he had been potentially chosen
in November, 1920. Under the GUS
toms of the land. the traditions of the
office, the necessities Of the situation,
the transition from second to first
place in the executive administration
must be made at once. For there can
be no lapse in the presidential Office,
no interval of waiting, no period when
there is no hand on the tiller.
BY the light of an old-fashioned oil
lamp dimly Illuminating the gloom,
the oath was administered to the new
President by his aged father, notary
public of the little town. The family
Bible, resting upon the familiar stand
that is a part Of the furnishing of
every home of the plain people of this
country, was the Word upon which
the oath was taken.
In these homely surroundings a new
President came into his responsible
ties. the sixth in American history
to take up the burden Of office laid
down by one who has passed out of
life during his term. In the other
five cases the oath has been admin
istered with perhaps more ceremony,
save. may he. in the instance of An
drew Johnson, aroused in the early
morning to succeed the slain Lincoln.
But what that scene in Plymouth
Notch lacked in form it gained in
significance, for it dramatically told
the story of citizenship. of service and
OF readiness for duty.
The office of Vice President is pri-
marily one of precaution, an insurance
against a lapse. 1t is a guarantee of
continuance. Its incumbent is dele
gated to a waiting task, with per-
functory duty imposed upon him
meanwhile, with always the melan-
choly thought foremost in his mind
that he is on guard, as it were, in
case the President should die.
No man can calmly meet the
emergency that so suddenly shifts him
from such a role to that of the Chief
Executive, from posture of compare.
tive idleness to bearing the greatest
of responsibilities. And so when early
yesterday morning in that dimly light.
ed room in Vermont the solemn words
of the oath of office were spoken that
made Calvin Coolidge President of the
United States, there must have been
the turmoil in his breast as he realized
that he was stepping across the
threshold into the greatest office in the
world
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04
EDITORIAL DIGEST

The initial indictment OF William
H. Anderson, New York state super
intendent of the Anti-Saloon League.
on charges of grand larceny and for
gerry created no furry in league
! circles and little attention elsewhere.
The return of additional present
ments, coupled with the almost daily
denunciation of the authorities by the
officials of the league ever since, how
ever, has developed a general dispo-
| sition on the part of people not per-
sonally interested to urge that the
courts thresh out all of the facts. The
league owes 1t to the country that
the truth be known editors suggest,
while if lit is a fact that there really
| is nothing to conceal then fins" ought
to be written as speedily as possible.
Ordinarily, proof of guilt IN
comes from the employers who are
perfectly willing to help the prose-
Cution." says the Buffalo News, but
| in this case the district attorney Will
have to seek elsewhere for witnesses.
The New York authorities must know
that failure to convict Will tend TO
prove Anderson's charges of political
| persecution. engineered by wet infiu-
ences. Anything short of CONVICTION
| would strengthen Anderson and
the attitude of the league heads is
severely criticized by many papers.
the Buffalo Times insisting that III
all persons and organizations under
grand jury investigation were to try
to exert the pressure on the investi-
eating body which the Anti-Saloon
League and it's heads have tried to
exert, grand juries universally would
be deprived of the independence and
freedom which are the very gist OF
grand jury procedure, and justice
would be obstructed at its source
The very prominence of DR.. Ander-
son will interfere with getting the
! facts. as the Rockford Republic sees
it, because "in these days it VIII be
practically impossible to secure
jury to try Anderson on the evidence.
A few members are practically GER
tain to try the prohibition cause 1T
self. A wet never turns against his
outraged appetite, but a reformer's
extreme righteousness, sometimes
turns him against q brother who
seems to have erred"
The fact that the league paid
commissions" is to be regretted. the
Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader says. and
it suggests the people should inves-
tigate all solicitors for countless
phiianthropie organizations before
Subscribing" This position has the
crat. Which while not depreciating
the good work OF the Anti-Saloon
League, believes a good housekeeping
in New York and Oklahoma would be
beneficial because the various state
superintendent have gone ahead coll
Iecting money and spending it with
out the people who contribute know
ing ANYTHING about how the money Is
used. II has reached point where
il looks as though many of the state
perpetusting agents for tho collection
4 of contributions for their own bene.
it" In addition, as the Mobile Reg.
lister analyses the entire case, the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04

dency, the secretaryship of War. the
is,peakEership Of the House, the major
Craftsmanship of the Senate commit
tee on foreign relations. two seats on
the supreme Court bench. the under
secre taryship of state. the ambassa-
dorship to Italy. and any number OF
minor plums in the executive and
legislative branches of the govern
ment. Harvard, which is of the bone
a adti sinew OF Massachusetts,, has its
FAITHFUL at strategic points every
where throughout the federal or
ganization.
William c. Deming. president Of
the Civil Service Commission acts
a s Washington correspondent OF his
two prosperous papers al Cheyenne
the Wyoming Daily Tribune and the
Wyoming Stockman-F Farmer. To his
daily Mr.. Deming contributes
sprightly weekly column on inside
events at the National Capital He
is a kentuckian and before emierat-
ing to Wyoming twenty-five wears
ago, edited a paper at Warren, Ohio.
near Marion, in the days MIR. Hard
ing was becoming factor in Buck
eye politics. Deming is lecturer Of
being his favorite themes.
X
Solicitor General James NJ Beck, who
is spending the summer in England.
has been expressing himself frankly in
London about the American prohibition
laws. He recently said:
~ was not one of those who favored
the eighteenth amendment or the Vol
stead act; and believed then, as l still
believe, that however fine in purpose
the law is, it nevertheless is both i'm
practicable and inexpedient. I am,
therefore, not discussing the Anglo
American ship-liquor controversy as
professed prohibitionist. may add in
candor, that while the enforcement of
the law has undoubtedly been in part a
failure, yet IL is continuously growing
in strength, and ! am not so clear in
my mind as ! once was that its policy
will, after a fair trial. prove impracti-
cable and inexpedient. 1t has led to
of harm. II has reduced many crimes.
promoted thrift, increased efficiency.
and in general made life for thousands
of people more wholesome On ths
other hand, il has led to increased dis
respect for law. created widespread I'M
rest and has debased people by driving
them from harmless drinking to the
pernicious drug habit. 1t is "A great
experiment, and only time can demon
strate whether il was a mistaken one.
Copyright 1927
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04

official fighting for a moral issue
should have nothing TO conceal. Mr..
Anderson has created the impression
that he has something to conceal. and
creditable in his career as Anti
Saloon League superintendent for the
state of New York, he has failed to
keep himself above suspicion"
If the indictment is political
maneuver. no one can be held more
responsible for it than Mr.. Anderson
himself" the Reading Tribune points
out, because the attitude he took
when called before the grand jury
was tantamount to saying 1t was no
body's business what he and his asso-
ciates did with the leagues money
as long as results were achieved.
Mr.. Anderson intimates that the
courts have been corrupted to the
extent that his trial will not be a
fair one. But when questioned about
for he was reticent. He preferred
to talk about anything else but the
things the grand jurymen were called
on to decide" Because of the mys-
terry surrounding this $4,000, and the
suggestion that it was paid for pub
newspapers insist that no matter
what the outcome of the trial, exact
ly where this money went should be
cleared up. The Binghamton Press
points out that IAN indictment is
nothing more than an allegation that
the defendant has committed a crime. -
but insists that at least one portion
Of the grand jury's presentment to
the court, that which urges a legis-
lative investigation of the political
is worthy of adoption. If the league
has been engaged in illegal political
practices the public is entitled to
know it,"
Suggesting that Anderson have as
much leeway as he really needs" the
Albany Knickerbocker-Pre empha-
sizes, Mr.. Anderson needs to realize
I'm his present predicament that all
that really matters Is whether he is
or is not guilty of the charges made
against him. His proclamations, so
far, have had the effect of making his
trial inevitable. But they will not go
before the jury. II Mr. Anderson is.
as he claims. q victim and a martyr,
the public will hope for him COM
plete vindication. If he has been
prosecutors must and will be exposed
and punished. But Mr.. Anderson
must know that the court is chiefly
concerned with evidence" Pointing
out there Is not the slightest doubt
that Anderson will have a fair trial"
pending that outcome it is not amiss
to say that district attorneys are en-
titled to a square deal as well as
superintendent of the Anti-Saloon
League. If district attorneys should
always be subjected to imputations
and attacks of the sort that Mr.. An
derson has so passionately and vio-
lently launched. whenever they pro-
coed, in conformity with their oaths
of office, against accused persons in
the seats of the mighty. the admins
tration of justice would soon become
travesty OF equality and impair
uality." -----.--
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04

| c. How many cabinet members were
affected by the order of President
Adams to move government headquar
tiers from Philadelphia to Washington
]. NJ. I.
A Six. There were 132 subordinates
who moved with the cabinet.
Q. Who painted the familiar picture
which shows doctor sitting a I a child s
beside with the grief-stricken parents
in the background?-B. c. j.
A. This picture is called THE Doc
tor and is the work of Sir Luke Fildes
The original canvas hangs in the Tate
| Gallery in London.
Q. How was the body of John Paul
Jones identified when removed from
Paris to the Naval Academy?-P. T.
A. An autopsy was held in order 10
be positive that the body designated
was really that of John Paul Jones.
This was probably the first time that
such an examination had been made so
long after death-1l3 years. 1t was a
triumph in anthropology and is of deep
interest to the medical profession. The
excellent state of preservation Of the
body, due to alcohol, enabled scientists
to verify the diseases of the heart and
lungs, of which the man was known TO
have died.
Q. When were public schools started
in Greece and RomeE-L. NJ. w.
A. Greek public schools were estab-
lished about 400 B. C; Roman, about
230 B. c.
Q. What is the difference between al
ternating and direct current?-C. X.
A. The difference between alternat-
ing and direct current of electricity is
that while the latter is continuous and
practically constant flow in one direc-
ton in a conductor, the former is flow
first in one direction and then in the
opposite direction. This alienation
usually is made TO occur either twenty
five or sixty times per second.
Q. How long will distilled water
keep?-G. J. L. F.
A. If distilled water is not contami-
mated by foreign matter it will remain
pure indefinitely.
Q. How many steps are there in the
Washington Monument?-C. c. G..
A. There are SsS steps and fifty land
Q. When did Buffalo Bill die and
where was he buried "A. Il.
A. Buffalo Bill died in Denver. Colo,
on January 10, 1917. His body was
placed in tomb hewn from the rock at
the top of Lookout mountain. near Dem
yer, with monumental figure 10 mark
the spot.
Q. Please explain the word phenol-
Observation-Disclosures s.
A 1t is product OF the reaction Of
phenol and sulphobenaoic acid and an
hydride. 1t is used to test the function
of the kidneys.
@. How much lower is the business
district of New Orleans than the river
level?-C. H. T.
A., The city lies about ten feet below
the level of the gulf and it is so far
below the level of high water in the
Mississippi that it is protected from
overflow by levees twenty feet high in
places. The Mississippi river is about
one-haif mile wide in front Of Canal
street at New Orleans
Oct The Star Information Bureau.
Frederic j. HGSkin, director, 1920 North
Capitol street, dHStCer your questions
The only charge for this service is ;
cents IN stamps for return postage)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04
U. S. Interests and High Pressure.

A week from tomorrow night q Joint
meeting of representatives of the
trade organizations and civic associa-
tons of the city will be held to lay
plans for a drive" to obtain from
Congress at the next session au-
thorization for the beginning of in
stallation of a high-pressure water
system for firefighting in the business
section of Washington. A full at.
tendance Of citizens is expected and
there is reason to look for an earnest
and enthusiastic action, for the sub
ject is one Of most vital Importance
to the city. 1t seems strange, how.
ever, that such a movement should be
confined in the present stage to un-
official residents Of Washington and
should not include representatives Of
the government itself. For Of all the
interests in jeopardy from the menace
OF confagration that of the govern
ment is greatest.
Practically the entire administrative
esta blishment Of the United States is
located within the area which 1t is
proposed to cover with the high-pres-
sure service. In a general fire going
beyond the control Of the firenghting
force in the downtown section of
Washington these buildings would be
in grave danger OF destruction and all
their contents Of irreplaceable value.
1t is not sufficient to depend upon
the comparative immunity of WASH
ington from great fires in the past. 1t
is true that the streets are wider than
il most cities, that there are more
open spaces and that there are no
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04

Uncle Sam is constantly reminded
that he must go to the assistance of
Europe. Different portions of Europe.
as yet not freed from hostile pref
udices, demand different kinds of. spe.
cial assistance, with results that may
be slightly confusing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04

A third party movement is usually
based on the assumption that some
thing is wrong and something will
have to be done about it. This gen
eral ground is, however. invariably
covered in the national platforms of
the established political organiza tons.