davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1923-03-20
A Good Campaign Issue.

President Harding and his advisers
will make no mistake in featuring law
enforcement as a prominent issue in
next years campaign for the presi
dency. 1t is an issue of such vital con-
sequence TO the American people-to
people of the present and of future
generations-that it might we'll be the
Any candidate or any party opposing
full and impartial enforcement of the
laws. or lukewarm i'll its advocacy,
would be beaten from the start.
When the Presidents advisers talk
of law enforcement as i leading cam
paign issue they have reference. of
course, to laws enacted 10 make the
eighteenth amendment effective. How
ever much amusement some folk may
derive from violation of these laws.
the great body Of the American people
by no means regard It as joke. They
are keenly conscious that II not only
is national scandal, but that it con-
stitutes serious menace to the ma
tional life.
Nor is it by any means question
Of whether the NoIstead act was wise
or unwise legislation or whether the
people ought or ought not TO be per-
mitted to have light wine and beer.
It is not even a question of whether
the constitutional amendment itself
was wise though there would be a
small mastering of support TO a pro-
posal for its repeal and return TO the
days of the wide-open saloon and un-
restricted traffic in hard liquo-." 1t is
wholly a question whether laws are
enacted TO be enforced or whether
they can be Haunted by favored classes
who do not approve Of them. Advo-
Gates of light wine and beer. even
those who believe distilled spirits are
a natural right of man. If they are
good Americans and thoughtful citi-
zens, will support the demand that so
long as these laws are on the statute
books they shall be enforced fearlessly
and impartially.
The status of liquor law enforce
ment today furnishes the very best of
ammunition to the preachers Of dis
content. They are industriously
spreading the belief that the law never
was intended to apply to rich men,
that its primary purpose was to de-
prive the poor man of his beer; that
it was an econ omic measure designed
to increase the efficiency of labor and
not a social measure to curb the vices
Of the Well-to-do. And they have no
difficulty in citing abundance Of evil
dence in apparent support of their
charges. The result is growing un-
dercurrent Of resentment which brings
an ever-increasing number Of those
who lend willing ear to all sorts OF
propaganda against the government
and the Institutions upon which the
government is founded. 1t is only
blind ignorance which can find amuse
ment and a theme for jest is so dan
gerous a condition of affairs.
Evening star., 1923-03-20
Stream Pollution by Oil.

Much publicity has been given to
the discharge of oil in New York bay
and Delaware bay by oil-burning ships.
The charge has been made that the oil
scum on the water Is fatal to vast
numbers of fish and to large numbers
Of wild ducks, and that II greatly in
terferes with bathing. From the sea-
side come stories that fields of oil
borne inshore by wave and tide are
destroying the value of certain famous
beaches. Recently reports have come
that waste oil cast out of oil-burnins
ships is doing damage in the Chesa-
peake. The pollution of streams by
the sewage of cities and by waste
from pulp mills, dye factories and
other manufacturing plants is an old
story. and the public has awakened to
this condition. which is being gradual
~ though slowly corrected. Pollution
by oil waste is a new proposition. and
il seems that there ought to be little
difficulty in combating il SO far as the
casting out of waste oil in bays and
rivers is concerned. 1t is likely that
the authorities of Maryland and Nir-
ginia will take appropriate action now
that oil pollution Of the waters OF
those states seems to have become a
nuisance or threatens soon to become
a nuisance.
Evening star., 1923-03-20
The Cold Wave.

Weather forecasts come true. The
weather bureau gave out information
yesterday that "a cold wave that Is
expected to smash all low records for
this time of the year will descend
upon Washington this evening" 1t
descended. Whether the record was
broken does not matter. 1t should be
noted that this forecast was made
while the leaf buds of trees were
swelling with spring hopes, while the
flower buds Of conflding peach and
plum trees were making ready to un-
fold pink and white petals, while
robins We're hunting worms and while
some persons were saying that 1t
might be we'll to let the fire in the fur
mace go out. 1t was a good forecast,
and most persons felt that the cold
wave lived up to its advance notice.
The weather bureau says. according
TO reporters, that the cold wave will
hold the city in its icy grip until
Wednesday," 1t is easy to believe that
this part Of the forecast will be made
good Also is II said that this storm
will be winters last rally before yield
ing to balmy sprin gtime." Let il be
so, Washington is willing.
Evening star., 1923-03-20
Hepatica Found!

Mild lament was expressed a few
days ago that the man who finds the
first hepatica of the season was behind
his schedule. But he has arrived. He
has come down to The Star Office with
two plants and a specimen index card
thus filled out: Family. Ranuncula-
ceae; genus. Hepatica; species, Amer.
icana: habitat, sunny wooded slopes;
found, March 1S, 1928; at, hills west of
Mount Alto Hospital, western District
Of Columbia; gathered by Walter r.
Cupp." This former soldier is the
founder of the herbarium OF the Col
lege Of Idaho at Caldwell. Idaho, and
he has collected and classified more
than one thousand Idaho plants. The
herbarium will be added to by him and
others until 1t includes all, or nearly
all, representatives OF Idaho flora. 1t
has always heau essential 10 thA mon,
Evening star., 1923-03-20
Objects to the Phrase,
1sThese United States
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
1t is somewhat astonishing to see
intelligent people designate our ma
ton as These United States" The
phrase-United States of America-is
the proper name of our nation, which
is a national sovereign unit, not a
league Of independent territorial
units. While our nation is sovereign,
not one of the states entering into
it, as a subordinate organized part, is
sovereign--a sovereign state being
independent and possessed of treaty
making authority and power.
Our national motto-E pluribus
unum-ought to be convincing-"One
out Of many"-in which our nation is
the "one," while the word many"
refers to the subordinate states, which
have surrendered their independence
and sovereignty by entering the ma
tional sovereign unit.
Emigrants from other nations, very
different from ours, may be easily
misled as to our true national char
acter. authority and power by the
erroneous expression to which l have
referred. Why not be carefully con-
sistent, especially in the presence of
the incoming hosts of untutored
aliens, who mean to become loyal
citizens Of the United States and our
worthy naighbors?
JOHN E. wEATzERS
Evening star., 1923-03-20
THE WAYS OF WASHINGTON
BY WILLIAM PICKETT HELM

Government grows. The rush-hour
throngs that choke the streets and
pack the trolley cars are the result
OF century's growth and expansion
of government.
A century ago there were only a few
thousand federal employees, except for
the Army and Navy; u century hence,
at the present rate of growth, we
shall have not less than 100000
civilian public servants in federal en-
ploy.
The states and other municipalities
Will employ about as many more. Our
peace-time cost of government 100
years from now probably will be not
less than ten billions a year.
Closer still looms our huge world
war pension roll. Unless we depart
from our traditions and turn away the
veteran and the veterans widow to
hight alone in their old age we shall
have d pension roll forty years from
now that will make our present cost
OF running the nation look like 80
cents.
Upward of 100000 men. now in
early manhood and the prime of life,
are eligible to pension relief In their
oia age. There probably will be
ellglole as many widows and other
dependents. If only half as many
widows are placed on the roll how
ever. we shall have a list of 100000
Al the present rates OF pensions paid
veterans or the civil war our annual
pension roll for the world war. at its
height. would approximate $4,000
UUt 400
That pension roll is an item Of OK
ptHse that men and women now Iiy-
ing. millions OF them, will help TO pay.
But this isn't to be a discourse on
the futures financial problems. The
scfan oled Facts and forecasts cited
above are mentioned TO illustrate the
point that all things. large and small
must have beginning.
An assassin'S bullet sent on its tragic
way nine years ago in Serbia echoed in
the United States with a national
deot OF S24 900. 100000 and a burden
OIL taxation that we and our descend
TO come.
That is one of the big things of our
national life. What of the little
things?
Wen. You probably eat ice cream.
Did You happen to know that il was
introduced in Washington in the
home of the widow of Alexander
Hamilton?
She WAS the first Washington
woman TO make and serve ice cream.
And among the first to enjoy il was
Presi ident Martin Van Buren. He
liked ii so well that il was added at
once to the White House menu.
The business of representative and
senators giving their constituents
free garden seed started during the
administration Of President Adams
II was inaugurated in a very modest
way. During the century that has
elapsed it grew in favor and cost
Evening star., 1923-03-20

the seat OF government a branch
| flowed from east to west through the
square in question. The branch began
in the neighborhood of 18th street and
Kalorama road. ran south through the
upper part of Widows Mite tract. en-
tered the tract of Jamaica at New
Hampshire avenue and # street,
crossed New Hampshire avenue near
Corcoran. turned southeast across
Massachusetts and Rhode Island ave
nues few yards west of Scott Circle.
cut north and south through the
square bounded by Rhode Island ave-
nue., 10th, 18th and NJ streets: turned
west through the square under discus
sion. continued west to New Hamp-
shire avenue between l. and NJ and
then turned northwest, emptying into
Rock creek at 23d and O streets. The
stream was there when the city began
its northward growth in the late COS
and early 10s.
The scientists insist on the pleisto.
Gene deposits. No doubt. Every time
a steam shovel or a spade goes deep
in Washington it strikes the blue or
brown earth which in no very remote
time was sea bottom ooze. Green
earth or green mari is brought up in
digging wells around Washington, and
is exposed in the banks of streams
and in railroad cuts. Locally II is called
"old bay bottom In some places,
notably at Sunnyside farm about a
mile east of the District line at Seat
Pleasant, this mari has been mined
and used as fertilizer. and many fossils
have been found in 1t. The formation
is conspicuous along PiscataWay
creek near Fort Washington. Great
stores Of fossils have been found. In
digging deep in the soil of Washington
geoloGists have found many interest
ing things. and there has often been
discussion as to whether those relics
belonged 10 the pleistocene or lower
division Of the quartenary, or to the
pleiocene, the last period Of the ter
tiary.
Evening star., 1923-03-20
Citizen Opposes Exchange of Sites
Of Washington and Jackson Statues

rect in characfertzing the Jackson
statue as ''hobby- horse" affair. II
rehects the taste and judgment of an
early period, and is perhaps as far
superior to the work of previous
artists as some of us imagine il to
ne inferior to that of the present day
Yet j do not believe il will suffer by
comparison with such monstrosities
as the one that decorates Sheridan
Circle: not to mention the abortion
that that ,l has recently been perpetrated
upon the memory Of w. F. Cody.
The beast" in Lafayette Square
that has so suddenly become obnox-
!ous TO the eye Of that famous con-
noIsseur OF equestrian excellence
nseT may oy aPpear to snr
war-horse: but who could conceive
of such an anomoly as "Old Hickory"
the fiery Indian chaser. astride of a
gentle old family horse like the one
represented in Scott Circle. II the
hobby horse effect must be tabooe6
under the censorship of this horse
less age" the. statue in Washington
circle, which some one has facetiously
iikened unto shimmy in a wind
storm. will likewise be relegated 10
the precincts OF innocuous desuetude.
"Let Matters Rest"
To me u seems best to let matters
rest as they are. thereby precluding
controversy. especially on Capitol
Hill, where. heaven knows. talk is all
too prevalent, ill-feeling and needless
expense.
If another memorial statue 10 our
revered Washington is needed in this
city at this time, to signalize his
achievements and make secure his
fame (among those who have no taste
for reading history, let us have it,
And il il be necessary to complete the
happiness of the White Houses pres
ent worthy occupant, let it be placed
in the front yard of the White House
tand by all means before March 4.
1880. or anywhere else in the vicin-
ity. so long as it will not do violence
to the memory of any one else among
the country's great. especially such
a man as Andrew Jackson.
If the Jackson statue in Lafayette
Square is doomed by capable judges
among the many representative citi-
Zens of the United States (including,
perhaps. Col. Sheriff.. whose views
are entitled to consideration. let us
substitute for il. and upon the same
site. another and more appropriate
one.
Opposes Exchange.
If Washington Circle is not a suf1f-
ciently prominent site for Washing
toms statue, 1t would constitute a
grievous bluuder to act upon the as
sumption that ii would be good
enough for one of Jackson or any
other President.
The change as proposed would like
wise result in establishing an unwise
precedent. 1t would not only be re-
sented by Jackson's admirers and fol-
lowers, whose name is legion. but
would breed partisanship and invite
retaliation.
The greatness of America can not
be credited to one man or one
party. If this historical city should
attempt to distribute honors uneven
ly, its prestige would be weakened
a prestige that has been attained
by patience, perseverance, liberality
and tact on the part of those who
have heretofore guided its destinies
and whose one great aim has been
to make it in reality a national city
worthy and representative capital
of great nation. J. .. SPEED.
Evening star., 1923-03-20
Coal.

Restrictions on delivery Of anthra-
cite are off. The Public Utilities Com
mission makes the announcement, and
it means that you can get all the coal
YOU can get if you can get it. You can
get it if your dealer has it, will let you
have it and if you have the price.
Spring must be nearly here, and the
old furnace has not much further to
so before taking its summer vacation,
but still there is some consolation in
knowing that the coal restrictions are
of. 1t would have been more cheering
news had it come when the leaves
were falling. rather than when the
buds are swelling on the trees, but let
us give the news glad welcome any
how. Though coal is costly it might
be a good resolve to fill the coal bin
and take precaution against trouble
next winter.
Evening star., 1923-03-20
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
The columns of your excellent paper
have contained recent allusions 10 a
plan having for its object transposi-
tion Of the Presidents Washington
and jackson statues. the sites Of
which, since their installation some
sixty years ago. have. respectively.
been in Washington Circle and La
fayette Square. this city.
In my judgment, such 4 change is
not advisable. nor is il destined TO
meet with popular approval.
II is claimed by the proponents of
this scheme that, first. because Wash
InSton Vas a more conspicuous char
acter of history he is thus entitled to
would imply: second. that the position
in Lafayette Square would result in
grouping together the principal revo-
lutionary heroes, thereby warranting
change in the name of the park TO
Independence Square: third, that the
exchange of sites for the two me
MORALS would enhance the artistic ef-
feet of the White House view, at the
expense of the circle. which latter
is alleged to be of but little consequence.
In view OF the circumstance that
the nations capital city is named for
our illustrious first President. of the
further fact that the country'S great
est memorial shaft towers above the
city from an extensive and beautiful
park, in his honor. il is idle TO inti-
mate that the proposed change is nee
essary TO eliminate an unjust discrim-
ination. If any Discrimination, either
just or unjust, has been made, II is
chargeable to those responsible for
the selection of the original sites and
no one can pretend that there is any
a "a IN he rnT nj tod
shift.
Washington Not Partisan.
The Father of His Country" though
not actively identified with partisan
politics. had "A leaning toward the
Hamiltonian theories of government,
whereas the Hero of New Orleans
was what We of this time term a dem
ocrat. A shifting of the memorial
statues at this time. especially upon
the suggestion of d republican Presi-
dent-however innocent OF partisan
motives-would be construed by the
democrats OF the country as being
hostile to the memory of their patron
saint" and by the people generally
as q slap at one of its greatest char
acters, hardly second to the great
Washington himSelf-the man under
whose intrepid leadership the most
ferocious Indian bands of his time
were relentlessly pursued through
swamp and forest and conquered; who
electrified and vitalized dispirited
nation by his defeat of the British at
New Orleans: who placed patriotism
above sectionalism and prevented Sc
cession of a relatively powerful state
of his own section. when the slightest
vacillation on his part might have
spelled diSintegration OF the Union;
who curbed the money power in a
manner that no statesman before or
since with but one shining excep-
ha r6i RI
tempt-"Old Hickory" who was as
prominent in his time as Washington
was during an earlier period. and who
as unfiinchingly and successfully met
every test of moral and physical cour-
age, of patriotism and statesmanship
as any other public man of America
that has preceded or followed him.
Possibly some of US have been cor
Evening star., 1923-03-20
Claims Memorial Day
Originated in the South
To The Editor Of The Star:

L
Permit me, through your columns, to
correct a statement twice made that
Mrs. John a. Logan was the one first
TO suggest Memorial day.
Memorial day is strictly of southern
origin and was observed first in Co
Iumbus. Ca. April IS. 1866, by an act
of the Georgia Legislature. Other
states quickly followed this observ-
ance, differing in each southern state
according to the flower season in the
spring.
Petersburg. Va, May rs, 1858. was
this celebration under Miss
Nora Davidson's direction when Gen.
and Mrs. John A. Logan were visitors
in that city. So greatly were they
impressed by the long procession OF
men. women and children carrying
beautiful wreaths of evergreen and
flowers to lovingly lay upon the
graves of their dead heroes that Mrs.
Logan suggested to her husband to
something of the kind for
the heroes of the north.
When Gen. Logan became command
erin chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic he issued an order that the
graves in all national cemeteries
should be decorated with flowers in
MAY. This was the origin of Decora-
ton day and Mrs. Logan has the
honor of suggesting that.
MILDRED LEWIS RUTHERFORD.
Historian General. Confederate States
Memorial Association
Evening star., 1923-03-20
Recollections and Geology.

There Is no reason why the Oldest
Inhabitant and the scientist should
lock horns about the age OF the de-
posits that are being brought up on
Connecticut avenue between NJ and De
Sales streets. Each is right. Through
that square long occupied by the Acad-
euny Of the Visitation ran a stream,
called in the north a brook" and
down here a ''branch." The Star had
q news story which began thus:
Notwithstanding a declaration by
members of the Association of Oldest
Inhabitants that the swamp deposits
found on the site Of the Walker Hotel,
instead of being of great antiquity,
antedating the appearance of man on
this continent, are only the remains
of q stream that flowed through
downtown Washington nearly CEN
tury ago, scientists refuse to abandon
their assertion of the antiquity of the
deposits, and throw the burden of
proof back upon those who declare
them to be Of recent date.
3Ehan thiA- -kerxitnKx WnA Cedea -
Evening star., 1923-03-20
The Shipping Board Conference.

Graphing with the problem of dis
posal Of the governments fleet of mer
chant vessels. left on its hands by
Congress which refused to do its duty
in the premises. the Shipping Board
is taking hold of it in d practical and
businesslike Way. The board had Of
fered solution in the presentation to
the legislative branch of the merchant
marine bill. which an overwhelming
majority Of the House and L substan-
tial ma jority in the Senate favored.
but were unable to adopt in the face
OF an opposing tilibustering minority.
Whereupon. the +th of March arriv-
ing, the merchant marine bill faded
into the past. leaving the Shipping
Board charged with the task Of end.
!9g a running loss to the taxpayers
amounting TO $50, 900. 900 a year, which
will be cumulative as the merchant
feet rapidly deteriorates.
The Shipping Board has decided TO
call conferences of all interests identi
fed with the merchant marine to meet
with the board and offer suggestions
Of policy TO be pursued in dealing with
this gigantic problem, which not only
involves present disposal of the fleet
but a question much larger than that
the future Of the American mer-
chant marine. II il were just a mere
question OF dollars and cents, the
United States. in the American spirit
Of taking losses in a lavish and broad
way. could tow the fleet to sea and
Scuttle il, as far as that goes. But the
main conrer@r - The people Of this
country should be to provide tUr Tic
future and never be caught again
lacking ali adequate merchant marine
in peace or war.
The boards present plan contem-
plates the coming to Washington for
consultation of the steamship owners
association. the operators association
ard the Council Of American Ship
builders, as comprising the three main
interests connected with the industry
They will be asked to offer suggestions
on several questions propounded by
the board-the comment Of practical
lard headed business men as they are
Fer instance. they will be asked if
buyers or the governments vessels
could he found who would guarantee
10 maintain these vessels upon a pre-
scribed service provided the govern
inent will sell them at price below
the world market value; over what
period OF time the guarantee should
extend: what should be the policy for
tie sale of good tonnage not required
for operation upon desirable trade
routes. and as to the sale to aliens
or citizens. Furthermore. to what ex-
tent and upon what terms can capital
be raised upon shipping in today's
financial market, and what can be
recommended to facilitate the financ-
ing of purchases from the board.
The outcome Of answers TO these
questions should give the board and
the country definite information upon
actual conditions in the industry, and
enable the board to present to the
President a business.like policy for his
approval. The main thing is to MAIN
tain a merchant marine under the
flag.