davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1924-08-01
State Honors Dead Official.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
RICHMOND, Va, August 1.-When
funeral services were held for Josiah
d. Hank, jr, former attorney general
and later assistant attorney general,
Attorney General Saunders closed his
Office as the States tribute to his
memory. Many of the State officers
attended the funeral. The body was
taken to Norfolk for burial.
Evening star., 1924-08-01

AS plumbing inspector Of the viii
lage of Kenilworth, ILL.,. Mrs. Julia
F.. Mckenna holds a unique position.
Evening star., 1924-03-01
Blackmail and Humor,

The other day q man over in that
amazing city Of New York received a
package at his residential door which.
when opened, proved to contain car
rier pigeon and a note, which set forth
that if he did not immediately send a
$1,000 bill back to the unnamed dis
patcher by the pigeon he would suffer
dire disaster, arson or perhaps mur-
der. Not having a thousanddollar bill
handy, he sent the pigeon and the note
to the police. The story was given to
the newspapers and was printed. 1t
was also set forth that the police were
going to trace the sender of the menac-
ing missive by means of the pigeon.
This gave some folks cause to wonder
Why should the police tip off the
blackmailer thus? But evidently the
police knew something, or suspected
something. They marked the pigeon
fastened a string to its leg and set it
free. Then they watched certain
houses, homes Of close friends of the
receiver of the threat. Sure enough,
the pigeon returned to one of them
The occupant explained that it was
his pigeon, but that he had loaned it to
a friend. This was the third man in
the case. He was arrested, and in an
uL- oar of laughter explained that he
had sent the pigeon and the black.
mailing note to his friend for fun, to
scare him. But the police proved to
be deficient in humor. They arrested
him for blackmail, just the same, and
at latest accounts his friend who re-
ceived the pigeon and the menacing
silote was scurrying around to get bail
i for him. Thus. ends the joke. But
does it end the force of the suggestion
for genuine blackmailers? Carrier
pigeons may figure in future profess
sional gouging practices. Meanwhile
1.-THE perpetrator of this merry jest will
, probably find his sense of humor dulled
by a good fright, if not by actual pen.
atty.
Evening star., 1924-03-01
Now Comes March,

When winter comes along and fair
days occur there are certain ones who
croak of bad weather to come. "Just
wait" they groan, until December
gets well under way, and then you'll
see what happens" Sometimes it does
happen, and again it does not. If not,
then the pessimists declare that Janu-
ary will bring it's bitterness to make
the winter keenly felt. And maybe
January proves to be a mild month,
but the croakers will not be discour.
aged. They will say: Its all right
in It's deadly work" Then, perchance.
february passes without any particu-
larly bad manifestations. Then the
weather gloomster is at his happiest.
March will turn the trick" he says.
Savage old month, March! Just wait
till March gets going right, and you'll
find the climate is right back where
it used to be when you got your ears
frosted and your nose nipped and
your toes disabled by the bitter cold.'
All tnlS mas IluDpelleu llllS year, Il
mild and smiling December, placid
and temperate January and a Febru-
ary of a truly early-springlike nature.
All of the shifting predictions of the
pessimists have been heard and passed
into the limbo Of the unverified. Now
comes March. Truly a treacherous
month, and one to warrant the stout
est hopes Of the weather gloons. And
particularly when it opens mildly, as
it does today. That old saying about
the lamblike beginning with the lion.
like ending occurs at once to the
mind. Maybe the croakers are going
to win out at last. Perhaps they will
make good on at least the last lap of
the race. But meanwhile nothing that
can come now, in even the mad month
Of March, can possibly compensate on
the unpleasant side for the glorious
weather that Washington has enjoyed
thus far this season. So let March do
its worst, and let the glooms wallow
in their satisfaction over ultimately
verified forecasts of woeful weather
and everybody will be pleased.
Evening star., 1924-03-01
A Cosmic Current.

Was it something more than a mere
coincidence that yesterday the Ameri-
can Senate had a veritable tempest
in teapot with a ferocious verbal
battle while the French chamber of
deputies was engaged in Donny-
brook Fair shindy? Did this just hap
pen to happen? Or was there some
psychic wave, some radio current of
excitement pulsating across the At
lantic to affect both bodies simulta-
neously? y political psychologist
ought to inquire into this matter.
The spectacle in the Senate was a
mild one compared with that in the
French chamber. At Paris Il conflict
arose between socialist and royalist
members, the antipodes of the politi.
cal sphere. a royalist member shouted
'Curs"' in the direction of the ex-
treme left while the endless Caillaux
case was being discussed Then things
began to snap. Blows and kicks We're
exchanged-ah, yes, kicks, for the
French have perfected a mode of
boxing with the feet which is called
"sayate.' So far as is known no cas-
ualties resulted. But the session
finally had to be adjourned because of
the disorder.
In the American Senate the blows
We're all verbal ones. There was plenty
of kicking, but it was with the tongue.
There Were heavy blows, but they
We're with harsh language. There
were desperate encounters, but they
We're all forensic. And, finally, there
was no forced adjournment. The ses-
sion just wore itself to a close through
exhaustion.
Had it not been that the House of
Representative had reached the point
of finally voting on the tax-reduction
bill, all the discussion having been
turned into print or stenographic notes,
1t. too, would probably have caught
the current and given a display of
legislative fireworks. But it is hard
to stage a general melee in the House
when the roll calls are in progress.
Gone are days of the filibuster, when
a roll call was real excitement. The
tabulation of the will of the lower and
larger branch of the American par
lfament--which is Il true word in
view of its real meaning of talking
body-was once an occasion of real
sporting interest. Now it is a tame
performance. So the House missed it's
chance to react to the cosmic wave
sweeping westward
Evening star., 1924-03-01
What's in a Name!

A man having no visible means Of
support was picked up by Sheriff
Plummer of Montgomery county, ad-
| judged a vagrant by Judge Riggs and
sentenced to the Maryland house of
, correction for nine months. according
to news item in The Star. The re-
port is that the man said his home
was anywhere" There might not
be particular interest in this case, be-
cause men are "sent up or sent
down for vagrancy every day. But
the feature Of this case that raises it
out Of the ordinary is that the name Of
the man was Romeo st. Armour. 1t is
name that does not SAVIOR in sound
of the common variety of vagrancy
There are, of course, many men with
splendid names who have no visible
means Of support, but who seem to get
along very well because of the names
But that is side remark. Romeo st.
Armour has a rich and sonorous
sound, and one might believe, though
the sheriff and judge seem not to have
believed, that Romeo st. Armour may
have royal heart under his frayed
shirt or under no shirt at all. With
such a name and with no visible
means of support, but with a well
made suit of clothes, this man might
have cut some figure in circles far
removed from the house of correc-
ton. OF course, Romeo st. Armour
has figured in court circles, if one will
forgive blithesome jest under such
mournful circumstances.
Evening star., 1924-03-01
Catnip.

1t is reported that the Department
Of Agriculture has planted a bed Of
catnip from which to make catnip oil
as bait to lure mountain lions and
bobcats to their death. The plan may
be efficient, but is it sportsmanlike?
Perhaps there is no great feeling Of
affection in the east for the wild noun
tain lion and the wilder bobcat, and
in certain parts Of the west are peo-
pie who holdsthat mountain lions and
bobcats are not good neighbors. While
one may withhold any warm expires.
sion Of regard for mountain lions and
bobcats, one may be pardoned for say.
ing that to put out catnip oil as lure
to these wildlings would be to take
unfair advantage of them. It strikes
at the point Of greatest moral weak.
ness in cats. Felidae have a natural
affection for catnip. Without taking
trouble to look up authorities it is not
known offhand whether cats think of
catnip as a gracious perfume, a drug
that drives away all care, or as a
beverage with a very high content of
something that intoxicates. No man
has been fonder of any kind Of a nip
than a cat is Of catnip.
The average Washingtonian is
rather a tame sort Of fellow who is
not on terms Of intimacy with noun.
tain lions Or bobcats. but he knows
that all the cats Of his acquaintance
Evening star., 1924-03-01

shown in a number of rooms Of that
building, and much of 1t is stored in
the basement and in inaccessible
places because Of insufficient space.
Charles D. Walcott. secretary Of
the Smithsonian Institution, has said
tional Gallery are not only most in
adequate, but that the size and growth
of the collection interfere with the
chief purposes of the Smithsonian.
needed for other things. He points
out that under the terms of the Smith
son bequest art was included among
the branches to be cultivated, but that
to the wishes of the founder, claim
principal attention. The exhibits of
archaeology and anthropology are be-
ing crowded by the art collection, and
been forced into dark and relatively
inaccessible portions of the building.
A proposal to wait for private citi.
Zens to put up the money for a build
ing for the national art collection
seems to be small and beggarly
thing for the government to do, and
DR.. Walcott rightly says: THE United
States cannot expect citizens to pro-
vide building Of suitable size to ac.
commodate not only the existing gal
lery but the scores of valuable col.
lections that will be given to the
United States as soon as the govern
ment is able to properly display
them"
Evening star., 1924-03-01

will pay any price for a catnip jag.
The most staid and circImspect house
cat If tempted with catnip will neg.
lect her household duties and give her.
self to wild abandon. The alley cat.
tempted with this dangerous plant,
will roll upon it. and seems to say
that there are no shadows but only
gorgeous sunlight in the world. It is
cruel Of the Department Of Agricul.
ture to mediate tempting wild cats
with something that may do them
mortal hurt. Perhaps somebody in the
Senate will introduce a resolution de-
manding that the President fire the
catnip bureau of the department.
Evening star., 1924-03-01
The Amended Revenue Bill.

On the principle that half loaf is
ton should feel that it has ground to
look favorably upon the action of the
House on the tax-reduction bill. In
deed. when it is analyZed, and all the
elements of its creation are considered,
the bill may be said to be better than
half loaf.
In the first place it is a republican
measure, the work of the united re-
publican party, for which democrats
had to vote in the end. 1t is not the
sure, but when does a measure of leg
islation pass through the mill without
change? For a while it looked as If
the bill would come out of the House
with the hallmark of the democrats
put on with the aid Of insurgent re-
publicans.
In the next place the vote on the
bill shows that the insurgent repu5-
licans are not bound body and soul to
the democrats, and cannot be depend
ed upon by the democrats to follow
, their lead at all times. There is still
some party loyalty left in their bosoms
Another consideration is that the in
surgents have won victory in fore
ing adoption of rates more to their
liking than the Mellon plan, yet cannot
be taunted with having deserted their
party The democrats will take credit
to themselves for having assisted in
liberalizing the rates agreed upon, but
only as assistants.
So it would seem that all hands have
occasion to be pleased with the legis-
lation.
Evening star., 1924-03-01
The National Gallery.

Plans for building for the Ma
tional Gallery Of Art are soon to be
drawn, and bills are to be introduced
in the Senate and House making ap-
preparation for a gallery building
should funds not be obtained for that
purpose by gift or bequest. Payment
fer the plans that are to be drawn
will be- made from fund Of $4,000
which has been privately raised. It
Is obvious that the national collec-
ton, already appraised at several
million dollars. and rapidly growing,
should have a structure for its proper
care and display. Just now the col.
lection, outside of the Freer collec-
tion, Is housed chiefly in the natural
history building Of the National Mu.
scum, under the Smithsonian Insti.
tuition. The collection is imperfectly
Evening star., 1924-03-01
Abandonment of Polar FIJI ght
Stirs Emotions at Variance

was oil was what brought about the
cancellation OF the plans for the
Shenandoah's flight" But the Pitts
burgh Chronicle-Telegraph defends
the Presidents stand on this question,
as 1t "evinces his strict sense of pro-
priety- and right regarding the role
played by Congress as branch of
the goyernmene h nntntit Jn Under any eondi-
''the President would be justified in
referring to Congress for approval,
even though he may not be compelled
to do SO; and as matters stand, he is
aeting aetha shrewdiy dand and prudsntiy and
of political opponents" Because of
the danger, the doubt as to the feasi-
bility of the polar flight and the ele-
ment of cost, the New York Evening
that the responsibility for results
shall not be concentrated on the ex-
ecutive department"
with a chance Of success estimated
at one in seven, and the possibility
that the crew may suffer worse
fate than that met by the crew of
the Dixmude," the Indianapolis News
agrees, "it Is we'll that there is some
power able to require the Navy to
ing terms than havo yet been en-
ployed."
X X 4: +
In any event, the Lowell Leader
holds, the discussion Of the PROPOSE
tion by Congress is scarcely to be de-
fined as meddlesome interference"
Then, if the opportunity is lost, the
Worcester Gazette declares, "the
blame will be on Congress-" While
the Sioux City Journal admits eff
President Coolidge consents to the
arrangements for the flight only when
Influenced to do SO by crystalliza-
tion of public opinion, he then will
have done right, whatever the out
come" It may be well that the pro-
posed flight has been called off, In the
opinion of the Lynchburg Advance,
which feels that although the sue
cess of such would be q feather in
Americas aviation cap, the trip should
be thoroughly an undertaking
planned in order to meet every pos
sible emergency" 1t Is this element
Of mischance, according to the Spring.
field News, which caused many to
feel that the trip would better be
left for some indefinite future date"
The Kalamazoo Gazette concludes
that "the Presidents decision will
have the approval not only of many
distinguished aeronautical engineers
who have looked upon the proposed
flight as foolhardy, but of consid-
erable body of public opinion which
has been opposed to risking the valu-
able ship and the lives of it's crew
10 the grim hazards o. the far north
Evening star., 1924-03-01
It is stated by Col. Bryan that IL

It is stated by Col. Bryan that the
way to universal peace is through
brotherhood, love and service. The as
sertion cannot be disputed. and, more
over, has the merit of transcending
all gossip or accusation and lifting the
thought into an upper atmosphere of
abstract morality. 1t may be doubted
whether even Col. Bryan can limit
himself to so exalted an attitude to-
ward the world and it's affairs all
through the coming campaign.
Evening star., 1924-03-01
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

tons distinguished newspaper men
l. c. Probert, manager of the Asso-
ciated Press for the southern district
who suggested that the cathedral
was the ideal burial place for Wood
row Wilson. Mrs. Wilson enthusiast
tically indorsed the proposal. Pro.
bert was friend and admirer of the
war President. He accompanied tbs
Wilson party to Europe in 1915 as
chief of the "a P.'s' peace confer
ence service. While in Paris Probert
took desperately i'll and was nursed
back to health, at the Presidents di-
rection, by DIR. Cary r. GraySon. Ever
since Probert hovered on the brink
in hotel rooms facing the TuilIeries
he and Grayson have been insepa-
ra BILE buddies.
Calvin Coolidge seems to have n
pretty keen memory. Also he ap-
pears to be an exponent of that art
of which Roosevelt was a master
remembering the little trifies Of life
and recalling them at a psychological
moment. The other day one of the
Presidents callers was a charming
young woman from the middle west.
who happens TO be the proprietor OF
a thriving daily newspaper. -
(mentioning the name of her home
town., the President said, treated
of 1920. l arrived there for speech
on a rainy night was sure Id
speak to a half-empty house. But
your people turned out in droves.
bad weather. I've never forgotten
that" Which shows that Gals s. u
politician, too.
X ): :. :,
The Tammany delegation in Con
night this week. "Al" Smith was
the toast of the hour, with Senator
Copeland an indisputable second
choice. The New Workers are plan
ming the mightiest tumult In honor
of Gov. Smith at the democratic ma
tional convention that the history OF
demonstrations" ever recorded. The
time limit has been set at eight hours.
The convention, in other words. is
to be put out of business for a full
working day while Gotham yelis 1T
self hoarse over the candidate raised
on "the sidewalks of New York" The
San Francisco convention was turn
ed into bedlam for forty-1ve minutes
when Bourke Cochran placed Smith
in nomination four years ago.
X :: x
Chewing gum w the juicy theme
of discussion for an hour in the House
on February IS. Here are some OF
the gems of thought that found ex-
pression:
Mr.. Kvale of Minnesota-Purely
in the interest OF civilization, would
not the gentleman suggest putting
some provision i'll the bill which
would limit the use of chewing. gum
to Indians and negroes?
MIR. Chindblom of Illinois-Certatn-
Iy not The gentleman Is mistaken
In supposing that gum is an injury tn
civilization. The time is past when
gentlemen can make that argumenr
to Intelligent people, at least people
as Intelligent as members Of this
House, many of whom use cnewlnls
gum.
Later in the debate this pas
sage occurred.
Mr.. Growth W York-Ws
have had a of discussion
of minor subj IL as chewing
gum. From wi read and hear
from home, the p are fairly well
dfseusted with the Congress and its
attitude on this tax bill. They would
like to see an excise tax put on rag
chewing, instead of gum-chewins,
over matters Of no impo ortance.
copyright, 1924
Evening star., 1924-03-01

Capt. Bob" Bartlett wants to
know whether the naval air service
is tender plant" which must be
utilized to be kept up to hothouse
speed or whether 1t actually is a Sec
ton of the national defense which
shall function when the time comes.
There has been no direct answer to
the captain. On the contrary, mas
much as President Coolidge has de-
creed that the lighter-than-air craft
Shenandoah, Daughter of the Stars" "
shall not attempt to navigate above
the north pole, the editors OF the
country have agreed to disagree on
his decision.
why President Coolidge, with
abundant reasons before him for
holding up the flight, should have
tried to shift to Congress a respon-
sibility that constitutionally belongs
to him as commander-in-chief the
Boston Transcript thinks, "is q ques-
ton that his well-wishers far and
near will be hard put to answer"
The st. Joseph News-Press points
out, further, that some of the MEM
berS of Congress say they are myS-
titled by the attitude of the President,
because there has been little opposi-
ton in Congress, and what opposition
has developed has been the result OF
doubt regarding the value of the ex-
pedition and the danger involved
rather than objection to the expense.
The San Francisco Bulletin. how
ever, is convinced that, havins
pledged himself to policy or econ
omy In governmental expenditures.
the President does not wish his sin
full Of the fact that his move Is being
closely watched by political oppo-
nents." If Congress sanctions the un-
dertaking, the Manchester Union reels,
there can be no question raised OF
he legality of such an outlay or ma
tional funds, or of congressional ap-
proval Of the undertaking ITSELF.
~ X \
The Philadelphia Bulletin suggests
he possibility Of claiming for Great
Britain a million square miles Of land
and water between Alaska and the
,orth pole is strong incentive to an
arctic enterprise of this ultra-modern
Kind" The Chattanooga News mem
ions, further, that "all indications of
public opinion have been favorable
TO the undertaking." and II the trip
is not to be undertaken "the people
ire entitled to know what are the OBJ
ections and obstacles" The Buffalo
-eu-S hints that perhaps the fact
that the great stake in the adventure
Evening star., 1924-03-01

Former Senator George E. Cham
berlain of Oregon, who will be one OF
Attorney General Daugherty's coun-
sci in any official investigation, was
Warren G. Harding's closest demo-
cratic friend. They struck up warm
comradeship when both were in the
Senate. Sitting around the old-fash-
ioned stove in the newspaper mems
shacks adjacent to the Marion front
porch" the night before election In
1920, Harding remarked: There's
Just one democrat l hope VIII be
elected tomorrow. That's George
Chamberlain" The wish was doomeo
not to be gratified. Chamberlain went
down in the Harding landslide. sue
cumbing to Robert n. Stantield, re-
publican, by 1880 votes. When the
lame-duck season set in, early In
1921. Chamberlain was one or ms
first friends whom President Harding
took care of. He was appointed a
Shipping Board commissioner and
served as the northern Pacific coast
representative till his resignation q
wear ago. Since then he has prac-
ticed law in Washington.
John w. Davis boom for the demo-
cratic presidential nomination Is
about to be launched in Washington
as a more or less national movement.
A committee of influential democrats.
resident In the District of Columbia,
is TO be named, to become the boom S
official sponsor. West NfrglnlanS at
the Capital are the guiding Spirits.
They are confident it will gain in mo-
mentum, once launched. The former
ambassadors hackers are conscious
they have one primary obstacie 10
overcome in attempting to sell nin
to the democratic party. That is MS
association with Stetson, JENNINGS
e Russell, the New York law firm
which enjoys one of the biggest cor
poration practices in the country. Yet
Davis friends recall that Grover
Cleveland, in the four-year interVal
between his first and second terms
but was the late Pierpont Morgan's
personal attorney. Davis recently
represented the American Glassblow-
ers' Union In triumphant litigation
before the. United States supreme
Court. So his adherents say he has
a labor record" to offset his connec-
tion with "the interests"
x i. !; X
Sir Esme Howard, K. C. B., the new
British ambassador to the United
States, lost no time in establishing
contacts In Washington. He arrived
In the Capital on Thursday. and on
Friday noon was at lunch in a popu-
lar downtown hotel, as democratic
alIy unambassadorial In dress and de-
meanor as the humblest person in the
room Sir Esme's host was Alexan-
der p Moore, American ambassador
to Spain. Howard was British am
bassador at Madrid throughout
Moore's sojourn at King Alfonso's
court and they became bosom friends.
Sir Esme was kept busy at luncn
time shaking hands with host OF
friends who knew him when he was
counselor of the British embassy at
Washington under Ambassador Bryce.
X v X x
irresponsible gossip is in circuia-
ton in Washington, and from WASH
ington has been grapevined across
the country, to the effect that the
entombment of Woodrow Wilson III
the National Cathedral was An or
sanized piece of ''propaganda Tor
that building project. The story
.redits Bishop Freeman with having
executed a masterpiece of SALESMAN
,hip." No yarn ever had hfmsier
| foundation. 1t was one OF Washing-