davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1924-03-08
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
Ry FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

first year in lt-on March l, 1924. He
was committed to President Harding
to remain only that long, but has de.
cided 10 carry on" indefinitely, and
Coolidges present term. A salary
of $4,000 for a man of Hines exec
utive capacity is a bagatelle. Rail
road managerial positions worth five
times his government pay probably
are his for the asking: His interest
in service mems problems springs
from the fact that he knows every
grade of Army life, by personal ex-
perience, from buck private to a
brigadiership.
William M. Butler Of Massachusetts,
Calvin Coolidge's national campaign
manager, has temporarily abandoned
political activities on tho Preside ent's s
behalf, in order to be near him in
Washington at this witching hour
No man, with the single exception
of Frank W. Stearns, is approximately
as close to Coolidge as Butler The
President has been deriving aid and
comfort from the Boston lawyer
capitalist throughout the formers
iI career II Butler sealizes
Walsh's seat in the Senate at the
November election, he will be the
administrations mouthpiece par ex-
cellence on Capitol Hill-provided ed
Calvin Coolidge heads an administra
| tion after March 4, 1925.
X +
Politicians note with interest the ac.
ton of the Iowa state republican con-
| vention at Des Moines March 4. It in
dorsed former Senator Charles A. Raw
son of Des Moines to succeed John T.
Adams, now republican national chair.
man, as Iowa's representative on the
national committee. If Adams should be
displaced on the committee he would
not, of course. be eligible to its chair.
manShip. These developments lend color
| to the presumption that Adams all along
has planned to relinquish the chairman
| ship as soon as the national convention
is held and the 1924 campaign opened
Il
Another Latin American CONSPICUOUS
| in league OF nations affairs is now a
member OF the diplomatic corps a,
Washington-Dr. Honorio Pueyrredon
the new ambassador Of Argentina. Dr.
Torriente. the new ambassador of
Cuba, is president Of the assembly OF
the league. It was DR.. Pueyrredon who
| represented Argentina at Geneva a year
or two ago, and precipitated a discus
| sion there that threatened stormy
weather for the organization. The Ar
gentinian statesman, formerly minister
of foreign affairs at Buenos Aires, is a
| great-nephew of that Juan Martin
| Pueyrredon, who was chief Of his ma.
| ton in the period before the republics
formation in 1919. The ambassador is
| a lawyer and author of a standard Latin
American treatise on civil procedure
] tCeDyrigAt, laeA)
Evening star., 1924-03-08
The Duel in Politics,

French statesmen have a more di
rect way of settling questions of
honor" than Americans. Premier
the point. if not of action. at least
of clearing up misunderstanding.
A member Of the chamber of deputies
in course of debate made a remark
nifty that he had taken up felony
as his own. Poincare thereupon
named two Of the members Of the
ministry as his seconds. who waited
upon the representatives Of the mem
Der to arrange a meeting on the duel
ing field. Fortunately, the seconds of
the two men concluded that before
going to the point of duel it would
actually been said. So the steno-
graphic record Of the debate was ex-
amined and it was found that the
member had not charged the premier
with making felony his own. but
had chided him for taking notice of
an old .slanderous story. Hence the
seconds of both men agreed that there
was no cause for duel. and, so re-
porting to their principals, caused a
withdrawal of the challenge and an
acceptance of the explanation by
both men.
Here was an Investigating COM
mittee" to some purpose. These four
men went directly to the root of the
matter and prevented bloodshed. pos
sibly a fatality. The challenge had
been issued on a misunderstanding.
So many times words are misunder-
stood. So many times are retorts ex-
changed that leave lasting wounds,
and 4 few simple words spoken in
calmness of temper will close the
breach.
The real hero of this affair in Paris
is the stenographic reporter. In this
country, too, the scribe of the debate
is frequently an arbitrator of differ
ences that without an exact record
might run to the point Of encounter.
Perhaps men are still living who
remember the old-time congressional
duels, fought usually out on the
Bladensburg field Of honor" the soil
of which has been stained with some
precious blood. The code" prevailed
here as it did in France. and many
an adjournment from Capitol Hill out
to the little grove by the Spa
spring" a few miles north of this
city. was taken by superheated legis-
lators, and sometimes by others. But
by the time of the civil war dueling
had passed out of fashion in this coun-
try. Public opinion strongly opposed
this "barbaric" method of settling diff
ferences.
When Cardinal Richelieu came to
power as the kings minister in
France, in the fifteenth century, he
found dueling prevalent to a great
extent. He secured from the king a
decree making it a capital offense to
participate in such an affair. Several
eminent personages were executed,
and the practice was greatly discour-
aged. though not entirely eliminated
1t has remained a French institution
through all the many years of change
in that country.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

that steel when stressed beyond its
elastic limit and released does not
Immediately return to its original
position. Within certain limits, how
renections which are proportional to
the load applied and will return to
the zero position when the load is
removed Gas fulfills these condf-
lions Tor much wider range, the
products of the pressure and volume
being constant for a wide range of
pressures, provided the temperature
is kept uniform.
Q. How long has chicle been used
in chewing gum?-C. C.
A. Until 1860, spruce and chewing
gums were the main gums used. In
! that year an American inventor dis
covered the suitability of chicle for
| this purpose.
@ When was opium introduced in
China?-F. F. F.
A. Opium for use as a. medicine
| was introduced into China in the
thirteenth century by Arabs. The
not until the seventeenth century and
came from India The first edict pro
hibiting this was by the Emperor
! Yung Cheng in 1929.
@. Is it dangerous to crush hard
foods with the teeth?-W. E. D.
A. While crushing such things as
hard crusty foods, hard candies, etc,
may tend to increase flaws in the
! enamel of teeth, Investigations Of the
crushing force of the teeth have
proved that sound teeth are capable
| of crushing much harder substances
than these without injurious effect.
Q. How long has gasoline been
known?-H. w.
A. There were some materials like
our preseLt gasoline used as far back
as the second century. but the name
gasoline was coined within the las
twenty or thirty years.
so called?-C c. H.
| given from an image of the Virgin
which stood on this street.
! Q. How is the length of step de
| Itermined?-M. w.
| A. To ascertain the distance covered
| in step or stride measure from heel
to heel or toe to toe. Ordinarily the
! pace is estimated at 2.5 feet, but IN
pace is EXTENDED to 3 feet zone
yard) or to 3.3 feet (one-fifth of a
rod.
Q. What is the life of a ma agnet?
III. B. F.
A. The life of a permanent magnet
magnetized in any manner whatever
has never been determined. A magnet
made of the best quality steel, proper
ly heat treated and aged and used
under the best conditions of service
/, would probably deteriorate only n
negligible amount in the lifetime of i
single observer.
@. What kind of wood is used 10
make toothpicks?-A. w.
A White birch is considered best
for this purpose, but poplar and maple
also are used.
If yott haze a question you tn1nt dm
stoered send it to The Star Information
Bureau. Frederic j. Hdskin, Director.
1890 North Capitol street. The onl1
charge for this service IS cents in
stamps for return postdge)
Evening star., 1924-03-08
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN

@. How many gas bags has the
shenandoah and how many are neces-
sary to keep her in the air?-L. S. J.
A. The Shenandoah has twenty gas
bags. The Navy Department says
that the dirigible could be sustained
in the air with four small bags and
one large one Debated.
@. Which is the heavier, q freight
train or the freight it carries?-G.
1. w.
A. In the last year for which fig
ures are available, 1922, the average
freight train weighed 1,466 tons, in
cluding the freight, which averaged
GIT tons per train.
@. If the widow of a civil war
veteran married again and divorced
her husband, can she recover her
widows pension?-G. f. j.
A. The widow of a civil war vet
eran who has been drawing pension
but loses it by remarriage can some
times draw this pension again after
husband if the divorce is granted for
no fault of hers. 1t will be necessary
to take this matter up directly with
the commissioner Of pensions at the
pension bureau.
Q. What are the Roosevelt med
Also. NJ. !.
A. The Roosevelt Memorial Asso-
citation awards gold medals in eight
fields; The administration of public
office; the development of public and
international law: the promotion of
the national defense; the promotion
of industrial peace: the conservation
Of natural resources; the promotion
of the welfare of women and chill
| dren; the study Of natural history and
nf ha
development in the American char
acter Of those qualities of courage,
foresight, initiative and patriotism
associated with Roosevelt's name"
Q. In what line of business are
there the most failures?-A NJ. Fl.
A. Clothing and millinery concerns
ranked first among failed manufac-
turers in 1922, and among trading
concerns the highest rate of NOR
tality was in groceries.
Q. Will Gen. Lees statue on Stone
mountain be larger than the Statue
of Liberty?-H. r. H.
A The height of the Goddess Of
Liberty is Ill feet; 151.41 feet to the
extremity of the torch. The figure
of Gen. Lee on Stone mountain is to
be 140 feet from the top of his hat
to the bottom of the horses hoofs.
1t is said that man standing on the
generals shoulder would need step
ladder to reach his ear. The sculptor
says: "The distance from the horse s
knee to the top of Gen. Lees hat is
12O feet The depth of the relief
on the extreme point will be about
20 feet. while the average depth of
stone to be removed over the whole
surface-300 odd feet in length by
about 200 in height-will be about
four feet"
@. How much does the government
collect in the way of tax on movie
and other theaters?-I. NJ. c.
A. In 1928 the government reve-
nues from the tax on admission to
nlaces Of amusement or entertainment
amounted to $70,14S,480.
Q. Which is more elastic, steel or
gas?-W. c. w.
A. The bureau of standards says
Evening star., 1924-03-08
Arlington Memorial Bridge

The President is justified in wanting
to know the approximate cost of the
Arlington Memorial bridge. There
have been various estimates, with a
difference of several million dollars
between the minimum and maximum
figures. 1t should be possible to figure
out the approximate cost Of the
bridge. President Coolidge is chair.
man Of the Arlington Memorial Bridge
Commission, and there is a weighty
responsibility upon him, as we'll as
upon the other members, the Speaker
Of the House of Representatives, the
chairmen of the Senate and House
committees on public buildings and
grounds and the officer in charge of
public buildings and grounds. Presi.
dent Coolidge. and nearly everybody
else who has taken interest in the pro.
posed memorial bridge. fayors it and
approves in a general way the design
which is now before the bridge com.
mission, but there should not be such
wide variations in the estimated cost
as there seem to be.
The memorial bridge received the
popular sanction many years ago.
Since the project came under public
consideration Potomac Park has come
10 be a resort Of many thousands of
people and a show place OF America.
The Lincoln Memorial has been built.
Arlington has come to be an object OF
national reverence, Columbia Island
is being built and many changes have
taken place on the low lands Of the
Arlington estate between the foot of
the ridge and the river. The proposed
Evening star., 1924-03-08

! bridge would have larger significance
as a memorial than it would have had
twenty-five years ago.
Merely as a material facility the
bridge is more needed now than when
it was first proposed. Then the river
at Washington was spanned by the
Long bridge and the Aqueduct, and
within the time that the Arlington
Memorial bridge has been under dis
cussion the Railroad bridge and the
Highway and Key bridges have been
built. But there has been a large
growth of traffic. and although the
new bridges may not yet be carrying
their full load they will soon reach
their traffic capacity, probably before
the opening Of the Memorial bridge.
The population of Washington grows
fast, that of nearby Virginia is in
creasing, tourist travel from all parts
Of the country to Washington is swell
ing and considerable traffic once car
ried by steamboat and steam train is
passing over the wagon roads and
bridges.
1t is said in the matter of estimates
for the Memorial bridge that "al-
though the President has expressed
himself as being anxious that the
Memorial bridge shall be the finest of
its kind ever built in this or any other
country, he feels some hesitation
about going ahead with the plan that
would necessitate what he considers
such a tremendous outlay Of money"
He wants to think the matter over
carefully before coming to a decision.
He will soon call a meeting of the
commission for further discussion Of
the project.
Evening star., 1924-03-08
COURAGE
Il an, the master of my fate:
/ an, the captain OF my soul"
HENLEY.

Harrington Earned $3.50 in Five
| Years.
Acclaimed an assured success when
| he triumphantly left college, Booth
Harrington had to face disappoint-
ment, dsillusionment and heartache
before he even got start.
| Born in indianapolis, he there first
attended public school. Siclly and
hollow -chested, he was taken out of
classes two or three months at time.
but by reading and study at home ne
was able to pass the examinations al
the end of each term.
Winning laurelS at Exeter and Pur-
due, he went to Princeton University.
where he wrote, sang and drew well,
and was lioniZed. When he took his
degree in 1893 and went back to In
diana practically everybody predicted
| fmm ediate success for him.
At Princeton he had won college
magazines SIS prize for a short story,
and from that time he wrote with un
Tagging industry, but always his
by formal rejection slips. He sent a
drawing and joke to Life, which ac-
cepted the drawing and rejected the
Ijoke. Then drawings were refused
and jokes accepted.
In 1895 he went to New York with
three plays, which were refused by
managers, and he returned to Indiana
in despair.
A 50,000-word story then was re-
jected by publishers. Meantime, he
had written Monsieur Beaucaire," by
many considered his masterpiece;
'"The Two Vanrevels" and The Gen
tleman From Indiana" which he had
left in an unfinished state.
Up to this time, when he was thirty
years old, he had received exactly
$22.50 for five years work. Some OF
his writings had appeared in a local
magazine in Indiana, which did not
pay for his contributions.
Again in New York, he sold mon
sieur Beaucaire'' to the publishers OF
McClure's Magazine, but not until he
had rewritten it. They urged him to
revise and cut down The Gentleman
From Indiana" and he entirely re-
wrote it before it proved acceptable.
After that fame and fortune came to
meet him. His district in Indiana
elected him to the legislature. He
was acclaimed one of the greatest
writer's of his generation, and he still
| is writing stories, novels and plays
THAT are adding. to his renown.
+. - Copyright. 1881
Evening star., 1924-03-08
Abuse of Privilege.

Resentment is expressed in various
quarters against the disposition in the
Senate recently to bring into the naval
Oil scandal the name OF President
Coolidge without any justification.
upon hearsay and incomplete refer
ences in the course Of the committee
investigation. The feeling is decided
that the partisan tendency that has
been manifested in the course of the
inquiry has gone quite too far in thus
assailing the Chief Executive in ad-
vance of any specific indication Of
completely in the distressing affair.
Reaction has been unmistakably
caused by the innuendoes and broad
hints made in speeches IN the Senate
itself. especially as the full explana-
ton Of the circumstances has shown
that there is no warrant whatever for
bringing the Presidents name into the
affair.
Respect for the presidential! office
does not require abstention from criti-
cism. Many have been the assaults
upon the incumbents OF that office in
the course Of American history. Many
bitter speech has been made in Con-
gress directed at the Chief Executive.
He has been the target Of all parties,
sometimes of members of his own
party. But save in the rarest in
stances these attacks have been based
upon considerations of policy and
practice, have been aimed at his judg.
ment and actions. and have not been
pointed at him on the ground OF turpi-
tude or actual misconduct.
1t is highly important that the line
be drawn between assault upon the
Chief Executive on the score of
known and established conduct, and
attacks, direct or indirect. inspired by
mere suspicion, by gossip or by specu-
lations. In the present case a senator
guessed" that a certain reference in
one of the telegrap phic MESA ges figur-
ing in the inquiry related to the Presi-
times. and on two separate occasions,
that he thought" the Chief Executive
was meant when a certain cryptic
word was used. There was absolutely
nothing on which to base such a
speculation. 1t was promptly chal-
lenged, but not withdrawn. Now it
has been positively disproved. Up to
this hour no apology or retraction has
been given.
There is no law of ''lese ma ajeste'' in
the United States. Every one is free,
within the limits of the law of libel, to
score with charges and innuendo any
public person, even the President, save
in the case of words spoken in Con-
gress. If libeled. the official. like the
private citizen, has the right Of de-
fense by legal procedure. Unfortu-
nateiy a certain uncoded inhibition
prevents the higher officials from TAX
ing such measures of defense. The
President, if assailed unjustly and
libelously, must rest upon his denial,
leaving public opinion to apply such
punishment as the offense may re-
quire.
Our cherished freedom of speech"
the extent of SANDER or malicious gos-
sip, Of partisan exaggeration designed
to break down the public confidence
In the integrity Of the officials of gov
ernment. 1t should not run to the ex-
tent Of abuse of the constitutional
right of immunity for words spoken in
the legislative chambers.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

, nauocratic presidential timber since
.;,o. ;mmemorial has been grown IN
the forests where governors nave
their roots. Grover Cle'elaho ano
Woodrow Wilson, the only men inc
democrats have ever LANDED IN the
iwhite House since the civil war were
i.oduated from their respective state
bouses Samuel j. Tilden's presl-
DENTAL availability in 1876 was oe-
rived from his successful governor
sbin of New York. James NJ COX
ichief capital in 1920 was his guber-
atorial record in Ohio. All of which
impels wiseacres to think the demo-
cratic man hunt" in 1924 may even
| itually end in the nomination OF
governor. Various state execut,v.es
are alive to. the seductive posSioIiity
Gov Silzer of New Jersey has MS ear
/ to the ground and an aerial on MS
ipoIitical roof. Gov. Sweet OF Colorao9
! Is now in the east establishing use1ul
icontacts Gov. Bryan Oh NSpraSha =
Gov. but ready to tune In. Gov. DAVIS
of kansas would not De slsha'eu 'At
vain. l.
IF Calvin Coolidge has to consider
lbill. or both, it will be a practiceo
ihand that he will put to the JOB. A
couple of vetoes when the President
! was Governor of 'MassacnusSsets S az ~,
some of the things on which ms Claim
| to New England fame rests. Ihey
were starred" in the campaign ltera-
iture circulated on Coo!idges oehaII IN IN
the 1920 pre-convenlon presigenua, ;Is =
contest one of the vetoes killed a
salary grab" whereby members of
the state Legislature attempted TO
vote themselves q raise in pay-1rom
81 900 to $500. A year later, on tne
eve of his nomi1anfH;ad f;ds aor retned tne yi6e tbe
,bilI to leEalize the manufacture of
i2.75 beer in Massachusetts.
Samuel knight, the San Francisco
| LAWYER. nominated to prosecute the
| Standard Oil lease case In California
is the original, Of one of the heroes
in Rex Beach's novel and screen
| drama, "The Spoilers" knight fig
ured. twenty-three years ago, in the
| rough -and-tumble legal proceedings
that stretched All the way IRON Cail-
| p. Lane sought to enforce gold mining
| tights that came to be known as the
Nome claims. Lanes washington in
! terests were represented by Jackson
III. Ralston, himself a Californian.
| knight had been q United States dis
! trict attorney in California before he
| was jmme rsed in the romantic fight
| over tine Nome claims. Senator Key
| Pittman of Nevada has been said to
| be one Of Rex Beachs heroes in "The
Spoilers" too.
| X X X 4
Brig. Gen Frank T. Hines, director
Of the Veterans Bureau, Intended to
1 Quit that fob at the expiration Of his
Evening star., 1924-03-08

There is no calculating the amount
telegraph and telephone operators the
world over were required to step for
ward and tell all they know.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

In the present political agitation
plans may easily be upset. Col. Bryan
discreetly refrains from pressing his
selection for the democratic presiden.
tial candidacy into great prominence
at this time.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

Transactions in which ex-Secretarv
Fall was concerned stand forth as a
warning against putting TOO much
dependence on a man merely because
he has a pleasant disposition.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

Reminders have been deemed neces.
sary that senatorial dignity, in order
to protect itself, must properly con-
slider the dignity Of other branches of
the government.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

Commercial adjustments are plainly
needed when nobody feels sure of
making ocean traffic profitable except
the rum-runnerS.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

A man accustomed to political
oratory often finds it difficult TO pre-
vent his remarks on any subject from
taking on the character of campaign
speech.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

Sightseers used to go to the Capitol
They now go away with the impres.
sion that an unpleasant time is being
had by all.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

Friends OF Mr.. Daugherty insist
that he has remained in Office through
u sense Of duty. No reasonable person
will assert that he has done so because
he was enjoying himself.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

On some occasions an investigating
committee elicits no information of
great interest to the public. On others
it develops more news than it can con.
veniently handle.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

Ordinarily a vacancy in the cabinet
would call for columns of speculation
as to the selection of a successor. The
resignat tion rumor has eclipsed the APP
pointment forecast.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

Turf devotees are naturally regret
full that so good a race horse as Zev
had to have his name brought into the
oil proceedings.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

When caliph is slated TO resign he
resigns, and does not wait for an in.
vestigation.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

A remarkably large number of peo-
pie now think of how happy they
would be if they had never met Mr..
Fall.
Evening star., 1924-03-08

With no recent demands for his
t.ial and no suggestions for his return
to office. the ex-kaiser is justified if he
feels a trif1e slighted.
Evening star., 1924-03-08
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