davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1924-01-20
Food Prices.

The Department of Labor reports
that Washingtonians paid l per cent
less for food in December. 1923, than
in December, 1922. But a dash of bit
ters is spilled in the sweets by the an
nouncement that food prices were 2
per cent higher in December, 1928
than in December, 1922, so it appears
that we made the saving of l per cent
by eating less food or by introducing
more hominy and fewer mushrooms
into the bill Of fare. 1t is further said
that food prices are 50 per cent higher
than the level of prices in 1913. and
that "only two cities showed a greater
rise in food prices over the ten-year
period than Washington, these being
Richmond, where prices We're so per
cent above the 1913 level, and New
York, where they were SO per cent
higher" But it IS gratifying to learn
from the Department Of Labor that
though food prices Were . per cent
higher last December than in the pre-
ceding December our food bill was 1
per cent less. Many of US had not no
ticed the reduction. We have tried to
cut down the grocery bill, but that
bill seemed to follow the fashion of the
gas bill, and the more we cut down
the higher the bill got.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

road tse-ups motor transport has been
employed, but with indifferent sue
cess, owing to resulting congestion on
the roads. A general rail strike almost
completely paralyses the Industries Of
the country.
With the labor party directly rep.
resenting the factors in contention it
is easy to see how ministry which
itself directly represents those factors
would be confronted by a serious
dilemma in case of a nationwide
strike. So it is that Ramsay Mac
donald's work as premier actually be-
gins before he has been summoned by
the king, before. indeed, his predeces.
sor has been actually ousted from of.
flee, The unusual spectacle is pre-.
sented of a prospective prime minister
feverishly working in advance of TAX.
ing office to prevent the development
of situation which would gravely
and perhaps fatally embarrass him
upon his assumption of responsibility.
Evening star., 1924-01-20
Guns and Homicides.

Nirginia's registrar of vital statis-
tics says that forty-one persons were
killed by gunshot wounds in that state
in November. The figure causes q
sense of shock, but figures from other
states are not at hand, and it may be
that by comparison Virginia has a
mild record in manslaughter. Novem-
her was the first month of the hunting
season, and a large proportion of the
deaths were by hunting accidents.
There seems to be need for the pres
ervation of hunters as well as for the
preservation of game.
Seventeen of the fatalities are
classed as "homicidal." That is bad
record, but Virginia is a. large and
populous state, and the loyal Vir-
ginian admits that there are desper-
ate men there. Many other states
have a high homicidal rate, and it
might be interesting to measure Vir-
ginia's record against that of the Dis
trict of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New
York, Massachusetts or other states.
and gun-fghting were common
throughout the land. Settling dis
putes' with pistols continued in the
south when in the north the gun
toting habit was mainly rracticed by
the lower order of men. In the freedom
OF gun-play 'the west" or the vast
country beyond the Mississippi, took
Evening star., 1924-01-20
Radio at the Poorhouse.

radio "set" has been introduced
at Blue Plains and the news saws
that life appeared a bit brighter for
the 300 inmates of the District aims
house" The story tells of the sur
prise and joy of these poor folk as
they listened to music and words from
the air. The set was a gift from a
Sunday school class of the Ninth
Street Christian Church.
There is something to think about
in this. There must be a great deal Of
boredom" in some public institutions.
Most of the people live in the past
They have very little of the present.
We know how interesting to these
people are very simple entertain
ments. In other times there were
local amateur theatrical companies
and music companies which gave en-
tertainments at many public institu-
tionS. These entertainments gave
the greatest pleasure to the inmates
The coming Of a company was looked
forward to and the play was talked
about until it was time to talk of the
coming of the next show.
Now, here is the radio set. which
gives an entertainment. and often
one Of especial interest and merit, at
almost any time when one wants to
tune in. 1t is easy to understand
the feelings of these Blue Plains peo-
pie. They have looked at the high
ridge east of them until it has lost
its charm. They have looked at the
river west of them and at the walls
and steeples of Alexandria and the
smoke of Potomac yard until the view
has palled. South. the woods and
slopes of Oxon valley have become a
tame, dull picture. But singers and
speakers come to them from the air.
Stirring preachers can talk to them
and give them happiness and hope.
No doubt there are people in other
institutions who could be cheered by
radio.
Evening star., 1924-01-20
British Laborites and Strike Threat

Extraordinary efforts are being
made by the British labor leaders,
who, it is expected, will take charge
of the government at London this
coming week, to prevent the strike Of
railroad workers threatened by the
locomotive drivers and affiliated trades.
Unless these efforts succeed the trans
portation system of Great Britain will
be tied up in a strike tomorrow or
Tuesday almost coincidentally with
the ousting of the Baldwin ministry
and the organization of it's successor
under Ramsay Macdonald.
AS The Star pointed out the other
day, a labor ministry of Great Britain
would be seriously handicapped in
taking Office during a general railroad
strike. It would be incumbent upon
the ministry in such circumstances
to do everything possible to effect a
settlement. For a. transportation
strike in Great Britain is an extremely
serious matter owing to the fact that
the greater part Of the food supplies
are imported and must be moved
quickly to all parts of the United
Kingdom. On other occasions Of rail-
Evening star., 1924-01-20
Kentucky Good Roads.

Kentucky can never be what it
should be, and what it has q right to
be. without complete system of pub
lie roads" Thus said the Governor of
I Kentucky in his first message to the
general assembly of the state the other
day. This was his premise Of the pro-
posal of a bond issue of SIS, ,000, 900, of
which two-thirds will be spent for
good road making 1t is a new PROPOSE
ton for Kentucky, which has not
, heretofore moved on a large scale in
the direction of highway Improvement
The state is now actively discussing
the matter, and Gov. Fields recon-
mendation has precipitated an issue
that will be closely observed by the
residents of all the states. For the
good roads section is not now local
The dwellers in every state have an
interest in the road improvements in
| every other state.
In respect to the local interests in
volved, Gov. Fields words to the
! legislature of Kentucky cannot be
gainsaid:
None will deny that the construc-
ton of a comprehensive system of
roads throughout the state would en-
hance the value of all property with
| in her borders and make Kentucky a
more desirable place in which to live.
Such a system would contribute much
I to our educational advancement, par
ticularly in rural sections, by max
! ing the schools more accessible to
students. 1t would bring the residents
of all sections of the state into more
intimate social relations with one an
other thereby contributing to the in
tellectual advancement of the state
and increasing our common interests.
Furthermore, with the rapidly grow
ing motor transportation, system of
thoroughfareS connecting the agri-
, cultural sections with the industrial
| centers and mining regions would re-
suit in the creation of direct COM
mercial relations between producers
of agricultural products and the con-
Sumers in the Industrial and mining
sections of incalculable benefit to
both.
The good roads argument has been
definitely accepted practically every
where in the United States. Time
was when it was necessary to SELL
good roads to the people. But now the
advantages of paved highways con-
structed on comprehensive plan
with main trunks linked up with minor
thoroughfares to all sections of the
commonwealth, are fully recognized.
What Gov. Fields has just said to the
legislature Of Kentucky has been said
to the lawmaking bodies of other
states with good effect.
A broadly planned highway system
is a long term investment. 1t can be
best financed anywhere by a bond
issues The proposed issue of bonds in
Kentucky is to cover a number of OBJ
jects, s25,000,000 going TO schools and
institutions and to the relief of the
public debt. and $4,000 900 10 roads
According to Gov. Fields plan, the
roads fund will be distributed among
the counties on basis Of so per cent
on road mileage and so per cent on
taxable assets. To these funds will
be added federal funds from the good
roads aid allotments, which are based
upon the principle of state eXpendi-
lures. The Kentucky bond issue
should be approved. The people of
all the states will watch developments
in Kentucky with interest.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

caslonally great clusters of it are
seen dangling from the telegraph
wires where they have been blown
by the winds. Senator Jim watson
of Indiana insists that he knows the
origin of this Spanish moss. He
says the Hon. James Hamilton Lewis
with all his beautiful hirsute adorn-
ment; sometimes referred to as pink
whiSkers. was caught in a storm
down this way. Some of his whis-
kers were blown off They lodged in
the trees and propagated. Hence the
moss boards that now drape the
southern trees. OF course, this story
ator from Indiana is given to that
sort OF thing. Nevertheless, Jim
Ham Lewis once was resident of
Georgia. So you can take the ex-
planation or leave it.
!. x :.
At Jackson there is demand for
the daily papers, and then you learn
that one of the greatest of indoor
sports down here in Florida is to
read about the weather back home"
The colder and nastier it is at home
the better satisfied you are. Zero
at Chicago, snow at Detroit and freeZ-
ing in Washington" Simply grand.
w nat could be sWeeter
And. ON. boy. how these Floridians
when they read about the
two cold waves that swept south
ern California this winter. Read
this from q Palm Beach society paper:
Mrs. John Burkholtz has just ar
rived from Pasadena, Calf, finding
it an agreeable change from frost
to balmy sunshine
Zowic. a nasty one. But there is
more to interest you in that Palm
Beach society paper and you will see
that at Palm Beach everything is
society," The country at large got
the impression recently that Senator
Walsh of Montana came to Palm
Beach a few days ago to take the
sworn testimony of Edward r. Nc
loan of 100000 10 former Socretarl
Of the Interior Fall. Various news
paper reports were sent out to that
effect. including a transcript of ex-
actly what Mr.. Mclean said But
that was all wrong. Here is the true
version as given by the Palm Beach
paEer
sUnited States Senator Thomas J
Walsh of Washington arrived yes
terday for an extended sojourn, and
while here is staying at the Break
here and he was welcomed by many
friends"
The senator's season" consisted
of two nights and a day. But then
the Palm Beach season always is q
short one.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

first place more than fifty years ago,
and held prominence in the matter Of
man-shooting for a long time. There
are people today who believe that the
pistol is a usual bit of pocket cutlery
in the west, but their ideas are got
from moving pictures. 1t is said that
man is safer from murder in the
widest part of the wild west, if there
is any wild west, than he is in the
streets Of New York, Chicago or Phila-
delphia, and there are facts behind the
statement. Gun carrying is far too
common everywhere, and Washington
has the evil. Police and courts seek
to control the vice and would end il if
they could. If they need more drastic
laws against pistol-toting those laws
should be made.
In the Virginia report it is said that
two men We're killed in duels, one in
November and one in October, and
that these duel deaths We're the only
ones reported since establishment of
the bureau of vital statistics in 1912.
Dueling has passed away. though once
1t was backed by public opinion. Con-
trary opinion grew strong enough to
make laws against dueling, and then
strong enough to enforce the law, and
finally overwhelming against the an
cient practice. These Virginia ''duels"
We're probably not duels, but plain
pistol fights. There was a good deal
Of ceremony about the duel, the in
suit, the challenge, the acceptance,
the choice of seconds, choice of wea-
pons, place of meeting and certain
rules of conduct. The chances are
that in these reported "duels'' two
''sworn enemies" met by chance and
opened fire.
Evening star., 1924-01-20
MEN AND AFFAIRS
BY ROBERT T. SMALL

MIAMI BEACH, Fla, January 10
Some impre ssions on a trip to Florida.
So many private cars are to be han
died that the train leaving Washing
ton for Jacksonville has to be run in
two sections. Four or five wealthy
persons in each private car. Quite a
contrast up ahead, where a co1ored
family, after a disappointing expe-
rience in the north. is returning home.
Seven little pickaninnies are huddled
together in two seats of the day
coach. They are shivering and long
ing for the sun once more.
In the Pullmans the average age of
the travellers seems to be sixty years
or more. Too bad that more younger
people have not the means and the
leisure to move north and south
with the seasons.
One of the porters is an old friend.
He was on the Cox campaign trip in
1920. His name is James NJ. Brown
but everybody calls him Brownie
Yes, sir" says Brownie, Il am
still for the governor, and I'm hoping
to be on his campaign train this year
Yes, sir; l remember all the issues.
remember all about the old order and
the new order that is to come under
the league of nations. No, sir; don't
believe that league is dead. 1t amt
never going to die as long as Gov.
Cox is alive. L got a lot of the gov
ernor's old speeches at home that l
saved. and ] know some of them by
heart That was u great crew of
pOrters and cooks on the Cox train.
They used TO battle all the time about
the issues" They We're always at
the rear end of the train listening to
the governors speeches. There was
one particular campaign slogan which
always appealed to the porters, Boys,
get the money.
Night in the Old Dominion and the
Old North State. Then daylight brings
you to picturesque old Charleston
Already there is warmth in the sun
and the impatient migratory souls
at breakfast are demanding to know
just when we are going to cross the
Florida line. They appear to think
there is going to be some magical
change and that old Ponce de Leon
himself is going to stand at the bor-
der welcoming them with copious
draughts of the elixir of youth.
Il =
Spanish moss on the trees tells the
expe rienced traveller he is nearing
Savannah. 1t is queer parasite,
this long, dropping gray weed which
depends from the live oaks. Oc-
Evening star., 1924-01-20
BY THOMAS r.. MARSHALL,


Former Vice President Of the United
states.
Lest we forget-it is the business
of a people to support their gov
ernment and not the business of a
government to support it's people.
So easy is it to forget the old
principles of government in the face
OF a seeming, though f1eeting, ad-
vantage that school should be kept
all the time, not only for beginners,
but for graduates as well. post
graduate course is quite necessary
for many who are still accumulating
philosophy of life.
Socialism does not seem so bad
after arl when dinner is over and a
mans cigar is glowing. Gazing at
the CRATE fire and half dreaming, he
can almost admit that the way to
procure that equality which real
democracy proclaims, the equality of
mankind. Is through an equal di-
vision of the products of labor. for
equality of the property of the world
would remove envy. malice, hatred
and ill-will. But when one takes a
theory out in the cold air of actual
experience and subjects it to the
winds of life's highways. it is likely
to perish like the after-dinner dream
of the man before the CRATE when
some one briskly enters from the
outside. leaving the door open be-
hind him.
Consider for a moment the bold
statement that great events, wheth-
err in the life of the individual. the
state or the nation, rest exclusively
upon the question of mere material
gain. If it be true in the life of
each one of us, true in the life of
America and in the life of the world
that buying and selling and the get
ting of gain is the supreme motive
and the sole urge of existence. then
justification OF the theory of the So
cialist that an economic revolution
is the only really worthwhile aspira
ton is complete. But can this
theory survive the test that every
man may make by considering his
own motives and objects Of life?
Do | love my wife because she can
assist me in getting on in the world
or do j try to get on in the world be-
cause l love my wife? Do we make
our children the beneficiaries of our
insurance because we want TO pros
per from the insurance companies or
because we want TO protect our chill
dren and provide for them Did the
civil war veteran feel a divine inn
pulse to save the Union before he en-
tered the fratricidal war between the
states? Did the young men who
travelled over 5000 miles of subma-
rine-lnfested seas to take their
chances of life and death in France
feel any compelling urge to help pre-
serve the rights Of man? Does his
tory disclose that America has been
inspired by no ideal but stirred only
by an idea of material advancement?
Back of the revolution was there
nothing more than resistance to Brit
ish taxation? Was the war with
Spain a sugar planters row? Were
Washington, Lincoln and Wilson
money-Grabbers? Any one who SO be-
lieves and finds in history confirma-
tion of his views may qualify as a
high priest of socialism.
x x X !:
To be a good socialist one must be-
come convinced that there is no value
to anything on earth except the labor
Evening star., 1924-01-20
The Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence
will be placed in a niche in the Lii
brary of Congress. where, protected
by glass and marble, all persons who
desire may look on it. There have
been many stories about the deteriora.
ton of the parchment and the ink.
but it would seem that a way has
been found to set the document on
permanent exhibition without endan-
Sering it.
What mighty history lies behind
and is shrined about the Declara-
1ion. Independence sentiment was
strong in the year before the Declara-
lion, but it was far from overwhelm-
ing. Many who thought of separation
did not speak of it. The Continental
Congress, on July 6, 1775. formally
disclaimed any separatist purpose, but
in November named commissioners
Ito maintain communication with
friends of the colonies in Great Brit
ain" and elsewhere. That has been
called a bold step in independence.
Military events in 1775 at Lexington.
Concord, Bunker Hill, Ticonderoga
and elsewhere showed the strength of
revolutionary sentiment and extended
and inflamed it.
Paine's Age of Reason" published III
January, 1916. stimulated the indie
pendence movement, but New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Maryland instruct
ed their delegates to oppose such a
measure if presented. The delegations
of New York and Delaware were
divided on the subject, and South
Carolina was opposed to the inde-
pendence idea. In Virginia and Massa-
chusetts the movement had swept
away most Of the open opposition, and
Virginia directed her delegates to
move a declaration of independence.
Richard Henry Lee, June Z, 1876.
made the motion, and John Adams
seconded it. It was debated and con-
sideration was postponed to July 1, but
on June 10 Thomas jefferson, John
Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger
Sherman and Robert r. Livingston
were named a committee to draw up
a declaration of independence. The
committee assigned Jefferson to COM
pose the declaration, and various
changes We're made in that draft, but
the changes were nearly all cancella-
tions and not additions. Few changes
were made in language.
The Declaration was reported June
%. On July 1 Lees motion THAT
these United Colonies are and of right
ought to be free and independent
States" came up and was carried July
., twelve states voting yea and none
hay. The Declaration was taken up
July 3 and passed in the evening Of
July 4, and was signed by the presi-
dent and the secretary of the Congress.
There was excitement throughout
the land. New York's convention rat
flied and her delegates signed on July
Is. Congress resolved July 10 to en-
gross the Declaration on parchment
and on August 2 it was signed by
fifty-three delegates. representing thir-
teen states. Three delegates, one from
Massachusetts. one from Delaware
and one from New Hampshire, signed
later. Several of the signers We're not
members of the Congress when the
Declaration was drafted and the Lee
motion carried.
1t is this famous document, en-
crossed on parchment and signed Au-
gust 2, 1875, that soon will be put on
public view at the Library of Con-
gress.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

The winner of the Box prize can af
ford to be patient for a while. Fifty
thousand and fame are worth waiting
for. once his identity is revealed the
possibilities before him are unlimited
He may even prove to be the dark
horse some of the political leaders are
looking for.
Evening star., 1924-01-20
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Comfort.

Comfort.
1 dreamt / dwelt in marble halls,
And l was feeling blue,
As formal and forbidding calls
Brought somber thoughts anew.
1 dreamt that in a ducking blind
/ was a shivering elf.
Ard then I left all care behind
And just enjoyed myself!
Evening star., 1924-01-20

The Assoc lated Press is exclusively entitled
20 the Use for repuhl cation of all news dis
patches credited to il or not otherwise credited
IN this paper and also the local news pub
Ished herein. All rights of publication Of
special dispatches herein are also reserved
Evening star., 1924-01-20

A long residence in New York has
with Tammany that might have been
expected under ordinary circum-
stances.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

According to Smedley Butler 80 per
cent of the Philadelphia police force is
all right. For city of Philadelphia's
size and temptations it is a high aver
n
Evening star., 1924-01-20

Without descending to downright
pessimism regarding prohibition en-
forcement, Gov. Pinchot permits HIM
self no delusions.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

Governmental management, accord
ing to Shipping Board reports, finds
even more difficulty with steamboats,
than it did with locomotives.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

A polar search by airship should not
differ from the ancient enterprises of
the kind to the extent of failing to
provide a relief expedition to follow
at a reasonable interval.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

The age Of dinosaur egg is what
makes it interesting. The contrary is
true of a cold storage egg.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

If there is to be a prohibition scan
dal Gov. Pinchot is evidently deter
mined not to tolerate any effort to
mix whitewash with the alcohol.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

Henry Ford would rather point with
pride to how many motors he has de-
livered than to the number Of votes
he might not receive.
Evening star., 1924-01-20

One Of the first results Of the Box
peace plan was to cause a disturbance
in the Senate.
Evening star., 1924-01-20
Rate by Mail-PayabIe i'm Advance.
Maryland and Virginia.
All Other States

Daily and Sunday. i yr., $40; mo-, roc
Sunday only. Il yr., $40; mo-, 20c
Evening star., 1924-01-20

The Evening Star, with the Sunday morning
edition, is delivered by carriers within the
city at so cents per month; daily only. 4o
cents per month; Sunday only, 20 cents per
month. Orders may he sent by mail or tele-
phone Main 5000. Collection is made by car
rerS at the end of each month.
Evening star., 1924-01-20
Amateur Enterprise.

He thought to run a chicken farm
The plot at this point thickens.
For him the plan was full of charm,
But it was rough on chickens.