davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-05-11
United States Highways.

AS an outcome Of the accomplish
ments of the meeting in this city
April 20 and 81 of the initial confer
ence of the Joint Board on Interstate
Highways. composed of State and
Federal highway officials. similar
meeting Of officials of II States will
assemble in San Francisco next Fri
day. 1t is to be the first of series
of regional meetings to be held dur
ing May and June in San Francisco,
Kansas City. Chicago, Atlanta, New
York and Boston for the purpose of
selecting the important interstate
roads to be known as United States
highways.
It is proposed that the selected
routes shall be designated by numbers
and marked uniformly in all States
with a standard marker. Officials of
the highway departments of Wash
ington, Oregon, California, Nevada.
Idaho. Montana, Wyoming, Utah,
will be present at the first of the
series of meetings. The necessity
for uniform numbering and marking
of highways was shown in the April
meeting at Washington. The pro-
posal to designate important inter-
state roads and mark them uniformly
was initiated by the American AS
sociation of State Highways officials
in November, 1924, when the asso-
citation asked the Secretary of Agri-
culture to name a joint board to
consider the question.
Tourist travel oyer interstate high
Evening star., 1925-05-11
One-Way Street Signs.

When District traffic officials. un-
der the leadership Of Director Ed.
ridge. begin their study of semaphore
lights for Washington it has been
suggested that they also investigate
the best type Of Illuminated traffic
signs, which will be visible to the
,motorist both day and night.
Although the present signs marking
one-way streets are of sufficient size
and appearance to warn the motorist
in The daytime, considerable confusion
has been caused. especially in the
designation of new one-way streets. by
non visibility of these same signs at
night
Many cases have been reported in
which the Washington motorist,
anxious to cooperate in the new
code, .has unwittingly driven the
wrong way on one-way street
simply because he was unable to dis
Germ the sign after dusk.
OF course, a large share Of the
blame should fall on the driver, be-
cause In rne majority or instances It
Is simply q case of ignorance of the
rules and general non-observance of
all traffic signs. But there are un-
doubtedly some, among them the
many thousands of tourists, who can.
not read the signs at night.
New York City has recently in
stalled illuminated signs. An arrow
designating a one-way street is in
closed in neat box. At night a light
is turned on behind the arrow and
there is no nlistaking this type Of
street.
With Washington traffic improve
ment making rapid strides there is
no reason why every progressive idea
should not be caught up and put into
use here. The National Capital, when
the new traffic code becomes thor
oughly effective. will rank with the
best regulate ed cities in the country
and to this end every effort should be
made to have the city as we'll marked
for night driving as it is for the day
time.
Evening star., 1925-05-11
II hate Spring in Washington" he

81 hate Spring in Washington" he
said.
This being a novel view to me. ]
listened to the gentleman. for only re-
Gently l had treated exactly the oppo-
site side of the matter.
Washington in the Spring, it has
been stated in this column. Is very
beautiful. So 1t is, of course. Now
here was one running down our be-
loved city!
Il hate Spring in Washington" he
reiterated. 1T Is cold and clammy.
If you let the furnace go out, you
freeze, and If you keep it going, you
smother.
altogether, it is a disagreeable
cold. No man, not even the weather
forecaster. can tell what the next day
will bring forth. Give me honest
Summer or Winter
Certainly. there is a great deal to
the gentleman's contention. We who.
by birth or adoption. claim Washing
ton as our own, would not dare to say
otherwise. We, too. suffer.
The city, however, is not at fault.
The city cannot help its weather any
more than we can. Nor is Washing
ton unique in the matter. From all
sections Of the country comes the
modern lamentation.
I'VE don't have any more real
Spring.
Where are the Springs Of yester-
year?
In this latitude the vernal season
seems TO be vanishing quantity
The old formula went something like
this:
Spring equals warm breezes.
Today the formula runs:
Spring equals cool breezes.
Those old Springs are recalled with
delight. even by the youngest of US.
One does not have to be able to recol-
lect how the weather was in '49 to
know that something has happened
to our weather.
1t is true that the meteorologists "a
confoundedly hard word to spelD as
sert that there has been no wholesale
change in the weather To say that
Spring has changed" Is simply bunk,
according to the weather experts
They do not call 1t bunk" of
course. They perhaps would phrase
it more along this order: There is
no scientific proof of an authentic
change in meteorological conditions" "
Pleasant gentlemen at the United
States Weather Bureau have told me
that review of conditions over many
) ce,i Will SlioN HlOTe OF less lne Sa me
sort OF weather. although during any
one particular Spring the unframed
observer may be inclined to believe
that Spring has changed
Perhaps, after all, the Weather Man
is right
Maybe it is we who have changed,
Perhaps we are critical now, where
once we We're enthusiastic.
Maybe our blood is colder. now.
when once it ran warm through veins
where arteriosclerosis was an Ut
teriE unknown quantity.
Perhaps, after all, the visions of
Springs we remember are mostly Wis
ions. colored and drawn anew by older
minds pathetically seeking for FL
Dorado. which we will never really
find again.
Not to the clouds must we look for
Spring. then, but far into the Heart
of Man: and there, if We diligently
seek, perhaps even yet we may find
as pure Spring as ever gladdened u.s.
Who knows?
\ <
Practically speaking, however. We're
Evening star., 1925-05-11

ments and barra ges." SAYS the Jour
nal. will be well spent if they settle
with even measurable definiteness the
exact potency of the Pacific coast de,
Tense. The people want to know
whether the coast is as vulnerable as
it is charged with being"
The impossibility Of creating war
conditions in sham battle is enpha-
sized by the New York Times. War
games are largely what those in
charge of them have planned" ths
Times declares. The results tlev
have in mind are usually ACHIEVED"
a similar opinion is expressed by the
Manchester Union, which explainsl
Secretary Wilbur has pointed Qua
that while such war games weld val.
liable information. it is, of course,
manifeStly impossible to simulate con.
ditions of actual hostilities beyond
certain point, and therefore the entira
maneuvers are basically theoretical"
This sham war costs the country
tidy sum of money" the New Or
leans Item points out. Military and
naval officials say they learn things
from it, that it demonstrates the
soundness or faults of theories. But
these conclusions are but theories un-
til subjected to the test OF real war.
=
sham battles"
The Baltimore Evening sun, in n
lighter vein, makes the suggestion:
The course of events is merely noted
as of interest to taxpayers. Whate .ral.
else the Navy and Army may disa-
gree about, there is never any diVi-
sion of opinion on the necessity OF
getting more money" 1t is to he
hoped, however, observes the New,
Haven Register, that official REPORTS
will include such recommendations $
will, appease our frightened brothers
of the coast and at the same time be
reasonable enough for the adnlinisrra.
ton to see its way clear to follow"
There is no reason to fear the effect
of such maneuvers abroad, according
to the Chicago Daily News, which con.
tends: Cruises and exercises do non
lead to war. There are suspicious per.
sons who jump at the conclusion thar
a cruise by American warShips is =,
threat against some power or an in
direct proof Of military support to
another. Such ideas are childish" So
also the Ann Arbor Times News.
"Such activities are not d gesture for
war. They are common sense course
to pursue in the interest of peace
A strategic blunder is suggested by
the Knoxville Sentinel, lin the con-
duct of these maneuvers and display
ing the strength and the weakness of
our forces and equipment for war in
mediately under the eyes of japan and
Japan's expert observers. since Japan
happens to be oYS theoretical foe
Evening star., 1925-05-11

ways has increased enormously In
recent years. At present there Is
much confusion in the situation re-
specting the naming OF interstate
roads. The overlapping OF named
routes is common, for there are few
such routes that are not coincident
with parts of other routes. One well
known route 1900 miles long over
laps other routes about 70 per cent
Of Its length. and 10 different routes
are involved in this overlapping,
while in places two or three of them
coincide for many miles.
Interstate motor travel has come
to stay. and the convenience and
safety of the travelling public by this
means of transportation are worthy
Of being safeguarded in every way.
1t is gratifying to note that the con-
current attention of State highway
officials Is being given to the subject
Evening star., 1925-05-11
Deportation as Viewed
By Archibald Hopkins

To the Editor of The Star:
On my return to Washington 1 find
in your issue of Thursday a state
ment that a letter of mine was read
by DR.. Hill recommending deporta-
ton of all persons who are aliens
who do not agree with the existing
political order" W cannot deport
our own citizens no matter what they
do, but foreigners who come here with
the avowed purpose Of inciting the
ignorant and discontented to vio-
lence sedition and bloodshed in order
to overthrow our Government should
be deported. That was the purport
of my letter. OF course. any citizen
has the right to personally advocate
change. TO go beyond that, as many
do, Is az though a board of health,
aware that disease germs were being
purposely scattered through a town,
were to say, I'VE have no authority
ito use prevention measures. We can
do nothing until an epidemic breaks
out" ARCHIBALD HOPKINS.
Evening star., 1925-05-11
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

ing your father. What's the best
hotel in Plymouth"
THE Coolidge House." was the
retort.
Vice President Dawes intends TO
live in Washington where he can give
the Capital comprehensive once
over. The home of the late Capt.
Guy T. Scott, son of the former Sen
ator Nathan B. Scott of West Vir-
ginia, which Mr.. Dawes has leased,
stands on one of the highest points
in Washington. 1t SurmountS al
most the peak of what is known
as Sixteenth Street Heights. From
its terraces a sweeping view of the
city is obtainable. The Scott mansion
is Commodious and charming, but is
not one of the pretentious homes that
fill the immediate vicinity. AS almost
next door neighborS, the Vice Presi.
dent and Mrs. Dawes will have Henry
White, former Amba ssador, and Irwin
B. Laughlin, our multimillionaire Min
lister to Greece. The White and Laugh
lin houses are among the most modern
and most beautiful in Washington
The Vice President has chosen a place
with charming grounds and he can
give garden parties if the spirit moves
him. Nobody knows what rent he's
paying. but it's safe guess to esti-
mate that it will eat up the lion s
share of his $4,000 salary as Vice
President.
Senator George Wharton Pepper of
Pennsylvania is an ardent supporter
of the citizens military training
camp movement. Il have had some
good vacations in my time" says
Pepper, but the best were the two
spent as a rookie at Plattsburg
in 1915 and 1915. l am not as fit
physically as I was nine years ago.
What was fun then might be grief
now. Were it otherwise 1 should
certainly apply for leave the spend a
month this Summer at one of our
c. NJ. T. camps. Any healthy chap
between II and "a who misses the
chance is missing one of the great
experiences of life"
East is East and West is West, and
the twain is meeting on the golf
links of the District of Columbia,
Rudyard kipling to the contrary not
withstanding. The new Japanese
Ambassador to the United States.
Tsuneo Matsudaira, has succumbed to
our national passion under the tute-
lage of John Barton Payne, chairman
Of the American Red Cross. Payne
took Matsudaira to the Burning Tree
course the other day for the first
time. The Japanese envoy said he'd
only played golf a couple of times
in his life on some Indifferent links
near Toxic. Then he proceeded to
shoot bogey in 2.
Copyright, 1925.)
Evening star., 1925-05-11
Defense Day Plan.

Defense day which with remark
a BILE lack of foresight some politicians
sought to make political issue last
year. is TO be observed again, this time
on Armstice day. November II. pro-
Nided President Coolidge approves the
plans Of the general staff. The pacitist
element in the country no doubt will
emit roar. Particularly because, un-
der the plans Of the general staff, De-
tense day is to be an annual muster"
to determine just what Uncle Sam has
in the way of national defense. A
year ago it was said that Defense day
would be viewed by the world as
military gesture on the part OF the
United States. But Defense day passed
or and away, and was forgotten al
most within "A hours, except for the
lessons which it taught in regard to
the national defense. No other nation
has charged the United States with
militaristic ideas and ambitions be-
cause of it.
No general political campaign is un-
der way in the United States this
year. There will be no particular or
timely temptation to Gov. Bryan, or to
other State officials, to denounce De-
fense day, hoping to strike a blow at
the administration in Washington.
Many Democrats who believe firmly in
national defense-Americans for the
most part forget politics when it
were strong in their criticism of the
stand taken by the Democratic NOM
inee for Vice President last Summer
against Defense day. The result Of
indicated that the observance of De
Tense day was not disapproved by the
great majority Of the people.
One criticism leveled at the Defense
day OF last year was that it came at
time when the farmers are busy,
September u. the anniversary of the
battle of St. Mihiel. the first in which
American arms won a great offensive
movement in the World War. The
farmers, opponents Of Defense day in
fields, and could i'll afford TO give the
time to d muster or mobilization Of
forces. Present plans call for this an
nual examination of the national de-
Tense on November Il, and the criti-
cism that it will interfere with the
farmers largely falls to the ground
To avoid as far as possible wounding
the susceptibilties of certain persons
who look with suspicion on anything
military, Defense day is to be termed
muster" instead of a ''mobiliza-
ton" Mobilization acquired sinister
meaning because Of we'll remembered
assemblages Of European forces in
days gone by. AS a matter of fact, De.
fense day in this country resolves IL
self merely into an inventory, taking
of stock, to see whether in time of
emergency there is the machinery
necessary to put the country quickly
into state of defense. 1t contains no
threat, but it does serve a useful pur-
pose.
Evening star., 1925-05-11
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES L. TRACEWELL.

not those old seasons lovely with a
loveliness that seems vanished from
the earth?
l can remember one Easter season
as lad that was spent by the gang
In our neighborhood entirely in a small
park.
1t was warm enough to lie on the
grass as much as one pleased without
catching cold. Day after day the
weather remained steadfast.
Householders, we can reason now,
must have been able to allow their
furnaces to go out and stay out by
April Is at the latest.
AS far back as memory helps US we
can recall that there were no serious
setbacks in the weather situation
then. Flowers were not wheedled by
sunshine into blossoming, and then
suddenly nipped by killing frosts.
Those were Springs that were
Springs, memory tells US.
What have We now?
Spring nowadays is the last word in
fickleness. Woman is fickle," runs
the song. but the first word is in error.
That song always has been a slander
on womankind.
Women are not half as tickle as mon.
If the song said Spring is tickle" it
would be right up to date. Fair Spring
is dtsf1gured by tears, and a. large dis
play of the cold shoulder"
In short, we do not love Spring as
We used to.
x X X X
Spring nowadays means work at its
worst, necessary expense that vet
seems unnecessary. Today we Jump
from Winter right into Summer, with
scarcely real taste Of Sprinetime.
BY work at it's worst" one means
simply running d furnace after that
necessary household duty has begun
to be decided bore.
Warmth in the home is essential
A cold home is worse than no home at
all. Home, Sweet Home" means a
good furnace in the basement OF
plenty of stoves, although the song
didn't go into that detail, of course.
Songs never do.
house with dry feet (basement),
cool head (rooO and the proper bodily
temperature (warmth) is a real home
The householder who values such a
home does not mind running the fur
mace from October to April
That makes seven months. Where
he draws the line is at eight months
of hard labor on a coal pile. May is
the month that breaks the house
Holuci y pdCh- SHONelS, pOkeTS, etc,
weary him immensely.
He tries letting the furnace go out
for day or two. 1t is not SO cold
outdoors, and
II is chilly in the house. He cannot
deny that it Is disagreeable to sit up,
so he goes to bed ito keep warm"
The next day he Sneaks down into
the basement and starts the furnace
80 the children will not catch cold"
Then the weather outside runs up to
SO degrees in the shade. and life in
doors becomes unbearable.
The furnace. with cheerful incon.
gruity refuses to go out. Neither will
it go down. The fire, without recoal.
ing, burns brightly.
VIII it never go OUT
Oh, yes, it will burn itself out-just
as the next cool wave arrives
Thank heavens" you will say. the
darn thing is out at last
Just then voice will float down the
basement stairs
The paper says it will he colder to-
night says the voice. Maybe you
had better keep the fire going"
Evening star., 1925-05-11
Ours, Right or Wrong.
Country Must Not Expose Itself
to Possible Foes.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
My country; may she be ever right,
but my country, right or wrong"
Thus said Stephen Decatur over a
century ago. And who having the
spirit of the true red -blooded Ameri-
can, would not glory in the sentiment
of that gallant warrior of that gal.
liant past?
America, our America, though at
times she seems deserted by those
charged with the duty of protecting
her. shall not suffer for the want Of
manhood to protect her in her times
of peril.
In spite of petty differences. petty
jealousies and divergent policies, those
who live and prosper under her flag
should be willing to defend her from
enemies within and without.
We enjoy the privileges of the in
stitutions that make her great We
are part of that greatness and it is
our duty as citizens to guard the
portals through which must come all
efforts to build or destroy.
The Roman empire-though often
torn apart by internal quarrels and
conflicting policies-did not fail to
unite to man to present solid
front to common enemy.
Likewise If We love our country as
Stephen Decatur must have done, we
will not allow the sordid and disgust
Ing facts that some people preferred
swivel chair patriotism and blood
tainted riches to the glory of true pa.
triotism, and fattened like parasites
on the distress of others, to dim our
patriotism or relax the eternal vigi.
lance which is ours to exercise
Pacifism and the desire to outlaw
war and preparations for war beyond
a certain limit may be all right in a
way, but when carried to the extent
that it weakens and endangers our
defense, thus exposing us to a pos
sible foe, we should call a peremptory
halt.
In weighing the policies of the time.
and the trend of all nations toward q
universal brotherhood of man, we
should halt the efforts of pacif1sts to
belittle and slight our heroes of the
past. What would this nation-re
spected, yet feared-be today if il
were not for such heroes as Washing
ton, John Paul Jones, Capt. Lawrence
and stephen Decatur? They nodded
this Nation with the same firmness by
which they defended it. And all the
combined efforts to belittle or ignore
them cannot detract from the glory
which they so justly deserve.
On the other hand, those who saw
In the late war only an opportunity
to enrichen themselves, and those
who frown on the efforts Of those
early heroes who so nobly defended
this struggling infant Nation in the
pangs of its birth, will go down In
oblivion, unhonored and unsung.
G. GEORGE LEE.
Evening star., 1925-05-11
Sham Battle Critics Assert
Hawaii ''Battle" Teachings Nil

Critics Of sham battles who think
not much of anything is proved by
fleets steaming about and booming
big guns with actual war conditions
lacking were not greatly impressed by
the recent elaborate American war
game around the Hawaiian Islands.
A different view is taken, however, by
many editors discussing the subject.
For instance, the San Antonio Express
believes: "These maneuvers, which are
the most ambitious the United States
ever has undertaken. may result in an
altered defense scheme for the mid
Pacific. Among the changes. doubt
less, there will be a greater depend
ence on air forces, particularly the
cruising planes. which could take the
long flights from such continental
bases as San Francisco" The Santa
Barbara News, nearer the scene of
operations, goes further, with the
statement that inadequate air forces
and failure Of the submarine unaided
by line ships to match the power of
the dreadnaught" are outstanding fea-
lures. I'm the war game" argues the
News, 1.-The lesson is that to meet the
power Of a fleet another fleet is re-
quired. Ship must match ship. Here
is a good argument for the big Navy
men,
The Milwaukee Journal suggests
that there will be some disappoint-
ment that the newer weapons Of war,
the submarine and the airplane, were
not more extensively used The
Journal continues: "They apparently
were played down. 1t was a surface
contest. But even so, one lesson is
clear. The safety of the Pacific coast
lies in the American fleet. however it
is composed, and we must make sure
that nothing can happen to prevent
its appearance in the Pacific, and that
when it does appear 1T shall have a
preponderance OF power"
The war game as a good practice
Of wits, a worthy seasoning of forces.
and a sound test both of mobilization
and discipline is the outstanding fea-
ture for the Fort Wayne Journal
Gazette. But the war game" adds
the Journal-Gazette, cannot repro
duce all possible situations, all phases
of strategy, all tests Of the human
factor. That nation which aspires
to conquest or fears attack can but
develop military efficiency to the high
est attainable point and wait for the
decision of events in the stern issue Of
actual war"
X X X
The value Of the game in it's bearing
upon the future of Hawaii is seen by
the Kansas City Journal: 1.-The enor-
nous sums shot away IN the lombard
Evening star., 1925-05-11

The millions to be expended for de-
fensive construction in Hawaii will
mean great improvement in a ma
terial way, at a sacrifice. possibly. OF
much that was light-hearted and
idyllic in the temperament Of the ma.
tive population. The lessons of civii-
zation grow harder as the course of
study proceeds.
Evening star., 1925-05-11

France is naturally impressed ad-
Germans fell into the old goose step
when demonstrating in honor Of Hin
denburg.
Evening star., 1925-05-11
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Words and Music.

OA No AHu fAuSNs
When Orphean tunes began to play
The trees and stones all moved their
way.
And SO, were I a statesman bold
Who could a melody unfold,
I should not waste my words so wise
When had something to advise,
But should undertake to play
Some subtle and convincing lay.
Evening star., 1925-05-11

Portions Of the dispensing rum fleet
off the Atlantic coast are said to be
moving toward Chesapeake Bay. 1t
may be necessary to bring the oyster
navy into renewed activity to rein
force the Coast Guard.
Evening star., 1925-05-11

The new parking regulations have
brought forth the worker who does not
get to the ONCE until after parking
time begins and then leaves his desk
chine.