davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-02-01
Heard and Seen

The cat, Jack Spratt, continue. N
enlist the interest of friends ~ bIs
tribe During the past week re-
ceiVed several more letters concern
ing him and cats in general. From
the number select two for presenta-
tion here
The first is from Mrs w T. r. Of
Greenwich, y. Y. She writes:
Il like your cat tales and hope to
see many more of them
My father loved his cat and after
his death l found this little poetical
tribute to his cat among his papers
and imagine you would enjoy and ap-
preciate it,
Wishing all success to you and
your cat tales" etc
The poem, entitled My Cat and t."
follows:
Just A. dusk al nv chamber door
-Four littie white feet stand on the floor:
-Four little white feet jump to nv knee
And beaming face looks up 10 me
All. full many loves I've known.
But never heart much NV own.
Never q grateful soul like that
And that is the way l love my cat.
Every dav, through storm or shine.
his rsptErous greeting still is mine
Every night on NV knee she lies
Watching my face with her crystal eyes
through fame well earned, or 3 lost renown
whether stocks go up or stocks 20 down
faithful forever, as faith can he,
mat IS the way my cat loves me.
Oh. nv little kitty, the world is round.
In II full many friend I've found
Nhen | was rich they bent the knee
When ] was poor they frowned on me:
But rich or poor you have loved me still:
You shared the good as you shared the i'll:
80 While we live. and when die,
May we be together, my cat and l.
Evening star., 1925-02-01
Farm Relief, or Bunk

1t is announced that the coming
week Is to witness initiation of efforts
to enact into law some Of the recon-
mendations of President Coolidges
agricultural conference. 1t is a rea.
sonable expectation that this will re-
suit in other proposals for farm relief
being brought forward and pressed
for consideration. Against any sincere
efforts along this line there can be no
just complaint. Congress is not bound
to follow the recommendation of the
Presidents commission. and any mem
Der has right to press any measure
he believes for the public good.
But there are certain factors in the
situation which any member OF Con-
gress who honestly desires to legis-
late for the benefit OF agriculture must
take into consideration. The member
who refuses to take these factors into
consideration is animated by some
purpose other than desire to benefit
the farmer. One of these factors is
that in the few legislative days re-
naming before March it will not be
possible to enact any farm legislat ton
to which there is serious and deter
mined opposition. To press for con.
sideration of projects which are seri:
ously and determinedly opposed prob
ably would defeat all farm legislation
at this session.
1t may be there are members of
Congress so committed to the theory
of Government price fixing or other
radical programs that they would
rather have no legislation at all than
the moderate and sound proposals of
the Presidents commission. But If
there be such they are not true
friends of the farmer, because in put
ting forward their unsound proposals
they would merely be making a ges-
ture they would know to be futile.
Unless there is a revolutionary change
in the sentiments of the American
people-and there is not the slightest
evidence that such change is to be
expected-there will not be any arti-
fetal stimulation of farm produce
prices through any buying and selling
agency set up by the Government
and financed by taxpayers money.
Were it possible to get such a meas.
ure through Congress, and then to
pass 1t over the Presidents veto-and
not the first, much less the second,
event is within the range Of possibili-
ties-such a law would remain on the
statute books only until the people
could elect a Congress which would
make it's repeal a first order of bust
ness. And in electing a Congress
which would repeal such a law, the
millions Of Americans whose interest
in agriculture is primarily that Of con.
sumers would be joined by the mil
lions Of farmers who do not ask and
do not want money legislated into
their pockets out Of the pockets Of
their fellow citizens.
All the average American farmer
asks is a fair deal which will give him
fair share of the consumers dollar
The recommendations OF the Presi-
dents commission point the way to
satisfaction of that just demand. Any
proposal to give. the farmer artificial
profits through unfair class legislation
is bunk-and no one knows this bet
ter than the highly intelligent average
American farmer.
Evening star., 1925-02-01
American Opinion and D. C. Rights

American Opinion and D. c. Rights
To an extraordinary degree the peo-
pie of the United States are unaware
of the peculiar political situation of
the residents of the District of Column
bia. They, of course. never see the
District cited in tables of electoral
votes or congressional apportion-
ments, but they do not seem to grasp
the fact generally that the residents
of the National Capital are disfran-
chised Americans, having no voice in
national affairs and no representative
rights in bodies that enact their own
laws. Almost invariably, however,
when the aspiration of the Washing
tonian for national representation is
explained there is an immediate and
hearty response in support and sym
pathy.
Relief from this anomalous condi-
ton of disfranchisement has been
sought by way Of constitutional
amendment empowering Congress to
enact law granting TO the District
representation in House and Senate
and likewise in the electoral college
Such an amendment, If adopted by
two-thirds vote in Congress, would. of
course, require the assent OF three
fourths of the States, as in all other
cases of constitutional change The
citizens of the District, seeking this
means of enfranchisement, have never
FELT doubtful of the approval OF the
State Legislatures. They have been
confidently willing that the PROPOSE
ton should be submitted to the people
through their State representatives,
relying upon the American spirit of
tair play and justice.
Elsewhere in The Star today ap-
pears symposium of opinions by
newspaper editors in 29 states. con-
stituting cross-section of American
sentiment on this subject. The ques-
ton was propounded TO them for dis
cussion without prejudice, and has
been answered freely and with
gratifying degree of understanding OF
the principles involved in the demand
for national representation. The judg-
ment expressed in these communica-
tions is favorable. 1t is the thought
OF most OF these representatives of
public opinion that if the question is
submitted in the form of a proposed
amendment to the Constitution it will
be ratified as measure of justice
end with the expectation OF a prompt
action by Congress in execution Of the
power thus granted.
This expression of sentiment is. of
course, unofficial and incomplete. 1t is
not mandate. No mandate can per-
haps be obtained. The District is not
in a position to submit the question
formally to the people Of the States in
advance of the adoption by Congress
Of the resolution OF amendment They
must wait until by a two-thirds vote
Congress has proposed this constitu-
tional change. Yet this present mani
festation of approval is an encourage
ment, and it is the hope of the people
OF Washington that it will be recog-
niZed and needed by Congress as a
token Of the disapproval by the people
OF this country of the continued denial
of political justice to the disfranchised
Evening star., 1925-02-01
The Child Labor Amendment.

Advocates of the child labor amend
ment to the Constitution are not dis
couraged by the fact that in IS of the
States the Legislatures have refused
ratification. by vote OF either both
houses or one. They declare their pur-
pose to continue the effort to secure
ratification by three.fourths Of the
States, and regard the present mega
tive vote, which just sufices to estop
ratification at once, as a temporary
setback, which will be overcome later.
AS against the 13 States that have
cast negative votes, only three, Ar
kansas, California and Arizona, have
fully ratified, and New Mexico and
Montana have voted affirmatively in
one house each. II this ratio were con-
tinued through the list of States the
amendment would be buried, probably
beyond the hope of eventual ratifica
ton. 1t does not, however, follow that
the proportion will be maintained. 1t
may be that the negative votes have
ell been cast. In any case. consti-
tutional amendment, without time
limit, once submitted to the Legisla-
ture, is never definitely and per-
manently defeated. For any Legisla-
ture may reconsider a negative vote,
whereas an affirmative vote, 1t is held,
IS conclusive and final.
There is no provision in the Consti-
tuition for the withdrawal of an amend
ment from consideration by the Legis-
latures. There is no established time
limit, although suggestions. have been
made in the past for the placing of
such Q limit upon the tendency of all
Evening star., 1925-02-01

In all this discussion of interna-
tional debts It is we'll TO consider the
tax burdens CT the various peoples
involved. The National Industrial
Conference Board OF New York has
figured 1t out that since 1913 taxes
in both the United States and Great
Britain have increased 250 per cent
and those in France 800 per cent.
During the same period the tax bur
den or ratio of taxes to national in
come, has increased so per cent in
the United States, 167 per cent in
Great Britain and only % per cent
In France. Today the tax burden in
the United States is just half that
in Great Britain and about two-thirds
that in France.
The tax conditions prevailing in the
three countries are vastly different.
and this is the explanation of the
strongly contrasting percentages
noted above.
The tax burden falls only upon
those who pay taxes. Where taxable
earnings are distributed among a
great number of people the percent
age of taxes against the individual
is not so heavy. This condition is
true of the United States. In Great
Britain the percentage of tax pay
ers is far below that in this coun-
try. Therefore the rates against
those who do pay taxes in the United
Kingdom is much higher. The gov
ernment. getting nothing from the
poor and the unemployed, has to
soak the rich That is why the
burden here is only half that in
Great Britain.
In France today there are more
taxpayers than at any time in the
history OF the republic, and therefore
the tax burden is more widely dis
tributed. This is due TO the increase
in territory since the war, the in
crease in population brought about by
the addition of Alsace and Lorraine
and also the virtual absence of un-
employment. Strikes and .unemploy-
ment have hit England hardest of all
the countries in the war. National
earnings in France have increased
as rapidly as they have decreased in
Great Britain. The French people
always have detested and resisted
direct taxation. They have not mind
ed taxes on tobacco, matches, sugar
and coffee and other commodities, but
when 1t comes to digging down I'm
the old sock or sabot when the col
lector comes around, they are ready
to talk revolution.
Washington would not be Wash
ington if il were not for the occa-
sional fiurries over the wide publicity
given TO executive" sessions OF the
Senate. Some of the newer Senators
in the National Capital appear to
take these alleged secret sessions
seriously. They ought TO know that
there never was a time when if any
Evening star., 1925-02-01

Publishers and authors claim that
censorship of novels with a view to
excluding immortality would destroy
the freedom of the press. The free
dom. of the press" is phrase frequent
ly called into service by enterprises
having nothing whatever to do with
journalism as it relates to the publica-
ton of the daily news and independ-
ent comment. The actual press" Of
this country has succeeded in so con-
ducting its activities as to create no
reason for restricting its utterance. 1t
has no occasion to make common
cause with every transient effort to
commercialize popular curiosity.
Evening star., 1925-02-01
BY THOMAS n. MARSHALL,
Former Vice PresideRt of the United
States.


Where does business end and spec
ulation begin? What Is the distinc-
ton between speculation and gam
bling? We seem to have a mixed
concept, moral or intellectual. touch
ing these questions. The women of
the congregation play bridge whist
and NAH -jong for money and the
pastor smiles as he mildly reproves
them. But when their husbands sit
down to a game of poker the police
break in the door and hale them to
the station, where they give assumed
names and deposit money, which they
forfeit the next day. If their con-
duct gets back to the church we are
regaled with a fiery sermon on the
evils of gambling.
We are told that old man Pros
perity has taken off his hat and
overcoat and concluded to visit us
for a number of years, perhaps per-
manently make his residence in the
United States. Being an unrecon-
structed Democrat, l shake my head
and wonder why, IL this be true, so
many people are out of work, why
SO many calls for charity. Answer
comes that the poor and lazy always
are with us; that the real mark of
stock market, and that all the fac
tories running all the time, with
everybody buying the products of the
factories, is not the real test. The
barometer which tells the tale, we
are assured, is the rise of stocks upon
the market. Can 1t be doubted, is
asked, that prosperity Is here when
industrials which pay only per cent
dividends are selling above par. and
no one is to be found to answer yea
To my mind the rise in the stock
market may be an evidence of i'm
proving business or only a mani
festation of that great primal in
stinct OF gambling in mankind which
Is not to be destroyed by civiliza-
tion or the strong arm of the law.
When Jacob cut the withes and put
them in the drinking trough of the
cattle of Laban was he doing bust
ness. speculating or gambling? He
accumulated a herd of cattle thereby
and became prosperous. When Ben
jsmin Harrison became Governor of
Indiana Territory and president of
the board of trustees OF Nincennes
University his first official act was
to authorize lottery to raise funds
with which to endow the university.
Since then we have had long hard
night to get rid OF the lottery. OF
course there are millions who do not
play poker or bridge whist, who do
not buy stocks on margins or pools
on horse races, who do not gamble
at all, but what of their abstinence?
is II due to moral sentiment or just
manifestation of cold feet?
Many of the States are greatly ex-
ercised over the sale OF worthless
characterized as the ignorant and the
unwsry. The different States have
enacted blue sky" laws, creating
boards and commissions to fnvesti-
gate the legitimacy of stocks and
bonds offered for sale, to act as sort
OF guardian for the investing public
Copyright. 1925. By 2lst Century Press)
Evening star., 1925-02-01

the market towns. Many farmers put
because they are hard to start and
hard to run and more costly than
horse power. Wagon bodies are put
on runners and hauled to town. The
improved highways which the farm.
ers find so convenient at other sea-
sons Of the year make good shedding
ways in snow season, except in the
States where snowplows are used
promptly and thoroughly, and even
then the sledges are used on the sides
This means that horses must be es.
pecially well shod and smiths are
undoubtedly kept busy calking their
shoes.
Perhaps the abandonment of quan-
tity manufacture of horseshoes by
big corporations will mean that the
smiths will return to the making of
their own shoes. The ring Of the
anvil will be heard again as the
brawny-armed artisans fashion hoof
gear out of straps of metal, Then,
too. there are always the "barnyard
golfers" to be supplied with pitching
shoes. These horseshoe pitchers are
not content with old, worn.out ma.
terial. They must have nicely weight
ed shoes, well balanced for the accu-
rate work of making ringers.
Still, the abandonment of quantity
production by the big mills signifies
a great change. The horseless age
has not come. The horse has re-
tanned his place in the domestic, and
especially the rural, economy. Yet
he is passing. just as the roadside
smithies have passed. Perhaps some
day horseshoes will be preserved as
relics.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

Dog fanciers may think that praise of
the cat a bit too much, but let them re-
call some old favorite pet OF their own,
and then be silent. Cats can and do
manifest affection, although not so uni
versally as the dog
| have known people tremendously at
tached to canary birds or old Poll par
rots. After all, a pet is a pet, IT makes
no difference whether it be dog, cat,
horse or bird
The second letter is from E r S. c.
of this city. and reads
L am very glad that the cat Jack
Spratt. came back. We have been watch
ing the behavior Of that cat through
your stories in The Star for some time,
and his rations of meat. etc.
1T takes me back to the days when
l lived with my father and mother
in little street. Caroline. near Six
teenth and streets. prior TO 1912.
when we were owned by large tom
cat. white with black spot on it's
head, and a black tail
1T would meet me evenings when
L was out, half a block away, and
'yowf TO get In the warm house He
was a great pet, and as my father
fed him with raw meat would make
quite a fuss over him. When my
father died, in 1912. the cat seemed
to miss him; would feed him as my
, father did, but he did not seem TO
be satisfied, and as he was getting
to ripe old age. IA or Is years
gradually got feeble and finally died
that Summer
Our cat had no name; he was
known in the neighborhood as
Croggon's cat; most everyone knew
him from his great size and beauty.
but most OF all from his welcome
howl when he met US, if any of us
were out in the evening
I'VE have never had a cat since;
on our return from Indiana to live,
in 1914. we have had an apartment,
where cats are supposed to he
persona non grata' and certainly
would lead an unhealthy life But
we are still cat lovers. and appreciate
the feelings of another lover OF the
cat.
Keep on with your cat stories,
And pat Jack Spgatt for me-
There you have two good cat pic
lures, one Of a little she cat with
crystal eyes" the other Of Croggon's
cat with it's inky tail and prodigious
yowl of greeting.
And | am reminded, some way OF
Yon Lams famous cat Now Yon
Lam was Chinese laundrymsn in a
small town. He was the only man
of his race within miles. He won
fame during the World War by re-
plying, when some one told him he
could buy Liberty bonds on easy
installments, ME pay cash, alice
same help win war damnee quick
Yon Lam had a tabby cat of which
he was very fond, so much SO that
every time she strayed away he put
the following ad in the paper:
LOST-One girl cat. YON LAM"
c. e. TRACEwELL. -
Evening star., 1925-02-01

Complaints of discrimination against
Washington in the matter OF freight
Discriminating rsses rasd.srtali on the rail, al,
Freight Rates. city have been
voiced for many
years. Fifty years ago. there was no
Interstate Commerce Commission to
regulate the schedule of transporta-
tion charges. and The Star now and
then had occasion to publish matters
pertaining to these charges In The
star OF January 25, 1875, is a letter
from resident of Beltsville, Md.
signing himself Fair Play" as fol-
lows:
AS you were on the lookout for
the interests of the merchants OF
Washington | desire TO awake your
attention to the discriminate against
your city and in favor Of Baltimore
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
FreiEhts from Washington to way
points on the Washington branch are
in some instances fourfoid of those
from Baltimore. As an example, the
freight on q barrel of -four from
Washington to Beltsville is so cents.
the distance 13 miles. The freight
from Baltimore TO Beltsville, 81 miles,
is 25 cents. And so OF other freights
Now, while the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad is asking favorable legis-
lation of Congress, let the merchants
move in this matter and let them
insist that the railroad in question
shall have no favor granted until the
freights shall be so regulated that
Washington shall be at no disadvan-
tageS Many persons along the line of
the Washington branch prefer to deal
with the merchants of Washington
but are unwilling to pay the extra
freishts."
Evening star., 1925-02-01

A hundred ed-million-dollar whisky
merger in London indicates that pro-
hibition is not making the progress
in the British Isles that was expected.
English sentiment will no doubt re-
gard the inauspicious situation as
largely due to the iniquitous tempta-
tons held out by the American boot
logger. In addition to spending most
of the money Uncle Sam is frequently
expected to shoulder the moral re-
sponsibility.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

The nations of the world must get
together, and nothing promotes an un.
derstanding acquaintance better than
an occasional little chat about money
matters.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

1t becomes evident that the sRepub-
lican opinion Of Senator La Toilette is
that he will be lucky to remain a IA
vorite son in Wisconsin without hop
ing to be a prodigal son at the White
House.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

The practice Washington has had
in snow cleaning this Winter should
insure quick and effectual service in
the case Of a 4th of March blizzard
such as would be worth coming miles
to see.
Evening star., 1925-02-01
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
ReplenishInent. .

Replenishment.
There's always more, though sunshine
pales
From shore to shore.
Though for a while the radiance fails,
There's always more.
With Natures gifts unto mankind
It's always so;
New stores of them we're sure to
find
Especially SNOW.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

Being naturally a rover and
cosmopolitan, CASTOR Means may be
able to regard a brief sojourn in
prison as only an incident in a long
and highly eventful journey.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

Fears of famine In Ireland will
bring sympathy far deeper and more
widespread than that aroused by the
hunger strikes undertaken by in
dividuals.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

AN invalid was cured instantly
when a Wild boar dashed into his
bedroom" We've also known. tame
bores that any self-respecting in
valid would recover to escape.-New
Orleans TiAt g. PioAyune.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

signs or the individual who devotes
his services to cleaning the lamps is
to blame At any rate, as these
signs are intended to guide strangers,
comparatively few of whom axe
cockeyed, IT would be well to have
the names of the streets given cor.
rectly and up side up Imagine the
feelings Of stranger. In a hurry,
reading Mass. Ave. NV or 'Penna
Ave. Sc upsidedown."
Evening star., 1925-02-01

In spite of the marvels of modern
mechanical science share OF modern
respect is still In evidence for the man
who invented the snow plow.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

Scientific descriptions OF what an
other war would be like are vivid. A
little imagination should enable the
world to decide uncompromisingl on
peace.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

Several gentlemen who left the G.
o. P. did not realize that they were
travelling a strictly one-way thorough
fare.
Evening star., 1925-02-01

Huron Farmers Still Have Beans
Worth a Million" says a Michigan
paper Trifiing, trifling. Any city man
knows that his bean Is worth more
than that.-Cleveland Plain Dealer,
Evening star., 1925-02-01

About all that can be said in encour.
agement to Charles r. Forbes Is that
he had a wonderful time while it
lasted.
Evening star., 1925-02-01
Only a Symptom.

Only Symptom.
do you never think of retiring
from off1ce?"
Occasionally" answered Senator
Sorghum. But the thought never has
anything to do with politics. 1t mere
ly indicates that 1 am depressed, and
that it's time to see a DOCTOR
Evening star., 1925-02-01
Rate by MaiI-PayRbIe in Advance.
Marylnnd and HirRinia.
All Other st,te.

Member of the Associated Press.
The Associated Press 10 exclusively entitled
10 the use for republication Of all news dis
patches credited to IL or not otherwise credited
in this paper and also the local news pub
lished herein. All rights of publication of
special d.spa tches herein are also reserved.
Evening star., 1925-02-01
Spirit of the casjon.

"Will you dance with me at the
Charity Ball?'
'Of course" said Miss Cayenne.
Il may as well warn you that am
not very good dancer"
That's quite all right. So far as 1
am concerned. we will consider it a
matter of charity and not Of faith or
hope"