davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-05-01

is now admitted as beyond question.
Mr.. Hearst and Mayor Hylan have up
to this time taken the aggressive, Mr..
Hearst leading with the threat that
the mayor must run for denomination
even IL it is to be on an Independent
ticket. In a statement issued last
night the mayor is construed to have
tacitly consented to such contingency
by the veiled intimation that the
selection of the next mayor of New
York must be decided at the polls next
November. He would thus seem to
lend himself to the Hearst position
that the contest for that Office goes be-
yond a struggle for the nomination
and must be carried to the last
analysis, settlement at the polls on
election day.
The mayor and Mr.. Hearst have de-
clared the issue of the coming con-
test to be the continuance of the scent
railroad fare and improvement at the
same time OF transportation facilities.
This Is an attractive program and
likely to command public support.
Tammany's concern in the develop
ments is over the question not so much
of who is to carry the banner in the
mayoralty contest, but whether the
man shall be nominated who can be
sure Of carrying the city. Tammany
has not yet decided as to whether that
man is Mayor Hylan or not. The crux
of Gov. Smiths interest in the situa-
tion is his contention that Mayor Hy.
Ian is not that man, and that the COM
bination between Hylan and Hearst
would spell Democratic defeat at the
polls.
So these be perilous times in New
York politics. The next move expect
ed by Democratic political circles will
be abandonment by Gov. Smith of his
present plan of fighting under cover
and a public statement by him of his
demand for Mayor Hylan's elimina-
ton.
Evening star., 1925-05-01
Tammany's Entanglements.

Events are occurring so swiftly in
the New York City mayoralty situation
as to keep the politicians busy. They
are attracting the attention of Demo
Gratis outside the metropolis, especial
ly those concerned in national Demo
cratic politics, among whom there. is
no disposition to minimize their i'm
portance This is due to general recog-
milton of their bearing upon the party S
interests in the future. The latest in
cident was the issuance by Mayor
Hylan last night of what is regarded
as a defiance of Gov. Smith, who is
classed as seeking to prevent the re-
nomination of Mayor Hylan and as
sail the combination between that gen.
tleman and William r. Hearst, the
editor-publisher.
The fact that such an alliance exists
Evening star., 1925-05-01
Fire and Public Records.

Last week a fire occurred in Bir-
mingham, Ala, which partially de.
stroyed the city hall of that city.
The loss was heavy in intrinsic
values, and especially in the destruc-
ton of irreplaceable volumes in the
public library, which was housed in
that building. The Birmingham Age
Herald, commenting upon this dis
aster, notes that the city hall has
long been regarded as a firetrap,
adding:
The loss of irreplaceable public rec
ords is the penalty any community
pays for continued neglect of public
fire hazards. Birmingham tempted
fate a little too long. and only by
chance has been spared a heavier
tribute.
It is an extraordinary fact that
public buildings throughout this coun-
try are poorer risks than private
commercial structures. Business cor
porations insure against fire losses
both by securing financial protection
to cover possible damage and by
building substantially. Government
buildings, however, municipal, State
and Federal, are maintained that
could not be insured save at exorbi-
tant premium rates.
In this city priceless records, his
toric documents, irreplaceable files OF
Government procedure are stored in
buildings that are veritable invita-
tions to disaster. Only by amazing
good luck has the United States Gov
ernment escaped fire losses of a Grip
ping character. These are not only
stored files of past transactions, but
are current records of pending pro-
cedures. Work is being transacted in
fimsy, temporary buildings erected
Quoted without the use of documents
that are daily exposed to complete
destruction. Similar conditions pre-
vail in rented buildings, old houses
transformed for public work.
These are not fireproof buildings.
They are not even f1re-resisting. They
cannot be protected" by any system
OF fire prevention or fire checking.
Yet year after year they are main
tained in the face. of this condition,
which is, of course, perfectly well
known to the administrative officials
and even to Congress, and nothing is
done toward their replacement.
The Government cannot insure it.
self against such losses as may at any
time result from fire in one of it's
housings. 1t would have to make
duplicate copies of every paper han
died and keep them in fireproof vaults
at distance from the scene of ad-
ministrative work in order to be safe
from loss involving billions of dol.
lars.
Next Winter perhaps Congress will
vote for comprehensive public build
Ing program in this city to start the
process of protecting the public serv.
ice from the catastrophe OF. fire.
Evening star., 1925-05-01
Anchors AWeigh.

A sight once. common, now rare, and
in few more years to be a memory
only, took place fhe other day, when
out OF New Bedford sailed the whaler
John r. Manda, said to be the sole
remnant of the great whaling fleet
which secured the seven seas, and
whose home was the ancient port at
the mouth of the Acushnet River.
The vessel is not going far; only off
Cape Hatteras,; it is stated, and she
expects to be away only five. or six
months. Her predecessors OF. nearly a
century ago sometimes made voyages
Of that many years, Nevertheless, her
voyage is reminiscent of a glorious
past when Yankee whalenien visited
every navigabfe part of the globe, and
when more whalers put out from New
Bedford than from any other port in
the world. She is said TO carry all
the old-fashioned fishing" equipment,
including old-style hand harpoons. .
Ten thousand men and boys once
gained their livelihood through New
Bedfords whaling industry. Those
who went down to the sea for whales
were acknowledged with justice as
the most hardy group Of white men on
earth. Through tempests, snow, ice
and burning. calms they Piled their
trade, capturing the largest of living
animals, spirally f1ensing off their
layers or fat as one would peel an
orange; never dreaming of starting
the homeward voyage until the last
cask had been filled.
Due to this trade only three Ameri
can ports-New York, Boston and New
Orieans--exceeded this comparatively
small town in departing tonnage in
the xos. In 1S45 New Bedford's ships
brought back 15S.oO0 barrels of sperm
Evening star., 1925-05-01
The Speed of Trucks.

One of the best features of the new
traffic law which becomes effective on
May is the definite limitation on
speed of trucks and the gross load al
lowed over city streets.
Although the regulation under which
Washington is now operating gives
pneumatic tired commercial vehicles
up to 1 ton the same speed limit as
that Of passenger cars, the traffic
authorities in framing the new meas
ure wisely decided that all trucks
should be compelled to adhere strictly
to lower limit.
Under the new regulations no motor
truck equipped with solid tires is al
lowed to be driven at speed greater
than Is miles an hour. Pneumatic
tired commercial vehicles, on account
of their greater fiexibility, ease of con-
troll and minimum damage to the
streets are allowed Is miles an hour.
No mention is made of the size of
trucks, as in the old law, SO that all
commercial vehicles, large or small,
must obey the new rule.
Strict speed laws for trucks are not
made necessary by the lack Of manu-
facturers' care in building safety into
their products. The modern truck,
with it's oversize brakes and its ample
allowance for overstrain. is an excep-
tionally safe vehicle, and is one Of the
main factors in the transportation Of
the country. 1t Is, as far as Wash
ington IS concerned at least, the ire.
sponsible and hard boiled type Of
truck driver that makes it nece ssary
to incorporate in the new traffic law a
low speed limit.
1t was only few weeks ago when
historic Sixteenth street was thrilled
by wild race between two 5-ton solid
tired trucks. Running neck-and-neck
through the middle of the street,
sweeping all passenger cars against
the curb, the two drivers yelling and
shouting, it made a spectacle that
should never be permitted under any
law.
1t is to eliminate such happenings
that the new regulation provides strict
limits and heavy fines for non
observance. Under the new traffic
scheme truck drivers. as well as pas
senger car drivers, will be held to
strict accountability for their actions,
and those who do not cooperate will
feel the heavy hand Of the law l.
Evening star., 1925-05-01
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

was prefaced with "a lot Of crazy husi-
ness. including joshing, kidding" of
various members, silly Joking and
various other brands of foolishness.
There was not a man there who,
alone, would not have been heartily
| ashamed to be caught acting and
talking as he was acting and talking.
Yet, en- masse. he would have been
ashamed of acting, talking or singing
| in any other way.
4 * X
These were all Rabbits, IL you
| choose to call them that, or, better, If
| you want to concentrate merely on
the superficial traits of Sinclair
Lewis great character.
To me the best feature about Bah
bitt is something / have never seen
| mentioned in any review. and that Is
| that over and above all the petty
traits of Babbitt there is a great
resldlum OF good, of essential decency.
l defy any one with a grain of Sc
robustness in his nature to read the
book and not have a secret liking for
George F. Babbitt. He has his faults
but, down at bottom, he is a likable
man, good man, in reality, a credit
to America.
All these Rabbits, then-and 1 use
the name as compliment, as you see
at this particular luncheon were un.
willing to be too earnest before their
| fellows.
| So they sugar-coated the report of
| the special committee
When the report was read the diners
settled down to serious attention. The
work done for crippled children was a
| modern business exemplifcation of the
work begun by Jesus nearly 1000
years ago.
Every man there found his heart
touched-but do you imagine a one OF
them permitted his neighbor at table
| to see it?
Not on your sweet life,
AS soon as possible the whole gather.
ing started singing For he's a Jolly
good fellow" with additional verses by
the hose salesman.
y x X x
Apropos of earnestness, that is just
the thing l like about President Cool
idge.
He doesn't make any attempt to be a
good fellow" whatever that is.
lie hasn't the slightest desire In the
world, as far as anybody can see, to
have Bill Smith clap him on the back
as good fellow
Even his official spokesman
wouldn't dare to say that the Presi.
dent is a .''good fellow"
Mr.. Coolidge, evidently, is more In
tent on being regarded as a serious
high-minded President of the United
States than as being hailed as a good
fellow"
He, for one, is not afraid of being
| earnest.
The rest of us might pattern our
selves somewhat after him with i'm
mense benefit to our immortal souls
| One would not advocate, Of course
| earnestness that would rule out fun
laughter, smiles. jollity, happiness.
1t takes a serious man, In the last
analysis, to have the most fun. Be
cause he is not perpetually on the
| Laughing side" he can all the more
appreciate 1t when he gets there.
This is a rule of life that never fails
that too much of anything is bad
Those, therefore, who always find Il
necessary to JOSH" kid and cut
capers. physically and mentally, find
after a while that they cannot be Sc.
rious If they would
To be earnest Is simply to be in tune
with the Creator. / cannot imagine
God, when He created the universe
asking the angles to sing For He's a
| Jolly Good Fellow"
Evening star., 1925-05-01
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

ture the twenty-ninth annual meet
Ing of the American Academy of
Political and Social Science in Phil
adelphia on May Is and Is. Dawes
plan, allied Indebtedness, disarma-
ment, immigration, outlawry OF war.
world peace and foreign investments
are the themes around which debate
Will range. Well known author
tiles will take part in IT. Among
them are DR.. Leo S. Rowe, president
OF the academy; Oscar T. Crosby,
John Hays Hammond. Roland w.
Boyden, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise,
Herbert Adams Gibbons, William
Hard. John H. Clarke, Roland s.
Norris, Henry W. Taft, David Hun
ter Miller. Senator Hiram Bingham.
DR.. James T. Shotwell, Norman Hap
good and Alvin Johnson. On THE
Possibility of Disarmament" Col.
Billy" Mitchell, Admirals Rodgers
and Fiske and DIR. Smiddy, Irish
Minister to the United States. will
be heard from.
DR.. James Brown Scott, who pre-.
sides with genius over the Carnegie
Endowment. for International Peace,
has discovered that the Monroe doc.
trine didn't originate with James Mon
roe at all. It's pristine patentees were
the Kings of Portugal and Spain in
1850, 73 years before the idea occurred
to the fifth President of the United
States. DR.. Scott says.
The doctrine of Monroe, which
has preserved, as we of North
America believe, the independence
of the Americas, was, indeed,
North American in it's form of
statement. . But il was a
native of Brazil, happening then to
be secretary to the King of Portu.
gal, who proposed a treaty that
was concluded between the august
sovereigns of the Iberian Peninsula
and which became responsible for
19 of the existing q American re.
publics. The treaty was the pact
of limitation of conquest between
King John V of Portugal and King
Ferdinand VI of Spain, signed at
Madrid on January 13, 1850. ratified
by Portugal IS days later and by
Spain on February of the same
year.
Informal steps have been taken to
galvanize with fresh life the National
Civil Service Reform League of the
united States. The prime mover is
the president of the league, Robert
Catherwood. The purpose of the reor-
sdillDeu enterprise would De TO take
q Hvelier interest in civil service
problems. These have grown with the
growth of the Government, and out
strip in both volume and Importance
the issues in the mind of the original
and famous civil service reformer,
William Dudley Foulke of Indiana.
There is reason to believe that the
Government departments welcome,
rather than resent, such counsel and
cooperation as the Civil Service Re
form League projects. Amid the ira
vail and anxiety within the service,
due to the administration economy
program, the league probably will find
itself functioning as a comforter as
well as reformer.
Copyright. 1929
Evening star., 1925-05-01
The Growing Travel Habit.

The rush of travel to Europe has
started. Big steamers are sailing out
of New York with full passenger lists.
1t is reported by a steamship agency
that the bookings for eastward voy-
ages are unusually heavy and that al.
ready intending travellers are finding
difficulty in getting accommodations.
At the same time there are indica.
tions of a record-breaking tide of home
travel this year. Inquiries already
made at the headquarters of the Ma
tional Park Service forecast a great
migration westward.
The Summer travel habit has grown
greatly since the war. Americans are
prone to go far afield for their diver
sions. In former times it was suffi-
cient for a Summer vacationer to go
to a resort" not far distant and to
remain there through the season"
Now distance is sought as we'll as a
complete change of scene.
The motor car has done much to
effect this change. With an individual
means Of transportation capable of
going practically anywhere there is
an incentive to continuous movement
and so grand tours" covering thou
sands of miles are now taken by many
thousands of people. The national
parks afford attractive detectives to
Eastern Americans. being SO located
as to link up in a circuit of continu-
Gus charm and pleasure. ~.
The Summer stay-at-home is some
what of an anomaly in these times.
BY ship, by train, by motor car. the
majority of people are on the move
from the first of May until the end
of October. At the present rate of
ocean travel more and larger ships
are constantly required and as for the
travellers who prefer to keep within
national boundaries, better and wider
roads are becoming a necessity. So
travel is making for material improve
ment as well as for a mental broad
ening and an increase of knowledge.
Evening star., 1925-05-01
Ship Captain Defended.
Saving of Lives of Raifuku Maru
Crew Held Impossible.
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor of The Star:
The responsibility OF a shipmaster
at such time as the recent sinking
of the Japanese steamer Raifuku
Maru Is tremendous. His first duty
Is to the safety of his ship and the
lives aboard her; the first law of the
sea Is to do all possible toward the
rescue of seamen in distress.
1t requires skill to maneuver a large
ship around a wreck in a gale. A
study of the prevailing sea, as shown
by pictures indicates q condition in
which a lifeboat could not live. 1t is
a difficult feat to get a boat safely
away from a ships side in a moderate
sea. What, then, the chances when
the great liner was taking water
over her lower decks?
But the item should not be over
looked that the lifeboat was rugged
out ready for lowering. That boats
crew was ready in the face of that
sea to lower at the word from the
bridge. The captain had no inten-
ton OF deliberately drowning a boats
crew. He undoubtedly hoped the oil
he had pumped overheard might sub
due the breaking sea and offer
chance. The factors of temperature,
quality of oil or strength of wind were
evidently not conducive to bring the
desired result.
The launching OF life raft has
been advanced as possibility OF
rescue. 1t would of necessity have
drifted down on the weather side
where, the pictures show, it would
have undoubtedly been quickly de-
molished and a seaman on that side
of the ship battered unconscious with
the first wave. To have attempted to
work a raft under the lee of the bow
or stern with a line attached would
have been futile. because the pictures
clearly show the decks impossible and
| the crew was arnidships. Even the
| backwash of the sea on the lee side
| is visible over the weather rail in one
place.
Capt. Roberts is criticized for his
| quick departure. This point has not
been fairly considered. His report
says the Raifuku Maru capsized Cor
| nearly SOD at 11:18 am. If this is so
| then hardly a barnacle could cling
| to the vessels bottom, to say nothing
Of a seaman, and it was then, un-
| doubtedly, that her crew We're thrown
| into the sea. In such broken water
| life could be sustained but a short
| time. AS even a floating man would
| not have a fair chance of keeping
| water from his lungs when attempting
| to get air. The ship sank at l1:5e
am. and the Homeric proceeded al
1908 pm, so 1t will be seen she re-
manned As minutes after the ship cap
sized.
1t now appears that masters under
such circumstances should make g
display of activity purely for pub
| lie effect. regardless of it's hopeless
efficacy.
1t seems incredible, in view of the
| distinction and rewards that come tt
| the master saving life at sea, thai
Capt. Roberts, alive to the traditional
demands, would miss a chance tc
| make a rescue.
GERSHOM BRADFORD.
Evening star., 1925-05-01
Popularity of Ancestors.

A professional genealogist, speaking
at public meeting in Washington
the other day, said that "the majority
Of Americans don't seem to care a
continental whether their ancestors
were kings or horse thieves" She is
also reported as saying: "Only about
one out of seven of the younger gen.
Grafton will send in data requested for
family records or even pay any at
tention to letters. This is a deplora.
bic condition" From so many points
Of the compass comes information
is tempted to feel discouraged. The
charge which this genealogist makes
is surprising to a great many persons.
1t is believed that many Americans
are so interested in their ancestors
that they somewhat exaggerate their
good points and soft pedal on others.
1t is quite widely believed that many
Americans are 80 interested in their
ancestors that they overlook some
trifiing defects in them and dress
them in plush knickerbockers and give
them gilt swords. Could this geneal-
ogist who charges that Americans
lack interest in ancestors go so far
as to say that they lack earnestness
in looking up their coats-o -of-arms?
Have not all those good men and wom-
en- who sailed in the Mayfiower, or
who came to Maryland with Lord
Baltimore been utilized as ancestors
in every practicable way? Have not
many Americans worked their ances-
tors for all they are worth? Can this
discontented .genealogist point to
many persons in our fair region who's 2
paternal ancestor did not come to the
Potomac Valley to take up a 1000
acre grant Of land given him by the
King and to build a mansion of bricks
imported from England? 1t may be
that this fair genealogist knows what
she is talking about, but it surely gives
some persons a shock to be told that
Americans are Indifferent to ancestors.
Evening star., 1925-05-01
Balkan Trouble Laid to Habit
Orto Reds by Different Editors

South Bend Tribune believes Genera
tons of civilization and education
must pass before the danger from con-
f1agration will be eliminated"
The Louisville Courier-Journal. bal
ancing red activities against domestic
agitation, remarks: "It may be desir-
able for the government to make it
appear that this horrible crime is the
work of agents of Russia. All Of
which may be true. 1t is easy, how
ever, to believe that a faction was
guilty, so bitter has been the factional
feeling" The relations between the
reds and the agrarians. also are
mentioned by the Oakland Tribune,
which predicts that After the revo-
luton is over, the communists and
agrarians, working together now, will
have differences Of their own 10 set
tie"
Economic conditions are blamed hy
the Danville Register. Whether Bull
garia viii pass from the stage of do
mestic upheaval to a condition in
which the outside world will be forced
to take notice depends as much as
anything on the outcome of the pres
ent wheat shortage, exaggerated by
overproduction Of tobacco in fields
where grain was formerly grown"
The Albany Evening News feels
crime was carried out by any group
which seeks to obtain control OF the
government, but that it was the act
of criminals.
Blame is definitely placed upon Mos
COW, 1.-The professional mischief max
err by the Pittsburgh Chronicle-Tele-
graph, which sees in the present sit
uation confirmation of the wisdom OF
the American Governments course in
n
Moscow The Baltimore Sun connects
the communists with the Macedonian
revolutionary party, and asserts,
Moscow has hope of Bulgarian sup
port in the event Of reconquest Of Bes-
sarabia from Rumania, a loss to
which the Soviet government has
never been reconciled." The Buffalo
News also thinks the attempt on the
Kings life was quite likely the work
of communists, since assassination is
commonly employed by all political
parties in Bulgaria.
Evening star., 1925-05-01
Star Oratory Contest
Policy Wins High Praise
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Now that the smoke of battle has
cleared away, / am taking this OPP
portunity to write to you to congratu-
late you upon the broad-gauged pol
icy of The Star in fostering the Ma
tional Oratorical Contest in Wash
ington with such profound results.
1t was perhaps the best thing that
could have happened for the contest
that Mr.. Leigh took personal charge
of the local division, as some of the
ideas he has put into the publicity
have had the most gratifying results,
none of which stimulated more gen
eraI interest than the Photographic
campaign. Over at the Musolit Club,
where l get the reflected sentiment of
the most intelligent group of colored
Washington, this connecting photo
graphically of the participants on
dignified and impartial scale aroused
more interest in the affair than any
other single measure of publicity
adopted. At the Armstrong School,
where l was contest manager, the
same reaction was apparent.
/ believe The Star has done much
for Americanism in Washington and
laid the foundation for a keener ap-
probation of the form of government
under which we all live and sub
scribe allegiance. Its ideals, and the
duties and responsibilities ii imposes
upon all citizens. Again congratulat-
Ing YOU and your paper, ! am
GEORGE Fl, MURRAY.