davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-12-14
Nine More Shopping Days.

Ten days remain after today before
Christmas, and one of these is Sunday.
That leaves nine days for Christmas
buying. How many people have heed
ed the injunction to do their buying
carr In order to do their mailing
early? Many, doubtless; perhaps most
Of the people. But there remain some
who are still looking about waiting
for inspiration, or perhaps waiting for
bargains. many who from force of
habit postpone their shopping, and
they will be coming along perhaps
this week. perhaps the first of next
week. with their contributions to the
enormous volume of holiday mail, add
ing seriously to the burden Of the
postal clerks.
Some weeks ago the Postmaster
General broadcast d plea to the peo.
pie Of this country to mail early in
order that the postal workers might
have holiday on Christmas. On all
sides his request was approved and
there was evident a very general re-
action of sympathy for the plan. It
remains now to be seen whether the
response was effective. Not until the
oath can this be determined. Specific
admonitions have been issued by the
postmasters with regard to Christmas
cards. which go through the mails by
the million. They should be mailed
before a certain date. Each one of
these requires separate handling.
Though not as bulky as a package,
each card must be distributed" and
delivered. Were it not for the cards
the postal problem would be easy in
solution.
The habit Of early holiday buying
and mailing Is becoming generallJ
fixed, but it can be carried further.
The hope is that this year will find
the postal work all cleaned up before
the close of December "a and the post
office idle on Christmas day as a DEM
onstration that the people can comply
with the very reasonable request Of
the Postmaster General.
Evening star., 1925-12-14
Sir Broderick Defeated.

Efficiency of the United States rum
running blockade is strikingly illus
trated in the dispatch from London
telling Of the appearance in the Bank
ruptcy Court of Sir Broderick Hart
we'll, who set out few years ago to
challenge the liquor laws Of this
country.
Promising investors fifty per cent
profit in sixty days if they would join
with him in shipping huge cargoes of
liquors to the United States, Sir Brod-
erick. for a time. made good on his
contracts and enjoyed much pros
perity.
Recently, however. his scheme has
failed to work. Seizure of a vessel
carrying approximately 10000 cases
OF Hartwell Corporation bonded stock
by United States rum chasers mas
caused him to announce his defeat.
The fate OF Sir Broderick's plan for
quick riches will probably deter others
from trying the same experiment. An
effective blockade Of overseas liquor
shipments will do more than anything
else TO make the United States dry"
not only 1iguratively hut literally.
Evening star., 1925-12-14
Cure Crime Waves by
Rounding Up Suspects

To the Editor OF The Star:
There is one way, and apparently
one only, by which this widespread
banditry can be stopped-that adopt
ed in war times when an alien hostlle
element exists among the popula'
ton, i. E., interning the entire suspect
class. This would require special legls
lation comforting powers upon the po-
lice similar to those given under mar
tiaI law. Through the swift getaway
provided, the crook, plus high-powered
car, situation is one where direct pre-
vention of raids and hold-ups is no
longer possible, or even the apprehen-
sion of their perpetrators. The pollce
cannot be everywhere and at all
times; nor have they the right to use
their weapons save in self-defense or
extreme necessity. Remains only 10
round up these miscreants in advance
and take them into custody or under
surveillance, in effect. what was done
with enemy residents in the allied
countries and our own during the war
They are known, the police finger can
be placed on the thieves, thugs, muir
derers, in our big cities who will be the
doers of tomOrrOw'S crimes or Vio-
lence. There needs but the right to ar
rest on suspicion and before the event.
The constitutional guarantees max
ing necessary the premiliary swear
ing out of warrants have no place
in an emergency of this sort against
men of this type. Why be solicitous
for the liberties of the lawless and
sacrifice those of the law-abiding? A
guerrilla warfare is being waged
against the social order, the safe
guards of society are threatened
Shall we balk at extreme measures
any more than we would in time of
open war? Many as may be the diff
ficulties connected with this mode Of
procedure, they are as nothing COM
pared with the insuperable ones of
any other. A crisis exists akin to that
created in the war by the submarine
calling for preventive and repressive
steps rather than offensive. Indeed,
employed by desperadoes, the automo-
bile might be styled the submarine of
civilization. The executive who pro-
poses and puts through some such
method as this of dealing with the
menace will receive the community
lasting gratitude.
STEPHEN B. STANTON.
Evening star., 1925-12-14

tempt to assume pleasant counte-
nances throughout the long.wirlded
speeches. Not a "side" remark is
heard and the "orator" of the mo-
ment is assured that his message Is at
least being heard by his colleagues.
In the old days it was necessary for
the speaker to shout. He had to over
come not only the length and breadth
Of the huge chamber, but the con-
stant "chattering" Of the assemblage.
Now he can speak in a conversational
voice. knowing that each infection
and each tone will be reproduced with
fidelity to his rigid listeners.
Verify, modern science is producing
a change, even in the lives of the
legislators Of Great Britain. From
this premise, conjecture may be start
ed as to the merits of Vice President
Dawes plan for cloture or a system of
amplification for the best results in
the United States Senate. It is a moot
question.
Evening star., 1925-12-14

new law has entailed further loss
upon the city. The Democrats pro-
test that this is not an adequate ex.
PLANTATION and demand a recount or,
failing that. a repeal Of the constitu
tional provision for State census,
which they claim is unnecessary, in
view Of the Federal census of the
decennial years.
In this connection II is interesting
10 note that although the Federal
tuition of the United States, specifical.
ly for the purpose of apportioning the
members Of the House of Representa-
tives, no reapportionment has been
Though four and a half years have
elapsed since the count no reappor-
tionment law has been enacted, and
Congress is continuing on the basis of
1910. Four presidential elections have
occurred In that period. in 1912, in
1916. in 1920 and in 1924. All of these
have been based on the 1910 census,
the electoral college being apportioned
to the size Of the House of Repre-.
sentativeS.
1t is now proposed to seek the en-
actment of a reapportionment law at
the present session of Congress In sea-
son for the congressional elections
next year and therefore the presi-
dental election of 1928. Some States,
under an apportionment maintaining
the House at it's present size, would
lose membership, while others would
gain. This is a difficult problem. but
It must be met and solved, else the
of proportionate representa-
ton is defeated. AS long as New York
holds to the census as the funda-
mental basis of legislative apportion-
ment certainly the United States
should continue to do so.
Evening star., 1925-12-14
Protests ID. C.. Motor
Lights and Brake Rules

To the Editor of The Star:
/ wish to thank you for the edi-
torials that are appearing in The Star
concerning traffic regulations. Your
editorial on bright lights December
3D. meets my approval. There Is no
sense in using bright lights on we'll
nghted streets. The bright lights or
automobiles on our streets have be-
come an intolerable nuisance. 1t is
particularly bad on rainy or stormy
nights. l have repeatedly seen pc
destrians run down by autos on wet
nights, the excuse being that the
driver could not see the pedestrian
| on account of the bright lights OF au-
tos facing him. 1t is almost impos-
sible to see pedestrians under the
present regulation on rainy nights.
A well known attorney has already
published his views of the headlight
| law from Il legal standpoint. The
brake law is worse than tho head
| light law. Shades of Lycurgus.
Why, with the law schools here turn
ing out lawyers by the thousands, do
| the defenseless people of the District
of Columbia have to have such laws
inflicted on them? No one with an
| iota of legal training would have ever
written such law as this brake law.
To quote: II. Foot brakeS-On a dry,
hard, level road, free from loose ma
teriaI, the foot brake shall be capable
Of stopping the car from speed OF
20 miles per hour within a distance
Of so feet" Do you know or
stretch of so feet of city streets here
that will comply with all these con
dtions? / don't. This is a criminal
law, and according to the practice is
to be construed strictly against the
Government II one were being tried
under this law he could not be legally
convicted unless the prosecution
proved that the brake test was made
on a road OF The character deined.
1t would be necessary, to legally test
brakes under this rule, to CONSTRUCT
an ideal highway of at least so feet
in length; it would have to be dry,
hard, level and free from loose mate
rial throughout the entire SO feet.
If the street on which the brake test
was made was not dry, or not level
that is, tested by spirit leveD, or
uneven or not swept free OF loose
material mo matter how small an
amounU the law would not be COM
piled with.
1 think have said enough to show
how Impractical the law Is. But
may add that ! would not want 10
operate an automobile that would not
stop on applying the pidho toAeoPl
on grades) within d distance OF 20
feet. l think that most autoists
would have an uncomfortable feeling
if their autos would not stop on ap-
plying the brakes at % miles IN a
a distance much less than so feet
| have driven automobiles over the
streets of the District Of Columbia
distances that total over 100000
miles. / think that my experience
should entitle me to say something
II. NJ. ARMSTRONG.
Evening star., 1925-12-14
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC EILLIAM BILE.

In England they say mans made
when Punch lampoens him. Alanson
B. Houghton, American Ambassador
to the court Of St James, has "ar-
rived" A late edition of John Bulls
best stab at literary humor publishes
the following doggerel about the
United States envoy:
The Germans are the guys I dote on"
| Says Mr.. Houghton tsounded Hoton:
Yes, that is how-or rather, no.
de calls himself. so now you know.
| For in his previous situation
He got 10 like that enemy nation
! was conquered by their Teuton tact
And doesn't care who knows the fact.
But he's of Anglo-Saxon stuff.
And. if we treat him well enough
perhaps he'll come-I hope he will
10 Ike US even better still.
X X X
Prince Otto Won Bismarck, grand
son Of the Iron Chancellor, who is
about to leave Washington after all
| eight-week visit to America, will take
| back with him to the Reichstag, OF
which he's a member. a good story
| picked up in our country. Out In.
Chicago, before the war, there was
an immensely popular dining resort
| called the Bismarck. OF course. 1t had
to change It's name. So some wit sug
gested that the name be turned in.
| side out and thoroughly American
| lied by conversion into Mark Twain"
| the syllable bis meaning twice In
Latin. Prince Bismarck, who is IN
his very early sos, wears Harold
| Lloyd spectacles, speaks fluent Amer
| lean English and would otherwise
mt into the Yankee picture if ever
he decided to prefer America to the
land of his distinguished fathers.
| X X
| The two Republican woman mem
oers OF CongresS-Mrs. Julius Kahn
of California and Mrs. John Jacob
Rogers of Massachusetts-will make
their debuts as public speakers In
| Washington on January IS. The oc-
casion will be the women's indus
trial conference called by the Depart
, ment of Labor. In addition to ad.
dressing the conference the Congress
women will broadcast their remarks
by radio. 1t happens that both Mrs.
Kahn and Mrs. Rogers are the WIDOWS
of men who left their impress on
major pieces of national legislation.
julius Kahn's name will forever be
associated with the draft law. John
Jacob Rogers was the architect-in-
chief of the Rogers law by which
| Uncle Sans foreign service was re-
| organized. The women who now sit
in the Kahn and Rogers seats pur-
pose carrying on the traditions of
their husbands In the respective
realms of preparedness and proper
representation of America abroad.
| " N
President Coolidge is said to have an
occasional confidential adviser on -sri-
cultural economics, known in the farm.
| ing world as Gals Man Friday" The
nickname springs from the fact that
the person reputed to be of bucolic
influence at the White House is DR..
David Friday, former president of the
Michigan Agricultural College. Dur
! ing the war DIR. Friday was statisti-
cal adviser to the Treasury and to
the United States Telephone and Tefe-
graph Administration. He is now
professor of political economy at the
New School for Social Research, New
York City. @ -
tCoDyright. IecB.l
Evening star., 1925-12-14
Substitute Teachers
Paw system Is Unjust

} the Editor OF The star.
aaN NIo,nk Cha 10 n0f thu first


"Mephisto-She is not the first.
"Faust-Not the first! Woe! Woe!
BY no human soul Is it conceivable
that more than one human creature
has ever suffered thus"
The pity Of the case mentioned by
recent correspondent in The Star
under Fair Pay for Teachers Who
Hire Substitutes" is not only that
There are Others" but that the COM
munication published in The Star of
December II is, SO far as know. the
first stroke on the part of the public
press to correct by publicity or propa-
ganda a hoary injustice and deeply
intrenched wrong against a class Of
sufferers too proud to beg and too
highly appreciated by the community
to be listed as Opportunities" by AS
sociated Charities.
1t ought to go without saying that
a teacher excluded. through no fault
of her own or desire of her own, on ac-
count of disability incurred in the line
Of duty, should not be required to fill
the vacancy at her own expense. On
the other hand, any willful absence
from duty on the part of any employe
from the highest to the lowest should
| be taxed according to the income of
| that employe. A perfectly simple
proposition, that makes the average
mind wonder at the complicated con-
glomerate to which we are trying to
adjust our intelligence. A few highly
paid substitutes, not enough by a
| tenth to do all or the most necessary
substituting at times Of stress, and
yet severely taxing the ingenuity Of
administrative officers to find some
thing for them to do when the ma
| chinery Is running normally, and then
the double and treble accounting &C.
| cording as the pay must come from
the teachers pocket after she has her
check or be deducted before the check
| Is made out at the District Building
for the old-line or outside substitutes
| who are still necessary as heretofore
A perfect substitute is a moral i'm
possibility; a good substitute is diff.
| cult and requires not only broad prep
aration, but constant refurnishing and
| refurbishing. None should be expected
to work for less than 81. but there
should be a fiat rate for all, because
one link of a chain is as important as
| another. At the same time the larger
appropriation is necessary for all such
cases as was mentioned by your cor.
| respondent of December II, and to it
should be added the surplus from tax.
alton of all unnecessary absence, grad
uA&sA - IN tAxea arA. b. ahllity -
pan ANNA J. COOPER
Evening star., 1925-12-14
Air Board Report Pleases
Many of Differing Views

with the stand taken by Col. Mitchell,
the Sioux City Tribune observes that
ION practically all the outstanding
claims and charges made by Col
Mitchell. the inquiry board held
against him." but on the other hand
the ST. Louis Post Dispatch asserts
that 1T followed Col. Mitchell's criti.
cisms and recommendation in sew.
eral important points"
1t Is also the Judgment of the In
dianapolis Star that the changes
recommended In the report may be re-
garded as real concessions by line off,
GERS, who are slow to recognize the
extent to which the airplane has
altered the character of battle condi.
tions." Similarly the Des Moines
Tribune-News states that mixed with
the. rebukes to Mitchell are a host of
recommendations. all tending to bring
about at least some part Of the re.
forms he has led in fighting for"
Mitchell can afford to regard the
development philosophically," COM
mentS the Detroit News, with the
declaration that the recommends
ton that new cabinet assistants shall
devote all their time to air matters
is a concession by the notably con-
servative Morrow board that aviation
ueSSI YES luOEe OfIlClal attention. AS
the Davenport Democrat sees it: I'm
the end, unless it all comes to mere
words, we should have more intelli-
gent and progressive encouragement
of aviation In both the legislative and
executive departments at Washing.
ton, and If SO. Col. Mitchell can say,
some day: Well, they may claim they
did 1t, but think I stirred them up
to it, after ALL"
x K X x
"a moral victory for Col. MITCHELL
Is claimed by the Lafayette Journal
and Courier, which AYERS cit was diff
cult, but at the same time it was
necessary for the report to save the
faces of a lot of red-taped officers
of much dignity who had been put
in bad through their own stubborn
folly and the outspoken methods of
Col. Mitchell and his many backers.' u
The Rochester Times Union also
points to the fact that the report
urges a larger representation of avi.
alton officers on the general staff of
the Army" and that '1t has been
brought out at the Mitchell hearing
that such representation Is now in.
adequate"
Against these opinions the Rock Is.
land Argus contends that "the report
settles nothing" and that it Simply
proves the autocratic attitude of Off.
cial Washington"
Evening star., 1925-12-14
Census and Representation.

Every ten years midway between
conducts a State census for purposes
OF apportionment. These counts are
provided for by the State constitution
and are conducted by an organization
named by the Legislature. The year
1926 is a State census year, and the
enumeration was made some months
ago. but the results have not yet been
fully announced. The figures have
been given out for some of the up-
State counties, though they have not
been forthcoming regarding the coun-
ties comprising Greater New York. 1t
IS now indicated that the metropolitan
population will be stated at $500, 900,
and this figure has given great um-
bragg to Democratic leaders, who de-
clare that the enumeration is wicked
Republican scheme to cut down the
legislative representation Of Greater
New York relatively to that Of the
rest of the State.
Increases having been noted in the
upper counties, where the Republican
party dominates in the main. the lack
Of proportionate increase in New York
City is flouted as untrue. Has not
New York City grown in proportion
with the rest of the State? it is asked.
The Republican conductors of the cen.
sus point out that there has been a
loss of population from the metro.
politan area into the suburbs and that
the decrease Of immigration under the
Evening star., 1925-12-14

Maj. Gen. Frank W. Coe, chief Of
the United States Coast Artillery,
told the Mitchell court-martial that
10 900 anti-aircraft guns couldn't de-
fend Washington against an attack
from the sky. Well, such an array
of artillery saved London-saved 1t
repeatedly during the World War
This observer lived through countless
days and nights of German air raids
on London. The invaders almost in
variably did damage. Their grand
total of victims, in lives and demolish-
ed houses, was a quite considerable
one before the armistice came. But
London was not destroyed" or even
seriously marred. No building Of con-
sequence was laid low, or even hurt.
Windows were smashed, roofs caved
in, and, on one or two occasions, rows
Of fragile houses were knocked to
pieces. But the gigantic battery OF
anti-aircraft guns that blazed away,
hell-bent for leather, whenever the
magnificentIy and effectually defend.
ed the great city. We took to the
cellars, in accordance with govern
merit orders, but in our refugees we
always felt safe when we heard the
cannon booming in a barrage that
lasted sometimes for the better part
of an hour. Anti-aircraft artillery
was London's sure shield in 1916, 1917
and 1918.
Representative Theodore E. Burton,
Republican, of Ohio. was addressing a
recent meeting of the Woman's Re-
publican Club of the District Of Co.
lumbia. His subject was the "World
- ~
a lady In quest of enlightment on a
point that evidently had long puz-
zled her. mir. Congressman" she
queried, 'is the Pope a member Of
the World Court?" The Cleveland
statesman was able to satisfy the lady
that the Vatican is without represen-
tation in the international tribunal.
Mr.. Burton thought her question
showed that education on what the
World Court really Is could be widen
ed in the country without doing any
harm.
The opponents of agricultural price
fixing legislation in Congress have
coined catchy slogan-"Nary Nc
Haugen bill!" Advocates Of some form
of Government aid to producers of
surplus farm produce retort with a
slogan of their own. They admit 1t
isn't as witty as the foes, but lot
more meaningful. 1t is: Equality for
Agriculture"
X + \ y
Senator Pat Harrison's friends are
busiIy congratulating the Mississippi
scourge on having done a handsome
turn in Gulf real estate speculation
since Congress adjourned last March.
It's understood that the believing bull
of the bayou bailfwick cleaned up
in plutocratic style on Biloxi acre
age deal. No one In Washington,
political friend or foe. begrudges Pat
his prosperity. He has hitherto not
been a man Of means-had, in fact
to add to his official income annually
by chautauqua tours and other speak
ing engagements. Now, he hopes to
indulge in private oratorical flights as
q pastime and not as q necessity.
Harrison Is still baby. He was only
~ In August.
Evening star., 1925-12-14
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHnANDER JOHNSON.
Santa Claus.

Santa Claus.
A tiny youngster shed tear
And for an ample cause
For he had only learned this year
There is no Santa Claus.
"I hoped" he sighed, "I'd find some
way
At last to hug him tight
And kiss him once for every day
That he has made so bright
And then he climbed on Daddy's knee
While smiles shone out anew.
I'm awful glad to know" said he,
THAT Santa Claus is YOU"
Evening star., 1925-12-14
New Era in House of Lords.

Members of the British House OF
Lords have been minding their p's and
q's since tho installation of a new sys-
tenn Of amplihcation in the august
chamber. Until short time ago 1t
was perfectly all right for a bored
member to remark to his next neigh
Dor that the speaker was silly old
fool" or to discuss with him matters
entirely unrelated to the business at
hand, but now, with every whisper
faithfully conveyed to the very cor
ners of the room, a new era has been
inaugurated.
studious attention is given to every
speaker. Members, afraid that the
new machines might even register
tho ezpressions On ehsir taces. a.