davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-12-17
The Opportunities.

vearlv the people of Washington
are given Fourteen Opportunities u
bestow charity upon Individual cases
through public subscription. And an
rual,v they accept these Opportunities
in a generous spirit, grateful for tne
chance to administer relief to specliic
moods in addition to their conrrlpu'
tions to the general charity fund. Ihis
wears Offering by the Associated Chaf'
tiles comprises in the fourteen groups
eipbtv.four persons, of whom twenty
+hrea are adults and sixty-one are
children. To meet their wants for the
coming year, to keep these homes III
tact TO sprevent suffering and priVa'
+ior the sum of $15,652 is required. IN
most cases there are children oepeho
ont unon this public benefaction Tor
their support and for the home care
that they should always receive In
some instances the father is III or GRIP
r,ed and unable to work. In some cases
tAa father is dead or has evaded MS
resnonsibilities and the mother Is 'fe
cole yaee-earner. Disease has caused
n,, of these crises in family me-
with their best endeavors the heaos
Of these groups cannot make oo'''
ends meet" They must be heipeo.
Jf these cases are not cared 1ol
f,,l,v bv the Opportunities fund 1t VIII
he necessary to carry them throusi'
tho wear out of the general 1unos'
rhev have been selected as the most
,rortbv There are others quite as ap'
healing, but limit must be drawn on
tho number of these direct-aid IN
stances that are presented for CHRIST
mas-time consideration.
It is inspiring to note that one Oh
the Fourteen Opportunities are imme'
diately subscribed in full, within a 1e"
hours after the public announcement
was made. So there remain only thlr-
teen cases now to be met, ana the
dailv reports show constant response
IN the call. It is desired that every
case be closed by Christmas morning
so that all of these eighty.four people,
Young and old, may on that day be
guaranteed a year of comfort and care
that for another year surely these
homes will be kept intact.
Washington always grasps these
cox,or+,,uitias IT will not fail this
year of great prosperity for all but the
few, and those few will be made happy
by the bounty of their more fortunate
brethren.
Evening star., 1926-12-17
Lincoln's Liquor View.
Speech Said to Show He Was for
Prohibition Law.
r,n tha Editor of 1,ha star

To tbs Editor Of The Star:
The opponents Of prohibition quote
Abraham Ldncoln's WaShingtOnian
address, delivered In Springfield, ILL.,,
in 1912, as a proof that he was Op-
posed to prohibition. In that address
lincoln criticizes those who harshly
denounce the drtnker, but he also
shows that the overthrow OF the
liouor traffic must come through leg
islation dealing with the drink rather
than with the drfnl1er. After his de-
fense Of the drinker. which was In the
earlier part OF that address, he said,
in his closing arguments:
whether or not the world would
be vastly benefited by the total and
final banishment Of all intoxicating
drinks seems to me not now an open
question. In it (the banish-
nlent of drink we shall find a
stronger bondage broken. a viler
slavery nanumitted, a greater tyrant
deposed; in 1t more Of want supplied,
more of disease healed, more Of sor-
row assuaged. BY 1t no orphans
starving, no widows weeping"
Lincoln, with his clear vision, which
made him the prophet which he was,
saw the drinker as a slave and the
drink as his cruel master. He saw
and hated the tyranny and bondage
which drink fastened upon its victim
and boldly and emphatically cham.
pioned it's overthrow.
May I quote again from that same
address? Referring to the Danish.
ment of liquor as a revolution, he
said:
"If the relative grandeur of revolu-
tions shall be estimated by the great
amount of human misery they allevi-
ate and the small amount they infiict
then indeed will this be the grandest
the world shall ever have SEEN"
If words have any meaning, then
these utterances of Lincoln prove be-
yond question that Lincoln believed
i'm prohibition and anticipated fits
achieyement IN America.
mo w IEEDY
Evening star., 1926-12-17
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Spanish cross of military merit in
appreciation Of his services at Madrid.
X X X x
'fBill' Borah's State appears to be
the commonwealth of beautiful sun
sets as we'll as of big potatoes. The
other afternoon. just as the west
ern skies became tinted with red-gold.
q group of press gallery men was
coming back to earth in an elevator
In the Senate wing of the Capitol.
AS they descended a glimpse of one
of Washington's loveliest sunsets was
had, and a scribe remarked there
could be nothing finer anywhere. ex-
cept perhaps in Minnesota, whence
he halls. Guess you've never been
to Idaho" said a handsome youth
who runs that particular "lift." and,
holding that worthy Job, is apparently
q constituent of the chairman Of for
eign relations.
" " n X
Minnesota has become one Of the
most successful States at the Fed.
eral pie counter since Frank Billings
Kellogg became head Of the State
Department on March 4, 1925. The
appointment of Carl T. Schuneman
of st. Paul ais Assistant Secretary OF
major administration plunf to fall the
Gophers' way. The others were the
Secretaryship Of State, the Solicitor
Generalship of the United States,
awarded to William DEWITT Mitchell
in 1925, and the Assistant Secretary
ship Of State, bestowed upon Robert
Il. Olds in October of last year. KEEL
logg, Mitchell, Olds and Schuneman
are all from st. Paul. That may be
because Senator Henrik Shipstead,
Farmer-Labor, is from Minnesota.
X * X k
There are incorrigible wits on Capt.
tol Hill. One of them, who admits he
is, halls from New England. His
latest Quip. Of which fellow Down
easter is the butt, is that his distin-
takes coffee for breakfast for fear
that It Will keep him awake during
the day.
John Barrett Of Vermont, former
director general Of the Pan-American
Union at Washington, thinks the i'm
pending arrival Of Canada's first
Minister to the United States would
pave the way to inclusion Of the Do.
minion in the Pan-American Union.
Barrett put forth that diverting sug-
SeStton, though IL Is not utterly
new, at the recent Pan-American
Commercial Congress i'm New York.
1t is Barrett's view that with Canada
thus affiliated with the United States
and the other 90 republics Of the three
Americas, a league of nations"
would come into being that would
command the worlds respect and be
q mighty power unto itself.
n y y *
Ambassador Houghton's return
from London for Christmas holidays
in the United States has promptly
set in motion at Washington the re-
port, often circulated, that his days
in the diplomatic service ars num-
bered. The State Department lends
no encouragement to the story,
which this time Is adorned with the
supplemental detail that Senator
James w. Wadsworth. Jr., of New
York. who retires from Congress in
March, 1927, bankers to go to the
court of st. James. Wadsworth's
wife is the former Alice Hay. daugh-
ter of John Hay, once American Arm
bassador to Britain.
(Copyright. 1s26D
Evening star., 1926-12-17
The Fall-Doheny Acquittal.

The verdict of acquittal rendered
by the jury in the Fall-Doheny case.
in this city was generally discounted
by public expectation. That was be-
cause, primarily, of the difficulty of
presenting convincing proof inherent
in all charges of conspiracy. 1t was
further because of the feeling that
generally prevailed that the Govern
ment had not established beyond the
reasonable doubt" which is the limit
required by the law the accusation
that the defendants had, in fact,
entered into a guilty bargain for the
award of a valuable contract. So far
as the evidence ran it was shown by
the defense that the initiative for the
transfer of the oil reserves from the
jurisdiction of the Navy to that of
the Department of the Interior was
taken by the naval authorities. 1t
followed that as far as the proof ran
there was at the most only an un-
sought opportunity on the part of
tfAC A5N%ACtciC VI tilC W SlI'
gage in a questionable or improper
arrangement with the oil interests.
1t was shown by testimony that was
not impeached that the initiative
leading to the undertaking Of the con.
tract by the defendant Doheny had
been made by an officer of the Navy
before the case reached the Secretary
of the Interior. Against this situa.
ton, however, there was the unques-
toned and undenied fact of a finan.
cial transaction between the defend
ants, transaction clouded with early
subterfuge and finally admitted falsi-
fication.
After thorough and conspicuously
able presentation by counsel of the
case for and against the defendants,
and in the light of instructions con-
corning the law given clearly and
impartially by an upright judge, the
jury clears the defendants of the
accusation of criminal conspiracy in
the transaction; and the accused are
entitled to the full benefit of this
verdict
of course the verdict in this trial
does not end the case of the Govern
ment against the defendants. Fed
eral courts in California have
declared the leasing contract in
volved in this case to be void because
Of fraud and conspiracy, the same
contract which this verdict of ac-
uslittal declares to be untainted by
criminal conspiracy. The validity of
the contract was not on trial before
this jury, which was charged merely
with declaring whether the relations
between the two defendants consti-
tuted a conspiracy. From the verdict
just rendered there is no appeal.
From the decision setting aside the
contract as invalidated by corruption
an appeal has been taken and is yet
TO be decided by the Supreme Court
of the United States.
Evening star., 1926-12-17
A Deadly Weapon.

A new weapon for warfare has been
discovered by the Fascist Of Italy. 1t
is not a new kind of machine gun,
deadly gas or bomb. 1t is compare.
lively inexpensive, but withal is very
effective in bringing on an immediate
softening Of the brain. In short, it is
the American base ball bat.
When the A. e. r. left Europe to
its own devices after the armistice
and trekked homeward over the broad
Atlantic supplies Of different kinds re.
posed in various continental store.
houses. Among these supplies were
thousands of base ball bats in a ware.
house in Bologna, Italy.
During the outbreak of Fascism the
Black Shirts broke into the building
and Communicated a bat apiece to
help clear the way for Mussolini and
his dictatorship. So immediate were
the results of this wonderful new
weapon and such respect did the .Fas-
cisti, and incidentally the non-Fas-
cisti, conceive for it that a law was
passed prohibiting any but authorized
persons to carry a bat in Bologna.
So, now. the uninitiated visitor to
Bologna may well believe that the
American national game has taken a
firm hold in that town. On every side
he will see Black Shirts carryins
sturdy Louisville Sluggers or Reach
Specials. IL he is fresh from America
he will undoubtedly inquire as to what
teams are to play that particular day
and comment on the enthusiasm OF
the Italians for the game inasmuch
as they will not allow their bats to be
! carried in the regular bat.bag, but
must keep them close at hand. An
American base ball enthusiast who
has brought along a soiled ball for lit
tie Willie might even offer to pitch 9
few strikes to one of these grim
guardians Of the dictator.
AS for the unfortunate recipient.
of blows from these new weapons, 1t
! could be suggested TO them that Amer
t lea likewise manufactures the very
Evening star., 1926-12-17
A New Traffic System

A traffic violation bureau to which
ticketed motorists charged with
minor offenses could go and pay
their fines is proposed by Col. Moller,
assistant traffic director. to relieve
congestion in the traffic court and as
a substitute for the proposed magis-
trate system for Washington. The
operation of the bureau would be
simple and would be patterned after
present practices in Detroit and
Chicago. Upon being arrested for
parking or some other trivial offense
the motorist would be handed a
ticket on the back of which would
be printed the scale of fines for his
particular violation. For parking
overtime and the first offense the fine
would probably be 81 or 50, second
offense S5 and third SO. When the
motorist reached the bureau it would
be optional with him whether to
pay the fine or fight the case in
court. If the penalty is paid, that
- d1l lilGlt ID ~ H. nut IL liS NdnlS
TO take the case further, his trial
will take place in the regular course
II events.
Such a plan would probably work
Well in the National Capital, espe-
cially in view of the crowded court
conditions, which, even with the ad
dition of traffic judges, have not
been materially alleviated 1t would
keep the policemen on the streets
where they belong and would be
especially convenient for the busi-
ness man who does not wish tc
spend morning in court waiting fol
trial on a So charge
II is obvious, however, that care
must be used in selection of the
violations to be treated by the new
bureau. Minor cases alone should
be handled. and no attempt should
bo made TO deal out Justice when 8
seemingly minor case has majol
significance. Parking violations
light violations and others OF tha'
kind can be efficiently and quickly
landed by such a bureau. But of
tenses which endanger human lif,
.ud property cannot properly b'
Evening star., 1926-12-17

best masks, which with small ~altera-
tion could be made to cover the head
completely; the finest shin-guards and
chest protectors and especially heavy
catchers' mitts which would serve to
ward of Babe Ruth swings with the
bludgeon.
If Mussolini should equip all of his
ihen with bats and the opponents
should equip themselves with the rest
of the base ball apparatus. there is
probably not a single American who
would not relish an invitation to this
new kind of world series.
Evening star., 1926-12-17
Mussolini's Bachelor Tax
Stirs American Speculation

Italy's new policy Of taxing bache-
lorS has attracted worldwide atten.
| ton. and the press of this country has
been impelled to speculate as to the
! erect of the unique effort of Premier
Mussolini to insure the continuance
OF Italy as a prolific nation.
| Such tax lis not at all bad
scheme, for bachelor is a sort of
drone in the hive" in the Judgment
of the Detroit News, which recognizes
that modern civilization is based on
| the institution of the family, and his
tory teaches that nations begin to de-
cline when family ties cease to be
respected" Pointing out that even
| beyond the fact that the bachelor does
not have a family, "he is sometimes
found disrupting one" the News con-
t1nues: HE is sometimes a waster.
sometimes loafer, and, being with
out responsibility, he is too often care
less of his political obligations. The
bachelors of Italy will probably howl,
but the plan rests on a solid founda-
ton of reason. 1t is the old fable of
the grasshopper and the ant given q
modern actuality."
1.-THE hopeless bachelor Is theo-
retically a shirk and Stacker" agrees
the Springfield Republican, viewing
the matter from the standpoint Of the
married man. "Selfish and self-cen-
tered, he evades one Of the chief duties
and burdens of life-that of the found.
ing and maintenance of a family.
With the conventional initiative to-
ward marriage wholly on his side of
the sex line, he fails to utilize it. His
married brother meanwhile is sweat
ing to feed and clothe and educate
the rising generation. He can even
be arrested and brought before a
magistrate and punished if he neg
lects his paternal bread.and butter
functions. His wife can sue him. for
support If he fails to provide it for
her. If she obtains a divorce, then
there's alimony to pay. And all the
while the bachelor is putting money
in the bank. If he is of the thrifty
sort, or is spending his income on his
pleasures. The wonder Is that there
are not more cases Of bachelors run
out Of town by the married mems
union"
''What Is sought is not revenue
not that primarily-but fewer bache-
lors," according to the Interpretation
of the Indianapolis News, yet that
paper argues: THE tax would have
to be pretty heavy In order to drive
men into wedlock to escape paying 1t.
1t Is probable. too, that the men so
driven would be pretty poor specimens
of husbands. Such legislation has a
strange way Of avenging itself, and
as a result society suffers in the most
unexpected ways. 1t does not seem
improbable that under q system of tax
coerced marriages there would be a
great increase in the number of di-
vorces. In some cases the marriage
might Stick but certainly not in all. |
Nor should the apparently increasing
unwillingness of women to marry or
their Indifference to marriage be over |
looked by the reformers. Indeed, it |
Is likely that the women in their |
eagerness for equality would claim
the right to be taxed because OF their |
unmarried status If men enjoying-as |
some of them do-that status should |
be taxed. Nussoiini may be making |
a lot OF trHfible for himself.
Ii is admitted by the Waterbury
Evening star., 1926-12-17

I Republican that "the taxing of bachc-
| lors implies q subtle compliment to the
| male SEX; that ut assumes that any
| man who wants to get married can do
So" but that paper offers the uuery
Ought not q bachelor at least to be
allowed to plead exemption to the tax
on the score OF his good intentions
and If the girls who have turned him
down remain single ought not the tax
to fall on them instead? In these
days or equal rights It would seem
only Justice"
Quoting Mussolini's statement thai
the failure to contract matrimony
often does not depend upon the de-
sires of women" the Republican re
marks: No doubt this view will min
lister to the pride of Italian bachelors.
but. still, dashing and fascinating as
they are, there must be many Of them
who are single because they have
wooed in vain"
Also, coming to the defense of tine
men, the Buffalo Evening News as
serts 1T Is not always fair to assume
that all the bachelors are shirkers.
Many OF them have the ready an.
swer." continues the News, that it
Is not their fault that they are unmar
rfed, and that no woman thev have.
approached will have them. This cir
cumstance may perhaps be taken into
account by Mussolini. He may pro.
vide that the bachelor who can pre-
sent documentary evidence each wear
that in the IL months previous he had
proposed to a woman and had been re-
Jected shall be exempt from taxation.
In these days Of the new and emanci.
pated woman there should be consid
cred the question of equality with
men, Why should not the bachelor
maid be taxed?"
A broader view of Mussolini's pur-
pose Is taken by the Manchestei.
Union, with the suggestion: "In hfs
grandiose plans for greater Italy, an
empire vaster than any the old Ro-
mans knew, teeming and perhaps hun
cry millions are an asset and not j
handicap. The imperial vision must
be backed by man power to stand any
chance of becoming reality. And, fur.
ther, now that Fascism has becorne
thoroughly entrenched in power, it's
head doubtless Is of opinion that the
married man will be found more dis
posed than the bachelor to accept the
existing order, more patient under
governmental discipline, less ready
because Of the hostages he has given
to fortune, to risk part in rising or
revolt"
THE doughty premier observes that
ITALY is a prolific nation and intends
to remain prolific says the Pasa-
dena Star-News. Whether or not an
established tax on male celibacy will
accomplish much toward driving men
into matr1mony remains to be seen.
This Is delicate subject to handle.
Such laws have been proposed with
more or less seriousness in some parts
or the United States at one time or
but they have not been taken
seriously, and no serious attempt has
been made at any time to compel men
to marry
The Boston Traveller, however,
points out that there Is a subtle tax
on single-blessedness even in America.
where married folk enjoy certain in
come tax exemptions not allowed TO
those unwed.
Evening star., 1926-12-17
Veteran Asks Passage
Of Bill to Help G. A. r.

To the Editor Of The Star:
notice in President Coolidge's
message to Congress that he states
that "At the last session we in
creased our annual expenditure for
pensions and relief on account OF
the veterans of three wars. do
not favor any further extension OF
our pension system at this time. y
have won dered if he knew,
when he was grudgingly signing the
bill, that on July 8. just SO years
to the day, the boys dying on the
Gettysburg battlefield, who made the
sacfif1ce in saving this Union. and
the survivors, and also those who,
at Vicksburg, were sacrificing their
lives in the same cause, would ap-
prove such a sentiment as he ex'
presses; ! doubt If he was aware
of the coincidence in dates.
At about the same hour and on
the same day, July 8, SO years after,
the left gun Of our Battery, the 18th
Ohio, Gunner Corpl. Belmer fired the
last shot into Vicksburg, before the
white flags were up and Pemberton
surrendered and gave up Vicksburg
the next morning. And the Union
Of States was saved.
The Pension Commissioner In his
report states that 1875 soldiers OF
that war have died during the past
year, and 14.543 widows have died,
making a total Of 34,319 soldiers and
widows who have passed off the roll,
and making a reduction Of $21, 1912
in the expenditures for pensions on
account OF that war. With the in
creased infirmities and age Of the
survivors of that war, the death
rate In the coming year will probably
triple that Of the past year. Why
should this prosperous Nation that
they saved by their services and
hardships deny them a living allow
ance Of It's bountiful funds?
The G. A. r. bill should be IA
vorably and Immediately passed out
of the committees and passed
JAMES NJ. MILLER,
10th Battery.