davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1926-03-20
A. Wet-Drv Hearinr.

A subcommittee of the Senate Judi
ciary committee has voted four to
one, to recommend to the fun commit
tee. which will consider the matter on
Monday that public hearings be held
on the various measures now pending
relating to prohibition. 1t is expected
that the full committee will indorse
the suggestion and will proceed with
the hearings. which, it is proposed,
will last twelve days. half of the time
being given to each side.
1t is just as we'll that this procedure
be followed. Recently certain polls
have been taken on the subject of
both modification of the enforcement
act and the prohibition amendment it
self. These polls have indicated a pre-
pOnderant sentiment in favor of both
modification and repeal. Opponents
of prohibition have hailed the So-called
referendum as clear proof of an over
whelming public sentiment against
both the law and the amendment. OPP.
ronents of a change have questioned
the validity and the significance of the
polls on the score that they have not
truly elected public opinion, declar-
ing that such straw votes" fail be.
cause the people with Il grievance are
the ones who vote. and those who are
satisfied do not bother to do SO.
II is noteworthy that notwithstand-
NJ of al
votes in these polls there is no marked
eagerneSS on the part of opponents of
prohibition in Congress to force any
definitive question to a vote in their
behalf. The advocates of modification
and of repeal are moving cautiously.
Hence the proposal for a hearing
which will give both sides an equal
chance to present facts, figures and
opinions which may moderate the dis
position of those who are at present
greatly stimulated by the showing of
the newspaper referendum"
There is no way to determine this
question short of an actual submission
of a concrete proposition to popular
vote, not a volunteer vote through
periodicals. but an official vote at the
polls. Meanwhile, should any question
be submitted TO vote in Congress with
"A direct bearing on enforcement or
prohibition itself members of the two
houses will be guided, not necessarily
by this recent showing, but by their
own judgment of the public mind in
their States and districts.
Evening star., 1926-03-20
Uniform Hand Signals.

A better degree of cooperation with
the police may be expected from the
motorists of Washington when uni.
form hand signals are given through
out the city by crossing officers. At a
meeting last night at the District
Building it was decided by Maj. Hesse
that the arm held aloft hereafter
would mean stop, while a beckoning
movement of the arm would mean go.
Sergeants of police at the meeting
were instructed SO to notify all traf-
fic men.
Undoubtedly much confusion has
prevailed on the part of motorists on
the diversity of signals used by police
men in various sections of the city.
Frequently it has been impossible to
fathom them, and the motorist has
gone ahead on the blind chance that
he guessed right. Uniform signals
will quickly cure this condition, how
ever, and traffic will move smoothly
at policed intersections.
The subject of "hard-boiled" police
men was also discussed, and the ser
geants in attendance were warned
that "blackguardism" in traffic work
is Il thing Of the past. There is Ger
tainly no point in treating a generally
law-abiding citizen as u thug simply
because he may diSobey IL parking
sign, and it is greatly to the credit OF
the department heads and the mer
themselves that the courtesy" policy
IS being accepted throughout the
force.
Washington at one time, unfortu
nately, had several of the hard
boiled" type. but it is a matter o.
great satisfaction to the thousands o.
motorists here that most of then
seem to have either mended thei
ways or retired from the force. Their
is a vast difference between an escap
ing thief and a motorist who violate!
some small traffic regulation, and thi
difference should always be borne ii
mind by the arresting officer. Bette
conditions are bound to be the resul
Of a policy of rigid courtesy and dig
nifty by policemen in dealing with tn
motoring public.
Evening star., 1926-03-20
What Price Drama?

Negotiations are in progress be-
tween the New York theatrical man
ayers and the "Dramatists' Guild"
which it is expected will result in an
agreement for closed shop-that is
to say. a treaty is under negotiation
by the terms of which the managers
will agree that nobody can sell a play
in this country who does not belong
to the orga anization of dramatists, and.
on the other hand, no manager can
buy play from an outsider.
Some years ago Il considerable furry
was caused in theatrical circles. in.
Guiding the outer circles of public pat
ronage, when the actors organized a
union, which was called Equity" in
order to obtain better terms from
Equity is definitely established as
the ruling combination, and woe be-
tide a manager who attempts to pro-
duce a play with outside talent.
Now come the playwrights in union
formation, not in the strictest sense
union, for they have not yet affiliated
with any labor organization, but new
ertheiess IL close corporation seeking
to control royalty rates, movie rights
and other prerogativeS and perqui-
sites. They have enlisted the leading
''dra matiStS,' or, to use more cor.
rectly descriptive word, play writer's
for much that they write is far from
being drama-and so strong have they
become that they are able to dictate
terms to the producers.
The managers themselves had an
organization until a few months ago.
1t was dissolved as a result of dissen-
sion, but spiritually the producers are
still united, and so these present neSo-
tiations are likely to result in a work
ing agreement Already the first phase
of the compact has been accepted, and
henceforth the managers will produce
only plays written by members of the
Guild.
SO the producers, authors, actors.
musicians and mechanical employees
are now organized into lroncldd units,
bound to deal only with one another.
The prospect for real drama is not
bright. There is d further fact to les
sen the likelihood of satisfying dra-
matte product in the near future.
Most of the theaters in New York. and
indeed in other. cities. are under the
control Of a small circle of owners.
Bookings for independent productions
are hard to obtain. What price drama
in America today?
Evening star., 1926-03-20
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

To travel along an alley in one
of the older sections of the city
means to walk between high board
fences, more or leSs--generally the
latter--in need of whitewash.
Our alleys are usually clean, much
care being given them by the Street
Cleaning Department of the District
government.
In some of the newer sections of
the city 1t Is not unusual for home
owners to supplement this care by
getting out with a broom and sweep.
ing the alley much as one does floor.
We know narrow alley, so mar
row, indeed. that an automobile can
scarcely get by. Just how cars man
age to get into garages remains a
mystery, which we intend to solve
some day by taking a post at the foot
of the narrow stretch and waiting
patiently until some one tries it.
1t would seem impossible, but
must be easy, for there are the
garages. and one doesn't build ga
RACES just for show. you know.
In the Summer time this particu-
lar alley is bordered by small pink
flowers. which grow in profusion.
There Is another alley, to be seen
mOmentarily as one rides along in a
car. but which ought to be investi-
gated afoot, if one may judge from
the things seen in the quick glimpse
On one side, for it's entire length
runs d high concrete wall, tinted
pink. On the top is Il small red tile
roof. which runs the whole length
of the wall. The roofing stretches
out over a garden on the other side
of the wall, giving shade and pro-
lection from rain evidently, to those
who might be seated there.
Memories Of pleasant garden par
ties mount to the top of the wall
and stand there crying to specta-
tors. Can you not hear them cry?
x
One of the charms of alleys Is cob
lestones.
The paving stretches from wall Of
house to wall of house. and runs
as far as the eye can see. where a
cross alley enters.
There is a certain picture quality
given by this form Of paving that
concrete will forever lack. One can.
not have everything in this world.
For smoothness, one gives up pic
turesqueness.
In car one is likely to say the
exchange is good one.
Afoot. and searching for pictures.
one may say it was a poor exchange,
indeed.
Here, not far from the Potomac
River. is an alley which reminds one
of Venice. Perhaps it Is the crazy
balcony yonder. attached to the dilapi-
dated frame house, hanging perilouS-
ly out over the narrow way, that gives
this alley it's aspect of interest.
Maybe these houses were built when
George Washington rode this way. in
his great carriage. and have not been
painted since.
In old Georgetown one gets faSci-
mating glimpses up alleys, especially
in Spring and Summer. when old
gardens, for which this section Is IA
nous, set forth their bright arrays.
We will finish our rambles by turn
ing into Estey alley. 90 feet wide.
bordered by low fences of rail and
wire.
This is an alley in the new fashion.
wider, smooth as a street, not hem
med in with walls, lacking some Of
the picture quality, certainly. of the
other alleys we have seen today. but
pleasing to us, nevertheless.
Because that center gate down there
do you see it?-that center gate
leads up q sidewalk to a place called
home.
Evening star., 1926-03-20

Alleys have always fascinated us.
| TO bring back our sense Of the ro-
| mantle, all we have to do is look up
any one of Washington's innumerable
alleys.
There we see all sorts of things. and
are transported instantly to Venice,
London, Vienna and other foreign
cities.
lf this seems to be d great deal to
get out OF simply looking up alleys.
try IT yourself, as you roll around our
great city.
You will discover that a whole new
field for observation is opened UP In
the little cross streets that run from
the sidewalk to the row of back
fences.
Our interest in alleys has nothing in
the world to do with alley dwellers.
rms Is problem which demands spe.
clallzed attention, and our cast Of
mind finds no joy in the solution.
Alleys interest us because they are
picturesque.
TO our way of thinking, the great
crime is to be on.picturesque--
An! there we are, up blind alley
OF thought. out of which we can only
climb by saying something we do not
believe.
AS we refuse to do this, under every
ana any circumstance, we simply back
out. the best we may. by turning our
back upon this mental alley.
This Is one of the finest qualities
or alleys. mental or actual, that no
matter how blind they may be,
whether they end in cul-de.sac or no.
or bring one to halt at the bottom
OF great wall. one may gracefully
back out again.
X 4 *
Not far off Sixteenth street. with it's
flaShlng red. green and amber lights,
at which the traffic halts and moves
dutifully, there is a wonderful alley.
1t Is a long, narrow thoroughfare,
stretching straight back into the In
terror of a deep block. Running, as
it does. from much travelled street,
where once great residences held
sway. but which now Is becoming
distinctly commercial, this alley has
no openings upon it until the cross
alley Is reached.
At the far end stands a great brick
stable. with peaked roof, q bright
weather cock flashing in the sun. The
roof is Of slate There is an air to
the whole that reminds one of d
Along one side stretches a high
brick wall.
To walk up this alley would place
one almost at the mercy Of automo-
bileS that might turn into it. for it
is very narrow.
1t is not the most welcome eX.
perience in the world to be walking
down an alley and suddenly be con.
fronted by IA plungIng team of horses
litched to a truck, or to meet, for that
| matter. some monster of a motor ve-
hicle. taking up most of the roadbed.
This Is the adventure of the alley
An alley seems to call for ad-
venture. Because they remind one Of
narrow streets of Old World towns;
they speak more of adventure than
our busy streets.
Almost anything might happen up
an alley-and usually does.
How those guardians of the ad-
venturous, the small boys, delight in
alleys, to be sure,
The boy who has not belonged to
some sort of gang" and never sped
! along an alley. either in pursuit of
| Indians or at the far end of a chain
| whose other end was an officer of
| the law, has missed something out
| Of life.
Evening star., 1926-03-20
Main Street, Hens Foot Corners.

Washington. the City Beautiful.
Washington. the Nations capital!
Washington. the home town to which
all roads lead! SO be it.
But how can the National Capital,
the mecca of all Americans, become
the City Beautiful by converting one
of its main business thoroughfares
into a veritable "Hogan's alley" or
the inevitable Main street" Of a
frontier town?
The average W'ashirgtonian who
travels beaten path each day and
seldom has time for sightseeing
tour would receive painful shock
If through a break in the ordinary
routine of the day a trip through a
certain upper business section were
necessary. a few blinks and gulps
of surprise in the first reaction to
the scene might reduce the observer
TO d state Of unbelief, or perhaps
the feeling that a subconscious ILL.,
ness was responsible for an halluci-
nation and that the picture was
really a mirage. But, unfortunately.
what the beholder hopes Is really n
contortion of the brain Is an actual
fact. A thoroughfare once OF seemly
appearance and almost wholly resi-
dental in character has in its busi
ness development fallen by the way
side and has deteriorated into the
Main street." or King street." Of
"Podunk," or Hens Foot Corners.
Gone is the dignity, or even a
semblance of dignity, as to building
line. architecture, and even paint.
One-story stores have been erected
on the front lawns of residential
buildings. All shapes and sizes OF
show windows intrude upon the
vision with startling incongruity.
These one-story shops blaze forth
their painted fronts in garish colors.
which, with the general conglomera
ton Of wares.display. adds to the
mixture the final touch OF glory
which marks the small town bazaar
on the day the mail train comes in
And Washington is striving to be-
come the City Beautiful.
Evening star., 1926-03-20

slab. The story that a woman danced
on the tomb is denied.
About two weeks ago ii committee
representing the American Legion
called on the President and asked nm
to support a resolution introduced IN
the House by Representative Furlow
of Minnesota, to the effect that chain
be put around the tomb as barrier
and that military guard be Kept on
duty there. The President was re-
ported as having told the committee
that legislation to give protection to
the tomb was not necessary. as IL was
within his powers to have appropriate
measures taken. The reason for the
Furlow resolution was that it was said
that certain types of visitors at the
tomb so conduct themselves as to give
otfenSe to other visitors and violate
the proprieties of the place.
The information given Assistant
Secretary Mac Nider by Quartermaster
officers who investigated the matter is
that the tomb has never been Clipped
or marked and that no irreverent acts
have been committed there. The re-
port is that a civilian guard of two
men of the cemetery force is on duty
at the tomb from the opening till the
closing of the cemetery gates. When
a large crowd is expected the ceme'
terry guard is strengthened by mill
tary guard from Fort Myer. If the
President favors the posting OF Il MILL
tary guard at the tomb, day and night,
such a guard will be maintained, but
it is agreeable to have official denial
that some visitors at the tomb do not
show respect for the shrine.
Evening star., 1926-03-20
Canals for War and Peace
Involved in Waterway Row

Rival canal routes in both war and
peace have been the subject of much
newspaper comment since Competi-
tion developed to the acute stage be-
tween the all-American project and
the st. Lawrence waterway plan.
The former, advocated by Gov. Smith
of New York. involves the turning
over to the Federal Government of
the Erie Canal in that State. Condi-
tions of both peace and war are con-
sidered in the discussion.
Lakes Erie and Ontario. and Lake
Ontario with the Hudson it is
pointed out by the Detroit News,
would cost S559,O0O. 900. A 25-foot
channel would cost $631 100000. But
25-foot channel down the st. Law
renee would cost far less and the
amount includes the development of
100000 horsepower. The cost of
the all-American canal would be
borne entirely by the United States.
The cost of the ST. Lawrence route
would be divided between the United
States and Canada. The st. Law
renee project would pay for itself.
and would return a perpetual revenue
from the power developed The
Baltimore Sun makes the further COM
ment that rebuilding the Erie would
be a more costly adventure than the
Panama Canal, estimates ranging
from $559. .O0O,O00 to 5000. .000, 900.
There is no trouble" continues the
Sun. "in understanding why New
York would be rid of it, but there are
gift horses which need to be care
fully scrutinized, and this is one of
them."
X X X X
I'm fairness to New York's gov
ernor," remarks the Grand Rapids
Herald, cit should be said that he
| makes no effort to hide the facts of
Erie Canal operation. He wants the
Federal Government to take the canal
| merely as the natural location for the
| all-American deep-water route,
! which he mistakenly seems to think
| the Lake and Midwest States want.
But for whatever purpose the offer
Is made, New York taxpayers sure
enough ought to thank 'Ar if he sue
ceeds In unloading their white ele-
| phant onto Washington, as we'll as
for his attempt To kid the Middle
West into enthusiasm for an unfeasi.
| BILE waterway"
| In reply to these arguments come
the queries from the Albany Evening
News. What do the st. Lawrence
1
want access from the Great Lakes and
the hinterland to the sal. or do they
| object to an all-American route? Whv
do they protest so much because the
Secretary of the Navy anil the Secre
tary of War have written letters cit
| ing that from a military defense stand
point the ship canal should be Withi,
American territory? What is there i'm
proper in these statements of two men
| charged with the defense of the coun
try?"
| v X X i:
The New York Herald-T -TribuA, en-
phasizes the fact that building; for
| the future is the first essential and
offers the judgment: "All other tfAng-
being equal or nearly equal. an all
American Great Lakes-Atlantic caNal
is preferable" The Herald TribuNe
also states that 1.-The st. Lawrence
route is excessively long and terlnk
mates in a high latitude, where fogs
and ice are obstacles to navigation, and
Evening star., 1926-03-20

where only sparse population can be
served
Attention is directed by the Buffalo
Evening News to action begun several
years ago in the Supreme Court "tu
determine where Federal control ends
and State control begins. with particu-
lar reference to the water powers of
boundary streams and IL advises:
THE State should not wait until the
Federal Government has made a COM
mitment with respect to the ST. Law
renee seaway plan before pressing for
a decision" The Chicago Tribune sus.
gests the additional problem of the
possibility of being forced to make
concessions to Canada" and concludes
as to the situation: THE st. Lawrence
route is not the only one available.
though 1T is now generally favored in
this country. The demand of this re
gion for an outlet to the sea will cor
tinue TO gain strength, as it has In
recent years. Our Government may be
forced by public opinion to build the
waterway; and If our Government can
not come to terms with Canada, il
may be forced to build across New
York
Replying to the demand for an all
American waterway "aS q military
precaution." the st. Paul Pioneer
Press insists on three pertinent facts
That the rule of international pro
cedure in the matter of q belligerent
transporting men and munitions
across neutral territory is subject To
exceptions; that the neutrality of
Great Britain and the neutrality of
Canada are not necessarily concur
rent, and that an agreement permit
1a TYyit tot 10 I., Ia.
use the waterway on precisely the
same terms in war and peace could
be concluded between the two cou,l-
tries" The Kalamazoo Gazette CON
dennis the Lingo imagination" and
contends that ''the chief motive In
establishing contact between the Great
Lakes and the Atlantic is commercial
and not military" The Flint Daily
Journal says the New York barge
canal costs the State S10,000,000
wear in excess of income to operate,
and AYERS that "the barge canal Is
inferior in every way to the st. Law
renee route; that it does not permit
The ingress and egress of ocean-golng
ships"
X X X 4
"Why not allow the program to he
decided by strictly commercial con-
siderations?" asks the Des Moines
Tribune. News, while the Chicago Daily
News would leave the matter 20 the
Judgment Of engineers, men If af-
fairs and economists" According to
the Canton Daily News. ''snap tudG-
ment should not be taken.' for, II
argues. 1.-The primary consideration Is
feasibi!itv and usefulne IS. If all other
things are equal and if ship route
is to he constructed, the New YORK
route may be the best.
"A century we have lived in peace
with our neighhors across the lakes,
declares the Milwaukee Journal. ana
sentiment in this country VIII not
hermit us now to provoke competitive
arming by taking over New work $
white elephant for the natlonal ue,
fense'" The Lansing State Journal
suggests: "Let them both be built,
while the Bloomington Pantagraph
sees prospects Of "a bitter fight that
will align East against west.
Evening star., 1926-03-20
The Tomb of the Unknown.

Results Of an investigation Of the
charge that many visitors at Arling-
ton Cemetery do not properly conduct
themselves at the Tomb of the Un-
known Soldier will be communicated
to President Coolidge. The Assistant
Secretary of War. who has supervision
over the cemetery, has been informed
by officers of the Quartermaster
Corps, who made an investigation. that
there is no authenticated case of un-
seemly conduct at the tomb despite
reports to that effect. It is denied
that visitors have spread lunches on
the tomb or have sat on the marble