davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-04-22

low the amendment to stand and let
nature take It's course at the polls.
There would seem to be no reason
for the differentiation between bian
nuai and biennial. The Century Die
tionary, which defines the former word
as meaning twice a year, says that 1t
is arbitrarily" distinguished from
biennial" Both sutfixes are from the
Latin "annus,' meaning year In each
case 'bi'' means two. Just how the
distinction came to be made between
the two forms of the suffix Is not
clear, But there stand the dictionary
definitions and there stands the
amendment with its interpretive con-
current resolution, and 1t remains to
be seen what the voters will do about
II and what the courts, If appealed TO-
will conclude. 1t is assuredly the wish
of the Legislature to meet every othef
wear and not to meet twice year.
That is plain. But the case stands az
an illustration Of the need OF scfupu
Ions care in the drafting of laws.
Evening star., 1927-04-22
SHOOTING STARS.
BIZ PHrLANDER JOHNSON.

Crime Wave.
In history we read Of painful ptoltlt's'
or poison, or of daggers sadly used
or traitors in a household VINO are
spotting
! host whose confidence is much
abused.
The medieval gangman had a ralnent
All fanciful and fine but when he'd
frame
A kidnap scheme and make demand
for payment
II was simple crime wave. just
the same
The alcohol contained in bootleg llcker'
A hospitality will oft abuse
The Rorgias fed 'em arsenic-much
quicker
In finishing a guest they sought to
lose.
Fights have occurred since Cam as
saulted Abel,
Or High Olympus guided wars inn
mense.
From far.off days of old. in myth and
fable,
The crime wave has been much IN
evidence.
Evening star., 1927-04-22
Necessary Expenses!

Women of the United States, Ito
nrotect their appearance" during the
next year, will spend twenty-eight
times more than Uncle Sam contem-
mates spending for battleships and
airplanes to protect the national
boundaries, according to speaker at
the Midwest Beauty Show at Chicago.
Men of the United States will re-
snond to this announcement with
three rousing cheers, and an even
more ardent dipping into the sturdy
old pocketbook for the whereWithal 10
set the vomenfolk up for all this
finery.
There are very few men who do not
like TO see their wives and daughters
look well in public. 1t is not for moth
ing that woman has come 10 be ''the
dominant sex" as some of the sophis-
ticated writer's delight in calling her.
Woman holds the keys TO the house
hold finances, and though there may
be a few Yho abuse the privilege. the
very great majority use their buying
power in wise ways, keeping Ameri-
can business wheels turning merr1ly
If she wishes to spend money on
herself. to make herself more beauti-
ful. only few old grouches VIII say
her nav. It Is the duty of every wom-
an to be as pretty as possible. some
cvnics might even declare that one
hundred times as much money as the
battleships would cost would not DC
too much.
TO contrast beauty and battleships'
however is a needless occupation.
perbaus a better way to put 1t would
be that the women of the United
states will spend as much money as
they have to, in order to uphold theT
position as the most beautiful and best
dressed women in the world. Twenty
eight times, or one hundred times as
much. the money will be marked up
to necessary expenses.
Evening star., 1927-04-22
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

for building more. Senator Norris of
Nebraska, and those who share his
views. are renewing their drive for
Government operation of Muscle
Shoals, Boulder Dam and other super
power projects Anent the present
tie-up of the soft coal fields-renewal
of the never-ending controversy be-
tween the coal operators and the
labor unions-Secretary of Labor
Davis is quoted as saying privately
that he is thoroughly disgusted" and
has come reluctantly to the cOnclu.
sion that the only permanent solution
is for the Government to assume op.
Grafton Of the mines.
X 4 x y
Washington observers expect. the
Government ownership question. es-
pecially of hydro.electric power. TO
hold a prominent place in the. cam
paign issues Of 1928. This is particu-
larly likely to be the case il Gov.
Smith Of New York is the Democratic
standard bearer. On this subject there
is a clear-cut issue between the gov
ernor and Mr.. Coolidge. The Presi-
dent is on record as opposed to Gov.
ernment operation of ships, power
plants or coal mines as a permanent
proposition.
X X
The announcement is at hand that
Mr.. McAdoo is to open law offices in
Washington and that he expects
henceforth to spend considerable time
at the Capital His insistence that
no political considerations are attached
to this move is taken with several
grains of salt by Washington obsery-
ers. An accompanying item of inter-
est is the suggestion of Senator Glass
Of Virginia that Washington is the
best place in which to hold the Demo
cratic national convention next year.
Cleveland is Senator Glass second
choice.
x y X X
Ex- Senator James W. Wadsworth
Of New York has laid aside politics
for the time being and is tackling the
job of farmer on his estate in Genesee
Valley The New Yorker has no in
tention, however, of retiring from poll
tics. He is likely to keep a prominent
place in the political picture next year.
He shares the view of President
Nicholas Murray Butler Of Columbia
University on prohibition, but doesn't
subscribe to DR.. Buffers sentiments
regarding a Coolidge third term
Copyright. 1927
Evening star., 1927-04-22
Opposes Restricting
Presidential Terms

TO the Editor of The Star;
The policy Of the makers of the
Constitution of the United states IN
omitting from that device any reIer'
ence to the number ct terms Nficil
any one person might act as Pfesl-
dent was apparently based on the
profolrndest study and wisdom. The
people who have the right to vote
should be left free to make their
choice in respect to the number OF
terms they wish their official e&ecu-
tives to serve.
A stream can rise no higher than
it's source. If the people. who are the
fountain head of our Government,
prostitute or neglect Their duty to
elect worthy candidates for the office
of President or have become so IN
capable of discriminating between a
good and a bad candidate, their yenal-
itv or fncapacity will be reflected in
the sort of President they VIII choose.
From the standpoint that the aver
age American voter is constrained IN
the exercise of the franchise by a Ia.
triotic and honorable impulse, the
proposition Is a simple problem IN hu-
man nature. which is that each indi-
vidual Is inherently inclined to act tor
his own best interest
y L y
with the prospect of reelection for an
indefinite number of terms, offers
hostages to the public for his official
good behavior, as only by the adop-
ton of a popular national policy can
he hope to succeed himself. Hence,
according to the normal tendency of
human thought. he will endeayor,
primarily 10 secure the public favor
through the display Of his public and
individual merit.
If, on the contrary, the incumbent
of the presidential office should be re-
stricted to one term or more definite
terms, his normal incentive would be
to make the most Of his opportunity
while in office to further his personal
interest SO far as he might without
the probability of detec-.on and pun
ishment He would also normally
seek to prolong his influence in public
affairs and his opportunity for per-
sonal profit by endeavoring to further
the election, as his successor, of a
President who would be favorable to
his projects and fame. He could adj
vance the prospects of such success
sion by using his power of official pa
tronage to erect and manipulate po-
litical following which he could con-
troll for use i'm behalf of the success
sor's nomination and election.
Of course. the electing of an honor
able and patriotic President for linn
tied term might occur, as even the
general decay of Imperial Rome was
frightened by the virtue and ability
of a Marcus Aurelius, but we must
confine ourselves in this discussion to
the probabilities derived from ordin-
airy experience, regardless Of sporadic
exceptions.
There are other reasons for this
conviction. but those above submitted
are fundamental and do not need the
support of argument.
In short, the indefinite number of
terms. as at present, is an incentive
to good conduct through the hope OF
reelection as a reward of merit; while
the proposed restriction to one term
would preclude that hope as a re-
straining influence upon the tempta
tions to abuse to which the incumbent
would be exposed
WILLIAM TINDALL.
Evening star., 1927-04-22

taking. At that time he was anxious
to avoid stirring up a row in his party
over the religious issue. It is stretch.
ing the imagination now to credit
Senator Walsh with being willing to
lend himself to q plan which might
aggravate still further the troubles Of
his party,
Mr.. Nicholson speaks for the Middle
West. he says He insists that that
section Of the country has no interest
i'm either Smith or McAdoo The NOM
ination Of Gov. Smith. he says, would
raise both the religious issue and the
would be raked fore and aft. The
nomination of Mr. McAdoo. with en-
forcement Of the Volstead act as his
chief issue. would find McAdoo lead
ing an enfeebled legion to certain
slaughter"
1t is not a bright picture that Mr..
Nicholson paints. But the Democrats
are dealing with condition, not a
theory. The condition must be met
and the situation faced. The North.
ern and Eastern Democrats have drift
ed far from their fellow partisans of
the South and the West. The North
ern and Eastern Democrats are, gen
orally speaking. wet and strongly
Catholic. The Democrats Of the South
and West are dry and anti-Catholic.
With the religious and prohibition
issues forced to the front, Mr.. Mich
olson's appeal is very much like asking
the lion and the lamb to lie down
together in peace.
Evening star., 1927-04-22
The Fury of Nature.

When a furious storm struck Wash
ington yesterday, and with an accom-,
naniment of crashing thunder and
vivid and destructive lightning tho
waters poured in flood upon the city.
the residents of the Capital had a
chance to appreciate the pitiable stu
alton of the thousands Of people in
the lower Mississippi Valley who are
now struggling for their lives as the
Father of Waters RACES in Spring tor
rent. This local visitation was brief
and caused but little damage. Several
trees were blown down. couple Of
houses were hit by the electric dis
charges and slightly damaged some
cellars were inundated to depth of
a few inches. transportation was i'm
ncded and there was bit of personal
discomfort for a little while. Out in
the country there were some losses
from the lightning. grievous to those
who suffered. but not of great extent,
Altogether it was an unpleasant ex-
perience such as has been suffered
often in the past, leaving the city lit
tie worse for the storm.
While this was happening the peo.
pie in the inundated sections of the
lower Mississippi watershed were flee
ing from the floods raised to record
height by the persistent rains of many
days. Some were marooned on islets
Of higher land, some We're on roofs of
endangered buildings. some in trees.
Rescue boats were plying the waters
carrying the beleaguered people to
safety. One of them. bearing eighteen,
is reported to have sunk with all on
board. Great walls of water swept
upon the towns. rushing at high speed
and with tremendous force, sweeping
structures and trees before them.
Those who have not been in these
conditions cannot measure the terror
they cause, the utter helplessness of
the victims There are many dangers.
Of death from drowning or from the
collapse of buildings. death from
starvation or disease. Thousands are
driven far from their homes. their
farms covered. their towns submerged.
They know that when they return
they will find desolation and utter loss.
Many agencies are at work for the
relief of these unfortunate people.
While thousands are laboring to main
tain the levees against the increasing
water pressure. rescuers are plying the
waters to succor those who are iso-
lated by the flood. Food supplies, bed
ding, clothing and shelter are required
in great quantities. No estimate has
been made yet of the total number in
the zone of suffering and danger. but
there must be tens of thousands who
are at this moment in acute distress.
They must be helped. If any human
agency can reach them and meet their
needs it viii be provided Meanwhile,
those who wait for aid and those who
are giving aid are with heart rt-breaking
| intensity watching the skies for signs
Of relief from the downpour that has
caused this terrible situation. The
Spring of 1927 will be memorable as
one Of the most tragic in years.
Evening star., 1927-04-22
Theater Paddock Act Is Seen
As Answer to Great Problem

the Objectionable for entirely CONNER
cial purposes. Art needs wide ranges,
and it should have them. but there
seems to have been great deal of
dirt and very little art connected with
a number of this seasons New York
productions" The Dallas Journal
contends that "the public has been
libeled in the matter all along; that
Its taste for obscenity and indecency
is not normal. but cultivated thing"
On the other hand, the St Paul
Pioneer Press SAYS that "the law vests
the commissioner of licenses with un-
heard-of powers over theaters." and
that 'declaiming about the absurdity
Cf the paddock in liquor cases, New
York triumphantly flourishes the pad
lock IS its neW-fOund weapon against
the theater. New York is perfect"
continues that paper. las a laboratory
for the study of those phenomena Of
social psychology which remain to be
explained"
The Springfield Union thinks "the
paddock bill Furnishes NEST heavily not
actors. authors, producers or man.
ayers, but the owners Of the theater
building. who muy know nothing of
the play. who may have no practical
knowledge of what does and what
doesn't go in the theater. and who
conceivably might not even be resi-
dents of New York"
= X
The Albany Evening News admits
that owners of buildings would suffer
loss Of revenue through no fault OF
their own" but still feels that what
ever may be said I'm objection to the
law, it's effect ought TO be good, and Ii
Is another indication of the public
insistence that the stage be clean"
The indianapolis Star remarks that
the better class of producers and
actors should have no fear of the new
law" and the Santa Barbara Daily
News remarks: 1T is not likely that
many theaters will be closed under
this system. Lesse~s and owners will
see to 1t that plays that are likely to
bring such penalties are barred from
the p'ayhouses."
when the theater owner realizes
that If he stages play which is badly
off color his house will he closed for a
wear and will be dead loss on mis-
hands" according to the Hartford
Times. ''the owner is going to become
a trife more careful about the offer.
ings he permits while the New Or
leans Item e. phasiZes the fact that
the effect Of tho law is to punish the
abuse of liberty where the evidence
is clear to the average opinion of an
average jury Of the time and place
under the forms and safeguards of
law" And the Watertown Daily
Times aIse sees as a result that thea
ter owners will think more than
once. -
This Is drastic law" concludes
the Rochester Times.Union. "bi,t
Broadway brought IL on itself hv
haunting indecencJ for sake OF gain J.
Evening star., 1927-04-22

New York S n7w law providing for a
years closing of Il theater in which
performance has been followed by con-
viction in court for violation of de-
cency is widely accepted as solving a
great problem. The paddock is ap-
proved by many as better than censor.
ship, though some observers suggest
that owners of the property are not
necessarily qualified to determine the
fitness of play and may he unduly
penaliZed as innocent bystanders.
While conceding that 1.-THE best pro-
lection in this regard is good taste
and good sense" on the part Of thea
tergoers themselves the Atlanta Jour
nal points out that "the need Of the
New York statute is TO safeguard
adults of the mental age of 5. espe-
Cially the visiting innocents of Broad
way. There is no gainsaying. how
ever" continues the Journal, "a com
munity's right to redress against open
sewers, nor the right of arts so noble
as the drama and literature TO some
sort of vindication against reechy
charlatans." Citing Canadian and
French talk of protection against
''pornographic publications from the
United States the Atlanta paper calls
it "a rare tribute to the land of the
Pilgrim Fathers"
Whether or not 1t is possible to put
the fear of God into hardfaced pan
ders who have gone into the show
business" according to the Cincinnati
Times-Star, "at least the fear of the
law has been put into them, and that
NAV be enough" The Lincoln Star
believes that padlocking of houses OF
amusement will be far more effec-
tive than when the principle is en-
ployed in closing up New York's wet
parlors," although it explains that
under the broad, general powers OF
the State it is probable that lnJunc~
tion proceedings could have been
brought TO force the closing Of any
production deemed to be detrimental
to public morals"
4
"The important fact" afTirms the
Waterbury Republican, lis that
already good start has been made It
cleaning up New York's dirty stage.
and that the process can be continued
even more effectively with the new
broom if the theatrical producers do
not attend to it themselves" The
Lowell Leader is gratitied to learn
that lit has been possible to get con-
victions, because public sentiment has
been aroused" and says: THAT, after
all, is the most effective means of
dealing with an evil. Without an
aroused public sentiment to back up
the law. padlocking bills and other
legal restrictions will be palliatives
rather than cures"
Nobody outside the ranks of more |
or less nearly fanatical reformers,
suggests the Nashville Banner, wants |
the theater subjected TO any more /
th;Na are absolutely neces |
sary to preclude the presentation OF
Evening star., 1927-04-22

Decadence of the American home
has been deplored, but the real
trouble lies farther back than that.
Dropping Of the home as converse
tional topic has had something TO do
with it.
Men and women love what they talk
about most Love me, love my con.
versationa1 topics might be a new
way to phrase an old saying.
Men, in particular, have abandoned
the home as topic of conversation.
There are undreds of male beings
who scorn subjects relating to the
home.
They are willing to discuss China.
where they have never been, and
about which they know nothing. but
have little to say on the subject Of
which type of furnace is best for a
siX-room home,
They earnestly discuss the merits Of
contending hall teams. but affect TO
froWn upon the theme of the roofing
Of the house in which they live
Can there be any reason for this
attitude except the old one. held b.
many men, that the home and all that
relates thereto, in some mysterious
way. has acquired feminine character
istics?
1t is "unmanly," forsooth, to allow
ones neighbor to see that fellow is
interested in the house in which he
lives. Sitting around the lunch table,
men readily turn to politics, or the
latest play, or almost any subject that
is imperSonal
Let some one mention gardens, or
the necessity for a hedge around n
property, polite listening will take the
place of real interest. Perhaps some
hardy male may venture a few re.
marks upon rose growing.
The table is restless. however, and
at the first opportunity the cou~ersa-
NON will he switched as the popular
phrasing has it. to more congeniaI
topics.
X Y
a cynical person might suggest that
the reason why SO many men seem
unwilling to talk about the home is
that SO many of them have never
experienced one
A "home" is a place of rest and
refuge. not just merely an abiding
place when sleepy or hungry. Chill
dren that are not happy at home. or
who are thrust out of doors at every
possible hour, can hardly be expected
20 grow into men and women who
revere the very name Of this primary
social institution
The real home has q magic quality
which the architect does not include
IN his plans 1t is the atmosphere
which the owner puts into it, 1t is
growth and a development. building
within building.
Those who have experienced the
soothing effects of this magic know
that it has power to heal. At the
office one may be actually III. \
headache, say. will 50 sap energy that
the usual quota Of work cannot be
turned out.
bad cold may leave the worker
IN such a state that he fingers at the
office rather than undertake the
journey home.
When the finally turns into the
home block. however. some Of his old
energy reappears. Once within the
portals of his home he discovers that
he is not so sick, after all
An hour and he is almost well.
This Is the magic of the home, that
no amount of scorning can make as
nothing, because it is positive force
in life. There may be thousands who
do not know it. hut, on the other
hand. there are still other thousands
who do.
Among the latter, everything per-
tanning TO the home is an interesting
topic of conversation.
Here one has the ability to really
Evening star., 1927-04-22
Book on China Clears
Doubt ON Sun Vat Sen
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
In his book, China Revolutionized,"
DR.. John Stuart Thomson gives a very
full life of DR.. Sun Vat Sen, illustrated
with his best portrait and scenes of
his birth and youth. This is authori-
tative and settles the cloud of mis-
statement recently raised. The two
men were intimately associated for
many years in Canton. Hong Kong,
Singapore, London and America, and
Thomson was often Suns mouthpiece
in our press, Sun officially indorsing
his book when made President.
J. r FRFWEIN
Evening star., 1927-04-22
UNITED STATES
In WORLD WAR
Ten Years Ago Today
April. %, 1917.

Ak hfA@ @st lJIas
Growing casualty list among Amer
leans fighting in France with Cana
dian troops Cheering thousands
greet Balfour as all Washington turns
out to welcome British high commits
aoners . Americans leaving Tur-
key Closing Robert College in
Constantinople Draft bill de-
bate begins today = > National pro-
hibition for duration of the war In
dorsed by ministers United
States day" observed In Paris amid
great enthusiasm - Intimated
that United States is planning for
army of 100000 men aAd long-drawn-
out war. -
Evening star., 1927-04-22

Franks played by Father Time are
queer
We love the songs of long ago.
The future may hold very dear,
The songs despised which now we
know.
"A philosopher" said Hi Ho the
sage of Chinatown, lis usually man
who has devoted his life to an effort
to make the best of a bad situation
April Fool day" said Uncle Eben,
"has come and gone. But de foolish.
ness lasts right along through May
an June and clear up through de fol-
lowing March"
Evening star., 1927-04-22
Political Wisdom.

"You have uttered many words Oh
wisdom
Il am sure | have" answered SEN
ator Sorghum. Il have been careful 10
say nothing that / did not find In the
well prepared campaign text book,