davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20

! or of being dismayed by an unexpect'
ed wrong note when the Vlohhlst
finger slips
We get all the fun of criticism as
well as the better enjoyment OF who're
hearted appreciation in listening 10
our radio.
This is what gives vaudeville Its
perennial interest Who does not en-
Joy poking fun at the jugglers VINO
open the performa
Our plea to broadcastin stations,
then. is that they mix EN- up
Cut out this craze for standardiza
ton. gentlemen. and surprise us some
evening with the Anglo'Perslans AT
& o'clock, instead of at 10.
We have always wondered why
this fine organization puts up with
this position on the bill, week after
week, year after year.
There are thousands of families that
go to bed at 10 o'clock. and who
would like to hear the musicians
on their magic carpet"
What a kick" such families would
get if they heard the opening mel
ody" some evening at Z o'clock!
Why must the early position be
forever sacred to such subjects as
barn owls, tariff and why the Demo
Gratis think the Republicans are ruin
ing the country?
AS faithful listeners. we would get
quite a thrill out OF the Gypsies or
the Troubadours at s o'clock some
night, instead OF. their 9 o'clock posi-
ton.
Regularity is all right. in railroad
ing-but brosdcasting is something
else again.
Nothing that sta ton WRC has done
in the past years has pleased this
particular fan" more thar it's broad
casting of the Lee House trio three
times a week instead of just once.
We are on record as declaring that,
10 our ear, nothing comes over radio
quite so well as a good trio, piano,
violin and cello.
This is home music Of the best type.
The military band no matter how
fine q band 1t may be. is not home
music--such has been our contention.
1t therefore pleases us to note that
station WRC, which last Summer once
broadcast band every night in the
week, now only uses 2 or 3 hours of
this type of music per week.
Another thing we have noted is
fewer speeches. Our position all along
has been that speeches over radio bore
SO out of 100 listeners.
If they must speak, 10 minutes is
long enough,
Recently we received a letter from
one of the two who do care for them
and we admit the justice of her plea
She is not the least musical she de
clared. and therefore radio is not Civ
ing her what 1t might il there were
more speeches"
So one sees what the stations are
UP against!
Beginning the evenings program at
6 o'clock. instead OF at Z. Is great
improvement. we believe, especially If
it will he coupled with universal jug
CLING of hours"
Such general procedure would put
music in the home AT the average din.
ner hour, and would add the zest of
novelty TO the faithful listeners, those
who listen night after night. who,
after all, are the backbone of the radio
public.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20
Offers Ballot Change
To Speed Up Voting

10 the Editor of The Star:
wish to submit for your considera
uon the following suggestions for an
alleged Improvement in ba lots.
Since the number of candidates on
naiiots n large, especially on primary
nallots, IT is a matter of common
knowledge that much time ia lost hy
voters on election DAYS. This is es.
pecially true of independent voters or
those who vote split tickets, because
or the time consumed in searching
through the numerous names of candi.
oates for those whom they desire to
vote Tor. Many citizens do not vote
because Of this loss of time and the
trouble involved
In order to facilitate the locating
OF names on a ballot and TO speed up
voting, / suggest that an improved
form of ballot be adopted that would
Identify names of candidates by con-
secutive numbers, placed before the
names on the ballot and immediat elv
in front OF the square before the name
of each ca ndidate, thus:
l . John Smith.
u Henry Jones'
q Thomas White
Then the voter could study the list
OF ca Indicates on sample ballots, etc.
before going to the polls and bring
with them memora ndum of the num-
hers assigned to his favorite candi-
dates. and, instead of searching for
the names Of the candidates. all they
need do would be. by means of these
numbers. to quickly locate and mark
the squares following the number of
each of the candidates that he wishes
to vote for
In order to carry out this idea. the
only change necessary to make on the
present form of ballot would be to
print numbers In numerical order in
front of the squares before the names
of each candidate.
Relative to the present so-called
little ballots" letters in alpha betica1
order. instead of a number, could be
used before each square of every
proposition.
1t will be readily seen that the form
of ballot suggested herein will sa We
time of great value both in the mark
Ing and counting of the votes
CHAS. w. WALLER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20
A Building Mora forum.

An eminent leader in the field Of
financing large building operations in
this country sounds note of warn
ing. A half year of breathing spell
must be given 10 allow the big cities
to catch up to the supply of struc-
lures In short. the country is for the
moment overbult. and there is danger
of a serious glut If operations are CON
tinued at the present rate. These
conclusions relate to office buildings,
apartment houses. hotels and apart
naent hotels. During the past five
years the constructions have been at
the rate of more than six billion dol
lars a wear, about one sixth of which
has been in New York City alone.
That pace has been just a bit too
rapid and must be slackened. Yet
this authority who utters the warn
ing does not look for any great fall
ing off In the volume of building in
general in the country during 1927.
More than two billions worth will be
carried over from 1926 and there will
be an unusual amount of public build
ing and public utility construction.
There will be no slackness of con
atruction work in Washington during
1927 or in 1923, or perhaps in any of
several years to come. The public
works Immediately projected will go
forward at a pace never before known
here. 1t will he like the construction
of a new Capital. simultaneously
three. perhaps four. major depart
mental structures are soon to be
begun, with others advancing through
the planning and site selection stage
for early undertaking. In all at least
$50 600, 900 will be expended for Gov
eminent construction alone within a
very few years, and other projects
will perhaps be added to the program
in the course of it's development.
washington is certainly not over
built with regard to Government struc-
lures. 1t has never been adequately
equipped in this respect. There may
be at present close approach to the
raturation point in the field of private
constructions, in hotels and apart
rnents. but the relocation of the Gov
eminent Offices in their new quarters
under the present large program will
sssurediy necessitate some new office
building works to provide convenient
accommodations for those whose bust
ness requires them TO be located near
the points of official activity.
So 1t follows that this city is not
subject to the warning just uttered
a warning, 1t should be noted. that
relates only to portion of the pres
ent year and is intended merely to
safeguard against a congestion that
may cause financial embarrassments.
The country lis growing steadily In
population and its business is grow
ing and its needs are increasing. The
only danger is in too liberal an ad-
vance provision for those needs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20
Reckless Driving.

A rude jolt is given by the Su-
preme Court of the United States to
motorists who still believe that if
they are driving within the speed
limit they cannot be charged with
recklessness. In a recent decision by
the highest judicial body in the United
States the conviction of an Oregon
man is upheld for the killing of
woman with his automobile despite
the fact that he was operating mis-
car within the prescribed speed limit.
The court ruled that due care must
be exercised at all times in the
operation Of an automobile and That
road conditions, weather conditions
and heaviness of traffic must be
taken into account even IL the mo-
torist drives within the speed limit.
This decision is a triumph for the
modern theory of traffic control and
applies equally to the District of
Columbia inasmueh as the reckless
driving regulation here is substan-
TALLY the same as that of Oregon.
There was a time when reckless driV-
ing was not considered in the same
category that 1t is today. The
theory then was that If a motorist
was not exceeding the limit he could
not very well be charged with reck-
Iessness. but as traffic reached a con-
gested stage it became apparent that
this construction Of the law would not
place the proper responsibility in
the increasing number of accidents.
AS sustained by the Supreme
Courts decision the present local
regulation means that while it may
be perfectly safe and legal for mo-
torist to drive at twenty-five miles
an hour on Pennsylvania avenue on
a dry, clear day with a moderate
amount of traffic, this same motorist
would face a reckless driving charge
if he attempted to drive at twenty
two miles an hour on rainy day
in the four thirty rush hour traffic.
The reckless driving regulation Is
eminentiy sound. 1t is one of the
bulwarks Of modern control. mo-
torist must be responsible for his
acts and under the present rule it is
practically impossible for him to
evade responsibility by hiding behind
some other regulation. Driving an
automobile in these days Of heavy
traffic is not childs play; it requires
ability and common sense; and those
who lack these attributes should not
be allowed TO menace the other users
of the streets.
1t will be source of qualification
to the conscientious, law abiding mo
florists of every city in the country
that the Supreme Court has upheld
this vital regulation. 1t means added
protection from street hazards to
Them and to their loved ones. And
il likewise means that the Nation IA
beginning to take cOgnizance of the
frightful toll OF human lives In the
traffic maelstrom to the end that
teeth which bite win be put into all
regulations that are designed to pro
tect the lives of citizens.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20

contract giving away such a large
funds with full knowledge of the pos
sible results OF such an arrangement
is beyond the question, but viewing
the matter from an unprej JUDGED
standpoint it would seem that his
manager was reaping unfair and un-
just profits from the transaction. OF
course, without the admitted aid of
the man who now occupies that rich
ly compensated position, Young might
not have been able to enter the race,
but 1t appears highly improper that
such help should be paid for at the
rate of forty per cent, or ten thousand
dollars out of the twenty-five thousan nd
won by the youth.
Young's manager Is said TO have
been unable to advance the money TO
the Canadian to make the trip in com
fort to California. What possible aid
then could he have rendered to Young
to deserve q PENTHOUSE nd.dollar cut-in
on the prize? Young was undoubted-
~ competent swimmer before he
reached the West. He had the STAN
ina and the courage to make the trip
under disheartening circumstances.
And he scored a magnificent victory
over some of the greatest swimmers
OF all time in the twenty-two-mile
grind through the cold waters.
No. forty per cent profit for the
manager of such lad sits i'll with
the millions who have been amazed.
delighted and thrilled by his gallant
Feat Five per cent, perhaps ten. is
all that the manager should ask and
all that he should be given. Any
other arrangement, under the cirCum-
stances as the public knows them, is
unjust and should be speedily re-
scinded.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20
THIS AND THAT


Variety, the mainstsy of vaudeville.
ought to serve a like purpose in radio
broadcasting, yet such is not com
monty the case.
Stations are coming to such a uni
formity OF programs that the element
of novelty. always powerful one
with humanity, is almost utterly lack
ing.
One may turn on his set at GER
tain hour on a certain evening OF the
week and know without looking at
a printed program just what he Is
listening to.
Evidently the stations think this
is good thing, but we believe thew
are mistaken.
This standardization has gone so
far that regular weekly features
which appear at certain late hours
are never given an earlier position.
with the result that thousands never
hear them.
In such clocklike regularity of pro
gram, the broadcasting stations are
voluntarily discarding the element of
novelty, and thus depriVing their
listeners of one of the keenest eniov-
ments
The men OF Athens, according to
st. Paul, did nothing but hear or
listen to some new thing: and the men
Of all cities in every land since that
day have got some of their keenest
enjoyment out OF the very same ele-
ment in human nature.
All of us enjoy the new. We de-
mand new novels. new songs, new
orga MIA tons, new motion pictures.
new motor cars, new houses. The
world Of T..
found in the men of Athens, has
rather builded upon it.
The result of this movement. apply
ing 1t To radio broadcasting, is that
the element of surprise. one Of the
finest in the art, is being utterly lost
out of it.
An aStute gentleman OF our &C
quaintance, when broadcasting was
begun. declared that 1t would grow
to tremendous proportions. mainly be-
cause il offered what the phonograph
did not-surprise
A record, he declared no matter
how fine n piece of recording it might
be. was the same forever and a day.
After one had listened to 1t many
times he knew every note, every catch
Of breath of the artist
There was never a chance that the
singer would suddenly break down, or
hit the wrong note, or suddenly sur
prise one by an Unexpectedly grand
close.
There was no use for the phono-
graph fan" to hope. as he put on a
record for it's ,299th performance,
that the great soprano would sud
denly develop stage fright
She never did--on the record.
Perfection, then. has it's drawbacks.
Oh. sure!
This very element of uncertainty is
undoubtedly one Of the greatest in
terest makers in radio broadcasting,
and the more of 1t there is, within
certain limits. the better for broad
casting.
In listening to our loud speakers we
feel that a real human being is off
there, singing for us. There Is moth
ing canned about radio
We enjoy the exquisite pleasure of
being pleased by a fine performance,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20
Sun Spot Theory About War
Makes u. S. Editors Skeptical

The theory presented by Prof.
Tchijovsky of the University of Mos
COW before the American Associa ton
| for the Advancement of Science that
sun spots cause wars on the earth
impresses American editors as a freak
iSh notion. with about as much basis
as the lore of d-time astrologers.
In ancient times. states the st.
Paul Pioneer Press, ''aStrologers
taught that the stars affected the
course of human events. We have left
the star theory behind. Perhaps we
shall take up the sun theory and read
the fate of ma iOns in the spots and
foreteH wars and the fall of dynasties
and nations by their number and
who deny the effect of sun spots on
weather will admit this only over their
dead bodies
Ideas about comets in antiquity and
the Middle Ages, when they were re-
garded as of evil omen and were sup
posed to bring with them untold
calamities for the undOing of hui
mans" are recalled by the Sioux Falls
Argus, with the statement that this
belief has been given up, and now. II
we believe that Russian scientist, the
comets" But that paper continues
"As to the moral influence of sun
spots on mankind, the matter has TO
be taken with a grain OF salt OF
course when the sun spots occur
something of Importance may happen
a. the same time in the world. But
to connect sun spots with human
deeds as a law of cause and effect Is
nothing less than q repetition of the
old notions about comets.
1T is we'll to acknowledge the sun
as the mother. not simply OF the
earth but also of those things by
which mankind lives and flOurishes-
the plants that grow, the coal that
supplies the heat and energy. the
water that is evapOrated from the sea,
pours down upon the land and causes
the Water-wheels to run" comedies the
Detroit Free Press. but that it has a
definite psychological effect upon
minds, provoking them to periodical
orgies of slaughter. is quite a different
thing. Nearly every war can be
traced TO comparatively few hot
heads, egoists or ambitious princes.
Surely a sun spot does not exercise
selective power and work upon small
part of population and ignore all
the rest of it.
y y y
mo violent earthly effects of the
maximum phase of sun spots are an
ticipated," according to the Topeka
Daily Capital. since this is In the
familiar order of their cycle of perio-
deity. As the cycle altogether runs IL
wears, some astronomers have sug-
gested that the maximum period of
most numerous spots on the sun.
which Ia about due, Is the result OF
the conjunction of Venus, Jupiter
and the earth. which occurs every
II wears. their combined gravita-
tional pull on the sun drawing
out the gases at a maximum rate.
which may he as good an explanation
as any. Whether a great war on the
earth will break out. as the Russian
professor predicts.--1n the next. two
years Is much more likely to be deter
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20
The Philadelphia Ballot Boxes.

BY virtue of a decision rendered
Tuesday by the State Supreme Court
of Pennsylvania the boxes containing
the ballots cast In the city Of
Philadelphia at the November cleo
ton for United States Senator from
that State have been turned over to
. representative Of the Senate and
are now on their way TO, If they have
not already reached Washington.
There are some 2.0a0 IF these boxes.
ana their transportation and the
examination OF their contents will
be Q heavy task
An eGnrt gas made to prsvenL the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20

mined by how the Locarno. treaties
work, however. than ny what happens
on or in the sun
The San Bernardino Sun admits that
quite an array of the great historic
events of the world in past ages"
which are declared by the modern
prophet to coincide with the ma XII.
mum times Of the various recurrent
spot periods, is presented and il adds
that 1t is quite impressive. IL nobody
cares TO submit an equally impressive
list Of events that occurred AZ times
when the sun spots were at their min
imum. Almost any physical. moral or
mental theory. SAYS the Sun can
he supported by collecting such data
as seem TO support IL and emitting all
the rest Too many of our tenAts
have been founded on that sort nf sup
port, only TO give way in time to the
impact of other facts omitted from
the original proof The professor saws
unusually large spots will bIotch the
sun the next two years. and suggests
another world war or something else
very harmful to mankind. Perhaps IL
will be only another candidate for the
presidency, some malevolent individual
not now exposed"
1T would take considerable proof 10
convince us that sun spots We're re-
sponsible for the world running amuCk
In 1914, and in some respects being
away off on dangerous tangent yet"
asserts the Columbia Record. Every
time we are forced TO look at picture
or the Kaiser we know who caused the
catastrophe. The Little Rock Ar
kansas Democrat offers the comment:
Stripped of its dignity the profess
sofs 'theOry'-we suppose he declares
1t fact-savors of pure hokum. Stu
dents of weather. among the world =
most careful scientists, are far from
being unanimous in believing that
weather conditions on the earth ere
directly related to the frequency of
sun spots. Our theory is that there
may be another big war within two
yeaFs-althouRh IL in very doubtful
but If II does come. IL probably viii
be the result OF the recurrence Of
political liver spots instead OF the
periodicity of sun spots"
Anyway. IL sun spots are responst-
bic for wars. remarks the Port Huron
Times Herald. we don't need to worry
any longer about who is guilty or
starting the last war. The sun is 10
blame. Also we might just az we'll
give up trying TO promote universal
and permanent peace In the world.
But really ii sounds good deal as
though the Soviets were trying To es'
tablish an alibi against the time when
they will attempt To start the world
revolution, OF which they have not
ceased dreaming" The Asbury Park
Press, reviewing the discussion. states: :
Solar storms. made visible to us in
sun spots. are always accompanied by
great outpourings of electrical force
which disturb our compasses and our +
radio and telephone communication
and cause auroras and other phenom-
ena. That may also vitality AFFECT
mems energies and moods, making us
nervous and excitahle and prone To
act on mass impulse. II then be-
comes merely question of cultivat.
ing .caimness- and common asnsa, In.
stead of running xnuciS. 49,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20
DeplOres Infantry
Charge on Stamps

To the Editor of The Star:
A recent issue of a new 2-cent
stamp depicts a charge of infantry
which IL shocking to lovers of peace
by suggesting the horrors of war
1t is inappropriate and out of har.
mony with the spirit of peace, which
the world at large is eagerly seeking.
The writer respectfully suggests
that our great, peace-loving Govern.
ment should avoid giving encourage
ment to scenes of carnage.
LII Il
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20
Some Bird!

A recent dispatch from Three Riv-
erg. p. O.. tells how Eiclide Beauce,
while tin1ber-cruising, was wounded
and attacked by a strange and pug
1lacious bird. According TO the woods
man, It seems to have been a com
bination of archaeological acrobat and
bear-cat, darting down upon him. en-
circIing his neck with it's long legs
and gashing said neck with its claws,
the while pecking at his head with
its beak.
Beauce shouted for assistance, as
indeed he had a right To do; fellow
workmen rushed to his help and
killed the bird. The mans body is
said TO have been covered with
wounds and he himself was almost
exhausted from lack of blood. The
identity Of the attacker could not be
discovered. but the woodsmen be
iieved II to be a member Of some
European species.
Ornithologists have stated that even
migratory bird species stick to their
own continents. The only expla ma
ton possible h that this creature
might be the famous double eagle.
either of the former Russian or the
former Austro- Hungarian empires, lost
sight of for nearly decade past.
No animal with less than two heads.
even the great blue heron of the
North woods, could have done the
dirty work. Of which Beauce and his
companions accuse it. Or, again, It
may have been a Whiffenpoof, a
bird so temperate that the mere sight
Of jolly fellow with too much Cana.
dian home-brew aboard arouses its
most combative instincts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20

Youngster who won the Catalina
Channel swim iS going back to the
home folks, In spite of the temptations
to gilded and prolonged celebration.
He displayed rare courage and intelli-
gence in getting his chance. He dis
plays a tendency to get back to plain
living and avoid wasting It,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20

right to their own government and
their own faiths as against the
aggressions of the barbarian foreign.
ers who sacrificed Chinese babies, -
force opium into the country and re.
fuse independence Of the most popu.
lous republic of the world by Civ
ing the same treaty provisions as
they do other nations. As TO impor-
tation Of arms, their own factories
are turning out hundreds OF machine
guns a week, Gunpowder was in
vented IN Ehins. ......-~... ..---.4--.-.. $500.
lcsnSTtEht. 1n21. hy Paul =. Cciiina.l
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-20

A film comedian worth millions of
dollars may cease to be funny when
divorce lawyers get through with his
affairs. 1t is dangerous for q come
dian to insist on being taken sc
riously.