davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

completing his second year at Picking.
President Coolidge thinks highly of
his envoy to China. Not long ago an
unofficial observer" who conceded
that he knew all about the Far East,
delivered himself copiously at the
White House. Mr.. Coolidge listened
passively, as is his wont, and then
ended proceedings by saying: do you
know MacMurray? He's a very ex-
cellent man"
William G. McAdoos string of 1928
secOnd-choice presidential candidates
has just been trotted out. George Fort
Milton, Chattanooga editor and chief
scout OF the McAdoo forces, confides
to interested listeners in Washington
the names Of the men who would be
acceptable" to the Californian If the
next Democratic national convention
prefers somebody else. Walsh of Mon.
tana, Meredith of Iowa, Gov. Donahey
or Ohio, Gov. Peay Of Tennessee, Gov
Byrd OF Virginia, Homer s. Cummings
Of Connecticut and Huston Thompson
or Colorado are anointed as eligibles
from the McAdoo-Milton standpoint
They are all drys. Milton disavows
ant1-Smithism, but says he's certain
AIS nomination would split the
sollu South in almost as many direc.
tons as 1t has States, and sink the
Governor OF New York without trace
X * i. X
Final enactment of the rivers and
harbors bill by signature of the Presi.
dent, carrying 12,000,0 900 for improve.
ment OF the Missouri River, recalls
an old-time quip by senatorial critic
OF pork-barrel appropriations. 1.-The
Missouri River" he adumbrated. Twill
never be navigable till they pave itr'
One of the reasons Mr.. Coolidge poised
his pen while before signing the
$7l 100000 rivers and harbors bill was
That Congress voted exactly twice as
much money for the Missouri River
as the Army engineers recommended
The general public isn't aware that
interests in quest of river and harbor
improvements have long maintained a
congress" of their own in Washing.
ton: with offices and an enterprising
stan. In the past unkind members
or the House and Senate have referred
to the National Rivers and Harbors
congress" as an organized lobby. Its
slogan is: Advocates a policy, not
project"
Indiana claims front rank as the
land to which eminent Americans
seem naturally to turn for secretaria]
talent Washington swarms with
Hoosier secretaries in high places
or course, there's Jim Davis. Sec
rotary of Labor, who pretends he's
from Pennsylvania, but who grew up
politically, in Indiana. Everett San
ders, who secretaries President Cool
idge, is from Indiana. SO is e. Ross
BARLEY, who functions in the same
capacity for Vice President Dawes
Even the secretary of the Senate IS
i Hoosier-Edwin p Thayer. Senator
George II. Moses accomplished secre
tary, Mrs. Martha Gold, halls from
the James Whitcomb Riley country
The secretary of the Democratic ma
tlonal committee is Charles A Great
| house of Indianapolis.
| (Copyright. 1927
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Crooked Taximeters.

New York City has inaugurated a
campaign which can be copied with
benefit by every other large com
munity. The opening gun was fired
recently. when detectives swooped
down upon a taxi stand on Seventh
avenue and ordered the seven taxis
and the drivers to the police station.
Measuring Off a space in front Of the
station the drivers were ordered TO
cover the distance with their meters
found that all OF the devices gave
totals averaging forty-five per cent in
excess Of the legal rate, and the Of
tending drivers were held in $500 bail
ton Of the police not only bagged dis
honest operators. but the surprise OF
the coup resulted in a confession by
those accused, who admitted that they
had paid a mechanic so to FIX" their
meters.
Detectives assigned to the campaign
Of elimination OF CROOKED" taximeters
Lave discovered that the inspection ii
chiefly done between seven o'clock IL
the morning and six o'clock at night
Thus the night drivers are relieved o
supervision. This condition is due fo
immediate correction, so that in tn,
future day and night inspection will
be q matter Of routine.
Five or ten years ago, when Their
were few large companies, "gallopinl
meters were more common than the,
are at present. The companies which
now largely dominate the field of pull
lie transportation are unlikely to stoo
10 such practices, but the Independent
driver, who faces the competition q
these organizations, yields to tn
temptation to boost his meager carr
ings by dishonest methods. He the
decides to have his meter fixed" an
the unfortunate patron pays the bill
Another practice sometimes IL
dulged in by both classes of ia,
drivers is to give the customer rid
around" This involves running up
huge bill for a short trip by the simp
\ means Of taking a circuitous route
; the destination. This method is gel
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Fourteen Dead at Crossings.


in Illinois in two grade crossing &C.
cidents! The average is increased by
these two recent tragedies. The
Texas accident, it is stated, occurred
in a rain and there is a suggestion
that the driver of the bus, carrying
twenty-one college athletes, did not
see the train until just before he
reached the track, then tried to
swerve the big vehicle to the side and
was hit slanting blow. In the I'LL
nOis case a man was taking his fam
lily out for the first ride in a newly
acquired machine. Four of the seven
occupants were killed and others may
die In this latter case ineXperience
would appear to have been the cause
OF the collision.
An official of one of the largest rail
way systems In this country recently
stated that these highway accidents"
are increasing in the territory of that
system because of the apparent in
difference of the road users to the
rules of caution. Drivers plunge
their cars through the gates and even
run down the watchmen who are try
ing to signal them to stop for their
own safety.
A few years ago the feeling gen
orally prevailed that the railroad
corporations We're culpable in not
making more rapid advance in the
elimination of grade crossings. Now
the general belief is that the rail
roads are doing as much as they can
he expected to do toward this end,
and that the burden of blame for the
appalling loss of life at the crossings
rests upon the road users themselves.
Every person who drives a motor
car outside of city limits knows that
at certain points there are places Of
danger, where the highways inter
sect the railways at grade. They
know that the trains do not stop be-
fore crossing, and that TO be safe
they themselves must stop and as
sure themselves of security before
proceeding. The crossings are, with
few exceptions, plainly marked by
day and night. In small number of
cases, which are being corrected
rapidly, the crossings are not ade-
quately protected, by gates in the
regions of frequent travel and by
watchmen in other places. Some of
them have no bells or lights. For
the lack of such safeguards the rail.
roads are blameworthy. In the main,
however, the grade crossings are suf.
ficiently marked and guarded to pre-
vent any careful driver from getting
snto danger.
For the inexperienced driver there
can be no other excuse than his fail
ure to acquaint himself with the con
ditions on the roads he uses. For
the experienced driver, who knows
the road and who ventures upon a
railroad track without first assuring
himself that the way is clear, there
IS no possible excuse.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Lost in the Urban Wilds.

A woodsman tried to blaze a trail
through the maze Of the streets of Lit
tie Rock, Ark, by scoring the tele-
graph poles, and on being admonished
by the guardians of the law that such
a procedure was illegal, decided to
quit and go back home, where he
knew his way about. II left alone this
man would probably have been able
to trace a perfectly sure route pro
vided he found enough poles. He
would have been out OF luck. however,
on streets without poles. He would
have been decidedly out of luck in a
city like Washington, where there are
no poles that can be Clipped for trail
marking.
People can get lost in a big town
quite as easily as they can in the
woods, especially If they are not
street-wise. Some folks are just natu-
rally self-losers either in the woods or
in town. Give them verbal direction
about so many blocks straight ahead
and then n turn to right or left for
so many more blocks, and they will get
hopelessly confused and go off in quite
the wrong direction. Names and mum
bers on the street lamps only add tc
their obfuscation. When they ask
questions they are at the mercy OF
their informants, most of whom have
singularly obscure methods OF guild
ance.
Recently in this city a longtime
resident was completely lost one eve
ming in trying TO find his way to {
Awelling on a street named out Of &C
Eord with the alphabetic and numeri
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

wrong directions from persons whom
he met. To the stranger without a
sense of locality and no acquaintance
whatever with the local geography
and a tendency toward confusion,
even Washington, with it's system OF
regularly denominated thoroughfares,
presents a serious problem. The four
quartering plan with its quadrupling
of street names causes most of the
trouble. The star points" caused by
the intersection of avenues and streets
bother even residents.
A city without wooden poles to
blaze would be a terrible place for
backwoodsman. But happily there are
few of the latter, while many of the
former. If the jewellers in the remote
regions come to town their best
course is to put themselves directly in
the hands of the police and let the law
take it's course.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

proved it. II was rejected by man>
States. Others took no action. To he
enacted, the amendment had 10 ~
ratified by three-fourthS Of the -
states. IT is regarded, however. a~
still pending. and is capable Of being
ratified AT any time.
@. Does the Army or Navy taxi
precedence when in the same parade.
N. ID.
A. The Army. being the senior serV
ice. should preCede the Navy in all
ceremonies. parades. etc. on shor,
without regard TO the military rank
OF the commanding officers OF the de.
taChments.
q. Does the former Kaiser have t.
cut wood every day as punishment or
does he Go it for exercise?--J. O. T.
a. No punishment has been melted
out to the former Kaiser of Germany
/ by the allied powers. The report of
the kaiser's wood-chopping indicate
that he INDUCES in this as a form Of
exercise.
Q. How has Mussolini been able t.
| cope so successfully with the beggar
| problem in Italy?-C A. =.
A. 1t is said that every beggar
/ found by the police is taken to Jail
given a pint of castor oil and dis
missed. This method seems to be
most efficacious.
! Q. What effect do various colors
| have upon people?-C. l.. w.
! A. A recent article in Popular
| Science says that red excites your
emotion, orange gives you higl
/ spirits, yellow stimulates your body
| green is normal or neutral, blue de
presses you physically. violet makcs
| you sad. and purple subdues.
Q. What is a jacitation suit
! A. ID. d.
A. Jacitation is false boasting
which may injure another. Jacita
| ton of marriage is a false statement
| by a person that he or she is married
| to another, whereby common repu
| tation of their matrimony may be
established. A iacitation suit Is "a
I legal action to enjOin a person from
| giving out such a statement.
/
@. Does the hump on a camel have
any relation to it's ability to go a Ions
time without food and water?-W. G..
A. The humps on the back of
camel are stores of flesh and fat, r.
absorbed in support of the animal
when overtaken by a famine.
! Q. When was pairing first resorted
| to in Congress?-M r.
A. The first known instance Of pair
ing in the Congress of the United
States was in 1910. John Quincy
Adams prepared a resolution declar-
| ing that it violated the Constitution
an express rule of the House and the
duties of both parties. The resolution
was never voted upon and the practicr
became very common
@. What per cent of crimes arr
committed by women?-G. K.
A. OF the total number Of prisoner
present January l, 1923, 1903 $3.50, or
95.2 per cent, We're males, and only
5,192 or 4.8 per cent, were females.
The dnStcerS to questions printed
here each day are specimens picked
from the mass of inquiries handled
by the great Information bureau
maintained by The EUening Star IN
WGshin 0tOf,. ID. C.. This t'GIudble Serr-
ice is for the free Use of the public
Ask any question Of fact you MAJ
1Cdnt to EnO4C and you 1tiH get an I'M j
mediate reply Write plainly, inclOSc
2 cents In stamps for return postage
and address The Euenin0 Star In
formation Bureau, Frederic J. Has
kin, Director, Washington, d.. @.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

stranger from the railroad station OF a
large city. So well organized are the
big companies, however, that nova
days this is a rare occurrence.
The New York campaign will pro-
tect the public from INSCRIPTIONS
drivers, and in any city where there
is suspicion that crookedness is being
practiced the police should take SINH
lar steps to check it. The commercial
an industry to be tainted with dis
honesty.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

larged it's daily services to the manu-
facturer, the merchant, the farmer,
the surgeon and physician. 1t has
contributed, one way or another. to
the prosperity of every business and
to the happiness of every home.
These facts are now especially sig-
nificant to the people of Georgia be-
cause the industrial and agricultural
progress of this and neighboring
States depends in large measure on
chemical knowledge and discovery.
Millions already have been added to
the value of our cotton crops alone
in consequence of work done and
ideas evolved in quiet laboratories,
but in the years ahead thousands of
millions should be put into the purse
of the Southern people as a result of
the chemists quest. We shall do well
to bear this In mind when endow-
ments and appropriations are being
lsked for institutions Of learning In
which scientists are trained and where
the spirit Of Nesearch is fostered.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Texas Is Praised by Press
For Getting Rid Of Ferguson

MA" Ferguson's zeal in pardoning
convicts during her closing days as
governor gave added warmth to the
Fluctuations of the press to Texas
upon getting rid Of the Ferguson re-
gime. Even the general assumption
that the husband. Jim" was the real
governor does not prevent a feeling
that Mrs. Ferguson's performance in
evitably hurt the cause of women in
public life.
MA Ferguson goes out of Office a
flzzle in so many ways" in the opin-
ion Of the Cleveland News, that the
effect of her term will be to make 1t
very hard for any other woman to
win the governorship in Texas or in
any nearby State. 1t would have been
much better for women's oppOrtuni-
ties in public affairs If Ma had never
been elected. Her husband had dis
graced the family during his term as
governor, and she has added to the
Fergusons discreditsbl record"
Her severest critics" declares the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, have
been women or men interested in wild
ening woman's place in public life,
who fear the fiascO Of her administra-
y
other women of high executive posi-
ton. They point to the action of the
Oklahoma Legislature in refusing to
let down the bars keeping women
from the governorship or other high
administrative office in that common
wealth, as indicating a natural reac-
ton to Mas mistakes
The Albany Evening News is i'm
pressed by the fact that "she had a
rare opportunity to distinguish her
self and to demonstrate the capability
OF her sex for high political office.
However, that she failed to do so does
not indicate that women are unfit flor
the office Of State executive"
x X x X
1.-THE lesson that will remain as
Mrs. Ferguson steps out OF office, y
suggests the Flint Journal, ''is not
that States should draw the line at
woman governors. Rather. 1t is that
women who can rule their own
households as we'll as the State should
be chosen II more experiments of this
nature are to be tried. Texas wanted
the feminine viewpoint on matters of
Government when it elected Ma Fer
suson. 1t didn't get It," The Provi-
dence Journal points to one phase of
her pardoning policy with the state
ment: at does seem strange that Of
the large number of women in the
penitentiary only one received the
favor of a pardon at her hands"
The object lesson Texas has afford
ed the country is that as much care
Is necessary in selecting women for
office as in picking men" advises the
Pittsburgh Gazette-Times. The Tulsa
Tribune is convinced that fright or
wrong, unfortunately so, the record
of Ma Ferguson will reflect on all
woman candidates for office every
where; but, fortunately, up in Wyom-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

@. Compare the annual fire loss OF
1915 and 1925.--A. f. NJ
A. The loss in 1915 was placed at
S1T2 033. 200 while in 1925 it had in
creased to $50, 255.921.
Q. Can platinum be magnetized or
oXidized IT. c. A
A. 1t cannot be magnetized. 1t
will oxidize only under unusual con-
ditions. not in ordinary weather or
exposure.
Q. What are the pits" of st.
Louisa. r. +.
A. The extraordinary artificial habi-
tat constructed for the bears in the
ST. Louis Zoo is given this name.
These pits" erected at a cost of
S235 900, have attracted experts from
Europe to study them for imitation
abroad.
Q. Are there more men or women
in India?-W. +.
A. The latest available official fig
ures. 1921, give the proportion OF
males to females as 1000 males tC
Gas females.
Q. Does the moon ride higher in
NsON~
in others?-D. A. l..
A. The Naval Observatory says that
the moon reaches a maximum distance
north Of the Equator at intervals OF
about tWenty-seven and one-thirC
days. For about 9.3 years nearly
every maximum distance north is
greater than the preceding maximum
distance north, and then for the mex
SO years nearly every one is less thar
the preceding, the greatest maximum
so to speak, being about 2So 35, anC
the least maximum 49, 20. Abou
thirteen and two-thirds days aftel
each maximum distance north the
moon reaches a maximum distance
south. of about the same amount. The
next greatest maximum Will be in the
or south may be at any phase of the
moon.
@. Is Venus fytrap the only plant
| that catches and kills insects?-S. S.
A. The teasel, that grows in the
| tangled corners of the field and Othel
waste places, has it's leaves Joined to
| gether at the base. forming cup tina
i collects the rainwater and browns th'
/ insects. The sarracenia's leaves arr
| like pitchers. They collect the rain
/ water and feed upon the insects ina
| get drowned. The pitchers Of thu
nepenthes hang on long stalks, and in
| sects are attracted by their hone!
| glands and bright colors. Once in
| side they slip down and are drowned
| The English plant, the sundew, feed
| upon insects. When a fly settles it i
| held by sticky juice that the plan
| produces, and the hairs, or tentacles
| close round the insect and digest it.
@. Do most of the people in tn
/ United States have access to a publ
| library?-S. r. n.
A. The American Library Associa
lions say that more than four-fifth
| of the rural population of the Natiol
are without library service and LET
or 81 per cent, of all counties in thu
| United States have no public librarie
| within their boundaries. There ar
over seven and one-half millio
negroes in the Southern States with
out library facilities and seven State
without organized State library exter
sion work.
O. What became of the propose
child labor amendment to the Fedora
Constitution?-H. G.
A. Under a. joint resolution of tn
House of Representatives and the Ser
ate it was submitted to the States 70
| their approval. Only four States ar
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Champion Pessinlist

Champion Pessimist.
Mussolini, mighty man,
Faithfully men heed your plan,
Truly hoping that 1t may
Lead to a respondent day
Yet, men ask you whats 1t for,
If there has to be more war;?
Where's the dream of glorious state
And of industry so great
If a dream Of wrath and pow'r
Occupies each voorhees, hour?
AS new heart and strength men lend,
Must more war" still be the end?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

Film comedian says his heart Is
broken. He should take cheer. Moth
ing is funnier on the screen than
man pursued for alimony. His ex-
periences may afford him new IN
spirations.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

Great wealth calls for tax payments
that the moderate wage Garner Is en-
titled to feel that he enjoys certain
advantages.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
An Other States and Canada.
Member of the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
80 the Use for republication of all news dls-
patches credited TO it or not otherwise cred
tied in this paper and also the local news
published herein. All rights of publication
~ special dispatches herein are also reserved
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

Communism" Is a word difficult to
define. 1t usually implies desire for
wealth and leisure on the part of
people who hitherto have had only the
leisure
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

Cara. revolutionary leader, is only
twenty-seven years old. His conduct
must be regarded by many conserva-
tive Mexicans as unbecoming Boy
Scout.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

Railways are preparing to fight
ticket scalpers. Perhaps the railways
are big enough to have better chance
in this kind of enterprise than the
New York theaters have enjoyed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

Although regarded as an austere
man, Mussolinl is perhaps more gem
erous than any other great leader in
meeting photographers and inter
viewers
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

The idea of war is SO repugnant
that when one starts II is almost in
variably referred to as an insurrec-
ton.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

Some of the divorce actions suggest
the possibility that a millionaire has
employed press agent to tell his
troubles.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

Radio control by legislation can ap-
ply limitations to the desirable ma
terial, but cannot be expected to exer-
else any authority over the static.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Inelegant Slam. at That

From the New York Herald Tribune
Gen. Dawes ought not to criticize
the Senators for using up so much
time. Most of them haven't anything
else.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
One of the Problem

From the New York Sun,
In 200 telephone girls why should
one misfit make the public forget the
courtesy and patience of 1879?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

SO far as foreigners are at present
concerned, the open door of China is
valued chiefly as an exit.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Age and Judgment.

From the Topeka Daily Capital
Henry Ford's remark that lit is UNI
usual for a man to have much judg-
ment until he Is around 50' Is q re-
hinder that good many people never
get to - So
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24

Although unable to love one another
battling Chinese can at least combine
on hating foreigners.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Right on the lob.

From the Boston Herald.
Vesuvius is active just in time to
attract early Winter tourists.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Preferred English.

From the New York Sun.
One of the few casesl which we
prefer the longer word isl hen we call
sin an adventure.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-24
Capitalization.

did you say that money controls
politics." asked Mr.. Dustin Stax.
mo, SIR" answered Senator Sor-
ghum, "all I said was that politicians
control a lot Of money!