davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1928-12-14
Army Promotion.

Revision of the Army promotion list
coupled with an alteration of the pres
ent promotion system forms the subject
matter Of the Black bill in the Senate
and the Wainwright McSwain bill IN
the House These two measures, which
have pec. reported favorably by both
military affairs committees. are designed
to cozcct an injustice done to certain
forr<er emergency World War officers
VINO are nov In the Regular Army by
the War Departments Interpretation
Of a portion of the national defense act
Of 1920. It seems to The Star matter
ct simple justice that this legislation
be enacted into law without further
delay.
After the World War, Congress pro-
vided that all temporary officers could
take examinations for appointment in
the Regular Army in all grades from
second lieutenant to colonel and set
forth the method by which they would
be placed among those who were al
ready In the Army. No confusion arose
In the placement of the colonels, lieu
tenant colonels and majors, but when
It came to the captains. first lieutenants
and second lieutensnts the War De-
partment proceeded in effect to disre-
gard the grades to which they had
been appointed and to arrange them
solely on length of service. The effect
Of this was that men who had been
found not fitted to hold grade higher
than second lieutenant were placed
over men who had been appointed
captain as a result of the same exami-
nations and such second lieutenant;
were at once promoted to captaincies
q grade for which they had just fsilee
to qualify.
The portion of the national defenst
act which was misinterpreted to product
such an incongruous hodgepodge read
as follows: Captains and lieutenant!
shall be arranged among themselves
according to length of commissioned
service" Certainly one at all familiar
with military matters would be entitle,
TO assume that this meant thet cap
tains would be arranged among car
tains, first heutensnts among FRS
Siea&eAaAts ana second lieutenant
Evening star., 1928-12-14
Scientists Set Watch
On Elephants Child
BY E. e. FREE, PHI. ID.

Naturalists Of Germany are fiocking
to Berlin to see female baby, the f1rst
of its kind for many years to be born
within reach of European scientific
centers. The baby is an elephant, born
few days ago to Toni. long resident
of the Berlin ZOO. Elephants seldom
breed In captivity and although large
herd of the animals has been kept In
the Berlin establishment ever since 1t
was founded, this Is the first happy
event Of the kind to occur successfully
Twenty-Five years ago another elepnant
baby was born there, but died almost at
once. The present infant was almost
3 feet long at birth and weighed l6O
pounds, already more than the average
full-grown man. The babys skin Is
reported to be almost as white and
tender as that of a human infant, but
sprinkled all over with short, wirelike
hairs: much more hair in proportion
than can be found on the skin OF an
adult elephant. DR.. LutZ Heck, the
specialist who presided over the happy
occasion. reports that Dotn mother and
baby are doing we'll. The new young
lady has been christened Helga. and
probably no infant in Germany Will
have better care for the next few years.
Biologists look forward to learning while
Helga grows up many facts about eie-
phant infancy never before discover
able, for the reason that there have
never been any elephant infants to
watch
Evening star., 1928-12-14

The most conceited man in the world
is he who comes into firm and at
tempts to tell them how to run 1t.
There are many varieties Of this prize
specimen, but any good example Is
typical of them all.
The chief characteristic OF the tribe
is the colossal effrontery which permits
a human being to lay down the law on
another mans speciality.
One might think at first blush that
this gentleman was uncommon 10 a
degree. Surely few men couio De SO
conceit6d.
Surely there would be something in
the internal economy of any one which
would serve to check him in his at
tempts to tell some one else what ne
ought to do and how he ought to DO IL!
Yet nothing is more sure than THAT
this is precisely what many felloW Is
willing, nay. eager, to attempt.
In fact. not a day goes by but some
one somewhere somehow does SO Try,
firm in the faith that he knows more,
offhand. than the other fellow does as
result of his daily effort applied over
term of years.
Just how one can gather the idea that
he is the repository of all human knoWi-
edge it is difficult for any one VINO mas
lived longer than 80 years to under-
stand
The high school senior may be 1or-
given his omniscience, since every one
knows that he has yet to make Vaiio
contacts with the great world.
He has lived SO far in an academic
cloister, hedged in by rules and reguia-
tions which protect him as well Us
irk him
If he resents certain regulations, new
ertheless those rules are helping MN ~
the same time. The knowledge Win
which he is allowed contact strikes
him as pretty neat, with himself, as
absorber of said learning, quite the
neateSt point of the pinnacle OF wisdom.
Such a boy (or girD may be forgiven
for possessing a slightly elevated idea
of their own worth. Time Will tone
him or her down considerably.
The mystery comes with the man VINO
has been "out in the world" as the
phrase has It, for enough years to allow
q little sense to be beat into his head.
* 4 y
Recently while visiting certain es-
tabliShment we had opportunity to
watch the antics of one Of these know
it-all persons.
The study was interesting and illumi-
mating.
On one nand. here was man who
had made life study OF certain
subject.
He knew his stuff" as the boys say.
His salary was large, his position i'm
posing, his work professional.
He knew what he ought to know
about his work, and he stuck to 1t. He
made no pretense Of solving the prob
lens of the universe.
His was not the type of mind which
is desirous that others shall think 1t
knows 1t all.
A specialist, he was willing for others
to have specialties, and he respected
them in their labors.
One could not imagine him going into
another mans office and offering free
suggestions for the running OF his busi-
ness.
II
The other man Of our study was a
Evening star., 1928-12-14
Canada Regards u. S.
AS Certain Customer

From the Toronto Daily Star.
The time Is steadily approaching, II
1t is not already here. when the United
States must purchase certain of the
chief agricultural products OF Canada.
The demand will be there, and the inn
position of high tariffs will but have
the effect of increasing the cost OF
living in that country. When that be-
comes the only apparent effect of high
tariff against our agricultural products
the futility of imposing it may come to
be recognized.
Before the present tariff on Canadian
cattle was imposed in 1921 this country
shipped 247, LOG head Of cattle into the
United States, while for the year ended
September 80 last Jur shipments num-
bered 3l6, sos head of cattle.
In the last year before the tariff was
increased against our cheese we sold
3l0,77l pounds to the United States,
while during the past year they bought
from us l1,51S, 900 pounds.
In milk and cream the purchases of
the United States have doubled in spite
of a tariff that was expected to- be al
most prohibitive. The tax of ~ cents
buShel against our wheat was meant
to be nearly prohibitive, and the tax
against our flour Is nearly so, yet while
exports of our wheat to that market
fell almost to nothing after the tax was
put on against 1t, that market now
takes $l2,064,577 of Canadian wheat.
They need it for its quality, and pres
emily will require it for its quantity and
imme date availability
Evening star., 1928-12-14
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

hale-felIow- -welI-met who had an ak
to grind
They always do!
Perhaps their pretense to omniscience
is necessary part Of their ak grinding.
Anyway. this fellow wanted the other
to do something.
If the other would do 1t, he would
be pleased; If he would not, he would
be displeased.
AS far as he was concerned, there
was no use arguing the matter.
Coming into the others office with a
request to make. he constituted him.
self Judge and jury, and had won the
case In his own mind before 1t was tried.
He was willing to abide by the rules
of his own game; he was anxious that
the other should realize that he knew
his own business, but he was not will
ing that the other should be, permitted
to utilize the rules of his own game,
and he would not admit that the other
knew his own business.
X X
When the other told him that he
could not do it. he became indignant.
He. denied the other mans knowl-
edge, his work of years and his integ-
rity, and set his own judgment up in
a strange business as superior to that
of the trained man in his own field.
The thing would have been laugh
able IL 1t had not been SO common and
il the results of all such cases did not
lead to disappointment and umbrage.
Disappointment Is something which
business avoids If 1t can. Those who
come should not be allowed to so away
with a "crow to pick" il it can be
helped.
Sometimes, however, 1t can't be
helped.
This was such q case.
If the man had been seated in his
own Office and a guest had come In
and attempted to tell him the nne
points about his own specially, he would
have been the first to tell him, in polite
phrases, that perhaps 1t would be Weh
il he would first learn something In the
line in which he was attempting 10 IN
struct practitioner.
Vet he nut himself in exactly the
same position with the best will in the
world. seeming not for minute to
realize that he was committing the very
act for which he would have censured
another.
The attitude of all such persons
seems to be capable of being sum-
married. as follows:
II have something which 1 want you
to do. -.
'"This something means profit OF
some sort to me. -,
II will of course, dissemble bit.
"That is always the thing to do. II
I came right out with 1t you might
suspicion me-
But If / say don't want my name
used, that ought to throw you clear oil
the track.
what want you to do seems per-
fectly right and equitable to me- /
hope to make you feel the same way
about 1t.
IF you do, you will show the same
fine Judgment in your own business
which already possess in 1t.
"I not only know my own line. but
I assure you that in this instance, at
least. know all about yours.
IF you do what / want you to, you
will be fine fellow.
IF you don't, you are an ass"
Evening star., 1928-12-14
Psychiatry Problems
I'm Murder Hearings
From the Rock Island Argus.

From the Rock Island Argus.
Hopelessness is at times justified. A
case in point Is that Of the New York
high school boy who called upon
15-year-Old girl, and, when she tried
to kiss him, seized a length of electric
cord and proceeded to strangle her to
death.
1t would appear on the face of things
that any boy who strangled girl be-
cause she tried to kiss him was very
much of mentally But the district
attorney says he will ask for the death
penalty, as the State" he says. "is
not interested in reference TO the boys
supposed abrlormality. He was abso-
lutely sane when he committed the
crime"
1t is true enough that In these days
murderer'S first act is to send out
a demand for an, alienist. Many a
scoundrel has gone scot free because
some pSychiatrist's Interpretation was
accepted by jury.
The truth is, we are helpless as
nation in the face of mental disturb
ance. Alienists disagree. Who is COM
petent to decide?s There are any num-
ber of people at large just as danger
Gus as this high school boy. They are
liable any time to commit some ter
rible deed.
In spite Of all our scientific advance
We are helpless In this crisis. We have
no cure-no remedy. The situation Is
serious one and full of the greatest
possible menace.
Evening star., 1928-12-14

among second neutenants. and Maj.
Gen. Peter c. Harris. who was the
adjutant general Of the Army at that
time. has testified that he was greatly
surprised to find contrary interpreta-
ton placed on the clause and that ne
believed that the overwhelming majority
of the Army never anticipated such an
arrangement as the War Department
produced.
Not only was the ruling considered
peculiar one In Army circles. but both
military affairs committees Of Congress
have determined that the action taken
was contrary to the ma jority intent OF
Congress itself. Repres sntative Frank
James. who was on the military COM
mittee at the time of the passage Of the
law and who is a recognized unbiased
authority on military matters has said,
IT never thought that that law could
be so construed that the man who Is
incompetent to pass an examination for
first lieutenant. incompetent to pass an
examination for captain, should out
rank a man by several thousand files
who had passed before you gentlemen a
very satisfactory examination for cap
tain. Now, II members of the commit
tee like myself: members Of Congress,
like myself, think the language was not
by somebody in the War De-
partment as we intended at that time,
end think injustice was done, we would
be justified in trying to remedy that
and having the law inter-
preted as we thought 1t was to be inter-
preted at that time, would we not?"
The Star finds itself in complete ac-
cord with the House military committee,
which stated in its report recommend
ing passage of the bill Because the
committee is convinced that grave in
Justice was done, 1t is the sense Of the
committee that a correction Of this
error can disturb no vested rights" and
further that Having determined that a
wrong has been done, the obvious
remedy is to present interpretstive legis-
ation which will result in placing Of
icers on the promotion list as they
should. have been placed in ls20-21."
Evening star., 1928-12-14
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

not long ago walked off with one Of its
coveted prizes. that which is bestowed
for outstanding work in commercial
policies and treaties. He is 33 years Old
Out In Wisconsin when they speak
of "Old Sol" they don't mean the sun,
It's Sol Levitan. veteran and unbeatable
Republican State treasurer. whom
they're referring to. He has just been
elected chancellor of the Badger ex-
chequer for the fourth or fifth time, re-
ceiving the highest vote of any candi-
date on the state ticket. Levitan Oe-
gan life in Wisconsin so years ago as a
peddler. He entered politics about the
time the late Fighting Bob" La Fol-
lette did and became one of his trusted
lieutenants. Levitan has managed to
keep in the good graces of both wings
of the Wisconsin G. O. P, which for the
past 10 or IL years has never thought
of electing anybody else as State treas
urer. He has practically life job.
*%
The United States Governments YET
eran hello girl has just celebrated a
notable anniversary-the completion OF
her thirtieth year in the telephone Serv-
ice of the Capitol exchange, of which
she is now chief operator. Her name Is
Mrs. e. Harriott Daley. When Mrs.
Daley first began handling congressional
conversations In December, 1898, the
telephone art was so much In its infancy
that when Senators and Representa-
tives wanted to talk they had to stand
in line and await their turn at the
transmitter. In those days telephones
on Capitol Hill numbered three or four
dozen. Today there are / 100 individual
stations" or telephone connections, and
Mrs. Daley presides over staff OF ~
operators. Her speciality in life is TAX
ing pains and being q kind boss to a
super loyal corps of co-workers. Il
Copyright. 1887
Evening star., 1928-12-14
Millions Are Spent
By. Smokers Annually

From the Atlanta Journal
Statistics usually are interesting and
more often than not convincing, ana
there are few things more capable OF
staggering the imagination than long
row of figures. 1t frequently Is d1fncult
to grasp and fully comprehend tner
meaning. The most recent statistics Is
sued by the Federal Government re-
lating to the manufacture. sale and
consumption of cigarettes may thus os
described. While they challenge our In
terest they almost paralyZe our capac-'
ity to comprehend.
During the year 1927, we are told by
the Government, 1876, 900 cigarettes
were lighted each minute of the day
and night! And this year the con-
sumption promises to register 100000
per minute. or nearly 800 000, 600 cigar
cites every day!
1t isn't surprising to learn that the use
of tobacco in the form of cigarettes has
multiplied six times since the World
War nor is 1t difficult to realize that 1t
won't be long before we are consuming
900 600, 900 cigarettes day, provided,
of course, the rate of increase continues
to mount from year to year.
During the current year 1t Is est1-
mated that the total production of
cigarettes in the United States will ag-
gregate LOG, 900 600 600, and that figure,
large as 1t Is, does not begin to approach
what the manufacturers term the sat
uration point. There still remain mil
lions OF men, women and children In
the United States who have never
smoked.
That the popularity of the cigarette
dates from the World War Is not Seri-
ously to be disputed. but whether the
war itself had anything to do with the
increased consumption cannot be def
nitely stated. More likely than not 1t
was contributing factor, for certain 1t
is that the actual consumption. mount
ed steadily during the time the Amer
ican troops were in France and certain,
also. is the knowledge that millions and
millions of American made cigarettes
were distributed free OF cost among the
boys In the trenches.
The manufacturers themselves at
tribute the popularity of the cigarette
to the inherent improvement of the
product itself. They say 1t is manu-
factured of better tobacco now than in
the years gone by Only the best grades
of the mildest tobacco are used in the
popular American brands. and to this
fact 1t attributed also the increased
smoking by women and girls.
No longer is 1t necessary to manu-
facture specially prepared cigarettes for
the fairer sex. Indeed, we are told that
women generally object to scented
cigarettes, daintily boxed, and prefer
the brands smoked by men. There is,
in fact, no appreciable means OF dis
tinguishing as between the smoking
tastes" of men and women.
Evening star., 1928-12-14
The Treaty and the Cruisers.

There Is no manner OF conflict be-
tween the two major measures which
will shortly engross the attention OF
the Senate--the Kellogg treaty and the
cruiser bill. No friend Of the general
pact for remuneration of war has any
justification for opposing the naval
bill, and no supporter Of the cruiser
program is justified in obstructing rati-
fcation of the fifty-nine-power agree
ment for outlawing war. The propo-
sitions are wholly unrelated. They do
not run at cross purposes. They are
both projects for assuring peace.
Some Of the sincere opponents of the
naval legislation are of opinion that the
United States would not be playing
fair with co-signatories of the Kellogg
treaty II we were to expand our fleet at
the same moment we are adhering to
the principle of renouncing war. That
objection is not shared by the man OF
MI men who have the multilatsral pact
deeply at heart. Secretary Kellogg
before the Senate is q legitimate pro-
posal and he believes it should be
passed. He points out that when the
fifteen cruisers are built the United
states Navy will possess in cruiser ton
mage only about 100000 tons, which
was the maximum amount provided for
n the first proposition submitted by
@is Government to the abortive Genera
limitation conference.
The reason why there is nothing 'in-
consistent" or "hypocriticaf' in the
Elan to ratify the Kellogg treaty and
adopt the cruiser-building bill stimuli
AAneously is that America Is not war
seeking country. The argument so
often heard. that government equip
ped with the engines of war is bound to
be tempted to use them aggressively, is
nullined by the record, the traditions
and the ideals of the American people.
It Is because the United States is ad-
dicted to peace. and has never broken
it except In defense Of It's rights or OF
the rights Of oppressed peoples. that
our military and naval establishment
can be strengthened without peril to
the Nations pacific sentiments and
peaceful policies.
Secretary Kellogg, warm advocate
a. he is Of the pact with which his
name will always be honcrAbly asso-
ctated, has never claimed for 1t that 1t
would. or could. usher In an era of ir-
revocable peace. On Armistice day IN
New York the Secretary of State cam
siidly discussed the multilatersl pact in
all Of its ramihcations and implics-
tions. 81 believe 1t is the bounden duty
of the United States in every way pos
sible," Mr. Kellogg declared, by its
example, by treaties Of arbitration and
oonciliation, snd by solemn pledges
against war, to do what 1t can to adj
vance peace and thus to bring about
realization Of the highest civilization"
The anti-war pact is tangible Amer
ican move in that direction. But 1t
does not, because 1t cannot, absolve the
United States from ministerins to what
President Coolidge calls "the needs OF
our defense"
Evening star., 1928-12-14
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.


@. Which Of the French military
decorations Is most highly prized'--J.
Nice.
A. The Croix de Guerre, created for
the European war, is generally re-
garded as the most highly priced of the
French military decorations.
@. Did Rudyard Kipling revise ''The
Light That Failed" giving It happy
ending?-B. H.
A. 1t Is a fact that, under pressure of
his reading public, Rudyard Kipling
wrote a happy ending for "The Light
That Failed When Sir Johnston
Forbes Robertson produced the play in
this country he used the happy ending.
O. What are some Of the legitimate
reasons that the total vote Is not
Castle. D. P.
A. A large portion of those not voting
do not remain away from the polls
either voluntarily or from unworthy
motives Many a=e debarred Dy tax
qualifications: others are kept away by
change of residence shortly before elec-
ton: or by reason of their employment
(such as sailors, railroad employees,
travelling men. students, etc.). More
than 100000 men Of voting age are
deprived !of the franchise as insane.
paupers, prisoners or deficient in the
educational tests. Sickness, accident
and in3rmities of age account for the
absence of thousands. Residents of the
District Of Columbia, city Of more
than 100000, have no vote.
@. How big should maple trees be
when cut for lumber?-L. A. 7.
eh he of -
inches in diameter.
@. How much stock must bank
subscribe for In order to become a
member of the Federal Reserve?-E. W.
A. For a bank to become a member
of the Federal Reserve system it must
subscribe to an amount of sock equal
to 6 per cent of the paid-up capital and
surplus. II member bank increases
its capital or surplus 1t must take out
corresponding per cent in stock. The
same rule applies for decrease, and ad-
justments are usually made semi-an-
nually.
@. Please give a short biography of
Elizabeth Palmer Peabody. V. B.
A. Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, an
American educator, was born at Bill
lerica, Mass, In 1904. She was for q
time connected with the school of Amos
Bronson Alcott, in Boston, OF which
she wrote an account entitled "A Record
of Mr.. Alcott's School," but later she
came under the influence of Friedrich
F'robel and was one of the most active
in introducing the kindergarten system
into the United States. The educator
died in 1894.
O. Is there any other sailors home
similar to Sailors Snug Harbor?-L. S.
| A. An applicant for admission to
Sailors Snug Harbor must be an aged.
decrepit and wornout Sea-faring man,
presenting with his application salts
factory proofs of service on sea-going
vessels sailing under the United States
flag, and letters Of recommendation as
to his good character. The only home
of similar character Is the Sailors
Home, Quincy Mass.
@. How Is ventriloquism accom-
plished?-J. E. L.
A. The essential mechanism Of yen-
triloquiSm consists in taking a full
brea h, then keeping the muscles Of the
chest and neck fixed, and speaking with
the mouth almost closed and the lips
and lower jaw as motionless as possible
while air is very slowly expired through
a narrow glottiS. No air must escape
through the nose.