Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-26
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
/. G.. NJ.


Corporation.
You may be definitely certain that he
will be there. In the new Convention
Hall-the Sam Houston Hall toward
which this week the world is turning
you will more than once, If your eyes
are of the right sort, see the huge figure
of man In buckskin moving about In
concern not surpassed by the most i'm
FASHIONED political advocate there assem-
bled Clearly the giant has wandered
back from another day. impressed TO
renewed service through the honor con-
ferred upon his beloved State. No Won
der that he loves Texas. He is Its father
and founder, In effect. When, In the
pride Of youth, 1t declared itself free
republic, he was It's President as well.
Then, despite such distinction, he was
first to advocate the entrance OF Texas
into the Union as part of the South
which he so loved and against whose
later act of disunion he argued long and
eloquently, because Of the ultimate dis
aSter that he so clearly saw So, In
face Of these facts and many more OF
almost equal weight, 1t Is no wonder
that Sam Houston has come back to the
city named for him, to the meeting Of a
party that he by right of birth and af-
lection calls his own.
When you see him for the first time,
you, noting the strange figures that he
cuts, may fall into the error of naming
the man st. Tammany after the Indian
chief who presides over the destinies Of
large group gathered at Houston.
While the mistake is a natural one. cor
rect 1t at once. For the two are a
world apart. and no trick of the imagi-
nation can bring them together. Tam
many is a legend. practically impotent
as fanciful inventions are bound TO he.
Sam Houston is history. out of whose
record rises and spreads the brilliant adj
venture of Texas, repudiating the old
order, taking on independence. accept
ing the Federal Union, drawing settlers
from all quarters of the land, diversity
ing her occupations. finally. to the tune
of her own splendid resources. fronting
about on the new era in a spirit of be-
wildering adaptability and progress And
all this spells the name of the giant AZ
whom you are looking, seer. patriot. SOL
der, adventurer, builder-Sam Hous-
ton.
Whatever else you may bring away
from the great onvention-disappoin
ment maybe, encouragement possibly
you are sure to have with you a re-
newed interest in the personality and
life OF Sam Houston. So, home once
more, with the marks of battle washed
away. with few days of comparative
ease inviting you. take George Creel's
story OF Sam Houston: Colossus in
Buckskin" and sit down to share the
adventures of this pioneer in our own
land. Read of his running away when
a boy to join the Indians whose life
offered to him the one essential of his
nature. freedom. Read of his early
youth and later years. where. always
the rebel. he brought upon himself the
dislike and condemnation of the born
confornlists. "Squawman" and Big
Drunk" were names applied TO him oy
friend and enemy alike. He was a
Senator of the United States, once,
much to the disgust Of the hammered
aristocrat of the South. like Calhoun
much to the horror of the bigoted New
Highlander, like Adams. Yet, despite
these clear shortcomings. he did big
things, undertook big enterprises, car
ried through big projects. fought criti-
cal battles for his State and country.
advocated measures of cool considera-
ton when the reSC of his Southern
compatriots were seething with the
rage OF what was to them a righteous
cause. He suffered reproach. contempt,
vilification. No rewards. of a measure
bic character, came to him. Then.
when the time arrived. the giant laid
himself down and died. poor man,
which possibly Is his true crown. At
any rate, he died and was forgotten.
Now he has come back to the place
that is honoring him. So. as I have
already suggested that you will do Or
may do, suppose YOU sit down with
George Creel's book as path between
you and Sam Houston. who Is Just
now so much in the public mind. Mr..
Creel likes the subject of this story He
Is familiar with the setting In which
Sam Houston came to his full stature
He is a good story-teller, mindful not
only of the general run of events that
make the story. but OF those high
lights of tension and release, of Sus-
pense and renewed movement that give
color and drama and effect to the
whole. A most human story. with the
limitations that seem to be an endow-
ment of the human upon 1t. but with
the liberations as we'll that excuse
much In the business of being human.
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY. Ad-
dresses and State Papers of Alfred
e. Nv N1OahU~
witz. Harcourt, Brace e. Co.
The first count in this case goes,
without question. to Mr.. Moskowitz for
an admirable piece of editing. Pro-
greSSive Democracy" Is drawn from q
bulk OF documents. official and unoffi-
cial--State papers. written opinions and
decisions. speeches on a wide range of
themes-all combining here to represent
the relations of Gov Smith to his pub
lie. The book is clear. comprehensive.
well organized outlook upon the politi-
cal career of the man behind the book
1t constitutes. moreover, both In fact
and effect, a personal accounting of
stewardship to the world at large.
The study Is so organized as to DEM
onstrate clearly the progressive" quail
ity OF the Democracy practiced by the
chief executive OF the Empire State.
Through campaign addresses. patriotic
speeches. inaugural declarations and
promises. Progressive Democracy"
stands as definition Of party principles.
summary of party purposes and achieve
ments Beyond such initial point the
addresses move forward to considera-
ton of government as a business DOS
tive, sound. practical enunciation So
cial Aspects of Government" brings out
the kindly nature of the speaker, as, in
more official manner. It describes meas
ures instituted by his party for the
amelioration of many common dis
tresses. Protecting Liberties" touches
upon both religious and civil freedom in
the many manifestations of the latter.
Here are talks on outstanding the nat
ural resources of the State. on providing
q constructive program for the farmer
Better living conditions are warmly adj
vocated. better growing conditions for
children and for their education. The
status of woman is held up for consid-
GRAFTON and support. Indeed, all the
familiar topics for general world bet
terment have place among these visions
OF Gov Smith In word. out of the
mouth of Alfred Smith himself. Mr..
Moskowitz has produced conspicuously
good book,
What do We want from, h>nky ~