davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
China and the Press.

A dispatch from Shanghai states that
oficial announcement. has been made
that on the first of January Chang Kai-
Shek, head of the Nationalist govern
ment, will proclaim o comprehensive
program for sweeping political reforms
President Chang has Furthermore asked
the press Of China to engage in free
and constructive criticism and discus
sion regarding matters relating to party
and government affairs.
1t is somewhat of q coincidence that
simultaneously with this news from
Shanghai The Star has received q
letter from the editor and publisher of
the Shanghai Evening Post calling at
tention to the fact that that paper,
the only American newspaper published
in that city, has been barred from the
mails by the Chinese authorities and
asking for an expression in comment
that can be reprinted to indicate to the
Chinese government American dis
approval of this form of press censor
ship.
The barring Of newspapers from the
mails Is practiced in China for dis
culinary and coercive purposes. 1t has
been done frequently during the past
few years. In some cases there has
been no justification from the western
point OF view. In other cases the gov
eminent has been warranted in the
application of this form of punishment.
In almost all instances, however, the
ban has been quickly lifted.
There is no freedom OF the press"
in China In the western sense. Free
and Independent criticism of public
oficialS and actions is virtually impos.
sible save by the payment of "cumshaw, "
which in polite parlance Is q tip to the
officials who have to do with press
regulation. In consequence both the
native and the foreign publications are
under restraint that does not make for
that free and constructive criticism
and discussion" for which President
Chang Kai-Shek now calls.
Press censorship has been exercised
in China on q long distance basis DUR
ing the past year, or rather has been
attempted. About six months ago the
government at Marking ordered, or
demanded would perhaps be the better
term, the deportation of the cor
respondent Of the New York Times ut
Peiping on the ground that he had been
misrepresenting the facts and giving
false color to the news of Chinese
happenings. In point of fact, that
correspondent had been exceptionally
successful in getting the facts and
scrupulously careful in stating them.
But the facts were not wholly to the
liking of the government at Marking.
Hence the demand. which was ignored
by the American Minister and was later
dropped and the correspondent was
promoted to wider field, in China,
where he remains today.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

If Frank Burke, late of Chicago, has
any sense OF humor he Is perhaps get
ting a laugh out of the formal finding
Of coroner's jury in that city that it
was he who participated in, perhaps
directed, the st. Valentines day mas
sacre. Not that there is anything espe-
cially funny about the situation. For
Burke Is now q fugitive, fleeing from
justice, price on his head, practically
certain eventually to be run TO earth
and caught or killed in the melee Of
capture or to take his own life before
surrender. Yet a sense of humor may
sustain him in his predicament.
When on the 14th of last February
seven men were lined up against q
wall in a garage In Chicago and shot
down with machine guns and other
weapons by a band uniformed rs po-
licemen, who then drove away leaving
no tangible trace, even that somewhat
callous city gasped in horror. This
wholesale slaughter was altogether too
strong a dose of crime. True, 1t was
probable that the victims were them
selves law-breakerS, and that the mas
sacre was something in the line of an
organized racket" something between
crooks. But that reflection did not ease
the minds of the Chicagoans, who
sensed reign of terror, visioned a COM
plete collapse of law, dreaded the chaos
of society.
There was a tremendous arousal OF
ofncial activity. Several inquiries were
started. Many theories were advanced
Some arrests were made. But nobody
was found who fitted into the picture
of the crime as 1t was known to be-
The victims were buried, and after q
few weeks the massacre faded into the
background Of Chicago's record OF
tragedies. Then suddenly 1t was revived
as fresh memory. A supposedly re-
spectacle retired business man living In
st. Joseph, Mich.-they call it saint
10" up in that region-got into q quar-.
rel with q trafic policeman over &
minor accident, was cited to appear IL
court, and in q moment of panic ol
anger shot the ofhcer to death. Thel
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
The "Toolproof" Plane.

One OF the greatest works undertaken
by the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for
the Promotion Of Aeronautics, that of
searching for the "foolproof" airplane,
is drawing to q close, unfortunately
without bringing the results that were
hoped for when the competition was
announced. Only two planes are left
in the running for the grand prize If
one hundred thousand dollars, and the
manufacturers of these ships each
claims that the other has infringed on
patent rights. OF the two planes re-
naming In competition, both having
successfully passed rigorous tests as to
flying ability and general safety fea-
lures. one Is American and one is Eng
lsh, the American plane having already
won dollar prize in a
preliminary test. The English plane
has not yet fully qualified to enter the
contest for the grand prize, and It
seems likely that the American plane
may be declared the winner by default.
1t seems a pity that q contest with
so much potentially for benefit to avia-
ton has to q certain degree flivvered.
After all, the one aim of aviation Ia to
provide the type of plane that can be
nown by the man in the street" I'm.
til this plane Is produced there can be
no general participation in flying. II
1t does nothing else, however, the con-
test has stimulated interest in safety in
flying and has properly stressed safety
as one of the paramount developments
to be made. In fact, safety has been so
much In the minds of the contestants
that when one Of the "foolproof"
planes crashed in q take-off, the avia-
tor, uninjured, smilingly emerged from
the complete wreckage of his machine
and said laconically, II guess I have got
a safe plane. 1t crashes and does not
hurt its pilot"
So that, despite the partial failure> of
this particular work undertaken by the
Guggenheim Fund, which has been one
Of the greatest aids to aviation in all
of its researches, there is no reason to
feel discouraged. The "foolproof" air.
plane is bound to come-that is, fool
proof" to the extent of the automobile.
1t is obvious, however, that the search
for either q foolproof motorist or air
plane pilot will be vain one. Manu-
facturers are able to build certain in
herent safety feStuEes lin both types Of
machines, but aftersall it's the human
element that counts in the final analysis.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
Foxes and Foot-and-M Disease.

1t has been thought that the aban-
donment OF fox hunting in merry Eng
land would be deemed a worse cata-
clysm than the revolt of the American
colonies, the World War, or the failure
= to retake the America cup; that Seis-
mographs would oscillate violently and
BritonS stationed all over the world
would be utterly cast down. Talk about
institutions-beef and ale and plum
pudding are nowherel Yet it looks
as If an humble germ might accom-
plish what the ratings and ridicule Of
the submerged nine-tenths" and the
rsncor of FESTIVE agriculturists has
never been able to do.
Dispatches from the island kingdom
indicate that farmers, especially stock
farmers. although hitherto acquiescent
as TO the traversing of their fallow fields
by nosing hounds and laundering cav
slcades, are smarting under the steady
spread OF hoof-and-mouth disease, the
fight against which has long gone for
ward. They are blaming Br'er Fox, who
has almost as much potential mileage
as Ford, for it's transmission from pas
ture to pasture and from herd to herd.
Exterminate the fox, they urge; instead
of propagating him for sport.
1t must have taken a good deal to
bring the British farmer to this point
His love of field sports is innate. He gets
it from his Saxon ancestors as surely
as do the gentry theirs from coursing
and hawking Norman forbears. The
old-time Saxons we're wont to grumble
loudly when compelled to leave their
husbandry and act as beaters and game
carriers for a bunch OF scornful, lazy
invaders, but the truth is they also
probably got great kick out Of it.
Their descendants today thorough!
enjoy the spectacle of the scarlet-clac
hunt with its footing horns, myriad
dogs and quaint, unchanging gibberish
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

Who In England does not, for that mat
ter? Fox-hunting there, As In Ireland,
seems an institution for the whole peo-
pie.
Farmers have been usually Cooper
atively courteous to the many hunts"
maintained throughout England, and
the hunts have been correspondingly
generous to the landowners who make
their sport possible. But there appears
to be a vast difference between some
"corn"-wheat-and vegetable marrow
trampled down and the lingering death
of hundreds of exceedingly valuable
draft, beef and mich animals. Farm
ers, flrst, seem resentful at government
al hardness in making liberal appro-
priations for research looking to the
discovery of cure or vaccine, and, Sec
ond, they are asking that the risk of
contagion be lessened by exterminating
"Reynard." He is somewhat of a nui-
sance at best, they claim, what with
his taste for poultry, but as a disease
spreader positive menace.
HiChcIo Ac WHO SHoC IOX was re-
garded as about in the same class with
man who would insult King George
Rifles, fOwling pieces - shotguns and
traps would quickly get the better of
the fox who now raises his family
in peace and has his long Winters made
pleasant by brisk exercise in connec-
ton with glittering hunts and his ears
tickled with cries of "Yoicks," Tally
no" and whatnot. AS vermin the fox
was originally regarded and was venge-
fully hunted. AS vermin he may one
day be again regarded and be hunted
not in play, but in deadly earnest.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

serious question, and the answer to it
necessarily gives us our place in the
scheme of things. This question an
swered, we are confronted with the
other query, whittier goest thou?"
whittier bound?" ITO what port are
you shaping your courSe?" The answer
to this must have determining effect
upon our life. 1t affects vitality, not
only our ambition and our determine
ton to achieve what we set out for. but
as well the method of its attainment.
The youth who aSpireS to a profess
sional career bends all his energies
to accomplish the ends he seeks and
regards even sacrifices of ease and con-
venience with readiness and satisfac-
ton. TranScending even the matter
OF fixing ones career and determining
ones place in the business or profess
Sional world, is that which relates all
our ambitions and aspirations to the
high ends of character building. Life
is something more than mere achieve
ment, however satisfying that may be
to us. 1t is suggested in Holy Writ
that man may gain the whole world
and lose his own SOUL" We do not
have to search far to discover men and
women who are willing to sell them
selves for mess of pottage." Our
daily papers tell the tragic story Of lives
that began with promise but ended in
disappointment and failure. To a care
full observer it becomes increasingly
evident that the deepest and finest
Satisfactions we experience come to us
MT from the acquisition of material
thAgS, nor yet from the favor and
praise we receive from those we seek
TO serve. To know that We have con-
SiStently done our duty, that we have
rightly appraised our relations to our
fellows, that what we have earned is
clean and uncontaminated by question:
able methods, that our motives can
stand the closest and most critical in
vestigation-these lend more of peace
and satisfaction to life than what we
have in our strong box, or what we
gain OF praise from our associates. The
end of the old year is the normal time
for checking up" and careful survey
Of our present position Is indispensable
to an effective and promising new
beginning. We do not have to be
morbid to be interpretive. We are
certainly improvident If we cross the
threshold Of q new year without &C.
curing q better understanding of our
selves. our relation to the world about
US and the worthiness of the objec-
tive to which we are committed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
No Pessimism Justified.

. F1rst-blush reading of the memo
randum on the London Naval Confer
ence, just issued by the French foreign
office, might convey an impression that
1t Jeopardizes the prospect of results at
the London Naval Conference. France
sets up series of views which on the
surface seem at wide variance with the
standpointS of America and Great
Britain, at whose joint initiative the
f1ve-power meeting was mainly con-
vened.
there is, in fact, nothing in the Quai
d'Orsays memorandum that has not
been known in Washington and London
for long time. French allegiance to
the fundamentals of the League of Ma
tons covenant; French anxiety that no
naval-limitation agreement should i'm
pair the republics national security;
French qualms as to the eventual eff
feet upon her of q fixed ratio of aux
iliary naval strength; French desire for
assuring her important position In the
Mediterranean, and even French medi-
Kellogg-Briand pact, as a peace-guar-
anteeing instrumental these things
Z have been matters of knowledge to the
& American and British governments, and
to the world at large, for many months.
The public exposition Of them at this
particular juncture does nothing more
than to lay Frances cards graphically
on the table in advance of the London
Conference. Paris has its own concep-
tons and pre-conceptions of the COM
plicated issues with which the confer
ence will deal. No statesman or gov
eminent has ever expected that the fve
naval powers would assemble on the
Thames next month, seeing eye to eye
on all these points, or even on a large
number Of the more important ones.
If the United States, Great Britain,
France, italy and Japan viewed them
through spectacleS Of the same color,
the impending conference would hardly
be necessary. Everything could be ar
ranged by diplomatic correspondence.
Conferences are called to consider the
comforting governments divergent view
points, and to reconcile them If they are
reconcilable. That is the sole purpose
of the London Conference, as it is Of
all international psrleys. At London, as
has been the case since international
time immemorial, the rule of give-and-
take will prevail. France has signaled
betimes what she would like to take. 1t
: remains to be seen how much Of it
will be given her.
That, and nothing but that, is de-
noted by the news from Paris. To sue
cumb to the counsels of despair, because
MN, Tardieu and BRAND have spoken
with uncommon frankness, four weeks
before the Naval Conference Is sched-
uled to begin, Is to mistake its cardinal
object. 1t is gratifying to know that
such counsels encounter no encourage
'ment in quarters at Washington where
the ins and outs, and all the back
ground, of the London Conference are
thoroughly understood and estimated at
their real value.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
RussO-Rumanian Dispute Over
Bessarabia Worries Peace Workers

Rumanian government whose troops
and gendarmeS still occupy Bessarabia.' -
That word STILL" in that connec-
ton, in an official Soviet organ, makes
the RumanianS justly feel that the
Russian government has gone back to
expecting and purposing the re-annexa-
ton OF BeSSarabia to Russia, an OBJ
jective which could be accomplished
only by force.
Thus, through an effort for peace
on the other side of the Asiatic CONT
nent, the Rumanians discover a dis
turbance of peaceful relations on their
frontier at home. They tossed a con-
doning note into the dove-cote of the
dove OF peace, and, instead Of the dove,
out comes q hornet. They feel slightly
dismayed
They feel also slightly miffed, at least,
when distinguished American Journal
lists seize upon the new topic of Bes-
sarabia and quote with approval some
body's bitter remark to the effect that
some day the Rumanian rabbit will
regret having stolen a province from the
Russian bear" The Rumanians do not
feel at all like rabbits and, in company
with their allies, the Poles, are pre-
pared, they think, to withstand any
drive by the Russian bear westward.
The Russians claim to be able to put
some three million soldiers into the
field, but it is thought that it would
take them three or four months to
do it.
The Rumanians and the Poles, on the
other hand, though perhaps they could
not mobilize more than two million men
right of, could do it extremely right
of, which means within three weeks or
so. These warlike figures along the
western frontier of Russia become of
considerable Importance in the wake of
the effort to cause Russia to be peace
full in China.
One thing is certain: The Rumanians.
now that their peace pact efforts at
Moscow in the Manchurian affair has
evoked revival OF the Bessarabian
argument, will experience no tendency
toward diminishing their earnest and
effective military preparedness.
Copyright, 1921
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
Motor Bus Regulation
Now Commands Attention
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

Proposed legislation affecting rail and
motor transportation promises to play
an important role on the congressional
stage early in the new year and to
wreSt at least few beams of the spot
ngnC from such spectacular subjects as
prohlbltion and tariff.
Hearings on bills to regulate inter-
state traftic by motor bus and truck
are scheduled to begin January 8, be-
lore The House committee which will
report a measure soon thereafter and
press Tor its passage. Now that the In
terstate Commerce Commission has re-
ported a tentative plan for conSolida-
tlon OF the railroads of the country
into 19 groups, 1t is likely that this
same House committee will not be long
In again ordering hearings on that sub
Ject, although definite steps in that
direction have not been taken.
Interstate regulation of motor buses
ana trucks is pressing for attention,
but presents problems less easy of sat-
! iSfactory solution than may appear at
frst thought. In this subject the rail-
roads are interested deeply, for motor
| transport over the highways Is both
partner and q competitor of the rail
carriers.
ing BUSES are in use on regular Sched-
uleS. The number has more than
doubled within four years and 1t is
estimated that in this expiring year
they have transported nearly 1000 600, =
600 passengers. Those engaged in in
terState commerce represent a minor
fraction of this total, but still form q
! respectable number and one that Is
growing.
More than 40 per cent of the motor
BUSES are used in school work and do
not enter interstate commerce. The
bus has revolutionized the rural school
system The national motor bus division
of the American Automobile Association
estimates after a survey that approxi-
| mately IS 900 one-room schools have
closed since 1920 and have been re-
placed by 1000 consolidated schools.
Interstate bus transportation has
gone forward aStoundingly in 1929
There has been a tendency toward
mergers. which has resulted in improved
service. New lines have entered the
field Routes, direct or by connections
r. been extended greatly.
The same things are true of motor
! truck transportation Of express and
freight, perhaps in even more marked
degree as to accelerated development
| in 1929.
Two major lines of thought have
crystallized regarding proposals for in
terstate regulation of motor transpor-
tation. One leads to the Interstate
Commerce Commission as the nroner
| Federal regulatory body. The other
favors joint action by commissions of
the States affected in each SPECIFIC in
| stance, the interstate regulations of the
State authorities to be issued as Fed
eral agents.
l ~
After presenting an almost united
front antagonigtic to motor bus and
truck lines, mNnY railroads have ~
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Well Tried Friends.

Well Tried Friends.
When the annOuncers mention
Talent that should be known,
Each with the best intention
Steps to the microphone;
Each with the memory glory
Going so glad and strong.
Telling the same old story;
Singing the same old songl
Words Of the ancient sages,
Tunes from the classic scales,
Scenes from historic pages,
And the oldest Of fairy tales
And with each Winter hoary,
For the ways of yore we long,
Telling the same old story,
Singing the same old song.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

Many . youthful anarchist" or
Communist" would find himself COM
PEELED to hesitate if called upon for a
precise definition of the title he as
sumes. He is usually proceeding with
bold personal experiment in social
economy. unfortif1ed by intelligent study.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

What makes any kind of parley
necessary is the fact that there are
points of disagreement to be recon-
ciled. 1t is too much to expect to
assemble one on terms of presrranged
love feast.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

A formal Inauguration is not desired
by Mayor Walker of New York, who
points out that he is not entering into
ONCE, but continuing in it. And, any
how, it is altogether unlikely that the
weather will be suitable for a parade.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

China is preparing to adopt q new
system Of national organization. That
estimable but puzzled old nation L. in
prospect OF having as much trouble
with its religions as it has had with
its politics.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

While Gene Tunney's literary inclina-
ton is well known, he is careful to offer
no encouragement to any person de-
sirous of contributing material for a
romance in real life.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

Bootleg liquor is said to be less pol
Sonous than In the past. Possibly the
poison adds to the expense and is
avoided for purposes of profit.