davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05

chairman of the board Of the Standard
Oil Co. of Indiana. Mr.. Stewart failed
to testify as frankly as John D. Rookie
Teller, jr., believed he should, when he
was questioned, and Mr.. Rockefeller
is now engaged in seeking to prevent
Mr.. Stewards reelection as chairman
of the board of one of the companies
in which the Rockefellers have been
so closely identified.
Some day perhaps the whole story
of the Continental Trading Co. and
the use of all its earnings will come to
light. From the first time that the pro-
ceeds of this company were traced to
Fall, Sinclair and others there has been
a deal of mystery attached to 1t. APP
parently Mr.. Blackmer prefers to re-
main an eXpatriate rather than return
to this country and tell what he knows.
1t is possible that he is one Of those
who believe that the Government has
no right to stick its nose into the
affairs of private business men and that
he remains away from this country
out of principle. The Government of
the United States appears, however, to
have been amply justified in its exam
nation of these oil transactions Fur
thermcre, the Government has a long
arm and is tenacious.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
Newest Theory of Mans Origin
Meets With Cautious Interest

knowledge progress" the Buffalo Eve
ming News thinks it is perhaps bit
more important to discover processes
by which the evolution of man may
continue than to answer the question
as to whether he originally did evolve"
AS the Asheville Times puts 1t:
knowledge changes its content; the
unknowable remains despite all the
advancement of knowledge. Whether
by instant creation or slow evolution,
man has come to his present state from
lowly origin, which must be placed
so remotely in the past that the 1magl-
nation itself is exhausted in the e1ort
to grasp its significance" The Soutn
Bend Tribune comedies that III the
popularity of DarWinS theory shouio
dwindle, it would not be the flrst time
that a well defined. widely accepteo
and anparentlv incontrovertible theory
has been shelved by the advance OF
science" and the Tribune believes that
the whole question is one ito be de-
termined solely by scientists; the lay
man, even though he possesses smat-
tering of biological knowledge gained
in school or in sporadic reading, cannot
venture an authoritative opinion"
Though it cries, Heaven spare us
another Scopes trial." the Atlanta jour-
nal feels we should all be grateful II
DIR. Clark opens new trial or sets
new fashion in science" since "scien-
tific theories are naturally short-lived,
and Darwin's has hung on TILL, by the
law of use, it should fall of like
primordial monkeys tail"
The Memphis Commercial Appeal
sees DIR. Clarks theories as appearing
to strengthen the religious pronounce
ment about creation" although TINS
scientist "does not seem to credit
Supreme intelligence with the origin OF
man."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
Stoklasa Paper Held
Valuable to Farmers
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The STAR
Some months ago, in a communlca-
ton which you published, called at
tention to the statements made IN the
Soil Congress of 1927, which verified
conclusions previously reached tnat
municipal garbage and sewage wastes.
if properly treated, are far more Vaiu-
able as fertilizing materials than me
value shown by taking their nitrogen
content as an index. These conclusions
were reached on the basis OF concep-
lions as to the nature Of plant food
which were clearly stated by julius
Stok1asa of the Technical Institute OF
Prague at the Soil Congress. AS the re-
port of the proceedings of the congress
recently published does not contain
Prof Stoklasa's paper, it seems deslra-
Bile that publicity be given to one OF
his most significant statements. He
says: 1T Is not true as Is usually be-
lieved that the carbon dioxide present
in the air is sufficient for the building
up of the plant materials" AS conclu-
sions from two tables showing that fertile
soil gives off from one and half to two
times as much carbon dioxide as less fert-
lie soil and three to four times as much
carbon dioxide as unproductive soil, he
calls attention to "the large amounts
Of carbon dioxide given off by the SOIL
and to the fundamental Importance it
must have for the nutrition of the plant.
The plants do not assimilate only the
carbon dioxide of the atmosphere, but
also the carbon dioXide coming from
the soil.
To dirt farmers" and all others who
have failed to get satisfactory results
from the use Of chemicals this paper.
which gives coherent and workable
theory of plant nutrition, is of the ut
most value, but unfortunately now is
available only in the limited number
of abstracts made for the use OF the
sessions Of the congress.
H. C. GAUSS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
An Auspicious Beginning.

Pioneer in airplane flight across the
Atlantic Ocean, Col Charles A. Lind
bergh is again pioneering in the inter-
ests of aviation. Today he is winging
his way over Central America on the
second lap of the new Pan-American
airmail route, an ambitious undertake
ing, designed to link the mainland of
the United States with the Canal Zone
at Panama and later to extend into
South America. Yesterday in his tri-
motored Sikorsky amphibian, with the
plaudits of thousands of his well-wish-
ers ringing in his ears, he scared into
the air from the field at Miami. Two
hours later he landed gracefully at Ha-
vana to take on fuel, but was soon off
again for the Observation-Disclosures fifty
mile hop to British Honduras, where
he spent the night. Tomorrow he is
scheduled to fly over Costa RIGA and
Panama to the terminal of the route
at Cristobal, Canal Zone.
1t is fitting and proper that the fly
ing colonel should inaugurate the new
service. 1t is an American project. and
he is Americas foremost airman. There
would appear to be little doubt that
when the hour arrives for him to land
at Cristobal the Sikorsky plane will be
seen coming down out of the skies.
Punctuality is one of the Lindbergh at
tributes, and for Lindbergh to start
anything is almost automatic with
Lindbergh finishing it. The Pan
American Always mail system has in
deed begun In an suspicious manner.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

pose as alkaline soap before the days
Of that article. The Chinese prefer them
even yet for cleansing the hair and
delicate silks.
@. When was Independence Hall in
Philadelphia built?-C. G.
A. It was begun in 1892 and first put
to use in September, 1876. 1t was first
called the Statehouse of Pennsylvania.
@. How is the surname of John
Drinkwater pronounced?-B. j.
A. In England the surname Drink
water is generally pronounced as
though spelled Drink ter, that is. the
W is elided. In the United States, how
ever, the name is generally pronounced
just as it is spelled.
@. Can the small gold coins. 50-cent
pieces, made in California, be circulated
as money?-T. K.
A. These were not authorized by the
Government and cannot be circulated
as currency.
@. What is the wholesale value of the
output of American passenger cars. for
year?-F. N. j.
A. In 1927, 3,Os6,O1s passenger cars.
with wholesale value of $2,269, 056 ,222.
were manufactured in the United States.
@. On what date does Great Britain
make payments on her war debt to the
United States?-D. M.
A. Some Of the debt has been paid.
Payments are to be made on December
Is Of each year. The amount to be paid
is graduated from $23000,000, In 1928.
to SITS, 100000, in 1884. The last pay
ment will be in 1884.
@. What is the distinction between
the words flammable and inflammable?
S. G..
A. Inflammable in its usual sense
implies explosivenesS or a character that
will burn readily. Flammable means
exactly the same thing. The resulting
confusion has caused the word inflam-
nable to be abandoned altogether, fam
mable now being used to indicate ready
ConbuStibility, and non-f1ammable for
the opposite. Perhaps the most fam
mable material in general domestic
use is gasoline. The vapor from o
pint of gasoline, mixed with the proper
amount of air, has a destructive power
equal to that Of pound OF dynamite.
@. How large is the new building
that houses the working girls home
for negroes in Cleveland?-M. H.
A. The Phyllis Wheatley Association
is nine-story building. containing 135
bedrooms, clubrooms, 4 girls parlorS,
cafeteria, beauty parlor and gymnasium.
In 1927 the institution placed 1,260
girls and women in positions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
One Big Push.

washington's first Community CHEST
campaign will close tomorrow evening
unless there is a last-minute decision to
prolong solicitation until the deficit, now
threatened, can be wiped out or mate
rally reduced. The task now confront
ing those in charge of the campaign IS
to raise approximately three hundred
Thousand dollars before tomorrow eve
ming. The money is here. The trouble
Is to get 1t.
This is Washington's first Community
Chest experiment. That explains the
threatened deficit. A liberal estimate
of the number of subscribers so far Is
forty thousand. That means that only
eight per cent Of Washington's popu-
lation is represented in the lists OF those
who have taken part In the campaign
by donating cash or pledging cash to
the city's fifty-seven institutions, for the
support of which the Community Chest
Is being filled. That percentage is
entirely too small. The flfty-seven
agencies to be maintained through the
Community Chest support or help to
support approximately seyenty-five thou
sand persons during year. The num-
Der of benefciaries of the Community
Chest, therefore, exceeds the number Of
Community Chest supporters. In Wash
ington this is putting the cart before
the horse.
Another feature of this first cam
paign, explained by the fact that it IS
the first campaign. is the number of
small contributions which should be
larger. There is here involved rather
delicate point. Those who are in charge
of the campaign never wish to be placed
in the position of criticizing the size Of
gifts to the Community Chest. They
feel that the gift of one dollar may
represent as much, In one instance, as
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. gift represents
in another. They feel that the amount
to be given Is largely personal affair,
and they hesitate to argue about it.
The fact remains that scores of gifts
could and should have been larger. Had
the community fully appreciated the
significance Of giving at one time the
money necessary to support fifty-seven
agencies, instead Of giving this money
fifty-seven times, the average amount
of subscriptions would have been higher.
Had many of the subscribers pledged
their subscriptions, instead of attempt
ing to donate them at one time in cash,
their gifts. obviously, would have been
larger.
The success of the Community Chest
depends upon the ability of the commu-
nifty to realize and to grasp the oppor-
tunities for scientific giving that are
presented. The success Of the Commu-
nifty Chest means that the community
must give until it hurts. for the hurt
is short lived and the pain Is beneficial
In this first effort Washington has not
given until it hurts. One great push
now and it will be over. viii you lend
your shoulder to the wheel?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05

Of both the Nicaraguan and Philippines
situations that induced the elder
statesmen to tell Mr.. Hoover that Gov.
Stimson is the man for the State De-
partment. The President-elect is known
to cherish some rather comprehensive
designs for and upon our ministry OF
foreign affairs. He considers that its
internal administration, ramifying into
the service overseas, is honeycombed
with, and handicapped by, good many
relics of antiquity, venerated as tradi-
tions. but useless in this utilitarian age
of international relations, concerned
primarily with trade.
Evidently Mr.. Hoover has found in
Gov. Stimson the broom which the
President-elec feels is well equipped to
sweep things clean and out in the De-
partment Of State.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
No "Paper" Ships.

The American people believe in the
American Navy. They are willing to
provide the craft necessary to keep the
Navy efficient. That is the only fair
Interpretation of the voting in the Sen
ate on amendments proposed to the
cruiser bill. taken in connection with
the manner in which the House put
through the bill at an earlier session.
These Senate votes yesterday indicate
the futility of the opposition to the
bill which proposes to give the United
States fifteen modern cruisers, a type
of vessel which is much needed by the
Navy. No measure of self-defense has
ever been under more persistent attack
from its opponents, either in this coun-
try or abroad.
The test yesterday. came when two
attempts were made to defer the time
limit set for the construction of the
cruisers. BY a vote of flfty-four to
twenty-eight, the proposal to defer was
turned down in the first instance, and
in the second by viva voce vote. This
is generally interpreted as assuring the
passage of the bill containing the time
limit clause The elimination of the
time limit clause would leave the mat
ter of laying down the cruisers largely
to the discretion of the Chief Execu-
tive. The critics Of such a proceeding
have insisted that it would mean no
more than paper" Navy, although
President Coolidge has urged the elm
ination of the time limit and at the
same time has indicated he would rec
ommend construction of considerable
number of these cruisers without delay.
The Presidents attitude has been that
the matter of construction should be
left to the Chief Executive, particularly
when the need of balancing the budget
must be taken into consideration at all
times.
The proposed elimination of the time
limit for constructing the cruisers. how
ever, was hailed as test in the Senate
on the actual construction of the ships.
The overwhelming sentiment in the
Senate, as in the House, is to go ahead
with the construction of the cruisers.
There is a feeling in the United States,
reflected In both houses of Congress,
that this country has been negligent
Of the Navy needs since the Washington
conference, which resulted in the lin
itation of naval armament. Great Brit
ain, Japan, France and even Germany
have proceeded with naval construction
programs. The SIS ratio estab-
lished for capital ships and aircraft
carriers at the Washington conference
in 1922. with the United States and
Great Britain at and Japan at 3. has
never been established for auxiliary
craft. The United States finds itself
far below this ratio strength In swift
cruisers.
The American people are not mill
taristic. They are not inclined to build
up armies and navies for the sake of
building them or for conquest. The
American people always hold out the
hope of international peace. But there
is a strong element Of common sense
in them, and it Is that common sense
which supports an appeal for an, ade-
quate Navy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
Mr.. Hoover's Premier.

Reports, authenticated to a degree
which compels respect, name Henry l..
Stimson Of New York, now Governor
General of the Philippines, as Mr..
Hoover's definite choice for the secre-
taryship Of State. Circumstantiality is
lent to the unofficial announcement by
the plans of Gov. Stinson for almost
immediate departure from Manila. They
call for his arrival at Washington in
time to appear as premier Of the Hoo
yer cabinet when it takes Office four
weeks hence.
The news is unchallenged at Miami
The President-elect has not hesitated
during the guessing season, which set in
on November z last, to disavow state
mentS imputing to him major decisions
in the field of legislation and appoint
ments. The Florida fisherman's failure
to deny the Stinson story, therefore,
comes near to being confirmation
of it.
If MFR Hooveris selection has fallen
upon this trained administrator, the
prediction can already be hazarded that
the country will approve the choice
Concentration will be all the heartier
when it Is known that Gov. Stin1son's
appointment as Secretary Of State was
cordially urged by Elihu Root and
Charles Evans Hughes, themselves both
former chiefs of the State Department
The prospective appointment will rec
ommend itself to the Nation from an
other standpoint. 1t exemplifies Her.
bert Hoover's purpose, expert though
he himself is. to seek the counsel Of
other experts in a field peculiarly theil
own.
Gov. Stimson's public record Is q
distinguished guarantee of high ca
pacity. He was United States attorne,
for the southern district of New Yorl
nnder President Roosevelt, Republican
candidate for governor of New Yorl
in 1910, Secretary of War in Presiden
Taft's cabinet, a lieutenant colonel o
Field Artillery with the American Arm.
in France, served as President Cool
idge's mediator between the warrinl
factions in Nicaragua and has cappe,
the climax of his career by placin
conditions in the Philippines on tn
most stable basis they have known il
years.
Doubtless 1t Was his skillful handlin
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05

The resources of our free information
bureau are at your service. You are
invited to call upon 1t as often as you
please 1t is being maintained solely to
serve YOU. What question can we
answer for you? There Is no charge at
all except 2 cents in coin or stamps for
return postage. Address your letter to
The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haskin, director, Washing
ton, D. G.
@. When was the last special session
of Congress held?-F. j.
A.. The clerk of the House of Repre-
sentativeS says that the last special
session was the third session of the
Sixty-seventh Congress and was called
by the late President Harding to con-
vene November 20, 1922. the proclama-
ton stating that public interest re-
uuired the session to settle important
matters. Actually, the matter considered
was the question of the merchant ma
rine act.
@. To whom is Wilma Banky mar
ried?-J. w.
A. She is the wife of Rod La ROGUE.
@. Was tobacco used or known be-
fore it was taken to England from Vir-
ElQld!-C. Is.
A. Tobacco was first introduced into
Spain from Santo Domingo and thence
into France in 1859. The culture of to-
bacco in the United States began i'll
Virginia with the earliest settlement of
that colony. There is record of 1t being
cultivated IN Jamestown as early as
1915.
@. How many passenger trains does
the Pennsylvania Railroad run a year?
p. G. r.
A. It runs 100000 passenger trains
year.
@. What printers set up the Dec
1aration of Independence? The Con-
stitution?-A. S.
A. John Dunlap and David Claypool
of Philadelphia.
@. How long has soap been easily
available as a manufactured product?-
L. c..
A. The manufacture of soap upon a
very large scale dates only from about
1923. in which year Chevreul published
his famous researches on animal fats.
The use of soap is of great antiquity. A
we'll equipped soap factory was found
by the excavators of Pompeii. Historical
records of Italy and Spain show that
soap was in use in those countries in
the eighth century. The soap berry was
used before soap was manufactured.
Soap berry is the common name of
several species of Sapindus and of the
fruits which are so rich in saponin that
they were employed for the same pur-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

Luck of the Road.
Good Fortune was writ in the Horoscope
Chart.
A wayfarer tells of his luck.
He drove into town with a confident
heart,
And he didn't get hit by truck.
He skidded across through the sleet and
the snow,
And into the roadside got stuck.
But he whistles tune and his heart is
aglow.
He didn't get hit by truck.
So, venture along, with the querulous
song
OF the fowl that will scurry and cluck,
And think on the highway I'm going
quite strong,
II do not get hit by a truck.
Now Destiny's only matter of course.
Well keep out of the slush and the
muck
If we do not encounter superior force
And find we're laid low by a truck.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
Mr.. Blackmer Is Served.

Few men have the distinction Of hav-
ing laws passed to meet their particular
cases. Harry M. Blackmer is one Of
the few. According to dispatches from
Paris, Mr.. Blackmer does not intend
to let this law interfere with his own
ideas as to whether he should submit
himself to examination In the so-called
oil scandal cases. He prefers to remain
outside the jurisdiction of the United
States, even though 1t costs him 100000
to do so.
The fact that it will cost him $780,
600 is due to the law which was put
through Congress-not at his sugges-
ton, however.
Mr.. Blackmer was one of those promi-
nently identified with the Continental
Trading Co. This company made sew
eral millions of dollars out of big deal
in oil. Some of its gains went into
bonds which were found to have been
turned over to former Secretary Of the
Interior Fall and others connected with
the leasing of Teapot Dome. When the
Government counsel in the oil lease
cases sought MI Blackmer as a ma
terial witness, Mr.. Blackmer had left
the country, and he has since avoided
its shores and process servers.
Efforts have been made to extradite
him from France, but without success.
The recalcitrance of Mr. Blackmer was
called to the attention of Congress by
Senator Thomas j. Walsh of Montana,
who turned the spotlight on Teapot
Dome, and at his instance law was
passed laying a penalty, running up
to 100000, upon a man who refused
to appear to answer a Government
summons, provided there was property
belonging to that man within the reach
of the Government. AS it happens, the
Government has put its hand already
on bonds belonging to Mr.. Blackmer
valued at 100000.
The public is naturally curious to
know why Mr.. Blackmer prefers to give
up 100000 rather than permit himself
| to be questioned In this case by Govern
nent counsel Mr.. Blackmer, accord
| ing to dispatches, has finally been
served with the summons of the United
States, but has indicated that he will
ignore it. AS has been pointed out
this recalcitrance is likely to cost him
a sum which to the average man spells
| little short of wealth.
Mr.. Blackmer is not the only one
whom the transactions Of the short
lived Continental Trading Co. seriously
involved. Some of the proceeds of Its
trading were found ultimately to have
been handed oyer to Robert w. Stewart
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
70 the use for republication of all ?eWs dis
patches credited to 1t or not otherTise cred
tied in this paper and also the Gcat news o
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05

II every person who disapproves of
alcohol would make an individual stand
prohibition enforcement would cost al
most nothing at all.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
1t Can't Be Done.

From the Louisville Times
Fairy Story.-Once upon time there
was a man who worked several difficult
examples for his young son and every
one of them was marked correct by the
teacher.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05

AL the honors that have been show
cred on him do not detract from Lind
bergh's distinction as Uncle Sans letter
carrier de luxe.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05

In order to prove that the world has
not forgotten its traditions Of gayety,
New Orleans renews its Mardi Gras fes-
tivities on schedule time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05
Universal Law.

OHlfeTSdk LAW
The Winter brings prospect drear;
And yet, in faith, we see
That roses must again appear
Where roses used to be.
We smile upon the drifting snow.
Although we sigh, we say
The seasons changes will bestow
Another Summer day.
These Einstein formulate obscure;
Perhaps we cannot learn.
But of this much we may be sure,
The roses will return.
"A politician" said Uncle Eben
Shakes hands so much dat his health
don't need no other daily. exercises"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-05

1t may be found possible to enable
Congress to dispense with subdivisions
and to operate as one large super
eficient committee.