davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
War on the Drought.

Uncle Sam is modelling his mighty
forces for war on the drought. The
Departments of Agriculture, Treasury,
Commerce, Interior and War have
cleared for instantaneous action against
the common enemy. If Federal initi-
alive, aid and resources-and these are
boundless-are capable of routing him,
We shall meet him and he will soon be
ours The Government cannot bring
rain. but it can bring relief.
II is a fortuitous circumstance that
a seasoned engineer-almoner is in SUI
preme direction of these off1cial remedial
measures. President Hoover once upon
a time fought famine in Belgium, Po-
land. Austria and Russia. Three years
ago he was conmander-in-chief of the
organization which eased the situation
IN the Mississippi food region. He must
take a genuine zest-as he brings to II
an experienced hand-in graphing with
the catastrophe situation in the parched
Midwest.
Secretary of Agriculture Hyde, at
the suggestion of the President, has
sent missionaries to all farmers in
the drought area, requesting estimates
of their losses and information as to
what urgently needs to be done TO re-
pair them. Banks are being urged by
the Treasury to liberalize credits and
other facilities to distressed agricul-
turists. Army posts have been directed
to share their supplies with nearby
cattle breeders. Railroad executives are
asked to consider ways and means Of
easing the transport Of live stock from
underpastured sections and the ship
ment of feed into them where removal
Of cattle is not feasible. The Public
Health Service is officially stEessing the
need for rigorous enforcement of sssni-
tation measures. All along the far
nung Federal line the Governments
hand Is outstretched helpfully in order
that conditions already calamitous may
not become truly disastrous.
Something resembling . silver lining
70 the drought cloud Was presented At
the White House yesterday by Mr..
HUFF. president of the Farmers Ma
tional Grain Corporation. He told Mr..
Hoover that the drought would result
In w1ping out the large wheat surplus
and thus permit farmers to start next
year in better shape Corn prices have
ALREADY scared.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08

Yesterday. In conformity with q sched-
tile set by himself. Claudius H. Huston
OF Tennessee resigned as chairman of
the Republican National Committee.
His resignation was rendered to the
Executive Committee in special session
called for the specific purpose and
was Immediately accepted with a vote
of thanks for his services. The COM
naittee thereupon, In observance of its
own program previously arranged, elect
ed Senator Simeon D. Fess of Ohio as
national chairman and Robert H. Lucas
of Kentucky, now commissioner OF in
ternal revenue, as executive direc-
tor. This, with the election of a new
secretary, constituted reorganization
that has been impending for several
months as a result of the disclosure of
an embarrassing financial transaction
on the part Of the now retiring chair
man
This reorganization of the Republican
National Committee comes in the thick
Of a congressional campaign. 1t is I'M
a IScPhblAOcIA 4idAlhiNoP' @AAS
party is under fire, and 1t must conduct
a defensive campaign, which is dificult
to maintain effectively. The country
has suffered from economic reverses
within the past year that have checked
the prosperity that was in full swing
when Mr.. Hoover was elected and in
augurated. In addition national calann-
ity has occurred IN the widespread
drought that has already cost, 10 is esti-
mated, no less than billion dollars and
may cost another billion or even per-
hape more before nature sends relief.
For this latter i'll the Republican party
Is. of course. in no wise responsible.
Nobody is responsible. 1t is an act OF
nature, comparable with the great foods
Of a few years ago, comparable to an
Earthquake or a conhagration for which
no blame can be placed. But psyche
logically it reacts against the party in
power, against the present executive ad-
ministration, and this adds to the diff
culties Of the Republican organization
In maintaining its campaign for Con-
gress.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
Blackbirds and Starlings.

Dunkirk, n. Y, is suffering from a
| bird pest that is somewhat like that
Of the starting visitation here in wash
ington some months ago. Blackbirds
| to an uncounted number have descended
upon the town and persist in holding
night sessions of their diet or storthing
or whatever their parliamentary organ
iZation may be styled. Selecting the
city park as their meeting place, they
have roasted by thousands in the trees
and in their most raucouS tones
they have discussed farm relief tariff,
prohibition. naval reduction and every
thing else under the moon. At last
an outraged public, kept from sleep
during many nights, rebelled The city
fire department was turned out and
the birds were showered out of the
trees. 1t was a stiff fight for time,
but at last the squawkers were routed
and Dunkirk slept. Reports do not
state whether the diSintegrated senate
reaSsembled, but if the blackbirds of
Dunkirk are like the blackbirds of other
p4oSSn AlLS9 plObdbI9 iilSAGly IcCcSS6Q
before the attack of the fire depart
ment for subsequent sitting and talking.
WaShington's starlings have not been
in evidence for some time, owing doubt
less to their natural habit of seeking
the rural regions in the warmer season.
They are urban in their disposition
only in Autumn and Winter When the
nipping airs begin to blow the starlines
come to town for comfort and COM
pany, and that is when the nuisance
starts, And no devices yet found can
disperse them. They may be shifted
about from point to point like the
hoboes OF old, but they persist in pick
ing roosts where they can talk for an
hour Or two after sunset. There is
one thing to be said for the starting
as distinguished from the blackbird
and that is that his voice is not 50
harsh. lie has by many been mistaken
as blackbird type because of his
glossy, Eidescent plumage. He belongs.
however, to another family of birds
The two have in common the trait of
sociability and fondness for human
company.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
Brutal Treatment of
Criminal Suspects
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
When will this country adopt civil
lized measures In dealing with suspect
ed criminals under arreStp Will not
the evidence in the individual case be
sufficient without adopting barbarous
methods to effect a confession? To
hound and pound a prisoner until he
is physically exhausted and exact and
extract confession from him while in
almost a state of coma is in nine
cases out Of ten to get an enforced con-
fession that means little in the eyes OF
the law. ana, in fact, should not mean
anything.
Again, I have known a policeman,
when a person was seriously hurt. to
ask the injured person q series Of cues.
tions that only a person in state OF
perfect normally could intelligently
answer and then put the replies OF the
injured person on his "blotter" as a
correct solution of the accident.
The merciless grilling of persons
under arrest and injured persons In
emi-conscious condition and accepting
the findings or statements as reliable
data Is not in keeping with common
sense and an enlightened civilization.
Heather Rome had to halt from
scoufging Paul. to enforce confession:
when he asserted that he was one OF
her citizens. To be a citizen OF the
United States of America should not be
any less effective as q protection from
inhuman treatment and make the one
who possesses 1t immune from the In
dignities Of thosA In whose CUSTODY ne
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
'sBad Manners
From Virginia.

To the Editor of The Star:
In an editorial under the above cap
ton in The Star of July 20 you severely
criticized an open letter of Mr. Samuel
B. Woods of Charlottesville, Va, to the
British Ambassador protesting his &C
ton in taking advantage Of the i'm
munity granted his ONCE to do what
the citizens of the United states may
not do, viz, import intoxicating liquors
into this country for beverage pur-
poses.
Your editorial states that Mr.. Woods
letter was insulting. Granting that 1t
did not take the usual course OF diplo-
matte communications, 1t surely was q
direct, STRAIGHTFORWARD statement OF
facts, and it seems to me the first IN
suit was offered by the Ambassador
and all others who take advantage Oh
their immunity to do those things In
our country which they know are I'M
lawful for our own citizens to do, such
as the disregard of traffic and prohl-
bition laws, which are made for the
protection and benefit of all our peo-
pie. whether citizens or not.
l cannot agree with you that 1t con-
Germs only the Ambassador. 1t seems
to me it concerns the whole American
people. and 1 am glad that Mr.. Woods
has the courage of true Vlrglnlan 10
protest against this insult, not only by
the British Ambassador, but the rep
who take unfair advantage OF the I'M
munity granted them while serving
here as representatives OF their re-
spective countries.
Your editorial designates this repre-
sentative as "our guest" and as such
should be treated in the usual formal
manner. True, but when the guest so
far forgets the duty owed his most as
to completely ignore the customs and
Expressed wishes of that host, then, in
my opinion. formalities may be waived
If necessary in order to bring the guest
to proper realization OF MS OFFENSIVE
conduct.
Virginia Is known for Its courtesy
and hosuitality. It's citizens are kind,
considerable and law abiding, but when
provoked beyond endurance by disre-
gard of its customs and traditions there
will always be found among Its citizens
men like Patrick Henry and Thomas
Jefferson, who will point out the right
even though the admonitton may not
be couched in so-called diplomatic
language or delivered through the GUS
tomary diplomatic channels.
1t does seem to me that when law
Is passed by an overwhelming majority
of the American people and continued
on our statute books for 10 years. with
out any serious lawful effort to repeal
it. 1t is about time our foreign guests"
begin to sit up and take notice of the
American sentiment so often expressed
and not be led by the blatant outburSt
of a comparative few vets, who, like the
one pig caught in the fence, make
more noise than the thousands quietly
feeding in the field.
l believe the direct and forceful
manner adopted by Mr.. Woods will be
approved by large majority OF our
true American citizens
NJ. Z. CHURCH.
Fails Church Va
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
Rock Creek Pollution,

Publication of Rock Creek by freeing
it from sewage pollution should be made
one of the chief detectives of the park
planners now working for a more beau
tiful Capital. Rock Greek and the park
that it adorns are assets that will in
crease in value with the years, and theii
preservation is essential. 1t is encourag-
ing to note that the Districts new En-
gineer Commissioner, Maj. Gotwals. has
interested himself i'll the Rock Greek
pollution problem, and, with Col Grant
has undertaken a careful study that
should lead to solution.
Unfortunately, Kidding Rock Greek OF
pollution is not a matter that can be
handled alone by the District. The
chief offender is Maryland, and the real
cure can come only through careful and
close cooperation between Maryland
and the District. The District, by eX-
pen6iture of a million dollars or so,
might eliminate its own contribution Of
impurities, but the chief source is found
in Maryland and must be eliminated by
Maryland. Extension Of the Rock Greek
park system into Maryland and the in
terlocking functions Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
SIGN and the Maryland Park Commission
has brought about a working alliance
between the District and Maryland that
should be helpful in creating better con-
oJr ~
ing sewer systems that will lessen Rock
Greek pollution Others will follow
In the meantime the District can
adopt its own program for prevention.
The estimates submitted to the Com
missioners this year contained a $780,
900 item for extending the Piney
Branch trunk sewer and eliminating
the pollution that finds its way to the
creek through Piney Branch. 1t is not
known whether the item was approved
by the Commissioners and forwarded
to the Bureau of the Budget. But it
represents at least one of the steps on
the part Of the District that are nee
essary.
1t is dificult TO picture a Rock
Greek Park without a Rock Creek. But
in recent years the volume of water
has decreased and the water that re-
mains has increased in the impurities
it carries. DeforeStation and other
work along the upper reaches of the
creek have cut the stream down to q
mere branch" and unpleasant odors
in these days of drought. attest the
source Of some Of the water that re-
mains. The condition today results
from lack of foresight and careful
planning in the past. The corrective
measures still possible should be zeal
ously pushed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08

Washington is the worlds greatest
storehouse of all kinds OF knowledge.
You can draw on it free OF charge
through our bureau there. Any cues
ton of fact you may ask VIII De
answered promptly in personal letter
TO you. Be careful to write clearly, give
your full name and address and mclose
2-cent stamp for reply postage. SEND
your inquiry to The Evening Star
Information Bureau. Frederic j. Haskln,
director, Washington, D. c.
@. Are Phil Cock and Joe Cook re-
lated to each other?-M. I.
A. Phil Cook, N. B. G. entertainer,
is not relative of Joe Cook, the stage
personality.
@. What will destroy field crabs on
golf course ?-H. w, r.
A. The Biological Survey states that
you should put a few drops of carbon
bisulphide in the holes on your golf
course, and then fill them in.
Q. Please give the names of Indian
tribes in South America which begin
with An. r.
A. Three tribes whose names begin
with A are Aymara Indians of Bolivia,
Araucanian Indians of Chile and Aztec
Indians of Peru.
@. What State has the largest fund
for road improvement?-T. H. D.
A. The total funds available for use
of the State Highway Department OF
New York in 1928 was $106S24. 633.
This was the largest sum available Tor
such purposes in any State Of the Union
during the year.
@. How many poisonous species OF
| lizards are there in the United States?
e. p.
A. The ella Monster, a large lizard
| of the Arizona and New Mexico deserts,
is the only poisonous lizard i'll this
country.
O. What percentage Of gasoline is
allowed for shrinkage in storage plants?
| &C. B. S.
A. The evaporation loss from each
| tank of gasoline must be determined by
| actual measurement over a considerable
| period of time. The average loss in
midcontinent was found by the Bureau
of Mines TO be 1.8 per cent in three
months.
l-SS:. s. Whers was the nfS' county PARK
A. The first in America was set aside
| by Essex County. N. j., in 1895. Thirty
| six counties in l9 States nave now pro-
vided these recreation grounds.
@. If Federal Reserve or nationa
| bank note is completely destroyed, who
| profits?-T. G..
A. The loss benefits the United
States Treasury to the amount OF the
note.
@. What causes earthQuakes?-G. F
A. Earthquakes are occasioned By
| two principal causes, subterranean con-
cussion from tectonic or volcanic causes
Stresses accumulate in the strata to
point at which the elastic limit is ex
| ceeded and the fault results, probably
due to shrinkage in the earth's interior
by reason of cooling.
O. Who was called the Red Prince By
| the men in the Prussian Army?-V. b
A. Prince Frederick Charles, the Ia
nous general in the PruSsian Army, wa:
so called by his men because his brigh
red uniform was always to the fore"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

@. From whom did the Lees inherit
Arlington?-B. w. q.
A. Arlington was the property of Mrs.
Robert E. Lee. She inherited the
estate from her father, George Wasn-
ington Parke GUSTS, grandson OF
Martha Washington.
@. How light and how strong is as
beStos?--J B. E..
A. 1t would be difficult to say how
light asbestos is in its native form IL
is quite a heavy stone, but IL may De
fuffed ND until it is very light. Inc
amphibole variety is very weak ana IS
used principally for pipe covering, etc:
The chrysotile variety is strong ana
long enough may be used for spinning
O. What was Lord Roberts opinion
of Stonewall Jackson?-W. c.:
A. Irwin Cobb quotes Lord Roberts
as SAYING of the Civil War period:
America produced some nagnlneent
soldiers in those four years ana the
greatest of them. to my way OF thirK-
ing, was Stonewall Jackson
@. What is simple test for deter
mining how we'll person can near
j. H. M.
A. The usual test for determining the
question of how we'll person can near
| is the ordinary speaking voice test
given at a distance of 20 feet; ana the
whispering voice test given at distance
/ of 10 feet These tests are given so
/ that the examiner can determine the
/ ability of the person TO repeat WORDS
| which he has given at 20 feet ana
whispered DIT 10 feet. The tests men
toned are merely average tests, and
! ear specialists employ more accurate
methods.
| @. Why is a woman never chosen
poet laureate Of England? Who makes
! the selection?-C. l..
A. We know of no prohibition which
prevents the selection OF woman as
| poet laureate of England except the
| fact that there is no precedent for sucn
choice, and there probably is no woman
i whose work is sufficiently notable TO
make such a selection possible. In
theory the choice is made by the King.
Actually the decision is said 10 be
made by the prime minister.
@. When a man is not sure whether
an occasion calls for a tuxedo or full
dress clothes, which should he wear
F. r. =.
is not a question of being overdresseo.
The swallowtail is appropriate Tor
either formal or informal occasions,
while the dinner jacket Is not.
@. How much coffee does the United
States irnport?-C. S.
A. About 400 600, 900 pounds Of COT
fee are imported annually.
@. How large are the lakes OF Kill
larney?-W. E. B.
A. The Lower Lake is five miles long
and three miles wide. The middle lake,
known as Tore, is two miles long ana
mile wide, and the Upper Lake u
two and one-half miles long and hall
mile wide. The Upper and Lower
Lakes are dotted with lovely islets.
@. Are any viking ships still in ex-
istence?-P. S.
A. In Oslo, Norway, is preserved q
1t is so feet long and l6 feet wide. In
its sides it has 16 portfolios showing
that it was manned by 80 oarsmen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
Salt Water TafY.

The three young men locked up on
charges Of highway robbery IN con-
nection with the recent hold-up of q
bank messenger may have cause TO
rzIrninats, in thu solitude Of their celia,
upon one OF the foibles Of mankind
that. unhappily, is not confined to
robbers and thieves. Every man at
his best state is altogether vanity" but
IN his worst he should shun its tempta-
lions lest It lead him to furnish the
police with the clues that lie in auto
mobile tag numbers and boxes OF salt
water taffy.
When the three young men kid
mapped the bank messenger and
dumped him in Rock Greek Park, their
vanity over having so easily come into
possession Of some $4,000 in hard cash
got the best Of them, and one Of them
bosstingly gave the messenger the TAG
numbers Of the automobile. Later,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
Locating Mr.. McCarl.

Controller General McCarl evidently
seeks TO emphasize, by symbolic geo.
graphical location, the clustered and
sacrosanct nature of the establishment
over which he presides. His objections
TO the location selected for his ONCE, a
fine new building to rise at Twelfth and
B streets, is based on the fact that 1t
would be in the midst Of group nous
ing the executive branches of the Gov
eminent. The General Accounting Office
is responsible TO Congress, and the
thought of such proximity to executive
functions as tentatively decided by the
Public Buildings Commission seems 10
have led the Controller General to view
with alarm
The structure to be built at Twelfth
and B streets was originally intended to
house the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, but it was decided that, in view
of the demands for space from this
growing organization, the building would
be turned over to Controller General
McCarl. In Directing, however, Mr.
McCarl is not fighting the decisions OF
the executive branch of the Govern
ment as much as the legislative branch
Allegations to buildings In the Avenue
triangle are made by the Public Build
ings Commission, presided over by Seq,
ator smoot, and the majority Of the
mambers Of the commission are mem
bers Of Congress.
If the Public Buildings Commission
takes cognizance of Mr.. McCarTs OBJ.
jections and puts his Office somewhere
else, there are endless possibilities fol
further complications based on prefer,
ence for locations according to the
functions of the establishments con
cerned The Interstate Commerce Com
mission. for instance, will obviously seel
place as near Union Station as possible
The Navy Department will want 10
cation overlooking the river and, If
l Is not too late, serious opposition nigh
be expected from the United States Su
preme Court, which will be almost with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08

in a stones throw Of the Senate once
Building. The seating arrangements at
washingtons official dinner parties will
be relatively simple as compared to the
difficulties Of locating governmental es-
Establishments according to the nature OF
the work they perform.
After all, the functions of Mr.. Nc
Carts Office call for a strategic position
among the executive departments. The
symbolism might be carried cut by
erecting high wall around the General
Accounting Office Building, and string
ing barbed wire and scraps of glass
along the top. From the inside court
a mortar could be placed so that some
of the bombshell decisions of the con-
trolIer general, carefully aimed, would
be shot out from time to time into the
lap of the cabinet officer directly con-
cerned, and an underground tunnel
could provide communication with the
Capitol.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
Death of the Son
of Richard Wagner
ro the EDITOR of The star:

To the Editor or The star,
When nature creates genius it
seems TO give its all for while. Nature
rarely confers a second distinction
through near inheritance. The child
of 3 genius is rarely genius. So the
child of Byron. Browning, Dickens,
Bach, Berlio2. Wagner.
Siegfried Wagner has just died. The
son of a great musical composer, he
followered in his fathers footsteps and
struggled manfully to accomplish by
writing q number of operas. These,
however, may not give definite i'm
preston of greatness. While not prob
ably considered even an orchestral d.
rector of the first magnitude, musi-
cal world is grateful to Siegfried
Wagner for what he has so ably done
ard also grateful that he should have
lived in Bayreuth to absorb the tradi-
tons of Wagnerian opera and prac-
tically to apply these after the death
Of his distinguished father. And later,
when the dinaness of energy and life
came to Cosirna. the mother, he man
fully attacked the great problems of
organization and opera presentation.
and was q sASeeess.
When Siegfried Wagner was born
Richard Wagner composed the beauti-
full "Siegfried Idyl," an orchestra work,
melodiots and of great tenderness. It
was given at his villa, Triebchen, on
Lake Lucerne, on Cosima's birthday,
and may be considered as a lullaby to
the child and serenade to the mother.
1t was my privilege to visit Bayreuth
at one of the festivals with Leopold
Godowsky. the pianist. I saw the
grave of Richard Wagner in the little
garden at the rear of the home, Wahn-
fried And here Cosima and her son
Siegfried will also probably rest, the
three who so earnestly worked for an
ideal and gave unique musical dis
tinction to Bayreuth.
OTTO TORNEY SIMON