davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1932-03-13
Modern Civilization at
the Threshold of Another
Turn i'm Cycle of
Evolution Thar VIII End
Present Depression,
Says President of the
University of Wisconsin

peace. We are still in this period.
hedonism suddenly became impossible for the
man In the street. The war shocked people
into a sudden realization Of their spiritual
bankruptcy 1t actually shocked them into
idealism- Suddenly they drew up on the brink
of the precipice, aware of the direction they
had been taking.
Millions, swallowing the comforting phrases
of flaming idealism and devotion to cause,
found in the war q great spiritual adventure.
They expected it to be vindication Of the
moral law. publication Of Western ideals.
This war, they believed, was to be "a war to end
3ar.' 1t was to make the world safe for
democracy 1t was to guarantee the weak and
humble forever against the aggressions of the
great and powerful. It was to provide fine
and lasting peace.
These naive principles were believed by the
masses and adopted sincerely as new article
Of faith. They caused o rebirth Of spiritual
forces. Ordinary people everywhere, sharing
the delusion that this war was different and
purifying unaware of the undercurrents Of
politics and diplomacy, arose to a new ideal
ism. Frivolities gave way to serious discussion
Men who had hitherto read only the sporting
pages found themselves suddenly attentive to
world policies and to questions of the day.
There was q new spirit Of public service
In place of self-seeking there was self-sacri-
flee. Men wanted to give. In their hunt for
a new world the defeat of an enemy was really
inconsequential. Nor was this mere emotional
frenzy. While it lasted it was genuinely
sincere and liberal move Of the masses.
ITHEN came the armistice. November 1918,
saw the beginning of the third phase, in
the throes of which we are still foundering.
For, though the armistice was celebrated with
fervor, the idealism which it represented ran
only few months more. The mad delirium
of relief at the close of the war brought with
it an epidemic of cynicism. Suddenly the
people realized that they had been let down.
One by one, resigned and disguised, they de-
serted their affairs Enervating cynicism sup
planted energizing faith. They lost confidence
in war; They lost their willingness to act in
common for the common good They lost
their compulsion to work for social recon-
struction.
War no longer appeared to be an effective
instrument of rational policy. It no longer
seemed an inspiration Of social reconstruction.
Everything was a disappointment The peace
conference was a nightmare. True, its dia-
logue was sometimes Oympian, but the action
Evening star., 1932-03-13

FuptCJ. mere OOS HetC SpEH OF puO-
lie service. In place Of seIfseeking
there ,0as sell sacrifice.
roughly speaking. is the pre-war era. The
second lasted during the war. The third began
with the days of the armistice and the fourth
seems to me to be just ahead"
Then you think our present plight began
before the WARP"
eyes It began when civilization reached
the complexities of industrialism without
understanding them. The first phase until
the war, was marked throughout the world
as a period of neopaganism, in which the world
went madly materialistic Not a frank healthy
type of paganism, such as characterized the
Greek and Roman eras long ago, but akin to
the perversions that finally caused the down.
fall of those great civilizations. Its gods we're
power, pleasure and profit: Power for the state,
pleasure for the people and profit for industry.
with these the people were content. They
didn't care that their creed was materialstic.
Everything in their lives 1ulled them into
security In their false gods. The Western
World well stocked with natural resources,
with ever-increasing means Of transportation
and ever-growing industrialism, seemed good
world There was no problem of over -popula-
ton as in the East. There was no climatic
difficulty to sap the energy and enervate the
desire for progress. There was no dearth of
raw material. So no one cared that, in the
scramble for material happiness, the things Of
the human spirit seemed forgotten All over
the Western World people went frankly pagan,
worshiping the god Of things and subjecting
spirit to matter.
Long before the actual crash of war the
thoughtful few were shivering with sense of
impending disaster. Historians of the future
will look on this period from new angle
realizing that though the Germans may have
given the final push that started the cata-
clysm, the real war guilt belongs to the entire
Western World, for every nation at that period
was vying with every other in the cult of
hedonism-the pursuit of pleasure. They WILL
therefore, be more interested in asking What
caused the war;? than Who started it,? and
they win recognize symptoms of neopaganism
everywhere, not just from Germany"
Did the put an end to materialism?"
Not all at once, for each Of these phases
of civilization merges insensibly into the next,
just as today in the midst of the depression,
are entering new period. However Au-
gust, 1914 brought an end to the materialistic
creed. Thereafter Imperialism could not
serve a state policy. Industrialism and
Evening star., 1932-03-13

After the tOar
came disiHu-
siOnnlent, an
age Of cynt
cLSnt q N d
reckless in
di renee.
Old dognas
lost their sa.
vor. The con-
centrdtion of
toar ioas fol-
Iot0ed by the
l.
Evening star., 1932-03-13

that followed was far from godlike. The high
promises of a new internationalism were soon
discarded for return to petty nationa, en-.
Versailles failed lamentably to supplement
Verdun. The statesmen failed the soldiers
The new world eluded the grasp of men and
world politics lost its soul. The result was
complete collapse of statecraft. In q short
while all the nations were back at their re-
dictionary policies.
Another characteristic of this period was
the abandonment of mems former willingness
to act in common to achieve q common end.
The solid front of war changed suddenly to
anarchic individualism. The concentration of
war was followed by the chaos of peace
People no longer tried to live up to ideals.
The old dogmas had lost their SAVIOR. Today
Western civilization actually swings from the
extreme of individual action to the bitter tyr
amy OF the majority Men are handicapped
by intellectual and social disintegration.
Furthermore, they have lost the compulsion
to work for consciously planned future.
During the war, convinced Of the mistakes of
their former aimlessness they planned real
social reconstruction.
Thousands of books and pamphlets pointed
the way to a world. But disillusion came
close on their heels, and all the nations, except
Russia, Germany and Italy scurried back to
their former habits and abandoned all interest
in social evolution. The very catchwords Of
In America we sought return of 'normalcy'
In England Bonar Law promised tranquility
though Lloyd George was explaining that tran-
guilty Is not policy at all, but yawn.' In-
stead Of planning for conscious control of en-
vironment in future, men adopted a devil-may-
care spirit of cyniciSm and set out ON q period
Of joyless debauchery, Indifferent to everything
except amusement"
WET VIII viii lead them Oaok'" Dr. Frank
"A new type of craftsmanship" DR.. Franks
eyes twinkled and he added quickly, sensing
another question: ST do not pretend to be q
prophet, nor claim to see ahead. But there
are indications, If men able to see them.
that this period of economic upheaval is near
ing close. The fourth phase is at hand,
phase which will be characterized mainly
by return Of idealism and by the beginning
of an era of social planning. It is time to
emerge from the pastoral era into the complex
chronological atmosphere of our day. 1t will
take more than frightened resolutions made
In the midst of depression to accomplish this,
but it can be done. Unhealthy economic opti-
mism must be replaced with something sterner.
Men have been drunk long enough on the heady
wine Of high profits babbling lyrically about
the new era, romanticiZing economics instead
OF examining them in the sober light of reason.
The planlessness that has marked the social
development of our economic order contrasts
incredibly with the meticulous planning of de-
tails under the same system. This is q new
age 1t Is complex, and social planning is
imperative, not for details here and there, but
for life as a whole Men like Stuart Chase
Continued on Seventh Page
Evening star., 1932-03-13


Youthful educator expressed his feeling that
the present unhappy state of affairs confront
ing the world is the end of the third phase of
evolutionary cycle of modern civilization,
o cycle ranging from Grass materialism to pure
idealism. This third phase, in which he sees
the majority of mankind now struggling, ne
characterized as the essence of cynicism, which,
In turn, he believes to be reaction from the
vaunting idealism and native faith of the
World War.
For" he explained 'in spite of the profteer-
ing and patrioteerng traitors OF the war days,
the masses of the people, fed by abstract and
flaming phrases, which formed a smoke-screen
for real policies and politics, were filled with
native faith that they were to see the rebirth
of a new world after the war. In those days
the war, to the inarticuate millions, seemed
to be great spiritual adventure, through which,
like leit-motif a naivete Of belief that
everything thereafter was going to be different
and better and finer.
THE result, he pointed out, tremendous
y letdown. Sooner or later all the fine
phrases and all the grand promises turned out
to be false, and the idealism that had colored
the war period changed into chilling, paralyz-
ing cynicism, which at present grips the entire
Western World. This cynical period, which he
calls the third phase of the evolutionary cycle,
has lasted, roughly, he says, since the end OF
the war, but is now nearing its close. What
will come after one can say; yet DIR. Franks
brilliant dark eyes shone as he ventured the
prophecy that already the sky is streaked with
the dawn of new day and pointed out that
many indications show it to be fair.
Historians of the future" said DR.. Frank,
looking at the present era, will probably
divide it roughly into four periods. each
markedly different from its predecessor. They
Will not, Of course, each country as a
separate unit, but will recognize that the con-
oitionS which have brought about the present
period Of profound and paralyzing depression
apply equally to the whole Western World. and
not to any one nation or group Of nations.
Today it is actually true that men are hungry
while food surpluses burst warehouse walls.
though there are indications that we are
already emerging from this situation into
new phase of social planning which will heal
the old order"
What are the four periods?" I asked.
when did they start?"
Iney are all phases of our present industrial
CIVILIZATION" he answered. THE first one,
Evening star., 1932-03-13

The first phase Of our
present industrial ciUiIiza-
tion, the pre-,oar period,
Uas an era Of neo-pagan-
ism, in ,Chich the Uorld
sOent madly maferialistic.
It's gods Were pOtUer,
pleasure and profit.
Evening star., 1932-03-13

Then C q N. e
h e World
Var Uith re-
birth Of spir-
ituaI forces.
People ,Oere
shocked into
q realization
Of their spir-
iflIaI bank
Evening star., 1932-03-13

ruptcy. There ,Oas a ne,o spirit of pub
lie service. In place Of seIf-seeking
there ,oas sell sacrifice.
Evening star., 1932-03-13
As Told to
RUTH L. FRANKEL.

ANKIND will emerge from the
!: !: !: =:
the debonair and attractively
Evening star., 1932-06-25
DOG SHOW DRAWS
GALLERY Of 1000
Eskimo Husky of Antarctic
Expedition Attracts Much
Attention.

With the Fairgrounds mascot as
host" and one of the dogs which went
with Admiral Byrd to the Antarctic as
guest of honor" Virginia Avenue Play
grounds first annual dog show yester-
day drew a field of about so entrants
and a gallery of more than 1000 spec
tators. Three awards were made in
each of five classes.
Chow Spitzie, owned by Miss T.
Elizabeth Smith, playground director,
who arranged the dog show, was the
host. He is known by all the children
and grown-ups who frequent the play
ground.
Tom Pratt. Eskimo husky, owned by
Charles E. Lofgren of the Byrd Antarc-
tic expedition, the guest of honor" "
was decorated with a tricolored ribbon
as a participant in the show. He was
on exhibit as a special attraction.
Officiate as Judges.
Judges Of the contest included DR..
William Mann. director of the National
Geological Park; DR.. D. E. Bucking-
ham, Geological Park veterinarian, and
DR.. J. R. Currey. veterinarian at Wash
ington Animal Hospital.
The winners were:
Spitz class-Lucky Boy. Mrs. Charles
Gray. 900 Ninth street southeast Fan
ME, Eileen Hazleton, 1923 Bowen road
southeast, and Mitzi, Mrs. Jackson, ad-
dress unknown.
Pekingese olass-Ming Toy Mrs
Kuhnert, 632 M street south
east; Big Boy, Dorothy Scheible, 827
L street southeast. and Pei Pink, Mrs.
Nellie Ketchum, 504 G street southeast.
Wins in Third Class.
Shepherd and pclice dog class-Count
Zebley Won Engle, Charles Columbus,
5524 Fourth street; Spot, Carmen de
Nevas 1851 K street southeast, and Pal,
Jean Davidson, BIS street.
Chow class-Ching, Margaret Mary
Edmonston, 2816 r street; Neig and
both owned by Mrs. w. H.
Wilcox, 2809 Charming street southeast.
Miscellaneous class-Little Ann, Bos-
ton bull, william Mattingly. 536 Four
teenth street southeast; Hotsi Totsi,
Maltese TERROR, Ethel Fuller, 951 Four
teenth street southeast, and Birdie, bird
dog, Thomas Wilson, address not given.
Evening star., 1932-06-25
THREE ARE INJURED
IN AUTO COLLISION
Woman Seriously Hurt When Cars
Collide on Pennsylvania
Avenue.

A young woman was seriously hurt
and two other persons slightly injured
in an automobile collision at Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Prout street south
east last night.
Bessie Norrington, 81, of the 200 block
of Fifth street southeast, was treated at
Providence Hospital for a fractured
pelvis and other injuries. Edward Pill
kerton, "a, and Dorothy Griffin. 26, the
latter of the 200 block of Fifth street
southeast, received minor hurts.
The three injured were passengers in
an automobile operated by George Van
Vert, %, of the 800 block of F street
southwest, police say. The other ma
chine in the collision was driven by
William Bonds, %, of the first block of
Forester street southeast, according to
police.
Robert Brisbane, 38, of the 210o block
of o street, a milk wagon driver, who
was injured at Columbia and Ontario
roads yesterday when the wagon turned
over on him after being struck by an
automobile, was pronounced improved
today at Emergency Hospital, where he
was taken after the accident. Brisbane
received a fractured vertebrae
The automobile which struck the milk
wagon was driven by Isadore Posner, %,
Of the $500 block of Ninth street, police
say. The horse attached to the wagon
was thrown to the street by the impact.
Evening star., 1932-06-25
JEWISH CONGRESS
TO OPEN TONIGHT
About 800 Delegates Dine.
World Session Plans
to Be Talked.

With approximately 300 delegates ex-
pected to be present, the American Jew
ish Congress will open its annual con-
vention with reception in the Wash
ington Hotel at o'clock tonight.
The primary purpose of the meeting.
which will continue through tomorrow
and the next day, is to discuss the ce-
sirability of holding a world confer
ence in Geneva to consider converting
a World Jewish Congress elsewhere in
Europe.
World Appeal Planned.
The object of the congress would be
to appeal to the conscience of the
world TO overcome prejudice against
the Jewish people
At the sessions here, problems con-
fronting Jews in all parts of the world.
including Prof. Guico Tedesch's plan
for the outlawry of anti-Semitism, "
will be discussed in detail
The first session tomorrow will be
presided over by Bernard S. Deutsch.
while Judge Julian W. Mack will pre-
side at the next session. Speakers at
the various sessions will include Senator
William E. Borah, DR.. Stephen S. Wise.
DR.. Harry Friedenwald, ]. X Cohen,
DR.. Mordecai Soltes, Dr. Never Jacob
SbCiAl, HlOA hui ace M. hdlleQ, LII. Max
Winkler. Prof. Leo Wolfman and Simon
E. Sobeloff, United States district at
torney at Baltimore.
White House Visit Set.
Delegates to the convention will be
given reception at the White House
at 1920 pm. tomorrow, it was an
nounced. Mondays sessions will be pre-
sided over by Israel N. Thurman and
Nathan D. Perlman.
Evening star., 1932-06-25
lanes R. Moore Is Chosen in
Finals of National
Competition.
PREVIOUSLY HAD WON
D. C. REGIONAL AWARD
Matched Against Eight Other Col
lege Speakers at Commerce
Department Auditorium.

James r. Moore, Washington and Lee
University student, last night emerged
victor in the finals of the national BIZ
centennial oratorical contest held in the
auditorium of the Department of Com
merce.
Moore. a native of Somerset, KY, was
presented the Official George Washing
ton commemorative gold medal by Rep
resentative Sol Bloom of New York, as
sociate director of the United States Bi-
centennial Commission, sponsor of the
Nationwide contest.
The Youthful Kentuckian had previ-
ously won the Virginia State contest
and the reginal contest for the East
Central section. which included the Dis
trict Of Columbia. In competing in the
finals last night, he was matched
against eight other college orators, one
of them a girl, who represented every
section of the United States.
Contest Is Close.
The Judges decision were tabulated
according to the low point total system.
Moore's low l8 was followed closely in
the scoring by the 19-point scores given
Felieien Iozes, Loyola University stu
dent from New Orleans, and Bryson
Havs. Columbia University student OF
Portland. Greg Miss Margaret @. Deg
nan New Haven State Normal School
student and the only feminine con-
testant, received ~.
There being only one winner selected,
the other contestants were presented
smaller silver medals marking their par
ticipatton in the contest, in which thou
sands of high school and college stu
dents throughout the country have COM
peted.
Immediately following the ceremonies
at the Department of Commerce, Moore
was ushered to the studios OF the Ma
tional Broadcasting Co, where he de-
liyered his Grafton over an extensive
network.
Victor in Other Contests.
The Washington and Lee student in
1928 won the National High School
Oratorical Contest and also the Ken
lucky High School Oratorical Contest
the same year. He has been member
of the Washington and Lee debating
team for three years. He has been
participant in the State Oratorical Con-
test in Virginia for two years and this
year was the winner. Moore toured the
country on a speaking trip in 1929 and
1880, visiting 225 high schools.
His winning grafton last night was
woven about the topic Washington:
Nation Builder"
Judges in the final contest were Rep
resentative Joseph w. Byrns of Ten
nessee, Miss Anne Madison Washing
ton, Ira E. Bennett, newspaper editor;
William Tyler Page and DR.. John C.
Fitzpatrick. In the absence of Senator
Simeon D. Fess of Ohio, the ceremonies
were presided over by Mr.. Bloom. Sew
eral hundred persons crowded the audi
torium to listen to the speechmaking Of
the youthful contestants.
Evening star., 1932-06-25
MISSING BANK HEAD
SOUGHT IN CAPITAL
Walter c. Davis of Colorado,
Wanted in $1,270, 900 Shortage,
Believed Here.

Washington police today were con-
tinuing their hunt for Walter C. Davis,
whose recent disappearance resulted in
the discovery of a shortage of 81 ,270000
in the assets of the City Savings Build
ing & Loan Association of Colorado
Springs. Colo, of which he Is president.
The Nation wide search for the miss
ing fnancier was taken up in the Cap
ital yesterday. following receipt of in
formation indicating he may be in hid
ing here.
Headquarters detectives, armed with
a description of Davis sent to police in
all parts of the country by Colorado
Springs authorities, began a check Of
hotels and other lodging places.
According to an Associated Press dis
patch, Deputy Attorney General George
Crowder OF Colorado Springs has issued
a fugitive warrant for the missing
building association president.
Davis, the dispatch said, is known to
have had $4,000 in cash when he left
Colorado Springs, presumably for New
York, where his estranged wife Is said
to be staying.
Davis was last heard from last Sum
day, when he telephoned his attorney
from New York. Information given
Washington police, however, indicated
he lett New York for the Capital shortly
thereafter.
Evening star., 1932-06-25
Workmen Raise Corner Stone
After Speaker Places
Papers Inside.
MORE THAN MILLION
SAVED IN CONTRACTS
Decline in Prices Provides Big Mar
gin Under Appropriation Figures
Without Skimping Work.

With Democratic simplicity. Speaker
Garner yesterday afternoon ofHciated at
the laying of the two-ton granite cor
nerstone of the new House Office Build
ing, which Is to be completed next
Winter
Accompanied by other members of
the New House Office Building Commits
sion, comprising Representative Edward
w. Pou, Democrat, of North Carolina.
ana Representative Isaac Bachrach. Re-
publican, OF New Jersey, the Speaker
Strolled over to the northeast corner of
the building at 3 o'clock and in a few
moments the workmen had the corner
stone in place. At Mr. Gamers direc-
ton there was no ceremonial.
Photographs Included.
In the cornerstone were placed photo
graphs OF the three members of the
commission, one of the late Speaker
Nicholas Longworth. under whom the
authorization act for the building was
passed, and David Lynn. architect of
the Capitol, who supervised the con-
Struction work. Mr.. Longworth was
chairman OF the Building Commission
at the time of his death and when Mr..
Garner succeeded to the speakership.
representative Pou was named as the
majority member of the commission.
Due to the decline in prices, the
building will be completed and fur
ntshed with wide margin to spare
within the original appropriation of
S1.5OO, 900. The acts of Congress au-
taorizing the appropriation, a history
OF the legislation and ell the contracts
to date also were put into the corner
stone.
The contract for the building itself
was made with the Consolidated En-
gineering Co of Baltimore, builders of
the Commerce Department Building.
for $5,270,000 the bid having been
much lower than was expected at the
time of the authorization.
Million Saving Due.
All the other contracts for additional
wori: have been accepted on low bids.
Only recently Congress authorized
100000 for furnishings to be expended
out of the original $7,500,0 appropri-
alton. The building has Isl suites Of
rooms each and IL committee rooms.
Due to the low bids that have been
submitted all the necessary furnishings
will be purchased at a cost of approx
mately 100000.
Savings also are reflected In other
contracts. For example, the electric
fixtures for which 100000 was set
aside, will cost only $4,000.
There has been no skimping of the
work and the building, when completed
and fully equipped, will represent q
saving OF more than $l,000,000.
Evening star., 1932-06-25
RECHECKING ORDERED
ON NEW CONSTRUCTION
Close Study Will Be Made Before
District Projects Are
Undertaken,

Before new construction is begun or
requirements of old structures and
projects are undertaken advisability of
making the expenditures will be re-
checked under policy adopted by the
District Commissioners yesterday at
the suggestion of Mai. John c. Gotwals,
Engineer Commissioner.
Maj. Gotwals contended replacements
OF any nature should not be made unless
1t is clearly shown the annual main
tenance costs Of the old projects clearly
indicate the economy of replacements
The Engineer Commissioner said ne
believed in practically every case of new
structures carried in the 1888 appropri-
alton bill now pending in Congress there
was sufficient justification, but he was
equally certain in view of changing con-
ditions even these projects should be
restudied before expenditures are made.