Evening star., 1934-01-21

moment. When President Roosevelt
q week or two ago declared news
moratorium from Friday until Mon
day Stock Exchanges, money marts and
high finance paused as the news was
flashed by wire and cable all over the
world. Was this censorship over
American newspapers or was it gold
and silver?-The Lady or the Tiger?
certainly either one or the other was
about to Jump But which one?
The Stock Exchanges in London, the
Bourse in Paris, were filled with ex-
aggerated rumors as to what the Presl-
dent had up his sleeve-each one IN
terpreting the news according to his
own fears or particular interest. And
then sigh of relief when Mr. Roose,
velt announced in the most natural
way, that his news secretary. Mr..
Early, was going to take little holiday
and would be away from Friday until
Monday on a fishing trip, and there
would be nothing given out Perhaps
the President did not dream that his
casual announcement would be sWal-
lowed hook, line and sinker.
The London papers, especially the
Times and Observer have been devot-
ing considerable space and euloglstlc
editorials to President Roosevelt. Just
recently the Observer said, Clearly in
will. spirit and aspiration one OF the
strongest men in the world who might
yet do as much as any living man to
save the world This paper goes on to
say that when Mr.. Roosevelt took OF
fee. he had to face an appalling task
and. he grappled with 1t like giant
and has added to American history
portrait that never can be forgotten.
In comparing the American budget
Ct1nutdonS
Great Britain's crisis the writer llkens
it to a flea bite" While the Sum
day Times of the 7th instant says,
Roosevelt is the first President of
the United States since Lincoln who
has not looked smaller than his office
When Postmaster Farley was in Lon
don in December it was reported that
he was much interested in the workings
of the British postal system. II Is
hoped that comparisons are not always
odious but some times constructive, for
1t is of interest to note, that despite
the industrial depression, the British
post Office ends the year with sur
plus, estimated at about tl0,792,000.
Even with additional costs of postage
more letters than ever are being writ
ten in the British Isles, and seven bill
lions of postage stamps were sold dur
ing the year.
The telephone service, which is oper-
ated by the post Office, reports nearly
10, 900 new subscribers. The United
States and other countries have shown
a decline during hard times, estimated
at over 100000 throughout the world.
It seems part of the British post Offices
record year may be attributed to its
press agent, Sir Stephen Talents who
was appointed public relations officer,
the first Office of its kind in any British
government department.
Somebody. somewhere in Europe said
sometime ago that America, Italy and
several other European countries were
going medieval" Judging from
movement which originated recently at
a dinner in Washington attended by
Mr.. Frank A Vanderlip, sometime Sec
retary of the Treasury. Mr.. William A.
Julian. treasurer Of the United States;
DR., Alexis Carol of the Rockefeller In
stitute and Miss Nancy Cook. associate
of Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt and
president of the Val Kill Industries,
there is a strong tendency towards guilds
or local associations to foster the de-
velopnent of local industries such as
have from time to time sprung up IN
different parts Of the United States.
The idea seemed to be that tounda-
industrial guilds. where craftsmen un-
der skilled leadership can come to-
eether with the medieval guild idea as
its basis, would at this time be helpful.
Guilds existed in Europe from the
earliest times and were known in Eng
land prior to the Norman Conquest.
They may have been a survival OF the
trade corporations of the Roman EN-
pire. In England, however. the earlier
guilds we're of a Social-religious nature
and not until the twelfth century did
the trade guild appear The religious
guilds had grown wealthy under the
Plantagenet Kings. but were abolished
by Henry VIII, and their property and
revenues we're vested in the crown.
In England the guilds grew so power
full that they claimed especial rights
and privileges from the sovereign. The
exclusive rights now no longer exist In
England, having been abolished by the
municipal corporation reform act in
1835-and in Scotland in 1847, The
surviving corporation such as the Great
London Companies, retain little OF the
character of the ancient guilds and are
not called by that name.
Mrs. Roosevelt was a guest at the
dinner last week given for Sir Raymond
UnWin, British housing expert and re-
tiring president of the Royal Institute
of British Architects. She arrived,
owing to a previous dinner engagement,
Just in time for dessert, and was re-
ceived with the Difference which her
position commands, and her own per-
sonal magnetism, which impresseS one
with her sincerity. She comes in with
out fuss or feathers in the most natural
way, never exhibiting the least evidence
of WearineSs, Notwithstanding her days
are very full
Clever Mrs. Archibald Hopkins, who
originated the active movement to elm
mate alley housing in the Capital, and
who said at this dinner that Washing
ton was fast becoming ALLEY minded"
has found the Presidents wife tower
Of strength. because she is familiar with
housing propositions and knows slums
not only in the Nations Capital but
elsewhere.
Sir Raymond spoke on slum removal
and redevelopment. a subject which has
been agitated in Washington for more
than a quarter of century. His book
on Town Planning in Practice" is de-
hghtfully illustrated and has most in
triguing maps of ancient European
towns: the text must be Illuminating
to his profession. He is great traveller
and has paid several visits to America,
so was able to put himself en- rapport
with his audience, speaking with them
rather than at them. He could not see
why Americans should crowd into such
small spaces, and said. with houses built
10 to the acre, every family in the
United States could live in Kansas and
Use the rest Of the country as play
ground.
At the close of Sir Raymond's talk,
Mr.. Frederic A. Delano, uncle-m-law
Of Mrs. Roosevelt and president OF the
American Civic Association, said that
the privilege of asking questions could
not be general, but as Mrs. Roosevelt
had so graciously broken away from
other engagements, she could ask a
few. These questions showed her keen