Evening star., 1934-08-19

~ temperance feelings OF late
Wv and the liquor men are
fighting the proposed in
crease of the cost of q
saloon license. The license is now Sl0(
and 1t is proposed to increase this tt
5000. The saloons are up in arms
against it, but the probabilities are
that the increase will be made The
better class of saloons here make
large pIofits. They can easily afford
to pay. The other class are low dives
and the sooner they are done away
with the better. Drinking in Wash
ington is not so bad as it was years
ago, but it is still bad enough. There
are saloons in every block and all over
the city. It is a queer quarter where
you have to walk 10 steps to get a
drink.
Numbers Game.
Another vice that is troubling Wash
ington at present is its gambling by
means of lotteries. The fight between
the Postmaster General and the
Louisiana Lottery has called special
attention to this feature of the Ma
tional Capital. The whole city-at
least all of it except the very elite-is
given to dealing in lotteries. Clerks
and department people especially in
vest in them and the citizens and
laboring classes everywhere either
purchase tickets outright or club to-
gether to buy them. The policy busi-
ness Is also played to an alarming
extent, though a movement is now
under m rryiT1o M ie
sort Of betting on numbers which give
the better about one chance in ten
thousand of winning The smallest of
sums CAT be so invested. Day laborers
and Negroes lose by it daily This
tendency to indulge in games of
chance is due somewhat to the char
acter of the people who live in the
Capital Most of them are on salaries,
and many Of them live from hand to
mouth. Such people are always more
inclined to gamble than those who
know the value of q dollar by its
investment or who are in little busi-
nesses of their own. Again, the climate
seems to have much to do with it.
1t is a curious fact that in all warm
climates the people are more inclined
to gamble than in cold climates or
even In temperate zones. Look at
South America! There every block
contains a lottery shop, and Italy,
Southern France and Austria are full
of banks, so called, organized for this
purpose.
Henry Watterson, Editor.
Editor Henry Watterson, ex-Mem-
Der of Congress, is the greatest Demo-
crat in Washington at the present
time outside the Capitol, and as far
as brains are concerned he is per-
haps greater than any man in his
party in official life. With no ak to
grind, he is honest in his expression
Of his convictions, and with a wide
experience and thorough knowledge
OF the interior workings of his party,
he is as well posted as any man in
1t. When met him last night in
the lobby of the Ebbitt House
referred to the statements that have
been going the rounds of the press
insinuating that he was the power
behind the throne, or rather behind
the Speakers chair, and that he was
to manipulate Mr.. Carlisle's actions
during the coming Congress.
1T is all q mistake" he declared.
"Mr. Carlisle thinks and acts for
himself. He is a great man and I
think he is acquitting himself we'll
In his present position"
What do you think, Mr.. Water
son, should be the action of the
Democratic party in regard to the
tariff"
That is a question:" replied the
free-trade Kentuckian, that cannot
be answered in few words without
careful figuring and a full investiga-
ton. One man cannot answer il.
The Democrats will be for a tariff
Tor revenue only, and the Republi-
cans for protection. This is the
great question of the day and will be
so until 1t triumphs. The tariff stands
at present in the same position that
the question of Negro slavery did
years ago; and it is as sure of final
success as abolition. I want the Dem
ocratic party to adopt it because it
Is right. II free trade is right, the
Democratic party should espouse it
though 1t never carry an election
and though its members never get an
office"
do you think the Democratic party
can carry the next presidential cleo
ton on a tariff for revenue plat
form?" I asked.
Yes" replied Mr. Watterson, "I
do. The South is certain to be solid
for the Democratic party on a tariff
for revenue platform, and there is
little doubt but that we could carry
the election"
i see that Mr.. Carlisle is spoken
OF very much as a fit presidential
candidate" said
Yes" was the reply, but that is
always the case when any man re-
ceives political elevation in the United
States. He is chosen for high office
and he straightway becomes a nine
days candidate for the presidency.
! do not think Mr.. Carlisle would
make an available candidate"
Diplomatic Dress.
Congressman Richelieu Robinson,
the tail-twister of the British Lion.
Is bound to keep himself before public
His last move regulating the dress
which our ministers shall wear in ap-
pearing at court in Europe is a great
stroke and will satisfy the Irish con-
.stituents of Richelieu that he is doing
his duty. It Is a small business. how
ever, and Congress may have sense
enough to let it die without action.
The general idea held as to the
diplomatic service is that it is a soft
place to send some wealthy man who
wants TO 60 into court society abroad
Congress seems to have little idea of
sne real duties and the great obliga-
tionS which should devolve upon q
minister, and they do not reflect that
In many cases treaties are made over
the tea table as well as in the council
chamber. The Minister who repre-
sents his country we'll should not
only be a great statesman, but he
should have also that social culture
and education which will fit him to
stand on an equality with any courtier
in the world
Richelieu wants our ministers to
uear "thp Simnlp dress nf an American