davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-08-21
u. S. Sells Rifles Only
To Reputable Citizens
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
have also been interested in your
editorial, THE Theft of Arms" as has
Mr.. e. E. budding Of Huntington, w.
Va. I want to take the defense side
of the Government The United States
Government does not sell guns and re-
volvers to any but home abiding cit
liens.
The National Rife Association, of
which am former member. is an
organization chartered under the law
and co-operates with the War Depart
ment to promote rifle practice to bet
ter qualify citizens to serve their
country in time of war.
In order TO become a member Of the
National Rife Association every man
must show that he Is a good citizen by
having officials Of the town or county
in which he resides to certify to that
effect. and also pay a small fee of 81
In addition to the purchase of rifles
and revolvers, the National Rifle AsSo-
citation gives free subscription to
AIS AlC AilA lCdH 1tlIlC-
man, which is full of information
given by officers and ex-off1cers of the
United States Army concerning fire.
arms and their effective use
According to the statement of Mr..
budding he was refused the privilege
of purchasing a Government rifle be-
cause he refused to comply with the
requirements of the National Rifle As
sOciation to join the association by
submitting proof Of his good character
and citizenship and pay a small fee.
He also states that he bought q rife
and 1t may have been stolen. Well,
that Is just exactly what helps thief
to further his crime of stealing, by
purchasing his stolen goods. Why not
furnish the character recommendation
and pay the small fee of 81 and be-
come member of the National Rifle
Association and be able to purchase
rifles and revolvers that you know are
not stolen?
Now, in regard to rifles and other
equipment being stolen from National
Guard armories. wonder how MANY
OF us have visited such places. have.
and want to state that found many
OF them old dilapidated buildings
easy to enter, not a secure place to
store Government equipment. There
should be more and better National
Guard armories built in the various
States. in which all War. Department
equipment could be safely stored. You
never hear Of equipment being stolen
from our Regular Army arsenals.
L am an ex-soldier of Is years of
service. served under Gen. Pershing
In Mexico and during the World War,
| have gotten tired of hearing every
DICK. Tom and Harry condemn the
United States Government without a
just cause. FULTON GRIGSBY.
Hindman, Ky.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
Alaska has paid for itself countless

Alaska has paid for itself countless
times over the initial cost.
When the United States bought the
territory 1t was difficult Of access.
Now 1t is gained by speedy steamer
service and a railroad line has been
constructed giving access to the in
terror. 1t can be reached by sirplane,
as this formation flight of the Army
has just shown. In few hours. The
ten bombers, leaving here on the 18th
of July, reached Fairbanks on the
25th, making easy stages. On return
they left Juneau August II, last Fri
day, and reached Washington yester-
day, the goth, a three-day flight, and
that not a race against time.
There is special cause for gratifica-
ton in this flight of the bomb
ers, for it demonstrates the ability OF
the Army air force, which q few
months ago was under unjust criticism
for it's failure to meet the emergency
caused by the cancellation Of the air.
mail contracts, a failure due to mex
perience in the special technique of
scheduled flying, regardless Of weather,
over unaccustomed routes.
Those who saw the ten planes
sweeping over Washington yesterday
morning on their way to Boiling Field
had reason to be stirred by the spec
tacle. They had made a twenty
thousand mile flight without the
slightest accident. without departure
from their set program. and they re-
turned, as they left, in the always
thrilling formation that signifies per-
feet coordination of units and unfail-
ing discipline.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

A reader can get the anstDer to
any question Of fact by tpritfno The
Washington Eueninc Star Information
Bureau. Frederic J. HGSkin. Director,
Washington, d. c. Please tHclose
stamp for reply.
@. How many distilleries are oper-
ating in the United States?-F. w. B.
A. AS Of June. 1884. there are 46
distilleries authorized for the manu-
facture of whisky, for gin, for
rum, SO for brandy. 1t must be noted
that a few of the distilleries making
gin and rum also make whisky.
@. Which flowers soon make water
smell disagreeable?-V. T.
A. Flowers which rapidly foul the
water in which they are kept are
a&er, calendula, ceolosia, chry-
santhemum, forget-me-not, hell
anthus, hollyhock, hyacinth, mari
gold. mignonette, snapdragon, stock,
wallfiower and zinnia.
@. In what part Of the United
States have weather records been
kept for the longest period?--T. N.
A. In Charleston. S. c., where
they have been kept. with few inter-
ruptions, for 1876 years.
@. When did John D. Rockefeller's
| ancestors come to America?-G. ].
A. The earliest ancestor known of
John D. Rockefeller was John Peter
Rockefeller of Germany, who emigrated
| to America in 1928 and settled in
New Jersey 1743, where he resided
until his death, 1857.
@. Can q soldier in the Army who
has been court-martialed engage a
| civilian attorney to defend him?-J.
! c. L.
A. According to the Articles Of
War (Article I'D, an accused person
has the right to be represented in his
defense before the court by counsel of
his selection-civil counsel, If he SO
provides, or military, If such counsel
be reasonably available. When q
defense counsel is appointed by the
authority appointing the court, he is
usually an officer in the Army.
@. How many parks are there in
Washington, D. C.?-P. s. I.
A. The National Park Service says
that there are 682 parks (including
the smaller triangles). The acreage
is 5,236.
@. How do ice cream, sherbet, and
ices differ?-P. T.
A. Ices are the simplest and con-
tain water, sweetening, and fiavoring.
Some are made with fruit juice. Sher-
bets have milk or white of egg as
well as sweetening and flavoring. With
water as an ingredient, the beaten
white OF egg is added. Ice cream Is
the richest Of these frozen desserts,
and contains cream as we'll as milk,
sweetening. favoring, and eggs.
@. Why is every seventh wave at
the seashore large one?-H. P. H.
| A. Authorities on oceanography
are now of the opinion that the be-
lief that every seventh wave Is larger
is a matter of superstition. Tidal
shore waves do occur in series, one
of them assuming maximum height,
the others declining until a minimum
Is reached. The largest wave, how
ever, is not necessarily the seventh.
Q. For what State was the first
star added to the original thirteen?-
G. L.
A. Two stars and two stripes were
added in 1894, for Kentucky and Yer
mont. .,...,......,.,.... ,.,..... ..,...... ,..g;
@. What connection had Josiah
Evening star., 1934-08-21
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The star:
President Roosevelt's enlistment Of
Mr.. Eugene R. Black to be naison
officer between the administration and
the financial community is one Of the
most extraordinary developments OF
this topsy-turvy time. Can 1t mean
that at last a glimmer Of financial
understanding has penetrated the
White House? If so, what welcome
will hereafter await the Committee
for the Nation, Senator Thomas,
Senator Pittman, Prof. Warren, Prof.
Keynes, the commodity dollar advo-
Gates and all the rest of the tinkererS
who have sung their ditties for presi-
Dental ears in the past 18 months?
Is it possible that Senator Glass and
AL Smith are to be courted?
Consider the pathetic position OF
Mr.. Black. How can he asSuage the
feelings Of a financial community
that knows full well the costs Of the
squanderings Of recent months and
appreciates the gravity OF commit
mentS that mortgaged unnumbered
years to come? Bankers know that
todays public debt-27 Dllllons, plus
is greater than the total resources
of all the national banks of the land
greater even than such resources ever
were In any save four OF the most
prosperous years Of our Nations his
tory. They know that the carrying
charge of this enormous obligation is
greater than the total cost Of all the
functions of the Federal Government
in years of the not distant past. They
know that a gigantic bureaucracy,
with IS new agencies created by the
new deal and 95. .662 additional tax
eaters on the pay rolls. is not destined
in any brief time to eliminate itself
that Mr.. Farley's spoils system, on the
same Tammany plan that has prac-
tically bankrupted the City of New
York Is not soon to disappear. They
know that the Federal Government s
expenditure last year amounted to
Evening star., 1934-08-21
The Gigantic Task That Confronts
Gov. Black as Finance LiaisOn Officer

more than the gross individual in
come tax collections of six big years
from 1924 to l929-and that 1t more
than doubled the corporation tax COL
lectiOns of the greatest taxing year the
Government has ever had.
Knowing these things-and many
mOre-the financial community may
listen to sweet and hopeful words
from Mr.. Black, but to what purpose?
Can he charm away the fact that the
present occupant of the White House
has fostered or countenanced every
financial futility OF the past two
years? Can he successfully inter ths
memories Of each and all of them?
Can he wave a magician's wand and
cause the burdens of this fat deficit
regime to disappear? Can he give any
promise that there will be-ever-an
assurance Of the integrity of the
monetary unit? Can he say, for the
great Loan Chief" of the White
House. that the Federal budget will
be balanced at an early date? Can
he guarantee that no American indus
try will be traded OF in pursuit of
the will-o'-the-wisp Of foreign trade
or that government by ballyhoo for
the qualification of the moron vote
will ever cease? viii he have any
thing in his bag of tricks to obyiate
the necessity of increased taxation?
And last. but not least, will he be able
to say. with any degree Of confidence,
that the puerile sOphistries of the
Tugwells and JohnSons and their ilk
will ever be superseded by the solid
counsels Of true Democrats?
II Mr.. Black can do any Of these
things he may make the financial
community believe that the administra-
tion's program OF complete business
rehabilitation" is competent to cope
with the problems of the people.
Before beginning his task, however,
he would be well advised to consult
the shades Of DR.. Mesmer and Harry
Houdini. Or maybe DIR. Coue!
G.. w. HANCOCK.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
Sees Trend Toward
Single Tax Plan

To the Editor of The Star:
More frequent mention Of single tax
by various writers renews hope for
progress of society. While the single
tax is vital, 1t should be considered
only as part of the eternal plan. Not
all single takers will agree with this.
some making q religion out of the
mechanical principle. Henry George
himself was imbued with religious
fervor for the welfare of the for
gotten man" Of all time; however, by
his own testimony, the very study Of
taxation and social problems led him
ever onward and upward to finer
visions of the possibilities for, and in
herent worth of, his fellow men.
Single tax means equitable distribu-
tiOn of income by change in tax laws.
Single tax as a fiscal reform is only
one step in the march of human
progress. perhaps half way. A partial
list of these steps may be something
as follows, taken simultaneously or in
sequence: Attainment of comparative
personal freedom, political freedom,
free speech; adoption of the general
property tax. replaced by the income
tax; then single tax. leading UP to its
equivalent, public ownership OF land;
economic freedom; cooperation, COL
lectivism, eliminating in enough
brotherly love so that distinctions of
private property may fall into disuse
Personal rewards there must always
be, the profit system must always re-
main in some form; otherwise nobody
would work. However. the profit and
reward will be on higher plane: will
consist Of more substantial yet ideal
istic and altruistic benefits.
The kingdom of God on earth can
come at any time for some people; but
1t can come for everybody at one time
only after all these steps, and more,
have been taken. The single tax seems
to be the next step.
w. C. DUNCAN.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
Averting Trouble at Lorton.

Prompt, competent action by the
authorities has apparently prevented
rebellion and possible violence at
Lorton. Had the proposed strike" Of
inmates materialized as planned by
the ringleaders very serious situation
might have followed. That has been
: averted for the time being. The i'm
portant question now is whether the
: Department of Justice will take the
steps that lie within its power to pre-
vent future agitation by relatively
small group of bad actors" and re-
move that source Of danger.
The Lorton reformatory is the Dis
trict Of Columbia penitentiary, where
felons sentenced from one year to
life are imprisoned. But it does not
have the equipment Of the ordinary
penitentiary. 1t lacks walls, and, ac-
cording to official testimony before the
House Appropriations Subcommittee
last year, repeated warnings have
r. been given by prison authorities of
the dificulties threatened from an
undermanned prison staff. When
Federal prisoners with bad records as
trouble are sent to the re-
formatory the difficulties of main
tanning order are increased.
Capt. Barnard, superintendent of
the Districts penal institutions, says
that two weeks ago he requested the
Commissioners to petition the De-
partment of Justice for the removal
of nine agitators and bad actors"
from the reformatory and their trans
fer to Federal penitentiaries The
request seems to have gone the way
!. OF other recommendation word to
: the Commissioners, q word to the
corporation counsel, word to an as
ssistant, but never word to the De-
partment of Justice. The delay will
probably be ended now, but it is un-
fortunate that budding prison strike
was necessary to end it.
The population at Lorton has been
: steadily increasing and the building
, program there has not been able to
anticipate the increase that the next
few years will bring. The root of
most prison difficulties, in addition to
idleness, has been overcrowding. At
Lorton Capt. Barnard has been able
to keep most Of his prisoners at work,
removing the cause of much unrest,
but the problem Of proper supervi-
sion and Of adequate quarters for the
inmates has not been as successfully
solved.
:, The only immediate answer is prob
! ably the transfer, as recommended, of
the more dangerous element to insti-
tutions that are better equipped than
Lorton. One reason for sending the
more unruly type Of prisoner to Lor-
ton, however, has been the crowded
condition of. the Federal peniten-
tiaries.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Weather Wisdom.

weather WISDOM.
We're looking for sunshine, we're look
ing for rain;
Just when, how and where we can
scarcely explain.
But We know that in spite of our
frown or our smile
Well get what we're looking for after
a while.
The rain up In Maine may come fall
ing again
When Kansas Is where OF the drought
We complain.
The sun will come blazing in Summer
too hot,
While in Winter its mission is almost
forgot.
With long calculations we lay down
the rules;
We print 'em in books and recite 'em
in schools.
But ever since weather to earth be-
came known
1t has followed with freedom a way
of its own.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
Bewails the Tragedy of
The Mall Tree Cutting

10 the Editor OF The Star:
Another vigorous, but probably fu-
tile, protest ought to be made against
the cutting down of so many trees
through the Mall. especially In the
Smithsonian grounds, to make way
for the new roads from the CAPITOL to
the river. Those who raise up their
feeble voices against this arboreal
slaughter are accused ever of standing
In the way Of progress. Yet 1t cannot
be conceived that even the motorists
who will use the forthcoming roads
would have been so ruthless AZ were
the "envisioned" engineers, planners,
or what not responsible for the whole
sale destruction Of these trees-scraR-
gly pines that lent something Of q
strange, wild atmosphere to an urban
park; immense tulip trees that fairly
shuddered with grandeur and beauty;
magnificent elms and specimens Of
many rare and exotic species that can
never be replaced.
OF course, they say that 100 years
from now no one will know the differ
ence. Yet we who feel q pang as we
see these mighty monarchs fall by the
AK know that that Is not so. For
don't we, and shan't we always, rue
the unnecessary and savage destruc-
ton Of our American forests by our
wen-meaning but shortsighted an
cestors-a destruction that the coun-
try is now paying for in innumerable
ways? Yes, we shall know the dif-
ference 100 years from nowl And
curses may be heaped upon our rot
ting bones, as we today heap them
upon those who cut down our splendid
woods less than 100 years ago, all in
the name OF progress.
A New Hampshire poet, Frank H.
Palmer, has caught the tragedy of
tree-cutting In his memorable Quat-
rain:
Sharp in the forest rings the crack
OF his broad-ax kee, a. he
Sewers In one destructive hour
The bond Of . centuryi
Sic transit gloria nnundi.
PAUL H. OEHsER.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
Social Machinery.

Social Machinery.
Perpetual motion,
A previous fad,
Presented a notion
Exceedingly glad.
Machines built with cunning
And faith all secure
Would never stop running
While earth should endure.
Let every nation
Stand by and give heed
If some such creation
Is now what We need.
Let's have an invention
For country and town
That will need no attention
And never run down.
Evening star., 1934-08-21

Henson with Uncle Toms Cabtn7--
l. B.
A. The Rev Josiah Henson has
been called the original Uncle Tom
because Harriet Beecher Stowe in her
writing Of Uncle Toms Cabin" took
q great deal Of material and many In
son and Lewis Clark.
@. What will the population Of the
United States be in 1850 and 1851
A. L. A.
A Ignoring radical changes, It is
estimated that the population will be
l47000, 900 in 1850 and l6S ,00o, 900 In
1878.
@. Which term is correct: parcel
post" or parcels post"2-M. Mel.
A. The Post once Department uses
the term parcel post"
@. Which States do not have State
universities?-F L. H.
A. The once of Education says that
certain States in the Union have very
large private institutions Of higher
education and adopted the policy early
in their history not to establish State
universities. Connecticut, Massachu-
sets, New York, Pennsylvania and
Rhode Island have no State univer-
stiles.
@. How long has this country had
plant quarantine legislation B. r.
A. The act was passed in 1919 and
went into effect that year
Q. What does boxing the compass
mean?-M. c.
A. 1t means the naming Of the 80
points of the compass in their correct
order.
@. Please give the correct pronunci-
alton of Bacardi.-E. NJ.
A. The name Bacardi has a faint
accent on the first syllable. The fire.
quent practice Of accenting the middle
syllable is incorrect. 1t is the name of
the man who, for many years, has
made Bacardi rum. His main ware
houses are at Santiago de Cuba. The
rum Is made from Cuban sugar cane.
@. What is the mammoth Russian
airplane now building to be used forP
M. M.
A. The Maxim Cork, nearing COM
pletion in Moscow, is said to be the
largest airplane in the world. 1t will
carry 76 persons and will contain, in
addition to complete printing plant,
movie auditorium and radio trans
mitter. The plane will be used to dis
seminate principles Of communism to
the most remote parts Of the U. s. S. r.
@. What are moonfisheS?-G. r.
A. They are small aquarium ash,
allied to guppies There are five prin-
cipal VaritieS-black moon, spotted
moon, red moon, golden moon and
blue moon. They are natives of the
waters Of Mexico, Central America and
the northern part Of South America.
@. Were $50 gold pieces ever is.
sued by the Government2-F. r.
A. The Office Of the director of the
mint says that some were made for
the Pan-Paciflc International Exposi-
ton in 1915. There are none of these
coins in the mints or Treasury at the
present time. There were SIS, ,450 Of
the octagonal and s75,50o Of the round
coins made.
@. When did RachmaninofY write
the Prelude In c Sharp Minor?
What inspired it'll. H.
A. 1t was composed In Moscow,
Russia. In 1892. No particular incl
dent inspired this composition.
Evening star., 1934-08-21

Russia declares that Japan Is in
clined to be high-handed with refer
ence to the Chinese Eastern Railroad.
The railroad business in the Orient
is evidently developing some Of the
arbitrary methods that have been
shown in American finance.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
New Mode in Flights.

From the Boston Globe.
Gotham's grim, grimy Tombs Prison
with its Bridge of .Sighs" Is to be
pulled down and the new prison will
be on the top floors Of skyscraper.
How long to the first escape by air
plane?
Evening star., 1934-08-21

Threats TO kidnap Canadian brew
ers will cause no hope in snti-repeal
circles that the brewing business will
be abandoned because its profits are
so great as to offer especial induce
mentS to gangsters.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
Departed Test.

do you envy a man who has every
thing his own way in politics."
NO" answered Senator Sorghum.
Politics is good game and I like to
play it. When one man has won every
thing around the table, nothing re-
mains except to stop the game"
Evening star., 1934-08-21

Some of the success of Huey Long
appears to be due not to a hope that
he will make matters better, but to
the fact that he is in q position to
make them even worse.
Evening star., 1934-08-21
Progression.

Summer is the silly season;
Serious folks are growing GUNNER.
Stiffness for some strange reason
Grows still sillier every Summer.