davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-01-17
Political Observers Get Shock
From Rhode Island Democrats

wilder grammar school pupils of the
last generation. Changes are belated
but startlingly abrupt in Rhode Island"
1.-THE action of the Rhode Island
Legislature approaches nearer to rev.
olutionary proportion than that taken
in any other State" thinks the Dam
bury News Times. "The Legislature
breaks with a code of judicial law
made laboriously during many years,
and for the specific purposes of Great
ing institutions more congenial to the
people"
ITO queries about their haste.
Democratic leaders replied that re-
forms are seriously needed" says the
Watertown Daily Times. Still such
maneuverings are strange, especially
in New England" adds the Daily
Times, while the Brooklyn Times
Union observes that "a more moderate
course, that would have accomplished
the desired results not so hastily, nor
in such an obviously vengeful spirit,
would better accord with New England
tradition" The Bloomington In)
Daily Paragraph wonders about the
reaction Of "the rank and file OF
Rhode Island voters" and the Apple
ton (Wis.) Post Crescent asks: Must
we be forced to the conclusion that
our legislative bodies are the most
partisanly unfair and intemperate OF
any of our political insttutions?
Evening star., 1935-01-17
Three Incidents.

AS a climax to a day Of battle,
murder and sudden death in this land
of international peace but domestic
turmoil came a prison break yester-
? day at San Quentin, Calf, where four
convicts rounded up members of the
State parole board at luncheon in
the warden's home, desperately and
perhaps fatally wounded the warden
and escaped with several members of
the board as hostages, The convicts
were armed. it is now said, with guns
supplied to them by paroled convict
through the connivance of a prison
guard who had been bribed with a
thousand dollars. This ex-convict
was afterward captured with two COM
panions. The fugitives' we're also
taken.
This incident-it is 50 nearly a
Evening star., 1935-01-17
Mark Twain Year.

Celebration of the centenary of the
birth of Samuel Langhorne Clemens
already has begun. The actual ami
versary will be November 80, and the
commemoration doubtless will reach
its apex on that date, but meanwhile,
it is indicated, all 1885 will be a
Mark Twain year.
And it may be worth while to note
that the entire Nation properly may
share in the event. Clemens was,
above everything else, an authentic
American. His liberal idealism, held
in check by natural caution and
to certain extent by the pressure of
environment, was basically native. His
sentimentalism and his fellow feeling
were elementally natural to his peo-
pie, his time and his place. His humor
obviously was generic in its character,
Even his style, at its best and at its
worst, was of folk origin. No other
portion of the globe and no other
fraction of the human race could have
produced either the man himself or
his books.
The geography Of his career, surely,
supports this point of view. He first
saw light Of day in pioneer Missouri
at Hannibal, on the Mississippi. As q
youth he worked his way" to St.
Louis, New York, Philadelphia, back
to Keokuk, Iowa, then to Cincinnati
and finally to New Orleans. In 1861
he "roughed it" to Nevada, and IN
Evening star., 1935-01-17
Pedestrian Plays Large
Part in Accident Toll
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The star:
Having read Amos A. Fries letter in
The Star with good deal of interest,
feel that there is one important
phase of the traffic death toll in WASH
ington that he has missed completely:
That is, the part played by the pedes-
trian. The pedestrian, of course, has
his right. His difficulties are great,
particularly at busy downtown inter-
sections, where, if he obeys the traffic
lights, he is in danger of being run
down by motorist making a turn.
Not, however, the one making the left
hand turns, as the District of Columbia
authorities so firmly believed for many
years, but those making right-hand
turns, who sneak up behind you.
Nevertheless, at the intersections in
question, it is my belief, based on
observation, that the motorist gives
the pedestrian at least as good a
break as the pedestrian gives the
motoriSt.
People, who when driving an auto
mobile, will deliberately run down fell
low human being on foot are rare birds,
indeed, even though the provocation
is sometimes very great. But what is
the motorist going to do about people
who dart out from behind parked
automobiles, street cars and similar
opaque distractions directly in his
path? No matter how alert the
motorist may be, nor how often his
brakes have been approved by the
Traffic Bureau, it is sometimes impos-
sible to prevent catastrophe in these
cases.
And then there are the children.
Children are allowed to play in the
streets. They run out after balls and
they ride on wheeled vehicles. Some
times they take . spill from bicycle
Evening star., 1935-01-17

1852 he made hts debut as reporter
at Virginia City in that territory. BY
1864 he was in California and by 1855
he was rowing" in the Sandwich Is
lands. A lecture tour in the Rocky
Mountain region followed, and his
next peregrination was to New York
by the Isthmus of Panama. He sail
ed for the Holy Land with an ex-
cursion party of plain citizens" who
were to have everlasting fame in the
pages of his "Innocents Abroad" The
tour brought him "a reputation and
a fortune" as well as a wife.
Successfully thereafter he resided IN
Elmira and Buffalo, N. Y; at Hartford.
Conn; in New York City, and at
Stormfield, Redding, Conn, but almost
until the end of his life he was a
traveller. A curious restlessness dis
tinguished him, and it may be that he
consciously knew that he acquired his
most useful and attractive materials
ION the road" Repeated expeditions
to Europe and over North America
kept him in touch with the people
and their thought. Like the masses
who admired him, he had opinions
on everything under the sun. but it
happened that most, If not all, Of hts
attitudes were measurably accurate
and just. His philosophy reflected an
era, and that probably was the prin-
cipal source of his strength. In recog-
milton of his power Oxford University
honored itself by presenting to him
the degree of doctor of literature in
1907. He died April 81, 1910, and was
mourned by multitude. A living
critic calls him the most widely
known and the best-loved writer that
America has ever had" and such
praise doubtless will be merited a CEN
tury hence quite as truly as it is today.
Evening star., 1935-01-17

or roller skates. What can you do
about it? If traffic had to restrain
itself to speed of 10 miles an hour
fatalities would doubtless become rare
but what a jam the streets would be
in! Adult pedestrians are old enough
to look out for themselves, but if the
children have no place to play except
in the streets, then it is high time the
city was providing adequate play
ground facilities.
Other things that cause accidents,
either through psychological or more
material reasons: The people who
pull suddenly out of parking places
without knowing or caring whether
another car is coming down the street,
the people who pull way over to the
left to make a right-hand turn, and
the people, vast horde in Washing
ton, and not equalled in any other
city in which have ever driven, who
blow and blow and blow their horns
when they know perfectly well that
the driver they are blowing at cannot
possibly do anything more than he Is
doing unless he has it in his power
to melt into thin air so that the noisy
one can have his place in line, in
which event said noisy one would
doubtless start blowing at some one
else. JOHN S. GARDINER.
Evening star., 1935-01-17
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Figuring Close.

Figuring Close.
We have heard that means of i'm
proving our health
Would be sharing around with our
national wealth.
But a sigh Of regret must arise as we
learn
That three or four millions is all each
may earn.
Just three or four millions! We've
been face to face
With figures compared to the light
years in space.
Well try to make out with such sums,
Just the same,
And If they prove scant, change the
rules of the game.
With three or four millions We might
be content
II nothing more happens to taxes or
rent,
Yet we may wonder next if we'll man.
age to do
With billion, or maybe a trillion or
two.
Yet when facts intervene to call fancy
to task
More modest we grow In the things
that we ask,
And we may be content with the pay
roll relief
OF ten-dollar bill paid at intervals
brief.
Evening star., 1935-01-17
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
The Nation awaits with great inter-
est the Supreme Courts decision, soon
to be made. regarding those cases
involving the abrogation of the gold
clause in contracts. Speculation is
rife as to the ultimate decision. The
consensus of opinion at this time
seems to be that the court is going
to sustain the Government. Even Wall
Street, see, is wagering 10-1 that
this will be the outcome. Just what
basis there is for such convictions
am unable to understand. Every in
dication, as see it, is to the contrary.
To my mind, this is one of the most
momentouS questions to confront the
Nations highest tribunal in some time.
I say this, realizing as do that the
principle of sanctity of contract is
directly involved, and we all know, or
should, just how vital this principle
is in affecting business relationships.
Certainly, we can not deny that such
relationships are primarily contractual.
I am frank to admit, however, much
as I dislike to, that during the post
war period the importance formerly
attaching to covenants has slowly
been disintegrating. AS proof of this
I merely have to revive again the
question of war debts owing us from
foreign nations. Those debts are con-
tractual in their nature just as much
as any other private or public debt
would be. and yet We all know from
sad experience the hopelessness of
their enforcement. eve could go to
war;" some say. Yes, of course, we
could, but human life is more i'm
portant than all the gold in the world
Then there is the matter of treaties
entered into by nations. They GER
tainly are not divorced from the prin-
ciple of contract. Witness what has
so recently happened to the naval
ratio treaty. solemnized by the leading
naval powers of the world, including
the United States, Great Britain.
Evening star., 1935-01-17

Having written here recently about
the good side Of dogs running at
large, we proceed today to consider
the bad side, for there is a bad side.
And it mostly settles around dog
character. as might be expected.
Dogdom is given q black eye, In
many instances, which it ought not to
have to bear, mainly because too
many owners lack consideration for
the feelings and rights of their fel-
low human beings.
This is not local problem alone.
Dog men, and all persons interested
in the breeds, realize that indifference
to the welfare OF human beings Is
but one the manifestations Of this Pc
culiar age.
Arthur Roland, writing recently In
the New York Sun, instances the mis-
hap which befell Judge Corrigan, who
was painfully bitten in rescuing his
dog from a Large stray mongrel"
This incident, he said, drew atten-
tion to what is sore spot for many
dog owners
"A great many of them feel that"
he declared, "in return for the money
they pay in license fees, they are re-
ceiving comparatively little and that
one of the major services which
might be rendered is the enforcement
Of the laws against unmuzzled dogs
being permitted to roam at large
through the streets. This applies to
the suburbs as well as to the city"
The West SiXty-eighth Street Mag
istrates Court decided in cases of
owners charged with having their
dogs on the streets without muzzles
or leashes that the law does not re-
quire that the dogs be muzZled, but
that when they are not muzzled they
must be kept on leash.
Mr.. Roland comments:
This sensible Interpretation Of the
law to prohibit unmuzzled dogs roam
ing at large puts the problem squarely
up to the dog owner.
And in the last analysis 1t is al
ways the inconsiderate dog owner who
brings down on dogs much blame that
is not truly theirs.
ANY one vino owns a dog owes it
to the animal as well as to his neigh
borS to see that his pet is either muz-
zled or on a leash when he is outside.
1T is hardly fair to contend that
those forced to live in the city should
be compelled, because of that circum-
stance, to forego the enjoyment Of
canine companionship
HE does have an added RESPONSE
bility to see that his pet does not be-
come a nuisance, and there Is no ques-
tion that even the beSt-behaved
dog, II allowed to roam at large un-
muzzled. is likely to prove himself q
nuisance"
Mr.. Roland concludes: IF, out Of
the misfortune which befell Judge
Corrigan. sufficient public interest is
aroused to bring stricter enforcement
Of the laws requiring that all dogs be
muzzled when not on leash, real
friends Of the dog will have cause for
thanks. It is to be hoped, however,
the public will realize that the dog
which causes trouble is not in itself
to blame, and that the fault lies with
the inconsiderate owner"
This inconsiderate owner, It should
be said, is just your average American
citizen, of any city. town or village.
He lets his dog run because it is the
easiest thing to do.
He does not care to worry about the
dog, though he should, and he does
not worry about other people, though
he might.
1t is just the easiest thing to do to
turn the animal loose on the COM
Evening star., 1935-01-17
Predicts the Supreme Court Will Decide
Against u. S. on Gold Contract Issue

Japan, France and Italy. When the
5-5-3 ratio became distasteful to
Japan she simply decided to abrogate
the treaty, and so it goes. I have
always said and will continue to say
that treaties are not worth the paper
they are written on. Germany gave
perfect illustration of this when she
violated the neutrality of Belgium. She
was signatory to a treaty guaran-
teeing that conutry's neutrality. Did
this mean anything? Absolutely
nothing. Germany's answer was that
the end justified the means Bearing
in mind, therefore. the looseness with
which international obligations seem
to be regarded is no valid reason for
holding that domestic contractual
obligations should so be regarded, and
I do not believe that the Supreme
Court is going to sustain such a prin-
ciple. Either a contract must mean
what 1t says or else adopt the principle
that henceforth contracts are but
scraps of paper with no legal efficacy
Whichever way the court goes on
the impending gold clause cases is
sure as night follows day. Although
I think the court must sustain the
principle of sanctity of contract, a
decision to the contrary will not lessen
my respect for the court. I realize
that the justices composing it are not
only eminent jurists learned in the
law, but are also men of the highest
integrity. To them the American peo-
pie should look with infinite pride and
lasting faith.
My own personal opinion, based on
exhaustive reading of all features per-
tanning to the issues, is that the court
is going to rule against the Govern
ment. I may be wrong, but who is
the man that does not get supreme
satisfaction in being able to say, "I
told you So? Time alone will tell
just how good a prognosticator am.
LELAND F. JAMES.
Evening star., 1935-01-17
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

A reader can get the ansper to
0ny question OF fact by Uriting The
Warrington Evening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director,
Washington, d. c. Please fnclose
stamp for reply.
@. What is done with tickets for
foreign lotteries when found in the
United States mails?-G. T.
A. They are confiscated. Last year
the Post Office Department, In CO.
operation with the Customs Service,
conflscated millions of these tickets.
@. Do more men or women commit
suicide in the United States?-J. T. S.
A. The ratio of male suicides to
female is about three to one.
@. How much are women paid who
supply mothers milk for babies?-
E. F.
A. The mothers supplying milk to
one association are paid z cents per
ounce, and the average earnings are
$35 per month.
@. What Is the Siege Perilous?-
M. s.
A. In Arthurian legend, the Siege
Perilous was q seat at the Round Ia
BILE, fatal to all but the knight who
was eventually to succeed in the
search for the Holy Grail.
@. What Is the name of the Colo
RADIO town in which a hotel propri-
| etor serves dinner free to his patrons
on days when the sun doesn't shine?-
T. L.
A. Gunnison Is the town. In the
last % years only II free dinners
have been served because the day WIS
sunless.
@. How many people are on relief?
&C. M. S.
A. There are now about 1000, ,000
families, representing about 17,000.-
600 people, who are deriving all their
income from relief contributed by the
Federal Government, cities, counties
! and States.
@. Why could the Yugoslav consul
in Jerusalem not attend the solemn
requiem for King Alexander at the
| Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher ir
Jerusalem?-N. A.
A. The consul arranged the me-
mortal service, but he could not at
tend, as he is Jew A tradition pre-
vents one of this race from entering
, the Basilica.
O. What Governor of Kentuck has
appointed the largest number of col
onels?-C. D.
A. To date Governor Ruby Laffoor
has commissioned 2,368 honorary
aides, most of these being colonies
This is the largest number ever ap-
pointed.
@. How much money has been
| coined for the United States?-P. NJ
A. Since the mints were established
in 1893, gold, silver and subsidiary
coins have been struck to a total value
/ of 6,l21 million dollars.
@. What is the name of the man
from Texas who has been through
the prisons and plantations of the
South recording folk songs?-H. C. K
A. John A. Lomax of Austin, ar
authority on American ballads and
folk song, has recorded in the last year
1000 of these from all parts of the
South for the Carnegie Corporation.
@. How many makes of cars were
represented at the automobile show al
the Grand Central Palace?-H. E.
A. Twenty-Five makes of American
cars, three of foreign cars and six
commercial makes were represented
at New York's Thirty-fifth Annual
Automobile Show.
Evening star., 1935-01-17
For the World Court.

In a message to the Senate, which
is not lacking In impressiveness be-
cause of its uncommon brevity-it is
fewer than three hundred words in
length-President Roosevelt urges
prompt adherence of the United States
to the Permanent Court of Interna-
tional Justice, better known as the
World Court.
A resolution providing for such
! action is now before the Senate, hav-
ing been favorably reported by the
Foreign Relations Committee. De-
bate has so far produced two major
speeches on the subject. Senator
Robinson of Arkansas, Democratic
majority leader, delivered a strong
address calling for entry into the
Court, and on Wednesday Senator
johnson of California, Republican
progressive and veteran of the orig
inal Senate fight against the League
Of Nations, held the chambers atten-
tion for more than two hours as he
assailed, in familiar language, any
move that would surreptitiously take
the United States into the League.
That, in the opinion Of the school
of thought for which Senator Johnson
is so forceful a spokesman, would
be the eventual result Of our joining
1.-The League Court" as its foes are
SO fond of clubbing it. 1t has be-
come the opposition's main talking
point.
President Roosevelt does not dignity
that argument with any notice. He
denies the contention that entry into
the tribunal will constitute an en-
tangling alliance for this country.
THE sovereignty of the United States
will be in no way diminished or
jeopardized by such action" Mr..
Roosevelt tersely declares. The Presi-
dent goes straight to the heart of
the issue when he adds: "At this
period in international relationships,
when every act is of moment to the
future Of world peace, the United
States has an opportunity once more
to throw its weight into the scale in
favor Of peace"
An informal advance poll is said
to have revealed that not more than
a dozen members of the Senate are
opposed to American adherence to the
World Court. The country has had
ample opportunity, during the twelve
years since entry was first proposed,
to weigh the merits of the project
from every standpoint. Mr.. Roose-
velt reminds the Senate that during
that long interval Republican and
Democratic administrations and party
platforms alike have advocated a
court of justice to which nations might
voluntarily bring their disputes for
judicial decision"
The World Court is such a tribunal
The Senate will not misinterpret
American public opinion if, without
further ado or delay, it acts upon the
Presidents recommendation that the
United States now proceed to align
itself with the other nations of the
world in making the Court a genu-
inely effective instrumentality for
arbitral settlement of international
controversies.
Evening star., 1935-01-17

O. Is the solar radiation plant
which was constructed In Cairo. Epypt.
still IN operation?-G. s..
A. IL Is still In existence. and In
one Of the most successful. It is a So
boiler horsepower plant and turns into
useful power q little more than 4 per
cent Of the energy received In the
form Of radiation.
@. What Is the most toxic gas IN
war time?-F. M. s.
A. The most toxic war gas yet de-
veloped is mustard gas.
@. How many regular city and
rural mail carriers are employed In tho
United States?-O. o. l.
A. The number Of city carriers u
| 1852; rural carriers, 81, 5,9o1.
@. Is New Orleans above or below
sea level?-A. L. Y.
A. The highest point In New
Orleans IS five feet above sea level
and the lowest point Is one foot below
sea level.
| @. OF the foreign-born white pop
ulation Of the United States, how
many have been naturalized?-M. s.
A. OF the 1886, ,407 white people
residing in the United States 7,859,193
have become naturalized. Another
million or more have received their
first citizenship papers.
@. What Is a palimpsest?-W. M.
| A. 1t Is a parchment manuscript,
| M ho 6o a
been partially erased, had been used
again. Both the Greeks and Romans
erased manuscript in order to use
the parchment again.
@. What was the largest amount
Of a bonus certificate issued to .
World War veteran?-P. s. r.
A. The Veterans Administration
says that the maximum amount of Q
veterans bonus certificate was $1,592.
The $50 paid when the veteran was
discharged was deducted from the
face value of the certificate.
@. When books are sent TO the
copyright Office do they automatically
! find places on the shelves Of the
Library of Congress?-A. H.
A. Our copyright laws require the
deposit of copies for the use of the
Library of Congress, but the librarian
of Congress may determine which
books or other articles shall be trans
ferred to the permanent collections
of the Library.
! @. How many newspaper men are
/ covering the Hauptmann trial and
what is the number of words wired
daily?-F. J.
| A. Four hundred newspaper men
and, in addition, photographers, teleg-
raphers and radio reporters, are Gov.
ering the trial. It Is estimated by
the telegraph companies that the
daily wordage is 2,500.000.
@. Who designed the State, War
and Navy Building at Washington
OF what style of architecture is it?-
A. s. N.
A. The building was designed by
A. B. Mullett, member of the Board
of Public Works under Gov Shepherd,
and also supervising architect Of the
Treasury. 1t Is French Renaissance
in its type of architecture.
@. Where is the closest Japanese
naval base to the Philippines? The
| closest American and English naval
bases to Japan?-A. D.
A. The japanese naval base closest
to the Philippines is the one in For
mosa. The American naval base
closest to Japan is at Cavite, Philip
pine Islands, and the closest British
| base is at Hongkong.