davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-07-07
Recollections of Third
Parties of Earlier Days

To the Editor Of The Star:
Third Parties" have been the subject
of recent article In The Sunday Star.
As. Mr. John Walker Harrington points
out, there have been any number of
them. AS remember, for instance, back
in 1924 there was COMMITTEE of 48"
that supported the elder La Toilette.
And SO the 48 committee members rep
resented 48 different organizations, each
having aims of its own, but no peg Of its
own to hang its hat on. And so they all
picked the La Toilette hat tree-48
'parties!"
In 1896, on the other hand, when the
really potent Populist party Endorsed
William Jennings Bryan, its help came
near to securing for him the popular
(although not the electoraD majority>
This is one instance where a third
party support made itself really felt.
Mr.. Harrington also notes in passing
the turbulent American party CKnow
NothingS'). 1t made quite stir from
about 1645 to 1860. It elected Governors,
Legislatures, congressman, etc. Flourish
ing mainly in the South and nominating
former President Millard Fillmore in
1856, it carried Maryland. But that was
all. Shortly after it disappeared. This was
party of persecution. Its chief animus
was against foreigners" (American
citizens of foreign BIRTH, especially
Catholics, and also against all native
born Catholics, because they take orders
from the Pope, who is not a native
born American citizen" They commit
ted many outrageS, especially in Balti-
more, which became known as Mob
town" But finally the foreigners"
mostly German and Irish, asserted them
selves, and order was restored.
Another peculiar party, not mentioned
by The Star writer, was the Anti
Masonic party (about 1825-1830).
There were other issues, of course,
but its activities were mainly directed
against the Free Masons. Some New
York renegade" Mason had mysteriously
disappeared, and it was claimed that
he had been sunk without trace by his
former lodge brethren. That arted it
all. The party attained great strength
in the East, and in the presidential elec-
ton of 1928 its candidate received the
electoral vote of Vermont. Shortly after
1t also went its way. The candidate was
William Writ (born in Bladensburg,
Md, IT'D He was quite a man in his
time and day. He assisted in the prose-
cution of Aaron Burr and for IL years
Q8l7-1829) he was Attorney General Of
the United States.
Strange to say, Writ himself was a
Mason, and in his speech of acceptance,
so l read, he spoke very highly of that
order. This is just as if Gov. Landon
would go out of his way to say good
word for the New Deal, or as if Presi-
dent Roosevelt would offer to lay the
cornerstone for new Stock Exchange
AS it is, he might volunteer to help
tear down the old one. The great game
of politics! FRED VETTER.
Evening star., 1936-07-07
Peace at Any Price.

One is not inclined to argue anything
In connection with the Zioncheck case.
It Is the sort Of thing that defies argu-
ment. But as long as Mr.. Romney, the
House sergeant at arms, has brought
up the matter by suggesting that he felt
Mr.. Zioncheck was being prosecuted"
it is pertinent to ask who was guilty of
the persecution? Cruel and unusual
punishment is forbidden under the Con-
stitution, and perhaps something ought
to be done about it.
Were the police responsible? Even
the House sergeant at arms must admit
that when people speed through the
, streets and over the sidewalks of the
crowded city, dash to the White House
and leave queer momentoes for the Presi-
dent, and do some of the other things
that now form an interesting chapter in
Mr.. Zioncheck's biography, they ought
to be arrested. Were the Commissioners
acting according to law when they sent
Mr. Zioncheck to Gallinger? Under the
law they are 80 empowered when sus-
pecting a citizens sanity. and Mr..
Romney will agree that Mr.. zioncheck's
sanity was not above suspicion.
Were the doctors at Gallinger persecut-
ing Mr.. zioncheck when they held him
for investigation? They were at least
willing to test their case before jury.
Was Justice oDonoghue persecuttng Mr.
Evening star., 1936-07-07
Congress Muddled in its
Supreme Court Criticism

To the Editor Of The Star:
When the number of United States
Supreme Court justices was increased to
nine, it was enacted by Congress that
five justices shall constitute a quorum.
II, for any reason, four justices should
be absent from any session and the
quorum of five should render a decision
in an important case by vote of to 2,
what tremendous howl would go up
Yet Congress repeatedly passes impor-
tant bills by approval of a majority of
the quorum present. The tax bill to
raise S800,000,000 or more was approved
by only 38 affirmative votes-11 less than
majority of the whole Senate. Why,
then, should members of Congress be
heatedly critical of 5-to-4 majority de-
cisions of the Supreme Court-a majority
of all its members?
Constitutional amendments are sub
mitted to the States only when two
thirds of both houses of Congress ap-
prove.
Amendments to the Constitution be-
come operative only when three -fourths
of the States approve.
Why, then, should members of Con-
gress so thoughtlessly seek to reverse the
principle of majority approval in court
procedure?
To insist that no less than six justices
be required to declare an act of Con-
gress unconstitutional is equivalent to
investing four justices with power to
make that act valid. Four minority
votes Eyes" would prevail over five ma
jority votes mo" The minority would
overthrow the majority decision. Any
such undemocratic method will not be
tolerated in this free country. Common
sense rejects it even before it seriously
could be entertained.
When Congress overcomes the habit
of passing invalid laws, its members will
stop trying to devise unfair means to
prevent the United States Supreme Court
from protecting the rights and liberties
of all the people of this great Nation.
JOSEPH w. CHEYNEY,
Evening star., 1936-07-07
Protest Against Handling
Of Crowds at Ball Games
To the Editor Of The Star:

10 the EOllor OF ne star:
I waS stranger visiting in your city
and attended the double header ball
game between Washington and New
York July 4. paid 1920 for a box seat
at the game. These seats were close to
the ground out in the open. I did not
mind that at all However, the ball
management kept on selling tickets as
long as any one would buy them when
there was nothing but standing room.
Those who purchased the standing room
seats, of course, had to have some place
to stand, so they crowded down in front
OF the boxes standing up so that those
in the lower box seats could not see at
all. They refused to sit down. officers
tried to make them sit down but they
would not obey. The crowd jeered them
but still they refused to sit down. This
forced all of the thousands in the box
seats out from under the roof to stand
if they wanted to see any part of the
game and thus discommode those back
OF them so they had to stand up, too.
The disturbance was so great that dur
ing the intermission between the two
games an announcer notified those down
on the ground in front of the boxes that
they would have to move off before the
second game would be started. Some
moved away to the other side, others
remained. Finally officers tried to move
them away, but they persisted in re-
fusal.
If the management is going to keep on
selling tickets at low rate for stand
ing" room purposes. it should not charge
people such high prices for box" seats
that are simply place to sit, not to see
any part of the game.
protest paying $500 for a seat where
I must give way to some one who has
paid only about fourth as much, who
gets all the privileges of seeing the plays
in the game. Prices for box seats should
not be so high or standing room should
not be permitted to deprive those who
buy box seats of the privilege OF seeing
the game, G. z. ADAMS.
Evening star., 1936-07-07

room remains divided I'D into little
groups, which never separate much,
despite the confusion and noise.
Those who really like each other, or
at least have the ability to tolerate each
other, naturally gravitate to the same
spot.
But if you look over the groups, trying
to pick out those famous birds of a
feather, you will see that each group is
composed of startlingly similar feathers, 4"
so that in the end you must confess your
self defeated on all fronts. There is no
telling by looking at people.
X 4 TX
1t is the same in a business establish
ment. After many years you wake up
to the fact that two people you know and
like nevertheless do not like each other.
They never speak voluntarily. Their
business relations are cordial, but carried
on as briefly and impersonally as possible
Look at them as hard as you please,
you find it impossible to discover just
why they can't like each other. "Office
politics" won't explain it. Thwarted
ambitions-only partially.
1t is just another case of dislike
Neither like nor dislike, however, need
be instructive. Love at first sight is
not essential. There are many loves
which are built up, and becomes as
strong as any. A simple like need not
be an immediate affair. 1t, too, will be
all the stronger for being gradual in
many cases. Every one knows how this
is. The budding friendship is tentative
Here little, there little, until at last
something fine and dignified is the result.
It is fine thing, after all, that there
is no telling.
When one stops to think of all the
enmity in the world, of the huge crop
of rancor which is a-building in every
nation, Of the instructive dislikes seen
everywhere, it is one happy feature of
a distraught world that these good
hkings are to be found everywhere. too
1t is a good thing to realize these
friendships, as little as they may be, to
value them at the time and continuing,
to understand that they represent some
thing distinctly fine all the time.
Thus the spontaneous smile of the bus
driver is something, although you do
not know his name, and perhaps never
will. 1t makes no difference. The thing
to remember is the smile.
There will be many times in life when
lLo odOQCL oIOCoJ IIo 4CdIo, I'D kJldlIl IlOo-
tilities, work to efface recollection Of all
the brighter aspects.
1t is then especially that it is good to
recall the small though fine nkings
which many people have for you. Some
times it seems to work out this way.
that the people one likes best do not
like you, and the ones you do. not care
for much have a great hankering for
your company.
This is only partly true. What is lack
ing, when one feels so, is the proper re-
membrance Of all the persons whose
faces light up at the sight of you. Often
those inner CLEANS have passed unre-
garded. Is it not so? The thing to do
is to acknowledge them, and make the
best of them.
They are precious pearls on the floods
Of time. They are lights along the way.
They shine like f1ref1ies in a dark night,
little but powerful. Put together, in any
ones life, they make a great light, and,
like all true lights, give forth warmth
as we'll.
Evening star., 1936-07-07

Zioncheck when he acted on formal
petition for a writ for q lunacy inquisi.
ton by signing q rule for Mr.. zioncheck
to show cause why he should not be
adjudged insane? Was he prosecuting
Mr.. Zioncheck when he discharged that
rule, after a conference with duly ac-
credited officials and relatives, who de-
cided to take Mr.. Zioncheck to sana-
torium in Maryland instead of submitting
him to the ordeal of the court proceed
ings? And when MIR. zioncheck escaped,
were the Maryland and District police
prosecuting him when they tried to ap-
prehend man whom the Commissioners
alleged to be Of unsound mind, dangerous
to himself and to others?
Mr.. Romney is doubtless entitled to
the praise he has received for sending
Mr.. zioncheck home. That is where he
belongs. But of all the legal corners that
were cut in this queer case, none was
more widely cut than by Mr. Romney
gresSional immunity when under the law
there was none; who bluffed the Com
n,iSsioners, the police and the district
attorney; who was ready to declare war
on the metropolitan police force with
his private army of Capitol policemen
and who definitely demonstrated that
there is one law for his employers, the
members of the House, and another law
for the helpless and uninf1uential citizen
whose taxes support Federal job holders.
Nobody is going to quarrel with Mr..
Romney for what he did. But speaking
of glass houses!
Evening star., 1936-07-07

sped to triumph in no less than one
hundred and twenty-five trials are to
close over her forever.
Certainly the destruction Of any craft
seems tragic In its implications. The
Britannia, as recently as only q few
months ago. appeared to be in first-class
condition as she lay at anchor in Cowes
Harbor, Isle Of Wight. Many Americans
saw her there-tall and 1.-the and grace
full of line; a veritable princess of the
sea in her bearing. No stranger, passing
by, would have guessed that she was
built more than four decades ago. She
had q quality of durable youth which
did not tarnish.
But the period to which she belonged
is coming to conclusion. King Edward
VIII prefers 10 travel by plane. The
tastes of his forbears have no attraction
for him. He symbolizes different gen.
Grafton, "class" Of men who want
greater speed than any yacht can provide
for any captain. The expanded air.
defense program of the empire is symp-
tom OF the change.
Yet it may be wondered why those
Englishmen who continue to follow the
marine traditions of the past have not
interceded to save the Britannia as
Nelson's Victory was saved-as a museum
piece, If nothing else. It seems a pity
that 20 good and so deserving a ship
should survive only as a scrap of paper
in q stamp collectors album.
Evening star., 1936-07-07
Farewell to the Britannia.

When the postal authorities OF the
Dominion of Canada last year desired to
honor King George v on the occasion
of the twenty-fifth anniversary Of his
elevation to the throne they selected q
photograph Of the sovereign's famous
racing yacht, the Britannia, to be re-
produced on one of series of COM
memorative postage stamps. The result
was a philatelc novelty vastly popular
among collectors and non-collectors
everywhere.
But now comes word that under the
terms of the late monarch's will the
beautiful little vessel is to be secretly
scuttled" in the English Channel. To
use cruel phrase still unhappily current
from wartime, she is to be sunk with
out trace" The waters over which she
Evening star., 1936-07-07
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Radio Bird.

Radio Bird.
Soon August will greet us with golden
display.
The locust so tuneful has passed on its
way.
The robin must presently silence his
song
My Radio Bird will keep chirping along.
Sometimes he will whistle popular tune
Or find inspiration to cackle or Groom.
Dear grandfather sits In the twilight of
years
And smiles at the Radio Bird that he
hears.
Like parrot perhaps he will screech
by and by
With vociferous pleading for crackers
or pie.
Though Autumn may end many songs
that we heard,
We still may depend on our Radio Bird.
Evening star., 1936-07-07
Concerning the Parking
Ban on Kennedy Street
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Will you, through the kindly Offices of
your paper, permit me to express a
few words regarding Traffic Director
Van Duzer's ban of parking on Ken
nedy street?
For IA years have been a resident
on this street and being so placed I have
been in good position to observe traffic
conditions, both before and after the
order was issued.
I am inclined to agree with the car
owners in the District that the edict
places a distinct hardship upon them.
They are now forced to park their cars
clean across the street. or perhaps in
one of the 101 empty parking places that
exist around the corner and that, it must
be admitted, is terrific trial.
And joining in the chorus are the
local business men; they, too, are in
convenienced beyond words. When a
customer calls, these merchants can no
longer walk to the waiting car at the
curb; they must bridge that vast en-
quilting distance of some 80 feet and
deposit on the other side the loaf of
bread or pint of milk, or what have you,
that has been bought. All of which is
enough to ruff1e the temper of any in
dolent business man.
But to an observer who has stood on
his porch and watched accident after
accident happen merely because cars
were parked where they never should
have been, just let it be said that the
traffic directors order is godsend. No
longer need one cross the street in direct
peril; the view is unQbstructed and safe.
And no longer need cars weave in and
out and across over to the left side of
the road when street car is approached.
All the driver now has to do is stay on the
right side of the street and drive right
on through.
If any criticism is to be directed at
Van Duzer let it be for not issuing the
order sooner: that to my observation has
been his only failing. He has taken a
step forward in the preservation and
prolongation of human life and for that
deserves great credit. Saving human life
should be our primary endeavor.' Per-
sonal inconvenience that results from
doing that should be minor concern.
J. AMoRosE.
Evening star., 1936-07-07
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES 8. TRACEWELL.

The why" of personal liking still
remains one of the great mysteries.
There is really no explaining why
some peoples eyes light up when they
see you, why others are Indifferent, why
a few hate you.
The only sure thing is that the first
eyes that cleaned with pleasure will be
the last eyes, too. Life is SO, and it is 8
good thing for most of us.
In a universe of constant and terrific
change, this is about the only thing
that stands sure.
Hatreds come and go, because mostly
they are counterfeit, but liking, or love,
whichever one wants to call 1t, remains
Steadfast.
This was said long ago, but every
person proves it anew.
Each lifetime is sort Of chemical
experiment in which the reagents are
physical activity. mind activity. spiritual
activity.
These combine to make a life. Many
startling compounds are formed. Some
of these are the material of art. Others
are purely political. Some are economic.
The best of life's compounds is love,
or liking.
Like a vitamin, it is told by results.
rather than by what one sees, because
the thing is not to be seen or isolated.
In the everyday life the mystery of
!. liking "a less striking word than love,
which has been given so many curious
twists noWadayS) is known to all.
F'riendliness is synonym.
Some one you never did a thing for
likes you; some one you did everything
for does not.
And there you are. and who can ex-
plain it? Take all the books on psychology.
Gather many degrees in kindred sub
jects. Know enough to confuse juries.
Do what you please, read what you
please, 60 where you please, and you will
know no more about the why" of likes
and dislikes than the veriest child who
has been nowhere and seen nothing.
Here are half a dozen elevator boys
in big building.
One of them is always glad to see you.
The remainder are indifferent.
Everything you say to the first pleases
him.
You could "wise crack" with the ability
of a certain gentleman famous for
repartee to the other five.
1t would leave them cold
But the merest word pleases the first
young fellow.
And it is the same everywhere You
can't explain it on the grounds of clothes,
or appearance. or any other single matter.
1t just is, and that's that, as the saying
has it.
Wherever you go it Is the same. In
one store a clerk seems to take a shine
to you, and you get real service, the sort
they write and talk about so much.
At the very next place you are practi-
cally snubbed and left to cool your heels
while two of the boys or girls talk over
last nights party and all the funny
things seen and heard there.
When you go to cocktail parties and
the like of your own you find exactly the
same situation, only more vanished
Those who don't like each other always
manage not to see each other. They go
way round.
No matter how long you all stay, the
Evening star., 1936-07-07
The Danzig Crisis.

Crisis succeeds crisis at Geneva. At
the very moment of the Ethiopian
obsequies, Germany confronts the League
with q new dilemma. DR.. Arthur Karl
GreiSer, Nazi president of the Danzig
Senate, appeared before the Council, to
demand in truculent tones virtual aban-
donment of League supervision of the
Free City, established at the head of
the Polish Corridor by the treaty Of Ver-
sailles. Speaking grandiloquently for
"the German people" DR.. GreiSer called
for replacement Of the present League
high commissioner, Sean Lester of the
Irish Free State, or abolition Of his office
and transfer of certain of its functions
to the Danzig Senate president. The
Na1 spokesman thereupon added insult
to injury by thumbing his nose at the
international press gallery in the Coun-
ell chamber, a gesture generally inter-
preted as one of contempt for the
League itself.
The whole incident. following recent
utterances in the German press. strongly
suggests forthcoming Nazi coup-diplo-
matte, military or otherwise-to restore
the ancient Hanseatic city to German
sovereignty as Hitlerisms latest move in
the program Of complete demolition OF
the treaty of Versailles. Unconfirmed
reports were rife throughout the recent
week end that German troops were
actually on the way to Danzig for the pur-
pose Of confronting the League with an
other accomplished fact" That the
Nazis sooner or later mean business at
Danzig is evidenced by declarations in
their government-controlled newspapers
that the Reich will not return to Geneva
until the city is again under the German
flag.
Thus the League, def1ed in turn by
Japan, Italy and Germany, is about to
be fiouted afresh by the Reich and put
to another test Of what is left of its
shattered authority. The certainty that
strong arm methods would sunder Polish
German relations may deter Hitler from
resorting to extremes. Anxious. as the
Nazis are, for political and sentimental
reasons, to retrieve the corridor that
drives a wedge through East Prussia.
Berlin shrinks from alternating Warsaw's
goodwill by seizure of Danzig. Poland
bulks conspicuously in Na1 contempla-
tions Of conflict with the Soviet Union.
Another possible deterrent is the fact
that large portion Of Poland's seaboard
the port were to become German again,
1t would forfeit lucrative source Of
revenue, as the Poles possess a fairly
adequate Baltic outlet Of their own at
Gdynia.
The Poles, despite their desire for
amicable relations with Germany, do not
want a Nazihed Danzig. They may
presently take the initiative in requir-
ing the League to tackle the thorny
issue presented by the Nad threat. The
Reich, on its part, seems willing to risk
pressing matters to a conclusion. 1t Is
apparently confident that Geneva is
glutton for punishment and is no more
disposed or able to thwart Germany on
the present occasion than it was when
she remilitarized the Rhineland, to say
nothing Of the successive League re-
treats in Manchuria and Ethiopia.
Evening star., 1936-07-07

Mining conditions may cause persons
who interest themselves in creating social
disorder to rewrite the song that has
been so much honored in affection and
make it read. There Is No Place Like
Homestead"
Evening star., 1936-07-07

The man convicted in Los Angeles of
selling Navy secrets to Japan is person
of evil character. Even if the secrets
were of no value, he is guilty of obtaining
money under false pretenses.
Evening star., 1936-07-07

Discussion of resignation from his
official position may bring up the ques-
ton OF whether Mr.. Farley is necessary
to the post Office or the post Office is
necessary to Mr.. Farley.
Evening star., 1936-07-07

1t is the opinion of Ruth Bryan Owen
that President Roosevelt is sure of re-
election. Her distinguished father was
a great orator, though not an invincible
politician. The American Minister to
Denmark may prove to be both.
Evening star., 1936-07-07

After developing many novel and in
teresting suggestions the Department of
Agriculture is pretty nearly back where
it started in promoting food production
and advocating soil conservation.
Evening star., 1936-07-07

Differences now under discussion might
enable American labor to develop enough
politics Of its own without interfering
with the more or less formal procedure
of national elections.