davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-03-20
BOY COLONSTS SHARE IN LATEST AMERICAN SEIZUF
Canton and Enderbury
Are Needed to Maintain
American Rights.

Vineyard that Americans were the
first to make known the existence of
these islands to the outside world
the firm ground Of discovery.
Great Britain has made known she
is "reserving her rights" in the islands,
but it Is felt certain here that what
ever diniculties this declaration may
raise will be disposed of easily. In
formed quarters here believe that
Britain is secretly glad that America, a
friendly power. has control of Canton
and. Enderbury, and that her statement
about reserving rights was a vocal
gesture without meaning. When de-
veloped as . trans-Pacific air base,
the islands will increase trade and
understanding between America and
the British dominions of Australia and
New Zealand.
Britain was not always so willing
to see Pacific islands slip out of her
grasp, at least not before Hawaii was
annexed to the United States 40 years
ago. In this connection there is .
delightful story that smacks so much
Of Gilbert and Sullivan operas that
few people believe it. Nevertheless, 1t
Is true. It IS about Necker Island.
Necker Is small island lying just
west Of the main Hawaiian group. The
British wanted it for q cable station
back in 1893, when Hawaii was an in
dependent republic. Ohicers on q
British cruiser determined to seize it.
They probably would have done so ex-
cept that one of them whispered the
plans as he took leave Of his sweet
heart on the beach at WAIKIKI The
girl promptly told President Sanford
B. Dole.
The President hurriedly summoned
his cabinet, including Capt. James A.
King, father Of the present Delegate,
Samuel Wilder King. Secretly 4 party
Of ofncials rushed aboard the little
interisland steamer Iwalani and
slipped out Of Honolulu Harbor. The
British cruiser Champion set after
the Iwalani, but the little steamer
had too great . start, and 50 the
Hawaiian nag was planted on Necker,
and the island passed to the United
States upon Hawaiian annexation.
The British were forced to use the
more remote Tanning Island for their
cable from Canada to the Antipodes.
Delegate King has already COM
pleted his plans for the future Of
Canton and Enderbury. He says:
when Hawaii becomes the 49th
State, Canton and Enderbury and
the rest of the small islands under the
American Dag should Be placed under
he state government of Hawaii"
Evening star., 1938-03-20

Just where the justices of the peace
tried their cases in the early days is
a question not so easily answered. And
it is not definitely established just
where the more serious offenses were
tried, prior to the erecting of the City
Hall (now the Courthouse), the corner
stone of which was laid on Tuesday,
August 20, 1920. But not even a part
OF the building was finished until
several years later, and the chronicler,
Sessford, does not record the building
as being nearly completed" until 1899.
However, although the erecting Of this
structure was joint proposition be-
tween the United States and the Dis
trict of Columbia, still the District
government made good use of its part
and at various times brought under
its roof all of its departments and
activities that could be housed there.
But the identifying of trial locations,
prior to the erecting of the Court
House Building. is frequently q mat
ter OF conjecture, as is the trial of
McGurk for numbering his wife about
1901 or 1902, for although We do know
he was tried and convicted, yet we
do not know the names of the jurors
who adjudged him guilty nor the
location where the trial occurred,
though the place of the execution has
been recorded.
PR1oR to the completion of this
building, no doubt, the courts Of
every description met wherever they
could, and so We find the Orphans
Court opening its first session April
IA. 1901, in William Rhodes Hotel
and the first session of the Circuit
Court. which opened on March %,
1901, took place in room adjoining
the Senate chamber on the south,
which had been assigned for the use
of the United States Supreme Court,
and it probably soon afterward met
on the corner of First and A streets
Evening star., 1938-03-20
travel between Hawaii and either New
Zealand or Australia,

travel between Hawaii and either New
Zealand or Australia.
There are many other islands
nearby, but none that possess the mag
nificent natural advantages Of Canton.
Uniformed quarters generally concede
that Enderbury was claimed merely
to keep some other nation from get
ting 1t. Canton is the real prize.)
Canton is shaped something like a
meatless pork chop, with land from so
to 600 yards wide inclosing a lagoon
that is quiet at all times. This lagoon
is 3 miles wide and 9 miles long. A
few coral patches need to be removed,
but when this Is done the area will
furnished haven for all the Nations
seaplanes and combat vessels. The
entrance Is about 100 yards wide, small
but ample.
Without question Canton could be
made . vital part Of the national de-
tense, but there Is no intention evident
on the part of the present admins.
tration to utilize 1t for military pur-
poses. The immense fortidcations
and attacking facilities In the Terri
tory Of Hawaii would seem to make
the adaptation of Canton to military
purposes not only unnecessary but un-
wise. The military value of the island
rests solely in the fect that America
has it, and not some other nation.
THE moving spirit in the claiming
Of Canton and Enderbury was
DR.. Ernst Gruening, director Of the Di-
vision Of Territories and 1nsular Pos
sessions Of the Interior Department. DR..
druenins. who spent the months Of
October and November in Hawaii and
the South Seas, landed at many
Islands, including Canton. Because Of
rough water, there was difnculty land
ing on Enderbury, which u an oblons
about " miles long and ~ miles
W30o.
Evening star., 1938-03-20

farm and Bill Tucker had fits, I used
to have some pretty busy days. My
work commenced at in the morning,
when, with tin dinner pail in hand, I
reached the old Central Guard House,
presided over by Capt. James Birch,
to report the proceedings there. The
Central Guard House, with its lookup
and trial room. was a little brick
building In the Center Market space.
From the guard house I sped to
The Star office, where made up The
Spirit of the Press from the morning
papers, wrote what editorial was
needed, went over the exchanges,
clipped and condensed news matter,
selected miscellaneous reading and
prepared lot Of fist dndex finger)
paragraphs for filters in making up
the paper.
Then I started on the rounds Of
the executive Offices, the departments.
the Capitol and back to the Office and
to the composing room to see to the
makeup of the paper. Then I fol-
lowed the forms to the pressroom and
superintended the working of the
paper on q rickety old Taylor press,
managed by q drunken pressman.
Then I wrote report to Wallach of
the days receipts of the paper-not a
long job at that time.
AT night was back again to the
city (my residence then was on the
Island now South Washington) to
report evening meetings. finishing up
my days work by going the rounds of
the hotels toward midnight, to get a
list of arrivals by the late trains. This
was hard work. but good practice, and
enabled me to get an insight into the
practical details of all branches of the
work of newspaper making that has
been Of great service to me since"
However. that was the way people
succeeded in the olden days, and it is
the only way they can succeed now.
Any other way means ultimate failure.
THE Police Court, as we know it to-
day. had its beginning during the
administration Of Gen. Grant, when
that President, In accordance with the
act Of Congress approved June II,
1870, signed the commission appoint
ing William B. Smell Judge of the
newly created court on June 80 of that
year. President Grant appointed many
good men to ofice. but none more
thorough and efficient than was Judge
Smell. Indeed. he took offlce Just at
time when man of his caliber was
needed and required, and until the
day Of his retirement from the bench,
lS years later. he faithfully performed
every duty to the entire satisfaction of
the citizens Of the District and Federal
officials.
Judge Smell took his seat and or
ganized the Police Court on July H..
1870. in q room at No. 466 c street
NV. then known as the Kimmel
House. and which occupied a part Of
the site on which the Havenner Bak-
ing Co.'S building was later erected.
Judge Smell had but few appoint
Evening star., 1938-03-20

Sc, when. following the burning Of
Washington by the British in 1914,
stood the brick Capitol. now the site
Of the Supreme Court Building.
1t is likely that the justices OF the
peace transacted their business for 4
long while at least in their offices or
where the police lock-ups happened
to be. Shortly after the Auxiliary
Guard came into existence, in 1912,
at q time when the old Center Market
was being extended, a small building
was standing nearby which was used
for q scale house and as an ONCE for
the clerk of the market, and this
building was converted into q tenn
porary place for the trial of prisoners.
John H. Goddard was then captain
of the guard, and according to q
statement made by him 81 years
ago, this building stood near the old
market on Eighth street, and was
taken over by the Auxiliary Guard and
fitted, up for its purposes.
1T was used by the constables," he
states. Ito lock up the Negroes. 1t was
an old brick structure in a very dilapi-
dated condition. The lower room was
used rs a scaleroom for the market,
and I got SIS from the city and par
titioned of the upper room, so as to
have a separate place for the men and
women. The lower room was used as
an ONCE for the man on guard, who
took the names of the prisoners. We
brought them here from all parts of
the city,"
An early account says that both
criminal and civil cases were tried
here, and that ofttimes was the lash
applied there in cases Of offending
slaves, the gratings of the cell doors
serving as the whipping post.
NEAR this old building was q some
what larger brick structure used,
about 1887, by the Perseverance Fire
Company The building had q hall on
the second floor and the structure was
surmounted by q cupola in which there
was a flne-toned bell which was used
for many years as the curfew bell the
law being that people of color. slave
Or free, should be IN their homes by
10 o'clock at night In summer and by
9 o'clock in winter. Many white fami-
lies made it rule of their households
that the bell should determine the
hour Of retirement. children especially
being expected to be in the house when
the curfew rang.
From. makeshift headquarters, the
Auxiliary Guard moved, in 1860, to q
building erected especially for its use
on the south side Of Louisiana avenue
between Ninth and Tenth streets (site
now occupied by the Department of
Justice Building) and here. as a usual
thing, Police Magistrate Thomas C.
Dom tried the cases OF a minor char
acter.
Recently, when reading over the
"reminiscences Of Crosby S. Noyes, as
published in the anniversary supple
ment Of The Star Of Tuesday, Decem-
Der Is, 1902, the writer found a refer
ence to this old building made by Mr..
Noyes, in which he makes mention Of
reporting the police happenings at
that place. when The Star was q very
small sheet and that noted editor was
doing about all the writing for his
paper, and managing it besides, as
will be seen from what he says:
When Wallach was away on his
Evening star., 1938-03-20

ments to hand out, for the court did
not need very much help in those
days, when one Judge was sufficient
for the work. One of the first ap-
pointees was James Hughes. who was
made janitor OF the building, and Tor
his faithful services was in after
years made superintendent Of the
present building. His son, Richard
Hughes, followed in his fathers foot
steps as an attache Of the court.
Other early appointments made by
Judge Smell included Alexander T.
Gray as clerk, William o. Thomas
and Henry Lacy, bailiffs: Edward c.
Eckloff, F. c. Ravells, Luther G. Daw-
son. Benjamin ?. Leighton and How
ard Price.
RY 1875 the business had increased
to such an extent that it became
necessary to look for new quarters,
and the Unitarian Church Building,
then on the site Of the present Police
Court, was purchased for $4,000.
At that time there were many -pri-
vate residences in the vicinity Of Sixth
and D streets and some of the older
and more prominent families nearby
did not appreciate having the court
SO close to their homes, and to pre-
vent this sought an injunction. But
Janitor Hughes, acting under instruc-
tions from Judge Smell, was too quick
for the objectors. and before the law
yers could serve the papers, he moved
into the building on July II, 1878. q
table, some chairs, and Of course the
prisoners. and the judge was trying
cases. This ended the injunction and
the rest Of the equipment soon fol-
lowed.
The building on c street occupied
by the first Police Court was q very
old building, having been erected prior
to 1919, and used for various purposes.
including meeting place for the Odd
Fellows, New Jerusalem Lodge of Ma
sons, the Washington Light Infantry,
late in the 40s, and at an earlier date
it was popular place for the circus.
At the time the building was being re-
moved, In the Summer of 1898, the
writer found q reference to it in The
Star of July 9 of that year, which said:
The removal Of the old livery stable
on c street to the rear and east of the
National Hotel. between Four-and-a-
Half and Sixth streeta northwest,
which is now going on, said an old
citizen to q Star reporter. recalls to
my memory when Walkers great
Southern circus had its winter head
quarters there, so years ago. The per-
formance was carried on for three
months in the fall and winter after it
came in from the road at the closing
Of the tenting season. and it was re-
garded as very fashionable place to
60 in those days. In an amusement
way, then, it bore about the same rela-
ton to the summer circus that an
opera troupe bears now to the ordinary
theatrical troupe.
While to all intents and purposes
the performance was q circus show,
there were other things added to make
Evening star., 1938-03-20
Flag Raised Over Midgets
of South Pacific Which
Offer an Air Base.
BY William II. D0hwfy.

MGnAkA Is expanding.
~ Far from sight and sound of
~ bloody struggles by some other
nations seeking to add to their
domains. two groups from the Terri
tory of Hawaii, mostly boys, are dra-
matically but peaceably consolidating
Americas newest venture in land
acquisition.
They have just raised the Stars and
Stripes over Canton and Ehderbury
Islands of the Phoenix group below the
Equator in the mid-Pacific.
Viewed in one light, America has
merely claimed title to two patches
OF land not much bigger than barn.
yards, without minerals, vegetation,
important animal life, or even palata-
bic water. Viewed rightly. however,
America has come into possession of
two highly valuable service stations
that may change the entire course of
Pacific aviation. All of this came with
out expenditure of money and, con-
trary to the history of imperialism.
without firing a single shot.
The acquisition carries the American
nag farther southwest into the worlds
biggest ocean, into an area mainly
dominated by the British Empire. The
location OF Canton Is ITS miles south
OF the Equator, 1850 miles southwest
of Honolulu, $3.50 miles northwest of
Sydney, Australia. and Also miles
from San Francisco. It is about 81
miles west-northwest of Enderbury.
Except for similar coral neighbors
both Canton and Enderbury are
among the most isolated spots. or the
globe.
THE fact that the United States
had reached out and grabbed"
Canton and Enderbury came as some-
thing Of shock to the rest of the
world, and poses the question whether
there are not other bits OF earth,
equally valuable, waiting for a parent.
A glance at the globe will show that
there are many unoccupied islands,
but. study will show that few. II any,
are so well located as these two. .
Turn your globe to the "watery". side
and you will see in the exact center,
where the 160th meridian crosses the
equator, the Island of Jarvis. This
island was colonized by Americans
just three years ago. Now look 10 de.
srees to the left and down. you will
~ ths Phoenix group. Thsss Islands
are the NATURALLY topptns paint sor Or
Evening star., 1938-03-20

On his return to Warrington, DR..
Gruening quietly set about launching
the colonization scheme. His expert
snus among thu equatorial islands had
taugtt him just how 70 20 about H.
Evening star., 1938-03-20

He chose Hawaiian boys a. the lirst
settlers, frst, because they are Ameri-
cans: secondly, because Hawaiians are
dextsrous seanen and swimmers, -.
sosroGftu IA I'll. mA$keFs noeaaaal3 .
Evening star., 1938-03-20

paratively recent appointees to the
bench. The court as now constituted
includes Judges John P. Mcmahon,
Walter J. Casey. Edward M. Curran
and Hobart Newman.
The other judges Of the court, list
ing their appointments from the be-
ginning Of this tribunal, include the
following: William B. Smell, Thomas
P. Miller, Ivory G. Kimball, Charles
Fletcher Scott, Alexander r. Null
lovny, James L. Pugh, Robert Hard
ison, John P. Mcmahon, Gus A..
Schuldt, Isaac H. Hit, George H.
Macdonald and Ralph Given.
TO HAVE the title Of judge attached
to ones name is certainly an
honor to be appreciated by any one
But every one is not temperamentally
fitted to be judge, especially judge
Of one Of the lower courts, where, as
q usual thing, the more humble ele-
ment Of society is daily contacted
the very people, indeed, who, in a
multitude of instances. need encour-
agement, sympathy, tolerance and in
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-01
DOMESTIC AIDE
PROJECT READY

The new housekeeping aide
project, financed by District cit
liens and supervised by the WPA,
today was ready for operation, &C
cording to Mrs. Mary Steele, di-
rector of the Division of Women'S
and Professional Projects.
At the center at 17O1 Eleventh
st. N. W., women certified as in
need of relief will be trained to
go into needy homes in which the
housewife is Ill to do housework
and care for children.
In this way the center will en-
ploy those in need of relief work
and at the same time furnish
free assistance in poverty-Stricken
homes.
The training given the women
is expected to fit them for EN-.
ployment later in private indus.
try. Mrs. Minna Adams is super
visor of the project, and among
those working to finance the cen
ter are Mrs. Winslow Van Devan-
ter. Mrs. PrentiSS Wilson, Mrs.
Lester Buchanan, Mrs. Walter
Ufford, Mrs. Ernest Gruening,
Mrs. George Rutland, Mrs. R.
Thomas West, Rev. John s. Nixon
and DR.. Daniel Seckinger.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-01
POLIO PATIENTS
GIVE FETE TODAY
F OR PRESIDENT
Executive Ends Outing,
Back Tomorrow
BY GEORGE DURNO

WARM SPRINGS, Ca, April l
.S0.-Today, as President
Roosevelt's spring vacation drew
to a close, the lis patients Of this
famed infantile paralysis resort ex-
citedly arranged a luncheon for
the Chief Executive and Mrs.
Roosevelt.
The party in the big Georgia
hall dining room this noon was
substituting for the THANKSGIVING
turkey the President was unable
to carve last November because of
an infected tooth.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Presi-
dent will leave Warm Springs
after ten days of Georgia sunshine.
During that period, Mr.. Roosevelt
kept Warm Springs in the head
lines with his letter declaring he
had mo inclination to be a dicta-
tor" and his assertion that Amer
ica's open-door policy toward po-
itical refugees embraced oppressed
minorities of all nations, races and
creedS.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-01
House SUamped by Protests
AS Reorga1izing War GrowS

An effort was also to be made
to amend the bill to permit Con
greSS, by resolution, to suspend
any reorganization order.
Representative Harlan CD OF
Ohio, charged that "the same old
lobbying groups" were seeking to
defeat the reorganization bill.
Presidents Cleveland, Theo-
dore Roosevelt, Wilson, Hard
ing, Coolidge and Hoover made
repeated efforts at reorganiza-
ton, but in each case Hobbies
saved the Constitution and re-
organization failed" he said.
PLAN TEST VOTES
The Administrations strength
was to be tested in motions to end
debate and begin consideration of
amendments.
Repeated efforts by Representa-
tive Cochran CD of Missouri to
obtain agreement to limit debate
failed. Administration leaders be-
lieved that if they can end debate
during the day on a vote, they
will be assured of votes to pass the
bill and defeat amendments to
weaken its provisions.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-01

Laborite group will vote against
the bill in its present form"
II am against any attempt
by Congress to surrender the
purse strings to the President"
he said.
While Mead defended the pro
posed one-man Civil Service ad
ministrator as having proved sue
cessful in England, Chairman
RamSpeck CD of Georgia, of the
Civil Service Committee, planned
to lead a drive to revise the bill
81 am primarily opposed to
provisions Of the bill which Gre
ateS a single Civil Service COM
missioner and abolishes the BIZ
partisan commission" said
RamSpeck. This will destroy
public confidence. If the Civil
Service means anything, it must
mean absence of partisanShip."
Foes of the measure were con
fident they can knock out audit
ing provisions Of the bill and re
tain the comptroller-general tt
make pre-audits and checks or
Government spending.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-01

Minority Leader McNary, of
Oregon, and Chairman Pat Harri-
son CD of Mississippi, of the
committee, held a harmony
meeting" on the revenue bill,
dropped party lines and agreed
to battle shoulder to shoulder
against attempts to wreck the
measure.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT
IT think" McNary said, "the
finance committees bill is q
great improvement over the
House bill. see no reason for
lengthy debate on the bill. If
it will help business as people
think it will the quicker it is
passed the better for all OF US"
Tentative plans were for the FL
nance Committee to report the
five-billion-dollar bill to the Sen
ate Thursday, with debate on it
to begin Wednesday. G. o. p.
forces will be nearly 100 per cent
for the major provisions of the
bill, joining an overwhelming ma
jority of Democrats similarly
minded, it was indicated.
WILL SPEED BILL
The idea of the Harrison.Mc.
Nary combination to speed the bill
through the Senate after only
four days of debate startled New
Dealers, who were counting upon
at least two weeks of Senate de.
bate in their effort to revise the
bill more along lines advocated by
President Roosevelt.
Leading New Dealers in the Sen
ate conceded they had slight
chance Of restoring the corporate
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-01
MARITIME union
PICKETS BOARD

Charged yesterday with unfair
practices, in a National Labor Re
lationS Board complaint filed by
the National Maritime Union, the
United States Maritime Commits
sion is being picketed today.
Carrying banners accusing the
board of firing five members Of
the crew Of the S. S. Pipestone
County on March 20 for union
activities, the pickets at noon
were marching UP and down
streets bounding the Department
of Commerce Building, which
houses the commissions offices.
William L. Standard, National
Maritime Union attorney, yeSter.
day filed the unfair" charges in
the NLRB regional office in New
York. The PipeStone County's Of.
ficerS, accordingto the complaint,
were ordered to fire four able.
bodied Seamen and one fireman
because of union activities aboard
ship.
Although the entire crew were
members of the union, the berthS
of the men discharged. Standard
said, were filled with men whose
names are not on the NMU rolls.
The incident is the third of its
kind in the past 10 days, &C.
cording to union officials, who
charge that the unlicensed per
sonnet Of the freighter Indepen
dence Hall and the freighter AlgiC
were fired and replaced by mem
bers OF the American Federation
of Labor Seamen's reorganizine
committee"