The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 10

THE SUX, BALTIMORE, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 20, 1930 10 Black And White, But Very Confusing SUN THE k'iy Sports The Orient By Frederic Nelson fuhlialiMl kr BunrtM bi THE A. S. ABELL COMPANY Paui Patterson, President EnUred at tin PoatolMra at Haltlmors ti ucowl-claM Riail matter. Subscription Rata BI CAnniKRt (' nid Hiit.nrh Mnnni-g KihiIhk (nit xuniUj, 23 emu a weak. SiiU'lay fi ceuu wwk.

INGI.K COPIES- Morning. Fwilnj, So. Hnndaj, Hie. BI 11 A 1 1- Muniim Ed'iium buniitr without obstacles," the labor unions are preparing to answer any attempted Kondylis coup with a general strike, and the Government has placed armed forces throughout the country to meet any emergency. In short, Greece seems neither to be enjoying the complete peace which the country was promised with the restoration of George II, nor witnessing the progressive disintegration of the Venizelists which Kondylis' success of last October was supposed to bring about.

And it is now Kondylis' turn to call for revolution against old enemies and new friends, Liberals and Monarchists alike. would be illogical. "An equally sound relief plan for the city (Richmond)," says the Virginian-Pilot, "would be for the Council to apportion its relief funds among the election precincts on the basis of their population." Relief should be extended in accordance with the conditions that exist. They may be desperate in one place and comparatively satisfactory in another. Even with the criticism visited upon the Federal Government in its handling of the nation's unemployment problem, the fact was recognized that it would have been absurd to yield to the suggestion, sometimes advanced, that it grant relief funds on any other theory than the measure of reed in the various States, nnp, uc.

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I.oull. HIIIMIt.lt Glenn liiilldum 4W Hum llulldlnii Honroii Atlanta Man .6.17 Chamber of Cnnimrne I.oa Anselea. Loudon 40 t'lrH fctrevt Circulation of The Sun in December Mornlnc 13K.773 Onln 1.404 Kvcnlns llS.iMI tiiilu 7.7'Wl Sunday J1W.U17 Ciiiln Member of the Associated Press Ttn AinociitM l'rs li ejelmlreljr entitled to the nee for publication of all newa dmpatcbea credited to it or not otherfflce credited in this pjpit and aNo the local new publUbed herein. All rislits of rfnuhlirntinn ot ant-cial difipatelien herein are also resrried. BALTIMORE, SUNDAY, JAN.

2(1, NEW SCOTTSBORO DOUBTS It is difficult to believe that any one who has read the dispatches from Birmingham has obtained any clear idea of what happened in the automobile that was carrying three of the defendants in the notorious Scottsboro case back to the Birmingham jail from Decatur, where the trial was held. What is worse, it seems unlikely that clarification will be forthcoming, although the incident obviously demands thorough investigation. For, as it stands, the official account alone, without the contradictions of the prisoners to disturb it, is so vague, so confused and so insufficient that it awakens anew grave doubts in a case already distinguished by the questions it has raised. All that is certain is that a deputy sheriff of the name of Blalock was wounded with a knife and that his injury is not serious, and that one of the nine Negro defendants was then shot in the head. He is given, it is said, an even chance to live.

One wants to know how it happened that any of the Negroes, in custody for nearly five years, was in possession of a knife. If one of them was armed there was a singular lack of vigilance on the part of the authorities. One also asks if it is reasonable to suppose that after all this time, without show of violence, the Negroes would attempt a break at the moment when another effort to save their lives is under way. From the beginning the Scottsboro case has been surrounded with prejudice and has caused high feeling in a region which has none too good a record for respecting the rights of accused Negroes, and which has too often had recourse to lynching. Naturally, therefore, the current accounts of the shooting are likely to lead many to suspect that this latest incident was a variation on the familiar theme of "shot while attempting to escape." That suspicion may be unjustified.

It can be dispelled only by rigorous investigation into all the circumstances. AS A CHRONIC two-dollar-window iports-man, I have been asked repeatedly, since returning from the Orient, where I witnessed tire striking of the shackles from the ankles of the Filipino, what about sports In the Orient. Unfortunately the seriousness of my mission and the brevity of the visits to the ports of the East gave little opportunity to go In for sport very thoroughly. When we got into a place, the principal sport was to argue for an hour whether or not it was necessary to wear a morning coat to the embassy or a white tie to the dinner by the Chamber of Commerce and combined shows. I had no morning coat and had tossed my tails out of the trunk as a last desperate effort to secure cargo space.

So with me it was a question of whether I could go at all, I usually went disguised as a newspaper man and found that nobody had on a morning coat or a white tie except a few Senators and Representative Louis Rabot, of Detroit, the sweet singer of Michigan. Nevertheless, deciding these matters took a long time, and somebody would always end the argument by saying, "Here it's only seventy-five years since Admiral Perry got these babies into long pants, and here we are worrying about whether we should dress up like a bunch of clowns or not." IN SPITE of the time needed for all this intellectual effort I did manage to go to the races a couple of times in Shanghai. After all, I had brought my glasses across the Pacific and hadn't dared train them on the shores of Japan's Inland Sea for fear of getting shot. The race track in Shanghai is just where a race track ought to be, right in the middle of the town. The horses are small Chinese ponies and are ridden by oversize "gentleman riders," so that when you see Belle of the East laboring around the track with H.

Gillis up, you feel inclined to call in the S. P. C. A. and insist that it ought to be H.

Gillis with Belle of the East up. They run clockwise so that, unless you look sharply, you may miss a close finish while under the impression that the horses are going to the post. It is very nice in the clubhouse, however. Tea tables and comfortable chairs occupy a broad space just above the stands at the finish line and you can loll at your ease, read the form sheets and hand your bets to a waiter just as if you were a Whitney or a Vanderbilt, It gives one a sense of considerable importance until the winning numbers go up, when you find that it is no more fun to tear up' a ticket in China than it is at Bowie. BASEBALL, or bazeboll, is, of course, the national sport of Japan.

Wnile we were arguing about what to wear to some function or other the day we arrived in Tokyo they were playing the last game of the Japanese world's series and your taxi driver was constantly coming to a stop in front of shops from which the exciting play-by-play was emerging. Some of the party did go to a sand-lot game the next day and reported that the shortstop on one of the teams played with a baby on his back. I should have doubted this except for the number of little girls I saw skipping the rope with babies on their backs. A baby that could be bounced up and down on the back of a rope skipper would have no trouble negotiating a fast double play from the point of vantage of the shortstop's back. THE RACING season in Japan was in suspense when I was there, although the trains GEORGE W.

WICKERSHAM It is in a way ironical that George W. Wickersham should be remembered by most of his countrymen solely because he was the head of a commission on law enforcement, named by President Hoover, which settled the factual argument over national prohibition and thereby confirmed the drift of thousands upon thousands of moderates to the side of repeal. Mr. Wickersham was Attorney-General of the United Stales in that "ideal" Cabinet of President Taft's which started off with such plaudits and soon proved itself, along with its chief, calamitously unable to cope with the mood and spirit of the nation a quarter of a century ago. Before and after his service in the Cabinet he was counted one of the country's first lawyers, but his period in official life was generally written down as blank, perhaps with none too much justice.

He was not overly fortunate in other public services. His recognized ability and character brought to hira opportunity for service in the New York constitutional convention, in elaborate undertakings to improve labor relations, in movements for social betterment, in measures for international accord and, year in and year out, in the more important affairs of his church. Always when high intelligence was needed, he was placed on the list of those subject to call. And he gave of himself devotedly. Yet, it is hard to find a distinguished achievement in any of those fields that may be clearly attributed to this able and high-minded man.

His popular fame rests largely, almost entirely, upon the work of the Wickersham Commission. And, even in that work, it rests not upon the comprehensive study of the whole problem of law enforcement, but upon the single item of national prohibition. That issue had aroused violent emotions which swept over the normal boundaries of thought and custom within which men live their lives. And at the very height of the battle, the Wickersham Commission appeared with facts with facts that no one seriously attempted to controvert and that were, in truth, incontrovertible. They were facts which established the extent of popular revolt and the extent of violation of the national dry law among all classes of the people.

There was difference of opinion among members of the commission as to conclusions from the facts. But facts there were facts of breakdown of authority, of corruption and, even more menacing, of growing acceptance and toleration of corruption. And while members of the commission might debate conclusions, a vast and swiftly increasing number of citizens acted on the commission's facts without bothering about its conclusions, But perhaps, after all, it is not so ironical as it seems that Mr. Wickcrsham's notable career should be signalized in the popular mind solely by his work in establishing facts about violations of a prohibition law. Perhaps it was the quality of the man, patient and precise and faithful and utterly without trace of the theatrical, which made the production of facts in the prohibition dispute a work of such authenticity as, by its own weight, to settle the thinking of many thousands who were trying to think, and not merely to feel.

And surely a major contribution to settlement of the prohibition crisis was no small contribution to orderly and civilized living in these United States. Our Republic Of Letters HITTING THE BULL'S-EYE The Budget Director accurately forecast the surplus that the city would carry over from municipal operations in the year 1 935. The tax rate was based on his prediction that the surplus would approximate The estimate was exceeded by $27,167. Mr. Tallin's forecast is worth note, for it indicates that the fiscal affairs of the city are under close watch.

In this respect, there has been marked im-, provement in the City Hall in recent years. The Mayor, in cooperation with the Economy and Efficiency Commission, has revolutionized the city's methods of bookkeeping. A deficit can no longer occur without clue warning that one is impending. When the books are closed for the year, there are no overhanging bills that have not been taken into account none to become an unexpected charge on the succeeding budget. There was a reduction of $3,837,191 in city net funded debt, bringing the figure down to and the ratio of net debt to taxable to 6.24 per cent.

Net debt per capita of population, however, still approximates $200. That burden should induce every effort to avoid increases for other than self-liquidating improvements and essential public needs. No city is in a satisfactory position when debt charges call for 41 cents out of every tax dollar. APPROACHING A SHOWDOWN Reappointment of Harold E. Donnell as superintendent of State prisons retains in the office an experienced prison director at a time when, competent administration was never more needed.

The State is confronted by a condition in its penal institutions of the gravest character and its correction will call for the best thought that can be brought to bear. Something must be done to escape the leaving of all but a small proportion of prison inmates in a state of complete idleness. Some States (notably Virginia-) have resorted to employment of the better type of convicts on roads. Kentucky is now considering a similar proposal. The plan has been urged here from time to time, but objections have been offered to it, one of them being that such use of prison labor would affect free labor.

Whether a type of roads work could be provided that would reduce this danger to a minimum may be worth investigation. In Kentucky the proposal is to employ prison labor on road construction that would otherwise not be carried on at all. There also is opportunity for large expansion of the Penal Farm, provided the Legislature will appropriate the money needed there for construction. The farm has helped to relieve congestion in the Penitentiary and House of Correction, and it is stated that employment could be found there for six or seven hundred more men. Whatever is done at the prison farm or elsewhere, the State will be put to There is no blinking that fact, since the State does not need for its own use enough prison-made goods to employ more than a small number of inmates, and must, in some way, develop new forms of employment for the prisoners.

We shall have in the near future, it may be hoped, recommendations on the subject from a Federal commission and also from a State commission, both of which are headed meet the prices, will be "automatically brought up." Anyone who has reached the age of 25, or even less, should be able to recall the sale in local "movies" of German five and ten thousand mark notes for a nickel. As curiosities they may have been worth that, but for purchasing power their value was naught. The same result will obtain in the United States if "inflation" comes about it is merely a matter of to what extent the inflation may go. Senator Frazier unconsciously stultifies himself and provides an excellent argument against inflation. Herbert A.

Smith. Baltimore, Jan. 24. An Oversimplified View Of The Nature And Effects Of Teachers' Oath Bills To the Editor of The Sun Sir: Having been an intermittent reader of The Sun for more than fifty years, and having thereby acquired a well-founded confidence in the ability of your editorial staff, I am greatly surprised and disappointed by the tenor of your editorial appearing in your issue of January 13 under the heading, "Counter-Attack." If I understand that editorial correctly, you maintain that to ask from the teachers of our publicly supported schools an oath of allegiance to the governments which maintain both schools and teachers is "repressive and dangerous." It is not possible for an ordinary intelliger.ee to understand the logic of that contention. The teachers are undoubtedly public employes, and every other public servant from the THE FIRST THING Before the Mayor and City Council get at loggerheads over a temporary arrangement for control of filling-station permits, pending permanent solution of the problem, some understanding should be had as to the time needed to study and put into operation the proposed zoning system, if it is shown to be practicable.

The Mayor's suggestion that two years be allowed for such a study seems out of reason; more light should be shed on the point. Obviously, if the investigation would require but two months, it would be more sensible to await the results rather than to change the present law. If the Mayor is right and two years would be required, a different aspect would be put on the matter. The public is interested in a sound and definite plan for control of these permits and hopes to see one evolve out of the present disposition in the City Hall to tackle the business vigorously. Progress should not be blocked by differences over details.

Richard M. Duvall An Appreciation To the Editor of The Sun Sir: A familiar figure that for more than half a century frequented the vicinity of Court Square is gone; the smiling greeting that many knew is vanished. The passing of Richard Mareen Duvall removes another veteran of the bar whose presence seemed a part of the court and its practices. We shall miss his pleasing personality, his erect and striking figure, known to many wayfarers whose paths led them through the environs of the Courthouse and within its halls. Those of us who have traveled far along the journey and have formed strong attachments note with sorrow the departing of these worthy and useful men who have always stood ready to defend the rights and faithfully to serve the interests, of our State and city, and when, one after mother, we see them fall, "like leaves in wintry weather," we lament and are sad.

Strict in his code of conduct, Mr. Duvall was always affable and genial of manner, both in business and social life. He was a man of strong convictions and courageously defended the cause he believed to be right, refusing to stand passively by in the presence of wrongdoers. A devout Christian and stanch churchman, he was always to be found, except in sickness, in his pew at morning prayer at Grace and St. Peter's, where his membership had been continuous for a period of forty years.

And faithfully did he strive to learn the lesson of life from the Great Teacher. Richard M. Duvall was a descendant of that Mareen Duvall whose family, fleeing the religious persecution of the reign of Louis XIV, came to Maryland and settled in Anne Arundel county. President of the United States down through Governors, Senators, Con gressmen, Mayors, Councilmen, to the village constable is obliged to take a similar oath of fealty. Why should those intrusted with the Wants Older Motion Pictures Of Merit Brought Back For Return Engagements To the Editor of The Sun Sir: I suggest that a group be formed to encourage local theaters to bring back such outstanding films as "The Scoundrel," "One Night of Love" and "David Copperfield." Many of us who are busy and don't attend the movies regularly would like very much to see the better type of pictures.

Unfortunately, after the regular showings, it is sometimes difficult to see a picture of merit. There should be a lot of interest in an organization formed to encourage the making and showing of finer films. The movies today have attained universal appeal. It would be a splendid thing to have an active functioning body interest itself in building support for good pictures and encouraging producers to make more ot them. Albert Jacobs.

Baltimore, Jan. 23. basically important task of guiding the growing minds of our future citizens be exempt from the obligations resting upon all their fellow-employes of the American public? Why should tfiey be at liberty to bite the hand that feeds them, unimpeded by the obligation of an oath of office? If those servants of the people cannot conscientiously sub scribe to the system of government NOT AT HIS BEST Benito Mussolini, who has trained for ten years to rattle the saber and smash the table with his fist, is now appearing in a different and unbecoming role that of the man who beats his breast and chops logic. The dictator who defied the League's authority to intervene in the case of Italy vs. Ethiopia, who demanded instead the "totalitarian solution" and who spent months in open preparation for war in East Africa, now denounces the presence of the British fleet in the Mediterranean and the agreement which Britain has worked out with four Mediterranean states.

And his complaint is that these moves on under which we live, they can with the utmost ease step out of the zone of dangerous repression by resigning their offices and thus rid themselves of the obligations which are an essential Overlooks, In Assigning The Respon part of those offices. sibility, The Fact That Italy Was That course of action is obligatory if the demands of intellectual honesty The First To Use Violence To the Editor of The Sun Sir: On October 2 Mussolini spoke to the world over the radio. In very definite This ancestor from whom Mr. Duvall carried placards showing exciting finishes about to take place somewhere. Apparently the novelty in Japanese racing is the way the bettor comes out of it.

Betting regulations in Japan, if I was informed cor? rectly by such of the "talent" as I interviewed, are intended to prove that gambling is a losing game. When you place a bet at a Japanese track, you are betting not only against the other horses but against the Government. The highest price you can get is 20 to 1, which would be well enough if you got it. But it appears that the Government's take is so large that you actually get much less than that even on an astronomically long shot. Sometimes, I was told, it is announced that the Government is going to take the whole pot of the fifth race, the announcement being made, of course, after the fifth race has been run and you have put up your money.

To some this system may seem to add to the sportsmanship of the event, and that would be true if, every now and then, the Government would reverse itself and announce that the winner of the fitth race i would get the day's take from the tax on bicycles. But they almost never do anything like that and the business of improving the breed of the thoroughbred horse consequently rests on the shoulders of very patriotic people who are delighted to be informed that, although their horse just came in at 8 to 1, they will not even get their stake back because the whole pot has gone to add a few cruisers to the Japanese Navy. IN THE Philippine Islands, I admit, I should have investigated sport more fully. From what I gather there is very little of it except cock fighting, and after a few minutes on the fringes of one of those events I decided that liar dice was better. Racing enthusiasts will be glad to learn that cock fighting as well as racing is keeping abreast of science.

Instead proudly claimed the spirit that had led him into exile turned his talent ATTIC MERRY GO ROUND It was only three months ago that Greece voted overwhelmingly against the republic and in favor of the monarchy. At that time commentators pointed out that the plebiscite had been preceded by an unsuccessful revolution led by the Vcnizelos Liberals and anti-monarchists, the suppression of which had broken their power and scattered their forces; terms he cautioned the League of Nations, for the sake of European peace, to the service of Colonial Maryland. that if it went so far as to apply Faithfully and diligently he labored through a long and honorable life. No laggard at his task, he gave the by Judge Joseph N. Ulman.

But, judging have any validity. To the normally honest mind there can be neither "repressions" nor "danger" in asking that all public servants be treated alike; that all honestly support the system of government from which they derive their living. If any of those public servants cannot so conform to our American system, it is only demanded that he resign his office and thus be free to advocate any changes (revolutionary or otherwise) that may commend themselves. This truism is of general application, from the highest official to the lowest. Edward Wilson.

La Jolla, Jan. 18. Britain's part are contrary to the "letter and spirit" of the League and that they are "dangerous and useless." One naturally asks when Benito first felt and exhibited so tender a regard for the "letter and spirit" of the Covenant as to justify him now in appealing to that letter and spirit. When did he conceive the abhorrence for power politics and, indeed, the ultimate resort to force that moves him to take a high line against battle squadrons and alliances? Finally, when did Mussolini himself best he had with ready, helping hand; like the faithful servant of the parable. he returned twotold the talents in and by a coup d'etat engineered by General Kondylis, who had assumed the powers of a dictator and, by his own acts, effectually put an end to the republic before the people had any chance to express their choice.

The same trusted to his keeping. May the reward be now, as then, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou from developments in other States, the reports of the commissions are likely to give the people of this State an emphatic reminder that upon them rests a duty that cannot be shirked because of the expense that will be entailed or the difficulties that will be confronted. A way must be found to give convicts something to do. military sanctions he would reply to an act of war in the same manner. He promised to the Italians that he would do everything within his power to keep the peace of Europe.

So far the world must give him credit for keeping his promise in view of the stand taken by Great Britain. With England continuing to use her influence in banding together the Mediterranean nations to oppose Italy with their embargoes and sanctions, it seems almost impossible to maintain this peace of Europe. If war does come, then the responsibility will certainly rest on the shoulders of England. Antonio Armetta. Baltimore, Jan.

23. hast been faithful over a few things, commentators remarked that although the majority of Greeks might well desire the re I will make thee ruler over many things." George Harrison. Baltimore, Jan. 24. show so deep a respect for European tranquillity and peace as to give him leave now to object to what he regards as "dangerous" steps? It is the man who has sung the song of nationalism, of militarism, of the glories of war and conquest for more than a decade who played as best he could the game of winning friends to support his aggressions; who condemned the "weak" solutions of Geneva and preferred to send his legions standing into Abyssinia it is hi who cries Praise For Considerate Motortnen To the Editor of The Sun Sir: Just a word of appreciation for those kind-hearted motormen who hold the cars for last-minute passengers transferring from another car in this zero weather.

Lines 8 and 32 have an especially warm corner of my heart (literally and figuratively speaking in this kind of weather!) for saving me two long bitttr waits today, and I would like them to know how much such thoughtfulness is appreciated. Baltimore, Jan. 23. Dorothy Ocle. of dope and electric saddles, the chanticleer trainers go in for razor blades for spurs.

turn of King George, certainly the disparity between Monarchists and Liberals could not be so great as the vote indicated. In any case, King George returned to Greece and took back his throne. It was not a happy event for the ambitious Kondylis, for with the restoration accomplished he was not able to retain the power he had gained. So far as the Venizelists are concerned, they have in large part been won over by King George's statesmanlike policy of conciliation and they seem to promise to give a good account of themselves in the election set for today. So much so, in fact, that Kondv-lis is now threatening to overthrow the Government if the Liberals are returned victorious.

But to this the Government replies that if the Liberal party wins, the "reins of government will be given to it Feels More Space Should Be Given To The Open Forum To the Editor of The Sun Sir: I wonder why the Open Forum is given so little attention in The Sun of Monday. I have trouble, finding the reports, and when I do there Ls little said. I am sure the city is proud of its Open Forum, as it is praised by outstanding men in our community. It is instructive, educational, also entertaining. Many a person looks with pleasure and anticipation for the opportunity, and when not able to attend they look for The Sun of Monday to read in detail all about it In former years it was giverf prominent place and space.

Lecturers as prominent as Prof. Scott Nearing are a treat to every intelligent person and yet The Sun gives very little space. I wonder if there is a method to its madness? Baltimore, Jan. 23. Morris Klein.

Apparently there is no cock fighting com WRONG THEORY A proposal of the Governor of Virginia to distribute relief funds among the political subdivisions of the State on a population basis is attacked as wholly unsound by the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. It needs but a moment's thought to recognize the justice of the criticism. As our contemporary says, there are certain State revenues that may properly be divided in some proportion lo population or to the relative contributions made to the State by localities. But relief funds are raised for the needy and there may be no relation whatever between the needs of one locality and those of another. For this reason distribution on the basis of a count of heads mission, but you can't drive about the country districts of a Sunday morning without running into scores of sportsmen carrying eager roosters under their arms, apparently Sympathy With The Persecuted To the Editor of The Sun Sir: Some day ago this heading appeared over orje of the letters in your column: "Apparently Believes That to Be an American One Must Close One's Eyes to Persecution Abroad." I am glad to understand that The Sun does not consider it a crime to express sympathy with the victims of hatred.

Tacitly to approve persecution in order to win or to retain friendship of tyrannical governments is dishonorable fear. This is true whether the persecution be carried on in Germany or in Mexico, because of race or because of religion. C. Graban. Baltimore, Jan.

17. to the League that Britain is violating the "principles" of collective security and is acting "dangerously." No one is going to be impressed by this latest performance of Duce. The effect that follows when a strutting bully begins to wring his hands in concern over peace and its ethical and juridical supports is inevi Warning Against Inflation To the Editor of The Sun Sir: In The Sun of today on Page 24 Senator Frazier. of North Dakota, is quoted as favoring "inflation" and as saying "inflation will automatically bring prices up." The Senator is correct in this. But he does not explain how incomes, to en route to an arena for the purpose of improving the breed of the blue-ribbon bantam.

I suppose I should have conquered my squeamishness and stuck it out to the end, but, never having been apprentice boy in an abattoir, I left in a few minutes. tably comic..