The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 18

13 M2 BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE, NEW. YORK, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1933 the persons and property of foreigners in Cuba TURNING BACK IS DARK, TOO' BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE I Founded dj usee Van Anden Id 184). (Trde Mars "Kagle" Registered.) Robert Ridgway, who retires after fifty years of service to the city. Mr. Ridgway is not to be confused with some of the pension grabbers who have recently received so much attention.

An outstanding engineer, whose work has made possible some of the greatest engineering feats of our times, Mr. Ridgway has directed work on all the subways of the city. Still another loss to the public service will come with the retirement of George McAneny, (M-'i vSSiiii 1 vw 4 AS WE ARE we are not formally Donna to omer nations such at least is the general case, bvt there are two important exceptions. These are contained in our treaty of peace with SDin. executed at Paris in 1898.

Therein the United Slates undertakes that "the In' habitants of the territories over which Spain relinquishes or cedes her sovereignty shall be secured in the free exercise of their religion." And it Is further undertaker; that Spanish sub Jects are to retain all their rights of property in such territories. And the third section of the "Piatt Amendment" specifies the performance of duties to Spain under the Treaty of Paris as one of the occasions that would entitle the United States to Intervene in Cuba. It is difficult to see how the United States could divest itself of the obligation thus acknowledged that it contracted with Spain to intervene in Cuba if necessary either for the defense of freedom of worship or for the protection of Spaniards' rights of property. We must think, therefore, rather of revising and reducing our right of intervention In Cuba than of giving It up altogether. An anti-religious pogrom In Cuba or a.

spoliation of Spaniards there would leave us no choice but to Intervene or break a treaty. Honest Whisky for New York City. The amendment to the Health Code adopted by the Health Board as recommended by Commissioner Wynne should assure the sale of only honest whisky in New York City. Incidentally, it should go far toward discouraging the sale of dishonest whisky from Maine to California, for a brand shown here to be dishonest will be hard to dispose of elsewhere. A survey showed that in this metropolis in the short post-repeal period about 40 percent of the "whiskies" were not whisky under the American Pharmacopoeia definition.

It was not found that there was any use of wood alcohol or other poisonous substances in the adulterated stuff, but the effect on the human system was known to be very different from that of straight, four-year-aged liquor. If anybody wants to buy a cheaply, a frankly labeled artificially made and colored beverage, that is his privilege. The code will not interfere with the seller. If anybody wants to buy at a little higher rate a so-called blended whisky, one quart out of ten "real stuff," the rest water, alcohol and coloring, but labeled accordingly, the man who supplies him has in no way offended the new law. But the seller must have In legible type on every bottle of artificial or imitation whisky the names of all the ingredients used.

And similarly the seller of the so-called blends must show on every bottle the percentage of real whisky, with the time it has been aged and the percentage of alcohol and water and flavoring extracts used in making it. As for unadulterated whisky, the only requirement is that the label shall clearly show the aging period. Nothing is forbidden that is not in essence an unfair practice, a swindle on the gullible purchasing public. 1 We congratulate Dr. Wynne on the fearlessness and the wisdom of this policy.

He Is to retire on a pension with the end of this month. We do not believe that any backward step will be taken by the incoming city administration on the suppression of whisky adulteration. "Beggars." Quite seasonal is the Yuletlde cry, "Hark, hark, the dogs do bark, the beggars have come to town!" New York is generous. In a sense it is a compliment for a penniless man to enter her borders uninvited. Thousands of such men are here today.

They are in "rags and tags," and much easier to satisfy that those in velvet gowns. And the average New Yorker loves the line of least resistance. At least he is paying no overhead when he gives a quarter to a street mendicant. Nevertheless, street begging is not to be encouraged and the appeal to the magistrates for more Judicial sternness offered by the Mendicancy Committee of the Welfare Council gets the response it deserves from Chief Magistrate McDonald and full approbation from William Hodson, who is to be Welfare Commissioner under Mayor LaGuardla. "Shiftless, vagrant and frequently criminal persons whose trade Is mendicancy by habit and preference" need restraint.

The panhandler who threatens even women with violence if they do not give alms is Intolerable. And the proposition is to arrest all beggars and release first offenders on suspended sentences, telling them where they can be saved from starving. The professionals are to get Jail terms as vagrants. This seems a sane policy. It is not easy to carry out.

The public and indeed the police have a lenient spirit at Christmas time. The beggar is a fellow human being. But there is no inhumanity in the program as offered and accepted by the magistrates. Able Public Officials Reports that Mayor-elect LaGuardia may request John H. Delaney to retain his post as chairman Of the Board of Transportation are extremely gratifying to those who are familiar With the special qualifications of this exceptionally competent public official.

Some time ago Mr. Delaney announced his intention to retire when his term expires in June. More recently there were rumors that Mr. Delaney intended to leave office before the O'Brien regime ends on December 31. As the man who has directed the laying out and construction of the Independent Subway System Mr.

Delaney has to his credit one of the greatest building projects in history. He has done a big job, and done it well. The construction end is almost finished, but the larger problem of effecting unification remains unsolved. Mr. Delaney should be of tremendous service to the new administration in its efforts to reach a transit settlement.

The best available man that could be found would still lack the knowledge and experience possessed by Mr. Delaney. To be sure he is a member of Tammany Hall, an adviser to the Wigwam, in fact; 'but there Is nothing to Indicate that Tammany has sought or followed Mr. Delaney's advice for a long time. Another man whose name and achievements are closely linked with those of Mr.

Delaney Is THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 21, 1933. at. PRESTON OOODPELLOW. President and Publisher HARRIS M. CRIST.

CHARLES A. REYNOLDS, Vice President Chairman of the Board and Managing Editor o( Trusteel W. V. HESTER, CLEVELAND RODOERS, Treasurer Editor I. A.

DOCKERT. ARTHUR M. HOWE, Secretary Editor Emeritus W. W. OLIVER, Aaat.

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A Rare Combination. It would' have been worth a good deal more than a penny to have read the thoughts of John P. Curry, John H. McCooey and other political leaders of the "practical school" who foregathered with some 1,500 other citizens to pay tribute to Mayor-elect LaGuardla on Tuesday night. Nothing could have been less orthodox politically than the speech of the Mayor-elect.

It was a spontaneous effort shot through with a pungent admixture of humor, irony and satire, yet containing many bold and forthright declarations of constructive policy. The Mayor-elect is decidedly a man of parts. He has a sense of humor and is gifted with a lively -imagination. It has been said that "to govern is to foresee." This calls for imagination. Looking back over the last twenty years it would seem that lack of imagination on the part of those In high places has done more than anything else to bring New York City to its present plight.

It does not take much in the way of foresight to grasp the essentials of a municipal program calculated to advance the general welfare. People actually ask very little of government; yet in the last twenty there has been such a complete lack of vision in City Hall that New York has been without any program worthy of the name. But Imagination also serves as an effective defensive mechanism In fending against dangers. Our political leaders have bpen so "practical" that they could not see beyond their noses. That is why they seem unable to comprehend what has happened to them.

They were so intent on getting what they wanted that they did not find out what the public wanted. Mr. LaGuardia's imaginative powers are apparent in everything he has done or said since election. He has not been content merely to announce a program and await Inauguration. He knows that there will be opposition and that formidable obstacles must be overcome.

He has been to Washington, not once but several times, in connection with a subway loan, civil works and other matters. He is now looking in the direction of Albany, where opposition to his program is to be expected. He is foreseeing not only what he wants to do but the difficulties that must be overcome. This is the kind of leadership the city has long needed. It cannot fail, for the simple rea-.

son that the people will always support the man who has the power to foresee and the courage to fight for those things which the public want. Our Nonintervention Policy. To say that none need fear the intervention of the United States in the affairs of any other government amounts to declaring that our Gov-" ernment will under no circumstances intervene. Secretary Hull, according to dispatches from Montevideo, said to the Pan-American Con-' ference: "No government need fear intervention on the part of the United States under the Roosevelt Administration," or "so long as Franklin D. Roosevelt is President." This has been called a pledge, which it is not, In the literal sense.

Merely voluntary and not nntractual, it expresses the intention of our 'pvernment not to intervene, but does not jrmally bind it to persist in that intention, iilnce in many sorts of human commerce the party who utters an assurance honors his word as he would his bond, the assurance given at Montevideo has appreciable weight. It would have greater weight but for the unfortunate dispute as to the alleged understanding of President Hoover with Premier Laval over war debts in their conference of October, 1931. That dispute had the effect of impairing the credence given to Informal assurances in international matters. In point of fact, the United States has steadily receded from activities as a policeman in Latin-American countries. Under President Hoover it withdrew from Nicaragua and made a beginning of withdrawal from Haiti.

The Roosevelt Administration has made further progress as to terminating intervention in Haiti, and It has avoided a conspicuous occasion for introducing armed forces in Cuba. A frank declaration of intention not to intervene in the territory of any other sovereignty carries the present Administration much farther. It points toward the prospect of negotiation with Cuba for the revision of the "Piatt Amendment," which as embodied In our treaty of 1903 with Cuba permits our Government to Intervene in Cuba in any of divers eventualities. So iar as these eventualities concern the welfare of the Cubans themselves we may be fully fro to renounce Intervention; so far as concerns who is to leave the office of Controller to become president of the Title Guaranty Trust Com pany. The most commendable and intelligent acts of Mayor O'Brien were in appointing Mr.

McAneny first as head of the Department of Sanitation and later as Controller. Mr. Mc Aneny might have been the candidate for Mayor on the Fusion ticket. We had high hopes that he might be the candidate for Controller on the Recovery ticket. Instead, he added luster to his own public record by serving the O'Brien administration as Controller during the greatest fiscal crisis in the annals of New York City.

The records of such men prove that it Is possible for individuals to serve the public faithfully and well, regardless of political alignments. They seem to possess qualities similar to those once attributed to the salamander, which was supposed to be immune to fire. At least they have gone through the political Are and remain unscorched. Tills is gratifying and significant. We have come upon a time when public service stands out in bold relief.

There was never stronger condemnation of incompetent and unworthy officials, and, conversely, the able and conscientious public official is appreciated all the more. Artistic Temperamentalism. "Yes, she is temperamental," said an apologist about a leading lady whose eccentricities had annoyed an impresario; and the impresario snorted: "Temperamental, temperamental, of course; 95 percent temper and 5 percent mental!" At any rate nobody can say a thing like that about Sinclair Lewis, novelist. At least the percentages would have to be reversed. The incident of the Nobel Centennial dinner at the Hotel Roosevelt, however, is one that the creator of "Mr.

Babbitt" is likely to regret in his cooler moments. Mr. Lewis, sitting between Miss Anne Morgan and Professor Albert Einstein, had begun his dinner when the Inevitable flashlight photographers started business. He wouldn't be photographed while eating. So he got up, hurried past Owen D.

Young, who was talking with Miss Morgan, rushed to the elevator and for a time made himself incommunicado in his own apartment on the tenth floor of the hotel. Between artistic temperamentalism and the sense of perspective there is an irrepressible conflict. For the time being Mr. Lewis could not focus his Intelligence on the fact that this was a historic occasion and that he was not "the only pebble on the beach." He could not evaluate the greatness of his fellow guests. He could not Bee that exploitation of personal pique on such an occasion was unworthy of a beneficiary of Nobel, whose memory was being honored.

Canberra is planning vast aid to the development of the northern territory of Australia, along what may now be called Roosevelt lines. It may be noted that concessionaire beneficiaries are forbidden to employ any but white labor. In essence, Australia Is fully as Caucasian-minded as Alabama. LETTERS FROM Library Has Not Been Engaging Persons From Outside Brooklyn Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle: In The Brooklyn Daily Eagle for the 16th there appeared a letter from Gloria Smith, who makes certain charges, against the Brooklyn Public Library and its management. Unfortunately the writer of this letter is not in possession of the facts and is not aware of the policy of the library In filling vacancies.

In evidence of the true situation I quote the reply I made to a recent applicant from Connecticut: "There are so many unemployed persons in Brooklyn that It would not be quite fair to offer positions to persons outside our borough. I cannot, therefore, hold out any hope of being' able to give you employment." The facts are that we have had few vacancies during the depression. If funds were available all the eligible and qualified librarians in Brooklyn could be put to work by the Brooklyn Public Library. MILTON J. FERGUSON, Chief Librarian Brooklyn Public Library.

Brooklyn, Dec. 19. House Servants Far From Abused In the Opinion of a Housekeeper Editor Brooklyn Dally Eagle: I have been annoyed several times by your attitude toward housewives in regard to domestic servants. Tonight again in your Right-or-Wrong column there is mention of it. Housewives always have had a problem in house servants.

To my mind they are a privileged class Instead of as you infer an abused class. Where else could they live as well as they do? Where could they have clear all that they are paid for their work? The school teacher and the house "servant are the only ones who can dress in the latest style. In their own homes with children and husband they would find quite a different state of affairs with no money, clothes, long hours and no days off. EXPERIENCED HOUSEKEEPER. Brooklyn, Dec.

19. The American. Mission to Lepers 'Faces Uncertainty' First Time Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle: At Christmas one finds a particular satisfaction in helping those who suffer most. Added to the suffering of the sick, the poor, the hungry and the homeless, with which we are all familiar today, the leprosy victim faces the tragedy of being outcast. A small boy is placed on a raft and sent down the river by his own family because he Is a leper.

A girl of 13 is turned out of her home and sent to live in a hut among the graves because she is a leper. At 170 leper outposts around the world there are men and women and little children expectantly looking to the American Mission to Lepers to provide them not with extra comforts and luxuries but with the simplest necessities of life. For the first time in its 60 years of service the Mission to Lepers is faced with uncertainty as to whether it can maintain its unique and desperately needed work. You can relieve suffering unspeakable by sending your check for a warm blanket ($2) w- 7r xw 'J laC "iiw- By John Erskine cause of the women who are workers, not because of those who are doing the talking. The distinction between the two kinds of women holds also for the men.

We naturally respect the man who carves out his own career and supports his family and does his duty by society. We may like but we can't so completely admire the man who merely inherits what some one else created. Try as we may to maintain our approval of traditions, we are bothered when the tradition leads to privilege to freedom from the struggle of life. The man who founds the family is the aristocrat. His son, to prove he Inherits the aristocratic character, must do the founding all over again.

The girls in city offices who support themselves, the women teachers In schools, the nurses in hospitals, the clerks in stores) might well talk about women's rights; but so far as I have noticed they rarely refer to the subject. They leave it to those women who are living on money which some man has earned their husband, their father, their grandfather; in any case a man. They want the law to say they are his equal. If the law says it, the law will be guilty of a romantic fib. The other day I received through the mall a copy of a pamphlet written by a woman summoning all other women to take charge of public affairs.

The argument was that man has proved his inadequacy and it's woman's turn. I'd hand over the world to those women who have proved that they can first take care of themselves. I'd also want to be sure they were that rare kind of woman who enjoys supporting herself. Out of those who at present earn their living the majority would quit-at the drop of a hat if a good man would support them. Man likes to be master of his own fate.

Woman likes to be master of her own man. I know it sounds brutal, but it still may be true. I adore them, but at times I fear I begin to understand them. Now, don't challenge me about those women who bear children and devote all their time to them. They're not so numerous as they were.

Where they exist they have the right to bear children and devote their time to them and the husband has the right to support them. But this Is not the cause for which the National Woman's party or the National League of Women Voters was organized. CoDvrlirrit. 1933. by John Ersktne Did Constitution Make Mistake In Dealing With These Matters? Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle: People from other countries, some of them not naturalized, are employed in New York.

People from other States, such as New Jersey and Connecticut, work in New York, but living in other States pay no taxes in New York. Young girls with parents or older members of the family well able to support them are em- nlnvpri. This Is nnr. fcir hnf Hurltio tVinc days the condition Is tragic. But there is a worse condition, and that is the working married women.

An employer should not engage a married woman who has a husband supporting her, and no man should marry unless he feels that he can support a wife and family. These business married women prefer to work outside the house be cause they can live better, dress better, have no children and very little or no housework to do. I believe no person from other countries. Some 22,000 Greeks in America petition the government of their native land to end the self-isolation of Samuel Insull in Athens. An edict compels him to leave Greece by January 1, but in what country he will choose to sing "home, Sweet Home" Washington is uninformed.

Bravest of all are the airplane makers; for instance, the Curtiss-Wright concern planning to put a $5,000,000 factory in China, 110 miles from Shanghai, on the promise of Chiang Kai-shek that he will order and pay for 60 machines a year. Chiang in futurity is a blooming uncertainty. EAGLE READERS for a grandmother shaking with cold and fever, sandals (50 cents a pair) for bleeding feet, medicines ($5 a year) so that those just developing the dreaded malady may never reach the hopeless, mutilated stage, milk for the little children and the very ill. The complete support of a patient for one year can be provided for $40. Your own holiday season will be happier for some sacrifice that puts on your Christmas list the lepers, who cannot give you anything in return except their gratitude.

Gifts may be sent to Fleming H. Revell treasurer 156 5th New York. WM. JAY SCHIEFFELIN, President American Mission to Lepers. New York, Dec.

19. Caesar and the Cormorant May Both Enjoy the Allusions to 'Em Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle: In a recent letter one of your correspondents corripares Mr. Smith's criticisms of the New Deal to Brutus stabbing the dying Caesar and to a cormorant pecking at a cadaver. That Is not very complimentary to Mr. Smith, but it strikes me as even less flattering to President Roosevelt.

I doubt if either gentleman, however, will be broken-hearted, since each is possessed of an excellent sense of humor. E. D. WILLIAMS. Lynbrook, L.

Dec. 18. Macy at the Bat By John Alden Revision of a very old son, sucuestrd by the Repub. Mean base-bawl name, "Down-State vs. Up-State, at Albany." News.

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Down-State nine that day; The score was 4 to 2, with but one inning yet to play They thought If only Macy could but get a whack at that, "Ah, we'd put up even money, now, wit' Macy at the bat." There was ease In Macy's manner as he stepped into his place; There was pride in Macy's bearing, and a smile on Macy's face; And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat, No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Macy at the bat. The smile is gone from Macy's lips, his teeth are clenched with hate; He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate; And now McGinnies holds the ball, and now he lets it go; And now the air is shattered with the force of Macy's blow. Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; Somewhere the bands are playing, and somewhere hearts are light; And somewhere men are laughing, and children play and shout; But there's gloom in Down-State quarters Mighty Macy has struck out. this was written the United States delegates were instructed to sign the treaty guaranteeing equal nationality rights to women. Ed.

THE leaders of the National Woman's party are much exercised because our delegation to the Pan-American Conference did not support the proposed treaty to give women equal rights with men throughout the American republics. The Irate ladies have asked the State Department for an explanation of this ungallant course and the Acting Secretary has replied that the question will have to wait till Secretary Hull comes home. According to reports, the ladies are going straight to the "President. They can't wait for Secretary Hull. They want to know why the United States refrained from voting equality for women in this hemisphere.

I believe they know the answer. There is a division among women as to the proper way to secure equality. The National Woman's party thinks it should be secured by international treaty, but the National League of Women Voters thinks it should be secured by national legislation in the several countries, one at a time. The two groups would agree as to the equality of women with men in the United States. The National Wpman's party would force this equality also on other countries which don't want it yet; but the National League of Women Voters would permit other countries to manage their own affairs.

With Secretary Hull's delegation there is a representative of this latter group. Our opposition to the proposed treaty, therefore, pleases some women and disappoints others. I used to be an enthusiastic defender of women's rights, and I still would give them in reason anything they want, but I've come to believe that nature is stubborn and women will remain women to the end. They don't really want their rights; they want attention. In this present scrap both sides have it.

Both will be happy. No one can give you any rights. You earn them for yourself. This political equality which some women ask for, others don't want, and there's much to be said on either side. Women have enjoyed an extraordinary privilege for the last five or six hundred years in the worship men have bestowed upon them.

They have been during this period almost a religion for those whose temperament was romantic and who sought for a beauty haunting and divine. Perhaps women knew the men were fooling themselves, but in some respects they profited by the mistake. Many of the ladies who champion the cause of women's rights are still enjoying the privileges which accrue from man's romantic error, if error it Is. Of those who crusade for equality under the law many have demonstrated that they are indeed man's equal. The simplest way for them to demonstrate it is to earn their own living.

But many others who clamor for equality are away from home for the moment, with their expenses paid by the neglected and hard-working male. Those women who are men's equals should have equal rights with men, and the number of such women is growing. But for the most part they are too busy earning their living and doing an honest Job in the world to lead any political crusade for equality or bombard the State pepartment and the White House with rhetorical questions. The equality about which there is now much talk will come be States or cities, no married women with husbands working, no young people with older folks employed should be employed while, native-born citizen is unemployed. KATHERINE F.

SHAY, i Brooklyn, Dec. 19. wjj.