f — Washington. — I suppose most members of congress will deny it, but there certainly Political is every evidence Dynamite of an agreement, an understanding, to let President Roosevelt's radical court reform legislation stew until the country is heard from. There is no doubt in my mind nor in the minds of other observers here that representatives and senators are anxiously awaiting word from their constituents because if any issue ever was loaded with political dyna- mite, the plan to pack the Supreme court of the United States with six additional judges surely contains highly explosive elements. The facts I have mentioned in the above paragraph explain largely why there are so many senators and house members who remain non- committal on the issue. They want to know which way to jump. Actu- ally, I believe as many as half of them are going to try to determine which band wagon they ought to ride—whether they ought to go against the President or for him. In other words, the spot they are now on is not nearly so hot as the one upon which they may find them- selves if they guess wrong at this time. No politician will ever jump from the frying pan into the fire knowingly. In the meantime, the debate rages. Out and out supporters of President Roosevelt, the kind of men who follow him blindly because he is their leader, and the extreme op- position type who are against the President regardless of his position are battling for public attention. The radio is being used to an extent as great, if not greater, than occurred in the last campaign. Those who are committed for or against the President’s reform proposition are anxious to sustain their positions and the remainder of the national legislature is egging on the more bold members in order that those who have not made up their minds can take advantage of word from back home. In the meantime, as well, there are proposals and counter-proposals seeking a compromise. Few of them have any definite merit. Most of them, I believe, are purely and solely representative of floundering minds. Their sponsors entertain hopes that somehow, somewhere they will gain a streak of light that will guide them through to a proper answer politically. There has been only one plan for giving the federal government more power that can possibly be de- scribed as sound. That is the origi- nal proposition by Senator Robinson of Arkansas, the Democratic leader of the senate, who announced early in the session of congress that he favored an amendment to the Con- stitution. While Senator Robinson did not then say so, nor has he said so since, the truth is that he and many others would like to see the people of the country have an op- portunity to pass upon any program that would change the country’s ju- diciary. The President regards this method as too slow. He thinks that any changes which he desires ought to be made at once and holds that the tremendous majority by which he was re-elected gives him author- ity to do so. Yet, as the picture now stands, there is every prospect of considerable delay and from the way I analyze the circumstances, delay will provide the vast majority of voters with an opportunity for determination of the question which is vital in this case: Does the coun- try want to keep an independent system of courts or does it want to establish a precedent by which this administration or any other ad- ministration can influence those courts to do the bidding of the na- tion's Chief Executive? * » . Through many years and in every year there has been constant criti- cism of congress Safety vs. ¢,, delay in reach- Speed ing conclusions. It is fortunate, in my opinion, that these delays constitute a part of our governmental system. They allow time for cooling off. I think it will be generally agreed that every time legislation is rushed through congress ahead or as part of an emotional wave among citi- zens, there has invariably resulted unworkable, if not entirely unsound, statutes. Such is bound to be the result when men and women fail to think things through—when they fail to examine all of the phases of any problem. President Roosevelt moved quick- ly, and I believe sincerely, in pro- posing the NRA and the farm relief plan under the agricultural adjust. ment administration. Yet, neither of these reform measures stood the test of workability ; neither had been drafted upon a proper knowledge of the ends they were to serve and neither did justice to all of the peo- ple. It was only natural, therefore, that they should fall by the way- side. These two laws are cited because they are the outstanding examples of emotional legislation. are many others, most of them not as bad. But lately one offshoot of the NRA has arisen to plague the ad- ministration. I refer to the so-called Walsh-Healey law. In order to refresh memories, let me explain that the Walsh-Healey law prohibits the federal govern- ment from buying products of mills or factories, or any fruit of labor, unless the supplying contractor has complied with the same minimum hours and wages that were a part of the old NRA codes. Unless the contractor agrees to produce the material which the federal govern- ment is buying in accordance with those terms, his bid must be re- jected under the law. When the Walsh-Healey law was passed, there were comments heard in several quarters that the time would come when the government itself would regret the legislation. That time has arrived. Everyone is aware, of course, that Great Britain has started on a naval building program under which it will expend approximately seven and a half billion dollars in the next five years. American policy always has called for matching the British navy ship by ship. Fifteen years ago when the Harding disarmament program was written into treaty form, we destroyed ships so that our tonnage was the same as that of Great Britain. Now, with the world in a turmoil, with Great Britain an- nouncing an unprecedented building program in order to protect its vast colonies and dominion from aggres- sion, the need arises for a building up of our navy again. At least that is Mr. Roosevelt's view and he has wide support for it. . » * To build up the navy requires vast amounts of steel and other products of industry. Much Unable to of the naval build- Get Steel ing will be done in the navy's own yards. Thus, it has come to pass that the navy has been unable to obtain steel and other equipment since the manufacturers of the needed equipment are not willing to subject themselves to the terms of the Walsh-Healey law. In some in- stances where the navy has sought to buy material, the manufactur- ers have refused even to make an offer or state a price at which they would sell the required material and there is a very real possibility that unless the Walsh-Healey law is re- pealed or dodged, our navy build- Ing program may have to come to a halt. The reason for this condition is that the Walsh-Healey law, with its prescription on minimum hours of labor and wages would place a bur. den on industry that it cannot bear and return its cost of production. The government, as a buyer, is a tough customer in any event. Its cult than is the practice in industry. Add to that, then, the requirement that men may work only 30 hours a week and that their pay shall not be reduced from the rate of their ing 40 hours a week and you have burdened any manufacturing estab- lishment with a load that will break its back. Right now, the Navy department is trying to find a way to get around the provisions of the Walsh-Healey law. President Roosevelt has said nothing publicly concerning his atti- tude but there are many who believe he himself feels the law is not work- ing out the way it was intended. ; It is quite a distance, of course, from the Walsh-Healey law to the present controversy under Mr. Roosevelt's plan to pack the Su- preme court with six new judges if one stops his examination of the two questions at the surface. It is not difficult, however, to see a di- rect connection. The Walsh-Healey law was driven through congress in haste. The bad effects of it are coming now two years after its en- actment. If the Supreme court re- form proposal is driven through as quickly and with as little examina- tion as the Walsh-Healey law, we will reap the reward sooner or later and probably for many years to come. © Western Newspaper Union, “Gnu” of Hottentot Origin The name “gnu” is of Hottentot origin, and was in use by na- tives when white settlers first went to South Africa. beest” is a Dutch word meaning wild ox, and probably originated on ac- count of the animal's habit of pranc- ing and capering in antics suggest ing those of a bull enraged by tore- adors in a Spanish arena. It is said that the Boers, in early days, found that a red cloth excited these antelopes and was frequent. ly used in hunting them. In addi tion to the white-tailed gnu, there is a species known as the brindled gnu or blue wildebeest, which is abundant in Eastcentral Africa. Gnus have disproportionately large heads which give them a gro- tesque appearance. They have maned necks and distinctive tufts of hair on their fuces. The bulls stand about four feet tall at the shoulders. The general color of the white-tailed species is a deep brown. Their horns are formidable weapons and under certain conditions the animals are dangerous. UNCOMMON AMERICANS | A © Western Newspaper Union By Elmo Scott Watson His Gun Became a “Judge” 'OMEONE once observed: “The Declaration of Incependence stated that all men are equal, but the Colt revolver made that state- ment a fact.” Certainlv that was proved on the Western frontier where the quality of man depended \ and where this little weapon be- came the symbol of law in a law- less land—it was judge, jury and high executioner ali in one. Little wonder then that it should become known as “Judge Colt.” The father of ‘fudge Colt" was a Connectic ut, Yankee, born in 1814. As a boy Samuel Coit listened to veterans talk about battles of the Revolution and especially about the feats of a rifleman named Tim Mur- phy who had a doubie- arrelled ri- fle. If someone could invent a gun that would shoot five or six times without reloading, that nation would rule the world. But, of course, that was Impossible, said the men that day. Young Sam Colt didn’t believe it was impossible. So he began ex- perimenting with a four-barrelled rifle but he couldn't make it work satisractorily. Then he was appren- ticed to a sea captain and from the sailors he learned to carve out little objects in wood. One day in the Indian ocean, while idly watching the steersman at the wheel, he noticed that re- gard'e.s of which way the wheel was spun, each spoke always came directly in line with a clutch that could be set to hold it As he watched he found himself visioning holes in the rim of the wheel—holes which successively came into align- ment with a stationary opening. In a flash he saw the answer to his problem of a repeating gun. Then with “a jacknife that cost less than a dollar he started to whittle out the foundation of a fortune which was to run into ] From that of millions."’ model came the revolver which first proved its value in the war with the Seminole Indians, won an even greater reputation in the Mexican war and by the time the Civil war had begun was an indispensable part of a soldier's armament. Not cnly was Sam Colt the inven- tor of a weapon which vitally af- fected military history, but he “was the first of the great American in- dustrialists. Colt, nut the modern motor car manufacturer, conceived and first utilized in his plant stand- ardized machine production, di- vision of labor and the ‘assembly line." He showed the way to the modern promoters of war . he was the precucrscr of the modern other to increase his sales.” An Important Vice-President T'S a standard joke that the vice president of the United States is about the most unimportant indi- in our federal government unless the President happens to die. In that case he immediately be- comes a very important man. But there was one vice president whose high place in American history is due to hi own death, rather than that of a President. In 1884 Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana, who had served as con- gressman, senator and governor and who had twice before beer an unsuccessful candidate for the Pres- idency and once before defeated for the vice presidency, was elected vice president when Grover Cleve- land defeated Blaine, the Republi- can candidate. Hendricks died eight months after his inauguration but his death while in office was not unique. Four other vice presidents —George Clii.ion, Elbridge Gerry, William R. King and Henry Wilson ~had suffered the same fate. But for the first time in three-quarters of a century America became aware of the potential dangers in such a situation. tion or disability of a President, was dead. Suppose now that the President should also die, resign or then become President? Neither the had provided for that emergency, and apparently no one had ever given any thought to its possible re- cults, So congress got busy and on Jan- uary 19, 1886 it passed a law pro- viding for a Presidential succession in case the vice president could not serve. Under its terms the sec- retary oi state would become Presi- dent. In case he, too, would be un- able to serve, the next in line would be the secretary of the treasury and so on down the cabinet—sec- retary of war, attorney-general, postmaster - general, secretary of the navy, secretary of the interior, secretary of agriculture, secretary of commerce and secretary of la- bor. bringing about this Thomas A. Hendricks 22222220 22 Thus important” vice = came an ** . «but he had to die to dc it! ANAAAAAA AAA AAR RAAAR STAR DUST Movie + Radio ht 2 2 22 2 2 2 2 T HAS always been difficult to get permission to vigit stu- dios in Hollywood. From now on, popular comedians, like the Marx Brothers, Jack Benny, and Burns and Allen hope to make it impossible. In fact, if there were any way that they could make pictures without having a flock of carpenters, electricians, property men, and extras around, they would be heartily in favor of adopting it. Thieves on the set are the reason for all this uproar. It would be bad enough if the thiecyes merely lifted jewelry, or furs, but these thieves steal ideas whose worth cannot be estimated unless you can think in staggeringly big figures. When co- medians and their gag men have fi- y worked out a funny situation filmed it, two months may before it is s on the But almost come- their BOT 0 about hown atl once Isewhere introduce n Obviously, studio told them {to see a real trouper win 1 odds. That is why reioicir Fave's the Avenue Irving Berlin the one is Alice “On When into Century- studio with a knockout musical score under his : the said, got something big here." So, they de- cided to build up a marvelous cast with players rowed from other studic They got Powell fromm Warner's and Carroll from Walter for the leading lice y walked off all honors that weren't taken antics of their own moved Twentieth Fox studio officials ever we ve Alice Faye bor. auctions i r own o vy role by the Ritz Brothers. crazy sos A long time ago Paramount banght a story called “Easy Mon- ey’ for Carole Lombard, but she has been so busy on other pictures she never got around to make it. Meanwhile the studio officials have been impressed by the bounding popularity of Jean Arthur and de- cided she would do nicely in the leading role. After a vacation in New York, she will, fe For months Cary Grant has gone around saying that if his Paramount contract would only come to an end, he would never sign another with anybody. He would just make pic- tures when he felt like it, and spend the rest of his time lying on the beach at Santa Monica or taking leisurely trips to England. But after watching his work in the new Grace Moore picture, Columbia officials didn’t like his idea at all. They de- cided they must have him under contract. No one has ever been known to win an argument with Jack Cohn, the grand mogul of Co lumbia Pictures, go Cary signed the contract he offered. alin Back in New York all the young stage players and all the dramatie school students go to see Greta Garbo in “Camilie’” over and over. Two girls who are living on a tiny budget that permits eating only now and then and never riding on a street car or bus, had gone every day for six days and seen the pie- ture at least 14 times. They were broke and hungry, but they felt they just had to see it again. So, they screwed up their courage and told watching her, and he arranged to wei Deanna Durbin, the fourteen-year- old sensation of Eddie Cantor's radio program and Universal's “Three Smart Girls” thinks New Yorkers aren't very good mathema- ticians. She realized her lifelong ambi. tion of climbing the stairs inside the Statue of Liberty on her first visit to New York a few weeks ago. But the sign at the foot of the steep, winding stairs said there were 161 steps, and Deanna counted 165. Determin- edly she dragged her weary feet up the steps again, only to find that she was right the first time. Deanna Durbin i rievances— ~~ "THERE is a curious and very much mistaken idea that by talking of our grievances and our er over us to make us miserable, We not scatter the we only do this, but we seeds of ontent, as unburden our hearts, and a whole new crop of disturbing thoughts enters into the minds of those who bear with us during our outpour- ing of words Making Misery. If the person to whom we speak is near and dear to us, our troubles weigh on them almost as their own. are unwittingly the cause to them of an added weight of discordant thoughts, and perhaps they may be trying to get the better of their own ais We Sympathy Versus Help. We have only to consider the effect on ourselves of listening to others talk of their mis- fortunes, and hard luck, to real-| ize the depressing power of such | rsation. It is seldom we can | to help them. In fact] y talk of their troubles to helpful sug- »y are bespeaking in are disturbed, get be excel- is to hear of | worries, ing 4 “ry they rnd ng oubles Trouble Mongers awakened i OUr wi {fo the es adds without | are im-| 3 in the minds of will try to be listener we Doubt, the Pernicious Weed A suspicious person raises a large crop of doubt dd one new word to your ccn- tional vo ] ery day; your friends, 101 then lose them Life is made up of getting and | giving and forgetting and forgiv- ing. As long as brained n others } nr them if i t e 10 build battle Raise the Standard Equality of all men doesn't mean that the “quality” of all is | to be reduced to that of the lowest | level It takes men who know men to | govern men; any kind of recluse, | scholarly or otherwise, has a slim | chance. Most agreeable discovery a man makes dle-age has a good reputation. aisirug hips. | | more careful about giving vent te the misfortunes by talking about them. Moreover, if we do con tinue to be trouble mongers, ne one will be eager to talk with us. Winning Out. instead of dwelling on our grievances, we discuss pleasant topics, we are not only giving pleasure to others, but we are ac- tually doing ourselves a kindness as well. We diminish our own depression by rising above our troublous thoughts, thus becom- ing conquerors in and through our I, © Bell Syndicate WNU Services. i ——— When You Want to Alkalize Stomach Fast Try This Amazing Fast Way ~The “Phillips” Way Millions Are Adopting people are bei urged to alkalize their stomach. An thus ease symptoms of “acid indiges- tion,” nausea and stomach upsets. To gain quick alkalization, just do this: Take two teaspoons of PHIL- LIPS’ MILK OF MAGNESIA 30 minutes after eating OR — take two Phillips’ Mik of Magnesia Tablets. Felief comes almost at once — usually in a few minutes. Nausea, “gas” — fullness after eating and “acid indigestion” pains leave. You feel like a new person. Try this way. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers