SEEN and HEARD
around the c
NATIONAL CAPITAL!
By Carter Field ^
FAMOUS WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
Washington—"Edging a little fur
ther to the left," the advice given
by Democratic National Commit
teeman Joseph Wolf of Minnesota
to Roosevelt leaders to offset the
defections caused by the bolting of
conservative Democrats, is not so
significant so far as the admin
istration policies—assuming Roose
velt is re-elected—are concerned.
Roosevelt will continue his own
sweet way whether his "mandate”
to do so comes by a big majority
or is of the "skin of his teeth”
variety He will be no more dis
turbed in his course than was
Woodrow Wilson when the expect
ed mandate of 1918 resulted in a
popular rebuke.
What is really important is that
Wolf, a very astute observer of
trends in the Northwest, is distinct
ly disturbed over the Lemke-Fa
ther Coughlin-Townsend thira party
ticket He is frankly afraid, and
so told leaders of the New Deal
that the net result might be to
throw Minnesota to Gov. Alf M.
Landon.
Most unprejudiced political ob
servers have been figuring for
some weeks now that South Da
kota. Iowa and Nebraska, as well
as Kansas, were leaning Republi
can. All of which would do Landon
no good unless he holds all the big
eastern states. But they had been
virtually unanimous in conceding
North Dakota and Minnesota, and
of course Montana, to Roosevelt.
In short, most observer! had
come to the conclusion that Landon
could be elected if—he could carry
New York and Illinois. That goes
for Indiana also, and Ohio. But
opinion has been that if the tide
for Roosevelt should turn in Illi
nois, Indiana would be for the Kan
sas Coolidge by the same token,
while Ohio seems set to go Repub
lican regardless of what its neigh
bors may do.
Experts Are Wrong
Putting Minnesota in the balance
does not change the essenual ele
ments of the situation. But it does
contribute to the sporting aspects
of the election battle. It keeps
it from being as one-sided as the
fight experts thought the Joe Louis
Schmeling battle was going to be.
And the political experts have
not been as wrong for 20 years—
since Wilson beat Hughes ‘n 1916
—as the spurting experts were on
the big fistic battle.
And they are not going to be as
wrong as that this year, for one
very simple reason. Ever since
that election when the big eastern
newspapers were chagrined at
claiming Hughes’ election on the
early returns, the big eastern edi
tors have realized that the western
states had electoral votes also. So
they have sent their own political
reporters on tours of inquiry, so
they would know what to expect
on election night.
As of the present moment. New
York is vital to the Republicans
—is not vital so far as the Demo
crats are concerned, but would end
all doubt The same goes for
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois.
Recent developments have
changed the situation in a number
, of states, notably Maryland West
Virginia, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, North and South Da
kota and Minnesota. The Mormon
church action on relief has given
Utah a Republican instead of a
Democratic tinge, and has moved
Idaho from the sure Roosevelt to
the doubtful column.
The whole point is that, while a
Roosevelt landslide is rtill possi
ble, evidence now points to a close
election, with Roosevelt. still the
favorite, but in decided danger.
Slightly Sour Note
One slightly sour note in the
Democratic platform situation is
not being talked about—openly. It
concerns one of President Roose
velt's fundamental policies, and is
wrapped up in the tax bill just
passed by congress. The fact
that 18 Democratic senators voted
against the Anal bill, that two more
were paired against It. and that
■ twenty-first. Sen. Marcus A.
Coolidge of Massachusetts, was ab
sent and unpaired but is neverthe
less against the bill, is rather in
teresting in view of the fact that
the platform endorses everything
Roosevelt stands for.
All of which is important be
cause of the reasons actuating
these 21 Democratic senators. The
final draft of the tax bill means
a great deal more t-iau just a
tax measure. It works toward
some of the dearest objectives of
the Roosevelt policy. It is a nat
ural sequence to his acceptance
speech at the convention four
years ago. On that occasion he
made his views about "piled up
surpluses" of corporations rather
clear. This tax bill, following up
the one of last year, but going a
great deal further, is in line with
that policy.
Roosevelt wants to go still fur
ther. He will go still further along
this line, if it is humanly possi
ble, assuming he is re-elected. So
the fact that 21 senators of his
own party are against that policy
is of more than a little interest.
Very little will be heard of it
from Democrats from now on. Re
publican orators will call attention
•
to it, in such quarters as the,
think it will help their cause to
do so.
Expect Close House
The most interesting angle po
litically lies in the future. Unless
there should be some tidal wave
not really expected even by James
A. Farley down in his heart, the
next house of representatives will
be fairly close. It may be Demo
cratic and it may be Republican,
but the best guess at the moment
is that the majority will not be
more than 50 if it is Democratic, or
20 if it is Republican.
With a close house, such a differ
ence of opinion within a party as
was manifested in the senate vote
on the tax bill will become of over
whelming importance on every vi
tal allied issue. It would seem to
mean that while the critics of the
present tax plan would not be able
to force its repeal, they would be
able to prevent any further moves
toward the Roosevelt objective.
On the other hand, there is not
the slightest sign that Roosevelt
will lose his grip on the senate. On
the contrary, the vote on the ax
high-war mark of his opponns.
On few issues could such a num
ber of Democraic dissenters be
raised.
Reverse Policy
Complete reversal of the normal
“sock the taxpayer” policy of the
internal revenue bureau, the poli
cy established under Robort H.
Jackson of never compromising,
forcing little taxpayers to pay law
yer fees and endure court trials
even when all the precedents fa
vor the taxpayers’ side, is seen
in the quashing of indictments
against lieutenants of the late Hu
ey P. (Kingftsh) Long in Louisiana.
The strongest pro-administration
paper within a hundred miles of
Washington, If indeed there is any
stronger anywhere in the country,
the Washington News, carried a
biting editorial under the heading,
“It Smells Bad."
Editors of the News suspected
what might underly the ahair,
which had Attorney General Ho
mer S. Cummings squirming in a
recent press conference, but they
apparently overlooked a fairly im
portant detail. This is that the for
mer Long lieutenants, now enthusi
astic for the New Deal, arranged
a special train to run over to Dal
las to meet President Roosevelt on
his recent trip to the Texas Ter
centennial. there to demonstrate
their undying loyalty.
The News editorial concluded:
“When he quashed the indictments,
U. S. Attorney Viosca gave the
explanation that there was a
‘changed atmosphere' in New Or
leans. Better continue to i old your
nose until Attorney General Cum
mings gives a more deodorizing
explanation.”
Mr. Cummings' defense was that
he had complete confidence in the
integrity of U. S. Attorney Viosca!
All of which is the sequel to a
most interesting political yarn, ri
valing that about how the gang
ster Chieftain Capone, suspected of
every crime on the calendar, was
finally put behind the bars on in
come-tax evasion charges.
Recent History
The point is that back some
months before Huey Long was as
sassinated, there was very grave
fear on the part of the New Deal
leaders that he might lead a third
party movement which might
throw the electoral votes of Louisi
ana. and perhaps some other
states (with the aid 01 Father
Coughlin and the Townsend plan
advocates) away from Roosevelt.
It was at this time that the inter
nal revenue sleuths began looking
into the income tax returns of Hu
ey himself as well as some of his
lieutenants.
At this stage Dan Moody, former
governor of Texas, was called into
the picture. He had made his rep
utation and been elected governor
of Texas on the strength of his
prosecution of graft in road con
tracts in the Lone Star state. He
was called to Washington, con
ferred with high officials of the
Department of Justice, and con
vinced by them that there was a
sure-llre case. Amos Woodcock of
Maryland, former prohibition direc
tor, was also called in and persuad
ed the government could convict
The whole idea, of course, wa. to
eliminate Huey Long and all his
lieutenants by the simple expedi
ent of putting them behind the
bars. The processes were set in
motion, and eventually one of the
lieutenants was actually convict
ed.
But then Long died, and his lieu
tenants, after some little delay,
made their peace with Washing
ton. Those not worried about the
prospect of incohie tax prosecu
tions were interested in other ques
tions. Party regularity, perhaps,
and the good patronage jobs at the
disposal of James A. Farley, Har
old L. Ickes, and Harry L. Hop
kins.
Whatever the reason, they al' be
came good New Dealers, and the
Father Coughlin and Townsend en
thusiasts found no encouragement
in Louisiana for their party ideas.
6 Bell Syndicate. — WNII Service.
“-fiN CAN \SLAND"
rju».
■ Tiu <*a fr-re
Kioafoo 01 "T i <V# i» t*t T«W*
r*lar.d* Ui r/ S3' South, Jas*, ITS*
WMt
Stamp Collectors Prize "Tin Can Island" Mail.
Prepared by National Geographic Society,
Washington, D. C.—WNU Service.
CLTHOUGH the south Sea is
land of Niuafoo is the top of
an active volcano that erupt
ed in 1929 and destroyed a village,
it remains the happy home of some
1,100 of those superb Polynesians,
the Tongans.
Dwelling for untold generations
on this remote crater in the sea,
they have learned to act quickly
and shrewdly in volcanic emergen
cies, and in recent years there has
been little loss of life.
How they behave was dramatical
ly illustrated at 4 a. m. on July 25,
1929. A hundred or more villagers,
the entire population of Futu, on
the northwest coast, were awak
ened by a rumbling and saw fire
breaking out in the hillside less than
two miles to the southeast.
No time was lost. The alarm
was spread in the village, and the
babes in arms, the sick and the
aged were hurriedly carried off
along a good road that led to the
northern village of Angaha. All
realized that safety lay in reaching
there or the high ground of the is
land’s circular ridge.
From three vents on a fracture
that opened northward, the molten
rock descended upon Futu. By eight
o’clock in the morning most of the
abandoned buildings were con
sumed by fire and buried under
floods of heavy basaltic lava. Pour
ing into the ocean, the hot flows
killed fish, sent up clouds of steam,
and heaped enormous quantities of
black sand along the water front.
Fringing the shore were patches
of cultivated land that remained un
injured among the lava streams. In
one of these the returning villagers
found a few of their horses, pigs
and chickens still alive. Thanks to
the prompt exodus, every one of
the human inhabitants escaped.
How It Became “Tin Can Island”
Niuafoo reminds one of a hat with
a hole in the crown. At the bottom
of the hole is an islet-dotted lake of
fresh water, with its bed some 200
feet below sea level, its surface only
70 feet above. The wide “brim” has
been formed by lava flows.
So nearly perfect is the ring
which Niuafoo forms about its lake
enclosing crater that at first sight
it appears to be a coral atoll. The
island's highest point is about 800
feet above the waves, but the vol
canic cone it crowns thrusts itself
up some 6,000 feet from the ocean
floor.
This detached bit of the Tongan
archipelago is a straggler from the
line made by those islands north of
New Zealand. It lies near the cen
ter of the ocean triangle formed by
Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.
Lacking harbors, the island is ut
terly isolated. Precarious was the
regular carrying of mail to and
from the island until recent years.
The monthly mail steamer, unable
to anchor, stopped about a mile off
the northern landing at Angaha.
Natives, fortified with log floats,
swam out to it, regardless of sharks,
holding above the water brown pa
per-wrapped packages of outgoing
letters tied to the tops of sticks.
The sailors on the steamer low
ered a bucket and collected these
parcels. In exchange they dropped
into the water the more bulky mail
from the outside world, soldered in
large biscuit tins. The athletic vil
lagers towed these tins ashore and
thus completed delivery of the mail.
An unfortunate encounter between
a swimmer and a shark finally
caused a suspension of the swim
ming mail service, and native ca
noes now collect tin cans. It is easy
to understand why Niuafoo, called
“Good Hope Island” on some charts
has become known also as “Tin Can
Island.”
On the west side of Niuafoo is a
desert of new lava flows, but on the
east is a tropical glory of coconuts,
ironwoods, mangoes and pandanus,
yams, taros, papayas, sweet pota
toes pineapples, bananas, melons,
and manioc.
Although the island lies some 15H
degrees south of the equator, the
trade winds give it a delightful cli
mate, much like that of Hawaii.
Explosive Eruption of 1886
Explosive volcanic eruptions
around the lake have occurred
about 72 years apart, and lava out
breaks in the western deserts have
come at intervals of approximately
16 years.
The last steam-blast eruption,
which occurred in 1886, was a ma
jor event in the history of Niuafoo.
There was no loss of life, for the
trade wind forced the huge cauli
flower clouds of sand and dust west
ward, away from the settlements.
The site of this eruption was near
the northeast corner of the big lake,
where large blocks of cliff rock
were engulfed, and heaps of sand
were piled 200 to 400 feet high.
Ponds were left where the explosive
craterlets had formed. About three
feet of ash fell on the settlements.
The story goes that an earthquake
shook the island with a gentle sway
ing motion at 7 p. m. on August 31,
1886, and smaller shocks continued
till midnight, causing alarm. Then
came a detonation, a "rocket” as
cended 3,000 feet above the lake,
and quaking ceased. Violent thun
derstorms developed, and lightning
struck in many places.
A blizzard of black dust and sand
weighted down the vegetation dur
ing a night of inky darkness. On
the leeward side of the island, brok
en fragments of rock and pumice,
along with sand and fine dust, piled
20 feet deep. The eruption contin
ued in spasms, geyserlike, for 18
days, with recurrences of terrifying
clouds of dust that shut off the light
of day.
Only two months before, Tara
wera volcano had erupted disas
trously in New Zealand, indicating
volcanic sympathy between two cra
ters hundreds of miles apart on the
same general rift in the earth’s
crust; and Funuafoo (Falcon is
land), nearer to Niuafoo. had begun
eruption in October, 1885.
Legend of Ahau’s Destruction.
Destruction of property by hurri
canes and eruptions on the north
ern and western sides of the island
have been lamentable during the
last century. The story of the vil
lage of Ahau in the southwest is
reminiscent of that of Sodom and
Gomorrah.
Ahau, legend says, was founded
by men and women who, refusing
to conform to the laws governing
legal marriage, rebelled against the
strict high chief at Angaha.
They founded their village pur
posely on the side of the island most
remote from Angaha, and their
headman denounced with impas
sioned oratory the taxes imposed
upon them by the high chief. He
called upon the gods to send a sign
from heaven to destroy all his peo
ple rather than permit them to sub
mit to such oppression.
Whatever the truth of these sto
ries, certain it is that on June 24,
1858, the ground rifted and lava
spouted up directly under the vil
lage headman’s house. Such de
struction of human life by a sudden
lava flow is unusual in volcano an
nals, for lava is usually so slow
moving that people have time to flee
from it.
An aged woman recalls the fren
zied flight of those inhabitants who
escaped and the gossip about the
village. She will tell you that two
thirds of the population, possibly 60
or 70 people, were killed.
When a volcanologist visited the
site of this village recently, he found
the lava flows covered with a mod
erate growth of ironwood, some
what resembling a pine forest with
its small cones and long needles.
Not a trace remains of the village
green or native huts.
There is a 50-foot double spatter
cone of black lava at the place
where the headman’s house is said
to have stood. From this hill all
lava gives place abruptly to a lux
uriant growth of coconuts and fer
tile plantation lands on the slope of
the circular ridge.
Outbreaks Can Be Predicted.
A study of the eruptions and the
dates when they have occurred pro
vides some basis for predicting,
roughly, when future outbreaks
may occur.
It may be said that Niuafoo is
continuously erupting, and that
these lava flows and explosive en
gulfments are merely punctuation
marks in a continuing process.
After an explosive eruption in
1814, the intervals were 26, 13, 14,
and 19 years. From the 1886 explo
sive eruption to the present time the
intervals were 26 and 17 years. Con
sidering the average lava interval
of 16 years, we have reason to ex
pect another lava eruption about
1945. Adding the average explosion
interval of 72 years to 1886, it may
be estimated that the next explosive
eruption will occur about 1958.
These expectations are not ac
curate forecasts, but merely sug
gestive experiments in volcanologic
reasoning. It is probable that the
explosive eruption about 1958 will
break down the very high cliffs to
the southeast of the lake, and that
opposite this the lava flow, about
1945, will extend the crack of 1929
along the northwest shore of the is
land, in the direction of the village
of Esia, near Angaha.
A Charming Sports Frock
Trim modish raglan shoulders,
no sleeves to set in, make this
attractive dress easily fashioned
by even an amateur sewer. And
the neckline is extremely flatter
ing and youthful. Equally lovely
No. 1837-11
for office wear or busy shoppers,
it answers perfectly, too, for gen
eral daytime functions.
You’ll appreciate the two
roomy pockets, and the back
yoke will enable you to “bear
your burdens” lightly. Try mak
ing it in tub silk, shantung, print
ed crepe or linen. Whichever
fabric you choose gives a sil
houette that is universally flatter
ing and a touch of sophistication.
1857-B is available in sizes: 14,
16, 18, 20; 40 and 42. Correspond
ing bust measurements 32, 34,
36, 38, 40 and 42. Size 16 (34)
requires 3 7-8 yards of 39 inch
material plus 1-4 yard for the
belt. Send 15 cents in coins for
the pattern.
The Summer Pattern Book con
taining 100 Barbara Bell well
planned, easy-to-make patterns is
ready. Send 15 cents in coins
for your copy.
Send your order to The Sew
ing Circle Pattern Dept., 367 W.
Adams St., Chicago, 111.
© Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service.
UomeJioid 9 \
9 Questiohf 1
Air the bread and cake boxes
frequently during the summer
months. Mould is likely to form
on breads and cakes kept in boxes
during the warm weather.
e e e
Mayonnaise may be kept for
several weeks in refrigerator if a
tablespoonful of boiling water is
added to it before bottling.
• • •
Mix salads with a fork instead
of a spoon or ladle.
• * •
Do not remove husks from
green corn until just before put
ting on to boil. Corn spoils quick
ly, so it should be used as soon as
possible after purchasing.
• • •
A little garlic rubbed over the
broiler on which steak is broiled
gives steak a delicious flavor.
* • *
Chamois wet in cold water and
wrung dry will polish mahogany
furniture that has become cloudy.
* • *
When cake or bread is too brown
or is burned, grate gently with a
fine grater (nutmeg grater pre
ferred) until the cake or bread is
a golden brown.
* • *
Always strain hot fat used for
deep frying through a piece of
cheese cloth each time it is used
and set in a cool place. Treated
in this way fat may be used
many times.
©Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service.
tlncLe Phll^.
I_
See the Bright Side
The world may be pretty sor
did, but one does not have to
contemplate that phase of it too
much. It has others that are
brighter.
The best angle from which to
approach any problem is the try •
angle. ■'
One needs to learn how to en
joy two or three hours of quiet
reflection. You can’t be enter
tained every waking moment.
A Friend Cheers
When your friend remains with
you to cheer you at a time you
are unhappy that’s the acid test.
All you need in order to revel
in Nature is a tent, a cot, a pan
of bacon and eggs, and immeas
urable love of the woods.
Calling a man “man” and call
ing him “guy” marks the differ
ence between the intelligentsia
and other people.
Costly Compliment
There is nothing so expensive
as an undeserved compliment.
THE GOAT THAT SQUEALED
OR THE CAPTURE OF COSTELLO.THE INTERNATIONAL FORGER ,
AN INSIDE STORY OF
\ MELVIN PURVIS
f WQ'M&M
MELVIN PURVIS, who
became America’s
ace G-Man, who di
rected the capture of
Diilinger, “Pretty Boy” Floyd,
many others. Mr. Purvis reveals
here methods used in capturing
criminals. Names have, of course,
been changed.
LOOK, CHIEF ! COSTELLO > fHM, THAT COAT ISA
LEFT HIS COAT. HE MUST ABOUT COSTELLO'S
(HAVE BEEN IN A HURRY.j* SIZE... BUT IT'S A /
MELVIN PURVIS could tell that
it was a woman’s coat because
of this small, but important de
tail: women’s coats always
have the buttons on the left
(see left, above), men’s coats on
right (above, right). The coat
found in the car had THE.
BUTTONS ON THE LEFT.
'SO COSTELLO WASN'T^ fOKAY! AND WE'LL
PLAYING a'lONE HAND*! BEGIN BY SEARCHING!
WE'LL HUNT FOR THAT THAT FARMHOUSE .
WOMAN—SHE'LL LEAD/[UoR CLUES!
lustqcqstellq! __
ALL RIGHT. BUT IVE LEARNEDT
THAT CROOKS NEVER CHANGE 3
THEIR HABITS—MY HUNCH IS t
THERE ISN'T AHY WOMAN! I'LL'
>- 1 KEEP ON DOWN THE HIGHWAY.1;
-- in- ■ - ■ — ,
££?g
SSA&,
5 nP£N CAP
1^0 JUST BOUGHT
gas.-*
(WELL, MR. LONE HAND COSTELLO--YOU MIGHT HAVE FOOLED A
US WITH THAT DISGUISE, BUT IN YOUR HASTE YOU LEFT YOUR
[WOMAN'S COAT BEHIND--AND IT SQUEALED ON YOU!
• nrr zz _
if,
Jr I MIGHTA KNOWN I COULDN'T^
j^GET AWAY FROM TH/ G-MEN ^
"WELL,THAT'S HOW\FT*
WE CAPTURED | *-Li-y •
COSTELLO. YOU BETIlU [ I EAT tM XJ
HAVE SOME MORE POST F0R‘-^CH /
TOASTIES, PAUL! IT'S THE 100' • '
KIND OF BREAKFAST A J
G-MAN LIKES1./" I#|k
£=T
, mm
AE,TOO! THEY TASTE BETTER'N
\NYTHING THESE HOT DAYS?
_ r
Boys’ Badge
(right). Girls’ Di
vision Badge (be
low). Polished
gold-bronze design
enameled in blue.
Free for 2 Post
Toasties package
tops.
I
JUNIOR G-MAN
RING. 24-carat
gold-finish. Fits any
finger. Free for 4
package-tops.
BOYS AND GIRLS! JOIN MY JUNIOR G-MAN CORPS J ^
I'll SEND YOU HU THE OFFICIAL JUNIOR G-MAN BADGE, PLACE f
YOUR NAME ON THE SECRET ROLL AT HEADQUARTERS, SEND YOU A /(
BIG EXCITING BOOK THAT TELLS ALL ABOUT CLUES SECRET CODES, U
INVISIBLE WRITING, FINGERPRINTS... ALL *INSIDE INFORMATION* THAT '
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A VACATION TIP
FROM MELVIN PURVIS:
“TUST try Post Toasties with cold
J milk or cream and ripe fruit for a
mid-afternoon snack... or for a grand,
I cool luncheon treat on hot summer
days. They sure do hit the spot!
| “Post Toasties are made from the
sweet, tender hearts of the corn, where
most of the flavor is. Aud every de
licious flake is toasted double-cusp to
keep its crunchy goodness longer in
milk or cream. And remind Mother
of this—their price is low!”
Yours,
A PAST CEREAL-MADE BY OENERAL FOODS
TO JOIN: Send two Post Toasties package
tops, with coupon, to Melvin Purvis. He'll send
you his official lunior G-Man badge ... his big
book that tells how to become a lunior G-Man
and a catalog of OTHER SWELL FREE PRIZES'
--CLIP COUPON NOW!
MELVIN PURVIS, c/o Pott Toastie*,
I Battle Creek, Michigan WNU 7-6-36
JI enclose_Post Toasties package
tops. Please send me the items checked
below. Check whether boy ( ) or girl ( ).
Age ( ). (Put correctpostage on letter)
( ) Membership Badge (send 2 package
tops) . . ,
( ) Junior G-Man Ring (send 4 package
tops)
Name_—- ■ - ..|!
Street_————— J
Gty_State-.- a
(0£tf*xpirttD*t.31, 1936, good onb taU.S.A.)i