Page:Time, v.1, n.1 (March 3, 1923).pdf/6

Page 24em Important Cases

On the calendar are four cases of national importance:

Suit of Ohio and Pennsylvania to prevent West Virginia from restricting exportation of her natural resources.

Alien Land cases from California and Washington, to determine whether Japanese can be prevented from owning or leasing land in those states.

The suit by the Chicago Board of Trade attacking the constitutionality of the "Grain Futures Act," under which the government seeks control over the principal grain exchanges of the country.

Suits against the New York Telephone Company, which attack the constitutionality of rate-fixing by state Public Service Commissions.

A New Formality

For years it ahs been the custom of the crier to announce the approach of court as the Justices filed into the room and seated themselves. Then he would intone the traditional "oyez," admonishing all having business "before this honorable Court to draw near and give their attention, because this Court is now sitting."

Last week Chief Justice Taft added a new touch of dignity to the time-honored formality. All the Justices, after reaching their seats, remained standing until the invocation is finished. Then the crier announces: "This Court is now in session." And the Justices bow formally to the bar and to the guests and take their seats.

General Allen's Return

Major-General Henry T. Allen, who commanded the American forces of occupation in Germany, arrived in New York on the George Washington. With him were 70 officers and their families. Our men leave behind a notable record; the men, women, and especially the children of the occupied region were sorry to see them go.

Armament Limitation

The military expenditures of the United States, England, France, Italy will be well over a billion dollars this year: The expenditures do not, however, indicate relative military strength, because of the difference in pay between the different armies. For example, a private in the American army receives 67 cents a day, as opposed to the 3 cents a day of a private in the French army. So for less than twice of the expense, France has an army of over 5,000,000 regulars and reserves subject to call, compared to 285,000 men in the United States army.

The Cronkhite Case

Major Alexander P. Cronkhite died of a bullet wound at Camp Lewis, Washington, in 1918.

His father, Major General Adelbert Cronkhite, appealed to President Harding in 1921, charging that the War Department had no record of any investigation, inquest or autopsy following his son's death. He still presses the charge.

Captain Robert Rosenbluth, tried in 1922 and acquitted of Cronkhite's murder, also demands a full investigation—to exonerate himself.

Secretary Weeks has promised a thorough inquiry. No evidence of murder has ever been produced. A confession made by a burglar implicating Captain Rosenbluth has been retracted.

The case has been capitalized by certain politicians in Congress, who charge that Major-General Cronkhite's recent retirement was in some way connected with the proposed investigation.

Mrs. Pinchot Plans

Mrs. Gifford Pinchot, having drawn breath after the whirlwind campaign that made her husband Governor of Pennsylvania, went to Washington with a plan.

"Let the women of a state or other unit area take charge of prohibition enforcement," she urged President Harding. "Let them take charge from top to bottom, as an experiment, and see if women are not more zealous for enforcement than men."

President Harding thinks enough of the proposal to have it referred to the Prohibition Bureau, where it may have effect despite rough-and-ready opposition.

Mrs. Pinchot does not claim absolute honesty for all women, but she told the President she believed "there are available 1,000 to 50,000 women who are unbribable. And they are more prejudiced in favor of prohibition than men."

"Black Mammy"

In dignified and quiet language, two thousand Negro women of the Phyllis Wheatley Y. W. C. A. protested against a proposal to erect at the Capitol a statue to "The Black Mammy of the South." A spokesman carried the resolution to Vice President Coolidge and Speaker Gillette and begged them to use their influence against "the reminder that we come from a race of slaves."

This, of course, will rebuke forever the sentimentalists who thought they were doing honor to a character who they loved. They desired to immortalize a person famous in song and legend. But that person's educated granddaughters snuffed out the impulse by showing that they are ashamed of her.

Mrs. Willebrandt

Mrs. Mabel Walker Willebrandt, Assistant Attorney General from California, has been accorded much quiet honor in the Department of Justice. During the illness of Attorney General Daugherty she has had charge of a great deal of important work, and has recently completed a report on the application of the Prohibition Act to American ships on the high seas. She is head of the division which handles prohibition and tax law cases.

As a member of the bar of California, Mrs. Willebrandt has pleaded more than 2,000 cases in which interests of women were involved.