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Show BEAVER PRESS National Topics Interpreted by William Bruckart Katlonal Press Building V I p p 1 . II . By ELMO SCOTT E WATSON UB other night President Roosevel touched a golden key In Washing ton and out in the Middle West, L from a high bluff overlooking the m Mississippi river, a white shaft of l'8&t pierced the darkness. For a f?Mv l 5rw '1 1 moment It streamed across the black waters of "Old Man River," then It swung around and flooded the statue of two boys, then passed on to illuminate an old twostory frame house and a board fence near by perhaps the most famous board fence In the world. Thus was Inaugurated the beacon service of a memorial lighthouse which will henceforth shed Its rays across the "Father of Waters" ev ery night to guide rivermen along Its winding, treacherous current past Hannibal, Mo. And thus began a year's celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known to the world as "Mark Twain." For the bluff on which the memorial lighthouse stands is Cardiff Hill, the scene of many if the escapades of "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn," and the statue which It first Illuminated was the statue of those two Immortal characters which he created. The little house on which Its beams next played was his boyhood home and the fence was "Aunt Polly's" board fence, the whitewashing of which was such an Inestimable privilege that "Tom Sawyer's" friends were willing to give up such youthful treasures as broken knives, apple cores and dead rats for that high honor. Gathered In Hannibal for this celebration were many notables, and others besides President Roosevelt participated in it from a distance. From Detroit came the voice of Clara Clemens Gabrllowltsch, daughter of the Missouri writer and wife of a famous violinist Gov. Guy B. Tark of Missouri tried his hand at whitewashing that famous fence, while several hundred school children looked on, and speakers at the cere monies dedicating the memorial lighthouse ex tolled the man whose beams of humor have lightened the burdens of people all over the world even as the beams from the beacon on Cardiff Hill will lighten the way for boatmen on the Mississippi. At various times during the year there will be other celebrations In Hannibal and at other places connected with the career of Mark Twain to honor the centennial of his birth. They will come to a climax on November 30, his birthday, at which time,- on a site yet to be chosen, will be unveiled the Mark Twain memorial, designed by Walter RusselL the sculptor (a part of which is shown above). This memorial, perhaps the greatest ever erected to an American author, Is to consist of seven groups of 21 ex tending around a circle 700 feet in diameter. Seated in the center of It is the figure of Mark Twain surrounded by his "brain children" "Tom Sawyer," "Huckleberry Finn," "Becky Thatcher,' "Aunt Polly," "The Prince and the Pauper," "The Connecticut Yankee," "Joan of Arc," and many others. In Hannibal they are collecting Mark Twain relics for their museum in the house in which he grew up and they have placed bronze tablets on other places connected with his life there. At the foot of Cardiff Hill stands the statue of "Tom" and "Huck" and on the highest point in their Rlvervlew park stands a statue of Mark Twain himself, erected by the state of Missouri in 1913. But the citizens of Hannibal who built the sew lighthouse as a guide to river traffic feel that of all their memorials to him It is perhaps the most appropriate For Clemens was once a pilot on the river (his "life on the Mississippi is essentially an autobiography of this part of his career) and frequently be heard the leadsman calling out the depth of the water with the cryptic cry of "Mark, twain 1", meaning two fathoms, or 12 feet From that cry came the pen name which made Sam Clemens famous all over the world Mark Twain. Pilots of today, seeing the flashing of the new beacon on Cardiff Hill, will recall perhaps the statement of Mark Twain that in his day there was "neither light nor nuoy to oe rouna any where in all this 3,000 or 4,000 miles of villainous river." But that was changed not long after Clemens retired from the river. He tells of returning to the river after 21 years to find that the glamorous days, when the river was bustling with activity, were gone. In a whole day only a single steamer passed by and "the spyglass revealed the fact that she was named for me" perhaps the first memorial to the Hannibal boy who had gone out into the world to become famous. . In contrast to conditions on the river as he knew them, he tells how "the government has turned the Mississippi Into a sort of 2,000-mil- e Jea-cotorchlight procession . , . there Is always a in sight, either behind you or before ou, or abreast . . . this thing has knocked the romance out of piloting, to a large extent" But even though another beacon has been added to the long chain of them, no doubt Mark Twain, If ho could know, would be pleased that the latest memorial to blm should be such an eminently practical and useful one as this lighthouse If mmr.::. fr'TP ' ' I V"' 1 " V J d. t 14 " v ammmmmtm I 11 m Status irx.HannLbtdjMo. K8 - 1--3 Tr'n & 00 - bas-relie- ' at Hannibal Is. leyliiB fe v 4 Washington. RepresentativeFish, a New York Republican, has re newed his fight Starts agalnat the cals whom he charges with hav ing bored Into positions of responsibility. In so doing, the New York house member has stirred up a veritable avalanche of reviews, surveys and explorations of what is going on of a socialistic nature in the government Mr. Fish charged on the floor of the house that some of the New Dealers were making cash contributions to the "reds" and proceeded to name them. The house speech of Mr. Fish in a general way called attention to the various movements going on that can properly be described as radical in every respect His attack directed the attention of observers here to some phases of administration policies that thus far have excited little comment. For many months, of course, the of the Agricultural Ad activities jr--if I justment administration have been subjected to the criticism that they of the constitute regimentation farmers, that Is, a general program that holds down good farmers to the level of the haphazard type in Likethe agricultural industry. wise there have been attacks on the methods employed by the ReFinance corporation construction which dominates the affairs of some four thousand banks as a result of loans to them and Is gradually exerners could appreciate. So his writings were panding its sphere of Influence soon attracting wide attention on the Pacific among other industries to which coast Then he wrote an article and sent it to loans have been made. an eastern magazine. Watching anxiously to see Tlie senate committee on muni if it was printed, he was mightily disgusted when tions, headed by Senator Nye of It appeared over the signature of "Mike Swain." North Dakota, appears to be headHis handwriting had been so poor In the signaed for a recommendation that all ture that the editor had translated "Mark munitions and ship yards be govTwain" thus ! ernment controlled if not governBut an omen of his future was given and a ment owned, and only a few days landmark in literary history was established a ago the congress enacted a law ex little later when he visited the San Francisco tending for two years the opera mint and there told a young writer named Bret tions of the Reconstruction Finance "in a slow rather satirical drawl Harte a story corporation so that It may continue which was irresistible," so says Harte. That the government Influence it has story, which appeared later in a New York newswielded heretofore. paper, was "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of On top of these, Mr. Roosevelt Calaveras County." has asked the congress to appropri While In San Francisco Twain had a chance to ate almost $5,000,000,000 for his use go to Hawaii, then known as the Sandwich isin the general recovery program lands, and he went, sending back such vivid disand has virtually demanded that patches that the world for the first time realized this fund be made available to him that a new literary genius had appeared above without strings attached. In other the western horlzoa Soon afterwards he came words, the President desires to exback to visit his mother in Keokuk and, later pend this money as he sees fit, going on to the scene of his boyhood days in whether it meets with congressionHannibal, he was made to realize that for once al approval or not the old saying about a prophet being without We hear also much discussion of honor In his own country was far from true. administration policies and legisHearing of an excursion to the Holy Land, lative proposals providing penalMark decided to go If he could do It as the ties of a serious character as puncorrespondent for some paper. The Alta Caliishment for those who dare to go fornia of San Francisco was the lucky Journal contrary to the general recovery that secured his services and its publication ot laws as advanced by the President bis travel sketches met with Instantaneous These penalties, fines for the most part, are being described in some Later his stories of this trip were published quarters as a form of Hitler terroriIn book form and, according to one biographer, sm. The administration stands on the a short time later "salesmen might have been ground that It must have complete seen offering a book with the recommendation dominance If Its schemes are to be that it "vas as funny as Artemus Ward. It was, successful, but the fact remains but It was more serious, too. 'The Innocents that it is prepared by virtue of Abroad' was akin to The Jumping Frog In solthe punishment available for Its emn sincerity of manner, but in this book, the use to take away vast sums of quick-eyewesterner had a sub money from the Industry or IndiNo one had ever written about Europe in ject vidual which objects to government this way. No one had inquired of the stunned methods. There is arising more 'Is Columbus dead?' Or wept at the tomb guide: and more criticism of the extreme of Adam. Mark Twain had donned his suit of punishment employed in the New motley. From now on he turned out page after Deal legislation and unless I miss page of this nonsense. Thus the beginning my guess badly this feature of the of his long career as a prominent Journalist lecNew Deal will flare back upon its humorist turer, and, it may be added, philosoIn a manner most unwelpher. . . . Oxford conferred upon him the degree sponsors come to the brain trusters. of D. G L. strange largesse to the boy who had thrilled to and In connection with the Presiwhose 'permanent ambition' had been to strida dent's plan to have congress its deck as captain." vide him with Another result of the European tour which New the 15,000,000,000 produced "Innocents Abroad" was that it won Argument fund to use In hlra a wife as well as literary fame. On the trip his discretion, opClemens met Charles J. Langdon of Elmlra, N. position has arisen with some Y who showed him a picture of his sister. OUvia new While the PresiLangdon. Twain promptly fell in love with the dent arguments. Is constantly repeating his asface. Later he pictured eagerly accepted an Insertion that the administrative vitation to visit the Langdon home and the flame branches of the government can acof romance Ignited by the picture burned higher complish more with a free hand wnen ne loonea upon the girl herself. than by having the money earLove bad passed Mark Twain by during his marked by congress for specific use, Dacneiornooa ana mere was but one romance in critics are charging that the Presihis whole life that with Olivia Langdon. They dent's proposal means putting the were married In 1870 and went to Hartfnr.1 government further into business. Conn., to live. On the morning of his wedding For example, the senate iwum received a cnecu ror f 4,000 from his pub tions committee uncoveredappropriainformaUshers a promising beginning for a young martion the other day while consider. klH f1al stsiirtln fin. ma wu.c. ne unci ",u negan to marriage ing the $5,000,000,000 bill that write steadily. "Tom Sawyer" was nubliRhA,i the existence of a plan by when he was forty, and seven years later which the federal -government would nucKicoerry Mnn" appeared. Both were flnn engage In the distribution and sale dally very successful, as were all of his later of gasoline. DOOKS. It takes no stretch of the Imag-- ' His career ended April 21, 1910. and when the lnatlon to how this move links word was flashed from Reddm Conn., that Sam with the previous efforts of SecreClemens had left this "d- -d human race" to tary Ickes, as oil administrator, to struggle along as best It could without havlna control th whole oil Industry. , hffl flacMnv ml n I. By .... ,.o....IS k1 " . iv nuiy 11 uear us Durden mil the distribution and sale of gasolions of Its members felt as did Robert Under line, the government can enforce . . . wood Johnxnn '"Th .rlll , to me regulations by competition which very strange without Mark Train In it" That Is the Supreme court snld were unconwhy the stones of the various centennial cele stitutional, its control would be bratlons which will be held this year will be exercised through damming up the news that Is certain to win a place In the col stocks of gasoline, and oil comumns of our newspapers, even In these times panies, privately owned, would find when history-makinevents are taking place al themselves at the mercy of .nost dally. For It Is somehow govreassuring to feel ernment bureaucrats. bat although Mark Twain Is gone from our There nre many other features of 01 mm sun remains with us uiubi, the $5,000,000,000 bill against which u.....,., v n'Miiiiu iiicu may crow d m hm 0 cannot so easily forget a man who makes It ire of the opposition has been directed, but It seems safe to say that congress will yield to the Presie by Wtrn Nwpaper Union dential demand and pass the appro JiudikLvvun But Hannibal is not the only Missouri town that honors the memory of Mark Twain. For the little town of Florida, Mo., where he was born on November 30, 1835, has a monument, surmounted by a bust of Its famous son, standing in a square plot In the center of the town. Near the town, too, Is the Slark Twain Memorial park, which was dedicated as a state park in 1024. Later the cabin in which he was born was moved from the village to this park and a permanent shelter house was built for It Restored to Its original condition, It contains furniture of an early day and other mementoes of the time when it was occupied by the Clemens family. Another reminder of Mark Twain in Florida is the old cemetery which contains the graves of two of his sisters and of John Quarles, his uncle, at whose farm home a few miles "from the village the youthful Sam Clemens spent his summers. When young Sara was twelve years old, his father died. John Marshall Clemens was an improvident storekeeper and lawyer, a dreamer and a chaser of rainbows who had drifted from his birthplace in Virginia to Kentucky where he married Jant Lampton, then t Tennessee and finally to Missouri where he was a failure to the end of his days. So the boy had to go to work to help support the family of eight brothers and sisters. He started to work In a printing office where he stayed for two years. Then he worked for his brother, Orion Clemens, who was editing the Hannibal Journal, for several years. Seeing no future in Journalism, young Clemens at the age of nineteen left home to seek his fortune elsewhere He first went to New York and then to Philadelphia, but, becoming homesick he started west again. He went to Keokuk, Iowa, where his brother, Orion, was then living and stayed for a while with him. There he read a book which fired him with a desire to visit South America. The only drawback was that he had no money. By some strange chance a vagrant wind dropped a $50 bill at bis feet He advertised in the paper for its owner. But no one claimed It so, three days later, he left town, as he said, "to take that money out of danger." Clemens next drifted to Cincinnati and, traveling on a boat down the Ohio, be persuaded the pilot to teach him how to steer It Continuing on to New Orleans, still with the Idea of going to South America, he found that the next boat would not be leaving for that continent for sev. eral years. So he decided to make piloting his life work, an idea which had taken root in his mind when, as a boy in Hannibal, he had played along the banks of the Mississippi and watched the steamers go up and down that stream. His pilot's license, which is still preserved In the files of the steamboat inspection service of the United States Department of Commerce, was Issued to him on April 9, 1859. On an April day two years later occurred an event which was destined to end his career as a pilot Fort Sumter was fired upon and the War Between the States began. Clemens Is said to have been 'he last pilot to bring his boat up the river after the opening of hostilities. He was shot at and hauled In for examination at St Louis, after which he went on to Hannibal where he Joined a Confederate home guard company whose members called themselves by the imposing name of the "Salt River Tigers." The story of Jfcrk Twain's brief military career as a member of this organization, as told In the book "Absalom Grimes: Confederate Mall Runner" (Yale University Press) Is almost as funny a story as any which Clemens himself ever wrote. After three or four weeks' service with the Tigers," Clemens went on to Keokuk to visit his brother again. Orion had Just been appointed secretary of Nevada terrltorj and wag starting for his new post He took Sam along with him to be bis secretary and this trip overland from Hannibal to Nevada furnished the material for one of Twain's most famous books, "Roughing It" Offered a Job as city editor of the Dally Territorial Enterprise in Virginia City, Mark Twain again took up the pen which he was r.or again to lay down for long. From Nevada Mark went on to San Franclsa and began writing for the newspapers there. Th same ability, which had been noted In his boy hood, as "being such a liar that his family coulti believe nothing he said," was turned to telling the kind of tall yarns which the West and West :-- 'If blunt-speakin- g ... - A .... BuiiiL-iuiii- , Wanhlng-ton- D, C. priations measure ,M br jo C&Vj With respect to reds" in th JL Tratlon ,uu8 us of radical activities! he charges by Dr. of ZT wfi? 801)001 BUpS (S2. !sh 1 ? the first to place theNations finger on ll rvrker char oaTS floor of house that shall, field director for tCto of Indian affairs and Gardner Jack son, deputy administrative coo of the consumers dlvisiOQ in Agricultural Adjustment adtainlsta, tlon, among others, had made cash contributions to the veterans' mi and file committee. He asserted that these contributions were made "for the purpose of Instigating , bonus march of communists oa Washington," and it is to be that the great bonus march of three years ago was headed br mc icieinus ruun ana me commit, tee. Mr. Fish described Mr. Marshall as one of the younger members of the brain trust and asserted that "most of the members" of the brain trust are or have been active In the American civil liberties union. The representative cited among those In the brain trust who, h said were active In the civil s union the following: Prof. remem-bere- d liter-tie- Eei-for- Guy d TugwelL undersecretary Donald R. Eichberg, of agriculture ; director of the National Emergency council and the No. 2 man in the administration ; Robert Fed-nedirector of the Civilian Conservation corps ; Prof. Paul H. Douglas, of the National Recovery administration; Dr. Frederic C. Howe, consumers counsel of the Agricultural Adjustment administration; Nathan H. Margold, of the Interior department; James M. Landis, a member of the Federal Securities and Exchange commission and t former member 01! the federal trade commission; and John A. Lapp, described as an Impartial Presides tlal representative In the National Recovery administration. r, After some 12 years of considerthe senate has refused to ap-- ation, First Big Setback prove American membership In the World court la rejecting the Prerequest for ratification of American adherence to that court the upper house of congress gave the administration Its first Important setback. And It was an important defeat for Mr. Roosevelt because no one can tell now whether the President Is going to maintain the firm grip hitherto held on the sident's senate. Four Presidents Cool-Idg- e, Harding, and Hoover, Republicans, and Roosevelt have requested senate and four Presidents ratification have had the thing tossed back to them after bitter battles. This time, as heretofore, the senate rejected tie proposal on the ground that ththe United States was being led into back door of the League of Nations and all will remember how stub-inbornly the senate resisted entry to the League of Nations when Woodrow Wilson was President. The same arguments were used as have been used before, namely, that if the United States adhered to th permanent court of International th Justice (the formal title of catbe would the country court) all apulted into the midst of Jealousies entanglements, Europe's and diplomatic chicanery. Joseph B. Eastman, federal c- oordinator of railroads, has proposes to congress a n of Eastman's plan for control atme-tur- e whole the Plan of transpoaprtation in this country. With the Mr. President of WJ the proval man has offered bills for regulation of motor of tw trucks, for the reorganization commls" Interstate Commerce cand establishment of a federal oordinator of transportation permanent w office, compensation Dirailroad employees dismissed oropsplaced through bankrupt the of eration, a revision cy act relating to railroads, prjn slon for the commission to preacr Pm minimum as well as maximum rail and water rates, prwlsjoj elimination of alleged and gate prejudice as to ports to ind to limit the right or 1 r damage due to violations interstale commerce pr opo The a compreheni a jwr suited from of the general was Probf'heM transportation. It most extensive report eve questions that congress received. Certainly, thereanac, no lack of information e( use by congress if t fler "J, la. enact railroad leg ' ?jJ,tio. session. Whether such IcJJ will get through Is yet leal, . rT.ioa. |