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. . . Some weeks ago I noted but did not read very carefully a full column or more about an unheard of Chicago publication—the Chicagoan. Why? Who on earth is interested in every town's local booster sheet? One will admit that Chicago is a big town—that's the word—big, noisy, but in no sense interesting. What Chicago reads, wears, thinks has not the least interest for anyone but inmates of that town so why clutter your valuable space with so much of that sort of thing? Why not The Baltimorean or some other?
One other—a week or so ago was a column or more about a group of morons in Los Angeles— 1 think it was called the Terrible Somebodies or the Horrible Somebodies* and it was illustrated. What town ever did not have its local cutups but why waste your time on them? Space in TIME is too valuable. . . .
E. H. SCOTT
Drexel Hill, Pa.
Let Drexel Hillster Scott be more tolerant. TIME the national newsmagazine will continue to bring all things from all cities. —ED.
League Dues
Sirs:
An indication of how League-of-Nations-conscious TIME'S readers are would be furnished by the number of letters you receive re your statement in the Sept. 21 issue, p. 16 that the "distinction of membership costs . . . $450,000 a year (Britain, France and other great powers)." Of course, you do not quite say that Britain and France pay the same, but most readers would probably draw that conclusion. Accuracy has been sacrificed to conciseness. Great Britain's 105 units has amounted to $450,000, or thereabout, annually, but frugal France contributes only 79 units, as does Germany, while other great powers, Japan and Italy, give but 60 units each. Moreover, Great Britain's contribution is entirely distinct from that of Canada and the other dominions. ... It should also be noted that the total expense of the League of Nations (International Labor Organization and Permanent Court of International Justice included) from its beginning to the present time is but little more than the cost of one battleship.
HOWARD WHITE
Oxford, Ohio
The number of "units" each nation contributes as League dues is determined by the League Assembly from the budget estimate of the State in question. This year 986 units-figured out at an average of $5,903.70 each, to a total of $5,821,048.54. Great Britain's contribution is distinct from the Dominions. Some dues for 1931:
Number
State of Units Total Amount
Britain 105 $622,282.67
France 79 466,630.95
Germany 79 476,804.68
Japan 60 352,965.32
Italy 60 353,543.79
—Ed.
* Horrible Hemingways was the name.—ED.