davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
FAILING TO VOTE

Despite the enormous efforts made last year to "bring out the vote" nothing quite so unsuccessful ever occurred before. John Hays Ham mond, in making report to the National Civic Federation, admits he is at his wits end and suggests the only alternative left to try is com- pulsory voting.
 Of 62,000,00o citizens eligible to vote last year, only 22,000,000 eX- ercised the privilege-or duty. Near ly twice that number, or 100000 were ''too busy" to bother about voting, and presumably didn't care who got elected.
 The curious feature about the sit uation Is that minority does our electing for us. The majority does not care enough to be interested
 This is how our democracy is working. What is to blame, the democratic system or the kind of politics We are having?
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
WOMAN GOVERNORS

The first woman governor in the United States has departed into pri- vate life. She was Mrs. Nellie T. Ross, of Wyoming. Her term was creditable. She has been succeeded by a man, Frank c. Emerson, who was the state engineer for eight years.
 On January i s the remaining oth- CT woman governor, Mrs. Miriam A. Ferguson, of Texas, will step from office. Most people are agreed her term was not very creditable. Tn the first place, she merely represent ed her husband, a deposed governor, and her record in pardoning pris- oners of all degrees has created na- tionwide comment
 More was heard of the Texas gov ernor than of the Wyoming execu- tive. The latter attended strictly to business and was a good" governor: the Texas incumbent was regarded in another category and got a plen- itude of front page space as a re- suit
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
MAKING IF COMPULSORY

Compulsory voting sounds new and novel; never tried before." the average citizen will say.
 He will be wrong. because that is the law in Australia.
 How the Australia law works is problematical. A number of voters at the last election absolutely refused to cast ballots and when haled be- fore a court told the judge they did not think enough of the candidates on either side to vote for them. The judge upheld their contention, say ing it is logical that such an impassee could come about in the minds of conscientious citizens.
 Such citizens would be willing to vote if their conscience permitted them to make a choice.
 There are a multitude in this category.
 If the people were interested enough in the blah about states rights, the yodelng about economy, the poppycock about prosperity, the Hook at our record" type of politi- cal humbuggery, they would flock to the polls without the futile propa- ganda of a score of organizations desiring to oil the path.
 Instead of feeling sore at the ne glectful 40,O0O,0OO, the powers that be should endeavor to pick the beams out of their own eyes.
 Another good way to induce peo- pie to vote would be to debate upon the real issues, and not work so hard at straddling or submerging them.
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
RAILROAD STOCKS

A strong effort is being made to enable railroads to raise money through the sale of stock, rather than through the sale of bonds.
 Common stock participates in not enough to justify dividends none are paid.
 Bonds do not participate in earn ings. The interest upon them must be paid regardless of the earnings.
 Many railroads for several dec ades past have been unable to raise money by the issuance of stock. The New Haven railroad is one of these.
 When it is a question of selling bonds, however, it's different mat ter entirely. The New Haven, for instance, was able to float a nice slice of bonds about year ago, on which interest is paid when due.
 Railroad interests are trying to in terest the public in the purchase of common stock rather than bonds. It is d fine idea, one that ought to work if the common stock of the roads pays dividends regularly.
 The trouble Is. however, many of the railroads are unable to do better than yield dividends greatly in excess of savings bank interest.
 Much faith and optimism is nee essary to invest in the common stock of some of our railroads. Less of these qualities are necessary to buy their bonds.
 The financially strong railroads have q large advantage in this over the financially weaker roads. Most of the railroads did better in 1926 than for a decade. Yet most of them are top-heavy with bonded ob- legations.
 The bond buyers don't risk much;
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05

they get their interest regardless of earnings. The stock buyers assume 8 risk and expect greater returns. If the returns are not in sight they are reluctant to assume the partner ship which stock investment entails.
 If the railroads succeed in chang ing the habits of their investors from buying bonds to buying com mon stock 1t is a sign that they are really coming back" AS long as there is room for a difference of opinion on this point, however, stock issues by the railroads will not be eminently successful.
 It is probable that most of the money they need will be raised with bonds for quite some time. One year, or two years, of prosperity Is not enough to convince the investing public it is to be a regular thing.
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
25 Fears Ago Today

City Clerk Thompson called upon Corporation Counsel Hungerford this morning and presented him with a copy of the city charter which has had the amendments added to it. Mir. Thompson spent several hours pasting the revisions in their proper places. The copy is not a work of art but it is work able.
 At the annual meeting Of the South church last night the follow ing officers were elected Clerk George W. Talcott; treasurer. c. F. Wetmore; auditor. F. Allen Moore: trustee of Landers' fund, Edward N. Stanley: forward movement com mittec. T. W. Wilbor and Buel B. Bassette.
 Fred Hausman was elected treas urer of St. Matthew's German Luth- eran church at it's annual meeting last evening.
 During 1901 there were 311 building permits issued. the total Nftltt' B'lllN 2b Jp,p-O, W lllNil IL IlluSN be admitted is a goodly item.
 The Star hotel in NcWington was raidcd last night by a group of sheritls and constables, and seven hoboes were arrested. This "hoter is tent. with no proprietor or register, but it is well fitted out for culinary purposes, and the raiders found a large number of chicken feathers strewn around it. In one corner were copy of Coin Har- vcy's book on free silver and a pie ture of General CoXey riding onto the White House grounds at the head of his army. The seven tramps were brought before Justice F. stan ley Wells this morning and each was sentenced to ten days in jail.
 Mrs. John B. Talcott held a de- lightful afternoon tea at her Grove Hill residence yesterday afternoon. She was assisted in receiving by Mrs, F, II. Churchill and Mrs Frank J. Porter. Coffee and choco- late were served hy Mrs C. l. Parker and Miss Alice Stanley. A number of rare orchids were dis played in tho dining rooms.
 A boxing show will be conducted in Plainville on the 1Gth and 17th
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
BONUS LOANS

Advice to the eX-service men who are figuring, perhaps, on raising money with their adjusted compen- sation certificates as security: Don't.
 They can be used for purposes of loans; but that is not their prime purpose.
 They are most valuable when slowed away, filed away, hidden in the dark recesses of a safety deposit box.
 The banks are very accommodat- ing about the certificates in cases where they are deposited as col lateral for loans; but they join in advising ex-service men to keep their certificates whenever possible. This is the patriotic attitude.
 Don't be tempted, boys, to turn 'em Into money unnecessarily. The government is doing well by you; do as well by yourselves.
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
COACHING THE COUNCIL

In these days of high-priced foot ball coaches, baseball coaches, bas- ketball coaches, song coaches and every other species of coach, 1t is no figment of a superheated imagin- alton to conclude that the majority members of the Common Council likewise have a coach-or several of them.
 The proof of the pudding, etc, Is the result. Do they ever vote con- trary to the prevailing ideas at their general headquarters? Do they ever give the impression they don't know what to do about such issues as are allowed to become prominent? Does anything ever seem to get at them unawares, as if they had not heard about 1t before?
 Not that Sammy Sablotsky has ever been able to notice. The only time the gentlemen on the grand old party side seem vexed and taken quite unawares is when some in- auisitive Democrat, like Sam, gets frisky with a few rapier-like ques- tions, demanding to know what the inner tube of this political tire they're riding around on is composed of
 The contentious of the sixth ward councilman are entirely too logical to be denied.
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
EXECUTING THE CAR BARN BANDITS

Capital punishment again went on trial in Massachusetts. Three car barn bandits, one of whom shot a watchman-after the robbery was committed-are to go to their deaths this week.
 The crime was committed in Oc- tober, 1925; since that time, with the exception of the short time the minions of the law took to appre- hend the men. the law has been having wrangle with defense at- torneys and large part of the pub lie which thinks justice Is not be- ing done.
 Perhaps 1t isn't; we do not know are not In a position to judge. But it Is clear that a state which has in- carcerated one individual for half a century for a crime no more heinous isn't showing an unparalleled ex- actitude of justice by killing three youths for this murder.
 This is not by any means palliat- ing the murder, nor suggesting that the three youths should not be pun ished, and that severely. The mis- take that has been made is that they are put to death. Life Imprisonment for the trio would have been ample punishment; and as the Bay state Is not given to pardoning or paroling major criminals to any extent, 1t probably would have meant just what 1t said.
 There is no logical objection to punishing the three for the murder committed by one of them, as some would hold. Such a plan would open the way for incalculable damage to society. That those who participate in a criminal act are equally as guilty as the actual criminal is good law and protects society.
 Of course, the harsh treatment meted out to the carbarn bandits will tend to diminish crime in the state: has aready done so, observ- CTS say. It is not because of the fate of the youths, but the fact that they are being punished at all which can be credited with this res"lt.
 To deter crime requires nothing more than certainty of punishment. It is the fact that punishment is inevitable, memorable, certain, that counts most.
 The car barn bandits, finally eX- ecuted, will serve as a horrible eX- ample of what the law can do when and if it really finds the will to do its worst.
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
Observation On He Weather

Washington, Jan. 5.-Forecast for Southern New England: Fair and somewhat colder tonight; Thursday fair; west and northwest winds.
 Forecast for Eastern New York: Mostly cloudy and colder; possible snow furries in extreme north DOT ton tonight; Thursday fair; fresh possibly strong west and northwest winds.
 Conditions: The low pressure area over the northwestern portion of the country is centered this morning over Maine. A number ot low pressure centers are developing in the western half of the country over Colorado, Montana and the Oregon coast.
 Pressure is high over the south and far southwest.
 Temperatures arc lower in the upper lake region and northern Minnesota.
 Conditions favor for this vicinity partly cloudy weather with lower temperature.
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05

comes the story that Deputy Judge William c. Hungerford will also retire. Judge Hurgerford has gone to the south for q visit of three weeks.
 According to lawyers who arc usu- ally well versed in politics. Attorney Morris D. Sake will be named judge when Judge .Alling retires, and At torney Henry r. Roche is also ex- pected to be named judge. If a bill which is being considered passes the legislature, the deputy judgeship will cease to exist and both judges will be on an equal footing with equal responsibilities. Selection of the judges depends on the approval of the local representatives in the genural assembly, and, it is reported, they look with favor on Saxe and ROch,.
 No action on the court situation is expected for several weeks.
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
EDISON'S SLEEP

Those who know of Thomas A. Edison's reputation as man of action requiring no more than four hours of sleep to keep him fit nc doubt got severe shock when they discovered this reputed conflict with the laws of nature was all blah.
 Press-agent hokum, that's what il can be catalogued under.
 Somebody once said it, everybody believed it. no denials come from the inventor, and for a generation it has been an epigram almost that Tom Edison needs little sleep.
 People, eager to do hero worship ing on the grand scale, were glad to add this halo of distinction to the others, possessed by the electrical wizard.
 Now we discover from his physi- ciar himself that the inventor has always slept his eight hours a day; that in this respect he is entirely normal.
 Is this exposure of heroes never to cease? Cynical biographers have tackled the lives of the great, barring their bad points along with the good making public what never has been suspected.
 But this blow about Edison sleep ing eight hours day is the worst of all. Must all myths be exploded in this sophisticated age?
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
COMMUNICATED
\ Few Questions on Motoring

A rev questions on Motoring Is it any worse for a boy of 16 to take out a girl of 16 riding than it is for a man of 45 to take out a girl of 16? Is it as bad for young. strong boy of i 6 to drive 40 miles an hour as it is for an old man Of 60 who is nervous. to drive 30 miles an hour? Just because the genera tion before us had to wait until they were IS, that is no reason why we should. There are many boys of 16 who can drive better than a great many of the drivers on tho road to- day. l think Mr. Stoeckel has the right idea. There may be a few careless drivers at the age of IS, but there are many careless drivers who are older, Why not look on the other side of the story.
 "Our proper business is improve ment; lot onr age be the age of im- provemcnt"
 Yours truly.
 F. L. SMITH
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05

You can get an ansW r to any
 question of fact or information by
 writing to the Question Editor
 New Britain Herald. Washington
 Bureau, 1922 New York avenue 1 Washington, D. C.. enclosing two
 cents in stamps for reply. Medical
 legal and marital advice cannot be given, nor can extended research
 be undertaken. All other questions
 will receive a personal reply. tn. signed requests cannot be answered All letters are confidential Editor Q. Which is the largest dental school i'll the United States? A. The University Of Pittsburgh ranked first for 1925-26 with an en- rollment of BPS. The University of Pennsylvania is second with an en- rollment of 542, and the University of Michigan third with an enroll ment of 396.
 Q. What is meant by "preferen- tial voting?
 A. A system of voting that al- lows each voter the right to express not merely his first choice, but his second and third choices among the candidates. The system is used chiefly in municipal elections. It has been adopted in more than fifty American cities. The object Of preferential voting is to secure the election of persons desired by a ma- jority ,and not merely a plurality of the people. By that system any candidate who has majority of first choices is declared elected. If no one has majority, either the lowest candidates are eliminated and their second choices are ap- piled to the leading candidate until one has a majority, or the second and third choices of all candidates are added seriatim until one can didate has a majority.
 Q. What caused the whiskey in- surrection in 1T91?
 A. The excise tax law was ex- tremely unpopular in the western counties of Pennsylvania and Vir- ginia because it was levied upon whskey. the principal source of in- como of the people. They met in mass meetings and threatened .vio- lence to officers who attempted to enforce the law. In 1794 warrants were issued for the ringleaders of the movement and some blood was shed when an attempt was made to serve them. Disorders increased, | inspectors and revenue officers were flogged and the stills of those who obeyed the law were destroyed. Washington determined to use force to overcome the rebels and 10 indi- cate to foreign countries the strength of the nation. When the rioters were confronted by a superior force they submitted and took oaths of loyalty to the government. A few of the ringleaders were arrested and tried, but Washington pardoned those who were convicted.
 Q. What percentage of words in the English language are not in general use?
 A. There are about 7O0,00O words in the English language. and about one-half of them are either scien- tif1c terminology seldom met outside
 text books, or else they are archaic,
 obsolete or obsolesent terms
 Q. How long is an alien per
 mitted to stay in this country on a
 visit?
 A. Six months, although for stu dents and certain other classes the l term may be extended. Unauthor-
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05

The man or woman who does nothing spectacular, but attends to duty in an upright and matter-of- course manner, will not receive as much public attention as some oth- CTS; but they are the real heroes of the community, the state, or the nation. The wrong kind of publicity makes for notoriety; the right kind may be less in quality. but it in- variably means satisfaction and re- fleets real efficiency.
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05

ized stay in this country renders the subject liable to deportation. Q. Should water in which sweet potatoes are cooked be salted?
 A. It is matter of taste. A little salt added to the water, in- proves the flavor. There is no rule in the matter.
 c. What causes rabies or hydro phobia? Is there any sure cure or method of prevention?
 A. Rabies is produced by ultra microscopic o-organisms that are confined chiefly to saliva and the central nervous system. Animals may become infected in several ways but the most likely cause is being bitten by rabid animal. There are serum treatments for the cure of the trouble but no sure prophylactic.
 Q. Where was sugar cane found first and when was 1t introduced into the United States?
 A. It is the oldest sugar pro- ducing plant and is native in the A|opI AiiuAco IJ NetsS Otou6Il u Europe by the Crusaders .and in the 18th and 18th centuries found its way into all the European colonies in the tropics. It was introduced from southern Europe into Louisiana during the middle of the 18th cen tury.
 Q. Where Is "Hell's Half-Acre"? :?
 A. The name was applied to a district on the lower East Side in New York city formerly the head quarters of dangerous gang of thugs.
 Q. Why Is the plural of tea spoonful, teaspoonfuls, and not tea spoonsful?
 A. The rule is as follows: In such terms We are thinking not of the containing vessel but of the quantity it contains. A teaspoonful is not a teaspoonflled. We are not thinking of the spoon but of the amount that is in it and we can get teaspoonful without spoon by carefully dropping sixty drops: that is the amount that would fill a tea spoon. To measure twenty tea spoonfuls we do not need twenty spoons, and we are not thinking twenty spoons, but of twenty times the quantity that would fill one. Hence We say not twenty teaspoons full but twenty teaspoonfule.
 Q. Were mileage books sold by + tlr Ic by the United States government during the war?
 A. On Jun 10, 1918 the United States director of railroads abolished all mileage books and established interchangeable scrip tickets which were sold at s15, $3O and s90 but with no reduction in rate. Prior to that time mileage books were sold at from 10 to 20 per cent reduction in rates.
 Q. How can silver be made bright by washing?
 A. Soda and salt in the water in which silver is boiled makes a very satisfactory cleaning medium. DO not boil the knives and other solder ed pieces more than a few minutes as the heat mealts the solder
 Q. How can it be determined in advance how long a candle will burn?
 X. The United States Bureau of Standards says that the time a can- dle will burn depends on so many factors, such as the composition Of the wax and wick, atmospheric con- ditions, air currents, etc, that no actual time can be given. Even when actual candles were employed as standards of candle power, vari- ation in burning as high as 10 per cent would be introduced through the moisture in the experimenters breath.
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
COcomo Sent to Jail
 For 90 Days. Fined S200

Scbastiano Coccomo of 1S2 High street was fined $2Oo and costs and sentenced 10 jail for 30 days in Daricn town court after pleading guilty 10 the charge of transporting liquor. He was arrested last Friday by Motorcycle Policeman Amos An dorson of Darion, who followed his truck to the Norwalk line and found leo gallons of alcohol in cans con- coalcd under the floor of the truck,
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05

Dear Lila: It's proper, but it's so gosh darned formal! Dear Mrs. Pillar:
 Should a young man rise when lady enters the loom? Francis Baisley Dear Francis: It all depends on the circumstances If the young lady is a nurse and the young man is being operated upon, it would ob- viously be discourteous to the sur geon if he were to rise!
 Copyright, 1927. Reproduction
 Forbidden)
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
SAKE AND ROCHE
 MAY G0 0N BENCH
Said to Be Favored for Ap- pointlnent as Judges

Changes in 1udgeships which will filling. the new attorney general Of the state, resigns are the chief topic of conversation among the legal fra that he will retire from the bSlch, although he has not set any date for his resignation becoming effective. On the heels of his announcement
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
Some People Have All the
 


 Luck Dear M. F. J.:
 Hurry home." said the wife's voice over the telephone. i've got a surprise." Ye Gods, I thought, has she gone and got me new ra- dio? I have suspected her of such an intention.
 So I stepped on the old gas. Just as I turned the corner, a motorcy- cle cop edged me over to the curb. "Buddie," he said, you're coming with me, and Heaven help you. The judge is passing out jail sentences for speeding"
 I telephoned my wife from the station.
 'Oh, isn't that too terribly bad!" she said. My surprise was that mother had come to visit us. And TOW you won't be able to see her." Sizzling Dachshunds, THAT was MY lucky day..
 Francis Tosteves
  Dear Mir. Judell:
 I had just taken a quart off a suspicious looking fellow who lodged back an alley when he saw me coming.
 I placed him under arrest, and was about to take advantage of the situation to take a little drink (for the night was chilly) when I saw the sergeant coming. Naturally, abandoned the idea of taking a nip, The sergeant, however, said, Mice work, Morrisey. I'll taste this liquor to see what it is"
 Ten minutes later I took the pris. oner to the jail and the sergeant tC Q hospital. Whew,
 THAT was my lucky day. E. L. Morrisey
New Britain herald., 1927-01-05
REASONS WHY I NEVER WE'D,

REASONS WHY I NEVER WE'D,
 Louise I helped Lou do the dishes once l didn't mind a bit, We laughed and joked the whole time through And made game of 1t. 1 opened up the cupboard door Crhe thought still makes me numbD And there along the shelf l saw A dozen wads of gum.
 Henry Bailey
  When musical comedies came to town, WOULD take me to symphony con- certs, Instead.
 Mary Carolyn Davies
 Miriam Miriam was lovely: Miriam was sweet; Miriam had lips that were cherry red: Miriam had dainty and twinkling feet; Miriam and l had decided to wed. Miriam was charming; Miriam was fair; Miriam had lots of the cunningest Curls; Miriam was hot stuff; Miriam was THERE But she read my notes to the oth- CT girls!!
 Paul F. Heasley.