davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
MONDAY, DECEMBER 21. 1sS
Is It A Wise Move?

When Congress removed the power of elccting United States senators from the several Legislatures of the states and gave it to the people direct it was believed to be step in the right direction. There would be no more senator's controlled by state legis- lative bodies. usually only one party at that. With its years of rich tradition the Senate could not become the abiding place tor legislators who trafficked in such high and honorable offices. The direct election was to change all the existing evils and make for a better and wiser Senate. We confess thst at times we wonder if it actually has. We do believe that direct election of all pnbHc officials is the correct procedure, but we often wonder in this age if even election by the people cannot be coerced to no good purpose.
 With this in mind we scan closely the latest bill of Senator Hiram A. Bingham of New Haven. It is a companion bill to his beer measure. He now proposes that no constitutional amendments conferring on the government any added powers over the people or their individual rights be adopted unless by constitutional conventions. Of
  ratification in this manner if the individual state SO elects. But seldom is the constitu- rional convention plan followed Usually ratification by the Legislature is sufficient. Of course, it is the claim of anti-prohibi- .ionists today that the 18th amendment would never have been adopted if it had gone before state conventions instead of the Legislatures.
 It is to prevent just such amendments as the Eighteenth that Senator Bingham pro- poses the above amendment to Article ot tn: Constitution. Of course. amendments to the Constitution, as they are deemed neees- sary, can still be ratified by Legislatures. The Bingham bill does not do away with this procedure It simply limits amendments ''conferring on the government of the United States any added powers over the people of the United States or their indi- vidual rights or any of them by stating that they shall be ratified only by eonven- tions of the people meeting in their several states es
 There is no question but what this form of ratification is more democratic. And there is precedent galore. We wouldn't be a bit surprised to find the Binham bill mak- ing good headway in the Senate at least where Senator George w.. Norris, chairman of the judiciary committee, has assured the Connecticut senator that the proposal is to receive prompt action. There will be plenty of support in the Senate for such move likewise in the House. But it requires lot of effort to make Congress amend the Con- stitution. Almost as much as it does to remove some of the membranes that it places in it.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
Intramurals For Convicts

This convict football business is spreading The latest convert is the Illinois state pen itentiary. Warden Henry C. Hill says he is going to organize "instramural athletics there; and surely if there is anything that will justify that fancy terminology. it's walled prison To most of the high schools and colleges, within walls is merely figure of speech.
 After he gets his football teams developed the warden aims to go ahead with basket ball, baseball and track teams - nothing barred but eross-eountty running. Cell blocks will compete with each other and promising jailbirds will be chosen as coaches.
 It all sounds very fine and noble. May be college athletics is just what the peni- tentiaries needed. Maybe it will improve the characters of the eonviets.
 There is lurking danger though, even in this ideal plan. It is intimated that eventually games may be arranged with teams from other penal institutions. With intra- mural sports changing to interprison sports won't there be the same sort of dcmoraliza- ton there has been with intercollegiate sports taking the conviets' minds off their work and warping their standards?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
Japan's Treaty Pledges

A clear statement of the Manchurian puzzle is made by Newton D. Baker, former secretary of war and nationally known lawyer. Referring to it as 'the gravest issue now threatening the peace of the world he argues that the only way to es- tablish and maintain law and order IS to get national greeds and hatreds bridled by treaties. and enforce those treaties.
 If such treaties are made. but not ob served by nations interested in breaking them, or not enforced by the other parties to them then the whole structure on which the peace of the world rests in an illusion, and we are hypocritical savages' Getting down to cases: The Japanese case is pe- culiarly grave. The nine power treaty was signed by her to preserve peace in the East by guaranteeing the territorial and adminis- trative integrity of China. She thus be- comes trustee pledged to prevent the very thing she is now doing, The suggestion that the civil government cannot control the military power means that Japan has two governments, and that no treaty is binding unless it is made with both of them.
 ITO protest against this is the imperative duty of every civilized state particularly of those civilized states which are parties to the Nine-power Treaty, And this duty is not primarily for the protection of China. but for the protection of our own vital in- terests"
 This size-up of the Japanese situation agrees pretty closely with the statement which the Japanese foreign office mistakenly ae- cused Secretary Stimson of making. The secretary. because of his official position, couldn't say it. though he probably thought ii. Plenty of Americans in private life openly agree with it. For many reasons Japan should be held to her treaty obliga- lions. We all saw l7 years ago what may happen when nations start breaking treaties.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
Money Standards

Where will all this repudation of the gold standard end? With Japan, l5 countries have now abandoned gold payments France says she will stick to gold. along with the United States. But suppose she were to join the cheap money procession, followed by Germany. Belgium, Holland and the rest of our gold brethren. All the outer world currency would then be made up of unse- cured notes. worth only as much as each nations credit seemed to justify. What would happen to Uncle Sam, sitting on his mountainous heap of gold in solitary grandeur,
 What if the other nations then proceeded to work out some such absolute standard ot value as our own economists have oeeas- ionally susgested' For instance. a token currency which instead of representing a single commodity - gold - would repre- sent a fixed quantity of commodities and services, with. such spread that its pur- chasing power would be practically invari- able from year to year! tt
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
Not Enough Jails

Mahatma Gandhi. returning to India without independence. expects another term in jail, but is not worried. The British can lock up my body" he says but not my soul. My spirit and that of tens of thou sands of others goes marching on." He knows his John Brown. He adds to his fanatic zeal this practical western touch: There are not enough jails in all India to hold our people if additional civil dsobedienee is de- eded on. Besides. you cannot go on jail- ing a whole people, -.5
 Sure enough. it would be quite job to jail the 85 per cent of the Indian people whom Gandhi says he speaks for. Suppose be exaggerates and it's only 200.O 0.O0o.O .OOO people What would Britain do with that many, or one-tenth that many, even in con centration camps such as Spain used for the Cuban rebels generation ago' There may soon be supreme test of passive resist anee." We may learn whether it is really the most effective defense in this violent world. And we may yet see all China using it against Japan.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
At The National Capitol
 DAILY WASHINGTON LETTER
A Digest of Who's Who and What's What
By RODNEY BUTCHER

vator for him. The elevator waits and Stimson strides from his office Eddie holding the door-and into the car. ... Getting outside you hail a minor republican politician who stops to beef about democrat ic victory in the Fifth New Jersey district. He asks why the party didn't try hard to hold the seat in- stead of just sending a couple Of nonentities to speak while demo- crats sent much money and ora torical big guns. Insists he knew all along Curtis would run again
 for vice president, if only because Dolly Gam likes the Second Lady ship and can't help thinking of First Ladyship possibilities. ... {.
 He says let's tap the popular speakeasy just opened very near the White House, and you tell him you don't drink that bum gin.
 Trudge to the Hamilton Hotel to watch the joint committee on un- employment's conference. Big shots you see are socialist leader Norman Thomas, handsomest and most cultured presidential candi- date since John w. Davis; Pro- lessor John Dewey, 72, but looking 20 years younger than the pictures you see of him; Elisabeth Gilman of Baltimore, whose father was first president of Johns Hopkins and who gives all her money to social causes.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
In To-day's Mail 
 the Editor of the Waterbury Democrat
,swered, and smiled at my look of

5WCLCuS anu 0AAAACA e1S AAkJ ASOA va
 surprise.
 we are on the Albany Post road" he explained, land all sorts
 of men pass by. Some have left their jobs; some have quarreled
 with their wives; some are life long victims of the wanderlust. We have a house for them in which they may sleep. and no questions asked. They may come to the
 kitchen for their meals and if they
 know any trade they may help uS with our building operations. When
 they have stayed with us as long as
 they want, they move on. We took our motto from the
 words of the ford, 'inasmuch as ye
 have done it unto one of the least of these My brethern. ye have done it unto Me- In that spirit
 we regard them not as tramps but as brothers of the Lord, Broth
 CTS Christopher"
 Listening to his gentle accents,
 watching the light of benevolence in his fine eyes, I felt encouraged.
 I reminded myself that we are of- ten misled by the fact that sin
 gets most of the advertising. Sin is dramatic; so are warfare and crime. They are not com
 monplace; they are news. They
 occupy prominent place on almost every front page, while a million quiet acts of human kindness are not and never can be reported. Life itself is the Albany Post
 road. People hear of it only as a
 highway of business and pleasure,
 occasionally made notorious by a ghastly accident.
 Yet quietly, by the side of the road. is Bill Brown with his farm, where tired men lose their tired ness; and Father Paul with his friendly hand and cheering word for the Brothers Christopher-New
 York Herald Tribune, October 20, 19311
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
"A SMILES THE TafNG"

Good evening.
 o-O-o
 LET US SHARE AT
 CHRISTMAS Life is just a journey.
 Let us share, Filled with want and yearning,
 Let us share, At this happy Christmas season, Let us give what is in reason, Keeping weary hearts from freezing,
 Let us share. Life is just lot of giving,
 Let us share, Aiding others in their living,
 Let us share, Let us make this yuletide merry, Dropping naughty style that's airy. Making eVerytnlng quite Jerry,
 Let us share. Life is just big adventure.
 Let us share, Just a gallant, big adventure,
 Let us share. And with times quite SO depressing, Let us keep no hungry guessing. Just share with them our blessing,
 Let us share. The man who gets to the head of his payments must first foot the bills.
 o-O-O Everything that Santy brings is in the bag, don't forget that my friends.
 O-O-o Love may laugh at locksmiths but it can't pass diamond ringed windows" at Christmas time.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21

New Britain is following in Waterburys footsteps. Its teachers last week voted to cut their salaries ten per cent during the hseal year lo32-33. This means that the city treasury will be richer by almost 100000. The money will be deducted during the last four months of lo32 and the first three of 1o33. About 600 teachers a1e affected. The offer is more than generous when 1t IS known that at present the teachers contribute fv, per cent of their salaries to municipal relief fund.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21

here. In fact he is pretty well known throughout the state. He has served several terms in the State Senate and was minority leader this year. He has also served as demo- cratic town chairman in New Haven. Inci- dentally he is an outstanding college football referee. In his college days at Princeton he excelled in both football and baseball. At various times this year he was mentioned for a superior court judgeship. In fact we still hear his name linked with such position in the event that Judge Edward M. Yeo- mans of Andover should be forced to resign because of protracted i'll health. Senator Bergin has also been considered as likely successor to Judge P. B. O'Sullivan as state chairman of the democratic party.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21

Senator Tasker Oddie of Nevada, one time cowboy, is opposed to return of three cent postage. He says, It would be jarring and irritating to the great masses of people. As member of Congress and a citizen feel it would be an unwise policy. don't agree with statements advanced that the postofice must be self-sustaining con- slider it great public service of the govern ment to the people .." Senator Oddie is chairman of the Senate postal committee, so speaks with some authority. However. we do think that the postofiee department should be self-sustaining
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
Marshes For Birds

Ten new sanetuaries in nine states have recently been established by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission through purchase of 43.227 acres of land in the east. south and west. The refuges have been selected with two points in mind. the preva- lenee of hunters and the need of food and shelter for birds in seasons of drouth or bit. ter weather. According to the Biological Survey. hunters guns are not much more destructive than lack of food and cover. For this reason much marshy land is included in the newly acquired acreage. since it provides
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21

According to dispatches from Washington the Navy Department is giving every con sideration to the demand. rather we should say the petition, from this state that the sister ship to the dirigble Akron be named Hartford. At first it was proposed by Commissioner of Aeronautics Morris that the new ship be ehristened Connecticut :. However. this was changed to Hartford
 when it was learned that it was the Navy De partment custom to name flying ships after cities and not states The entire Connecti- cut congressional allegation. both senators and representatives is interesting itself in the matter and probably this state will be honored when the new boat is ready for the ceremonies. Secretary of Navy Charles Francis Adams from the beginning. has ex- pressed willingness to consider Hartford as an appropriate name. To the initiated it might be valuable information to know that Hartfords aircraft factories are doing great deal of work for Uncle Sam. New Britain also turned out parts for the Akron. A delegation of Hartford civic and business leaders were in confluence with the navy secretary last week and the upshot of the entire matter may be an immediate an- nounecment that Hartford is to be the name of the big helium-inAated ship.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
WHICH IS IT?

To the Editor of the Democrat:-
 The discussion of the pronucia- tion of the word 'vagary" is still being argued pro and con. Is it 'vaig-ary' or "va-gairy"? A re- cent letter writer on the New York Times is of the opinion that, all dictionaries to the contrary, 1t is quite proper to pronounce the word as common usage has made it. thus "vaig-ary." That opinion seems sound enough, but the writer also says that to give the word the usual dictionary pronunciation, iva -gairy" is an affectation. There one begs to differ. Why should anything that is correct be termed affected?
 READER
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
NEA Service Writer


 Washington = Trudging around
 the capital. =. Let's go to Hoov- er's press conference and See If
 his last gray hair has turned white vet. Fooled! Notice in White House press room says, sniffy: No press conference to-day, as usuaI.
 They're semi-weekly and lately the president has cancelled about half of them. Funny how, at so many conferences, writers have seen cri- tical magazine articles they've written about Hoover spread out on presidential desk. Cool
 idge saved himself much time by
 never reading anything that pan ned him. ..... You see Rudolph Forster (White House chief clerk since George Washington's term, or thereabouts) with a stack of correspondence on his desk. Ask him if he reads oil the nut" let
 ters and he says no one man could handle them. Big clerical force downstairs weeds them out. .....
 Pat McKenna another vet, first un-
 uniformed line of defense between the door and Hoover, sits and
 writes cards for visitors who want
 to tour White House first floor. Admits he likes to do this because
 it makes people happy
 Colonel Campbell Hodges. form CT West Point commandant and now Hoover's short, handsome mil itary aide, is courteously handling
 someone trying to promote a ticket
 to the next White House reception.
 Forster calls Hodges "backbone of | the army. ..... Most gorgeous uniforms here are not military or I naval, but those of colored men tending White House glass front
 doors. Each wears 20 shiny, nickel plated buttons. running down to tips of knee-length coat tails.
 The uniformed White House guide | is most soft-spoken of all the cap- ital guides. Voices of others rever- berate monotonously through cor
 riders. His is modulated in rever- ence; his speeches are brief. ..... Crossing to the State department you see Warren Delano Robbins, White House ceremonials officer, dashing to the w. H. You can
 see him doing that 20 times a day
 this time of year. You'd think ne would 20 crazy or turn sour on life. but he retains amiability and popularity. ..... Robbins wears no
 spats. Hate to blast popular iilu-
 sions, but neither does anyone else
 at state department except an oc- casional newspaperman. Diplomats have such q reputation for spat. wearing that they never dare put them on In Washington. Darn few even carry canes.
 |
 Secretary stimson's secretary
 and Eddie Savoy, 4tima0n's aged
 coIored messenger, rush from the great mans ofiice Co get the eie.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
THE WINTER soLsTICE
(New York Times)

(NeW IOrk TlmeS) When nights are darkest and days most Z dark, when the sun seems farthest from the planet and cheers it with lowest heat, when the fields lie shorn between the harvest time and seed time. and man turns wistful eyes back and forth between the mystery of his origin and the mystery of his end then comes the great pageant of the winter solstice, then comes Christmas.
 From being an old festival of dead nature, it has become, as the author of that poetical definition of the season goes on to say, the festival of immortal childhood In the midst of our mortality and of universal brotherhood, with sue cor for all need and nightness to all suffering"
 If the inhabitants of the earth were in their on spirits to make a solstitial turning, what a different planet it would suddenly become! When Emerson said that there is in every constitution a solstice. he was thinking rather of the body than of the spirit, but it suggests a periodicity even in the common spirit of man as in his works. The Stonehenge solstitial stones intim- ate that even long ago there might have been such springing hope in the crudest life.
 Our hope is ever livelier than our 1 despair, our joy
 Livelier and more abiding than our sorrows are
 Which leak away until no taint | remains; their seeds
 Shriveling too thin to lodge in | memory's hustled sieve. The corollary that the spirit of
 man is superior to his fortune Is true of the race. No one viewing
 the long history of man can be
 without hope that survives all de-
 precision. and that sees in the hap
 piness of innocent childhood the
 surest promise of a betetr earth.
 Winter lies ahead. but a Winter
 that has the pledge of spring In it's
 lengthening days and shortening
 nights. And the winter of adver-
 sity has in past experience q like
 pledge of returning prosperity. Tho spiritual winter solstice may not
 he synchronoug with that oif the
 calendar. but in the chiId-becomins observance of the festival Of Christ
 mas the transposition should be-
 gin.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21

seciusion. abundant food and water even in dry season. 4~ ~
 Authorities maintain that the international treaty covering the protection of migratory birds is directly responsible for saving cer- tain game species which would already have become extinct without it. From that point of view it is to the hunters advantage as well as to the birds and the naturalist's.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
@ TODAY GSS eSS
 /,WQRlP WARA ANNIVERSARY &GR ofA&E.
sTRUGGLE IN ASIA MINOR

A4~ 4AktAkA <N&AA" >@~ ;
 On December 21, 1917. England staged a stSong offensive in Asia Minor, along the Nahr el Auja river front. with the resulting cap ture of six villages near the mouth of the river and the Turkist stronghold of Ras ez Randy. two miles northeast of Bethany.
 Report that Germany was con- sidering peace was circulated with the information that government bureau for studying. questions re- iating to peace had been opened in Berlin. Dr Karl Helfferich headed the bureau.
 England, after suffering . heavy property and life loss in an air- plane raid December IS. again was paid q visit by German planes. but with smaller loss. One German plane was brought down.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21

New Works S18.0o0,o00 unemploy- ment relief fund is raised with much effort and greater ultimate rejoicing. Then some body comes forward and explains that if the relief period should last l80 days the fund would provide S2 per person per month. That sum won't support any unemployed in case and luxury.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
Personal Health Service (By William Brady, M. D.

Sisned letters pertaining to personal health and hygiene, not disease diagnosis or treatment. will be answered by Dr Brady. Address him. care of the Democrat. sending stamp and addressed envelope.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21

The news that State Senator Frank 5. Bergin of New Haven was being promi- nently mentioned for the position of referee in bankruptcy in New Haven and Litehhsld counties was received with considerable com msnl in this city. Mr Bersin is we'll known
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 All Failed Up


 Please tell me which foods have acid i'm them and whicI fruits. Doctor said haven't enough acid in my stomach =. GA. O
 Answer-There is no particular relation be- tween the acid in food or fruit and the acid in the gastric juice. Such relishes as raw onion tend to increase the quantity of gastric juice secreted and the acidity of 1t. But if you are to benefit by dieting your doctor should tell you the diet you need.
 have seen alIusi0ns to some article you must have written about banana for constipation =. (T. M. E.) .
 Answer-For the infant or young child. the instructions are given in the Brady Baby Book. For older persons the instructions are given in the booklet on The Constipation Habit. Ask for the booklet you want and inclose a dime (not postage stamps) and a stamped envelope bearing your address.
 No Serum
 I understand the prevention of colds by serum Is e live question at this time. Have you any instruction or advice on tIse subject? tM. c. Al Answer-.How do know what you mean by "colds"? I can assure you that no serum vac- cine or other preventive has proved effcacious against rie diseases indiseriminateiy called
 Copyright John r. DiIie cl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-21

American cars, each with a ca- pacity of 70 passengers, have just been installed on the Incline rail. lower levels of Bahia. Brazil. and make the ascent or descent Of nearly 500 feet in 4b seconds.