davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24
ONE WAY TO GET MORE MAIL

Chain letters appear to still be
going the rounds. To the supersti-
tious it gives fear, and about all the
good it does is to give the Recipients
practice in writing if they send as
many letters as asked to do. Per-
haps there is one more virtue about
the chain letters and that is the sale
of postage stamps. 1t puts more PEN
MES into circulation and who knows
but that it might have an effect on
the depression.
The editor of the Askov American
received one of those chain letters
the other day from way down in the
state of Ohio. 1t started out thus:
"Mr. ]. B. Robertson to Mr.. A. l..
Demancourt, Mr.. A. L. Demancourt
to Mr.. E. S. Miller, Mr.. E. S. Miller
to Mr.. r. A. May, Mr.. R. A. May to
Mr.. NJ M. Willis" And it continued
with many more names, from this to
that person.
The chain letter then went on with
the following unadulterated bunk:
Good luck and good health con-
tinues this chain. Make nine copies
and send to nine persons of the most
intelligence amongst your friends to
whom you wish happiness. This chain
was started in Flanders by general
in the American artillery and it must
go around the world three times.
Forward, if it is possible, within
"a hours of acceptance. Do not break
this chain, it might bring you bad
luck. During the nine following days
after you have sent the copies count
the days) happy event is going to
take place and fill you with joy.
These mediations are always true. If
you take this as a joke and do not
send the copies correctly, bad luck
may befall you. Mr. Jones of Victoria,
on the ninth day won the big prize in
the lottery of 100000 gold tire. Mr..
Williamson's house was destroyed on
the eighth day owing to not having
taken it seriously. Mrs. Haix of Lis
bon, lost her only son three days after
receiving the chain for not forward
ing the copies. Mr.. May and Mr.. Soda
Quiltry each won $4,000. Pola Negri
owes her fortune to having carried
out these instructions in the most con-
scientious way"
We are going to give this chain let
ter quite a lift on its way around the
world three times if it counts just
as much in the printed form as by
hand writing, for in the columns of
the American it will go west as far as
California or Alaska and east to
Europe.
AS for houses burning and lives be-
ing lost, such misfortunes come to
many folks, in fact death visits all
homes some time sooner or later
chain letters or no chain letters. And
as for good luck, that is more apt to
come to those who strive for it. The
chain letters are of interest only to
the superstitious.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24

very very small. The final move was
the installment paying plan. The Sc
curities are in the hands of the few
who draw the interest, but the game
has been overplayed. And all this
Capitalization of wealth has not come
about through hard work, personal
initiative, and rugged individualism.
Favorable legislation in behalf of the
special interests has given it a good
lift. The program must now be re-
versed so that humanity gets more
consideration than property rights.
The masses must be given a lift and
a good lift at that.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24

things to be put over US. 1 claim this
is a forerunner of bad condition but
we have been fooled so many times,
maybe we will continue to slumber
on this project too.
1 hope everyone that reads this will
start thinking it over and talk it over
with your friends, and don't be swayed
by information given by the ones who
are making their living at the ex-
pense of the public.
Our forefathers fought hard for the
liberty we have enjoyed in the past,
but it looks like we have another
battle in the very near future to pro-
tect it.
ERNEST HOLLER.
Cloverton, Mimi.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24
AVOID THE TEARS

Few folks set out to hurt the feel
ings of others, in fact the percentage
of folks who really intend to hurt
the feelings of others is very insig-
niticant-but it is done unknowingly
at times. If it can be avoided so
much the better, for one of the great
purposes of life is to get along we'll
with our friends and neighbors and
to make the pathway of others hap
pier-to strew it with roses instead
of thorns. The effect of what is said
or done is not always known to the
sayer or doer. but in some cases at
least it would be we'll if it were known.
1t has been said. by people in posi-
tion to know, that adopted children
resent very much being told that those
whom they call mother and father are
really not that. Though they know
it, and it is better that they get that
information from the home, they do
not like to hear anything about being
adopted children. 1t hurts their feel
ings and that seems natural. They
like to have a mother and a father
like other children, and the foster
parents being kind to them they want
that parental relationship to exist,
and they want to remember them as
mother and father. Parents, guard
ians and teachers will very likely
save innocent children from having
their feelings hurt by asking other
children to refrain from calling them
foster children and reminding them of
the fact that they have no real moth
err or father.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24

The Window Reporter: Making a
first pager out of the incident that a
brother-in-law of President Hoover
was arrested on a liquor charge in
California proved to be a flop. He
was found to be absolutely innocent
of the charge. Well it tasted good
to the scandal mongers anyway, while
it lasted, and like all other malicious
mouthings about our neighbors, it did
almost as much injury as though it
had been true.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24
DRIFTING TOWARDS "PEACE"
(Farmer-LabOr Leader

(Farmer-LaDOr Leader)
The latest issue of the League of
Nations Armament Yearbook" an
nounces that the "civiHzed world"
spent approximately $3,75O,O 100000 on
armies and navies, munitions, war
ships, and other military supplies dur
ing 1929. The United States heads
the list with $66S,297, 900. Great
Britain, France, and Russia had a
sharp contest for second place, each
expanding about 5O0,OO0,O0O. Then
came Italy and Japan with OUTLAWS
estimated at $25O.OOO,OOO each.
The grand total is an increase of
$780, 100000 over figures for 1928. and
all this occurred II years after the
war which was to end war.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24
RELIEF FOR THE STREET CAR
COMPANIES


The city of Minneapolis probably
will have to cut its program of unem-
ployment relief because the tax COM
mission has reduced by a million dol
lars the assessed valuation for taxing
purposes of the street railway COM
pany. The reduction in assessment
of the street car system in St. Paul is
proportionately as great, and is ex-
pected to have the same effect.
If one wishes to learn why utility
corporations are growing more and
more unpopular, here is a good place
to start the investigation. Jobless
men and their families must go hun
cry to tighten the taxes of street car
companies. 1t will be pretty hard to
frame a convincing argument for that.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24

The Window Reporter: While it is
admitted that many of us are short of
ready money this year for the pur-
chase of Christmas gifts, most of us
can get real enjoyment out of the
season by doing the best we can with
what we have. AS Seth Parker says,
let your prayers for the needy this
year be more than empty prayers;
carry your prayers to the needy in
baskets and paper sacks, from your
abundance. While there may be a.
shortage in your home of costly pres
ents, remember that all things are
great or small only by comparison
with others. Those who have little
appreciate the little inexpensive gifts
as much as the more wealthy enjoy
the costly gifts, and it isn't the value
of the gift that counts. It's the spirit
of the giver. And this year a little
sacrifice in money for gifts will go
farther than at any time in the past
Is years.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24

Government in business cuts the
heart out of private enterprise and
kills individual effort" is a phrase
that is going the rounds now. How
ever there appears to be little heart
bleeding on the part of the 504 in
dividuals who had each a net income
of million dollars or more in 1929
judging from the begging for unem-
ployment relief from the people in
all walks of life. 1t is just possible
that there is little mistake in talk
ing about the heart, especially in big
business. Something undoubtedly
should be cut out but if the carver
looks only for the heart there will
be little slicing to do.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24
OPINIONS OF OTHERS

(Short timely letters on topics
of public interest are welcome,
whether or not the writer's opin-
ions conform with those Of the
American. All letters must be
signed with the writer's name for
our information. Signed articles al.
writer does not wish to have his
name used. it will be withheld.)
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24
HUMAN RIGHTS PARAMOUNT

Cutting tax levies in counties, town.
ships, villages and school districts as
has been done to some extent over
the state this year, and on which the
reductions will apply in next years
taxes, should be neither over-esti-
mated nor under-estimated.
Most of the taxes collected in the
municipalities above enumerated are
spent locally and therefore whatever
reductions are made in the levies
means that much less money spent
in the municipality. In many cases,
also, it is not so easy to cut levies
for the money has already been spent,
in fact in some cases it is next to
impossible to cut the levies, bonded
Indebtedness staring in the face.
On the other hand, while the. masses
are entitled to more of the wealth and
we should constantly strive to get
more of it-a better distribution of
wealth-nevertheles we must have
our expenditures conform to our in
come, and for that reason it is we'll
that retrenchment has taken place
in many localities.
Excessive expenditures-squander-
ing of money-whether public or pri-
vate, is not healthy and should be
eliminated. But on the whole there
is little of that in local municipalities
out over the state. So while it is
true that if we want less taxes we
must cut expenditures, it is also true
that when we cut the levy we make
for less activity and work, less jobs
of one kind or another.
The cutting of general property
taxes however must come about in
another way eventually. The income
tax, inheritance and estate taxes
should be used to make up for the
cuts in real estate and personal prop
erty taxes. There is plenty of wealth
in the country and it is here to be
used by all. We get more govern
ment service now than in years past
and have worked for it. New inven-
tions are made for the benefit of all
and should be enjoyed. Refraining
from using the services and con.
yeniences that are established for the
public good simply means less people
at work. And the unemployment sit
uation is one of the problems that
must be solved.
The estate and inheritance taxes
with high enough rates will decen-
tralize wealth, a crying need if we are
to enjoy prosperity and more gen.
eral contentment, but that cannot
come about in day or two. The fed
eral income tax with higher rates
will also help to solve the problem.
Half the states of the Union now have
state income tax laws and with other
states adopting this scientific method
of taxation-collecting more on the
ability to pay and in accordance with
protection from government-we are
going along in the right path. But
in the meantime, until we get enough
income through those various sources
of rich mems taxes, it is just as well
that we do not go too strong in the
tax levies.
Interest payments are enormous
$4,000, 100000 annually in the United
States. States, counties, townships
villages, and school districts bonded
right and left, many Of them up tc
their ears, for a period of years
until that had run its course. Then
farms were mortgaged until the per-
centage of farmers who own their
own places free Of incumbrance is
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24
FROM OUR EXCHANGES
Editorial Comment From Other News
papers. Which May or May Not
Conform with the Opinions
Of the AskOv American.)

Saltwater Gazette: When a man or
woman goes around with face that
appears to hurt, what can you expect
of them. Nothing but a crouch and
a growl. If you have one of them
hitched to you, remove it with smile
You will feel better.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24

Appleton Press: In these days when
miles mean little to a shopper the
small town merchants most powerful
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24

There are two kinds of people;
those who live and learn and those
who just live.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-12-24

Here is a puzzle for some of our
sharks in figures to solve: A Pine
county man went into bank and de-
posted fifty dollars. He then drew
it out in various sums. When he had
the original fifty dollars drawn out
he was surprised to find that accord
ing to his figures he still had one
dollar on deposit in the bank. Here
is the way he figured it and see if you
can tell how the mysterious dollar APP
pears i'm his account:
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
BUSHES NORTH
 TO SEE PL ANE
 CRASH VICTIMS
Gilbert Skinner R e a C h es Ketchikan from Rup-
 ert by Airplane
AL DANG HAS EVEN
 CHANCE TO RECOVER
C. l. Alexander Probably in Hospital for Next
 Three Months

KETCHIKAN, Alaska, May "A plane of the Alaska -Was shington Airways, piloted by Gene Meyring, brought Gilbert Skinner, President of the Alaska Pacific Salmon Cor poration here where two officials of the company are in a serious con- dition here as the result of the plane crash last. Sunday at Karta Lake in which Steve Selig was killed.
 Pilot Meyring picked up Skinner and Mrs. Skinner at Prince Rupert from the motorship Northland.
 Al Dano, Assistant to c. J. Alex ander, General Superintendent of the Alaska Pacific Salmon Corpor- ation, is given an even chance to recover Alexander, who suffered both legs broken in two places, fac es three months in the hospital.
 Pilot James Dodson, whose hero ism probably saved both Dano and Alexander, is recovering from his injuries.
 The funeral of Selig will be held Saturday under the auspices of the Elks.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
COAST GUARD PATROL

Tn the event of any untoward in- cident happening to Sieji Yoshi- hara, Japanese flier, in the neigh borhood of the Aleutian Islands United States Coast Guard cutters which are now patroling those waters, will give him every assis- tance in their power.
 Four or five cutters of the Der ing Sea fleet are cruising along the western islands of the Aleutiar chain to be ready to act in emer- gencies, according to unofficial ra- dio advices received in Juneau to- day from Unalaska.
 Official information was trans mitted today to Collector of Gus toms J. e. Mcbride by his dep- uty Durrell Finch, at Unalaska, te the effect that the Japanese steam ship Forol has put into port there and had reported that she had cached oil and gasoline on Att'i and Anchitka islands for Yoshihara's airplane.
 In acordance with instructions re- gently issued by the collector, the Forol was not delayed in her mis- sion by the enforcement of customs regulations.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
Rubber Boat
 Picked UpIs
 Not Renehans
Indian Makes Find on Zayas Island but Owner
 ship Denied

SEATTLE, May 7.-Although the rubber boat picked up by an In- dian yesterday on zayas Island was first thought to be from the Rem ahan plane, lost last October, Ross Cunningham, of the Alaska Wash ington Airways, for which Rena- han worked, said he did not believe the boat was Renahan's on account of the color.
 The boat found on zayas Island was yellow whereas Cunningham said Renahan's emergency boat was gray. Also the Zayas Island boat was folded and tied to the sides by ropes, while Renahan's boat was packed in a bag.
 Zayas Island is about 35 miles south of Percy Islands, Alaska, where the rubber wheels of Rena- hans plane were found on the beach.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
COPPER PRICE AT LOW LEVEL;
 SALES SMALL
Further Reduction al Mines Operated by Compan-
 les Is Possible

NEW YORK, May 7.-Sales of copper by customs smelters of g cents delivered were reported yes- terday. The price represents de- cline of quarter of cent from the smelter's previous asked price and is the lowest level in more than 37 years.
 Sales are extremely slow and pro- ducers largely are unwilling to sell at current prices.
 It is reported that officials of several leading copper companies and affiliated banking interests have discussed a plan for further reduction in copper production at the mines operated by the Ameri- can companies. It was said the plan was expected to raise prices sufficiently to permit of profitable operations.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
ARMORY SWEPT BY FLAMES IN
 MORNING
Blaze Spreads to Surround ing District While
 Raging
HOME JEWELLERS FIGHT
 FIRE FROM HOUSE TOPS
One Structure Destroyed with Loss of Seven
 Million Dollars

BUFFALO, N. Y., May 6. The fire that swept through the 160th Field Artillery Ar mory and caused damage es- timated at more than ST. 000,000 was brought under control this morning.
 The blaze spread during the night and one nearby church was destroyed, the loss being $50,000.
 More than fifty firemen were overcome. All were treated and then discharged from the hospitals.
 A panic spread through the neighborhood as fire brands scat tered far and wide. Several near by buildings caught fire. House holders stood on roofs of their homes and fought the brands with wet blankets and garden hose.
 Records, 100 years old, stored away in the armory were destroyed.
 The fire started in the basement.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
USES HAMMER
 TO KILL FIVE

BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss, May T. Five persons were slain in their home. The authorities believe they were killed by A. w. Carter, a farmer, whose body was located a short distance away.
 The dead are Mrs. Carter, the farmers wife; Mrs. Nora Carter, aged 38; two children, Martha aged g and Mary aged 8, and Miss Anne Jefferies, aged 65 years.
 The five had been beaten to death with hammer. Carter shot himself
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
FOURTEEN DIE
 IN FIRES THAT
 RAGE IN JAPAN
Thousands Are Homeless in One Section-Series
 of Blazes

TOKYO, Japan, May -Four teen Japanese were burned to death and property valued at $2,000, 900 has been destroyed in series of fires sweeping various Japanese communities today
 The most destructive fire was at Yamanaka Hot Springs in Iskikawa Prefecture. Four persons were burned to death there and thirty hotels have been destroyed Hun dreds of persons have been in- jured and 4,000 are homeless.
 Fire destroyed 800 dwellings and four persons met death at Yoko- hama.
 Sixty dwellings have been burn- ed in Tokyo and six persons lost their lives.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
CHIEF JUSTICE
 SUPREME COURT
 MAKES APPEAL
Urges Organization for Col ' lecting of Crime
 Statistics

WASHINGTON, D. C., May IT. Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes of the Supreme Court of the United States today recommended to the American Law Institute that an adequate organization be main- tained by the Department of Jus tice for collection and arrangement of criminal statistics to be pub- lished by the Government which has been severely criticized in the report of the Law Enforcement Commission. There are major de- fects with respect to crime"
 Chairman Vic ker h am of the Law Enforcement Commission, urg- ed the American Law Institute be- gin an intensive study on the crim- inal law with view of aiding the fight on crime.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
NEW ONE IS SPRUNG NOW
 BY GENERAL
Butler Relates, Perhaps for First Time, How He
 Was a Spy

PHILADELPHIA, Penn, May IT, Gen. Smedley D.. Butler told the members of the United States Asso- ciation at their dinner last night that he served in 1914 in Mexico as spy, obtaining information for Woodrow Wilson, then President of the United States. and when rela- tions with the Mexican Govern ment headed by Huerta was strain ed because of the sVera Cruz incl dent"
 Gen. Butler said he posed as a bibliophile, capitalist, author and accountant and obtained an order from Mexican President Huerta, when he was drunk" to enter the army barracks in Mexico City ito examine the men at close range, examine the equipment and count the guns" for which he won his first Congressional Medal of Hon. or.
 Gen. Butler said: This yarn has not hitherto been published and l do not know whether the Mexican Ambassador to the United States will take a shot at it or before tell ing it perhaps I ought to really jump down to Mexico City and see if the Palace where I obtained the order from Huerta is really there.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
WIDENING OF
 LOWER FRONT
 STREET URGED
Important Road Matters Get Chamber of Com
 merce S Attention

Widening of lower Front Street, improvement of the Basin Road, support of business men in the States of the International High way project, progress in plans for requirement by the Federal govern ment of the block of land in front of the Capitol and establishment of the property with statue of Sew ard, and utilization with the Ter ritorial Chamber of Commerce were the chief subjects discussed at the noon luncheon meeting today Of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce.
 Widening of lower Front Street from the City Cafe to the Juneau Lumber Mills, by the municipality is urged in the immediate future because of the decision of the United States Forest Service to reconstruct at once at an expense of $20O,000, the Juneau-Thane unit of the Glacier Highway system.
 City's Share Is Small
 q understand" said G. H. Walmsley, secretary of the Cham Der, that the Forestry Services work will begin at the Juneau Lum- Der Mills and proceed ward Thane, leaving only the short t stretch between the City Cafe and the Lumber Mills for the City to take care of"
 The widening project will receive the immediate attention of the special committee that has had the proposed improvement under con- sideration, declared Allen Shattuck, the committee chairman. Other members of the committee are Roy Rutherford and H. l. Lucas.
 We shall confer with M. D. Williams, District Engineer of the United States Bureau of Public Roads, who has made plans for the Thane road reconstruction said MT. Shattuck, with view to gaining his cooperation in the city's project
 Basin Road Repairs
 Complaint against the poor con- dition of the Basin Road was sub- mitted by R. E. Robertson.
 pr. w. w. Council, president of the Chamber requested the Civic Improvement Committee to investi- gate the condition of the road and to make recommendations at next weeks meeting.
 Major Malcolm Elliott, president of the Alaska Road Commission, i;l formal letter notified the Cham Der that the United States Cham Der of Commerce had indorsed the proposal for thorough investigation of the engineering feasibility of the proposed International H g hway Supplementing the letter, Major FL liott expressed qualification at the action of the United States Cham Der and for himself and for his associates on the International high way Commission thanked the Ju- neau Chamber and other commun- ity chambers in Alaska for their activities in interesting the United States Chamber in the project.
The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-07
$50 KEEPS ONE
 FAMILY 1 MONTH

RALEIGH, N. O.. May 7.-The state board of charities has found a widowed mother who has been keeping herself and five children and sending them to school on S3062 month. The sum of $l5 a month was given from the mothers aid fund. The mother spent S7.93 a month for staple groceries, 12 cents a month for light and fuel and clothed the family for S6.8l a month.