davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
Three C's Accident Prevention

The key to automobile accident precen- ton is in the hands of individual drivers. There is point where even the best traffic laws become imperative. At this point the individual must take up the work. Care, courtesy. common these are the three Cs of accident prevention which are not covered by law. The majority of aeci dents occure when they are violated Each year such violations mean death to 30,O0O people 10 say nothing of vast sum in property damage.
 Last year. according to the Travellers ln- surance Company, the largest single cause of accident was failure to give right Away which accounted for per cent of all mis- haps and IS per cent of all deaths. Fool hardness. coupled with discourtesy. is strew- ing death along the highways The driver who cuts in and out of traffic - who drives on the wrong side of the road-who drives at an excessive speed - is a menace to tfe life and property of all who use the public roads
 Traffic laws should be improved and modernized to the greatest possible degree. But after that IS done. the rest IS principally up to the individual driver. He will decide whether or not our horrible toll in human life increases or decreases.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
The Safety Idea

The law has contributed to certain ex tent to make industry safe. said Alfred E. Smith recently. but all regulatory statutes have a line where they stop It IS at this point that human and personal endeavor must take up the undertaking" Human and personal endeavor" has made remark able progress in advancing safety, particu- larly in large industries such as the railroad and the electric but it still has long way to go. In small manufacturing businesses in many lines accident rates are far beyond what the normal should be. Industrial accidents constitute a gigantic waste item in our business records
 This is not altogether the fault of the businesses themselves. Great steps have been taken in guarding machinery and in making plants more safe mechanically But the maximum safety results from the ab sorption of the accident prevention idea by the individual worker. He must de velop an innate consciousness. that finally becomes part of bis instinct as to what is safe and what IS not
 The best illustration of this IS found Tn the splendid work done in lowering the rec ord of accidents to school children. at time when hazards of all kinds and ae- eidents to adults - have been steadily in creasing The lessons taugh wildly in the classroom make an indelible impression on the child's mind. and the safe thing 10 do becomes the natural thing to do.
 Executives and workers must cooperate to promote industrial safety. exactly as IL 4. our horrible toll of highway accidents is to be held down. Safety cannot be learned in d day or month or year it must re- suit over long period of time. from con- tinucd instruction and thought.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
The Conceited Driver

Conceit which often finds expression in thoughtlesiness. rudeness and selfishness. is considered of prime importance as a cause of automobile accidents, by Dr Paul Schroe- der. Illinois State Crimnologist. An ap- preeiaton of the rights of others on the highways appears to be a more important qualification of driver than normal intell- gence. he says.
 Dr Schrocders opinion is backed up by statistics. He recently made study in De- ,roit of 100 prisoners conviced of man. slaughter with an automobile. Only three had serious physical defects one was subject 10 epilepsy and one was insane. he old idea that anyone in good health and with reasonable mental qualifications can drive an automobile safely no longer holds water. The 2o-cen,ric driver. disreparding all but himself taking chance after chance, whether he be mentally genius or a moron, IS constant menace 10 life and property.
 A little oid-fashioned courtesy. which amounts to regard for the rights of others, is the individual cure for the eonceited driver. He presents problem that must be solved as be is responsible for large part of motor accidents. The year l93l opened with record breaking motor fatality toll - 2,4l0 deaths in January. an increase of 30 per cent over January. l930. Here is grIsy proof of the need for thorough going investigation into every phase of the accident situation.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1881
Something Wrong Somewhere

On the eve of the democratic primarleS in New Haven the city is in quite turmoil, perhaps even more so than Waterbury was last week as the Hayes and Kennedy groups were firing their last guns and preparing for the test al the polls. Seeking the demoeratle nomination for mayor of New Haven are State Senator William H. Hackett and AL derman John W. Murphy. According to recent charges of Democratic General Reg istrar Thomas E. Cahll the Hackett faction has resorted to petty politics 10 stir up discontent in democratic ranks. The word eontemptible was also used in connection with the policies of the Hackett- ator or ganizaton.
 Somehow or other it doesn't sound like Senator Hackett to us. Not being perfectly familiar with the situation m New Haven we can't pass judgment. of course. but ccr- tainly we can hold our own opinion of what is taking place down there. And naturally we can't help but recall the way the demo- rratc party of New Haven treated Senator Hackett some years ago When we refer to the democratic party we mean that part of it which has always hailed Ex-Mayor FitZ- Gerald as its leader. We remember distinct ly the fact that Senator Hackett was busted from the remuneratIve position of tax col lcctor which he held honorably for many years because he refused 10 follow certain orders which he probably considered break ing trust with the public 10 whom he owed so much
 For quite few years rhls exile of Sena- tor Hackett continued. He broke Il through the force of his own personal following in 1928 by being elected 10 the state senate where he speedily became the foremost ex- p,nent of democratic policies and where he was regarded by both democrats and repub- lieans as man of high ideals and sound principles. He was returned 10 the senate in l930 and increased the respect that the state soions were acquiring for his ability and those qualities which had long before endcared him to many. This late accession to power, we know for fact was not brought about by the aid of the democratic organization of New Haven. It has re- mained nlmlcal to Senator Haekett and probably will as long as Davy' Fitz- Gerald is power in the Elm City politics.
 As to Senator Haekett descending to low tactics to secure the mayoralty nomination we doubt i; very much We have too much respect for the man 10 believe he would find it necessary 10 adopt such means as he bas been charged with taking to discrcdit his opponent. Alderman Mur- phy. That he might suspect more than ordinary means on the part of the demo- cratic town committee to deny him the nom nation is natural. Didn't the town com mttce assume slightly dictatorial attitude with regard to the primary date! It's really none of our affair. of course. We probably will be told to mind our own bus mess. However. we certainly cant resist the chance 10 come to the aid of Senator Hackett whom we have always found to be most hon. est and straightforward in his political and business dealings
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31

When former commissioner of state po- lice Robert T. Hurley took an office in the same building with this department of state he was congratulating himself on the move. Mir Hurley since he was replaced by former Mayor Anthony Sunderland of Danbury has acquired position with the National Board of Fire Underwriters. Part of his duties are to investigate fires of suspicious origin. As this work is also the duty of the state police he naturally figured that if his office was in close proximity to state police head quarters he would save himself considerable work. However. republican officials were dubious about the matter and at the request of Comptroller Salmon Mir Hurley IS nov ing to prevent any further criticism than has already been heard.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31

methods Of war mutual hostility. If there is any solution. il lies in friendly CO., operation.
 This is not an impractical and visionary idea. Just now. more than at any other time in history. international amity in the form of economic corporation would be possible and profitable. The universal re- sponse. at home and abroad. to President Hoovers proposal of moratorium in war debts showed how ready mankind is for policy of mutual helpfulness. Yet states men and economists hesitate about any gen eral plan to revive industry and trade.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
Here, There And Every.Dhere

now seen in all screen pictures and in some homes and offices? If we make this substitution can we train the cat so that 1t will always be on hand when we need 1t? From our own knowledge of cats, we have our doubts.
 What does the cat think about this discovery. The interior of cats ear strikes us as extremely sensitive and we do not see how 1t can be used as a mouthpiece un- less with the consent of the cat and we do not think that could be obtained for long. The cat pos sesses independence and individu- ality and when 1t determines to re- move from where 1t is to another locality 1t is likely to go. The wire ! connections would. we fear. suffer badly, and we are certain that no one could use either ear of the cat we know best of all for more than a minute without resort to force.
 Again we ask, what has been gained by this discovery? Surely the cat. unlike certain persons we know, would not care to use tele-
 phone when 1t has nothing to say and we are sure that it would not
 willingly become part of a telc-
 phone set even though its master or mistress urged 1t. Being un-
 willing, we should not strive tO
 hook 1t up. Of what practical use is this discovery?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
At The National Capitol
DAILY WASHINGTON LETTER
A Digest of Who's Who and What's What
 By RODNEY BUTCHER

Washington-Uncl Sam has in Washington the largest single pay roll disbursed in any American $175,O00,000 a year and 1t doesn't nuctuate. That is why the capital appears to have been touched less seriously by the depression than any other city of comparable size.
 Average incomes here have been little disturbed. Because the tour ist business has not fallen off ap- preciably the chief effect of the depression has been felt by persons with large incomes which are bas- ed on investments outside the Dis- trict of Columbia.
 Retail prices, rents and wages seem to have been maintained nearly at their previous levels. as compared with other cities of more or less similar size. There have been some instances of reduction in privately paid wages, but these may almost be described as isolat- ed. Washington is not distribut- ing center and its normal whole sale business is relatively low. Such small industries and factories as exist here, dependent on local con- sumption, have not been seriously hit because of the capitals sus- tained purchasing power.
 Retail trade, the main business here, normally runs above the average. In 1929 1t was $G81 per capita, as against $630 average In 35 selected cities of comparable size and national average of $407. Department store sales have increased more than two per cent in the first half of this year and fell off nearly three per cent for the rest of this federal reserve dis trict as a whole. Only Washington, among cities in the district, show ed gain. Building permits in June increased $8S2.000 over June. 1890, while falling off about $700.- 900 in the rest of the reserve dis trict. Collections on credit accounts by retail stores here are said to be about 40 per cent better than col lections as whole elsewhere. Washington newspapers showed q larger gain in volume of news paper advertising in the first six months of 1880 than those of any other among 30 cities and the only cities to show gain where Cleve- land, Jacksonville, Milwaukee. Omaha, Rochester, and Wichita.
 
 Not that the city hasn't experi- enced any unemployment There has been q certain amount of 1t for the last year or more and quite q few people find themselves stranded here.
 At this writing about 400 em- ployes of the 101 Ranch, their show gone broke, after subsisting as best they could with some help from community, have just left for their homes. Their animals went with thep and their efforts to keep their clutches on the show property until they received six weeks back pay led to court fight.
 The 400 circus workers were wished on the capital. however. and do not present such q factor
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
"COIN" COMES TO LIFE
 (STTingficld Republican)

"Coin" Harvey's national con- vention is to be held today, if his program is carried out as adver- tised. The convention is to organ ize new political party pledged to restore national prosperity within 90 days after 1t attains power at Washington. Monte Ne. Ark, Is where the convention meets. for that Is where Mir Har- vey lives.
 All this arouses reminlscences of the nineties when there was q major depression as severe as the present one. So "Coin" Harvey at 80 years of age is again saving the country. And the old man Is no longer champion of silver. all though he could now find highly respectable support for bimetal- ism among English economists. bankers and industrialists. Such Is the whirling of the whirligig Of time.
 In the early ninetles Mir Harvey wrote pamphlet entitled. "Coin's Financial School popularizing the idea of the free and unlimited coin age of silver and making gold out to be the arch enemy of the hu- man race. It was q clever piece of work, very readable by the man in the street and illustrated with cuts giving a kindergarten atmos- phere to the study of the money question.
 A cute little fellow. with Il pointer in his hand, named Coin and not out of his teens, was the teacher in the school and his class L ,ot, ,ptt ad m m m h lat V content. It sold amazingly in the Uncle Toms Cabin" of the silver movement. It made thousands of the votes counted for Bryan in the presidential election of 1898. Hor- ace White, q financial authority of the time. wrote Socratic editorials for the New York Evening Post In reply to Coin ard the White ar- tlclcs were reprinted in 2. pamphlet entitled "Coln's Financial Fool" They had to- take w. II Harvey seriously in those days.
 Mir Harvcy's present scheme Tor making the country prosperous IS embodied in n new work. Silver has gone by. He is now against usury, or interest. and proposes. new type of money. based solely on service rendered, which cannot be lent at interest and which cannot be taken out of the United States for investment in foreign coun- tries.
 "Coin" Harvey was always in wrong, but being In wrong Is not peculiar to him. Much wiser men than he have lately been looking foolish.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31

in the local unemployment prob- lem, as some 4,000 employees of the census bureau who must be grad ually dismissed because their tem- porary work in connection with the 1880 census is virtually com pleted.
 Between 200 and 300 are being let out in August and GOO card punchers will have to go by the end of October. In past census years the government has been able to absorb hundreds of these employees in other temporary posi- tions. but the job situation in gov ernment service this year Is tight.
 Other government staffs remain approximately the same. Members of congress usually keep secre- taries here through the summer to handle routine office work, all though frequently they take n clerk along to work with them during the summer. Occasionally, one hears, a member dispenses with secretarial aid for the months between sessions and saves tho clerical allowance granted by the government.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
Property Values

The state tax commission of Michigan has recommended to the board of equalZa ton cut of $59}. 100000 in property valuations for tax purposes. The proposal it naturally welcomed by property owners as a means of tax relief, but there is a feel ing of uneasness at the apparent forcing down of values. A similar situation exists in many other states. And in every such case is it proper 10 point out that valuation and value are not the same thing, Valua- ton is the value assumed a. bass of com putting taxes, and the lower 1t becomes. the more tax relief is provided -- as long as tax rates remain the same. Real value IS what property iS worth in the market. Generally speaking. the market IS ndepend- ent of arbitrary valuation. moving up or down freely with changing conditions,
 It should not worry property owners un- duly that values are depressed now On the whole. they have fallen far less than stock values. And real estate may come back be fore stocks do. It's future, moreover IS more certain. provided il can be kept more free hereafter from an excessive burden of public expenditure and unfair taxation. IL remains as true as ever that land, being natural monopoly and limited in quantl- ". is destined 10 grow in value with increase of population and wealth Land 5 the one thing on which all other values depend, the ultimate material source of all wealth. ] bis is particularly time to remember tbe la miliar advice. Take care of your property. and eventually it will take care of you,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
DAY BY DAY
 O-O-O WELCOME. SEPTEMBER
"A SMILES THE THING"

Natures green will turn to gold.
 September. Every fall this storys told.
 September, Leaves take on veried hue. Painters dreams at last come true, Pigments change from red to blue,
 September. Autumn red sweeps through the
 trees. September. Colors flying in the breeze.
 September. Hillside glow as if on fire. Birds sing in the woodland
 choir, Colors glow. that ne'er can tire.
 September. Natufe makes her flnal fling,
 September. Mixes eolors, ring on ring.
 September. Sends her challenge to the sky, Throws her torch, prepares to
 die, Like setting sun, reddens the sky.
 September.
 O-O-O Then there was the Scotchman who on being invited to attend q golden wedding anniversary and bring . present, appeared with a pack of Old Colds.
 O-O--o Then there was the eX-sailor who became q lawyers to see the world through a court hole.
 O-O--O Some Waterbury gals look chic in the new "bowler hats" and others just look.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
Hope In Teamwork

Floods in China. drought in Canada. overproduction of food in America, immi ,ent bankruptcy in Germany money panic in England. economic trouble everywhere! As foreign newspaper remarks Troubles seem to be coming like visitation upon world that gave itself to slaughter and de- struction for four years without repenting of it's evil" Nearly all the nations are try ing to meet these difficulties by methods snts2onistie 10 other nations. So are states prownees. and cities within the af- nicted nations They do not seem 10 see that such problems will not b. solved by tbe
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
Quotations

Rcno's system of divorce Is that of n slot machine. You put in the papers and out pops a divorce.
 Judge Ben Lindsey. By 1850 at the rate we're now going the disbursements for veter- an relief will equal If not exceed the total cost four expenditures during the World War.
 Frank T. Hines. administrator
 of veterans' affairs. Strength should be conserved for emergencies. Haste is fatal. Fritz skagway. forester. We cannot condone laxity of morals whether in the individual or the state.
 --Rev Bernard J. Dolan, chan
 cellor of the diocese of
 Los Angeles and San
 Diego.
 The racket business Is not what It's cracked up to be.
 Al capone. You can't change human nature by law. So what we are trying to do is to make human nature legal. Sheriff E. Russell Trathen
 of Washoe County, Nev.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31

''I he sugar maple IS deservedly d favorite shade tree IL was extensively planted along roadsidcs and in parks during earlier years
 There IS nothing quite like roadway with sugar naples on each side. The growth of this tree is moderately rapid and in many cases the naples retain their form and beau ,y through long series of years. We have in mind one row of trees which were good sized. magnificent specimens 50 years ago. and at the present time they are still in excel lent condition. These trees must have been standing 80 to 100 years. possibly longer. and with reasonably good conditions should live for many years. There is nothing to compare with the symmetrical. rounded top of sugar maple standing in sunlit field. One sufhces to make picture. The tree has charm that cannot be denied. It sug- gests perfect harmony with its surroundings. A field ornamented with several of these trees must be elassed among the most beau tiful of landscapes. The autumn magniheenee of the golden maple foliage tsggars deserip- ton and reduces adjeetives to mere words.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31

Perhaps the best calendar reform that we have heard suggested comes from college professor, H. Parker Willis of Columbia. He is supported by Dean John I. Madden of New York university. They point to the fact that l2-month year is much to be preferred to one of B. Add two days to February and declare general Leap Day Introduction of this revision would almost pass unnoticed while thirteen months will upset every statistical table ever computed. Certainly our quarterly and seml-annual payments would be shot to pieces.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
SCIENCE AND THE CAT
(Hartford Courant)

It Is announced at Harvard uni- versity that the "existence In a eats brain of lifelike telephone central. operating by minute nat urnl currents. has been found. By talking into q live eats ear, suit ably hooked up to n highly sensi- tive telephone circuit. human speech can be transmitted clearly over the nerves of heading through the cats brain and out along metal wires terminating in a phone ear piece. Intensity. timbre and pitch Cup to at least 1000 per second) of the sounds applied to the ear. were reproduced with consider able accuracy in the earphones."
 It interests one. but more com plete explanation will he awaited with some interest. and that ex- planation should be along the line of the utility of the discovery. For instance. how far can the sounds be transmitted. always assuming the consent of the cat to this sort of treatment? Are we to substitute . sst for tho French tsi~nhons sst
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-31
TODAY IS THEA
 ANNIVERSARY s agAZA
WILSON WARNS GoMPERs

On August 31. 1917, President Wilson sent a letter to Samuel Gompers, chairman of the Ameri- can Alliance for Labor and De- mocracy, warning that the dan gerous elements at home" must be opposed.
 While our soldiers and sailors are doing their manful work to hold back reaction in it's most brutal and aggressive form. we must oppose at home the organ ized and individual efforts oi those dangerous clements who hide disloyalty behind a screen Of spacious and eyasive phrases.
 No one can fail to see tha the battle line of democracy fo America stretches today from the fields of Flanders to every house
 May not those who toll and those who have made common cause of the larger hope for the masses of mankind make renewed heart as they think of those days when America has taken it's stand for the rights of humanity and the fellowship of social and interna. tional justice"