davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
Bank Hoarding

A large majority of the banks in the United States. according to Atlee Pomerene, chairman of the Reconstruction Finance Cor poration. have done their full duty to their depositors and borrowers. and to the com munities which they serve. all things con- sidered." But he seathingly criticises a powerful group of banks. estimated at 10 per cent of the whole number. These. he says with assets at least three-fourths liquid, have refused to make loans to responsible persons and companies offering proper ser curity. If it were not for the R. F. C.. witt, it's loan system. he adds. "thel entire country would be at the mercy of such parasite banks"
 There has been severe criticism on the part of bankers. throughout the depression, of private boarding. And on the whole. it has probbaly been deserved. But what shall be said of banks, whose business is lending money, that persist in boarding it far beyond the safety point when legitimate business and sound real estate are starving for credit!
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
Independent Voters

Politics. like business. seems to swing in bigger cycles. Voters in the mass flucruate from election to election. like prices or credit volume in the economic tides. Thus party alliance seems to be growing weaker. There are more independent voters who swing one way or the other in local. state and national elections, according to changes in outer conditions or their own inner emo- ,tions. Political life becomes freer.
 This tendency is seen vividly in the record of the last two presidential elections. In 1928 one party's candidate won by ma jority of more than 6,000.000 votes. In l932 the other party's candidate, with almost exactly.the same total vote cast. won by almost the same majority. There are apparently more than 6.000.000 free voters in the country. At least one voter out of six may be considered an independent. This fact must be reckoned with hereafter by party leaders. Those who swing one way in one election may swing the other way in the next. And there are always new recruits for the independent ranks.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
Foreign-Bond Owners

Another sidelight on that foreign debt problem. American universities have been heavy investors in foreign government bonds. A recent checkup showed l6 uni- versailles out of 30 holding more foreign than American bonds. and only four holding more American than foreign bonds. The investments were made. no doubt. because the financial advisers of the universities con- sidered them sound, and because they paid higher rates of interest than our own gov ernment bonds.
 Now the institutions holding them find the income from their endowment funds running pretty low. That income would probably pick up somewhat if the war debts were revised downward, fact which may or may not affect educators opinions on the foreign debt problem. It would be worth knowing what other American institutions, business and otherwise, are heavily interested in European government bonds.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
Is There A Tie?

According to the latest reports, official at that the status of the State Senate for the I933 season is still in dispute. At present the count is l7 democratic members. 17 republicans One district in Bridgeport is contested. It was ostensibly carried by the democrats by 25 votes, but the State Board of Canvassers, composed of the Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and State Comp troller. all republicans has refused to endorse the vote. It is quite evident that the case will be carried to the courts
 While we aren't in possession of any more facts than those which have appeared from time to time in the newspapers we simply give rise to the first thought that comes to mind what is behind this action of the Board of Canvassers. There were several other close contests for positions in s.the State Senate, yet tbey don't seem to be disputed. Why not acquaint the public with the facts that makes it necessary to sd;seredit for the time being the vote in this particular Bridgeport district
 If there is evidence of illegality in vot- ing, everybody has right to know about it. But if it merely looks as if there is good chance to prevent the democrats gaining control of the State Senate in lo33, then we think that it is up to high democratic off .cials to protest and follow up their protest with swift action. We don't. deny the right of any man to contest close election if he has good grounds, but if it is merely to pre- vent one party from controlling legislative body, as in the present instance, there must be pretty good grounds for the action. And we want to hear all about it.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01

It must have been a gay gathering at Concord. N. H.. this week. The occssion was the Tooth anniversary of the birth of Louisa May Alcott who needs no introduc- tion to the average book lover. We don't know whether Little Women and Little Men" are still among the nations best sellers, but they should be. No real Amer ican's education is quite complete without any introduction to the lovable characters that trooped through their pages Louisa May Aleotts york was not confined to these two novels. She wrote many more. but they are perhaps outstanding. That her books are still read is sufficient praise.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
The Deadly Dole

The prospect is that this winter. in the darkness before the dawn. the foreign dole
 system so much dreaded in America will gain Ia considerable foothold. Everything points .to greater need of relief than ever. Not that the basic business conditions are getting worse; from all trustworthy evidence we are really on our way out of the depression. But millions of unemployed families have used up their reserves. and will have to be helped.
 Whatever we may call 1t. we are having "a public dole" in many cities, and we may yet have it in many states We may even have a federal dole.
 Yet this is surely as unnecessary as it is .unwise. Not the relief. but the dispensing of relief 10 men and women who are able to work for what they get. and would far rather earn it than accept it as charity. Many American cities are taking the in- telligent method of providing useful work flor those supported from public funds. De- troit. where the unemployment is especially severe is an excellent example. Representa- tives of 10000 families are now earning severy cent they receive for the basic neces- ssries of life. They are paid not in money. but in food, fuel. clothing and shelter. As Ia result of their labor, the city is cleaner and better managed than usual. and valu- z able constructive work of many kinds is { being done.
 x Many things need to be done in every !, community. To give an indiscriminate
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
Here, There And EDeryDhere

time; but he was certainly the most impractical and futile man of his generation, was, as Julian Haw- thorne has labelled him, the Bore of the Century. By curious ir- version, his very futility may have. been the cause Of Louisa's capa- bility. Continually she beheId him, a beloved failure, an ineffectual saint; continually she drilled her. self in the purpose that though an Alcott, I can support myself.
 Though an Alcott, Louisa May, did support herself, and in the do- ing earned an honorable name in the annals of American writing. "Little Men," "Jo's Boys," Under the Lilacs,'' Flight Cousins are good books, among the best and most popular of childrens books; but Little Women" remains the classic, the loved popular classic read in continuing multitudes by the fourth generation. It's trap pings are antique to the point of absurdity, old fashioned like great grand fathers mustaclle cup; mod ern industrialism has opened gap greater than the years; but Little Women"i still stirs presses in mod ern publishing houses. For it's au- thoress and her sisters lived the girlhood compressed within itsf pages. If 1t succeeds, said Louisa May. that will be the rea- son for it.''
 Tt seems to me-" writes Julian Hawthorne, ''that I am telling tales of another race, on another planet. can find no traces, to-day, of such people as was intimate with sustained success of this book de- fies the changes of modernity,j { proves that though we multiply material blessings and curses, we do not alter fundamentally reac- tions and emotions and friend ships. And we can forgive Amos Bronson his amiable imperfection as we realize that his daughter is his strongest hold upon posterity.
 :. #
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
THIS IS THE SEASON OF COLD FEET

In young persons cold clammy feet often in- dicate hypothyroidisnl or insufficient thyroid gland activity. Whether not there is a sug- gestion of goiter or of physical and mental torpor or lassitude, such young persons need a suitable iodin ration. am glad to instruct any reader who wishes to take an iodin ration; incose stamped envelope bearing your address and ask for instructions for taking Iodln Ration
 Where the trouble is due to excessive sweat ing of the feet the sweating may be controlled by occasional application to the stocking feet or to the lining of the shoes of a solution Of one ounce of standard Formaldehyde in three or four ounces of water. Let stockings or shoes so treated dry for a day or two before you wear them. A treatment once or twice month IS usually enough. Another remedy is dusting the insides of shoes or stockings daily With powdered alum, for three or four days in sue cession. Avoid washing the feet, especially with hot water.
 Avoid wearing elastics or other tight things around the leg or around the waist.
 Of course narrow or tight shoes prevent propert circulation and natural warming of the feet
 Wear wool or wool and silk silk stock ings, not cotton.
 and weight In general a medium or light weight wool or silk and wool material of knit ted loose texture is the most comfortable and hygenic for people who are in and out. Speak, ing now of people who find keeping warm a problem. Healthy youngsters who are quite comfortable with the fimsiest underwear or
 
 and eke the old fogies' concern about future rheumatic.
 If your feet feel like chunks of ice as you crawl into a cold bed in the wee sma' hours, that's because you have been sitting reading. Don't do it. Either take run around the block or do some general calsthenic exercises before you turn in. And equip yourself with some sleeping socks or boots of soft wool. which you can kick off after your feet are warm This is preferable to using hot water water bottle or other artificial warmth. Arti- ficial foot warmers should be left to the old folks.
 The practice of belly breathing is effect i've way to warm up your feet and help you to go to sleep.
 Dignified parties who can't run around the block or do any calisthenics before retiring, may find few somersaults at bedtime a help.
 When your age gets up where your temper ature should be, it is nice to have your at tendant give the sheets an ironing just before you hit the cornhusks, to slip an electric warming pad in about yoIr feet Hot water bottles jugs all very well, but what will the nurse think if the cork comes out in the night?
 In any case of cold feet it is futile to att tempt to correct the trouble by heating the room up above the hygienic temperature, The hygenic temperature for living room is from GA degrees F. to 68, and for sleeping room the air temperature should be little if any above the outdoor temperature, except in certain cases of illness.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01

Washington.-The next adminis- tration will have plenty of gusto.
 Gusto, for better or worse, may even be sort of an unofficial key note after Governor Franklin D.. Roosevelt becomes president.
 Gusto, in fact, was that quality which Roosevelt displayed more than anything else during his memorable visit to Washington for the purpose of conferring with President Hoover on the all-impor- tant question of war debts.
 All Washington was agape. It was his first important appearances here since his days as assistant secretary of the navy under Will. son and Secretary Daniels, when no one paid more attention to him than is now paid to Assistant Sec retary of the Navy Ernest Lee Jahncke.
 The president-elect smiled and laughed his way through two very busy days. Even in reference to his attitude toward the debts in his conference with Hoover he was jovial, according to democratic congressional leaders who quoted him: That's not my baby!" And he never lost his gusto.
 So many persons. have been ask ing just what Roosevelt said in his "off the record" address to the National Press club, whose dinner guest he was, that your corresponds : ent is moved to write the answer and distribute copies. After the manner of most great statesmen who talk "confidentially" to large social gatherings of newspapermen. he said nothing at all. He smiled that devil-may-care, rollicking, captivating smile of his. He all lowed it to be known that he ap-, preciated the party and intimnted that he would like to stay all night but would have to get along.
 He said that he was going to talk "off the record" that 1t was mighty nice to. be able to talk "off the record' for a change and that he hoped to be able to talk "off the record" often in the. future. And he tolde a couple of funny stories and everybody laughed and cheered. e
 And everytirae the male come dian said something or Q female songstrcss let go an especially warm line, all the boys who had crammed in s5 apiece craned their necks back at Governor Roosevelt to see whether he was smiling or not. He usually was.
 No one was surprised that he
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
To-day's Selected Poem
ARCHITECTURE

(Ethel Louise Knox in the Christian Science
 Monitor) First the stanch "verticaf' of upward look, Then the supported roof, horizon-lined,
 took The suns own path, and with the sun declined So man built walls and roofs to shelter him. Embodied symbols of the world he saw And heard and felt, a gallant world yet grim, Governed by cool uncompromising law.
 dew Slantingly through Druid oak and built Tall tents of light, in awe he stood-and knew The law that sets bronze oak leaf a-tlt. He dreamed .again--and built to crown the
 height A gray cathedral that let in the light
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
A Book a Day
by BRUCE CATION
Hero and Rogue Were
 United in Career of Diaz

The evolution of dictator gets graphic presentation in "Porfirio Diaz: Dictator of Mexico." by Carleton Beals.
 Diaz to-day is remembered chief ly as ruthless and able ruffian who held absolute power in Mexico for upwards of 80 years and during that time gave the luckless coun- try at least a semblance of order. MT Beals here analyses his career and shows that the man was both better and worse than the cus- tomary American verdict made him.
 In the beginning, Diaz was all patriot - unselfish, devoted and brave. He was Juarez's most val- ued subordinate during the long fight against Maximilian and the French. He kept the revolution alive in those days at great per- sonal peril. He could not be scared and - wonder of wonders-he could not be bribed.s
 Indeed, Diaz's work during those years makes an enthra1ling tale. Sometimes he had not a dozen fol- lowers. Always the odds against him were long. But he never fal- tered and that Juarez finally won was due in no small measure to Diaz, who was all that a heroic patriot ought to be.
 Then he and Juarez quarreled, Juarez died and Diaz seized power; and straightaway he become a self ish, unprincipled dictator. He ''modernized' Mexico, to be sure, but it was 8 blind, one-sided mod ernization to which many of Mex ico,s present troubles are due. He left the struggling masses in in- finitely worse shape than he found them.
 "Porfirio Diaz" is published by Lippincott and sells for $5.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01

William G. McAdoo, democratic senator elect from California. was once upon time the most uncompromising dry in the party. If we recall correctly at the famous Madison Square Garden fiaseo of 1924 his was strictly prohibition stand, while Alfred E. Smith represented the forces opposing pro- hibition. Even in 1928 MT MeAdoo was dry. We don't know what he was in 1852. as we didn't follow his campaign very close ly, But now he is very much interested in securing the passage of such legislation as will insure his state of some share in re- vived business under the stimulus of legalized beer and wine. In recent letter to John Nance Garner. Speaker of the House and Vice President Elect, he declared that there will be formidable opposition to the pro- posed beer bills unless provision is also made for light wines. While we don't ex- aetly prefer the tactics that Mir McAdoo has used in his political life of recent years we do believe that light wines and beer should go hand in hand through all legislative chambers. If the United States intends to only go half way with this business of un- seating prohibition, it should go half way and not one third of the way. To legaliZe beer and not wine would simply be mis- take. And we've made enough mistakes now without adding to them. Prohibition has been failure. There is nothing to in- dicate that beer alone can rescue us from the doldrums. Beer and wine and rosy prospects for state control of all alcoholic beverages would be the trump card
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
ALCoTT CENTENNIAL

(New Haven Journal Courier)
 It would be a grave omission to allow November of 1892 to join its comrade months Of the past with out some mention of Louisa May Alcott, puttering, bleating old Bronson's major fcontribution to American literature. For 1t was in the November of 1892, a century exactly ago, that this Amos Bron- son Alcott, school-teacher in Ger mantown, Pa, wrote in suited phrases a letter to his. father-in- law announcing the birth of a daughter with "a fine foundation for health and energy of charac- ter"
 Emerson for friend. Thoreau and Hawthorne for neighbors, Margaret Fuller sfor counsellor. Theodore Parker for a godfather, Holmes, Phillips, Garrison, Web ster (Daniel), Mrs Howe for asso- ciates-but Bronson Alcott for a father. He may have been Plato redivivus as Emerson fondiy in- sisted; he may have been a great and generous soul born before his
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
: PROTECT THE STATES
 RECORD
(Meriden Journall

Pay-as-you-gO Connecticut Is finally running behind. There may be Q deficit of some $7,000,00O at the end of the present fiscal year in June. Income has been steadily dropping below the lavish budget that was laid out by the legislature two years in advance.
 The situation should not be sur- prising. Look about you at the enormous expenditures undertaken by the state and then reflect on the lessened income of the people who are supposed to pay the fiddler. It just couldn't be done and now must come a painful struggle of cutting down outlays for buildings and ser vices.
 This state has been living in a sort of seventh heaven lately. with no expenditures too great for the politicians to make, in the careless belief that the pay-as-you-go gov- ernment would find the money to keep things running. Comes rude awakening, but the politi- clans will try to resist plans for re- trenchment which would interfere with their patronage. They will urge huge borrowings through DOuQS ana, OI CUuTScs uAVoLbihS vA the motor fees and gas taxes into the general funds.
 In this they should be fought. Connecticut should not be plunged into debt for the purpose of main- taining the present high scale of expenditures. There should be no diversion of the highway money. It all comes out of motorists and their tax burden has alreday become greater than they. can bear. If anything, highway; operations will have to be clrtailed and the drain upon those who still can pay at all will have to be greatly lessened.
 At present Connecticut has an outstanding financial record among states and there should be no de- parture from the policy of living within income.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
Welcome News

. It was welcome news to read in last nights Democrat that the tax rate for l933 would be dropped to 32.50 mills. saving of one and one-half mills over this years rate. The new rate. which will be adopted shortly. is the lowest one that Waterbury has boasted since 1927 when it was 3l.9 mills. The following year it went up to B mills and remained there in 1929. In 1850. the first year of the Hayes admin istration. it scared to 41.9 mills. but this rate. of course. was set up by the Guilfoile administration. Gradually Mayor Hayes has brought it down in succeeding years.
 A careful study of the city's finances dur ing the past three years of Hayes rule reveal that he has almost accomplished a ten mill reduction in the face of diseouraging odds Conditions have been steadily growing worse in the city. while expenses continued to mount. Only by paring all appropriations to the bone have the city fathers been able to make both ends meet. And naturally in these hard times it is almost next to impos- sible to estimate closely just what the eity's income will be. As result, there has been steadily growing deficit at the end of the fiscal year which had to be provided for by law in the following years budget.
 It is something to speak about when Wa terbury can accomplish mill and one-half tax rate drop under present day conditions. It is fitting tribute to the officials who control the municipality's destinies and also to the many city employees who are cooper ating by working under handicaps and also under the same reduced wages that all of us have accepted as sign of the times. May we also point out that just at this present writing the city is not encumbered by any floating indebtedness. Controller Leary paid off something like million and half this week to free the city of this debt. It viii be necessary to borrow very shortly in order that the eity's business may carry on. but let us rejoice that at the moment the city is financially above board and pointing towards an optimistic future.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-01
LEGISI4ATING WOMEN OUT OF WORK
(Bridgeport Telegram)

NApAAA6CPOAk | NASo AeAhAf
 The fact that New York sweat shops have been 'creeping over the line into Connecticut, bringing with them the worst of their New York methods, is ~indisputable. The state labor department has al-i ready gathered great mass of evil dence 10 support the presumption. Some prosecutions have been made under the existing labor laws and State Labor Commissioner Joseph Tone of New Haven indicated, in an address In Bridgeport on Sum day night, that further laws will be imposed by the incoming Legisla- ture, to make control of the sweat shops more effective.
 The State of Connecticut does not want that kind of industry which leads eventually, through it's abuse of the workers, to labor trout ble or to Communism, and throws burden upon the community's charity. On the other hand when. restrictive laws are adopted, care should be taken to see that they really hit only the evil that is aimed at, and do pot cause trouble to those industries which are le- ultimately conducted.
 There is another aspect of th.s question which needs serious atten- tion. It is presumed that what is chiefly needed is further restric- tions upon the employment of wo- men and minors. The commission CT indicated that law setting shorter hours for women would be step in the right direction.
 Tn fhis resnect he is only repeat-s ing an ancient formula having. no bearing in common sense. There is no reason, real or fancied, why wo- men should be restricted to shorter working hours than men, Every step in this direction results only in making 1t difficult for self-sup- porting women to get work. It is time that Commissioner Tone brought himself up to date in this matter. Any hours of labor which are good for women are good for mer--or vice versa. The minors. whether male or female. are in 9 distinct class. But the labor laws should make no distinction be- tween adult women and adult men. Those persons who have thus l far advocated advanced legislation | to protect women" have Acnly | thrown women out of work or re- duced their pay. If the sweat shop problem is used as an ex- cuse for further raid upon the women workers. it will be too had