davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28

One more state park is sought in recent legislative bill coming from Representative Baldwin of Stratford. As Representative Baldwin is majority leader of the House and a republican, perhaps he can persuade the powers that be to take some interest in his proposal. It is worth more than passing attention, provided, of course it isn't too ex- pensive. The bill in short would create state park at the mouth of the Housatonic river which is in the vicinity of Stratford. A commission of three. one each from Fair field, Litchfeld, and New Haven counties, would take care of the plans. It's splendid idea, but one which the condition of the times may delay. Park. development costs money and unfortunately Connecticut must devote her income to other purposes such as unemployment and old age relief. But the idea of park at the mouth of the Housa- tonic could be enlarged upon and plans for it pushed as much as is possible without actual appropriations.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
Old And New Education

There is something to be said for the drill of old-fashioned learning methods. Speak. ing of the fact that students and faculty of the University of Washington could not name the 48 states inside of ten minutes, a newspaper oldtimer says: "A person of my age, who studied geography in the old fashioned way, couldn't possibly miss any of the states when called upon for list. We learned to rattle off the states in each sec- ton till we could do it automatically; If one were omitted from any given list, the rhythm would be spoiled and you couldn't go on at all
 So, too. with the capitals of the different states, which were chanted in way which fixed them beyond forgetting in the normal memory. So, too, with spelling. And other studies. An observer. between the old school and the new. is about convinced that some of the modern educational theories have been carried too far in their emphasis upon initiative and individuality at the ex- pense of drill. Why not combine proper mixture of the old and the new methods. keeping just enough of each so that students would finish their schooling really Knowing few facts and having at the same time the initiative to use them in useful and inteli- gent ways.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28

Some time ago the Hartford Times point ed out rather admiringly that this republican
 leader, Mackenzie, from Fairfield county, was never at wits end to find a political plum for himself It went into his political history of the last ten years or so with con- siderable diligence and brought to light many facts, namely. that as often as Mir Mackenzie might find himself out of job he was always sure to land in another one. Just at present he is serving as Director of Federal Employment in this State job that Rays $500 annually. Incidentally this is one of the few federal patronage off, fees that can be filled by direct presidential appointment without Senate ratification. You might say that it was almost hand picked for Mir Mackenzie. The job came about in this way. Senator Wagner of New York presented a model bill to Congress early in l932 taking care of national un- employment. Oddly enough it was frowned upon by President Hoover. We say oddly because he sponsored one identical of it three times. But that was when he was only Cabinet member. The Wagner bill passed House and Senate. Hoover vetoed it apd administration pawns substituted the old federal employment service dead since 1922 or thereabouts. It provided about 100 patronage appointments and Conneetieut's job fell to that lucky mortal, Harry E. Mackenzie. Wonder how many actual jobs this service has found in Connecticut
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
AN INQUIRY AT FAIRFIELD
(New Britain Herald)

Governor Cross and the demo- crats evidently are eager for an in- 'quiry into the construction of the state hospital at Fairfield. So Is everyone else anxious to see some political dirt brought to light.
 An inquiry plan was voted down in the 1881 Assembly because there was fear of the political results. The 6. o. p. majority has not changed its mind but there is the lack of c majority in the senate! This job, so the rumors and roe ports have had 1t, was one of the best political jobs in the state, poli- ticians ladeling out favors by the score.
 Heretofore we have been looking to New York, Chicago. and such places for scandal news (Not over. looking Washington of Teapot Dome fame).
 A little of 1t right around the corner would help us to bear the depression.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
Dancing Farm Boys

We don't know about that dancing prob lem which has arisen in Colorado. The question is whether dancing instruction should continue in the state agricultural college at Denver. The Colorado Federa- ton of County Taxpayers Associations de- cares that the college has no business teach ing clog dancing for boys or scarf dancing" either - or any other kind ot dancing paid for at the expense of the tax payers. One of the tax reformers woman. goes farther She says it's silly as well as extravagant to include in the curriculum games for college boys because the boys know plenty of games without going to col lege to learn them.
 Our sympathy goes out to the critics We taxpayers must hang together. At the same time, there's good deal to be said for dancing instruction. providing it doesn't cost too much. Clog dancing or tap dancing might be an improvement on some kinds of dancing prevalent nowadays. And it would be worth the cost, perhaps, if the square dances of old farm days could be revived. Besides haven't the farmers troubles come largely from taking life too seriously, work ing too hard and making himself too effi- oientl Such traditional virtues make crops too big and lower prices. It might be more profitable to go in for dancing and games. And it might help to keep the boys on the farm, if anyone's interested in that
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28

are as responsible for municipal tax burdens today as anything. And we're inclined to agree with him in that broad statements.
 But let no one come to the conclusion that false estimate is one deliberately SO. It is just the opposite. It may represent as accur1 ate an estimate of the tax income of town or city as the board or official can secure. Unfortunately civic obligations do not weigh so heavily on all of us today, as they did some years ago. Then again there are many people who can't meet their tax bills try as they will. These are days of reduced pay and consequently taxes are bound to shrink. The town that bases it's budget on a 100 per cent tax estimate is over optimis- tic.
 Most towns however, know that taxes aren't usually collected 100 per cent. They allow for that in setting up their budgets. But in the past few years they haven't al- lowed sufficient leeway. As result there have been over appropriations resulting in deficits at the end of the year to be met in the following years taxes. The Caplan bill would prohibit any estimate greater than the amount of taxes collected in the previous year. We presume that this would eliminate all back taxes collected too. That's sound idea and might be applied in many places where estimates and taxes have habit of not agreeing.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
NEA Service Writer


 Washington - Senator Huey Longs relationship with the progressive group in the senate is adequate attention and will become ing months.
 The progressives, because of their general tendency to affiliate with Roosevelt, their augmented strength in the next congress and their sponsorship of various meas- ures which are receiving a favor- able hearing in these days of eco- homie stress, may reach a new height of influence.
 The Journalistic habit during the great Huey Long filibuster was to isolate Huey and hold him up to lonely scorn as the infamous fei- low who single-handed was hold ing up the progress of 0 great na- ton. Some of the scorn was di- verted to Thomas of Oklahoma and Wheeler of Montana, as if they must also be put beyond the pale for associating with the filibuster.
 That picture was inaccurate be- cause the progressives as 0 group, republican and democrat, were giving Huey their moral if not ac. tive support. Their emotions were mixed insofar as Huey's tactics were concerned, but they were in general opposition to the branch banking provisions of the Glass bank bill which he So vigorously attacked. And they allowed him to lead the fight without hindrance, most of them admitting privately that he was making 0 really effec- tive speech.
 The cream of the progressives-- Norris, Borah, Costigan, LaFollette and Cutting voted against tho cloture which would have shut down on Huey. The fact that some of the most consistently standpat lame duck republicans - Moses, Watson and Smooth - have given comfort to Huey and also voted against cloture for partisan or |other reasons did not alter the rela- tive solidarity of the liberals.
 The most highly respected pro- gressives, including some of the most valuable men in congress. do not regard Huey as an unmixed blessing to their cause, but private
 ly they give them his due. They re- gard him as shrewd. fearless, fast
 thinking and ruthless, believer in much of their fundamental pro-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
A NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD
(New York Times) ]

Senator Copeland undoubtedly speaks for the people of this state in the bill which he introduced in the senate on Wednesday. It pro. poses to have the federal govern. ment take over tho Saratoga bat. tlefleld so as to mako of it q fia. tional memorial park. The land where tho historic battle was fought. and whore are buried the unidentified bodies of soldiers who fell there, has been acquired by the state of New York. The mo. tive was to safeguard the ancient site and to reconstruct 1t and TO. store tho old buildings So far as possible. Tho scene of tho fateftIl Burgoyne surrender has become of increasing public interest since these activities of the state were undertaken. II Is . proud and val- ued possession of New York. But if anything is national In scope and significance, tho Saratoga battle- field deserves to be so ranked. It belongs to the whole country tn significance and memory. Nothing could be more fitting than for the government of the United States to assume ownership of 1t and care for 1t as one of the great national monuments which it is our patrl- otto duty to preserve and cherish. Senator Copeland's bill is we'll worthy of consideration, even In the crowded and congested days of this dying session of congress.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
Here, There And Euery.Uhere

gested to the legislature is the abolition of all town, borough and city courts, the district court of Waterbury and the courts of com mon pleas, these to be succeeded by 30-odd district courts. None can say that the change would not be beneficial but few there are who know politics who would even dream that the politicians are so. ing to pass up q raft of juicy jobs for the mere sake of improving the judicial system.
 The fighting that has been going on in most towns for court posi- tions, following the last elections, Is proof enough that the politi- clans do not intend to relinquish their grip on court appointments, which constitutes the choicest fruit on tho plum tree.
 The fact that the reduction in the number of these minor courts would save tremendous lot of money will appeal to the public in these times. That argument may do some good in compelling the leg. islature to act on court salaries which continue at their former peak level excepting in those cases where voluntary reductions were made to please the local public.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
STATE TOBACCO TAXES
(Hartford Courant)

Among the proposals before the General Assembly Is Q bill provid- ing for Q tax of one mill on each cigart ,l however packed, and one- half cent on each ounce of chew ing or smoking tobacco. Probably neither this bill nor others of a like character that may be intro. duced will get very far. The as- sumption of some legislators seems to be that the easiest way to raise money is to tax on industry thut happens to be enjoying @ fair de- gree of prosperity. The thing can be overdone; indeed 1t has already been overdono in not Q few states. As Q result 1t Is being found that the law of diminishing returns operates quito as inexorably as the law of supply and demand.
 The factory price of twenty lead- ing brands of cigarets Is now 4.5S cents q package of twenty. On this package the Federal Government imposes Q tax of six cents, which yielded c revenue of $31S,000, 900 the last fiscal year. It ds estimated that the tax already costs tho aver. age cigaret consumer nearly $22 annually. Perhaps 1t is small won. der that the states are Q bit envi. ous of this revenue and would like to get some of 1t for themselves, but to do so involves q particularly objectionable form of double taxa ton, Moreover, the fourteen states that have imposed taxes on cigarets and have based their expenditures on the estimated receipts havo dis. covered that tho yield fell consld- orably short of expectations. Ex. cessive taxation ia circumvonted by consumers buying outside tho state and by bootleggers.
 Granted, however, that . state might materially augment its rev- cnues by taxing tobacco products, the fairness of so doing is decided iy open to question. The tobacco Industry, like tho gasoline industry, is already bearing moro than It's just burden of taxation, or rather tobacco and gasoline users are, for of course tho tax is passed along. The states should leave the tobacco taxes to the federal government and the federal government should leave the gasoline taxes to the states. Each should keep out of the others field, and both should be careful not to overdo good thing.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
Our Daily Washington Letter
BY RODNEY BUTCHER
lucy Longs Influence Mounts

gram but not in their methods.
 They admire his energy, many of his apparent motives, his wide knowledge of history, his seeming ability to remember everything he ever read and things like that. But they do not condone his rough stuff or his tactics reminiscent of the most interruptions reactionary or the hardest-boiled ward boss.
 How close will be Huey's future relationships with the other pro- gressives can only be guessed. The progressives need 6 leader, but 1t won't be Huey - even though he may dominate small radical group whose nucleus would be the faith full Mrs Caraway and his new hand picked Louisiana senator, Mir Ov- erton.
 Yet he may often take Q leading part in their fights, since they couldn't stop him, even if they wanted to. His association may let them in for some otherwise avoidable animosity, but he may also be lot of help--especially if he develops c popular following among the "masses'.
 Huey's attack on branch banking was victorious, but he unquestion- ably overrates his part in that. He couldn't have gotten away with that filibuster if both progressive branch banking foes and conserva- tive opponents of the Glass plan to divest big banks of investment af- filiates hadn't been willing to let him go on with the apparent aid of the republican lame duck stand- patters who were glad to see the democrats embarrassed.
 Branch banking wasn't just 0 Huey Long issue; 1t produced a fight between those primarily in- terosted in strengthening the na- tional banking system and those chiefly desirious of preventing in- creased banking monopoly by the money trust"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
A Book a Day by BRUCE CATION
The Ecstacy Of A Mystic
BY BRUCE CAPTION


 The materialist assesses life without making allowances for any intangibles. The mystic weights the intangibles and very little else; and so he sometimes does peculiar things, and acts very like mad man--and knows an ecstasy which the materialist will always find in- comprehenslble.
 Garry Delea. hero of "The Col ored Dome," by Francis Stuart, is 0 mystic Irish youth. He is a low ly clerk in q bookmaker's office. His life has got in a rut. The daily routine has gone stale. And he longs for some current that can sweep him off his feet and make him forget himself.
 Quite unexpectedly such Q cur rent arrives. Irish revolutionists. in typically Irish enthusiasm, agree to offer up four men as q ordinary citizens are to be sur projected British blow at the will be withheld. And Garry Delen is chosen for one of the sacrifices. In twinkling,. everything is changed. Garry finds happiness; ecstasy. All of his problems van- ish. He Is to be used by Q Cause: his death is to bring him all that life had denied. He awaits the fir. ing squad in Q profound exa1tation. But at the last minute plans are changed - and Garry Is released. He piops back into tho dreary old round. Saving his life, he has lost 1t; and the rest of the book Is q mystic, sometimes misty accounts of the way in which he immolates himself again and regains his lost exaltation.
 "The Colored Dome" is Q strange and beautiful book. It contains, incidentally, Q delicate and moving love story.
 The Macmillan Company is of- ferinr it for S2.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28

We recommend to our readers the series of plays that is being sponsored by the Bun- ker Hill Parent Teaehers Association. Two have already been given, the third was sched- uled for this morning. They are intended primarily for children. but are presented by adult actors and actresses. Too many peo- pie have had the idea that they were local affairs with local talent. The performers come from New York and the plays are selected with the sole purpose of educating young people to an appreciation of the drama as well as giving them clean, whole some entertainment. It's such an unselfish service that it demands support of every father and mother of growing children.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
So They Say

Politicians are not our best minds.-Dr Charles Clayton Mor- rison, editor of the Christian Gen. tury.
 What teachers do out of school is their own business. never heard that matrimony ends Q woman's ability, nor that celibacy insures 1t. IT. H. Bair, superintendent of schools, Shaker Heights, o.
 The lack of possible escape over the frontier and the lack of pres- ent industrial opportunity is now beginning to crystalize into class consciousness, but 1t has hardly yet passed the stage of discontei1t. Norman Thomas, Socialist nomi- nee for president in 1882.
 Always say: "Please, God, help Tetrazzini sing" And receive help always in the tragic and comic parts.--Louisa Tetrozzini, famous opera singer.
 The civilization of tho western world expresses itself in bombs, guns, cruisers, military power, and the greatest nations seemingly are those that kill people most ex- peditiously.
 peditiously.-vithalhbai J. Patel, former mayor of Bombay, India.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
An Estimate Is Only An Estimate

Senator Jacob Caplan of New Haven has presented measure in the Legislature that s worth more than passing attention. In These days of money scarcity it is wide kommunity that considers well every pro- posai that is brought forward to correct some Sf its ills or prevent it getting any seker Financially than it already is. Senator Cap Ian would restrict the estimation of tax eol- lsetions by any finance board. The New Ha- ven legislator maintains that false estimates
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28

Talk about boundary disputes-New Hampshire and Vermont take notice. Guatemala and Honduras have just settled a boundary fight that started back in l845. But that isn't all there are six similar argu- ments going on right now among Latin American countries It's an odd thing that rivers or water in some particular form play a part in most boundary disputes. That rivers can change their courses is amply testified to in all such fights. Stay away from our door, river.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2s, 1883
Perfection Not Yet Reached

In redistrieting this state it will be hard to attain perfection. That's why we must be patient with those legislators who propose that certain towns be placed in certain dis tricts when it appears to us that to do this is nothing short of ridiculous. Unless we know the reasons for so doing we can't very well do too much criticizing. For ex- ample Representative Estill of Salisbury pro- posed that six congressionals be made where five now exist and showed the way in a novel diagram that chopped our map up into the most fantastic designs. "Gerryman- dering, cried the democrats immediately. Then they realized that Rep. Estill was a democrat
 As the legislator from Salisbury himself explained it when pressed for some reason districts are not supposed to be symmetrical but to contain as nearly as possible the same population. In the six districts that his bill creates no one is greater than 250,000; no one smaller than 100000 It would be difficult, of course, in state as small but at the same time as eongested, as is Connee- ticut to create six districts in which the pop ulation corresponded exactly. Take the northeastern and northwestern corners, for example. To make up for their small population 1t is necessary to. combine with them some large centers.
 Republicans declare that the redistrieting bill introduced by Senator Frank Bergin of New Haven. democratic majority leader in tho Senate, is an effort to insure the election of democratic candidates to the House of Representatives in certain districts. They point out the fact that Waterbury, New Haven and Bridgeport would dominate the respective districts into which they are placed. All three cities are therefore rated as democratic strongholds and consequently wo1ld sway the vote in their districts to a considerable extent. That may be true. All of which leads us to the opinion that so long as redistrieting is left to political body. such as the General Assembly, no plan of redistricting can be absolutely free from the taint of gerrymandering
 Keeping this in mind we would suggest that the Legislature authorize non partisan commission to redistret the state. Let it's membership be an even number. so if ap- pointments to it are made on political grounds no party shall have any more mem bers than the other. To this planning group should be entrusted the task of realsning congressional district lines whenever such work is required. Let it be self-perpetuating body for it is safe to assume that Conneeti- cut may undergo other changes in its con- gressional apportionment in the years to come And if such doesn't change after the next federal census population in the state may shift from one district to another. Our districts must be as nearly equal as possible from a standpoint of population no matter how weird the design Members of the House of Representatives should each repre- sent definite group of people. One man should not have twice as many constituents as another.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
Personal Health Service
 (By William Brady, M. D.

Signed 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 md addressed envelope.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28
poLrTIcTANs--NoT IDEALIsTs
(Meriden Journal)

The minor courts fin Connecticut are an important part of the DO. very Euiiible person who believes that now when the democrats havo returned to pow0g and can share this patronage, there is going to be e great change in tho system.
 The reform that has been sug.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-28

Wild horses are still to be found in parts of tho United States. Col orado, Nevada, Oregon. Idaho, New Mexico and Arizona are states in which they can bo found.