davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-12-15
Endowment for Science.

The Science Advisory Board, headed
by DR.. Karl T. Compton, president of
the Massachusetts Institute of Tech
nology, has appealed to the Federal
million dollars to finance a six-year
program of scientific research. "Spe-
cific projects vital for national re-
covery" are designated for the EN-
dOWment, the list including public
works. new industries. public health
and the more economical and efficient
Use Of land. The plan also would con-
stitute a relief enterprise in that it
would afford employment for a large
number OF engineers, mechanics and
others whose plight has been passed
over in efforts to provide suitable jobs
for other classes"
Public interest in the matter. doubt
less. will be exceedingly keen. The
American people. as never before. are
science conscious" Developments in
aviation and radio during the past
two decades have educated the masses
to an enthusiastic appreciation of
applied common sense" Especially
among boys and girls, veritable
mania for scientific knowledge is
rampant. And the circumstance is
one about which there may be general
rejoicing.
Many, if not all, of the current
problems OF humanity may be solved
by the application of constructive
thought. and the scientific method of
approach already has demonstrated its
value. The world needs the logic. the
altruism and the devotion of any po-
tential Fultons, Morses OF Edisons
there may be alive and as yet undis-
covered. Nor does it require TO be
argued that labor designed for ma
tional profit should be funded by the
Nation. The old practice of expect
ing science to furnish its own capital
has long been 0utmOded--it was
wasteful. unjust and unkind, and 1t
bore fruit Of inequities and abuses
DR.. Compton and his associates, it
would seem, already have the SYM
pathy of President Roosevelt. They
likewise are entitled to the support of
the public they are pledged to serve.
No more worthy proposition than
theirs has been offered TO the Govern
ment In many years. 1t should be
accepted promptly and gratefully.
Evening star., 1934-12-15
Not Too Fast.
From the Charleston wv. Va Daily N

From the Charleston wv. Va Daily Mail.
The relief administration, we are
told in an Associated Press dispatch
from Washington, has given tentative
approval to the establishment of so
rural industrial communities for the
unemployed "in the face of a ruling
by Controller General j. r. McCarl
that such use of relief funds is illegal"
The controller general may be right
or he may not be in his ruling. His
opinion, nevertheless, deserves to be
respected until and unless it should
be upset in proper test of the legality
of the projects under consideration
The administration would make a seri-
Gus mistake by proceeding otherwise.
The proposed rural industrial COM
munities may represent very WORTH
while idea and one from the carrying
out OF which much good might result.
Should the question of illegality cloud
their establishment, however, their
value would be greatly decreased.
Misuse of public funds needs to be
guarded against with the greatest pos
sible vigilance today when millions are
being poured out for variety Of
causes, some Of which undoubtedly
are good. but others of which are Of
questionable benefit.
The relief administration should be
sure OF its course before proceeding
further. Illegal acts in high places
are to be condoned no more than In
the ordinary walks.
Evening star., 1934-12-15
Analysis of the Cause and Cure of
The Crime Evil in the United States

think twice before taking another's
life.
One OF the prime reasons why We
lead the world in murders committed
Is because the criminal, provided he
isn't too poor and lacking in influence,
knows he has q better than even
chance OF not being convicted, or else.
being convicted. that he will get out
shortly for good behavior AS long
as these conditions exist don't look
for any solution OF the crime prob
lem. Unfortunately, but true never
theless, most people forget all about
the murdered victims family and
lavish pity on the murdererS rela-
tives. Many q defense counsel has
brought jury TO the point of tears
by relating what it will mean to the
poor old folks If this poor boys life
Is snuffed out by the State" How
about the victims poor old folks?
My solution OF the crime problem
is to follow in the wake of our English
cousins across the pond. Study their
judicial procedure, for in so doing one
will soon realize the efficiency of
their system. Whereas they put en-
phasis on speedy apprehension. speedy
trials and speedy convictions, We en-
phasize delay, encourage appeals and
place all manner OF obstacles in the
path OF the prosecutor. That I may
not be misunderstood, let me say that
while I favor capital punishment. I
do not favor It's application in cases
Of circumstantial evidence.
Prohibition I believe to have been
the greatest curse to ever befall this
Nation. for the outgrowth of its evil
mfiuence was not only the rise of the
racketeer and gangster, but the pro-
motion Of disreSpect for all laws.
People. and I speak generally, have
lost respect for all laws. because to
many law means nothing. Take the
matter Of traffic laws, for instance.
what do they mean to many autoists?
Absolutely nothing more than a joke.
II an officer tries to do his duty he is
curtly told: do you know who amp"
or words to that effect. And therein.
gentle reader, lies the main trouble
with the administration OF our laws
today, the hesitancy to question the
acts of the big fellow while clamping
down OH the little fellow. So long as
that condition exists conferences are
useless.
As a parting shot. permit me to
say that ] don't favor making peni-
tentiaries so attractive as to induce
men to want to 60 there, even if they
fail to make the foot ball team, and
thereby suffer keen disappointment
in not being able to play against the
police team in the great game of the
year.
So while I have only grazed the
surface Of the crime problem, I have
endeavored to show just why 1 am not
SO sanguine of any good coming from
this conference. All can hope for Is
the best. LELAND F.. JAMES.
Evening star., 1934-12-15
ChacO, a Line Fence War.
From the Scranton (Pa) Times.

From the Scranton (Pa) Times.
If the war between Bolivia and
Paraguay is on its way to an end
as q result Of the smashing defeat
of the Bolivians. as reported in press
dispatches, South America and the
whole world will sigh with relief.
Strange as it may seem, this war
has been going on for more than
two years. Practically in our back
yard, if South America may be so
described, it has rivaled in its vigor
and slaughter wars among the little
powers in Europe which have at
tracted much greater attention. In
May of this year one battle cost over
5000 lives.
The war Ia over the Gran Chaco.
vast and hardly inhabited interior
plain in Bolivia. That Is to say,
Bolivia claims 1t, but the Para
guayans question Its boundaries. Just
as truculent neighbors tight over a
line fence rather than mediate or
arbitrate, so do these two South
American nations fight 1t out without
recourse to law, order or interna-
tional pacts for peace, non-aggression
Evening star., 1934-12-15
Mr.. Richards Should Be Retained.

The retention in Office for two more
years of William p. Richards, asses
sor, who win reach the statutory age
for automatic retirement in a little
more than a year from now, depends
upon the President. But the recon-
mendatlons of the Commissioners In
this matter will carry weight. and 1t
is sincerely to be hoped that they will
vigorously champion the proposal Of
the House Subcommittee ON District
Appropriations that Mr.. Richards be
retained. To the pleasant and de-
served concentrations of Mr.. Rich
ards work which have been voiced by
members Of the subcommittee, the
Commissioners might appropriately
add the important fact that as long
as his services are available he is
needed at the District Building.
Good health and continued vigor
make Mr.. Richards still available.
There Is the sentimental consldera-
ton that he has served the community
for forty-three years; that he has
been faithful and ef1iclent In his du-
Ties, and that age. which has not i'm
paired his usefulness, should not force
him from office against his will But
there Is the additional selfish cGnsid-
Grafton that Mr.. Richards services as
assessor are too valuable TO be un-
necessarily lost.
Congress has found Mr.. Richards a
capable official whose honesty has
never been questioned. His efforts to
comply with the letter of the law in
assessments here may have brought
hardships to members of the COM
munity which might not have been ey-
perienced under all assessor less jealous
In his practical Interpretation of the
law. But Mr.. Richards has never been
AFRAID to defend his policies. His in
tegrity has never been involved in his
occasional differences of opinion with
the taxpayers. whose respect he con-
llh'les to enjoy. His standard OF pub
lie service has been as high as his
assessments, and he Is too valuable a
man to retire until he wants to retire
When the matter OF his retirement
comes up, the community will stand
behind the Commissioners in any,
thing they may do to keep him on
the Job
Evening star., 1934-12-15
Critics Role Assigned Borah
In Republican Reorganization

Borah cry Wolf, Wolff too often TO
can stand as pat as any Of them when
there is voting to be done"
What We hope the elder statesmen
will do" says the New York Herald
Tribune Republican,, 'is to welcome
cordially the expression Of views now
under way" and it concludes that
granted a healthy growth in new
leadership, the future of the party and
the definition Of its policies viii take
care of themselves" The Wichita
Eagle independently, advises: There
come occasionally great issues which
break men away from former alle-
giances. Parties form around issues
the thing that happened just previous
to the Civil War. AS a crisis gave
birth to the Republican party, so now
crisis would instantly reinvigorate
the Republican party, and neither Mr..
Fletcher nor Senator Borah would
have much to do with its inclination
to the right or to the left"
IF the American people want pro-
longed radicalism." argues the South
Bend Tribune IRepublican), "they
need not vote Republicans back into
power. The Roosevelt administration
has shown willingness to try anything
at least once" The Manchester IN. H.
Union (Republican), states: In any
event, IL the Idaho Senator's advice
were followed. the result would neces-
sarily be to deepen division and dis
sension at q time when unity is the
one thing that is needed"
The SureSt way for Republican
well-wishers to show their friend
ship" remarks the Canton (Ohio) Re-
pository independently, lis to hope the
party will not make itself ridiculous
by trying to initiate the Roosevelt wing
Of the Democratic party. If the PEN
atty Of conservatism is going to be
death, there is some merit in meeting
death gracefully instead of trying
foolishly to outfox it by assuming a
disguise. A party which can poll As
per cent Of the total vote in congress
sional election may have one foot in
the grave, but it has its other foot and
both hands on ballots"
Evening star., 1934-12-15
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHII.ANDER JOHNSON,
A Home Product,

When de s,nshine's gettin' scarcer
cause de Summers passed away
We's got to do de bes' We kin to make
it, day by day.
An if you keeps OIL tryin', you will
find out, by and by,
It's mos as good as g'lar sunshine
sent down fun de sky.
We gets as generous as de circm-
stances will permit,
An goes an cuts q Christmas tree
biggest We kin git,
An opens up our hearts an tells de
sunshine to come in.
1t ain de sho-nuff kind, but we has
done de bes' we kin.
Dat Christmas tree, it blossoms in de
brightness of smile
An bears de fines kind O. fruit if you
jes' wait awhile;
De storm can come q prowlin' an q
howlin' roun' de do;
But we's all Of lis too busy to take
notice Of de snow.
De chillun jines in singin' when de
or folks starts de tune.
An it's all as warm an pleasant jes'
de same as II twas June.
De thing dat folks calls happiness
dat ain so hard to win
II you makes yoh mind up to 1t an
jes' does de bes' you kin.
Evening star., 1934-12-15

Jim and Abby exists a friendship so
close that it produces conflicts of
jealousy in the family group. A
tragedy, out Of keeping with the quiet
charm Of the setting, but wholly in
keeping with realities, is skillfully de-
veloped by Miss Clark. "This quiet
looking little lake is very treacherous,"
says Thorpe.
CRACK OF DOOM. BY Hugh Ed
wards. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-
Merrill Co.
Mr.. Edwards. who served in the
British Army for IL years. in the
West Indies and Africa, prefers the
former setting for most Of his stories.
This one shifts Its scene from Jamaica
to Barbados and to Jamaica again.
as 1t relates the fghtings and gal
lantries Of the Struttons, Clennells
and Javets and the frequent inter-
ruption Of their love affairs by earth
quakes, fires and fighting, which do
not, however, discourage the partici-
pants. Told with spirit and good
local color.
Evening star., 1934-12-15
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

He had no picture of himself af-
fixing stamp, and especially none
Of him dropping the letter in the box
Perhaps 1t is not always realized
how these mental pictures are helpful
to most Of us. They come to mind, in
stantly. when there is any doubt, and
SO settle the matter at once.
did drop the letter In the box?"
Why, certainly, one can see ones self
doing that very thing, SO the matter Is
settled.
These pictures are very brittle, how
ever. They tend to escape one on the
slightest interference with the set pro-
gram.
II one is interrupted, for instance,
while writing letter, and absent
mindedly, as we say, seals 1t and
affixes stamp, the flow Of conversa-
tiOn may be enough to take the mind
on the letter.
When it is dropped in the chute at
last no clear impression Is left.
The picture has been blurred.
Perhaps all memory is simply pho
tographic. although we may not al
ways recognize 1t as such.
Mankind has q way Of confusing
memory with intelligence, of course,
so it may be nothing to wonder over,
that the fact that memory is merely
a mental photograph is not always
held In mind
Exceptionally bright children show
tremendous I. QS, or intelligence quo
tients. thereby offending parents of
children with wonderful memories.
The latter can sing SO popular songs.
perhaps. but that means little except
that they have good memories 1t says
nothing about their brains at ALL
A good way TO have good memory
Is to make mental pictures as one goes
along.
This will require q certain amount
OF thought and to that extent may be
regarded as intelligent. but In the
main 1t Is nothing but the focusing OF
the attention upon something or other
at the very time it is done or said.
This makes picture, so that after
ward all one has to do is see" ones
self doing or saying the thing.
1t is all very comforting.
Especially the person given TO what
ones friends call worrying will find
few things more satisfying in the
everyday life.
All one has to do, in a given case
is TO realize that one is doing some
thing, or saying something, at the
time one is doing or saying it.
This is not as complicated as 1t
sounds.
1t simply means mental awareness.
call it by whatever other name one
chooses.
1t demands that nothing be done
offhand, in a forgetful, indifferent way
but that even the smallest things of
life be given certain dignity.
Surely this Is good thing. even II
some careless persons choose to call
it worrying. or say that it tends TO
make one too serious.
No, it is not serious to a fault but
simply to the good extent OF keeping
something worth doing firmly in
mind.
At any time thereafter one ques-
tions ones self. one is able to remem-
ber accurately, because one can see
just who, what and when.
The mental picture does it.
Evening star., 1934-12-15
A Winning ThreesOme.

''More and more fiShermen-fewer
and fewer fish," runs the plant Of
the average amateur angler. Not
So" replies the Bureau of Fisheries.
More fishermen, true. but more fish
to keep pace with them" Although
many lakes and streams have been
overflshed almost to the point Of
extinction, the battle thus far on the
whole has not been losing one and
the bureau makes the avowal that,
Notwithstanding the steady increase
in the numbers of fishermen, 1t will
eventually be q winning one. 1t
sounds like a large order, but
q review of the expansion and ac-
complishments of this governmental
branch since its beginning in 1871
will revive faith in its efficiency.
This promise is emphasized in
small but pithy pamphlet labeled
Functions and Activities of the
Bureau Of Fisheries" which has re-
Gently been printed under the aus
pices of the Department of Com
merce and whose author is Frank T.
Bell, commissioner of fisheries. For
those anglers who had poor luck last
season, or for several seasons, and
who see over-gloomy forebodings In
print, this booklet will make pleasant
Winter reading. Despite the ever
increasing load, the commissioner
states, fisheries have, on the whole,
been maintained. But he goes fur
ther and declares that new con-
eept, particularly for recreational fish,
cries, has come in: I'VE must not
only maintain the supply, but actually
increase it, so that every one who
10 desires may have more and better
fishing"
Inevitably it is q slow business.
Some anglers who recall President
Hoover's plea made few years ago
for "less time between bites" may
think that little or no progress has
been made. But, as with a foot ball
team, the very determination to play
Evening star., 1934-12-15
for a win rather than to be thankful
for a tie of itself indicates progress.

for a win rather than to be thankful
for tie of itself indicates progress.
The new angler who takes out a
license and buys equipment-and each
year sees more of them-is an adult,
and if at first not competent, shortly
becomes so. The bureau will try to
match him with sizable and COM
petent adult fish. 1t is the constant
aim of the Federal hatcheries to re-
lease larger. stronger fish, those that
will have the best chance to grow to
that maturity which gives maximum
of sport. The States are following
suit. Through studies of diets and Of
selective breeding the bureaus scien-
lists aim not only at mere size. but at
improved strains.
What many citizens may not realize Is
the fact that this highly important
bureau is entirely without regulatory
powers as far as the United States
proper is concerned. 1t seeks the
causes OF depletion, then suggests to
the States remedial measures SO that
the latter can carry on that part OF
the good work. The angler himself Is
the third and equally important party
to this three-fold campaign. He must
content himself with fewer and bigger
prizes-not a difficult task. II each
of the three elements involved does its
proper part all will be well. With such
note of encouragement from such a
source as this Federal bureau has
proved itself TO be, the campaign can
not fail.
Evening star., 1934-12-15

To the Editor OF The Star:
That we have finally awakened to
the serious crime menace confront
ing this country Is evidenced by the
Crime Conference now meeting in
Washington. To Attorney General
Cummings the country owes a deep
debt OF gratitude for realizing the
gravity OF the situation and then hav-
ing the courage to act. 1t is to be
hoped that his efforts will not be
in vain. but I am not overly opti-
miStic regarding the ultimate results.
Why? Because I realize the futility
OF talk. Less talk and more action
is the prime need today. If the hight
now begun Is to be won and the
forces Of crime put to rout.
l realize the magnitude of dis
cussion of the crime problem. SO VIII
confine myself to hitting upon the
high spots. Now what is the remedy,
if any?
Nothing will be accomplished in
the way of eradicating crime so long
as public opinion regards the criminal
as a hero and worships at his shrine.
That is the first big point I wish TO
make. Instead, public opinion must
line up solidly behind the forces o,
law and order and present a united
front. In-short, public opinion must
change.
Nor will the passage Of additional
laws alleviate the situation one iota.
Enforce strictly the laws that We
already have and great forward
step will have been taken. When l
say enforce" I mean just that.
mean that sentences should be made
to mean something. This idea OF
indeterminate sentences, whereby
malefactor is sentenced for 10 years
and released after year and day
for good behavior Is fundamentally
wrong. That is no deterrent to crime.
What criminal would not be willing
to gamble under these circumstances?
Therefore. I say. tighten up on your
laws and make them mean something.
Instlll the fear Of the law into the
heart of every criminal, and the
battle Is half won.
What happens today In this country
when q murder has been committed?
Immediately your sob sisters raise a
hue and cry that justice will not be
accomplished by invoking capital pun
ishment; that two wrongs do not make
right. How ridiculous! And then
we wonder why our country leads the
world In numbers OF murders COM
mitted. I believe In capital punish
ment, because know 1t is deter
rent. When people say otherwise 1t
is because we don't give it a chance
over here. I have always believed
that once you make potential mur-
derer realize that he must forfeit his
own life for that Of the victim taken,
and l stress the word must" he will
Evening star., 1934-12-15
Naval Conversations End.

At the end Of two months Of futile
effort, the Anglo o-American- Japanese
naval conversations have at length
come to an end. Their inglorlous re-
suit has been apparent ever since
Japan revealed her infiexible purpose
to insist upon equality with Great
Britain and the United States. All
that remained to be done was formally
and finally to wind up the discussion,
and this is about to happen. The
date fixed for that sad and significant
event is December 20. at which time
the Japanese have indicated their in
tention of abrogating the Washington
treaty with its 5-5-3 ratio provi-
sions, thus officially obliterating the
limitation principle and paving the
way to resumption Of naval compe-
tition.
Closing developments in London
concern mainly an effort to fix re-
sponsibility for failure of the CONVEX
sations and for refusal to prolong
them. The American delegation de-
clined to fall in with suggestions that
1t leave England before Japan's actual
denunciation of the treaty. Ambas-
sador Davis and Admiral Standley
were unwilling to be put in the posi-
ton of prematurely terminating the
talks. They announced that they
would not sail for the United States
until December 30, nine days after
the date on which the japanese pro-
pose to proclaim that the limitation
system is at an end.
The Americans properly insist that
responsibility for that situation shall
remain exclusively where it belongs.
Nor have the SpokeSmen Of the United
States yielded to entreaties TO look
upon the conversations as merely ad-
journed and subject TO resumption
some time next year. The Americans
hold that it is useless to commit them
selves to further discussion as long as
Japan is adamant on the question Of
equality. Our representatives stand
on their original decision that the
actual end of the conversations and
Japan's denunciation Of the treaty
must be simultaneous.
Ambassador Davis, in his recent
public statement at London, fore
shadowed what now seems to be in
evitable-a period of renewed rivalry
in navy building 1t is not a COM
forting prospect, but the American
people have at least the consolation of
knowing that the United States, TAX
ing the Nations needs at sea into full
consideration, did everything possible
to avoid the situation that has un-
happily arisen. The onus for wreck OF
naval limitation does not rest Oh this
side of the Pacific.