davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-03-06
Fears Government Is
Turning to Despotism
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
The rapidly increasing number of
new bureaus at Washington with the
enormous expense which Is required
for their maintenance leads to the
conclusion that the administration
has turned in q positive manner away
from that principle of the Democratic
party which demands a strict con-
struction Of the Constitution, and
that it has turned deliberately toward
the program Of State Socialism. If
history teaches anything 1t is this,
that too much power vested in Gov
eminent leads invariably to despotism
and tyranny. The claim Is made with
much plausibility that . beneficent
despot is the ideal ruler. The fatal
weakness Of that idea, however, rests
upon the probability that q beneficent
despot will either himself change to
q malevolent despot or that he will
be succeeded by one who is enabled
to make use Of the extraordinary
power granted to him. The benefi-
cent use Of power exercised by Presi-
dent Roosevelt may be perverted most
unfortunately by his successor II the
same power is given to him.
HENRY WARE ALLEN,
Wichita. Kans. March 2. 1894.
Evening star., 1934-03-06
Time, to Face the Facts
On the Farm Problem
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Secretary Wallace states that the
administration lis sparring with the
situation until the American people are
ready to face the facts," referring to
the production adjustment.
II there is anything more idiotic
than paying a man to quit doing q
thing that he admits he is doing at a
loss to himself, do not know what it
can be. II I raise thousand bushels
of corn, or wheat, or potatoes, and have
to sell them at loss and haven't COM
mon sense enough to grow less the next
year, then I should be considered a
moron and given phychiatric treat
ment. I certainly should not be given
the taxpayers money and allowed to
run loose.
When "the American people are
ready to face the facts" they will find
that we are being robbed of right Of
initiative, of our individuality. and are
adopting Russianism as fast as it can
be put over by those clothed with q
little brief authority"
There are thousands Of people who
will take as much as they can get from
the Government, never considering
that Uncle Sans purse is replenished
by contributions from every one OF
his nephews and nieces in this great
land of ours.
1t Is time to "face the facts"
A. M. GARDNER.
Evening star., 1934-03-06
Limit Government
Jobs One to a Family
To the Editor of The Star,

To the Editor of The Star:
No one blames any married
woman for working to earn money
if she has an opportunity, and ii
she thinks the salary compensates
for the loss of home life, children
and community interest. But criti-
cism is justly directed against those
who employ married women whose
husbands are able to support their
families. Censure is due particularly
the Government and the school sys-
TENS Of the country, because these
employers are closely related to, and
responsible to, the people.
The Government Is using vast sums
Of the taxpayers money to give en-
ployment, and at the same time CIV
ing two or more salaries to one fam
ily-husband and wife, or perhaps
two sisters, or father and daughter.
Why not be more consistent by limit
ing the Government jobs one to a
family? The same amount of taxes
paying salaries at present would then
be used to employ many more persons
and give support to many more
families. N.
Then the school superintendents.
who have been In convention recent
ly m Cleveland. walled all over the
country by radio and the press about
the vast number of teachers unem-
ployed. Yet on their pay rolls are
two and often more from the same
family and countless married women
whose husbands are making . living
salary for their families.
In Washington alone, and 1t Is
probably the same in other cities
there are so married couples en-
ployed by the Board Of Education, &C.
cording to Q statement recently pub.
Evening star., 1934-03-06
Praises Discussion About
Russian Language Study

To the Editor Of The Star:
A number Of letters from your read
ers pertaining to the study of the Rus
sian language were recently published
in The Star. This most interesting
and educational discussion, made pos
sible by your newspaper, deserves most
favorable comment.
The scholars Of the Russian Ian
guage, which perhaps Is not so extern
sive in vocabulary as English but is
richer in shades and tones, are real
links between the two cultures. Rus
sian and American. To understand
Russian psychology and nature, the
study of the language is essential.
since true Russian nationality has
never been well represented in this
country. Not desiring to belittle the
achievement Of the Soviet government
in the field Of education, wish to
point out that the author Of the letter
published February ~, enormously
credited the Soviet government with
the reform Of the grammar. That re-
form, which made the Russian SPELL
ing the most comprehensive and the
easiest of that in all languages, was an
accomplishment of the provisional gov
ernment of Russia in 1917.
JAMES S. SWEET.
Evening star., 1934-03-06

of . multitude Of other statesmen,
soldiers. sailors, philosophers. teach
ers, poets, scientists, business men and
humble servants Of the common good
toiling In every conceivable field Of
public and private enterprise, not to
mention an equal number of daugh-
ters who became wives and mothers
In their turn.
1t is good that the stamp design is
to show Whistler's portrait Of his
sainted and well-beloved mother.
One Of the noblest canvases ever
painted by a modern artist, 1t already
is represented in thousands of homes
now it will be made familiar to every
citizen. to every child. President
Roosevelt is believed to have been
responsible for the suggestion that
nothing better could be found for the
purpose.
And credit also is due to the Amer
ican War Mothers. patriotic organi-
zation of mothers who gave their sons
to the flag in the World War. 1t was
their original idea that the stamp
should be issued. and they urged its
cause with an ardent enthusiasm
which overcame all obstacles.
Stamps are education, In the judg-
ment Of those who have watched the
growth Of philately in recent years,
and the Mothers day commemora-
tive will be q reminder through all
time to come Of the debt which the
Nation Acknowledges to the springs of
its being.
Evening star., 1934-03-06

indicating that men who during the
past few years have had nothing bet
ter to do that to serve as jurors now
have jobs, or find their business obli-
cations too heavy to permit engage
ment in the side line OF passing
Judgment on court cases. The COM
missioner does not so state, but 1t is
to be assumed that talesmen who
plead occupation as a reason for not
serving on juries are being excused
from court duty. Presumably there
remain enough who are not yet
blessed with steady work and business
responsibility to I'LL the jury boxes.
Evening star., 1934-03-06
Value of Norris Amendment
On Electoral Vote Doubted

cent or more Of the total. This seeks
to do away with the possibility of
throwing the election into the House,
but prepares for the extremely un-
likely event, under our political sys-
that are close rivals in voting
strength"
The amendment appears to the
New York Sun to be a compromise,
and that paper says as to various in
terests involved: The argument that
adoption of this amendment would
tend to overcome corruption Is the
weakest made in its favor.
Where there is corruption or a
group Of voters easy to control or to
vote as group it would make little
difference whether electors or candi-
dates for President were being voted
for. or whether the winning candi-
date were to get the entire elec-
toral vote or his proportional share
Of the presidential votes. Arguments
for and against the change are likely
to be heard in the present session of
Congress will find time at this ses-
sion to take final action"
If the amendment is adopted"
states the Topeka Daily Capital,
votes will be cast directly for presi-
Dental and vice presidential candi-
dates, without the Intervention Of
electors. This would facilitate to
some extent the growth Of new par
ties and of minority voting, since
such minority candidates or new par
ties would be relieved of the difhcult
task of putting up sets of electors in
the States. In canvassing the votes
cast the laws of the State regulating
the canvassing Of the votes for Gov
ernor would apply, and likewise the
laws of the State for placing the
names of candidates for Governor
would govern in placing the names
of candidates for President and Vice
President The rule Is retained that
each State will have as many presi-
Dental votes in the election as 1t has
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress."
The historic position of this part of
the Constitution is discussed by the
Lowell Courier Citizen, and it says:
1.-The intent of the Constitution was
frustrated almost at the beginning,
when presidential electors pledged
themselves to vote for certain candi-
dates. The party caucus system de-
veloped as early as 1900. The last
President to be chosen by the House
of Representatives, because no can
! didate had a majority of the electoral
votes, was John Quincy Adams in
1924. Since then every successful
candidate for President has received
a larger proportion Of the electoral
than Of the popular vote"
THE best thing that can be said
of the plan as reported is that it
would be q safeguard against the
election Of a minority President" ad-
vises the Buffalo Evening News,
while the San Jose Mercury Herald
comments: Ever since the system
Of party nominations was established
q hundred years ago ballots cast have
been counted for the presidential
nominee. The average citizen, be-
ing totally unaware that he is de-
prived of voting directly for the cam
didate of his choice, will be unable
to discover any meaning in the pro-
posed amendment. But to the
Nebraska Senator it Is a great reform,
to labor for which affords him sat-
isfactiou. A comforting thought u
that 1t cannot do any harm"
Evening star., 1934-03-06
Howls Against Woman Workers Come
From Those Incompetent to Compete

lem Of the married woman who sees
her children going without the neces-
stiles Of life because Of the impossi-
bility Of purchasing these in sum-
cheney from the wages paid the aver
age man who works for q living. I
have read no indignant letters from
constant readers objecting to the daily
toll of the farmers wife, who works
around the farm. doing heavy work
from dawn to dusk, nor any objecting
to the mother who needs must sew
and mend until midnight in order
that her brood may have something
to wear.
No! We men are not objecting to
women working like cattle on farms.
nor to their working all night at
home. What we do object to Is the
fact that some Of them prove them
selves to be more competent to do the
remunerative work of the world than
We Of the big. strong sex, and that We
are unable, some Of us, to compete.
The fact Of the matter Is that WON.
en- working or not working has MOTH
ing at all to do with whether there
are enough jobs for men. If women
work, they spend the money they earn
for goods which must have additional
workers to produce them. 1t Is when
the workers get too small a portion
Of the fruits Of their labor that these
periods Of unemployment hit us. II
more men and women would spend
their time figuring out ways and
means Of bringing about more equit-
able and scientific division of the
products of labor, instead Of figuring
out methods Of getting the other fel-
lows jobs, then we might be on the
road back to job for every man and
woman who wants to work.
To work is not q privilege. 1t is a
right. JOHN ARTHUR SHAW,
Past National President, American
Federation Of Government Employees.
Evening star., 1934-03-06
To the Editor OF The Star:


have read with a great deal OF
interest the letter Of your correspond
ent, ]. Treuax Leightnaker Of Balti-
more. Md, in which he indicates his
opinion that all married women should
be barred from employment, and that
these jobs should be given only to
persons who need the money.
I wonder II Mr.. Leightnaker has
ever stopped to consider that if need
was to be considered in giving out
jobs, and only those who need the
money eligible to hold positions. then
Franklin D. Roosevelt would not be
President Of the United States, half
Of our leaders would also be barred.
and this country would be deprived Of
the services Of those very men who
make the world 60 round.
And who are We to decide who
needs the money most? Does the
daughter Of the millionaire need her
job more than the wife of the laborer?
How can we look into all of the house.
holds Of the United States and tell
which of our fellow citizens really need
their jobs? I remember way back
when We thought that the married
folks were the ones who were usually
in need, and that single chap could
get along somehow.
My own opinion is that the compe-
tent should work, and, if necessary, be
sufficiently taxed to provide for the
keep Of the incompetent. And I be-
lieve that the howls against woman
workers come from incompetents who
are unable to compete in the open
market with other workers.
Why should women, married or un-
married. be barred from doing the
work which they want to do. whether
in the ONCE or in the home. think
I have never seen q letter from any
correspondent devising ways and
means Of assisting to solve the prob
Evening star., 1934-03-06

National comment on the new
Norris amendment reported to the
Senate from the Judiciary Commit
tee recognizes chiefly the fact that
the electoral college merely records
the vote for President and Vice Presi-
dent and that there has been very
little change from the original pro-
vision in the Constitution.
1T Is the shell of an amendment"
thinks the Syracuse Herald. observing
that the Judiciary Committee modi-
fed the measure in q way that de
stroys the main idea the Senator had
in mind" The Herald adds: In
this form. the proposal differs not q
whit in principle or in essentials from
the present constitutional system for
the election of Presidents. Senator
Norris original motive was unim-
peachable, so far as he contemplated
an electoral agency that would enable
poor, but able men to get their
names on q presidential ballot His
concept was that such an opportunity
would be created by his plan for
dividing the electoral representation
xkOLu CaCll OIaIC. ~ was
at best, In view of the dominance of
major parties. But, as a matter of
fact, there is nothing in the existing
system that legally forbids any poor
and able man to enter the presiden-
tial race"
Agreeing that "its chief purpose has
been eliminated" the st. Louis Post
Dispatch voices its belief that Senator
Norris will press his fight until his
original plan OF popular election
within State units is brought before
the States: that "the bill as it now
stands virtually wrecks his proposal" i"
That paper explains further: The
measure in its present form does
make independent candidates. pos
sible It also abolishes the necessity
for q candidates receiving an out
right majority over the Nation. and
requires only that he receive q plural
ity, If that number constitutes IS per
Evening star., 1934-03-06
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRAcENELL.

The art Of public vehicle riding has
many sides, some Of which lie with
the passengers.
There is the elbow slide, for in
stance.
Those who are not acquainted with
this maneuver have missed one Of the
best little aids to happiness aboard
street car or bus.
Forget. for a while, all ideas OF
Service" Permit the irate citizen to
fight 1t out with the traction COM
pany.
Forget, II you can, the big SHOWS
and the delays consequent thereto.
The important thing, after you get
on, is to get a decent ride, at least
enough room to sit down In.
~
The curious thing is that there are
so many Of ones fellow passengers,
drat 'em, who don't want to give you
even half a seat.
They take up three-fourths Of the
space designed by optimistic builders
for two complete persons.
Often one runs squarely into per-
son, who, by reason Of what might be
termed the amplitude Of Nature, &C.
tually takes up the entire seat.
Not much can be done about him
or her.
Occasionally one sees such per-
son who honestly demands q full
two seats and half.
The fun begins when normally
sized individual insists on taking more
seat than is due him. =.
Then there is nothing to do but IN
troduce him to the elbow slide.
This little trick can be worked only
when one is seated FIRST. The elbow
to be employed depends upon the SIDE
Of the seat vacant.
Into this the oncoming passenger
intends to deposit himself, fully, COM
pletely and entirely.
He has an even larger intention IN
most cases.
He intends to take up as much OF
your half as he can. since the more
seat he can gather unto himself the
more comfortable he will be.
Your cue. Of course, lies right there
He attacks, you defend.
IL Ii WAIldIS OIl d olildA oSaACs
The offensive weapon, strangely
enough, is an elbow.
And what a weapon that is when
rightly used!
In deploying the elbow, either star
board or port, the movement must be
SO slight as to attract no attention.
One does not mean in the least
that one must jab with the elbow, or
thrust with it, or even thump with 1t.
No, the big idea in this silent coun-
ter attack Is to make the movement
so inconspicuous that even the most
irritable passenger will not notice 1t.
The thing takes him-or her-com-
pletely by surprise.
Now here Is the way 1t works!
Just as the fellow passenger starts
to sit down. hoping to sit squarely on
your side, thus forcing you to move
over, you tilt the elbow slightly up
ward an inch. or maybe two inches,
according to the size Of the opponent
and the CLINT in his eye. f.
The elbow is held rather far back,
toward the back of the seat in most
cases, so that when the wight pre-
cipitates himself he will be caught on
the side which lands first,
Evening star., 1934-03-06
Mothers Day Stamp Approved.
Through the Post ONCE Depart.

ment, the Government has found a
way to pay a graceful and abundantly
fitting tribute to the mothers of the
land. The Mothers day stamp au-
thorized by Postmaster General Far
ley doubtless will prove the most
widely popular of all United States
philatelic issues. It will mark an oc-
casion in the life of the people and
will reassert elemental spiritual values
supposed by some to be at a discount
in a theoretically "hard-boiled" age.
It will commemorate the labor, the
devotion and the patriotism Of those
who have rocked the cradles, guarded
the infancy, guided the childhood, in
spired the youth and supported the
manhood Of thirty.one Presidents and
Evening star., 1934-03-06

Upon occasion 1t will become neces-
sary to swing the fist inward over the
stomach, in order to bring the work.
ing point of the elbow forward, but
this will not often be necessary. In
ordinary tactics the farther back the
elbow, the less likely its slight tilt up
ward will be noticed.
This brings us back to the CLINT In
the eye.
Some peoples eyes CLINT more than
others. (They are meaner.) The
manor woman-with . CLINT in the
eye is . good one to force over as far
as you can. but also . good one to use
deceit with. un warfare they call
this strategy
The thing to do is to smile broadly,
as If you would like to speak, but
scarcely dared to, never having been
introduced. and you are quite stick
ler for procedure.
While smiling. however, do not for
get to tilt the elbow.
This causes the newcomer to slide
gently, more or less, onto his own
proper side.
Now here Is the joke Of It:
He does not see the elbow, and he
thinks the fault is his.
He thinks he Is too fat!
Hawl Haw! Haw! He thinks he
Is getting SO fat that he cannot find
room in an ordinary seat.
He may look at you rather sus-
piciously, but that makes no differ
ence; the concealed elbow trick slides
him over to one side, his own proper
side, and forces him to sit where he
can.
This leaves you where you ought to
be, occupying as much Of the seat as
you have q right to. and actually
need. being no lightweight yourself.
1t Is all very we'll to be as polite as
you can, in a public vehicle, but one
must look out for ones self. after all.
That is what every one else does.
and some so much more than others!
A great many people are experts
at it.
Almost any one, however, can look
out for himself in the matter OF using
the old elbow slide, as detailed above.
The real strategy lies in taking up
so much Of the seat, in the beginning.
If first seated, that there Is little
room left on your side.
This permits you to make a great
show Of moving over, when all the
time you are merely moving over to
give the other person what Is due him.
If you allow him to dictate how
much space you shall take. you will
take precious little; 50 the only thing
to do is to make sure Of your own
proper allowance.
BY sliding him of an elbow you
keep him on his own side. BY taking
as much space as you need, in the
FIRST place, you are fair to yourself.
Everybody ought to be fair to him.
self. Unless you know fairness to
yourself, you can never know it for
other people.
The passenger who leaves just a
little space gives himself room so that
he can move over" when Q fellow
passenger seems to demand it. This
pleases the fellow passenger and does
nobody any harm It is amazing how
many persons have used public We
hicles all their lives without getting
on to these little artifices.
Evening star., 1934-03-06
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Glorificat tions.
Though clouds gather round

Glorificat tions.
Though clouds gather round
There's a pleasure profound
In a chance to relax and to say:
I'VE have had Christmas cheer
And a Happy New Year;
Now, who will be Queen of the May?"
With many a speech
January would teach
Wise thoughts to the world, day BY day.
Then the ground hog drew near
And inquired with a sneer:
Now. who will be Queen Of the May2"
With poetry fine
BE My Valentine"
Was a message sent out on display.
Who will be April Fool?"-
And In daintiest rule,
"Oh, who will be Queen of the May2"
Evening star., 1934-03-06

Automobile factories are producing
up to full capacity. The automobile
manages to proceed in stalwart de-
velopment without demanding any
solicitous supervision in either me-
chanical efficiency or financial morals
Evening star., 1934-03-06

The people are taking more interest
not only in government, but In finance.
1t is, however, the new kind Of in
terest that increases as dividends
grow scarcer.