davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21
Kind Of Shuddery

{ The news that the Panama Canal would
 be an easy target for hostile force desir- ing to cripple passage between the At lantic and Pacific Oceans may be startling to some people, but certainly it must have been apparent for some time to the powers that be down at Washington. That's why the assertions of Nelson Rounsevell, American publisher in Panama City, didn't provoke the storm of official deniais in Washington that might have been expected.
 Precautions to guard the canal against any sort of an attack, whether they would
 be by armed forces or merely by
 sscranks" have been envisioned for years
 now. Reports from the Navy Depart ment have regularly urged appropriations to provide an adequate defense for the
 canal, both in times of war and peace. No
 doubt MT Rounsevell was contributing
 factor in the elaborate care taken to safe
 guard the canal when the battle fleet
 passed through it some months ago.
 Perhaps we ought to have few more men like Mir Rounsevell to point out the
 imperfections in our armour. Not that
 we contemplate arming for war Quite the opposite. We believe whole-heartedly in the principle of peace on earth, good will to men. At the same time we cannot ever expect to see such state of tran ouility descend upon this earth of ours. In the event of future wars we would cer- tainly hope to see the United States in a noslIion where she could look on from the sidelines. secure in her own defense against invasion.
 If we are secure in that one particular. x0e don't think that many of the foreign .6were that now seem to be squaring off ;1r war will care to offend us. The .Eorld War tauehl ns our lesson. We paid fsr If in human lives. the flower of our '1n6e manhood. Let the disciples of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21
Peculiar Reasoning

One of the attributes of the republican party in Connecticut has always been its < self-sufficiency During the regime of the present State Chairman, J. Henry lRoraback, the party progressed to point where it honestly believed that Connectl- cut and republican control of 1t were synonymous. The average voter did noth- ing for great many years to dlsaouse the leaders of the g.o.p of anything erroneous in such belief Eventually this surface of complacency was broken and the surprise, indignation, and other emo tions can we'll be imagined by what has transpired in the last four years.
 We utter this bit of comment not for what it is worth, but merely as a prelude to something that attracted our eyes 1n the public print this week. Through It's president, Louis c. Tolles of Southington, and its secretary, c. D. Kilbourne of Ban- tam, the Connecticut Rural Road Improve .ment Association has petitioned Governor Wilbur l.. Cross for the retention of John A. Macdonald as Highway Commissioner. MT Macdonald's term expires on July l, 1885, and there has been speculation since November 6 as to his chances of being renamed.
 It is no secret that democrats are desir- ous of naming democratic commissioner; republicans hope to keep MT Macdonald in office for another four year term. The office is filled by appointment of the gov .ernor with consent of the Senate. We are not concerned right now with the appoint ..ment of any particular man to the office, whether it be the incumbent, who has indeed given good service to the state, OF democrat, considered eligible for the position.
 What we would like to bring home to the people of the state, though, is this. Suppose the situation were reversed. Democrats had been in power for years and gradually had usurped every appoint i've office in the state. What jobs the republicans were allotted in the state gov ernment were few and far between. An overthrow came and republicans assumed the upper hand. What would be their policy with respect to the democrats who had given long and faithful service Tn their respective positions? Would they .be retained in the name of efficient gov- Aernment or would they be replaced in the name of political expediency? You can write your own answer to that You shouldn't have to be told.
 That's why we often are amused today -as republicans protest the removal of their partymen from office and the suD- sstitution of democrats or independents. The only way in which republican domi- nation was so complete in the last decade For two was through the total exclusion of everybody save republicans in govern .mental offices. We have never urged the democratic party to go to the same ends ,. (the only winning policy, thought. We believe in representation for the minority. Evidently the republican party is now starting to subscribe to this latter theory.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21
A Second Canal


 The Nicaragua Canal project comes up again. Congressman Carl Vinson of Georgia, chairman of the House naval committee, says there is much sentiment for it in Congress. He would like to go ahead and build the waterway, at cost of about three-quarters of billion dol lars, for the joint purposes of national defense and commercial progress.
 It is a familiar proposal. The Nicar- agua route was favorably considered be- fore Congress, 30 years ago, under the influence of Senator Mark Hanna, adopted the alternative Panama route. It has never been relinquished. The Bryan Chamarro treaty of 1916, not ratified un- til 1926, gave the United States an option of route through Nicaragua and the right to establish naval base on the Gulf of Fonseca, to guard the western term mus, with an island in the Caribbean for similar protection of the eastern end. For these rights our government paid $3,OOO,- 900. American engineers surveyed route and presented favorable report in 1881.
 Thus our government could start that huge project on short notice, if the neces- sary legislation were accomplished. It will be necessary sooner or later. A revival of world prosperity would soon crowd the Panama Canal to it's limit. It will be hard, though, to arouse popular interest in this project just now, with so many opportunities for constructive expenditure here at home.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21

eye, threw him over a low bluff of the Cumberland river and left him for dead.
 MT Hull, senior, revived, crawled into nearby cornfield, and later learned who his as- sailants were. Several years la- ter, having fully recovered, Mir Hull got on his horse and went to look for the man who had taken the lead in mutilating him for life.
 He followed this man over B. 900 miles, through Texas, through the sparsely settled southwest and back to the noun tains of East Tennessee. Final. ly he found his assailants, gave him time to make his peace with God and killed him. COMMERCIAL FEUD
 Very little appears in the press about 1t, but the cOntro- versy between Cordell Hull, sec retary of state, and George Peek, president of the Import Export bank, continues to be the hottest of the many feuds raging within the administra- tion.
 Last week it looked as if Peek was on the top in the foreign trade see-saw. He had nego- tiated deal with Germany whereby she bought 500,000 pounds of American cotton and paid for it, 25 per cent in cash and 75 per cent in German goods.
 But now the sce-saw is re- versed. Peek is at the bottom again.
 Without saying anything about it, Cordell Hull went over to the White House and got the presi- dento to veto the German barter plan.
 Three things were behind the veto.
 One was Hull's good old Jeff fersonian theory that trade should flow on broad lines, un- hampered by quotas, high tariffs and bartering agreements.
 Another was .Chile's protest that the Peek-G erman plan meant the dumping of German nitrates in the United States un- dercutting both the Chilean and American nitrate industry.
 Finally, Hull pointed out that In deference to the United States
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21
IN TO-DAY'S MAIL
communications unless accompanied with the writer's address will be accepted.

forces and their zeal could not be questioned. They perhaps started the ball rolling-the hardest part of most jobs-and my friends pitched in when the object had ac- quired the necessary momentum to accelerate its speed and drive it to its final resting place. Dec gratais for thatl
 3. Long before the Legion of Decency was .cradled = gooi old fashioned Common Decency had weathered many similar storm and fought the good fight and won. In Boston, for instance, the same type of entertainment was routed on this simple ground. Recently, in Albany, history repeated itself, only in a much more sensational manner. And my critic asks twas this closing productive of good re- sults". Need 1 say more.
 1. So why trod on the high and worthy principles of great move ments to prove Q point on a little pimple which was beginning to lester and perhaps enter the blood stream of the fine moral health of Q happy community. It was just a pimple and now that it is removed the pioneers and loyal adherents of this great force who seek to pro- mote all that the word decency im- plies can go on with their great work. ever watching, ever waiting. to praise what Is good, to condemn what is bad, to abort what is evil. No real man with the red blood of his American forefathers would fall to do otherwise. This country has always prided itself on It's doctrines of fair play. honesty, ioy- ally and progress and buch Ideals can only progress and exlst where the forces of good surmount the seeds of evil. And each Father likes Co pass on to hle children thls entertained heritage. ! am surc my firm critic would be tho first Co be moan tle 'fnet if hIH dowrV was the rcniduo of q character fed on the trlpo and trollop no seeks Co 60 gallRntiy qcsend.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21

Washington, Dec 21.-Not m ny people know it but the Senate Munitions Investigation Committee is flat broke. It has spent every cent of the $30,000 allotted to it, and its investiga- tors have been working without pay for some weeks.
 This is why its members have been so irate at the move of the president appointing his own committee to take the profits out of war.
 The senate committee planned on the day after the senate con- venes to ask for $5O,O0O addition all to carry on the investigatoin.
 But about the same time the War Profits commission appoint ed by Roosevelt expects to re- port out certain legislation for the mobilization of industry in wartime.
 This legislation is already drafted. In fact it was drafted long ago. It takes the form of eleven bills which the Oar De- partment whipped into shape in 1932-33. It includues even the licensing Of newspapers.
 Roosevelt's appointment of Barney, Baruch and General Johnson on special War Profits Commission, therefore, Is regard- cd by the senate committee as mere window dressing. All they will do is lend prestige and force to the War Departments pre- pared legislation.
 This will give an excuse to senate die-hards to block further funds to the munitions commit tee. A knock-down and drag out fight may result.
 BRIDLE PATH
 John Boettiger, reported fi- ance of Anna Roosevelt Dall, was the Chicago Tribune star reporter on the mystery murder of Jake Lingle. For approxi- mately one year he was assigned to this case, later wrote a book called Jake Lingle."
 Previously, he wrote a series on sewerage conditions in the Great Lake cities, depicting some cities, particularly Cleveland, as depending in part upon scaveng- CT birds along the waterfront.
 During the campaign in 1882, Boettiger was assigned to the Roosevelt train and it was here that he first met Anna Dall. They became friends during the trip, and afterwards Boettiger was assigned by his newspaper to cover the White House.
 In Washington, BOettigcr has been an intimate friend of the Roosevelt family and frequently rode with Mrs Dall on the bfidle paths of Potomac Park.
 He is 34 years old and was divorced from his wife about six months after his transfer to Washington. He has no chill dren.
 HULL'S FATHER
 During the closing days of the Civil War, William Hull, father of the secretary of staet, was captured by three Yankee gueril- las in the Tennessee mountains. They beat him, shot away the upper part of his nose and one
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21

Brazil had vetoed cotton credits to Germany only to turn and find the United States negotiating the same deal behind her back.
 In the end, Cordel Hull, like his father, got his man.
 REVERSE DEBTS
 Last week foreign nations with $500, ,000 due to be paid the United States on one day, registered wholesale default.
 Half century ago 1t was diff. fcrent.
 William D. Kelley, of Pennsyl- vania, speaking on the floor of the House, in December, 1874, said:
 "Why, sir, foreign debt, car crushing the hearts and hopes and undermining the morals of the laboring people of our coun- try. It is that indebtedness which is filling the almshouses with people skilled in many in- dustries and eager to toll for their living. It is that foreign debt, the annual gold indebted ness for interest on the principal that is stripping the thrifty ana industrious 1aborer of his earn ings boarded through years in the savings banks"
 MERRY-GO.ROUND
 Most coveted of all White House invitations are theses to Mrs Roosevelt's Sunday night suppers. She scrambles the eggs herself in a huge chafing-d dish. Usually only about a dozen peo- pie are invited .;. The state horseshoe table in the White House usually seats only ninety. But this year an M-shaped ar- engagement has been worked out whereby it will seat 103. .. .. White House invitations are sent out by the wife of a rear admiral, Mrs Edith Benham Helm, who acts as social secretary. They are delivered by special mes- sengers-never mailed, Mrs Helm also served as secretary to Mrs Woodrow Wilson .. Of the state receptions, the most popu- lar is that to the diplomats which this year falls on Janu- ary 3 Receptions to congress and the Army and Navy are the most crowded and least popular . At a State Dinner the guests are lined up in ad- vance by stiff-uniformed mili- aides. Should a guest steps out of line to meet an old friend
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21
A Book a Day
How A Few Fighters Beat Off An Empire
BY BRUCE CAPTION

In "The Forty Days of Musa Dagh." Franz Werfel shows how, a novelist can take an obscure and isolated human incident and de- scribe it so that it becomes of uni versal significance.
 His story is based on an amaz- ing little unread chapter of World war history-the successful fight of few Armenian villagers against the whole Turkish empire.
 This happened in 1915. Enver Pasha was out to exterminate the Armenian people, in a campaign of coid-blodded ferocity which made Abdul Hamid's massacres look like meetings of the Thursday Evening Sewing circle. A few thousand Armenians fortified a seaside noun tain top near Antioch and invited the Turks to come and get 'em.
 The Turks tried--four times and failed. For 40 days the villag- CTS held out. Then, just when col- lapse was inevitable, an allied na- val squadron sailed up and rescued the whole outfit.
 This incident is the core of the novel. Naturally, the book is an exceedingly interesting and thrill- ing affair. with enough suspense, bioodshed and general excitement for half dozen books.
 But 1t Is more than an exciting story. It becomes a survey of the misery that 1t bred by ardent na- tionalism, acritique on the role of the "strong man. fin human affairs and, lastly. thoughtful and searching meditation on the human spirit. It's destiny, and It's relation to the unseen force that moves tho world.
 All in all, it is an extraordinary fine novel. Published by Viking, it retaiis for e3.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21
"Fair Play" Gradually Swinging Over to Viewpoint of Purity"
 Letter Asserts
Editor. Waterbury Democrat:

 Editor. Waterbury Democrat:
 It was an interesting reaction to peruse the reply offered to my let ter in defense of the commendable influence exercised by a local fra ternal organization in behalf of the social health of our fair city, inter- nationally known and recognized as the Brass City"
 It is manifest that my critic Fair Play" is hedging just a trifie and if the veracity could be strain ed between the lines. I am afraid he has practically been converted to my point of view with the ex- ception of one obstacle.
 His major objection seems to revolve around the question of righteousness on whether the afore- said organization did the right thing in stamping out this abysmal sexual influence, which was im- planting seeds of thought in the minds of our adolescents from which nothing but evil weeds would ever sprout.
 My answer to "Fair Play" is:
 1. This organization did not close the theater in question. The Chief of Police, who represents the Police Power of Waterbury closed 1t. Furthermore, the fact that he did close 1t substantiates all the proof necessary that 1t deserved this fate. otherwise t would still be operating as all the other tbe- aters have continued 10 do since. The Chief of Police is guided In his conduct by the will of the people. not any particular segment of the population but rather the will of the majority 4
 2. It was perhaps q little syeo- phantlc to pin the badge of honor on the frnternnl organization under fire, because If remember rlBhtly there wero other forces equally an anxious to achieve the ensne goal. These forces represented come blnntion of eii ihe opposite FelIEIons
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21
The Dollar That Travelled

The fame of the dollar bill that travelled from Chicago to the White House in Washington pinned to a postcard has spread around the country. A rather in- ane message was written on the card. If you receive the dollar that has been pinned to the card" wrote the anonymous experimenter, "then confidence in gold has been restored and love of money is vanishing" Of course the safe arrival of the bill proved nothing except that it passed through number of honest hands and, possibly, that few of the persons seeing it during it's journey read the card and had sense of humor.
 The final destination of the bill was the United States Treasury, where it was de- posted in what is known as the "con- science fund.-" the repository for anony- nous cash gifts to the government. And now the public may indulge itself in three, or any other number, guesses as to whether the perpetrator of this stunt ex- pected the bill to arrive safely or disap-- pear in transit and whether he is gratified or disappointed at the outcome.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21
So They Say

The truth is that outlook for reform is hope less unless business recovers. --Col Leonard P. Ayres. Cleveland economist. The freedom which is socially beneficial to the worker and to management must be shared with capital. -Richard Whitney, president, New York Stock Exchange
 Japan has desire to become an imperial istc nation.
 --Hirosi Sati Japanese ambassador to U s.
 
 We Danuban states mpershably bound together that the misfortune of one de- stroys the happiness of the others. -Tbor Eckhardt. Hungarys representative in League of Nations.
 Onr plan iB 10 make all the people capitalists and thus save the capitalist system from com munsm or fascisn, -Dr Francis E. Townsend. author of the Town. send old age pension plan.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21

designated by the letters F.S.R.C. and what are it's functions?
 A. Federal Surplus Relief Cor poration, formed primarily to bridge the gap between the desti- ute unemployed and surpluses of basic farm commodities. Its chief function is to purchase surplus commodities and distribute them in the form of edible foOdstuffs among the needy. Allotment of surplus commodities are given to the needy on relief rolls in addi- tion to the amounts of relief they are receiving.
 O. Where is the Massachusetts Institute of Technologye
 A. Cambridge, Mass
 If you want a copy of our bul- letin CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS, write to The Waterbury Democrats Washington Bureau, enclosing five cents in postage stamps.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21

peace remember that the beauty of the flower lies not alone in it's silent conten1- plation, but also in it's cultivation. To preserve peace in this nation we must build wall too high for the transgressor to scale.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21

does 1t take to make pound Of butter?
 A. The U. s. Department of Agriculture says that it takes about ten quarts of average milk. . 0. What is a stymie?
 A. It is a golf term, and the verb means to impede an opponent by a stymie; that is condition obtaining when a players ball lies in the path of the players putt.
 O. Name the countries that are not members of the League of Ma tions. V
 A. The United States of Amer ica, Brazil, Egypt, Ecuador. Afg- hanistan, Costa Rica nd Saudi Ara bia.
 o. How many persons were saved and how many lost their lives in the Morro Castle disaster! :!
 A. According to D. N. Hoover's report to the Secretary of Com merce, the total number saved was 424; reported dead, IA; and re- ported missing, 10.
 O.. When was the Haymarket Riot in Chicago, and which of the instigators were convicted?
 A. The riot occurred May 1, |1sS6. and Albert R. Parsons, Au- gust Spies, Adolph Fischer, and George Engel were convicted and were hanged November II, 1887. Louis Ling, also sentenced to hang, committed suicide in his cell. Sam uel Fielden and Michael Schwab were sentenced to life imprison- ment and Oscar Neebe to 15 vars. 0 what is the real name of "Stymie", the colored boy who wears the derby hat in the "Our Gang" comedies? @A.ss Mathew Beard. O. How many homes in the United States are wired for eiectri- city? A. A trade journal of the cleo trical manufacturing trade states that, as of January l, 1892, there were 20.441,249. W world that have no sea coast. A. Disregarding colonies, de- pendencies, etc, the countries hay ing no sea. coasts are: Abyssinia, Afghanistan, Andorra, Austria, Bhutan, Bolivia, Czechosloyakia. Hungary. Liechtenstein. Luxem- burg, Nepal. Paraguay. San Mar ino, Switzerland and Vatican City. p L ,
 o. Has the Pacific or the At lantic ocean the greater number of islands?
 A. There are more islands in the Pacific Ocean.
 O. When, were Charles Lind bergh and Ann Morrow married ?
 A. May 27, 1929.
 O. Name the state flower and bird of Illinois.
 A. Flowcr-wood violet: bird cardinal.
 Q. Name the units of currency in Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy,
 A. Great Britain, pound ster1- ing; France, franc; Germany, reichsmark; Italy. lira. o. Is there direct air mail serv- ice between the United states and Hawaii?
 A. No.
 Q. How many pupils were in public elementary and high schools in the United States in 1880 and 1932?
 A. In the school year 1929-30, there were 25,716.201 pupils in public elementary and high schools, and in the school year 1931-32 there were a6.2T5,441.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21
DECEMBER %

DECEMBER 22
 It Is more important that you be in your own home or place of bus mess today, than to hunt for something outside. The day favors cooking. baking and dealing with food and liquids. The early morn- ing Is the best and most important time.
 Birthdatc
 You should experience Q con- structive and conservative period from Feb ' through 24, 1885. You should gain in an unexpected way from Nov 6 through 14. 1885.
 Danger Oct 27 through 30, 1035. Socially favorable from July 2 through Q, 1885.
 Write letters or do clerical work on Dec % and s6. 1884. Headers desiring additional tn. formation regarding iisclr iOr0. scopes mFc Invited tO communicate with Oclnvine in care Of tiils newspaper. Enclose g.. cent stamped addressed envelope.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-21


 he is hurriedly shooed back into place. Following the lineup the guests march in to greet the president and his wife, and thence into dinner No one Is supposed to decline a White House invitation except in the . case of illness or emergency. Nevertheless many do even at the last moment The Vice Presidents dinner is an innova- ton created because of the '.precedence war" started by Dolly Curtis Gam The Speakers Dinner was started be- cause Uncle Joe Cannon object ed to taking a place after the Cabinet at the Cabinet Dinner. (Copyright, 1884, by United Fea-
 turc Syndicate. InC,)