davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
Living Sculpture

There is a little excitement at Wash ington over the figures in the western ped iment on the front of the magnificent new Supreme Court building. A pediment is an ornamental, triangular space beneath roof-end on monumental building, which we would probably call gable if it were on house. That pediment was supposed to be filled with carved marble figures in the old classic style. And so it was.
 But when Washingtonians began to lI- spect the figures and faces closely, after the recent unveiling, they were astonished to find that instead of mere symbolic fig ures, the group represented real men, some of them still living. John Marshall, first and most famous justice of the Supreme Court, is shown as lad. Former Chief Justice Taft appears as he looked when a student at Yale, Elihu Root, long regarded as the "dean of the American bar", is pie tured in his maturity. So is the present Chief Justice Hughes.
 All these are obviously fitting There IS less appropriateness in placing with the jurists Cass Gilbert, architect of the building, and the sculptor himself, Robert Aitken. Yet the whole outfit is certainly better, with it's real American people, than a mere symbolic set of figures that mean nothing to anybody.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
Snow and Birds

When snowfalls, heavier than for any December since 1880, blanketed large part of the country recently, many per- sons decided that the forecasts for an un- usually severe winter were all true. Ot course, nobody knows. And equally ot course, the winter may have periods ot abnormally severe weather broken by per- iods of abnormally mild weather.
 N There is this to be said for the snow it is a blessing to vegetation when the temperature is low, for the snow blanket affords warmth and protection. Further more, it provides some of that preciplta- ton which has been deficient in late years. Snow is not such a blessing to the birds. It covers up the seeds they normally eat and makes it hard for them to find any food. The weeds which usually stisk up above the snow are fewer this year be- cause of last summers drouth
 There have been warning and appeals in newspapers in many parts of the coun- try, telling human beings of the birds plight and urging that food be put out for them in sheltered places. Wheat rye, barley, corn, weed seeds, apples, shelled nuts, broken cocoanuts, suet, raw meat, peanuts and table crumbs are recommend ed. It is likely that the government will do something about feeding game birds ifl regions where whole flocks of them are nj danger of dying from starvation.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14

ment it's fellow members of SOC iety shall have?
 These committee members, very obviously, did not know the ans wers to the questions that I have advanced. If they had, they Would not have proceeded as they did, but would have campaigned to have the public remain away from a performance which they considered objectionable. too, joined the Le- zion of Decency, and think myself a better member of that volunteer body than any of these who clam ored for the closing of burlesque I, at least, in company With many others, have adhered to the origin al Legion of Decency principles of boycott, not censorship.
 I am not discussing the question of whether or not the. burlesque shows offered at Jacques were 0b- >jectionable or were indecent. l never attended one of the shows, so do not feel qualified to act as a critic of their, morality or inn, morality. wonder how many others of those who hopped on the bandwagon ever saw one of the shows so that they might make a fair Judgment.
 Personal habits and personal morality are my own business; the personal habits and personal mer- ality of every Waterburian are his own business. ], for one, cannot countenace having the police de- pertinent, spurred on by such groups as the Legion of Decency committee of the K. of C.. act to
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
WRITER MAKES ATTACK ON
 LEGION OF DECENCY
To The Editor of The Democrat.

As an individual with a mind of my own I protest strongly against the closing of the burlesque shows at the Jacques theater, and l'have no respect whatever for organiza- tions whose complaints led to the action by ..the superintendent of police. To my mind. the whole cpl sode smacks of narrow minded, seIf-righteous censorship. which is exactly what all of us objected to during the years of Prohibition when we argued that you could never legislate morality or personal habits.
 The Legion of Decency commit tee of the Knights of Columbus, which filed the first complaint With Superintendent Mclean, has very obviously violated one of It's own prime pledges and has. in its child ish efforts to point puritanical finger at burlesque. made a laugh ing stock of itself. The Legion of Decency was formed as. and still is a most laudable organization. but do the members of the K. of C.. committee recall that one of the Fundamentals of the Legion of De- cency movement was to get people to stay away from un-clean shows, not to close the theater? Do. the members of this snug committee remember that it was said at the very inception of the movement that the Legion of Decency was not an attempt at censorship, but ra- Ether an attempt at boycott? Do these back batting committeemen n realize that their action in Water bury has placed the Legion Of De- cercy. In position where 1t must appear as an organization which aims to decide just what entertain
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
Public Relief Waste

There is a good deal of "chiseling" in public relief, in spite of all that local and federal authorities can do to prevent 1t. The amount, though, may be exaggerated. Estimates carefully made by relief work CTS in one of the big industrial centers, where relief outlay is especially heavy, figure the drain from this source at about 3 per cent of the total expenditure.
 Federal Relief Administrator Hopkins estimates the expense of distributing goV- ernment relief funds at to 9 per cent. It is hard to say whether this could be reduced or not. The government IS d. rectly concerned only with the wholesale allotments of funds; final distribution IS Ill the hands of local agencies.
 In this local distribution there are the usual professional charity workers, ana also great many amateurs pressed into service for the emergency, with little or no previous experience. They are usually ln- telligent and painstaking, however. Among them are thousands of college graduates who, but for such work might themselves be Ion relief.
 Along with the ordinary grating efforts of many chronic subjects of charity, they have to combat the efforts of ordinarily honest workers who, made crafty by hardship, troy to conceal any resources or part-time employment they may have. The utmost care must be taken to obtain falr, honest and thrifty distribution. But Ii the total drain of expenses and "chlsellngD Tn so vast an emergency can be held to Il or 12 per cent, it may be doing about as well as can be expected at present. The real solution is not cracking down" on jobless heneficiaries, but getting jobs for them.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
The War on Crime

Following numerous national business conferences at Washington, we have had a national crime conference. The latter was no less important than the former This country needs moral recovery as much as economic recovery. All the busl- ness reconstruction plans in America would be futile if criminal rackets con- tinued to make headway against legitimate business.
 Looking at the matter in this broad way, we might agree that the federal Depart ment of Justice lately has been making as much headway as the economic New Dealers. The relentless work of J. Edgar Hoover's Federal Bureau of Investigation is txterminating the nations boldest crlm- inals and driving others to hiding. The moral effect on courts is noticeable. They begin to play their part more vigorously. Juries grow more stern. After years ot bitter humiliation, the decent forces or society feel at last that they are getting the criminals 'on the run"
 But the war has only begun. It must be fought through to the finish, not only bv the official agents of law and order, but by the rank and file of private cltl- zens. The most important contribution the general public can make IS to change it's own criminal psychology. We need to stop idealizing criminals and condonlng crime, and to recognize the deliberate criminal for the human rat and public enemy that he is. A valuable part ot thls reform is the support of movement, already under way, to discourage movie shows that portray crime as heroic.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14

ed negro democratic representa- tive from Chicago. Her hus- band defeated the republican in- cumbent, Oscar DePriest, also negro. Mrs De Priest was in- voted to White socials given by Mrs Roosevelt for the wives of members of the House. GLAD-HAND EXPERT
 Michigan's Senator Arthur Vandenberg is no mean. politician, as the results of the recent elec- ton proved. But he got a les son in the art of glad -handing the other day that aroused even his adnniratipn.
 apanied by a, friend, he sfeppeYinto a capital elevator on his way to the senate munitions investigator, of which he is a leader.
 In the car he was greeted by a massive, we'll dressed man who exuded all warmth of an old and close friend.
 "HellO, senator" he said, heartily shaking Vandenberg's hand, ''how are you? You ccr- tainly are putting on a great show across the way" . After he left the elevator, yan- denberg inquired:.
 "Who was that fe1low?"
 Don't you know? Why that was Bill Shearer, the big bass drum of the navy lobbyists"
 NOTE: The munitions commit tee is considering calling Shear CT to explain once more his lob bying againstt he Geneva Naval Conference and the money paid to him by Bethlehem, Newport News and New York ship build- ing companies.
 REPUBLICAN, LEADER
 "Bertie" Shell will continue to marshal republican battalions of the House.
 Despite his personal unpopu- larity with a considerable section of his cohorts, despite the stri- dent demands from non-congres- sional young republican chief tains that he be odsted, the dap per little cheesemaker of Pots- dam, New York, will be re-elect- ed party floor-leader hands down.
 A secret poll of the republi- can siia of the chamber just completed by Shells lieuten- ants shows that his opposition is negligible.
 On the basis of this poll, not more than a dozen out of 113 votes will be cast against him.
 Fact is, there is no real lead- CT to run against him.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14

O. Name the five best known forms of government and give an example of each.
 A. Republic, such as the United States; constitutional monarchy, such as Japan; absolute monarchy. such as Ethiopia; Socialist Sovlet Republic. such as Russia; and Cor porative State, such as Italy. Other forms are Dominion, territorial, colonial.
 O. What is, the source of max i'm: .'.Let not thy left hand know what they right hand doeth?'
 A. Matthew 6:3..
 o. Are any two objects exactly alike?
 A. No two objects exist that are exactly alike in their physical characteristics. No matter now nearly they may be, duplicates, in- finite-simal differences exist. Q. What are the uses of cuttle-- fish bone?
 A. For making polishing pow der, and to supply lime and salt for pet birds.
 0. Are soldiers on leave per mitted to wear civilian clothes?
 A. Yes.
 O. Is it possible to weigh an inch? A. An inch is a measure of length and cannot be weighed, but a cubic inch of any substance can be weighed. o. Can the President of the United States be deprived of his office before the expiration of his term? Can he resign? A. The only way that a presi- dent can be deprived of his office | is by impeachment and conviction. There is nothing in the Consf1tu- l tion or statutes to prevent pres ident from resigning. O. What was the purpose or | the Adamson Law, passed during the Wilson Administration? A. It provided that eight hours should be deemed the standard measurement O4 e1 Ndyto WOAhN those operating railroad trains. O. Give the correct pronuncia- tion of Tucson. A. Either "too-son" (to rhyme with on) or ''tuk-son. O. In what countries. are leop- ards Indigenous? A. India, Ceylon, Burma, Per sia, Palestine, Syria. Arabia, and Africa.
 0. Who was the first president of the German Republic? A. Friedrich Ebert.
 0. Was Upton Sinclair ever a candidate for office before he ran for governor of California?
 A. He was Socialist candidate for congress in California in 1920,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14

None of the Old Guard veter- ans will challenge Shells leader ship, despite the fact that many are personally far from friend- ly. And there is. no progressive sufficiently outstanding to com- mand support.
 MERRY-GO-ROUND
 In his home town in .Uvalde, Texas, ce-president Garner is called Judge. He served d term as county judge before he was elected to congress House democratic leaders, most of them southerners, are ponder ing what committee assignment to give Arthur Mitchell, Chicago negro who will take his seat in January. oscar DePriest, the republican negro, whom Mitchell displaces, was a member of the Indian Affairs, Pensions and Post Office committees .. pr Leo Wolman, chairman of the Auto Labor Board, now under heavy fire by laborites, is in line for Professorship of Industrial Re- lations at Harvard Most or the IndrDle uSSu III tAc hSfW supreme court building comes from Vermont, Georgia and Ala bama. That usea in the court chamber, however, is Italian Architects drawings for the liv- ing room of a low-cost, slum- clearance apartment building, un- der PWA, show luxuriant dis play of cerise and orange drap- cries over modernistic furniture with richly colored rugs upon the floor .. The Federal Emer- gency Relief Administration, keeps its finger on the pulse of the public by subscribing to 245 newspapers and maintaining a high-powered clipping ser vice <. Important to Secre- tary of Interior Harold Ickes IS the job of Pete Lavezoli. He clips all news and editorial items that have a personal slant on 1ckes himself, pastes them up in loose-leaf scrap books.
 Copyright, 1884, by United Fea-
 ture Syndicate, lnc.)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
So They Say

am not man of science. I have made no lasting discovery of ahy kind. --Dr A. R. Dafoe. physician to the Dionne quin- tuplets.
 I have miracle performed, and now. in my old age, still hopeful for the joint action of the nations establish and maintain perma- nent peace in the Pacific. --viscount Makoto Saito. former premier of Japan.
 One who is a martyr to principle-which may out in the end to be delusion error--does not prove by his martyrdom that he has kept within the law. --U. S. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo.
 
 To bring together and to reorganize Q true family of nations is the outstanding human need of the time in which live -Dr Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Co., lunbia University ss..
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14

decide what I should have in en- tertainment and what I should not have. I can do that for myself without any help from the police department or from the Knights cf Columbus; so can the rest of Wa terburians. 9e.4
 Censorship is bad ill any form. but a holier-than-thou committee of a few men who probably don't know what entertainment is failed to realize that fact. What have they got us in for now? Will Wa terbury join the ranks. of those cities where people can't think for themselves? Will we members of the public have our choice of en- tertainment and our choice of everything personal dictated to us by committees and policemen?
 It would do this Legion of De- cency committee a bit of good. though apparently the men on it aren't the thinking type, to ponder bit and recall just what were the original purposes of the Legion of Decency. These men, though per- haps they feel quite satisfied with themselves now that they have de- cided what type of entertainment Waterbury should have, have acted childishly. foolishly and ignorantly. The harm that they have done in their smugness and lack of percep- tion will take many months. per- haps years. to overcome. wonder if they realize just what they start ed Probably not.
 I hold no brief for burlesque, but I abhor censorship as does everv- thinking person on the globe. l can regulate my own morals, and don't need any committee. which prostitutes the aims of the Legion of Dece1lcy cause which if so de- votedly espouses. to tell me what to do. ,.. .z...s. .....,.s.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
ChuckleCorner
I'VE BEEN TOLD (By Clara Blanchard)

By a newlywed West End law yer, that there's a good deal of snap judgment in law. He adds: "If any guy doubts it, let him try the role of a son n-in-law."
 That all gangsters are golf en- thusiasts. Their biggest thrill comes from shooting a hole in one.
 That a Hillsville explorer, noted for always unearthing what he goes after, is taking his wife along on his next expedition to find his personal belongings for him.
 That a Main Street oculist says the disease known as "drooping eyelid" is caused from a weak nerve. When your scribbler was a gal a dropping eyelid meant the owner had strong nerve.
 That Will Rogers mother want in peace, Mrs Rogers. Will Hays will carry out your wishes yet. :. That a Milltown ex-soldier's wife boasts she has the best husband in town. Owing to shell shock, he thinks she is one of his command ing officers.
 That machine has been in- vented to take the sand out of spinach. Now what excuse will husbands and kiddos have for making mothers lives miserable?
 That there's a Smithyille radio advertiser who, of his own accord. gives his wife's pet Peke the air every morning. They advertise dog food. zs
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14

Washington, Dec 14.-For one year a feud has been raging be- tween Cordel1 Hull of Tennes- see and George Peek, veteran of a score of battles with the Brain Trust and Henry Wallace.
 Now, for the first time 1t looks as if mountaincer secretary of state was losing out. E #
 Peek has now won the first round in the battle of extend- ing credits to Germany. He has also won on the more im- portant principle of barter and quotas versus unrestricted trade.
 Unrestricted trade has been Hulls passion, and he has stood out for it valiantly. He contends that exchange restrictions, quotas. other trade barriers mere ly force commerce out of normal channels, tend to throttle it in the long run.
 Peek, on the other hand, con- tends we should do business with those who do business with us.
 He put tbis to a test recently through sales of cotton to Ger many. A deal is now arranged whereby Germany buys 5O0,000 bales, paying 25 per cent in cash and 75 per cent in frozen German marks which cannot be shipped to the United States.
 This latter is most important. Since the marks cannot be shipped here, American business men must buy German goods in order to secure the use of the marks.
 THE LOW-DOWN a
 Thus the plan boils down to plain, unadulterated barter. Either the United States buys German goods or else it doesn't get the remainder of the money for the 50O,00O bales of cotton.
 Realizing what a bargain this is, the Germans are willing to pay three cents more than the world price.
 Imagine MT Hulls mortifica- tion! Imagine also, his tmortifi- cation at the fact that Brazil, just few weeks ago, turned the Germans down on this same proposition. They gave their veto out of deference to MT Hull whose views they knew, and be- cause they were negotiating commercial treaty with the United States.
 And having referred to Mir Hull, they turn round anud find the United States doing exactly. the same sort of thing which Brazil refused to do. NO CHANGE
 One of the women reporters put Mrs Roosevelt on the spot at her weekly press conference. But the First Lady met the chal- lenge with her usual aplomb.
 'Mrs RoOscbelt," inquired the correspondent, "what will be the policy toward Mrs Mitchell?"
 "There will be no change" was the prompt and quiet answer.
 NOTE: Mrs Arthur H. Mitchell is the wife of the recently elect
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
Selected Poem

"A INTERLUDE (By Eleanor Alletta Chaffee in The New York
 Sun). This is the season
 When small things lie Close to the earth < No longer shy. '. Hidden beneath The shetering snow, Back and forth
 Their light breaths go. Gray od-mice,
 The fox that hears
 Over his head
 The frosted spears
 Of winter strike,
 Are not afraid: .t .ss There is shelter Above them laid. N.sThis is the
 Giving rest On earth's secret breast. To all who lie
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14

and for the United States senate fin 1922.
 e. Name the six leading states in population. t
 A. According to the 1880 Gen. sus they were New York, Pennsyl- vania, Illinois, Ohio, Texas and California respectively.
 O. What are the various forms of government in the countries of
 A. There are 16 monarchies (including two principalities, one Grand Duchy, and the aVtican State), and 16 republics. Q. Is marriage performed on Sunday legal?
 A. Yes.
 If you want a. copy of our bull. letim Towe (the new cariatiOn or Contract Bridget, write to the Wa terbury Democrats Washington Bureau, enclosing five cents i'm postage stamps.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
BEAR WAS SEA SERPENT

Reno, Ney.-(UP)-Resident of Lake Tahoe were all ready to claim that that senic body of water harbored a "sea serpent. All went well until Claude Sim mons ad party of friends, who had noticed a black; queer looking object in the water. discovered. It was large bear. The bear had been taking a 4-mile swim.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
Grand Spending Ideas

B. c. Forbes in his business magazine modestly suggests $41, 1,500,000,00O worth of "pent-up needs" that ought to be SUD- piled immediately. They wouldn't take quite all of our present national income. Chief among his items are $11,000,000,- 900 for new machinery and electrical equipment in factories, $6,000,000,000 for repairing and improving homes, $3,5OO,- 000,000 for new homes, $4,375,0 5,000,O0O for 7,O0O,00O new passenger cars, and several billions for electric ranges, me- chanical rerfigerators and washing ma- chimes. MT Forbes is going in for elec- trical equipment, housing and transpor- tation in big way
 Professor Milford Isbell King, Co., lumbia University economist, has still larger ideas. He would like to see $65,-' 000,000,000 ear spent for 10 years on program by which S24,000,000,000 would go for housing and the rest for clothing, roads, cars, vacations and health. We won't adopt either program right away. But one thing is reasonably certain. When we do get our stride again, we're going to spend We'll probably be living, within a few years, at the rate of more than 100 billions year.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
Daily Washington Merry Go Round
-BY DREW PEARSON and ROBERT S. ALLEN.

 Boosting Trade 0y Import of Colleagues Demods WonderW That Commit Q Representative
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
Questions And Answers
 The Democrats Washington Information Bureau
VOUE cUIdsTTONs ANewEisIcD

HOUF GUI13IIOEB ! - .,~
 
 
 encID.i!s nss .n s"n or % eneareh mnde All other cpnn6ena cordially fnsd tO ne n.e o' t"a' 'rFe Se'''ss v e7 - ~.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14
DECEMBER 15

DECEMBER 15
 Messages, travelling. contracts and gossip will be apt to be prom inent to-day. Steer around such things as much as you can. Rou- tine work will prove to be. best. The afternoon is better than the morn- ing, but the late evening is cratic and bad.
 Birthdate
 You should be a faithful person and your belief in other people should beN strong. Some unexpect- ed good fortune should come about for you from February g through April z, 1885 and from October through II, 1885.
 Danger October IT through 21, 1885.
 Socially favorable June 2a through July 1, 1885.
 Write letters or do accounting on December 20, 21 and 22, 1894. Readers desiring additional in- formation regarding their hOro- scopes are invited to communicate with Octaylne in care of this news. paper. Enclose a Scent stamped J self addressed; envelope.