davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-12-20
Danger of DICTATORSHIP p Is Denied !
In Lack of Government OppOsitiOn

fear Of political opposition might
otherwise deter"
Isn't that a weakness-that, where
there is no opposition there is no
check-rein on the government and
things are likely to work toward o
state of dictatorship?"
That is what many persons main.
tain-that a government without an
opposition is apt to become dictatorial
and reckless. My own observation on
this point would lead to the contrary
conclusion. I believe a government
temporarily without opposition is apt
to be especially careful in its admin
istration. In my opinion, government
without opposition offers obvious ad.
vantages and, on occasions, is of great
benefit"
"On occasions?"
"On occasions" replied Premier
Campbell. II wouldn't like to recon-
mend it as a permanent system for
several reasons. One of these is the
absence Of constant competitive
rivalry between government and op.
position parties, which urges each
party to be on the lookout for new
policies. I should be afraid that, If
a no-opposition form of government
were permanent. the solidarity of the
government party. or the opposing
party, or both, would be weakened,
with the result that numerous com.
petitive parties would raise and sta
bility Of government would be endan-
gered.
Opposition Trains legislators.
Another objection arises from the
fact that the opposition benches are
the best training ground for legisla-
tors. If there is no opposition TO an
existing government, then when that
government is overthrown it is apt to
be replaced by men who have not de-
veloped a critical insight into the
conduct of government business. which
can best be developed by sitting in an
active opposition group. That is. to-
my mind. the most serious objection."'
But how about the danger Of dc,
tatorship?"
Dictatorship means no opposition,
because dictators don't tolerate oppo-
sition. But lack of opposition doesn't
mean dictatorship. The two things
are not equal"
Certainly it would be hard to i'm.
agine dictatorship on Prince Edward
Island, where rugged individualism Of
the best type is the rule rather than
the exception. The islanders, save
for a very small percentage. own
their own homes and work their own
lands. Depression found them mostly
with nest eggs stored for a rainy day.
icopyriEht. 1885. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, lnc)
Evening star., 1936-12-20
Irish Youth Splits
On National Issues

Breaking away from the United
ireland party, . section Of the League
of Youth has announced at Dublin
that it win be An entirely Independent
organization. Under the leadership
Of Commandant NJ Cronin 1t Is ex-
pected 10 Be . factor In the country's
campaigns.
Evening star., 1936-12-20

thrown out of gear. A new slump
might start.
For all the seasons are minor affairs
compared to the vast Christmas sea-
son. Here we have not local or ma.
tional spending but world spending.
What economists called "V''-the We
locity of money-reaches its highest
central bank in Christendom the
credit basis has to be enlarged to
carry the extra demand. The note
issue rises in time Of depression and
scars in prosperity times.
In terms of trade turnover, Christ
mas might be expressed by the colossal
figure, $4,000, 900, ,000-or even more.
Regarded simply from the viewpoint
OF production and consumption, with
all the ct ceteras Of transport. insur-
ance, banking. advertising and 50 on.
it is the worlds biggest single business.
No other event or occasion can ap-
proach it. Whole industries depend
upon 1t. Tens Of millions Of wage
earners save the whole year for it.
either individually or co-operatively
and the aggregate sum of all this saw
ing spread over II months Is spent,
II not on, at least for, Christmas.
Gift-giving introduces in its most
exciting form the mathematical SYM
Dol Of * the unknown quantity.
This Is one Of the most important
items in the Christmas psychology.
Any psychologist will tell you that it
adds immensely to the stimuli Of the
nervous system which produce that
Christmas feeling" True, ones pleas
urable anticipation may be damped
when one opens the box OF ties ones
wife has chosen or sees one figure
instead Of two or three on the check
from his rich uncle, but that is by the
way.
Millions Kept Guessing.
And in any case the givers and
receivers Of gifts are only one section
of some hundreds Of millions OF hu-
man beings who are kept guessing
throughout Christendom by this Gus
tom Of Christmas giving. In hun
dreds Of thousands Of shops and stores
executives have been wondering. For
them the Christmas *" resolves itself
into attempts to foresee how much
people have got, how they are feeling
Evening star., 1936-12-20
Aligned Against Bolshevism
With Hitler, Has Treaty With Soviet

shall boycott the other, nor partici-
pate in any boycott.
Article 4. Both high contracting
parties undertake not to enter into
any political or economic understand
ing or any other combination directed
against the other"
The remaining articles refer to ex-
isting pacts and treaties. procedure
for conciliation and reputation, etc.
For the main part, Italy Is bound,
by the articles above enumerated,
until 1898.
II Italy had q democratic govern
ment, which may be upset by popular
vote, there might be some excuse
for 30 sudden q reversal Of policy.
But the man who ruled Italy In
1898, when the treaty with the Soviets
was signed, Is the same man who,
only three years ago, signed that
treaty. He Is the same man who today
is allied with Hitler against specter
Of communism. Why has he changed
his mind?
(Copyright. 1e36J
Evening star., 1936-12-20

the choice put before the Belgium
people was, Rex or Moscow"
This extraordinary young man has
managed to mobolize every discon-
tented element in the country. The
extreme Flemish Nationalists, the
young men with Fascist tendencies,
peasants suffering from the economic
difficulties that assail nearly all farm
ers in Europe, big business leaders
afraid Of Socialism. those Belgisns who
distrust the foreign policy Of the gov
ernment and the French alliance
all these elements have been mobolized.
together with thousands of Belgians
who are afraid Of another European
war and would like to make terms
with Nazi Germany.
The climax was reached last Oc-
tober. Degrelle declared that he would
head a march on Brussels copying the
Fascist march on Rome, and boasted
that he would rally 250,00O sympa-
thizers in and around the city to over
throw the cabinet. This was too much
for the Belgian coalition government.
The demonstration was forbidden. the
army and police modified, the trade
unionists and workingmen rallied to
the support of the regime, and the
demonstration was flasco.
Degrelle was arrested and released
the next morning. His movement Is
now waning. There Is not great eco
nomic distress in Belgium. The gov
ernment has made o restatement OF
foreign policy, in effect denouncing
the military alliance with France, thus
removing one Of the planks Of the Rex
platform: and the French-Speaking
Walloons have recoiled from the ex-
ceSSes of the extreme Flemish ma
tionalists who help to make up the
Rex alliance.
The Flemish Separatists have for
q long time been openly pro- Hitler and
under German influence It has been
made known that Degrelle and several
of his lieutenants have been secretly
visiting Berlin and comforting with
Nazi leaders. Today the movement
shows definite signs of decline; but
that it should have attained such
strength in a year and a half from its
foundation is q sign of the explosive
and dangerous elements smouldering
beneath the surface in Belgium.
The above, therefore, is q survey
of the Fascist movement in the demo-
cratic countries Of Europe. Its future
depends on q number Of factors, in
cluding the state Of international
trade, the success or otherwise OF
German Nazi and Italian Fascist
propaganda, and the general situa-
ton. 1t is not easy to prophesy; but
except in France and, of course, in
Spain, this international Fascist move
ment appears to be on the decline.
Evening star., 1936-12-20
Pittsburgh Preparing
Against Future Floods

PITTSBURGH R.-The city Of
steel is preparing for another flood
determined not to be caught mapping
again.
The retail stores, the wholesalers,
the utilities-even the relief agencies
are busy.
They're interested, of course, in the
big flood control programs calling for
massive dams on the watersheds OF
the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers
which form the Ohio In Pittsburyh'i
golden triangle"
But they won't wait. Construction,
even II started Immediately, would re-
quire two or three years. So they are
going ahead with private protection
devices.
Evening star., 1936-12-20

switch Christmas from December to
March. But nobody really knows
when Jesus was born. The only men,
ton in Scripture gives no date clue.
The second chapter OF the Gospel OF
st. Luke says:
"She brought forth her hrst-born
son, and wrapped Him in swaddling
clothes, and laid Him in a manger:
because there was no room for them in
the inn"
Beyond this, our knowledge is as
legendary as the mistletoe myth. I'm
agination did not begin to record for
the human eye the scene Of the birth
until between fifteen and seventeen
hundred years later, when such great
painters as Giovanni, Mantegna. Da-
vid and others began to portray, in
bright colors on canvas, their concep-
ton OF the scene in the stable in
Bethlehem.
No Clue to Season.
The old masters formalized the
scene of the Nativity and the two
alterations of the shepherds and Of
the wise men. but they gave no clue
to the season. How could they. when
Scripture gave them no hint? Was
the birth in Winter. Autumn, Spring
or high Summer? We have no idea.
For the snow tradition We have to
20 to popular Christmas carols from
North Europe.
Good King Wencelas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay around about
Deep and crisp and even"
incidentally, when the waits strike
I'D Good King Wencelas" and await
our largess. it might be an idea 10
remind them that the day set aside
for the commemoration Of Stephen.
first OF the Christian martyrs, Is
December Is, not the 25th.
We could not move the date nor
change the customs Of our Christmas
without disorganizing the entire eco
nomic set-up and practically disrupt
ing the social system. II Christmas
were Cancelled this year. while savants
tried to fix the real date Of the birth
of Jesus, Christendom would be sha-
ken to its foundations. The whole
trade and financial machine would be
Evening star., 1936-12-20
BY CHARLES ]. MITCHELL.

CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward
Island. Canada.-Can democracy sur
vive where a government lacks an
opposition-or do empty opposition
benches spell dictatorship?
That question has been the subject
of good deal of conjecture since the
Roosevelt landslide left little more
than a corporals guard to lombard
the administration at Washington.
A test tube" answer-perhaps ap-
plicable. perhaps not-is to be found
in Prince Edward Island, smallest Of
Canada's nine provinces-area 2,1S4
square miles. population 10000.
Surrounded by water. as the name
implies, and 20 isolated that 1t may
almost be considered as a seperate
little country rather than a province
Of Canada, the island" has no oppo-
sition. Every member of the House
of Assembly is an adherent of the
government.
So what?
We'll" says Thane A. Campbell.
4l-year-old premier. since coming
into power the present administration
ture.
Special Session Cost $40.
"The first was a special session. 1t
convened at IL am. and prorogued at
4:30 pm. the same day, after transact
ing a considerable amount of i'm
portant business. The total cost Of
this special session." Premier Camp
bell added with q smile, was $40"
did you say s20?"
That's just what I said. And the
regular session this year lasted only
IL days, compared with the usual five
or six weeks, although there was as
much legislative business as ever"
This. Notwithstanding the fact that
the islanders" are noted for their
oratory as well as theirfox ranching,
their lack Of divorces, and their adher-
ence to prohibition, in law, If not
always in practice.
The reason, of course, was that
there existed no need to defend or
seek to justify government measures
since there was nobody to attack those
measures. The legislators just said
enough to let their constituents know
they had been among those present,
then departed for home.
THE government. which is not
hampered by bothersome opposi-
tion," according to Premier Campbell,
who is attorney general and secretary
treasurer Of his own administration,
"is more apt to adopt efficient meth
DDS than one continually facing criti-
cism. It also is easier for such gov
eminent to embark on policies that
Evening star., 1936-12-20
CANADA'S PREMIER CALM
DURING EMPIRES CRISIS
Restrained and Sympathetic Attitude Is
Viewed as Quieting Response
to Critics.

Nevertheless, q close watch was kept
on developments, and Mr.. Kings
Offices were kept open late. with his
secretaries in readiness to advise him
Immediately of any cables from Lon
don. The prime minister had discus
sions lasting several hours with Lord
Tweedsmuir. governor general, and
with Sir Francis Floud. British high
commissioner. He also conferred with
Norman Armour, United States Min
lister, at reception in the new lega-
tion residence in Rockcliffe.
The exact nature of the advice
given by the Canadian government in
the constitutional crisis will not be
revealed until there has been Q con-
ference of the premiers of all the do
minions by telephone or cable.
When Parliament meets in Ottawa
next month formal approval OF the
action taken by the cabinet will be
obtained either by the passing Of
resolutions by the House Of Com
mons and the Senate or enabling
legislation. When the session opens
all members will be required to take
oaths Of allegiance to the new SOW
ereign. This will also be necessary
for all government employees, Of whom
there are 10000 in Ottawa. All
judges and officers Of the crown, off,
GERS of the permanent and non-per-
manent militia and the naval serv-
ice are being resworn.
Lettering on postal trucks and on
public building plaques will have to
be changed from e. r." back to the
more familiar &C. r." Dies in prep
aration for coins with Edwards like
ness will be scrapped. For some
months the post ofice department
has been preparing designs for new
stamps.
The plain photographed likeness ap-
pearing on the British stamps had
been approved and costly engraving
completed. However, no stamps have
been printed. and the ones for the new
reign are not likely to be issued until
we'll into 1887 because of the detailed
procedure involved.
A new design must be drafted for
the bilingual notes which the Bank of
Canada will place in circulation next
Fall. Already arrangements had been
made for printing King Edwards like
ness on all but two of the note denom-
nations. The dies are ready. but new
ones will have to be substituted. Also
to 60 on the scrap heap are the legal
forms prepared for use in Offices of
the crown; these had just been re-
printed with changes to conform to
the reign Of King Edward.
(Copyright, 1861
Evening star., 1936-12-20
Super-Movie Theaters /.
To Spread Nazi Cause

BRUNSWICK, Germany R.-Su-
per-outdoor talkies will sell second
hand participation" in Naz mass
meetings to Germans.
An outdoor moving picture amphi-
theater with seating accommodations
for 400, 900, claimed to be the largest
in the world, has been completed re-
Gently as the first Of series TO b
erected at numerous places in Ger
many.
Evening star., 1936-12-20
Big Museum Planned
For Olympic Games

Plans to build o large museum in
Toxic by 1910, when the Olympic
games will be held in the Japanese
capital. are taking shape. The Ueno,
o meager institution compared with
the great museums in London, Berlin,
Paris, New York or Chicago, will be
enlarged. Yasuji Ahho, director Of
the Ueno, Is formulating plans which
will be submitted to the education
ministry.
They call for the addition Of two
four STORY wings. The museum viii
then be about four times Its present
size, and although it will still be less
than half the size Of number Of
institutions of It's kind In other coun-
tries, each exhibit will be complete.
Evening star., 1936-12-20
BY ID. NJ. HALLIDAY.

ToRONTO.-Credit is being ac-
corded Prime Minister Mac
kenzie King for his restrained
a and sympathetic behavior in
the days of the empires greatest con-
stitutional crisis as he accurately and
resolutely interpreted the desires Of
the Canadian people.
His attitude was quieting response
10 critics who have viewed with alarm
and professed indignantly to see pres
sure being exerted on London for
greater Canadian autonomy and looser
empire ties. Not since the war have
the peoples and premiers Of British
dominions beyond the seas stood
clearer In their common desire for
unity under the monarchy.
Along with Britain's Stanley Bald
win and other prime ministers, Mr.
King Joined in the demonstration of
the authority Of cabinet and Parlia-
n1ent, offering for deep thought in
Berlin, Moscow and Rome a renewed
spirit Of common comprehension and
solidarity.
Along with the empire Canada sor-
rowed that Edward, long beloved for
his constant interest in the affairs of
this country, where he is a rancher-
citizen. and for his many personal
qualities. could not see fit to meet the
test his kingship had imposed on him,
but the people were ready to give sim
cere acclaim and loyalty to its new
sovereign. They sing with a new
fervor the familiar words, unchanged
as each new ruler Is proclaimed at St.
james Palace, God Save the King"
Kept Crisis Out of Politics.
While the circumstances arising
from Edwards love for Mrs. Wallis
Simpson were foremost in the thoughts
Of all Canadians in those fateful, un-
precedented days, Premier King, by
taking advantage Of the provision of
the statute Of Westminster, which
permits the British government to act
for this country at the request of the
Canadian government, and in MAIN
tanning discreet silence, kept the
crisis out of the arena of politics and
public discussion.
Only when it was reported from
London that Canada and South Africa.
in protests to Mr.. Baldwin had
hastened the crisis did the Canadian
prime minister make any statement.
He emphatically denied that in the
existing situation" any action by the
British government was at the Gin
stance or insistence" of Canada. No
special cabinet meetings were called,
nor was there any indication of plans
TO summon special session Of Parlia-
snent, as was done in Australia.
Evening star., 1936-12-20


- least, Of looking at Mussolini.
II He may be, for some, the op-
L y pressor who has stified free
speech, castor -oiled the Democrats,
massacred the Communists and sent
the troublemakers to the islands. For
others, he~may be the man who has
made trains run on time; the man
who has preserved order and made
nation of individualists breathe
national spirit; the man, too. who, for
the first time since the Caesars, has
given Italy q hope Of world empire,
by challenging British domination In
the Mediterranean.
Both Of these two views Of Musso-
lini are attractive to the partisans OF
either side, depending on taste. Both
Of them are flattering to the man az
o world personality. Whatever may
happen from now ON, Mussolini will
have taken his place in history. and,
like Napoleon, he will have his bitter
enemies and his fervent friends.
What is less easy to understand.
less clear-cut, In Mussolini's action
Is his foreign policy. All good DEM
ocrats. even, will admit that 1taly's
internal policy is no affair Of theirs.
Even q convinced Democrat may ad-
NIT that Italy, IS years ago. had no
choice between Fascism and chaos.
But no Democrat, and no politician
of any shade, can understand what
italy is to gain by the curious diplo-
matte game Mussolini Is now playing.
Backing Hitler against the phantom
of bolshevism Is 20 childish that even
the government controlled italian
press hardly takes the trouble to re-
fer to 1t. Even Fascist editors cannot
help remembering that Mussolini was
the first in Europe to recognize Soviet
Russia, and that, 10 years ago. ne
made dozens Of speeches extolling boil
shevik realism as against the worn
out idealisms Of Western Europe.
In fact, as recently as September 2,
1888, Italy signed treaty with Soviet
Russia consisting Of seven articles.
Article / stated that neither party
would take arms against the other,
either individually or by alliance with
other nations.
= Article 2 provided for the neu-
trality Of the two countries, IN case
one should 60 to war with another.
Article stipulates that neither
Evening star., 1936-12-20
BY A. G. GARDINER,
Englands Greatest Liberal Editor.

r ONDON.-Now that the hurri-
cane that has swept the Brit
ish Empire is subsiding. one or
two reflections on the situation
It leaves behind may be permitted.
First, how has the monarchy
weathered the storm? That it has
been q good deal battered and shaken
goes without saying. The fall Of its
prestige from the interchangeable alti-
t,lde to which George v had raised 1t
can hardly be expressed in terms and
there has been more republicanism
thought and talked in the last fort
night than at any time since the days
Of Victoria.
At one period OF the crisis the
danger Of a straight fight between
the throne and the Parliament seemed
on the cards, and it was the expecta-
ton Of such clash and the oppor-
tunities 1t would furnish that led TO
such variegated and mutually hostile
elements rallying to the cause of King
Edward and Mrs. Simpson. Fascists
and Communists alike tumbled over
each other in their enthusiasm for
loves young dream.
Supporters Of King.
Sir Oswald Mosley. who has no use
for Parliament, demanded a plebi-
scite. and Harry Pollitt, the Com
munist leader who holds up the ban
ner Of Moscow in our midst, was
frantically on the side of the King.
The millionaire Lady Houston, who
runs the Saturday Review. and Lord
Rothmere. the popular press magnate,
both OF whom worship at the shrines
OF Hitler and Mussolini, were passion
ate advocates Of the marriage and
the cheap press was almost solid for a
cause which was assumed to have
captured the many-headed.
The possibility Of the nation being
modified into two camps, Kings men
and Parliament men, and fighting 1t
out on that issue became serious when
Churchill appeared in the parliament
ary ring as champion of the roman
tics. In his dramatic imagination he
saw another Marlborough settling the
fate OF monarchies, and he rushed to
battle with all his accustomed impetus
and zest. At first he seemed for
midable. but once more, as so often
happens in the case Of this brilliant
man, his Judgment was all wrong. and
just when he felt he was on the top of
the wave. He was knocked out of the
ring contemptuously by the House OF
Commons. which by this time had be-
come practically solid behind the gov
ernment.
Evening star., 1936-12-20
Balance Between Peace and War
May Be Deciding Factor of Fascism

CONTINUED From First Page.)
Evening star., 1936-12-20

Time Of Romance.
It Is . time. also, when domesticity
Is at its most attractive, and romantic
influences at their most insidious-
especially II the Christmas days are
frosty. Families are in good humor.
there Is plenty to drink, the food is
exceptional. 1t Is coy round the fire.
side. Every cottage window after
dusk, and every chimney in the early
morn suggests the magic of marriage
and o home for two. At no other
season does one get such a dangerous
ly alluring combination Of influences
playing upon the unmarried person.
The mere telling of ghost stories
around the fiickering log fire has been
known to break down crusted- chelor
resistances.
Probably the haunting Of Christmas
the eve Of Christmas seems to be
more thickly thronged with ghosts
than Christmas day itself-is linked
to some Anglo-Saxon ancestral mem
ory Of pagan ceremonies. After all,
long before Augustine arrived in
England with the Christmas message
1850 years ago (the Mayfiower did not
sail until q thousand years later the
Druids were cutting mistletoe with q
golden SICKLE and making their con-
gregations shiver with mind-pictures
Of invisible dieties and spirits Of earth,
air and water who might at any
moment take tangible and terrible
shape.
But part Of the explanation may be
found In the vell-known effect Of rich
viands on the digestion, and the reper-
cussions Of Q disturbed digestive appa-
ratus on the subconscious mind In the
nocturnal hours.