davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-05-23

to the best Of his ability, that was
all. It was quite enough, however,
to win him lasting fame on two con-
tinents. And some may ask why. Not
merely because he saw clearly and
painted extremely well, but because
with profound truth and mastery of
Evening star., 1936-08-20

statement was made in these columns
that Mr.. Roberts is a lawyer, but not
an engineer. That statement Is incor-
rect, for Mr.. Roberts is both lawyer and
engineer. He is a graduate civil engi-
neer and before entering the District
service was engaged at the Interstate
Commerce Commission, first in an engi-
neering and later in legal capacity.
He had previously served with the Bos-
ton Transit Commission In the design
and construction Of street car subways.
He Is q member Of several engineering
societies. Mr.. Roberts qualifications as
a lawyer or an engineer are not under
discussion, Of course, and The Star re-
grets an inaccuracy which occurred in
seeking to emphasize that feasibility Of
the subway construction could not be
determined except by formal engineer
ing survey, which has not yet been made.
Evening star., 1936-08-20

place in a Washington restaurant where
two casual acquaintance discussed the
principal personalities involved in the
present struggle:
Mr.. A.: Somehow I think Roosevelt
has more active sympathy for the
poor"
Mr.. B.: Maybe so but he doesn't know
as much about being poor as Landon
does"
1t is upon convictions so uttered that
the verdict Of November will depend.
Meanwhile, 1t may be wondered II the
endeavors Of rival spell binders will alter
many votes. The electorate has had
ample opportunity to make up its mind.
In outline, the major issue Is that Of q
conservative versus a radical approach
to the problems of recovery and recon-
struction. Those who believe In caution
will favor the Republican nominee; those
who prefer haste will indorse the Demo-
cratic incumbent. Among neither group
will there be much regard for Journalism.
The only political expression that really
counts Is that which consists Of crosses
marked after certain names on ballots.
Residents of the District Of Columbia
are denied the privilege Of sharing In
the poll.
Evening star., 1936-08-20
"Just Like Brothers. -

National party fealty has never both
cred Tammany Hall greatly in the past,
nor has it caused that embattled force
Of definitely practical politicians to SUBJ
ordinate interorganization differences to
the welfare of the democracy, with
which it has been traditionally allied.
While the uSufruct of Federal patron
age In the big city has been highly
cherished, whenever the national elec-
tions have thrown the dispensation Of
gifts and favors into the hands of that
party, this has always been rated as Of
less importance than the holding of the
local power of distribution. In other
words, Tammany has been mainly in
tent upon its own fish frying, whatever
the course of the political currents in
the larger waters.
Just now there are ructions in Tam
many that demonstrate that the tradi-
ton of Manhattan first" even in
year Of national campaigning is still
dominant. The leader of Tammany,
James Dooling, is in poor health. He
is temporarily incapacitated for the
onerous duties Of the command. He
seeks assistance and secures it by nam
ing commission of three district leaders
to serve as his associates pending his
recovery. He is not an eye-to-eye de-
votee of James A. Farley, chairman of
the National Democratic Committee.
Indeed, he is unfriendly. He does not
want the Tammany assets turned over
to the national organization. The chair
man of the Tammany Executive Com
mittee, William Kenneally, is a Farley
man." He was shocked by the PROPOSE
ton of a Dooling commission, sought
to prevent its appointment, found that
his own Executive Committee was not
disposed to make an issue on the point
and had to abandon his plan for a
revolt, but not before he and a Con-
gresham member of the Hall, Chris
topher Sullivan, came to blows-"just
like brothers." he afterward explained.
Well, there is the situation, a Tam
many running true to form as an inde-
pendent Democratic organization, intent
upon the local emoluments. A State as
well as national campaign is on. The
now defeated faction In the Hall ss
well as the now triumphant one will be
more concerned with the immediate
question of who's who in Tammany
than in the who's who in either State
or Nation. 1t has always been SO. Just
how this "brotherly" schism will figure
in November remains to be seen, but 1t
is meanwhile a certain cause for the
woTiment Of the chairman Of the Demo-
cratic National Committee, himself q
member Of the Hall.
Evening star., 1936-08-20
Shooting Stars.
BY PHTLANDER JOHNSON.
No Apples!

No Apples!
Oh, Teacher, dear Teacher, I'm going
to try
To bring a red apple to you by and by.
But the fruit trees are withered and
faded away
In spite of our use Of a chemical spray.
A chemical spray has value; that's
plain,
But 1t can't take the place Of an old
fashioned rain.
Instead of an apple I'll toss. one by one,
Some bricks Of adobe well baked by
the sun.
Oh, Teacher, dear Teacher, I've heard
what you told
About sharing the wealth and appor-
tioning gold.
But q meeting we've held and we're
sorry to say
That we folks haven't got any apples
today.
Evening star., 1936-08-20

There are unmistakable Estate types"
Of men and women in the United States.
The composite physical picture OF the
Kentuckian Is quite different from That
of the Texan, and individuals within
these groups tend to run true to form
so that they can be recognized
Such, at least. is the picture among
the criminals who. in each State, prob
ably represent fair crosS-section OF the
population, according to the findings OF
Prof. Earnest A. Hooton of Harvard Uni
yersity from an extensive survey OF jail
inmates.
This leaves out Of account the prison.
ers of immediate foreign ancestry. In
arriving at his thesis of State anthropo-
logical types DR.. Hooton considered only
those criminals with at least two gen.
erations of American ancestry. He
found distinct type in each OF the nine
States where he conducted his survey
Massachusetts,, North Carolina, Ken
lucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Colorado,
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Two factors probably are responsible,
DR.. Hooton says In a report to the
American Society of Physical Antnro-
biologists. First is the fact that the vari-
Gus States happened to be settled by
groups from the same localities. For
two or three generations there was much
intermarrying in the families OF the
pioneers. This inbreeding tended to
crystalline the physical peculiarities.
Second, appears to be a direct effect OF
environment on physical proportions
TN every one of the nine States
studied" says DR.. Hooton, there Is
ample evidence that the metrical, IN
dicial and morphological characters OF
the old American population define q
State type which is different from that
of adjacent States. The amount OF
difference between the old American
types of any two States seems to depend
partially on the diversity Of their en-
vironments as well as upon variations
In the ethnic composition Of their in
terbreeding Of European stocks.
~ +
A silvery white fit companion for gold
to the Industrial Bulletin Of the
Arthur D. Little Co. 1t is palladium
leaf, now produced commercially in this
is of extraordinary malleability and may
be beaten into sheets only 50,000th
of an inch thick. 1t requires about
$4,000 such sheets, each nearly 81
inches square, to weigh an ounce. The
leaf is proof against tarnish and rust.
1t serves the same purposes as gold leaf
for book edges, lettering, tiling, etc.
The metal palladium is rare, but is
less expensive than platinum or gold. It
is found in small amount in the nickel
ore at Sudbury. Ontario. and in isolated
Evening star., 1936-08-20
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

walk the cables, with never a fall, al
though at times nothing but their sharp
encircling claws and grand balancer
saved them.
Their balancer, as every one knows, is
the aforementioned tail, at once their
pride and safety, their ornament and
utility.
The deft way in which squirrel bal
ances itself with this member shows that
Nature did not make tails in vain.
It may not always be easy. among
four-footed creatures, to see exactly why
Nature gave them tail, but among the
squirrels 1t is easy.
Aboreal rodents out our way use the
telephone and electric cables along
Brookville road as perfect walkway,
whizzing traffic beneath them.
Almost invariably they cross the road
aloft, which seems to show very fine
rodent brains. But, then, no one ever
denied the members Of this family
plenty Of intelligence.
Even white rats, we are reminded by
their enthusiasts. make the finest sort
Of pets, especially if in infancy the
typical rat tail is Topped of. 1t is this
typical tail, they protest, which gives so
many people the shivers.
Deprive the white rat Of its tail in
this way, it Immediately stops looking
rat-like, they say, and takes on all the
charm of rabbit or a squirrel, both Of
which are members of the family, Of
course.
Most people never think of squirrels
and rabbits as akin to rats and mice.
One has but to look at their little faces,
however, and think Immediately Of rat,
to catch the family resemblance.
They are strictly wild animals, even
when tanned, lacking the quirk which
makes the dog and cat seem closer to
us in so many ways.
True. things of the wild always keep
their distance, and make us keep ours.
1t is possible to tame squirrels, and
have them live contentedly in the house,
but always they retain some aspects of
their natural wildness. if shown no more
than by their strange flirting, sudden
rat-like motions.
Only a few persons, then, now and
Then, will ever attempt to tame them.
line resi- Oh uS Will Ut RldO W kICCk
them in the yards and streets. especially
in the suburban areas, where they
abound, seeming to prefer the semi
shelter Of giant oaks planted along
parkings.
One of these great trees, struck by
lightning in a recent storm, housed two
squirrel nests. We have not been able
to discover that any Of the rodents were
injured, although it is impossible to see
how they could have escaped had any
of them been in the tree at the time.
A gentleman out our way who has
made a special hobby of the squirrels
which come to his place told us the other
day that each animal makes bluff OF
hiding a nut eight times before he
finally buries 1t.
This extra effort, no doubt is to throw
not only human watchers, but other
squirrels OF the track.
The human watcher will believe that
there must be an enormous waste Of
nuts buried and then forgotten. Or can
all squirrels smell buried food, no mat
ter whether they placed it there nor not?
Thinking over their use of cables as
safe elevated paths over dangerous
streets, the observer is willing to concede
them great shrewdness. and believe that
what they have hidden they can find
at last.
Evening star., 1936-08-20
Subways for Washington.

AS The Star said few days ago, Mr..
William A. Roberts. peoples counsel,
may be correct in his belief that sub
ways for Washington, or underground
trolley systems downtown, are now nee
essary. The only way to determine that
fact is through an engineering survey,
executed by formal commission Of
inquiry, which would determine the
engineering feasibility of subsurface con-
struction and its cost, as well as the
benefits to be expected in the relief of
traffic congestion.
This fact has been recognized by
Mr.. Roberts, who prepared bill more
than a year ago. which was introduced
by Representative Mary Norton, proNd-
ing for such a survey at cost Of $25, 900.
That bill has not received congressional
approval. But while there has been
delay, is the delay to be attributed even
in part to inertia or inactivity Of Dis
trict officials?
Whether the time has arrived for the
formal survey Of subway possibilities
here is a matter on which opinion may
be expected reasonably to be divided.
Viewed alone, the projected survey is
important. Viewed In relation to other
pressing, unmet local needs, decision
to let 1t wait is not necessarily unwise.
The best time for the survey would be
when Congress and the Commissioners
can begin to see their way clear to follow
it with actual subway construction-if
that is shown to be feasible. It is very
difficult, under present conditions, to see
how such an undertaking could be COM
menced in the near future, although Mr..
Roberts is correct in keeping the sub
ject alive.
In commenting on speech on this
subject by Mr.. Roberts last week, the
Evening star., 1936-08-20
MIR. Ickes' Dilemma.

Secretary Ickes was given his $780,
100000 out of the current relief appro-
priation to spend on P. w. A. projects
mainly as the result of insistence from
Capitol Hill. At one time it appeared
that the administration was going to cut
this faithful son off without red cent,
Harry Hopkins of W. P. A. having be-
come the favored darling.
But Mr.. Ickes finally received, with
some strings tied to 1t, a compromise
allotment of $500 ooo,o 900 and is now in
the unhappy position Of not being able
to spend any of it. Mr.. Ickes was
rather frank In discussing the matter
with newspaper men. Although the
President has twice outlined certain
rules under which the P. w. A. money
can be spent, all Mr. Ickes knows IS
what he reads in the papers. He is yet
to receive any direct word from the Pres
ident and, if what has appeared in the
papers correctly represents the PreFl-
dents rules, the rules are not workable.
Hyde Park, some time ago, that only
labor taken from the relief rolls could
be used on P. w. A. projects. This was
later modified by an announcement from
the White House that the 100 per cent
relief labor rule would apply only to the
money actually granted to the States
or municipalities, amounting at the max
irnum to forty-five per cent of the cost
of the project. Money loaned by P. w.
A. to the local authorities could be used
In the discretion of local auth Jrities.
Under examination, that rule Is re-
vealed as unworkable. The reason 1t
will not work is that a forty-f1ve per
cent grant for relief labor alone would,
In reality, amount to only about ten per
cent of the cost of the Job. The average
labor cost on P. w. A. jobs is about
thirty-three- per cent Of the total cost
of the job, and the forty-five per cen.
Federal grant would have to be applied
to this thirty-three per cent-rot to the
total construction cost.
restrictions, he could have had his $780,
100000 program under way some time
ago. While the President is a very busy
man and possesses what amounts to sole
responsibility and dictatorial powers in
use of the relief funds, it is unfortunate
to witness continued delay in q pro-
gram supposedly capable Of expedittng
substantial public works. The paralysis
of P. w. A. may be cured by a short
conference between the President and
Mr.. Ickes, ironing out the details. The
paralysis, on the other hand, may have
been intentionally inflicted by the Presi-
dent pending his study OF the compre-
hensive Budget Bureau investigation Of
the effects of p. w. A. undertakings.
Whatever the reason for the delay,
the spectacle Of P. W. A., balancing
uncertainty between complete extinction
and permission to do little dabbling
at relief. is not designed to increase pub
lie confidence in administration plans.
Evening star., 1936-08-20
Political Expression.

In such national campaign as that
which currently occupies the public
mind there are two varieties of political
language. For convenience, perhaps
they may be termed formal and informal.
To illustrate the one, q passage from
President Roosevelt's acceptance speech
at Philadelphia will suffice: "Out of
this modern civilization economic royal
lists carved new dynasties. New kingdoms
were built upon concentration of control
over material things. Through new uses
of corporations, banks and securities,
new machinery of industry and agricul-
ture, of labor and capital-all undreamed
of by the fathers-the whole structure of
modern life was impressed into this
royal service. ." The economic royal
lists complain that we seek to overthrow
the institutions of America. What they
really complain Of is that we seek to
take away their power. For more
than three years we have fought them"
And these words, being translated into
the dialect Of the Man in the Street,
signify: Soak the rich" or Down with
the capitalists" Basically, it is the
same sentiment that permeates the
famous Communist Manifesto spon-
sored by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
in ls47-a philosophy summarized for
the Encyclopaedia Britannica by Prof.
Emil Lederer Of Heidelburg, as follows:
''The communicating of the means of
production to bring about not merely
increased total production and total con-
sumption, and juster distribution, but
also radical reorganization Of all con-
ditions Of life whatsoever, all creative
achievement, the whole spiritual contents
of the age"
Such pretty phrases, however, are mere
wizardry to the rank and file Of citizens:
they are, in effect, caviar to the gen.
eral." Far more direct and vastly more
forceful is the jargon Of the soap-box
orator of Hyde Park in London or Union
Square in New York. And q like practice
is the rule among people who do not
aspire to oratorical honors and who con-
fine their opinions to the limited circula-
ton of their own families and friends.
For example. this exchange recently took
Evening star., 1936-08-20

Criticisms Of Department of Agricul-
ture policies are denounced by Secretary
Wallace as ill-timed. The irritating
point Of such criticisms is that they relate
to old prophecies and suggest the ancient,
simple formula of repartee, II told
you sol"
Evening star., 1936-08-20

Where the squirrels have been all
Summer we do not know for sure-prob.
ably in the woods-but they are coming
back now In increasing numbers every
day, 50 that when Autumn arrives in
earnest twenty or thirty Of these rascals
may be seen in almost every block.
Out our way is perpetual paradise for
small animals, and none enjoys 1t more,
or makes better use Of 1t, than this
bushy-tailed rodent, whose real home Is
in the tree tops, Of which we also have
thousands.
Although the squirrel at times can be
a real mischief maker, in the main 1t
causes little harm. There are excep-
tions, Of course, when it has proved itself
very destructive, with ensuing prop
erty loss.
These are the exceptions. Mostly the
common squirrel of this vicinity Is
rogue, who likes his joke as well as his
nut, and takes life as he finds 1t with
q typical rodent grin.
No doubt the jollity of the squirrels Is
not altogether truth. Much Of 1t is
merely seeming, based on the human
reaction to its darting ways, its flourish
ing tail, its great agility and general
seeming Of enjoying what 1t Is doing
whatever that may be.
Above this, however, there Is an ele-
ment Of gayety in the life habits OF
the squirrel.
There are few animals which give the
observer this impression. Mostly the
brutes are intensely solemn, especially
as to visage.
The gravity Of a great st. Bernard
dog, for instance, is well known, but
lesser dogs. and cats. too, show much
the same solemnity of expression. Part
of this is due to less mobile facial char
acteristics, which are purely physical,
and have little, if anything, to do with
the mental reactions of the creature.
The common squirrel impresses one as
surely practical joker by nature. Every
thing he does has the element OF the
comic.
Here is fellow with very poor tail.
lacking the bushy quality Of his fellows.
He starts across the street with an
extremely large nut, encased in its green
outer covering.
II is 50 much too large for him that
the wonder is how he ever holds on to It.
Seen as he crosses, he looks to have
an enormous green swelling on his nose.
The whole gives him an aspect which
equals anything the most comical char
acters of Shakespeare could achieve.
He seems to realize this, as well as any.
Quickly he drops his burden on the
parking this side Of the way. He hirts
his tail, does a few hand-springs, at
least that is what they would be called
if he were human. then leaps lightly up
the tree, his nut forgotten.
In this way he proves something TO
himself, although 1t Is not exactly
known to watchers which is just as well.
Probably what he proves Is his own Joy
in life.
Almost every one who sees squirrel
walk along an electric wire for the first
time thinks he is witnessing a phe-
nomenon.
He is, Of course, but not exactly some
thing new.
Squirrels out our way have been doing
that as long as there have been wires.
While they prefer the comparative
safety of the larger cables, the smaller
wires do them nicely.
Often such a squirrel walk requires
the greatest gymnastics. to which these
fellows are fully equal.
We have watched hundreds OF them
Evening star., 1936-08-20

of the Farmer Labor voters in the preSi-
Dental election. With Olson unable to
campaign this Fall, as now seems to be
the case, it will make the Roosevelt 60
ing in that State more difncult, par
ticularly as the Republicans appear
stronger in Minnesota this year than
for long time. Olson has issued call
from his sick bed, however, urging all
progressives to join in re-electing Presi-
dent Roosevelt. It Is improbable that he
will be able to attend the progressive
conference, which Senator La Toilette
Of Wisconsin Is arranging for Septem-
Der in Chicago Olson's absence from
such q conference win Be felt
Evening star., 1936-08-20

Assurances that there will be no further
increase of taxation bring an element OF
good news into current report. One Of
the great tasks before leaders in states
nanship is to remove a growing skepticism
from the literary contribution Of Vox
Populi.
Evening star., 1936-08-20

The Board of Education made the first
feature of its coming program stiff
problem in arithmetic for Congress to
handle. 1t has always been difficult for
some of the out-of town statesmen to
realize the rapidity with which the Dis
trict of Columbia is asserting itself as
growing community.
Evening star., 1936-08-20

The Olympic games have probably
surprised the dominant political organiza-
tions in Germany by proving that the
spotlight of popular attention could be
shifted. even momentarily, from Hitler
himself.
Evening star., 1936-08-20
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
The Heights.

The Heights.
It's cold upon the mountain height
And warm down in the vale,
Although the brightest sunlight
Shines all along the trail.
For white against the heavenly blue
On the mountain Winters snow,
While Summer bloom in every hue
Bedecks the vale below.
And the mountains head is hoary,
As 1t rears aloft in pride;
But its feet are shod with glory
In the dowery summertide. :
Evening star., 1936-08-20

European writer's used to admit that
they did not understand American
politics. According to campaign reports
some American writers experience a
similar difficulty.
Evening star., 1936-08-20

Trotzky is again engaged in Russian
politics. There may be some surprise that
he did not concentrate on Spain, where
communism" works faster.
Evening star., 1936-08-20

In brilliant speech introducing Frank
Knox, Gov Nice succeeded almost in put
ting Hagerstown, Md, on the map as q
political suburb Of Chicago.
Evening star., 1936-08-20

Conditions abroad afford unusual en-
couragement to the rocking chair tourist
who buys a set Of guide books and re-
mains at home.
Evening star., 1936-08-20
Mike Fishing.

From the Boston Transcript.
A Budapest professor maintains fish
can hear radio broadcasts. 1t is cruel
and unsportsmanlike, though, for q pol
itician to angle with mike.
Evening star., 1936-08-20
Salt in Summer

From the worcester oasstte.
A health expert suggests that q pinch
Of salt may be helpful in keeping cool
during hot weather. In fact, one has
only to add,a quart OF milk ana Few
spins in q swivel chair to feel Ike an
oId-fashioned ice cream freezer.
Evening star., 1936-08-20
F;ckle OLYMPIC Flame.

FROM the New haven JournaI-courfer.
When the Olympic flame" nndied
by the suns rays on Mount olympus.
fiickered and went out en- route to Berlin,
1t offered the best comment yet on the
seventh modern OlympiAd.