davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-09-04
What Is the Answer?

Here is an interesting sidelight on
enforcement of the gambling laws: The
police have been anxious to locate
several men for questioning in connec-
ton with recent shooting. A flying
squad" of police is created and set to
work, under police lieutenant, trying
to locate the suspects. The lieutenant
makes the statement that he intends to
raid every "joint" in town, If necessary,
to pick up the men wanted for question:
ing. Making good his threat, he has
raided more than twenty suspected
gambling establishments and the raids
continue.
Now all this time the police vice
squad, charged with enforcement of the
gambling laws, is idle. At least there is
no extraordinary activity on the part
of the vice squad. The question is this:
If the police know where the gambling
joints are located, and can raid them at
will in pursuit of suspects, why are they
not being raided In enforcement of the
gambling laws?
Evening star., 1936-09-04
Fairgrounds and w. p. A.

Miss Sibyl Bakers criticism of the
w. P. A. few days ago, in the course
OF requesting more money for the play
grounds, was plainly not intended as
criticism of the w. P. A. as an institution
for placing needy people on work-relief,
or even criticism of administration of
w. P. A. That is apparent from the
wording of her statement as well as from
the context. What she was complaining
about was the lack of needed personnel
and equipment, and showing that
W. P. A. work and personnel did not
help her very much in running the play
ground department.
Everybody can understand that. Miss
Baker has real job to do. Some of the
construction work requires skilled labor
and some of the personnel requirements
are for trained people or people capable
of being trained. On the other hand,
the w. p. A. authorities and the Ma
tional Youth Administration authorities
are not primarily interested in play
ground work-they are primarily inter-
ested in putting some Of their clients to
work. They may succeed and Incl
dentally help the playground depart
ment. But the real needs of the play
ground department are not thus met
nor were they intended to be met.
Miss Baker has made out rather i'm
Evening star., 1936-09-04
The Negro Vote.

The Negro vote in the States Of the
North and the Middle West is avidly
sought by the Roosevelt New Dealers.
1t is estimated that this vote may run as
high as million or two. 1t may prove
of great importance in New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and
Illinois. The drive for the Negro vote
has been launched, particularly in New
York, with Stanley Highs Good
Neighbor League" taking a prominent
part in the movement. Two bishops of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church
are reported to be actively engaged in
the work. The New Dealers hope to
have the support of many of the Negro
clergy in their campaigning for the re-
election of President Roosevelt.
1t is time, the Roosevelt supporters
among the Negroes say, to stop voting
for Abraham Lincoln and to vote for
Franklin D. Roosevelt. He has been
their friend. He has fed them He has
favored members of their race with
more appointments than any other
President, Republican or Democrat.
How these pleas to the colored voters
will react finally in the presidential race
remains to be seen. In other days they
might have had an adverse effect below
the Mason and Dixon Line. But the South
has swallowed the New Deal assaults
upon States rights and the Constitution.
1t has its tongue in it's cheek when
Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson are
compared. 1t seems inclined to go right
along with the efforts of the Roosevelt
New Dealers to align all voting groups,
including the Negro, with the Democratic
party.
The Democratic high command has
sought among the Negroes of the
country outstanding men to aid them
in their effort to re-elect President
Roosevelt. In view of the great influx
of Negroes into the States of the North
and the West in recent years, it is not
strange that the Democrats have come
to the conclusion that they must have
Negro support of they are to win in
national elections.
Since the day of Lincoln and the
emancipation of. the Negro the colored
voters have stood by the Republican
party. This was not entirely true, how
ever, in more recent elections. Two years
ago the Negro voters in the first Illinois
congressional district supplanted a Re
publican Negro Representative with
Democratic Negro-the first Democrat of
his race ever to serve in Congress.
The Negro vote in the big States of
the North and the West is of real i'm
portance to the Republican ticket as well
as to the Democratic. The steps forward
which the Negro has taken in this
country have been under Republican,
not Democratic, rule. However, the huge
relief rolls in the past four years have
included hundreds Of thousands of
Negroes. Roosevelt and relief have become
synonymous in the minds of many of
them. 1t is upon that relief that the
New Deal high command bases its faith
in Negro support at the polls in
November.
Evening star., 1936-09-04

memory of a race romantically inclined,
so, too, is certain to be the victim OF the
celebrated anti-Semitic conspiracy Of
forty y-odd years ago.
Meanwhile, France, under whatever
regime, will wrestle with the problem OF
what to do with malefactors. Theoreti-
cally, the lie du Diable is an abomination
which ought to be eliminated; actually,
the Guiana penal colony, probably by
the simple fact of its existence, has had
a corrective influence on the Gallo
criminal claSses-a restraint Intangible
but nevertheless real as factor for the
protection of society.
OF course, there are idealists every
where who believe that coercion and
punishment are relics of barbarism and
that habitual rascals should be dis
ciplined by charity and tenderness. And
the OCCASIONAL torture of innocent persons
confirms their conviction of the savage
and largely useless cruelty of jails. To
more realistic observers, however, the
question remains open. Some individuals,
it seems to them, must be isolated for
their own and their fellows good; few
must be restrained by brutal force. The
dilemma is not pretty. Alcatraz, for ex-
ample, is nothing about which Americans
can be proud. The bitter alternative to
such places, though, is the kind of in
generation which has no power to
frighten felons and which graduates
them too readily and too easily for
further warfare against civilization.
Evening star., 1936-09-04
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Kindly Assurance.

Kindly Assurance.
Have you wandered through the mour
tainS?
Have you watched the gurgling rill?
Have you listened to the fountains
AS they tumbled down the hill?
Have you felt the perspiration
Meath your collar form a pool?
Have you heard the exclamation
But the nights are always COOL"
Where the ocean sands were broiling
Have you walked with weary feet
While the mercury was spelling
AS it stood out in the heat?
Have you heard the naughty menial
Perched upon an Office stool
Say in accents mildly genial,
"But the nights are always COOL"
Some day may be going
Though I hope I shall escape
Where the birthstone lake is flowing;
And I'll see some dreadful shape
Grinning as he turns me neatly
With pitchfork as a tool.
And bet he'll warble sweetly,
"But the nights are always COOL"
Evening star., 1936-09-04
Toy Guns at Root of Acts
Which Result i'm TRAGEDY

To the Editor of The Star:
What paradoxical people we arei "a
Fourteen-Y Year-Old Boy Indicted for
Staying His Chum," said the headline in
the paper.
But why say I, indict fourteen-year-
old boy for what almost every day of
his fourteen years he has been allowed
to do? Isn't that what toy guns are for?
And didn't he, like almost every boy in
this land, have toy pistol put into his
baby hand? Wasn't he trained to pull
the trigger and see what would happen,
until the time came when any gun in his
hand meant lust one thing-shoot?
When Lyle West said II didn't mean
to pull the trigger, didn't mean to
shoot, I didn't mean to kill him" I be-
lleVe him. OF course, he didn't mean to,
but gun in the hand meant only one
thing-shoot; automatically it was DONE
Some one else, not Lyle West, is re-
sponslble for this tragedy. went to call
on beautiful three -year-old boy a few
days ago. Almost Immediately after
greeting me he rushed to the bed room
and brought out, proudly, a toy pistol in
holster that friend had brought him
on her return from holiday. He at once
pointed 1t at me and fired. Wasn't that
the thing to do? How else could he show
me how wonderful it was? Isn't that why
small boys-and larger ones, too-shoot
at us as we pass along the street, and say
Stick 'em up!"
Who is responsible? OF course, the
people who put guns into baby hands!
But we must go back of that to the stores
where toys are sold. What do we find?
Counters piled with every conceivable
kind of deadly weapon in embryo to
tempt foolish parents, and false friends,
to teach the babies of our land that war,
not peace, is the thing to learn.
But we must go farther back than this
even, to the Government that legalizes
the sale of these so-called toy weapons,
Is it any wonder that one of our large
dailies short time ago reported that the
criminal army of this country numbers
twice that of the standing army? What
shall we have twenty-five years from
now unless the Government realizes its
responsibility and prohibits the manu.
facture, importation and sale of these
crime e-producing so-called toys?
KATHERINE B. GOODFELLOW,
Evening star., 1936-09-04
Big Nations, Big Cities
Are Not Ideally Managed

To the Editor Of The Star:
Sometimes I wonder If the American
statesmen of the past who thought 80
much of preserving the political unity
of the States did not overrate the merits
of the idea! Who will say that either in
these United States or in other nu-
merically and territorially big nations
the people are either politically, f1nan-
cially and other ways any better, or
even as immune to wars, as free from
poverty, or as happy as in smaller
states? Was Russia saved or secure
against war, revolution, poverty, injus-
tice and generalization because 1t was
a large country? Are other big nations
better in any of these respects than the
smaller ones?
What I am driving at Is that the hu-
man mind does not seem to grow big
enough to manage the affairs of big
cities or countries. Take, for example,
the condition of the street in front
of our house. Repairs must have been
made here and there evidently a few
years ago, and the way they were made
virtual humps here and there and now
torn all around each of those high-hill
patches Equally antiquated trucks run
every five minutes, shaking our houses,
waking us from our sleep, all because the
city is too large apparently to be prop
erly taken care of by those who should
be in charge of such things.
Had this same thing been in a small
town like Fitchburg, Mass, where I
lived 80 years ago and visited recently,
such conditions would not be tolerated.
And the same is true of most every small
town In Massachusetts,, where, possibly.
the people, like John Adams, would not
tolerate wrong too long. wish some
Evening star., 1936-09-04
Is the Individual or the
State the More Important?

To the Editor of The Star:
AS political development and the
science Of government continue to pro-
gress or retrogress, whichever the case
may be, I sometimes wonder If the people
realize the Importance of political science
as contrasted with the other sciences.
Throughout the great powers Of the
Eastern Hemisphere we find general con-
fusion relative to the new and in the
most part impractical theories emanating
from the present statesmen of Europe.
We have witnessed the workings of COM
munism and facism with a discerning
eye, and have yet been able to detect no
really constructive benevolenee evolving
from either. We have seen the
proletarian and corporate states at work
and we now know that each has only
caused friction, suspicion, strife and
turmoil. In each one of these states and
under their forms of governmental ad-
ministration we have the regimentation
as well as the subjugation of the entire
citizenry. All of the principles of
Democracy-free speech, free press, the
right of assemblage and the inherent
right of every citizen to life, liberty and
the pursuit OF happiness-have been dis
solved.
The question is now, as 1t always has
been throughout the ages, which is more
important, the individual or the state?
Is the state to be the servant of the
people, or shall the individuals be the
servants of the state? Personally, 1
would prefer the former. Following In
the footsteps of the latter philosophy,
one finds a control over, and q retarda-
tion of, the people along the lines of
education. Such can only prove re-
dictionary in the long run. We have
seen in Russia such control go so far as
to even dictate the morals and principles
of daily life. The dissolution of
monogyny is the most degenerative step
yet to be taken by this new social and
economic set-up. The interests which
exercise such control only realize their
ambitions when they can sell the people
the idea that such is requisite to the
PRONUNCIATION Of better and more
abundant life. These interests in Ger
many have interfered in religious mat
tiers and have made scrap of paper"
out OF the Weimar Constitution. They
have plunged every civilized country on
the Continent into social and civic dis
AANJ 4Ao'O AfCiA Vic cause VI a
military campaign in Italy costing
thousands of human lives in order to, as
many political observers believe, divert
the attention of the people from domestic
economic ills. II Duces idea of solving
the unemployment problem is to con-
script them into the army, and today he
boasts an available force of 5000 900
men. These same interests have politi-
cally, socially and financially wrecked
the government Of Spain, in order to
satisfy their selfish individual motives.
Are such monstrosities as these con-
structive reform? Is this the Utopia
that Moore dreamed about? Is this the
way to enlighten mankind so that he
some day may demonstrate the spiritual
manifestations that are rightfully en-
dowed to him? II this is Europe's answer
to the problem, we thank God for
Democracy.
BENJAMIN R. sT1CKNEY, JR.
Frederick, Md.
Evening star., 1936-09-04
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

There are now indications that Sena-
tor Carter Glass has definitely decided
to deliver a full-dreSs Democratic cam
paign speech. While that much has
already been pretty circumstantially
foreshadowed, new development is the
understanding that the Virginian's blast
will primarily take the form of a fore
and-aft analysis of Gov. Landon's
qualifications for national leadership at
this juncture of the countryS affairs.
At any rate, intimations to this effect
emanate from quarters reputedly in
position to reflect the mind and pur-
poses of the Old Dominion statesman.
Senator Glass presumably will be heard
over a Nationwide radio network. 1t
may be that his speech will be timed to
have the same psychological effect as
his famous broadcast on the eve of the
1882 election, an utterance generally con-
sidered to have done more to turn the
tide in President Roosevelt's direction
than any other single campaign ad-
dress. AS the story goes, the Senator
plans to deal particularly with the Re-
publican nominees vaunted conserva-
tism and proposes to develop that his
record on that score does not quite
measure up to advertisement.
Once upon time Tammany's alleged
election-day advice to its faithful was
to vote early and often. Acting Secre-
tary of War Harry H. Woodring evi-
IDENTIFY intends to follow that counsel
on November 3. Speaking the other day
at an American Legion rally at Roanoke,
the former Sunfower Governor is quoted
as having announced that after going
to the polls in Alexandria at daybreak
two months hence and voting for Lieut..
Gov. Price, Democratic candidate for
Governor of Virginia, he's going to
climb into his airplane and fly to Kan
sas. Woodring's other legal residence, to
cast ballot for Roosevelt and Garner.
The Acting Secretary of War apparently
qualities as a Virginia voter because OF
his tenancy of Woodlawn, near Mount
Vernon, famous Colonial mansion OF
Nellie Custis, which is now the property
of Mrs. Oscar w. Underwood, widow OF
the Democratic Senator from Alabama.
X y X
Another Republican who will shortly
break out in book form is former Secre-
tary of State Henry L. Stimson. He will
discuss the United States problem in
Asia, in work entitled THE Far East
ern Crisis" 1t will deal in detail with
the epochal events which followed
Japan'S conquest of Manchuria and the
delicate negotiations which led to the
proclamation of the StimSon doctrine
of non-recognition of illegally acquired
territory. New Dealers await with par
ticular interest Col. Stimsons personal
account of the famous pre-inaugural
conference with President-elect Roose-
velt at New York in January, 1888, when
the incoming administration pledged
that there would be no change in the
American attitude on the Manchurian
issue.
II Il II
It's an amusing coincidence that Gov.
Landon, who personifles the economy
issue in the 1896 presidential campaign,
happens to have been born in Mercer
County, Pa, whence also originated John
w. Steele, famed as Coal Oil Johnny"
the greatest legendary money spender
Evening star., 1936-09-04
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES &. TRACEWELL.

the soldiers was but a more rigid derby
(even though it looked for the world
like basin upside DOWN. The jaunty
overseas cap was really just that--a
cap, with beret tendencies.
The beret, popular in this country
since the war as beach and outdoors
head covering. is really just form of
cap with the brim left off.
The cap, by the way, is mans favorite
hat If it may be called such. but such
traditions of hardihood and self-reliance
have come down with it that the city
man, by and large, is afraid of it.
Many a white-collar worker would
shrink from wearing cap from a reason
he would not suspect, perhaps. or ever
admit, even to himself. 1t would put
forSooth! BY the term, of course, he
means the man who works with his
hands at so-called manual tasks. Not
that he disapproves of suchs work, but
that he simply does not do it himself
and does not wish to go under false
colors.
Hence the cap is, now and forever, the
handy mans hat, and all else who wear
1t are in sense sailing under the wrong
flag.
Small boys, who have not had time to
build up such silly traditions, nominate
the cap as their favorite.
Only men of big body and big head
ought to wear derbies or silk hats.
Perhaps that is the real reason the
bulk of mankind take to the felt, which
is right for every size.
The athlete. the thin necked. the large
and the small can find in the infinite
variety Of the felt hat something to wear
with modest degree of selfapproval
at least.
Those who are of the type to put on
any hat and look good" in 1t do not
know the subtle agonies of doubt which
assail their less fortunate brethren.
To the latter type male, next to stand
ing in front of mirror while the clerk
tries to convince him that a size 80
coat is not too large, when he knows
all the time that 38 is what is needed,
the most unhappy experience is to try
on hats.
Women love this sort of thing, but not
the sensitive big-nosed males. The latter
sweat pure blood while trying to find
hat which strikes them as at least
acceptable.
The stress and strain Of purchase
shows itself in the loving way with
which many men hang onto their ia
vorite felts.
They wear the same one or ones year
after year, sometimes with an annual
cleaning and overhauling, or blocking,
as it is called.
Some do not go to this trouble, and it
is not altogether slackness. but rather
admiration for and fondness Of an old
friend.
The old felt takes on friendly curves,
so much so that the affair becomes a
veritable part Of the personality, hat
with a past, present, and maybe a
future Gin the trash barreD. But they
do say that no hat today is lost, even
in the trash. but that it may blossom
forth again in time and far distant
city with a fancy band and nobody
knows the difference.
If so it merely shows the love men
have for old hats, the older the better.
the better the older. An old hat, old
shoes and an old dog-theres combina-
ton for you.
Evening star., 1936-09-04

pressive case in supplying the details
that were absent in her original COM
piaint. Commissioner Allen is remedy
ing the defects that have been shown
to exist. SO, for the sake both Of the
Fairgrounds and the w. P. A., Miss
Baker and Commissioner Allen might
call it draw. w. p. A. serves its legiti-
mate purpose in finding work for idle
hands to do, but this work should not be
construed as meeting the equally legiti-
mate demands of the regular municipal
services.
Evening star., 1936-09-04

AS the long arm Of Autumn reaches
out of the shadows Of the future it
plants its fingers on more than the
flowers of the garden.
1t puts new felt hats on the heads Of
sundry males, fearful already OF being
caught with straw hats beyond the
official time.
The modern felt is really the badge
and insignia of manhood.
1t is "the" hat Of the modern male In
civilization.
This is SO established that many per-
sons pay respect to hats rather than to
men
The same fellow, without his hat, Is
nobody, whereas if his hat adorns his
head he is given the respect due him.
He who goes bareheaded, even in the
Summer, must expect to miss some
portion of the prestige which otherwise
might be his.
Even the dogs understand this.
Many a good pup, faithful to its duty
of guarding the ancestral domain, barks
furiously at the Undated, or, rather, the
hated, which is equivalent to dis
inherited to dog.
neat felt perched atop his Uranium, he
is recognized by the same dog as belong
ing to the scheme of things.
A parcel may throw the faithful fellow
of, but aside from that little handicap
the pedestrian will receive the approval
of most members of the tribe.
MY master" says the dog with a
canine sneer, never carries anything"
Dogs are no wiser than humans, how
ever, in this respect.
The most moronish Of persons under
stands fully that felt hat is the badge
of something or other.
It is above the straw, even the silk
topper, in this respect, although the
latter in sense is supposed to represent
more.
Actually the felt tops them all. because
the great average man has decided on it..
He has given it the prestige which he
has wished to give it.
It is lin STYLE" whatever that means
That means. If anything, that everybody
else is doing it.
Style is that simple.
Look around you, these cool days Cor
were when this was written) and see
the felts creeping out on a hundred
heads every morning.
No waiting for official day, September
IS, because actually men are getting
restive. While they ought to be willing
to wear the good old straw as long as
possible, actually they pine for the felt
and its prestige.
They have clear pictures of themselves
at ease in felts.
More at ease, that is, than in straws.
Vastly more so than with no hat at all
The felt is every mans hat, and that
makes it right.
No hat at all. WELL that is just some
mems popularity. The hatlesS vogue
among young fellows does not make it
right at all, even in warm weather, if
the opinions of some are to be regarded.
Americans pride themselves on their
liberty. but they have no liberty when it
comes to hats.
The mode is SET and that's that.
The straw, the felt, the derby, the
silk hat, or topper, the cap
These five and what others?
There are, of course, many variations
of each theme. But the iron hat OF
Evening star., 1936-09-04
Value Received,

Value Received.
Singin bout de sunny sky
Dat smiles on you an me!
Singin bout de butterfly
An singin' bout de bee!
De lazy days done drift along,
Wit music an wifi rhyme
I mos fohgot to sing song
Bout Watermelon time!
De sunshine come an warmed 1t dar,
A-sleepin' on de ground.
De honey bee informed it'whar
De sweetness could be found.
Although de rose has done got lost,
De year is in its prime,
An nvin' sho Is wuf de cost
In watermelon time.
"'Tain' no use of remindin' q friend
Of his faults" said Uncle Eben. de
chances are dat his relations has done
told i'm all about EN-"