davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
A Thought for Today
"Last Word" on War

Divided on almost everything else, members of the present Congress seem to be agreed on one thing: that above every- thing else the American people want to stay out of any and all wars that may come over the horizon. In this the con- Qressn,en undoubtedly reflect the wishes of their constituents. No one can doubt that the people of this country want peace. War may start overnight In almost any part of the world; If public sentiment means anything, this country will stay out If 1t be humanly possible.
 But the peace-loving people of the United States might as well understand one thing. Under existing laws, they can De taken into war against their own will, and they can do nothing about 1t but take it and like 1t. Tn the first place, any President can, If he wishes, naneuver the country into spot where war be. comes practically inevitable. Wilson did 1t, intentionally, in the World War; any succeeding President could do the same.
 Tn the second place, 1t Is Congress that declares war Susceptible to pressure of all kinds, Congress might conceivably declare war when majority of the peo- pie did not want war. It is still an open question, for instance, whether a major ity of Americans wanted to go to war with Germany in the spring of 1917.
 There arc now pending In the Senate two bills which aim to remedy this situa- ton. Introduced by Senator LaFolette of Wisconsin and Senator Capper of Kan. sas, these bills call for constitutional amendment which would put any declar- Ntion of war up to a nationwide refer- endum for ratification. Unless major: ity of the people voted for war, war could not be declared. The only exception would be in case of invasion by foreign power of the United States or any other North American nation.
 "Every man in the nation will jump to arms in case the United States Is invaded or threatened with invasion," says Sem ator Capper "But when 1t comes to war overseas, the American people believe they have the right to pasG on their par. ticipation in such wars, and l agree" And says Senator LaFollette: "1 believe that If the American people are compe- tent to elect congressman and senators to make such tremendous decision, they are equally competent to arrive at the decision themselves"
 It Is pretty hard to find any flaws In that sort of logic. Early action on one or the other of these two bills would be advisable The danger of new world war seems to be getting greater all the time. Here Is one safeguard to which the American people are entitled - the right to say for themselves whether they shall send armies to fight overseas. The machinery to give them that right might aS well be put In motion at once.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
McLevy Government

Horace D. Taft former headmaster at Taft School in WatertoWn and pror1i. nently identified with the merit system and peace movements in this state, urges city and town officials of Connecticut to study how things are being done down in Bridgeport If they want good govern. ment At recent address in Bridgeport he paid high compliment to the McLevy administration. Among other things he said 1t was "the envy of all people who read about it'.
 Further than that he remarked that "Ofilcials of other cities should come down here to find out how 1t is done. It is an example of what the citizens of q city may accomplish If they will take an active interest in the good government. :. "A good portion of his talk, entitled, Training for Citizenship, was devoted to an attack on the spoils-system of gov- ernment
 There are many schools of thought on Bridgeport government here in Connectl- cut. Most of them will agree, however, that Mayor Jasper McLevy Is giving the city economical government which is, perhaps, what 1t needed most of all and what the citizens down there demand. Certainly they would not be returning the Socialist mayor to office If 1t was merely question of endorsing the So- cialist party. The situation down in the Park City goes deeper than that, for Mayor McLevy's support goes deeply into the roots of both the democratic and re. publican parties.
 Bridgeport is fortunate, too, in that in the last few years for various reasons, known and unknown, Bridgeport has been able to do just about as 1t pleased in the Legislature. It was one of the first cities in the state to win recognition from the State Highway Department and to shift maintenance of streets and high ways from itself to the state. True the roadways and bridges lie along main routes, but they are in the city proper
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

Labor troubles are responsible for all sorts of incidents in the fife of the aver- age American. Take, for example, the case of Dr. and Mrs. Walter F. Welton of New York City. They recently purchased residence on East 6lst Street. They had the house completely redecorated inside and out, including a new coat of stucco for the outside, which cost $1,500. Mov- ing in last Wednesday they were awak. ened by nelghbors early one morning this week to find that vandals had left twelve splashes of red aniline dye on the new stucco walls. The job Is ruined and will have to be done over. The owners wife could only trace the act of vandalism to Q recent visit she had from an alleged painters union representative" who told her to fire the painters engaged on the job and hire union men. Whether or not this is true or even partially true, it's a black eye for organized labor in that people will be quick to draw conclusions and to frame opinions. Incidents like this hurt the cause of labor tremendously.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
Press Comment
POMERENE OF OHIO (New York Hcrald. .Tribune)

It may be th0t among the icad- ers of the Democratic party there are only c few left who would hold with the old.fashioned, individuals istic views of Atlee Pomeretie, who Is dead in Cleveland at the ago Of Bevonty-three. The high Democrats today may Do collectlvists, totali. tarians, pinks, liberals (if that word means anything ct oil any nicre) socialists, streemlined Marxists or what not. One thing N certain they are not Pomorenes. And yet it would seem that this party should honor his memory; he was for Q long time ono of tho ablest, most respected and corSistently hard. headed representatives of the more conservative wing of democracy. geriovB.mlnded from boyhood, he was called in Washington, "The Gloomy Senator" but he could be charming none the less.
 Mfr. Pofnerene's services to his country were manifold. His twelve years in the Senate were distin. glished by unninching stamina and hard work. IEe helped Owen J. Rob. erN prosecute the Teapot Dome cases. Ne was called in ct the start of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. He asserted his inde- pendence Of mere party regularity on many occasions when it required political courage to do SO. He op. posed the Plumb Railroad plan bee cause he thought 1t was wrong. He voted against the prohibition amendment. For MT. pomerene was not terrified by any special pressure group, whether 1t was the Anti.saloon League, blocs of Ger. man sympathizers during the war, oy by any labor unions, however many votes they might have con. trolled. When he felt that the monetary policy of the present ad. lninistration was mistaken and ull- sound, he said 60. He was c forth. right American of dignity and wis. dom.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
lnhumanitY

If the lower animals were very observ- ant, they might laugh cynically at the superior animals calling themselves "lordS of creation. The former usually get along with their own species. As for the latter, look at what is happening in the West Indian Island of Haiti, which is divided between the country of that name and Santo Domingo, or the Domin- ican Republic.
 Pressure of population has driven the Haitians lately over the border to find work. The Dominicans resent that, wanting their jobs for their own people. It is a common feeling. But see what they do to their immigrant neighbors.
 There have been great nassacres. De- minican prisons are said to have been packed with prisoners and all of them assassinated. An American correspond ent reports 1t as one of the major crimes of history. He writes further: "The rural police rounded up the Haitians in the different districts and brought them to Dajabon In bands of about 160. When they arrived there they were told that they could not cross by the bridge and were led six at time through the belt of forest south of the customs. Here men armed with clubs and bayonets awaited them. The men were clubbed first and then hacked to death with machetes Women were told to raise the right arm and were killed with three-pointed dag gers, and the children were tossed on bayonets"
 Five thousand are reported as slaugh- tered in this and other ways Mans inhumanity to man" seems to have no limit.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

vice-President John N Garner has taken new task down in Washington. He's going to grow grass on the front lawn of the White House. This has prac. tically been given up as an impoSsibility by White House gardeners. Owing to the many shade trees ordinary types of grass do not thrive there. But the vice-prexy thinks he has this problem well in hand and Is prepared to proceed with his plans. them. The only trouble is that there may be a difference between Texas and Wash. ington soils, not to mention climates
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

were two Japanese admirals, four captains and two commanders.
 Outmaneuverlng thAm, th0 fleet delayed departure for two days until tho tanker entered Che haEbOE After thls, ita clearance papers were held up for about Q week until Che fleSE was we'll out at seq. Meanwhile the Japanese officers were al- lowed Co view certain things whlch the Navy wanted them Co know about no more.
 These concerned the efficiency of tho fleet, which, among other facts, have given the Japanese more cause to worry about threats of American naval action, than the policy of any other foreign country.
 Simultaneously, suAve, shrewd little AMbAssadot. gAito has been reporting to hls government that no matter how strong the fleet, American public opinion will not permit It's r"a against Japan even to enforce economic aAHac- tons. Tn this he h probably right.
 Public oplMlon would not have permitted Roosevelt O pledge U. 2. ald to France An case of trouble in ind0. China. and it would not allow Reese. velt Co engage lm economic saiao- tlons--shough lt might have done 90 during the height oe the Shanghai disaster.
 Public opinion is one thing fascist nations do not have Co worry about, giving them c free. dom of action impossible to iuni. boring ships of democracy.
 Despite being stymied by puh- ilc opinion, Roosevelt advisers say he iS worried about two things: (i) the chances of . powerful Japanese empire firmly planted in China; (9D growing Fascist. NASl influence In South America.
 should both become strong they might execute on tho United States the same pinoer movement they are now using on Great Bri. tain: Japan tying up our fleet in tho Pacific, while the NaSi.Fas- cistS run riot in South America.
 THAT iS WHY U. 6. POLICIES IN BOTH ASIA AND SOUTH AMERICA ARE so CRUCIAL AT PRESENT.
 s (0opyright, ieS7, by United
 TeAture Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
NaSiS M SOuthbn,y .. German-American Bund Camp Termed Unden. ocratic Method in Democratic
 Country.
HARTFORD CoURANT

good old.fashloned way ct . town meeting called ostensibly to discuss zoning ordinance.
 No doubt exists concerning tho sentiment of the townspeople. Bred in the tradition of democracy, they arc extremely loath to have . large section Of their community given over to . camp dedicated to prin- ciples directly At variance with their own. Rugged hidiViduals them. selves, they understandably resent tho prospect that the Swastika and the goosestep, both symbols of regl- inentAtlon, may become Q part of the local scene. Yet their. devotion to democracy will Do no less com- ploto if they remember that frees dom of opinion B Fundamental to it. The members of the German American Bund hold convictions that are anathema to the citizens Of southbury and to most people i1 the United States, but AS long aA they conduct themselves iii accord. ance with the laws they are free to hold contrary opinions.
 Democracy b poorly defended by tho use of undemocratic methods, Tho people of eouthbury have al- ready given unE,istakable evidence that Nazism hos no chance to make headway among them or among the millions like them the country over, Ie the 0ermAn.American Dund hopes by It's camps to make converts among the convinced AdheFenN Of democracy h the United States, it plainly Is Up against hopeleSA task. 1t might flourish briefly O, persecution, but otherwise it seen4 destined to wither away like all other attempts to introduce an allen philosopohy into this country.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
In New York
By GEORGE ROSS

New York, Nov. 20--Pre-Yuletide Spirit Note: Arrangements already have been completed to feed Santa Claus on Chrlstmas Day In the great wassail hall of the Hotel Me- Aipin.
 1t M on annual feast in honor of the multiple Kris Krlngles who hitch their reindeer to the depart. ment stores and charity wards, and therefrom derive their seasonal live. lihood. For many years these bef,o. volent Santa Clauses were loft out of the convlviai fun on Christnaa Day. And their identities went up the chimney, instead of down, whef, their work was done.
 About three years ago, John J. Woelfie, who runs the McAlpin thought 1t high time Santa CiauA was Included in the holiday spirit So h0 sent out Q blanket invitation to all professional Kringles in town and asked thom in to dine witt, him. He has made tho banquet ar annual institution. And 50 tho sAns tas of tho Toy & Novelty Depart montS are not without 6 MT. Claua of their own, even if Mir. Woelfie doesn't don the traditional disguise Retiring Walkers
 Since no became Long Island squire c year ago, little b seen oi Jimmy Walker or his wife, the erst- while Betty Compton, in Manhat- tan's after-dark clubs.
 They lead the night life infre. quontly, and when they do, 1t fl generally never beyond . reasonably early hour.
 New Yorks ox.mayor seems tc prefer the zany Jack White over oil other night club entertainers. White also was the Walker favorite court jester even while Jimmy was ens trenched at City Hall.
 Incidentally. . Sunday gazette revived old times recently by splash- ing the news over the front page about Walkers having turned up 20 minutes late for Q wedding in which hc had the part of best manl Latest Quotations
 Stuart Aliens description of Char. lie Mccarthy: All wood and c yard Widc.
 And mlstaking this corner for on. other conducted by Ruth Miilett Ralph Watkins wants to know # one were playing the host to Helen Morgan, would t be correct to sug- gest that she draw up c plano and sit down2
 Joan Edwards observes that the only time Broadwayites will ever listen to lies about themselves - is when they are being praised.
 Every time Douglas Montgomery sees q nice press clipping about himself, he invariably turns tc friends and asks petulantly, Whats wrong with me2"
 Kicked Upstairs
 How misfortune often turns about and becomes q luck charm unto its victims is 6 matter Al Donahue has investigated. He submits this evi- dence:
 The Wright brothers might have never experimented with planes fl they had not failed with Q news- paper they published.
 H. c. Wells felt pretty badly when he was forced to leave his job aa clerk in dry goods store after he broke his leg. His misfortune turned out to be his good fortune, for in the year he was confined to bed he developed e writing talent.
 No less a mishap than a flve-year prison sentence for eMbezzlement turned o,IIenry Co . writing fife.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

and heretofore the state has shied away from taking control of them.
 Bridgeport, too, has benefited by the New Deal. No other city or It's admins. tration has taken advantage of the gold en opportunities as 1t has. That's not to its discredit, but it must be accounted for when totaling up the respective rner. it's and dernerits of Connecticut con1- nunities. We're not too sure that Bridge port has built better mouse-trap than other towns in the state.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
ToDAY's COMMON ERROR Never pronounce gondola--
 gon.do'.laI say gon'.do.la.

A. The treasury department does not distribute special coins to the public. The coin can be obtained from the Roanoke Colony Memorial association, Manteo, North Carolina.
 c. Which of tho faces that Qut- xon Dorglum is carving on the Black Hills, South Dakota, have been com. pleted7
 A. on September i7, 1887, the head of Abraham Lincoln was un. yelled and dedicated. The faces of Washington and Jefferson had pre-. Viousiy been finished. The fourth and final bust, Theodore Roosevelt, !s unfinished.
 c. What Is the average length of Q session of congreSs7
 4. Tn the iast fifty years the average hos been i07 days.
 c. Who introduced the schosso Into musical coinpos!tion7
 A. Beethoven, to tako the place of the fninuet, which waS not lively enough for his purpose.
 e. Did the American Indians have Slaves7
 A. Some of tho Cherokees, . few tribes along the northwest coast, and c few others had slaves.
 c. Hs 1t safe to leave food in an open tin can?
 4. Yes, but care should Do taken to keep 1t cool and covered.
 ls you want . copy of our book. let POPULAR ASTRONOMY, write Che Waterbury Democrats Washington Bureau, 1918 ThlF. teenth Street, Washington D. Q. Enclose 70 cents In postage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
A Book a Day
New York - Pictured
 on Broadcast Canvas BY BRUCE CAPTION

Elmer Rice has come 6 long way since his Pulitzer priSe-winning play, "etreet Scene" He chose for it, one street and one house on that street in New York. And now in his first novel, "finperiai City" (Coward McejAnr, 4S.00) he sweeps Aeross one broadest canvas of all, the whole oS AinerioA's biggest city.
 The result is c most astounding book, searching, dramatic, kaleldo. scopic. Into ats bulk have gone the criine, the graft, the society, big business, labor, love, religion of all New York, curlously ifiterninglod. Mir. Rice introduces you first to the members Of that incompatible fame fly, the CoiemanS, of tho great in. vestnaent House of CoieEnass and before you've moved very for you're tasting the dirt tho bad manners, tho nerveless fascination Of ail New York.
 MT. Rice strikes iisHutiierable graphic portralts-the prize fighter who turned cultural and crashed tho social register: Jacob Lefko. witz. the dellcatessen proprietor: Perry Kane, the fourthsFate actor who inaneuvered his way to Snils lions
 One feels that Mir. Rice sew vital need for this book. He makes much of the strife and the graft and the brothels, Battling labor provides one of the high dramatic moments cf the book when the city's power !s struck. But curiously intropeective ca hO is in the rest of his book, MT. Rice makes no conclusions, points no way out Of the imperialism" that is New York.
 Perhaps he neglected to do So purposeiy. Tn any event the novel will stand as on extraordinary pics turo of one of the most extraordii. ary cities on earth.-p. Q. Y.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

Representative Richard M. Kleberg of Texas says that if the Federal Govern rnent passes the present farm bill, 1t will be necessary to equip every farmer with @ set of logarithrn tables, g blackboard, and e calculus book. Skip the latter, for 1t would take highly-educated farmer to cope with the intricacies of calculus. If any arithemtical or geometrical proced- .ure was devised to vex the soul of man, 1t is calculus.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

Tho protests that have arisen in Southbury since the announcement that the Qerman.Amorioan Bund plans to establish c large camp within It's boundaries constitute heartcning evidence that NaSism has made no converts h that typ. teal rural town. For more than . week the store and the postofflce have buxzed with comment, on Sun. day two sermons were preached on the subject and this afternoon the whole matter will Do aired In the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
Selected Poem
THE WIND

THE WIND ~. I. Payne in the Christian Science Monitor A Awraith took whistle and whiStled last night. Coidly, jelly, shriil, 1t blew. Like scissors 1t cut out sharp designs Tn hollow sedges and shivering pines Chilling the chestnut and yew. A dryad took pipe and breathed Q note Softly, mellowy sweet, 1t grew And over the water and Shimmering pool It glanced and trembled sweet and cool Into the sea.Tiisty blue. Then Autumn in the quiet woods Tn lofty golden stiffness cast organ music like flowing tides Sonorous, deep, and soft besides Music of ages past.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
Daily Almanac

Moon rises 12:44 a. m.
 Sun rises 0:52 a. r1.; sets 4:27 D. m. All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset.
 Novembers days are almost numbered. This month has seen the countryside change from green to brown to seer Several biting frosts, plus sub-freezing temperatures and snowfall. have produced winter scenes. No further visible change will be apparent until budding time Ave months hence.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
GERMANS TEST SMALL AUTO

Berlin. (UP)--A poor mans car" has been perfected by German me- chanics and is being tested. The ve- hicle. known as the Peoples Car" i" has a speed of 50 miles on hour. runs 70 miles on c gallon of gaso- line, is . sedan.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

eN0w R88S eWe VesN Ses~WSsDs
 1. Tn the foot-hills of what noun. tains Is the city of Pasadena. Calf?
 2. Name the Duke of Windsor's closest American friend.
 3. What is manganese?
 {. What is the real name for the bird sometimes called Poor Joe' or "Blue Crane7"
 s. Is there such e word aS "ir- regardlesS?"
 6. Where in the Bible E the 0ol- den Rule7
 2. Name the British Secretary for Foreign Affairs,
 6. Who wrote Looking Back ward?"
 6. What is the name for a per- son, one of whose parents is of Q white race and the other q NegroS
 10. Tn which Belgian city was the recent "Nine-power Treaty" con- ference openeds
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

This nation would soon be all right again if everybody would stop explaining everything to us and give us chance to do a little thinking.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

The queerest town in America is Kala- rnazoo, Michigan. As If it's name were not enough, lt claims to be out of debt.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

WASHINGTON, November 26 - It is now an accepted trus of history that the Germans would never have started the World War had they known for certain in 1914 that Great Britain would enter the confict
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
Answers To Questions
YOUR QUESTIONS ANswEREE
asW'sAA IM @
By Frsdsrick M.. Ksrbs

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
 Enclose Q three.cent stamp for reply when addressing any ques. ton Of fact or information Co the Waterbury Democrats Service Bu. reau At Washington. Legal and medical advice cannot Dc given, nor can extended research Do un. dertakeM Bo sure oil mali ls cd. dressed to the WATERBURY DEMOCRATS SERVICE BU. REAU, 1913 Thirteenth Street, Washington, D. 0.
 THE EDITOR. e. AS a result of the poll of edl- tors made by tho New York World Telegram, what four radio progrAiil were voted outstAndlng7
 A.. 1. Jack Benny; 2. Fred Allen; 2. Rudy vallee;4. Bing Crosby.
 c. How did the names Tuesday and Wednesday originate?
 A. Tuesday was Tyrs day, named for the Morse god of war. Wednes- day was sacred to Woden, the chief deity of Morse mythology.
 e. Can I purchase Q Sir Walter Raleigh half dollar from tho treas- ury department9
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
Chances Of World War Rest On U. S., As On Britain In 1914;
 Fascism Enters Latin America;
 U, s. Public Not Aroused Yet
M wmgw WAnsUa

CThls the series eR Merry. oRound oe tho foreign aa problems confronting Che Roosevelt AdniniaaoMl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26
Test Y o c / Knowledge

Gan you answer seven Oe these test questions? Turn to lest page for the answers.