davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

It should be an incentive to all teach CTS to belong to their Retirement Fund Association to learn that they have at the present time $12,000,000 to their credit. The most recent statement shows this amount in the fund, If the state now makes its annual contributions, thus put ting the fund strictly on the reserve basis originally planned, 1t will insure further the 9,45l members of the association of adequate funds upon their retirement from the profession. However, the state has still to pay up the money it owes the fund during the years it was not on the reserve basis It will be recalled that the state begged off several years ago when it was bit difficult to find funds to pay It's share towards the retirement fund. We never learned whether the state agreed this year to put the fund back on the reserve basis, but if 1t did, as recent news item would indicate, then 1t may be some time before 1t has paid up its deficit in 1t. It is encouraging, though, to find the state now contributing to the fund.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
Traffic Safety

New York City made memoraple event of running the last tram on lts west Side Death Avenue" where, until a few days ago, trains had operated down the center of thickly populated tenement street. From Forty-second street to SiXty-first street, Death Ave- nue" crossed city thoroughfares, present inc a constant threat to motor traf1lc and pedestrians, in spite of corps or watchmen Lately, the railroad opera tions had been limited to freight trains, but that did not greatly lessen the threat to life and property, not to mention the inconvenience of having engines and cars rumnling ur and down the street day ana night. Even in tenement, that can pc aggravating,
 Trains now have been switched onto new open-cut right-of-way that eiim- mates crossing hazards, minimizeS aust and noise, and permits the railroad ltseI to operate on a faster, more ettlclent schedule. New York, of course, IS to be congratulated. But more important, u deserves to be emulated. For there are a hundred and one big and little com munities scattered over the nation WlIn similar dangerous mixtures of street ana through railway traffic.
 III some cases, Ille GOWll 10 sahiioSC SaSAAi mated by the railway as 1t "hedge-hops down to the main street, hugs the county courthouse and threads It's path between the rows of stores and business houses which comprise the heart of the com munity. These anarchronisms are the product of pioneer days when the towns were born and found their nourishment along the fronter-breaking railroads. But no less outdated are all the nations remaining grade crossings, obstructed railway approaches and omissions in sig nal warning or watchman facilities, both in town and out in the country.
 Engineers and planners are deVislng clever schemes for subway and elevated crossings in an effort to eliminate death hazards by completely separating the dit- ferent traffic arteries. But these projects cannot be put into effect overnight Improvement is possible, however, through steady hammering at the points of least resistance. It was 80 years be- fore New York got the trains off Death Avenue" But any father or mother along that avenue will tell you 1t was worth the effort And as long as life and property are at stake, 1t will be worth any conlmunity's trouble to begin wedding out the dangerous holdovers from a genera lion when speed" was not considered so Important.
 Meanwhile, until this bigger program IS made effective, the individual motorlst still has his obligation to stop, Look and listen." It is hackneyed warning, but ts merit in its own field of traffic safety 6 undisputed. For 1t still saves lives
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
Save The Pines

There are many fine stands of pine in this state which have been preserved through the timely intervention of inter- ested persons or organizations. Right now 1t would seem as if such timely inter- vention would be needed to save what 's regarded as one of the finest stands still left in Connecticut. We refer to what are known as the Shaker Pines in Enfield. They were planted by the Shakers about seventy years ago when this religious sect had many followers in this section of the country. Enfield as far back as 1787 had Shaker colony.
 According to authentic reports the Shaker Pines were planted about 1871 with little or no attention paid to scien- tific planting by the Shakers. There were red and white pine seed scattered broadcast, but perhaps due to the soil and altitude of the spot the trees thrived nightly. AS a result today what is left of the Shaker Pines is a tremendous stand. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association has interested itself in saving the pines that still stand and hopes to be able to secure the formation of society in Enfield that will preserve them until the state can take them over.
 The association reports that near Shaker Pine Lake the trees are magnifi- cent and untouched throughout their seventy years of growth. Nearer the rail- road commercial numbering has taken place on a big scale. As result every single stick of wood standing has been cut down regardless of size. There isn't even a seeding left in this particular region so thorough was the cutting. This is without doubt proof of the tremend- Dus commercial possibilities in the Shaker Pines and the need, also, of protecting mem from any further cut-offs on this lnale. We are glad to see the Connecti' ,rt Forest and Park Association inter- Isted in saving the trees, for 1t means Q powerful and Interested group Is at work
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
Same Old Story

For long years we have wondered out loud and complained in strident tones about the fact that cities and towns in Connecticut contributing so much to- wards the support of our state highways, while they are denied anything but meagre support for their own streets and roads by the state. It may not seem to follow that the state should care for the upkeep of city streets when it has so many miles of state roadway to be built and maintained However, when you analyze the facts you can see the argu- ment that is easily built for the munich palities.
 Motorists who ply over the city streets six out of seven days and rarely venture off them, save, perhaps, on Sundays and holidays are contributing money every
 mile they drive to the state coffers They pay tax on gasoline consumed, not to mention their own personal driving license and car registration. This money goes to the state and is not apportioned back to the towns, save for an annual grant of $17,500 which is ear-marked for dirt road improvements Another thing to be brought out is that fines levied in local courts on motorists for traffic viola tions are paid over to the Motor Vehicle Commissioner.
 Again there is no apportionment to the towns or cities in which the violations occurred and the fines were paid. It may be necessary to the efficient operation of the motor vehicle and highway depart ments that it have such funds as fines and taxes to depend upon, but after all IS said and dcne you can't then blame cities and towns for trying to shift mainten- ance of streets on main highway routes to the highway department. It's the natural consequence of not letting local communities share in revenues raised by them, but which they are not allotted share of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

That's as 1t should be! The new merit system in the Connecticut government will start right in the office of Harry w. Marsh, director of the new state person. nel department. Positions in his office are to be allotted shortly and they will go to those who win them on merit only. Examinations are to be held at Hartford on Saturday, July 31, for the positions of chief examiner and junior examiner. As can be concluded from the titles the two officials will have much to do with fu- ture employees of the state, whatever de- partments they may be seeking employ ment In.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
Answers To Questions
upvs,sAt issf, MA
By Frederick M. Kcrby

c. Is 1t possible for anyone to buy obsolete rifles from the U. S. governmentP
 A. Only members of the na- tional guard, or civilians who are members of organized rife clubs.
 c. How many soda fountains are in the United States?
 A. The number has been esti- mated ct between 9oooo and 100000, exclusive of small soft drink and ice cream cone stands.
 e. Can aluminium be weldedp
 A. Yes.
 e. Who is Paul Berdanierp
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
A Book a Day
No Neutrals in Age of Revolt and Riot
 BY BRUCE CAPTION

Tn Might Between the Rivers" (Macmillan: $2.50), R. L. Duff fus examines the predicament Of the innocent bystander in time of riot and instruction.
 The scene is a pleasant little New York cocktail party which, by some oversight-takes place on the evening that ageneral strike is called on Manhattan Island.
 None of the guests feel that they have any particular stake in the strike. They are, for the most part, members of the middle class and they ask only that em- ployers and workers settle their dispute without bothering them too much. Tn their innocence, they take it for granted that that will happen.
 But it doesn't. The strike and the efforts to repress it create Q revolutionary situation, and the innocents get caught in the cog wheels. To some of them 1t is no more than 8 nuisance; a suburban couple has to walk instead of tak- Ing the subway. and a predatory department store executive finds his designs on a young woman un- expectedly thwarted. But to some o fthem it is tragedy. with vio- lence and sudden death at the end.
 MT. Duffus has told a tense and gripping story, but 1t seems to me that he lets you of just aobut where you got on. His characters make much fine talk--a little too fine to sound real. some of it. about violence being the wrong way to settle things-yet they seem to have no alternative to suggest except an amorphous sort of hrotherly love which does mol seem to me to jell.
 But he Is not, after all. 60 much trying to suggest a solution as tc voice e complaint against an age which, settling It's troubles vio- lently. refuses to let people stay on the sldellnes. That complaint he voices eloquently.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

your plans for this afternoon?"
 "oh, don't know yet" he replied, absorbed with the work on his desk.
 "But Franklin. I have arrange. ments to make"
 "Oh, everything will be all right. Don't worry about me, mother"
 But I cannot order the car without knowing" Mrs. RoOse. welt persisted.
 "oh all right. all right" re- piled her son, still trying to con- centrate on his deskwork. And finally his mother, q little dis couraged, went out.
 Merry.G o-Round
 Three candidates are in the field for national commander of the American Legion. They are Ray Kelly of Detroit, Daniel Dougherty of Massac achusetts, and Vincent Carroll of Pennsylvania. The election will be held at the conclusion of the Legion's con- vention in New York city late in September If Congress ad. journs in time to permit him to make the trip, Representative George IT. Tinkham, wealthy Bos- ton bachelor, plans to visit the Gobi desert. Tinkham has hunt ed big game all over the world but says the Gobi desert trip is for sightseeing purposes only. Ills eyes are no longer good enough for hunting.
 Copyright. 1887, by United
 Feature Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

The latest angle in Connecticut's com plex milk industrial situation is the ap- pointment of Samuel W. Tator, former federal milk administrator in the Boston market. He is to make a study of milk dealer costs for Milk Administrator S.. Mclean Buckingham. Whether his find ings will solve the many difficulties that keep occurring in the Connecticut milk shed remains to be seen. It's one of those situations that almost seem unsolvable.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
Selected Poem
HOME

HOME Josephine Johnson in the New York Times) An old house on a moonlit hill, Serene and white its columns gleam Light flows across the wide door-sil The wet Jagged walk sends back beam. The scent of boxwood fills the air, The Summer shower is overpast. The great old oaks watch quietly Above the dusk their shadows cast No voice is heard, but through the trees Dim shapes I see, that come and go Blown by the tender, wandering breeze The gentle ghosts of long ago! o haunt of happy childhood days! O shrine of youths first golden dreanS In fancy down your woodland ways I walk beside your singing streams Through all the changing years you rest Unchanged and changeless strong and true. My steps may range from east to vest My heart forever turns to youl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
Current Comment

The very foundations Of aeihoc- racyy are based on the foundation that most people are good. John c. Winant. former Social Security Board head.
 
 The splitter should come back to the major and minor leagues end I'm going to see what can be done about it. .~burieIgh orlnes. former master of i,,a asffthail
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09


 It specifics that the President should ask the governors of Illi- nois, Ohio and Pennsylvania to propose to the Bethlehem, Repub- lie, and Youngstown steel corn- panies that they accept the set- clement arrangement negotiated by Governor M. o. Townsend of Indiana between Inland Steel and the c. I. O.
 Under this formula, there was no agreement directly between the employer and the striking union. Instead, both wrote letters to Governor Townsend accepting certain terms.
 These provide that Inland will bergain collectively with the 0. I. o. for the workers which 1t rep- resents in the companys plants, and will not discriminate against employees because of their 0. I. o. membership. Beyond this the company agreed to nothing. The settlement Is a distinct defeat for the O. I. o. since 1t represents a complete backdown from the unions demands for a contract. c. I. o. on the Run
 Despite this trouncing, Steel- man has informed the President he Is confident the 0. I, o. will accept similar terms with the other three obdurate independent steel firms. Privately, government la bor officials are of the opinion that c. I. o. leaders now are anxious to make a strategic re- treat" and that any proposition enabling them to wind up the steel controversy with semblance of recognition will be accepted.
 This does not mean that the union is giving up hope of forc- ing the Independents to sign a contract eventually, but merely that 1t Is retiring from the field of the present in order to re- organize and strengthen its forces in preparation for another drive later.
 NOTE-As successor to the late Hugh L. Kerwin. pr. Steelman brought to his difficult post a wide and varied background. Tall, 8 drawling southerner, he worked as a youth in the wheat fields and lumber camps, served in the army during the World war and worked his way through college to a Ph.D. degree. Before joining the Conciliation Service in 1933 he was Professor of Economies at Alabama College.
 No SnOb
 Governor George Earle of Penn sylvania is a Harvard man and is fond of telling storeis about the school. One of his favorites is about the reputed snobbishness of Harvard students.
 Earle says this is grossly exag- gerated and to prove it relates this yarn:
 A member of one of Harvard's exclusive clubs was accused of being a snob, to which he re- torted:
 Mot at all. Why, I was . member of the crew for three years and I knew every single oarsman to speak to ex- cept two fellows way up in the bow"
 Friendly Slaughter
 Senator Ebert Thomas of Utah, member of the Civil Liberties Committee, addressing a Chicago policeman who testified that he and his colleagues had nothing against the Memorial day pickets who they killed:
 T see, you shot them only in . friendly manner"
 Presidents Mother
 When the President visits his mothers home at Hyde Park he becomes, at least as far as she is concerned, just a small boy again. She can't get out of the habit Of planning for him and wanting Co know in advance sust exactly what he Is going to do that day.
 Franklin" she said on ono visit Co Hyde Park, ssWhat arc
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

1. Which teams won the Amer ican and National League pennants in 1885?
 9. What are the pigment prin- ary colors?
 3. Where is the University of California?
 1. At the mouth of which river is the city of Leningrad?
 6. Who was Maud Powell?
 6. What are the three states of matter?
 2. What was the name of Brutus's wife?
 8. Who was President of the U. s. when the first census was taken2 Q. What Is iconoclasm?
 10. Where Is the Copper River?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

R e D u Q llcau II newspapers of the state. We have seen May or M McLeVy's dem onstration of the ciN's affairs uplfted to the skies by the Terrible T W 1 n s Of Printers Alley as 0 model to be initiated by the city of Wa terbury. There is Q slig h t A ama
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
A Thought for Today

And they were married into the tamihcs oi the sons oe ManaSseh the son of Joseph and their inheritance remained in the family Of their fathers-NumberS 36:lS
  What God hath joined together no man snail put asunder; God will take care oi that-G' Bernard Shaw,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

What is courage? The Royal Canadian Mounted Police may always "get their man" but one of them tainted when a woman dentist in Toronto was about to pull his tooth.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
Daily Almanac

Moon sets o:2i p. m. tdaylight time). Sun rises 5:2e a. m; sets s:26 D. m. (day- light tine).
 All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset.
 High tide at Milford Saturday. July i0 Hi .. m.: low tide. 7:S4 a. m. Daylight saving ttme).
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09


 ory on the part of state editors over the deal between the Social ist seraphim in tho 1885 senate and the Republican cheruhim in the same body, . deal upon which canny Jasper had the chance and the power to turn down his Scotch thumb but neglected to do 90. That, of course Is gone with the past and should not be cast up now to confute Mayor McLevy's newspaper canonisers. I should not have described that odorifer- ous political mesalliance as Q "deal." Only low, abandoned Democrats engage in ideals" Re- publicans and Socialists unite in coalitions for the public good and the protection of the taxpayer. However, as 0 result of the occur" renee I for one refused to consider Bridgeport as the anteroonn of the Gate of Heaven and declined to look upon Jasper, with all his ad- mirable qualities, as Q political St' Peter. Much less as Q civic SIT 0alahad. His sponsorship of the scheme whereby The Park City had unloaded on its citizens an airport from under which certain plutocrats who had sunk their money wished to crawl, gives me the impression that Jasper the Socialist Is not as adept in de- tecting the wiles of the predatory rich as he might be.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

A. He is e well-known American artist and cartoonist.
 c. Is 1t correct English to say, Tt IS who is to blame?"
 A. No; the correct form is, Tt Is who am to blame"
 c. How many of the presidents of the United States were slave owners2
 A. Washington, Jefferson, Madi. son, Monroe, Jackson, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Johnson and Grant. The first eight were siave-owners in the full sense of the term.
 If you want . copy of our book. let Cold Dishes. Desserts, Drinks" write the Waterbury Democrats Washington Bureau, 1912, Thir. teenth Street, Northwest, Wash. ington, D. c. Enclose cents in postage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
NEW PLANTO SETTLE STEEL STRIKE LAID BEFORE F.D.R.
" DREW PEARsoM

WASHINGTON, July 9. - new plan to settle the steel strike has been laid before the President by Dr. R. Steelman, recently appointed head of the U S. Concl- ioti
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

ToDAY's COMMON ERROR Never say, He has nothing and never will have;" say, never will have anything;" or "He hasn't anything and never will have"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
BY WAY of NO HARM
 -by- James William FitzPatrick
- hY -

The oplons conclusions appearne below ara those Oe tho writer alone They not uecear those Oe sdors THE DEMOCRAT they construed nvaEAhS
 reflection oe thelr vewpoinN.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
T st Y o UT Knowledge

Can you answer seven of these test questions? Turn to last page for the answers.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

Europeans are hopelessly old-fashioneo They still think thrift is virtue.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
Heaven-.-.Plus

Heaven--PluS
 We are accustomed to seeing the city of Bridgeport praised to the heavens as an example Of municipal plu-perfection by the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09

teen years as . clerk In the de- pertinent. Under the civil service rating she wound up asa junior clerk with Q probable reduction in pay. Under the same civil service rating her duties were defined. There appears from the newspa- per accounts of her hearing by the Civil Service Commission some vagueness about the reason for her dismissal, whether 1t was insubor- dination or inconipetency. What ever the reason It's effect was the same, the young woman lost her job. Under the so-called Merit System . city employee can be fired at any time, no matter how long his term of service. Point Number One.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
Rrideenort Merit System

Bridgeport Merit system
 One oi the devices by which Mayor McLevy has lifted Bridge port from the sink of Democratic iniauity and the gutter of Repub- lican incompetence is the Civil Service Commission with US hand-maid the so.called Merit Plan. Whether the same pro. cedure was pursued in Bridgeport to get the scheme adopted as is being carried on in Waterbury just now, l do not know. l have been told that 1t was slipped across but I cannot believe 1t. No one who is interested In such an inspired plan to wrest city jobs from the control of the "spoils. men" would ever dream Of doing any such thing. Nothing but the highest motives animate them Nothing but the good of all the people all the time Is in their minds. Never would--or could such crusaders for efficiency, econ. omy, courtesy, devotion to duty, and love for mankind be guilty of the skuilduggery for which politi- clans are noted. No slree! No more than Socialists and Repub- iicans could become allies in . deal to keep control of the state senate out of Democratic hands m 1885. Well, anyway, Bridgeport has It's Merit System and it's Civil Service and all goes as merry as a marriage bell" Or did until re- gently.
 Fired
 A young woman employed in the Department of Public Purchases another of the McLevyian means to civic salvation set up by Jasper was fired from her job. She had worked until laid of for four
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-09
No, Thank You

Here in Waterbury an attempt was made to put ove" one of those airport things on the city admin- istration. An invitation dripping with sweetness was given Mayor Hayes to take over a similar proj.. ect in which some of our local bankrollors had dropped their in- nocent spondulics. His Honors blistering refusal to saddle the taxpayers with e burden, the ear- rying of which would have brought them nothing but a back. ache even as its support had brought nothing but 6 headache to the come-ons who created 1t, sent the pretty, little plan for muni- cipai CD improvement to the cleaners. In the local situation some of the gents who wished Mayor Hayes to hold the bag tor them were among his bitterest critics on the score of extrav" aGance. In the Bridgeport thing am informed, the gents who un' loaded their airport on Mayor Mc' Levy are his staunchest support CTS.