davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1937-12-17

Fire Siren Adds to Troubles
kept telephoning madly but it was o'clock
that night before help came, and by that time
we were almost frozen in our coats and furs
While this was going on the fire siren' set
off by the push of a button at my bedside
in case of burglars or other catastrophes, sounded
shrilly without the aid of human hands. A short
circuit, or something. One of the maids-a gir!
from small Southern town where sirens are
taken seriously-fainted in her fright.
All that seemed bad enough, but just as we
were going down to dinAer every fuse in the
house blew out. The poor dogs that were still
able to howl started in and felt like walking
right out of the house and closing it for GOOD.
After the fire was started, the lights turned
on, and peace restored once more I glanced
up at the ceiling of my bedroom and 1ouno IL
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
Strip-Tease Queen
Also to Shed Mate
COriO to We'd
Social Leader
Here, Report

Ann Corio, who has discarded
many and many a piece of wear.
ing apparel in her career as queen
Of burleSque's strip-teasers, is
about to discard her husband.
It is rumored that following the
divorce from the husband, which
most of her public never knew she
had, Ann will marry a Washing
ton social leader.
When she played at the Gayety
Theater last week, Miss Corio init
mated she was contemplating di-
vorce from Emmett Callahan, who
operates a string of burleSque
houses in New York.
Miss Corio credits Callahan for
her development into the big
money class of burlesque and let
it be known they are on the best
of terms.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17

Show FaIIacies of Democracies
Those few terse paragraphs from United
States correspondent in London seem to me to
epitouize one Of the greatest fallacies in our
sccalled democracies.
Eden In this instance stands before that
great body Of legislators which represents the
people, Of Great Britain. In their name mem
bers AK Eden, as a public jobholder. what is
going Oh in foreign affairs. They are anxious
to know. Their constituents will ask them. The
fate of the people may be at stake. Millions
of lives may hang merely by the stroke Of some
political pen or some whispered word Of states
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
Dear WASHINGTON ~ By Helen ENa,y

this country as Christmas presents from their new
American patron. Mrs Carr.
Those Polite Spanish
Not to make light OF the horror of civil war in
Spain, there was until recently chance for Ger.
tain government reforms in that country. It was
the custom, for instance, for each public official
in the capital at Madrid to begin teegraphic COM
munication to the most minor official in the re-
motest corner Of the remotest province with this
salutation: II kiss your hand honorable SIR"
The rest of the document might follow something
like this: eff you arrange to have the COW be-
longing to Senor de Giorgio stop eating the grass
on the meadow adjoining the property of Senor
Castillo, you will be fulfilling to the everlasting
credit of Spain the highest duties of your honor.
able office"
Home Work Behind
A long suffering husband out in Chevy Chase
has suggestion which may well revolutionize
the annual bazaars, which feature the school and
church attention during preChristmas seasons.
At dinner one evening the martyrs wife said
in her best "Ihope-you-willappre ppreciate-my-g good
deeds" tone that she had spent two hours at her
daughters school, sewing daisies on potholders
and stitching yellow bills on red gingham
chickens.
while you are In this sewing mood, why not put
some buttons on my pajamas?" was the glum
response. 'I can't even find my safety pins"
Then after few moments Of self-commiseration
came the Big Idea.
''Why don't you suggest that the school have a
booth at its bazaar where buttons can be sewed
on. It would go over big. Why, alone could give
them good days work."
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
Says Boake Carter

man. And Jobholder Eden answers, in effect:
Mind your business!"
That is an attitude which is part and parcel
of the dictatorship system. But it is also common
place in the democratic system of government
so commonplace, perhaps, that we fail to recog-
nize its inherent evil.
Politicians, when they win an election an6 climb
into necessary power, experience a strange meta
morphosis. From being genuine democrats they
suddenly blossom forth as little tin-pot demigods
They hlandly7 assume that THEY know what's
best for the people, although they never were
elected by us on that basis or on that under
standing. ~
When it serves their purposes to keep the pub
lie in the dark on an issue involving the welfare
of the country, they have no hesitation in so
doing. They answer: Mind your bLsiness!" or,
II can make no statement" And We pay 'em!
Privilege, But Is it Right?
To be sure, it is their right and privilege to
conduct their private affairs free from snoops
and peeps and nosey!parkers but when it comes
to public affairs they are only public servants
But you'd never guess it. If citizen rises to
question some peanut jobholder he is called
down, informed he is "impertinent." asked who
does he think he is. And we pay 'em!
There are some jobholders who still retain
enough decency in reply to a question, to answer,
II don't know" They are as rare as diamonds in
pig pen. And you readily concede the legiti-
macy of their answer. But SO per cent Of the
jobholders snarl: II refuse to make statement"
1.-THE opinions of BoGke Carter are his oDn and
not necessarily those of The Washington TtnteSO
The Washington times., 1937-12-17

ViouS statements, but ques-
TONERS were insistent.
Asked whether he would bear
in mind the desirability of
asking for compensation from
Japan (for the shelling OF
British gunboats) the Foreign
Secretary replied: eyes, sir"
He refused to reply to a ques-
ton on whether there had been
conversations with the Neither
lands government about de-
fense cooperation in the Far
East. "I can make no state
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
LEPER COLONY
HORRORS TOLD

The horrors of a leper colony
in a mid-Pacific hell upon earth,
was described by the Rev. Law
renee j. Wempe, of the Shrine OF
the Sacred Heart, in a talk at
the Jewish Community Center be-
fore the Fireside Discussion Group
of the Jewish Juniors.
Father Wempe based his dis
cussion on the martyr hero, Father
Damien, of the Order of the Con.
gregation of the Sacred Heart OF
Jesus and Mary, who labored
among the unfortunates on the
island Of Molokai.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17

When the front door at
friendship was thrown open
I thought for a moment that
I vas in the war zone Of
China. The horrible gas that
poured out was suffocating.
The servants we're running
around, and everyone was
highly excited.
It seems that the automatic
stoker had gone crazy and had
put too much coal in the
furnace, resulting in the clouds
of gas.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17

ington at the Mayflower. The
date-January 8-not the an.
niversary Of Jackson's birth.
day, but of his victory at New
orleans. The master speaker,
Franklin D. Roosevelt, talking
at the Mayflower dinner, will
be introduced over the air by
Postmaster General James A.
Farley from New York.
simultaneously, dinners will
be held in every State in the
country. Last time the Demo
Gratis broke bread together in
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
Scout Car Picks
Good Fire Location

A Fourth Precinct police scout
csr picked, out 2 fortunate place
to catch on fire early today. After
being operated continuously
throughout the night, the floor
board caught fire about 4::30 a.
m. while Policeman Spottswood
Gravelley was driving the machine
in the 400 block Virginia Ave.
S. w., where No. 4 Fire Engine
Company is located.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
PIT, A. MEETING

Members of the Armstrong High
School Parent-Teacher Association
will hold their second meeting of
the year tonight at 8 o'clock in the
school auditorium. A special pro-
gram of entertainment will in
clude a dramatic skit and Christ
mas music by the school.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
SCHOOL SERVICE

More than $50 Cardozo High
School students will participate in
the annual candlelight service to
be held Tuesday evening at 8
o'clock in the school auditorium.
The program will be given for the
parents and faculty and will in
clude the school orchestra and the
girls chorus,
The Washington times., 1937-12-17

all circles, to carry traffic NOV.
ing north and south.
Remove all street car tracks
from the downtown area and sub
stitute shorthaul buses.
Ban downtown parking.
Tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue
and Reservoir Road to K Street.
That ought to help.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
LINCOLN PARK MEETING

Members of the Lincoln Park
Citizens Association will meet
Monday night at 1870 o'clock in
Bryan School, on B Street be-
tween Thirteenth and Fourteenth
SITS. N. w., Alfred D. Calvert, pres
ident announced today.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
'1But." - :"

Handsome Anthony Eden, British Foreign Min
lister, was standing before the House of Commons
in London and the cabled dispatch ran along
In this fashion:
Eden at first was reluctant to answer ques
tions and said he had nothing to add to pre-
The Washington times., 1937-12-17

IflcI committee.
Here are a few Of the things
Colonel Seoane would do to solve
the traffic problem:
Remove all statues from all
circles and place them along q
pathway extending westward from
the Grant Monument.
Construct under-passes under
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
MedicOs Capture
18th Win in Row

Army Medical Center basket
ball team won its twelfth straight
game Of the season when it
trounced Fort George Meade on
the latter's court. $40.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
My Say

That beautiful song Home, Sweet Home" is
true most of the time, but every once in while
I think it is all mistake.
For instance, the other day went to very
dignified and enlightening meeting. Driving
home was thinking what joy it would be
to have night of quiet rest.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17

Would yOu like to have an income Of
500 q month for the rest OF your lifsP
This wonderful good fortune can be
yours IL you are the lucky winner Of
the great contest which will start appear
ing exclusively in the January issue
Of the American Weekly with the Sunday
Herald. Times
The Washington times., 1937-12-17

And now all good Democrats are going to eat
again in the cause Of the Party Pocketbook. Twen-
ty.five dollars plate this tine-at least in Wash
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
BUSINESS TAX
EvADER' FACES
PROSECUTION
Name Market Man
In Test Case

District officials moved today
in the first attempt to bring vio-
lators of the new business privilege
tax into court.
10 v. Morgan, Assistant Corpora
tion Counsel, drew up a formal in
formation against Fairfax Oyster,
local market man, charging him
with failure to pay the tax, and
sent it to Police Court for action.
MAKES TEST CASE
Morgan explained that Oyster
was selected for the first test Of
the legality of the new tax law,
because he had announced he
would not pay the tax on the
ground it was unconstitutional.
Meanwhile Corporation Counsel
Elwood Seal appeared before to-
days meeting of the District Com.
missioners and asked them to
authorize a roundup of violators
of the business privilege tax.
Seal furnished them with fig
ures which he said showed wide.
spread" disregard for the tax leg
islation. He said he expected
the Commissioners would direct
police Immediately to check on
all those affected.
REVENUE SMALL
District officials have indicated
the business privilege tax to date
has failed to meet expectations
as a revenue-producing measure.
Whereas approximately $3,000,0 900
was contemplated from this SOURCE,
they point out. returns so far IN.
dicate less than half that amotlnt
may be realized when the current
fiscal year closes next June.
Seal was noncommittal on
whether disappointment over the
returns inspired his recommends
ton to the Commissioners, but
made no secret of his findings.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
Col. SeOane Submits
D. G.. Traffic Solution

When Col A. Seoane of Third Corps Area headquarters
problem he attacks it. That why the colonel has writ
ten to Representative Ross Collins Democrat of Mississippi,
who has turned his suggestions Representative Vincent
Pamsano Democrat of Maryland chairman the Dis
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
WAYS AND MEANS?

The conference, therefore, will
concentrate largely on ways and
means to raise 100000 by bonds,
or some sort of public paper, which
the public will be asked to invest
in. Whether or not the District
can issue bonds, like other cities,
is a question; or can Mr.. Straus
issue notes or bonds with the
credit of the Government behind
them?
Other cities have to put UP 10
per cent of the cost of the projects
involved in the housing program.
Mr.. Straus allocate5 the cash and
then goes out and helps raise 1t.
However, the District of Colum.
bia. with the President as its head
man in many respects, does not
have the same leeway on money
raising as other communities.
The Washington times., 1937-12-17
President Calls D. C. Housing
Farley to Review Cash Status
TOMORROW or Monday
Is Considered as
Tentative Date
BY EARL GOODWIN

President Roosevelt today an.
nounced a conference tomorrow
or Monday, to find out whether or
not there really is any money in
Nathan Straus' $500,000,0 900 hous-
ing fund for alley clearance and
low-cost housing In the District.
At his press conference today he
volunteered the statement that
there is considerable doubt and
confusion as to whether or not
he can find any cash to allocate
the District, although the Presi.
dent himself is the head man on
local alley clearance ALLEGATIONS.
HOW IS QUESTION
The reason for the conference
tomorrow or next week, to be
attended by Col. James Roosevelt,
the Presidents son and secretary,
Nathan Straus, United States
Housing Administrator, and John
Ihlder, Districts Alley Clearance
chief, is to find out how to
allocate money when it isn't in
the fund. The reason it is not
available is because Congress
appropriated only a million
dollars to Mr.. Straus' housing
program, although Congress
authorized $500, 100000. So while
it may be sound and legal for the
President to tell Mr.. Straus to
give Mr.. Ihlder $7,OO0,OOO for
District Of Columbia alley clear
ance, it is quite impossible for
him to fork over such a sum un.
less someone rushes forward with
a pertinent suggestion as to how
to raise it.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-10-12
The Anxious Watcher
PrOgressiveness
Theme of Talk
Before Lions Club

That communities rise or fall IN
accord with the progressiveness OF
civic bodies, service organizations,
business interests and the local
newspapers, was declared by Paul
Jenkins, publisher of the Post and
Press in a speech at the Tuesday
luncheon of the Ell Centre Lions
club.
"a newspaper reflects the COM
munty behind it," jenkins declared
"An enterprising city with a leth-
argic newspaper, is city with
the brakes on. Activities OF its
social, service and governmental
agencies are retarded If the news
paper cannot properly assist, boost
and help"
The first obligation is therefore
to keep up with the tone of the
community, he said.
Likewise, a newspaper cannot
be any better than the community
behind it," he said. ITO render its
proper public service, it must be
sustained just as is any other busi-
ness"
Jenkins told of the circulation
growth of the newspapers and re-
lated steps in the present expan-
5sion program. He presented circu-
''lation maps illustrating the dis
tribution of subscribers.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-10-12
INDIAN FIGHTER
FRONTIERSMAN<
DIES IN VALLEY
Herbert Lewis, Early
Pioneer, Passes at
Imperial

Herbert Bradney Lewis, a
survivor of the Black Hawk
Indian uprising who helped
build a house 40 feet above
the ground when the snow
came to- its doorstep along what is
now the Canadian Pacific railroad,
died after a heart attack in his
apartment at Imperial Monday
night.
Death closed 10 years of service
for the 77-year-old native of South
Wales in the employ of the I'm
perial Irrigation Districts engin-
eering department. 1t ended a life
spent on the turbulent frontiers
of North America. ------
Carrying out one of the last re-
quests made by the veteran, Capt.
Charles P. Delp, chief of the dis
trict's mapping section, arranged
a Masonic funeral with services at
3 pm. next Tuesday at the B. E.
Lemons mortuary. Lewis was a
member of CaleXico Lodge, F. and
A. M. 412 since 1922.
Lewis was born at Cefn Golen,
the family home in Llandilo, Car
marthenshire, South Wales on
May 81, 1860. He was the son of
a barrister. At 81 he crossed the
sea to Canada and was employed as
Continued on Page 8; Col. p
Imperial Valley press., 1937-10-12

Mrs. Kenyon and Mrs. John T.
Rice, her sister, who were with him,
escaped serious injury, they tele-
phoned relatives in FL Centre.
Skids in Gravel
The accident occurred on the
Navajo Indian reservation 85 miles
north of Flagstaff. The automobile
driven by Kenyon skidded in the
gravel of the road and turned over
four or five times, according to
United Press telegraphic advices.
Kenyon was pinned beneath the
steering wheel Due to difficulties
in communicating with the hospi-
tai, further details were unavail-
able.
AS soon as news of the accident
arrived in Ell Centro late Monday
afternoon, Kenneth Kenyon, a son,
and Harvey Kenyon, brother, left
for the Indian reservation in a
race to reach Kenyon'S side before
death came.
When Mrs. Harvey Kenyon re-
ceived news of the death, she re-
quested the county sheriff's de-
partment to have her husband
stopped en- route and told to cut
down the driving speed as it was
too late to see Kenyon alive. She
feared they too might be involved
in an accident.
The Arizona Highway patrol was
asked to stop the Kenyon car.
En- Route
Mrs. Kenyon, Mrs. Rice, Harvey,
and Kenneth are en- route to Ell
Centre by automobile and are ex-
pected to arrive during the night
Tuesday. Kenyon's body is en- route
to Ell Centro by train. If all train
connections are made on schedule,
it will arrive at am. Wednesday
morning.
Funeral arrangements have not
been made.
Kenyon made the trip from Ell
Centre to Las Vegas, New, to go
over the route of the International
-Four States Highway as part of
his duties as a director of the -Four
State Highway association The
party made a side trip to Grand
Canyon and other points so they
would not have to travel the same
route on their return trip. The
fatal accident occurred on their
return journey.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-10-12
u. S. ASKED TO
AID IN VALLEY
LAND PROBLEMS

Directors of the Imperial Irriga-
ton District, the Imperial county
board of supervisors and the In
perial county farm bureau Tuesday
asked the United States Soil Con-
servation service to set up a project
in Imperial county to study the
districts seepage and alkah prob
lens
The petition asks the ConserVa-
ton service to enter a new branch
of its work, setting a precedent of
Importance to irrigation districts
throughout the country. Until now
the conservation service has con-
fined its attention to soil erosion
control.
The petition signed by w. E
Young for the irrigation district
Hugh Osborne for the supervisors
and Scott B. Foulds for the farm
bureau, will be presented to the
California advisory committee for
the soil conservation service. It's
members are B. II. Crocheron. di-
rector of the university extension
service; Claude B. Hutchinson, dean
of the state agricultural college; and
Harry E. Reddick, regional con-
servator.
The petition asks. that a project
be set up to study seepage AMI
alkali problems by experimentation,
demonstration, cooperation with in
dividual farmers and such other
means as the service may devise.
1t points out that $3,OOO,O0O was
spent here from 1922 to 1890 in
constructing drainage canals, Of
which 300 miles are deep outlet
canals and 200 miles are feeder
drains. Because the depression al
most halted such work in 1890. the
water table is rising, threatening
additional acres with ruin from
seepage and alkai, the petition said
A thorough sturdy of the problem
Continued on Page 8; Col. d
Imperial Valley press., 1937-10-12
CHILD DIES
IN Ell CENTRIC

Vernon Jay Pickle, 4-year-old
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Presley p
Pickle of Ell Centro, died in Ell
Centro Monday
The child died of neck injuries suf-
fere'd in a fall this summer. He
was i'll for week and was able to
attend kindergarten but a short
time before it was necessary to keep
him in bed again. He spent the
last two weeks of his life in a
hospital.
He was born III Ell Centro Oct.
81. 1882 Funeral services are sched-
uled for the Lemons funeral chapel
at 1920 o'clock Wednesday morning
with the Rev. Harold w Stanfield,
pastor of the Nazarene church, Of
ficiating. Burial will be made at
the Evergreen cemetery.
He Is survived by his parents;
three sisters, Nadine, Edith, and
Donna; and on brother, Preston.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-10-12
Special Session
Called by F. R.

WASHINGTON, Oct. IL UP)-
President Roosevelt late today
summoned a special session of con-
greSs to convene NOV. Is.
The special session, second to be
called since Mr.. Roosevelt assumed
office in March 1888 is expected to
enact farm control and wages and
hours legislation.
Mr.. Roosevelt issued the special
session proclamation only a few
hours before he is scheduled to
make a "fireside chat" radio ad-
dress to the nation. The radio ad-
dress is scheduled for tonight at
$50 pm. (EST. (6:30 Ell Centro
time).
The President declined to state
Immediately the legislation which
he hopes congress will enact, eX-
planning that his reasons for call
ing the session will be set forth in
his speech tonight.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-10-12
u. S. DIPLOMAT
ASSASSINATED
BY YMADGUNMAN
Armenian Fires Upon
Consul in Street;
Dies Instantly

BEIRUT, Syria, Oct. IL.
(UP)-J. Theodore Marrin-
er, as, American consul gen.
eral and a brilliant member
of the United States diplo-
matte service. was assassinated to-
day by an Armenian to whom the
consulate general had refused a
passport. The assassin was held on
a murder charge. Police said there
had been several cases of insanity
in his family.
Mariner was driving in his mo-
tor car through a narrow crooked
street of the ancient city when the
Armenian fired from a doorway
with a revolver. Mariner died al
most instantly
The consul generals chauffeur,
leaping from the car caught the
assassin. Persons nearby, recover
ing from their momentary as
tonishment, ran to the chauffeur S
aid and the assassin was beaten
severely before police arrived
1t was quickly ascertained that
for more than six weeks the Ar
menian had been trying persistentlv
to- get a visa to visit the United
States. Attaches of the consulate
general refused it-perhap5 because
OF suspicion of his family history
of insanity.
Mariner was not personally re-
sponsible for the refusal But the
Armenian fixed his rage on him and
lay in wait to kill him.
For days, police said, the Armen-
ian had studied Mariners move
ments. He knew that each morning
at abous the same time Mariner
motored from his hilltop residence
outside the city to the consulate
near the seaport part oftoWn.
The assassin selected for his am
bush a narrow part of a street
where congestion obliged traffic tc
go slowly.
There was report that the Ar
menian had once been naturalized
as an American citizen.
Imperial Valley press., 1937-10-12
Hearing Put Off
In Dispute Over
Electric Lines

LOS ANGELES, Oct. II. (UP)-
Hearing of exceptions to the re-
port of special Master Isaac Pacht,
who recommended ruling adverse
to Imperial county and the Impe-
rial Irrigation District in their
power dispute with the Nev-Cal
Electric corporation. today had
been continued to october 81 by
Judge Harry A. Hollzer.
The special master, appointed by
the federal court, recommended de-
NAL of an application for an in
junction sought by the district
against the power company to re-
strain it from stretching its elec-
tric transmission lines across dis
trict rights-of-way in Imperial
county.
Special Master Pacht also gave
his opinion that the Imperial coun-
ty ordinance forbid1ing the placing
of power transmission lines across
roads and highways in Imperial
county was in violation of The
fourteenth amendment to the con-
stitution. He suggested an order en-
joining the county from interfer-
ing with such construction.