davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
Drifting Just Drifting
BIZ J. T. Williams, I.

There is no telling when tn
present session Of the Congress
will come to an end. Even tn
leaders of the two Houses havu
not yet attempted to fix a tenta
tive date for their exit from tn,
Federal City.
The confusion in the congress
sional mind concerning the tim
Of adjournment is typical of {
growing perplexity on many prob
lens which constituents from tn,
several States encounter whel
they visit their Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress.
One of these callers at the Capt
toll recently thus describes al
interview with a Representative il
Congress who is counted among
the thick and thin supporters o
the Administration.
ILLUMINATING
Constituent: "When do you
think you will be coming back
home, Congressman"
Congressman: Nobody can
say that. We haven't had any
word yet. We may not go home
just stick it out through the
summer"
Constituent: "What about a
new tax bill? Do you think there
will be One?"
Congressman: as ONE say
there will be; some say not. How
can tell who's right? No final
word on this question has been
passed around yet"
Constituent: "HOw about
those two new Executive Depart
ments? You've got a lot Of
friends down home who will be
looking to you to get them jobs
as soon as those two new Depart
mentS start up"
Congressman: Nothing def
mite about that yet. 1 doubt
whether Congress Will get
around to the Reorganization
Bill at this SessiOn-thSt 10, I'M
less the President really wants
us to. Of course we are all for
what he wants but, well, nobody
knows what we are going to do
about the Reorganization Bill.
It's too soon to say"
Constituent: Folks down
home are wondering whether
there's going to be more relief
money or less to count on for
the rest Of the year. What do
you know about that?"
Congressman: Nobody need
worry about relief. There will
be plenty Of money for those
who need it. We're all strong
for relief"
Constituent: "What worries
some Of us down home is how
You are going to keep on putting
out for relief and keep on being
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
Cleanup Needed

FINDER proclamation OF the District commissioners
u we are now in the midst of 'C Cleanup Week"
Those who take pride in the appearance of the
National Capital and in the cleanliness of both its public
and private property will wish that the period gave
GREATER promise of active attention to conditions.
It only fair to say that private citizens to be
taking more interest in the appearance of their own
property than either the Federal the local govern
ment is taking in the public property under the con-
troll of each.
Streets, alleys and parkings have fallen into dis
graceful condition recently
Uttered with debris, these public places in many in
stances present an appearance which would not be toll
Grated in the most povertystricken village.
It used to be that streets here kept marveously
clean.
Now they are woefully dirty.
Sand and dust blow about and in these spring winds
everyone has to walk along with his eyes halt-cosed
Administrative officials say that this is the fault of
Congress- that not enough money is appropriated to
clean the city properly.
And they will cite appropriation figures to prove
their case.
But regardless of whose fault it may be, it silly
for local officials to issue threats that they will crack
down. on private property owners for unclean condi-
lions when there many improvements which they
might effect public property.
Federal officials not bameless in conditions either
Most of the Federal buildings in the city could stand
a good, vigorous bath.
Several of the monuments would not be fatally
wounded if they too given application Of soap
and water.
We have no doubt that the general run of private
citizens will observe the spirit and the letter Of the
Commissioners cleanup proclamation.
We only wish that the spirit would be found
among public officials.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23


thumbs seem to me the most sig
nificant, perhaps the most SIMS
ter, gesture in our modern world.
They mark the greatest change in
human attitudes and relationships.
They're by all odds the toughest
problem to tackle. And I'll hon.
estly admit-in face of certain I'M
popularity-that I haven't found
the answer in my own mind.
Personally, never stop for a
hitchhiker any more. It's against
the law in California, where I
spend most of my time, as it is
coming to be in many other States.
The reasons are obvious. Murders.
Damage claims by those who seek
to take advantage.
WISE COURSE
Yet in spite of that, it was years
before I could drive on unheeding
and I still feel ashamed when
I do, it's so grossly against the
whole code of generous neighbor-
illness by which I was trained.
Yet, I have to admit the laws
wise. But, even so, it doesn't go
to the core of the matter. There's
more involved in that uplifted
thumb, the other fellows request
for a lift. There's his increasing
conviction that he has right to
that lift as good right as
you have to sit in that automobile.
And there's the deepening resent
ment when that right" is denied.
Nine times out of 10 I'm cursed.
In the wilder portions of the
Northwest, they're apt to block
your way by lying down in the
MISUNDERSTANDING you to stop. And
they feel they've a right" to do
this, too.
I wonder. I'm honestly badly
troubled by the whole thing-and
what it means. I suspect it points
to an entire change in our social
order. But what kind of a change?
And heading where?
I suppose it's easy enough to
dismiss the problem, if you've
never been very poor yourself
and don't know what poverty
means. But have been-and do.
Pickings were pretty lean for most
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23

>panSion of bank credit brought
about by Government financing
of deficits through the banks.
The resultant rise in prices
brings speculative and unsouno
business activity. Speaking about
the wild Spiraling Of prices in ar
initiation, DR.. Lands says:
'Tt is impossible for any bust.
ness during initiation to keep
solvent and pay q wage scale
equivalent to the price level.
Wages must lag behind prices
if business is to remain solvent.
Then you have q situation in
which the purchasing power Of
the public lags. 1t always has
during an initiation and it al
ways will.
During this period there is .
temporary boom in business, and
then there is a dOwnhiII move
ment on account Of lack Of pur-
chasing power of the people.
Business falls off.
81 know of no method Of con-
trolling initiation after it starts.
1t has to run a certain course
and then proper measures can
be taken. You stop it when the
government stops borrowing,
and then it takes about year
before you begin to return to
normal conditions -
BALANCED BUDGET
I want to repeat here that TIN
only purpose of this article is tt
state the views of recognized
authorities and to give some ides
Of what initiation means. There i
no good in playing the ostrich ant
hiding ones head in the sands.
But if, as Senator Bailey says
there is danger, then it is tn
duty Of all to recognize tina
danger and to insist that steps b.
taken to ward it off.
In considering this, we have TIN
following advice from Leon Fraser
the banker:
eve must bend every effort
to expand international trade,
especially as regards imports.
Our Government must gradually
bring the national budget into
balance, as must the State ad-
miniStratiOnS, Also"
These may be the methods II
pursue. Whether they are or not
it is up to the powers that be-
to find them or to accept the re
sponsibility for not finding them
Copyright. 1887. by King Features
Syndicate, Inc.)
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23

OIL1cIW1S6s NuG OH LL1G 4IO1IASI we
all wore patches-knew real hun.
ger and constant hardship.
Life was like that. Why beef
about it? Whatever the deal, we
built up a pride resistance that
was honey.
Nobody-as far as i can remem-
ber-taught us to feel that way
about asking favors or taking
charity. We were just born that
way. Americans real ones
simply hustled for themselves
didn't take help-cherished their
own privacy and respected the
other fellows. All this was the un.
written code. No one dreamed Of
breaking it. But now
Now it's almost as much a mat
ter Of course to start "thumbing'
as soon as you know you have one!
Not only asking favorS but expect
ing them as your right. And,
theoretically, can see the argu.
ment behind it. was bred a So.
cialiSt. My votes 100 per cent for
Labor-alWayS will be. And I
truly believe the country should
largely belong to the workers who
make it. BUT
THERE THEY ARE
Are these thumbers who line the
highways the makers" of the
world? Do they represent laborP
Have they put stake in the pot,
as the fellow has done who is
driving that little flivver-who
paid for it out of his scanty wage?
Or are they the drones who have
infested and preyed upon society
since its first vague formation?
Whatever their rights" this
much is Sure-those uplifted
thumbs are against privacy,
against private property. Their
very appearance strikes at the
root of every old American ira
dition-all old American pride
We can no longer laugh them off
nor law them off. There they are
and it's time that you and I an
Swered this question
Just why and what is the
THUNDER?
Does he represent Democracy
on the march
OR THE JUNGLE ON THE
PROWL?
And what would YOU suggest
we should do about him?
(This column aUelcomeS and
requests comments. Letters pre-
Senting personal problems mag
also be sent. All letters tuiII be
handled confdentiGlIy and
GnSSDered promptly if stamped,
addressed envelopes are in
cluded.)
Copyright, 1887, by King Features
Syndicate. Inca
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23

all-abSorbing topic Of the country.
What is meant by initiation?
The definitions are many. Accord
ing to the dictionary, it is IAN
undue expansion or increase, as
in paper money and prices"
DR.. F. Cyril James, Of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, de-
ScribeS it as "a monetary policy
designed to raise the general
level Of prices in such a way that
the rate of business profits is
increased, With the result that
selling prices rise more rapidly
than aggregate costs Of prOduc-
ton, with the result that the
business enterpriser improves
his position at the expense Of
other groups"
IMITATION
It is true, and it is a reflection
on our educational system, that we
are woefully ignorant on the sub
ject Of money.
To ninety-nine out Of every hun
bred of us, money is just some
thing we need when we have a de
sire to buy; but when something
disturbs the value or the flow o.
money, something like the banking
crisis of 1888, for example, we art
helpless and at a loss to know
what has happened.
It is because Of this that DR.
Walter S. Lands is prompted tx
say that most people fail to realiz'
the existence of initiation until to
ward the end of the movement
Speaking on the subject three
months ago, he remarked:
"In 1882, decided that the
public in the United States
would not know about the infla-
ton until 1887. Judging from
the newspapers, I will be right"
Perhaps it is sufficient for tn
average man to define initiation
as a condition in which prices ar
too high for his pocketbook. Wha
would be responsible for such /.
situation in the United States 4
a point which will be argued Vehe
mently within the next few
months, with several groups blam
ing one another.
Fundamentally, the cause Of al
initiation, which is being talket
about today. is an abnormal q
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23

lin a, express
only what is in
the minds of
most Of our
t h o u g h t f u !
business men
and economists.
The subject
is out in the
open after two
years Of whiS-
pers and scat
tered warnings.
By the time
this discussion
of H. annnarS
in print, infla-
tinn NAV be the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23

that stood out
most distinctly
and significant
ly from the
world of my
youth, so years
ago?"
Hit c h h TX
ers," I said,
"thumbing for
a ride. +"
He looked at
me quizzically
til gu ght ]
was joking. I
wasn't. Those
uplif fled, de-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
Who Has the War Birds?

VTNRAGIC Spain the bloody testing ground for the
l. second World War, has proved beyond question the
defensive Importance of military aircraft
Were not the reds in control of the air. Madrid would
have fallen to the rebels many months ago.
Such situation, admitted by every competent OBJ
server in the field focuses the world spotlight on
the almost criminal weakness of the United States fleet
of war birds.
Although this nation is determined to stay out of war;
and realizes that strong forces land and in the air
necessary to prevent any possible foreign aggres
sion American military aircraft is the bottom.
The rock bottom!
The Aircraft Year Book for 1887, published by the
Aeronautcal Chamber of Commerce of America reveals
that the United States is sixth in the list of military
air powers
Great Britain, France Russia Italy and Germany out
rank this country in air fleets and little Japan is close
seventh.
Such glazing weakness in the air. unless quickly recti
fled, means that the United States will be drawn into
the next just surely as the case in 1917.
Study this table,
Nation of Military Planes
france SOU
russia S,4OO
Italy Observation-Disclosures. $500
germany Observation-Disclosures. 3,UUU
united 0CaIes. ...................... Z,ZUU
Japan NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1000
Great Britain has $4,000 pilots available for duty;
France $4,000; Russia, nearly that many and perhaps
more; Italy $4,000, and Germany and Japan within
striking distance of the largest figure.
The United States, which leads the world in motor
development and the speed of aircraft designed to carry
heavy loads economical bases makes sorry show
ing compared with those other great powers which
trembling the edge of war;
More planes needed, quickly.
Otherwise American boys may be called
to the colors to give their lives for FOREIGN
CAUSE on FOREIGN SOIL.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23

F air planned
for the city Of
New York II
the Commerce
Committee.
Senator Cope
land, as chair
man Of the com
mittee, was con
d uctin 6 the
hearings and
called GROW e !
Wl1alen as the
first witness
AS he begar
the questioning
he said that he
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
Wise Words

Memory is the friend Of wit, but
the treacherous ally Of invention.
Cotton.
Nature creates merit and for.
tune brings it into play-La
Rochefoucauld.
The worst kind of shame Is be.
ing ashamed Of frugality or pow
erty-GXyS
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
SINCERITY

It's just like this.
Says Representative Maury
Maverick:
"The first is my relation with
the chairman, Mr.. Lister Hill.
Some Of our conversation, where.
in we refer to each other as my
distinguished friend, the gentle.
man from BIankety-Blank Cross.
ing, SOn-of-a-Gun State often
sounds to me like meaningless
flattery. We get ON the flOoR
and tell how we love each other
and how we hate to differ.
81 am inclined to think this
Often-quOted statement is abSO.
luteIy sincere. We all get to like
each other and hate to oppose
each other. I find myself In
that position at this time"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
Keep This Pledge

RESOLVED: That it be the sense of this convention
that committee should be appointed by the Congress
of the United States to make study of and to report
ON the oranting the residents of the District of
Columbia the right of suffrage. Unanimously adopted
by the Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia
June &c, 1886.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
OTHER DAYS

It was rather like old home week
when Senator Royal S. Copeland
opened up the hearing on the
resolution concerning the Worlds
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
The Human Side of the News
By Eduiu C.. Hill

1.-THE greatest danger in Amer
lea today is initiation" These words
of Senator Bailey, of North Caro-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
MEMORIES

Ny, my, these Republicans.
Representative John E. Rankin
of Mississippi, told one Of them
recently:
LET me say to the gentleman
from Pennsylvania that his
party was in power and in those
old days the only remedy we
had for malaria was quinine,
yet the Republican Party put
such a high tariff on qlinin0
that invariably we could not
get it for such USE"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
Listen, World!
BIZ Elsie Robinson

SHOULD "THUMBERS" BE GIVEN LIFT?
What think asked the AAmerican Generally
famous editor was the most sig speaking didn't expect em
thing
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
The Greatest Show On Earth
By Frank Miller Smith

The man in her party was half.
way down the corridor from Stat.
uary Hall and trying to keep her
and the rest Of the party together.
The rest of the party were re.
Spectfully examining the statues.
She turns and called:
"A statue is just a statue and
I hate to spend so much time
in front Of one"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
IMPATIENT

She was a visitor to the Capitol
and she wanted to see everything.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
OPENING GAME

He's 95 years young if there is
any one who can claim that dis
tinction.
He arrived on time as usual at
his job on Capitol Hill the day OF
the opening ball game. There
seemed to be an anxious CLEAN
in his eyes as he watched the
House Of Representatives from his
vantage point. He fidgeted a bit,
which was unusual, because he car
ries his responsibilities with per
haps the most ease Of any one
there. Finally he couldn't stand
it any longer and remarked that
he was afraid. Yes, very much
worried that the House wouldn't
quit soon enough for him to get
to the ball park. He hasn't missed
an opening game in the past 10
years.
He is Colonel w. H. Young and
as a veteran of the Civil War, ne
holds the position Of doorkeeper
at one of the House galleries.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
"BEST SELLER"

Right off the bat the WPA
workers who helped to put out
the new book on washington have
leaped to fame.
The volume washington, City
and Capital" compiled by the
washington unit of the Federal
writers Project Of the Works
Progress Administration, has
achieved the best sellers list in
the book shops.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23

felt rather pc senator OOPoi'anC
culiar in calling the witness Mr..
Whalen." Not to be outdone by
this pleasantly Mr.. Whalen said
he felt the same way about calling
the chairman Senator Copeland"
Reason: They both served IN
the city administration years ago
when Senator Copeland was health
commissioner and Mr.. Whalen.
among other things, was the Off
cial greeter for the city. AS Mr..
Whalen expressed it those were
the days before Senator Copeland's
hair was gray.
During the testimony it was also
brought out that the center OF
population of that teeming metrop-
oils is not Forty-second Street
and Broadway as so many seem to
think, but is in cemetery.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-23
PROOF

Comfort is assured now for those
who preside over the House Of
Representatives and occupy the
Speakers chair.
Speaker William B. Bankhead
has had a new chair installed. It
is tastefully decorated in blue
leather and has an air cushion
seat. The look Of bliss on their
faces as the occupants sink down
in it is proof enough that he made
a good selection.
The Omaha guide., 1937-09-22

% Fight for a passage of the Dyer Anti Lynch bill and thus stop
the shameful lynching of American citizens.
(O One of our citizens in the presidents cabinet.
- 80 Federal control of the educational system that every child
must have a high school education.
a. "a Assist in the furtherence of recearch by our scientists and His
torians to prove that civilization was first founded in Africa.
% Establish a political influence which will bring about our pro-
rata of higher appointments made by our chief executives.
() Stop graft in politics by passing a Federal Law making election
day a legal holiday and compelling every American citizen of voting age
to vote.
CD Prevent further wars by teaching the socaled white race that
It's high time for them to quit fooLng themselves about white supremacy
with only threetenths of this worlds population. They must be taught
that color is due to climatic conditions. They must be taught that seven
tenths of the worlds population is made up of darker races. They must
be taught that the rays of the sun that blazes upon the equator and turn
the skin brown do not effect the power of the brain any more than the
GOODNESS of icy glaciers effect the brain of the white race; and that the
darker races will not continue to be crushed by a money mad fed: If the
Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man are not welded into the
hearts of this worlds family now, by teaching the principles laid down by
our Saviour, it will be welded into the hearts of our children some day,
soon, on the bboodiest battlefield this world has ever known.