davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The Star Of November T. 1887. prints
the following account Of a fire that half
a century ago created a
ope0'o0"Aoi lively scene on Seventh
Fire Scene, street:
"At noon today a fire
broke out on the top floor of the build
ing, 315 Seventh street NV, occupied by
Julius Lansburgh as furniture and car
pet warehouse. The fire made an awful
smoke, caused much excitement, and re-
suited in serious damage to the stock of
goods in the building. The floor where
the fire originated was the fourth floor.
and it was used as cabnetmakers and
upholsterers shop. There were half
dozen men at work in the shop.
This floor was connected. by means
of an iron bridge fifteen or twenty feet
long, with the upper floor of the Polkin-
horn Building, fronting on D street.
This was rented by Mr.. Lansburgh and
was used as shop where dozen young
women were employed on upholstery
goods. The only means OF access to or
escape from this warehouse was by
means Of the bridge, as the stairway had
been hoored over. The fire seems to
have started in pile Of shavings under
meath work bench. None Of the men
with whom Star reporter talked knew
how 1t started They heard the roar of
flames, and turning saw the fire sweep
ing along the floor. The foreman, Mr..
Ochssenreiter, rushed down the stairs
to the street and gave the alarm. Mean
while some of the men tried to fight the
flames with small pump, but the smoke,
which was very thick. drove them out.
THE girls on the upper floor of the
Polkinhorn Building seemed to be caught
in trap, and there was much excite
ment. j. H. O'Connor, one of the en-
ployes, called to the printers at work on
the floor below, and the printers then
came galloping to the rescue. Three of
the maidens were let down over the
bridge and caught in the arms of print
ers standing on the bridge below. Other
printers went up the abandoned stair
way, and, knocking hole in the floor
that had been laid across the opening,
rescued the remaining girls by taking
them down through the hole. Mr.. N. E.
Voweis. a gentleman connected with the
establishment. had meanwhile turned In
an alarm of fire and the fire department
was soon at work.
"The flames, which had burned and
charred the floor for considerable dis
tance. were soon extinguished. The CELL
ing of the third floor just below broke in
and the water poured down upon the
plush furniture stored there, doing con-
siderable damage. There was consider
able excitement during the fire in the
upper floors of adjoining buildings, where
many people are employed. Mr.. Lans-
burgh said, after the fire. that he was
unable to estimate his damage until he
had looked over his stock The water
did the chief. damage. He said that his
stock was we'll insured. The origin of
the fire was not explained this afternoon.
There was a gasoline stove on the floor
when the fire broke out, it was stated
but it was not lighted. Policeman Cross.
who was the first to 90 upstairs after the
alarm was given. stated that he trod on
two or three matches on the upper STEP"
Evening star., 1937-11-14
A Bold Mind.

1t seems singularly appropriate at this
time to note that Louis D. Brandeis has
passed his eighty-first birthday as a
justice Of the Supreme Court That he
still wears the robes of that high Office
gives assurance to shaken Nation that
reason has way OF asserting itself after
political tempests have run their course.
President Wilson nominated him to the
Supreme Court some twenty-one years
ago. The outcry that followed might
have disheartened a man with a mind
less courageous than that of Mr.. Justice
Brandeis. 1t was charged that he was q
dangerous radical" and seven former
presidents of the American Bar Asso-
citation, including William Howard Taft
and Elihu Root, stated in writing that it
was their painful duty" to express the
opinion that he was not lit person" to
be member of the Supreme Court.
But time changed all that, and his
bitterest opponents came to be listed
among his Staunch supporters. AS the
years moved on he and the late Justice
Oliver Wendell Holmes became known as
the great dissenters" of the court, but
again time was on his side and he has
lived to see many of his dissenting
opinions become the law of the land.
Then came the depression, bringing
into the White House a President who
was willing to sacrifice a great liberal
jurist on the ground of his age to
further court plan" of his own. But
that, too, has passed, and the integrity
of the court remains unimpaired.
The court, however, has changed,
liberalism becoming the order of the day,
and Justice Brandeis may yet see the
tribunal sanction a philosophy of gov
ernment he enunciated in a dissenting
opinion seven years ago. when, defending
the right of State to experiment within
its own borders, he said:
This court has the power to prevent
an experiment. But in the ex-
ercise of this high power we must be
ever on our guard. If we would
guide by the light of reason, we must
let our minds be bold"
Evening star., 1937-11-14
"AM l MY BROTHERS KEEPER?''
BY THE RIGHT REV. JAMES d. d, L. D. D. C. L.
BISHOP OF WASHINGTON

No better slogan could have been Sc
lected for the current effort In behalf of
the Community Chest than the words
taken from the lips Of Cain, Am I my
brothers keeper?" 1t is an interesting
and significant fact that, at the very
beginning of Holy Writ social RESPONSE
bility is emphasized. The climax of this
ideal of life is found In the word of
the great Master wherein, summarizing
the law, He said Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind;
and thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself."
1t is conspicuously true that the present
generation Is witnessing finer applica-
ton Of the principle Of social RESPONSE
bility than the generations that have
gone before. One Of the early exemplars
Of the teachings Of Jesus afirmed that,
mo man liveth unto himself" This
growing sense Of social responsibility is
reflected in legislation, in industry and
in practically every phase of our cor
por4te life. We are beginning to think
more In terms Of our social responsibility
than in terms Of self-satisfaction and
acquisition for qualification.
1t is probably true that the Community
Chest idea as it has developed over the
country has contributed much to make
this ideal practical and operative. 1t
has compelled communities large and
small to think of the other half of life
and to plan for the amelioration of ills
that have grown apace, especially in our
larger cities. Where institutions were
planned and operated through the gen.
erosity of individuals they laid little or
no claim upon the people generally.
Occasionally, sporadic efforts were made
to secure funds for the maintenance of
a given institution but such efforts proved
uneconomic and in the main were futile.
The Community Chest gives an accu-
rate and graphic portrayal of the benefi-
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Half.Century Memories.

The Editor Of The Star desires to take
advantage of the absence of Mr.. G. A..
Lyon on vacation in Mexico and to mem
ton him publicly with an appreciation
which is his due.
1t happens that. among his RESPONSE
bilities as an Associate Editor. Mr..
Lyon is charged with the duty of select
ing paragraphs for the Fifty Years Ago
column printed on this page on success
sive Sundays, and he recently came to
the point In the performance of his task
where he could remember the news and
opinion Of 1887.
For his choice of material is made
from volume of The Star which he
helped to create. He joined The Star
stan fresh from school and with no ex-
pectation of the five full decades OF
service before him-as reporter and then
as an editorial commentator. Yet fate has
granted him that lengthy span of acti yity
in the profession he loves. He has lived
and labored for his country, its Capital
city and its people throughout.
And one conviction governs his mind
at the half-century mark His expert
ence has taught him an unwavering con-
fldence in America--the civilization, the
institutions, the ideals OF the United
States. He has seen trouble and tur-
mol, he has heard the threat of the kind
of thunder that has foretold cataclysmic
changes in other lands. But the
worst fears, the most threatening dan
gers, never have materialized Somehow,
American democracy from the beginning
has been equipped with a gyroscope-to
keep 1t steady, to maintain it's balance
He comprehends that fact, and it af-
fords him courage and hope for the
future. Fifty years hence some still un-
born successor may occupy his desk,
assist in the making of additional VOL
umes Of The Star and-he believes-cul-
tivate a similar faith.
Meanwhile, the Editor, speaking for all
the friends of Mr.. Lyon, congratulates
him on his golden jubilee and wishes
him happiness.
Evening star., 1937-11-14

labor leaders and building material
manufacturers that they should be sat-
isfied with reasonable prices for their
labor and their materials.
4 X
President Roosevelt is getting ready to
shoot the works on housing.
He is told that 100000 dwellings must
be constructed each year for the next
five years just to supply the normal
needs of the people. In the last year
barely $4,000 units have been con-
structed There would be billions of
private pump -priming if housing activ-
ity could be stirred. 1t was stirred in
England by low costs and cheap money.
The effort here is to duplicate the Eng
lish experience.
The ambitious plans taking shape to
encourage railroads, utilities and home
constructors are to 90 along with plans
designed to placate business men in
other directions.
There will be modification of the sur
tax on corporation earnings kept in the
business, with modification designed to
encourage small business men and COM
panies with large debt and weak capital.
There will be some changes in the tax on
income from sale OF stocks and bonds and
real estate. There already have been
changes in the amount of margain re-
quired of stock market spectators.
The Presidents new technique calls
for an attempt to make peace with busi-
ness men and to encourage private in
terests to venture with the vast amount
of money at their disposal
But if that does not work within
reasonable length Of time, the country
can look for two things: First, a big
dose of imitation through spending of
gold devaluation profits, and, second,
move by the Government to exercise con-
troll over business and labor policies
either on voluntary basis or through
show Of force.
Right now, however, the President and
his advisers are confident that recovery
can b produced this time by Govern
ment encouragement 70 private spending.
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Congress Here Again.

The Seventy-ffth Congress, which
left here hot and bothered last August,
meets tomorrow in special session. 1t
has been called in advance of the regular
session in January to tackle certain leg
islation which the President believes
should be handled without further delay.
The program presents no new subjects.
It is made up of recommendations
which the President sent to Congress
during the past session.
The subjects are five in number-the
wages and hours bill, the crop-control
bill, the bill for the reorganization of the
executive departments and agencies, the
so-called regional T. v. A. development,
and measure to strengthen the anti
trust laws. 1t is huge program for a
session that will have five or six working
weeks at most. The special session,
however, offers an opportunity for Con-
gress to lay the groundwork for the pass
age of the legislation desired, even If
these measures may not be completed.
Since the President, returning from his
Western trip, announced the call for the
special session, new crop of problems
has thrust itself to the fore. Included
are the need of tax revision and more
friendly adjustment of the Government
toward business in the light of recessions,
and the foreign policy of the Govern
nent. 1t is not contemplated by the
administration that these subjects shall
be taken up for action at the special ses-
sion. The purpose of the President, it
has been explained, is to keep the pro-
gram within the limits prescribed.
With the congressional sounding board
1T hand, an open forum discussion
Of these pressing problems in the House
and Senate appears inevitable and with
out delay.
Indeed, debate of the business situa-.
tion is sure to arise when the wages and
hours bill is brought before the House
for consideration. That measure has
already passed the Senate. The de-
uldAiSt 1Oi d UdlduCeQ DUO&eC, more
sistent than at any time in recent years,
ties itself in closely with the proposed
farm legislation which looks to larger
subsidies for agriculture or, barring that,
compulsory crop control.
The temper Of Congress, not yet dis
closed since the recess began, will have
m important bearing on the course of the
administration program. There have
been signs that the bulky Democratic
majority is not to be driven-as it has
been in the past. Measures of as vast
Importance to the people as a national
wages and hours bill and crop-control
bill will have thorough consideration be-
fore they are enacted into law, The
attitude of Congress, as it may be dis
played in the special session, may have
an even more telling effect as the COM
Ing session merges into the second regu-
lar session in January.
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Appeal to Reason.

1t is instructive on the part Of every
citizen to wish to help less fortunate
brother. But the natural impulse is not
invariably trustworthy. 1t may prompt
generosity which is unwise, charity which
Is unmerited. To illustrate the danger,
cited: One evening last winter there
came to the door of certain resident
OF Washington tattered old man and
. bedraggled little girl The tale they
told was narrowing. Moreover, it was
skilfully presented. Whatever normal
resistance might have interfered was
broken down. Food, clothing and money
were provided Immediately. Also, aid
was promised for the child mother, vino,
1t was explained, anticipated another
baby. The grandfather gave name
and dictated an address in a distant
section of the city. Tears streamed down
his cheeks as he endeavored to express
his gratitude.
The following day the certain resi-
0SA1 COa1AAIAuAlACdtCO Will 1llo OWL
physician, requested him to call upon
the sick woman and to arrange for her
disqualification. Also, the well-inten-
TONED amateur philanthropist ordered
consignment OF groceries delivered to the
afnicted home. Within few hours, both
the doctor and the grocer reported back:
There is no such place" They had
found the address supplied to them a
vacant lot!
Inquiry disclosed that the certain
resident" had been the victim of a
"racket." Not only had he been cheated.
1t likewise happened that he had been
discouraged about responding to legiti-
mate pleas for help.
The Community Chest. however, pro-
vides solution for this type of prob
lem-common to all city residents. 1t
makes business Of social service, it is
enicient and effective. it wastes nothing,
1t is not deceived. Neither is it heart
less. Instead, because 1t knows 50 well
the plight Of those In need, 1t is habitual-
y sympathetic.
During the present annual campaign
Evening star., 1937-11-14

for needed funds The Star appeals to
the reason-the sober intelligence-of
the people Of Washington to supply the
Chest with the means to see to it that
its sixty-nine agencies may "carry on"
through 1888 to the end that no de-
serving individual in distress may be
neglected and no undeserving individual
be encouraged to any act of fraud which
an honorable conscience would reject.
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Trouble Time.

Trouble Time.
The courthouse now is ready
For strange accounts Of crime,
And autumn's going steady
Along toward Trouble Time.
True justice-they will hand it
To each In natures course.
Some want to catch bandit
And others need divorce.
This life is still worth living
If comic or sublime,
Though what we call Thanksgiving
Still looks like Trouble Time.
Evening star., 1937-11-14

A newly discovered variety of the
widespread bamboo family is said to
grow as much as sixteen inches within
twenty-four hours. Deficit" is sug-
gested as a name for the new species.
Evening star., 1937-11-14

Japan now controls most of the worlds
supply Of camphor. But those are not
moth balls that she is shooting.
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Chinese Puzzle.

From the Fort Worth star-Telesrsph.
All of our experience in working the
old Chinese puzzle does not help us in
considering the new one.
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Some Comfort.

From the winston-salem Journal
Well, ut least it's relief to know that
perhaps the next generation won't die
on relief.
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Member of the Associated Press

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to it or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published nerein.
All rights of publication of special dispatches
herein also are reserved
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Public Entertainment,

uDIC E1tcI C6lIIm6IICs
Be glad if you for music have passion.
It's not so very costly in the end.
A prize fight is the grand event Of
fashion
Which only wealth may venture to
attend.
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Last Word.

. Last Word.
Does your wife always have the last
word?"
mo" answered Mr.. Chuggins. Every
now and then We run into an interview
with q motor cop" n
"We might be happier in our affairs"
said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, III
we could revive the wisdom Of our an
cestors simply by burning joss stick"
Leaves.
Here's a scrapbook which we find
Filled with reminiscence rare;
Memories that inspire the mind
OF a stormy day or fair.
When the branches bare abound,
AS the Old Year goes his way,
Every leaf upon the ground
Means q faded summer day.
"A good talker," said Uncle Ehen, "is
mos always some kind Of . salesman"
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Introducti0ns.

Introducti0ns.
Are you going to introduce any bills?"
"Yes," answered Senator Sorghum. II
don't believe they'll amount to much, but
my constituents are entitled to the pleas
ure of feeling that their ideas are getting
into high-toned, intellectual society"
Jud Tunkins says you can't manage the
clock so as to make the daylight saving
"tick" beat the wordy mans talk"
Evening star., 1937-11-14

The Evening Star Newspaper Company
Main once: l1th St. and Pennsylvania AN,
New York Office: Ito East A2nd st.
Chicago Office: <36 North Mehisan Ave.
Evening star., 1937-11-14

Rate by Mail-Payable In Advance
Evening star., 1937-11-14

N. H. "A. CrleQ tnat ana broke up with q
bang.
*x
1t is at this critical point that Mr..
Roosevelt is preparing to produce new
set OF white rabbits.
He is opposed to any more large-scale
pump printing by Government to start
all over again to build up incomes that
suddenly are dwindling. He is deter
mined to try now to induce pump -prim-
ing by encouraging industry and private
individuals to borrow and to spend in
big way. The President is told that
there are three main sources of large
scale spending that might be tapped in
a hurry if conditions become right.
Those sources are the railroads, the pub
lie utilities and home construction.
Moves Of the past week are to be read
In that light.
The railroads are on the way to get
ting higher freight rates and higher pas
senger rates to provide them with income
enough to justify borrowing for new
equipment. The r. F. c. may open It's
Golfers again to roads that want to bor-
row. Then, on November 8, the Presi-
dent put out broad hint that he would
like to make peace with the utility in
dustry and would be ready to help that
industry if it adjusted its rate policies.
gathering of economists at the White
House, and another gathering of busi-
ness men, dealt with plans for cutting
costs Of home building. These plans in
clude Government guarantee of mort
gage loans in order to bring down inter-
est rates, creation Of mortgage corpora
tions started either with Government or
private capital to lend to prospective
home builders, and q drive to convince
Evening star., 1937-11-14
Delivered by Carrier-City and Suburban

Delivered by Carrier-City and Suburban
Regular Edition
Evening and Sunday. 66c per mo- or l5c per week
The Evening Star 45c per mo. or l0c per week
The Sunday Star .-------bc Der COPY
Night Final Edition
NiEht Final and Sunday Star ---70c per month
NiGht Final Star -----65c per month
Collection made at the end Of each month or
each week. Orders may be sent By mail or tele.
phone National 5000.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-07-31
SIX STEPS TO RUIN

Unless the constantly widening gap
between government income and outgo is
closed, writes Roger w. Babson, one of
the outstanding American economists, six
financially ruinous consequences will re-
suit:
First, continued deficits ultimately
lead to fear of government credit
Second, unsound public credit means
unwillingness to lend the government
money to pay its bills.
Third, the treasury is forced to
print paper money to pay its deficits.
Fourth, the paper money falls like a
meteor in value as prices shoot sky-high.
Fifth the buying power of salaries,
wages, savings accounts, insurance policies,
and bonds drops to practically nothing
Sixth, the ruined, starving middle
class take the reins of government by
force to bring order out of chaos"
Mr. Babson does not think it too late
to put the governments financial house in
order but quick action is essential. On a
per-person basis Federal expenses since
1860 have increased from So to $55 year
The average American family of five has
an income of $1,7O0. II owes as its share
of the soaring national debt, $1.375. In
addition to owing this debt it must pay
$275 annually in Federal taxes alone.
Only an aggressive public demand for re-
trenchment and balanced budget can
save us from the six steps to ruin Mr..
Babson describes.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-07-31
PRINTING THE NEWS

When to print a. disagreeaple .stary
one of the most troublesome problems of a
smalltown editor. In the case of a person
who is unfaithful to public trust. or one
who is guilty of serious crime, it is not diff
ficult to decide, because the public in
terest, as well as the publics right to have
the news, demands that it be printed.
There are some cases. however. in
which the offense is entirely of a personal
nature ard in which publishing the story
would bring sorrow and embarrassment to
innocent persons without serving any bene-
fetal purpose. In these the making of .
proper decision is often not easy If the
story is printed. relatives and friends Of
the person concerned will feel that it is
unnecessary: if it is suppressed. the scan
dal-mongers will be disappointed and
many will insinuate that the editor was
bought off"
These same scandal-mongers would
howl the loudest, however, if their own
shady actions were held up to public gaze.
So it's hard to please everybody and
no editor Of sense tries to please every.
body. He must let his own judgment and
his own conscience be his guide
II he errs on the side of kindness and
sympathy for the unfortunate. his error
will be forgiven by the more enlightened
readers Of his newspaper.