davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-03-22

Dear Sir: On Tuesday evening you
answered correspondent to the effect
that no bird uses words as we know
them. wonder whether you realize
the seriousness Of what you have done?
BY reason Of your frequent discussions
of birds and small animals, you have
come to be acknowledged as an author
ity on them. and your reply win have
weight. Therein lies the danger, but I
hope your correspondent will not take
you seriously.
1T is common knowledge that many
birds are named for what, as you ex-
press 1t, they seem to say You men,
ton the whip-poor-will as an example
Who can assert that these birds do not
actually speak the words they seem to
say? # my understanding is correct, q
word is any vocal sound or combination
Of such sounds that expresses an idea.
rs such word coming from birds
throat any less word than an identical
sound. recognized as a word, coming
from the mouth Of human being?
"You may tell me that I am hoist
with my own petard,' that these sounds
produced by birds do not actually convey
ideas. Neither would word pronounced
by an Aleut suggest an idea to us ifswe
have no knowledge of Aleutian, but 1t
would be nonetheless word.
TN my minds eye, I see your in
quirer-not a wee wisp Of a woman, nor
yet child, but big. broad-shouldered
man, blond, perhaps, and certainly hand
some.
Doubtless he is at home in the open
spaces and i'll at ease within the walls
Of house. Perhaps he is in love, for
1t is when In that state that man
begins to hear words in the song Of
birds. in the signing Of the breeze, in
the swish OF the wave.
And II my guess Is correct, all that I
have said in the preceding paragraph is
beside the point, for in that case the
young man has reference to language
spoken to and heard only by the soul.
In any event, hope you will not re-
sent my thinking that your reply was
wrong. Sincerely yours. ]. c. A."
Traditionally, there have been two
standard ways of representing bird
songs. and in recent years science has
added third
The first way, for which our corre-
spondent argues, is that of words. Eng
liSh words.
The second is that Of musical notes,
an universal language.
The third is that of the sound track.
the ups and downs of which most per-
sons today have seen represented in
photographs.
About two years ago an enterprising
bird lover whose name we forget issued
q book in which neither words nor
notes were used, but an adoption of the
sound track method.
Songs OF our most popular and best
beloved songsters were set forth in a
series of ups-and-downs.
The effect. while interesting, was be-
wildering. If one happened to know the
song well enough to whistle it, it was
easily followed from the chart for any
given species.
II one did not know it. 1t seemed i'm
possible to ever figure it out from the
diagrams, as interesting as they looked.
and as ambitious as the attempt seemed.
Perhaps the finest attempt ever made
to set American bird songs to music was
by Prof. Schuyler Mathews, in his
Field Book of Wildoirds and Their
Music"
This is one Of the most attractive bird
DOCKS we know, not only because of its
Evening star., 1938-03-22
Opposing Reorganization.


Everybody, 1t seems, favors reorgan-
ization Of the Government. The question
is: When and Of what kind and under
what auspices? Yesterdays announce
ment that the American Federation Of
Labor has decided that 1t should not
be undertaken now, under New Deal
management, is important. william
Green has studied the pending proposal
and is opposed to it. The people at
large do not understand it and, there
fore, have not taken any definite posi-
ton with regard to it. For lack Of public
resistance, the whole patchwork scheme,
with some virtues and many faults, may
be enacted into law by = Congress in
which only minority has troubled to
investigate its implications.
But perhaps it is not too late to call
attention to the fact that the present plan
is designed to reform the Federal struc.
ture from top to bottom. Its compre-
hensiveness Is undenied. No single
department., bureau or individual in
Government employ would be exempt
from its influence. Under its provisions
the powers and responsibilities of the
Chief Executive would be SO vastly in
creased as to necessitate the engagement
OF half q dozen assistant presidents.
Also, the Civil Service Commission in
its traditional form would be eliminated
and control of hiring and firing would
pass into the hands Of one personnel
director. The Controller General like
wise is slated to be scrapped-a con-
summation devoutly to be wished by Mr..
Roosevelt but by few, If any, ordinary
taxpayers.
OF course, these objections have been
raised before. The people of the coun-
try have heard them discussed from time
to time for months. Yet nobody has
bothered to reduce the reorganization
problem to its simplest terms. The A.
F. of L. has rendered public service
by declaring its fortnight disapproval.
In effect, 1t has said that 1T does not
want the whole Government rearranged
by the New Deal brain trust. The
political, industrial and economic con-
notations Of the scheme are too dan
gerous. What is needed now is stability,
not revolutionary changes Of any sort,
however meritorious in theoretical pur-
pose Mr.. Green's suggestion that the
bill be recommitted for further examina.
ton deserves commendation. The alter.
native is form Of gambling Of which
thoughtful citizens are weary.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

not exceptionally stupid or clumsy. 1t
is highly probable that q man who has
more than his share Of accidents, COM
pared. with others in the same occupa-
ton, Is committing partial suicide
is, subconsciously placing the hated OBJ
ject with which he has identified himself
in positions where it is likely to get
hurt. The fellow who jay-walks across
the street in the face of red light may
be subconsciously trying to get hurt.
Another quite effective way Of cop.
mitting suicide is by becoming martyr
thus accomplishing the revenge murder
very effectively and at the samd time
winning considerable glory for the self
in the process. Martyrs have an un-
canny habit of forcing the hands Of
their prosecutors who loath their jobs
and give them every chance to escape.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

Tastes often differ as to comedy. Dur
ing the war some Of the best OF our
comedians became silent and their ef-
forts were superseded by the burlesque
Of serious endeavor. The serious en-
deavor. however, has been carefully pre-
served even during the processes Of su-
perficial fun.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

Home on the Range" is still accepted
as 4 lyrical favorite although there are
symptoms Of disposition to substitute
.aS' .ns Thin Time in the Old Town" Yry no"
Evening star., 1938-03-22
Silent CokitAtion.

Silent CoS1tAtiOn.
what is the reason for your silence
on some Of the most important topics Of
the time?"
I'm Afraid" answered Senator Sor-
shum. that If get to talking, I'll in
teffere with the impression that I am
thinking"
Evening star., 1938-03-22

Hitler will hardly attempt to substitute
the Viennese waltz for musical favorites
which have grown into acceptance with
out the use Of = swastika for 4 con-
ductor's baton.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

The press agent had his uses and ef-
forts to give big show without his ex-
pert attention are compelling the public
to take seriously some incidents which
used to pass without his supervision.
People should not be encouraged to take
this criticism too seriously.
Evening star., 1938-03-22
Has Franco Won?

Shattered and riddled Barcelona, still
subject to pitiless 1nsurgent lombard
ment from the air. seemed a week ago
on the threshold of surrender, and,
with the fall of the Spanish govern
ment's remaining stronghold, the Loyal
lists doom appeared imminent. The
war-weary port has not yet given up
the ghost, despite cruelty heavy losses in
life and property. AS a result of some
what rehabilitated morale, the govern
ment has been able to dig in for further
resistance. That even courageous de-
tense can be hong maintained against
tnvincible odds seems highly improb-
able. If the rebels have paused on the
Aragon front, at the end of their can
non-ball drive to the Mediterranean,
from which fewer than fifty miles now
separate them, the stronger likelihood
is that Franco has stopped his steam
roller merely as the prelude to a de-
pommel Barcelona from the air at will,
both from Caspe and Alcaniz, the new
spearheads of the Insurgent offensive in
the valley of the Ebro, and from plane
bases on the Balearic islands, gives Franco
an advantage which the Loyalists no
longer can match. From every stand
point, the chances now are that while In
surgent victory may be delayed, it is in
evitable. Loyalist Spain has fought
bravely throughout twenty months of
civil war, with the military cards stacked
against it at almost every stage. But
the republicans could hardly be expected
finally to prevail against Franco, Mus
solini and Hitler combined.
The rebels long-projected spring Of
fensive" set in about when and where
1t was expected. 1t attained full mo-
mentum after the recapture of Teruel
Franco meantime has been intermit-
tenly checked, his rate of progress
slowed down, and more or less heavy
losses inflicted upon his legions Of Moors,
Italians and Germans. But the initia-
tive and offensive have never been wrest-
ed from him, nor has his superiority In
equipment been overcome. In conse-
quence he is the indisputable master of
two-thirds Of Spain and a formidable
threat to Catalonia and the Mediter-
ranean seaboard, over which, precarious-
ly, the republican flag still flies. If and
when the drive to the sea achieves its
goal, government Spain will be cut in
two and its collapse, barring a military
miracle, mere matter of days.
The eventual success or failure of
Francois "end-the-war" plunge to the
Mediterranean depends upon two things.
Has he received enough reinforcements
OF materiel-artillery, tanks and air.
craft-from Italy and Germany to con-
solidate his recent gains and does he
possess sufficient reserves of trained
man-power to exploit those successes?
The other, probably even more impor-
tant, contingency concerns Loyalist mo-
rale. If this has been undermined to
the breaking point by food and equip
ment shortages, and, latterly, by Barce-
1onas air ordeal, the governments fate
Is sealed. Resumption Of the rebel
offensive, doubtless to take the form of
. triple threat by land, air and sea, and
Barcelona's capacity to meet it should
tell whether Franco has won the war
before its second anniversary, or whether
another Eastertide will find Spain
doomed to indefinite prolongation of her
agony.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

At meeting of the literati where sits
the President, new effects in speech may
be expected but none that call for
courses that will enable colleges to teach
more about our modern civilization.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

There are musical creations that the
public still hears with pleasure. but the
effort to supply popular music remains
one of the mysteries which require the
cooperation Of the artist and his public.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

There is still tendency to argue about
whether European affairs are to be con-
Quoted by 4 number Of governments or
only 4 few.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

The technique of kidnapping has
steadily grown worse and an effort will
at least be made to keep 1t from asserting
itself in connection with current pol
itics.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

The pig looms large in tariff attention,
There may yet be echoes Of the unhappy
protest when pork was made harder to
buy because Of its artificial scarcity.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

Pennsylvania intraparty politics may
give the old lady who represents Democ-
racy in the cartoons q severe headache,
Evening star., 1938-03-22

''De man that's always thinkin' bout
hisself," said Uncle Eben, "is sineter ind
his audience complainin' dat he picked
!, 1 mighty uninterestin' subject"
Evening star., 1938-03-22
Evolution. .

The Genius Feminine Astute
Now calls the world to guess
II Fashion's bound to evolute
Into more clothes, or less.
Evening star., 1938-03-22
All Other States and Canada
Member Of the Associated Pres

4. The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited IN this
paper and also the local news published nerein.
All rights Of publication Of snecisl dispatchea
herein also are reserved.
Evening star., 1938-03-22
Talent In Demand.

Talent In Demand.
whats become of that magician who
advertised show in the Gulch7"
Hes Twin easy" answered Cactus Joe.
after he showed 4 few tricks in dealin'
poker hands some Of the boys persuaded
him to retire from the stage and give
lessons."
Evening star., 1938-03-22
HUMAN Deception.

A man assumes q manner rough
Which shows he's . good-nAtured bluff.
A man assumes 4 manner kind
Which masks q cruelty refined.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

Jud Tunkins says all the modern
apartment needs is some system that will
make the radiator a reliable for service
a. the radio.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

IAN open door," said Hi Ho, the sage
Of Chinatown, varies in its advantages
according to whether the key II man
ased from the inside Or the outside"
Evening star., 1938-03-22
Prosecutor ON the Spot.

One powerful motive must inspire the
prosecutor ct Z Russian trial He knows
that, II he does not display the utmost
real, he may aoon b among the ques.
t1ene4 Jatns9 than the eaeGaoneeas
Evening star., 1938-03-22
Delivered BY Carrier-City and Suburban
9esular Edition

Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance
Evening star., 1938-03-22

@. What is Rupert's Land7-T. J.
A. This was former district Of Can
ada named for Prince Rupert, first gov
ernor of the Hudsons Bay Co. It was
transferred to Canada by the imperial
government in 1870 and ceased to exist
as a political name. The name is still
used, however, as the title of the Epis
copal Diocese, which is in the main CO.
incident with the province of Manitoba.
@. Has James Roosevelt an assistant?
w. M. B.
A. James H. Rowe, jr, q lawyer, is
Mr.. Roosevelt's assistant.
G. What Is the cleanest animal?-
w. A. s.
A. The raccoon is considered the
cleanest of all animals.
Evening star., 1938-03-22

the causes for which a commissioner
could be removed from office by the
President and the President had given
none Of these causes, Humphrey had
been illegally removed.
If the Supreme Court, in constituting
the T. v. A. Act should hold that, since
the law specified the manner in which a
member 81 the board may be removed,
board member cannot be removed in any
other way, the President would again
be out on limb. Indeed, there is good
reason to believe that the Supreme Court
would take just that view, according to
members Of Congress who have consid-
cred the matter. The T. v. A. Act spe-
cif1cally gives the power of removal to
the House and Senate. It makes no
mention whatever of the President in
that connection.
DR.. Morgan, like the late Mr.. Hum
phrey, has declined to resign and doubt
less he will resist to the utmost his re-
moval and will take the case to the
courts, as did Humphrey. Presumably,
the Morgan case will reach the Supreme
Court just as did the Humphrey case.
The complexion of the court has
changed since the opinion in the Hum
phrey case was handed down, Associate
Justice Black having taken the place Of
Justice Van Devanter and Associate JUS
tice Reed that Of Justice Sutherland.
However, seven members of the court are
the same who handed down the Hum
phrey opinion in 1885, and all of them
!, decided against the President in that
case.
President Roosevelt In his statement
regarding the Morgan case yesterday
said: "Under the Constitution Of the
United States, ths Chist Executive is d.
The Washington times., 1938-12-30
RAIL AND COAL
CHIEFS EXPECT
BETTER" YEAR
Hope for Some Offset to
1888 Losses

G.N.S) Although 1888 was a
gloomy year for two Of the nations
greatest industries-railroads and
bituminouS coal-their leaders ex-
pressed hope today that the new
year would bring about better con-
ditionS.
President ]. ]. Pelley Of the
Association of American Rail-
roads, said:
General business conditions
have shown improvement in re-
cent months. If this trend con-
tinues and If conflicting public
policies as to transportation
can be welded into one sound,
consistent national policy, un-
queStionably the railroads will
share in whatever general pros
perity comes to industry"
GUFFEY ACT FAILS"
Aggregate net loss Of $125, ,000,-
900 after all charges will be shown
by the Class / railways for 1888,
compared with a net income Of
$98, ,OOO, 900 in 1887, Pelley de-
clared. The 1898 net loss will be
the greatest since 1882, when 1t
was $139, 100000.
John D. Battle, executive Secre-
tary Of the National Coal AsSocia-
ton, said the bituminous coal in
dustry has operated during the
past year at hardly more than
so per cent of capacity, and, as
an industry, at loss. He said:
price stabilization, which
was to have been achieved
through the Guffey coal act,
has thus far-after nearly two
years-failed to materialize and
is still uncertain"
WHEELER FOR ZONE FARES
Senator Burton K. Wheeler
CD of Montana, chairman Of the
Senate Interstate Commerce Com
mittee, has indorsed the Hastings
plan for "poStalized" railroad
fares and asked the Interstate
Commerce Commission for an
opinion whether it is feasible.
The plan, conceived five years
ago by former New York State
Senator John A. Hastings, but not
widely publicized until recently,
would establish a system OF rail
road fares comparable to parcel
post rates. For instance, the basic
fare from New York to San Fran
cisco would be IS.
Wheeler wrote Chairman Wal
ter M. w. Splawn, of the 1CC,
that a study of costs and revenue
statements indicated that the
railroads can be operated profit
ably with postalized rates.
In a recent advertisement Hast
ings described the plan in detail
and listed proposed rates. He
would divide the country into
nine districts with a fixed rate
for travel from one to the other.
The Washington times., 1938-12-30
By ERIC FRIEDHEIM

U.N.S0 Strict Federal regula-
ton of the nations investment
companies which currently hold
assets Of more than $4,000, ,00O, 900
will be recommended by the Sc
curitieS and Exchange Commits
sion in a forthcoming report to
Congress.
Supervision OF investment or
CARNATIONS by the Government is
deemed of vital Importance by the
commission after more than two
years Of inquiry into the financial
practices of these groups.
CURB ON OFFICERS
Among the legislative sugges-
tions contained in the report is a
provision that would subject to
Federal law certain transactions
allegedly engaged in by ]. A. SiSto,
who yesterday was expelled from
the New York stock exchange for
improper business conduct.
Summarized, the commiSSion's
report will touch on the following
/. Prohibiting officers and dt
EectorS Of investment organize
The Washington times., 1938-12-30
SEC Seeks Investment Control
Commission Would Ban Firm Loans to Officers

their personal account in the
capital stock Of their firm or in
securities held in their firms
portfolio.
FOR FEDERAL AUDITS
3. Registration Of investment
organizations with the SEC.
4. Simplification Of invest
ment company capital struc-
lures.
S. Federal audits Of invest
ment company financial affairs.
Several reports dealing with the
history of investment trusts al
ready have been sent to Congress
These documents disclosed that
the assets held by these groups
have shrunk approximately S.
OOO, 600, 900 in value since 1929.
During the course Of its investi
CATION, the SEC uncovered many
financial abuses by investment
trust operators.
In it's forthcoming report. the
commission will inform Congress
that the mere disclosure Of abuse.
that took place in the past is lit
tie guarantee against similar prac
ticeS in the future.
The Washington times., 1938-12-30
FRANCO PUSHES
CATALAN DRIVE

HENDAYE, Franco Spanish Bor-
der, Dec. 80 Q.N.S0.-Further ad-
vances were scored by Gen. Fran
cisco Francois inSurgent forces on
the blood-soaked Balaguer sector
of the Catalan battlefront today.
A government communique
from Barcelona admitted the in
surgentS had scored successes on
this front, but claimed govern
ment troops had inflicted heavy
losses on the insurgent troops in
earlier fighting around Balaguer.
Meanwhile, it was believed the
British government would lodge
a stiff protest against the bomb
ing of the British steamer Mari
onga, which was attacked off the
Spanish coast between Castellon
de La Plana and the Balear1c
Islands,
The Washington times., 1938-12-30
MURPHY TO Get
CUMMINGS JOB

Senate confirmation Of the ex-
pected appointment of Governor
Frank Murphy Of Michigan as At
torney General will be forthcom-
ing after some sharp debate, 1t
appeared today. President Roose-
velt is expected to make a New
Year gift of the cabinet post va
Gated by Homer S. Cummings to
the Michigan governor Monday.
At the same time, the President
is expected to nominate west
of the Mississippi" judge to fill
the Supreme Court vacancy Gre
ated by the death of Justice Ben
jamin Cardozo. Sources close to
the White House say the appointee
will be Harold M. Stephens, Of
Utah, now United States Circuit
judge of the District of Columbia
Court of Appeals.
Murphy faces a certain amount
of senatorial disapproval for his
handling Of the Michigan sit-down
strikes during the CIO campaign
to organize the automobile work
erS.
The Michigan New Deal leader,
defeated in the November elec-
tionS, is expected to get the
cabinet post rather than Robert
H. Jackson, of New York, because
the cabinet is now overloaded with
New Yorkers.
It was learned that Attorney
General Cummings paid an unan-
nounced visit to the White House
early today and conferred for 20
minutes with Mr.. Roosevelt, pre-
sumably to discuss judicial ap-
pointments and possibly that Of
Murphy as his successor.
The Washington times., 1938-12-30
A MODEL
Airport Here Will Be
Real ShotUplace'

"The first real air terminal in
the United States" is being reared
in the construction Of Washing,
toms airport at Gravelly Point
to add another show place to
the national Capital, according to
plans revealed by the Civil Aero,
nauticS Authority.
The airport was designed with
consideration as to its functional
needs, it was pointed out, with
details to provide for maximum
efficiency in handling Of passen-
gers, mail, express and other
duties.
Among the next steps will be
the opening Of bids on January 10
on two huge hydraulic dredges to
be added to the machinery al
ready at work at the site. Mean
while, a group of pilots Of lead
ing commercial airlineS is draft
ing report on recommendations
on aeronautical features of the
project.
Dredges are now filling in land,
building a levee and leveling the
iarea.
The Washington times., 1938-12-30
SENATE FIGHT
FORECAST ON
WAGNER ACT
Thomas Opposes Plan
To Modify Terms

GN.S0 Senator Thomas CD.
of Utah, chairman Of the Senate
Labor Committee, today served
notice he Is opposed to modifying
the National Labor Relations Act
until Federal courts have made
additional rulings on its various
features.
Thomas flat pronouncement
forecast a spirited contest over
revision of the controversial law
soon after Congress convenes Jan.
3. A large bipartisan group, which
has the support of the A. F.. of L,
is determined on modification Of
its principal features.
THOMAS EXPLAINS
With the CIO backing congres.
slonal groups opposed to revision
or modification, Thomas declared
the law is still in its formative
stage, and said:,
Il think that if one becomes
entirely objective in his think
ing about the labor relations
act he will admit the gains that
have been made, and he will
remember that great basic laws
are not static, but that they
change from day to day, grow
and develop through admins
irrational procedure and judicial
Interpretation.
Personally, feel that we are
going quite fast enough. I'm
opposed to amending the Wag-
ner Qabor) act until the cases
now pending before the courts
have been decided, because from
the court decisions will come
better interpretations of the
act than amendments will
bring"
BURKE DRAFTS PLANS
Senator Burke CD, Of Ne
braska, the driving force behind
the bipartisan group seeking re-
vision Of the act, is drafting a
set of amendments which he
hopes to introduce when Con-
greSs conveneS.
The principal amendments he
said, would take from the National
Labor Relations Board 'itS
judicial power" to determine re-
presentatives for collective bar.
gaining,