davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1938-03-04
Labor Is Firmly Opposed to Further
Bureaucratic Federal Control of
Wages and Hours, Green Declares

Washington, .. G. (ILNS) AS the
house labor committee resumed con-
sideration of proposed wage and hour
legislation, President William Green,
of the American Federation of Labor,
issued a statement reaffrming the
federation's opposition to a federal
wage board or a federal wage admin
istrator with broad powers.
The statement designed to make
plain beyond the possibility of dis
pute, the A. f. Of L. stand on wage
and hour legislation, declared for
wages and hours standard to be APP
piled to the whole country. Regional
or other differentials were vigorously
opposed.
eve are against any bill delegating
sweeping administrative powers to a
federal wage board or federal ad-
ministrator, Mr.. Green said He
continued:
Eve see no need for setting up
cumbersome government machinery
for the enforcement of fair minimum
wage and maximum hour standards.
Differentials Opposed
Labor and industry must be pro-
tected from new tidal wave of
bureaucratic regulations which would
of necessity follow the establishment
of a federal board or federal adj
ministrator Our laws should be
made simple, understandable, enforce
able and inescapable.
president Roosevelt repeatedly has
stated in public speeches that he re-
CARDS this country as an economic
whole. This attitude fully supports
the position Of the American Fedora
tion Of Labor in opposing establish
ment of geographical differentials in
the proposed wage and hour bill.
"After all, such legislation is an at
tempt to lift working conditions in op-
pressed and sweated industries to
minimum standards of decency.
There is no sound economic excuse
for permitting employers in any sec
tion of the country to cut below such
standards That means permitting
them to depress the entire American
standard of living.
For Government Protection
"The American Federation Of Labor
believes there should be government
protection of workers in sweated and
oppressed industries for workers who
lack the benefits and collective bar
gaining power that come with self
organization.
"For this reason, the American
Federation of Labor submitted to the
last special session of congress a
model wage and hour bill. The pro-
visions of this measure were clear
cut and uniform throughout the
nation. 1t stood on its own feet. 1t
required no federal board or admin
istrator to make it effective.
''This law simply established mini
mum wage and maximum hour rates
for the entire country. 1t provided
Continued on page three)
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1938-03-04
OHIO CONSTRUCTION
NEWS
Construction Totalling S.
$4,000 Contemplated

(By Ohio Labor News Servlce)
Columbus. construction esti-
mated to cost $5,515,000 was reported
being contemplated last week in va
rious cities throughout the state.
Largest is a housing project at
Dayton, sponsored by the Dayton Met
ropolitan housing authority, which
has been notified by U. S. Housing
Authority Administrator, Nathan
Straus that S3,o0O,ooo has been ear
marked for that purpose.
A S1,0oo,O00 technical school to be
erected for the Canton Board Of Edu-
cation by the Timken Foundation is
contemplated in the near future.
Working drawings have been started
and bids for wrecking a school build
ing on the proposed site will be asked
within few weeks.
Construction of two commercial
buildings on the site where fire re-
Gently razed original buildings will be
started soon in Columbus. Separate
owners have announced that they vii
erect new buildings at an estimated
cost of 100000 each.
Remodeling of the First Nationa
Bank building at Cincinnati at an es-
timated cost of 100000 is contem-
plated for about June I, according tC
reports. Owners plan to remodel The
entire banking quarters.
Plans have been approved by off
cials of Bowling Green State Univer.
sity for an addition to the girls gym
nasium at an estimated cost of $3.50,
600.
Bids for construction of an eight
story, 100-room hotel at Chillicothc
will probably be asked early in March
Estimated cost of construction j.
SITS, 900, which may be increased tx
1925, 900 if an annex is included in thC
final plans.
Stark county commissioners arr
planning to apply for PWA aid il
constructing school at the Fair
mount Children's Home, near Alliance
Maturity of the project, estimated t.
cost $125,000, depends on WPA ap
proval and raising of its share b.
! Columbiana county.
Plans for an addition to the audi
/ torium and gymnasium Of the Wells
vile high school, estimated to cos
$4,000, have been approved by th'
Board of Education, which will prob
ably ask for bids soon.
The Board of Education at Shelb.
has also approved plans for nev
freproof addition to the high schoo
there, replacing the present centra
building, at an estimated cost 0
$4,000.
Plans for high school gymnasium
at Yorkville are being prepared fo
the Board of Education. The building
will cost approximately $4,000.
The way to make war impossibl
is to fight it on cash basis.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1938-03-04
Workers. First Thought
Is Employment, Not
For Insurance Benefits

Washington, D. C. (ILNS)-The
following open letter from the divi-
sion of placement and unemployment
insurance of the state department of
labor in New York is such a perfect
answer to slurs on the independence
and honesty of workers that it should
have the widest possible circulation:
That lantern toting gentleman, Di-
ogenes, whose ghost is regularly in
voked when an honest man is found,
would have a field day in the files of
the state division of placement and
unemployment insurance.
"On January 13 | went to work for
...................... On January II, | re-
ceived card to report to the state
employment service office, so ! re-
ported that / had temporary job.
In case the check comes, / will return
same. Yours respectfully ...........".......' s
Another Returns Check
This is a letter from man who
had been notified he was eligible to re-
ceive unemployment insurance bene-
fits of $8.18 a week for not longer
than 12 weeks if he remained totally
unemployed.
And another:
Received your statement of unem-
ployment insurance benefits and / am
sending it back to you and here is the
reason why. | was unemployed for
six months and was called back to
work January 13, 1888, and the same
day / notified the employment service
office that / had returned to work.
So will you please stop the money
which I was to receive for being un-
employed. I'm not entitled to it now
and / thank you very kindly"
'Ineligible," One Says
One applicant, returning the benefit
rights notice informing him he was
eligible to benefits of $3.50 week
for not more than six weeks, scrubbed
a note on the margin: "Sir, declare
myself ineligible for insurance. ! was
fortunate enough to get placed during
my waiting period"
Many of the stop orders sent
through on payment of benefits after
the check warrants had been drawn
for eligible applicants were based on
similar communications. Several hun
dred eligible applicants have taken
this direct means of hating their ben
eft payments, although the matter is
also handled in routine manner
through the state employment serv-
ice Offices as placements are reported
Work Is First Desire
Receipt of such letters is ex.
tremely gratifying to the DIVISION
declared Deputy Industrial Commits
sioner Paul Sifton, administrator o.
the division of placement and unem
ployment insurance. '"This volun
tary haste of applicants to prevent
payment of moneys for which they
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1938-03-04
ADVISORY GROUP

Canton (OLNS)--John Gerber,
president of the Canton Federation of
Labor, has been named a member of
an 11-man advisory committee of rep
resentative citizens by Mayor James
Seccombe. The group was appointed
to counsel with the mayor upon mu-
nicipal matters so that he might re-
ceive the benefit of their advice.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1938-03-04

The way to make war impossible
is to fight it on cash basis.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Hundreds Crowd
Jack Winston
Funeral Rites
JACK WINSTON DIES
SUDDENLY

Jack Winston, bartender at Jim's
Tavern, died suddenly Sunday, June
IL, while on duty. Winston was
conversing with the waitress, Kath-
eryn Murphy, when he put his
hand to his head and fell, appar-
emily from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Friends carried him outside and
sat him in a chair where he died
in a few minutes.
The Coroner came and pro-
nounced him dead about 8 p. m.
He was taken to the County
morgue, and his body was released
Monday about $3.50 p. m. to the
Neal Funeral Home in st. Paul.
An autopsy was held Monday at
$50 p. m.
Funeral services were held We'd
nesday, June Is, at 2:30 p. m. with
Rev. L. w. Harris officiating. In
terment in Oakland cemetery.
Survivors include a brother,
Joseph of Riverside, California,
who wired that he couldn't attend
the services.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17

Of Des Moines, president of the
Baptist Sunday School Convention
of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and
South Dakota, who was elected to
his ninth term to the presidency
of that organization meeting in st.
Paul this week. Elected in 1929 at
Council Bluffs, he has seen conven-
ton grow from an unorganized
group to a well perfected, modern,
organized youth movement, includ-
ing in its membership both high
school and college graduates.
Mr.. Dudley is responsible for
many innovations in this body. The
convention today has school of
methods" recognized by the Inter
national Council of Religious Edu-
cation and the National Baptist
Convention, Inc, with a class "a"
rating. This school offers a four
year course in the more advanced
methods of Sunday School teach
ing. Another major achievement
under his regime was the develop
ment of the oratorical contests
which are an annual convention
event. These contests have been
the means of inspiring the youth
throughout the jurisdiction.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Russell Claims
Gibbons Segregation
Not Surprising


There is nothing surprising to
an old-timer in st. Paul. l refer
to an article in the columns of the
St. Paul Recorder last Saturday,
June II, claiming Jail segregation.
Now, if the writer who signs his
initials E. P. who heard the man
say or tell a gang of people this
did happen at the Ramsey County
Jail, I for one, would very much
like to meet the gentleman E. P.
and say to him if he has lived in
St. Paul for as long as two months
or more it should not surprise him
to hear of anything Mr.. Gibbons
may do to the Negro from a preju-
diced point of view.
1t might be interesting to the
writer to know that the present
sheriff of Ramsey County, Mr..
Thomas Gibbons, has been accused
of prejudice toward the Negro race
for many years. This accusation
he has never denied in writing to
our group and neither as a private
citizen or as sheriff of Ramsey
County.
R. Russell.
673 Carroll Ave., St. Paul.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17


services to appear on the program
are Harvey Atkins, Monwen (Bert
Williams) Kraft, the Pettiford
Sisters, Beulah Mitchell, Frances
PEBBLES, James Gresham, Sam Har-
ris, Melvin Dillon, Alonzo Mason,
Lorna Marmon, Bernice Brown,
Boy Scout Troop, Victoria Bell,
and many others.
Prominent o. X. Benefit
Many prominent people and bust
ness firms have expressed their in
terest in the benefit and have given
financial support to it. Among
them are: Governor Elmer Ben
son, Mayor George E. Leach, Judge
Matthias Baldwin, Vernon S. WEIGH,
Mabeth Hurd Paige, Mrs. Phillip
Meighen, Oscar Nordquist, Harold
R. Atwood, Carroll Reed, Judge
Vince A. Day, W. ]. Murphy, Mike
Holm, Henry G. Young, Donald c.
Bennyhoff, Henry Voegei, George
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Martin Brown
Sues NicOnet
Hotel for $500

Martin Brown, Minneapolis bust
ness man, filed suit last week
against the Nicollet Hotel for HUI
initiation suffered when he was re-
fused service in one of the hotel
departments.
Mr.. Brown, a member of the
Minneapolis Retail Petroleum Deal
ers' Assn, was attending a meet
ing at the hotel.
Mr.. Brown is suing for $500
damages under the civil rights
statutes of this state.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
MOELLER MEETING SATUR-
DAY NIGHT

MEETING SAT. EVE, JUNE
18TH, AT $3.50 P. M. AT HALLE
@. BROWN COMMUNITY
HOUSE, CORNER OF KENT
AND AURORA.
RETURN GEORGE H. NOEL
LER AS SHERIFF. A MAN
WHOSE RECORD FOR MANY
YEARS IN PUBLIC OFFICE HAS
BEEN ONE OF HONESTY, Eff
FICIENCY AND JUSTICE TO
ALL.
Political observation-disclosures
and issued for Geo. H. Moeller, 722
S. Smith Ave-, by Sic Bockenstole,
229h st. Anthony Ave., for which
the regular rate has been paid.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17

H. Hemperley, Al P. Erickson,
Senator Ernest Lundeen, Clarence
R. Clancy, E. L. Mattson, ]. H.
Hauschild, Morris Hursh, Daniel F.
Ball, F. A. Chamberlain, Judge E.
G. Waite, Chas. C. Bovey, Inter
national Fuel Co., R. S. Virgins,
H. C. Brown, Cecil E. Newman,
Karl De Laittre, ]. & H. Laundry,
John Swanson, Louis Palmerstein,
o. C. Barnes, A. L. Searle, South
town Market, goth Century Clean
ers, and Alice M. Forte, Minnesota
Iowa Club, the Minneapolis Spokes-
man, and st. Paul Recorder.
The admission to the benefit is
only 35 cents. After the stage
show which is actually worth the
price of admission those who care
to may dance to the music of Ray
Dysart and his band. Curtain for
the show is at $3.50 p. m.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Dudley Reelected Baptist
Sunday School President
for 9th Consecutive Term

At the election of officers of
Baptist Sunday School Minnesota Iowa. South Dakota Nebraska
session Mt Olvet Baptist Church, St. Dudley
MOnes reelected his ninth president
elected NJ Nixon Council Bluffs first PRESIDENT
Campbell Sioux City, Iowa, second cepdent; Rosetta
Oumwa Iowa, recording secretary Mrs Jessie Belle Davis Des
Moine corresponding secretary Mrs Shelton Moines
treasurer Alma Baxter Des Mone ogant Helen Bates
choir Director Robert King Junction
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17

whose attitude has not been as
certained. Other two candidates
attitudes not known.
County Coroner: Vote for DR.. Rus
sell Helm or DR.. Gilbert Sea-
shore.
County Commissioner, 4th District:
Vote for Harry L. Scott or J..
Vincent Gleason.
Senator, 31st District: Vote for
Will C. McGrath.
Representative, 31st District: Only
Arthur C. Strauman is endorsed.
Is young, energetic, aggressive
and friendly to group. Vote for
him.
Representative, 32nd District:
Don't forget to vote and work
for S. A. Stockwell, the grand
old man of the Northwest and
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Farmer-LabOr
Party Ticket

For Governor: Vote for Elmer
Benson. His record so far as the
Negro citizen is concerned is
good. Number of state positions
held by Negro citizens largest in
history. Benson has answered
every call made upon him.
For Lieutenant-G OvernOr: No
choice. Take your pick.
For Secretary of State: Paul Ras-
mussen.
For Clerk of Supreme Court: Vote
for Russell o. Gunderson.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Miss A. B. Glenn
Gets Two Jobs
for Mpls. Men

Miss Allie B. Glenn, 1884 Chi
cago Ave-, Minneapolis, believes in
looking out for her fellowmen.
She secured these jobs from the
Continental Baking Co., bakers of
Wonder Bread, through Mr.. R. c.
Mouser, manager.
The two men hired are Elliot
Lane and Walter Sutherland of
1912 Fourth Ave. So.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
LOUIS SCE1lVIEl4 ING FIGHT A PUZZLER

New York, June 15.-As rumors
fly thick and fast and critics hang
out on the limb this town is going
fight-mad. Louis and Max Schme-
ling are on everybody's tongue and
on the sports scribes' and critics
typewriters. None of the scribes
on the larger dailies are willing to
predict what will happen next
Wednesday night when the Ger
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17

the groups best friend. Also
vote for Don Harkins because
you may vote for two candi-
dates.
Senator, 33rd District: Neither of
three candidates known. No
recommendation.
Representative, 33rd District: Vote
for Harold Harrison, a good
friend.
Senator, 34th District: Vote for
Daniel S. Feidt.
Representative, 34th District: Vote
for ALI F. Bergerud and Vernon
S. WEIGH.
Senator, 35th District: No recon-
mendation.
Representative, 35th District: Vote
for W. F. Bennett. No recon-
mendatiOn other place on ticket.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17

roll superintendent.
Board members elected: Viola
Daniels, Sioux City, Ia, western
district; Harry Taylor, Des MONIES,
central district, and Mrs. James
Drake, eastern district.
Approximately 200 delegates are
attending the Sunday School and
B. Y. P. U. meeting which began
Tuesday and will close with
huge banquet Friday night, June
18th.
Delegates and their respective
churches:
Mt. Olivet, St. Paul, Minn.-Rev.
j. C. Bothic, Doris Massie, Hen
rietta Simmons, and Mrs. Pearl
Combs.
Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, West
Des Moines, Iowa.-Rev. L. Gar
rett, Rev. R. King, Miss Nellie
Griffin, and Mrs. NJ. Nelson.
Pilgrim Baptist Church, Sioux
Falls, South Dakota.-Miss NJ.
Bridgewater, Miss B. Bridgewater,
C. H. Warden, and PhiIlis Murray.
Antioch Baptist Church, Water
loo, Iowa.-Rev. S. A. Davis, Nellie
Robinson, Mrs. Maxynee Haughton,
Miss Levora Hollins, Miss Bertha
Bryant, and Joe Jackson.
Second Baptist Church, Clarinda,
Iowa.-Rev. D. Nicholson, Miss
Rachel Cason, and Miss Louise
Nash.
Mt. Carmel, Waterloo, Iowa.
Rev. C. W. Turner and Mrs. C. W.
Turner.
st. Johns Baptist Church, Ma
son City, Iowa-Rev. NJ. J. caves,
Mrs. J. A. Ashford, Miss Vivian
Martin and Miss Ray Janette
Westra.
st. John, Omaha, Neb.-Rev.
E. D. Johnson and Mrs. E. D. John
son.
Mt. Zion, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Rev. N. A. Johnson, Iona Culp and
Erannie Balbene.
New Bethel, Perry, Iowa-Rev.
T. L. Lghons.
Maple St., Des Moines, Iowa
H. Dudley, T. Warrich, Mrs. o.
Jaco, Mrs. A. Freeman, Miss A.
Baxter and Miss D. Montgomery.
Second Baptist Church, Fort
Madison, Iowa-Rev. H. Harris,
Ralph Wilkerson, Loyad Ked-
mond, Miss Pauline Rudd and Miss
Lita Henry.
Second Baptist Church, Marshall
town, Iowa-Rev. NJ. J. Eaves, the
Continued on Page u
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Spokesman Suggestions
To Voters
Democratic Party
Ticket

Governor: Michael Murray, Fred
Schilplin and Victor Anderson
all good men. No recommends
ton.
Lieutenant Governor: Vote for Ray
Lang.
Secretary of State: No recon-
mendation.
State Auditor: No recommends
ton.
Attorney General: No recon- :
mendation.
Clerk of Supreme Court: Mayme
NJ. Blakeslee.
Congress, 3rd District: Martin A.
Hogan.
Congress, 5th District: Lynn
Thompson.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Giant Benefit VOdvil
Revue Friday (TOnight)
at Phyllis Wheatley
CITIZENS RALLY TO BOY SCOUT AND YOUN
NEGRO BOYS CHARITY AFFAIR

(tonght), eight general public will have
opportunity and the time enjoy
gigantic when the Boy Scout Troop No. 100
Young Minneapolis hold its Charity Vodv
Show featuring stage and Ray Dysar orchestra
receipts will the Scout Troop and the club for the
chase of Scout gymnasium and club equipment.
The will be held Phyllis Wheatey Settlement House.
Stars To Participate
Local stars both who donated their
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Wife of Cab
Galloway Band
Member Divorced

Mrs. Edna Gaines Cheatham of
796 st. Anthony Ave., was divorced
in District Court Monday, June 10,
from Adolphus A. Cheatham,
trumpet player in Cab Calloway's
band.
Judge John w. Boerner was the
presiding Judge.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Track Meet Added
Attraction at Huge
Triangle Club Picnic

Halle @. Brown Track and Field
Meet will participate in a special
track meet. The leading track men
of st. Paul and Minneapolis will
compete for prizes which will be
Continued on Page g.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17

man Max gets in the ring with the
champ whom he so decisively beat
two years ago. It's all up in the
air, the boys say.
Meanwhile rumors thick as the
mosquitoes around Minnesota's TO-
600 lakes are busy flying around,
but they always do and none of
them are bothering either Joe or
Max much.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Republican Party
Ticket

For Governor: George Leach or
Martin Nelson preferred.
For Attorney General: Vote for
]. A. A. Burnquist.
For Lieutenant Governor: Vote for
J. Russell Sweitzer.
For State Auditor: Stafford King.
For Railroad and Warehouse Com
missioner: Jalmer o. Johnson.
For Clerk of Supreme Court: Vote
for Grace Kaercher Davis.
For Congress, Fifth District: W. l.
Nolan, John Thompson or Oscar
Youngdahl-all good men.
For Congress, Third District:
Henry G. Teigan is an able rep
resentative and friendly to mi
nority groups.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
Hennepin County
Offices
Candidates to be nominated with
out party designation.)

out party designation.)
District Judges: Vote for Fred
Wright, Lars Rue, Arthur W.
Selover and Levi Hall.
County Sheriff: Vote for John P.
Wall or Bert Morton.
Registrar of Deeds: By all means
vote for A. W. Skog. He has
always considered the Negro
citizen part of the body polite.
County Attorney: No choice. Golf
completing a long term has not
considered seriously Negro rep
resentation on his staff. There
fore there is no choice between
Kleve Flakne, his chief opponent,
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17

1t was announced this week that
as an added attraction at the
Fourth Annual Triangle Club Pic
mic Monday, June q, at Harriet
Island, that the winners of the
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-06-17
PICNIC

The auxiliaries of st. Peter
Claver Catholic Church are giving
their annual picnic at Harriet
Island Monday, June 20. Plenty
of games and fun for all. Prizes
will be given in all games.-AdV.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-09-13
GREAT BRITAIN
 ISNOT ALARMED
No Extra Parliament Ses- sion Will Be Called; Reg.
 ular Meeting Tomorrow

London, Sept. i3-(UP)-The British cabinet was summoned to- day to meet ct il c. m. tomorrow for further active measures to meet the threat of war in Europe.
 At the same time, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain sent c letter to Clement R. Attlee, leader of the labor party rejecting his request that parliament Do called into extra session.
 The call to the cabinet came after c day of earnest consultation by Chamberlain with key cabinet men and party leaders, including Atlee. The latter B chief opposition lead- CT, who is usually consulted In times of grave crisis.
 In his letter to Attlee, Chamber lain said 1t would Do inopportune to summon parliament ct present However, he wrote:
 T shall not fail to bear your rec quest in mind should circumstances arise which in the judgment of my colleagues and myself might render 1t desirable to recall parliament be. fore the due date"
 The next session is set for Nov. l.
 Chamberlain's letter was taken to indicate that he and his colleagues did not view the war as imminent and still hoped to find e way of averting it