davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
Our Jail Problem

For several years the Connecti- cut populace has been listening to all sorts of pleas for a change in our system of iail management. Efforts have been made for quite some time to replace the present county jail system with a cen tralized jail farm, several of the county institutions only being retained as re- tention centerS. All such efforts nave landed on shoals. The same type ot oppo- Sition met them as has the plan to ellm- mate the minor courts of the state. The original idea to throw out all the minor courts and establish a number ot dls- trict courts was so enaSculated that even it failed of legislative approval.
 Higher and higher, though, mounts the evidence that American jails are filthy, vermin-packed ill-regulated foun- tainheads of crime and corruption. At torney-General Homer s. Cummings calls the nations jails the worst blot on the American penal system. He ex- empted Connecticut county jails from this class in a recent survey, most ot them passing muster and few ot them going on the "preferred" list. At the time we were bit astonished, for we had heard from time to time that some of our own county jails could stand improve ments or complete extinction.
 Joseph Pulling Fishman, former in- spector of jails for the Department ot Justice is one of the group who feels that the nation would be better off without its county jails. He calls them "lniquitouS pest-houses ruled by apathetic sheriffs in 95 out of 100 cases. ." Fishman ad- vocates abolition of county jails, as such, and substitution of centralized prisons, maintained by groups of counties and ad- ministered by trained officers so as to provide proper treatment of prisoners, adeuuate ventilation, exercise, food, Sani- tation, and bathing facilities, segregation of youths and women, and proper regard for the rights of persons awaiting trial.
 Some of those advancements are an old story to Connecticut. We have Segre- gated women and youths But what of the rights of persons awaiting trial? Many a time a material witness to an import ant case is forced to spend several months in a county jail waiting for the trial to start His lot is the same as that of the prisoner serving a term in the county jail. People must awaken sooner or later to the fact that unless they express them selves on such subjects as these nothing will be done about them by our legisla- tors. Our Connecticut jails, in some in- stances, may be better than the average run, but they are part of a system that is rapidly becoming archaic and not American at all.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
Monroe Doctrine Renewed

One of the most interesting develop ments lately is the revival of the Monroe Doctrine, which was supposed to have been abolished in favor of the Good Neighbor Policy. We're good-neighbor- ing as much as ever, or more. We are very ScrupulouS about interfering in the domestic affairs of other American republics, even when they tread on our capitalistic toes as Mexico is doing, or when they virtually abandon democracy in favor of dictatorship as Brazil and some of her smaller neighbOrS are doing. But once more our government and pub lie are assuming, without much talk about it, that this country is just as much responsible for safeguarding all North and South America against for eign aggression or domination as 1t has been for century.
 And are the neignpors complaining about it, as they did for while? Not so you can notice it. All at once they seem to feel that in our rearmament pro- gram and our frank talk about keeping this hemisphere safe for democracy Uncle Sam is protecting them from real dang CTS against the expanding thrust of FaS- ciSt-MilitariSt countries like Japan, Ger many and Italy.
 The Japanese move against China es- pecially has opened their eyes. They see in our growing navy greater safety for themselves, not expecting any more than we do that it will actually fight for them, but feeling that it will probably prevent the need of fighting.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
Hear Them Yell

The suggestion of Charles P. Taft that a federal-state relief system be installed shortly will meet with contrasting re- captions. We can hear the yells arising from those fortunate states which have to date profited greatly by Uncle SamS largeSs and which hope to continue to do so. They are the states where the legis- tors, who trek down to the national cap ital, have been extremely busy of recent years pushing through projects that mean money spent at home or else Se- curing direct grants for relief work The contrast will be the silence from the states that are getting along without this outpouring of federal funds or pre- fer to get along without them.
 MT. Taft's idea is that Congress would set up definite amount to be allotted certain state. It would not be given this relief money until the state government had set up fund that would be in pro- portion to it. The amount would neces- SSrily vary with the state, but not the proportion:s It would, we presume, be the same in all instances. The state might then proceed to follow the same procedure with regard to communities that were desirous of relief aid, dispens- ing it in the proportion that it was re- ceived. The idea is sound theoretically, UuC we Call VlSIOIl IIldlly ueldulIS
 The idea is, of course, propounded on the theory that we are going to need to provide relief for various forms of gov ernment for long time to come. It does not take into consideration that Uncle Sam believes that his social security pro- gram, already launched in good part, is also designed to prevent the greater part of the nations population going on so- called relief for long periods of time
 If we set up longtime relief pro- gram, whereby Uncle Sam continually hands out money to the states and the states hand it to the cities and the cities hand it to the unemployed, then we must necessarily admit failure in our ability to find work for millions of men and women. We don't think such an admis- sion is good for the future of the United States, where every opportunity is at hand. even now in the midst of what we call recession; for, not prosperity, per haps. but certainly for moderate partici- nation in the good things of life
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

One of the hardest things that Water bury must face is the attitude of the press of the state in matters such as the pres ent hullabaloo over at the City Hall. Us ing the news as carried by the Associated Press as it's sole basis of complaint the New Haven Journal Courier, for example, remarks among other things, "It looks, from where we sit, like a pretty kettle of fish, And the awkwardneSs of Mayor Hayes position may be faintly suggested by the fact that he may have to clap on a 2.5 mill special tax to meet the gap. :" As matter of strict fact there is no need of any special taxes and the likelihood of one is remote. Figures dug up by Con- troller Rowland and his numerous aides, official and otherwise, purporting to show an ''overdraft' in the last fiscal year do not take into consideration many things. Among them are possible balances in departments; another is provision in the city budget for just such a thing as over appropriations. We advise state papers to await the end of this controversy before counting out Mayor Hayes and his administration.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

A Walnut Beach motorist has defied the State Motor Vehicle inspection law. He terms it request" measure and states that he is not obliged by the law to have his motor vehicle inspected. The man failed to have his car tested during the period that expired in December and was recently handed summons for fail- ure to have the necessary "sticker" on his windshield When authorities sought to take his license plates away from him, he barricaded his house against them. All of which may cause him more legal difficulties The law is plain enough. Further than that Connecticut law says the motor car owner does not own his license plates; he merely pays for their uSe
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
NEED LAWS TO MAKE NAZI CAMPS IN U. s. A. ILLEGAL,
 SAY UNITED AMERICANS

Editor, Waterbury Democrat:
 The report of the secret service to the department of justice as re- ported in the Waterbury Republican of this date, Jan. 18th, is about what we expected and not a source of disappointment. We have never for a moment considered that there would at this time be found any evidence of illegal use, transporta- tion, or possession of arms, or that acticnable evidence of a direct con- nection between the Bund and Nazi government in Germany would be brought to light.
 We would be fatuous fools and paying little tribute to the Machi-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

avilian ability of that master of intrigue, Adolph Hitler, were we to assume for minute that the trail from Berlin to the camps of the German Bund in America would be plainly blazed for all to follow.
 The report makes no difference in the plans of the United Ameri- cans. While we recognize, and have from the beginning, that apparently there is no federal law to cope with what we still maintain is an in sidious attack on our constituted government, we are determined to do all in our power to speedily rem edy that defect. We will still con- tinue our efforts for the enactment of national laws to suppress these physical manifestations of Nazi propaganda, and we ask the co-op- eration of every religious, patriotic, civic, labor, agricultural and fra ternal organization in the United States to lend the weight of your membership, and your moral sup port to our efforts and to the efforts of sincere and patriotic legislators who are endeavoring to have laws adopted that will assure the United States of the integrity, in it's in- ternal affairs that is our right as a sovereign free state.
 Unquestionably the report will find high favor with the Bund, and now we may expect to see them capitalize it to the fullest extent, as justification and endorsement, of their pure American aims in teach ing Nazi doctrines to our "unregen- crate populace, and be more arrog- ant than ever in openly Haunting their avowed purpose of Germaniz- ing large bodies of our American youth.
 The decision of the department of justice should act as spur to every real American to unite in a nation wide demand for legislation that WILL give the department of justice power to suppress these Nazi camps so obviously subverSive of our na- tional security. What spectacle of helpless ineft1ciency our government must present to Fuehrer Hitler, and what source of keen satis- faction; his Nazi propaganda being rapidly extended in the worlds greatest democracy at the expense of, and with at most the passive resistance of the exploited and their government; condition, which in Nazi Germany would find it's lead- CTS facing a firing squad within twenty-four hours of its inaugura- ton, accepted here as a situation over which the people, or the gov- ernment have no control.
 This briefly, is the state of affairs in this country which impels the United Americans to carry on the fight against the establishment of Bund camps in this country, why we again call on all real Americans to take an active part in, or sup port us, in our fight for American freedom from alien interference in our purely internal affairs, and our right to work out our own destiny without the aid of Adolph Hitler and his Nazi storm troops.
 UNITED AMERICANS GEORGE w. HOLMES, Pres. Southbury, Conn
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

here he did not fit. The State Department had caught some of the spirit of the New Deal, and Wilson was living back in the diplomatic dark ages of Harding and Coolidge.
 For instance, when Uruguay proposed to the United States and other Pan-American nations that they recognize the belIiger- ent rights of Franco in Spain, Wilson favored it. It did not matter to him that the Presf- dent of the United States had just taken a trip to South Amer lca for the purpose of preach- ing Democracy as against Fas- cism. Nor did it matter that if the United States did grant recognition, every other Pan- American state would follow suit.
 Or perhaps that was what Will son secretly wanted. At any rate, Secretary Hull had to over-rule him.
 Again, WI, 7,l an American dele gation had been sent to Brussels to try to conciliate the Chinese Japanese war, Wilson worked se- cretly for the idea of having Ger many arbitrate the dispute-even if this did cut the ground out from under the American inspired Brussels Conference.
 Extreme Caution
 On the Sunday night after first news of the Panay incident was received Wilson paced up and down the private office of Sec retary Hull while the latter con- ferred with Admiral Leahy.
 Don't do anything drastic," he warned, i've must be very cautious, very cautious"
 This is the keynote of the dip- lomatic philosophy of the new ambassador to Germany. His creed is always yield to the Fas- cist-Nazi nations. He IS not ex- actly a Fascist, but he believes that Japan is bound to expand, that Germany and Italy are bound to expand, and that it is best to let them have what they want.
 This, of course, always puts premium on force, and is com- pletely out of line with the Hull philosophy. Hull feels that a man who gets what he wants merely by waving his fist becomes in- satiable.
 It was because Hugh Will son did not fit into the State Department scheme of things that he was kicked upstairs to the Embassy in Berlin.
 In Germany he will be good reporters He will send back lots of information. But the State Department will never quite know how much of the pro-Nazi polish it must first rub off. For Wilson will lean just as much toward the Nazis as Ambassador Dodd did away from them.
 Copyright, 1888, by Unietd
 Feature Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
Questions and
 Answers
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
By Frederick M. Kerby

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
 Enclose three-cent stamp for reply when addressing any ques- ton of fact or information to the Waterbury Democrats Service Bu- reau at Washington. Legal and medical advice cannot be given, nor can extended research be un- dertaken. Be sure all mail is ad- dressed to the WATERBURY DEMOCRATS SERVICE BU- REAU, 1913 Thirteenth Street, Washington, D. c.
 THE EDITOR o. When did the widow of Pres ident Coolidge receive the franking privilege and a pension from the government?
 A. By the act of congress ap- proved June 16, 1884.
 o. What do the letters R. o. G mean in news articles about model airplane exhibition meets?
 A. "Rise off ground" to indicate that the model plane is capable ot rising from the ground with its own power.
 o. What is the address of the Maya society?
 A. Johns Hopkins university Baltimore, Md.
 o. Are the Yacht Club Boys brothers?
 A. No. Their names are Charlie Adler, George Kelly, Billy Mann and Jimmie Kern.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
TODAY'S COMMON ERROR Never pronounce rev0cable-
 re-vO'-ka-bl; say, rev'-O-ka- bl.

c. What is the meat yield from live lamb weighing 30 pounds?
 A. About 49.5 per cent, or 39e pounds.
 @. Where must write for infor- nation about government aid to col lege students?
 A. The National Youth Adminis- tration, 1340 G street, N. w., Wash ington, D. c.
 o. What is the numbered dial on the front of battleship called?
 A. Range clock.
 @. Which states have the lowest labor cost per hour in manufactur- ing industries?
 A. Mississippi, North Carolina
 Georgia and South Carolina where the average cost per man hour is under thirty cents.
 @. Do all the planets rotate on their axes like the Earth?
 A. Yes, but in various periods Mercury apparently rotates only once in 88 days; Venus probably only once in 225 days; Mars once in "A hours, 37 minutes, g 1-2 seconds Jupiter once in about g hours, 55 minutes; Saturn apparently once in about 10 hours and IS minutes; Uranus once in 10 3-4 hours; Nep- tune apparently once in about 16 hours. The last discovered planet, Pluto, apparently rotatoes on its axis at peripheral speed of l and 2 miles per second.
 Q. How much is the volume of the mortgages that have been in- sured by the federal housing admin istration?
 A. As of November 13, 1887, 249,- 507 mortgages totaling in value $1,- OH, ,249,227 had been insured.
 o. What caused the death of Jockey Pete Walls?
 A. He died at Saratoga Springs, New York, August 12, 1886, as the result of injuries incurred in a base ball game.
 o. What was the top price for seats for the Joe Louis-Paulino Uzcudun fight in New York in 1885?
 A. Top price was $15, plus $1.50 tax.
 If you want 8 copy of our booklet THE INTERNATIONAL WORLD ATLAS" write the Waterbury Demo- crats Washington Bureau, 191s Thirteenth street, Washington, ID. C. Enclose 25 cents in postage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
|PressCOnment
Jasper, The Spendthrift


 That Scotch McLevy down in Bridgeport carries his nickel-nurs- ing to extremes. He not only won't spend his own money, to get elected, but he also chisels on city spending. He's altogether out of step, Jasper, and can never expect to see his picture in the hall of fame with real politicians.
 Imagine reporting a surplus of $311, ,197 for the year! Doesn't he know that all money is good for is to spend? How can he expect to ever build up political machine? Jasper is hopeless in the eyes of seasoned politicians, when he re- ports his third consecutive surplus The past fiscal years total receipts were $10,789, ,75776, while total ex- pentitures, considerably below bud- getary estimates, were SIC, ,478,560.17. The difference will take a mill and half off the next tax rate.
 Tn that period the city's bonded debt was reduced about $600,000.
 The small-time roofer is running the city as though it were his own business: and is Bridgeport glad!
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
Selected Poem
ACCESSORY.

ACCESSORY.
 Josephine Hemsley in the
 New York Sum He asked her to lunch, And she wanted to please him, So she wore her new hat, With a cute veil to tease him, And her prettiest frock (Very subtle and swanky), The latest in gloves And a beautiful hanky. Could guise so enchanting Do other than charm him? He adored her, of course, But she did not disarm him, For he shrewdly observed That she also was wearing Her heart on the sleeve Of the frock she was airing.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
Daily Almanac

Sun rises 7:16 a. nn.: sets 4:48 p. m.
 All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset.
 The trend toward longer days is almost im- perceptible, but is gradual. Sunrise is creeping back towards a, m, while sunset will in another week or so be back at p. m. We've seen our shortest days and it's odd that a majority of our longer ones slip by unob- served save by those who live much of the day in the open.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15


 these test questions? Turn to last page for the answers. l. How many satellites has the earth?
 2. On which river Is the town of Athlone, Ireland?
 3. Which state does Senator George L. Berry (D0 represent in Congress?
 4. What river forms part of the boundary between the U. s. and Mexico?
 5. Who was Albrecht Durer? 6. The eruption of which volca- no destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 A. D.? T. Do both sexes of mosquitoes bite?
 8. Name the two Congressmen who use wheel chairs. 9. Name the state flower of Wis conSin.
 10. What is the name of the en- gineer who erected the Eiffel Tower at Paris?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

We are glad to read that the fight on white pine blister rust continues unabated in this state. The CCC boys have done fine work in curtailing it; the state now
 has a WPA crew afeld who in the past have accounted for hundreds of the wild entrants and gooSeberry bushes through which the blister rust is spread from tree to tree. Only by eradication of these bushes can the blight ever be controlled.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
In New York
By GEORGE ROSS

New York, Jan. 15.-James M. Gaines dynamite laden book, Ser enade," has been formidable best seller these past several weeks and they are saying of the author that he is the postman who did ring twice.
 Now that Realist Cain has firm established himself as one of Americas important writers, he is stunning the lucre of Hollywood, a place which he evidently holds in disdain. For he damns Hollywood as place where the only thing con- sidered good for its own sake is "a producer who couldn't tell Brahms from Irving Berlin on bet; who won't read a book until the scenario department has had synopsis made; who can't speak English but pretends to be an authority on liter ature, music and other branches of the arts"
 Musical Note
 That's an ironically amusing ad 8 music monthly carried not long ago. Music Students" it read per- suasively, "plan to spend this sum- mer on the peaceful Yangtse river where amid restful surroundings, you will be able to compose and i study" Shades of the Panay! The Rockefellers still don't know xr,I,ot fo do n,ifI, fho ContoY. The for which has been the only financial blot upon Radio City. But at least they were consoled to know that the hit tune of the last big fiasco in that jinx playhouse was entitled Goodbye, Jonah!"
 Tide of Fortune
 Don't recall having gleaned this before Billy Wilkerson, proprie- tor of Hollywood's most famous cafe, The Trocadero, was talking the other night about the head waiter at his club. He is considered the most gracious and discreet maitre d'hotel in the film colony and a great favorite of the stars When Wilkerson first found him, he was steward aboard trans-At- lantic liner. Wilkerson was so im- pressed with the fellows savior faire that he offered him berth in the "Troc." To no avail, however, for this nautical headwaiter preferred to travel.
 Despite a point blank denial, Wilkerson entrusted his business card to the well-mannered steward and invited him to communicate any time in the future. Two years later, WilkerSon got wire from Boston at his Hollywood office. It was from the maitre d'hotel at sea and it said that the sender was dead-broke and for his fare across the continent, gladly would take 8 job at Trocadero. Within an hour, Wilkerson wired the train fare and the ships steward since then has been Hollywoods white-haired maitre d'hotel.
 Big Apple" Classified
 'The Big Apple" has been put up to the professors. When asked to define it the other day, one academ- ician described it, not as an orgy, but scientific application of measured and dangerous stimuli" 1" But try and tell t t to the boys and girls at the Cotton Club or the dime dance palaces.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
MILK DRINKERS REWARDED

Houston, Tex. CUP) Men have been going around Houston present. ing $1 bills to persons they found drinking milk. It was part of scheme to increase the pse of milk and expand one of the most im- portant agriculture fields in this area.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

When even the economists and statis- ticians are at sea, it looks as if we'll have to fall back on astrology C numerology.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

We can all appreciate how Congress feels about spending; but durn it, it's our money!
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

Congress is said to be looking for ia new tax formula. Whats wrong with the old one - "tax those who do the least hollering"?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

Recipe for making guests appreciate their food-keep 'em waiting till they're hungry.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15

Liberty is dead in Russia" says al exiled writer It always waS
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
IN TODAY'S MAIL

newspaper responsible opinions
  the writer's address be accepted.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-15
Fz;;: ;:,;|;,':; $; g y;S N IA Daily n Dasw PzAnson .nA nonsEr A11zs
The Brass Ring This Week
 Goes To Hugh R. Wilson,
 New German Ambassador
iM Dmsw RAnsOm
anA B0nsT Q A4

Editors Note: Hugh Wilson, newly appointed Germany gets the Brass Ring Washington Merry today after years Foreign Service)
 WASHINGTON January 15 = When President Roosevelt sent the name of Hugh R. Wilson to the Senate for confirmation Ambassador to Germany he gave that gentleman one of the highest honorS extended to a career diplomat.