davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-05-25
Collection AGENT

The treasurer of the American Le-
gion post at Muskogee, Okla, like
other treasurers from time imme-
mortal, occasionally runs up against
the problem of the delinquent sub
scriber. Calling Dame Nature to his
assistance, he now solves his prob
lem with the invaluable aid of Elmer,
pet skunk. Elmer is sent on visit
to the member whose dues are fur
thest behind, and stays there until
his host does something constructive
In the line of finance. He gets re-
suits that are at once the envy and
despair Of old style collection agen-
cies whose employees from frequent
failures are apt to develop inferiority
or defeatist complexes. But not FL
mer. He marches in, fairly radiant
with an air of confidence, or some
thing, and gets all the tender consid-
Grafton due visiting royalty. The de-
linquent Legionnaires' thoughts stray
to the dear old post, so badly in need
OF funds, and they also dwell on
what his wife will say when she gets
home. Heaving sigh, he reaches for
the sock behind the radio, and in no
time at all, or even less, escorts his
mephitic majesty back to that un-
sung hero of the Legion, the treas
urer.
There is no copyright on this pro-
cedure, and it is open for adoption
by all groups subject to the malady
OF slow pay, such as the medical pro-
fession. The newly fiedged doctor
might find one of these nonchalant
little pets every bit as useful to him
as his diploma or stethoscope. Even
greater possibilities exist Who knows
but what some day Elmer and
covey of his fragrant kin may be
sent on a triumphal transatlantic
tour and bring back a payment on
the European war debt? Secretary
Morgenthau says this notion is just
as good as many other New Deal
financial schemes, and promises to
recommend 1t strongly-to his sue
cessor.
Evening star., 1939-05-25

a w. P. A. project. Works Progress
Administration projects employ reuef
labor. The great majority of the per-
sons employed on this body measure
ment study were relief workers The
idea for the study originated in the
Bureau of Home Economics, and the
bureau, with funds assigned to it by the
w. P. A. employed non-rehef anthropom-
etriSts, measurers, statisticians, and
supervisors who directed the relief en-
ployes assigned to the project by local
Works Progress Administration Offices
In the District of Columbia and in the
States participating. At the invitation
OF the bureau, IS colleges and UNIVERSE
ties in the States provided the part-tin
services of a staff member to arrange
for the children to be measured and
tc assist the local w. P. A. units. We
shall appreciate it if you will publish
this letter in order that full credit may
be given where credit is due
RUTH OBRIEN,
Chief Division of Textiles and Clothing.
May %.
Evening star., 1939-05-25

ing offlce-seeker. that ended his
political career.
Tom Pendergast started his career
as a bookkeeper in a saloon. He was
a good fellow to the boys in the back
room and as his circle of friends
grew, his fame and influence grew,
too. So did his business interests,
and his bank account In the old
days, behind an Office counter in the
saloon, Tom kept his accounts with
meticulous care. But as the money
piled in upon him in later years, he
found bookkeeping increasingly ar
duous. Also, Tom figured, what the
income tax people do not know will
not hurt them. He mistakenly be-
lieved that the Pendergast dynasty
was above not only the local law, but
the laws Of the United States. But
he reckoned without Elmer Irey's
relentless income tax investigators
and the fearlessness of United
States Attorney Milligan, who pros
ecuted the case. With remarkable
disregard for the traditional sane
tity of BOSS" Toms personal
affairs, they dug into his bank
records, his business dealings and
his gambling habits. What they
found filled pages of an indictment
charging evasion of Federal income
taxes. The Boss" realized the fu-
tility of fighting the kind of law en-
forcement that is not amenable to
the niceties of political etiquette. On
the receiving end of this sort of JUS
tice for the first time in his life,
BOSS" Tom surrendered to the in
evitable and pleaded guilty. He faces
fifteen months in Federal prison.
The Pendergast case is significant
because it marks the collapse of one
OF the countrys last notorious po-
litical autarchies. Tom Pendergast
has gone the way of Jimmy Hines
and others of the brand. Political
bossism most assuredly is on the
wane in the United States. 1t does
not seem to be able to stand the
light of searching investigation and
courageous law enforcement.
Evening star., 1939-05-25
David J. Lewis

The appointment of David j.
Lewis, former Representative from
Maryland, to the National Mediation
Board should not be disturbing to
an agency which has achieved a
pleasing degree of success in main
tanning peaceful and orderly labor
relations in the railroad industry.
Throughout his long career, from
his days in the coal mines to his
years in public life, Mr.. Lewis has
demonstrated both understanding
and sympathy in connection with
the really fundamental problems of
American labor and industry.
As a member of Congress, a serv-
ice to the country which he began
in 1911, he was an active advocate
Of such progressive legislation as
that creating the parcel post service,
the social security program, the rail-
Evening star., 1939-05-25
ALEXANDRIA, VA.

"Dear Sir:
my wife and I read and enjoy your
column in The Star regularly. Your ar
ticles on birds, their habits, etc.. are Of
special interest.
"A number of times you have written
stories of their quarrels and fights.
"The following incident took place in
our yard this morning.
You have never told anything just
like it.
"It seemed so different.
"The hose had been running for quite
q while and hole had filled with water.
what appeared to be young SPAR
row was attempting to take bath.
"Our attention was first attracted to
q small flock of different kinds of birds
chirping and fiuttering about this small
pool Of water in which the young SPAR
row was struggling to get out.
"He apparently was in great distress.
"The others seemed not to know what
to do, just like folks at time of great
emergency.
"Then suddenly a startling swooped
down, grabbing Mr.. Sparrow in his beak.
"They both came up fiuttering and
imagine spluttering.
"As they arose from the water the
startling let go, and they few off in diff
ferent directions.
whether this was an intentional good
deed or not, do not know. I am just
giving you the facts as they happened
"It seemed to satisfy all the other
birds, for they all left to attend to their
many other duties.
This incident appealed so much to us
that we thought 1t might interest you
Very truly, j. A. G. S."
There can be little doubt that this
heroic startling deserves medal
He is a credit to his race, and adds
another good mark to his tribe, so often
spoken of disparagingly.
This column has always insisted that
the startling is one of the most intelli-
gent of all birds.
II there is any feathered fellow who
would be able to sense the need of aid,
in another bird, and Immediately give it,
it would be this squat songster.
Let us hope no one will dispute his
title to "songster." Not only is he a
songbird, scientifically, but he has a
really varied repertoire of notes. includ-
ing an amazingly sweet whistle in spring.
time.
X
Many persons who love the birds and
their music do not realize that the Pc
culiarly soft whistle which greets their
despised starting.
Evening star., 1939-05-25
"Hot Dogs" Opposed As
Symbol of Democracy.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
1t is not my intention to become in
volved in a gladiatorial. combat on the
subject of "hot dogs" but it does strike
me as rather strange just why this Ger
man invention should be symbol Ut
American democracy. "Wiennies" have
their origin in Vienna, whereas the "hot
dog" is only larger species of the same
family of German origin, and in all
probability came from Frankfurt.
But what has always appeared to me
still more remarkable is that, In order
to impress upon the royal families OF
Europe the spirit of our American de-
mocracy, we insist on giving them a
feast of "hot dogs" roasted on the end
of stick.
I earnestly hope that the "hot dogs"
will agree with their majesties, but
must candidly admit that if our two
great democracies are to be success
fully united by indissoluble ties of love
and affection frankfurters may exercise
symptoms contrary to an agreeable
understanding.
LOUIS F. DILGER.
Hyattsville, Md.
May "a.
Evening star., 1939-05-25
Letters to the Editor
Deplores Slurs on
Late Herman Oliphant.

DeplOreS Slurs on
Late Herman Oliphant.
To the Editor of The Star
One of the best features of The Star
is the daily column of Alsop and Kint-
ner. Their column is interesting and
informative, and we read it regularly.
Occasionally, however, being human
beings, they lapse into what appear to
be errors.
We refer particularly to their column
of May Is, in which they wrote about
the late Herman Oliphant, former gen.
eral counsel of the Treasury Department,
who died in January of this year from
overwork
They stated: while it (undistributed
profits taxi was being cooked up at the
White House by Oliphant, Morgenthau
was vacationing at Sea Island"
The insinuation here is that Oliphant
was disloyal to Morgenthau. This was
never the fact, and Morgenthau knows
it. Oliphant never went to the White
House, never talked to the President on
the phone, and never made any move Of
any type without first clearing with
Morgenthau.
A shy, introspective type Olphant now
is being blamed for some of the New
Deals follies. He was not a publicity
seeker. On the contrary, he went to the
other extreme, with the result that the
public never had first-hand glimpse of
the man, his ideals and his detectives.
He was shrouded, erroneously in an
atmosphere of suspicion, double dealing
and intrigue. The truth is he was one of
the most brilliant, forward-looking off,
cials ever to enter public life in this
country. His intellectual honesty and
integrity were clearly manifested in
proffers of lucrative jobs in private busi-
ness, which he refused for the sole rea-
son that he put his country and his fell
low men before any private gain.
This is true portrait of Herman Oil
phant now resting in his native Indiana,
and we resent any inference that he was
not always above board and strictly loyal
to his superiors. We cannot allow the
insinuations of Alsop and Kintner to 90
unchallenged. L. REILLY.
May 49,
Evening star., 1939-05-25
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. .Trace,DeH.

Yet, 1t is this birds intelligence which
demands our attention most.
That it would see fellow biTd, even
though not of its own tribe, and come
to its rescue
1t is a difficult thing to prove, but, after
all, actions speak louder than words, and
there apparently was no dissenting
opinion in the minds of the two human
witnesses to the scene.
II n
1t is possible for f1edglings to try to
take bath before they are able to
handle themselves in the water. (Bird
baths are preferably only or 2 inches
deep)
They might wander over to a bath
set flush with the ground, and calmly
walk in, unable to tell the difference
between water and lawn.
Or they might fly in, laboring under
the same inability to tell them apart.
1t is possible that any bird might sud-
denly realize it was in water deeper than
birds like
Swimming birds have webbed feet.
All others are in great difficulties
when they get into deep water-and, of
course, water does not have to be very
deep to be inimical to a land bird.
Ordinarily bird can take itself out
OF water with its wings, but in case it
suffers from some sort of psychic trouble
and surely birds have enough brains
for that-it might not be able to gets its
wings working properly.
X X 4
The clamor set up by the other birds
probably bespoke youngster in trouble
as that is the sort of situation which
usually develops this sort of gallery
Birds, as group, are very unfortunate
in not being able to do much for the
victims of the unusual
If small bird flies down drain pipe,
as they sometimes do, there is no bird
on earth which would know how to get
1t out or be able to do anything about
1t If he did.
A baby robin on the ground is at the
mercy of animals, and all the other birds
can do is flutter and scream at the
invader.
Mother and father robins are helpless
to get the young back into the nest if
they fall out.
1t would seem we'll within the bounds
OF possibility that a parent bird could
seize the baby by the neck, as the star
ling evidently did the sparrow, and bear
it aloft to it's cradle.
This is contingency for which
nature, evidently, did not provide, and
the birds are helpless in the face of it.
All the more credit, then, goes to the
startling which rescued the sparrow. 1t
not only did a good deed in bad world,
but also went outside the facts of the
race to emulate mankind in one of its
better moments.
Evening star., 1939-05-25
Roosevelt on the
National Debt.

To the Editor Of The Star:
President Roosevelt's speech of the
22nd before the Retailers Forum was
characteristic of the man, filled as it
was with attacks upon the businessmen
of the country. The speech was full of
mlstatements of fact and half truths,
and his insistent demand that his ex-
ploded theories and discredited expert
ments be continued confirm the opinion
that "Ephraim is still joined to his
idols" and that he will persist in them
though the heavens fall and the country
be ruined. AS indicative of the absurdity
OF his conclusions the following state
ment is given from his speech, as it ap-
pears in full in The Star:
Our national debt after all is an
internal debt owed not only by the
Nation but to the Nation. If our
children have to pay interest on it
they will pay that interest to them
selves. A reasonable internal debt
will not impoverish our children.
Such statement is an insult to the
intelligence of child. You and I, Mr.
Edltor, are paying our prOpOrtlonate
part of the billion dollar interest on the
national debt, and we know .we are net
paying it to ourselves, but to the few
who own the bonds representing the
oebts, and so will it be with our chill
6ren and with our grandchildren unto
the tenth generation unless in the mean
time the debts should be repudiated,
which is not altogether improbable.
would shudder to leave it to Mr.. Roose-
velt what is "a reasonable internal dept
for as to magnitude where other peoples
money and liability are concerned he
has a grandoise imagination that is
without parallel in the history of the
human race. ECONOMIST
May "a.
Evening star., 1939-05-25
Credits Relief Workers for
Children's Measurements.

To the Editor Of The Star:
have read with much regret the
editors note following the letter in the
May 10 issue of The Evening Star signed
by Florence A. Carpenter regarding the
story on the woman's page of The Star,
May IL, describing the study Of children's s
body measurements as basis for sizing
children's garments and patterns. You
state therein "' the project was
conceived and all of the work done by
employees of the Bureau of Home Eco
nomics according to officials of that
agency"
All press releases issued from this
Office have included the statement that
this project was financed by Works Prog
ress Administration funds, and we have
made clear to al reporters that this was
Evening star., 1939-05-25
Appreciates Stories on
Moral Rearmament.
To the Editor of The ctar.

Thank you for printing recently sew
eral news stories of moral rearmament-
Of the National Press Club luncheon
here and of the citizens meeting for
moral rearmament in New York last
Sunday.
All these stories and the favorable re-
sponse which I have heard to them Illus
trate the constructive part that the press
can take in giving its readers new hope
In troubled times. I believe the press
can make real contribution to the
country if it continues to give to its
readers news of men and nations finding
Gods plan for them in this generation.
May 10. JOHN UPSHER SMITH,
Evening star., 1939-05-25

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the for republication of all news dispatches
credited to it or not Otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
All rights of publication of special dispatches
herein also are reserved.
Evening star., 1939-05-25
Mother of Seven
Asks for Ice Box.

To the Editor of The Star:
am the mother of six little girls and
cne boy, aged from months to 13 years.
My husband is an invalid and I must
care for the family on $50 a month. As
result can afford to buy only one
quart of milk day, which is used for
the baby. am wondering whether anv
OF your readers has an old ice box and
will give it to me so I can keep the milk
from souring during the hot weather
MRS. RUTH ODONNELL.
May "A.
Evening star., 1939-05-25

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the tDriter, although the use OF
a pSeudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be brief!
Evening star., 1939-05-25
Rate by Mail-PayabIe in Advance

Collection made at the end of each month or
each week Orders may be sent by mail or tele-
phone National 5000
Evening star., 1939-05-25
All Other States and Canada
Member of the Associated Press

Entered as second class matter post Office,
Washington, D. c.
Evening star., 1939-05-25
The Evening Star Newspaper Company
Delivered by Carrier-City and Suburban

Main ONCE: 11th st and Pennsylvania Ave.
New York Ofice: no East 42nd ST.
Chicago ONCE: 435 North Michigan Ave.
Evening star., 1939-05-25
Regular Edition
Night Final Edition
Night Final and Sunday Star

Evening and Sunday Csc per mo. or 15c per week
The Evening Star---45c per mo. or 10c per week
The Sunday sc per copy
Evening star., 1939-05-25

WASHIN TON, C.
THURSDAY May rs, 1889
Evening star., 1939-05-25

OlepOWeT.
@. What is the meaning of quipu?--
v. OBJ.
A. 1t is system of writing and rec
ord-keeping used by the Incas in which
they used knotted cords called quipus.
Small cords with knots in them were
attached to main cord the color Of
the cord, its place, size and the number
of knots were all of significance to the
record or the message. The quipus had
to be made up and deciphered by spe-
cially trained persons. The method of
deciphering is not known today.
@. Who were the winners in this years.
Metropolitan Grand Opera additions in
New York?-G. N. c.
A. The winners in this years Metro
politan Additions of the Air series were
Miss Anna Mary Dickey, soprano, and
Mr.. Mack Harrell, baritone.
@. Is there monument to Gen.
Kosciuszko at the United States Mill
tary Academy?-R. P.
A. There is monument to Kosciuszko
on Fort Clinton parapet which was
erected by the corps at West Point in
1929 The statue was presented in 1918
by the Polish clergy and laity of the
United States. ,
@. Please give the date of the first
ouis-Schmeling fight.-P. G.
A. The first Louis-Schmeling bout took
place on June 18. 1886.
Evening star., 1939-05-25

@. How many States do not have
workmens compensation laws?-N K.
A. Mississippi is the only State which,
has no workmen's compensation law.
Evening star., 1939-04-18
Bond Firm Admits
Paying $4,000
To 6. 0. P. Leader
Statement Is Received
As Michigan House
Studies Investigation
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LANSING, Mich, April 18.-
Thomas Read, attorney general of
Michigan, said today that Toledo
bond firm told his Investigators that
Frank D. Mckay, Michigan Repub-
lican leader, was paid a $92 300 fee
in 1887 for advice, efforts and
service" in connection with a bridge
project the company had undertaken
prior to 1929.
Read made public a formal state
ment from Stranahan, Harris e. Co.
of Toledo, which purchased q So
300 900 bond issue from the Michigan
Bridge Commission, financing in
part the Blue Water International
Bridge between Port Huron, Mich,
and Sarnia, Ont.
The statement said Mckay per-
formed no service in connection with
the bond purchase.
Paid Manager S43,80O.
OF the $4,000 received by Nc
Kay from the company in 1887.
tne statement added. he paid $43,-
800 to Stewart P. Blasier, Detroit
resident manager of the firm. who
worked with Mckay to bring to
life" the Blue Water bridge project,
Stranahan, Harris Co. had under
taken a survey in 1928 preparatory
to construction of the bridge, the
hrm stated. adding that after the
panic Of 1929" the deal was dead"
and I'VE stood to lose approximately
Sl5O,0OO in expenses"
A contingent agreement with Nc
Kay q Blasier was entered into in
1882, the statement said, and the
two men devoted time, travel and
effort ito secure the necessary new
legislation in Congress, Province of
Ontario, the Dominion government
and the State of Michigan, together
with War Department permits. DOW
ers OF condemnation, easements
rights OF way, and the documents
essential to the construction of an
international bridge"
Says Payment Was Fair.
OF the $4,000 payment the COM
pany said, 1T does not seem to us
as fair-minded business men that
this compensation was exorbitant."
The statement came as a half
dozen proposals for Investigations
OF any connection between Mckay
and sale of State bond issues arose
In the Michigan House of Repre-
,sentatives.
Evening star., 1939-04-18

up. Even the applause that greeted
the abruptly halted address had to
be cut short to make way for the
radio program.
George Washington, as portrayed
by Denys Workman, stopped OF on
his inaugural journey" to New
York to pay his respects to the
Congress last night. A salvo of ap-
plause greeted him as he nodded his
bewigged head to the audience.
Two diminutjYe youngsters in CO.
lonial costumes, Jessie Scott Of
Vienna, Va, and Sterling John
Eagleton of Washington almost
stopped the ceremonies last night
when the little girl wanted to give
her bouquet, intended for Mrs. Rob-
ert, to Mrs. William H. Pouch, ma
tional president of the C. A. r.
Mrs. Robert, as she laughingly re-
ported the matter to the assembly,
said, That just shows how much
Sne likes her national president"
The group Of attractive, almost
uniformly tall high school girls who
made up the Good Citizenship Pill
grimage filed across the stage last
night to be presented to their spon-
Sors.
Chuckles Of approval rippled
across the audience as the girls re-
sponded to their names, called of
by Mrs. Roscoe c. O'Byrne, their
chairman, with acknowledgements
that varied from shy mods to elab-
crate curtseys. The youngsters,
many of whom had never left their
home town, wore girlish evening
gowns almost invariably with puffed
sleeves and carried dainty, berib-
boned bouquets.
Evening star., 1939-04-18
Hospital Room Opened
For D. A. R. DELEGATES

A complete hospital room. which
is unlocked only during the Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution
Congress, is wide open for business.
The suite Of rooms, presented to
the D. A. R. 13 years ago, is equipped
with two beds. chaise Tongue and
first-aid material. Located in the
lounge Of Constitution Hall, the
hospital has two Garfield Hospital
graduates on duty, Miss Irene L.,
Mahan. who has presided over the
hospital ever since it was opened,
and Miss Lillian Davis, a private
duty nurse.
Miss Mahan said she expects "a
little of everything" The total of
exhaustion cases, Paintings and falls
usually averages under Is during
the week.
II anything serious occurs the in
jured delegate is dispatched to her
temporary residence. or to one of
the hospitals. No overnight cases
are kept in the room, which opens
and closes with the sessions.
Miss Mahan. who has worked as
a flrst-aid nurse in two Government
bureaus, restricts her activities now
to the week with the D. A. r. She
is considered by the delegates who
return year after year as much of
fixture in the hospital room as the
beds themselves.