davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Suggests Both Neutrality
Plans Be Approved.

TO the Editor Of The Star:
In regard to your editorial of Septem-
Der 18, "A False Issue:
1t is implied, perhaps unintentionally,
that the present issue lies between "re-
tention of the embargo or substitution of
the "cash-and-carry plan" as the best
safeguard of peace.
1t seems to me that the opponents of
the embargo ignore the fact that it is
possible to keep the embargo and still
apply the cash and carry plan to other
dangerous exports such as raw materials
OF war, and even to all "contraband."
The issue does lie in whether or not
our permitting the sale Of arms to bel
hgerents is running dangerous risk of
eventual involvement. In my opinion,
Tor the reasons expressed by various
leading "isolationists." it is. The matter
OF other contraband is an Independent
issue, and one that should, of course, be
carefully studied. But we need not take
the dangerous step of removing the arms
embargo in order to apply the cash-and-
carry plan to other contraband.
September 10. so
Evening star., 1939-09-21

the curb to follow the ball into the
street. She cannot be made to run
across the street. She walks, looking
right and left, for traff1c.
DR.. Brunson is a former school
teacher who. encouraged by Knee
His ability to learn traffic rules,
teamed up with her in teaching traf-
f1c lessons to children. The team was
quite successful in Philadelphia last
year, where it was found that simple
rules, taught by Knee-Hi, seem to
impress themselves on school chill
dren in a way that sticks.
So The Star, with the cooperation
of the Board of Education, the school
and police officials, has brought DR..
'Brunson and Knee-Hi to Washington
this fall for demonstration of traf-
fic safety rules from a wire-haired
fox terriers point of view. II some
OF the rules sink into busy young
minds, and if even small proportion
OF children remember them, The Star
will be eternally grateful to Knee-Hi.
This is to wish Knee-Hi all the luck
in the world.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Communist Party Supports
District Suffrage.

To the Editor Of The Star:
The action of the leaders of the Dis
trict Suffrage Association in calling
upon the major political parties in the
District officially to declare their stand
in regard to suffrage is of particular
significance at the present time. Under
the shield Of national emergency" the
big business interests of our country are
attempting to wipe out the hard-won
democratic rights of the American peo-
pie. It is therefore incumbent for all
political groups to state their position on
such basic civil liberty as the right to
vote.
The District Communist Party position
favoring suffrage for the District has not
only been unanimously adopted by the
Tenth National Convention Of the Com
munist Party, United States of America
but has also been carried into life Since
the intensification of the suffrage move
ment in the past three years we have
raised the slogan Bring Washington into
the Fold of Democracy-Make WASH
ington Part of America"
The Communist Party is whole heart
edly in the fight for District suffrage be-
cause we believe that only by preserving
and extending the democratic' liberties
of the people can we insure peace, prog
ress and security.
September IS. LEONARD EBBNo.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
THIS AND THAT
BY Charles E. Trace1oell.

in the yard. and quite another to observe
specimen bird up close.
The closeup dispels most peoples
liking for this bird, except as a bird
pattern, one with remarkably glisten-
ing coat. MANY persons hereabouts
think OF the grackle as q "blackbird"l
Truly, 1t is remarkably handsome, and
its size makes 1t easy observing but its
fell deeds soon dispel admiration, espe-
cially at the grounds reserved for the
feeding Of wild birds.
William Gillette once advocated "the
absolute necessity OF cats for the preser-
vation of birds"
This idea will come as a novelty to
many.
Mr.. Gillette explained it further by say
ing: There is unlimited testimony from
scientific sources that, for the few birds
caught and devoured by cats, there are
millions whose lives are saved by the
destruction of their enemies"
BY these enemies he undoubtedly pointed
to rodents and snakes and other birds. 1t
is only the fervid bird observer who really
knows anything about how many fledg-
lings of all species are killed by other
birds Not only are millions of eggs lost
every year before Matching, broken and
devoured by blue jays and others, but
thousands of young birds are killed,
sometimes most wantonly, by larger spe-
cies, chief among which must be placed
the purple grackle.
Nature is curious mixture of right
and wrong. While seemingly thought
leSsly cruel, in the long run and from the
wider viewpoint her ways, though bar
barous often work out no worse than
civilized mans ways.
Among the pure creatures, such as
birds, natures ways often enough work
out to the betterment of the most birds.
Thus In world where cats are allowed
to roam, there probably are, at the end
ing of summer, more birds alive than in
section where all cats had been ex-
cluded, if such thing were possible. The
gross exaggerations of annual kills by
wandering cats, made occasionally by
professional cat haters are scarcely taken
seriously by any one, even other cat
haters, while those who like both cats
and birds, and try to protect both, alone
know how few the birds caught in a sea-
son even by hungry cat Instead of $50.
as has been claimed, even the roaming cat
seldom gets more than a dozen season,
and most OF these are babies or sick
birds which other natural enemies prob
ably would get, anyway. Birds were not
given the power of flight for nothing.
Among the enemies Of birds, birds
themselves must be given high rank, not
only because of the disparity of size
between the species, but also because the
very fact that they are all birds evidently
throws the youngsters off guard caus-
ing them to fall easy prey to the more
murderous species.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Stutesmunship

On the basis of the official COM
munique issued after yesterdays
extraordinary conference between
President Roosevelt and fifteen of
the Nations political and legislative
leaders, the exchange of opinions on
our neutrality policy appears to have
created an important unity as to our
national objective and the manner
in which it might be approached.
Without condition, and without
dissent, it was announced, the con-
ference agreed that the primary
objective is to keep America neutral
and at peace. In like manner, there
was complete accord that both the
legislative and executive branches
should seek this objective in wholly
non-partisan spirit. And in the
opinion that the matter requires a
review of our neutrality statute, it
was agreed that the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee should take up
the matter without delay after the
convening of the special session of
Congress.
The men who attended yesterdays
conference are true and typical
leaders of the Nations political
thought, fully conscious of the seri-
BUSINESS and deep significance of
their discussions. 1t goes without
saying that their concurrence in the
broad terms of the post-conference
statement will not be violated by
any retreat to partisanship or
obstruction. Theirs is a patriotic
responsibility, recognized as such.
With the immediate leadership of
Congress and the Nation emanating
from the White House, detailed
recommendations as to the legisla-
tive needs were left until the Presi-
dent addressed his message to the
newly convened Congress today.
Such beginning augurs we'll for a
statesmanlike improvement in our
laws, to the end that the United
States may remain at peace while
safeguarding its own vital interests.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
The REGATTA

Under the wise direction Of Mr..
John Remon, president of the Presi-
dents Cup Regatta Association, the
broad objectives of what has become
an annual fall event in Washington
are the encouragement of water
sports OF all sorts and the full de-
velopment of Washington's poten-
TALLY fine facilities for such sports.
IhuS the regatta is not merely a
show for the spectators, but an event
which is annually attracting more
active participants in water sports
and more lively interest in provid-
Ing the proper setting for them.
The powerboat races over the COM
Ing week end, with the night parade
OF private yachts and the fireworks,
will furnish fine spectacle. The
races themselves have long since
achieved Importance in this branch
OF sport and command national in
terest. The sailboat races last Sat-
urday and Sunday, with the SWIM
ming meets and canoe races, were, on
the other hand, essentially for the
participants. The Star was partially
instrumental in inaugurating the
sailing races five years ago as a part
OF the regatta and it has been grati-
Tying to note the steadily increasing
interest In this event. In 1885, the
hrst year, there were forty-nine en-
tries. Last Saturday there were 129.
the classes indicating the increasing
popularity of small, inexpensive.
stock-built boats and the greater
participation by amateur shippers in
a clean and thrilling recreational
sport. The sailboat races this year
brought entries from Connecticut to
Puerto Rico.
The unpleasant feature of the re-
gatta this year is the filthy condi-
tlon OF the river, unusually bad now
because OF temporary dumping OF
sewage during repairs to one of the
trunk lines. This is a condition of
many years standing, however, and
Will become less Objectionable as the
antl-pollution sewage construction
now IN progress is completed. Such
events as the regatta become effective
instruments for improving Washing
IONS water front, ending river pollu-
tlon and bringing about a greater
realization of the Potomac's out
seanolng recreational advantages
FOR that reason, if for no other, it
deserves continued patronage and
the support of the community.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Convoy vs.. Submarines

Ihe British aircraft carrier Coura-
geouS, sunk by German submarine
was one of number of warships the
British government had pressed into
service for the protection of mercan-
tile shipping against Germany's un-
dersea counter blockade. Its loss,
while serious, in no way detracts from
the value of the convoy system as a
means of defeating Germany's sub
marine campaign.
That system proved its effective
ness in the last conflict, a fact which
led Britain, contrary to It's policy
during the first two years and a
half OF the World War, to adopt the
convoy at an early stage to keep
open the lines of communication
and transport through the Atlantic.
Germany has declared a counter
blockade against England and is
using her fleet of nearly seventy sub
marines in an effort to starve Britain
into submission, but by providing
armed guard for the vessels which
feed her people and supply the allied
army in France, the British have
taken the one step which can defeat
that purpose.
Fully cognizant of the perils of
submarine warfare to neutrals as
well as belligerents, the American
Government also is using the convoy
for protection of Americans return
Ing from Europe, as was demanded
by survivors of the Athena. Two
American destroyers are at Bordeaux
waiting to accompany the United
States liner Manhattan out of the
war zone after it leaves the French
port today laden with Americans
fleeing war-torn Europe.
Great Britain has paid heavily in
ships during the first two weeks of
the war. Twenty-Five of its mer-
chant vessels, aggregating some
$4,000 tons, have been sent to the
bottom. Against this Germany has
lost only nine, while France has lost
one and neutral nations six.
Prompt adoption of the convoy
now is in sharp contrast to the op-
position which this policy met in the
first years of the last war. It was
nearly three years before the British
admiralty consented to protect the
merchant fleet, and it did so then
only as a last resort against the
almost disastrous ravages of Ger
many's unrestricted submarine war
fare. Although conveys had been
provided all along for cargoes which
were particularly important to the
British government, the admiralty
opposed their use for all merchant
ships, first, because it would take
badly needed units away from the
battle fleet, and, second, because it
was believed conveys would provide
submarines with better torpedo
targets.
But unleashing of the ruthless sub
marine warfare by Germany in
February, 1917-an act which helped
lead the United States into the con-
flict-drove home to the British gov
ernment the realization that the SUBJ
Evening star., 1939-09-21

right side and aid the right, our Munich
may be at hand. We need not send our
boys to Europe. We shall need them here
at the present rate. American people are
not neutral. Canada is our neighbor
whom we love and should help as she
would help us if we were attacked.
No. we cannot be neutral while Jarhn
murders China and Hitler slays Poland
and Mussolini turns somersaults. We
can stop war by being honest and brave
and not by silly cheat game called neu-
trality which gives brutality full sway
We beg Congress to change that law
quickly. GRANDMOTHER
Beverly. Mass,
September l3,
Evening star., 1939-09-21

of Washington a regular schedule of
amateur baseball games during the 1889
season. Grateful thanks are also extended
for the generous space devoted during
the past season in the sports pages of
the Washington Evening Star to the ac-
tivities of amateur baseball. The value
of this outstanding public service to the
cause of promoting clean sportsmanship
among the youth of the Nations Capital
cannot be commended too highly.
BE it further resolved that this reso-
luton be spread upon the minutes of the
executive meeting, and copy of the same
be sent to all our locals throughout the
country" FRANK p. NOvARIO,
Secretary, National Amateur Base.
ball Federation.
September 16.
Evening star., 1939-09-21

That arch dend, the purple grackle,
was getting ready to kill young English
sparrow.
He attempted to drill hole through
the back Of tho baby birds neck.
If you have never seen this, you have
no idea how cruel and ruthless the deed
looks.
That ,nurderous yellow bill, propelled
by powerful neck muscles. descends upon
the unwilling bird.
The sparrow In this case was not held
by the many-times larger grackle, but
only through its own lack Of fear.
You see, young sparrows, as most baby
birds, are rather too fearless for their
own good.
This sparrow, standing in front of the
feeding station beneath the maple by
the garage, was not enough afraid of
the glistening big fellow behind him.
Probably the young of English SPAR
rows are less afraid than the fledelings
of most species. At any rate, they get
themselves into more fixes than most
young birds.
Well, here was this grackle preparing
to deliver the death blow, and the VIC
tim didn't seem to know it at all.
1t naturally moved forward an inch.
in the search for food, and this step
undoubtedly saved its life, for when the
Incoming bill struck it between the
shoulders 1t gave a scream and flew
away.
So this attempt explained the death of
the f1edgling cardinals early in the sum-
mer, as detailed here.
One of the salient finds of that assault
was young cardinal with hole neatly
drilled through the back of the head
at the base of the skull.
Now we had seen a grackle trying to
do the same thing to a sparrow.
These big birds are sly, that is the
reason more Of them are not seen at
their nefarious work. They usually
select secluded place, or time, especially
very early in the morning, when birds
first stir, but few humans.
At such hours the friends of birds
are not thinking Of murder in the garden.
Even if they hear a clamor from the
yard, they are so sleepy, with that
peculiar lethargy Of just after the alarm
clock strikes that minutes 60 by before
they think to rush downstairs to aid
their feathered friends. Then 1t is too
late.
1t is probable that grackles are respon-
sible for far more dead birds than the
average observer thinks.
They are powerful, bloodthirsty fellows.
A close look at the great yellow bill,
curving muscular neck. and mean yellow
eyes proves more than words, in this
respect.
1t is one thing to see flock of grackles
at feeding station, at some distance
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Criticizes Writings
OF C0lumnists.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Columnist Constantine Brown adds
his bit of fuel for an early fire Of war
between the United States and Ger
many, when in his column Of the 14th
he says: 1T would be extremely detri-
mental to the interests of the United
States if Hitler defeated the British
and French" How, indeed, does Mr..
Brown arrive at such conclusion?
Detrimental to what interests? Surely
not our economic, social or political
interests. Suppose Germany, with her
100000 people, confined to less than
100000 square miles of land, should
succeed in prising an extra million in
Africa from Englands 100000 square
miles of holdings, would that ruin the
United States? Suppose Germany
should conquer England? It's been
done before by Germanic Saxons, yet
England lived on. The 'Normans con-
quered England, yet she lived, and was
probably none the worse. Historians
say these invasions Of more virile peo-
Piles helped the country. The British
and Germans are an allied race already.
For sentimental reasons Americans
would not like to see England van
quished. Is Mr.. Browns unqualified
conclusion based upon the same senti-
ment? Or perhaps his statement Is
based upon his dislike for the internal
political structure of Germany. Ameri.
cans don't like it either. They don't like
any kind of dictatorship, and they fought
two wars also to keep free from Englands
monarchical government.
Newspaper columnists certainly can
talk up good wars. The columnists and
the world press in general must bear a
big responsibility for the present war In
Europe. The Browns, Alsop and Kint-
ners, Jay Franklins and william Wiles
have taunted both Chamberlain and
Hitler as being towards and afraid to
fight ever since Munich. They helped
egg this war on, together with their
kind in England and France.
@. e. D.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Ersutz

Most of the pulpwood imported by
Germany short while ago fulfilled
Its destiny by appearing on the
streets in the form of extras with
headlines of Polish atrocities and
editorials carefully explaining that
the Fuehrer would be quite safe in
invading Poland because Britain and
France would be too timid to declare
war. Part of a shipment of pulp from
Canada was, however, held out and
made up into ersatz cloth which un-
fortunately is far from shrinkproof.
A German seaman in Newcastle, New
Brunswick, recently was caught out
In the rain in suit of this material
and had to race against strangula-
ton to get back to his ship. His
breath was in quick, short pants and
so was his suit. It was peeled off.
tenderly placed on a stretcher and
treated so successfully that the
owner was able to wear it again in
Newcastle on the next clear day.
Wishful thinkers in Britain.
France and elsewhere will look on
the incident as a good omen. When
the German Army is forced to get its
uniforms from lumber yard, sooner
or later rain will incapacitate it.
The Nazis scorn the idea. The tree
clad hills of the Reich, they say, will
stand no less firmly than its tree clad
soldiery-and who cares for rain?
The men will never shrink from it,
and If the uniforms do, what of it?
1t will merely result in little tight
ening up on the vest front.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Arms Embargo Declared
To Be Silly Expedient.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Our arms embargo as means of keep
Ing us out OF the European war is a silly
expedient, as sale of arms by neutrals to
oellgerents is not barred by international
law. They are but an item in the list of
war contraband, of which we have plenty
Tor export, and are sure source of
trouble and friction. AS a business prop
osition the embargo is even sillier, for
If we persist in it what is to prevent
Canada from becoming large scale arms
mandatory with American capital, ma
chinery and materials? Z,
WALTER N. CAMPBELL,
September 10.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Knee-Hi and Traffic

Knee-Hi is a wire-haired fox ter
rier. She has learned under the care
full tutelage of Dr. George F. Brunson
some of the cardinal rules of safety
In traffic. Knee-Hi, for instance, will
not cross street until she gets the
"Go" sign from the traffic policeman.
Chasing ball, she will not dash over
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Poetry Published BY
Star Commended.

10 tHe Edlt0f OF The Star.
Being interested in poetry and particu-
larly that published in The Star, I can
refrain no longer in expressing my heart
felt sentiment and appreciation for the
worthy stanzas appearing from time to
time in the columns Of your newspaper.
I am confident that it would be of
peculiar interest to your readers to pub
hsh biographical sketches and photo
graphs Of contributors to your poetry
section.
I, in particular, would like to know
something of such writers as Inez Kirby,
H. T. Stoddard and John Pooley Wright,
whose verses seem to be inspired by
some inborn and awakening genius. Are
they native Washingtonians? Do they
follow any other vocation? s. M.
September Il.
Evening star., 1939-09-21

Your taxes go up, your favorite
team loses, and the weather is always
wrong for whatever you want to raise.
or to do. But honest, is it not rather
nice to live in land where a gas
mask is just curiosity and not an
essential article of apparel?
Evening star., 1939-09-21

America has such proud and dis
tinguished feminine groups as the
D. A. r., the Daughters Of 1912, the
Colonial Danes, and also those who
shared Norma Shearer's cabin on the
returning S. s. Manhattan.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Sept. 16.
Urges Check Upon
Brutality.
@. e. D.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Neutrality and brutality are inconsist-
ent. There is one thing worse than war
it happened in Munich. The result is q
world war. Compromise with injustice
and cruel attack does not last with dicta-
tors In power.
As woman, mother and grandmother,
hate fight. but If saw q man cruelty
treating helpless child or woman, even
I would declare war and fight. So, see
am not neutral: neither Is God.
Il America u afraid to stand ON the
Evening star., 1939-09-21

Science is endeavoring to make
textiles from soybean yarn. If it
succeeds, losers of bets will find that
shirt-eating penalty not quite so
much of an ordeal as heretofore.
Evening star., 1939-09-21

Now again comes the time when
honest sea captains mistake whales
for submarines and submarines for
whales. The latter error is more
costly.
Evening star., 1939-09-21
Amateur Baseball Gro,,n
C0mmends Star


Commends Star
To the Editor Of The Star:
At the executive meeting of the direc-
tors of the National Amateur Baseball
Federation held at the Harrington Hotel,
Washington, D. c., on Saturday, septem-
ber 16, 1899, the following resolution was
offered by John Maragon and seconded by
William Duggan, chairman of the Board
of Commissioners of the national fedora
ton:
BE 1t resolved that the Washington
Evening Star be extended the grateful
thanks OF the National Amateur Base
ball Federation for the noble service ex-
tended by its star and facilities in broad
casting for the FIRST time in the history
Evening star., 1939-09-21

Recent headline: woman Speaker
Is to Discuss European Youth" She
better hurry.
Evening star., 1939-09-21

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to 1t 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., 1939-09-21
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
oedr the name and address OF
the ,oriter, although the use OF
a pseudony1 TO, publication Is
permissible. Please be brier
Evening star., 1939-09-21

Q. What is the inscription on the me-
mortal to Joyce Kilmer in the Xilmer
Memorial Forest in North Carolina?-
l.. G. H.
A. A granite boulder beneath a giant
hemlock tree bears bronze plaque in
scribed with the words: Joyce Kilmer,
165th Infantry, Rainbow Division, Soldier
and Poet. Author of Trees. Born in New
Brunswick, N. j., December 8, 1885. Killed
in action In France-June 30, 1913"
Evening star., 1939-09-21
All Other States and Canada.
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as second-class matter post ONCE.
WaShington d. c.