davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-10-18
War and Trade

Another warning to American
business against overeStimating the
possibilities of war trade has come
from DR.. Harold G. Moulton, presi-
dent of the Brookings Institution,
who sees danger in the expanding
production schedules and mounting
inventories that are being nourished
by a speculative urge rather than
consumption needs.
While noting the present slackening
in commodity prices, DR.. Moulton
emphasizes that the groundwork
already has been laid in industry for
the familiar distortion of cost factors,
with the inevitable threat of new
collapse and another painful period
of readjustment.
The Brookings Institution head
points out that European purchases
may we'll be much more restricted
than is generally assumed, because
prospective demand is being viewed
in the light of that developed by the
World War, although conditions are
much different than they were
twenty-five years ago.
In the first place, he explains, the
capacity of the principal European
nations to buy American goods is
much less than it was then, because
their ability to borrow has been i'm
paired, and their resources are not as
great.
Also, the price advance in 1915 was
enhanced by spirited competition
among European buyers, private as
we'll as government, that has dis
appeared now under rigorous price
controls.
Further. France and England are
better supplied with munitions now
and in addition the dominions and
other neutrals also may be expected
to get share of the business, offering
another reason, DR.. Moulton adds,
why this country will not occupy
such dominating position as a
source of supply.
DR.. Moulton's views, expressed
before a group of industrialists and
financiers at the New York automo-
bile show, coincide with those voiced
last month by the Chamber of Com
merce Of the United States, which
pointed out that too much optimism
over the foreign trade outlook was
not warranted, because the war, while
undoubtedly squirting demand, also
would create obstacles, financial and
otherwise, to initiate against the
American market.
That business leaders in this
country realize the dangers of
boom has been made clear also by
other spokesmen, and in the end
these continued admonitions may
have effect. But the lure of profit
Is a powerful incentive to disregard
caution signs and continued vigi-
lance is necessary if this country is
to escape the evils of an unwarranted
industrial expansion, with its in
evitable aftermath of depression.
Evening star., 1939-10-18
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trdce1Deu.

Then the moments Of feeling the fulfil
ity of things will grow less and less, and
the sense Of importance at doing things
will grow merrily larger and larger.
This is what happens on all planes Of
society.
The cynical person may have moments
OF suppressed mirth at the striking SINH
larity between the self consciousness Of
a successful ditch digger and Of a sue
cessful executive.
There are diggers of bitches who are
not successful. and, wonders be, there are
executives who are near failures.
What benefits one will benefit the
other.
The great bulk of the people are
neither diggers nor executives.
They are just folks trying to get along.
Their successes and woes are neither
striking nor particularly interesting-to
the other fellow-but they are felt with
the same degree of intensity.
Sometimes they call their share of the
feeling Of futility "the blues" and ascribe
1t to indigestion or liver complaint.
They may regard the feeling as entirely
physical or mainly mental, without being
able to dislodge it.
- ++
Action is the remedy. Call it work, If
you want to; it may be game Of golf!
But the getting of the muscles into it is
the chief way to rout the "blues" and all
other forms of mental depression.
AS long as you can move, you can do a
fair job of being purely commonplace
philosopher.
After all, philosophy on high plane
Is open only to few gifted souls, whereas
philosophy on the commonplace level is
thing as plain as the proverbial old
shoe.
Epictetus showed the world how to
"philosophize" along everyday lines many
hundreds of years ago.
Nothing much has been added since
but the fortunate thing is that all the old
common sense ways of looking at life are
open to us yet, if we will but try to apply
them honestly.
1t Is impossible not to have a certain
sense Of futility, now and then. The
bigger you are, the more you feel it, now
and then.
To feel futile, now and then, shows
that you know the best values, and strug-
gle to achieve them.
The person who never has this sense
OF futility of things in general is in a
bad way, but the man or woman who
suffers it, upon occasion, no matter what
he or she calls it, will come out all right.
because the good recourse will be from
talk to deed, from words to actions.
Evening star., 1939-10-18
A Candid Statement

Senator Austin, Republican, OF
Vermont dealt directly and candidly
with one of the fundamental issues
of the neutrality debate when he told
a National Radio Forum audience
Monday night that this country
needs the defense value" of speedy
victory by France and Britain in
their war with Germany.
In the course of his plea for prompt
repeal of the arms embargo, the Ver-
mont Senator swept aside the legal
istic arguments which have served
no better purpose than to obscure
the true nature of the basic decision
we must make. We are not con-
cerned, he said, with the neutrality
or unneutrality" of the legislation
under consideration. eve are con-
cerned only with the fact that it is
in our interest as sovereignty, and
for the peace and security Of our
nationals, that we adopt it," Senator
Austin was not content, however,
with the mere categorical assertion
that the best interests of this country
will be served by an allied victory.
With reference to dangers with
which this country could reasonably
expect to be confronted in event of a
German victory, he told his listeners
that the United States has been ION
the defensive" throughout the Sew
enty-sixth Congress. Evidence sub
mitted to the Military Affairs Com
mittees of the House and Senate, he
said, revealed covert penetration of
the Western Hemisphere by "the dy-
manic foreign policy of National So
cialism, having the implications of
an effort to set up a world empire"
In this connection, he declared, it
was shown that a German-controlled
airways system was established
Evening star., 1939-10-18
Urges Support for
Children's Hospital
To the Editor Of The Star:

There are two light operas to be pre-
sented during the next few weeks for the
benefit OF Children's Hospital that I
hope will be well attended. As WASH
ingtonian, as a patient of Children's,
and as an employe of their Office from
1927 to 1880, know what a great work
they are doing. Their dispensary is al
ways crowded, their wards always filled.
No child is turned away, although far
too many cannot pay.
for one intend to attend the operas
and also give to their card system" !"
whereby you can pay for the care of a
child in the hospital for so many days,
as many as you feel you can afford
There are many afdictions of child
hood, which. if taken care of then, will
spare many .heartaches Of adolescence
and will bring these children to bright
and happy maturity. Children's Hos
pital is doing this, but it must be sup
ported. It is up to us to heed their
appeal and give according to our means.
MARY PARKE GREEN.
: September -, = 4.
Evening star., 1939-10-18
Warns Against Too Much
Wishful Thinking.

TO the Editor OF The Star:
Probably no phrase used during the
recent crisis has been so overworked as
"wishful thinking" Yet no phrase could
more adequately describe the current
thoughts we Americans entertain with
respect to the war happenings in Europe.
Wishing thing were so seems to be the
American way of making the best of
bad situation.
But let us be more specific. To begin
with, we read lot Of unauthentic tripe
about how much more Stain got than
Hitler in the recent Polish land-grab.
Writers have been telling us everywhere
that the Red leader double-crossed the
supposedly shrewd Fuehrer and made of
with the lions share of the country. We
hope that is so. We are told so often
that it is so (by wishers that we come
to believe it to be absolute fact.
That may be just what happened. But
how do we know what Hitler promised
Stain before the venture? How do we
know that the Soviet government got or
took more than was bargained for? And
how do we know that the Red govern
ment stands to win all and Germany
to lose all? Upon what may be based
such belief?
Only on "wishful thinking"
= Americans Ike to believe that the Ger.
Evening star., 1939-10-18
Important Job

Competent engineer and expert
enced project administrator, Colonel
Philip Fleming will undertake one of
his most trying and important tasks
when he assumes the administration
of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Imposing a minimum wage level
and a ceiling of maximum hours per-
Missile weekly, the statute has been
q major factor in the operation of a
wide cross section of American in
dustry. AS was predicted by many
who were honestly reluctant to ap-
prove such broadly applicable piece
of legislation, the law has led to in
Vulnerable confusions and to some
injustices; an abundance of both still
remain after a year of experimental
ton with the act.
At the same time, there was merit
In the contention of supporters of
this legislation that something of the
kind was desirable for the so-called
sweatshop industries, those of Sub
marginal" labor policies, which had
been either unable or unwilling to
improve their own standards. To
these, the Fair Labor Standards Act
has brought improvement sufficient
to justify its continued application,
at least in limited way
AS Colonel Fleming takes over the
administrative task, however, there
remain not only some of the prob
lens unsettled in the initial year of
operation of the law but new ones
attendant upon imposition this very
month of a higher minimum wage
rate and lower hourly maximum.
With the Nations industries ap-
preaching period of uncertainty
and potential emergency as major
wars rage abroad. it is essential that
Evening star., 1939-10-18
ARLINGTON Surplus

Arlington County, Va. may we'll
be proud of the 1887 1861 surplus just
reported by the State auditor. In
recent years surpluses rather than
deficits have been the rule in Arling-
ton, and the $387,861 on hand at the
close of the fiscal year that ended on
June 80, is one of the largest, if not
the largest surplus, in the county's
history.
The effect of the county's rapid in
crease in population on its fiscal af-
fairs is debatable. On the surface it
would appear that more residents
would mean more income, but it
must be remembered that boost in
population always is accompanied by
a boost in expenditures for such
necessities as schools, sanitary facili-
ties and highways. Those who con-
tend that an increase in population
does not aid a community financially
can cite feature of the Virginia
auditors report showing that the per
capita cost of the county government
In Arlington increased during the
year from $46O8 to $5OO6. This total
was calculated, however, on an esti-
mated population of 10000, while
most county officials believe the pop
ulation was much greater, perhaps as
large as $4,000.
Regardless of such factors, the
auditors report shows healthy con-
dition. The county is reaping the
benefits of the pay-as-you-go policy
being followed by the county admin
istration, a policy, incidentally,
which also is followed in State fiscal
affairs in Virginia and advocated by
the Old Dominion's United States
Senators for the Federal Government
as far as is practicable.
Conservative estimates of probable
revenue and policy of refusing to
spend more than is in the treasury
have produced results in Arlington.
AS public officials are subject to con-
slant demands from pressure groups
for outlays for various projects, some
of which are bound to be meritorious,
they deserve full credit when they
succeed in routing available funds
into such channels as meet a coun-
tvs needs and leave a comfortable
surplus for future requirements.
Evening star., 1939-10-18

Futility.
It is feeling which comes over the
best people, the brightest and the most
successful, at times.
No wonder 1t falls with crushing
weight on thousands Of r-successes
and halfway folk.
Think Of all the bright people you
know who somehow or other have ap-
parently missed the success which both
you and they feel should be their due.
1t Is easy enough to Lame them.
Everybody who knows them does!
"So-and-so should write a novel,"
some one says. But the fact is that
So-and-so doesn't write novel.
No doubt he could. There are scores
of books published far worse than he
could turn out. Everybody admits that
much.
The poor fellow may feel that there
are too many halfway good novels on
the market as 1t is.
He may sincerely believe that he is
doing the reading world good turn by
refusing to try his hand at novel,
A novel seems perilously easy certainly.
All his friends believe he should do it,
and since he has not done it, he is to
blame.
Perhaps the weight of this blame,
spoken and unspoken, helps make the
wave Of futility which sweeps over the
poor fellow from time to time.
The root word means to pour out that
easily pours, that easily lets loose May
be it works both ways Maybe the futile
person, or one who thinks himself futile,
let's go too soon.
The futile person or thing is one who
or which is vain, worthless, or feels so,
at any rate.
1t is to feel Of no importance, answer
no useful end, to be in vain, to be in
effectual; to be trifling, frivolous, talka-
tive.
Futility is the quality of producing no
effect, frivolousness, uselessness; talka-
tiveness, loquacity, also futile thing or
person.
1t may be noticed that talkativeness
figures in both words.
Here again Is food for thought over
the role of the talkative person.
Is it loose talk which makes one feel
futile, whether one actually is or not?
\
Buckling down to business, then, ought
to cure the worse case of futility that
ever arose in the mind of an honest man
Commonly it works out So
More work and less talk-that Is the
formula
Doing things, instead of talking about
them.
Evening star., 1939-10-18

within striking distance Of the Pan
anna Canal and enough military
equipment was accumulated so the
passenger planes could readily be
converted into bombers and other
military aircraft. This collection of
military stores had reached the
point, he said, where Germany, had
she so desired, could have dispatched
bombing planes effectively to our
southern boundaries.
Obviously Of the belief, on the ba-
sis of evidence furnished Congress,
that Germany, If victorious over the
allies, would be in a position to men,
ace this country more directly, and
that she might well be disposed to do
so at some future time, Senator Aus
tin denounced the folly of adherence
to a course by the United States
which contributes to the defeat of
France and Britain.
by the Embargo Act of 1887" he
said, "our attitude, as Government,
has the effect of partiality to Ger
many. 1t is as effective in interfering
with acquisition of arms, ammuni-
ton and implements of war by the
allies as blockade successfully
maintained by Germany. ''' Now,
needing the defense value of speedy
victory by the allies, we observe our
embargo of 1887 operating against
the allies, and in favor Of the ag-
gressor. We now see that we deprive
the allies of rights belonging to them
by virtue of their geographical posi-
ton. AS we have pointed out the ex-
ercise of these rights by them would
tend to protect our institutions and
our peace. The early success of the
allies is vitality necessary to keep the
depths of ocean between the aggres-
SOr and u.s."
Senator Austin's statement is an
earnest effort to dispel some of the
fog which has beclouded the neu-
trality discussions and to keep alive
the vitality important consideration
that we should act as our own in
terests dictate, and not with view
to pleasing or displeasing any of the
belligerents. The Vermont Senator
is to be commended for his candor,
and it is to be hoped that his words
will receive the careful Consideration
that they deserve.
Evening star., 1939-10-18
Letters to the Editor
Col. LindberEh Accused
Of Ingratitude.

COl. Lln0DefGh Accused
Of Ingratitude.
To the Editor Of The Star:
For man who has accomplished so
much in aviation, and has also seen the
world many times, COL Charles Lind
bergh's radio speech last Friday makes
one wonder If his soul has any windows.
Perhaps his mental vision is totally OBJ
scured; perhaps his historical training
nations has been totally neglected. Per-
haps he is nothing but an ungrateful
super-mechanic after ALL The kindness
and hospitality which he received from
distinguished people in London, particu-
larly "the Cliveden Set" will not perhaps
be so readily available to him again.
On almost every page Of his Wife's
latest book. Listen, the Wind" she writes
Of the kindness, helpfulness Of the Eng
nsh. The one refrain is constant, "the
English love to take care of people"
The London papers have decided that
the Hitler medal has gone to Lindbergh's S
head. Not only can we deplore his bad
taste, his ungracious, ungrateful atti-
tude, but as a sound American, wonder
why this man in the service of the United
States should be allowed the freedom of
the press" to undo the trying years of
work that our excellent Secretary Of
State, Cordell Hull. has been so pain
stakingly and successfully building in
order to cultivate a benevolent and
friendly leadership amongst the different
consolidated nations of this entire hem
isphere, both North and South America.
What would be the net result were he
to gain his point, and by force take over
the British West Indies in the exact
manner of Stain and Hitler, as regards
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania? Would
he also seize the British, French and
Dutch Guianas? Would he take in Can
ada as Germany took in Austria .
then what every thinking United States
an unbreakable battered, lasting for hun
dreds Of years against our country would
develop-a boycott of all the goods and
ideas oy Holland, Portugal, Spain,
France, Great Britain and the South
American Republics would result. May
be it would not be open or declared, but
the boycott and the hatred would lie
very near the surface. And what could
this Nation do to regain the place she
so ardently desires in her benevolent
leadership and protection of this con-
tinent? GWYNN GRrFITHS,
October 16.
Evening star., 1939-10-18
GRAVY

A pathetic plea has just been made
by the American Bakers Associa-
ton to the etiquette authorities Of
the Nation to lift the social ban on
gravy sopping. At present, under
their autocratic rule, bread must be
kept separate from gravy. The So
cialite may trap his gravy against
meat, and by recent decision is also
allowed to chivvy it around and cor
ner it against a barrage of mashed
potatoes, but the most obvious and
satisfactory system Is verboten.
There is already considerable re-
bellion against the dictum. Children,
those elementary beings as yet un-
spoiled by too much civilization, are
pioneers in the movement. Unless
ruthlessly suppressed, they will sop
either at home or abroad. Sometimes
boys grow up into husbands and
carry on the same practice in spite
of all their wives can do about it.
Occasionally even a wife will sue
cumb to temptation, in rare mo-
ment when she is not on a reducing
diet and is able to eat bread and
gravy.
Emily Post and associates have
before them an important issue On
which much clear thought is neces-
sary. They should listen carefully to
all testimony pro and con. Propo-
nents of the sopping embargo repeal
insist that the present rule is hypo-
critical and apt to involve us in no
end of trouble. Others wish to retain
it, fearing that If the bars are let
down, in ninety days or so there will
be a clamor in favor of dunking, in
volving all hands In . frightful mess.
Evening star., 1939-10-18
Fire Official Commends
Star Editorial.

To the Editor Of The Star:
I wish to take this means of thank
ing you for the editorial which appeared
in your paper on Saturday last, con-
cerning the Fire Department.
The department is proud of its record
with regard to low per capita fire loss,
the figure being 6Oc for the past fiscal
year Fire control authorities consider
any figure around $1.50 very low. The
per capita operating cost is $371 rather
than $400
Though we have been cut Is men it Is
hoped that we can continue to afford
adequate and efficient fire service to the
citizens Of Washington as in the past.
Your comment on apparatus was both
timely and desirable. S. T. PORTER,
October 16. Chief Engineer.
Evening star., 1939-10-18

they not be bound too rigidly by stat
utory restrictions on their operation.
In the light of his own experience,
Colonel Fleming undoubtedly is
aware of the implications of his new
job. 1t is to be hoped that he can
find in the first year Of experimental
ton with the law, guidance for its
modification and temperate appn-
cation.
Evening star., 1939-10-18

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., 1939-10-18
C0mmends Editorial on
Lindbergh Address.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Commencing your editorial, Muddy
ing the Waters" dealing with the Lind
bergh speech, may suggest that listen
ers-in on the heralded broadcast Of the
Flying Colonel must have realized how
applicable was the old adage: Shoe
maker stick to your last"
October Is. =. M. PETERSON.
Evening star., 1939-10-18

Letters to the Editor must
Dear the name and address OF
the Uriter, although the use OF
a pseudonym for publication Is
permissible. Please be briefl
Evening star., 1939-10-18

WASHING TON, D. C.
WEDNESDAY October 18, 1899
Evening star., 1939-10-18
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
All Other Staff, and Carada.
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as second-class matter post ONCE.
WASHINGTON. D. c.
Evening star., 1939-10-18

%' WHY 40 Dig Dell III LOIlQOQ SO
called?-R. w. H.
A. Big Ben. the hour bell of the great
Westminster clock on top of the Houses
Of Parliament, is named after Sir Benja-
min Hall, afterward Lord Hanover, who
was first commissioner of works in 1856,
when the Board of Works signed a con-
tract with London firm Of bell founders
for the casting of 14-ton hour bell
and four quarter bells.
@. Is it correct to say every so often?
&C. v.
A. The expression is classed as q
colloquialism.
@. Are there any animals with two
pairs of horns?-J. H. M.
A. The chousinga, small East In
dian antelope about two feet high, is
distinguished from all other living
ruminants by having two pairs of horns.
@. Where is Mount Rubido,,x?-F. s.
A. It rises abruptly from the Santa
Ana Valley at Riverside, Calf. At the
crest is cross dedicated to the memory
Franciscan missionary to the Indians.
A feature Of special interest connected
with this mountain Is the impressive
Easter service held annually at sunrise.
@. Please quote Webster's famous trib-
ute to Alexander Hamilton-M. ]. r.
A. In q speech on Hamilton made on
March 10, 1881, Daniel Webster said:
HE smote the rock Of the national re-
sources, and abundant streams Of reve-
nue. gushed forth. He touched the dead
corpse Of Public Credit, and 1t sprung
upon its feet"
Evening star., 1939-10-18
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