davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-01-16
Foresees Dangers in
Frunkfurter Outlook
Believes Constitution Should
Be Changed Only by
Amendment
TO the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
It is surprising to note the extent to
which promoters Of the New Deal seem
to have reduced the number Of those
who in the good old past were ready to
insist on "strict construction Of the
Constitution" to protect the ship Of
state from an obnoxious interpretative
agglomeration Of partisan barnacles.
This statement is regretfully inspired by
the editorial in the usually safe and
sane Evening Star, January 5, indorsing
the appointment Of Felix Frankfurter to
the Supreme Court bench.
1t would likewise be surprising If there
were not enough old-school strict con-
structionists In the new Congress at
least to voice vigorous protest against
the appointment. Certainly Prof. Frank
furter's assertion that "the Constitution
is flexible enough to meet all the new
needs Of our society" does not sound like
music in the ears Of Jeffersonian de-
mocracy. A fortnight New Deal way to
state 1t would be that the Constitution
can make the path of advancing state
socialism straight by Interpretation in
the light Of modern conditions"
AS we all know, the Constitution in
itself provides for legislative changes
when essential, and the New Dealers
were not the first to suggest keeping up
with the growth of the Republic IN the
important matter Of constitutional
amendment. In letter to Robert j..
Garrett dated Monticello, February IA,
1924, Thomas Jefferson wrote:
"The real friends of the Constitution
in its Federal form, II they wish it to
be immortal, should be attentive, by
amendments, to make 1t keep pace with
the advance of the age in science and
experience"
Legislative amendment" certainly
sounds better than partisan "interpreta-
ton" in the ears of an old grayhead
whose lifelong faith in our system Of
representative government grows strong
er from year to year.
January IL. OLD HICKORY.
Evening star., 1939-01-16
transportation Problem

When the Japanese first began
operating the railroads Of China
they had number Of peculiar prob
lens to solve. At first they naively
assumed that business would go on
pretty much as usual. Every day or
so Toxic came out with an editorial
explaining how much the japanese
loved the Chinese and were working
for their best interests, but in spite
of this the natives, when they want
ed to go somewhere, unpatriotically
walked. In order to stimulate love
for the invaders, the japanese Cham
Der of Commerce recommended a
series of air raids. Curiously enough,
they failed to endear Japan to China,
but they did pep up rail travel quite
a bit, so that more trains run now.
Just how brilliantly successful the
new strategy has been can be seen
from perusal Of a portion of a
time table on the Harbin- Hankow
run, which is herewith reproduced,
after being translated by machinery
out of the original hen tracks:
a. Runs two days late on Thurs
days, thank you, while stolen rails
are replaced.
b. Ten-minute stop at Ping Pong
while honorable fireman searches
coal for dynamite.
c. Bridge over Wun Wey River
dynamited Excuse it, please. Pa
irons cross in canoes. First-class
passengers sit, second-class pas
sengers paddle, third-class passen-
gers swim.
d. Dining car. Chinese cooks.
Complete assortment Of poison anti
dotes for japanese passengers.
e. Armored car Half-hour stop at
Bang Bang for target practice.
t. Stops on signal of conductor to
execute spies.
Evening star., 1939-01-16
Treatise on Economics

There is much of a though-pro-
voking nature in the comprehensive
discussion of the American eco
nomic structure which Assistant
Secretary of State Berle has sub
mitted in the form of an advisory
memorandum to the Government
committee investigating monopo-
listic practices.
In and out of the New Deal picture
on several occasions during the past
six years, and looked upon through
out as one of the brain trusters"
whose views have been most highly
regarded by the administration, Mr..
Berle is both candid and realistic in
his criticism that the New Deal has
followed a shotgun" technique in
much of it's regulatory reform.
With the administration leadership,
abetted by those who stood to bene-
fit, impatient of any delay in its de-
sire to make over many of the Ma
lions habits, it followed almost au-
tomatically that imperfectly con-
ceived reforms should be imposed.
Contributing greatly to this devel-
opment, Of course, was the docile
temper of Congress between 1888 and
1899, more eager for the most part
to stand in high regard with the ad-
ministration leadership than to ex-
ercise their fullest abilities in ap-
praising the legislation they were en-
acting. With the political makeup
OF the present Congress differing in
substantial degree from its imme-
diate predecessors, there are plain
indications of comparable change
in legislative habits, an apparent de-
termination to exercise its own judg-
ment to greater degree. It would be
faliacious and ill-advised If this
change should be allowed to degen-
crate into mere obstruction of ad-
ministration wishes and the exercise
Of independence become merely the
exercise of stubbornness, but it
would be salutary if it should result
in greater legislative craftsmanship;
In effect, the substitution of two
"heads" for one.
And although Mr.. Berle was direct
ing his sound counsel specifically to
the Monopoly Committee, he was
quite patiently talking to larger au-
dience when he pointed out that
economic habits in a large country
do not emerge by chance u y y Mere
interruption of these habits and So
cial machinery means nothing un-
less an equivalent or better machin-
cry is simultaneously provided or
suggested"
That he has serious doubts as to
whether such an improved machin-
cry might come through a broaden
ing of political control of the eco
nomic structure he made equally
clear. Mr.. Berle's thoughts on the
matter might be carefully digested
with profit by all of the forces con-
cerned with the mutual desire to
make this structure a bigger and
better one.
Evening star., 1939-01-16

cites large increase In the number
Of penniless tenants who are turning
to migratory farm work, dragging
large families into a nomadic, inse-
cure life. A violent upheaval Of the
sharecropping system is under way.
Tho system always has been bad at
its best. It lends itself easily to
propagandizing. "Uncle Toms Cabin"
need undergo only minor changes to
make it fit the tenant farmer picture.
Sharecropping, the child of emanci-
patton, has much in common with
slavery.
But here is one problem which is
primarily for solution by the States.
The sharecropper is an economic,
social, medical, and psychological
problem. AS Federal facilities exist
now, little could be done to solve It..
National legislation might make pos
sible a long-range elimination OF the
system with readjustment of the
thousands of lives involved. Regula-
tion by the A. A. A. might prevent an
immediate forced change Of status.
Changes In the Wages and Hours Act
to include agricultural workers might
make 1t improbable for predatory
landlords to substitute day labor for
tenants. Extension Of Social Security
to cover these self-employed, peren-
nially debt-ridden farm partners"
would mean nothing now and little
in the future in view Of their meager
earnings.
State assistance in the form OF re-
habilitation, health measures, relief
and credit, wider crop planning as
sistance, and enforced education for
the children would serve to meet the
problem more quickly.
Evening star., 1939-01-16
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Trace1ueH.

The third discourse Of the venerable
Cornaro is the one which contains the
famous sentence, "Oh, what beautiful
life Is mine, and how happy my end
will bel"
It was written In his olst year. He WAS
to live until he reached the ripe age Of
103 years, or 104 years, according to
some historians. A dispute as to the
year Of his birth causes the discrepancy.
Cornaro is. Of course, far more than .
noted valetudinarian who lived moro
than q hundred years through the ex-
ercise Of temperate living.
His claim to fame rests not only on
his own personal achievement. but also
on his book, which contains 20 much
which is pertinent to every mans life.
Restraint is as difficult to apply today
as 1t was in Venice 400 years ago.
Our old friend believed that all man
kind may possess an earthly paradise
after the age Of 80, q paradise with which
he, himself. was blessed.
Most persons who succeed ut anything
are usually . bit conceited about it,
aren't they7
We heard . broadcast not long ago.
from q revival service. and those who
testified as to their sanctincation were
pretty SNUG. At least, that Is the i'm
preston they gave. Rather well satis-
fed with themselves.
Cornaro said that no one could attain
his own personal paradise on this earth
otherwise than by means Of holy SELF
restraint. as he called it, and the temper
ate life. two virtues much loved by the
great God, because they are the enemies
Of sensuality and the friends Of reason. -
+4*
Famous doctors recently had visited
him, he assures his readers, and had
told him that he could by no means be
considered an old man. Listen to him
brag bit:
For all my actions are those of youth,
and not at all like the actions Of other
old persons; who, when they arrive at
the age Of 80, are almost helpless, besides
having to suffer either from pains in the
side or from some other complaint.
LII OAOCA w III tllCIllSClVcS VI GllCSS
troubles. they are constantly, subject to
medical treatment or surgical operation,
all of which are great annoyance.
Should there by any among them 50
fortunate as not to suffer from these
infirmities, 1t will be found that their
senses have begun to fail-either that
Of sight, or that Of hearing, or some other
one.
"We know of old persons who cannot
walk. and of others who cannot use their
hands because they tremble, and If one
of the number is 50 favored as to be free
from the above troubles, 1t will be OBJ
served that he does not have a perfect
memory, or else that his heart or his
mind is weak.
I'm word" he concludes, complacent-
ly enough, there is not one among them
who enjoys cheerful, happy and con-
tented life, such as mine is"
Evening star., 1939-01-16

abundantly demonstrated in the past
to permit of repetition at this time.
It is entirely proper, however, that
the committee submit at once its
amendments to the relief bill de-
signed to prevent the use of any
such funds for political purposes. AS
a result of the Sheppard report and
disclosure of other facts bearing on
political activities of relief employees.
there is no occasion for delay in
eliminating those abuses. Congress
is fully acquainted with the problem
and should deal with it now.
Evening star., 1939-01-16

France rejoices in a woman pro-
prietor of an exclusive restaurant
where a maximum of a dozen GUS
toners are charged SIT per head for
lunch. She may not know about our
political caterers who can collect a
century note for dinner and, per-
haps for her peace Of mind, it Is
as we'll.
Evening star., 1939-01-16

This health Of his, he tells us, is all
tho more strange, since each year, by
the latter part Of August, he is brought
to condition Of extreme mortal weak
ness. due to an in1lrmity Of digestion
which is his own peculiar problem.
This was caused by his inability to get
new wine during July and August.
Authorities today believe that what he
called new wine" was simply fresh grape
juice.
The modern vitamin theory would help
bear out this Interpretation.
As soon as he could get his wine" he
was restored to health within two or
three days.
Yes, they had operations 400 years ago,
too.
And the doctors who observed his
strange restoration every autumn con-
cluded that . special grace had been
bestowed upon Cornaro by the heavens.
This idea made the old fellow as wroth
as he now allowed himself to become.
"Eloquence, SIR" he said, "in men Of
intellect, verify has great power; so
much 30, indeed, that it will persuade
some people to believe things that are
not and cannot be true"
The ways Of the world since the
Great War have proved this to be more
than true.
Cornaro labored anew, In this dis
course, to prove to all men that he had
no special blessing, but that his blessing
was . general one, and such as every
man might possess If he chose.
He was just an ordinary mortal, COM
posed like everybody else "of the four
elements" (They were satisfied with
lour, In those days, and for several
hundred years afterwards.)
When q man arrives at the age of 40 or
50 years, he continued, he ought to real
1ze that he has been able to reach the
middle Of life solely through the powers
OF youth and young stomach. Now he
is on the downgrade. He must right
about face, in most of his living habits.
He confesses. with the candor which
is part Of the charm of his work, that
In the beginning of his own change in
living habits he experienced some diff
Guilty" in abandoning an Incorporate life
Gas regards eating and drinking, mainly
after leading it for 50 many years.
He prayed for the virtue Of self-re-
straint, but even this was not granted
to him instantly, as a sort of miracle, but
he had to work for it, himself, and little
by little to embrance the orderly life
This is the only one OF his four dis
courses In which he does not mention
his own scheme OF eating only what his
stomach could digest, and then only the
kinds of food which agreed with it. He
says that persons Of stronger constitu-
tions might lead the temperate life while
eating more than he did; 1t would still
be the temperate life. although not as
strict as his. For all of his enthusiasm,
he was . man Of great common sense.
Evening star., 1939-01-16
Mr.. BiIIopp
on
Jam

There are numerous kinds of jam, but.
by and large, most people prefer straw
berry, because it reminds them family
of pink lemonade. Jam comes in jars
with screw tops that are best removed
with Stillson wrench, unless you have
a wrestler in the family whose wrist
muscles are like iron from twisting the
toes of his opponents
Jam may be taken raw with spoon.
This requires not one sweet tooth but
several sweet teeth, and the practice at
once labels a person as a jam addict or
inebriate. Temperate persons dilute their
jam by spreading it on slices of buttered
bread.
Before engaging in jam eating you
should make sure that the butter you are
using is not the last block in the house.
and that there is reserve of bread on
hand sufficient for all toast requirements
at tomorrow mornings breakfast. Salts
fled on these important points, you may
proceed to make pig of yourself.
In jam eating the primary object is to
make the jam, the butter and the bread
come out even. That Is to say, If you
have a remainder of jam on your plate,
you should obtain fresh slice Of bread
and fresh piece of butter But as half
a piece of butter is abundant for slice
Of bread, you will quickly find yourself
with no more jam and no more bread and
a remainder of half piece of butter
which you can't pat back on the end Of
on It,
Under the circumstances, the only way
to dispose Of the butter is to take more
jam and another slice of bread. In all
probability, however, you will overesti-
mate the amount of jam needed, and,
when the bread and butter have been
consumed, will be left with remainder
Of jam; which is to say that you will be
just where you were before.
Therefore, unless you make exceedingly
accurate calculations you will find your
self eating more bread and more butter
and more jam, and more bread and more
butter and more jam. If this schedule is
maintained for week or two, your
clothes will begin to get tighter and
tighter, and courteous people will tell you
how well you are looking and discour-
teous people will tell you that you are
getting fat; while others will 60 about
the neighborhood whispering darkly.
HE has taken to JAM"
If you are wise you will heed the warm
ing, reserve the jam for sandwiches for
the children's lunch boxes and eat sour
pickles instead.
CHRISTOPHER BILOPP.
Evening star., 1939-01-16
The Byrnes Report

For the first time since the New
Deal came to power there appears to
be real basis for the hope that relief
and kindred governmental activities
will be put on a sound, businesslike
basis. That hope arises from the re-
port of the Senate's Special Commit
tee on Unemployment and Relief,
headed by Senator Byrnes of South
Carolina.
The Byrnes report recommends
the creation of Department of Pub
lie Works in which would be merged
the activities of the Works Progress
Administration, the Public Works
Administration, the Civilian Con-
servation Corps and the National
Youth Administration. Assuming
that the details of such merger
would be worked out carefully and
capable administrator selected,
the immediate result should be a
sharp reduction in the present COM
bined operating costs of these agen-
cies. However much it may be de-
MED, there can be little doubt that
at the present time there are many
persons performing duties in these
organizations which could be largely
eliminated, and many others whose
principal claim to salary checks is
that they have rendered the New
Deal services of political nature.
Senator Byrnes and his commit
tee acted wisely in deciding not to
press for immediate approval of their
recommendations for overhauling
the relief setup, including simplifica-
ton and extension of unemployment
insurance and old-age assistance
benefits. AS was stated, these are
matters that will require thorough
debate and study, and should not be
tied to the pending deficiency relief
bill. The evil of ill-considered legis-
lation In this field has been too
Evening star., 1939-01-16
Shooting Stors
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
All in Vain.

All in Vain.
While musing on the rights of man
And wealth of nations,
I think upon my boyhood plan;
No decorations
Bade me doubtful claim assert
To legal tender;
needed just my pants, shirt
And one suspender.
Why now do men bewail the price
OF gilded splendor.
And gamblers win with loaded dice
More legal tender?
Why does my envy of them hurt
When these could render
My life content-just pants, shirt
And one suspender?
Evening star., 1939-01-16
Visitor Comments ON
EcOnnsnie Ills

Visitor Comments ON
Economic Ills.
TO the Editor OF The Star:
have been in washington on business
for the past few days and have read the
newspaper stories anent the battle going
on over relief appropriations. The most
effective weapon yet welded by the ad-
ministration is the statement-or better,
threat-that some half q million persons
will have to be dropped from the rolls
unless the full amount Of the appropria-
ton asked for is forthcoming.
But neither the administration nor the
proponents Of reduced expenditures seem
to have the forthrightness to put their
fingers upon the one factor which could
and would release hundreds Of thousands
Of fine Americans from their present irk-
some bondage. OF course they will not
do it, It is not their policy to save the
Nation in simple, effective and real
istic way any more than 1t was the In
tentiOn OF the President-elect to prove
@himseH real patriot and put the public
welfare before private exaltation when
he was invited by President Hoover b
confer with him UPON Ntally important
Evening star., 1939-01-16
Says Press Should
Lead Moral RearmAment"

Lead Moral Rearmament"
To the Editor Of The Star:
America is showing signs Of trying to
lead the democracies against the dicta-
torships.
What is the first requisite Of leader
ship?
Cromwell knew when he told his SOL
diers that he could not win outward free
dom for them unless they first acquired
inward freedom - freedom from bad
habits. Victory meant a man of cour-
age and integrity, not hampered by prof.
Lgacy-an Ironside.
Our present administration has di-
vided our country into the one-third
underprivileged and the two-thirds more
or less clothed, fed and housed. It is
this two-thirds that must win back the
freedom so fast slipping.
But with this two-thirds, in recent
years, bad habits have become the FASH
ion-moral zeroism-the Ironside, the
ascetic, back number. With one hand
our various governments take from the
two-thirds to give material necessities to
the one-third, while with the other hand
they open wide the saloons and race
courses, and thus divert the relief funds
and every other kind Of funds into the
things that Cromwell said did not make
q freedom-winning man-into material
extravaganza and profligacy.
Who can resuscitate the free inner
man? I see no force but that of the
great American press, the present admin
istration being otherwise occupied.
Moral rearmament" is the need Of the
moment-thrift, sobriety, business in
tegrity and the old vision, Let freedom
ring"
The task Of the American press Is to
make an Ironside. An 1ronside gave us
democracy. An Irorside can alone pre-
serve it. E. TILTON.
Winter Park, Fla,
January IL.
Evening star., 1939-01-16
Explains Position on
Frankfurter Appointment.
To the Editor of The at.r.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In recent issue of your paper 1t was
made to appear that I was opposed to
the confirmation of DR.. Frankfurter as
justice OF the Supreme Court of the
United States, which was mistake. I
specifically stated that wished only to
know the attitude of DR.. Frankfurter
upon the present position of the Supreme
Court In destroying the constitutional
rights Of citizens. And at the hearing
I pointed out that the Supreme Court
had nullified the ninth amendment.
which provides that "the enumeration in
the Constitution of certain rights shall
not be construed to deny or disparage
others retained by the people" by the
creation of governmental bureaucratic
despotism, from whose acts there is no
appeal.
also pointed out that the Supreme
Court Of the United States had nullified
part of the fifth amendment, and that I
thought 1t wise for the committee to get
the views Of DR.. Frankfurter upon these
notifications Of the Constitution by our
present Supreme Court. I paid tribute
to DR.. Frankfurter as q man Of great
learning and ability, but none of this
was mentioned in your paper.
January 13. WADE H. COOPER.
Evening star., 1939-01-16
Commends DR.. Price
For Resignation.

To the Editor of The Star:
When DR.. Richard H. Price, resigning
from the medical staff of the Group
Health Association, declared that patients
are treated like Sheep" he put his finger
on the truth about socialism. People
who have Travelled in Communist Russia,
in Fascist Italy, in Nazi Germany and
in those parts of the United States where
the New Deal has been in complete con-
troll know from their own observation
and experience that submission to the
state signifies the destruction of indi-
viduality. Such is the inevitable conse-
quence of any consent to paternalism,
however well-intentioned.
The late Gilbert K. Chesterton, bril-
liant and lovable English literary genius,
long ago pointed out the dangers OF
theoretical humanitarianism which would
reduce men, women and children to the
dead-level mediocrity of an index-card
file. Political medicine, as he insisted,
involves betrayal Of the natural bond
between patient and doctor. A person
who Is Ill requires something more than
an operation or bottle Of pills, He
needs, above all, to have confidence in
his physician-a confidence based on the
conviction that the doctor is interested,
devoted, sincerely sympathetic, desper-
ately anxious to help. It stands to reason
that these qualities disappear when the
independence Of the physician is de-
stroyed by system of RECOMMENDATION.
DR.. Price, think, has done his country
q service. He has said, in effect. that he
cannot function efficiently in q Group
Health clinic. Other doctors already had
reached similar decision. Socialized
medicine is machine medicine, and it is
startling paradox to discover among its
sponsors not few who are loud In their
protests against the so-called machine
age" The movement was political in its
origin, is political In its methods and in,
its objectives. Hence, its failure is indi-
Gated, despite the support Of the Govern
ment which misused taxpayers money to
set up the experiment.
January II. 1850. ALDEN WARD.