davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-12-17
The Man Behind the News From the State

The nightly telephone barrage is
eased now only by an informal
agreement among correspondents
not to bother Mack after midnight
unless there is some tremendously
important development that de-
mands immediate State Department
reaction or confirmation that the
correspondents cannot supply them
selves from the background Of their
own experience or let wait until
morning. But he is fair game up
to midnight and on Sundays and
holidays.
Amazing Patience.
All this has not ruf1led the Nc
Dermott good humor. It is part Of
his job. The importance Of the
work he does has never gone to
his head nor caused him to lose the
common touch. His patience is
amazing.
The strain of the work has threat
ened his health at times, however.
One of the biggest single jobs of his
career-handling relations with the
press for the visit of the British King
and Queen last summer-left Mr..
McDermott so exhaused that he fell
i'll soon after the pressure lifted
and was confined to his home for
six weeks. When he returned to
work he had to have all his suits
made smaller.
incidentally, he returned to work
after this illness under instructions
from his physician to work only four
hours a day for a while and get
plenty Of rest. That was on Au-
gust 3l-the day before Germany
started her invasion of Poland. His
first day back at his desk Mack
remained on the job only IA hours,
and the next mere l6 hours. And
even when he got home there was
the ringing Of his telephone to keep
him from real rest. There has been
little time for relaxation since, with
a war on in Europe and one crisis
following another.
Mack was born IN PEABODY, Mass,
on July 2, 1894, about 10 years
after his parents had immigrated
from Ireland.
Before starting his Government
service he went to business school
he still finds daily use for his
knowledge of shorthand "a n d
worked as a clerk in a Boston
insurance office from 1914 to 1917.
In later years he advanced his edu-
cation by taking degrees in law at
National University.
He took a civil service examina-
ton in 1917 His first job in WASH
ington was as a clerk in the War
Department, where he was one OF
those blindfolded men who pulled
the draft numbers. He soon went
Evening star., 1939-12-17

ground information important to the
proper Interpretation of policy pro-
nouncements.
Like the assistants provided for
the President in the recent Reor-
ganization Act, Mr.. McDermott has
passion for anonymity" You
rarely see his name in print. He
never is quoted directly. But, in
one way or another, he has had
hand in making available to the
newspapers much of the news you
read these days.
Capital newspapermen, who affec-
| tionately call him Mack con-
slider Mr.. McDermott the Govern
ment's best press contact man; and
those who have worked in other
world capitals say he is the worlds
best. His industry, integrity, frank
ness and never-failing good humor
and willingness to help develop a
good story" when it safely can be
told have earned him this enviable
reputation.
Although never a neWspaperman
himself, he has a keen understand
ing of the needs of newspapers in
their efforts to serve the public. In
fact, the newspapermen with whom
he works daily may have had some-
thing to do with his promotion to
his present position.
Made Division Chief.
Before 1927 it was customary for
a foreign service career officer to
head the Current Information Di-
vision. Mr.. McDermott was work.
ing as assistant to Hugh Wilson
when the latter was transferred
from chief OF &C. l." to be Minister
to Switzerland. Then Mr.. McDer-
mott carried on as acting chief.
At one of the daily press con-
ferences with the then Secretary of
State Kellogg the correspondents
asked who was going to. be ap-
pointed head of the division. Mr..
Kellogg inquired If Mr.. McDermott
was not doing all right. The cor
respondents said that was what
they were driving at-Mack was
doing the work fine, and they
thought he ought to have the pro-
motion to division chief. And 50
he was promoted-on April 20, 1927
His task is one of tremendous i'm
portance and. delicacy. He must keep
informed on what this Government
is doing in all parts of the world
and what it thinks officially about
what the other nations are doing
This requires constant reading OF
confidential cablegrams from our
diplomatic representatives abroad
and frequent consultation with the
Secretary of State and other policy
making officials.
Then Mr.. McDermott must decide
sometimes In consultation with
the Secretary and often In the
Evening star., 1939-12-17

ished, it leaves four men, and so on.
Major penalties, where a player
is banished for the duration of the
game, are unusual, but little fist
fights are not rare The heavily
padded players don't hurt each
other much, but fights look good to
the spectators-apparently. They
like their hockey rough in Washing
ton, judging by the volume of ap-
plause that rolls through the rink
when a good piece of body work is
done by the Eagles. But watch that
puck. 1t flies through the air about
2 miles a minute when it leaves the
ice, and If it hits a Uranium it will
hurt, even though it is made of
rubber.
Ice hockey has gone over here
and will continue to draw crowds,
spurred by the same stuff that
brings throngs out to football
games. Coach of the Eagles is
Redvers Mackenzie, a Montreal
man, who grew up on skates, be-
came good amateur golfer, and a
better hockey player, and who now
is one of the crack hockey coaches
of the land. The players, them
selves. are all Canadians, natives Of
land where iceskating is as natural
as breathing and where every
youngster grows up with hockey
stick in his hands, learns to body
check before he dons long jeans,
and knows the intricacies of puck
passing long before he graduates
from grammar school.
But what of the thousands of
persons who aren't especially inter-
ested in hockey, who just want to
skate in more or less sedate way
and get the exercise that it brings?
There's plenty of room for them
even now, and with the new ice rink
going up in the Northeast section
there will be more How about in
struction for beginners and those
not used to the poise and balance
ice skating demands? There's plenty
of that. too.
Up at the Chevy Chase rink q
man who has been at the top in ice
skating FOR more than so years heads
the instruction coterie. He is color
full, quizzical Norval Paptie, wizard
and speed artist on skates. Baptie
admits so years, and has been skat-
ing since he was old enough to step
on the ice. He has crouched for the
starters gun in more than 5000
races and has been beaten only
three times. There's an athletic
record for you. I doubt if it ever has
Evening star., 1939-12-17
By Garnet D. Horner.

A bolt of lightning shot down
through the ceiling of Massa-
chusetts home, missing a terrified
10-year-old boy by less than a foot.
The next time that boy had his
hair cut he discovered the new hair
growing out from his scalp was
white instead of the natural brown.
Soon all of it was white.
Today that lightning-born crown
of white hair is a Distinguishing
mark of a 45-year-old man who has
made good in one of the hottest
spots in Neutrality-suspicious. James
McDermott. chief of the State De-
partment's Division of Current IN
formation.
More than a quarter century of
Government service, including Army
service during the World War, has
brought this son of Irish immi-
grants such an assortment of ex-
perienceS as:
Pulling out of bowl, while blind
folded, the numbers of men being
drafted into the Army and later
sailing for France himself under
sealed orders on a secret mission.
AS confidential clerk, sitting in
on sessions of the allies Supreme
War Council and later sessions of
the peace conference that ended
the war.
Being mistaken by the police Of
Western city for a President OF
the United States and later flashing
to waiting newspapermen the news
of that Presidents death.
Being a guest of President OF
Ireland and later helping to play
host for King and Queen Of Eng
land.
Incidentally, the visit Of the Brit
ish monarchs here last summer cost
him 80 pounds-avoirdupois, not
sterling. But that is getting ahead
Of the story.
Has Contact Duties.
AS chief of the State Departments
Current Information Division since
1927, Mr. McDermott is the prin-
cipal contact between the State De-
partment and all its far flung activ-
tiles in formulating and carrying
out American foreign policy, on the
one hand, and newspaper reporters
and through them the citizens OF
this country and the world, on the
other.
Once a day accredited news writ
ers have an opportunity to question
the Secretary of State directly at
his regular press conference. AS
questions arise at other times of
the day or night they are taken
to Mr.. McDermott. He makes avail
able to the correspondents formal
statements issued by the Secretary,
and often is called upon for back
Evening star., 1939-12-17

the only player with the authority
to hold the discs for any time.
Washingtons goalie, Gordon Lee,
rates as one of the best in the busi-
ness. A little fellow, weighing less
than 1876 pounds, he looks and acts
like 175-pounder as he guards the
Eagles goal. One night after a
fierce melee before the net. the At
lantic City Sea Gulls had pushed
and striven to get the puck past
Lees arms and legs without success.
After the game, l asked Lee what
he did with that puck. ut never
goes into the net, and yet you al
ways come up with it," said.
"Oh, I eat it, laughed Lee. And
he seems to do just that.
Team Success
Those games at Riverside Stadium
every Tuesday and Friday nights are
working the Washington sports low
Evening star., 1939-12-17

proverbial duck to water. We won't
60 into the bruises and stiff muscles
that come out of the first few at
tempts of a tyro to wobble around
the rink on ice skates. Well let
Mr.. and Mrs. Newcomer to ice skat-
ing get that experience for them
selves. It's all in fun, anyway, and
it's healthy exercise.
Stunts on Skates.
Few of the thousands who now
skate in Washington ever will be-
come as proficient on the sharpened
steel blades as the hockey boys, who
twirl and pirouette at dizzy speeds
as they chase the puck, or tangle
with the enemy at full speed and
come out of the shock of body-to-
body encounter with nothing more
Evening star., 1939-12-17
Two Kinks, Thousands
Of Skaters Show Gains
One More Frozen Palace to =.
Be Added to Washington's
Winter Diversion Outfits
Bv Walfer McCaIIum.

Although winter does not begin officially until los Friday
and weather
Rejecting Pool there plenty ice skating Washington
Until last
rarely this section Rejecting
Evening star., 1939-02-10

be burned. Until there is an agree
ment, the official in charge of burn
ing them will mix a bit of damp
straw with them to darken the
smoke so the crowds outside the
palace watching the chimney may
know whether there is a new Pope.
When the final fire, without the
damp straw. sends up white smoke,
that will be the signal of the
election.
When the conclave starts the
cardinals are imprisoned with their
secretaries. cooks, BARRIERS and pages
in specially constructed cell block.
This is portable wooden city built
in Vatican corridors. Once inside
all the conclavists are pledged to
secrecy.
AS the echoes of the big bell that
tolled the passing of Plus XI died
away the inevitable speculation on
who is to be the new Pope began.
New Pope to Be Italian.
Until the whisp of white smoke
from the chimney of the Sistine
Chapel announces that the Pope
has been chosen. nothing can be
predicted with positiveness, for no
one, not even cardinal, knows
what the College of Cardinals will
do
But, assuming the college con-
tinues the precedents of recent CEN
tlIrieS the following can he fore-
cast:
l. The new Pope will be an Ital-
ian.
Evening star., 1939-02-10

brought certain spiritual fresh
ness to the church, that an Ameri-
can Pope would be tremendous i'm
petus to the spread Of the faith in
the New World.
In recent centuries the college has
almost always elected one of its
own members. There have been
times in the distant past, however,
when finding themselves deadlocked,
the cardinals have chosen an out
slider who never dreamed of being
Pope.
Some observers believe it unlikely
that any cardinal regarded as either
too anti-Fascist or too pro-Fascist
would be chosen. It is believed that
cardinals from democratic countries,
including the United States. may
take a firm stand against any one
leaning toward Fascism.
Cardinal Dalla Costa of Florence
long has been regarded as rather
anti-Fascist. Several of the others,
especially Cardinal Schuster of
Milan, previously were regarded as
friendly toward Fascism, but since
the church-state dispute over Italy's
racial policy. they may have
changed. Cardinal Schuster, who
once made enthusiastic statements
about Fascism, took the racial policy
to task in strong sermon.
Evening star., 1939-02-10

promised that the time interval be-
tween his own death and the inau-
guratlon Of the conclave would be
heightened to permit the coming to
Rome of the most distant cardinal.
On March Is. 1922, he issued an
order that the time interval should
be extended to minimum of IS
days.
The previous time limit of 10 DAYS
had been made short to prevent
much of an interval elapsing be-
tween the rulers of the church. that
confusion might not arise during
the interregnum.
American cardinals also will be
able to take part in the government
of the church during the inter-
regnum. AS soon as they arrive in
Rome they will have an opportunity
to serve on the committees of
Cardinals which rule the vast
ecclesiastical body until the new
Pope is elected.
Every day there is a new Executive
Committee for this purpose. 1t is
composed of four cardinals. The
Cardinal Camerlengo, Pacelli, is a
permanent member. The other three
are newly chosen every day, ac-
cording to their seniority.
They decide any problems re-
quiring immediate solution. They
make every effort, however, not to
embark on important discussions, in
order not to bind the new Pope by
their decisions.
The voting for the new Pope will
follow ancient rules. 1t will begin
after the youngest cardinal deacon
has dropped a double handful of
wooden balls into violet silken bag
to select the scrutinlzing committee.
1t will go on at leisurely pace,
two ballots being taken daily, no
more, until some one receives two
thirds majority.
After each vote the ballots will
Evening star., 1939-02-10
g. He will be a present member Of
the College of Cardinals.

2. He will be a present member Of
the College of Cardinals.
3. He probably will be an Italian
cardinal with wide administrative
experience, such as the archbishops
Of Milan, Turin, Genoa, Venice,
Florence, Naples and Palermo.
Since the days of st. Peter there
have been 38 popes who were not
italians. But no non-Italian has
been chosen in more than 400 years
since Adrian vi, a Hollander.
elected in 1922.
The fact that Italians form a clear
majority in the college and strongly
favor continuance of the italian
monopoly of the papacy would seem
to assure election of one of their
compatriots.
A two-thirds majority Is required,
however, and if the Italians should
become deadlocked over two candi-
dates of their own nationality, it is
possible that enough of them might
join with the non-Italians to elect
Pope of some other nationality.
In such an event, the United
States claim to Pope might be
based on the grounds that its 90
0,000 Catholics are the largest ma
tional group never to have had
Pope, that it is the largest con-
tributOr to the Vatican, that it has
Evening star., 1939-02-10
Nine Funeral Services, STEPPED
In Tradition to Honor Plus
Procession Bearing His Body to
St. Peters One of Most Spectacular

They will not crowd them in to-
geuher.
Selection of BARRIERS to shave them
during their confinement in the
electoral conclave, drawing of lots
for cells in that conclave, appoint
ment of committee on cleanliness
and decorum during the election,
which may last many days, are
some of the traditional duties to be
performed now.
Ring Has Important Part.
The f1sherman's ring-symbol of
authority of Christ's vicarage on
earth-plays an important cere-
monial part in the death ceremonies
of Pope and the proclamation of
his successor.
The flSherman's ring is gold
band, with an engraving of st. Peter
fishing from boat. It carries, also.
the name of the reigning Pope. 1t
is the symbol of succession to ST.
Peter and its seal is the seal of alb
solute earthly authority in affairs of
the Roman Church.
Pope Clement w 1265-1268) fur
nishes Vatican archives with the
first mention of the f1isherman's
ring He spoke of it as a seal used
in connection with private letters.
From the 18th century on, however,
the fisherman's ring has been used
to seal official briefs.
Ceremonies connected with the re-
tirement and comforting of this
symbolic band are brief but i'm
pressive. Immediately after the car
dinal camerlengo administrator as
certains that the Pope is dead by
striking him on the forehead three
time and calling his name, the mas
ter of ceremonies draws the fisher
mans ring from the dead Pope's
finger and hands it to the Gamer
lengo.
Later, in the first of the daily con-
gregations in which cardinals pre-
pare for the electoral conclave and
conduct state business, the ring is
broken.
Ring Part of Inauguration.
When a new Pope has been cleo
ted, and crowds outside the Vatican
are waiting to see their new pontiff,
the ring again plays symbolic part.
1t is handed to the new Pope by the
dean of the sacred college immedi-
ately after his chamberlains have
for the first time robed him in the
white garments of the pontificate.
1t signifies that the Office of Pope
has been revived, that the church
is no longer a widow In handing
over this badge of authority the
cardinal dean announces that the
temporary sovereignty of the sacred
college has ended
1t is the ring which Catholic
pilgrims granted audience seek to
touch with their lips, is in fact the
ever present sceptre of the Popes
sovereignty.
Evening star., 1939-02-10
Americans
Continued From First Page.)

the Vatican. The conclave, as is
the custom, was still in session, al
though the Pope had been chosen.
The cardinals still were locked in
q portion of the Vatican.
The American prelate could not
but express his disappointment at
having arrived just too late to par
ticlpate in the important election.
This disappointment he expressed
directly to the new Pope.
Pope Plus told him he understood
the situation. He said that the de-
velopment of the new continent
had made necessary the nomination
of cardinals whom the rules of the
conclave, thinking only of European
prelates, had not had in mind. He
Evening star., 1939-02-10
By the Associated Press,

bS tne Associated PreSS.
VATICAN CITY, Feb. 1O.-There
Is no person whose death could in
augurate such chain of picturesque
rites as that running its course for
Pope Plus XII.
From the moment the Holy Fa-
ther died today until his body is laid
to rest in three collins in st. Peter S
Basilica and his successor has given
the world his blessing every action
is embedded in centuries of tradi-
ton. The origins of some of these
customs have crumbled into oblivion
on the parchments on which they
were written.
One of the ancient but obsolete
acts was the removal of the entrails
from the dead Pope's body fer burial
in an urn in a crypt under the Ba-
silica. Embalming is a compara-
lively modern act 1t has only
few hundred years of tradition
behind it..
One of the most spectacular cere-
monies will be the procession bear
ing the Pope's body to St. Peter S.
From $4,000 to 10000 persons can
crown into the church to watch a
score or more of red robed car
dinals and costumed dignitaries
carry out this task. Swiss Guards
in medieval armor will line the
corridors through which the bur-
den must be borne.
Emphasizing the grandeur of the
display will be an ordinary con-
fessar garbed in simple black with
white surplice His will be the role
of the village priest in a humble
layman's funeral.
This procession, however, will be
only one of nine funeral services for
Pope Plus. Each one has been
worked out to its last detailed bit of
symbolism. 1t is even prescribed
which functionary shall lay white
silk handkerchief over the pontiff's
face as the assistant Vatican
AiDl al loAA ICduS CllS ldl dCl
closing the inner casket, and which
other one shall lay another hand
kerchief over his hands.
Choosing of Successor.
Not less elaborate and traditional
is the procedure of choosing the
Pope's successor Under the chair
manship of the Papal Secretary of
State the Sacred College OF Cardi-
nails will undertake this election
within lS days, During the election
and in the interim the cardinals
will follow strict protocol.
in one meeting they will elect two
prelates to deliver orations at the
funeral and at the election of the
new pontiff. But they will not
hurry through to get to other busi-
ness. Each of their sessions will
have specific functions to perform.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-21
WON'T BATTLE
FOR POSITION
DR.. Wood Resigns as
Administrator of
Co. Hospital

County commissioners will not
face legal proceedings through ex-
ecufion OF q contract for employ
ment Of DR.. Neal II. Wood. Chicago
physician. named as administrator
Of Pierce County hospital several
months ago.
The board was in receipt of 3
letter from DR.. Wood Friday in
which he rendered his resignation
TO the post of administrator, add
ing that Il he can be of any serv-
ice in the future. for commission
ers not 10 hesitate to contact him.
Commissioners John Sohlarh and
Guy Melton signed q letter-con-
tract last Dec. % employing DR..
Wood as county hospital admins
traitor. to succeed Dr.. Burton A.
Brown. The contract covered a
period Of one wears employment
at a salary of $500 monthly.
DR.. Brown was asked to tender
his resignation. which he did.
Commissioner A. A. Rankin OPP
posed the move and, later. after
union members. civic groups and
Tacoma physicians protested re-
moval of DR.. Brown and appoint
ment OF an outsider as Browns
successor, Melton withdrew his
support of employment of DR..
Wood and addressed a letter to the
Chicago physician to that effect.
Later, the two commissioners for
mally refused to accept the resig-
nation of Dr.. Brown.
The communication received on
Friday from Dr. Wood stated he
had received the letter resembling
the offer made by your agent. DR..
Horace J. Whitacre." as admins
TRAITOR OF Pierce County hospital.
DR.. Wood said the duties Of adj
ministrator should have the good
will Of the people, but that pub
lie opinion is against an out
slider"
DR.. Woods resignation was &C
cepted by Commissioners Rankin
and Melton.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-01-21
TWO SUSPECTS
BROUGHT HERE
Pair Is Accused of
Attacking Woman
Hitch Hikcr

Held IN Pierce county all Ri.
day In lieu Of 81 oeo hand eseh
were two olympia youths. accused
q crtminally asssolting = sA.ycsr.
old Tacoma mother u three chil.
dfcn.
The suspects arrested nv Thurs.
ton county deputy snefiffs, ard
returned 20 Taeoms. are Gene
Prime, 20. and Earl Taylor. "a
The youths are accused II hax-
ing raped The Young mother after
they offered her a ride 10 Olympia
The woman. who planned 10 hitch
hike 20 Vancouver. Wash, 10 visit
a brother, following = family quar-
rel. told Prosecutor Thor G Toilet
son. who obtained warrants 81
arrest for the pair. thai she was
picked up a short distance south
Of Tacoma city limits last Dec. Is.
After the alleged assault. the
youths are said 10 have forced the
woman out OF the car and left her
on the highway near Fort Lewis
A passing motesist and his wife
found the mother In dared com