davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-09-28

sand workers being added. There
seems little likelihood of such q
hiring program being repeated. Logic
would be more on the side Of an
effort to shape the present machine
to war needs, as far as possible.
During the Roosevelt administra-
tion there has been an increase of
sixty thousand employees here and
three hundred thousand in the field,
principally because of the broadened
activities of the Government. War
would be calculated to slow down, if
not actually halt, some of these,
allowing their stats to be shifted
to other channels. This is the case
not only in the new agencies, but in
old line establishments whose oper-
ations likewise have been expanded.
The World War growth here, while
in evidence generally, was centered
In the Treasury and War Depart
ments. The former, where the local
force now numbers nineteen thou
sand, jumped from eight thousand
to twenty-nine thousand; the latter
went from twenty-eight hundred to
more than thirty-seven thousand.
The War staff now is six thousand.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
General von Fritsch

IL was SOldler'S death which
Colonel General Werner Won Fritsch
is reported to have met at the gates
OF Warsaw after more than forty
years of service in the German
Army, service which was character
lied by powerful devotion to the
Prussian military ideals in which he
was trained.
General Won FritSch was once COM
mander in chief of the German Army
and did as much as, If not more than,
any other German military leader to
restore Germany's military strength
after the peace treaty reduced the
Reich to impotence, fact which
impelled Adolf Hitler to pay tribute
to him even after the revered chief
of Germany's soldiery had been re-
lieved of his command after a con-
troversy with Marshal Won Blomberg
concerning the latter's marriage to
the daughter of a carpenter.
It was not with the purpose of
leading Germany into another sense
less conflict, but with the aim of
providing Germany with adequate
national defense that he strove in
the years following 1918 to organize
on a high plane of efficiency and
effectiveness the small army which
the Reich was permitted to maintain.
In the best Prussian military tradi-
ton, of which he was the exemplifica-
ton, he insisted upon divorce of the
army from politics, and this aloofness
of the Reichswehr was with few
exceptions characteristic of the Reich
until February, 1888, when Adolf
Hitler assumed personal command of
the German Army.
General Won Fritsch was never won
over to Hitlerism, and his immediate
response to Germany's call when the
attack on Poland occurred was not
in difference to Nazi ideals or Nazi
theology, but to his thoroughly Prus-
sian devotion to duty. Germany
was at -war-the justice of the cause
did not count-so the warrior who
once commanded all of Germanys
Army went to the front in the COM
paratively minor role of commander
Of regiment.
There he met his death, exactly
how has not been revealed. The
German Army announcement said
1t was while engaged In . difficult
accommodating operation. The fact
Evening star., 1939-09-28
U. S. Employees Increase

Late figures from the Civil Service
Commission showing that Govern
ment personnel steadily is approach
ing the million mark suggest a
question as to the level that would
be reached under the stress of war
needs, in view of the expansion that
took place in 1917-18.
The continuous mushrooming since
the advent of the New Deal has put
slightly more than nine hundred
and twenty-seven thousand persons
on the billion. three hundred mil
lion-dollar annual pay roll of the
executive agencies, compared to the
World War peak of nine hundred
and eighteen thousand. Including
eight hundred and four thousand
workers in the field and one hundred
and twenty-three thousand here, the
distribution now is proportionately
the same as twenty years ago, cor
responding increases having been
registered in each class.
The war almost tripled Federal
employment here and gave it q sixty
pei cent boost in the field, total
OF approximately four hundred thou
Evening star., 1939-09-28
| Spy

Activity of the G-men in SUD-
pressing espionage has had q whole
some effect upon the Nation at large
and has stimulated many individ-
uals to do likewise. The amateur spy
hunter, however, Is as a rule severely
handicapped by the extreme diff
Guilty OF determining what might be
called the symptoms of a spy. Since
the introduction of the safety razor
even the old-time anarchist is no
longer detachable as such and looks
no different from the butcher, the
baker or the bookmaker. How much
more difficult, then, is it to determine
the spy or saboteur? Still, once in a
while he may slip and give the game
away.
AS case in point, the other day
IN Newark, N. j., a citizen spotted a
Japanese spy operating very care
lessly in Washington Park. Here
there was no risk of error. Not only
was he jotting down information in
notebook, but was also lingering
lovingly bag of bombs. The citizen.
tempted to make the capture single
handed, cast aside the unworthy
thought. What mattered the glory of
one selfish individual when the honor.
safety and majesty of Newark, N. J.,
II not all Of America, was at stake?
Rapidly he decided that the spy
should be. surrounded. His intellect.
sharpened by living in democracy.
was equally quick to realize that one
lone man could never do that trick,
Hastily he telephoned the police to
break up the spy ring, which they
did successfully. True, the Japanese
turned out to be Chinese; he had
been counting people, with the idea
OF opening up chop suey joint; and
the bombs were preserved duck
eggs-but just the same the incident
will serve to let Toxic know that we
will stand no nonsense.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
The Price of Libertv

What the unWished-for war pro-
voked by Adolf Hitler means to the
British taxpayer was mercilessly re-
vealed yesterday by Sir John Simon,
chancellor of the exchequer, in pre-
senting the first 1889 war budget to
Parliament. AS usual when the treas
ury is in distress, it is on incomes that
the heaviest blows are to fall. The
tax on these is increased to seven
shillings in the pound, or a rise to
35 per cent, until March 81, 1910, and
to seven shillings and sixpence, or
37.5 per cent, for the ensuing fiscal
year of 194O-41.
Broken into terms of American
money at present sterling values, it
is as if the average income taxpayer
in the United States during the next
six months would have to give up
$1.S7 OF approximately every 81 he
earns, and after that, SLAB. At pres
ent Britons pay an average income
tax of five shillings and sixpence in
the pound, or 27.5 per cent. The i'm
mediate rise is eighteen pence to the
pound. Exemptions in Britain nor
mally are always less than anything
customary in this country. Tax rates
are assessed on incomes in excess of
exemptions varying from about $495
for single persons to about 81, ,584 for
married man with three children.
1t is expected that the boosted in
come tax rate will provide an addi-
tional $277 200, 900 this year and s57s,-
100000 in fiscal year 194O-4l. The new
levies are the highest in British his
tory, the World War rate having been
only six shillings in the pound, or
80 per cent, compared to the present
proposal of 7 shillings, or IS per cent.
Thus is brought home to the hum
blest, as well as the richest, in the
land the price Britain must pay for
preservation of the ideals of Magma
Charta, for nothing less is at stake for
Anglo-Saxon civilization in the strug-
gle for destruction of Hitlerism, upon
which the descendants of the barons
OF Runnymede have embarked. They
are not barring their breasts to the
fee IN any spirit savoring of enthu-
siasm. It is rather amid emotions
that she is facing an ugly but inevi-
table lob" which has to be done
that Britannia unsheathes her
sword. That she will face the f1nan-
cial sacrifices entailed as bravely as
her soldiers, sailors and airmen face
the armed foe is not to be questioned
any more than is British ability to
hold out the longer in war of attri-
ton with the enemy across the
North Sea.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
Letters to the Editor
Asks II Borah and Others
May Not Be Wrong Again.
To the Editor Of The 6

40 tHe cuitoE OF Inc star.
Congress is in session again. Real
issues will be obscured again by too much
talk and too little action. The people are
agreed that We are not to enter another
foreign war. Therefore, we are not going
to enter this one. Not because we have
an embargo or because we have a CASH
and-carry plan, but because we do not
want war. I read in your columns that
Senator Borah voted for the last war.
He did so because he considered he was
thus best serving the interests Of his
country, but the war was a mistake and
costly one. Couldn't it be possible that
his ideas now of how to keep US out of
this war are wrong also? Shortly after
the war American ships were destroyed
IN the disarming program OF the Gov
ernment. Surely that was q mistake.
too. Yet how many Of the members of
that Congress are now in this one, help-
ing again to form the policies of our
Government? I hope that some Of the
other members of Congress will have
louder voices than those men, so that we
can hear their views
I am in favor of the cash-and-carry
plan OF our President because 1 believe
his plan has more features to keep US
safe than the law as 1t exists now. I
oelleVe that those features should be
adopted whatever happens to the CASH
and-carry part Of the plan. And I hone
that this is done Immediately and with
out waste OF time in more accusations
name-calling or d-slinging.
ONE OF THE MRS. CITIZENS.
September a.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
Burlington, vt.
September is.
Protests Against Discharxe
OF Government Workers,

The public should know why Attorney
General Murphy advocates the dismissal
OF million Government workers, which
he says can be done without disturbing
the necessary functions of the Govern
ment. At the same time, hundreds are
being taken on every week. Large Gov
ernment bureaus have opened up new
personnel offices, and receive so many
applications that they must close every
other day in order to find places for the
new appointees. have been told that
applicants must carry strong senatorial
Endorsement from New Deal supporters.
The Attorney General may be perfectly
correct in his policy of limiting the num-
ber OF Federal employees. It is indeed
generally understood that there is much
overlapping work. But why, under these
conditions. Is the Government taking on
hundreds of new workers?
INTERESTED CITIZEN.
September "a.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
Asks Why America
Should Build Ships.

~ tio Ioitol VI ne Star.
After reading in the various papers
such statements as these: Sweep the
seas clean Of American Ships" and 'aThe
Merchant Marine will pay heavy price. {"
by various Senators, I wonder why the
Maritime Commission is building over a
hundred merchant ships, if Congress is
going to force American ships off of the
seas in its so-called Neutrality Act.
Then, too, what are these Senators
going to do about the thousands of sea-
men who will be thrown on the beach
without means of earning a living? How
will these same men feel when they see
ships flying Swedish, Danish or Greek
flags loaded down to the marks carry
ing cargo that American ships should
carry? I for one will feel that it will
be useless to build ships and then lay
them up because Congress is afraid Of
q dictator. ABB .E SEAMAN
September 20,
Evening star., 1939-09-28

curls Of tendrils offer most hazard to
birds.
Any one who has tried to break of q
vine knows how very tough 1t is. There
Is little chance of . struggling bird
breaking free.
The only chance 1t has is sheer good
fortune, or the natural untwisting Of
the vine at night
This relaxation might release the bird
unless it has been 50 unfortunate as to
dangle itself head down.
There seems to be something about
this position, naturally enough, which
birds cannot Withstand.
1t might be q good thing, therefore,
for those nature friends who feed the
wild birds In their yards to refrain from
planting vines at the immediate site Of
the feeding station.
This surely is something to keep in
mind when setting up feeder in the
yard
Not all vines offer danger. Most rose
vines are so stiff and thick that birds
cannot be trapped by them. On the
other hand, the songsters love to perch
in the climbing roses. The thorns offer
no obstacles to their horny claws and
legs.
1t is the small twining vines which
offer possibilities of danger. These
might as well be placed at other points.
~ ~
The danger at a feeding site lies in
the habit of birds of flying into the vine,
especially on fence, to get little rest
from too much food
This danger is probably more acute in
the twilight hours than at any other.
Then the bird actually cannot see
what danger it is getting into While
such entrapments are not usual occur
rences, they must happen often enough.
II few instances are seen, there must
be scores more which are never found.
1t is an interesting question, whether
birdsight is as good in half-lght as In
full light.
We doubt it. The very fact that they
go to sleep while 1t is yet light seems to
show that they have good eyesight only
IN full light, else shrewd birds would
remain awake after most of their fellows
had gone to bed
Surely, if they were human, they
would not only be early birds, but late
birds, as well.
The early bird catches the worm"
points to forehandedness, but it must be
remembered that this is mans interpre-
tation; the birds themselves know roth
ing OF it, but simply start to feed when
they can see.
The truth probably is that, in birdland,
the early bird doesn't catch as many
worms as the midday bird, or the mid
-of-the-afternoon bird.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
THIS AND THAT
The sparrow hung head down by its
lepS entan1led In tia vine
By Charles Z. TYace1ueu.

The sparrow hung head down by its
legs entangled in the vine.
1t had been dead for some hours.
How it got into such q FIX, or why
it could not wriggle loose, will never be
known.
1t was an example Of the many natu-
raj plights and traps which exist for
all of the living creatures Of the wild.
These not only include innumerable
enemies, especially birds, which take
their toll of both eggs and nedglings,
but also many natural barriers to health
and long life.
No doubt vines are malignant to bird
life, in many ways.
Caught either by bill or feet, the
songster finds 1t impossible to pull loose.
This means Its death. because no other
bird can help release 1t.
1t Is a curious fact in nature that
most of the creatures have no idea OF
cooperation. They act as lone wolves,
and seldom If ever, except by accident,
help another in difficulty.
Often what appears to be deliberate
aid to watcher is nothing but chance
assistance, rendered as mere movement
without thought, but which manages
to release the caught creature.
~
Trapped animals gnaw their own feet
away, but there are few instances of
the same sort of assistance being given
by mate.
The animal caught by natural traps,
such as vines, must meet the situation
all by himself. Not only is he alone in
his dilemma, but peculiarly so because
such mind as he has cannot reason,
as humans can He cannot say to
himself, as it were, Nov this vine runs
around, and If I can wiggle my foot
through in this direction, I can get
loose
No, the animal is alone, in this re-
spect, too. unable to reason and get
himself out of trouble by thinking Of
what to do and acting on his thoughts
to the best of his ability.
He simply has muscular reaction, mo-
tivated by internal glands of secretion,
in turn by panic.
X 4
Often the very force of panic tight
ems the bonds.
Childrens sets of magic contain. or
at least they used to contain a wristlet
OF woven fiber, which pulled tighter the
harder you tried to pull it of.
1t was only by releasing the pull, and
pushing it in the other direction, that
it could be gotten of.
Human minds could understand this.
The strict animal mind cannot The
pressure makes the animal pull all the
harder. Tightening the bonds still further.
No doubt types of vines with twining
Evening star., 1939-09-28
The Red Cross

With the opening of the annual
Red Cross roll call in Washington
today, the people of the District, for
the twenty-third time in twenty
three years, are offered an oppor-
tunity to participate in this great
humanitarian undertaking.
The results of the drive in the
Nations Capital for new members
and the renewal of old memberships
is especially interesting to the rest
OF the country, and particularly i'm
portant to the Red Cross. The cam
paign here opens several weeks be-
fore the general roll call of the other
cities of the country. Hence, the
results in Washington will be closely
watched. Upon them must be based
estimates of how efficiently the Red
Cross will be able to carry on its vast
work of relief of suffering and misery
resulting from war, pestilence and
disaster, and its preventive work to
stem the toll of accidents.
AS might be expected, the American
Red Cross is making no special cam
paign at this time for funds to assist
in the relief of victims of the current
war in Europe. Ours is a strictly
American organization. Its work fol-
lows the flag Of the Nation and the
national interests. This national
viewpoint should be kept in mind by
all citizens joining in the work. And
the local responsibility of the citizens
OF Washington must not be forgotten.
This year an increase in the Dis
trict's membership is being sought.
A total OF one hundred and twenty
five thousand members has been set
as the city's quota. In view of the in
creasing population, and the propor-
ton of residents who are gainfully
employed, this is not excessive or
unusual. Surely the city has more
than that number who are anxious
to be identified with work in which
they can take so much pride.
When the accomplishments of the
Red Cross are recalled, including its
long-range preparations to meet any
emergency which may arise in any
part OF the Nation, and its activities
for the protection OF the country's
defenders, the amount required for
membership dwindles into insignifl-
canoe. While America remains neu-
trail, and the Red Cross confines its
work to our own shores, the results
OF the conflict in Europe already are
making themselves felt in rising
costs. This possibly will increase to
some extent, as will the responsible
tiles OF the organization at home as
the germs bred by warfare overseas
penetrate our quarantine of neu-
trality.
This year, more than ever. it is
important that Washington set an
example to the Nation by going over
the top.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
Child Care BUDGET

With the budget for District child
welfare needs under consideration at
the District Building, the Citizens
Co-ordinating Committee for Public
Welfare is urging the Commissioners
to seek from the Budget Bureau and
Congress an appropriation of $243,-
600 with which to Streamline the
Child Welfare Department of the
Board of Public Welfare in accord
ance with recommendations of the
Kepecs Committee. That committee,
guided by Jacob Kepecs, delivered
this severe indictment of Washing
tons child welfare system: "The Dis
trict of Columbia Child Care Pro-
gram has been neglected too long for
effective repair work or restoration
of parts of it. The entire program
needs reorganization in order to
bring it into line with present. day
needs"
To achieve the reorganization en-
visioned in the Kepecs report would
require the substantial sum asked by
the citizens group. The Board of
Public Welfare requested a deficiency
appropriation of $280,0OO last spring
for the modernization plan, but, ap-
parently discouraged by its receipt
of only $4,000, the board did not
renew the request in the budget esti-
mates submitted to the Commission
ers recently.
The Board of Public Welfare and
the Commissioners are in a difficult
position. They are faced on the one
hand with demands from congress
sional and executive quarters for
economies in government and on the
other by the growing demands for
improved municipal services of every
type. Some sorely needed reforms
undoubtedly must be postponed be-
cause of the exigencies Of the fiscal
situation.
The child welfare problem is par
ticularly pressing, however The out
moded program now in effect en-
phasizes correctional institutions
rather than preventive and remedial
services. Weighed from the viewpoint
of economy alone, the work of the
correctional institutions necessarily
Is expensive, while proper preven-
tive system should save money in the
end by reducing the number of chill
dren requiring institutional care.
The reorganized Child Welfare
Department would stress this eco
nomical preventive form of treat
ment. 1t would be sound econ
omy to take all of the steps recon-
mended in the Kepecs report. At the
least, as compromise, it would be
wise to seek enough money to make
start on the orderly program of
Improvement formulated by the ex-
perts. Certainly the dire realities of
the child care problem in the Ma
tion's Capital are such as to demand
the earnest consideration of the
budget planners at this time.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the ,oriter, although the use OF
a pseudonym for publication Is
permissible. Please be brieI

business. Our sympathies are strong for
the allies, but the lure of war boom
is stronger. To the now-failing New
Deal, war boom would be like a life
preserver to drowning man. But will
the munitions business profit us In the
end?
The way to stay out of this Hitler
war Is to begin staying out right now.
Our neutrality law was written with
that In mind
LAMBERT SCHUYLER.
Burlington, vt.
September is.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
New Deal Exuberance Over
War Business Boom Deplored.

10 tne EQltOr OF Inc star:
President Roosevelt says that he hates
war. But it has been freely predicted
In Washington for some months past
that should he find 1t to his political
advantage he would not hesitate to in
volve us in the present conflict. That
very thought will profoundly shock many
people, but In this hour America cannot
afford to trust her fate in the hands
OF any one man.
For six years the New Deal has been
trying vainly to manufacture a business
boom. Government extravaganza was
the formula and it met rising tide Of
bitter opposition. But now comes Hitler,s
war to the rescue. The President de-
clares new state Of emergency and
asks an end to partisan opposition. In
the name Of humanity and by common
agreement let US begin making shot
and she'll
Our present neutrality law Is designed
to avoid involvement. The President
asks that that law be changed 20 that
we can once more enter the munitions
Evening star., 1939-09-28
Germany Declared Free
From Blame.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Taking note Of the comments in your
letter column regarding the war in Eu-
rope cannot help sympathizing with
Germany in the present struggle. This
war was imposed upon her at the insti-
cation of England, who, in my judgment
was given encouragement by the Presi-
dent of the United States.
Germany will defeat the international
boycotters in their plot to destroy her,
and I predict that she will also defeat
the aims of England to destroy her. The
big four horsemen, Moscow, Toxic, Rome
and Berlin, are going to be the head men
in the next show. It's too bad Poland
was not able to see the light before her
downfall DONALD SHEA.
Director National Gentle League.
September is.
Evening star., 1939-09-28
A Canadian View
On Consistent" Neutrality,


On Consistent" Neutrality.
To the Editor Of The Star:
"The dogs Of war" is not q mere ex-
preston nowadays. The blood Of women
and children is being spilled in Poland
because OF hatred and covetousness
which have infested the hearts and
minds Of some inhuman humans. Is it
consistent, is 1t common sense to refuse
to supply munitions of war to your good
neighbor" In her efforts to help extermi-
nate the world menace, Hitlerism, thus
doing a kindness to the entire world
including Germany herself? Did you
supply material and essential help to
Japan in her wanton war of aggression
against China? Is 1t nothing to you that
your present neutrality laws tie your
hands and that you must continue to be
inconsistent? Is it nothing to you that
death and destruction continue in Eu-
rope? STERLING HRANNEN
Fredericton, New Brunswick.
September 18