davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Omaha guide., 1939-05-06
The Railroad Omnibus Bill

The so-called Railroad Omnibus
Bill Oh. R. 1862 which was recently
introduced in the House by Represen-
tative Clarence F. Lea, marks the first
attempt in many years 10 adequately
reform and equalize our transporta-
ton policy.
In general, the bill is designed to
put into effect the recommendations of
the Presidents Committee of Six,
which has made an exhaustive report
on the transportation problem. This
report met with the almost unqualified
support of railroad management and
railroad labor. 1t was widely praised
by completely unprecedented economists
and educators, and was generally CIV
en- the full approval of the press. The
Lea bill takes its recommendations,
phrases them in legal form, and makes
them part of a proposed law whose
primary purpose is to place oil comm
ercial carriers on an equal fo0ting IN
order that all NAV serve the p1h'le to
the limit of their capabilities.
The bill lays down the principle that
all forms of transportation shall be
equal in the eyes of the law, and that
none shall be favored and none penal
lied. It provides that all carriers shall
charge reasonable rates, and that
there shall be no unjust discrimination.
1t gives the Interstate Commerce Com
mission power to establish beth mini
mum and maximum rates for all car
riers under its jurisdiction. 1t replac-
es the present obsolete rate making
rule with a new, equitable rule, design
ed to fit the actual conditions and
needs of the present time. Of vital
Importance, it provides for creation OF
a TRANSPORTATION Board which is to re-
view all proposals for water projects
before they are submitted to Congress,
which is to study the subject of subsid-
les to various forms of transport, and
which is to have authority over certlt-
icates of convenience and necessity,
etc. Tt provides for fair tolls on inland
waterways, and the d~iscontinuance OF
that costly white elephant, the FEEDER
al Barge LINES.
In reading the Lea Bill, n is
impressed by the fact that every con-
ceivable protection is given to the
shipping and travelling public, and that
all carriers shall be subjected to ade-
quate, sweeping public regulation.
There may be differences of opinion
as to specific sections of this measure
h,,t II Govt ain1v caamS &C If II marks
The Omaha guide., 1939-05-06

ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

OllOulO Tic OilCCu OCdOco Uc q I'LL
itary participant in the next world
war? To that question, going by re-
cent public opinion polls, the American
people answer NO by a tremendous
majority.
Will the United States be militari-
ly involved in the next world war? To
that question, according to the same
polls, a small majority TO our citizens
pessimistically answer YES.
There's no question in the public
mind as TO who will be the participants
in that threatened war-a war that
many experts believe will be, incredibly
destructive and horrible. On one side
will be arrayed Germany and Italy. On
the other will be Great Britain and
France, and a number of minor pow
ers. At the beginning, say the experts,
the Axis powers have the edge, due to
their superiority in air power. Then,
if the war settles down to a slow con-
fict of attrition, as did the last, the SUI
perior resources of the democracies
will gradually take command. The
reader will notice that Soviet Russia
is not mentioned here as a belligerent.
She is the question mark. Ideologically
she is a natural enemy of the fascists
and nazis. But so far she has not de-
finitely responded to suggestions that
she pledged herself DO aid France and
England, and there is a belief in some
informed quarters that she hopes to
stay out of the next war, so that, once
peace again, she will dominate
Europe.
To go back to this country's part
in world affairs, it is apparnet now
that-whether or not AEF is ever sent
to Europe-we are already involved
The Administration has gone about as
far as it can in denouncing the dictator
nations without completely severing
relations. lAnd in this regard, it
should be remembered that the u. S.
Ambassador to Germany has been re-
called and kept home for some months,
as has the German Ambassador to the
U. S. We have thrown the whole
weight of our moral influence behind
England and France. This Administra-
ton is strongly internationalist in
character. 1t is said that the man who
has the most influence with the Presi-
dent in determining foreign affairs is
Ambassador Bulitt, who is a firm be-
lever in the necessity of information
alism on u part.
The President has said, through
his spokesman in the Congress, that he
feels it necessary to change our pre-
sent neutrality law to allow him tC
give the democracies immediate econo-
mic and material aid (such as NUM-
tions, wheat, cotton, ETC. if war comes.
Opposing him or the isolotionists, led
by Senators Borah, Nye, Clark and
Johnson, who feel that we should let
Europe fight its own battles and go to
its own ruin without running ourselves
in the process. Against this argument
is the point, often brought up by Adj
m~instration men, that a victory in Eu-
rope of the Axis powers would probab-
The Omaha guide., 1939-05-06

a realistic approach to a vital problem.
and that Congress should give it inn
mediate attention.
Evening star., 1939-10-15
James A. Bland, Product of Local Coloredt
Institutions, Became Minstrel of
Great World Popularity
early musical aspiration Of James A
plond

early musical aspiration of James A.
Bland.
BY a stroke of luck, I was able
to find his Oldest sister, now living
at st. Annas Episcopal Home, 1924
N street NV. She referred me to
her younger sister, Mrs. Irene Jurix
recently an employe Of the Phyllis
Wheatley Y. w. c. A., and now liv-
ing in New York. Mrs. Jurix is
keenly interested in preserving the
memory Of her distinguished brother
and greatly facilitated my quest for
information, and here 1t follows:
Only Brush With Law.
The author of Garry Me Back to
Old Virginia" was a buoyant. mis-
chievous lad, bubbling over with fun
and frivolity. He was the center of
attraction in any group of people
On one occasion, when he strayed
into the Willard Hotel without any
explainable mission, he was chased
by a policeman and jumped out Of
q window into an alley, where he
was arrested but released after a
severe scolding. It is the only case
on record of Bland having a brush
with the law. 70
Young Bland was not distin-
guished among his schoolmates for
Intellectual superiority, except in
the line Of music. He could sing,
dance, play the banjo. He was
adept at 'pantomimicry. In other
words, he was q natural-born min
strel. In his early teens he organ
lied a glee club which gave concerts
In the leading churches and sere-
naded guests In hotels and distin-
guished officials of the Government.
Bland attended the high school
for colored children of Washington,
Evening star., 1939-10-15

with tnree men named Connolly,
Winner and McGill, conducted a
daily paper called the American
Telegraph, issued in the interest of
Gen. Winfield Scott, who was de-
feated for the presidency by Frank
lin Pierce in the campaign of 1852.
The paper ceased to exist after the
announcement of the defeat of its
candidate. However, Mr.. Tate still
thought there was room for one
more good newspaper in Washing
ton, especially one devoted to the in
terest of the community, and which
would print the news, particularly
the local news.
Met First President.
But to return to the Washington
Light Infantry, there was ample JUS
tif1cation for its organization, as we
might we'll judge after reading the
history of the military companies of
the District of Columbia which
started with the militia that well
coined here Gen. Washington
shortly after he had retired from
the presidency and was on his way
to Mount Vernon. This organiza-
ton was known as the Washington
Light Artillery Company and, ac-
cording to an old account printed
in one of Washington's earliest
newspapers, dated March IS, 1897,
met the former President when he
reached the Capitol and saluted him
with a discharge of cannon and
later, when the distinguished visitor
was passing the Presidents House,
then under construction, salute of
l6 guns was fired.
Apparently the early residents
of the District rather enjoyed vol
untary military service and the
pleasure afforded its younger men in
turning out upon such special occa-
Evening star., 1939-10-15

then being organized, and trans
ferred to the preparatory depart
ment of Howard University, from
which he was graduated in 1873.
This completed his academic educa-
ton.
Shortly after leaving school he
joined minstrel troupe which
made frequent tours Of this country
and Europe. After that he visited
Washington only at intervals, and
while here always stopped with Mrs.
Jurix, his sister.
BANDS father, Allen M. Bland,
was one of the first literally edu-
Gated colored men in America. He
attended the preparatory depart
ment at Oberlin College from 1845
to 1848, and was a graduate of Will
berforce University and of the law
department of Howard University.
He brought his family to Washing
ton after the Civil War and operated
a place Of business at Fifteenth and
M streets NV. In 1869 he was ap-
pointed to clerkship in the United
States Patent Office. Allen M. Bland
and his more famous son, James,
were students of Howard University
at the same time.
Garry Me Back to Old Virginny''
was copyrighted in 1875, when the
author was only 81 years of age, and
at once leaped into nationwide
popularity. Mr.. Fountain Payton, a
local attorney and a former men,
ber of the Washington School Board,
states that he heard the author sing
this song in a minstrel show at
Buffalo, N. Y, the same year, and
that it was received with tremen-
dous applause. There Is every rea-
son to believe that Garry Me Back
Evening star., 1939-10-15

to Old Virginny" was written In the
city of Washington, but, because
Bland Travelled so much, 1t is not
known for sure.
Wrote Other Songs.
Other songs by Bland have re.
ceived almost as much attention. :
Geller's Famous Songs and Stories"
published in 1881, says Of TN the
Evening.by the Moonlight: Though
ragtime and jazz may come and 90,
the old reliable In the Evening by
the Moonlight continues to toll like
bell that is never still and today,
As years since 1t first appeared on
the American scene. there is scarcely
an adult who cannot hum the
chorus Of this grooming melody, =
faithful nocturnal song"
In 1879 I remember hearing In
the Morning by the Bright Light"
sung in Winnsboro, S. c., although
I am at a loss to know how the
words and music got there. unless it
was brought by Barnum's Circus.
At any rate, Mr.. Bland will go down
in history famed as the author Of
a single song.
Bland was typical representative
Of the minstrel fraternity. Gilbert
and Sullivan's lines "A wandering
minstrel am I, a thing of threads
and patches, of ballads, songs and
snatches," indeed applied to him.
True to his type, he had little regard
for money. Many Of his pieces were
not copyrighted until years after
they had been given to the public.
The leading music-publishing
houses of the country were glad to
list his contributions. His family
believe that the publishers reaped .
lions share of the fruit Of his
genius. Mr. Fountain Payton in
forms me that as attorney for tha
Bland estate he had little dificulty
In persuading the Oliver Ditson Co.
Of Boston, who published Garry
Me Back to Old Virginny," to allow
a supplementary royalty Of 5000.
Mr. Bland spent his last 20 years
mainly in Europe.
Honored by King.
After years Of success IN the
United States, he went with the Cal.
lender Minstrels to London, and the
show took London by storm. There
he made his biggest hit. King Ed.
ward, then the Prince Of Wales, on
many occasions honored him. His
songs and jokes brought tears and
laughter, and he was then the idol
of all England and Scotland. Many
Of his works are copyrighted In the
British Museum and the German
translation Of Garry Me Back to
Old Virginny" is found In the Berlin
Museum.
For 20 years Bland was q star man
in white minstrel company In Eng
land, for which he received q salary
of $4,000 = year, exclusive Of the
income from his copyrights. Like
many another artist of the minstrel
type, he was prodigal Of his income
while 1t lasted. He returned to
America, wholly without funds. A
boyhood friend, Mr.. William Silence.
offered him desk accommodation in
his place of business, where he might
indulge In competition as the mood
struck him. 1t was here that he
wrote his last production, The
Sporting Girl" which he sold for
$3.50 to slaven and McNish, Gomez
(sss 1LAlD, Fs9e c-5J
Evening star., 1939-10-15
By Kelly Miller.

Garry me back to Old Virginny,
There's where the cotton and the
corn and 'tatoes grow,
There's where the birds warble
sweet in the springtime.
There's where the old darkey's heart
am longed to CO."
This greatly loved ballad, which
has been sung all over the world
for many decades and promises to
be heard for centuries to come, was
written by a Washington colored
boy, James A. Bland. in 1875.
A minstrel and song writer hon
ored in many countries during an
eventful life, Bland was born here
in 1854. Had he lived he would
have been IS years old now, and
there are stiIl people in the District
who knew him and went to school
with him in his youth.
BANDS authorship Of the famous
American ballad was recently
brought to the attention of the pub
lie when Elliott Roosevelt broadcast
an account Of story wrote on
BANDS life, saying of the old song
that IF you took q poll Of the first
100 people you meet on the street
1t is probable that 80 Of them could
sing at least a part of the lyrics and
many of them would tell you that
Stephen Foster wrote It,"
I labored under the same misap-
prehension until my attention was
called to the matter by query from
Mr.. John Paynter on the subject,
printed in the Frederic J. Haskin
column in The Star and answered
with such meager biographical facts
on Bland as are on record in the
Library Of Congress.
Reasons for Mistake.
That the authorship of Garry Me
Back to Old Virginny" is generally
attributed to Stephen Foster Is
easily understood because he was
the author of "Way Down Upon the
Swanee River" and my Old Ken
lucky Home" Similarity in Negro
motif and inspiration of the three
songs, which give us q faithful
melodic portrayal Of the simple and
sincere soul of the ante-bellum
Negro, account for the mistake.
Consultation with Mr.. Paynter
led me to seek information about
Mr.. Bland, little-known author of
many well-known songs. Mr.. Bland
was indeed q voluminous writer of
songs and ballads, having composed
during his lifetime over TOO differ
ent titles, So Of them copyrighted
and on, record in the Library of
Congress.
Garry Me Back to Old virginny"
is by no means the only production
that entities Bland to lasting fame.
I'm the Evening by the Moonlight, :"
'In the Morning BY the Bright
Light" and % Dem Golden Slip
pers" are almost as well known.
About the man himself I could
find little published information.
The Library Of Congress had the
briefest Of biographical sketches at
tached to his copyrighted, titles and
these were conflicting. I was COM
PEELED to consult original sources.
From the "Old Inhabitants" an
organization In the District devoted
to preserving memories and records
Of important happenings among
colored citizens Of long ago. ! was
abs 10 obtain valuable memorabilia
eoncasning the school days and
Evening star., 1939-10-15

Chedal, 633 D street; ]. F. Mudd,
1881 Ninth street; J. 8. Moss, 1928
F street: William H. Beall, 938 E
street; A. Finney, Sol Ninth street:
Marvin r. Fisher, 1900 -Four -and-a-
half street S.W.: @. w. Arthur, o41
H street; F. Farquhar, 8ll F street;
A. G. Raymond, 922 H street S.W.:
D. c. Morrison, 800 Massachusetts
avenue; William w. Dalton, 1888
Sixth street; George w. Calvert,
SIS Seventh street; H. A. johnson,
1104 Massachusetts, avenue; William
B. Cox, 9l6 F. street; William B.
Butt, 6l5 M street; George j. Da-
Wis. 438 M street; Albert Grimes,
George L. Lamborn and Theodore
Friebus, and Col. j. Y. Davis, Capt.
p. M. Dubant and John Pettibone
were elected honorary members.
Other early members of the re-
organized Infantry Corps were:
Thomas B. Walker, G. Harrington,
Evening star., 1939-10-15
when he was succeeded by Joseph B.

when he was succeeded by Joseph B.
Tate.
Mr.. Given will be recalled by the
older residents of Washington as
one Of the city's leading coal and
wood merchants of or around go
years ago. trading under the firm
namc of Clarke e. Given, with Office
and yards at 424 Tenth and c and
Twelfth streets northwest, and cor
ner Of Maryland avenue and Thir-
teen -and-a-H Half street SW.
Founder of The Star.
Joseph B. Tate strikes near home,
for it was he who founded The Star
in 1852, and issued the first regular
edition on December 16 of that year,
which he called the Daily Evening
Star. He was practical printer
and at one time set type on the
Daily National Intelligencer of this
city. It is quite likely he was the
son of Sarah Tate, widow, who in
1886, and later, was residing on the
south side of D street between Sixth
and Seventh streets northwest, the
same address the directory gives
for Mr.. Tate.
Prior to this effort in newspaper
publishing Mr.. Tate, in partnership
Evening star., 1939-10-15

umn formation, sometimes fancy
maneuvers and then sometimes, to
the delight Of all, stretched out In
lines reaching from curb to curb, al
perfectly straight as men could pos
sibly march. And what a hand they
would get. No doubt the National
Guard is a fine fighting unit, but
the writer is not willing to believs
that they could put up such q drill
as this organization and some Of
the other local military bodies OF 10
and so years ago.
Evening star., 1939-10-15

Philip NJ. O'Brien, ]. v. Murphy, D.
w. Bills, Charles Giddings, J. s.
Croker, jr.; Louis Behrens, Charles
H. Miller, John A. Bailey, George
F. Muth, Albert Cuttings, Frederick
Hilmer, James E. Belote, McLane
Brashear, 8. L. liable, William H.
Rupp, M. L. Sioussa, A. Preston, r.
B. Cuttings. A. c. Cook, ]. s. Lar
combe, D. Sim johnson, F. J. Hell
berger, jr.; John G. Cowie, Henry
Acker, w. J. Acker and at the sub
sequent meetings many. names IA
Evening star., 1939-10-15

miliar to the old Washingtonian
are mentioned.
Many are too young to recall this
wonderful body Of men, and it is
virtually impossible to describe the
group as their elders knew the
Washington Light Infantry boys.
Indeed, 1t is nice to dream 1t all
over again and imagine we see this
fine military corps as it marched
along historic Pennsylvania avenue
in white coats and enormous sha-
koes, marching sometimes in col
Evening star., 1939-10-15
Old Washington Light Infantry Ranked With Nations Crack Conn
Volunteered for Service
When Civil War Began
Roster of Members Recalls
Families Which Preserved
Washington Traditions
By John Claeett Proctor.

In one Of the writer's recent stories the names Of William snnctt
William Wise mentioned
tngton Light Infantry Corps which for half century
OF the crack military Of the United States
tainy OF the finest drill that
the Nations Capital However since writing story TO-
Evening star., 1939-06-08
THE EVENING STAR, THURSDAY,

years Of age, was down Pennsylvania
avenue, over the same route sched-
uled for the King and Queen today.
1t was on Pennsylvania avenue
she lost the other slipper, in a mud
hole, DR.. Smith related. Some
where between First and Third
Streets" he said, Ann Harvey's
foot sank deep in the mud, and when
it was withdrawn the slipper was
missing She did not stop to re-
cover it, but pulled off the other
slipper and proceeded in her stock
ings all the way back to Georgetown,
running most of the time. That is
why we now have only one slipper"
New Imported Slippers.
His ancestor, DR.. Smith said, had
been visiting one of her sisters on
Capitol Hill, wearing her new slip
pers imported from England. Re-
ferring to the excitement attending
burning of the Capitol, the ex-
plosion of the dry well at the Navy
Yard and the attempt on the life of
Gen. Ross" Dr. Smith declared: "It
is the family tradition that she was
chased by British soldiers. More
probably, she was only frightened at
the various happenings that fore
Evening star., 1939-06-08
Oldest Inhabitants
Shown Memento Of
British Invasion
Dr.. Hugh Smith Tells
Story Of Slipper Lost
By Greut-Grondmother

A faded red slipper with tarnished
silver buckle in which his great
grandmother fled in fright. when
British soldiers burned the Capitol
125 years ago, was shown to the AS
sociation of Oldest Inhabitants of
the District by DR.. Hugh M. Smith
last night.
DR.. Smith exhibited the slipper
and told its story to the associa-
ton in regular meeting at historic
old Union Engine House. After
ward he pointed out that the
route taken by his great-grand-
mother, then Miss Ann Harvey, IA
Evening star., 1939-06-08
ChiIdren's Apparel
35e W1s SIC

240 pieces, including cotton
dresses, cotton playsuits and
other miscellaneous apparel.
Sizes l to 6.
263 pieces including cotton
dresses. boys suits. Sizes to 6.
Were 81 and s115. Now 75c
203 Cotton Dresses and Boys
Suits, gay prints and plain colors.
Sizes 3 to 6. Were 81 95. Now $1.l5
81 Cotton Sunsuits and miscel-
laneous apparel. Sizes / to 4.
Originally Csc. Now---15c
Down STAIRS STORE,
INFANTS AND JUVENILES.
Evening star., 1939-06-08

noon and sought to escape from the
scene"
Donald r. Sheehan, director OF
health education Of the District Tu-
berculosis Association, in a brief
speech stressed the need for finding
cases of tuberculosis, putting them
under control, keeping them under
control, and the necessity for more
clinical facilities and more nursing
service In the District of Columbia.
A motion picture of the battle
against tuberculosis was shown.
1943 Fair Considered.
A motion by James F.. Duhamel
Evening star., 1939-06-08

that the association approve . pro-
posal for a Worlds Fair in 1943 to
celebrate the 150th anniversary of
the laying Of the corner stone of the
Capitol Building was referred to .
special committee. The committee,
appointed by John Clagett Proctor,
vice president of the association,
consisted OF Horade j. Phelps, chair
man; James F. Duhamel, Burd w.
Payne, John B. Dickman and Johan
G. Kondrup.
Jesse c. Suter paid tribute to the
memory OF the late Philander G.
johnson OF The Evening Star. bv
Evening star., 1939-06-08
Boys Polo Shirts
Special So

200 slightly irregular in cot
ton, size d for boys and
youths. Model and Rob Roy
makes. Open necks, short
sleeves. Sizes 6 to 16.
"a Cotton Miami Rugby Suits
and Sports Coats in white.
Slightly soiled. Washable. Sizes
5 to 8. Originally S2.95 and
1895 Now SI.15
6 Cotton Miami Prep Suits with
coat and long trousers. Sizes 10,
II, %. Originally $795. Now S295
2 Boys Tweed Raincoats. Orig
inally $395. Now -S1.65
95 Boys Cotton and -rayon Ties
in light and dark colors. Orig
inally Csc. Now ------------5 SC
43 Boys Cotton Wash Suits for
play or school. Sizes 5 to 9.
Originally ST. Now SOC
Down STAIRS STORE.
Evening star., 1939-06-08
Girls Play Suits, s.

Originally 56c to 81
22O pieces, cotton play suits,
shorts, slacks and overalls.
Sizes 8 to 16.
271 Girls Cotton Dresses. sports
types, mostly prints, Sizes 8 to
16. Originally sl.15 to sl95.
Now 75c
2S Dresses of spun rayon, some
sleeveless. Sizes 10 to 16. Origi-
nally S295. Now $50
155 Dresses in cotton prints. Suit
able for immediate wear. Sizes
8 to Is. Were $195. Now $1.35
Down STAIRS STORE. GIRLS.
Evening star., 1939-06-08

reading several Of Mr.. Johnson's
poems.
The association agreed to invite
the Consumers Council, of which
Mrs. John Boyle is president, to send
. speaker to its August meeting, and
to hear a speaker on pedestrian traf-
fc safety at its September meeting.
Evening star., 1939-06-08
Silk Chiffon
Hosiery, So
Originally CSC, 79c and 81

O'S'f"ty ooS, ~ ana 9l
ITO pairs silk chiffon hose, 2,
3 and 4 thread. Some knee
high elastic tops in group.
Also few service weights.
295 pairs Misses Knee-High Hose
with elastic tops. fancy cuff
socks and plain color ankle-socks.
Some are irregulars. Originally
Csc to SOC. Now 18c, 6 for 81
19 pairs Bemberg Rayon Hose,
not all sizes in group. Originally
b8c. Now--S5 pair, 3 for 81
1000 pairs and 4-thread Silk
Chiffon Hose, 5-thread semi
service and service weights.
Slight irregularities in weave. 58c
Down STAIRS STORE.