davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Agrees With Lament
Of "Old-Timer."

To the Editor Of The Star:
have before me the odd Timer" la
ment clipped from The Star Of the 4th
instant publication. It is indeed a la
ment.
When we hark back through the years
of the wonderful growth of this country,
from little to great, by and through our
Constitution that has given us freedom,
citizenship, business, industry, enter
it is indeed a cause of sorrow, and anger,
too, when one thinks of the wind-in-
flated politician, parading over the
country, saying 1t is all wrong and must
be made over.
There are many Of us old-timerS
wrapped In the same sackcloth and could
we return, some few years hence, there
would be the ashes piled on the rocks
and a rough stone marked Here lies
the Constitution of the United States of
America made by heroes of the
Revolution destroyed by craekpots
Of the New Deal"
Several have asked for another pub
lication of the odd Timers Lament" It
would be well for every newspaper in the
land to also publish . and broadcast It.
We still have millions of the good old
loyal citizens who would read, listen and
cheer. We still have loyal members in
both houses of Congress watching
=. guarding :. protecting our Consti-
tuition, but in spite of their alertness the
smallpox of crackpotism will creep in.
February IL. w. j. DERMOTT.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
PapoI Memorial

No more fitting memorial to the
late Pope Plus XII could have been
selected than that which Catholic
University has dedicated to his
memory-a national crusade for God
in government.
The grasp of the political and
social difficulties of the world which
was his in addition to a knowledge
of its spiritual weaknesses was a
matter of common cognizance. It is
shown in the Lateran Treaty with
Mussolini. 1t is further revealed in
his encyclicals in which he has put
the stamp of his approval on such
modern social reforms as old age,
unemployment and health insurance.
Contemplating the state of the
world, the aged pontiff came to the
conclusion last fall that only under
a system of government such as
exists in America is their any future,
spiritual or otherwise, for mankind.
And he seized upon the occasion OF
the jubilee celebration of the univer-
sity in America, of which he is the
patron, to beseech the American
Catholic hierarchy to do all in its
power to preserve Christian democ-
racy.
Almost Immediately the hierarchy
commissioned Catholic University to
prepare a series of courses empha-
sizing the democratic principles.
These courses are to be taught in
the thousands of parochial schools
throughout the country. Some 10000
children in the District will be
affected.
AS a supplement then to this vast
educational program to preserve
democracy comes this memorial cru
SADIE for God in government which
is to be actively carried out in each
OF the 10000 Catholic parishes of the
land. 1t is to be a drive to outlaw
atheism, maintain obedience for
rightly constituted authority and
combat anything which conspires
against the rights of man. The one
program will reach the youth, the
latter the adult.
Thus are the wishes of the late
Pope being carried out in America.
II the execution of the program can
equal its implications it may have
important effect on the future of
government of the people, by the
people and for the people in this
hemisphere.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
pines from the British base at

pines from the British base at
Singapore.
France has Japan's word that oc-
cupation of the island is the result
of military necessity, and that when
such necessity no longer exists the
island will be evacuated. But mill
tary necessity may last a long time,
especially when the nation claiming
it hopes, by length Of occupation, to
convert its holding into permanent
possession.
For the immediate conduct of the
war against China, Hainan, dominat-
ing the Gulf Of Tonkin, enables the
japanese to prevent shipment of
arms to the Chinese Nationalist gov
ernment. Haiphong, debarkation
point for consignments going to
Yunnanfu and thence to Chungking,
is virtually under the guns OF Hainan,
so vulnerable is 1t to aerial attack.
Alternatively, it is little more than
a jaunt OF another $50 miles by plane
up the Red River to destroy the Chi
nese section of this line.
For long-range strategy, possession
OF Hainan is potent argument
against France, for from the island
Japanese landing forces can strike
fanwise at Tonkin, AMMAN and Laos,
three OF the native kingdoms which
comprise French Indo-C China. Be-
yond Indo-China lies Siam, which
subconsciously must respond to this
approach OF japanese military
strength.
Evening star., 1939-02-14

had sailed forth in shining armor to
Belgium" and had at the same time ex-
tended cordial invitation to Ireland
Gin the form of conscription bill and
sentimental propaganda) to join the
crusade. The Irish, perverse, ungrateful,
and weary of pleading their cause in
Parliament, once again demanded that
freedom for Ireland which Britain was
demanding from Germany and Austria
Hungary for the Belgians Poles, Czechs,
Slovaks and Serbs.
I agree with Mr.. Vetter that ireland
today might still be as it was in 1914 had
1t not been for the World War. On the
other hand, the World War was not at
all responsible for the existence of Irish
nationalism. The Norman invasion of
Ireland occurred In 1168, 100 years after
the Norman invasion of England, and in
every generation since then with the
exception Of the period between 1890
and 1889 Irishmen and Irishwomen
have resorted to arms in attempts to re-
gain their freedom. Thomas Clarke, one
OF the signers of the Irish Declaration
OF Independence, who was executed by
the British in 1916, was an old Fenian;
member of the Irish Republican Broth
erhood which dates back to the sos. He
had spent most of his life in British
prisons. but he went out" with Padraig
Pearse and the other young men on
Easter Monday.
There is continuity IN Irish history,
The desire and demand for democracy
and self government could not be
quenehed despite liberal and frequent
use, on the part of the British, of mill
tary raiding parties, hangmen, land con-
f1scation and penal transportation. The
World War did not bring into existence
that strong desire and that fierce de-
mand; the World War merely arranged
matters 50 that the inevitable rising took
place in 1916 instead of at later date.
AS for giving the Kaiser credit for the
Gaelic revival, wish to point out that
DR.. Douglas Hyde, the Gaelic League.
and the Gaelic Athletic Association had
been active for many years prior to 1914,
The same Is true of Arthur Griffith and
the Sim Fein movement.
Feoruary 8. j. M. WHELAN,
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Brundeis Retires

The retirement from the Supreme
Court of Justice Louis D. Brandeis
removes from that tribunal man
whose contribution to the develop
ment of America cannot be meas
ured adequately in his lifetime. But,
as MIR. Justice Brandeis steps down
from the bench, 1t is quite apparent
that he leaves behind a record that
will compare most favorably with
that of any man in the struggle of
the past two decades to adapt our
Constitution to changing economic
and social order.
In a very real sense the judicial
career of Mr.. Justice Brandeis has
been both a professional and per-
sonal triumph. His nomination to
the court in 1916 by President Wilson
was the signal for an outburst of
unreasoned opposition which had no
precedent in this country. Seven
former presidents of the American
Bar Association, including William
Howard Taft, later Chief Justice,
told the Senate is was their painful
duty to express the conviction that
the nominee was mot a fit person
to be a member of the Supreme
Court" Other eminent men attacked
him as a dangerous radical" but
the Senate, after a delay of six
months, confirmed the nomination.
During his twenty-five years on
the court, Mr.. Justice Brandeis has
amply demonstrated the absurdity
of those early judgments, and as he
retires at the age Of eighty-two he
has the satisfaction of knowing that
he is admired and respected by men
tn every walk of life.
But he must take even greater
pride in the realization that the
concept of the law for which he
and the late Mr.. Justice Holmes con-
tended so brilliantly in their dis
senting opinions has now been
accepted in substance by the court.
In one of his dissents, Mr.. Justice
Brandeis said there must be
power in the States and the Nation
to remold, through experimentation,
our economic practices and institu-
tions to meet changing social and
economic needs" That, in effect, is
the doctrine of the court today, and
the retiring jurist properly may feel
that he is entitled to much of the
credit for its acceptance.
It is not too much to say of him
that he has played a major part in
making our democracy work.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Criticizes Managers Of
Insurance Concerns.

To the Editor OF The Star:
It is indeed discouraging to note the
current revelations" Of ballot tampering
as regards the activities of the Metro
politan Life Insurance Co. now being
brought to light. II these allegations are
in fact true, thorough house cleaning
is in order. The so-called "mutualzing"
Of some of our life insurance companies
has always, to my mind, been farcical
and this is borne out by recent disclos-
ures that only a few hundred policy
holders, mere handful, out of millions,
have actually exercised their voting
privileges. In my opinion, these public
service" companies, while essentially
solvent and well organized, are, never
theless, in the executive control of cliques
within the organization, who are not en-
tirely devoid of jealousies and politics,
the members of which pacify each other
in the knowledge that at least their
loyalty is rewarded by fat salaries.
I, for one, strongly recommend the Or
ganization Of q life insurance policy
holders protective association, the title
of which implies its purpose.
February II. WALLACE KIMBALL.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Crime and Corruption

The disclosure in the Warning case
that juries can be Influenced and
officials bribed in our Federal courts
if a sufficiently profitable criminal
venture is at stake should serve to
arouse the public to the dangers
inherent in the numbers racket, but
it would be serious mistake to
assume that the current revelations
alone will result in the eradication
OF the criminal activities of the
numbers operators.
Experience elsewhere has shown
that when the ringleaders of a profit
able racket are removed there have
always been others ready and
anxious to step into their places. If
this is to be avoided in Washington,
where there is at least one other
powerful numbers ring in operation,
something more than aroused public
sentiment is necessary.
It must be remembered that the
Warnings, in all probability, built up
their business" by bribing police
officers, and the bribe- taking police
men, because of inability to identify
them, are still on the force.
If the numbers racket is to be
stamped out it is essential that there
be the most vigorous drive against
the operators by police who are
known to be trustworthy. It may
be assumed that such a campaign
will have better chance of succeed
ing if undertaken now, while the
disclosure of the corruption in the
Warning case is still fresh In the
public mind. Unless such action Is
initiated there is every likelihood
that the activities of the Warnings
will be taken over promptly by others
willing to gamble their freedom
against the hope of securing the rich
monetary returns that have been
paid out in the past by a gullible
public
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Flu Epidemic

Mdwinter always brings the years
peak Of respiratory diseases-the
many varieties of colds, bronchitis,
grippe, influenza and pneumonia.
This year, according to reports
from physicians and welfare agencies,
they appear to have been unusually
prevalent. The visiting nurse staff,
for example, is crippled by the ILL
ness of many Of it's own members,
coupled with an almost record break
ing number of calls. Family doctors
never were buster.
This has led to widespread be-
lief that the District OF Columbia and
the country at large is in the grip of
an influenza epidemic. The belief,
however, does not appear to be we'll
founded. 1t is certainly not, up to
the present, for the Nation. The
statistical fever charts" in the Office
Of the assistant surgeon general of
she Public Health Service, based on
weekly reports from forty States,
show that the prevalence of this
dreaded malady for the first five
weeks Of the year ran only a trifle
ahead OF 1888. In that year there
was less influenza than had been ex-
perienced for more than a decade.
There has been nothing approach
ing the 1882 and 1887 figures. In
both those years there were real cpl
denies, with peaks of close to 100000
cases. For the week ending Febru-
ary 4 less than 10000 were reported
for the whole United States this year.
For the District and nearby States
the picture is less clear cut. Actually
for that week only five cases of in
duenza were reported to the Public
Health Service. Everybody knows, of
course, that there were a great many
more. Nearly every one has had
more than five friends reported as
"down with the flu" The fact re-
mains that only five cases officially
were so diagnosed.
The explanation is that there is no
clear-cut line between influenza and
the condition into which bad colds
quite commonly develop-that rather
vaguely defined malady known as
grippe" One of the chief diagnostic
characteristics of influenza, in fact,
Is the epidemic proportions. Unless
there Is an undoubted epidemic
Evening star., 1939-02-14
THIS AND THAT
BY Charles Z. TracetpeU.

They build up for themselves the idea
that the only music, let US say, is classical
music, so-called.
Anything else is trash.
Automatically they cut themselves Oh
from some of the worlds most charm
ing music. THE loss Is theirs, and 1t
would be great enough, but it breeds
another, their plain desire nos to want
information from just any one who does
know, unless he happens to be musical
doctor. Now the musical doctor, So
called, also may cherish the naive belief
that plain simple music Is not his kind
Of music. Actually he may have over
looked an entire stream Of greatness in
this magic art. But SO great will be his
prestige that his word Is accepted, where
as the correct finding by another goes
totally unregarded.
Great ideas, commonly called great
inventions, almost always come from
unregarded men who are not known as
experts until later.
It has been the history Of such men
that they have been scorned beyond
belief by the great mass Of the people.
It Is not so generally known, perhaps,
that this scorning is simply a mani
festation, not OF ignorance, as it is so
often said, but OF the real mother Of
ignorance, not wanting to be told.
Not wanting to be told, plus not want
ing to know, gives not knowing, or basic
ignorance.
It is no wonder that stigma has been
placed on ignorance through the ages,
because 1t takes in so much, especially
in regard to the individuals attitude
toward his fellowmen.
It would be bad enough if an ignorant
person just didn't know about so much,
but that is only part of it.
1t IS worse to contemplate that he does
not want to know. That's the real heart
Of the thing.
1t is even worse to realize that he
doesn't want to be told. A clear dis
tinction must be made between not want
ing to know and not wanting to be told.
The first effects the individual, the sec
ond ones fellows. The total result is
true ignorance.
4
mo news is good news" is the very
gloriflcation of ignorance.
It embodies all three-not knowing,
the desire not to know and the desire
not to be told.
1t is the stultif1cation of brains and
all that brains may do.
It enthrones the brute in man-ani-
mails have no way of knowing, in our
sense, since they are not conscious OF
themselves.
Not to know, is to be brute; not to
want to know, is to be brute; not to
want to be told, is to be brute.
This Is the real judgment to be made
as to whether culture is real culture
and whether civilization is getting any
where.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
physicians are loath to make an in

physicians are loath to make an in
fuenZa diagnosis.
Folks seem actually disappointed" "
said one of the Public Health Service
statisticians, when we tell them that
if there is an influenza epidemic we
have not heard of it and can get no
reports which indicate such a con-
dition."
Moreover, there is not likely to be
an influenza epidemic. All those in
the past have followed characteristic
prevalence curves-starting in su-
tumn or early winter, rising rapidly
to a high point in late January or
February, and then declining rapidly
with the coming Of spring. There is
no curve Of this sort this year.
Evening star., 1939-02-14

True ignorance II not wanting to know.
and It's corollary u not wanting to be
told.
It Is amazing how many people there
are who resent being told something they
do not know,
Not wanting to know, rather than not
knowing, Is the real hall mark Of mod
ern ignorance, but almost as great is the
desire not to be told anything.
Persons with this hair commonly look
for experts, thus giving themselves the
excuse that information from others can
be disregarded.
Hence experts often are not experts,
really, but subtle and clever wights who
have cashed in on this fairly wide desire
to be told nothing by any one else.
4 +
Coming from an expert, information Is
something, whereas II exactly the same
thing comes from another it can be dis
countedl
Surely this narrows the number Of
persons from whom the sentative one
can get real information; it means that
his ego will be soothed by not having to
accept something from another, In all
too many cases.
It means that he can continue In his
blissful state, not only Of not knowing,
and not even wanting to know, but
also and above all Of not wanting to be
told anything.
"You telling me7" with accent on the
last word-how that popular phrase has
come to be slogan all unsupported.
The truly inquisitive and eager mind
will be looking to be told by anybody.
It desires Information from any source.
It cannot listen to radio, without
learning something or other
The inquisitive mind Is willing to be-
lieve that in any crowd, and from any
mouth. may come something Of value.
It knows that an honest man really Is
one Of the noblest works Of God, and that
from such a person may come divine
words Of wisdom without sanction of ex-
pertness.
Sometimes the specialist, which is all
any expert IS, stands so close to his work
that he gets a false perspective. He be-
comes SO obsessed with some one par
ticular feature that he fails to under
stand q general interest. In time his
view becomes warped. He no longer sees
things as the generality Of men see them.
Hence when he gives an opinion,
though it have the finality Of Olympus,
1t fails to satisfy the average mind, par
ticularly the seeking, curious type OF
mind.
Here Is where the average man steps
in.
He is no expert on music, let us say
but he has ears, and some little knowl-
edge of the art, just enough to enable
him to listen fairly. How many music
lovers fail to do that! They elaborate
self-conceived ideas OF their own, then
resent the temerity Of any one else who
might hit upon the truth.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Irish Freedom Not
Attributable to Kaiser.

6IB1
fear that Mr.. Vetter's letter Of Janu-
ary % may create the erroneous impress
sion that Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Ger
mans were responsible for the establish
ment Of democratic self-goyernment in
Ireland. Whether or not Germany was
responsible for the World War which
broke out among the imperialistic powers
of Europe in 1914 is debatable ques-
ton. The fact remains, however, that
the outbreak OF hostilities did provide
Ireland with another opportunity to at
tempt by force of arms to expel the
British invaders and terminate the
anschluss which had been imposed By
force ON the ancient Iyish nation. Britain
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Letters to The Star

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the lDriter, although the use OF
q pseudonyn, for publication is
permissible. Please be brief!
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Cautious announcement.

Caut1ouS encouragement.
80 you never find fault with your
wife's cooking?"
II should say not" answered Mr.
Meekton. when my wife condescends
to cook say everything I can to en-
courage her!"
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Commissioner Payne Lauded
For Work on F. C. G..
To thu Editor of The Star.

TO tho Editor OF The Star:
We on Long Island who know the con-
structive work which Federal Communi-
cations Commissioner George Henry
Payne has done toward better public
understanding Of communications ad-
ministration, resent the remarks con-
tanned In q broadcast by the Federal
Communications Commissions chairman,
Frank r. McNinch, on February 10.
Mr.. McNinch spoke ostensibly to ex-
plain the plan for q smaller, more amen.
able commission. But he seized the CO.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Writes in Behalf of
Senator Reynolds.

Senator Reynolds needs no defense.
The accusation recently made against
him is as unfounded as the statement
that war does not exist In China. In
deed. Senator Reynolds is a gallery god
and that takes brains, just as 1t did for
the Kinghsh. E,A.
February IL.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Says Uncle Eben.

Dar's work fob everybody,
Cl'ar dat trouble rum yoh brow.
De young folks runs de errands
An de OIL folks shows 'em how
Oars need Of toll an wisdom
An fob words of comfort, too.
SO dom you git discouraged,
Cause dAraa alNays work 10 do
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Condicting Emotions.

did you have a good time at your
musicale?"
NO." answered Mr.. Cumrox, "every
time the orchestra played anything I
enjoyed got worried for fear it wasn't
classical enough to be the moneys
worth"
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Rate BY Mail-Payable in Advance
An Other States and Canada
Member of the Associated Press

=. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the for republication of all news dispatches
credited to II or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
All rights of publication Of special dispatches
herein also IRE reserved
Evening star., 1939-02-14
The Record.

How welcome should your pages be!
Although complaints are far from rare,
We know at least that we shall see
No naughty stories printed there.
Evening star., 1939-02-14

@. What city had the first Y. W.C.A1
Il. H. c.
A. The first Young Women's Christian
Association in the United States was or.
ganized in Boston in 1866.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
ReSentful.

II am particularly and unalterably
opposed to these grafters," said Senator
Sorghum.
They have done great deal of harm"
Il should say SO. They have brought
into direpute things that were hereto
fore considered legitimate perquisites."
Evening star., 1939-02-14

Poetry" said Hi Ho, the sage of
Chinatown, rs great conversational
convenience. It enables people to quote
instead Of being stupidity original
Evening star., 1939-02-14
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. H1skt1,.

A reader can get the ans,oer to any
question OF fact by uriting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin, Director. Washington,
d. c. Please anclose stamp for reply.
@. How old Is the Bryan Memorial
Bible Glass in Miami, Flat. C.
A. 1t was founded IN 1918 by William
Jennings Bryan on strictly non-sec-
tartan basis. Because Of the ardor and
eloquence Of the Great Commoner" in
expounding the scriptures, vast throngs
attended his meetings. Since his death
several famous men have continued the
work. No collections are taken at these
services because group Of Miami busi-
ness concerns have underwritten the en-
terprise,
Evening star., 1939-02-14

@. What opera was first broadcast
from the Metropolitan Opera?-W. M. H.
A. "Hansel und Gretel' was the first
complete opera to be broadcast in 1881.
@. Was there ever a Vice President
named Hannibal Hamlin?-R. M. C.
A. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine was
elected Vice President Of the United
States in Abraham Lincolns administra-
ton and served from March 4, 1861, to
March 3, 1865.
Evening star., 1939-02-14
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Evening star., 1939-02-14

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