davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
A Thought for Today
The Lone Spokesman

The Democratic Party in Connecticut is rapidly becoming destitute of official spokesmen. At least it would seem to have suffered such a loss when the State Chairman of the Central Committee re- mains the only party member alive enough to the situation to argue with Gov Raymond E. Baldwin on the logic of some of the various remarks that he is making at the hundred and one affairs at which he is making public speeches these days.
 Last week Chairman J. Francis Smith argued Stoutly against the Republican leaders claims on jobs and unemploy- ment. A short time ago The Democrat picked up Republican claim and exam ined it without finding foundation for it. This latter was the statement to the ef- feet that since the first of the year, when the COP went into power, a certain number of small businesses had come into Connecticut. Claiming responsibility for this visitation is heady draught. The Republican prescription for the situation of unemployment, as advanced here in Connecticut, is to have Washing ton cut itself completely adrift from the state and let them solve their own prob lens. Now we wonder what the Republi- can-controlled Legislature in this state would possibly have done with problem like this when it failed to solve a few others during the past six months. Rail- ing against unemployment is selling point for Republican policies, but so far the substitute for New Dealism hasn't been advanced.
 It is high time, we think that Demo- cratic leaders, like the State Chairman, realized the need of voicing themselves in opposition to the many whimsical theo- rfes that Republicans are spreading in the state. Utter silence on their part allows such reports to be accepted by the rank and file of the voters as sound fact.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
Good News

The antitrust division of the Depart ment of Justice is pursuing widespread investigation of why 1t costs so much to build house. This inquiry is aimed at four fronts materials, distribution, contractors, labor. Tn recent dispatch from Washington, Bruce Cation of NEA Service related important news regarding materials. For many years, according to Secretary of Interior Ickes, the gov ernment has been receiving identical bids for building materials, particularly cement
 But that appears to be thing of the past. Henry J. Kaiser, a newcomer to the cement business on the west coast, submitted a price for cement for Cali fornia'S Shasta Dam which was $1 500 000 lower than other bids. The six companies which lost the contract protested. They sought to have KaiSer'S bid thrown out on technicalities. But Comptroller Gen eral Fred H. Brown has ruled that his office will not question the award.
 This saving is only small step when the entire construction industry is taken into account Whether it can be extended throughout the materials division and whether costs can be reduced similarly in distribution, contracting and labor must await conclusion of the justice de- partment's inquiries. Only slight re- auction in these costs might give the home building business squirt which would return it to the prosperity of a former day.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
Too Good To Believe

The news that the city may be fortu-
 nate enough to lease the unused isolation
 hospital on Watertown avenue to New
 Haven medical man for professional pur-
 poses is almost unbelievable. People here had begun to think that the building, valuable piece of property slowly going to ruins, would end it's days tumble-doWn
 shack Putting the structure to good use is like the prodigal son returning home. There is great rejoicing.
 Nothing has had such variegated history as the isolation hospital Opposed and supported prior to it's construction about 20 years ago it was typical white elephant from the start. World War hysteria over contagious epidenics doubt , less clinched the argument for providing 1. the city with proper hospital to which patients might be sent. The city, fortu- nately, has not experienced any such epi- demics and no practical use for the hospital was found until it became waiting station for local residents seeking
 admission to state tuberculosis Sanatoria. As such the hospital really served
 good purpose and we think it was bit unfortunate that funds could not have been provided for it's continuance as such. However, we presume that in another I few years when the Sanatoria of the state will have been completely provided ! for in the way of needed room, the hos pital again would have been left vacant. Therefore it is probably best that it now , is turned into private hands. The city trusts that as such it may prove Suff1-
 ciently good investment to warrant its future sale.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
We Get The Co-By

< This is circus week in Connecticut. The 'big top" will be spread in four Connecti- ' cut cities, but no one of them is Water bury. The Ringing Brothers show will play Hartford, New Haven, and Bridge port the latter part of the week and rather than lay over for the weekend there will be Saturday performances in New London before the circus passes into the next state. All of which is proof con- elusive that Waterbury is off the beaten ztrack of the big show now.
 Once upon time Waterbury was a great circus city. Every summer we had the Barnum and Bailey circus and also the Ringing Brothers, before the two combined. And in between we might have Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show or Col. Miller's 101 Ranch. But we don't get the big show any more and it doesn't look as if we would unless something happens to put the city back on the cir- cl2S route Of course it can be blamed on business conditions which cause atten- dance figures to slump, but there might te other seasons for Waterbury losing out. 'lt nouIdn't hurt for the city to consider
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27

Removing the few remaining trolley rails from the streets of Waterbury would be one of the finest repair jobs that could be done here. With only few streets still left as reminders of the trol- ley days it wouldn't be such task. And the follow-up job of making the entire street one smooth pavement would elimi- nate a lot of complaints and perhaps damage suits. Little did Waterbury think a generation or two ago that its semi permanent street pavings would one day be made into such smooth and resistant surfaces as are now attained. Thinking back to the days of dirt streets and cob bled gutters one recalls not merely the annoyance of mud and dust, but also the familiar sight of the watering carts that passed along certain routes regularly. Hitching posts and carriage blocks were common then and the automobile curi- osity.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
Quick Justice

A court at Kamloops, B. C., has set what must be modern record for dis posing of case - but not without some inspiration. Two men were on trial charged with illegal possession of ex- plosives. The evidence = 40 sticks of dynamite and 16 ounces of nitroglycerine = was brought into the courtroom. Judge Charles Martin looked at the ex- plosives, ordered the witnesses to be as rapid as possible in their testimony. Immediately after the state had con- cluded its case, he announced. Case dismissed. Please remove the evidence.
 We do not know whether Judge Martin ordinarily dispenses justice with such speed, but there are plenty of courts in Canada and the United States as well as where that load of explosives might well have been used to blast loose few cases which long have been gathering cobwebs in forgotten file. On the other hand, Chief Justice Hughes deserves a word of commendation for keeping the Supreme Courts calendar well cleared. Of 1,OO7 cases filed during the recently concluded term, Hughes and associates denied hearings to 676, disposed of 246 and carried over until next term 85 which were filed late. And that's not all! Each of the "nine old men" took along some home work on his vacation.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27

The Democrat in these columns erred the other evening when it said that the closing hour for liquor establishments during the daylight saving period would be 2 a. m. after July l. The new law that becomes effective at that time provides merely for 1 a. m. closing hour, the year round. This a. m. is clock time, whether it be standard or daylight. In other words, the change in the law is be- ing made so that establishments may close at a. m. from the end of September to the first of April, just as they do in the daylight time months
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
Views of The Press

, their Americanism or with regard
 to their duty towards the children but he may have had in mind sub- stitute for the form for which some
 war veteran and patriotic organiza- tions have been clamoring. Teachers have been generally re- sentful to the idea that they should
 take a special patriotic oath. It
 seemed to them that they are no more to be mistrusted than are law yers, preachers, editors and others who occupy positions in which they influence public opinion and heip direct the course of this Republic, The teachers are correct in their at- titude. It is not to be understood that Commissioner Grace would sug- gest that teachers cannot be trusted as to their patriotism but he is rn-
 doubtedly hoping to lay the ghost
 which the patriotic organizations
 have raised by proposing an oath of
 fidelity to the ethics of the profess
 sion.
 The thoughts which MT. Grace
 has embodied in his proposed oath are pertinent and sensible. Probably | all teachers will find them quite acl ceptable. Whereupon they may ask
 why they should pledge to do sonne- thing which they reasonably might
 be expected to do and will do in the
 normal course of their work and
 conduct.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
HEYWOOD'S HAT (Hartford Courant)

Heywood Broun has removed the hat that customarily covers some of his hyacinthine locks and has hurled it boldly into the ring. He confesses without a trace of diffi- dence that he is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Con- gressman from the fourth District His platform is brief: T am for the Third Term, the New Deal, the President and all his allies." Also he wants a wider distribution of the ownership of such trees as the hur- ricane left us.
 Connectcut's notoriously stodgy politics could use MT. Broun. At present, virtually the only light note is provided by Elmer, the dummy that the ventriloquist-Senator, Don Fraser of Salem, consults on all im- portant political issues. MT Brouil might cut into Senator Fraser's aud- fences, but the sacrifice would be in the good cause of injecting more and better humor into Connecticut politics.
 MT. Broun has certain natural ad- vantages in addition to his reputa- ton as a humorist. A native oi New York. he is equipped by his birth to campaign in Connecticut's Sudentenland, Fairfield County True, the Harvard "a" comes more naturally to his lips than the Brook lyn "oi" but little coaching or a longer residence in Fairfield ought to remedy that. As if these weren't enough, he is enthusiastic in his praise of New York City. If that doesn't make him Fairfield's favor- ite son, Mir. Broun had better give up any thought of political career in Connecticut.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
Current Comment

So far as restatement of the con- stitutional law is concerned, our court is far ahead of yours. Associate Justice Butler before the American Law Institute.
 
 Once I had pair of shoes but I gave them to my brother. They sure gave him trouble and he never was able to play no baseball. -Durward Hammond, shoeless pitching wonder signed by Chat tanooga, Tenn, baseball team.
 e
 This action has changed 1t and the other German academies into helpless instruments of an ignorant and brutal political regime. --Dr. Franklin Edgerton of Yale in resigning from the Bavarian Academy of Arts and Sciences when he learned it had barred ''non-Aryan" members.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27

in the senate before he is con- firmed.
 BRITISH WIT
 One of the best stories on the British royal visit, whcih still is the subject of much conversation in Washington; is told by Con- gressman Hamilton Fish-on him. self.
 Ham is one who believes in. the prestige and dignity of the House of Representatives, and he was in- vited to the Embassy garden party, he felt grieved that most other members of Congress, were not.
 So MT. Fish called up Lady Lindsay, wife of the British am- bassador, and said:
 T know you'll forgive me for making this suggestion, but I think you did not realize the importance of the House of Rep- resentatives when you issued in- Wtations to the garden party.
 Some of the outstanding legis- lators on Capitol Hill are mem bers of the House. In fact, am convinced that the next Presi- dent of the United States is now sitting in the House, and probably also the next vice president of the United States. And without any doubt the next speaker is a member of the present House"
 "All right" shot back Lady Lindsay, send me the names of those three gentlemen and I'll see to it that they get invita- tilons."
 FARMERS DESERT HULL
 Enemies of Secretary Hul1's trade agreement program may take heart: one of his principal allies has threatened to desert him.
 All through the fight to nego- tiate-and retain-trade agree ments with foreign countries, Hull has had heavy support from the Farm Bureau Federation. This was important because enemies
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
. HlGHLIGHTS FROM LATEST BOOKS
War in the Old, Old Days

War in the Old,
 Old Days
 One of the outstanding historical
 novels of the year, graphic
 picture of the French and In-
 dian War, including the ex-
 ploits of Rogers Rangers, is
 Next to Valour" by John
 Jennings Macmillan: S2.75).
 One episode of the fighting
 near Lake Champlain, typical
 of the whole dramatic tone
 of the beck, is given here.
 At the road Rogers spread us out in the bushes on either side, with orders not to shoot unless he gave the signal. Two men he sent tc watch the road from the post, and two to watch the fort and the clear ing. Two more to guard our rear. Shortly after this large de- tachment of regulars, some 118 in number, passed out from the fort in the direction of Lake George; but as they were too strong for us, we lay close in the bush and let them by. A few moments later another detachment, numbering some 22, came along from the direction of the outposts. Rogers gave the signal to fire, and we poured vol- ley into them.
 At the moment it seemed the na- tural thing to do. These men were armed. They would do the same to us if they could see us first. We were enemies, sworn to kill each other on sight. I aimed at the leader and pressed the trigger. As the smoke of our blast rolled out across the road was amazed to see that only eight or nine of them were down, though I had expected to see at least half of them in the dust. Vaguely l remember think ing that several of us must have picked the same man, for to miss at such point-blank range was al- most out of the question.
 In the next instant the rest had broken and were fleeing up the road, while Rogers. with a wild whoop, burst from the brush at the roadside and dashed in pursuit. The rest of us followed suit. but quick as we were. they were too swift for iss. We wont back to where the ambush had taken place. to find the dead Frenchmen already scalp- ed by two of our men who had
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27

Despite the clamor about tolls on the Merritt Parkway the past weekend found the roadway crowded with cars passing in both directions. It was the first real test for the temporary toll sta tions and they met it fairly well. In time we imagine that even the furore created in Westchester County may die down without the parkway authorities there even trying to force retaliatory toll through for the Hutchinson River Park Way
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27

were accusing Hull of selling the American farmer down the river" Farm Bureau Federation was the one farm outfi: that went to bat for the secretary of state, thanks largely to Wallace,s in- fluence and actively tried to sell the agreements to the U. s. farm CT. But now the Farm Bureau has flatly declared 1t would with draw<this support if the State De- partment continued to sabotage the cotton export subsidy pro- gram.
 The issue is a hot one be- cause the Federation has put all its forces into the fight for the cotton subsidy, in the face of heavy mill and market op- position. If it is to be defeated partly by an agency they have fought to support, then there will be no more support from. them.
 If there were no farm organiza- ton supporting the trade agree ments program, farmers, who re- sent the importation of a single Polish ham, could be persuaded to tear it to bits in 1940.
 CIRCUS CLUSTERS
 The WPA Circus is one phase of the Federal Theater which would get the OK of any con- gressman giving it impartial in- vestigation. It netted profit to the government of $4,664 last year despite countless performances for charity.
 People grow old in the circus just as they did in factories or offices, and the WPA circus has been a life-saver to circus per- formers who otherwise would have been on the street. It is hard for clown to learn to dig ditches, when he has spent a lifetime nak- ing children laugh.
 Copyright, 1899, by United
 Feature Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
MERIDEN'S GAIN NOTED (Meriden Journal)

'If you go over to Meriden and meet some of the notable celebrities you can discover signs of conscious ness of growing importance" says the Middletown editor.
 The ole head is blowing up. eh? Mot that there is so very much to warrant it," adds the editor, "al- though the fact htat . city of 36,- 900 Inhabitants does supply Q state with two United States senators. one for each of the two old parties, is quite an Item of attainment in itself" u.
 So Mcriden is puffed up over sup- plying uenators7 There is more Co it than that, as tho editor admits; ''it also hos family noted for pub-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27

The boys pool their money and, in two, tarees and fouTs, rent an apartment.
 More than one apron that was meant for a feminine waist has been wrapped about a pair of masculine trousers since the Try- lon, Perisphere and hotel rates all went up, together.
 ANOTHER
 ROGERS STORY
 Simeon Karavaeff, who enter- tains at the Russian Kretch- ma and who came to this country in 1921 as Pavlowa's dancing partner, was speakine the other evening of his great love for Will Rogers. Karavaeff worked in the Ziegfeld Follies with Rogers from 1922 to 1924.
 "He once told me that if I ever needed help or money, should get in touch with him." recalled the little fellow whom Rogers al- ways called "Roosl1."
 Karavaeff never had to take advantage O. wills generosity until a few years ago, when he sent an urgent request for loan. This is the message. he received in reply:
 MT. Rogers just missed your letter which came this morning. I will call it to his attention just as soon as he returns from his flight with Wiley Post"
 NO GLAMOR IN
 WORLD OF FREAKS
 The world of animal freaks diff fers from the rest of the out door show business. It is not the glamorous life of carnival men so often portrayed on the screen. It's hard work, day and night vigils with animals that can't make themselves understood. The man who operate a freak animal show must love it pretty much, otherwise he'd be driven crazy in a couple of weeks.
 T. w. Kelley, who conducts the largest animal freak business in the world and is exhibiting one around here now, is an old-timer of IS years in the business. He knows every freak from Maine to Timbuctoo, knows their ido- syncaries and their drawing power. He talks of them in terms of what they did in previous shows-at the Danbury Fair, Ala bama State Fair or the Exposi- ton Internationale in Brussels.
 "T. w." or "Slim," as he's vari- ously called by other outdoor showmen, is an expert veterinar- ian but does not practice his pro- fession. Tho Humane society maintains a watch over al. anil mals exhibited in public and the animals are inspected by the so- ciety's veterinarians.
 TWO HEADS
 BETTER THAN ONE
 There's nothing like two- headed calf or cat to buck up "Slim" during a season. Two headed animals are about the best attraction that an animal freak show can own.
 Although abnormal animals are rare, they do not command the price one would think. For example, in his collection Kelley has a hog without any hams. It's a swell freak show attraction be- cause the lecturer can go to town on such a swell subject. The owr- CTS of this hog wanted $100,000 for it. They settled for under $1,- 900.
 The ideal of all outdoor show men, says Kelly, was Charles Docen, who at one time owned all the freak animals in existence. He died recently and his funeral services were held in the animal pit at the fairgrounds in Ban- gOr, Me,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
Selected Poem
TO A wIRE-HAIRED FOX TERRIER

Amanda Benjamin Hall, in the New York Times) Quaint lover of crumpled shoe. ball, Warm, eager one, who did your lively best To render thanks with honest interest For word or touch-how sadly we recall Your loving looks your individual,
 High-hearted strategy with stone or stick, The brown eyes melting, soulful rhetoric, The gay tail wagging, swift and laterali Let one but take his hat down from a peg, And with what joy, what enterprsing leg, You bounded closet Now each walks forth alone, And unattended May your lot be mellow Tn heaven of dogs. unforgotten fellow Bright hearth, snug bed, Q sweet and savory bone.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27

lie service, the Danahers-one a United States senator, another ap- pointed labor commissioner. and a third mayor of the city"
 still more. since now there is to be an additional advance for Meri- den. The superior court Is to hold sessions in the city" Quite right. but we wonder if citizens are much eiated over this? Lawyers naturally enthuse, and note with eagerness that there must be Q clerk appointed locally.
 Neighbor Middletown missed q big gain which is the establishment of a new and promising industry in South Moriden allied Hith aircraft making.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27
Whats Your l. O?
Can you answer seven of these test questions? Turn to last page for the answers.

1. Name the birthstone for Nov. ember.
 3. In which city is the U. s. Bo- tanic Garden?
 3. Who discovered the carbon arc for electric lights?
 4. For what government agency do the initials FSA stand?
 5. With which Major League baseball club does Bill Werber now play?
 6. Who was recently made Arch bishop of the New York Catholic Archdiocese?
 2. On what river is the Grand Coulee Dam?
 8, What is the correct pronuncia- tion of the word indicative?
 9. Which President of the U. s. lived the longest
 10. In which State is Yosemite National Park?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-27

stayed behind for the purpose.
 wen have to travel nowl" said Rogers. He lined us up and count ed heads to see that we were all present. "All right" he said, ''Fol- low mel" He plunged from the road running eastward away from 1t. shall not forget that run. |. wen scatter here. Each one pick your own way. Wen meet at Che boats at nIehtfall. Any man not there bv thon will bc left behind"