davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Cost of War

Various spokesmen for industry
and finance from time to time have
expressed their opposition to this
countrys participation in the Euro
pean war. Despite these repeated
declarations, however, the suspicion
seems to persist in some quarters
that they were merely talking for
the record; that war and it's sup
posedly easy profits would not, after
all, be frowned upon by "big busi-
ness" if this Nation should be forced
to take up arms.
This conclusion has rested on the
assumption that war, whatever it
might do to the great mass of the
people, would profit those who are at
the controls of our industrial setup,
and since mere denials have not been
altogether successful in laying this
myth, William McC Martin, jr.,
president of the New York Stock
Exchange, has endeavored to ap-
proach the matter from a point Of
view which should convince even the
most skeptical.
Estimating the total cost of the
last World War at 1881 10000 ,O0O-
which is equivalent to measuring
money in terms of light years so far
as the average person is concerned
Mr., Martin, by way of illustrating
the magnitude of that outlay, says:
"The huge cost of the World War
would have been sufficient to have
supplied every family in the United
States, Canada, England, France,
Germany, Russia, Belgium and Aus
tralia with a $4,000 house on $500
lot, with $1,000 worth of furniture;
S5,0000O0 library for every COM
munity of 100000 inhabitants in those
countries; a S10,OOOOOO university for
every such community; a fund that
at five per cent interest would yield
enough to pay indefinitely $1,000
year to an army Of 125,000 teachers
and 125,000 nurses, and still leave
enough to buy every piece of property
and all wealth in France and
Belgium at a fair market price"
Instead of this outlay having been
made for productive purposes, which
would have turned a substantial
profit for "big business" the World
War, as Mr.. Martin points out, was
"a harvest of debt, destruction, desti-
tuition and poverty"
If wars profits" are viewed from
this angle, it is not difficult to believe
that industry and finance are sincere
in their pleas for peace War simply
does not pay, and no intelligent busi-
ness man is interested in a losing
proposition.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Defense Hiqhwuy

Ihe 1nadequacleS of the Defense
highway are we'll known to the mo-
torists who use it, but new light on
Its shortcomings has been shed by
a spokesman for the United States
Route so Association. He asserts
that the highway between Washing
ton and Annapolis is the slowest,
crookedest and most dangerous seq
ment in the entire 3,242 miles of
Route SO, which reaches from An
napolis to San Francisco.
Undoubtedly the Washington-An-
napolis stretch also is one of the most
heavily Travelled. Its many turns, its
narrowness and its serious holiday
congestion at the Peace Cross bot
tleneck in Bladensburg make the
road one of the most difficult to
travel in the vicinity of Washington.
Local residents have realized for
years that, as the Route so Associa-
tion spokesman says, the Defense
highway needs to be Strengthened
and made into dual highway or to
be supplemented by an adequate al
ternate boulevard. Although it links
the Capital of the Nation and the
capital of Maryland, and although
traffic over it has increased many
fold since it was first built, compara-
lively little has been done to mod
ernize the road. Much-needed
shoulders were built under the ad-
ministration of the late Governor
Ritchie about 10 years ago. Since
then Central avenue has been opened
to Annapolis, but the need of irnprov-
ing Defense highway still is obvious.
The spokesman of Route so Associa-
ton is helping the cause by pointing
out the shortcomings of the nearby
stretch in comparison with the rest
of the mid-continental highway. He
also merits support in his more dis
tant objective, extension of the road
across Chesapeake Bay and down
the Eastern Shore to complete link
ing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
by a mid-continent boulevard belt.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Idle Youth

Idle youth, completely frustrated
In the years of life's greatest drives
and most abundant energies, consti-
tutes dynamite in the structure of
any society.
The American Youth Commission,
headed by Owen D. Young and affil-
lated with the American Council on
Education, points out that there are
In the United States several millions
of boys and girls of working age and
average abilities for whom there
seems to be no possibility of employ
ment.
While these millions remain idle
they are, as they were in Germany,
a potent force toward war. The COM
mission advocates made work" for
them, at an estimated cost of about
Evening star., 1939-11-21

enough to accommodate the vast
accumulation Of his correspondence
that necessarily must be removed
from the White House when finally
he ceases to be its tenant.
Some scholars doubtless would
have preferred the Library of Con-
gress, already enriched by the still
reserved files of Abraham Lincoln
and by thousands of letters to and
from Washington, Madison, Jefferson,
Jackson, Cleveland, Theodore Roose-
welt, Taft, Wilson and Coolidge; but
the quantity of material available for
preservation indicated a separate
and distinct establishment and Mr..
Roosevelt wisely adapted to his own
purposes the same decision which
his immediate predecessor, Herbert
Hoover, in similar circumstances
reached. Palo Alto is at the opposite
extreme of the continent from "the
peaceful country side" to which the
President referred in his corner
stone address, yet the objective of
the two institutions in almost every
other respect is identical. Both
will be of use to historians specialize
ing in the Interpretation of "the age
of confusion" during which the
thirty-first and the thirty-second
Chief Executives served their country
and mankind.
Frank c. Walker, treasurer of the
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Inc,
summarized his distinguished friends
ideal when he declared in his name:
II give you the record of my steward
ship; upon the successes and failures
which you find here, build greater
safeguards for the perpetuation of
our American rights and a greater,
more progressive government for our
freedom-loving people," These Ger
tainly are meaningful words whose
import never will be forgotten. A
nation is grateful.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
CHEVY CHASE, Md.

Dear Sir:
II read with interest the letter Of
M. B. about the burning Of leaves in
the suburbs.
"The wage Garner of our family spent
his whole holiday raking and burning
leaves and remarked at night that he
never felt better, after a day spent in
the open doing not too strenuous ex-
ercise.
This might be cited as one advan-
tage of leaf burning-healthfu recrea-
ton for the Office man on his free day.
AFTER piling as many leaves as posi-
BILE in the space donated for compost
and saving several basketfuls to be used
as mulch when the prunings from the
rose bed are put over the perennial beds
and the leaves sifted in between, the
rest were burned and the ashes dug
into the soil in the shrub border.
X A.k
"The real reason for raking the leaves
was that both gardeners felt that they
were smothering the grass in a place
which has been newly planted and the
leaves were actually ankle deep there
"NoW the purpose of this letter Is to
ask two questions:
'Were we right in believing that the
leaves would smother the new grass?
will the residue of burnt leaves add
anything to the. soil in the shrub bor-
der?
Il didn't know any one objected to
the smell of burning leaves, in fact I
always thought this smell produced a
sort Of nostalgia feeling upon city dwell
ers riding through suburbia in the
fall, but suppose the allergy complex
sweeping the country has changed all
that and even the autumn leaf has to
bear its share of the blame.
Very truly yours, M. D. A."
"PS.-For those who like to rake and
not to burn there is one way out-some
nurseries will be glad to collect leaves
to use for their own compost piles"
Oak leaves, in particular. kill out
grass, old as well as new, both by cut
tlng OH ngnt and air and by making
the soil too acid.
Few other leaves are as bad as these,
but most leaves when permitted to pack
closely will be inimical to the lawn.
That is why the annual late fall
cleanup is in order. We are not sure
that small leaves, such as locust, really
harm the lawn if permitted to stay
on. Winter winds blow away most leaves
from the grass, whirling and tumbling
them down the street, to catch and
stick at the first post or fence.
The residue of burnt leaves will not
add anything to the shrub border. To
the contrary, it will harm it. These
ashes are not the same as the fam
GUS hard wood ashes we hear so much
about. Wood is wood, whereas leaves
are simply the end product of the trees
They are, in sense ashes of ashes
which are not so good.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trnce1pell.

Our correspondents letter is a well
argued justification of leaf raking.
AS to the subsequent burning, this is
another matter entirely. 1t is again the
great American question Of OVERRIDING.
If there were just one pile of burning
leaves, and it was over in half an hour,
that would be one thing. but when half
dozen or dozen of1cemen are out after
their weekly exercise, the resulting pail
over an entire community, for hours on
end, transforms some Of our most beauti-
full sections into Smoky Hollow.
Nor is this so bad outdoors, where
the dilution is good, with all heaven to
draw from.
The real trouble comes indoors, espe-
cially for those who like a bit of ven-
tilation.
Then that fine nostalgia odor of leaves
burning becomes pain in the neck, as
well as in the olfactory organs
Soon home becomes stunk up with
it. especially If there is an air-condi-
tioning system, as there is in so many
Of the newer homes and will be, un-
AOaOoSoAy, Ill Illdlly VI UllC OllcS W COlllc.
"Air conditioning" indeed!
These were mostly based on the very
good idea that by drawing in air from
outdoors, 1t could be freed of dust, and
forced around the house, warmed and
humidified, if necessary. They aim to
work at all seasons-but If trash fires
are kept going at all seasons, the re-
sulting air conditioning" would be noth-
ing but conditioning with smoke.
4 X *
The result has been that in many Of
our suburban sections, where this habit
gets hold, people who do not wish their
homes stunk up especially at mealtimes,
have to close all the windows and doors,
even on the hottest evenings.
1t is noticeable that no man-and it is
always the male sex-who starts a trash
fire ever does it when the wind is blowing
toward his own home.
This seems to be instructive.
The wind always blows it toward q
nelghbor or many neighbors. :.
Here we have another instance in
which the much-abused golden rule
could be put to work.
X X
The air in the suburbs is undoubtedly
purer and fresher than in the city. but
what good is that If it is all smelled up
by something burning?
Burning is sort of rapid decay. Peo-
pie try to keep the products and odors
of decay out of their houses.
So why force them on the neighbors?
1t does seem highly something or other
to move 8 miles out from the city,
spend time and trouble going backward
and forward each day to return each
evening and spend all day Sunday in a
community whose fresh, pure air has
been vitiated in any way.
Yet this is what many suburban resi-
dents are doing, and compelling every
body else to do.
Fresh air is precious commodity
which We should all guard for each
| others sake.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Grateful for Reduction
In Court Fees.

TO the Editor Of The Star:
In an editorial yesterday you men
toned the reduction from IS cents to so
cents in the fee charged tenants in the
Landlord Tenant Court. You also
called attention to the part played by
The Star in securing this reduction. The
members of the organization to which
belong are grateful to you for these ef-
forts to alleviate the very serious condi-
tion OF tenants in the District OF Colum-
bia, and we sincerely hope that you svill
continue them in the future.
Our organization is the West End Ten
ants League, with headquarters at
Gethsemane Baptist Church, 22o5 vir-
ginia avenue NV. Our Executive Com
mittee has recently adopted a program
the foremost aim of which is to secure
low-rent housing projects for low-income
groups. We are writing to Commissioner
Hazen, calling for public hearing on
this matter and other problems affecting
tenants, such as the high rental situa-
ton prevalent in Washington, and the
need for new and adequate housing
code, and are asking that at this hear
ing both the United States Housing Au-
thority and the Alley Dwelling Author
ity be represented, as well as all other
groups concerned.
To show to the District Commissioner
that the population is behind these pro-
posals, mass meeting will be held at
the Frances Junior High School, Tues
day night, November %, at o'clock.
We hope that our efforts to organize to
better our conditions will inspire others
to do the same, and welcome hearing
from these people
MILTON BOBIER,
Vice President, West End
November IA. Tenants League.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
These Thanks

In arched cathedrals, hymns, Of majesty
Ascend again, o Lord, to offer praise
For major blessings-home and family,
Abundance, freedom, love and peace
full ways.
I'll make chapel of my quiet room
And join in praise for these. But,
Lord, I add
Thanks for some little things I prize:
For bloom
On one brave, bent geranium; the glad
Warm splash Of sunshine on my window
sill;
For useful hands-(work leaves no time
to weep;
For this bright glimpse Of sky and tree
crowned hill;
For clean. cool sheets, and quietness,
and sleep. .o-.
In solitude, these thanks my. full heart
brings sa8NN
For miracles we call the simple things.
NELLIE GRAY BoURDEAUx.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Churches Urged to Unite
In Drive Against War.

To the Editor of The Star:
Isn't it futile and fatuous for men to
prate of our Christian civilization when
warfare in its most horrible form still
exists and virtually no steps are taken to
abolish it? Hasn't the time arrived, If
humanity is to endure, for church organ
izations to take concerted action in at
tempting to check these ever recurring
world conflicts and, in so doing, relegate
savagery to jungle depths where it had
its origin?
Guy de Maupassant writes: what
have they ever done to show their intelli-
gence, these valiant warriors? Nothing.
The inventor of the wheelbar-
row, has he not done more for humanity
by the simple and practical idea of fitting
wheel between two poles than the in
ventor of modern Notifications? What
remains of Greece? Books and marbles.
Is she great by what she conquered or
what she produced? Did Ma
poleon continue the great intellectual
movement begun by philosophers at
the end Of the last century?
Since governments assume the right OF
death over people, there is nothing as
tonishing that the people sometimes as
sumo the right Of death over govern
ments. : No ona has the right to
Evening star., 1939-11-21
- Borquin Suits

The Philadelphia lawyer has long
been known for shrewd legal prac-
tice and may now attain even greater
fame in business. Two dozen young
members of the bar in Philadelphia,
hunting In from groups of two to
six, have opened eight Offices around
town to peddle legal advice and ac-
cessories just as if they were gro
ceries. 1t is an attempt, they admit
frankly, to reach new lower-income
customers who have hitherto been
unable to afford such luxuries as law.
The attorneys propose to brighten
the lives Of these underprivileged by
providing them with ver-the-coun-
ter, cut-rate legal items, the mini
mum charge being a dollar, and if
successful, will open other branches.
From there it will no doubt be a
short step to the house
canvass.
When this happens, home life in
Philadelphia may become slightly
complicated. To the list of daily
callers, such as the iceman with his
tongs and the milkman with his
bottles, will be added the lawyer with
his brief case. Opening it, he will
display fascinating assortment of
legal wares. There will be man
damuses right from the courts, and
nice fresh replevins and torts, COM
plete with whereases, aforesaids, and
parties of the first and second parts
at no extra charge. Surely some
where in the lot will be a bargain
which the housewife cannot resist.
Experienced husbands, guided by
many past performances, freely pre-
dict that it will probably be new
suit.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
The Presidents Library

A great majority of his fellow
citizens, it safely may be supposed,
approves the solution which Presi-
dent Roosevelt has reached concern
ing the disposition of his private and
official papers. The library at Hyde
Park, for which he laid the corner
stone on Sunday last, will be large
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Replies to Letters on
Liquor Problem.
To the Editor of The Star

To the Editor of The Star:
In your issue of November IA are let
tiers from w. N. Berkley and Charles
Mayer, who are evidently in sympathy
with the liquor traffic. Having lived dur
Ing the noble experiment" and before, I
beg to be allowed to give my opinion.
With a s5000,0O0.0OO liquor bill and
thousands killed and manned every day
would these say give us more rum and
wider roads? It was pleasure during
prohibition to walk on the streets and
not have to steer out of the way of the
drunks, and to have children ask What
is a saloon?"
Every "a hours three or four hundred
motorists are arrested. The reason for
some of these arrests will be found in
the gin bottles which line the streets
IN the early morning. Charles Mayer
asks without prohibition could there
have been rumrunners and bootleggers?
Yes-there were smugglers ages ago and
the white mans firewater crazed the In
dians; there was "moonshine" and even
George Washington's freezing soldiers
were pestered with bootleggers. The F..
B. I. will tell you crime increased with
repeal of the eighteenth amendment.
In the horse-and-b buggy days, while
men were in the warm saloon, their
horses stood outside in zero weather.
When their masters came out they got
curses and whips, but because the horse
was sober they could find their way
home. Many of the cocktail drinking
young people of today were born during
the hysteria of the World War. Those
on relief today are producing more than
half the next generation, so the breed Is
likely to be worse than better. Like
the war propaganda, the arguments for
repeal were lies-there are more saloons
than ever before.
In between the two letters mentioned
is one from an ex-marine in praise of
the Salvation Army. That organization
more than any other. could give the
truth, as they have to work more and
harder wherever drink is concerned.
King Alcohol-Thou are weighed In
the balances and found wanting.
November II. MRS. F. E. MEEKIN.
Evening star., 1939-11-21

absolutely govern others. 1t can only be
done for the good of those governed.
Whosoever governs must consider it as
much his duty to avoid war as it is that
OF the captain OF vessel to avoid ship
wreck"
EDMUND K. GOLDSBOROUGH.
November IA.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Protests Against Consolidating
Fire Stations Of the District.
To the Editor of The Star:


In my opinion any move toward con-
solidating fire stations and reducing
their personnel would in various ways
seriously endanger their efficiency, as
would be discovered If large confagra-
ton broke out. Instead, 1t would be bet
ter, safer. and more popular to add new
stations, equipment, and men to loca-
tions not now adequately covered. For
instance, it is proposed to remove En-
gine Company Number Five, on M street
near Wisconsin avenue. It is in an ideal
spot for quick response to. the business
district. and it would be a blunder to
put 1t elsewhere. Not only would it be
costly. but it would be risky and un-
popular with Georgetown residents. Let
all property owners, business associa-
tions, and civic groups Of the city unite
in protest against any changes in the
Fire Department detrimental to its ef-
flciency. HENRY r. ASH
; November -
Evening star., 1939-11-21

According to officials of the De-
partment of Agriculture, last year
million persons moved off farms and
to towns and cities and 100000 left
cities and towns to go onto farms.
And, it might be added, neither group
Is doing as well as expected.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance,
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Member of the Associated Press.

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the use fol republication Of all news dispatches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein
All rights of publication of special dispatches
herein also are reserved
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the Driter, although the use OF
. a pSeudonyn for publication is
permissible. Please be briet!
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Attention Called to
0Il Cyf-

Attention Called to
Odd Sign.
TO the Editor of Ths Star:
On the front Of store on Fifth
street near the market is sign:
"Cut up chickens killed here daily"
Are we to allow chickens to be cut up
before killtng2 TENDERHEARTED.
November 10.
Evening star., 1939-11-21
Nirht Final Editfon

Night Final and Sunday Star 75c per month
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Collection pade at the end Of each month or
each week Orders may be sent by mail or tele-
phone National 5000
Evening star., 1939-11-21

WASHING TON, d. C..
TUESDAY November 21, 1889
Evening star., 1939-11-21

The Evening Star Newspaper Company.
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Evening star., 1939-11-21

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Evening star., 1939-11-21

A reader can get the ansDer to any
question OF fact by wrtting The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric j. Hasktn, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Evening star., 1939-11-21

@. Please give the membership of the
Communist party in Russia. D. H.
A. There are over 100000 members
Of the Communist party in that coun-
Evening star., 1939-11-21

@. When is Thanksgiving Day in
Canada?-M. L.
A. Thanksgiving Day in Canada was
observed on October this year. The
date is fixed annually by the Canadian
government
The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1939-09-22
A. M. E. Conference

The AME conference, which
was held in Bluefeld, closed on
Sunday with that grand old
whitehead man, Bishop Rev
erdy Cassisus Ransom preach
ing the ordination sermon. His
theme was, "He that Cometh
from Above is Over ALL" Bishop
Ransom served on the state
pardon board of Ohio. The con-
ference had m any outstanding
people but it would have. been
successful one if It had broeht
only that scholar and christian