davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-06-17

It is not enough for one country to
fight this battle alone; 1t requires the
combined energies Of all those that
believe in liberalized trade.
Two great powers Britain
and France-and number Of lesser
states have signed trade agreements
with the United States, thus accept
ing trade liberalism as their philos-
ophy. But to what extent have they
undertaken, in their commercial re-
lations with other countries, to nego-
tiate reciprocal reductions Of tariffs
and abolition Of artificial trade con-
trols?
The reciprocal trade program can
not be an effective peace measure
unless each Of the twenty countries
with which the United States has con-
cluded agreements takes upon itself
the mantle of discipleship and
spreads the gospel Of liberalized
trade. II that were done the front
against bilateralism and barter would
be widened and strengthened, and
the chance that the economic ills
which threaten world peace could be
promptly corrected would be i'm
measurably augmented. The re-
ciprocal trade program thereby would
become truly peace program.
Evening star., 1939-06-17
Voices in the Air

In some respects radio is a potent
aid to dictators. BY controlling it
they have in their hands a powerful
instrument for shaping public opin-
lon. A single powerful broadcasting
station can transmit propaganda to
vast multitudes of all classes Of
people.
But In other respects radio consti-
tutes an almost insuperable obstacle,
as now is being demonstrated in Bo-
hemia. It is possible absolutely to
control the press which requires a
considerable physical equipment and
means Of transportation and distri-
button. These can be seized by
government. The transportation and
distribution of words spoken over the
air are beyond the reach of any po-
liceman. There is no way to stop
them at national boundaries. No air
fleet can stop electro magnetic
waves. The physical equipment for
broadcasting has, in the past, con-
stituted quite a different problem. It
was almost necessarily large and
conspicuous in order that the words
1t transmitted should reach any very
wide audience. Now, however, the
Czechs seem to have solved the prob
lem with tiny radio transmitters
which can be completely hidden and
which broadcas. from phonograph
records.
Up to the present 1t has been diffl-
cult for persons in Germany to get
Evening star., 1939-06-17

the cover OF the magazine noticed
that unlike the others this one was
called The Tipster and was for Sports
men," Well, I like to consider myself
good sport, so I went a little further.
From that point on, however, my Gu
riosity changed to disgust, for my little
dime had gone to support cheap, dis
gusting publication that the publishers
IN Pittsburgh, Pa, well knew would
bring not one cent of revenue If placed
on the neWsstands. But here they are,
cleaning up on the od-heartedness of
their simple-minded fellow Americans.
with magazine which depends on its
dirty jokes to make itself attractive.
Far be it from me to attempt to hinder
any one trying to make q honest living,
but whether or not it Is necessary to sell
such publication in order to make an
honest living is a moot question. The
person who was making a canvass of
one OF the Government buildings this
morning indicated that she had an 'in-
valid daughter to support" Perhaps
she does. and then perhaps she doesn't.
But the main point is that the coun-
try is so flooded with immoral and in
decent literature that 1t is a pity and
q shame. People should refuse to buy
the publications, and moreover, refuse
to patronize a dealer who handles such
things. Such publications can be
stamped out and will be, If a few people
will only have enough gumption to re-
fuse to buy. Look what the Legion of
Decency has done toward improving the
movies. The same thing can be accom-
pished toward improving our contem-
porary literature. And don't get the
idea that I'm a Grabbed old maid for
I'm not. I'm only rs and I have q baby
into whose hands, when she is older,
I would hate to have fall some of the
present-day magazines. You Catholics
who are pledged to the Legion of De-
cency, here is your chance to be q prac-
tical legionnaire.
MARGARET r. FLAHERTY.
June II.
Evening star., 1939-06-17
7 rude and Peace

Secretary Of State Hull uses the
nth anniversary Of the passage of
the Trade Agreements Act as the oc-
casion to sound once more his Oft
repeated invitation to all nations to
Join in the reciprocal trade program
and lead the world back to peace
and prosperity by correcting the
economic ills which lie at the base
OF world political troubles.
The Secretary may be overem-
phasizing slightly by implying that
those difficulties are due mainly to
economics, but there can be no doubt
that the will to peace is intensified
immensely by a full stomach and a
moderate share Of the worlds good
things.
Between the breakdown of the
world economic system and the race
to arms is very close relationship,
as Mr.. Hull points out. When it is
not possible for nations to obtain by
the free exercise of their labor and
exchange Of their products the goods
they need and desire, their resort is
to self-suf11ciency, closed economy,
and a military establishment large
enough to protect it. Vast expansion
OF armament by any one nation
forces equivalent expansion upon all,
so that as much as a satisfied people
like the Americans may dislike to
divert their energies and wealth into
uneconomic military channels they
are forced to do so by the implied
threat OF their neighbors' arms.
At the end Of five years it Is pos
sible to make some preliminary ap-
praisal of the effectiveness of the
reciprocal trade program as an aid
to peace. Regrettable as it may be,
there has been no perceptible allevia-
ton of the worlds political Difficult
ties traceable to the trade program.
The arms race has gone on and on
In ever widening circles until the
entire world is in the grip Of this
costly competition. The most dis
astrous aggressions since the World
War have occurred in the past three
or four years. And there is as yet no
indication that the needs Of the
"have-not" powers are being more
fully satisfied as the result Of the
Hull program.
Where is the fault? With the pro-
gram itself? Or with the failure of
the rest Of the world to heed the
warnings which have come often
from Washington? Undeniably the
defect lies in the resistance of other
governments to adoption of the re-
ciprocal trade program % their own.
Evening star., 1939-06-17

radio communications from outside
because Of the spying of neighbors
and servants. Persons caught listen
ing to French or British station
have gone to jail. In Bohemia 1t is
unlikely that there will be any such
difficulty, with the vast majority Of
the population inexorably set against
the German masters.
A way has been found to turn
against dictators the very instru-
ment which they have used so
effectively to build up sentiment for
their regimes, and there is nothing
they can do about 1t.
Modern technology confers its
blessings alike on, the Just and the
unjust.
Evening star., 1939-06-17
Assails Representatives for
Tax Exemption.


To the Editor Of The Star:
Constituents of members Of Congress.
take notice.
Have you not voice in the attitude
Of a Representative you helped to
place In power for the benefit of your
State as well as for the best welfare of
her people? Did he not seek your vote,
your familys vote and the votes of your
friends through various avenues In
campaigning for the exalted position of
$4,000 per annum, plus transportation,
free office rent, secretarial help, hair
cuts, shaves, baths, wonderful of1cial
trips abroad and might add, hospital
service when necessary, all of which is
at the expense of Uncle Sam. And yet
the House had the audacity to vote SELF
exemption in the pending District tax
bill.
The absurdity Of their excuses for
exemption Is laughable. For instance,
the claim that they are not here of
their own will but on official business
Of the Government" If such is the case
and they are unable to pay tax from
their "meager" salaries, why do they
exert every means for reelection? Why
not serve but one term and let some
other poor fellow have chance? Maybe
the States would have better repre-
sentatives for the welfare Of constituents.
Tax evasion by members Of Congress
Is not the act of . statesman but Is on
. parallel with Grover Bergdoll's eva
sion Of war service. A TEXAN.
Juna is. =
Evening star., 1939-06-17
Believes Library Workers
Favor MacLeish,

To the Editor of The Star:
Milton J. Ferguson. president OF the
American Library Association, in his
protest against the nomination of Archi-
bald MacLeish to be librarian Of Con-
gress, has no authority to speak In the
name Of the 10000 members Of that Or
ganization. He Is chief librarian of the
Brooklyn Public Library; his presidential
office Is purely honorary and is going to
terminate in few days with the auto
matte election Of his already designated
successor at the annual convention of the
association, which opens at San Fran
cisco the 10th of this month.
Any one having contact with the rank
and file Of library workers is well aware
that the selection of Mr.. MacLeish by
the President is welcomed as promising
the infusion of much-needed progress
sive and social-minded spirit into the
administration Of our national Library.
That the President, after years search,
was obliged to go outside the ranks of
the profession to find man of sufficient
breadth of vision and force of character
Is less surprising when one considers the
narrowly technical nature of Mr.. Fer
guson's sole objection to the appoint
ment.
What the Library of Congress needs is
not technically trained expert in cata-
loguing books, filing cards and listing
photographed references, but a broad
gauge administrator who would put new
life into that institution and relate it to
the social forces of our time and country.
Such man, thousands of librarians be-
lieve, the President has most happily
found in Mr.. MacLeish. We have conf
dence that he will make our national
Library powerful force Tor the preser-
vation of democracy, and vital factor in
that education for more effective and
intelligent democracy which is so much
needed at the present time
June IL. DAVID r. VAIL.
Evening star., 1939-06-17
THIS AND THAT
By Charles +. TrdceUell.

"Glowworm" and Beautiful Blue DAN
ube"
1t is true they do not keep time, in
any sense, and music without tempo is
strange, but still they do well by their
parts Of impromptu musicians.
Occasionally they rise to the heights
by interpolating a trill at exactly the
right place.
Who shall say that they do not do
this Of themselves, through. q sense Of
musicianship?
We believe 1t mistake to think birds
respond only to music which is softly
played. Any one who has a radio or
phonograph. or plays any instrument,
can test this out for himself
One should not expect too much.
1t Is difficult to decide when the bird
sings of its own accord, and when to
the lure Of music, and 1t is especially
hard to determine how much more the
bird sings over what he might have done
anyway.
Still. there can be little doubt that
birds in the garden do like music from
the house.
Our guess is that xylophone would
make the greatest appeal to them.
The silvery tinkle OF the notes, which
can be run of quickly, one after the
other, by any one halfway conversant
with the instrument, is very birdlike.
The niann vniuht oyax, fon ~. ,,,,,.
phone. Basically the piano is a singing
percussion instrument. That is, the
famous singing tone Is achieved by
striking the keys with caressing touch.
Claims have been made that there is no
essential difference between a note
struck with the end of an umbrella and
one by the finger Of Paderewski, but
people who love this instrument do not
choose to believe it.
Probably the birds wouldn't know the
difference. What would be important to
them would be the tone quality, which
Is best described by the word "silvery."
Birds tones in the main, are silvery,
loud, clear, yet soft.
Even the mewing cry Of the catbird,
cousin of the mocker, has something of
this bell-like quality in it, as has the
spring whistle of the starting.
Let us try to be like the birds, indeed,
in our music, happy in song and word"
as our correspondent puts 1t.
1t Is not too much of a stretch of the
imagination to feel that most birds are
happy in their singing. Surely their
outpourings may be classed as songs.
Although they lack tempo, that is abou>
all they lack; they have all the other
components, even including harmony in
an elemental way (such as in the song of
the wood thrush).
Evening star., 1939-06-17
DemockeN

An applicant for citizenship was
recently asked the question: who
lives in Washington and runs the
government" When he replied, "The
Democrats" he passed and became a
citizen. No doubt his answer was
right, If the examiners had in mind
the Government of the United States,
but it would have been far wide of
the mark If they had been referring
to the government Of Washington
itself.
The only correct answer to that
one would be that the District of Co.
lumbia is under special form Of
government existing in the capital
Of no other country on earth, and
which for want of better term may
be called a demockery. It Is run by
a Congress endowed with high in
telligence rating. Any one doubling
this has only to reflect that a few
days ago when they put an additional
tax on Washingtonians they thought
fully exempted their own salaries,
thus proving that there were no flies
on their brains. With a brilliant
acumen developed from much service
to the Nation they grasped the i'm
portant fact that no District of Co.
lumbia votes could be cast against
them. This system, known as taxa
ton without representation, was in
vented by George III along about
ITO, and it is interesting to note how
1t has survived so vigorously in the
Capital of a Nation which repudiated
1t a hundred and sixty-three years
ago.
Credit for this specialized form Of
government based on voteless citi-
zenry should 60 impartially to Demo-
cratic and Republican lovers Of fair
play in both House and Senate. In a
world at strife 1t offers q welcome
comedy relief. Stain, interviewed
while counting a batch Of Moscow
votes, declared that 1t was the best
Joke he had heard in years. Hitler,
at a Berlin election booth, said it was
even more amusing than Chamber
lain's umbrella. Mussoltni, inspect
ing a new voting machine in Rome,
misplaced his frown for almost ten
minutes when he heard of it, while
Hirohito stopped reading the Toxic
election returns and almost split his
6mono laughing.
Evening star., 1939-06-17
Why Not Action?

President Roosevelt's Endorsement
OF broadened income tax base, cou-
pied with his reservation that it
could not be accomplished at the
present session of Congress, has an
ironically familiar sound. For years
past, as Federal need for greater
revenue increased steadily, elected
office-holders and tax experts have
accorded their Endorsement to the
idea Of a broader income tax base,
but have added in virtually the same
breath that Congress could or would
do nothing about 1t at that precise
moment.
Most persistent advocate of such a
program, and apparently one Of the
few willing to translate his support
into action, has been Senator La Fol-
lette of Wisconsin. In the summer
of 1885, the Senate Finance Commit
tee actually approved a LaFollette
schedule of lowered exemptions but
twenty-four hours later the commit
tee reversed itself and the PROPOSE
ton has never again come even that
close to passage.
With the 1910 session of Congress
sure to have an eye on the fall elec-
ton campaigns, President Roosevelt
Is undoubtedly aware that there is
little more likelihood Of courageous
tax action next year than this.
AS for the Presidents reference to
SILLY editorials" claiming that the
revenue from several million new in
come taxpayers would permit paying
of the national debt, it is easy to
agree that such is indeed SILLY"
hope. With the debt mounting at
the rate 1t has for the past six years
and at its present level OF some forty
billion dollars, an extra hundred
millions or so would be relatively
small contribution. And yet even 100
millions OF new tax receipts, If ac-
companied by any disposition on the
part Of the President to reduce ex-
penditures, would help.
1t Is true also that such an extern
sion OF the tax system would in
crease costs of collection but it has
not been demonstrated thus far that
the added administrative expense
would fully match the new revenue.
In this connection, it may be noted
that an extension Of direct taxation
might profitably be accompanied by
abandonment Of some of the present
Indirect and concealed imposts and
that further administrative savings
might be effected by collecting the
smaller income taxes at the source.
The latter proposal has been given
Increased attention by tax authorities
IN the light Of collection experience
under the social security tax pro-
visions.
Meanwhile, lest discussion of re-
mote tax reforms divert attention
from more immediate prospects of
desirable revisions, 1t is not amiss to
commend the Ways and Means Com
mittee for the legislation it has re-
ported to the House. Directed
primarily at refining certain cor
porate levies, principal merits of the
measure are its repeal of the undis-
tributed profits tax and its modifica-
ton OF provisions for the carry-over
OF business losses.
The House and Senate should COM
plete action on the legislation with
all reasonable speed.
Evening star., 1939-06-17
Let Ne Remember

Let me remember when the day is DYING
The hills Of home, and one bright eve.
ming star:
The vagrant wind whose voice is Sweet
Love signing
For kindred souls that journey from afar.
Grant me one thought Of hills with
silence blending:
A stirring dream that cannot pass avav.
Give me this vision when the nieht ia
ending
In solitude before the touch Of day.
Let me remember when my heart Ia
yearning.
A lonely valley and Q hidden lane
Where benedictions come at every turn.
ing
To soothe away the Souls remembered
pain.
Let me remember In my humble PRAYER
The hills Of home, the silent beauty there.
. JOHN POoLEY WRIGHT.
Evening star., 1939-06-17
Urges Check on
Loud Auto Horns.

To the Editor Of The Star:
May suggest that when the new auto
mobile testing stations are opened, that
tests Of automobile horns be made and
those with loud, ear-splitting shrieks be
eliminated before the machine is passed
on inspection. Such check at this time
would be godsend to thousands, espe-
cially the sick, whose days and nights
are made hideous by the unnecessarily
loud blowing of horns, which continues
until early morning.
Irealize our splendid police force have
SO much to do they cannot prevent this,
but If the nuisance was checked at the
inspection station, and warning given the
driver, 1t would at least eliminate the
local offenders, the taxicabs and reckless
drivers.
I live at Columbia road and Sixteenth
street and know there Is ten times as
much loud blowing Of horns there as
there is at busy Times square in New
York J. OLIVER MOOUE.
June Is.
Evening star., 1939-06-17
Hand Circulation Of Low
Grade MAGAZINES Protested.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Some time ago on two or three differ
ent occasions a man called at my door
and presented the usual slip Of paper,
explaining that he had family to sup
port and was selling a magazine Give
forgotten the name of it now for 10
cents. The magazine was a harmless
thing, giving facts about findings made
by the Federal departments Of various
foodstuffs, cosmetics and so forth. On
each occasion I bought one and con-
sidered the small amount well spent.
The other day similar thing hap
pened. Thinking was getting the
same sort Of publication I gladly paid
my 10 cents. But upon glancing over
Evening star., 1939-06-17

MY contribution to the BIRDS" says
Z. H. J. Of Orange, Va, sending in the
following verse:
THE MOCK1NGB1RD.
Happy is the mockingbird.
That sings In the tree;
He is singing his sweet song,
To you and to me.
Do you heed the mockingbird,
As you pass him by.
Singing his happy song
In notes so clear and high?
Gladly he sings his song,
All through the day,
TO the old and young alike,
Who pass him on their way.
We cannot always see him,
He Is hiding in the tree;
Don't you wish he'd come out,
That we who pass might seef
Now, my fellow traveller,
Listen to the mockingbird,
And try to be like him,
Happy In song and word.
Listen to the mockingbird," indeed |!
Neither that good old song, nor the
above verse is great poetry, but both
manage to convey something Of the
charm Of this songster.
There can be little doubt that the
mockingbird, along with most Of our
friends in feathers. is led to sing more
vigorously by hearing music.
The mocker responds, 1t seems to us,
just little better than most.
Contrary to popular opinion. birds do
not reply most readily to slow, sweet
strains.
They like best something swift and
loud. A typical Spanish waltz, played
with the gusto of the South Americans,
especially If there is great deal of rip
pling piano. stirs a mockingbird to a
very frenzy of song.
The violin is preferred, among the
instruments.
4
A mockingbird likes to take up a
perch about so feet from the window,
and join in with the phonograph.
Rhumbas and tangos are his particu-
lar favorites
The soft swish Of the maracas (gourd
filled with seeds or small stones. and
the intermittent tap-tap on wood, stir
the singer to his best
There are on the market several rec
ords Of canary birds singing with small
orchestras.
The birds acquit themselves nobly to
such melodies .as kiss Me Again"
Evening star., 1939-06-17
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
oear the name and address of
the tDriter, although the use OF
a psendonyn1 for publication is
permissible. Please be briefi
Evening star., 1939-06-17

A. The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to
credited to It 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., 1939-06-17
Member Of the Associated Press

Entered as second class matter post ONCE.
Washington, D c.
Evening star., 1939-06-17

product is actually harmful within the
meaning of the law. There are a great
many reports Of its use by students.
There are also reports Of its wild and
indiscriminate use, in total disregard of
the plainly printed labels on the bottles.
Such use does not come within the
meaning Of the law which would make
possible barring an article from general
sale In such cases there Is an increase
in sleeplessness and nervousness. But If
anybody wants to kill himself with 1t, we
can't help It,"
Three months ago the American Medi-
cal Association issued warning against
the indiscriminate use Of the drug.
DR.. Abraham Myerson Of the Boston
State Hospital. using the drug as indi-
Gated, found that it had decided effect
on the appetite. Obese mental patients
had less desire to eat and consequently
their weight could be reduced.
The American Medical Association
then was faced with the nightmare Of
seeing benzedrine sulphate used not only
by college boys and girls, but also by the
vast army Of women trying to reduce.
Says the councils report: This drug
is too new to pharmacology and expert
mental medicine to warrant any predic-
ton as to the possible harm that may
result from its long-continued use.
Even If benzedrine sulphate could be
safely and effectively used to reduce
weight there is no evidence that It will
have any permanent effect on weight.
Its use over long periods is certainly not
without danger, particularly to the cir
culatory systems Physicians may well
warn patients against the indiscriminate
use Of the preparation to control obesity."
Evening star., 1939-06-17

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Chicago ONCE: 435 North Michigan Ave