davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1940-01-17
Many Bankers

Many Bankers
AS for sticking to the same busi-
ness from generation to generation,
the Vencills bring up that Obi gag
about than which there is no
whicher".
A little shopping disclosed that:
Back in 1887 in Gait, Mo-, Dave
Vencills father and a man named
Cook started bank called Cook
and Vencill. 1t is still III existence
and among the personnel is G. E.
Vencill, n son of the founder, and
another son of the founder is its
PRESIDENT
Meanwhile, in FL Centre. Dave
Vencill is president of the Holtville
National bank. Frank Vencill, an
other brother is visiting his son,
Corwin, who is at the Bank of
kAmerica.
Amt that something?
Imperial Valley press., 1940-01-17

Butter: Los Angeles 32ise: but
terfat. Imperial Valley I. o. b. ranch.
grade A, 42iac; manufacturing milk
361s; route gathered cream 3lc.
L. A. hay: L. :. No. I Sl7-St7 50:
Z. 5. No. 2 leafy S15.5O-l6: u. :. No.
2 I2.5O-I3.5O, Mpls. MAY flax 2.07 =.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-01-17

Out of Season
Next time Mrs. Wooda Blesy Will
know the angles.
She gave a party for few mem
bers of the ballet company Monday
night a1d anticipating chilly
weather decided to serve coffee
When the girls arrived they were SO
overheated from the violent exercise
of the ballet that they asked for
ice cream to cool off!
Shivering, Mrs. Blesy drank the
coffee herself and marveled at the
dancers consuming ice cream.
Evening star., 1940-07-11
The Knox Confirmation

Senate confirmation Of the ap-
pointment of Frank Knox as Secre-
tary OF the Navy by a decisive vote,
which cut across party lines, is a
gratifying recognition Of the excep-
tional qualifications of the nominee
to hold the vital naval post in
President Roosevelt's reorganized
defense cabinet. 1t represents a
reputation by the Senate of the
isolationiSts contention that Col
onel Knox with War Secretary
Henry L. Stimson, who also has been
confirmed-iS an "interventionist."
Both Colonel Knox and Mr.. Stimson
had disavoWed interventionist tend
encies. in the popular sense of that
term, but both properly had drawn a
distinction between intervention
ism" in its invidious sense and
realistic measures for American self
protection, including rendering Of
material aid to those fighting in
democracy's front line against forces
of totalitarianism.
With such able executives filling
the two key defense posts in the
Presidents official family, the Amer
ican people have a right to expect
vigorous, efficient administration of
the all-important defense measures
now being rushed through Congress.
Huge contracts are to be let by this
administration, and decisions of
enormous gravity are to be made
with respect to naval and military
policies. Any weaknesses in the
Army-Navy setup at such critical
time might seriously impair the
country's future security. The
strengthening of the defense ad-
ministration by the two cabinet
appointments cannot fail to have a
reaSsuring effect on a naturally
anxious public.
Evening star., 1940-07-11
NopoIeon's Hot

In the retreat from Paris last
month the French were unable to
carry with them Napoleon's tomb,
but they did take along his sword
and hat. A few days later even the
light burden of these relics proved
a handicap, and they were aban-
doned near the Loire, and later
picked up by German officer,
according to an announcement from
Berlin.
The dispatch failed to state what
would be the ultimate destination of
Napoleon's hat. Will it go back to
his tomb in Paris? 1t might be good
politics to return it to what is left
of the French government, but there
is not even any certainty that they
would want it. Or will it be taken in
triumph to Hitler in Berlin? The
answer, Of course, depends on Hitler
himself, but the odds are about eight
to five against, for two reasons. One
is that modern developments have
made the other corporal seem a mere
piker, and the other is that on
account of recent German successes
the hat would not be nearly large
enough to fit.
Evening star., 1940-07-11
At Last

The House is to be congratulated
on finally passing the Hatch clean
politics bill. Commendation is due
especially to the majority that sue
ceeded in keeping out of the measure
some OF the amendments that would
have hampered its enforcement or
rendered it Intellectual.
Most injurious of these nullifying
provisions, which the House refused
to accept, was one which would have
postponed the effective date of the
act until October /, when the 1910
campaign would have been nearly
over.
The bill seeks to protect from
political coercion thousands of State
employees paid in part out of Federal
aid funds, protection the original
Hatch law accords Federal employees.
1t also places a $1,000 limit on the
political campaign contributions of
any individual to a national COM
mittee
The time to apply these election
safeguards is now, at the outset of
the campaign. Postponement until
October would have been unjus-
tifiable.
Although 1t took four months for
the friends of the measure to bring
it to vote in the House, after resur-
recting it from a committee pigeon
hole weeks ago, no particular harm
will have been done if it is put
through the remaining legislative
steps and sent to the President
promptly.
But If further delay Is encountered
in settling remaining differences be-
tween the two Houses, the bill might
not become operative until this years
campaign is half over, despite the
fact that the Senate passed it orig
inally on March 18.
Representative Dempsey of New
Mexico, and those on the Judiciary
Committee who supported him, de-
serve credit for sticking to the fight,
in the face of repeated setbacks.
Without their perseverance the
Hatch bill probably would have died
in the spring
AS soon as the Republican con-
vention made Wendell L. Willkie its
presidential nominee he indorsed
the bill. 1t may be more than a CO.
incidence that the bill began to move
forward again within two weeks after
the Republican nominee took that
stand
Evening star., 1940-07-11
Member Of the Associated Press
Stop This Grab

Gasoline tax receipts in the Dis
triCt of Columbia have increased
from $1762398 in 1880 to S5,O42,692
in the fiscal year 1910, an increase
of 1856 per cent.
The collections have grown with
the population and the rate of tax
has been hiked, both contributing to
the enormous increase in this partic-
ular tax burden.
The authorities in charge of
spending the gasoline tax funds for
the purposes for which the tax, un-
der the law, is levied, are among the
first to protest that the yield now is
more than sufficient; that no more
funds from this source are necessary
nor should they be raised, and that
gasoline tax diversion to general
fund purposes will not only be in
equitable from the standpoint of
gasoline tax payers but will so violate
principle eSpoused by Congress as
to reduce by fifty per cent the allot-
ments to the District of Columbia of
Federal highWay-aid funds.
In the face of such facts, the an
nouncement Of an invitation to the
Governors of Maryland and Virginia
to come hTe and testify in favor of
the Randolph bill to hike the gas tax
in the District is astounding. The
Governors should retain their self
respect by declining. For the tax bill
proposed by Representative Ran
dolph is not to raise necessary reve-
nueS; it is not to benefit the people
who would pay the tax; it is not to
accomplish any purpose other than
to satisfy the purely selfish demands
of the oil interests for gas tax equal
ity between the voteleSs District of
Columbia and the self taxing States
of Maryland and Virginia.
1t is surprising that this vicious
scheme has been dignified even by
recognition in Congress. 1t is to be
taken for granted that it will be
fought all along the line by friends
of the District in Congress and by
citizens of Washington.
Evening star., 1940-07-11
Offers Suggestions
On Pedestrian Problem.
To the Editor OF The Star:


Your page on pedestrian protection
tSunday issue, July y suggests two
comments. AS to Notifications, Pitts
burgh has them and 1 have wondered
why other cities have not adopted them.
Iron and concrete posts guard their
safety zones making them what their
name implies, not merely mo fair" ter
ritory as they are in Washington.
The other point is continuation of the
regrettable tendency to visualize drivers
and pedestrians as distinct and opposed,
perhaps hostile, classes. With as many
automobiles as there are in Washing
ton, pedestrian would seem, as q rule,
to be one who Is not in his car at the
time. Whatever Justification there may
be for speaking OF two groups, overlap
ping must be so prevalent as fully to
justify wonder that pedestrians and au-
tomobilists do not show better under
standing of each others problems, and
so conduct themselves that the streets
would be far safer than they are. If
each person would daily and solemnly
resolve that there will be no accidents
today If his best care and attention can
prevent it. the number of the so-called
unavoidable" accidents would at once
drop to An unheard-of low.
July .. WI. McATER.
Evening star., 1940-07-11
BETHESDA, Md.

Dear Sir:
II have noticed beautiful bird fire.
quenting our yard quite often. but am
unable to identify 1t.
TT is about the size of mockingbird,
has very dark head, back, and tail;
breast and underparts buff, and lower
part of folded wings bright orange.
ut has sweet song, and is seen at
all hours during daylight. Is an insect
eater believe. In flight has the white
tailfeathers of the mockingbird. Can
you tell me what bird this is?
Please also tell me a good handbook
on local birds, as we have so many
lovely songsters in our pine woods.
I'VE are fortunate in having a flock
Of gorgeous bluebirds nearby which we
see occasionally.
rs there any way to induce them to
stay closer to the house? We have no
animals-because Of our birds for one
reason-and our nearest neighbors are
more than block away.
Sincerely, K. T. w."
his must De tne male tOWnee.
Few birds are richer in appearance
than this. The gold or orange fairly
glows.
The combination Of colors is at once
artistic and striking.
At close range the bird is seen at its
best. In the garden at some distance it
merges into the background, so that
some OF its beauty Is lost to the OBJ
server.
The female towhee is by no means as
spectacular as its mate. 1t is brown.
where he Is black, and the orange on the
stomach Is not so bright She still is
very pretty bird.
They are not seen together much.
We had a male towhee' in the yard for
eight months, all fall and winter, but
never saw the female.
If you are fortunate to have one winter
with you, you will have one of the most
interesting songsters. The song will not
commence until spring, of course, but
then it will enrich you with some fine
music
In the meantime, the towhee will give
as interesting a display of scratching
for its dinner as any of the few species
which indulge in this action. These in
clude the song sparrow and the fox
sparrow. in particular, both great
Scratchers
The male towhee carries this action
TO the extreme, using a back and for
wards jumping motion which strikes the
observer as comical, indeed.
If male towhee sticks around during
the cold weather. be sure to put up a
small feeding station close to the house
particularly for him.
He may not use 1t at first, and the
sparrows and squirrels get to 1t, but that
makes no difference, because in time he
will find it.
At first he may feed beneath the sta
ton hopping back and forth.
Evening star., 1940-07-11
Gallery Preview

The National Geographic Maga-
zine for July contains thirty-tw two
natural color reproductions of i'm
portant paintings from the collec-
tions of Andrew w. Mellon and
Samuel H. Kress. soon to be brought
together in the National Gallery of
Art, now under construction on
Constitution avenue between Fourth
and Seventh streets. If any further
evidence were needed to prove the
magnificence of the philanthropy in
which the two donors names are
joined this miniature presentation
would suffice. The rich nobility and
loveliness of the pictures they have
given to their country is demon
strated in series of plates which in
itself may be regarded as an esthetic
achievement of very high order
From the start of their independ-
ent activities as connoisseurs. both
men were hard to please" in the
sense that their tastes were mature
and informed Mrs. Ruth @. Nc
Bride, in her story of how the gallery
came into being, says: "Mr. Melons
standards were rigid; he did
not even consider a painting by
Titan, Rembrandt or any other
master unless it met three principal
requirements. It must /" be a
subject of outstanding beauty; it
must be one of the masters great
works-lesser efforts were not ac-
ceptable, and it must be in an excel
lent state of preservation" A
similar tribute might be paid with
equal justice to Mr.. Kress for his
discrimination.
But the present moment is one in
which further observation should
be made concerning the significance
Of the gallery and its contents. For
many years Europeans had COM
planned against the zeal of Ameri-
cans of large means who, as the
critics insisted, "plundered the Old
World for the New" There was
resentment that such treasures as
Mr.. Melons and Mr.. Kress' acces-
sions were crossing the Atlantic. A
formal campaign was organized to
Evening star., 1940-07-11
Britain and ItuIy

Battle has been joined in the
Mediterranean between Europe's
two most powerful navies, the fleets
of Great Britain and Italy. On it's
outcome, still undecided, and the
basis of divergent, rival claims, de-
pendS not only the mastery of the
great sea separating Europe from
Africa, but also the ability of MusSo-
lini to render practical assistance
to his axis ally when Hitler ventures,
as he momentarily is expected to do,
to sail against England"
Details of the Anglo-Italian naval
clash are obscure and contradictory.
1t seems to have ranged, or still to
be ranging, at various points in the
Mediterranean-in the neighborhood
of Crete and Malta and off Alexan-
dria At stake are Weighty issues,
involving "life lines" for either COM
batant. The fate of Gibraltar and
the Suez Canal is wrapped up, for
the British, with naval supremacy
in the great Middle Sea, to say Moth
ing of the water route to India and
their other possessions in Africa and
the Near and Far East For the Ital-
ianS, the question of Mediterranean
control is no less vital. If it passes
to Britain, Fascist dreams of Mare
NoStrum" (our sea- will vanish and
lines of communication to FaScfmo'S
budding empire in Africa will be
broken. With her navy destroyed or
crippled, Italy's long sea coasts, too,
automatically become open to attack
by the royal navy even though it be
left to wage the war at sea minus
the expected aid of the fleet of
France in the Mediterranean region.
While widely varying claims of the
London and Rome admiralties mo-
mentarily make it impossible to de-
termine which side has emerged vic
torious, it is permissible to draw
certain general conclusions from
what is obviously only the opening
stage of the struggle for command of
the Mediterranean. First of all,
Britains readiness single-handed to
take on the Italian fleet indicates
she is far from covering in help
less terror as her island citadel faces
the possibility of Nazi invasion.
Critical as are the demands imposed
upon the British armada for home
defense, it is obviously strong
enough to detach formidable forces
in an effort to secure the empires
interests in the Mediterranean and
the territory tributary to it.
Unmistakably, Britannia has
toughened, rather than weakened,
since the collapse and detection of
Allied France. The stern front Down.
ing Street is presenting to japanese
demands for closing of the Burma
road, the destruction or domination
of two-thirds of the French fleet and
now the eagerness of the royal navy
to engage the Italians in a decisive
Evening star., 1940-07-11
Says Congress Should STAY
In Session as Patriotic Duty.


To the Editor of The Star:
How the fathers of this country can
sleep peacefully in their graves is beyond
me.
Patriotism has gradually degenerated
into lip service-on the Fourth of july:
oh, yes and on Flag Day. On those two
days we have special services in which
some patriotic members of Congress
give their little talks. What is cheaper
than talk?
Now at time when the world is on
fire, instead of staying on the job until
the fire Is put out, most of the grand
patriots in Congress are ready to adjourn
to their respective homes to begin a CAM
paign of handshaking No wonder the
dictators almost split their sides with
laughter. No wonder they call democ-
racies decadent.
Congress should stay on the lob. even
though the lack of electioneering will
cost few individuals their jobs. Politics
should be forgotten for the good of the
whole Nation. Let us show the dictstors
that we can still put patriotism above
poitlcs. R. c. G.
June 16.
Evening star., 1940-07-11
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trdce1uell.

There will come a morning when he
dares to fly onto the platform.
From then on the feeder is his. He will
run other birds, especially the sparrows,
out of his box. He is not ugly about it,
but merely firm. Dictators might take
lesson in manners from the male
towhee. He is very inch a dictator, but
Is not cruel about it.
There is something extremely pleas
ing in the presence of the towhee In q
garden.
Probably just little more than most
good birds.
Why this is we do not know. Women,
In particular, fancy this bird, sometimes
called the chewink, probably because OF
its cultured manner. also because of It's
extremely fascinating color combination,
at once rich yet subdued.
The birds will eat wide variety OF
diet, ranging from seeds and grains
to wild fruits and berries Its principal
| foods are seeds and insects. Among
creatures 1t kills are beetles and their
larvae, ants, moths, caterpillars, grass
hoppers. flies and earthworms.
The iris of the bird is red, which goes"
very we'll with the rest of him Most OF
the color plates in the books somehow
manage to give the combination of black
| head and red iris villainous look which
the bird does not have at all in real life.
Any book showing the birds of the
Eastern United States Is a good hand
book on local birds. since we have most
of them.
| 1t must be kept in mind that the
average suburban garden. over the years,
will have about SO species, more or
| less. in evidence.
| Undoubtedly there will be 20 or more
| which come to the yard but which one
is never fortunate enough to see
The bird guide, Land Birds East of
the Rockies" by Chester A. Reed, pub
lished by Doubleday, Doran and Co., is
OK. This is small in size and price,
comes IN slip case, and is easy to
handle in the home or afield.
The best way to lure bluebirds close to
the house at this time of year is to put
up small feeding station, covered with
small roof, and to keep it supplied with
| ground beef.
1t is amazing how quickly many species
will discover the feeder and it's contents
and make use of them.
No doubt the bluebirds would be
among those present for all birds need
plenty of food. for nestlings now, and
| ground beef furnishes an excellent sub
stitute for worms and insects.
If this feeder is placed at least 6 feet
high. preferably on post, tree or arch,
1t will be up above the dog line. 1t
must be kept in mind that wandering
dogs can smell fresh meat for a long
distance
Among the birds which like ground
beef are catbrds, blue jays, song spar
rows, English sparrows, starlings. cardi-
nails and wood thrushes.
Evening star., 1940-07-11
Deplores Spread
OF Appeasement Talk.
To the Editor of The Star,

Az WIG EuiSoi VI L He StaE
If Senator Wheeler is successful in
turning the Democratic platform into an
appeasement platform, this lifelong
Democrat will vote the straight Repub-
lican ticket in November (unless Roose-
velt runs), along with millions of other
Americans who have enough intelligence
to know that policy of appeasement
Is abject surrender to totalitarianism.
The Republicans tried in vain to
nominate Senator Taft, who cries peace,
peace, when there is no peace" and now
If the Democratic politicians are going
to harp on that wishful theme instead
of facing the bitter fact that we are con-
fronted with world revolution against
democracy, it will not matter whether
they start third party or six parties,
for the American people are going to
elect a man for President who faces the
dictators unafraid.
The crisis facing this country is not
that OF going to war;" but that of hav-
ing the war come to us in the "stille
nacht."
Every time that Senator Wheeler has
spoken recently. he has given aid and
comfort to the enemies of democracy
who profess to believe that this country
is weak and vacillating, fearful of war,
and that we will be an easy inside job
as soon as Great Britain has been
"mopped up" If Senator Wheeler heads
the third party he talks about so much,
he will doubtless draw most of the Com
munist and Nazi votes in this country
and we will be able to tell just how
strong that sentiment and the fifth COL
umns are. It's not a bad idea, but it
won't put Senator Wheeler in the White
House, where he longs to bel
July z. POLLY DEMOCRAT.
Evening star., 1940-07-11
Tells Of Munster Pact
Ending Thirty Years War.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Hitler as we read. if he wins. will dc
tate peace at Munster, Westphalia.
There, in 164S, the end of the Thirty
Years War was proclaimed. This Ger
man civil war, in great part along re-
ligious lines. also had brought in foreign
powers, originally as allies of the weak
Protestant states, but also as despoiers
OF the Holy Roman Empire Germany.
Beginning as early as 1896, attempts
at conciliation had been made. But
much of the taxpayers money was
wasted in quarrels over "protocol'-who,
on entering the council chamber. should
precede whom and where he was to sit
after he finally got in. BY 1912 the
high contracting parties--the Emperor,
the rulers of the many German states,
the Pope, the Swedes and the French
had finally settled all that, and the
delegates sat down at last as two as
semblies-one in Osnabruck and one at
Munster. In the end both met as one
body 0648) at Munster and the docu-
ment was signed. In the meantime the
war had gone merrily on.
Among the treaty stipulations some
are of present-day interest. The pact
formally recognized the independence of
the unified Netherlands" (Holand) and
Switzerland. Sweden and France were
appointed "guarantors' Sweden soon
lost its job as legal meddler in Ger
man affairs, but France continued as
privileged character up until Bis
marck's time Q87O. Great Britain, for
wonder. had no hand in that war and
treaty., neither did Poland or the Gar
of Muscovy (Russia). Spain, having been
slightly involved was represented. This
Westphalian peace was arrived at by
discussion.
And now, apparently, the new master
OF Europe plans to go back to this an
cient state paper in order to amend it,
On what basis? Why, on the basis that
might is right that Europe needs one
head man-the strongest. And what
about all these international laws? The
law is an ass, sir" so said that crusty old
Englishman, DR.. Samuel johnson. In
any case-"conditions, not theories"
July 6. FRED VETTER.
England at that time, not yet fully
consolidated with Scotland, had troubles
of its own-a civil war Q640-1648).
On one occasion, though, good King
James I dispatched 1000 Englishmen
under one Marquis of Hamilton to the
assistance Of his son-in-law, the deposed
elector of the Palatinate Frederick).
Otherwise, of course, there were Eng
lish, Scotch and Irish soldiers of for
tune, who, on their own, helped to fight
the battles of Gustavus and Wallenstein
Italy then was mere geographical
expression"-some free cities, the Pope,
a few small-time principalities and Span
ish provinces.
Turkey, during that period, was busy
in Eastern Europe. Besides war be-
tween the Christian "unbelievers" came
in handy.
Sweden, due to the acquisition of a
part Of Pommerania, became mem
Der of the Holy Empire for that territory
and remained such until it's dissolution
Tin 1900. But, having lost her standing
as great power, her title Of "guarantor"
had become an empty gesture. F.v.
July g.