davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-10-23

mate and laudable'." And then
appears this rather mysterious
message: NO wPA official
no matter how high-ean re-
fuse to recognize this letter or
obey it."
Prime Minister Churchill
has furnished Washington with
an explanation Of the Anglo
French attack on Dakar which
throws new Hight on that fiasco.
Our state departments concern
derives from the fact that Dakar
Is the African point nearest to
South America.
Churchill still maintains that
General Charles de Gaulle, lead
er Of the free French" forces.
corgectly gagged sentiment
when he informed London that
Dakar's population would well
come the invasion. Britain's
major blunder. In retrospect,
was in permitting two French
cruisers and three destroyers
TO steam through the Gibraltar
straits to the African city. The
English apparently believed the
French vessels intended to ally
themselves with His Msjesty's
naval forces. Instead, they
moored inside the harbor which
makes Dsksr a difficult point
TO attack except by q powerful
naval unit.
The French in the city and
the natives. the prime minister
insists. were friendly to the de
Gaulle contingent. But the re-
Gently arrived naval reinforce
ment were still smarting over
the British bombardment of the
French fleet at oren and else
where II was not that they
liked the vichy government
more. but that they liked Lon
don attitude less. Or 80 says
Churchill.
Evening star., 1940-04-29

Isolationists will be called "slackers"
and towards" There may be even worse
labels and catchwords, all used to high
pressure public opinion and isolation
minded opinion into a state-of- war
complex Those hurting these abusive
epithets will be a combination of SYM
pathizers for foreign countries, some of
whom have never been able to accept
the principle that fighting for ones
country in defense of ones country" is
100 per cent American patriotism. OF
course. among some of these interven-
tionists there are men who served their
country during the World War. They
no doubt feel that they are still fit to
fight and should be given the opportu-
nifty to fight. To them, I say. keep
yourselves fit for the real fight. Do not
let yourselves be misled by the foreign
propaganda. If America is worth hav-
Ing 1t is worth defending. To push this
country into the European maelstrom
now is sheer madness, and it may mean
the end of the last and only really free
country on earth. F.F.
April Is.
Evening star., 1940-04-29

reached and the matter was not
taken to the courts.
The situation presented by these
facts Is not a pleasant one to con-
template. The Labor Board insists
that it can act as prosecutor, Judge
and jury with complete impartiality.
But the record in this matter discloses
that it is willing to prosecute an
admittedly weak case-almost hope
lessly SO in one respect-which
labor union is Extremely anxious"
to have tried.
This case and others that have
been brought to public attention by
the Smith Committee, show beyond
any reasonable doubt that traditional
standards of fair play, the very
essence OF judicial procedure in this
country, have not been adhered to in
the administration of the Wagner
Act. In striving to correct some of
these graver inequities, the advocates
OF amendment are not trying to turn
the statute into an instrument OF
labor oppression. But If those who
consistently oppose any and every
substantial change persist in that
unreasoning course, time may prove
them to have been the architects of
the very evils they are now striving
to guard against.
Evening star., 1940-04-29

strates anew that the Government
is not to be swcyed from the cam
paign by the vigorous opposition OF
the Federation which now is defend
ing an action against the Teamsters'
Union in District Court that grew out
OF the building tie-up here last fall.
Because of the uncertainty as to
the extent to which the Sherman
Act-under which the Government
is proceeding-may be invoked
against restraints by unions, the
prospective fate of the cleanup will
remain in the realm of speculation
until the Supreme Court has had an
opportunity to pass on the issues
involved. And If it should be de-
termined eventually that the Sher-
man Act is not broad enough to deal
with the conditions the Government
seeks to correct, certainly the inves-
legations which brought about the
indictments have shown clearly the
necessity for adequate law.
Evening star., 1940-04-29
Sees Need for Mexican
0u0fa Act.

quota ACT.
70 the Editor of The Star:
Before me lies an immigration para
graph you published. 1t recalls buying
oranges in China. found such a pur-
chase does not carry title to the peel.
In China tens of millions live ON rice.
rice, only rice. Any fiavoring, even
orange peel, has a market value. In
West China sunrise-to-su toll earns
less than 3-cent postage stamp. Small
wonder such folk. hesitate little to en-
ter land where few hours wages
equals weeks at home.
This country was conquered from for
bidding nature by the old American
stock. How true is the legend Of I'M
perial Valley: "The desert waited, silent,
hot, fierce in its desolation, holding its
treasures under the seal Of death against
the coming of the strong ones"
Now that our pioneers, our strong
ones, have made the worlds greatest
Nation out of wilderness, why should
we abandon 1t to those who could not
have won where we did? Yet the differ
ential birth rate law works against us.
An old American family Of three chill
dren, providing all live, means nine
great-grandchildren. A Mexican peon
couple at the rate will have 729. DO
we need q Mexican quota act2
G. M. GOETHE.
Sacramento, Calf.
April 20.
Evening star., 1940-04-29
Cause CeIebre

In an address prepared for delivery
at union meeting in New York last
week, Senator Wagner, father of the
Labor Relations Act, accused those
who advocate amendment of the
statute of seeking, under the "guise
of clarifying the act" to bring back
the company dominated union and
turn labor's Magma Carta into a
weapon of labor oppression"
At about the same time, in WASH
ington, the Smith Committee was
examining significant phase of the
Labor Boards activity-its handling
of a case against the Dunbar Glass
Corporation.
Documents submitted to the COM
mittee revealed that Philip G. Phil
lips, boards regional director at Gin
cinnati, reported the following with
respect to the Dunbar case: IT rec
ommend that complaint be issued
While the case is a debatable one on
its facts, it has become a cause
celebre and the c. I. o. Is extremely
anxious that it be tried"
Upon the. receipt of this informa-
tion the Labor Board held a hearing
and found the company guilty OF
discriminatory discharge of two men,
employees who, according to the COM
pany, were dismissed for refusing to
work shift other than their regular
one. After the company had threat
ened to seek a court review Of the
boards order, the assistant general
counsel to the board urged that
settlement be sought because of
certain weaknesses" in the case
which raised doubts in his mind that
the court would affirm the order.
The case as to one employe, he said,
was weak, and that Of the other was
almost hopeless" After some fur
ther negSnation a settlement was
Evening star., 1940-04-29
Nine. Tetruzzini

Perhaps few of the music lovers of
today are old enough to remember
Nine. Luisa Tetrazzini in her prime.
But some at least of those who loved
her beautiful voice and responded to
the charm of her gay and happy
personality still must think of her as
living, and for them these words are
written.
Singers are handicapped by the in
tangibility OF their artistry. They
work in medium which may be
durable in the form of score and
libretto, but which is ephemeral in
every other respect. However great
their genius, they leave little that
survives. The legends developed
around them, some kindly in char
acter and some cruel, are possessed
OF borrowed Immortality, yet the
power which gives them birth is lost.
Nine. Tetrazzini knew all this, but
she was not disturbed by it. Nature
endowed her with marvellous cheer
fulness, an ardent romantic spirit
not easily dismayed. She was super
stltious in a childlike fashion and
took care to avoid offending the fates.
Sorrows came to her and she
mourned over them. She had more
than her proper share of disappoint-
ments and losses. Her capacity for
laughter, however, remained un-
spoiled. Up to the moment of her
retirement she could play tragic roles
with comprehension bred of expert
ence and the most exacting comedy
parts with facility for which she
had only to call upon the resources
OF a courageous heart.
Money she earned in plenty. vet
Nine. Tetrazzini died poor. Her ac-
quisitive instinct never matured, she
was too generous and, if the truth
be told, too gullible to retain her
earnings very long. A sharper once
sold her mountain on the theory
that 1t contained mine of the purest
gold. Others>deceived her. She was
involved in hopeless litigation of the
most expensive sort But at the
end she was content with nothing
save the memories which were her
most precious rewards. During her
tedious final illness the triumphs of
her youth must have come back to
comfort her. She could recall the
tiny theater in Florence where her
career in opera began, the Argentina
In Rome, tours in South America and
in Russia, her debut in San Francisco,
seasons at the Manhattan in New
York and at Covent Garden in Lon
don. Among her souvenirs a medal
given to her by the District of Co.
lumbia Chapter of the American Red
Cross for singing to the soldiers at
Walter Reed Hospital may be found.
Evening star., 1940-04-29
Sees Generalization
In New Deal Policies.

In New Deal Policies.
To the Editor of The Star:
President Roosevelt in a recent Warm
Springs address seemed to be more con-
cerned about Republican criticisms than
in explaining his own doings Tactics Of
this sort are frequently resorted to by
political leaders to avoid dealing with
facts concerning their own course of &C
ton.
1t should be remembered, however, that
We are now dealing with the New Deal'
and not the oldtime Democratic party, Of
which scarcely remnant remains. And
the evident purpose Of the New Deal is
to change our form Of Government in
many vital respects by innovations that
are not democratic. Actions speak
louder than words. Let the present tend
ency go on for a decade or so longer, or
even less time, and our form Of Gov
ernment will be so changed as not to be
recognized as democracy. Destroy the
Constitution or weaken 1t In essential
parts, and the end Of free government
will have been accomplished.
II the American people are wise. they
will cease to be misled by fiowery phrases
and meaningless promises. Dull, indeed,
must be those who cannot see the direc-
ton In which we are going. Only an i'm
mediate change in administration and
the election of a patriotic candidate to
the presidency can save us from political.
economic, moral and spiritual demoraliza-
ton. JOHN A. MOORE.
Anril "a
Evening star., 1940-04-29
Strange War

Before the invasion of Denmark
and Norway the present struggle in
Europe was considered strange war.
1t was, however, not so odd as one
that has just been fought in Mime
apolis. To begin with, in the Mime
apolis fracas both the combatants
and the issue were clearly defined;
two f1fteen-year-old boys wanted the
same girl. Next, there were no
spying nor underhand diplomacy.
There was no diplomacy whatsoever.
Neither party tried to involve
neutrals nor set up axes of opposing
powers. Stranger still, they not only
declared an actual war, but even
fixed the time and place, and by
grapevine telegraph broadcast the
information.
Their thoughtfulness in the latter
respect was big break for observers,
as it enabled some four hundred
juvenile war correspondents to
cancel previous engagements and
assemble in advantageous observa-
tion posts in time for the war,
instead Of being caught off base
miles away and missing the whole
show. Four hundred children, how
ever, cannot leave their homes with
out creating a silence most ominous
to parents accustomed to shrieks,
screams and other noises. An inves-
tigation ensued, which in turn
brought to the battle ground an
armed body of heutrals-the police,
after which, sad to say, the almost
perfect war was spoiled. Oddly
enough, the cops concentrated on
demobilizing the observers, and were
too busy for the next hour to find
out who won the war,
Evening star., 1940-04-29
New Building Case

The Government has acted once
more In the Nation wide campaign
against abuses in the construction
industry, and as a result, twenty
nine individuals, nine companies, two
unions and a trade association in
Seattle are under indictment on
charges Of fostering illegal restraints
In this field.
The scene of this latest Develop
ment in the six-month Federal drive
is the home of Dave Beck, influential
business agent of the Teamsters'
Union of the American Federation
of Labor and outstanding foe on the
Pacific Coast of the c. I. o.
Raising to more than one thousand
the total number of defendants ac-
cused by the Government of par
ticipating in unlawful combinations
of labor and business which burden
the public with excessive building
costs, the Seattle indictment involves
flooring, plumbing and heating
groups. 1t is based on the familiar
allegation Of price fixing, going back
as far as 1895, and according to
George r. Lunn, jr., Of the Depart
,nent Of Justice, In charge of this
particular prosecution, "it is only the
beginning"
The indictment followed by few
hours another protest from spokes-
man Of the A. F. Of l.. whose building
trades unions have been involved in
cases In dozerf cities, and it demon
Evening star., 1940-04-29
Deplores Situation
Of Men Over Forty
Plight Of MiddIe-Aeed Job
Seekers Attributed to
Unreasonable Prejudice
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The STAR
President Roosevelt, in his proclama-
ton designating May to 8 as National
Employment Week, makes definite and
effective recognition of condition which
is fast developing into major social,
economic and political problem. Unrea-
sonable prejudice against re-employ-
ment of the middle-aged is widespread.
Despite all that is written and said on
the subject, lover forty phobia" is ramp
ant, and it will take many National EN-
ployment Weeks to break it down.
The National Association of Manu-
facturers, after survey in 1888, stated
that 89.1 per cent Of its membership re-
ported no maximum age limit in their
hiring policy. However, the New York
State Joint Legislative Committee on
Discrimination in Employment of the
Middle Aged, stated in its preliminary
report last year:
I'VE are constrained to point out that,
although we can be sure that all of the
89.l per cent are sincere when they say
they have no maximum age limit for
hiring, we have found out that in many
cases employers denying such limits ac-
tually have them without knowing it,"
The statistical bureau of the Metro
politan Life Insurance Co. states that
the percentage of total population of
the country over the age of As has in
creased from 20.8 in 1920 to 265 in 1910
and will reach the arresting figure of
1873 in 1860. How many of these are
and will continue to be employed is not
the point, but rather how many of them
have lost employment and are unable to
regain it, despite their capabilities. on
account Of "over forty phobia." The
experience of over a score of Forty Plus
Clubs scattered throughout the country
indicates that such a survey would pro-
duce startling results.
Forty Plusers are not Townsendites or
ham-and-eggers. They merely ask the
opportunity to demonstrate to industry
that with prejudice aside, in the words
OF President Roosevelt, their Seasoned
experience and mature application out
weigh the physical advantages of youth. I"
You would be doing constructive sery-
ice, not only for the unnumbered thou
SANDS OF thoroughly fit and capable VIC
TINS OF "over forty phobia," but also for
industry itself. If you would discuss this
matter in your editorial columns.
New York City. E. l.. HARVEY
April IS.
Evening star., 1940-04-29
CINCINNATI, Ohio.

0eHT 0lI.
did see some time ago In your
column in The Washington Star that
some one said redbirds are not known
to bathe?
If so, I saw the exception yesterday
that would prove there are different
kinds Of cardinals.
I'VE have a pool in our garden, with
a simulated spring as the source, and
we have placed stones at varying depths
to accommodate the length of our bath
Ing friends legs.
Yesterday afternoon, in the more shall
low part, a female redbird found what a
delightful place it was, and would shake
and ruffle herself, and dip again and
shake and preen, and finally just sat
and seemed to be enjoying q foot soak.
1--WE must admit we have watched and
watched our visitors and this is the first
time we have seen redbird take ad-
vantage Of the pool
Thanking you for the many pleas
ant hours you have given us through
your writing, we are
"xery sincerely,
"MR. AND MRS. C. S."
This brings out the advantage Of
thinking about the birds in the planning
of a garden pool.
Few garden features have as many
angles of enjoyment as the pool.
Whether 1t is large or small, elaborate
or simple, costly or cheap, the water
garden repays for itself in many ways.
The lilies, alone, make 1t a grand in
vestment.
Surely there are few flowers more en-
joyed by as many people as both the
day blooming and the so-called night
blooming water lilies.
In them are beauties rarely found in
more common garden flowers. After all
pools are not built in every garden, de-
spite the praise they have received in
recent years.
There still is probably not more than
one pool in every hundred gardens.
This comes about because such water
garden requires some planning, some
money outlay and some consistent care
afterwards
Not every home gardener is a concrete
worker, and the idea prevails that one
must be in order to construct a good
pool
II you hire some one else to do it for
you. the pool becomes fairly expensive
and often one finds, in the end, that the
man really didn't know much about
proper construction.
1t is no fun to pay $50 or more for a
pool, to find that the first winter cracks
1t severely. This happens in many
cases because the sides were not sloped
sufficiently to allow expansion in freez-
Ing weather. Something must expand
and since the water cannot, the rim
being severely upright, the walls do.
Even a person who Is by no means a
handy man, so-called, can nevertheless
construst simple pool so that it will
afford space for one or two lilies, few
goldfish and a drinking place for the
birds.
Evening star., 1940-04-29
HeuIinu

In this sad time, let us remember these:
The first slim jonquils lifting eager
faces, FIX
Small hands Of new leaves spreading on
the trees, ~
Frail violets In quiet, shaded places.
Let our tired hearts take refuge in these
things: IL
Starred silences, cool with boundless
peace, 4Is
Song of bird, that rises, trills and
springs fit :.
AS though the Joy 1t held could never
cease.
There is such healing tn the gentle grace
OF new grass covering wakened slope:
The heart Is cleared Of sorrow by the
face
OF morning through the lilacs, gwen
hope.
We shall be comforted, II we will turn
Our eyes upon the calm Of woodland feru.
: BEATRICE RAW.
Evening star., 1940-04-29
Member of the Associated Press.
P. W. A. Debt

1t is most gratifying that President
Roosevelt has recognized the justice
of Washington's plea for more equi-
table terms to govern repayment of
the Districts debt to the Public
Works Administration.
Faced with the necessity of stretch
Ing every local tax dollar to meet
the growing needs of the National
Capital, District officials had sug-
gested they could save a substantial
sum on interest by refinancing the
debt to P. w. A. through local banks.
They believed they could borrow the
money from the banks for about half
Of the per cent rate Congress di-
rected them to pay the Public Works
agency.
While Mr.. Roosevelt frowned on
the floating of bond issue, fearing
It might become precedent for
breaking away from the pay-as-you-
60 principle in District financing, he
has suggested an alternative that
would accomplish the same purpose
without requiring the municipal gov
ernment to assume a bonded debt.
The Presidents plan is to have the
Secretary of the Treasury study the
question and determine what rate of
interest the District should pay,
based on the rate it would be able to
obtain from private sources on its
good credit rating as a municipality.
AS the situation now stands the
District would have to pay IS sos, ,875
in interest at the per cent rate
over 25-year period on a total P.
w. A. debt of $9,982, 500 In other
words, 1t would pay back a total of
$15,5s2,373. Published reports esti-
mate the Presidents suggestion, which
includes paying off the debt in fifteen
years, would save the District ap-
proximately $3,5OoOoO in interest
charges.
If this result can be brought about
1t will come as welcome news to
officials and taxpayers alike, for they
are approaching new fiscal year in
which the local community may have
difficulty in meeting it's large share
of the cost of maintaining and de-
veloping the Capital With an in
formal understanding in Congress to
leave the Federal payment at a
$6,000,000 lump sum for another year,
the 1941 District supply bill already
totals s48,276,717, not counting pos
sible Senate increases.
All above the $6,OooOO figure will
have to come from local sources,
despite the large area of tax-exempt
Federal property and the items of
expense that are necessary mainly
because this is the National Capital.
From the start of the emergency
public works program Congress laid
down more stringent terms for re-
payment of District obligations than
applied to the States. When a State
or municipality elsewhere obtained
P. w. A. project it issued long-term
bonds to the works agency, which In
turn had to sell them through the
r. F. c. Since the District for many
years has not been permitted to incur
bonded debt, Congress stipulated that
the District should repay $1,0o0,OOO
q year on its P. w. A. loans.
The Presidents suggestion would
put the District more on a parity
with the States in meeting it's P.
W. A. obligations, and it is to be
hoped it will be worked out promptly.
This should be feasible since, in the
opinion Of local officials, it is not
matter that need be considered by
Congress.