davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-06-20
Conventions that will really be
opened with prayer

zALM1GHrY GOD, we humbly beseech thee to
give this nation strength. -. to give our leaders
wisdom and courage..."
How many times such words have rever-
berated through the Party Convention halls
of America bowed heads secretly busy
with large ambitions and little intrigues-hear-
ing the old words only as hungry boy hears
his fathers grace before meals.
Next week in Philadelphia month in
Chicago-will there be one heart so calculat-
ing or so shallow that it does not lift up into
the throat with that prayer?
, We must 60 back to the summer of 1864
to find political conventions like these. ;. the
summer when Grant and Lee fought it out, and
the gray and the blue lay in windows at Spott-
sylvania and the Wilderness.
1916 was not like this. There was war in
Europe-but oceans were still oceans and no
American felt that danger was on our doorstep.
What were we so excited about back in 'o6?
*You shall not cruelty mankind upon cross
of gold!" We were arguing about what metal
our money should be made Of
What were the Bull Moose doing in 1912?
I'VE stand at Armageddon and we battle for
the Lord!" They were saving us from William
Howard Taft and the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill.
Strange things we Americans have quar-
relied over 90. in the light of this hour, when
mankind is being crucihed upon the hook
armed cross and Armageddon flares into
worldwide fury.
, Outwardly. perhaps, the Conventions Of
Evening star., 1940-06-20

1910 may seem the same as those of less por-
tentous years. Again we shall hear the thrill
ing Roll Call of the States-the beautiful and
sonorous names Spanish and English, Indian
and French, whose alphabetical march takes
the listeners mind on tremendous, exhilarat-
ing leaps across the map. Again there will be
blaring bands, famboyant oratory, hour-long
demonstrations.
But underneath the surface bedlam, there
will be sober recognition that more than po-
itical issues are at stake; that picking the
Right Man means picking the Right Man for
the country, not just for the Party. The man
who is signed on as captain faces little likel-
hood of calm passage over CLASSY seas; the
barometer has already dropped and may 60
still lower.
, Even the dullest delegate will approach his
job this year with a feeling Of grave response
bility. And that feeling will be shared by the
men and women massed in the 700 seats &C.
cupied by the representatives of Americas
newspapers.
There in the midst Of the oratory and the
cheering, with bands booming and flash bulbs
faring :. in the thick of events, complicated,
turbulent, and historic :. these men and
women will perform the job that the U. S. de-
nands of its journalists.
Every one of them will do his part to show
us the real scene beneath the carnival. Every
one of them will know that he is reporting the
first steps in the democratic process of disa-
gree, compromise, and unite. knows that the
two-party system makes possible majority
sule. and that majority rule i the essence of
Evening star., 1940-06-20

democracy.
, The newsmen-on the floor, in the commit
tee rooms watching candidates hideaways, or
spreading their ears to the breeze of rumor in
the lobbies-are there, not to represent party,
but to represent us, the American public.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"
Without the press in these still-free United
States, we could not exercise that vigilance
however much we tried. We cannot be alert
to the dangers or benefits of situation unless
we understand it-and the men and events that
brought it about.
Evening star., 1940-06-20

, Making men and events clearer and more
vivid is the special job of the Weekly News
magazine. For many months, TIME readers
to be enacted in Philadelphia and Chicago.
Names that are just names to many voters are
real people to TIME readers. Events that seem
surprising to casual headline-samplers are
often predictable.
The TIME reader knows how his country
runs itself, and knows that he knows it. As a
citizen, he can pull his weight in the boat Now,
as never before, the boat needs it.
Evening star., 1940-06-20

He al o.
l the
Evening star., 1940-12-20
| Public Thanked
For Generous
| YuIe Spirit

Appreciation for the generous re-
sponse made by the people of the
District to programs for Frightening
the Christmas of the unfortunate
was voiced yesterday by the Com
missioners in extending holiday
greetings to the Washington public.
They said:
l "Once again the most joyous of
all days draws near.
Let us pause in our preparation
for the hristmastide-with its spirit
breathing an eternal message of
peace and good vill-to reflect that
we are fortunate to be Americans
and to be able to enjoy the happy
moments afforded us as this Christ
mas Day draws nigh. We are
thankful for many things and par
ticularly do we offer our appreci-
alton for your generous response
to the excellent, worthwhile activi-
ties now being conducted through.
out the city to help bring the spirit
of Christmas to those who may be
less fortunate.
Broad smiles and cheerful words
are contagious. With this thought
in mind, let us emulate the Giver
of All Good Gifts and by tolerance,
unselfshness and helpfulness spread
the gospel of peace through the
land and so find the true spirit of
Christmas
Therefore, with the Yuletide sea-
son approaching we give you, one
and all, here and everywhere, our
very best wishes for a merry Christ
mas and a truly happy new year."
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Half of Donations
At Toy Matinee
Stolen at Niqht

Nearly half of large quantity of
toys and food intended for dis
tribution Christmas Day among
needy families in Montgomery
County, Md, was stolen from the
Milo Theater in Rockville last night,
according to a report to Mont
gomery County police today.
The articles were collected at the
special Christmas gift matinee
yesterday afternoon, one of several
held by the Sidney Lust theaters
in the county. Albert A. Ady, chair
man of the Rockville Committee,
estimated that more than TOO
articles, including toys, foodstuffs
and clothing were donated as ad-
mission to the matinee.
The committee had intended re-
moving the articles to headquarters
yesterday afternoon but decided to
make display in the lobby with
the suggestion that additional gifts
would be received, Mr.. Ady ex-
planned. During the night thieves
forced q rear door and took nearly
half of the articles donated, it was
estimated. A
Evening star., 1940-12-20
House Action on Bill
To Curb Panderinq
To Be Sought Monday
Also Passed by Senote,
Which Asks Report on
Tox-Exempt Property

The House will be asked to act
Monday on a bill the Senate passed
yesterday to strengthen the law
against pandering, Chairman Ran
dolph of the House District Com
mittee said today.
Meanwhile the Senate-approved
resolution calling for a complete re-
port on the amount of taX-exempt
property in Washington will go di-
rectly to the Commissioners. 1t does
not require House action.
The more stringent code against
pandering was asked for by Dis
trict Attorney Curran and Attor-
ney General Jackson. who informed
Congress the existing statute is
inadequate to deal effectively with
commercialiZed vice.
Broadens Definition.
The bill, which the Senate passed
yesterday at the request of Chair
man King of the District Commit
tee, fixes the penalty at not to ex-
ceed five years and a fine of not to
exceed $1,000. 1t also broadens the
definition of pandering to reach
cases the authorities say cannot be
prosecuted under existing law.
The tax resolution merely calls on
the Commissioners for detailed fig
ures on the amount of tax-exempi
property here, which is one of the
most important factors in support
of liberal Federal payment towarc
District expenses.
The Commissioners recently Or
| dered an investigation of all private.
ly-owned tax-exempt real etsate ane
their agents now are analyzing each
instance of tax exemption to deter.
mine whether the waving of take;
was legally or properly granted
They ordered the list prepared after
receiving complaints from civic
spokesman of the ever-mounting
number of tax-exempt properties.
Text of Resolution.
The text of the resolution as Of
fered by Senator King and ap-
proved by the Senate follows:
Resolved. That the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia are
hereby requested to submit to the
Senate at the earliest practicable
date an itemized statement showing
the following information: % All
real property in the District of Co.
lumbia which is exempt from taxa
ton. g, the assessed value thereof
Gncluding improvements, if any /:
80 a reference to the statute under
the authority of which such prop
erty is exempt from taxation, and
"a the present use of such prop
erty. Such statement shall show
real property owned by the United
States and by the District of Co.
lumbia in separate schedules"
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Vocational Students Join
Union to Get Fort Meade Jobs
Youths Make More Than $40 Week
Despite S. Payments on Initiation Fee Of SIS

of his projects, but was told that
getting the job was part of the vo-
cational program outlined by the
school authorities and he wanted
to get the job himself.
1--WE didn't exactly like paying
the S. down and IS week on the
initiation fee," Daniel said, "but
that was the only way we could get
on and so we paid it. The men
around the camp said that we
wouldn't be getting 81 cents an hour
on non-union job. so maybe we're
ahead in the long run"
Will Make More Than $40 = Week.
With pay at time-and-a-half for
Saturday and double time for Sum-
day, Daniel and his companions
have figured out they will make
more than $40 a week before sub
tracing the IS for the initiation
fee, which they will not pay up en-
tirely because they only have about
three weeks to work. Under the
county vocational program they
must return to school when classes
start January 6.
Initiation fee or none, the pay is
better on the Fort Meade project
than on regular farm work, which is
usually $1.50 a day, sometimes 50,
without the eight-hour day, Daniel
said.
Neither Daniel nor his friends
have decided what they are going
to do with their money, but all of
them are interested in the Future
Farmers of America program and
plan to buy some livestock with part
of it. Part will 60 for Christmas, Of
course.
"It's hard work most of the time, J"
Dan reflected, but it's more money
than the boys working in stores are
making and looks pretty good to me.
Wait until get back to school and
report that I made nearly $50.
VIII their eyes pop out?" -
Evening star., 1940-12-20
| Winter to Brinq
Years Shortest
Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow will be the shortest day
of the year, with winter arriving
officially at 6:55 am, when the
sun reaches the point "furthest
south" and begins the swing back
toward this hemisphere.
The winter solstice approaches in
typical weather for this time of
year in Washington, the Weather
Bureau said. Temperatures yester-
day ranged from a high of As dur
ing the afternoon to a low of 81
early this morning.
The current weather forecast calls
for some cloudiness today, with a
high this afternoon of about 54 de-
grees and a low tonight of about As.
Occasional light rains and cloudy
skies are expected tonight and to-
morrow.
In ancient times the winter SOL
stice, with its shortest day and
longest night, was observed as a
holiday The custom fell into dis
use as people became less dependent
on the sun for Light and warmth.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Meade Wages Lure
Montgomery Farm
Labor, Bureau Says
Directors ond Delegates
To Convention Named
At Annual Meeting

The high wage scale for labor
at Fort Meade. Md. was protested
by members of the Montgomery
County Farm Bureau yesterday on
the ground that it had denuded
farms of their labor supply.
The resolution declared that the
scale being paid on the building
project at the Army camp was far
beyond the prevailing price being
paid labor, and several members
pointed out it might lead to in
creased farm prices. The prevailing
wage for farm labor in the county
ranges from $l.50 to 50 a day.
James D. King presided at the
annual meeting held in the county
courthouse at which directors and
delegates to the State convention
were named. At meeting of the
Associated Women of the Farm
Bureau. Mrs. Ward Fulton of Dick
erson was elected chairman for
the coming year.
Directors elected for one-year
terms were Edwin D. Fry, Ulysses
Griffith Ford. r. L. Hickerson.
Harvey J. White. Lawson King,
G.. Rust Candy. Thomas C. Darby,
Eugene Casey, William j. Hines,
Douglas B. Diamond Chester Clag-
EFT. w. w. Hodges, Eugene Walker,
D. w. Simpson j. w. Jones. William
Ward. James D. King, Wilson c.
Poole and L. A. Darby
The directors will elect officers at
the January meeting.
The delegates to the State con-
vention in Baltimore next month
will be Mr. Jones, Mr.. Poole, Mr..
Griffith and Mrs G. M. Hostetler, and
the alternates. L. C. Burns, Ward
Fulton, John Stiles and Mrs Full
ton.
Other resolutions adopted at the
meeting proposed amendment OF the
State boiler inspection law exempt
ing boilers used on dairy farms;
consolidation of voting precincts to
reduce election costs. and legislation
providing penalties to motor vehicle
operators who leave the scene of
an accident when farm fences are
damaged without notifying the farm
owner.
The Associated Women asked in
crease in State appropriations
matching the county increase to re-
tain Rufus King as assistant county
agent, and named a committee to
study the county health department
report asking a higher budget next
year.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
300 College Student!
Study Democracy
AtG. u. Conference
President O'Leory
Tells Them Greatest
Need Is Clear Thinking

| Three hundred young people from
nearly 10 colleges in the Middle
Atlantic States met today to study
the problems of democracy and the
factors which threaten democracy
throughout the world.
| In welcoming the students to
Georgetown University, where all
sessions of the tWo-day conference
are to be held. the Very Rev. Arthur
A. OLeary, S. j., Phi. D., D. D..
president Of the university, told
them that this country's greatest
need is clear thinking
The purpose of this assembly" -"
he said, lis to afford an opportunity
| to study and visualize the solid prin-
ciples on which State is founded.
This is a patriotic purpose and is
worthy of our best endeavors.
Citizens Bound by Laws.
Father OLeary pointed out that
as citizen is bound by laws, so is
a State.
The direction of a State is not
to be regulated by the whim of
any leader" he declared. but by
laws following certain well-defined
paths.
IF our country is to flourish,
the young people of our college
must have clear principles, honest
convictions and the courage to car
ry them out" he said.
The assembled delegates are at
tending the unusual conference of
International Relations Clubs. and
sessions are to continue throughout
today and resume tomorrow. Spon-
sored by the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace, the con-
ference now has a membership of
136 colleges and universities.
Miss Jones introduced.
Also introduced at the opening
session by Thomas F. Mullahey,
president of the Georgetown Uni
versity International Club and
president of the Middle Atlantic
Conference, was Miss Amy Hemin-
way Jones. representing the Carne-
gle Endowment.
The delegates went Immediately
into round table discussions follow
ing the start of the conference. and
at a luncheon meeting today were
to hear DR.. Josef L. Kunz. lecturer
in international law at the University
of Toledo, Ohio. His topic was to be
THE Present International Situa-
! ton
/ DR.. Lewis Hanke, the director of
the Hispanic Foundation, Library
of Congress. will speak on The
Present Status of Our Relations
with Latin America" at a banquet
| at $50 O'Clock this afternoon.
Tomorrows sessions will begin
with round table conferences from
9 to 10:30 am. A general meeting
will be held at II am. at which
time reports from the round table
discussions will be given. DR..
Edmund A. Walsh, S. j., vice presi-
dent of Georgetown University, will
speak at luncheon meeting to-
morrow
Evening star., 1940-12-20
D. {. Se|ectee
Quota Cut From
202 10 1855
Changes for January
Result Of Varying
Housing Reports

Local draft boards here were ad-
vised today that the Districts jan
uary selective service quota has been
reduced from 202 to 166. With two
exceptions the boards will be re-
ouired to furnish fewer men than
had been anticipated.
Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox, selective
service executive for the District,
said the change-the second in the
anticipated call for next month
was due to a varying report on the
progress of construction of training
camp facilities. This same reason
was given when a communication
from 3rd Corps Area headquarters
recently increased the January call
number from an original, "unoffi-
cial' maximum of 80.
In preparation for filling the call,
nearly 300 registrants were given
physical examinations last night at
four local hospitals and approxi-
mately the same number have been
ordered to report for similar tests
tonight.
One-FOurth 80 or Older.
OF those who were examined last
night five have become SO years OF
age since registration day October
16) and 81 were 80 years of age or
older. Ten were 35 None of the
81 men inducted last month was
over 80.
OF those who are to report for
tests tonight So are 30 or over. s
are IS and one has passed his 36th
birthday since registration day.
Thus, of the men ordered in for
the tests so far nearly one-fourth
are 80 or older. According to the
Selective Service Act, while no man
who had passed mis- 36th birthday
by last October is was subject to
the draft, those who become 36 after
registration day can be called.
Two Boards Unaffected.
In the reduced District January
quota only two boards-No. 8, which
was asked for men, and No. 10,
which was to furnish 2 men-are
not affected. Quotas of 13 boards
Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, IL, IL. l3, IA, Is,
II, 18 and 25-were reduced by one
selectee each Quotas of eight
boards. 6, Is, 20, 81, %, % and "a
were cut by two men each, No. 7
will provide three men less than
was previously announced, and No.
9 is to furnish four less.
The revised quotas follow:
Evening star., 1940-12-20

Five Montgomery County Md
high school students looking for
work under the county vocational
guidance program encountered the
question of joining a union and pay
ing an initiation fee the first day
they applied for job at Fort Meade.
Among more than so students who
are taking advantage of the pre-
holiday demand for extra help in
the Post Office Department., retail
stores and various other lines of
employment, the five youths got
jobs as laborers at Fort Meade, but
not before they had secured the
approval of Hod Carriers and Build
ing Laborers Local 1874 of Baltimore
and paid IS down on an initiation
fee Of $25 with the understanding
the remainder would be paid out of
their wages at the rate of IS weekly.
I'VE got over to the camp be-
fore am.," Daniel Wilson, student
at Sherwood Senior High School at
Sandy Spring, explained, land had
been in line for more than an hour
when a man passing by told us we
wouldn't be able to get a job unless
we had union card.
Went Home and Got S..
I'VE were near the head of the
line by that time, but we went back
home and got IS, the first INSTALL
ment of the $25 initiation fee, and
came back. BY the time we got our
membership applications and started
to work, it was pm, but we put
in our eight hours jyst the same"
With Daniel were Hubert Gore of
Ednor, Warren Seibel of Spencer
vile and Wesley Morris, jr., of Ed
nor, also students at Sherwood; Rob-
ert Stone, student at the Poolesville
High School, also is employed on
the Fort Meade project.
Daniels father, Walter F. Wilson.
a general building contractor, said
he had offered his son . Job on one
Evening star., 1940-12-20
The revised quotas follow,

The list of those ordered to re-
port for examination tonight in
cluded two brothers, both sent in
by Board No. l. They were Vernon
G. Mastin. 2l-year-old truck driver,
and Vivian NJ Mastin, 23-year-old
newspaper vendor, both of 1417
Thirty fourth street NV Vernon
said that he expected to volunteer
for service if he passed his physical
examinations. I'm ready to be up
and at EN-" he said.
Chinese Is Called.
Some persons were puzzled over
the fact that Gin Shu Ngee, %, of
62l4 Georgia avenue NV. was one
of the registrants from Local Board
No. 4. who was ordered to report for
a physical examination tonight.
How about the law which prevents
Chinese from becoming either SOL
diers of citizens of the United
States?' they asked.
Board No. As answer is that Mr..
Ngee is registered as an American
citizen in view of the fact that his
father became an American citizen
before the restriction law was passed.
The fact that young Mr.. Ngee was
born in Canton, China (after his IA
ther had returned there as an Amer
lean citizen, and lived there until
about year ago does not alter his
status as an American citizen, it
was pointed out.
Mr., Ngee, who is still in the
process of mastering English, can
say one sentence very f1uently. 1t
is: MY father was citizen. And
that makes me citizen"
Also among class l registrants
called up for physical examination
tonight is William B. Briggs, special
events director for Eastern Air
Lines. Mr.. Briggs, 80, of 1903 Thir-
tieth street NV, registered with
Local Draft Board No. /. He for
merly was Washington traffic man.
ager for E. A. L.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Scott Circle Underpass
Contract Is Awarded

Contract for the construction OF
the Scott circle underpass was
awarded today by the Commission
ers to the Cayuga Construction
Corp. of New York City, which SUBJ
mitted the lowest of nine bids,
$317 7,621.47.
The District has fund of nearly
100000 for paving work which will
be necessary after the project is
finished.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Holidays Stort Today
At Fuirfax Schools
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
FAIRFAX, Va, Dec. 2O.-Public
schools in Fairfax County will close
today for the Christmas holidays,
and reopen January 6, giving pupils
a two-week vacation.
Because Christmas Day and New
Year Day come in the middle of the
week, school officials said the hon-
days would be longer than usual.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Traffic Record

The traffic record, as revealed
at police headquarters. for "a
hour period ending at 8 am.
today:
Fatalities, none.
Accidents, AZ.
Motorists injured, 7.
Motorists arrested. 373.
Pedestrians injured, 8.
Pedestrians arrested for vio-
lation of pedestrian control
regulations, 2.
Motorists arrested for failing
to give right of way to pedes-
trians, none.
Killed in 1910 traffic, 70; by
December 20 in 1899, 83.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Freak Gem Aids Fund

J. N. R. McGrath of Capetown,
South Africa, has contributed to
the war fund a gem declared to
be a geological freak. Some years
ago he found it in diamondifer-
Gus soil millions of years old. 1t
has a mellow coloring and is
shaped like tiny oyster.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Band Concert

BY the United States Army Band
in the band auditorium of the Army
War College tomorrow at 1l:30 am.
Capt. Thomas F. Darcy, leader; Karl
Hubner, assistant leader.
Evening star., 1940-12-20

FIRST BROTHERS CALLED IN DISTRICT DRAFT-The
broherVernon 2 VIVIAN 49, of 417 Thyfou street
NWare among the 800 Washington eective
egstrants ordered report for physical examinations tonight
Those who the tests subject to call for years military
training beginning January. the
members of the family being called for classification
Both in board No. l. Star Staff Photos
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-16

SoR sARBER JOBS le.r4 with PAY
1ossFs cosesa 1eas rssafs&
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-16
Money to Loan

CASH for straight loans and r. z
contractA Bratrud, ais Fidsl-
.ty bldg.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-16

LOST7 Don't Despair;
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