davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
Forewarned Forearmed

it is true that to be forewarned is be forearmed
the United States lucky Warning signs clearly up
Whether the bitzrieg bzes this spring whether it
merely fzzles the neutras in for it. For all of them
including the United States things will be before
they better. We may well get used to the idea.
American trade Is going get kicking around
than has to date The British face to face with the
fact that their blockade is good deal less than water
tight They preparing to tighten it, though
neutrals squirm.
The British claim that Russia for instance has bought
tin, alloys, and machinery beyond her need This,
Britain maintains. is going through Russia to Germany
The United States is at peace with Russia which is at
with Germany France and Britain You might think
that American trade with such neutral is bust
Ditto trade with the Scandinavian countries,
also suddenly far above normal But it seems not.
War is desperation II the British believe neutral
tries buying things from the United States then passing
them to Germany they will attempt to stop it. Con-
aband controls in the Pacific with the spring.
In Short when Britain thinks any neutral has imported
from the United States much Of any material it
needs Britain win try to stop further imports International
law? Remember the Altmark!
Meanwhile of course, the British importing from
the United States just little they Of planes and
such desperately products they will take all they
get But of cotton. OIL and wheat the minimum. They
will buy instead from European and South American coun
tries with which they hope to improve relations
Australia has just cut imports from the United States
by about 10 per cent.
In the midst of military Britain is moving heaven
and earth to maintain export markets.
All this means heavy handicaps for American foreign
trade We shah need two things first patience and under
standing in the face of what will certainly appear to be
unjust determinations; and second effort to stmu
late the domestic market to make up for impending losses
In foreign trade.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
AFTER MANY YEARS
By {. T. SHORT

Mcneil Islands Biggest
Jail Break
Desperate Criminals"
Climb Through Roof
Slot Machine Victim
Among Number
Only Casualty Was
Ritter WiIkeson
ESCAPE of two inmates from
II the federal prison on Nc
Neil island recently recalls TO
reader of this column the break
on July 4. 1905, when eight pris-
oners escaped-the largest break
in the history of the prison. AS
the story was told in the files
of The Times Of thirty-five
years ago, there are several in
teresting incidents. First was
the letter the desperate con-
victs' left for Warden Halligan,
asking him TO give cordial
greetings to the rest of the
farmers who pass themselves
off as guards and assure them
Of our lasting gratitude for their
stupidity"
A humorous touch is given by
the reporters, one of whom was
a cub" who had taken a mail
order course in journalism and
had a tin press" star for which
he paid a quarter. The "despe-
rate leader of the outrage" was
a criminal" named George
Wade. Wade was a quiet man.
nered chap who was serving two
years because for three years
he had been smarter than the
customs inspectors at the Brit
ish Columbia boundary.
Another desperate criminal"
was Ed Stickney, serving two
years for "counterfeiting."
Stickney's crime consisted
In making lead slugs to rep
resent quarter dollars with
which to play slot machines
run by the vice syndicate in
Tacoma. Through some influ-
ence or other the syndicate
had been able to run all other
slot machines out Of Tacoma
and seemed to be immune
from punishment. In retalia-
ton Stickney and a few others
began to play the machines
with lead slugs. There was a
great hue and cry when one
Of the machines delivered a
handful of slugs instead Of
good U. s. Money.
The police, inattentive when
the syndicate men beat up their
rivals, became busy. They soon
caught Stickney and his pals.
They admitted that they had
played the machines with slugs
to get even but the one who
suffered most was Stickney be-
cause he admitted making the
slugs.
The escape was discovered
early on the morning of July 4,
1905. The men had cut through
the roof sometime between mid
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
HOROSCOPE

Good and evil planetary influ-
ences are active today. In the
early hours labor avails. It Is
not a favorable date for making
sales. Merchants should be
cautious In buying as dun
months will be exceptionally
trying in the summer.
Heart and Home: Accidents OF
many sorts may be prevalent In
the home. Women should be
cautious, for falls are indicated.
Nerves may be taut and MEM
bers Of the family trying as
spring fever attacks young
persons. Quarrels may be easily
started. There Is q sign that
encourages small deceits and
multiplies fibs among boys and
girls.
Business Affairs: Increased
danger for shipping Is forecast
Cargoes of American goods may
be menaced on the high seas as
commerce with the United
States expands.
Political Issues: Undercur-
rents of sentiment win be UNI
usually strong in regard to can
didates at both party conven-
tions. Increase OF approval for
third-term presidential smbi-
tons Is prognosticated. While
the fates of many distinguished
men appear to be balancing In
the political scales the stars
seem to encourage q continu-
ance In authority where expert
ence is held important.
international Affairs: Accord
ing to a leading London astrol-
oyer the world is now under the
major rule OF the mutation con-
junction Of 1912. Owing to the
retrograde movements Of the
planets there are two conjunc-
tons Of Jupiter and Saturn in
this year 1910. but in le4i win
occur another conjunction which
is most important in its infiu-
ence. When the earth comes
under the change from Capri
corn to Aquarius dictators win
fall and international under
standing win be attained.
Persons whose birthdate II Is
have the augury Of q year OF
advancement toward success.
Employees win be promoted.
Women viii attain their hearts
desires In romances.
Children born on this day
probably win be well balanced.
studious and practical They
have the forecast Of success.
Because they viii like luxury
they may be inclined TO be
extravsgant.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18


Bob owes his downfall to his
best friends, and the story is
one Of the most intriguing now
going the rounds Of the Capital.
Although his buddies-Messrs.
Cohen and Corcoran-realize
that National Chairman Farley
and the old-fashioned politicos
do not like Jackson, they con-
tinue to ballyhoo him at private
parties at the capital. They put
Bob on the table almost as If he
were a political specimen, and
proceed 10 examine him. 1t is
embarrassing to him and to his
friends.
The result has been that,
within the last week, Jackson has
privately announced that under
no circumstances will he be
candidate for the nomination.
He will stick to his present job,
and II the next President
Democrat or Republican-turns
out to be a one-termer, Bob will
be on hand. He is a grand guy
personally. and able, but he
needs a few years of warming
up. And nobody senses 1t more
than he does.
The hid den reinforcement
which Washington has furnished
the Allies through the purchase
of gold at the artificial value Of
SIS an ounce is incalculable. But
it is beginning to precipitate de-
mands for q thorough-going in
quiry on Capitol Hill.
The U. S. has bought some
$4,000, o0o, 900 worth of gold at
SIS an ounce in the last seven
years. At least ten billion dol
lars worth of that amount has
been sold to US by Great Britain
and France. Since the pre-New
Deal monetary price was around
$21, the Anglo-French profits
have been enormous even on that
basis Of figuring. But when you
realize that the Allied nations
produce, ship and sell gold at $40
TO S21 an ounce, it becomes OBJ
vious that our purchasing price
Of SIS. an ounce becomes one of
those methods short of war"
Largely through their sales OF
gold to us-and the March vol
ume hit the top-have the Allies
been able to finance their pur-
chases in this country. Now
members of congress want TO
know whether or not gold viii
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
QUESTIONS TO TEST
YOUR kNOWlEQ

Can you answer seven Of
these test questions? Turn to
the woman's page for the an
swers.
1. How Is brochure" pro-
nounced?
2. Are grapefruit hybrid
fruits?
3. Are any Americans buried
In Westminster Abbey?
4. What causes certain kinds
of soap to float.
5. Name the first month Of
the Jewish calendar.
s. Does a long screw-driver
exert any more force than
short one of otherwise similar
dimensions.
z. What is cosmopolite
8. What is the name of the
new women's hosiery material
which is said to be spun from
the same raw materials found
in coal. air and water?
3. What is amnesia?
10. Which two political polls
are well known in the U. s.?
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
SO THEY SAY

In this war at sea, Hitler and
his Nazis have quite definitely
exceeded the worst villainies
which imperial Germany COM
mitted in the last war.-wins-
ton Churchill. first lord Of Brit
ish admiralty.
They tell us that we have ex-
hausted our frontier. The hori-
zontsl ones, yes-but not the
vertical. Let US expand in this
way. the spiritual rather than
the material.-Bennett c. Knud-
son, president, Kiwanis Interna-
tional.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18

night and morning. They wreck
ed the motor Of the prison
launch and escaped from the
island in row boats belonging to
ranchers. Two of the men land
ed at Steilacoom. two at Point
Defiance park and four went to
Vashion island.
Police in all Puget Sound
cities were notified but it was
not until late afternoon the fol-
lowing day that the marshal re-
ceived authority from his SUI
periors at Washington to orga-
nize a possee to hunt the pris-
oners. The next day about half
a hundred men were in the field.
working under the direction OF
Ira Davisson and Frank Crosby,
deputy United States marshals.
First to be captured was the
desperate criminal Stickney,
who was found wandering in
Point Defiance park. cold and
hungry. News Of his capture
was received in Tacoma with
sincere regret. It was the gene
raj opinion that Stickney was
the victim of the crooked slot
machine business and most resi-
dents of the city hoped that he
would get away.
A rather ludicrous incident,
which came very near being a
tragedy, occurred on Vashon
island. Ritter Wilkeson and ]. c.
and F. H. Bergh had been as
signed to cover a section cover
ed with brush and down timber.
They had become separated
when Wilkeson thought he saw
one of the escapes climbing
over a log about 200 feet away.
1t proved to be one of the Berghs
who discovered Wilkeson at the
same time and thought he was
one of the prisoners.
The Berghs began shooting,
one with q pair Of revolvers
and the other with a Winches-
ter rifle. Wilkeson let go with
both barrels Of q double bar
relied shot gun, but as he rose
to shoot a bullet from the
Bergh rifle went through the
muscles Of his arm. 1t might
have been worse II all the guns
hadn't been empty by that
time and before they could
load they recognized each
other. Wilkeson was the only
casualty on the island.
A week after the break all the
desperate" criminals were back
on the island. As fast as they
arrived leg irons were riveted on
them and they were put on a
diet Of bread and water. The
possemen returned to their usual
occupations and Tacoma prompt
ly forgot the incident.
That was the second break on
the island that year. A few
weeks earlier Albert Bell, gen.
tlemanly bank and postoffice
robber, left his job in the prison
boat building plant and disap-
peared. He did not get off the
island and was found hiding in
the hay in barn on the ranch
of one of the guards where he
had been for three days.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18

dominate and underwrite the fu-
ture world monetary system.
They are becoming scared lest
Uncle Sam be left holding the
largest bag in all history.
The U. s. now owns and pos
sessess about so per cent of the
worlds gold stock. 1t is buried
in an extremely expensive hole
at Fort Knox-doing no good to
us or to foreign nations. 1t
amounts to about three times
the amount of money now in
actual circulation.
Britain and France long ago
went off gold. Both nations,
under the impact of the war,
are selling and buying on a bar
ter basis. They have no use or
regard for the system under
which the u. S. handles its COM
merce. Meanwhile, for so long
as the war lasts, they will learn
and master the technique of
managing world commerce with
out the need of gold as a basic
medium Of exchange. They are
doing it now quite successfully,
so why not continue it when the
war is over? London has al
ways organized and underwrit-
ten the mechanics of world trade
and the monetary system, and
unless licked by Hitler. she will
do so again.
SOTO put it badly and brutal
ly-it begins to look as if Uncle
Sam will be left holding a golden
bag full of uncsshable dollars.
But Washington - both Secre-
tary Hull and Secretary Nor
genthau-figures it is cheaper to
send the allies dollars than
doughboys.
The most downhearted man on
Capitol Hill is Vice President
John Nance Garner. His friends
have deserted him-left him cold
since three primary contests
demonstrated F. d. RS popu-
larity with the people. The
v. P.'s lonesomeness is one Of
the minor but inevitable TRACE
dies Of American politics.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18

family was taken care of, re-
gardless of the operation needed.
This is a rule of mining towns.
All mines have but one union,
and to the best of my knowl-
edge but one union exists for all
trades joined together from
"John-O o Greats house to Lands
End" The working man stands
up for his rights.
1t was also remarked that 20
years ago the British destroyed
the German fleet. Well, here's
hoping she does it again in order
the small nations will be safe
to live their own lives. Didn't
Germany destroy Belgium and
part of France 20 years ago?
Not a tree or brick was dam
aged in Germany. I feel sorry
for the German people, but not
the cruel leaders.
I don't need an answer to the
statement of how England has
enslaved other nations. She has
lived in peace for $50 years with
the United States. Her colonies
have rallied to her support. 1t
Is said in the federal textbook
of the u. S. in 1919, that Dutch
ship brought 20 Negroes to
jamestown and the colonist
brought them. This happened
long before any English colonists
settled in America, 50 If the
British kept the slave trade go
ing for 300 years, it must have
been up until 1919.
1t isn't fair to say the English
left the Czechs, Poles and Firms
on the spot until this war is
over. It is rather early yet to
decide anything like that. 1t
was also said that stories of
Negroes taken from their native
land caused one to shudder even
today. /, for one, shudder when
I read of the millions of Poles
taken from their homes and
made to work In German fac
tories without pay; or of the
treatment accorded the Jews.
II the Allies don't win this
war, the help of Heaven will be
needed by the world when 1t Is
taken over by the dictators.
T. BOLTON,
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18

To receive attention IN this COLI
umn letters must give name and
address OF writer. Only initials
viii be published when requested
Mr.. Fixit: How could I re-
move . coffee stain from .
crepe dresss VI. M.
The best advice we could give
you. not knowing whether IL In
cotton crepe or silk, whether the
coffee was with cream or with
out, or whether the color Ii wash
able. Is that you take the gar
ment to a commercial dry clean
err. Consider the value Of the
dress. and whether you can sf-
ford to risk II, before you try
home remedy. II you decide to
try one. be more specific in de-
scribing the stain and the mate
rial and ask the reference de-
partment OF the public library.
Mr.. Fixit: Can You tell me
how much actual information
the baseball announcer gets
when reporting . distant game:
w. J. T.
He receives only a sketchy
report such as: Jones up, strike
one, ball one, wild pitch. Smith
first to third, bah two. Jones
center, liner. ETC." The rest Of
It he must fill in from his knowl-
edge Of baseball and his imagin-
alton. usually with the assistance
Of chart OF the field before him.
Mr.. Fixit: Please settle . dis
pute for ms. Docs . rattiesnalse
have 20 coil before he strikes?
II 20. why? READER.
A RATHER does not necessarily
have to coil like a watch spring
but he must retract to some
extent. He must swing his head
from a base In striking. A snake
can't leap from the ground or
shoot forward without drawing
up enough Of his length to give
something from which to push
off.
Mr.. Flxit: When one In buy
ing q place, and through lack Of
work gets way behind on the
payments and then decides to
let the place 20 and move, can
the owner collect any back pay
ments or interest? Also In 1t
permissible to take plants and
flowers that have been put In
the ground? MRS. f. H.
As a general rule when a con-
tract Is violated. the full amount
Of 1t can be collected. but that's
one Of those lawyers questions
which Mr.. Fixit can't solve for
you. II you have other resources
which could be attached. you
certainly should get a lawyers
advice before you let the house
20. The flowers probably would
be classified as your furnishings,
but that, too. Is a legal question.
Mr.. Fixit: To settle m argu-
ment, will you please tell mo
which In Wheeler and which 10
woolscy In the comedy team Of
Wheeler q Woolsey? Also, II
they are stiIl making picturcsf
MRS. A. A. b.
woolsey, who was the taller
one. Is dead. and Wheeler. the
short one, has not appeared In
ANYTHING recently.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
SPEAKS IN DEFENSE
OF ENGLAND

Editor, The Times: I would
like to answer Arturs De Rohan,
who, in his recent letter, made
many misstatements, such as
referring to England as a sloppy,
shoddy democracy.
No man. rich or poor. earl or
working man, may have more
than one vote In England. The
majority Is held by the working
class: consequently. they elect
the lawmakers. II the admins
tration attempts to force
through an unpopular bill and
Is defeated, general election
follows Immediately, and the
majority again has the privilege
of deciding the matter. They
don't have to wait four years.
II that is not democracy, what
Ii IL?
He pointed out the class dis
tinction of England. I am Won
dering II 1t Is more pronounced
in England than here in our own
country. Does one see the social
''highlights" inviting the poor
people to their social functions?
This Is not a criticism. That is
their own business.
Another point. He mentioned
that the dirt and filth of Eng
land was beyond description.
An utter falsehood. That is the
one thing the British authorities
are very strict about. It is alb
solutely forbidden to even de-
posit ashes, potato Feelings. ETC.,
except In places provided for
each family. This refuse is taxi
en- away each night. All streets
are paved, both back and front.
Alleys are paved. They are
swept. and a liberal amount of
disinfectant powder Is scattered
In places where garbage is de-
posted. II health officials of
the nation were careless about
dirt and filth. epidemics would
wipe out the population. This
would not seem to be the case.
a. there Is 10000. 900 people in
an area Of less than $1,000
square miles. The death rate Is
low.
OF course. they have a Stun
district. This is true Of any
large city. But you don't see
filth laying around, and it is not
fair to class all England with
the slums. II so, the fine city
of Tacoma may be adequately
judged by the shacks on the
tideflats. or Seattle with her
Hollywood" on the flats.
It was 30 that no other coun-
try could compare with Eng
lands exploitation or the poor.
May I suggest the reading Of
Grapes of Wrath" A book OF
fiction, to be sure, but based on
actual facts.
Ny father and brothers work.
ed in = coal mine at Ferry-Hill,
County Durham. England. Ny
father Is now dead, but my
brothers work there still- I will
tell how Of the conditions there
as knew them until I left Eng
land and came 10 the u. S.
The mine is owned by Sir Will
lam Eden. The hours were six
hours from bank to bank (com-
ing and going on company timel.
We were supplied a house, one
ton Of coal each il days in the
winter and every n days in the
summer. Water rates were l.
cents per month. and hospital
dues were also IL cents per
month Every member Of the
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18

James A. Bland. young
Negro minstrel writer. created
In 1878 the immortal words and
music Of Garry Ne Back to Old
Virginia" Today, however, not
one person in a thousand has
ever heard his name. Bland was
born and raised In Flushing,
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
ToDAY's COMMON ERROR

Falls. ways and woods are
plural. not singular. Do not
say. A little ways down stream
is a falls and beside il a woods"
say, "A little way down stream
Ia a fall and beside il a wood"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
Obey That Impulse!

Along about this time of year the Great Amer
lean Urge.
The first sunny days, the first birds singing around
the corner of the house, your mans hands itch
for the heft of spade or the feel paint brush And his
wes thoughts lightly turn to slipcovers and paper
for the dining room.
It's audabe urge, and, what with business little
better during the past year. and prices holding steady
there ought to be awful lot of sticking up going on
pretty soon.
The best of it is that especially the outside work
on the house and lawn you not only get the satisfaction
and JOY of 1t yourself but the sumota Of all raises
the and looks of the whole town. and everybody shares
IN the general brightening-up.
Let's make the old town shine this spring never
beforel
Unlted States most Of them
A. Ann fha houae mart door
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18

Long Island, and. according to
his sister, Mrs. Irene Bland
Jurix, he was never South" in
the land where the birds MARBLE
sweet in the springtime."
TROY POUND
Troyes, France, in the Middle
Ages, was an important trading
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
TTH IT n An Inside Picture of Finan-
LII VI III u cial and Political America

Attorney General Jackson has finally
reached the conclusion that he cannot and will not win the
Democratic presidential nomination He has begged his
friends to quit talking about him possible 1910 nom-
nee. He knows that he can't get it.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18
Buckley, Wash.
WAR Is FUTILE

Editor, The Times: Maybe the
failure of the nations of Europe
to form United States OF
Europe was really a good thing.
For now il seems that a world
federation of nations Is the only
possible solution of the world
disorder. The United States Of
America in staying out of this
present turmoil in Europe Is
now in a position to be OF real
service to humanity in leading
the way to a permanent peace.
The triumph Of democracy and
a peace that will last for CEN
turtles can come about when all
nations, big and little. are
thoroughly convinced of the fu-
tility Of war.
War settles nothing. The VIC
torious nation in a war has
merely doubled the burdens Of
its people. For it must now
muster q bigger army and build
bigger battleships in order to
maintain its status as the
worlds bulldog that can lick all
nations
War ceaseth not by war. War
n
ceaseth by peace. And world
peace win be established when
the common people Of every
nation, endowed with common
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18

e Unlted States 100000 most OF Il
ere h fun operation ut the house next door.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-18

center-so important that the
city gave its name to a unit of
weight commonly used there in
handling bullion and jewels-the
troy pound of $500 grains. In
1927 it replaced England's Tower
pound. TOMORROW: Worlds
Biggest Camera.