davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-03-19

OF home workers scattered from
Maine to Tennessee-many of whom
had received as little as 3 or 4 cents
an hour. A single Chicago firm
made a restitution of 100000. 1t
might be interesting to note in pass
ing that one Of our field men dis
covered recently that a restitution
in a Southern city paid the arrival
expenses of 40. infants.
Question-Your account OF how
money received from restitution was
spent indicates that the worker was
by no means the Only one benefited
which leads to another question.
Are a good many of these restitu-
tions made without court action?
Col. Fleming--Oh, yes, that's true
in many instances. Not long ago a
number of big employers in Detroit
got some bad advice from their
attorneys on coverage. Later, they
held brief conference with our
representative, Mrs. Kathleen j.
LoWrie; went back to their plants
and paid off-s13,999 to 174 en-
ployes.
Some Resolutions Really Voluntary.
Question-Well, can you give us
any instances of where restitution
was purely NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by
some employer against whom no
violation has ever been reported?
Col. Fleming-Yes, we've even had
cases of that kind. One of them
Evening star., 1940-03-19

Col. Fleming-That's right. I'll
tell you about an interesting case
In point. A middle-aged man we'u
call Fred Jones, walked out of the
Wage and Hour Divisions regional
ONCE in Minneapolis q few days
ago. He had a check for $667
in his pocket. This check repre-
sented restitution Of wages due him
under the Fair Labor Standards
Act. Fred had been working about
50 hours week as night watehman
in st. Paul. His pay had averaged
far below the statutory minimum
about 16 cents an hour.
Question--And how did Fred's en-
ployer feel about having to make
this restitution?
Col. Fleming-That Is the point of
the story. Incredible as 1t may seem,
this employer apparently had never
heard of the act. OF course, he
couldn't know under such circum-
stances that he was violating it
Equally incredible, he apparently
bore no i'll will toward the wage and
hour law. He offered no opposition
to our inspector. Instead he said:
Tell me how much I owe and I'll
pay it."
Question-Did any one attempt to
find out what such q wind fall
meant to Fred?
Col. Fleming-Yes, indeed. Not
only to Fred but to the rest Of the
Evening star., 1940-03-19

was in Detroit, too. An EMPLOYER
against whom no complaint had ever
been lodged and whose plant had
never been inspected came to our
office, picked up copy of the act
and several interpretative bulletins.
A few days later he returned to the
Office and was asked If he had
read the bulletins. Sure" he said.
Il discovered that I hadn't beer
complying with the law so I paid
restitution. That was several days
ago." An inspector made q check
and found this employer had paid
$5,250.92 to 80 employes-and that
the restitutions were correct to the
last penny.
Question-And such voluntary res
titutions without pressure are mum.
erouS?
Col. Fleming-Well, I would rather
say there are some such cases. but
the majority of non-complying en-
ployers need little gentle but firm
nudging from the Wage and Hour
Division. But don't interpret this
to mean that there isn't a high de-
gree of acceptance of the act on the
part OF industry. AS one example,
a great many firms already are
operating on 40-hour a week basis
although the 4O-hour standard is
not mandatory under the law until
next October "a. But, incidentally,
Continued on Page BID
Evening star., 1940-03-19

ding, slaughtering and dressing live
stock. But we have been forced to
go to court in Chicago to find out
If this determination Is correct. The
packing companies think we are
wrong.
Question-Then the complete and
final answer to the question of
coverage depends on court rulings
handed down from time to time
in connection with your enforcement
work?
Col. F'leming-This, of course, is
true, but I firmly believe that the
area of industry covered by the
act is far more clearly defined than
many would lead you to believe
and, of course, the area about which
there Is doubt will grow rapidly
smaller as enforcement may result
in court rulings.
Question-Speaking of enforce
ment, may I ask you about your
enforcement plans?
Col. Fleming-Indeed you may,
The act leaves me no discretion
as administrator to enforce its pro-
visions with varying intensity in
geographical areas, industries or
special circumstances. We cannot
be stringent in New England and
close one eye in Minnesota. We
cannot crack down on the textile
industry and be lax with the mil
Inery industry. 1t is, therefore. nv
Evening star., 1940-03-19

work as an Army engineer you had
to meet about the same problems as
any other employer?
One Strike in 20 Years.
Col. Fleming That's right
Throughout my years as an engineer
I have had a great deal of contact
with labor problems. Just as pass
ing example, there was the prevail
ing wage" question to deal with on
all P. w. A. projects. But to be
brief, I have been dealing with labor
almost % years. During that time
I had only one strike on my hands.
I'm glad to say it was amicably
settled in few hours.
Question-I'm sure it must be
obvious to our listeners that your
specialized experience has given you
the background to administer the
wage and hour law. Now I would
like to ask you, If I may, some
specific questions about this statute
establishing minimum wages and
maximum work hours for certain
workers of the country. I presume by
this time you have developed a
rather definite administrative plan?
Col. Fleming-Yes, in general out
line.
Question-Wouldn't it be OF dis
Evening star., 1940-03-19

intention to enforce the law with
equal justice for every establish
ment whose employees are de-
termined to be covered by the act.
Question-That means even ap-
plication of the law-no concentra-
ton in any particular area or any
particular industry?
Inspection by Routine.
Col. Fleming-Ihat's right. I be-
lieve the only kind of enforcement
which will not result in severe COM
petitive disadvantage to those en-
ployers who are complying is regu-
lar routine inspection by regular
routine inspectors of all the estab-
lishments whose employees have been
determined as covered.
Question-And when these routine
inspections disclose violations?
Col. Fleming-Where inspection
reveals violations of the act on the
part of employers which are not
wilful or malicious, it is my intention
to give such employers an oppor-
tunity to comply and make amends
to the aggrieved employees. This lis
compliance by employer co-opera-
ton. 1t is healthy, democratic and
desirable form of compliance and
legally permissible one.
Question-No doubt in the course
Of inspections many employers are
found to be innocently-or through
ignorance-in noncompliance?
Evening star., 1940-03-19
Col. Fleming Tells
Of Wage-Hour
Policy in Forum Talk
Administrator Declares
Enforcement to Be
Uniform and Routine

Col. Philip B. Fleming, admins
traitor of the Wage-Hour Division
OF the Labor Department, explained
how the wagehour law works in the
National Radio Forum, arranged by
The Star, last night.
Col. Fleming's remarks were in
the form of a radio interview and
were broadcast locally over WMAL
and were heard over a coast-to-
coast network of the National
Broadcasting Co.
The text follows:
Good evening, radio audience.
That was, indeed, fattering intro
Evening star., 1940-03-19

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Evening star., 1940-03-19

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Evening star., 1940-03-19

Continued on Page BID
Evening star., 1940-10-18
Mr.. WiIIkie Coins

President ROOSeVelt'S suddenly re-
vived interest in matters strictly
political is the best evidence that
the claims of rising sentiment for
Wendell Willkie are based on facts
and not on wishful thinking.
The Republican candidate has in
sisted since he first loomed promi-
nently on the political scene that he
was ahead of a trend-a trend away
from the New Deal. But as the
campaign progressed, and as Candi-
date Willkie seemed to fall short of
his conventi0n-tim promise, many
of his followers began to conclude
that he had little if any chance of
winning the election
For one thing Mr.. Willkie was slow
to present clearly any substantial
issue between himself and the pres
ent administration. In their views
on foreign policy, there was little to
choose between the candidates, and
Mr.. Willkie disappointed some Of his
supporters by indorsing the objec-
tives of most of the New Deals social
reform projects and by failing to
make a more vigorous attack on the
others
In the main, the Republican
nominee has based his candidacy on
philosophical appeal, on a plea for
less direct governmental interference
with daytoday affairs of the peo-
pie. He has argued that the saliva
ton of the country lies in the stimu-
lation of individual initiative and
energy rather than in a continuation
of the New Deals paternalistic
policies.
It is not easy to give substance
to an issue of this sort. Too many
voters are more interested in imne-
diate benefits than in the evils which
ultimately attend excessive individ-
ual dependence on government for
the means of existence. But Mr..
Willkie has proved himself to be an
indefatigable advocate. In a most
literal sense he has carried his case
directly to the people in a campaign
which has no precedent for personal
appearances by presidential candi-
date.
And now it appears that Mr..
WILKES policy of talking directly to
the greatest possible number Of
voters is bearing fruit Most of the
surveys of public opinion indicate
that he is beginning to cut into the
comfortable lead that the President
heretofore has enjoyed, and there
Is real significance in the rebirth of
activity on the part of the Democratic
high command. With the election
only seventeen days in the future,
Mr.. Roosevelt has decided to make
four instead of two major political
speeches. This, in itself, is strong
evidence of an important shift in
public sentiment toward Mr.. Willkie,
which has forced the President into
active campaigning in the key States,
with the outcome Of the election pos
sibly depending on his ability to hold
his lead in New York, Ohio and
Pennsylvania.
Evening star., 1940-10-18
ever, Mr.. Elliott concluded that Con-

ever, Mr.. Elliott concluded that Con-
gress did not intend that the
contracts in the second category had
to be awarded to the low bidders.
On the contrary, in his opinion, the
grant of authority to negotiate con-
tracts is broad enough to compre-
hend the lesser authority to advertise
for bids, so that the departments
purchasing agents, even after bids
have been requested and submitted,
may in their discretion cancel these
proceedings and place the contract
in question by negotiation.
The important thing to note in
this ruling is that it applies only to
defense contracts and is based on a
specific act of Congress. 1t does not
break down the barriers which the
Controller Generals office quite
properly has erected against unau-
thorized use of executive power to
compel compliance with laws which
contain machinery for their own
enforcement. Nor is there any rea-
son to suppose that the officials
presently in charge of awarding de-
fense contracts will abuse the power
which Mr.. Elliott says they have, and
if any abuses should arise in the
future, Congress can withdraw the
power if it sees fit to do so.
Evening star., 1940-10-18
Veteran Resents Efforts
To Smear Willkie.

70 the Editor Of The Star:
1t is a surprising thing to find that
the only veteran Of the World War
who has been nominated for the high
cffice of President of the United States
should be victim of vicious attacks
with implications that he Is a friend
Of our enemies and an appeaser of
dictators.
Other wars Of this country have al
ways produced Presidents. But not the
World War. Neither party has. before
now, nominated such veteran. That,
Of itself is surprising. With men like
Generals Pershing. Harbord. Wood, Bull
lard, Liggett and hundreds OF others
available, it is amazing that only Maj.
Gen. Leonard Wood had been seriously
considered until the Republican party.
in Philadelphia, yielded to popular de-
mand and nominated Wendell Willkie.
Regardless of party, mans patriot
ism should be honored. And when a
man has courage enough to enlist, al
though he could have obtained a COM
mission through a training camp, and
then has military and executive ability
enough to win promotion to captaincy,
that man is worthy of our highest
praise. He should be immune from the
smears of Ickes. Wallace, Lehmann
ct al. WORLD WAR VETERAN.
October l6.
Evening star., 1940-10-18
Wushinqton Archdiocese?

The national headquarters of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in
America are to be established in
WASHINGTON. Such is the decision
of the triennial convention at Kansas
City. The announcement has sig
nihcance which probably will not be
completely realized for years to come.
It means that one of the most i'm
portant religious organizations in the
world is to have its focal center in
the Capital of the United States.
But there is nothing new nor
sudden about the plan for an arch
diocese of Washington. Similar sug-
gestions were offered as long ago as
1893. The Right Reverend Henry
Yates Satterlee first Bishop of Wash
ington, looked forward to the time
when the presiding officers of his
communion would be at home in the
District of Columbia. His cathedral
the magnificent House of Prayer
which his successors, the Right Rev.
erend Alfred Harding and the Right
Reverend James E. Freeman, have
raised on Mount Saint Alban-Was
to be a Witness to Christ in the
Federal metropolis. Thus would be
brought to fulfillment the vision of
George Washington and Thomas
Jefferson, who requested Major Len
FAINT to provide a place for a monu-
mental church in his first sketch
for "the new Athens in the New
World"
Whether or not the national head
quarters contemplated by the con-
vention's vote will be built in the
existing Cathedral Close remains to
be determined. There also are many
other details to be worked out. But
there is every reason to believe that
the necessary adjustments will be
undertaken without delay. and the
result will be a strengthening of the
Episcopal fellowship and an accelera-
ton of the progress of its work in
religion, education and charity.
Washington as a city as well as in
its role as Capital Of the Union will
be benefited accordingly.
Evening star., 1940-10-18
Mr.. EIIiott's RuIinq

Acting Controller General Elliott
has been an uncompromising oppo-
nent of attempts to use Government
contracts as an extra-legal means
of enforcing compliance with various
New Deal laws. On several occasions
he has been asked to rule on the
legality of proposed clauses in con-
tracts to be let by competitive bid
ding which would have had the
effect Of denying Government busi-
ness to firms alleged to be in viola
ton of the Wagner Act, or other
laws, and on each occasion the Act
ing Controller General, always basing
his opinion on the absence of any
congressional authorization, has
politely but firmly refused to sane
ton these attempts at executive law
making.
Because of these prior decisions,
some surprise has been occaSioned by
Mr.. Elliotts recent ruling that de-
fense contracts need not be awarded
to the lowest responsible bidder, even
when competitive bids have been
formally invited. But it does not
appear that this latest ruling is in
consistent with any of MIR. Elliott's
earlier decisions.
In the case of the defense con-
tracts, he was interpreting a law,
passed last July 2, 'to expedite the
strengthening of national defense" }"
This statute authorized the letting
of contracts with or without adver-
tising for national defense purposes,
and since its passage, the War De-
partment has dealt in both negoti-
ated contracts, which could be
awarded to any firm, and advertised
contracts, which, it was supposed,
had to be let to the low bidder.
When requested for a ruling, how
Evening star., 1940-10-18
Believes IS0lati0niStS
Handicap Willkie.

To the Editor of The Star:
Irwin Cobb has honored Wendell Will
kie for the enemies he has made; and
the enmity of Kelly or Hague is
indeed an asset. But against this must
be set the liability of some of Mr..
WILKES friends. The support in this
campaign of Hiram johnson can do
him little good-to say nothing Of the
Lindberghs and the Nyes, the FordS
and Fishes. For, like it or not, the
paramount issue is our foreign policy
and it will still be a vital issue in
November.
With his usual astuteness Mr.. Roose-
velt has seen this clearly and with a
glad heart said goodbye to the domestic
headache He knows that people who
have had the New Deal for seven years
cannot in seven weeks be made to fear
it more than the ominous sounds of
battle overseas. He knows that his
record on preparedness, however bad. is
far better than that Of the minority
Evening star., 1940-10-18

who blocked the now sorely needed
fortifcation Of Guam. He knows that
whatever his blunders in diplomacy
may have been he still remains the
symbol of Americas defiance of a
predatory world All this and more he
knOWS-and smiles
To erase that smile demands more
heroic measures than have yet been
taken. Mere acquiescence in the notable
achievements of our State Department
is not enough. There must also be
fortnight condemnation of those who
have done everything in their power 10
Illustrate and enfeeble it. Mr. Wilkes
avowed admiration for Hiram johnson
may win him few votes in California,
but it will ALLEVIATE many more through
out the land who feel that the day
of the isolationiSt is over; that neither
safety nor honor will long be ours If
We fail to play our part. wise and
valiant part, in the worlds great drama.
Baltimore, Md. R. D. MILLER.
October 16.
Evening star., 1940-10-18
The Army Organizes

The far-reachlng step taken oy
the War Department in naming COM
manders of four field armies and
nine tactical corps, and divorclng
organization and training of troops
from the hands of those responsible
for administration and supply, came
so naturally that its Importance
easily can be underestimated. Yet
selection Of these commanders, their
stats and their headquarters gives
the Army its first complete tactical
organization in peacetime.
Now that this has been effected,
the many seemingly unconnected
moves OF the past fourteen months
are revealed as soundly conceived
steps in a plan which is a tribute to
the sagacity of the War Department.
In September, 1899, the Army could
not boast of a single tactical unit
in continental United States larger
than a regiment, if mechanical
brigade and a skeletonized cavalry
division be excepted. 1t was then
that the first step toward perfected
tactical organization was made. EX-
listing units were grouped into five
divisions which were concentrated
for training. Next came the crea-
ton of two Army corps which as
sembled along the Sabine River for
maneuvers. Only the 4th Corps
was a true tactical corps, the 9th
Corps being a hodge -podge Of in
fantry, a mechanical brigade, a
cavalry division and scattering OF
corps overhead troops. Expansion
of the enlisted strength of the Army
from 217,OOO to 375,OOO made possible
the third step-creation of nine full
triangular divisions.
Then the Army made seemingly
nucleus of a general headquarters
with Mai. Gen. Leslie ]. McNair as
chief of staff But today this step
stands out as the one which COM
pleted the pattern, for the nine
regular divisions and the eighteen
National Guard divisions which are
entering the service now have been
grouped into nine tactical corps and
four field armies, with final COM
mand centering in Gen. George c..
Marshall, chief of staff, through Gen.
McNair's general headquarters. The
nine geographical corps areas retain
jurisdiction in matters of admins
tration and supply. Complete in
themselves, removal of the tactical
units will not disrupt their func-
tioning.
Result of this final step has been
to give to Gen. Marshall a dual
role. As chief of staff, he SuperviSes
the nine corps areas through the
War Department. AS ranking Army
officer, he commands the field forces
through Gen. McNair's headquar-
ters, through the Army commanders,
Evening star., 1940-10-18
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles E. TrdceDeu.

Those interested in phonograph rec
ords for the first time this fall should
stop to consider what really wonderful
works Of art they are.
Then they will be sure to keep them
properly.
As with most works of art, record
Is easily destroyed, but if given normal
usage, with some thought applied to
the process, it will not only last long
time, but will continue to be work
of art.
While the record is strong, in one
sense, it is fragile in another. A dropped
record may or may not crack or smash
all to pieces. 1t all depends upon the
way it falls.
1t is an odd fact that record which
is dropped out of hand and hits a
hardwood floor on the edge may not
break, but one which lights easily, to
all appearances, on a thick rug may
smash into a hundred fragments.
The thing to do, then, is not to drop
them.
The handling of photograph records
is easily learned, and once learned be-
comes practically automatic.
But preliminary care is most essen
tial. There can be nothing but harm
come TO records which are kept stacked
on top of each other without either
paper jackets or in an album.
The tiny grooves which contain the
precious music are only six one-thou-
sandths of an inch wide. The walls
which separate the grooves are ex-
tremely thin.
If paper of some kind is kept between
records. there no harm can come tc
these hundreds OF feet Of grooves on
every record.
In removing a record from a jacket
or album, be sure to reach the second
finger of the right hand into the paper,
or album pocket. and insert 1t beneath
the hole in the center of the record.
The thumb of the right hand is kept
on the rim.
In this way the disk may be balanced
perfectly between finger and thumb,
and withdrawn without a finger touch
ing the grooves.
Women, in particular, should learn
this way of handling records, for their
hands are more moist, and more likely
to spot up records.
It is an artistic sin to get Npstick
and cigarette ashes upon the surface
of record. With little care, this is
a crime which need not be committed
by any one.
The dirty record is not only un-
slightly, owing to the mared polish, but
also will not give as good reproduction.
Such mistreatment mostly occurs be-
cause the owner has not stopped tc
realize the minute proportions of the
grooves, and especially of the waves
and indentationS in the sides OF the
grooves
These are the physical indentations
and waves which give the needle the
impulses which it sends to the amplii-
cation system, which translates them
into electrical impulses, which In turn
finally become sound through the loud
speaker.
Evening star., 1940-10-18
Submits Prayer Anent
Registration Day.
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor of The Star.
Supreme Leader of the destiny of
mankind, pray Thee to preserve peace
for our blessed America Grant our
youth a life-span free from destructive
warfare, but strengthen and steel their
will to defend Thy most precious gift
of liberty. Magnify our national vision
to miss no shadow of coming Ill
events. Endow us with courage to put
fear in the hearts of our enemies. Stir
up within US every atom of latent power
and keep us united in our love for this
holy motherland. Inspire our elders to
act justly, to love mercy and to walk
uprightly before Thee, our Father and
Protector. Amen. PETER GOULED.
October 16