davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Aid for Finland

Delivering his speech from the
throne yesterday, King Gustav gave
expression to the depth of Sweden's
feeling of solidarity with Finland.
Sweden" he said, feels an obliga-
ton to give Finland's people every
material humanitarian help which is
possible, needing its own position"
Although the Swedish ruler took
pains to avoid any implication of
armed aid to his war-stricken neigh
Dor, he made it clear that Sweden is
determined to defend her own inde-
pendence, a sentiment in which he
was joined by the Prime Minister,
Per Albin Hanson.
In defense of its independence at
the first point of attack, Sweden-as
we'll as Norway and Denmark-has
thrown its resources behind the
Finnish cause. But because of the
Evening star., 1940-01-12

OF the property, and at the present
writing there is reason to doubt that
any definite explanation will be
forthcoming. Seventeen bodies have
been found. Rescue workers still are
struggling to reach their comrades
not yet located. The superintendent,
however, is pessimistic in his attitude
toward. the possibility Of rescue.
OF course, relatives and friends of
the entrapped miners, not to men,
ton thousands of strangers to whom
they are merely fellow-creatures in
distress, will not abandon hope so
long as the slightest chance exists.
Coal is necessity, and the public
appreciates fully the fact that re-
moving it from the bowels of the
earth is labor invariably perilous.
The Federal Government consistent
ly has endeavored to help the mining
industry in its effort to prevent such
disasters as the BARLEY tragedy; the
operators commonly have co-operat-
ed with the Government; miners
unions certainly have not been re-
miss in meeting their part of the
responsibility. And the results have
been encouraging. Ever since the
United States Bureau of Mines was
established and its study of mine
disasters began there has been
steady decline in the number of
casualties and a steady improvement
in conditions of work in the mines.
The State inspectors also deserve
credit in the circumstances.
But the ideal of perfect safety has
not been attained; perhaps it is be-
yond the reach of human genius.
Evening star., 1940-01-12

peculiarities Of their position with
respect to both Russia and Germany
which has warned them against
permitting allied bases on their soil
the Scandinavian countries are
forced into distinction between the
humanitarian aid which their gov
ernments can render officially and
the unofficial aid in the form of
volunteers and monetary contribu-
tions which their peoples can make
as individuals.
Sweden, Norway and Denmark are
exerting themselves to the utmost
in defense of their neutral position
in conflict which they see closing in
on them from several sides, but their
anxiety over neutrality is not over
shadowing the cardinal fact that the
fate of Finland may be the key to
their own fate. and anything that
can be done to reinforce the Firms,
either by humanitarian or military
aid, serves to forestall any future
assault upon their own independence.
Many Scandinavians are already
serving in Finland's army and a
number of Swedish army officers
have resigned their commissions in
order to join the Finnish cause. A
Swedish general, Ernst Linder, is
now in Finland, at the head of a
steadily growing Swedish contingent.
Norwegian and Danes also have gone
to the northern front, while adven-
turers from many lands arrive to join
the fight for democracy. The move
ment has assumed such proportions
that an international brigade, such
as fought the Fascists in Spain, may
be undertaken, bringing together in
a single unit such diverse nationali-
ties as Swedes. Norwegians, Danes,
Canadians, Italians and Americans.
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Says New Deal Still
Racing to Bankruptcy.


Judged by recent presidential mes
sages, the spirit of change and inner
reform has hit the New Deal 1t has
laid of temporarily denouncing out
side forces for its personally promoted
list of failures and pledges itself to
bring the battered budget within So 500,-
900 900 of balance by adoption of the
"if' system. If Congress votes enough
hatch under pressure treatment. If
prices don't skyrocket, due to imitation.
If those royalists, heartened by cur
rent absence of hate and abuse cam
paigns, hire back enough long standing
reliefers to make the Government look
good.
It's the same glib technique, with
worthwhile results doomed in advance.
The New Dealers, their souls stepped in
lofty principles and humanitarianism,
couldn't save nickel if they tried all
winter-whether it's the forgotten mans
nickel or whether it bears the taint
of the royalist. And if they could, would
an election year Congress permit it?
No. these New Deal lads ache to hurl
it broadcast. Take one example. Given
power to reorganize the Government,
after long clamoring for this power,
tLa tepderhearted Mr. Roosevelt hasn't
cast adrift a single (underprivileged)
bureaucrat; or extinguished one super
fluous board, bureau or commission.
And there isn't enough space by seven
or eight 0000-square- office
buildings to contain present and pros
pective extensions of Government.
The race to bankruptcy, under spon-
sorship of the New Deal is still on.
January 8. WALTER BAHNSEN.
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Suggests That Parents Be Made
Safety Conscious"
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
The large amount of material, together
with a detailed analysis of the many
facts, concerning the IS traffic deaths in
Washington during 1899, recently pub
ished in The Star, provides considerable
food for thought on the problem of traffic
safety in the District.
Traffic deaths at any age level are to be
deplored yet it is worthy of note that in
the two age levels embracing children
of school age (under 10 and 1O-2O) less
than fifth OTIS per cent? of the total
traffic deaths occurred; and if we deduct
the two cases of children of pre-school
age, the showing is even better-15.3
per cent
At any one time during the school year
there are more than $4,000 school chill
dren on their way to school daily at the
same time that thousands of workers
are hurrying to their places of employ
ment. Only l of the Is deaths of chill
dren under 20 occurred during the hours
when the schools were in session or when
the children were on their way to or
from school,
Through the continuous and unselfish
efforts of the A. A. A. schoolboy patrols,
through constant traffic safety reminders
by teachers, through traffic safety dem
onstrations in classrooms and auditorium
programs and through regular class in
struction in traffic safety, the schoo4
children of the District are being con-
stantly impressed with the need to watch
their steps while on the streets
The fact that IA Of the IS deaths in
the school-age group occurred while the
youngsters were nominally under the
control of their parents emphasizes the
need for more strenuous efforts to be
made this year to make parents traffic
safety conscious so that they, too, may
help the schools to drive home the need
for school children throughout the Dis
trict to be both mentally and physically
alert whenever they are in the presence
of trafflc. CHESTER w. HOLMES.
Alexandria, Va.
January Z.
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Twenty-Mile Speed-Limit
Rule Called Childish.

To the Editor of The Star
was amazed when read the account
of Traffic Bureau Inspector William E.
Holmes report to Maj. Brown recon-
mending a speed limit at night OF 70
miles per hour. In the light OF the
excellent analysis of traffic fatalities ap-
pearing in The Star recently. this is
childish approach to the difficult traffic
problems of Washington.
In regard to the speed limit in general,
let me point out my personal observa-
tions. On numerous occasions I have
tried driving in the center lane on many
of the through streets in the Northwest
section at exactly the posted speed limit.
The horn blowing and weaving done by
other drivers in attempting to get by
caused me to come to the conclusion
that instead of being a safe driver was
actually creating a traffic hazard. This
little experiment also brought home the
fact that most drivers exceed the speed
limit when conditions permit. In con-
versations with friends and by listen
ing to Traffic Court proceedings, have
also discovered that a great number,
perhaps a majority, of speeding arrests
are technical violations where the driv-
ing conditions would have permitted
safe speeds in excess of the posted limit.
I refer especially to bridges and similar
speed traps where there are no cross
traffic, no parked cars and no pedestrians
crossjn0 the roadway To me the Sitll.
alton calls for an increase in the speed
limit to where rigid enforcement is pos
sible, and more strict enforcement Of
weaving and reckless driving regulations
within the speed limit where trafnc con-
ditions require caution. It would be far
better if local traffic officials recognized
the public demand for speed and spent
their efforts on safer fast driving. rather
than slower driving with multitude Of
Evening star., 1940-01-12

signs and special lights that Philadel-
phia lawyer couldn't unravel
With regard to the number of fatali-
ties. two important points have been
brought out by The Star. In a majority
of cases the pedestrian was at fault and
a majority of the pedestrians killed held
no driving permits and therefore had
little knowledge of driving problems. Il
also noted that it was rare that speed
ing was even contributing factor in
these accidents) Granted that the
pedestrian deserves the right of way.
nevertheless the pedestrian must be
warned that the automobile is pretty
much like trained wild animal-though
it is ordinarily SAFE it often reverts
and becomes dangerous Few pedes-
trlans realize that it is possible to walk
right into car and yet be hidden from
the driver by the windshield corner post.
When bundled in dark coat on a wet
night, person is seldom conscious that
for driver to see him is pretty much
like blind man looking in dark room
Tor a black cat that isn't there 1t is
unbelievable how far a car can travel
while the driver sneezes, lights a Gig
arctic, fights with speck of dirt in his
eye or RECEIVERS from the flash of a glar-
ing headlight. 1 have been waiting for
this type of education to begin in the
papers and on the screen. but so far I
seem to be waiting in vain
January 9. VIM. H. ROSS, Jr.
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1Driter. although the use OF
q pseudonyn1 for publication is :
permissible. Please be brief!
Evening star., 1940-01-12

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication Of all news dispatches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
All rights Of publication of special dispatches
herein also ere reserved
Evening star., 1940-01-12

Ireland claims that she is not In
the war zone. Possibly not, but she
has a pretty good view Of its side
lines.
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as second-class matter post Office.
Washington, D. c.
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.

Collection made at the end of each month or
each week. Orders may be sent by mail or tale
phone National 5000
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Objects to Weather Bureau
Change in Pressure Unit.


Change in Pressure Unit.
To the Editor Of The Star
This is leap year and the Weather
Bureau has already taken a leap. 1t
has adopted barometric Esperanto.
In English speaking countries baro-
meters are graduated in inches. In
continental Europe, where the metric
system is in use, they are graduated in
millimeters. The weather men on one
continent send their data to the other:
and they apparently find it convenient
to invent a new unit which they call
millibar, just as Esperanto was invented
and intended for international use.
II the weather men find this con-
venlent, and continue its use inter-
nationally as in the recent past, no one
has reason to complain. But when, as
now, they go further and foist millibars
on the American public. it is different
matter For years and years the
weather Bureau has given pressure in
inches. Barometers in American homes.
and in the bureau, are graduated in
inches. Navigation. Weather Bureau
and scientific literature are in inches.
The American people are Inch" minded.
The bureaus leap has now suddenly
thrown all this into the discard. 1t
would be no more confusing if the
bureau gave temperatures in Reaumur
degrees instead of Fahrenheit.
When one looks at weather map or
at the bureaus figures in a newspaper
today he finds some strange looking
figures which mean absolutely nothing
unless one has table to translate them
into inches. The only alternative is a
mathematical computation, provided
you know how to do it and are not too
irate.
The sole reason for the existence of
the Weather Bureau is that it performs
public service. It's recent leap is very
decidedly public disservice. There is
no reason why the bureau cannot talk
to Europe in its new Esperanto and to
the American people in plain United
States. G. S. SHIRK,
January 10.
Evening star., 1940-01-12

Main ONCE: 11th st. and Pennsylyanias e. Ave-
Chicago ONCE: 435 North Michigan Ave.
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Prices Effective January l, 1910.
Delivered by Carrier-City and Suburban.
RerulSr Edition.
NiKht Final Edition,

Evening and Sunday 75c per mo. or 1sc per week
The Evening Star---45c per mo, or 10c per week
The Sunday per copy
Evening star., 1940-01-12

Night Final and Sunday STAR S5c per month
NIGHT Final Star 6Oc per month
Evening star., 1940-01-12

Rural Tube Delivery.
The Evening and Sunday Star----S5c per month
The Evening per month
Clna C,,x,l ,las. Gtn nn
Evening star., 1940-01-12

WASHIN TON. D. c.
FRIDAY IL, 1910
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
Forbes
Business Men.
a~.- -
Sound Unusual
Christmas Note
BY b. c. FORBES

Have you noticed that some
Christmas greetings sound a
different, more serious. more
spiritual note this year? There
is less emphasis on "A Merry
Christmas" and "A Happy New
Year" Mems minds are con-
cerned with the tragic suffer-
,ings of many peoples through
out the world.
Instead of joyousness. they
stress solicitude, fraternity, toll
erance towards all, recognition
that the brotherhood of man
can be ushered in on earth
through broad-minded good will,
forbearance, mutually.
Significant sentiments voiced
in Christmas greetings sent by
business leaders to this column.
to their friends, in some cases
also to their employees;
Donald Dallas:
A little more tolerance
A little more sacrifice
A little more faith
A little more courage
And all working together
Will make real
The spirit of Christmas Day
In the world.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
Holiday g
TO Reduce
.SteelRate

NEW YORK, Dec. "a. - Steel
operations for this week are
scheduled at 80.8 per cent of ingot
capacity. against 96.S per cent in
the previous week. decrease of
10 points or 1914 per cent. accord
ing to the American Iron and
Steel Institute. The current week
includes Christmas, which is a
recognized holiday in the steel
industry. A month ago the indi-
Gated rate was 96.6 per cent. un-
changed from the preceding week.
The following table gives a COM
parison of the current schedule
with the nearest corresponding
week of previous years together
with changes from the week i'm
mediately preceding.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
In a Happier Position

Thus. the economic tug-of-war
continues in financial marts,
and. until the issues are resolved,
II seems TO me that the free in
dividual. without legalistic re-
strictions on his portofolio, is in
happier position than funds
whose composition is vigorously
restricted either by statutes or
by custom.f And individuals, with
stakes in institutions which are
largely tied to high grade bonds
or their equivalent. can au-
tomatically create balanced
financial position for themselves
by devoting at least a portion
of their current savings and free
lnvestable funds TO initiation
hedges, whether consisting of
common stocks or real estate.
The new social trend initiates
against current savings. An in
dividual's savings are threatened
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
Livestock Markets

cATTLE-Receipts 400; market steady;
choice to prime yearlings, dry fed Sll 80
10 good TO choice yearlings. dry fed.
VIC. 500 ! so; choice 10 prime heavy steers,
dry fed. 81 50M 10. so; good to choice
heavy steers, $40, 5OG1l so. short fed
steers, IS. so n 80: best grass steers and
heifers, S7.75H S IS. fair TO good grass
steers and heifers, So. 500 I so; common
10 tair grass steers and heifers S5ms;
best cows. Sc $50; Gamer and cutter
cows 81 - 5.25 old rims, 50. 80 down. best
llght butcher bulls and heavy weight bo-
lognas, S6.75N 1.25: medium weight bo-
logna bulls 81. 25 sf6.75 light common
bulls, So rs; stock bulls. SIS so a 6. SO; good
TO choice stockers and feeders. SsM 10 so :
common 10 fair stockers and feeders 50
30. mixers and springers, $50 a So
VEAL CALVES Receipts 5UJ; marke,
DOC higher, best calves, S13 So fair TO
good, S1l. 50H -; seconds, S9alO.50; cuIls
and common. S6as.5O.
SHEEP AND LAMBs-Receipts, I, 0O0O
market 25c TO soc higher; best lambs,
900; fair 20 good $50 a 3 so. seconds,
" Hb25; best sheep. S4H425. heavy fat
sheep, 81. 80 n 3 so. culs and common. 50
so
HOGS Receipts. / 900, market pros
poets higher
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
Steel
Expanding

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 24.-Cov-
cred by appropriations totaling
slightly in excess of 100000,
the Allegheny Ludlum Steel Cor
poration has either completed,
under way, or authorized improve
ments in its main productive units
during 1910, which will result in
an increase of electric furnace
melting capacity OF approximately
$4,000 tons of alloy steel annually.
The expansion program provides
for a corresponding increase in
finishing facilities, and affects each
one of the company's plants or
subsidiaries in Breckenridge and
West Leechburg. Pa, Watervliet,
Dunkirk and Buffalo, N. Y, Wall
ingford. Conn, and Detroit, Mich.
Also under active consideration
at this time are additional plans
for expansion of facilities, the de-
tails of which are not ready for
announcement yet. which would
give Allegheny Ludlum further
material increase in capacity.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
-Four Conditions
A New York reader asks:
"What IA the norrnnl DYkcA AZ

A New York reader asks:
what II the normal price Of
stocks In relation to earninEs?"
Answer: What constitutes a
normal "price-warnings ratio" is
always more or less difficult to
say. 1t varies, chiefly because
of our conditions: ID the GER
tainty OF earnings, 20 the
trend of earnings, 80 the pro-
portion of earnings that can be
paid in dividends. and a. the
yield of high-grade corporation
bonds.
Just now. the chief factor Is
the percentage of earnings that
can be paid out as dividends. the
question being, will not taxes
take such large slice th2H
dividends will be an abnormall
small percentage? This ques.
ton tends to reduce the price
earnings ratio that is normal
at this time.
The tendency just now is for
reasonably good ordinary divi-
dend-paying stocks to sell for
about 20 times annual dividends.
The same stocks tend to sell for
only IL to II times their annual
earnings per share. varying from
s times for the more speculative
ones to II times for such as
General Electric.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
Stock List Turns
Upward After
Mixed Start

NEW YORK, Dec. 24.-The
market turned upward after a
quiet and irregular opening
Chemicals and steels paced the
upswing around noon. Dupont
spurted nearly 3 points and Allied
gained l 4. Bethlehem and United
States Steel each advanced a full
point.
Lesser gains appeared in Amer
lean Can. Anaconda, Atchison,
Briggs, Case, international Nickel,
New York Central and Pennsyl-
vania.
Motors were firm. American
Telephone and Telegraph tended
lower along with Douglas. Else
where changes were insignificant.
International News Service wire
CHICAGO, Dec. "a. - Wheat
opened &c higher today, corn I'M
changed to hc UP and oats NC up,
WHEAT = May, 84%c; July,
79lac.
CORN-May, 6oA @6ossc; July,
60Ac.
OATS-May. 35%c.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
Small Rewards

Likewise. bullishnesS has been
restrained by the evident desire
at home to capture in taxes
most OF the wartime profits,
making the rewards of industry
small in relation TO the risks to
which il has been exposed.
On top of these factors has
been the special depression in
Wall Street, which is an after
math of federal regulation.
Offsetting these dark shadows
is the obvious fact that under
the stimulus of a development of
new industry, the armament
industry, there has been a sharp
expansion in industrial produc-
tien and employment.
Besides. the political opposi-
tion 10 continuance of the tax
exempt privilege on government
bonds will in time bring the
funds of the well-to-do back into
common stock channels.
Moreover, seasoned stocks of
well managed companies in in
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
Defines Initiation
In Ldymdn's
Language
by LEWIS HANEY

Professor Of sesssssAes, n. Y. UnlysssAsO
A Chicago reader says:4
Wont you please explain Ia
Aation 20 that . lsymaa can
understand, and tell how We
can protect ourselves?
Answer: Imitation means q de-
cline In the purchasing power Of
currency that Is due to some
thing done to the currency 1t.
self.
When. for example, the guam
tity of currency In circulation
is increased more rapidly than
the quantity OF things bought
with 1t. the purchasing power Of
the currency tends to be re-
duced. and prices to rise. Also,
when the security back Of the
currency. is reduced, the pur-
chasing power tends to decline.
This may be due to reducing
the size of the standard coin
tsay the gold dollar. or to in
creasing the public debt excess
sively.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-24
GIN Unit Clears
Common Arrears

Yellow Truck and Coach Manu-
featuring Company has declared a
dividend of SIS on the common
stock. all of which is owned by
General Motors Corporation, pay
able December 30. to stock OF rec
ord December %. The dividend
will pay full arrears or the COM
mon.
Following payment December "a
of all dividend arreaFages- on the
class b stock together with pay
ment December 30 of the dividend
on the common stock. the common
stock and class B stock will be en-
titled to receive the same divi-
dends per share, there being no
further dividend pre- rences on
either class B or common stock.