davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-06-07
Labor Department Official
Comments on Working Hours.

To the Editor Of The Star:
My attention has been called to Mr..
David Lawrence's column in The Eve
ming Star Of May %, in which he states
in substance that the Government will
bungle its defense program unless 1t
modifies the social and labor legislation
which has been enacted during the past
few years and points to the French 40
hour week situation as evidence of his
contention.
In view Of the fact that the erroneous
view that American labor legislation,
such as the Walsh-Healey and Fair
Labor Standard Acts, imposes rigid
limitation on the number of hours
which can be worked during a week is
widely held in responsible and sup
posedly informed quarters, think it
is important to point out the misunder-
standing of the situation.
The French 40-hour week legislation
did impose, as Mr.. Lawrence implies, a
rigid 40-hour week limitation which
was recognized as unavoidable in the
American statutes, which provide for
complete flexibility. The overtime re-
quirements have been imposed as an
incentive to increased employment and
to discourage working the same shift
an unlimited number of hours instead
Of taking on additional employees. 1t Is
completely misleading to suggest that
there is any obstacle to the rapid and
successful carrying out of the defense
program because of labor legislation now
on the statute books. There is no limi-
tation whatever to the number of hours
which can be worked so long as over
time is paid beyond the 40-hour week,
which has come to be generally recog-
nized as the American industrial stand
ard. Indeed, it seems to me that the
situation is quite the reverse and that
the defense program under the hysteria
which seems to be characteristic in some
quarters should not be allowed to be-
come an obstacle to taking up the en-
ployment slack.
It may be necessary later on in some
industries to work certain key employees
more than 40 hours because of a pos
sible shortage of skilled labor in terms
Of three-shift operations. There is ad-
mittedly. however, no shortage in the
type of labor which would make up the
great bulk of employment even on a
three-shift basis. Where 1t is necessary
to work some of these key employees
more than 20 hours, see no reason
why they should not be compensated
accoedinSly. II W were to Lift Ill re-
Evening star., 1940-06-07

strictions on the hours of employment,
as has been suggested, it seems to me
that We might have repetition of the
unfortunate decision in the last war,
when the defense industries and the
Government itself were bidding against
each other to obtain labor If there
are some rules governing the employ
ment market, there will be more sta
biity and continuity in the industries
which are really vital to national de-
tense, which we all recognize is the
single great objective now before the
country
L. METCALFE WALLING,
Administrator, Division of Public
Contracts, Department of Labor.
June l..
Evening star., 1940-06-07
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Trdce1DeH.

Young praying nantes should be fed
on small flies and other insects, the
smaller the better.
A spray of natural leaves is placed in
the cage. This serves the nantes as
natural feeding ground, allowing them
to do their stuff" from babyhood in
the old ancestral way, which is not q
very brave way. but efficient, at least
from the mantis standpoint.
We will never forget the first time we
saw praying mantis.
Never even having heard of the crea-
ture, we instantly took it to be very
large grasshopper. But examination
showed it utterly unlike any grasshopper
which ever hoped.
++*
Making the acquaintance of the pray
ing mantis for the first time is something
of an experience. This is particularly
true if the specimen is full grown. The
evil-looking head, the folded forepaws,
the coloration, exactly that of the leaf
on which it crouches, the every aspect
of the insect is like nothing else in
the world.
No grasshopper, this, but one Of ma
lures queerest things yet to be found in
almost any suburban garden. No doubt
thousands Of them are mistaken for
grassfNppers and dismissed as such.
~ y
Their popular name, praying mantiS,
comes from the folded paws, or legs, or
arms, which make mockery of prayer.
Their prayer, of course, is for food,
and the folded position is a blind. In
less than the popular twinkling of an eye
(Which is one-fiftieth of a second) the
same unfold and seize the unwary small
insect which happens to appeal to the
mantis as food.
The mantis cases, formed on shrubbery,
usually close to a house, are among the
wonders Of nature. These vary in size
from walnut to an egg and are white,
rather grainy looking. You cannot
miss them.
Sometimes an unreasonable spell of
warm weather in December or January
will cause the young to hatch out.
This means their death, for their nat
ural food is not available.
Our advice is not to try to bring up a
whole cageful of these insects, but to
select three or four of the most likely
looking and return the remainder to the
outdoors, where they will find enough
food.
The praying mantis is clean-looking
creature, entirely lacking that somewhat
Shiny look which so many insects have
1t seems to have no more secretion
than the dry leaf which it so success
fully initiates
This enables many insect haters to
contemplate the mantis without the
usual shuddering Lookout should be
kept for this odd one around porches
wreathed in shrubbery. Often their
camouhage is so good that they are
wholly overlooked by both human and
insect eyes, much to the i'll of the latter.
AS far as we know. the praying mantis
is in no sense dangerous to human
beings and may be handled with per-
feet safety.
Evening star., 1940-06-07
Replies to Correspondent
On Five-Day Week.
To the Editor of The Star.

10 the Editor OF The Star:
Last week you published letter by a
Mr.. A. Montmorency Jones III, which
although written in the spirit of IRONY.
nevertheless warrants reply, since the
fictitious signature and the timing of the
writer's comments indicate the serious
ness OF his intent, namely, to under
mine the proposed 5-day week for all
Federal employees and to emphasize the
alleged unproductivity and inefficiency
in the service
Since Mr.. j. appears to be ignorant
OF the progressive social programs under
the 5-day week in most major industries,
the following example might help to
brighten his mental blackout:
Previous to my affiliation with civil
service worked many years for large
private utility concern under the most
rulnous conditions as follows:
l. Five-day, 35-hour week.
2. Observing of all holidays, including
Lincoln's Birthday.
3. Periodic pay increases.
4. Promotions according to length of
SeIVlCe Plus competence.
5. Pension without cost to employees
6. Vacations and sick leave with pay.
7. Free dental, medical and hospitali-
zation service against / per cent pay
deduction.
3. Time and one-half for overtime.
9. Free educational courses to all en-
ployes.
Obviously this gross misconduct of a
companys business obliged the manage
ment to increase considerably the divi-
dends to its investors and lower dras-
tically the electric rates to its con-
sumers
1t is quite clear that the departmental
service could not possibly exist under
such conditions, especially since its per-
sonnel has been and still Is being Sc
lected by the crude method of COM
petitive tests and character investiga-
tions, which permits incompetents, loaf
ers and shady characters to fn vacancies.
Therefore in order to rejuvenate civil
service efficiency three steps should i'm
mediately be taken:
l. Increase the working week to 48
hours.
2. Overtime, presently uncompensated,
should be charged against annual leave.
g. Personnel selection should be left
entirely in hands of politicians.
May 20. GEORGE =. oERSTTR.
Evening star., 1940-06-07
SILVER SPRING, Md.

Dear Sir:
Gould you please tell me what pray
ing nantes eat?
II put two praying mantis cocoons in
an insect cage that I made about q
month ago. 1t IS now swarming with
praying nantes. They are about u
inch long
"While am writing this beetle flew
in the room and landed upside down on
the desk. With a snap he bounded about
feet in the air and landed right side up.
II turned 1t over to see if he would re-
peat this performance. Which he did a
good many times before let him 60.
Il just recently came from Iowa. Thus
far, I've made acquaintance with several
different kinds OF birds, wild flowers and
insects.
so far, I've seen these birds here in
Maryland:
Cardinal, mockingbird, meadowlark,
robin. bluebird, catbird, buzzard, crow,
mourning dove, killdeer, nuthatch, chick
adee, flicker, downy woodpecker hairy
woodpecker, purple grackle, chipping
sparrow, song sparrow, blue jay, house
wren, junco, startling, wood thrush, brown
thrasher, indigo bunting, yellow-b billed
cuckoo, yellow warbler, chestnut-sided
warbler. black -and-white warbler, Mary
land yellowthroat, tufted titmouse.
The following is a list of birds that
I'm acquainted with in Iowa. I would
like to know how many birds can ex-
pect to see in Maryland?
These are the birds one sees in North
ern Iowa:
English sparrow, chipping sparrow,
song sparrow, fox sparrow, house wren,
blue bird, robin, meadowlark, cardinal,
downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker,
red-headed woodpecker, yellow-bellied
sapsucker, flicker, kinghsher, junco,
chickadee. brown creeper, white breasted
nuthatch, startling, hummingbird, brown
thrasher, catblrd, loggerhead shrike
kingbird, phoebe, rose breasted grosbeak,
scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, Balti-
more oriole, yellow billed cuckoo, gold
finch, yellow warbler, myrtle warbler
chestnut sided warbler, black -and-whit
warbler Maryland yellowthroat, ruby
crowned klnglet, golden-crowned kinglet
purple martin, barn swallow, bank swal-
low. tree swallow, horned lark bobolink
cowbird, red-winged blackbird, yellow
headed blackbird, purple grackle, bronze
grackle, nighthawk, bobwhite, bat, ring
necked pheasant, crow, barred owl
horned owl, screech owl, sparrow hawk
red-tailed hawk, red-shoulder hawk
pied-billed grebe, great blue heron, black
crowned night heron, sea gull, yellow
legs, killdeer, Wilson snipe, woodcock
and, of course, several kinds of wild
ducks and geese.
Il am reading your columns and enjoy
them very much
yours truly A. E. r., jr."
Our correspondent may expect to flnd
here practically all of the birds he
knew in Iowa
The same fyways serve all these birds
Evening star., 1940-06-07
Urges Passage Of
Walter-Logan Bill.


To the Editor OF The Star:
The Walter-Logan bill proposes to
return legal rights to citizens denied
honest hearings by newly created agency
heads through the many rules and regu-
lations they have formulated What
chance have we to contradict or bring
to light any of the many unjust rules so
established?
One of the many things I cannot
understand is why Congress gives this
unlimited power to bureau heads.
Senator Ashurst is correct in his argu-
ment urging enactment of the Walter
Logan measure.
JOSEPH P. B. WEIR.
Nav 81
Evening star., 1940-06-07

A., he Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in his
paper and also the local news published herein
herein also are reserved
Evening star., 1940-06-07
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1Driter, although the use OF
q pSeudonynl for publication is
permissible. Please be briet!
Evening star., 1940-06-07
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as seoond-class matter post ofnce,
Washington. D. c.
Evening star., 1940-11-10

Evsbsdy Needs Thiamia Every Day. Thamn affects health in
many Without you look your best, feel
your best lhak your best Esse normal growth in
children Affects digestion, vitality Medical
thortes say Thiamin deficiency is very widespread in
American food. And you need Thamn every day. for
stored in the BODY
Evening star., 1940-11-10

50 Wss6srs sF Daess Quaker Oats praised by mothers
and physicians the country So valuable for young
sers and babies, before the first birthday Its Thiamn
aids elimination. Contains iron and phos phorus, high
proteins Whole grain oatmeal storehouse Of ath
fu food elements. And remember every child must have
Thiamin for normal growth.
Evening star., 1940-11-10

Triple Rich 1hiam the Spark Psg vitsma Bl) When you
enjoy delicious Quaker Oats, you get valuable
benefit For whole grain oatmeal rich in Thamn.
the spark plug" vitamn-absoutey necessary help
turn food into energy. Quaker Oats actually contains
enough Thamin spark" itself and twice as much
additional food into energy
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
Book Highlights

is an exceedingly full, well-writ-
ten biography that Claude M.
Fuess has achieved in Calvin
Coolidge" (Little, Brown; $4.75).
Here, for instance, is the first
use of the correspondence between
Coolidge and his father. Coolidge,
Mr.. Fuess concludes, "was not
only a useful public servant but
a great and a good man." His
health you feel, made the Presi-
dency onerous long before any
one suspected it, may have &C.
counted for his famous II do
not choose to run" although he
told his secretary. eff I should
serve as President again, I should
serve almost ten years, which is
too long for a President in this
country! In any event he kept
the problem to himself as reveal.
ed in this excerpt:
After the reporters had escaped
o spread the new CT do not choose
o run for President in 1928"-writ-
,en on little slips, cut up and pass
I'd out by the President himself in
his summer office in the South
Dakota Black Hills), the President
back to his desk, stared alb
sent-mindedly for a moment, at
some documents, called for his hat,
and Joined Senator Capper in a
walk to the Presidential limousine.
Although Mrs. Coolidge felt in
;uitively that something had been
her husbands mind, she knew
nothing whatever in advance of the
decision or the announcement. After
he President had retired to his
'oom for a nap following lunch
con, Senator Capper, always a re-
served man, said cautiously, THAT
vas quite a surprise the President
gave US this morning." When Mrs.
Coolidge %professed ignorance, he
old her what had happened, and
she broke out, isn't that just like
he man! He never gave me the
slightest intimation Of his inten-
ion. I had no idea"
Later she wrote, IT am rather
proud Of the fact that after nearly
/ quarter Of a century of marriage,
ny husband feels free to make his
decisions without consulting me or
me advance information con-
them"
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15

n%eglectful of individual rights. He
admits that in itself the question
naire isn't a life or death matter;
as a symbol he thinks it is extreme
ly important.
Most of the letters I read weren't
unreasonable, nor were they Of the
common "screwball' type. They
seemed to come from intelligent
people who are just naturally sick
of not being let alone and are tick
led to see someone get up and
squawk about it. incidentally, a
rather surprising number of women
calmly announced that they'd go to
Jail before they'd answer all the
questions On the census list.
Senator Tobey, who stirred Up ali
the fuss, is a quiet, s%ingularly like
able man in his mid-fifties, typical
ly New England in his outlook, bu
not in his mannerisms. He is sur
prised and a trifle uneasy to find
himself the center of so much at
tention; he's afraid people will
think he started the fight from par
tisan political motives, which he -
sists isn't so.
He lives in Temple, N. H. He's
fond &C remarking that it's one of
the smallest towns in the state, and
the brightest memory in his life is
the fact that he got all of it's 1874
votes when he ran for the senate
two years ago.
Born in a Boston suburb, he
moved to Temple in 1903, we
S2250 in debt to buv a farm, and has
lived there ever since. There's a
hilltop on the farm on which you
get a grand view of nine mountain
peaks. One summer Sunday 80
years ago Tobey lugged a parlor or
gan up there, invited a couple doz-
en- neighbors, and had a little hymn
service just at shutdown. The GUS.
tom stuck, and grew. He's had such
d service every summer since, and
last summer more than 1000 people
attended it.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15


This is symbolic magic. From
all discussions of this type, it is
necessary to separate the influence
of the power of suggestion. Be
lief of this type can be so power
full in the human mind as to sup,
press even attempts at some of the
greatest new discoveries that may
be made.
For Instance, when Edward
Jenner first announced the posi-.
bility that smallpox might be pre-.
vented by inoculating individuals
with materials from cowpox, all
sorts of cartoons began to be dis
tributed showing human beings
gradually changing into COWS
growing horns and tails, and even
developing a hairy coat. There
was not the slightest reason to
believe that such changes would
occur. People forgot that every
day they themselves were eating
large amounts of beef, and that
they were not turning into COWS.
While many an educator is op-
posed to having children see
movies or plays in which crime is
depicted, even though the moral
may always be, Crime does not
pay" there are others who be-
lieve that children who have no
criminal tendencies are not likely
to become criminals merely be.
cause they enjoy playing cops
and robbers"
There is a much better e
ment against too much attention
to crime-that the time might be
better spent in more constructive
employments.
The emphasis on the idea that
belief may cause actual illness OF
the body is not sound scientifically.
On the other hand, the power OF
al convince people so
certainly that they are i'll that they
will actually produce within them
selves many of the manifestations
Of serious illness.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15

OFuce CaItou little more than
a week, the senator got showed I'M
der by 1000 letters from folks all
over the country. They are still
coming in at a rate of 600 a day.
The senator has read them all, and
he says, "This thing is a second
Boston tea-party."
I spent a morning studying a
bushel or so of those letters, and
they are amazing. Unlike most of
the mail-deluges which hit senator
ial offices, these letters are 100 pei
cent spontaneous. They come from
all over the country. Most of them
are from women, and their writers
are obviously pretty sore. If this
mail is any indication. the senator
hit a p ,pular chord when he de-
manded that the government be a
bit less nosey.
The whole reaction, Tobey y
lieves, is a symptom of a widespread
feeling that the government is too
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
Russian Air Raids
Brought Finn Defeat

homes demolished, burned or badly
damaged.
But damage to the factories and
railway transport as well as harbor
facilities was more vital factor in
Gripping Finnish defense.
Hnko and a number of other
towns practically ceased to exist.
Some railway functions had little
left but tracks and the movement
OF troops through such points to the
front was a most difficult and dan
gerous task.
In late February when I passed
through the junction of E~lisenvaara
near the western shore of Lake La.
Inducements, some southbound to-
doga, trains were crowded with re-
ward the Karelian isthmus, some
travelling to the northeast of Lake
Ladoga.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
By WADE WERNER

COPENHAGEN, March 14.-LR>-
Now that the Russian-Finnish war
is over some of the most obvious
reasons influencing the Firms in
their decision to sign peace can be
disclosed.
While the hostilities continued
the censorship policy naturally die
tated suppression or minimizing of
the damage done by the Soviet air
raids to industries and transport vi
tai to continuance of armed resist.
ance.
The havoc wrought by the bomb.
ers actually was tremendous.
Not a single sizeable town in all
Finland escaped punishment from
the air.
This was bad enough for the civil
llans, hundreds of whom were killed
While countless others saw their
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
NAILS ORB

PRAGUE Up, - Gypsy caravans
are a thing of the past here. The
government of former Czechoslo-
vakia clamped down on the wan
derlust' of gypsy tribes.
February 1 was the deadline for
every gypsy to register a perman-
ent residence with the police au-
thorities. Failure to do so means
interment in a labor camp. The
ordinance was adapted from Ger
many where a similar decree has
been in effect several years.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
Behind The Scenes
In Washington

WASHINGTON, March 1.-The
flare-up caused by Senator Tobey's
efforts to white down those init
mate questions the census-takers
are due to ask has surprised nobody
more than it surprised Senator
Tobey himself.
Senator Tobey got into it by acct
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
Henderson Is Winner
In Leeds By-Election

LONDON, March 14.-LP-J. J..
{. Henderson, national conservative
candidate who had Prime Minister
Chamberlain's backing, won a par
Lament seat today in a leeds by
election.
Henderson defeated Sydney Allen,
British union candidate, by a vote
of 23,8S2 to 722.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
SOLDIER GETS LEAVE
TO PLAY TENNIS

BERLIN -CP- Although a SOL
der, Henner Henkel, Germany's ten
mis- ace, still has opportunities to
take his racket in hand. Recently
Henkel, who is well-known to Amer
lean sport followers, was given a
short vacation in order to partici-
pate int he Danish indoor champion
ShipS.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15

dent. A friend
showed him a
census question
naire and asked
if he didn't think
it went a bit too
far. Tobey read it
and decided it
did; read it again
and got mad, and
wound up by bat
ting for a bill to
modify the whole
business.
Things began
to happen. In a
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
TAKING UNFAIR ADVANTAGE

CORBIN, Ky. CP-During offic-
ers' absence from the Corbin police
station thieves made off with sew.
eral pistols and a pair of handouts.
The night police attendant was at
home i'll and the only night patrol-
man Corbin has was answering q
call.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15

alarmed h e n
children play at
being sick because
Of the common
superstition that
they will sooner
or later actually
become i'll. For
the same reason,
m a n y parents
prevent children
from playing at
crime with the
idea that the old
games of ''cops
and robbers" is
likely to lead to a
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15

as those of the Detroit Tigers this
year.
Leslie Croucher, tall younger
brother of Detroit's shortstop, Dingle
Croucher, jumped into a first string
berth at the start of the Texas sea-
son. He is a sophomore.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
CONFERENCE

CHAPEL HILL - Approximately
500 student delegates from IA col
leges and universities in eight
southern states are expected to at
tend a conference C the national
organization of International rela-
tons clubs here March 21-23.
Principal speakers will be DR..
Henry F. Grady, member of the
economic and raw material commit
tees of the League of Nations, and
DR.. Warner Moss of William and
Mary college.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-15
RALEIGH
BRIEFS
star News Bureau
sir Walter Hotel
AVERILL

,cu March dispensers
kAbh ,nnnal North Carolina Gar
in piIs+ from more than half the
visitor +b4 union will participate
,ates Oh
IBIS year, rear more than 5000 per,
Las, anticipated in the tour and
:ons vast of them were from
chile i, '''C Carolina hundreds came
North Thor states. 1t was estimated
rorl 0'n San enthusiasts from no
.bat s@ % states visited North
%ssslipa gardens.
..,+irs Funds for Finland, Inc.
Fs..'D the point of inauguratins
vas . vs n effort to raise contrl,
40 eA in Raleigh; but now that
'lto are no longer fighting,
he f" - TO be seen what will be
;ors about it,
.on Hocutt, director of the
hUD s;abway safety division ought
;a.s narked with Gene Austin and
. y King crosby as a vocalist.
b-p'Vt"7 o,,+ believe it, ask him
.,p,sttme to play some of those
s ,ss he's made recently
1.,;5entally there's talent enough
~. safety division to put on
10 show any day-pretty girls,
a s.ss vocalists and everything
Most Of the educators and teach
,.ro for the n. C. E. A. conven-