davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
"Inside" Pan-Americanism

We of the United States usually think of Pan AmericaniSm in terms of our rela- tions with the remainder of the Americas. But there is more to it than that. For in- stance: Argentina and Brazil have re- gently perfected some intimate and effec- tive trade agreements; Argentine and Chile are discussing similar measures. President Vargas of Brazil is planning joint action by all countries affected to develop the Amazon basin. Mexico has had trade and cultural missions to many lands to the south. Cuba and Guatemala have made efforts to cultivate neighbors in the commercial and cultural fields. The River Plate economic conference at Montevideo in January is now an estab- lished institution
 The knitting together of the American countries is certain to influence United States relations with them. In some cases bi-lateral agreements have been made which to some extent go against the Hull multi-lateral principle In some cases it is possible that American markets in the south may be courtailed if those neighbor countries take to supplying one another.
 Both these things might result But off-setting them is an advantage. If these countries become less dependent on the United States in trade way, they also become less dependent on Europe. Right now that might easily be more inn portant than anything else. Further, the more they can find ways to use up one another's surpluses, the less of problem those surpluses are, which is good for all the Western Hemisphere.
 In short, the United States stands to gain from anything that helps to build souond governments and sound econ omies to the south, such as will be inde- pendent commercially as well as politi- cally We have faith that such countries and such peoples will develop purchasing power that will enlarge our market in the long run even though greater indepen- dence cuts off the market for certain things from time to time. We must look at it that way, because flabby, insecure governments and economies to the south present the worst possible danger of foreign penetration, either military or economic followed by political and military
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

equal to ourselves in love of country and the desire to advance it's welfare. That they differ with us does not remove them from our respect or. our friendship.
 Hate among neighbors and friends is a horrid monster. It is most unworthy ally of any cause. Those who welcome it as friend are playing with danger. Civ ing advice is not our purpose now, but we feel that no American will resent our asking him to do his share to bring again to our community sound spirit of toler- ance and goodwill Throughout this campaign we have not addressed one word to single racial group. To us all voters are Americans. At other times and in other circumstances when to them or to their friends no impropriety can come, we may, at their behest, recognize for them their racial origin.
 At election time our attitude is best expressed by treating them solely as Americans, as indeed the equality of the ballot box makes them. To our political friends and to our political foes, with the satisfaction that we have sought earnestly to say nothing or offend the latter, we say, Good night, folks, we'll be seeing you"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
The Electoral College

Did you vote for Franklin D. RooSe- welt or Wendell Willkie for President on Tuesday, November 5? Pardon us, but you didn't. You voted for electors, who you hope and expect will vote in the cleo toral college for the candidate of your choice. That is the unique college to which all the United States goes, once every four years, to find out Whom>lt has elected it's President.
 Those electors for whom you really voted, will meet and THEY will vote for the presidential candidates. The result of their vote will be forwarded to Wash ington, there tabulated with similar votes in other states, and the result is the official election of a President. A long way around to achieve a result everybody knows about anyway? Perhaps. Some people think it ought to be eliminated as a useless snarl of red tape, to say nothing of the possibility that the electors just might possibly get together and vote for somebody you didn't intend them to vote for at all.
 It all started when the country was young and had fewer than 100000 peo- ole, most of whom were not allowed to vote. Even this restricted suffrage was not trusted It was felt that the voters ough to delegate the right to choose President to select group Of respected citizens. These would be chosen by the voters for their standing and judgment, and they, in their wisdom, would choose anybody they thought best for President Their number, too, equal in each state to the number of senators and repreSen- tatives, guaranteed minimum representa- ton to each state as such, no matter. how small But after this college had twice elected Washington, parties sprang up, and the idea became more and more firmly entrenched that the electors were to be pledged in advance to vote for spe- cific candidate, thus reducing them from choice-making body to mere transmits sion belt for choice made by the voters themselves.
 Thus we are reminded every four years of two things first, that our government is more democratic today than when it first set up, and second that it is federal union of sovereign states, and that our presidents are chosen by the vote of the people of the states as such, and directly by the mass of all the people.
 This sometimes produces the phenome- non of a President getting the required number of electoral college votes and be- ing elected, while actually having ma jority of the popular vote. That is because ahe may have great majorities in the state he carries, while losing others by only few votes. This occasionally creates some bad feeling, yet it is hard to see that such feeling would be any less if a candidate < turned up with a majority of 10 votes out of 50,00O0O0 cast. This odd and atavistic ! "college" has been functioning for l52 years and bids fair to turn out many another graduate.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
Holding Prices Down

The only excuse, socially speaking, for "big business" is that by producing goods in quantity and efficiently, they are made cheaper and therefore more readily avail able to more people. When "big busi- ness" becomes a monopoly, however, it's tendency is to hold prices up as high as the traffic will bear without actually halting consumption That is the tradi- tional explanation of the way the system works.
 Right in the face of the theory there now flies the Aluminium Company Of America, which is certainly "big busi- ness" and generally regarded as mo- nopoly producer of virgin aluminium. Three times during the past year the company has reduced it's prices for aluminium ingot, thus making a volun- tary reduction iI- the company'S gross income for the year of perhaps $5,000,OOO.
 What goes on here? Is the idea spread ing that even "big business" can make more money in the long run by reducing prices, passing on to the consumer the savings of mass production, and trust ing to greater sales volume to make up the foregone profits? It is interesting to see the Aluminium Company out ahead of the parade of those who are determined to avert the general price rise that so often accompanies bloom" conditions.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
NEW NAUGATUCK HIGHWAY
RridgepOrt Telegram

Governor Baldwin speaking in Naugatuck the other day mention ed the plan or new road through the Naugatuck Valley. now being worked out by the highway depart- ment as evidence ''of our faith that there are still a few frontiers, in- dustrially, for Connecticut"
 Certainly the Naugatuck Valley is the great brass-producing center of the United States. Around the brass mills that originally sprang up In the valley many varied industries have come.
 The Naugatuck Valley road at one time was second only to the Post road in the number of ears 1t carried daily. Whether this is true today or not we do not know. The road by modern standards Is now out-moded. It is narrow, winding and dangerous. The fact that so many large indus- trial trucs must use it going and coming from the great factories ln the valley have made travel all the more difficult for passenger ears.
 For % years there has been an inslatent demand for tho improve ment Of this road all the way from Waterbury down through Shelton and Nichols to Bridgeport where there is . natural outlet 10 the waterfront and to the Boston Fosl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

as compared to IT per cent in private quarters.
 American Cynanimid, du- Pont and other large fertilizer makers protested vehemently. Joining them in the fray was the Mellon Institute, closely connected with the Aluminium Company - which had been so pro-TVA a few months previ- Ous when the firm wanted addi- tiOnal cheap power.
 Generalissimo of these forces was Gano Dunn, head of the J. G. White Engineering company, a close utility associate of Wendell Willk!e and, like him, an old IVA foe. But TWAS spokesman was Chester Davis, one-time AAA boss and the farmer member of the Defense Commission. Vigorously backing Dunn was Edward A. O. Neal, head of the powerful Farm Bureau Federation.
 The debate within the Commis- mission was amicable, but sharply drawn. On the showdown, IVA was upheld five to two. The two dissenteds were William Knudsen (eX-General Motors) and Edward R. Stettinius (eX-U. s. SteeD.
 This adverse vote didn't sit we'll with several members of Stettinius' staff, of which Dunn is member, and they grumbled about resigning. But Knudsen and Stettinius promptly put a quietuS on that.
 They moved that the Commis- sion's spite vote be revised SO as to record them voting with the majority. This was done, thus making the Commissions action in favor of IVA unanimous.
 Copyright. 1940, by United
 Feature Syndicate, Inc)
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

Radio is still seventh wonder to most of us. It is still in it's infancy. In fact we forget that radio is as old as twenty years. Few will remember that preSi- dential election came over the air twenty years ago, but this is fact. It was the Harding Cox election. No doubt the maj ority of Americans depended for returns by the usual procedure, telephone or per sonal visits to newspapers, and the ex- traS But in 1920 wireless informed that Harding had won over Cox. All this came via Station KDKA. Contrast that experimental broadcast with the perfect scientific broadcasting this week over 800 stations. Perhaps forty or fifty million people listened in. Twenty years ago about five hundred heard the returns in a fashion over KDKA
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

For the most part Americans will enjoy comfort during the coming winter months. Unfortunately this will not be the case in the many countries on the other side of the ocean,. And those in this country who have to- live frugally will be living in luxury as compared with some of the European countries. AL ready coal is being rationed in France, as the coal supply diminishes. Coal will be rationed and allotted in pound lots. There will be no question of filling the bin or the ~oil tank and pushing an indi- cator up or down. Just slightly over one hundred pounds of coal will be al- lowed for family of from one to three persons during the month of November. The government over there has urged families to shut off most of their rooms and live in small quarters, that is those who have sizeable houses. It is not too pleasant to think about these things, eS- pecially when we find ourselves, at times, experiencing too much heat.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
LITERARY PRIZES
Boston Post

A great honor has come to Texas. She has become the protector, against the fury of barbarian, of one of mans great treasures, many letters and more than 2000 pages of manuscript of the late great poet, Alfred Lord Tenyson. Brought to America by three of his decendants, they now repose in their custody in Waco. The buildings of England can be restored but no one could replace such literary values if the manu- scripts were destroyed. It is strange thing that the hand-written works of poet who foresaw a distant day when the world and all its nations would be united in peace, should now be fugitives from the worlds worst war. But Texas should be proud, as America is proud, it can offer a haven for them.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

 had received a message from God, and by the vigorous exercise of his intellect had thought through that message and its implication for human society.
 So few Christians today are con. fident of what they believe. and so much of our religious teaching is wayering and indecisive, it becomes. therefore, unconylnclng.
 Now the Bible Is either true or not true. The things Jesus testified about Himself and about the nature Of human life were either correct or incorrect. We cannot take Q neutral position without compromising the honesty and intelligence Of that treat Teacher Who first gave the message. Beeause Jesus had confid-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
The Campaign Is Over

Now that the tumult has subsided. the campaign receded into the past it may be written. Throughout the course Of the lengthy campaign we have tried our level best to deal fairly with all voters. Diligently we have endeavored to support our choice. President Roosevelt. In doing so we have tried always to keep in mind that those who opposed us are Amerlc9ns,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

of making every gigolo a French man, Hollywood bowed, and picked on Argentina.
 IVA VICTORY
 The Defense Commission isn't saying anything about 1t, but IVA, the New Deals great southern power project, has just scored its second major victory in the de- fense prcgram--after a hot inside battle.
 First IVA triumph came last spring when the Defense Commis- sion by unanimous vote, asked Con- gross for $25, 100000 to expand IVA power facilities to supply the greatly enlarged needs of the Aluminium Company of America and other big private industries. Priviously, for several years, every IVA request for authorization to expand had met bitter congress sional opposition, but the De- fense Commission's recommenda- ton went through without mur- mur.
 The latest issue arose out of War Department plan to spend $6,200,000 to produce more ann mOnium nitrate, necessary for munitions, at the Muscle Shoals plant. which is under IVA jur- isdiction.
 IVA insisted that the Army contract contain a clause provid- ing that when the emergency ended, the enlarged nitrate plant, with a 300-ton a day capacity, should not be shut down and talk en out of use, but should be al- lowed to continue for the manu- facture of low-cost fertilizer.
 In its seven, years of operation under IVA, Muscle Shoals has produced 100000 tons of fertilizer 8 year. This fertilizer contains around 481s per cent plant food,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
Whats Your l. O.?
Can you answer seven of these test questions? Turn to last page for the answers.

1. What important fuel is the solid residue remaining from the dry dis tillation of bituminous coal?
 2. What do the initials "G. A. R." stand for?
 3. Which animal can sleep sus- pended upside down?
 4. Wellington is the capital of which British Dominion?
 5. Of which ancient people was Sanscrit the language?
 6. Was the Leaning Tower of Pisa purpoSely erected oblique?
 T. Contract Bridge is a develop ment from which card game?
 8. Are both President Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie Masons?
 g. Do Americans who enlist in the Canadian armed forces lose their citizenship?
 10. Who was Belisarius?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
MEMORIES
Boston Post)

(BOStOn POSt)
 Those old army blouses with the stiff -necked collars are coming out of the moth-balls in army ware houses for the draftees. But the new soldiers will only have to wear them until the spring so that if they are encamped in a chilly clim- ate they will not mind them so much. The new blouses, of course, are definitely more comfortable. But they have not the snap which the high-collared wartime blouses gave even to the rookie. However, con- fort is more important than style and the sooner the new blouses can be substituted, the better the draftees are going to like 1t.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
Views Of The Press

road (not to mention the more re- cent Merritt parway)
 Plans are going forward for the actual building of this road because Governor Baldwin put 1t on the schedule as must" for the High way department. The new highway, as the governor said, will be boon to the entire Naugatuck Valley.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
ANOTHER COLLECTION
(Boston Post.)

The trend .,ward the uationaliza- ton of our art treasures is still on. The Widener family of Philadelphia has confirmed the fact that 1t will give its great collection of paintings and other art to the National Gall lery at Washington.
 Many other collections will also be housed there. including the great Mellon treasures. As time goes on
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
Daily Almanac

Sun rises 6.3O q. m.; sets 4:42 D. n,
 All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset,
 November already has blown mild and cold. lL probably will continue to perform such weaiheF antics. but therell bo real emphasis on the chilly side as the month moves towards Thanksgiving,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

we may rest assured that most ef the American collections. acquired at huge costs in the days of high finance and low taxes. will be stored there or in local galleries through out the nation The fact that this sort of property is taxed most heav- fly makes it imperative for wealthy families to give 1t to the govern ment to avoid paying imposts on it year after year.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

Now that election is over perhaps folks will have worked all the bitterness out of their system It has been suggested that a bonfire of all campaign literature and buttons would be good idea. And what a bonfire all this stuff would makel
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

as one of the most exp e n sive ever waged in Ameri- ca.
 The Hatch act provides that no party may spend more than $3,000,- 900 on a presiden- tial campaign. It also limits the s u m any indi- vidual may con- tribute to a cam paign fund to $5,- 900, and prohibits the solicitation of federal 0r fadar.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

4cQSEdl UT 1cQSIs ally paid state employees for cam paign contributions.
 But the act contains a set of loopholes big enough to drive 8 platoon of tanks through, and evi- dence is mounting that full advan- tage was taken of all of them. Net result apparently has been that as far as holding down campaigns ex- penditures is concerned, the Hatch act might almost as well not have been written.
 ORGANIZATIONS
 ARE LEGION
 First of all, there is the $3,000,000 overall limit. What the. act says is that no political organization" may spend more than that sum. It apparently does not cover the sums that separate organizations could spend.
 Senator Hatch recently pointed out that in passing in this point a court should take into account the rebate on the floor of the Sen- ate, in which 1t appeared to be the wish of the Senate that the $3,000,- 900 limit should apply to the total spent for any one candidate. How ever, most of the Willkie commit tee officials who testified recently before the Senate campaign fund Investigating committee reported that their lawyers had advised them that each separate committee could spend up to $3,000,000.
 These committees were legion, on the Republican side-the Associated Willkie Clubs, the Willkie Maga- zine Club the Anti-Third Term Committee, the American Writers Committee, the Peoples Commit tee to Defend Life Insurance Sav- ings, the Committee to Uphold Con- stitutional Government and half dozen more. All but two of these asserted they were completely in- dependent of the national Republi- can committee. MAN MAY SHELL
 AUT ON ALL SIDES
 Senator Gillette, head of the Sem ate committee, points to the second loophole in the limit on individual contributions.
 A man may not give more than $5 900 to a national campaign fund. But he apparently could give Q sim liar sum to each of the 48 state funds, if he chose, and in addition could make further $5,000 contribu- tions to assorted county commit tees to the limit of his capacity to pay.
 Nor has the ban on levying con- tributions on offlceholders been en- tirely effective. A government of- ficial in Washington, for example, could not circularize the workers in his department asking for contri- buttons; but the Democratic Na- tional Committee could (and in some instances didD circularize the same workers in their homes. Sim ilarly, a political committee can't try to shake down a postmaster for a contribution-but 1t can dun his wife, his father and all his in-laws.
 The courts may eventually hold that some Or all of the dodges cited here are in fact violations of the Hatch act. But competent lawyers seem to believe the courts won't do anything of the kind-and, as Senator Gillette remarks, "an act of that importance ought not to be left open to two such logical and reasonable interpretations" | Adds Senator Gillette:
 There's no question in my mind that here's a field that must be gone into seriously if we are to prevent wholesale debauchery of our election system"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
STRENGTH FOR THE DAY
By EARL L. DOUGLASS. D. D.
Little Room For Compromise

One of the outstanding charact- eristics of Jesus was the profound confidence He seemed to have ill Himself and His message.
 If we listen to a preacher Of a religious teacher who conveys the impression that he is not exactly sure that he himself believes, he has
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

very little lntlu- ence upon us. In order to be per- suaded, we must first of all be con- fident that the man who is deliv- ering the message
 believes it himself.
 Jesus had just
 uch a sense of confidence in Him.
 self and in His
 message. He im-
 pressed His hear
 aPg aR AnA tUhn
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

If you want a copy of the book let HOUSE PLANTS" send to The Waterbury Democrats Wash ington Bureau, 1O'3 Thirteenth Street, Washington, D. c. Enclose ten cents in postage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
Washington Merry-Go-R Round
EA Service. Inc.
DREW PIE A R < 0 N
 ROBERT S. ALLEN

election will the Justice Department focus attention on certain cities chief among them charged with dertng funds from state liquor
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07

TODAY'S COMMON ERROR Never say, "cant seem"; say, "seem unable" or do not seem able; as, T seem un- able to solve this prOblem."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
National Spotlight
Hatch Act Failed To. Cut Campaign
 Expenses
By BRUCE CAPTION Waterbury Democrat Washington
 Correspondent

Washington, Nov. 7-Despite the limitations imposed by, the Hatch act, the presidential campaign of l94O may go down in the records
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-07
A Thought for Today

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.-Mark 13:31
 The shifting systems of false religion are con tinually changing their places; but the gospel of Christ is the same forever.-T. L. Cuyler.