davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-05-25
New Air POLICY

OF primary Importance in the
development Of American air de-
fenses is prompt decision as to the
types of aircraft which will go into
quantity production.
The Army Air Corps is said to be
nearing decision on this vital point
which will cast the mold OF Ameri-'
can air power along new lines. It's
decision, according to military au-
thorities, will call for an air force
composed of pursuit and lombard
ment airpla1ies in approximately
equal numbers.
Abandoning the distinctive attack
/ airplane which was an original
American development and which
was designed almost exclusively for
use against ground troops and their
weapons, the Army by this decision
would commit itself and the United
States to a defensive role in the
Western Hemisphere. The new air
force would not be designed for
effective use as an expeditionary
force in Europe or Asia but would be
intended to develop maximum eff
cheney and power in its new role
the denying of a foothold in the
Americas to any aggressor and the
smashing of any hostile expedition
ary force before it could reach our
shores or, at the latest, before it
could gain secure foothold at any
point within air attacking range.
1t is a vital decision which the
Army Air Corps must make. The
anticipated solution of its prob
lem-the creation of an air force
designed to guarantee integrity Of
the Western Hemisphere against any
aggressor-is one which should meet
with the approval of Americans in
this country and it's sister republics.
The elimination of one basic type
OF combat airplane is a step toward
simplification which should be of
great Importance in reaching mass
production basis. Similarly, the con-
centration upon basic pursuit and
bombardment types OF combat air.
planes should speed up research and
Improvement of these types.
Since pilot training is an integral
part of any air force activity and
must even precede the development
OF combat airplanes if pilots are to be
ready by the time the aircraft are
produced, the American people
should welcome President Roosevelt's
announcement that the Civil Aero
nautics Authority on July l will
launch program providing basic
instruction to $4,000 young men
within one year.
The c. A. A. has won the conf
dence Of the aviation world by its
management of the civil pilot train
Ing program, under which more than
1900 student pilots now are complet-
Ing flight training in 435 colleges and
universities. This training has re-
suited In the graduation already of
q percentage of trainees so high as
TO be almost without precedent. At
the same time, a safety record has
been established which Is without
parallel in any country.
Evening star., 1940-05-25
A Blow to 'Isms'

A mounting antipathy throughout
the country toward individuals and
organizations plainly hostile to de-
mocracy is reflected in the action OF
the House in denying relief funds
to any person advocating the over
throw of this Government-not
necessarily by force-or known to
be member Of a Communist or
Bund group. There was neither op-
position nor debate as amendments
Incorporating these prohibitions in
the relief bill were adopted. And the
measure, on final vote. was passed
354 to 81.
Despite this virtual unanimity on
the part Of the House, it is to be
expected that some criticism of the
action will be forthcoming from
those who contend that political
Affiliations even though they may be
inimical to our form of government,
should not be determining in
fluence in the disbursement of relief
money. It is a safe assumption,
however, that the House will have
the whole-hearted support Of the
great majority of the American peo-
pie, whose dislike Of "isms" in any
form has been intensified by recent
disclosures of treacherous fifth
column" activities in such countries
as Norway, Holland and England.
The House, after all, has not denied
to any citizen the right to join the
Communist party or any Bund he
may choose. It merely has said that
he must do 50 at his own expense:
that the Government no longer will
continue to support him while he Is
engaged in these subversive activ-
tiles. That is reform which should
have been instituted long ago.
The bill carries an appropriation
of $1,111,754,916 for the next fiscal
year. OF this total, $975, $50, 900 goes
to the w. P. A. and that agency is
authorized to spend it, should need
arise, in eight months instead of a
year. The principal objection to this
provision-that it would tend to en-
courage political use Of w. P. A.
funds in an election years. elimi-
mated, however, by a clause pre-
scribing the maximum number of
persons who may be employed by
the relief agency in any month from
July through November.
Evening star., 1940-05-25
Brituin's Stout Heart

1t is a stout British heart at which
the invading forces of Germany have
aimed a threatening bayonet. And,
as the menace comes ever closer,
there is no wavering of British cour-
age-only stiffening of resistance; no
thoughts Of compromise nor of sur
render-only resolution to carry on
the fight with traditional British
fortitude, whatever the odds and
whatever the cost. King George left
no room for doubt about this when
he broadcast to his far-flung empire
and to the rest of the world yester-
day solemn Empire Day warning
as to the implications of unchecked
totalitarian savagery. AS he spoke,
Britain faced her direst peril of
centuries-old existence. The for
midable mechanical army OF
vengeful and merciless enemy was
massing for its most audacious effort,
an invasion of England by sea and
air-an attempt which would be
attended by more chances of success
than any since the Norman invasion
of nearly nine centuries ago.
But those who listened to the de-
liberate, earnest words of Britain's
youthful King detected no note of
defeatism nor of despair. At the
same time there was no censoring
OF facts, no avoiding of grim realities.
LET no one think that my conf
dence is dimmed when I tell you how
perilous is the ordeal which we are
facing" he said. This is a life or
death struggle against an aggressor
bent upon destruction of the British
Empire and Of "everything for which
it stands" he warned.
Every American should ponder
that last phrase, for Britain stands
for the same democratic principles
OF liberty and justice as those for
which we stand. If the bayonet of
Nazi aggression finds it's mark and
is driven home, America will have
lost an invaluable co-defender of
those most precious precepts. It
would be loss of catastrophe i'm
port to this free Nation. Americas
duty is plain. We must give more
than moral support to Britain and
her Allies in this zero hour" for
civilization. We must send to them
with the utmost speed the material
aid which they must have at once
to stave off impending defeat and to
turn the tide of battle. We must
rush planes and guns and other
weapons they so desperately need in
their frontal assault on the legions
OF world anarchy. 1t may even now
be too late-but at least we will have
done our best.
And if Britain falls, the world as
we Of this era have known it goes
down with her. The bayonet then
will swing menacingly in our direc-
ton. But we in America can take
hope and courage and inspiration
from the stout heart of King George
and his people-and we can join in
their fervent prayers tomorrow that
righteousness shall prevail.
Evening star., 1940-05-25
Frog Derby

This week at Angels Camp, Cali
fornia, was held the thirteenth run
ming of the Mark Twain Batrachian
Stakes, an annual steeplechase open
to thoroughbred frogs of all ages
Matched in Calaveras County. The
winner turned up in a long shot in
the person of Slippery of the Louis
Fisher stable, light green filly bred
by the owner at his famous estab-
lishment, Sacramento Swamp. Her
distance of fourteen feet eleven
inches, while nearly a foot short of
the record, was good enough to win,
and there was no prouder man in
Calaveras County than Louis when
he was presented with the crown of
victory along with all the frogskins
he picked up betting on the race.
1--WE have made great strides since
the old days." said the president of
the Jockey club. Then skulduggery
was rampant, and it was possible
for the unscrupulous to dope entries
with buckshot, as reported by our
founder Mark Twain, in the unfor-
tunate case of Jim Smiley's Daniel.
A repetition of the incident would
be impossible now. A corps of vets
examines each contestant before the
race, and the buckshot test, worked
with an X-ray machine, is infallible.
Furthermore, any owner found guilty
of shenanigans is promptly ruled off
the pond for life. This may seem
severe, but it is necessary for our
sacred mission Of keeping the sport
pure and insuring the continuance
of these events, which do so much
to improve the strain Of thorough
bred frogs"
Evening star., 1940-05-25
Article Listing Job Possibilities
Draws Criticism.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Your recent article on the front page
of The Star headed Men Wanted for
Jobs Now Available" spurred me up and
made me rejoice for our numerous un-
employed But had read no further
than the second paragraph when I grew
disheartened and indignant, for it
started, "If you are white experienced
bricklayer, carpenter, paperhanger, etc.,
you can walk into the Employment Gen.
ter and walk out to job"
And then the next paragraph added
insult to injury for colored people be-
cause it asked for experienced white
men and women for all types of hotel
and restaurant work." as If no expert
enced colored persons could be found for
this work although they have been al
most restricted to such labor over two
generations. If they have been salts
factory in the White House and else
where, why such restrictions?
Articles OF this kind must be very dis
couraging to all of our large minority
group who happen to be colored, en-
ployed and unemployed.
May 20. MRS. I. q. HUNT.
editors Note-The news article in
question mentioned only white en-
ployes because the individuals listing
job opportunities with the District
Employment Center had specified
that they wanted white applicants.)
Evening star., 1940-05-25
CHEVY CHASE, Nd.

Dear sir:
80 Mr.. A. w. r. will not believe that
my mockingbirds are gentlepeople?
II have heard that ones pet animals,
especially horses and dogs, may have
their characters nodded by their masters.
why not birds?
I'm other words, Like priest, like peo-
ple'
"Your truly, s. v. M"
While this column is not willing to 70
as far as this correspondent, there can
be no doubt that birds differ so vastly,
in the same species, that some OF them
may be called gentlemen" and gentle
women" and others properly termed
"roughnecks"
In other words, we find among the
birds those same two traits of humanity
which make all the good and all the woe
Of mankind:
Gentleness and cruelty.
Kindness and hard heartedness, or
whatever you choose to call these quail
ties. they make all the difference be-
tween happiness and misery, at least to
persons who prefer the former.
AS some peoples are showing, cruelty
may be creed made into happiness,
at least for them. The devil was sup
posed to sum up these tendencies, but
his cruelty was rather on the refined
mental side than on the Grass physical
side.
Even the devil was good in comparison
with some OF our modem human devils.
X Xxx
There are birds and birds, and some of
them shy away from us, while others
come to us; some Of them seem to like to
be around human beings, others fly
away; some birds will not even remain
IN the garden while people are around,
whereas others will come right up to
you. almost getting run over by the lawn
mower
Scarlet tanagers seem to be unusually
friendly this spring, judging from our
own observation and the reports of 9TH
ers
whereas in most years they remain
in the tree tops, seldom coming down,
this spring they seem to specialize in
flying low, even having been seen on the
ground
The handsome indigo bunting. small
but colorful, as its name suggests. has
been seen in many yards this season.
The female is very plain bird. usually
not far from the male, but often mis-
taken for sparrow.
X ~
Those who watch birds carefully over
several years come to realize, as other
persons do not, that no two birds are
exactly alike in character.
Some persons, of course, will not allow
that word, character, to be used in
speaking of animals. They think that
because the beasts cannot talk, that
they lack character.
Character, or personality, is a combi-
nation OF mind and heart. and animals
Evening star., 1940-05-25

reduction of accidents to children, II
for no other reason.
Purchase OF this particular site is
decidedly progressive step In social
and physical planning for the future.
1t represents the modern trend OF
utilizing as open recreational centers
areas now occupied by antiquated or
inadequate housing.
Other steps taken by the COM
mission to expand the Capitals rec
reat.onal facilities, particularly the
latest additions to the Columbia
Heights center, are important. But
none meets needs which have been
as pressing or as long-standing as
those Of the Midcity area.
Evening star., 1940-05-25
Satirical Writer Comments
On Employees Program.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
The Amalgamated Government Work.
ers. fully cognizant of the grave dangers
which now threaten the safety of the
Republic, come forward to offer their
program for increasing the efficiency of
the executive civil service, and thereby
contributing to the national effort in
this great emergency.
The proposals to be submitted to the
Legislature for immediate adoption are
as follows:
l. A 5-hour day and 5-day week.
2. Annual leave to be increased to rs
days.
g. Thirty days sick leave instead of the
utterly inadequate Is days leave now
available.
T. Whenever a holiday shall fall on
Thursday, the Government Offices shall
be closed on Friday.
5. All holidays shall fall on Thursday.
6. There shall be more holidays (e. e.,
Lincoln's Birthday, Edison's Birthday
the anniversaries of the battles of Sara
toga, New Orleans, Appomattox, Cha
teau-Thierry etc.,.
7. Compulsory retirement at As with
three-fourths pay.
8. Voluntary retirement at 40 with
three-fourths pay.
8. Annual pay increases.
The advantages Of the above program
are too obvious to need recounting, but
for those unversed in the latest trend
in economic thought we submit two of
the many benefits that will accrue to the
Republic.
a. Because of the increased efficiency
associated with reduced working hours,
each Federal employe will perform more
rather than less work in the 25-hour
week and the 25-year service.
b. The reduction in working hours will
make more Federal jobs available to un-
employed workers. More contented peo-
pie means more willing defenders of the
Republic.
The above proposals are submitted in
an effert to effect long g-overdue perma-
nent Improvements in the civil service.
Recognizing, however, that an efficient
civil service is particularly vital in war
time, we offer the following proposals
to prevent the civil service from being
sabotaged in such q national emergency.
l. The Army shall not draft civil serv-
ants engaged in essential services.
2. AL Government services. are es-
sential.
3. In the inevitable expansion in Gov
ernment personnel. no person shall enter
any department or agency above CAF-l.
and the new positions shall be Allied by
promotion according to length Of service.
1. Government salaries shall be auto
Evening star., 1940-05-25
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. TrnceUell.

possess both these, at least to some ex-
tent.
That they have real characters, and
that these differ vastly, is we'll known to
sll who watch and admire animals with
that peculiar intensity which is not
within the scope Of some persons.
Not all humans admire animals, and
hence they miss some Of the good which
the beasts give to others. The very
word, beast" has been almost synono-
nous with evil qualities, but this is In
error, as every friend OF q good dog
knows.
People who have no interest in
aquarium fishes, for instance, laugh at
those who tell them that no two fishes
have exactly the same personalities.
All fishes look alike to them, to para
phrase an old, old song.
Enthusiasts who have many tanks Of
swimmers soon come to know each fish.
and often name them, too. This latter
seems to be the height of something or
other to those who have no such interest
and who naturally have spent no time
in observation.
1t is fact, however, that even gold
fishes, seeming for all the world alike.
have distinct characters. That many
OF the traits shown are based upon physi-
cal needs cannot in any sense mitigate
the fact that real personality is shown.
How often do human beings fail to
realize that a great deal of their own
personality Is as solidly based on the
physical nature which they possess with
the brutes?
The mockingbird is moody fellow.
He does not possess the cheerful good
nature of the song sparrow, nor of that
other gem of the garden, the towhee.
In one yard he may be peaceful, in
the next, revengeful.
On the other hand, there can be no
doubt that the apparent quality of the
bird may be shaped, as it were, by the
device OF setting aside a small feeder
stocked with foods which Knockers par
ticularly like.
Raisins and doughnuts, above all, are
the foodstuffs these birds prefer.
= If garden is pestered by belligerent
mocker, as so many gardens are, the
owner can do great deal toward right
ing the situation, and even the character
OF the bird, by fixing up small feeding
device in such position that squirrels
cannot get to it,
If he places upon it some raisins. and
at times pieces of doughnut, he may be
able to temper the warlike nature of the
mockingbird to the needs of the other
species in the garden.
One word of caution is necessary.
Do not try to get fancy and feed vour
pet mockingbird on the so-called white
raisins.
He does not like them.
Just give him the usual dark kind. and
he is happy.
We told you that birds are tempera-
mental!
Evening star., 1940-05-25
Urges Strengthening
OF Defenses Now.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Your editorial of May 10 entitled FAC
ing the Facts" is very enlightening and
you should be highly praised for such
timely and intelligent thoughts. The
American people must realize that we
are living in an age Of speed and un-
fortunately it applies to war. We see
what Germany is able to perpetrate and
the possibilities in the near future show
no great rays Of hope If we are to stay
out of this war we must build up our de-
fense and If we find it expedient to enter
the war we will be that much ahead. Ger
tainly we have nothing to gain by delay
ing the proper defense measures. We
cannot and we must not shut our eyes
to the many possibilities that may en-
danger our interests, and the very foun-
dations of this great democracy Let us
mobilize our defenses now, North, South,
East and West. JOSEPH L. sTEARN.
May II.
Evening star., 1940-05-25

matlcally increased to keep pace with the
inevitable rise in living costs.
5. On the outbreak of war all Govern
ment offices shall be moved to the in
terror
The Amalgamated will appreciate the
cooperation of patriotic Federal en-
ployes. Those interested in the program
Will be supplied with red, white and blue
buttons, 3 inches in diameter, reading
Support National Unity-We want 25-
hour week and 25-year service"
A. MONTMORENCY JONES II1rd.
May %. President
Editors Note.-Both the organiza-
ton referred to in the above letter and
the published signature, of course.
are fictitious. The writer of the letter
assures The Star, however, that he
has heard all of the proposals in his
Legislative program" advanced indie
pendently at various times during his
five years in the Government service,
and his letter is published In the be-
lief it will be read in the spirit of
irony in which it was written0
Evening star., 1940-05-25
Pays Tribute to
Senator King.

To the Editor of The Star:
We are most fortunate to have Sena-
tor King as chairman of our District
Of Columbia Committee. He is so sin
cere in his interest in the welfare of
the National Capital and the people
hereof
I have had numerous interviews with
Senator King concerning appropriations
for schools, libraries, hospitals and other
civic matters and always found him
deeply interested. Even when he was
confined to his bed with broken ankle
ne continued to work for the District.
Every man, woman, and child in the
United States owes thanks to Senator
King for his many years of faithful
service to our National Capital
May 20. A CIVIC WORKER.
Evening star., 1940-05-25

A British scientist declares that
frontal lobes of great leaders brains
tend to develop with increased re-
sponsibilities, and that this is why
Winston Churchill now cannot wear
all of his many hats. If this be true
the brains of a couple of important
former corporals are likely some day
to pop like puffballs.
Evening star., 1940-05-25
Ruin for U. S. Seen
If Allies Lose.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Hitler writes in "Mein Kampf" that from
the moment a man fights for an economic
interest he tries to avoid death as this
would rob him forever OF the enioy
ment of the reward of his fighting. This
statement explains perfectly the moral
paralysis of this Nation which prevents
its going to aid of England and France.
Our perversion of democracy to mean
privilege instead of responsibility has
utterly destroyed our idealism. We have
no ideals worth living for and conse-
quently none worth dying for. Our fall
ure to 60 instantly to help of England
and France spells utter destruction of
civilization from this planet. America
will be destroyed by Germany, Russia
and Japan if we permit Britain and
France to be destroyed.
DEWITT SMELL.
Schenectady, N. Y.
May 81.
Evening star., 1940-05-25

It is stated that President Roose-
velt wears size sixteen and one-half
shirt. And, it might be added even
by his enemies, unstuffed.
Evening star., 1940-05-25

In Malaysia labor Is becoming
scarce and strikes are becoming
common. Different here: Plenty OF
labor and also plenty Of strikes.
Evening star., 1940-05-25
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
Dear the name and address OF
the 11rtter, although the use OF
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be brief
Evening star., 1940-05-25

Member of the Associated Press.
The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to It or not otherwise credited in this
Az rights Of publication Of special dispatches
herein also are reserved
Evening star., 1940-05-25
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Evening star., 1940-05-25

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Evening star., 1940-05-25
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Evening star., 1940-05-25

WASHING GTON. D. C.
SATURDAY May Is, 1910