davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18
Hollywood Sights And Sounds
By Robin Coons-

HOLLYWOOD, May II. - -Four
Sons is a story of a family caught
in the Nazi invasion of Czechoslo-
vakia, in the Sutherland in particu-
lar.
The family gets torn to pieces
pretty effectively, if you can
judge by a scene 1 saw involving
Don Ameche, George Ernest and
Mary Bet Hughes. Ameche, bad
ly wounded and covered with mud
and blood, has been hiding out in
a strav-littered barn, and the
blonde Mary Beth is answering his
question as to what has happened
to another brother.
He was shot - down in the
swamp-you killed him. she NUT
tiers. Ameche, held up by Ernest,
is overcome.
Of such strong stuff is -Four
Sons" made, with Eugene Leon
tovich, in her picture debut, as the
old mother who is the real star.
I talked to Director Archie Mayo,
who is sure Leontovich will be
grand" I asked him if his story
would not be another sweet piece
of propaganda. He said with emo
ton:
If we admit that there is a Ger
many, and there was a Czechoslo-
vakia, and we admit that Germany
took Czechoslovakia, all of which is
simply history, and if what went
on there stirs up an emotional sym
pathy, then-yes, this is propagas-
da. Otherwise it is a good, human
story OF real people in a crisis and
what happens to them"
Archie was touring in Czechoslo-
vakia when the deed was done;
he was in Munich during the mo-
mentous conferences that led to the
republics dismemberment: he was
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18

points for consideration by the two
parties. We should hope that both
platforms would unite upon essen.
tials of this character and avoid
controversy wherever possible.
The problem of candidates deserves
not less generosity of outlook and
avoidance of partisanship. Each par
ty should pledge its nominee. If
elected, to form a Cabinet Of the
highest ability available in the ma
ton, with ~partisanship and politics
forgot. The effort on both sides
should be to discover and name the
candidate behind whom the nation
could unite in trust and confidence.
Unantlnity is humanity impossible,
But, at least, the bitternesses of old
rarcors should be eliminated where.
yer possible.
We have often had occasion to ap.
plaud MI. R~oosevelt's general atti.
tude toward the Allies and his gen.
eral policy of preparedness. His EN-.
otions are sound and his foresight
val correct. But his practical fail
iEgs in these fields have been as
marked as in the administration Of
his domestic policies. Despite mil.
lions poured out for defense, the
nation is almost as %ill-prepared for
war-especially in respect to the
production of airplanes-as ever.
The distrust of his leadership is
deeprooted and widespread. It would
obviously be impossible to unite the
natter. under him.
In contrast, to illustrate our con-
ception of the type of candidate that
each party should name, we suggest
to the Democrats the nations able
Secretary Of State. Mr.. Hull would
obviously be a u%nifying force with
in his W party and he possesses
the respect Of every one.
The Republican campaign for the
nomination has still to come to grips
with these vital issues, which now
match the domestic issues in i'm.
portance. The same basic principles
apply, however. For its candidate
the party should seek the man who
could most completely place nation
above party and administer the vast
and complex task Of preparedness
with a maximum of wisdom and
efficiency. Upon the ~utterances of
the candidates in the next few
weeks the decision must be made.
We ask our readers to make I'D
their minds as we shall hope to
make up ours, with personal bias
subordinated to the supreme neees.
sity OF achieving a united nation.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18
Local Women To Judge
ShalIotte Flouer Show

A group Of New Hanover coun-
ty home demonstration club women
will serve as judges for the Bruns-
wick county home demonstration
club flower show at Shallotte on
Monday, May 20.
The judges will include: Miss
Ann Mason, home demonstration
agent; Mrs. c. S. Lewis, Mrs. c. l..
Williams, and Mrs. Hall, of the
Winter Park Home Demonstration
club.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18
Man About

By Geofqs Tucker

NEW YORK. May 17.-Big. ugly
Red Lewis, the Sank Center,
Mimi, boy who wrote ARROW
smith," ELMER Gantry" and any
number of other controversial
novels, must have chuckled soft
ly into his beard when he heard
William Saroyan had turned
down the Pulitzer award of 1000
for the ''best play of 1885,"
Saroyan's comedy, "The Time of
your life," was nominated recent
ly in the annual awards for liter
AZURE, and the ~32-year-old Ameri-
can-Armenian promptly declared
he would have nj part of it.
Back in 1926, Lewis was given
the Pulitzer nod for his novel, "Ar-
rowsmith." His action in declining
it brought accusations against him
that he was motivated by self
exploitation"
But four years later, when he re-
ceived the Nobel award for liter
ature carrying a cash award in ex-
cess of $45, 900, the lanky debunker
accepted it with alacrity.
II intend to use the money to
support a we'll known young Ameri-
can author and his family so as to
enable him to continue writing"
he said. The young author he re-
ferred to was Sinclair Lewis. He
explained then that there was a
vast difference between the Nobel
and the Pulitzer awards. THE No
bel is an international prize with
no strings attached" he said. 1T
is given for excellence in literature
The Pulitzer prize is cramped by
the provision in Mr. Pulitzer's will
that the prize shall be given for
the American novel published
during the year which shall best,
present the wholesome atmos-
phere of American life, and the
highest standard of American
manners and manhood This sug-
gests not actual literary merit, but
an obedience to whatever code of
good form may chance to be popu-
lar at the moment. AS a result,
the Pulitzer prize has been given
to some extremely mediocre nov
els"
So, after a breach of 10 years,
the members of the committee who
make the awards in the name of
Pulitzer again find themselves
snubbed. William Saroyan, like
Lewis, will have plenty of backing
IN this decision. Carl Van Doran
thinks prizes are harmful. Saroyan
thinks that to accept a cash prize
Tor a play would be to compromise
himself. Besides" he said glibly
Il don't need the money. Had this
happened seven years ago l might
have accepted it as a loan. As a
loan l doubt that it would have
ruined me as a writer. AS a gift it
would have embarrassed me-"
1t should be pointed out that the
critics, in their annual selec.
ton of a best" play, also named
The Time of Your Life" This,
presumably, leaves us as about the
only person in New ork not in
agreement with the award. We
thought Saroyan's play amusing
but unimportant. It did not make
any money, though this of course
has no bearing on its merits as a
play. We thought whole sections of
1T were too reminiscent of w, C..
Fields, his manner, his a of
speaking and his material, to be
too original. Since almost anything
is possible in Pulitzer selections.
we thought that at least two other
plays, THE Man Who Came to
Dinner" and There Shall Be No
were more deserving.
However, the Pulitzer committee
neglected to ask our opinion, and
we decided against offering it un-
solicited.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18
Foreigners Ordered To
Leave Rumania At Once

BUCHAREST, May 17.-R-All
foreigners not having work permits
must leave Rumania Immediately,
the ministry of interior decreed to-
night. All work permits issued be-
fore May / were cancelled.
At least 0 1000 aliens were af-
fected.
AL unable or unwilling to leave
will be interned in a concentration
camp opened tonight.
Elimination of the fifth column
menace was described as the mo
tive.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18
GUNS

zAGREB, Yugoslavia, May lip
Additional anti-aircraft guns were
mounted today on Zagreb's highest
building because of Yugoslav fears
OF being involved in war. Municipal
elections scheduled for Sunday in
six districts on the Italian frontier
Were cancelled,
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18

Inere are more than 1866 square
iiiie. OF national parks in the Unit
Gu states a territory larger than
.ne total area Of Belgium or the
Netherlands
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18
DIVORCE

LOS ANGELES, May In M
tress Gloria Dickson t1lea us.
divorce today against Percl'a' st,
ry Westmore, makeup aI''''
charged cruelty.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18
TOP % THE MORNING

The present is the only un-spdnked gen.
GRAFTON in history, hence O generation headed
for plenty of trouble, Yhen We had been count
ing ON it to get the world out of existing chaos.
DR.. MiliEen.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-18

NEXT: Is This Love?
Evening star., 1940-09-27
Deadly Underposs

When organizations Of business
men and citizens in Silver Spring
first asked for modernization of the
underpass separating the grades of
Georgia avenue and the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad tracks several
years ago there may have been some
basis for debate as to its justification
at that time. But these reasons no
longer are valid. In the intervening
years the town itself has grown rap
idly and the development Of COM
munities of homes throughout the
eastern metropolitan section of
Montgomery County has kept pace.
Nearly all traffic of the area, as well
as the growing flow to and from Bal
timore by way of Colesville pike, is
forced to pass through the bottle
neck under the railroad tracks. This
passageway not only is inadequate,
but is old fashioned. One side has
been widened since its original con-
struction, leaving the supporting pill
lars off center, and darkness, par
ticularly on the washington side,
Evening star., 1940-09-27

lican minority, Mr. Mccormack, be-
fore coming to Washington, had
made his mark in Massachusetts,
politics. Born in South Boston 49
years ago, he served in both branches
Of the Massachusetts Legislature.
For two years he was the Democratic
leader In the State Senate. Elected
to Congress in 1925, his advancement
in the House has been rapid. AS the
third ranking Democrat on the Ways
and Means Committee, he has played
an important part in shaping recent
revenue legislation. He is regarded
as an expert on taxation. A hard
worker, Mr.. Mccormack has a high
reputation among his colleagues for
political acumen.
Though 1t has less than half the
Democratic seats in the House, the
South, through the operation Of the
seniority rule, holds more than half
the chairmanships of the important
committees. Democrats from North
ern States at times have complained
that they have not received a proper
share Of the blue ribbon posts. With
the election of Mr. Mccormack as
majority leader, Northern Democrats
will increase their influence in the
councils of the party.
Evening star., 1940-09-27

makes it difficult to see these pillars
at night.
Another effort is being made to
convince the State Roads Commits
sion and the railroad that replace
ment is necessary. Within three
weeks three serious accidents have
occurred there, one of them fatal.
And the number of such crashes has
been increasing yearly since the orig
inal appeal was made Ordinarily an
accident involving a moving car and
a stationary object might be con-
Sidered due to carelessness or some
other human failure, such as drowsi-
ness or fatigue. But the number of
such accidents at this point would
indicate other causes than driving
faults are to blame.
It is estimated that replacement
of the underpass would cost 100000
Certainly the large amount of traffic
which now passes through this one
grade separation justifies such an
expenditure.
Evening star., 1940-09-27

later Munich, granting Hitler all the
territory he now holds, would have
been better than the present desolated
land, the widowed mothers, the orphaned
or dead children.
Now We have CONSUMPTION. Soon We
will have war. In that war it will be
the sole occupation of the soldier to
kill-to murder. The States only inter-
est in him will be that he murder efn-
ciently. He will have been taught how
to do that.
During the last two decades America
has become ashamed of her part in
the first World War (the American
Legion is excepted. Only the conscien-
tious objector can look back with pride
on that inglorious period Only the op-
ponent of war can sleep with clear
conscience after the war.
I will not fight in the next war, al
though I have just reached the draft
age. I will not have to fight; an attack
OF infantile paralysis has seen to that.
But other young men Of my age have
the same convictions. Will you call them
towards if they seek to avoid murder?
Please don't do it. To 60 against public
opinion and to face ridicule for the sake
Of ones ideals is the bravest thing
man can do
CEDANT ARMA TOGAE.
September "a.
Evening star., 1940-09-27
Democratic Leader

To succeed Representative Sam
Rayburn of Texas, recently elevated
to the Speakership, House Democrats
have chosen a New Englander as
floor leader. Representative John w.
Mccormack of Massachusetts,, who
was elected by a vote Of 14l to 67
over Representative Clifton A. Wood
rum of Virginia, an outspoken critic
of the administration fiscal policies,
seems we'll qualified for his new re-
sponsibilities. Though he has as
serted his independence of the White
House on several occasions, notably
when he joined the drive to modify
the undistributed profits tax, in the
main, he has been loyal supporter
of the New Deal. A delegate to the
Democratic National Convention at
Chicago in July, he was active in the
campaign to renominate President
Roosevelt for a third term.
Like Representative Joseph W.
Martin, jr., the leader of the Repub-
Evening star., 1940-09-27
Former New Dealer
To Support Willkie.
To the Editor Of TIE Star:

40 tHe boitol OF 4Et oLdI-
In the September "a, 1910. issue of your
paper Mr. Jay Franklin states: Il have
opposed your (Willkies) election for
reasons Of high public policy" How can
any fair-minded political observer make
such a remark? AS a political observer,
Mr.. Franklin is an outstanding partisan
issuing statements of constant applause
to New Dealism. Does not Mr.. Franklin
indulge in the luxury of sulking" in his
individual tent" by only portraying
one-sided attitude in his writings?
Can Mr.. Franklin claim to be un-
comprehending of the insidious effect
of our increasing bureaucracy? Does
Mr.. Franklin not realize that the So
called social gains of the New Dealers,
sponsored by borrowed money, have not
proved solution to our problems and
cannot continue indefinitely without
producing bankruptcy? Is Mr.. Franklin
blind to the favoritism shown labor with
its resultant class distinction? Is not
the primary step in defense a strong,
unified domestic policy?
I heartily indorse the preservation
Of democracy. However, do not believe
that the record for the past seven years
shows that the New Dealers under Mr..
Roosevelt have carefully guarded that
democracy. Yes. I voted for Mr.. Roose-
welt in 1886; but. after much delibera-
ton, am overwhelmingly persuaded to
vote for Mr.. Willkie in 1910. 1t seems
to me that Mr.. Franklin, too, might
wisely forget his partisanship and
seriously consider the trends and effects
of our present leadership.
September 25. SARAH B. HILL.
Evening star., 1940-09-27
Columbus University
Aids Civil Aviation.
To the Editor Of The Star


The splendid editorial in The Star OF
Friday, September 20, lauding local
universities for their cooperation with
the Governments student pilot training
program. did not go quite far enough.
1t omitted mention Of the excellent work
being done at Columbus University
which has already completed two courses
in ground school aviation work.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration
designated the Junior Chamber Of Com
merce to recommend a local institution
best fitted to conduct ground school
training courses for non-college students.
After a thorough canvass of the situa-
ton. the Aviation Committee Of the
Junior Board of Commerce selected
Columbus University.
approximately 300 men and women
attended the first course in ground
school work at Columbus University. The
second course, recently completed, was
attended by more than 200 young men
and women. Flight training scholarships
were awarded 28 Of those graduating
from the first course. The awarding Of
at least 10 additional flight training
scholarships to graduates of the second
course is now pending.
The ground school course at Columbus
University is supervised by the c. A. A.
The Government agency specifies text
books to be used, prescribes the course
and conducts final examinations in the
three basic subjects of Civil Air Regula-
tions, Air Navigation and Meteorology.
Seventy-two hours are required to finish
the course. The Government certifes
the teachers.
The sole purpose of my letter is to
dissipate possible misimpressions that
these ground school courses are being
sponsored by the Government only at
the schools mentioned in The Star
editorial. L know The Star, always fair
in its presentation Of news and edi-
torials, will be glad to point out that
Columbus University should be included
in the list of local academic institutions
cooperating with the Government in
this very important work.
JOHN DELAFIELD,
Chairman, Aviation Committee,
Junior Chamber Of Commerce.
September "a
Evening star., 1940-09-27
The Empty Nest

They've flown away-his happy bolster
Gus brood
OF hungry babes, that clamored so for
food.
So hard he worked those gaping mouths
to fill
He had no time to warble or to trill,
But now his task is done and he is free
To sing from morn till late at night, but
see
With doleful mien and sad, with droop-
ing crest
He stands and gazes at the empty nest.
So It's with us. The youngsters all have
grown
And left the home to make their way
alone.
So many years we labored to provide
For them, SO earnest our attempts to
guide
Their feet in paths Of right; but now It's
DER,
Upon us rests the heavy load no more
But oh. the house is In an empty state
And we are lonely and disconsolate.
BULA L. DEEB.
Evening star., 1940-09-27
The Dukur Expedition

Official explanations by the British
Ministry of Information do not dis
guise the fact that collapse of the
British-Free French naval expedition
to Dakar is setback which possibly
could have serious implications. The
reverse suffered off French West
Africa already has evoked criticism
from press and parliamentary
sources in London, tending as it does
to revive bitter memories Of the
ill-starred ventures in Norway and
Flanders. The cost must be counted
not only In terms of casualties and
of damaged ships. but of damaged
prestige, for prestige is an important
element in the waging of successful
warfare. The communique issued
by the British government places
full responsibility for the under
taking on General de Gaulle, leader
of the Free French movement, who,
it was stated, had been informed
that a majority of the residents OF
the heavily fortified Senegalese port
were sympathetic to the De Gaulle
cause and would welcome him if he
appeared there. General de Gaulle
attributes the failure of the mission
to Unexpectedly potent Nazi pressure
exerted on the French defenders of
Dakar. That there was a breakdown
in the intelligence channels between
Dakar and London seems obvious.
The British have shown a remark
able ability to take" setbacks such
as that at Dakar, but the blow may
have unfortunate repercussions for
General de Gaulle in his efforts to
rally remnants of the French Empire
around the standard Of Free
France" French Equatorial Africa
already has signified its independ-
ence of the Nazi-dominated Vichy
regime and so have other colonies.
But the winning Of French West
Africa to the freedom cause is even
more important, for Dakar, stra-
logically located on the bulge OF
Africa, overlooks Britain's vital trade
routes to South Africa and thence
around the Cape of Good Hope to
India and Australia. This supply
lifeline has become increasingly i'm
portant with the disruption Of COM
merce to the east by way of the
Mediterranean and Suez. 1t is in
conceivable that Great Britain would
permit Dakar to fall into axis hands.
If reports of Nazi infiltration and
pressure in Dakar have real sub
stance, the British certainly would
be justified in organizing carefully
a second expedition to the West
African seaport, with view to de-
stroying German influence and
taking control by an adequate show
of force, if necessary. This un-
doubtedly could be achieved by de-
termined naval and air action.
Such a seizure would be comforting
to the Western Hemisphere, for
Nazi base at Dakar would be peril
ously close to the bulge of South
America. 1t is only 1900 miles by
air across the South Atlantic to
Brazil. Thus. the fate of Dakar will
be watched with anxious interest by
the mutually concerned American
republics.
Evening star., 1940-09-27
Hit or Error?

In the tenth and deciding inning
of a game with the Dodgers arch
enemy, Cincinnati, a Brooklyn in
fielder dropped a ball on an at
tempted double play. Umpire Ma
gerkurth, in the arbitrary fashion OF
his species, called the runner safe,
merely because some musty old rule
book said he should. He failed COM
pletely to exercise any mercy, OF
whose quality Shakespeare speaks
so highly, and which is especially
desirable when applied to the
Dodgers. This was too much for
rabid fan, who took the field and
slugged the umpire, until dragged
off to the cage.
The incident provides a unique
problem for the lads who keep the
box scores. With what should they
credit this fan? Should his batting
average be fattened by the undoubt-
ed hit he made with the crowd? Does
he get an assist for doing his bit
toward justice? Or could it be a
sacrifice, in which he gave up his
liberty for the common good? Or
just a plain error, considering that
the game was lost while he was put
out and sent to jail? incidentally it
turns out that he was out of jail in
the first place on a ticket of leave
and may now be subject to charge
of violation of parole. But the odds
are that nothing will come Of it. 1t
is doubtful If there breathes a
Brooklyn grand jury with soul so
dead that it would actually indict
any one for assaulting an umpire or
any other notorious public enemy
who robbed their beloved Dodgers
of a decision.
Evening star., 1940-09-27
Believes Nazis Sank
Refugee Ship.
To the Editor Of The Star

To the Editor of The Star:
German denial that a German sub
marine sank the British refugee ship is
Of no avail. The sinking was the carry
ing out of recent threat by a German
leader.
A few German children were killed
during a raid by British bomber: the
deaths occurred in hospital. This so
enraged the Germans, that a reprisal
in a much, very much larger measure
was to result. Followed the sinking OF
the refugee ship and the destruction Of
q great many British children.
No sane person, no one conversant
with the British sporting spirit, can
harbor for a moment the thought that
the German hospital was Intentionally
bombed by the British.
No act of cowardly cruelty seems to be
beyond the mad rage of Hitler or those
associated with him. JOHN N. QUINN.
September "a.