davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Politics and Defense

1t was diverting sideshow to the
serious business of national defense
while it lasted-that sudden cam
paign of uncertain origin for coali-
tion cabinet to make America safe
for democracy. AS might have been
expected, it exploded loudly but
harmlessly yesterday as an after
math Of the White House tete-a-tete
between President Roosevelt and Mr..
ALI M. Landon, titular head of the
Republican party. The explosion was
inevitable because the naturally
suspicious G. o. P. leaders thought
the proposition smacked too much
OF an attempt to make America safe
for the Democratic party.
Irrespective of who proposed a
coalition of parties for emergency
teamwork, it was wholly imprac-
ticable scheme at best-certain to
stir up disharmony at time when
unity Of purpose among all the peo-
pie is highly essential. A coalition of
leading minds, without regard to
party, is much to be desired, but
coalition based on political consider
ations rather than professional or
industrial attainments would have
been most ill-advised.
And now, let us have done with this
kind of business! If the President is
going to run for third term, he
must be nominated for the office by
his party and he must meet the
third-term issue squarely at the
polls next November. There is
nothing the Republican party can do
to change that fact and it might as
well be faced now, for the decision
on third term for the President
If he makes himself available as a
candidate-rests with the American
people and not the leaders, titular
and otherwise, of the Republican
party.
Mr.. Landon's statement yesterday
was ineptly phrased and in the opin-
Ion of The Star does not represent the
considered opinion either of Mr..
Landon or of the Republican party.
For him to say that "any Repub-
lican leader who takes a position in
the present setup from the stand
point of unselfish national service is
making himself party to this third
or indefinite term move" is by impli-
cation to suggest that it would be
traitorous to the party for any
Republican leader to take a promi-
nent part in the necessarily united
effort OF the country to solidify and
to make impregnable it's defenses. In
other words, Mr.. Landon's statement
plainly suggests that Republicans
will help in the defense of the coun-
try only on the assurance by Mr..
Roosevelt that he will not run again.
The Republican party never placed
price on its willingness to serve the
Nation, and it is unfortunate that
the implications of Mr.. Landon's
statement suggest a deviation from
its traditions.
Evening star., 1940-05-23

battle OF Cantigny, also in the Aisne-
Marne offensive; then spent Is months
in the hospital with wounds, and years
since with busted shoulder and verte-
brae injuries. OF this have no COM
plant, but repetition of such a fiasco
Is beyond my comprehension.
1t is time for people to use, not lose.
their heads: to form their own opinions,
and not to accept those of every tin
horn propaganda at large.
w. j. ELLISON.
Col. Lindberghs radio talk, of course,
does not please certain powerful in
terests, groups with political, financial
or other axes to grind. To the masses.
however, those who pay the bill during
and after war, he spoke words of wis
dom which we would do well to heed.
Strange, but true, the war monger does
not serve his country in the front-line
trenches. w. H. SHIELDS,
History repeats "'". Immediately prior
to the entry of the United States into
the first World War member of Con-
gress was despised and Stunned as a
moral leper in his home State. His fell
low citizens refused to ride the street.
cars he was using. They crossed to the
other side when he came down the
street. They stoned him when he spoke
in public.
His sin? He spoke the truth: he
prophesied the result of our entry-oh.
how accurately!
He was the father of Col. Lindbergh.
Today his son is ridiculed for like
error. When asked for comparison Of
the airpower of two countries he spoke
the truth. He was denounced as fool
and liar. Today, two short years later,
we find those who denounced him as a
fool desperately attempting to fight of
the force Of which they were warned.'''
On Sunday last, Col. Lindbergh tried
to point out the foolishness Of expecting
any combination Of powers to attack
this Nation with the state Of affairs In
Europe and Asia as they ore. as tried
to point out sans and studied program
Evening star., 1940-05-23

again has been burned. Established
originally In 1924, 1t was intended
from the first to be a depository for
rare books and precious manuscripts
which, as the sponsors believed,
otherwise might be lost. How these
treasures perished in the holocaust
Of 1914 has been told again and
again; but the story did not protect
the editice which was designed to
replace the destroyed structure. It
also is gone, and the irony Of It's fate
is a pitiful phenomenon. Perhaps
perversity follows a pattern Of mis-
chief one generation after another.
There is evidence to suggest as much.
Meanwhile, the name of Arras, the
ancient capital Of Artois, must be
added to the list of cities stricken in
the strife. It's hotel de vile was
masterpiece of the sixteenth century,
created by Jacques Caron, a Gothic
architect Of authentic and undoubted
genius. In the belfry the bell "Joy-
euse' made solemn music from 1923
onward. If it be not silent now, only
miracle has preserved it. The town
is "a heap of ashes," according to
reliable report.
But something more important
than houses, libraries, art galleries,
churches is hurt when men go mad
with greed and hate. The very spirit
of civilization-the element which
makes life tolerable even in time OF
disasters Knocked by the fury of
the iconoclasts. Their offense, then,
is sin against the humane quality
OF humanity. How can they earn
forgiveness?
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Dictatorship in Britain

Under the threat of invasion by
Germany's total war Britain has
found it necessary to resort to die
tatorship to combat dictatorship.
All the implications of Parliament's
significant action can be perceived
now only in the roughest outline.
But it is apparent that Britain has
fitted herself into totalitarian har-
ness for the exertion of every ounce
of her energy in the immediate
prosecution of the war.
All Britaip's resources-labor and
capital together-are now being
thrown into the fight, regimented
and co-ordinated - "gleichgeschal-
tet," the Germans say-for the
maximum possible effort in the de-
cisive struggle which is in prospect.
This does not mean that Britain
is now irrevocably committed to
totalitarian dictatorship. The Brit
ish Parliament remains in existence
and the government continues to be
responsible to the people. If the
Churchill government, in spite Of its
vast powers, fails in its war effort it
will suffer the same fate visited upon
the Daladier government, which also
possessed dictatorial powers almost
from the start of the war. British
democracy is not dead, it has merely
taken the one course which offers
hope Of success-dghting Germany
with its own methods.
There is lesson for America in
this drastic step which Britain has
felt compelled to take, and we can
i'll afford not to absorb its implica-
tions.
Immediately prior to the war, and
even after hostilities had started, the
British failed to exert that maximum
effort toward self-protection which
the exigencies of their situation de-
manded. Political considerations
and a lethargy which seems to be a
characteristic Of democracy operated
to retard Britain's rearmament ef-
fort. This lack Of preparation has
been tragically evident in the mill
tary disasters which have befallen
the allied forces in France and Bel
gium.
But the discovery on the field of
battle that the allies were not pre-
pared for total war was not new.
That fact had been known for long
time, but it was not until hostile
army stood virtually at the thres-
hold of England that the British de-
cided to throw their whole strength
into what may prove a fatally be-
lated effort to save themselves.
Our own defenses at this time are
woefully inadequate. We are not at
war, but we cannot blind ourselves
to the fact that war may come to us.
Our preparations are shaped toward
that possibility and, above all other
things, it is imperative that we profit
by Britain's mistakes.
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Empire on the Spot

Amid the ominous and distressing
news Of the war in Europe, let us not
lose track of the debacle that is
occurring right here in the American
League. For years it has been ruled
by the mighty. Yankee empire, and
eight big cities and surrounding ter
ritory have paid unwilling tribute
to its skill and its cash box. Besides
this, 1t also controlled a far-fung
series of colonies consisting of a
chain of minor league teams on
which the sun Of defeat rarely set.
There seemed no good reason why
this should not continue forever.
But either the fatal germ of COM
placency attacked the Yankees, or q
natural resurgence of the downtrod-
den occurred. At any rate, without
warning seven embattled have-nots
turned on them in a total war. The
Yanks failed to realize their deadly
peril, and issued communicates to
sports writer's stating that their
defeats were merely strategic and
that they would soon bring up their
reserves and restore sanity. Mean
while, said their wishful thinkers,
the enemy would be quarreling
amongst themselves for the loot and
spelling their effectiveness.
At this writing the situation looks
hopeless. With their backs pushed
uncomfortably against the cellar
floor they are struggling more or
less hopelessly against the over
whelming might Of the opposition,
and will be lucky II they manage
even to stay IA the league.
Evening star., 1940-05-23
THIS AND THAT
Our towhee has been Joined by his
By Charles E. TrnceuelI.

Our toYhee has been joined by his
mate.
This is good news in the garden,
heralding spring In earnest. The male
bird has been with us since last fall.
We wondered at times whether there
would ever be any ."missus."
All during the cold, bitter days of the
late winter the male towhee was a
steady visitor at the small feeding sta
tion placed atopa a steel stake in the
rhododendrons outside the north win
dows.
At first he was afraid to get into the
feeder. He contented himself with pick
|. ing up seeds which the sparrows and
others had knocked out onto the oak
leaves which were piled around the
rhodes.
BY the middle of the winter he had
gained enough confidence to get into
the station.
Usually he did this only when other
birds were away, but in time he grew
bold, and began thrusting his head at
birds which dared to perch on the rim.
He never did this in an ugly manner;
the towfiee is mannerly, graceful bird
in all he does
The gold on his rear, his dainty COM
bination of black and brown, his good
carriage
These set him apart from the ruck of
English sparrows which monopolized the
little station by the window.
But his ways were his real measure
OF gentility. These were placid but bold
When he made thrust at the sparrows,
he did it without malice, merely to indi-
cate that, while he was feeding, he
wished they would stay away.
If they came, however, as they al
ways did, he would not do much to drive
them away, but pretended that he did
not see them. Appeasement?
All winter we wondered where his mate
was, or If he ever had one.
Several readers asked about the same
thing. They, too. it seemed, had male
towhees, but had never seen female.
Would the female fly In from. the South
in the spring? Were towhees bachelors?
Just as we had about given up the
idea of mate for the towhee, here came
the female, plain bird, without the
fancy touches of the male, but nonethe-
less very fine creature.
She arrived the second week in May.
Had she come from the South? Was
she the faithful mate of last year, or
was she an entirely new one? Had the
meeting been by chance, merely, or had
she flown straight as an arrow-or as
straight as arrows once were supposed
to fly-to her companion of former days?
Well, there is not any answer to such
questions, without bird banding. This
means placing an Identification ring on
the leg of the birds, releasing them, then
capturing them next year.
In this way alone is it possible to know
whether the same birds meet up again,
after many days.
Even then one could not be sure that
she had flown all the way from the
Southern States, or whether she had been
just around the corner
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Poor Policy

Congress would make a serious
mistake if it waived civil service re-
Quirements for civilian personnel
recruited for the War Department
defense program, as provided in the
bill of the House Military Affairs
Committee. The measure proposes
the exemption "to expedite" the
emergency operations, but the pa
tronage abuses that are inevitable
under such conditions would be far
more likely to retard than speed
operations, while at the same time
imperiling the efficiency that is so
necessary in carrying out the vast
arms plan. Objections to the ex-
emption have been voiced by the
Civil Service Commission and the
National Civil Service Reform League.
The proviso is not carried in the
companion Senate bill.
In the first World War it was not
found necessary to abandon civil
service principles to obtain qualified
workers for the huge machine that
suddenly was brought into existence,
the Civil Service Commission being
equal to the task. In the space of
eighteen months 100000 applicants
were examined and 100000 ap-
pointed. If necessary, the commits
sion again could be geared for
whatever requirements might be
imposed on it. Further, limited
exemptions from civil service that
were permitted twenty years ago
bred unsavory results, notably in the
Bureau of Aircraft Production of the
War Department, where investiga-
ton later disclosed that aircraft
inspectors" had been recruited from
the ranks of bellboys, elevator opera
tors and other callings far removed
from the field in which they were
supposed to be expert.
The President has power under
the law to lift civil service restric-
tions when occasion demands. and
Evening star., 1940-05-23

With the arrival Of really warm
weather and its mate the male towhee
began to sing.
While it was easy to understand how
1t got its other name, chewink, after
listening to 1t for while, 1t was diff
cult to see how any one ever arrived at
the name. in the first place, for the bird
does not really say "chewink," nor yet
"towhee"
1t sings while on the ground.
1t possesses a sort of ventriloquist
quality, SO that it is hard to find the bird
you hear singing.
We find 1t almost impossible to be-
leve that the female towhee, wintering
in the South, is able to fly north and
come to the exact spot where the male
has been living all that time.
Well, maybe, but still we find it almost
impossible to believe.
This leaves. as the only alternative,
the idea that the female bird is Just q
mate by chance. that is, she flies north,
and when she sees nice lively towhee
scratching for its dinner in the leaves,
and hears his cheerful chirp, she flies
down and says ."Howdy."
However that may be, this pair makes
a fetching picture iii the home garden.
The male. in particular, grows upon the
observer At first he is likely to think
OF him as plain bird, but closer view,
especially at feeder, reveals him as
mighty pretty with his cinnamon.rufous
coloring. touched with flecks OF gold.
black and white.
Other common names for this bird
throughout the country include swamp
robin, bullf1nch, red-eyed towhee, ground
robin, towhee bunting, jo-ree, marsh
robin, turkey sparrow and bush-bird.
The nest is made on the ground, which
the birds love at all times. It is in
leaves and the like that the male
scratches for his dinner just like an old
hen.
The idea Of calling him ground robin
is not bad one. since he slightly re-
sembles a robin and does live on the
ground. That was why our specimen
took month or more to make up his
mind to get into an elevated feeder.
After he once had made the acquaintance
OF this easy way of getting living, moth
ing could make him stay away.
The cowbird, that bad bird which lays
its eggs in others nest, is said to have
special preference for the nest of the
chewink. While the eggs of the two
species look somewhat alike, the cow
birds are smaller and do not have the
pink coloring of the eggs of the towhee.
Our towhee is about g. inches long
The iris is red, which gives a note of
distinction to the bird. In the colored
plates he is often represented, on account
OF this eye, as somewhat malicious in
appearance. but this is a quality which
he does not possess in real life.
1t is said that sometimes the cowbird
will lay so many eggs in the towhee nest
that the hostess seems to feel that she
has been imposed upon, and deserts the
entire nest, which somehow seems to
serve the cowbird right. Is there or
isn't there here a moral for nations?
Evening star., 1940-05-23
American Poets Stamp
Issues Criticized.
tn the ElJifar - m. . aA.

The suggestion Of stamp for Shake
speare, submitted by your correspondent
A. Ueland, is an excellent one and should
be adopted. And while on the subject of
stamps, perhaps our Postmaster Gen.
eral can explain just why Edgar Allan
Poe and Sidney Lanier were excluded
from recent issues commemorating Amer
ican poets.
Certainly Poe, generally regarded by
foremost critics as Americas leading
poet (not to mention Lanier), does not
need postage stamp to perpetuate his
glory. His genius speaks for itself.
Nevertheless, it appears little short of
ludicrous to exclude this great bard,
While including so many lesser lights.
EDMUND K. GOLDSBOROUGH.
May 13.
Evening star., 1940-05-23

which if followed by the Americas COL
lectively would protect this hemisphere
from any power or group of powers at
that time when the powers will have
recuperated sufficiently from the effects
OF the present debacles abroad to con-
template an attack in our direction. -
To me, Col. Lindbergh's error was In
trying to point the way to peace for
a Nation bent on a fight. Whoever
dubbed him Lone Eagle" named him
better than he knew, for today his is
the one sane voice in battle of hysteria.
JAMES L. McNULTY.
Your fine editorial SAYS lust
about everything to be said against the
Lindbergh menace to America. = He
insults our President and our Nation by
assuming that strong policy of defense
Will not be worked out as the prologue
to the forthcoming defense program.
Such premature assumptions, If taken at
face value, can only undermine faith
IN our public officials, elected by our
democratic process, and create havoc
when harmony is the supreme need.
Col. Lindbergh warns against hysteria
and haste. Did he expect a sound de-
fense policy to evolve overnight, after
years Of the possibility Of such q policy
having been injured by such professed
isolationists as himself? It has only
been in the midst Of a terrific shock
from happenings abroad during the past
few weeks that our President has been
able to present few facts to the lulled
American public without being called a
war monger. -"
Again, congratulations upon your
microscopic dissection of Col. Lind
bergh's propaganda.
KATHERYN VAN DEN BERG.
Permit me to congratulate you on
your editorial Of May 20. on Col. Lind
bergh's broadcast, under the heading
Counsel Of Disaster" The editorial
was completely devastating in its con-
demnation and merits the approval Of
patriotic citizens everywhere.
GEORGE w. MORRISON.
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Additional Aid to Allies
Necessary, He Says.


Please let me congratulate you on
your splendid editorial OF yesterday,
Zero Hour" It alone is worth my
subscription to The Star 1t was STIR
ringly written, brilliantly expressed and,
more than all, absolutely true. I can
only add that not only is the fate of
the European democracies in the bal
ance, but every democracy on earth,
including our own. We should send them
everything they need, whether they can
pay for 1t or not, for 1t Is q case OF
money and materials now, or men and
blood later.
CUMBERLAND H. H. RUMBOLD.
Covington, Va.
May II.
Evening star., 1940-05-23

people would probably starve, and it
would seem to be the duty of the Red
Cross or the Rockefeller Foundation to
see that they are fed.
May Is. MARK S. WILLING.
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Says We Should Feed
Victims Of Conquest.
To the Editor of The Star:

May not history have to repeat itself?
Now that Hitler has taken Norway, Den
mark. Holland and certain portion of
Belgium how are these unfortunate ma
to feed them and on account of war
scares, all able men have been mobilized
so that probably no spring sowing has
been done. If such be the case, these
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the Driter, although the use OF
a pseudonynl for publication is
permissible. Please be brier
Evening star., 1940-05-23

A. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use Tor republication of all news dispatches
credited to It or not otherwise credited in this
Paper and also the local news published herein
AL rights OF publication Of special Dispatcher
herein also are reserved
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered ~ second-class matter post ONCE,
washington. D. c.
Evening star., 1940-05-23

Col. Lindberghs Judgment may not be
the best, but at least his speech was
the best, from the standpoint of clear
thinking, that have encountered. -. =
I landed In France with the first COM
pany OF American combat troops
fought Ia the attacking wavs IA the
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Delivered by Carrier-City and Suburban

Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
Daily and Sunday--1 ". $12. 90; mo-. 81 .OC
Paals ssaS.S only on,,1 r. 1899: mo- mo- e;
Evening star., 1940-05-23

SHINGTON, D. G.
THURSDAY May 23, 1910
Evening star., 1940-05-23
Col. Lindbergh 5 Views
Debated by Readers
Some Express Approval,
Others Dissent From
Flyers Opinions

EDITORS NOTE Many letters
haze been received from, readers co1-
cerntng Col. Ltndbergh's radio address
Sunday eDening. Portions OF repre-
sentative communications on both
SIDES are printed In such space as is
available for correspondence today.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-02-09
P0giitfu
Imperial alley Press
EStnhiish.d AnrlI -. 1901.

Established Ap"lt -, 1901.
Published every afternoon except
Saturday and Sunda" tSaturday
afternoon isaa!p '.OW .ucct eded
by the po$t-Pr,ss sunday, tes
tablished 1850 by the Imperial
Valley Publishing company. 625
State Street ri IcntrO. Calf.
Paul Jenkins. publisher: a. C.
Johnston, ce-presidcnt, and
general manager; f. A. Fitz-
hugh. secretary and managing
editor. West Holiday Co. Inc.
tiveS
Entered at FL Centre, California
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ter.
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In conjunction with the Post
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Publishers association.
Imperial Valley press., 1940-02-09
II Rooms for Rent
Business Rentals

STORE FOR RENT OR LEASE.
Best location III Ell Centro Next
door 20 j. j. NeWbcrrv Co. Inquire
Kirby Shoe Store. 21i
Imperial Valley press., 1940-02-09
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Imperial Valley press., 1940-02-09
81 Wanted, Miscellaneous

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Imperial Valley press., 1940-02-09
81 Trucks Tractors TrdilerS

MASTERCRAFT COACHES, 13 to
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