davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-08
Funeral Services

Funeral services for Eugene Vlg- cant. Sr., 50, who died suddenly at his home in Northfield Friday even- ing. were held from the Lyons F1ineral Hosne, 46 High street at a:30 this morning to St. Thomas church at g o'clock. Burial was in St Thomas cemetery. The deceased had been a resident of Northfield for about l3 years and was em- ployed at Seth Thomas Clocks. Survivors are his widow Mrs. Irene (pickett) vigeant; three sons. Eu- gene, Francis and Paul and two daughters, Bern iceand Doris, all oi Northfeld.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-08
Announce Engagement

Announcement has been made of the engagement of Miss Katherine Regina O'Connor, daughter of Mrs. John Gleason of Chipman street, Waterbury, to Clarence Wesley Daley of River street. No wedding date has been set.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Take Me Out to the Ball. Game

They're singing the plaudits of young
Bob Teller, the Cleveland pitcher who
reminds the old-timers of Walter Johnson
with his binding speed. Young Bob
started the 1910 baseball season auspi-
ciously by hurting no-hit, no-run game.
It was a great achievement and never
before has been done in season opener.
And the number of no-hit, no-run games
in big league baseball isn't too lengthy,
either. So all praise to Teller and his
mighty right arm.
But the seasons first games, most of
them played in unreasonable weather,
produced other sterling performances and
not all by young fellows. Take the case
of old Man Nose" Lefty Grove, for ex-
ample. The veteran gave indication OF
his brilliance and his capabilities by
hurting and batting the Boston Red Sox
to nice victory. Grove was bit more
lenient than Teller; he gave up two hits
to the opposition. And if that wasn't
enough an unknown pitcher with a
famous name, though, Dean, set the
Worlds Champion Yankees back in 10
innings.
Yes, sir, at this rate baseball organized
baseball at least, looks as if it were in for
q banner season. When the pitchers can
grab all the glory on opening day, it's
time to cheer. The slugger has caught
the popular fancy of recent years, but
there are still many of us who fancy
game featured by clever pitching, brilliant
fielding, and hustle and fight all the way
through.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Alaska Is Like Norway

Travellers have often noted how like
that of Norway is the scenery of Alaska.
They have noted the same general re-
rnoteness, the same sparse population,
the same fiords leading up to quiet little
towns nesting in pockets between noun
tain and sea. Yes, travellers have agreed,
Alaska is like Norway. The ridiculous
east with which German troops seized all
important Norwegian ports leads one to
wonder how much farther the similarity
to Alaska could be carried.
The Morse we're caught flat-footed. They
didn't expect to be invaded without warn
ing They believed that the existence of
the worlds largest fleet, 500 miles closer
to Narvik than the German, made it i'm
possible. But careful advance planning
and an utter lack of scruples nullified
Norwegian defense plans, if any. Sudden
appearance in the harbors of hostile war
ships and infantry probably brought in
on merchant ships in disguise caused
such negligible defenses as there were to
melt away like snow under the spring
sun.
At Narvik, for instance, Norwegian
land troops present we're unable to do
anything more as the German troops
marched in than to say, How do you do?"
and then fade quietly out of the picture
without firing shot. Narvik is 200 miles
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Get Together on This

Addressing the state convention of the
Young Republicans last Saturday DR..
James L. McConaughy, Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor of Connecticut and President of
Wesleyan University, came out in favor
of the automobile testing lanes. He also
remarked that he hoped the lanes would
not be injected into politics this fall.
There is no reason for so doing, unless
the Republicans decide to bring up the
issue themselves. If DR.. McConaughy
recalls it was the Republicans who took
a stand of opposition to the testing lanes
in 1888
And only recently Governor Raymond
E. Baldwin himself admitted that he was
not convinced of the real value of the
inspections, but claimed that he was
bound to see the state law obeyed and
consequently was doing all in his power
for continued inspections. 1t is only on
such a stand as this that Democrats
might feel impelled to drag the inspec
lions into their political platforms this
fall. And if they do they certainly can't
be blamed
If DR.. McConaughy favors continuation
of the inspections he Is in good company
for there are many who think the same
way and don't hesitate to say so in pub
liz. ouI Illclc Id d WCll-Ue1Al1Cu OppOol-
ton to them and it will manifest itself
this fall when the major political parties
line up for the biennial scrap. What
stand Governor Baldwin will take if he
is the candidate to succeed himself he
has not yet made public. Perhaps he's
waiting to see how the public reacts to
the present series of tests But at any
rate the Democratic position on them is
the same now as it was when they we're
started under the administration of Will
bur L. Cross
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18

north of the Arctic Circle. Every Alaskan
port of Importance Nome, Anchorage,
Juneau, are far south OF that. Sltka is
$500 miles, Seward 1900 miles from their
military command posts, San Francisco.
Narvik is only 1000 miles from important
British bases.
First lesson for the United States in the
Norwegian invasion is that any country
interested in Selling Alaska would not
wait for a declaration of war. 1t would
be prepared in advance. If military
forces in Alaska are no more alert, no
more ready than those of Norway, defense
would be impossible. The presence OF
fleet 1900 miles away is shown to be no
protection at all except for bitter and
costly recapture. With such warnings
written in blood across Scandinavia, the
United States would be negligent indeed
to fail to strengthen Alaskan garrisons
and defense measure to point where any
such quick seizure would be unattractive
to anyone who might at some future time
consider it,
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Unnatural Trade

Once again the War God steps up to
the cash register and plays tune of dis
location. United States investments of
1921 100000 in Scandinavia are leopard
lied by the German invasion. In January
and February the United States shipped
$3O,618,OOO worth of goods to those coun-
tries, and received $14,945,000 worth in
return That trade, for the present at
least, is gone.
It is possible that Britain will call on
the United States for some farm products
formerly obtained from Denmark. But
in general Mars has again narrowed the
trade field With every such restriction,
the necessity is ali the greater to main
tain and increase domestic buying power.
Self-containment is net goal to be de-
sired but under present circumstances it
is increasingly necessity to be faced.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Musical Melting Pot

While the German legions were in the
very act of invading Norway and Den
mark, an odd little demonstration was
being given in Cleveland. Erich LENS
dorf, Austrian, was directing a Metropoli-
tan Opera performance of "Tann-
haeuser," an opera by the German, Wag-
ner. Singing we're Kristen Flagstad, Nor
Wegian; Lauritz Melchior, Dane; Kerstln
Thorberg Swede; Herbert Jansen, Ger
man; Alexander Kipnis, Russian; and
Arnold Gabor, Hungarian.
Man can be international in music, art,
politics he reyerts to much more print
tive nationalism. Would there be greater
harmony, do you suppose, if every coun-
try fired it's political leaders and appointed
orchestra leaders in their places?
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Views of The Press
HOLLYWOOD AND THE WAR
(Hartford Courant)

OOS~~SSHeS|
One of the first of American in
dustries in England to suffer from
the declaration of war was the pro-
duction of moving pictures. BY gov
eminent order, all theaters were
closed Immediately as part of the
general program of air raid precau-
tons, but gradually the restrictions
were relaxed. However, the pro-
ducers were faced with the serious
problem of currency regulation. The
remittances which would have been
made in the ordinary course of bust
ness were stopped by law. BY Sep
TENDER %, negotiations with the
British government had made pos
sible remittanceS of 10 per cent of
the annual gross business in Eng
land, but the amount was still in
sufficient Negotiations in London
were continued, however, with the
assistance of the American Embassy
and the Department of State, so
that by November it was possible
for the producers to transfer so per
cent of 1.-The normally remittable
funds and to use the rest of opera
tons in England.
In France, the intensive mobiliza-
ton carried on by the government
took from the theaters many of
their trained personnel, but eff
fort was made to keep them open,
and in certain instances the closing
hours have been extended. But the
troubles of Hollywood are not yet
over. In developing its economic
warfare, the British government has
decided to campaign for fewer pur-
chaseS of American products and
it is concentrating it's efforts par
ticularly en- motion pictures. What
ever the outcome of this new move
may be, 1t demonstrates that even
neutral country like America must
help pay the costs of war.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
INTO THE MELTING POT
(NeV Haven Register)

The great bronze doors of Hit
ler's new chancellery are report
ed to have been taken off and
chucked into the NAV of Mars.
Most of the brass and bronze fit
tings from both the old and the
new chancelleries, candlebra, orna-
ments and even ventilator grills,
arc said to have gone to the same
place, for melting up into war
metal. Even the metal bric-a-brac
from der Fuehrer,s home in Mu-
mich, and from his Berghof place,
is announced as having been
stripped off as the good example
to his people.
BY the time the latter get
around to inspecting the Berghof
retreat to see for themselves first
hand, it probably will not make
much difference whether the story
is true or false. About everything
else of a count will have been
melted up, tangible and intangible.
Two, five and ten-pfennig coins are
going to IL of zinc from now on
instead of copper, so as to release
the red metal for munition uses. St
won't be long now, before the
glories of war will look bit less
glorious.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
FLOOD THREATS
Boston POST

Engineers watching the Merri-
mack and Connecticut Rivers are
now of the belief that unless New
England is visited by heavy rains of
considerable duration the valleys of
the big rivers will escape the floods
costly in other years. Ice jams in the
north are still holding back consid-
cradle water but conditions general
~ are such that there appears little
reason for fear this spring.
Winter conditions, it is true, were
not as bad as in years when we had
bad floods and the food prevention
work that has been done will hardly
be given a real test this year. Good
behavior on the part of nature will
save us many lives and dollars.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Current Comment

America cannot be permitted to
drift, drift, while politicians merely
hope, hope.
President John L. Lewis of the
C.. I. O.
Until ticket fixing is ruled out,
you might as well forget your
safety program.
President Paul G. Hoffman Of
Studebaker, to the Automotive
Safety Foundation.
Suppose scientist beat a drum
and blasted q loudspeaker to
prove his theory where would
we be?
DR.. John M. Fletcher to the New
Orleans Academy of Science.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
. HIGHLIGHTS FROM
LATEST BOOKS
Coolidge's Wife Had
No Word of Plans

NO WORD OF PlanS
1t is an exceedingly, full, well
written biography that Claude M.
Fuess has achieved in Calvin
Coolidge" little, Brown; $4.75).
Here, for instance, is the first use
Of the correspondence between
Coolidge and his father. Coolidge,
Mr.. Fuess concludes, "was not
only a useful public servant but
greatand good man." His
health, you feel, made the Pres
idency OnerOus long before any
one suspected it, may have ac-
CuOnted for his famous 81 do not
choose to run" although he. told
his secretary, "If should serve as
President again, l should serve al
most ten years, which is too long
for a President i'm this country"
In any event he kept the problem
to himself as revealed in this ex-
Cerpt:
After the reporters has escaped
to spread the news CT do not choose
to run for President in 1928"-Writ-
ten ON little slips, cut up and passed
out by the President himself in his
summer office in the South Dakota
Black Hills, the President turned
back to his desk, stared absent
mindedly for moment at some
documents, called for his hat, and
joined Senator Capper in walk to
the Presidential limousine.
Although Mrs. Coolidge felt in
tuitively that something had been
on her husbands mind, she knew
nothing whatever in advance Of the
decision or the announcement.
After the President had retired to
his room for nap following lun-
cheon, Senator Capper, always a
reserved man, said cautiously, That
was quite surprise the President
gave us this morning" When Mrs.
Coolidge professed ignorance, he
told her what had happened, and
she broke out, "ISn't that just like
the man! He never gave me the
slightest intimation of his intention.
I had no idea"
Later she wrote, II am rather
proud of the fact that after nearly
a quarter of a century of marriage,
my husband feels free to make his
or giving me advance information
concerning them"
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
What's Your I. O.?
Can you answer seven of these
test questions? Turn to last page
for the answers.

I. What is the name Of the holi-
day that falls on May 80?
2. Is Boulder Dam the highest
dam in the world?
3. What is the Septuagint?
4. Ambassador Laurence A. Stein
hardt represents the United States
in Finland, Sweden or Russia?
S. Do thunderstorms cause milk
to sour?
6. Sofia is the capital of which
country?
z. Which President of the United
States alluded to himself as "Old
Public Functionary?"
8. Which of these three cities on
the Pacific coast is farthest from
Washington, d. c., as the crow
flies: Vancouver, Canada; Tijuana,
Mexico; Eureka, Calf.
8. When was the name of the
British Royal Family changed to
Windsor? ..
10. In which centuries were the
Crusaders?
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
In Today's Mail
OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE
WAR-THERE ARE TWO
ALTERNATIVES
Waterbury, Conn.
April is, 1910

Waterbury, Conn.
April 10, 1910
Editor of the Democrat:
Two rational but sharply conflic-
ting views as to what the United
States should do toward ending the
present war, seem to be gaining wide
support. Stating them here might
help to clarity somebody's thinking.
One view may be stated somewhat
as follows: Narrowly considered,
our interests are with the Allies, in
that both they and we are the
privileged possessors of the best
parts of the earth; we enjoy a COM
mon rulership by the benevolent
bourgeoisie; and we are compare
lively loyal to the status quo in
economics, politics, morality, and
religion. Therefore, we should
heartily praise the Allies and as
heartily damn Germany and Russia
till the necessity for defeating Die
tatorShip, Nazism, and Communism
shall seem to most of us a Suffic-
lent reason for our entrance into the
military struggle"
The other view runs thus: More
broadly considered, the welfare of
all peoples, including ourselves and
the present belligerents on both
sides, would probably be best served
by peace without victory, STRAIT
egic retreat of the possessors, and q
pacification of all parties concerned,
by exhaustion and federation.
Therefore, we in the United States
would better resist the rising tide
of propaganda for scapegoatism, and
hold out for fundamental reconcila-
ments, economic, political, moral,
religious. Certainly not before such
reconcilaments are clearly attain
able, should we consider any mill
tary participation in the war"
HENRY w. LAWRENCE
Connecticut College
New London, Conn.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18

We're wondering what is going to be
the reaction of local officials to the recent
plea of State Highway Commissioner Will
liam j. Cox for abandonment of the oil and
sand treatment for roads. We've been
watching to see if officials in towns around
the state have remarked on this plan to
substitute the more-lasting "armor-coat-
ing" finish to what are now not perna-
nently hard-surfaced highways. On local
opinion the spread of this treatment
hinges.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18

and tabular summary ROT State laws
relating to paternity and support
of children born out of wedlock.
@. Is it possible to remove a
raised mole safely with corn re-
mover preparations?
A. No; because certain types Of
moles may be tumors and it is dan
gerous to try home treatment.
@. Are there more Canadians of
French descent than English des-
cent, not counting Scottish and
Irish?
A. French descent, 1927, 800;
straight English descent, 2,741,419.
@. To what office was Ignace
Jan Paderewski recently elected?
A. He was elected Chairman Of
the National Council of the Repub-
lie of Poland. 1t is an advisory body
composed of "a members, including
Jews and Conservatives. The Coun-
Gil is a substitute for the Senate
and Lower House, which for obvious
reasons, cannot operate.
@. Where Is the paper mill that
is making newsprint from southern
pine timber?
A. Lufkin, Texas.
@. What was the battle-cry of
the Northern army during the Civil
War?
A. ION to Richmond" was one
of the most widely used. The cap
ital of the Confederacy fell in
April 1865, and was partially burned
by the victors.
@. What constitutes conditional
contraband as defined by Great
Britain?
A. All kinds of food, foodstuffs,
feed, forage, and clothing and ar
ticles and materials used in their
production.
@. What is soluble silk?
A. The term probably means
rayon. CelluloSe acetate-rayon IS
soluable in acetnoe and in glacial
acetic acid.
Q. What was the size of the old
paper currency of the U. S.? When
were the smaller bills first used?
A. The old currency was z TIC
1-8 inches. The Treasury began
to issue the new small-si7ed cur
rency on July 10, 1929.
If you want q Opy Of the book
let 1.-THE Dog and Cat Book" send
to The Waterbury Democrats
washington Bureau, 1913 Thlr-
teenth street, Washington, d. c.
Enclose 10 cents in postage.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Selected Poem
MORNING SEABOARD

Peter j. Henniker Heaton in the Christian
Science Monitor)
Who spread this sunshine on the sea,
this scrambled gold on jade?
From what celestial orangery
this sky of marmalade?
Where rocks like broken pillars stand
and beds of seaWeed dry,
across the honey -colored sand
the chocolate shadows lie.
In vain against the foreland's foot
the waters cream and boil,
For here the thrift has taken root
in shallow crust of soil.
But far above the sea-Winds keep
their fierce and salty tang
and with the yellow mustard sweep
up from the overhang.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18

usually strong in Denmark-has
more members there than in the
United States, in fact-and it has
taken thousands of Jewish refugees
under its wing.
A big cooperative association
had been formed. New industries
were started, whole villages taken
over Jews who had lived in cit
les all their lives were learning
how to be farmers on land bought
by the coop.
Suddenness Of the invasion gave
officers of the movement no time
to destroy their files, with the re-
suit that the whole business has
fallen into Nazi hands. Word here
is that many of the Jews are al
ready on the way to concentration
camps. U. S. officials of the
league are trying-so far, in vain
to find out what happened to
leaders of the Danish movement.
U. S. PEACE GROUPS
ALARMED BY EVENTS
The whole Scandinavian invasion
hit the organized peace groups in
Washington like bolt of lightning,
raising new fears of American in
volvement. An emergency meeting
of the National Peace Conference
was Immediately called, to be fol-
lowed by meeting of the so-called
pacifist bloc of the conference, the
Keep America Out of War commit
tee.
One peace leader who refuses
to be discouraged is Frederick
Libby, veteran head of the Ma
tional Council for the Prevention
of War. Dark as the situation is,
Mr.. Libby feels there is still some
hope for peace.
Its got to be proved to the
British people that they can't win
decisive victory" he says. "Then
it's got to be shown that the
United States isn't coming in.
When those two things are clearly
demonstrated, I think there will
be a chance to end the war by
mediation"
NEW CAMPAIGN
IN OFFING
Libby's national council is pre-
pairing now for a renewed peace
drive. First essential is to raise
more funds. Libby feels a lot can
be done if the council can raise
5000.
The whirlwind campaign put on
last fall at the time of the arms
embargo debate in congress is
generally credited with helping to
squelch the notion-common, right
after the war began - that the
United States was certain to get
in sooner or later. The campaign
was a good illustration of the in
fluence an organized peace bloc
can exert.
Letters and pamphlets were
sent to 10000 Protestant ministers
and 10000 Catholic priests. TWen-
ty-five organizers were sent out to
contact farmers and farm groups,
and 10 more were put to work
among labor groups. Direct mail
appeals were made to $4,000 other
individuals, and 100000 pieces of
literature were distributed.
If Libby can raise his $4,000
and he's n canny fund-raiser - a
campaign of similar intensity can
be expected this spring.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18

for the relief of
j e wish refu-
6 e e S, h a S
thrown q huge
n u m b e r of
them back into
the hands Of the
NaziS.
The r e ! / e I
work was being
done by h e
Danish section
of the Women's
I n t e irrational
L e a 6 u e for
P e a C e a n d
Freedom. TIL e
league is I'M
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
CIVIL SERVICE CITIES
Meriden Journal

Civil service in New Britain hasn't
gone beyond the police and fire
departments. But in due time
Britain Herald.
Yeah, but the way we heered 1t is
that New Britain and some other
Nutmeggian places have emasculated
editions of the merit system, Moth
ing like the real thing that exists
in Bridgeport.
Meriden voters would have none
of the merit plan in any form
Waterbury also turned thumbs
down. But CS gains around the
country, to the dismay of political
and machinists. Twenty
seven local governments adopted,
extended or consolidated civil SER
vice provisions for their employee
during 1889. Meriden would have
made the number %. ...
In Detroit, CS was extended to
employees of the city-owned rail-
ways, certain employees of the well,
fare department, and common
laborers.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
A Thought for Today

If there be among you poor man of one OF
they brethren within any of thy gates in thy
hand which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou
shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine
heart nor shut thine hand from thy poor
brOther-DeuterOnOmy 1877.
What we do for others while We have them,
will be precisely what will render their memory
sweet to the heart when we no longer have
them-Frederic Godet.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-18
Daily Almanac
sets 2::48 a. m.

Moon sets 2:48 a. m.
Sun rises 500 a. m. sets 6:34 p. m.
All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes
after sunset.
April is living up to advance predictions Of
being disappointing. 1t started off with great
promise for a warm and sunny month, but
has shifted this way and that with adverse
conditions prsdominating to date.