davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Campaign Charges

The early stream of complaints,
prompting the Senate Campaign
Expenditures Committee to send
investigators to look into presiden-
tial and senatorial primary fights in
widely scattered States, is not an
unusual nor surprising phenomenon.
1t is just one of the signs that the
campaign is on. and that it is going
to be hard-fought battle from the
start, both for the presidency and for
congressional seats. Two years ago,
even without presidential race, a
similar investigating committee was
kept on the Jump all summer and
fall, running down all sorts of
charges and counter-charges Of
opposing factions In senatorial
contests.
Recent announcements, therefore,
that the 1910 committee already has
undertaken investigations in Mary
land, Nebraska, West Virginia, Mis-
souri, and Kansas probably are only
forerunners of more to come.
1t will be reassuring to the average
citizen, watching the battle from the
sidelines, to know that the Senate
has its investigating eye trained on
the arena, to see that no "low blows"
are struck by either side, nor by one
faction against another within the
same party.
In any election year the Senate
Campaign Committee has an oppor-
tunity to render valuable service to
the Nation by doing all in its power
to insure fair elections. At the same
time, a heavy responsibility rests
upon it to sift all complaints care
fully, to make sure that they have
real basis and are not prompted by
the desire of one side to throw sand
IN the machinery of an opposing
group. The present committee has
shown that it recognizes this respon-
sibility by not revealing details Of the
matters brought to it's attention until
they have been Investigated. II
substantial evidence of improper
campaign practices is found in any
State the public should, and no
doubt will, be fully informed. But to
air ex parte allegations in advance
would be unfair. If investigation
failed to suhstantiate them, the harm
could not be undone completely.
Incidentally, while the Senate is
looking into specific campaign
abuses, the House has an opportunity
to take a long step toward eliminat-
Ing some of the possible sources of
complaint by passing the Senate
approved Hatch bill. This measure
would not only prohibit the use of
thousands of State employees as cam
paign workers, but would limit the
amount Of money any one individual
might contribute to campaign fund.
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Scott Circle

Renewed nope Tor elimination of
one Of Washington's worst traffic
barriers is given by Senator Over
tons favorable reaction to the COM
munity's plea that fifteen thousand
dollars to provide plans for the Scott
Circle underpass be restored to the
District appropriation BILL
That some important details of the
tentative plan are opposed by secre-
tary Ickes and the Planning Com
mission should not stop the appro-
priation. These matters can be
solved before the final draft is made
and properly should meet the esthetic
standards of park officials.
At present the city is going through
what amounts to a period of transit
tion. Within the past two or three
years efforts have been made to
correct by engineering methods
various dangerous, confusing or
delaying conditions, most notable of
which have been at Thomas Circle
and Union Station plaza. It is a
period marked by shift from plain
stop and 60 traffic lights, which were
introduced some fifteen years ago, to
methods which facilitate the flow Of
pedestrians and vehicles to an ex-
tent undreamed until recently. But
as yet the program is incomplete.
Union Station plaza's channelization
simplif1es and speeds traffic at that
point, only to have it slowed again at
the intersections of North Capitol
street and Independence and New
Jersey avenues. Thomas Circles
tunnel undoubtedly has removed a
confusing and dangerous condition
at Fourteenth street, which is made
the more annoying two blocks west
ward. Facilitating projects which
are voided because of contiguous
barriers fail in their purpose. Hence
the pressing necessity for the Scott
Circle project.
Preliminary plans for this work,
revealed in detail for the first time
this week, offer a congestion solution
even more advanced than at Thomas
Circle. Sixteenth street Is to pass
under the intersection, the circle is to
be redesigned into an elongated
oval, near the ends of which Rhode
Island and Massachusetts avenues
will enter as simple intersections.
Resulting will be a grade separation
more direct than at Thomas Circle.
Traffic congestion is one Of the
most costly forms Of urban waste.
And if the ultimate minimum OF
danger on the streets is to be achieved
facility Of traffic, as distinguished
from mere speed, must be promoted.
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Breath of Sprinq

Last fall I planted breath of spring
A neighbor brought across the way.
I set the sprig out by my door,
And watched it tenderly each day.
I scarce could wait until the winds
OF March breathed on this fragile
thing.
And famed its fragrant buds In bloom
To be the first sweet flower Of spring.
God sent the sun to shine on 1t,
And rain to water spreading roots:
And oh, today was amazed ..
To see it sending out brave shoots!
Now breath Of spring with its white
bloom
Gives out its perfume by my door,
And I am glad planted it
Where beauty had not been before.
A robin saw 1t too, and sang
The sweetest music I have heard,
And rejoice anew because
helped bring Joy to this small bird.
WILLIAM ARNETTE WoFFoRD.
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Unique Profession

The census 'taker on his rounos is
somewhat in the position of a fisher
man trying blind waters with un-
known bait. He may get almost any
thing, and occasionally the catch
may be the only one of its kind.
Already hundred-and-twenty- six
year-old citizen has been uncovered,
and many other odd characters that
delight any connoisseur of curiosities,
although no one has yet been found
who is entirely satisfied with the
Government, and no one who is
genuinely neutral in the war.
One of the queerest specimens was
taken in Waco, Texas, the other day
by an enumerator who questioned a
family about the employment of an
absent member. At first he was
greeted by an embarrassed silence,
and later by the answer "unem-
ployed." Sensing something amiss,
he persisted, explaining that If. the
man in question worked even inter-
mlttently at q trade, 1t should be
listed. The family, not wanting to
withhold from the Government
information to which it was entitled,
went into a huddle, and reckoned
that the absent member was a COW
thief, If anything. AS evidence they
alleged that he was at present en-
gagged in reaping the reward of his
profession, and was about halfway
through his second sentence for cat
tie rustling. The enumerator, i'm
mensely pleased at his luck, there
upon called it a day and hastened
back to his Office to brag to the rest
of the boys about catching the entire
admitted American membership of
one of the Oldest professions in
history,
Evening star., 1940-04-26

British force there, unprovided with
any Of this heavier fighting equip
ment, was at the mercy Of the
German planes.
Explanation OF the deficiency Is
awaited. But the conclusion that
the London high command made q
tragic blunder may be q little too
hasty, in view of the necessity of
getting an expeditionary force on
Norwegian soil promptly. Adequate
equipment may have had to be
sacrificed for speed Of action. The
landing of the men was in itself
major feat, carried out in many cases
under heavy bombing attacks by
air.
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Disagrees With Sentiments
OF Representative Thorkelson.
To the Editor of The Star:


The letter from the member of Con-
gress from the first district of Montana
Which appeared in your very excellent
newspaper on April % was very inter-
esting, but as I see it, cut no ice, He
said to start with, that this is an "un-
necessary and foolish war; but I main
tain that to the Czechs, Slovakians,
Austrians, Poles, Danes, Firms, Norwe-
gians and every other freedom loving
nation of our world, it is even more
vital than was our war, fought when we
were a small Nation, for the principle
OF no taxation without. representation.
This war is unquestionably for the
principle Of the maintenance of inter-
national law, as necessary to the well.
being and happiness of all peoples as
are national and State laws and for
the principle that large nations do not
have the right to make slaves of other
nations merely because they are too
small to prevent it. The fact is that
Germany is inflicting far worse than
slavery upon subjugated peoples. Never
In recorded history have there been
such coldly calculated efforts to depopu-
late conquered territories as practiced
by the Nazis. If our Civil War, fought
Tor the principle of abolishment of the
slavery OF comparatively few Negroes,
was not unnecessary and foolish" GER
tainly this war to prevent the subiec-
ton Of whole nations and even the
whole world to conditions far worse
than slavery, is wise and necessary. Con.
querors of Hitler's fanatical type are
not satisfied until they have inflicted
their will upon the entire world and
we should not lose sight of this fact.
II we today were as ready to fight
Tor freedom as were our hardy pioneer
1orefathers, we would be in the front
ranks of those who fight its necessary
battles, instead Of being far back In
the rear as is our custom. We would be
ashamed OF the circumstances that made
1t necessary for the employment of
propaganda to induce us to open our
eyes. There are two kinds of propa.
ganda, truthful and untruthful. We
should not with wilful prejudice refuse
to accept any Of the truthful while ac-
cepting much of the untruthful with
open arms I am an A. E. F. veteran and.
loving freedom as much now as did
then, I would be glad of an opportunity
to finish what we started and help, as
Pershing said, secure world peace on
terms that would insure permanence."
which We failed to do the last time.
April q. ERNEST e. OSWALD.
Evening star., 1940-04-26
German Advances

From day to day, as the war
develops In Europe, the fortunes of
each of the belligerents will rise and
fall, so that too much Importance
should not be attached to the sue
cesses-remarkable as they were-of
the Germans in Norway the past few
days.
In the light of British achieve
ments the past two weeks-the losses
inflicted upon the German surface
fleet and transports, the landing of
troops at no less than four points on
Norways west coast and the pene-
tration into Eastern Norway-the
reverses suffered north of Trond-
helm, at Lillehammer, and in Eastern
Norway do not appear so drastic.
The German successes, although
admitted, are only half victories,
meaningless unless the movements
of which they are part are COM
pleted. Thus the Germans, driving
up the railway from Oslo through
Roros, will not have accomplished
their mission unless they succeed in
reaching Trondheim to reinforce the
Nazi garrison there. After that the
German task will be to maintain
control of the railway line. But the
German units which entered Roros
yesterday have been forced to with
draw.
More tangible is the German sue
cess north of Trondheim. where,
Leland Stowe reported yesterday in
another dramatic account, British
territorials, lacking planes and artil-
lery, were smashed by German in
fantry supported by planes, artillery
and the guns of destroyers in iTrond-
helm Fjord.
The allies chief need in carrying
out the development of Trondheim
and throwing the Germans back
upon Oslo is large quantities of
artlllery-anti-aircraft and field
and establishment on Norwegian soill
OF tighter plane units which can take
the sting out of the German bombing
attacks. This need was brought into
sharp relief by Mr.. Stoves story Of
the battle around steinkjer. The
Evening star., 1940-04-26
THIS AND THAT
By Charles z. Tracewell.

with a fine long bill, good and solid, but
that is not all; in addition, part OF the
upper .mandible can be raised, permit
ting the woodcock to twist at worm
while it still keeps its bill firm in the
mud, hence the names bogsucker and
| Labrador twister.
1t is now vanishing species. In
recent years 1t has been afforded long
periods of protection, in an attempt to
restore 1t to its former plenty.
This bird, unfortunately for 1T, is about
the best eating" to be found, according
to experts.
Its eyes are extremely large, set well
back and up on the head, so that 1t
can almost look directly behind 1t, prob
ably 1t can. and thus it detects its ene-
| mics
Ornithologists tell of seeing a wood
cock strike limb in flight They were
unable to tell whether this happened
because the bird was excited, or be-
cause Of the position of the eyes, it
looking backward at the enemy while
flying forward, and, not being able to
look both ways at once, striking the
branches.
The nest Of the woodcock is on the
ground, among fallen leaves, and Diff
cult to find.
The color pattern OF the bird is SO
nearly that of leaves and dried grass
that it is almost impossible to see it
nj uyl1a Il
r. I. Brasher, in Birds Of America, !"
states:
"One of the best woodcock covers I
have known was within the limits Of
the city of Brooklyn. Fortunately this
knowledge was not shared by others, so
the birds were little hunted.
Into this retreat the birds would come
silently some April night, and from it
they would disappear some October
day as mysteriously"
Retreat from man, of course. How to-
day many men of good will wish they
could retreat, like the woodcocks, from
men Of evil will, but where is the re-
treat? Only in the sanctity OF the
spirit
X
Popular names of other birds of this
group are interesting. Take Wilson's
snipe. as it is most commonly called.
In various places it goes by these
names: Common snipe, English snipe,
American snipe, meadow snipe, marsh
snipe, bog snipe, gutter snipe, Jack
snipe shadbird, alewife- bird, shad spirit.
The dowitcher goes by these names:
Robin snipe, sea pigeon, driver, red
breasted snipe, brown snipe, brownback,
gray snipe, grayback. These latter names
denote seasonal changes in coloring. The
red and brown phrases refer to summer
and the gray to winter.
The knot, smaller than the woodcock.
but looking something like it, has this
formidable list of common names: Red
sandpiper red-breasted sandpiper, red
breasted plover, freckled sandpiper, ash
colored sandpiper, Canute's sandpiper,
gray-back, silver-back, robin snipe, white
robin snipe, robin-breast, beach robin,
red-breast, buff breast buff breasted
plover, horsefoot snipe, white-bellied
snipe, May-bird, blue plover and silver
plover
No wonder there are scientific names
Evening star., 1940-04-26
EVANSVILLE. Md.

Dear Sir:
II have been interested in bird life
since can remember incidents when I
was boy on Nebraska farm
Tor some years I have made notes
on our birds. Among my list OF bathing
beauties is the cardinal redbird.
II mean by that 1t took a real bath
In our homemade bathtub-a garbage
can lid mounted upside down on a pile
of bricks.
During the heavy snow this winter
two starlings were 'wallowing' in the
snow as birds do In the dust I think
that was unique.
"A few days ago found dead bird
badly mangled lying in the street. On
investigation I think 1t must be a
woodcock-probably Philohela minor.
On reading over my extensive lists
of birds, made in Nebraska, it does not
appear. But it is listed in Birds of
Kansas N. S. Goss, 1885.
II am interested in 'firsts' for the
season and have quite q list for Hyatts-
vile.
To-day april 1O was first for the
brown thrasher and yellow hammer.
$40 p.m.-A female cardinal Just fin
ished with her beauty bath.
Success to your column,
VERY truly yours, c. J. Pr"
The only form of woodcock listed in
May Thacher Cookies Birds of the
Washington, D. c., Region" is the
American woodcock, Rubicola lobatus.
OF it she says:
summer resident, now rare; fairly
common locally in late summer, possibly
sometimes wintering for there are
records to the end of December, but
none in January.
"Coues and Prentiss mention a number
OF localities as good for woodcock, where
none would be found at present.
In recent years 1t has been known
to breed in Rock Greek Park, near DYKE
and Four Mile Run.
1T begins to breed about the middle
OF March; young about a week old have
"SSAA AcAhAo hPiA IL 40 NlOoD. ERRS nave
been found late in February when there
was snow on the ground
Earliest, February s, 1916 (E. A.
Preble); average, March 8 to November
90"
This must be the same as Philohela
minor universally listed as the Amer
lean woodcock.
What list of common names it has.
in various parts of the countryl
Here are some of them:
American woodcock, woodhen, big
headed snipe, big mud snipe, blind snipe,
whisting snipe, wood snipe, night
partridge, night peck, timber doodle,
hookum pake, Labrador twister, bog
sucker, pewee, whistler, big-eyes.
Almost everything right and wrong
is included in these popular or COM
mon Names given by the people
The bird is anything but blind: on
the other hand, big-eyes is a good
name.
The name night peck comes from
its nocturnal habits, and its pecking
In mud. For this activity it is equipped
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Letters to the Editor
Criticizes System
OF Selecting Jurors.

OF Selecting Jurors.
70 the Editor Of The Star:
In the interests Of justice and fair
play, enter this protest as citizen and
taxpayer of the District of Columbia
against the unfair system employed by
the courts Of the District in the selection
of jurors.
I personally know any number of citi-
zens of the District who have never even
been summoned for jury duty, whereas
on the other hand there are some of us,
myself included, who can expect to be
summoned every two years or more often
even than that.
During approximately the past 10
years I have been summoned times
for jury duty and was only excused once
and then only because the panel was
completed before my name was reached.
My opinion of good citizen is one
who willingly performs his civic duties
and has healthy respect for the law,
but find it hard to keep alive respect
for law when it is so unjust in the man.
ner in which a comparatively small num-
Der of citizens are regularly called upon
to perform the jury duties of all of the
citizens of the District.
Whenever have had the opportunity,
I have discussed this matter with mem
bers Of the juries with which I have
served, and they all agree that they have
had to serve any number of times and
have become resigned to 1t. I cannot
resign myself to the injustice of the
whole thing and shall leave no stone un-
turned to have 1t rectified
The government Of the District of CO.
lumbia seems to have no trouble in find
ing out who is liable for payment of
taxes and feel that, if called upon to
do so, they could build up a list of these
who were eligible for jury duty, call them
in turn and in this way insure that a
citizen will not be prosecuted as many
Of us are at present. M. j. FRAILE.
April 22.
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Suggests Plan to Preserve
Western Civilization.

To the Editor of The Star:
May submit plan designed to bring
about World Peace" which, though it
might appear bit facetious, is predi-
Gated upon a policy of common sense
and might afford little mental stimula-
ton for some of your readers
glance at the map of the Eastern
Hemisphere will show that it has more
small states than the average person
realizes. Each has its own culture, its
own language, its own traditions, etc.
which are in conflict with those of
other states. In my opinion, all those
small states will have to be amalgamated
sooner or later and become attached to
the orbit Of some major power Who
that power will be remains to be seen,
Cream invariably rises to the top so
presume that the strongest power will
eventually swallow them Chaos and
strife have ever been prevalent on the
Eastern Hemisphere and no doubt will
continue to be the case until a workable
status for the future is established
My suggestion is to have the English,
Irish, Scotch, Australians and all others
who speak the English language, lin
guistically as well as politically, sell out
to the highest bidder and settle in the
United States and Canada. This would
infuse good blood among us, give us
brains and capital and they together
with the people of the United States and
South America. also Canada, could work
out a feasible form of government and
make this hemisphere a civilized conti-
nent OF course I would have the
English bring their fleet with them to
act in concert with ours and preserve
the Monroe Doctrine intact. Complete
cooperation between North and South
America would be necessary and it is
understood that South America would re-
tain the status quo or alter it them
selves to conform to the best advantage
with the aforementioned setup.
OF course it might seem silly to a
great many persons but the alternative
of futile world war" every twenty
years with its resultant repercussions
seems bit silly to me-
April "a. CHARLES J. SULLIVAN.
Evening star., 1940-04-26

1t works. OF course, you have to keep a
little in the shadows-just to hide that
late Miami tan. But it's a good Cherry
Blossom Festival line Try it sometime.
But too much of it isn't funny to those
of us vino live around here. Where arc
the police? BERNARD B. EDDY.
April 20.
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Atlantic Held to Be No
Defense Against Hitler.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Many Americans who beloved for the
Kaiser's blood in 1917 are now deliber-
ately closing their eyes to the world
menace of Hitlerism. These isolationists
are certain that the broad Atlantic will
forever protect this country from in
vasion. In 1914 the English people had
similar ideas about the protective virtues
of the English Channel.
Today millions of Americans believe
that the proper time to fight is when this
country is attacked. More than any at
tack by an enemy is to be feared; that
is, possible world domination by Hitler
and his cohorts In 1917 many Americans
boasted that they were too proud to
fight" Can it be possible that these
same Americans are now afraid to fight
for the same ideals that led to our parti-
cipation in the first great war for democ-
racy2 BENJAMIN DUCK.
April -. s.=. 9
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Tokomo Park, Nd.

The typical American community
probably is not great city. Rather,
it may be supposed that 1t is a little
town, perhaps an independent
suburb Of a metropolis. Takoma
Park, Maryland, might be cited as an
example. Celebrating the Aftieth
Evening star., 1940-04-26

How old is the song, Sweet Ade-
line'?" inquiries correspondent Of
m information column. In the
sopinion Of many Americans. much
too old. @.=
Evening star., 1940-04-26
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as second.class matter post Once,
WaShinEton D. c.
Evening star., 1940-04-26

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the ,ortter. although the use OF
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be briefi