davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
Alaska Is Like Norway

Travellers have often noted how like that of Norway is
the of Alaska They have noted the general
reoeness, the sparse population the fiords
leading up quiet little towns nesting in pockets between
mountain and Yes travellers have agreed Alaska is
like Norway.
The ridiculous with which German troops seized all
important Norwegian ports leads to wonder how much
farther the similarity to Alaska could be carried
The Morse caught flatfooted They didn't expect
to be invaded without warning They believed that the
exstance Of the worlds largest fleet 500 miles closer to
Narvik than the German, made it impossible.
But careful advance planning and utter lack of
scruppes nufed Norwegian defense plans if any, Sudden
appearance in the harbors of hostile warshps and infantry
probably brought in merchant ships in disguise caused
such negligible defenses there to melt away like
snow under the spring
AT Narvk for instance Norwegian land troops present
were unable to do anything 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 north of the Arctic Circle Every
Alaskan port Of Importance Nome Anchorage Juneau
far south Of that Sitka $500 miles, Seward 1000 miles
from their military command post San Francisco Narvk
Is only 1000 miles from important British bases
First lesson for the United States in the Norwegian
Invasion that country interested in Selling Alaska
would not wait for declaration Of It would be pre-
pared in advance If military forces in Alaska no
alert ready than those of Norway defense would
be impossible The presence of fleet 1000 miles away
shown to be protection at all except for bitter and
costly recapture.
With such warnings written in blood across Scandi-
navia the United States would be negligent indeed to fail
to strengthen Alaskan garrsons and defense measures
to point where any such quick seizure would be
tive to anyone who might at future time consider it.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
HOROSCOPE
SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Benefic aspects rule the morn
ing hours which should be for
tunate for the contamination Of
important plans. The stars en-
courage activity, free d IN,
transition. In the afternoon
there may be depressing in
fluences which should be for
gotten in healthful recreation.
Heart and Home: The stars
seem to frown upon women
today. Judgment may be un-
trustworthy. especially among
girls who are likely to be rest
less and dissatisfied under this
CONFORMATION. There is 4 sign
indicating deceit and even
treachery among ambitious wo-
men. In politics disappointment
Is indicated.
Business Affairs: The con-
junction OF Jupiter and Venus
in Cancer has been read as most
fortunate. The inexhaustible
energy and courage of citizens
OF the United States will be
tested this year in which the
nation gains foremost place
among world powers. There is
a parallel in the horoscope Of
President Roosevelt and that Of
the map OF the nation which
may be seen as forecasting q
third term.
National Issues: Reforms are
foreshadowed In social and
public relations. Return to the
strict codes that ruled Ameri-
can pioneers Is prognosticated
as unemployment and other
modern conditions cause degen-
Grating effects. The need Of
ethics in the methods governing
state finances will be widely
recognized as debts increase.
International Affairs: Bull
garia is to furnish front page
news some time this year. In
the summer an international
pact Is to accomplish . short
relief from anxiety. Danger Of
misfortune for the King and
Queen Of England is foreseen.
Australia should have a favor
able summer for agriculture.
Strong support Of the British
empire In war Is presaged.
Persons whose birthdste it Is
have the augury Of q year Of
steady progress. The health Of
both men and women should be
watched.
Children born on this day
probably will be extremely
bright and quick-witted. Girls
will be happy In marriage.
Success In middle life awaits
boys.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
PULSE OF THE PUBLIC

the American people ever allow
private bankers to control the
issue of their currency, first by
initiation, and then by deflation,
they would allow the banks and
corporations to grow up around
them and deprive them of their
property and their children
would wake up homeless and a
continent their fathers con-
quered would be lost"
Pardon me for bringing that
up, but if this matter is going
to endure, we can not be like
the ostrich who put its head into
the sand when danger APP
proaches. We must face facts.
Truth and fiction will not mix.
In 1882 the unemployed num-
bered 10 million. Mortgages on
homes and farms We're being
foreclosed. Twenty per cent of
the farms in Mississippi were
sold for taxes. National, state
and local taxes were taking one
dollar from every three of our
national income. The public
debt was increasing at the rate
of two billion dollars per year.
In the years 1885 and 1886,
the Farm Credit administration
foreclosed on $4,000 farms. The
Home Owners Loan corporation
foreclosed on 81 200 homes. This
corporation foreclosed on 21,773
homes in 1887, costing the tax
payers % million dollars.
I have a news item of August,
1888, saying the Home Owners
Loan corporation is spending
$4,000 per day to improve
properties acquired through
foreclosure.
In February of this year,
saw an account in the news
paper which states an insurance
firm is discovered to be the big
gest farmer. This firm now
owns 1000 farms upon which it
has foreclosed.
suppose the one-third of our
citizens who are ill-fed, ill-clad.
and ill-housed should forget
about their troubles and grieve
over the poor people of Europe.
o. o. MORRIS.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
By 6 7. SHORT

was held up and on one occasion
$4,000 in gold bullion was
taken.
From 1885 to 1906 it was OPP
Grated between Rswlins and
Fort Washable.
A few feet from the old Chey-
enne coach is the covered wagon
in which Ezra Meeker retraced
the old Oregon trail. A taxi
dermist who knew his job has
preserved Buck" and Dandy"
the oxen which pulled the wagon
over the trail. so that they look
as natural as life. If it were not
for the glass case in which they
are enclosed. one would not be
surprised to see them throw
their necks against the yoke and
start Flooding down the trail.
Back of Meeker's prairie
schooner" is the wagon on which
Allen Porter and his father
crossed the plains to Puget Sound
in 1852. Near the Cheyenne
Deadwood stage is what is left
Of the first automobile in the
state of Washington. It bears
no name or date and was built
with a body like the old box
type buggy. The motive power
was a motor operated by cleo
tricity obtained from a wet bat
terry. The machine was not a
success because on the rough
roads of that day, the fluid slop-
ped over the top Of the battery
and reduced the power.
Latest Tacoma owner of the
machine was Fred Hopkins,
son Of a formed United States
marshal. One day the motor
baked while Hopkins was
trying to run up the plank
roadway on Ninth street. He
made several unsuccessful at
tempts when a bystander jok-
ingly asked why he didn't try
to "back her up the HILL" Hop
kins took the suggestion and
"she" backed up to the top
without a sputter.
In this transportation picture
of an early day there also is the
bamboo sedan used by the late
George Browne when he spent
several months in the Orient.
Toted by a couple of collies, and
sometimes four, Mr.. Browne
found the chair so comfortable
that he brought it home as a
souvenir.
None of these old vehicles
could do seventy" but they
served a most useful purpose.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
Nebuchadnezzar Wasn't So Crazy!

The story is told Of old in the Book of Daniel how the
mighty King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was driven
from and did eat and his body wet
with the dew Of heaven, till his hairs grown like
eagles feathers, and his nails like birds claws
Most Bible readers have jumped to the conclusion that
Nebuchadnezzar had suddenly turned up little crazy
But not crazy say modern dietetic experts of the
Department of Agriculture Eating for breakfast is
the best to get your daily vitamns say they True,
ordinary grass from your front yard is just touch
tasteless and fbrous But scientists the Daniels of the
10th century working to that Soon,
they say, wen all be eating grass "as oxen"
So hail Nebuchadnezzar. father of tomorrows break
fast food!
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
Congress Does Its Duty

bill to reapporfon membership in congress in accord
ance with the figures has been approved in
the house, The senate will undoubtedly concur Thus the
plain intent of the Constitution will at last be carried out
TO down the number of congressman from 435 to 30O
The house. everyone knows who has watched oper
aton is unwieldy 1t would be better If smaller Further
the quality of membership might be bettered if each cand
date had to be chosen by larger electorate
But the house, in doing its plain constitutional duty
though it may cost members their seats deserves the
thanks and congratulations of the country.
1t q severe test, manfuly met.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
POISON OAK
WARNING

Editor The Times: This is
poison oak time. One may be
poisoned by the leaves, even the
black sap from cut roots.
Poison oak" is not an oak, but
a rhus. 1t has no acorns. The
fruit of the oak is an acorn.
The rhus' black sap is con-
nected with an art woven into
the politics, the religion of ia
pan. The japanese claim their
first Mikado, Jimmu Tenno,
ruled so long ago, twas when,
under the direction of the DELPHI
ian oracle, prosperous Greek
cities were radiating colonies to
the Aegean islands, Asia Minor,
Sicily. Later, surrounded by a
group of powerful two-sworded
mobiles, wearing queues like Chi
nese, the mikadoes were over
Swallowed by the Shoguns, who
became the real rulers. The lat
ter developed as patrons of the
lacquer workers.
The basis for lacquer is rhus
sap. Lacquer-making was a fine
art. Its devotees insisted on
brushes of rats hair, hare's hair,
or hair from the long winter
coat of the white horse. Pow
der from calcined deer's horn
was used for the final polish,
after the lacquer is smoothed
with a hard charcoal made from
camellia wood, the camellia be-
ing a cousin to the tea plant.
From making small articles,
lacquer-work expanded to furni-
ture covering, even to floors at
holy Nikko's shrine. The cli-
max came with the Mikado's
lacquer bridge at Nikko.
Decade after decade, to this
bridge came the imperial process
sion through the double row of
towering cryptomeria trees,
cousin to our redwoods. Arriv-
ing at the maple-lined grove 1t
crossed on the Sacred Lacquer
bridge. Common folk were not
permitted thereon. When Gen.
eral Grant was in Japan, the
Mikado motioned him to cross
with him on the Sacred bridge
as though he were ruling mon
arch. Grant, however, declined.
Declaring that in his country
there were no kings, no mika-
does. he crossed Nikko ravine
on the common peoples bridge.
c. NJ. GOETHE.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
QUESTIONS TO TEST
YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Can you answer seven of these
test questions? Turn to the
woman's page for the answers.
1. What is 24-karat gold?
2. Are porpoises classed as
reptiles, mammals or fish?
3. What is the official Ian
guage of Haiti?
4. Who is speaker of the U. S.
house of representatives
s. The sun is approximately
93 thousand, million or billion
miles from the earth?
6. Was baseball player Ty
Cobb an outfielder, infielder or
pitcher?
Z. What is the highest de-
nomination United States post
age stamp?
s. In what book by Charles
Dickens does Little Nell' ap-
pear?
9. The head of the govern
ment of which country is called
the Dalai Lama?
10. Does any species of ex-
tant bird have teeth?
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
Stories in
Stamps

LUTHER BURBANK, the man
- who took the spines off cactus
and was once accused of "trying
TO improve on God" is honored
by the U. S. Scent stamp above,
of the scientists group of the Fa-
nous Americans series.
The grand old wizard of plant
dom had no unworldly ambition.
He was merely an exceptional
gardener. possessing the ability to
make, plants grow and the percep-
ton TO discover, isolate and re-
produce unusual varieties. He was
not even a botanist. Scientific
Technology and technique con-
fused him.
Burbank's experiments with
plants have brought millions of
dollars TO U. S. gardeners. His
first discovery, the Burbank pots-
10. which he sold in 1876 for $50.
added ST. o0o. 900 annually to the
agricultural productivity Of the
country.
Bur bank directed evolution,
bringing back tendencies hidden
in plants for centuries. He was
tirelesS, worked IS years to pro-
duce q rare blue flower.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20

Before They Could
DO Seventy"
Stage Coach and Covered
Wagon Were Useful
Hopkins Battery Drive
Also Served a Purpose
Likewise. George Browns
Coolie Powered Sedan
TINE other day an out-of-
l. town high school student
asked this writer for Informal
ton of early transportation ia
cilities The information was
obtained from the state historical
building, and though some Of 1t
was printed several years ago,
the story seemed so interesting
that it is passed on to readers Of
this column.
Two objects in the transporta-
ton section of the historical
building just beyond the sta
dunn are Of special interest. One
is the stage coach which many
years ago operated on a Dead
wood, So. Oak, route, and later
was on a Cheyenne. Wyo., run.
Many years after it had been
superseded by the railroad, the
late Ezra Meeker discovered the
coach in the barnyard of Charles
Fletcher, a rancher near Split
Rock, Wyo. Meeker told Fetch
er he wanted to buy it. Fletcher
refused to sell, and Meeker said:
That's too valuable a relic
to let stand out in the weather.
Unless you do something it will
fall to pieces in year or So"
Meeker nearly collapsed when
Fletcher replied:
I'm going to do something
with 1t. I'm going to send 1t
to my friend VIII Bonney over
In Tacoma and let him put IL
In the museum Of the Wash
ington State Historical build
ing"
Fletcher was as much surprised
as Meeker had been when he
learned that Meeker's purpose
in buying the coach was to send
it to the state historical society.
A few days later Fletcher
hitched the coach behind his
automobile, towed it to the rail-
road and shipped it to Bonney.
During the early gold mining
days the old stage carried thou
sands of dollars worth of gold
and express. Several times it
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20


Mr.. Fixit: Could you please
tell me who the three men are
on the National Labor Relations
board: Also their occupations .
Where can one get the informa-
ton about All clubs and NYA
work for young people Of Is:
r. Z.
NLRB members are Joseph
Warren Madden, chairman, a
lawyer; William Morris Lesser
son. economics professor. and
Edwin Seymour Smith, labor re-
lations counselor.
You can ask the Pierce County
Agricultural agent, 9Th floor OF
the courthouse. about All clubs.
NYA has its state office on the
10th floor OF the Washington
building In Tacoma. Don't con-
fuse the two. They have no
connection.
Mr.. Fixit: A says he can get
another drivers license In some
different state since his was
taken away recently due to
drunken driving. b states he
can't until his year Ii up. Also
what Is the penalty. II A Ia
found driving a car before his
year Is up In this state: J. II.
Most states have reciprocity
agreements with Washington
and would not issue a license to
a man who had his suspended
or revoked here. Why should
they license a man whose home
state wouldn't trust him on its
highways?
Even II he did get a license In
another state through his false
hood or laxness of its officials,
1t would give him no privileges
In Washington. II Is not just
his license card which Is re-
voked. but his right to drive on
the public highways. II he tried
1t, he would be subject to 10
days to year In jail and a fine
up to $1,000.
Mr.. Fixit: According to parlia-
mentary law, II a motion has
been made and seconded and
acknowledged by the chair, can
an amendment killing the mo-
ton be made and voted ON with
out voting on the original mo-
ton? A SUBSCRIBER.
An amendment killing a mo-
ton can't logically be allowed
under parliamentary rules when
a vote on the motion itself
would reach the same con-
clusion.
Mr.. Fixlt: Can you please
tell me where / can get golden
seal or ginseng plants, or seeds
OF both. A. G., Dockton.
Local seed companies have no
dealings in those plants or their
seeds. You would have to find
them In the catalog OF some
speciality firm handling them.
There has been no market for
ginseng since the war started
in China. That nation is the
only one where the drug Is used
In quantity.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20

peration. In their opinion, 1t
was necessitated by a slowly
strangling blockade in the Scan-
dinavian and Balkan peninsulas.
Der Fuehrer must have oil
and iron ore to fight. Despite
intense domestic exploitation,
German deposits and scrap sup
piled only one-third of the Reich
needs in peace years. The Brit
ish blockade had cut ore ship
ments from Narvik to Germany
to only $4,000 tons for the first
six war months, as against
2,250,000 tons for the same 1888
period. Although he can ship
through the Baltic when the
Bothnian gulf becomes ice-free
next month. a large part of that
supply has been promised to
Great Britain by Sweden.
Berlin's oil imports from Ru-
mania have fallen far below ex-
pectations = $4,000 tons for
January and February as against
the promised 10000 tons a
month. An all out" war
naturally increases Hitler's re-
quirements for this commodity.
Hence the tip in Army-Navy
circles that the next hot spot"
will be the Balkans. especially
Yugoslavia. But there are def
mite liabilities in these moves
extended lines. direct contact
with the enemy, possible loss
of his fleet. His prestige at
home and abroad may suffer.
He may also endanger inn
portant food supplies. The Scan
dinavians cannot continue to
send Germany meat and dairy
products unless they can obtain
grains and feed stuff from out
side-chiefly Britain. So Wash
ington figures the Germans
must be hard up.
The AL out" cooperation be-
tween Great Britain and France
under the wars impact offers a
distant but dangerous threat to
the United States in world COM
merce. 1t represents a form of
Union Now whose postwar
continuance might prove de-
structive to American trade, fl
nances. industry, agriculture.
1t is not generally realized
how effectively the allies have
integrated their interests in al
most every field OF human ac-
tivity Through inter-govern-
mental and unofficial commit
tees which confer regularly,
they have achieved a smooth
working alliance. The armies
operate under French command.
the nafieS unoer British. The
French franc is tied irrevocably
to sterling. Labor union repre-
sehatives-also agricultural and
industrial emissaries - frame
wage, h our and production
schedules which prevent irrita-
ton or friction in both coun-
tries. They have pooled their
purchasing and shipping inter
ests. The whole structure rests
upon barter and managed cur
rency. Colds only value is its
cash price over here.
What the allies are doing is to
build a new world economy en-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
SYMPATHY USED AT
HOME

Editor The Times: I notice
our president is bothered over
the exploitation OF the small ma
tons of Europe by their more
powerful neighbors. All Of US
viii agree with Mr.. Roosevelt
that this is not right, but is there
anything in this world that is
right?
The president said il civiliZa-
ton is to survive the rights of
smaller nations must survive
and be respected. This would
also imply to our own govern
ment- Consider the plight Of the
share-croppers Of the South.
They have been exploited by the
land barons, farmers and home
owners throughout the United
States.
Thomas jefferson said, IL
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20

The interventionists don't dare
go SO far-yet--as to advocate
the dispatch of troops to Eur
ope or an outright declaration
Of war. But in army, navy and
state departments circles they
shake their heads gravely over
the need for lending money to
the allies and authorizing our
navy to backstop II the war
engulfs the Dutch East Indies
and Japan makes move to
grab them. They base their de-
mand on the growing belief
that England and France may
lose, and their feeling that Der
Fuehrer must not be permitted
to win.
No such attitude exists on
Capitol Hill. The legislators, in
their letters and from visits
home, have overwhelming evil
dence that the people are
against further commitments or
inducements, even suspect those
already undertaken House and
senate prefer larger defense APP
preparations to billions of war
costs piled on a As billion dollar
debt. And resentment against
Uncle Shylock' outbursts across
the water stiffens their deter
mination to shy away.
Minor Republican candidates
are stin skirmishing for stray
Cling delegates. but the G. o. P.
presidential battle appears to
have resolved itself into duel
between Tom Dewey and Bob
Taft of Ohio. That is the priv
ate opinion of scores of key
politicos who assembled at the
capital over the gridiron and
cherry blossom week end.
Senator vandenberg is Groom
ing a gentle swan song after his
defeats in the Wisconsin sne
Nebraska primaries. Senator
Bridges maximum hope is to
bag about rs delegates 50 that
he viii have a voice in any back
room" convention. Senator Nc
Nary simply seeks to prevent
party feuds out in his country
by posing as the Northwest's
fayorite son. Joe Martin of
Massachusetts, is really running
for speaker of the house. but
figures that mention of his name
Is swell advertising.
Dewey has captured several
delegations. although his pri-
mary mandates are not binding.
Taft is working backstage, and
claims to have promises from
more than 500 delegates.
Whether they viii stick in the
face of a rivals popular tri-
umphs is still questionable. The
folks appear 10 like the anti
Tammany prosecutor. but the
organization men distrust him,
especially since the Simpson
episode. The Ohioan has the
backing of the political and BUSH
ness conservatives.
state department economic
experts regard Hitler's attack
IN Noruav "a an acf Of des-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20

tirely different from our old
fashioned structure - one they
viii know how to manage II the
conflict lasts several years and
they emerge victorious The
prospect worries our economists
who peer below the surface Of
their operations.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20

STRAWBERRIES TO STARS
An obscure Ohio farmer
quarter century ago, Leslie C.
Peltier is famous because he dis
covered a great new comet that
now bears his name. Strange as
it seems, strawberries made his
astronomical work possible-he
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20
Ii & HI
An Inside Picture of Finan-
cial and Political America

WASHINGTON terrific backstage struggle has
broken out at the capital in the wake of Hters attack
Norway and Sweden The contestants consist of the pro-
war and anti-war factons-those who think Uncle Sam
must inevitably become involved and those who maintain
that he
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-04-20

sold 300 quarts of them to buy
his first two-inch telescope.
Peltier charted and sent to
Harvard University more than
$4,000 observations of variable
stars. In recognition of his work
the University lent him larger