davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
MR.. FIXIT
He Fixes THINGS

To receive attention In this col
umn letters must give name and
address Of writer. ONLY initials
will be published when requested.
Mr.. Fixif: Is II compulsory TO
obtain a license for a dog that
Is always chained or never leaves
your yard: c. ii. r..
A city ordinance requires IL
censing of all dogs In the city
more than six months old. wheth-
er they run at large or are al
ways locked up.
Mr.. Fixit: Could you tell me
where IL would be possible 10
obtain either flying squirrels or
chipmunks. r. s. B.
You can find Minnesota chip
hunks now at The Pet Supply,
746 Pacific ave. and the man
who runs it says he can get you
flying squirrels in a few days,
III you WISH them.
Mr.. Fixlt: I have a half dime
dated 1871 with a lady sitting
holding flag around her. Is
this Of any value? READER.
Silver five cent pieces of that
year aren't on our list as premi-
UNI coins.
Mr.. Fixit: In the early stages
Of the Virginia Rifle and
James Hanson case the Tacoma
Times referred to Hanson as
Hampton and also gave the age
Of Miss Rifle as 20. Since the
trial started. IL has given her
age as %. Which IL correct
A READER.
His correct name is Hampson,
as you will find IT spelled in all
except the original arrest story,
in which there was an acct
dental mis-spelling.
The late Miss Rifles age was
given by authorities as 26 in the
first place and stayed at that
until the trial when the prosecu-
tor revealed In his statements 1t
was %. A newspaper story can
be no more accurate than its
authorities. II they correct
themselves, the best we can do
is follow their example.
Mr.. Fixit: have n Paisley
couch cover I want to sell. Can
You tell me where and II there
Ia a shop that might want to
handle 1t? l. Ii. ID.
We can only discourage you
about trying to sell old woven
goods. An old shawl can be
valuable as an heirloom but
would not have commercial
value.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
DAYS OF CHALLENGE

Editor The Times: With what
seems to be a move TO actually
stampede the U. S. into war.
men in congress who intelligent
ly analyze the present war hys-
terra warn OF the growing threat
to civil liberties.
Recently. our daily papers car
ried fun reports OF Sen. Bones
denunciation of the mad drive
toward war and its menace 10
the constitutional rights OF the
people. The same papers in
formed w. OF Congressman Cof-
fees stand against the deporta-
ton of Harry Bridges. Mr.. Cof-
fee maintains that the anti
Bridges bill is a bill of sttainder,
specifically prohibited under Ar
ticle /. Section Q and clause ;
of the U. S. Constitution, the
supreme law of the land.
Coincident with the alarming
threat to civil liberties is an
organized Indictment Of terror
against alleged fifth column
lists" Sen. George w. Norris OF
Nebraska, the only senator now
sitting who voted against Amer
cas- entry into the first world
war, has gravely warned that
growing hysteris about q fifth
column" might make possible "a
government like Hitlers." de
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
QUESTIONS TO TEST
YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Can you answer seven of these
test questions Turn to the
Woman's page for the answers.
I. Which musical instrument
does the orchestra leader Eddy
Duchin play?
2. Who wrote, Early to bed.
early to rise, makes a man
healthy, wealthy and wise ?"
3. How high is the Washing
ton monument in Washington,
D. c.?
4. Which U. S. silver coin is
largest in size and denomina-
ton?
s. Can gasoline freeze
s. Which country is associated
with the eating of snails?
7. Leopold is king of the Bel
gians. Who was his father?
s. When a theatrical manager
says the house is papered, what
does he mean?
9. Who was president during
the war of 1912?
10. For what treatment of
what disease has Frederick B.
Snite, jr., spent most of the last
four years in an iron lung ?"
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

Paris that he would not declare
war if France would agree to
negotiate separate peace with
Hitler. French Premier Rey-
maud phoned British Prime Min
lister Churchill about the Italian
offer. Reynaud also minated
that he was inclined to accept
the proposition in order to save
his people from mutilaliton or
humiliation. But Churchill
as he said in subsequent
broadcast-told Reynaud that
Britain would fight to the end.
That was the original tipoff that
trouble was brewing.
Reynaud, bolstered by Britain,
turned down II Duce's PROPOSE
tion-against the advice of most
of his ministers. They knew
that France was through. When
II Duce received Reynaud's de-
fiant note, he sounded the bugles
for his troops to march.
The Roosevelt administration
is building an army and navy to
defend every square inch of the
western hemisphere, including
Canada. Mexico and South
America. That revelation-care-
fully concealed so far-has
shocked members of congress.
But it appears to be a necessity,
for nobody trusts or believes
Hitler's promise not TO attack
the Americas.
The army and navy. as recent
" revealed here, are transform
ing Puerto Rico into Pearl
Harbor-a more modern Gil
braltar. But the administra-
ton is now conducting secret
negotiations for airplane and
submarine bases in Canada,
South America and in Carib-
bean territory once owned by
the British, the French and the
Dutch. Whether We shall actu-
ally take over this land or SIM
ply lease sufficient area for our
naval and military needs is still
undecided. But the essential fact
is that we intend to maintain
control Of the Americas.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
P u LSE OF
THE PU BLIC

Editor The Times: If democ-
racy falls in this nation the So
called better people will be very
largely to blame. Mr.. Carey says
that we have free speech to them
that are unintimidated. Well
spoken. Our trouble is that too
many that know what makes the
wheels so around are intimi-
dated.
There is no great satisfaction
in having free speech and free
press If the wiser people feel
that they must speak and write
softly.
Our false leaders have been
teaching the people that man
does not live on food and goods
of all kinds. but by organization,
political activity. legislation, and
reduction in work and produce
ton of food and goods. 1t is just
a matter of electing energetic
legislators that will pass suffi-
cient legislation so that all
groups are given some subsidy,
monopoly. special privilege, or
advantage of some kind. The
more legislation and monopoly
the more abundance.
The old timers thought that
the only way to create abundance
for all was TO produce more
goods and services in the nation
and make the price right so that
the goods would sell. but it seems
that they had not studied higher
economics or they would have
learned that that idea was all
wrong. You simply increase
money wages, salaries and prices
of goods by fixing them higher.
This can be done by labor unions.
trade associations and political
activity. 1t requires less effort
to do it the new way than by the
old obsolete method. The old
timers could have saved them
selves much hard work if they
had studied the higher economics.
I wonder if the people of Eng
land and France still believe in
the philosophy of less production
and scarcity?
OSCAR c. ERICKSON.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
THURSDAY, JUNE 20

THURSDAY, JUNE ~
Benefic aspects are active to-
day which should be especially
favorable for labor interests. 1t
Is a lucky day for launching
wisely planned projects. There
is an adverse influence that en-
courages envy, jealousy and mis-
understanding.
Heart and Home: Women are
under an adverse rule of the
stars which should prevent them
from taking risks of any sort.
They are likely to be misunder-
stood by those whose approval
they most covet. Husbands may
be exceedingly careful in re-
gard to domestic finances. The
stars encourage the happiness of
those who depend upon house.
hold efficiency as a means OF
holding affection.
Business Affairs: Prosperity
will continue with variations due
TO seasonable influences. The
temptation to speculate should
be overcome, for there will be
many lures on the stock market
which will nuctuate unexpected
". Increased trade is indicated
for canned goods brokers. Wo-
men now should preserve fruits
and vegetables in large quanti-
ties. since food is to be of great
concern in the autumn.
National Issues: Transporta-
ton problems will be injected
into the national campaign. Rail-
ways should benefit through the
summer. Increase OF expendi-
lures for army. navv and air
services will be acknowledged
as wise and the economy issue
will be .ubordinated to other
important matters az exigenc'es
arise from week to week. The
radio and television will attract
wide criticism and attention.
international Affairs; The
spreading contest between demo-
cratic and totsl'tsrian forms If
government Is to h-inc s'nreme
difficulties In the Tinted States.
The stars indicate that there Will
be much to sadden the nation.
Uranus in Taurus Is held re-
sponsih,e for the Age OF Dicta-
tors. Uranus in Gemini prom
Uses for 1912 the beginning of a
new democracy as the oppressed
nations OF the world gain indie
pendence.
Persons whose birthdate II is
have the augury Of year Of
good fortune. but there will be
temptation 10 be extrsvagant.
The wise will save plenty for the
future which may he difficult
financially.
Children born on this day will
probably he dignified and diff
cult to understand. They should
be reliable. conventional and
able to succeed in any vocation
that they select.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
AFTER MANY YEA Rs
By {. 7. SHORT

But suppose for arguments
,ake that he had come 10 power.
Does any one imagine that N
Germany had faced a united
League the Fuehrer would have
been able TO do what he mas
done: Would he have been able
TO pick his weaker victims off
one BY one and would he be
fighting today just two nations
IL he had been faced by so?
1t is difficult to argue about
what might have been. But one
thing Is true-the exercise OF
unfettered nationalisms in the
manner we suggested when we
quit the League has led the
world to pretty mess and,
since we are rot isolated, despite
the Republican senate vote OF
1919 we face that mess too.
We could not have made more
complete fiasco out of it.
There still exists the fiction Of
our neutrality. That is a joke.
We are not neutral. We are
arming against the danger of a
Germany victorious in Europe.
How can we be neutral toward
what we now regard as a vital
danger? Then we are not neu-
trail. We are opposed to the ag-
gressor. And it was to prevent
the rise of such an aggressor
that the League was built.
If Hitler wins there is not
going to be another League after
this war. There is going to be
dictatorship from Berlin stretch
ing as far and as wide as the
force of the Third Reich can
send it. If Germany's attempt
at domination is once again de-
feated, there will surely arise
from peoples in all parts of the
world a demand that something
be done to prevent its happening
again. Indeed, the chance OF
another League, or something
like it, is one of the worlds fond
hopes today-or at least of that
part of the world which is still
free.
And what will the United
States do If that opportunity
comes through the efforts Of
others-or by our own efforts!
Will we have learned nothing
from our other failure? VIII
we repeat one of the most tragic
errors In history?
Millions Of American young
men may be conscripted because
we threw away the fruits of our
last victory. They may have to
fight alone because we turned
down cooperation. That is not
a record of which to be proud.
With France and Britain con-
quered, there is Canada, there
is Bermuda, there is Nassau.
there is Greenland for us to
think about. There is South
America for us to think about.
There is Hitler in control Of
shipbuilding facilities five or six
times those we have today.
There will be all that for us
to think about and to think
about alone. We will be the
one power in the world. the only
remaining real great democracy.
to face the hate the Fuehrer has
for that sort of government.
We may face it all alone.
Would not cooperation have been
| better?
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
Eyes on the Conventions

The bird-and-snake fascination with which the Ameri-
can people keeping their eyes glued the terrible
drama stalking Europe causing dangerous
neglect of our own affairs.
party meets in Philadelphia to choose its candidate for the
presidency Three weeks after that the Democratic party
meets for the purpose
At the moment is of true that the present and
future relations of the United States the rest of the world
the most important concern of the people Yet the
ment for four 1t is highly unlikely that the present
will continue that long, The incoming president will
be faced with heavy responsibilities not only to pilot the
American ship through the present highly dangerous shoa
and undiscovered which will open before when the
war is Of these know nothing and guess
little except that whatever the results of the war; they
will almost certainly be different from anything have
known before.
Therefore the election of the president is not less i'm
portant but important than when only domestic is
to the FORE There will be plenty of domestic
issues in the postwar period and the fact that they
temporarily obscured by the does not that they
will not come strongly to the fore by 1914
Nobody be elected president until he has first been
nominated So the current disregard of the nominating
conventions is unfortunate.
Neither party afford at this critical time to nominate
but the it believes besttted to pilot the nation
through troubled waters. Back-room compromises and
strictly political jockeying will find little sympathy. All
attention of political leaders in both parties should be
centraed choosing the leader of highest possible quality
and ability.
from of the two meetings will emerge the who is
to lead united America in the troubled days This
is democracy in action and nothing will be eassurng
to the American people than straightforward serious,
statesmanlike job at the two national conventions.
rJ ,vbo fho 10 ox;
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
Streamlined Merchantmen

In 40 shipyards the hammers ring and 276 trim new
huls rest in the stocks-Amerca's merchant marine
built in the western world this fleet will be taking
to the waves.
See what % years has done in the shipping world: Ad
mral Emory S. Land chairman of the maritime commits
so reports that of the 6S cargo ships left the
to India practically full month after of the old
Hog slandbuilt World freghters started the
voyage The ships returned to New York harbor within Is
minutes of each other and the carrying 1000
tons cargo.
What trade conditions may be after the war; cannot
tell But whatever they are, may be that finer
merchant fleet will help meet and cope with them.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

struction of civil liberties and
entry into war. The veteran lib
eral continued:
II fear repetition of World
war raids when hundreds of per-
sons, entirely innocent, were ar
rested. shackled and handcuffed
just because their enemies made
false charges against them.
This fifth column hysteria may
cause one-half of loyal America
to suspect the other half. and in
the end lead TO war"
These critical days challenge
all thoughtful Americans to be
rational, intelligent and just, and
to carry on a relentless struggle
not only for peace but for the
preservation of the civil liberties
guaranteed under the Constitu-
ton and the Bill OF Rights.
MAUDE N. RICHARD.
Women's Council for Peace.
1921 So. L st.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

again. Here's why:
F. D. r., by his speeches and
policies, has brought the u. S.
to the brink of war; he has
committed our lot with the los
ing allies, albeit informally.
But in the very face of his
reassurances of about aid to
Great Britain and France
promises which the congress
has not yet underwritten-the
French forces have collapsed.
within three months-and
this is the judgment of our own
military experts-Great Britain
will give in. Therefore, be-
cause of the presidents anti
dictator addresses and his
Charlottesville speech. the U.
S. may become the lone enemy
of Germany and Italy-possibly
of Russia and Japan, too. We
have stuck out our chin without
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

Than Isolation7
NafionaIisn Credited
With World Mess
IF we had locked the stable
L door 20 years ago! Will we
have sense enough TO do it now
if we have an opportunity? Ed
win l.. James gives more rea-
sons why we should:
Look at the United States to-
day after 20 years of that proud
isolation TO conserve which we
deserted the international effort
Of two decades ago to prevent
just what has happened today.
We planned TO be safe in our
isolation, but today we are plan
ming to spend millions of dollars
to prepare ourselves to protect
the nation. And there are very
good chances that II that pro-
tecting has TO be done, we shall
have to face the peril alone.
And what peril is it? 1t is
exactly the peril of brute ag-
gression which the League was
shaped to prevent.
The oceans have become high
ways instead of barriers and
that this is true is shown by the
fact that the potential dangers
which now excite us exist, both
of them, on the other sides of
the two oceans which were to
have been our protectors.
Can it not be argued that If
there had been in existence for
the past 20 years the kind of
organization Wilson intended,
that the perils to our national
interests would not have grown
to their present Importance?
Whatever may be the truth of
the matter, it must be admitted
that the United States did just
about nothing to prevent the
dangers we now face. For our
present position we must blame
ourselves first of all.
A good case can be made for
the argument that with a virile
League Hitler would never have
come into power in Germany. 1t
can be argued that the support
which democratic Germany
might have received from Gene
va would have prevented his
rise.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
SO THEY SAY

The income we produced In
1899 provided rs per cent less
for each person than the same
income in 1929. Our national
living standard is lower by just
this amount.
President William Green Of
the A. r. OF L
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

having anything to protect 1t.
Hitler has told several Amer
lean emissaries that he has no
designs on the western hemi-
sphere. But state department
men know of nothing in the rec
ord TO make such a statement
impressive.
Hitler's war machine is roll
ing along at least two weeks
ahead of schedule time. The
significance of that statement
derives from the fact that it
comes from French and British
sources rather than from Ger
man headquarters.
Der Fuehrer did not expect to
capture Paris until June 30th,
where as it fell to him on June
10. He did not expect to launch
his fierce, all-out attack on the
British Isles until August l,
perhaps August Is, but now he
may modify his war scheme so
as to attack Britain by July Is.
American sources are betting
that Hitler, with flair for the
ironic. will attack England on
the Fourth of July. A master Of
the dramatic. it would not sur
prise Washington if he chose our
Independence day for the be-
ginning of his great offensive
against our Anglo-Saxon cousins.
The British and French mill
tary attaches here-and they
reflect the sentiment of their
superiors abroad-are flabber-
gasted by the demonstration of
Hitler's striking power. They
are even more upset over the
revelation of the allies weak
ness. They will tell you that,
from their standpoint, the war
is over. Herr Hitler has won.
LIBERAL governments and
leaders-the world over will suf-
fer as a result Of der fuehrer's
lightning conquests. II is. per-
haps. the greatest and most his
toric lesson = and the most
tragic-which this insane war
has taught to the world.
Frances plight dated from the
days of the Blum ministry-a
socialistic regime. lie national
lied the munitions industry. So
the first so families" of France
resented his policies. Instead OF
rebuilding and retooling their
plants in preparation for war.
they shipped their gold and their
capital TO the U. s. They left
France defenseless.
Labor Prime Minister Ramsay
Macdonald instilled the same
fears in the minds Of British in
dustrislists. with the help of the
business as usual" Chamber
lain. Blum and Macdonald. in
short, let their countries down.
The C. o. P. If 1t is smart.
will pursue the parallel in next
falls campaign.
The inside story of Benito
Mussolinfs war role suggests
that he may have been the key
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
TTcuT An Inside Picture of Finun-
Ll0A / cial and Political America

WASHINGTON-The allies apparent collapse in the
field will have tremendous political repercusson the
American President Roosevets chance of reelec
ton has been reduced by at least 40 cent the opinion
of expert politicos Indeed it convince him that he
would be making the political mistake of his life if he
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20
FIFTH COLUMNS"

Editor. The Times: At its
peak, the Communist party had
less than 100000 members Now
1t is probably decreased by half.
Still fewer owe allegiance to
fascism or nazism. Totaled. they
are less than one-tenth of one
per cent of our population, yet
the fifth column" bugaboo is
already inflated TO such proper
tons that our liberties are being
filched away behind il.
Very active. must be these
fifth columnists, II we served
our own country half as zeal
ously as we suspect them OF
serving other lands. would there
be single hungry child in
America. single unemployed
youth. a single Stun or tene-
ment7 Would there be the
slightest chance OF our sscri-
fetal involvement in foreign
wars? Would not our military
defense end at our own boun-
daries, and within those boun-
daries would there not be eco
nomic as well as political de-
mocracy?
And il We had that sort Of
democracy. in which freedom
and Justice TO all" were a living
reality instead OF an empty
phrase. would we need 10 be
terrified Of any fifth column?
Indeed. would there he one
ROBERT ]. PEARSALL,
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

In the main, American democracy must look for its
defense the wisdom of the people and their determine
ton not to be led paths that have taken other people
communism and fascism.-Atty.- Gen. Frank Murphy.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

The inside story Of Benito
Mussolini's war role suggests
that he may have been the key
figure in the worlds greatest
crisis. Here is the part which
he played in the critical days
which decided the worlds des-
tiny:
On June 5th, acting as the
enissary and spokesman Of
Herr Hitler. Il Duce informed
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

Use of the word "Mayday" in
any false or fraudulent manner
on a radio program involves
$4,000 fine. according to the
Federal Communications Com
mission.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

Frst-hand contacts throughout the country make evil
dent the decline during the year of the antidemocratic
movements the extreme right and lefRoger N. Bald
win director, American Civil Liberties Union.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-06-20

Better it is to be of humble spirit with the lowly,
than to divide the spoil with the proud-Proverbs 1919