davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-03-31

sia. or of the hunting and bounding
of those in this country who insist that
certain truths be told" In such a crisis,
he trumpeted the mere custody of books
is not enough for librarian He is
bound to fight in behalf of the hui
manities, to protect them from the
demagogues and the official liars and
the terrorizing mob not by waiting for
attack, but by attacking!"
Staff Salaries Neglected.
The warrior must set his own camp
in order before assailing evil abroad,
and Mr.. MacLeish found that numerous
abuses inside the library were incon-
sistent with its possibilities as a castle
of Righteousness. Some of his dis
coveries indicate a condition of rela-
tive economic servitude in the per-
sonnel of the National Governments
supreme agency of enlightenment:
At present Sc holders of graduate de-
grees are employed in the library at
salaries below 81 $3.50 a year. OF the
total staff, 50 per cent have salaries of
$l,980 or less. Entering salaries are
$1,000 or $3.50 as against $1,44O or
more for Post Office laborers.
The average salary for all grades of
work is s1948, as against s2,1lo in the
National Archives, s2.2O8 in the General
Accounting Office, $3.50 in the Patent
Office and $z,677 in the Bureau of
Standards.
During many years. advances of SAL
ary have generally been made possible
only by leaving positions in the higher
brackets open as they fell vacant, and
apportioning the money thus released
among employees in lower brackets.
One of the greatest linguists of his
generation, DR.. Waldemar Kloss died
recently after "a years of devoted service
to the Library of Congress. His salary,
at the time of death, was $2,7OO.
Books Need Repairs.
Owing to lack of money, 215,0OO VOL
umes are falling to pieces on the shelves
are ready for rebinding. These to-
gether represent nearly tenth of all
books in the library.
One inquirer sent recently for four
important books, published in Europe
during the last 10 years. Not one of the
four did the library have.
On November II, 1885, almost 10000
gtft books and pamphlets had not been
acknowledged. Gifts have increased 70
per cent in IL years, but the staff of the
gift section has remained constant.
On December 8, 1899, "log jam" of
66,667 books and pamphlets still awaited
cataloguing The arrearage is increas-
ing at rate of 10000 items per year.
OF 100000 volumes and pamphlets
estimated to be contained in the library,
approximately 1,500,0 have not been
fully "processed" and are not repre-
sented in the main catalogue.
Incoming books must pass through 10
separate divisions of the library, so that
an average of a days elapses between
their accession and their arrival on
the public shelves. If the material is
unbound, from three to six months must
be added. The time required for
processing" copyright material runs
from 13 to "a days.
1T u one Of the ironies Of the Job"
Evening star., 1940-03-31
By Marquis ". ChiIds.

after the war and filled with a black
hatred of the rich and the successful
Hitler's demagogy early transformed this
into hatred of the Jews
Ley was one of the earliest followers
of the Austrian house painter. He was
in that company of the desperate and the
dispossessed, furious fanatics most of
them, who were driven on by blind inn
pulse to tear down the structure of the
society around them. Hatred, fear, envy,
these were the impulses that ruled dis
the pervert, Goering the apostle of brute
force, Ley the crafty intriguer-these
were the men striving for power
Is Spellbinder.
A spellbinder almost rivaling Goebbels,
Ley was put in charge of the Labor
Front when Hitler took over. All trade
unions were liquidated and all workers
required to become members of the Labor
Front, paying dues such as they had
formerly paid to their unions Similarly
the Front and also to make substantial
monthly contributions. This fund soon
grew to enormous proportions, literally
billions of marks flowing in as months
and years went by.
And solely responsible was Herr DR..
Ley. He alone knew how much money
had been accumulated and what it went
for. Part of it-a small part, it is gen.
orally assumed-went to finance the pro-
gram of Kraft durch Freude, Strength
Through Joy. A vast propaganda was
turned on to sell this program to the
German workers.
Workers were sent on winter vacations
to fashionable skiing grounds. In the
summer they were given cruises or trips
to the mountains. Not many out of the
total number got these holidays, but
there were enough to make an impress
sion. Johan could say to his wife, "Well,
this year Heinrich and his family have
trip to the Tyrol, so perhaps next year
it's our turn"
Concealed Wage Declines.
The Strength Through Joy program,
or, rather, the propaganda behind it,
served to conceal the fact that real wages
were declining under the Nazis. It
helped to cover up, too, the fact that all
the old trade union benefits, for sick
ness, old age and unemployment were
abolished
When the Nazis captured the unions,
Ley took over the union treasures. By
very clever bit Of maneuvering he even
succeeded in persuading union heads to
bring back into Germany 100000
marks that they had been able to deposit
in Dutch banks before Hitler took con-
troll. Ley held out the possibility of
plausible compromise whereby the old
unions would retain some degree of con-
troll. But the moment the money was
brought back into Germany such trans
parent assurances were forgotten.
The Nazis had talked q great deal
about racketeering and graft in the
trade unions, and when they took over,
there was loud boasting that now all
that would be ended. What really hap
pened Is most revealing of one-party
rule in the German state. Instead Of
the number Of union ofdcials decreasing,
1t was very rapidly doubled under the
Evening star., 1940-03-31
Domestic Front

There were two important war stories
in Washington in recent days.
Last week Secretary of War Wood
ring went before Senate and House
Military Affairs Committees to outline
new Government policy of permitting
American manufacturers
U. 5. PIones to sell latest type war
For Allies planes to foreign pur-
chasers. Subject of Bit
ter .behind-scenes row for several weeks
past new policy will give foreign orders
priority in certain cases where American
defense interests are believed not at
stake. will make available most advanced
designs to insure French British buyers
of best fighting ships now in construc-
tion anywhere in world, but will with.
hold several devices rated by aviation
experts to be exclusive with United
States and superior to any comparable
foreign product.
In succeeding days. allied purchasing
agents have been in constant confer
ence with Government and manufac-
turing representatives preliminary to
new orders.
Second story of major import was re-
turn on Thursday of Undersecretary of
State Sumner Welles from six weeks
mission in Europes principal capitals.
Within half hour OF arrival in Wash
ington, sauve but austere diplomatic re-
porter had laid before President Roose-
welt his findings in war-plagued Old
World. For "a hours veil of deep secrecy
covered his report. to be lifted hardly
at all at Presidents Friday press con-
ference when Chief Executive declared
that "even though there may be scant
immediate prospect for the establish
ment of any just, stable and lasting
peace in Europe, the information made
available to this Government as a result
OF Mr.. Welles' mission will undoubtedly
be of the greatest value when the time
comes for the establishment of such a
peace"
Evening star., 1940-03-31

Labor Front system. When the Nazs
took over there were approximately
10000 functionaries who lived by the
trade union movement This number
was increased, according to one esti-
mate. to nearly 100000
Prior to the Labor Front virtually all
trade union functionaries were, Of
course, former workers who had risen
in organization ranks The Nazis re-
placed them with unemployed bureau-
Gratis and white-collar workers who had
earned some favor from the party, with
detectives, former policemen and de-
cayed military men. Included also were
party officials who needed well-paid
oerths to carry on political functions.
Only very small number of workers
were included after the Naz TRANSFORMED
tlon and these were for the most part
political adventures and trouble makers.
One of the points of Nazi attack on
trade unions prior to 1888 was that trade
union officials lived in idle luxury and
drove fine cars at the expense of the
workers. One of the first acts of the
Labor Front was to purchase a large
number OF new cars-expensive Mercedes
cars. according to John Gunther. If
union had three or four cars the num-
Der after Ley was 80 or 40 A common
underground joke was this "motoriza-
ton" of the trade unions.
Nothing Too Good for Fuehrer's Men.
Ley was living high, roaring across
Germany in his specially built Mercedes
with special chauffeur and guard. Lead
ership. in the Ley theory, deserves the
highest rewards of the state. Nothing
is too good for the Fuehrer and the men
around him. Take 1t away from the
business man, the capitalist, and give it
to the leader.
Since the war, as repressive wartime
hours and restrictions were clamped
down on German labor, a vast under
ground rumble of discomfort has
reached the ears of high Nazis. This
became so serious that it was DR.. Leys
duty to appease the workers with modi-
f1cations. They would receive extra pay
for overtime, contrary to ordinances
published at the beginning of the war.
And while the 10-hour day would stay,
vacations with pay were assured for
extra compensation in war industries
where vacations were impossible.
Moreover, authorities promised that
they would not tax away all the differ
ences In pay between the 8-hour and
the 10-hour day. The full war tax of
80 per cent on income would not be
deducted, nor would the increased salary
be placed in higher tax category. All
this, Ley was quick to emphasize, was
wholly voluntary. It had nothing to
do with any expression from the workers.
1t grew out of the benevolent kindness
OF the Nazi state. "Our workers have
everything so well prepared that we do
not need these sacrifices" said Lev in
attempting to explain away this change
Of policy.
BY such thunderings, by constant
propaganda, by small concessions, Lev
must keep German workers from mani
Testing open discomfort. The Nan war
machine must be fed. It is the task Of
this clever blusterer to make sure that
the human cogs In the machine con-
tinue to function.
Evening star., 1940-03-31
Behind the Lines

There were two major issues around
which this war of nerves were revolving
principally in recent days; first, the
shaping of allied war policies to satisfy
restless civilian populations, particu-
1arly the French, and, second, maneu-
verings over Balkan influence. In back
ground of both was numbering shadow
of Russian Bear, big even If not highly
effective
With his new government on slightly
flrmer footing than a week ago. Frances
Premier Reynaud took to
Reynoud's radio on Tuesday to prom
PLEDGE ise his nation, and any
other interested listeners,
that he leads for one purpose:
ut is to make war and make it in
every field-to beat the enemy 1t is
hard war, but we will win"
Not infrequently have other spokesmen
Of belligerent nations talked of this war
suddenly exploding into mass shambles,
but acknowledged lmpatience of French
civilian population may be factor which
will force Reynaud's words into action.
Pointedly, aggressive financier- states
man spoke of French determination to
checkmate any German Russ threat of
establishing Balkan hegemony.
And that Russ-French tension has
reached advanced stage of GOODNESS was
demonstrated scarcely "a hours later
when Moscow dispatches disclosed that
Jakob Surits, Soviet Am
Surits bassador to Paris, was
Recalled being freed from his
functions at specific re-
quest of French government Immediate
cause of French displeasure, it developed,
was wording of telegram from Ambas-
sador to Stain, congratulating Big Red
on Finnish conquest
Thanks to the wisdom of the Soviet
government and to our valiant Red
Army" Surits found reason for wiring,
"the plans of the British French war
,mongers who attempted to fan the flames
of war in Northeastern Europe again
failed.'
Paul Magyar, French Ambassador to
Moscow, has been in Paris for some
weeks past-probably will not return to
Russ capital
Likewise cool toward Moscow, British
government some months ago granted
Indefinite leave of absence to its Soviet
Ambassador, Sir William Seeds.
On Friday night, Moscow government
expressed itself on subject of British
French policies through speech by
Premier Molotoff.
Evening star., 1940-03-31
By Richard L. Stokes.

ornament and explosive profusion of de-
tail. Dr. Putnam's momentous incum-
bency of 40 years began in 1899. AS in
the case of Mr. MacLeish. he was not a
professional librarian. but proved to be
mighty hunter of congressional appro-
priations and private cs;nations From
an initial 5000 in 1900. the annual ap-
preparation lowered by 1899 to $3,0l5, ,4O1,
while endowments and gifts from pri-
vate sources reached total of 81, ,362,519
In ALL he extracted from Congress about
s63,000000 of public money.
When DR.. Putnam retired with the
title of librarian emeritus, on last Octo-
Der l, the institution boasted $500 900
books and pamphlets, 1,50O.0 900 maps and
views, 100000 volumes and pieces of
music and 100000 prints The contents,
once carried in the librarians head, had
come to require a catalogue of 125 900 900
printed cards. Its Chinese and japanese
collection was the largest outside the
Far East, and its Slavic selection the
greatest outside Russia In the branches
OF music and aeronautics, it was con-
sidered to lead the world. A superb new
annex building of white marble, five
stories high, erected at cost of nearly
$4,000 900 for structure and site, became
available for occupancy December 2, 1898.
It took over 100000 books and 10000
volumes of bound newspapers from the
main building as well as such activities
as the copyright Office, card and cata-
logue divisions and the photostat Sec
ton.
Appointee's Mind Clean Slate.
Mr.. MacLeish inherited an institution
conceded to rank with the Bibliotheque
Nationale in Paris and the British Mu-
scum in London. On the ground that
he was not technical librarian, the ap-
pointment was branded as a calamity"
by the American Library Association,
while members of the Dies Committee
attacked him on the floor of the House
as Communist fellow traveller" Presi-
dent Roosevelt maintained that any
quantity of technicians could be hired,
but that the chief of the Library of Con-
gress should be man of intellectual dis
tinction, recognized as such wherever
scholars gather throughout the globe.
1t is conceivably fortunate that the
appointees mind was clear slate when
he undertook to discover what manner
of organism had come under his control.
With the aid of those who knew its
anatomy best-namely, the professional
staff of the library itself-he devoted
three months to the inquiry and arrived
at two principal but opposite reactions.
The first was awe and reverence before
the institution as stronghold, actual
and potential. of spiritual freedom. The
second was shock and even horror at
certain practices of that same institution
regarding its human dependents.
The former conception was reflected
in an address with which Mr.. Mac
Leish accepted an honorary degree of
doctor of laws at John Hopkins Uni
versity on Washington's birthday. He
declared that books and the cultural
inheritance of which they are sign and
instrument are in deadly peril. 1T is
not necessary" he proclaimed, Ito speak
of the burning Of books in Germany,
or of the victorious lie In Spain. or Of
the terror Of the creative spirit In Rus.
Evening star., 1940-03-31
MACLE|SH A POET WHO LURES THE CASH
Librarian Of Congress Comes OFF House Subcommittee

The look of delicate anguish haunting
the visage of Archibald MacLeish, libra
rian of the Library of Congress, is due
only in part to recent skirmish of poet
and politician. The bard of "Conquista-
dor" testified the other day before a
House subcommittee. In an era of
economy, without benefit of dactyl,
spondee or anapest, he battled to ex-
plain why the library, with expenditures
of $2,887 044 during the fiscal year 1888
80, now requires an appropriation of
s4,18a ,288.
The contest was fought behind closed
doors but the decision has become pub
lie through bill submitted by Repre-
sentative Louis c. Rabaut, Democrat,
of Michigan, chairman of House APP
preparations Subcommittee on the legis-
lative branch. Mr.. MacLeish came off
we'll. His estimate was cut $730,890 But
the sum recommended, $3.458 ,498, was
$340,791 in excess of the Ibrarys 1910
allotment.
When command of one of the three
great libraries Of the world was pressed
upon him last June by President Roose-
velt, Mr.. MacLeish had just resigned as
curator of the Nieman Foundation for
Journalists at Harvard, and was nego-
tiating loan sufficient to support his
family and himself for year and half.
A tremendous narrative poem was
sobbing and cursing to be written.
He Poetizes Job at Hand.
Not line of it, thus far, has reached
paper. After his usual fashion, he has
sought compensation by poetizing the
job at hand. The Library of Congress
descended to him from his predecessor,
DR.. Herbert Putnam, as an institution
of national stature. In the newcomers
fancy it has dilated into huge, cloudy
SYMBOL species of vague but sublime
world-fortress of democratic culture
against dictatorship. Conversely, blue
pencil in hand, he has fallen upon it
with the merciless integrity of Voltaire
hunting down solecisms, false rhymes
and shambling meters in a doggerel
manuscript of Frederick the Great.
So imposing is the prestige of the
Library of Congress that perhaps only
q poets vision could have described the
thronging errata in that stately text.
It was established by an act of 1900 Two
years later its earliest catalogue listed
964 books and nine maps. It's important
nucleus was collection of 6,700 volumes
which Thomas Jefferson sold to the
Government for $23,7OO. Thanks to ap-
propriations, the copyright law amend
ment of 1860 and other policies, the in
stitution multiplied to hundreds Of
thousands of items. These overf1owed
its first quarters in the west front of
the Capitol and found refuge in boxes
stored in the basement. As recently
as 1890, only the librarian knew where
most of the books were. One of the line
was accused of being short $4,000 in
his accounts until great heap of un-
cashed money orders, for copyright reg
istration, was discovered.
The present building, which cost $6,-
100000, was opened for use in 1897. It
was inspired by the Paris Opera House,
and in its day was hailed as MASTER
piece of architecture. It is regarded at
present as a dreary monument of the
Victorian era, with an absurd display Of
Evening star., 1940-03-31
eoce Prospects Fading Europe Diplomatic Intoue

defenses on Bulgarian frontier, pro-
German neighbor.
Heartening to London also were re-
suits Of elections on Tuesday in Do
minion Of Canada as Liberal govern
ment of Prime Minister Mackenzie King
was returned for new hve-year term with
record majority in House Of Commons.
King regime has been in accord with
Chamberlain policies.
Evening star., 1940-03-31

spread. British-French consultation with
their diplomatic reporters from that area
may herald new offensive for Balkan ap-
prevail
Deeply concerned with what NAV come
from Balkan brew, Italys Fascist
manipulators have been buster thaa
ever this week. In round of mo-
mentous conferences, Hungarian Pre-
Evening star., 1940-03-31

mier Teleki spent better part of week
in Rome, talking at length with Pre-
mier Mussolini, with Fascist Foreign
Minister Ciano, finally with Pope Plus.
From government-controlled Italian press
came assertions that British and French
were intriguing to spread war into
Balkans. that Italy had no designs in
conjunction with Nazi government.
Evening star., 1940-03-31

Most concerned about maintaining
their alliance with strategically located
and tough Turkey. French-British bloc
was cheered on Friday when Ankara
government made public announcement
of full understanding with belligerent
powers-embracing military cooperation
in event war comes to Balkans or to
Near East. Turk army leaders inspected
Evening star., 1940-03-31
Review of Thirtieth Week of War
By John C.. Henry.

tension blanket
plagued last
war was breaking out have there been gentay
OF fear that suddenly entire continent
break into catastrophe flames Actually
broke their relative ethagy begin killings
statesmen of intriguing
Greenbelt cooperator., 1940-04-11
Installment Diary

january l.. Bought an automobile today. Very
easy terms. Ought to finish payment this in l8
months.
"February l.. Paid installments due on car. Bought
radio set easy terms. Fine set; payments will
be small and monthly.
March 7. little Late with payment on the car
this month, and Will have to let the radio payment
go till April, I bought set of books and
paid $11oo down. Very fine books. Everybody should
have this set of books.
payment The radio to take away the
set, but put out the lights and weren't home.
nJune /. Borrowed 800 FROM Uncle George to pay
the 5000 borrowed from the ,and also meet
payment the Got behind little on the book
payments, because bought piece of land in
real estate development. This Land ought to jump in
value. Paid 5000 down.
august IS. Somehow I don't miss the radio set
much. And you get plenty of books from the pub
lie Library. The thing that hurts is that Uncle
George should be Of course told him r.
pay back the 500 August l.; but you can't do the
impossible, you? Trying to arrange character
loan from the bank. If can borrow $4,000, can
get square aga in and everything Will go fine.
august 10. Bank says have character.
"September 80. The garage man is holding the car
for that labor bill. What light have they to hold
carr It doesn't belong to them.
"october 1. 1t wasn't any use. had to Let the
car go Anyway, I'D rather have that piece Of land.
They've given months grace that. Real
tate people have heart, after all.
November IS. Well, they have their old lande
Good riddance. If knew where to get $1,000 to
meet the payment the piano, I'D be all ri ght
Bought automobile today the "pay out of in
November l6. Income stopped Got the sack at
the office. In looking for job you've got to have
a suit of clothes, I bought this Afternoon
Five dollars down."
From THRIFT Magazine"
Greenbelt cooperator., 1940-04-11
eI|h|k14E56pdGil, i ~
Howard C. Custer

In connection with the Garden Club's decision to
sponsor second yard and garden contest this
it might be we'll to point out things which the
judges found to initiate against favorable deci-
sion in the previous contest. You might bear these
in mind In planting and arranging your yards this
spring:
Flower beds around trees; rough wtiteWashed
stones bricks around flower beds the of disks
in marking out borders beds; mildeW uncontrolled
flowers ;romd beds in center of lawns undesirable
and sometimes out of scale with the rest Of the Lawns
beds cut out for individual flowers; general
planting and Lack of balance in color (such gt
ly colored boxes too much Of color in the
planting) too many broad leaf plants in small areas
flowers in the hedges; and the of rock gardens
in general.
The foregoing were OF the reasons why you
didn't all get first place in the contest DON'T Let
the imposing list frighten you, though; ach
perfection through number of failures tive heard.
And nj ght add my recom4endation to those quot
ed from the judges Hsts--go ahead and plant your
yard In what Like the most suitable way for
your pleasure. After all, I think the real test
Of beauty and success in garden is whether not
it seems to express your personality and whether
not it gives you pleasure. And while it would be
nice to take first prize in contest, you re the
who has to live with 1t all The judges
don't have to look at it than twiceI
- K.T.A.