davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-12-31
West Coast 10 5taqe
Big Doings Tonight
But Not in Street
Officials Warn Against
Greeting Martial 1912
In Open or Noisily
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 31-War,
the threat of blackouts, submarines
off the coast and warnings of Army
and police officers showed scant
signs today of dampening the Pa
cific Coasts celebration of New
Years Eve in traditional fashion.
Street crowds will be thinner
City officials, Army officers and po-
lice frowned on them. The din
from sirens and whistles won't help
announce the birth of 1912. They
sound too much like an afraid
warning. But night clubs will be
at full blast. brightly lighted be-
hind blacked-out windows reml-
niscent of the speakeasy days.
Perhaps the coastwise warning OF
mayors and police chiefs to get OIL
the street. was driving celebrants
into night clubs, and stimulating an
increase in home parties.
Mayor Earl Riley ordered all Port
land (Ore.) celebrants to stay in
doors, and banned unnecessary
noise, lights or crowds outdoors.
San Franciscans were urged not to
throng to busy Market street.
Seattle residents were warned that
street crowds would render an air
raid alarm useless"
Police were cautioned to be on
the alert for SaboteurS,
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Restaurant Association
Joins Canteen Force

The American Red Cross has added
to its force of 1000 volunteer can
teen workers the entire personnel
represented by the National Res
taurant Association-some 600,0 900
strong.
An agreement was announced be-
tween Red Cross Chairman Norman
H. Davis and Frank j. Wiffler. ex-
ecutive vice president of the asso-
citation, covering conversion OF res
taurants into feeding stations in
emergencies, provision of personnel
for feeding on premises other than
those of association members, and
provision of feeding equipment for
mobile field kitchens.
Meanwhile, national headquarters
of the Red Cross announced that
the campaign to raise $50, 1000 900
war fund is more than One-flfth
completed. Contributions to date are
s10,780,341.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Robber Nubbed
Just as Success
| Seemed Likely

A robber who knocked down a
pharmacist early today arose with
$45 and a watch only to find he was
facing a policeman's gun.
Francis Edward Ruth, 43, of 40O9
Twenty first street NE, was assault
ed at Seventh and K streets NV.
At that moment, Policemen j. D.
Rice and Charles Burns were wait
ing in scout car for a trafdc signal
to change.
They surprised the robber as he
was preparing to flee with his loot,
and placed him under arrest.
Jake Shulman, proprietor Of a
liquor store at 1901 Benning road
NE, reported loss of $108 to two COL
ored men who held up the estab-
lishment last night. One Of the men
was armed.
A pair of similar description rob-
bed Harry N. Sher, grocer, OF about
the same amount in his store at
First street and North Carolina
avenue Sc. They fled in an auto
mobile.
Four colored men held up Walter
G. Montgomery. 602 B street NE.
at Fifth and G streets NE. and
took 50.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Capital 10 Celebrate
President S Birthday
In Spite Of War
Program to Include
Dances, Hollywood
Stors and Drumu

Plans went forward today for the
Districts Observance of President
Roosevelt's birthday anniversary.
January 80, after the Washington
committee OF the celebration Of the
birthday decided late yesterday to
continue the program of dances and
other benefits begun here eight years
ago for the Warm Springs Founda-
ton.
Despite the war, the committee
voted to carry on as in previous
years. Only one event will be miss
ing from this years program, the
elaborate Gold Plate breakfast held
at the Carlton Hotel.
Program Outlined.
In a meeting in the District Build
ing, which was attended by repre-
sentative of the White House, Of
ficials outlined a program that will
include the following events:
A horse show at Fort Myer. Va.
tentatively set for January % and "a.
Birthday ball banquet at the Will
ard Hotel, beginning at m, Janu-
airy 30.
Birthday dances at the Willard,
Shoreham, Mayfower, Washington
and Hamilton Hotels the same eve
ming.
Personal appearances of numerous
Hollywood stars at each of the
dances.
Command performance Of a
Broadway play at the National
Theater, January Is.
Up to Community.
Oficials were of the opinion that
the balls should continue again this
year, despite the war. National
officers of the Presidents birthday
celebration had left up to each COM
munity the question Of holding the
affairs In January.
Among those attending the meet
ing were Commissioners Young,
Kutz and Mason; Col. Horace Smith
of the White House staff, Thomas P.
Morgan, jr.; Frank Holmes, special
assistant to Commissioner Young,
who is District chairman of the
balls; Mrs. Irene Caldwell. L. Gard
ner Moore, Brig. Gen. Albert l.. Cox,
Carter Barron, Richmond B. keech,
corporation counsel for the District
Robert B. Fleming, Mai. James r.
LuSby, I. J. Roberts and Andrew r,
Kelly.
The District raised a total of
$54, 900 last January.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Index Of Farmers Prices
Hits Peak Since 1890

BY the Associated Press
The index of prices received by
farmers advanced in December to
the highest point since 1880 and to
SO per cent of parity with the index
of prices farmers paid for non.agri-
cultural goods and services, the
Agriculture Department reported
yesterday.
The farm price index stood at
143 per cent of the 1909-14 average
on December IS, an increase of 8
points over the mid-November in
dex and AZ points above that of a
year ago.
Prices of nearly all farm COM
modities advanced during the
month. Those making the largest
increase were grains and meat ami
mails. Cotton prices advanced mod
erately. Food and dairy prices
were unchanged while egg prices
dropped, but less than usual.
Prices of leading farm products
December IS, expressed in per-
centages Of parity, included: Wheat
80; corn, 72: rice, 1873; cotton, 81
cottonseed. 1873; milk. LOG; chickens
96; eggs, 80; hogs, SO beef cattle
125, and wool, 141.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Pacific Coast Crowds
Are Limited to 5000

BY the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 3l-No
more than 5000 persons should as
semble at any one time anywhere in
the Pacific Coast States during the
present war emergency, the Army
and civilian defense authorities said
today.
A joint statement by Gen. John L.
De Witt of the Western Defense
Command and the 4th Army. and
Regional Director Jack Helms of the
9th United States Office of Civilian
Defense also placed ban on
parades during the holiday season.
Such events" the statements de-
clared. draw large bodies of people
together, make necessary the remov-
al of peace officers from present
emergency guard duty. create traffic
jams and situations of which an
enemy might desire to take advan-
tage"
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Gas Light Co. Warned
Against Speculation in
New Stock Sought
Hearing on Issue Of
Up TO 10000 Shares
Adjourned for Week

The Public Utilities Commission
hearing on the Washington Gas
Light Co. petition TO issue, ulti-
mately. as much as 10000 shares Of
$425 preferred stock today was ad-
journed until next Tuesday after
the company was informed by the
commission yesterday it must give
assurances there will be no specu-
lation Of the stock.
Gregory Hankin, chairman of the
commission, said investors must be
safeguarded against fluctuations IN
the value of the stock, which some
observers say will reach the value
Of 100000. The company claims
this will assist in expanding its
capitalization to keep abreast OF
the city's phenomenal growth.
Mr. Hankin insisted, however, that
the company must give additional
assurances that it needs more cap
ital and that it would continue in a
sound financial condition after the
securities are issued
Immediate Needs Cited.
In day-long hearing in the Dis
trict Building. company spokesmen
told the commission the city, growth
due to war conditions called for the
Issuance "as soon as possible" Of at
least portion of the 10000 shares
ito take care of immediate needs"
The amount of new capital needed
at this time was estimated as be-
tween 100000 and 100000 the
hearing was told.
Mr.. Hankin commented: ''Ths
whole reason for public utility regu-
lation is to prevent speculation with
utility stock. Speculation has driven
many utilities into the ground"
Since added capital is needed by
nearby branch companies. he said,
the Maryland and Virginia subsid-
iaries of the local gas company might
find 1T necessary to pledge their
securities to the parent organization
before the stock issue is authorized.
Adverse Results Suggested.
If the Washington Gas Light Co.
is going to put money into its sub
sidiaries and if something happens
to them to diminish their value, the
Washington company will be left
holding the bag with the stock
issue" Mr.. Hankin remarked.
E. Barrett Prettyman, gas COM
pany counsel. said the commission
had no authority to insist on this
issue, since it cannot regulate con-
Germs outside the District
To be thrashed out at the Tuesday
meeting is the question of whether
| the commission will authorize the
| immediate issuance of $4,000 shares
Of the 10000 the company seeks 10
put on the market.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Japs Seen Planning Trade
Offers 10 Latin America
By NAT A. BARROWS,
Foreign Correspondent CT The Star an
Chicago Daily News.

FOfelen Correspondent CT Inc Stdr ana
Chicago Daily News
PANAMA, Republic of Panama,
Dec. 31.-The echo of Japanese
bombs on Manila reaches the nom
belligerent republics of Latin
America as a soft whisper. 1t is
the whisper of japanese diplomats
exploring possibilities as they pre-
pare their own version of Nazi
economic warfare.
Your correspondent mas learned
that these representative of Toxic
are ready to dangle alluring pro-
misses of trade concessions before
any acknowledgement country in
Latin America which is willing to
listen They are moving quietly
but assiduously, prepared to offer
economic bargains. impossible to
obtain elsewhere. 1t is the old Nazi
softening-up pattern, with Asiatic
adaptations-and the object, of
course, is to create disaffection of
one kind or another between the
Latin American countries and the
United States
A diplomat accredited to one large
Latin American country already is
known to have caught the fear of
a high official
1t will be interesting to watch the
course of this japanese subversive
campaign in light of the forth
coming Rio Inter-American Confer
ence It's tactics show a curious
similarity to Nazi oVertureS made
before last years Havana Confer
ence - lush promises of open
markets, ready profits and long term
credits.
Firms blacklisted by Washington
are ready stooges for such Japanese
attempts to disrupt the good-neigh-
Dor program. Publicity is as deadly
to these economic paratroops as a
machine gun battery. While the
japanese are seeking important ears
in which to pour their honeyed
promises, the Allies are not merely
eavesdropping. They are talking
too, to the right places-about just
what happened to Europeans who
listened to the Axis mumbo- jumbo
(ceryright. 1e41, Chicago Daily News Inc
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Thomas J. Lone to Fill
Connery Seat in House

By the Associated Press.
LYNN, Mass, Dec. 3l.-State
Senator Thomas j. Lane. Democrat.
yesterday was elected Representa-
tive from Massachusetts, 7th dis
trict to fill the seat of the late
Representative Lawrence j. Con-
merry. It was the first wartime con-
gressional contest.
Both Mr.. Lane, who won with
6,094 votes in the normally Demo-
cratic stronghold, and C. F. Nelson
Pratt, Republican county commits
sioner, who polled 18,47o votes,
wholeheartedly supported President
Roosevelt.
Far back in the three-man race
was Communist John Green of Bos-
ton, which is outside the district.
Mr.. Green, who received 272 votes,
did little campaigning.
The election brought out less than
= per cent of the registered vote.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Americun-Cunudiun Crew Flies
Atlantic at 5OO-Foot Height

Capt. Gentry, pilot; N Collins, CO.
pilot; both Americans; three Cana
dians named Glover, Maher and
Coulombe, and Flight Engineer Ber-
trand, formerly of the United States
Army. Their full names and home
addresses we're not given.
Because higher altitude meant en-
countering heavy, dangerous icing
conditions, the ferry command said
Capt. Gentry few less than 500 feet
over the sea the first 18 hours OF the
23-hour fight. Below him the
white caps Of the waves were just
visible all through the night" 1t
said.
The Catalina landed in Canadian
waters with sufncient fuel left for
five more hours In the air. Another
ship took the crew and dispatches
On to washington Immediately.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
BY the Associated Press.


Don't get worked up over rumors
that enemy agents have put poison
into some of the Nations food
stocks.
The Pure Food and Drug Admin
istration Issued this admonition to
the people today. after being ad-
vised that such rumorS are being
circulated in some localities.
The administration reported that
to date there has not been "a single
instance where enemy agents have
been involved in rendering COM
mercial food harmful to health"
The possibility of commercial
foods being poisoned by enemy
agents is so remote that it need
alarm no one" said DR.. P. B. Dun
bar. assistant food and drug COM
missioner. AN enemy agent will
ing to take the risk can do much
more harm by other more effective
methods"
If there is any reason to suspect
that an item of commercial food
has been adulterated, he said, this
should be reported promptly to the
Food and Drug Administration or
to any State or city food official
for immediate investigation.
Warns Against Rumors.
False rumors that may lower
civilian morale should not be
spread" he said.
Such rumors during World War I
caused great alarm in some locali-
ties. and DR.. Dunbar reported they
have been started already in World
War II. even to the extent of having
been reported over some broad
casting stations" ~ ,s,ss
For instance. he said. a New
England woman reported she had
found glass in can Of japanese
crabmeat. but investigation estab-
lished that the glass" was harm
less chemical crystal which occa-
sionally forms naturally in canned
sea food.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Eat the Right Food
Posters 10 Call for
Wartime Health
Civil Defense Nutrition
Unit Is Told Discipline
In Eating Is Needed

Plans were being made today for
distribution throughout the city OF
posters urging Americans to eat the
right food for stronger Nation,
following meeting yesterday of the
Nutrition Committee of the District
Civilian Defense Councils Voluntary
Participation Division.
Posters captioned Eat the Right
Food-America Needs You Strong
will be passed out to restaurants,
grocery stores, Government cafe
terias and lunch rooms, clinics, ply
sicians' Offices, private industry and
other public buildings under plan
of civilian defense authorities.
Discipline Seen Necessary.
Stressing the Importance of self
imposed program, Miss Gay Shep-
person, assistant director of the
Board of Public Welfare, said:
We must discipline ourselves to
eat the right foods. We must
give up the things we like for the
foods that are best for us, even
though we don't like them"
With Washington the center of the
Nations war effort, nowhere Is
maximum efficiency demanded more
of citizens than here, asserted DR..
Helen S. Mitchell, principal nutri-
ZIONIST of the Office of Health and
Welfare Services. The District. she
said, should lead the way in a drive
to combat malnutrition.
Special demands are made on our
diets, Dr.. Mitchell pointed out, be-
cause, there are more mental
stresses and nervous strains on
people today than ever before"
Cites Federal Cafeterias.
The speaker cited that Govern
ment workers, have an excellent op-
portunity to be we'll fed because Of
the good food of Government cafe
terias," but "even then people won't
always buy what is best for them
I'VE can't afford to let the problem
of malnutrition ride, even if people
say man has gotten along thus far
without vitamins," asserted DR..
Mitchell. At this point she COM
mented that a city of this kind
should discover the Importance of
vitamin B complex, the so-called
nerve vitamin
Mrs. Helen M. Monroe, committee
chairman, presided and announced
the formation of numerous subcom-
mittees to carry out its work. The
meeting was held in the Y. w. C. A.,
Seventeenth and K streets NV.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Official Here Scouts Runors
That Enemy Is Poisoning Food
Possibility Too Remote to Justify
Alarm, Commissioner Declares

A woman in Pennsylvania was re-
ported by DR.. Dunbar TO have
warned a relative in Washington
not to eat canned shrimp because
it contained glass.
These crystals in sea foods. the
specialist explained, are soluble in
warm vinegar, a simple means to
differentiate from glass which is in
soluble. Likewise, tartrates IN Jellles
sometimes crystalline and are mis-
taken for glass, and small particles
of sand in insufficiently cleaned
canned tomatoes have been regarded
as something dangerous.
Wholly Improbable.
This is not to say that an enemy
agent or fanatic might not attempt
to poison commercial food" DR..
Dunbar said. 1T is even possible,
though not probable, that he might
succeed in poisoning a small guam
tity. 1t would be difficult to do so
and the risk of being caught would
be very great Furthermore, if he
succeeded he could not be sure but
that his friends rather than his
enemies would consume the poi
soned food"
Even in peacetimes, it was point
ed out, there are occasional out
breaks of food poisoning, due to
accidental contamination resulting
from carelessness or insanitary prac-
tices in the factory or in the home.
In time of war, DR.. Dunbar said.
the dislocation of commerce, the
scarcity of some raw materials and
the greater use of unframed work
ers increase the probability Of oc-
casional outbreaks of food poison
ing But, he added, reasufnnsly = :
'It can be stated without qualifl-
cation that the food supply today
Is freer from harmful adulteration
than at any previous time in the
history of the Nation. 1t is the aim
of food officials, SO far as is human
ly possible, to see that it remains
500
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Law Fraternity Ends
Convention Toniqht

Delegates to the 9th annual ma
tional convention of Sigma Delta
Kappa, intercollegiate law fra
ternity, will elect grand officers this
afternoon.
At a banquet and ball this eve
ming at the Wardman Park Hotel,
the newly designated officers will
be installed and a key for meritori-
Gus service will be presented to the
fraternity's outstanding member.
Last night the group had a sup
per and cabaret entertainment at
the Viking Club. The convention,
which began Monday, heard annual
reports yesterday morning and de-
voted the afternoon to sightseeing.
1t will close with the banquet to-
night.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Capt. N. ). Bennion
Among Navy's Dead
Al Pearl Harbor
Believed Outstanding
Hero Of Action Mentioned
By Secretary Knox

Capt Mervyn Sharp Bennion, head
of the Navy Bureau of Ordnance
here until last summer. was killed
in the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor December Z, according to
Official word received from the Navy
by his widow, Mrs. Louise Bennion.
Friends Of the late officer will
hold memorial service on January
80 in the Church of Jesus Christ
of the Latter-Day Saints, Sixteenth
street and Columbia road, it was
announced by Maurice Barnes. a
friend of the family, who is in the
office of the general counsel of the
Treasury Department. The service
will be conducted by Riley w.
Gwynn. bishop of the Chevy Chase
ward of the church.
While no statement was forth
coming from the Navy Department.
Capt. Bennion is believed to have
been the battleship captain men,
toned by Secretary of the Navy
Knox December Is in his report of
the conduct of naval personnel dur
ing the attack eight days before,
He is the only captain reported
killed in action during the attack.
The dying captain of battle
ship Secretary Knox said. dis
played the outstanding individual
heroiSm of the day. AS he emerged
from the coming tower to the
bridge, the better to fight his ship,
his stomach was laid completely
open by a shrapnel burst. He fell
to the deck and, refusing to be
carried to safety. he continued to
direct the action"
The Secretary's report told how
the captain refused the offer Of
two other officers to remove him
and, despite flames which made the
bridge blazing inferno, aided them
to escape.
When Capt. Bennion. graduate
Of the United States Naval Academy
in 1910, was assigned to sea duty
last summer, Mrs. Bennion and
their son, Mervyn S., jr., left for
Salt Lake City to stay with her
parents. She is the daughter of
]. Reuben Clark, former Ambassa-
dor to Mexico Funeral services
will be held in Salt Lake City early
next month, according to word re-
ceived here.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
HunefeId, III and Alone,
Lonqs for Presidents Picture
Health and Times
Dash Hopes for
New Year Hondshoke
BULLETIN.

President Roosevelt, after
reading that John w. Hume
field was i'll and could not be
on hand at the White House
gate tomorrow with his Gus
tomary New Year greeting, an
nounced this afternoon he was
sending the autographed pic
ture of himself for which Mr..
Hunefeld had expressed a
desire.
John w. Hunefeld said to wish you
a happy New Year, Mr.. President.
He's sorry he can't come over
personally. 1t will be the first time
in II years he hasn't been at the
White House gate January l pre-
pared to extend the greeting.
He's i'll. A year ago last month
a robber attacked him, struck him
a heavy blow on the back Of his
head and took $50 from his pocket
1t put him in the hospital four
weeks and since then he's been in
the hospital two other times.
But he knows 1t wouldn't do much
good to go to the White House
anyway, except to uphold his tradi-
ton of being there President
Coolidge and President Hoover used
to shake hands with John Citizen
every New Year Day, but President
Roosevelt discontinued the practice
Mr.. Hunefeld, who is IS, was first
in line nearly every year except 8
couple of times when he chivalrously
stepped aside for ladies.
Would Enjoy Picture.
After Mr.. Roosevelt entered the
White House. however, Mr.. Hume.
field cuStomarily was on hand tht
first day each year, his fine mus
tache bristling, and sort Of hoping
the Chief Executive would some
time change his mind, at least ir
his case
But now that he can't come uI
this year, even to be greeted by
the White House guards and news.
paper reporters and photographers
he'd really like an autographed pic.
ture Of Mr.. Roosevelt. With LITTLE
New Years greeting. maybe
Happy New Year to you, too. Mr.
Hunefeld.'
Why, it'd probably get him well
He has to stay in bed all time now
alone in his little room at 225 c
street NE. Mrs Ella Knox, colored
who lives across the street, brings
him his meals and watches out fol-
him. A widower, he has no living
relatives.
Evening star., 1941-12-31
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the AASOClAte0 fIeSS.
MONTREAL, Dec. 31.-Through
darkness and at an altitude limited
to only 500 feet by icing conditions,
a six-man Americana Canadian crew
piloted their flying boat across the
gale-swept Atlantic Christmas Day
to deliver urgent dispatches to
Washington.
AS most people prepared to eat
Christmas dinner, the volunteer crew
took of from Scottish port for
Newfoundland, the Royal Air Force
ferry command disclosed today.
Describing their exploit as most
difiicult undertaking" and another
splendid chapter" in the history Of
American built Catalina aircraft,
the command identified the crew
only as:
Evening star., 1941-12-31
10th Cargo Ship in le4l
Launched at Baltimore

BY the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 31:-The Lib
erty ship John Randolph and the
merchant training vessel American
Mariner were launched at the Beth
lehem- Fairfield shipyards yesterday
in a twin ceremony bringing to 20
the merchant vessels sent down
Baltimore ways in l94l.
The Randolph is a 10,500-dead-
weight-ton vessel, seventh Liberty
ship launched here since Septem-
ber AZ.