davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
SPONGERS SEE DESERTION

A few months ago The Citizen COM
mented editorially on the encouraging fact
that sponge fishermen were reporting their
catches in much better condition than had
been the case recently, with the blight APP
parenyly gone.
/, seems both we and the sponge fisher
men spoke too soon, because all the news
about sponges since has been uniformly
bad
It is unfortunate that at this time, with
their business dropping out from under
them by the hour the sponge fishermen
and buyers should get the double barrelled
legislative walop of a measure adding a
new tax, and removing large part of their
grounds from the long fought for ban
against divers.
Ir addition to their bitter opposition
to the tax bill, many of the spongers feel
they are BEING left in the lurch by their fell
low townspe0pe. If merchants and other
citizens would join in, the spongers say. it
would be possible to swing far more weight
in their effort to stir up opposition to the
bill in the legislature.
The comment of one buyer that mer-
charts should line up in helping. because
there won't be anything left of Key West if
this biz gees through" is, of course an eX-
aGgeratiOn.
It is true, however, that the sponge
business is an old one, and has been very
impol tant, part of this citys industrial
life.
If the tax bill really will drive the
a1onrers out of business, and if the measure
opening part of their grounds to divers is
menace to their future livelihood they de-
serve the cooperation of their neighbors in
protesting against the proposed laws.
The county commission has protested
before against proposed legislation affect
ing Monroe county-sometimes without
much effect-but why not try it again?
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
WESTMINSTER BOMBED

Perhaps no outrage committed by the
Germans during the present war has
aroused greater indignation in England
and the British Empire than the recent
bombing of Westminster Abbey in London
which did serious damage to that historic
edifice
The Palace of Westminster was begun
by King Canute the Dane in the 18th GEN.
tury, and here the sovereigns of England
held their court for 500 years. In the same
century Edward the Confessor built a
magnificent church on the site of an ancient
monastery nearby, which was the original
building of what is now known as West
minister Abbey.
Here all the English sovereigns since
the time of William the Conqueror have
been crowned except Edward V and Ed
ward VIII, the former having been muir
dered upon his accession at the age of 13,
and the latter having abdicated, neither
being crowned During the recent bonn
bardment portion of the roof over the spot
where the present king and queen were
crowned was smashed in.
The House of Commons met for 800
years in the chapter house of the Abbey.
During the centuries fires and demolitions
destroyed several of the earlier portions of
Westminster. and newer ores have been
erected. Thirteen kings are buried in the
Abbey. which also holds the bodies of many
of England's greatest men. In the Poets
Corner lie Chaucer, Spenser, Dryden. Gray,
Browning land Ternyson. Britain's I'm
known Warrior is also buried here in soil
brought from France.
In the same raid in which Westminster
Abbey was damaged. portions of the Par
lament building. the British Museum and
other prominent structures were bombed.
and the famous clock, Big Ben, was tenn
porarily silenced
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

looks good. There were 81 COM
plete divisions in May, 1941--
there were five in May, 1870
Some progress has been made
toward developing mechanical
and armored divisions, none of
which existed year ago. But
again equipment shortages are
making it necessary TO revise
the previous estimates down.
ward.
The navy is probably in better
shape than ever in its history,
one reason being that it was
given much money during peace
time when the army was given
barely enough for subsistence.
But it will be 1915 or 1916 be-
IL, We have a powerful two
ocean fleet with men and Off
c1-s trained to handle it. No
che has yet been able to find a
wa to materially shorten the
time it takes to build fighting
craft
Summing up. we are going
ahead, but we are not going
ahead as fast as the experts think
is both necessary and possible.
There is criticism of the Presi-
dent for being indecisive, and for
refusing to fire incompetent as
sistants. There is criticism of in
dustry for not adapting itself
readily to a war basis. There is
criticism of the public at large
for not realizing how deadly Sc
rious our position is in a world
largely dominated by the Axis
and producing for the Axis. AL
most all who have been watch
inc the course of the defense
drive seem convinced that there
must be severe shake-ups-and
that this country must swiftly
turn its ambitious plans into the
actual machines of warfare If il
is TO be secure. In the light OF
history. there is no excuse for
failure And Hitler has shown
Us what ha0pnns to nations
which do too little. and do it toe
late.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
"Sitfing In With The Lawmakers
By GILBERT LEACH

From then on the amendments
of Senator Horne and Drummond
were voted down as fast as they
appeared-and they appeared
fast. Finally, Senator Hammer
slipped out and got a big book
and came back and told them
even the two amendments they
had let go thru were not at all
necessary and would make the
bill 90 to conference, SO they
backed up the steam roller and
flattened out both those.
There wouldn't have been
much humorous stuff around the
Capitol the past week except for
the night the attaches held their
session and took Off the mem
bers of the House. There are
not as MANY attaches this session
by half but they had the talent
and they razzed some of the
members to a fire-you-well. ]
could have given the attaches
some tips they don't know about
hut the feiiowss rnight come back
next sessiop andnso might ] and
they'd MEX me out, 50 kept
still.
Senator par Whitaker of Tam.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
sA-DAY AERIAL BATTLE

The British Air Ministry has given an
official account of the eighty-four-day bat
tie for air supremacy over the British Isles
i'm the fall of 1889.
According to the figures of the Air
Ministry, the Battle of Britain cost the Ger
mans .S75 airplaues in the eighty-four-day
pe,iod, The r. A F.. in its defense, lost
275 pilots killed and 35S wounded.
While the world Is slow TO realize the
fact. the heroic defense Of the British Isles
By the Royal Air Force was responsible for
saving the civilization of democratic ma
tons everywhere. The failure OF Germany
20 acquire aerial control undoubtedly pre-
vented an attempt to invade England
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

--- Over 100000 600 ar goods and war
material arrived safely in England a few
days ago. The shipment came from Canada
and was paid for in cash, which is require
ment from the mother country. regardless
OF the fact that Canada, too. is at war with
Germany, On the other hand. the United
States gives millions 10 England and is now
asked 70 see that the material arrives at its
destination which can only be done success
fully with conveys. CorvoyS mean war and
war means the shedding of American
blood That must not come to pass
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Nathan Straus. Us. Housing
AAn,iriet,a tor. born in New
York, 50 years ago.
Joseph c. Grew, Ambassador
10 Japan and shifted to Australia.
born in Boston. 81 wears ago.
Henry W. Taft If New York.
noted lawyer, brother Of the late
Presidcu' Grief Justice. born in
Cincinnati 80 wears ago
Prof. Edwin Minis Of Wander
bill; University, Tenn, noted
teacher Of English. horn in Rich
mond, Ark. So wears ago
Wallace Goodrich. director of
tH-c New Fneian3 Conservatory
Of Music. Boston. born in New
ton. Mas. 10 wears ago.
William Fortune Of In6ianpo-
Us. civic leader born ~ Boon
vile. Ind. "a wears $50.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

pa-avowed foe of the newspa-
pers. especially those published
at Tampa-got off good one
when there was bill up to ex-
empt certain people from jury
duty. Newspapermen were IN
the list and Senator Pat declar-
ed they had already exempted
all the rest Of the brains so
why not make IL unanimous.
Score one for oair friendly enemy.
Pat of Tampa.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
Economic Highlights
HAPPENINGS THAT AFFECT DINNER PALS. DIVIDEND
CHECKS AND TAX BILLS EVERY TNDIVIDUAL
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS
INSEPARABLE FROM LOCAL. WELFARE

May, l 40, was an important
month in the history of the mod
ern world. Early in that month
me German blitzkrieg was turn
ed loose in full fury on the Low
Countries. An army and air
force which had been the prin-
cipal topic of conversation in
European chancellories for years.
but which had never been tested,
came into action at last. The
much-vaunted defenses of Bel
GUM and Holland crumpled like
80 much paper before the great
est war machine the world had
ever known The war was on in
earnest, and Hitler's Third Reich
was away to commanding
lead.
! May Is, 1910, was treme~d-
ously important dav If the his
'orv of this country. President
Roosevelt, speaking to the Con-
gress, called for an arms pro-
duction program which would
make American defenses in
vulnerable, and our security alb
solute. He then asked that
slightly more than $1.000,010,000
be appropriated as starter.
So, the rearmament drive is a
lit lie more than one year old. It
was a drive which began IN an
atmosphere of intense enthus-
iasm, tremendous confidence. 1t
was q drive which shortly after
begged down to the point where
many almost succumbed to hope
less despair. 1t was a drive
which then picked up, as indus
try managed to gear itself to
war production after decades of
peace. What are its fruits to-
dev?
Judged by World War l stand
ards, we are doing well. We have
spent or committed ourselves to
spend $4,000. 600, 000-our entire
expense in the previous war was
500, 900. 100000 We are produc-
ing far more planes, tanks and
field pieces than we produced
then. Our training program for
men has gone ahead much fast
er. But-and this is an inn
portant but indeed-the world
has learned that World War II
Is a very different matter than
World Wa I Hitler has chang
ea 81" r'''~e ard tho standards.
Judged by what tho best ex-
rcrts think we should be doing,
we are moving far too slowly.
ten inefficiantlv. too waStefully
Prime need is for aircraft. which
is given priority by government
over al other arms Yet the
fact is th2t everv official esti-
mate of what we would produce
has hod tn be revised-and re-
vised downward Only recently
WIS % rccornized that we had
mt plannc4 for nearly enoU Oh
bio bombers. ard an attempt is
being naade now ia r.medv that
lack. At the same time. it IS
also true that rlsve production
has doubled since November.
We are waefullv short on
2 ordnance and it IS taking much
! tiuae so effect progress The army
has been criticized in this respecs
for lacking punch. for being
bound with red tape. etc. In re-
piv. the army answers that dur
ire the 21ts ard 30's Il was given
an average q only 100000 .
year 70 snend for ordnance
Whatever the cause. wherever
the fault nav lie. We won't hare
enough guns and ammunition e
really equip 1uT fast-expanding
army for a. least 3 year. ard par.
haus longer
In personnel the arusy's recos5
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

These boys are going home
with fear and trembling. Every
holy told 'em if they put an ex-
ira $500 on an automobile tag
they'd just as we'll plan not to
run again and a lot of 'em still
believe it. l don't. 1t was Ell
Their that or sales tax and that's
the scariest thing there is any
where around the Capitol.
AT that. thev NAV have to come
to the sales tax before they go
home. The way the governor
told it. it looked like they might
get bv but things have a way of
shrinking in the wash and some
of his program already has
shrink a little. There NAV not
be quite as much money avail
able as it looked like there might
be a few weeks ago.
Then there's another Angle.
Suppose we ret into this war be-
tween now and the next session
of the LEGISLATURE and they ra-
ton us on gasolinel What viii be-
como of the pss tax that we de-
rend upon 50 heavily? Serious:
minded members afgalresdy ask
ino that question ard time IS
getting short. You just got 10
nut a tax on something "o''
know will "stav put" and it's
beginning ~ loom UP as a grave
possibility that n sales tax on all
commodities is all there IS avail
abb.
And the old folks are begin
nine to mill around 90 here.
FIRST of the session il looked like
everybody was poine To help the
old folks the halt and the blind
but as tin1c went on and thc~"
other things bobbed I'D the old
foll-s discovered fhev were about
tn be neglected, Thev have had
;heIr hoDcs so stirred zip by the
promises made durin4 the cam
uailn7s they expect something
and they're beginning to send
delegations 10 the Cari,ol
But GETTING back to the auto
tax. That was q scene in the
Senate. IT,. pesEs columns
e,ssildn't 4s~erssts ssse seane AIDE
ousteav t,ecsrwe voa haze TO s9r'
q e. nae i3k rtenp FIR. Ne
whesgs snir9 saro@rd ard srssaf1e
before YOU can picture II Amend
rrnt after amendment came up
A couple ttat looked utterly m
roceut were allowed 70 60 ta1Ft
before the whistle OF the steam
roller. described b Senaio'
Drunwond. blew for full steam
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

pan. as the eleventh in its an
nual series of analytical bulie-
tins issued in the interest of
street and highway safety.
The figures indicate that clear
weather encourages speeding and
recklessness. When snowy, rainy
or foggy conditions cut visibility
to low point, drivers recognize
the danger and drive accordingly.
These conditions produce numer-
Gus minor mishaps, but fatalities
and serious injuries are relatively
infreQuent.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

The cndon News Chronicle has come
out flat-footedly for the United States to
join the European fight. Itsaid:, we, the
British people. want you. the American
rcorle, in this war ON our side-fighting.
Not to save us from defeat but to help us to
victory quickly" This London news
paper thus intimates that England will not
be defeated. but they want to win quickly
~ the Splling of American blood, Not on
our life,
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
THINK US. IS DIVIDED
JAPANESE THREAT
RANCE JOINS NAILS
Us. INTERESTS

There sC~1s to be no reason
to disbelieve reports from abroad
that news of strikes in this coun-
try, together with reports of
speeches made by former Presi-
dent Hoover, Colonel Lindbergh
and prominent Isolationists, have
produced an impression that the
United States is seriously divid-
ed and that the Government is
unbale to function effectively in
the presence of world disorder.
Dispatches from Europe make it
clear that the Vichy Government
: France was undoubtedly influ-
need BY its impression that the
United States was virtually i'm
potent, and Tokyo newspapers
stress labor troubles in this
country
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

: Old age softens virility, Defiant when
a younger man, in World War |, Marshal
letain issued the injunction, "They shall.
rot pass, now in his senility he abjectly in
iorms the Germans, Take what you want"
When he took over after the French defeat,
IS c1.n ister said that he was too old to do
justice to the job.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Last year, life insurance companies
paid American families ar average of ST.
$4,000 a day-which was twice the aver
age of 1925. In other words, life insurance
payments, each day, would have bought
1000 automobiles. built 1000 homes. or
started 700 businesses with a capital Of
10000 each. Multiply that by 365 and
you have the immense sum of 50 sos, 905,-
900.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
$-- n-D GoHAE-~-G
i = ~. at
TsllpER WA IKlMNGTON
HUGO SIMS Special Washington

Government and one insists that
if this country adopts a convoy
system, it ''will have to take into
account theIvigilance of the jap
anese Navy.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Accident analysts have about
decided that making hay while
the sun shines" applies as much
to garage repairmen as it does to
farmers, since fine weather al
ways produces a bumper crop of
smashups.
Maybe IFS because drivers
make too much "hey-hey" when
the sun shinesi
At any rate, almost Sc per cent
Of all fatal motor crashes in 1910
occurred when the weather was
clear, Only 81 per cent occurred
during fog, "a per cent during
snow and OF per cent when it
was raining
These pertinent facts are re-
yealed in booklet entitled
Here Today" just published
by The Travellers Insurance Com
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Higher mathematics department: The
estate, according to the Washington Star,
.wa5V~lued at $4,000. Zone third goes to
the widow and two-thirds go to each of the
children. Jacksonville (Fla.) Times
i aca.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Hitler is using arplanes to get there
busiest with the mostest men,
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Il am an American" is a meaningless
phrase unless we are good and true Amer
leans
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
Tomorrow's Tides
FORECAST

until 1880 2. NJ. Wednesday,
Key West and Vicinity; Partly
cloudy and continued warm to-
night and "Wednesday; moderate
to fresh sortheasterly winds.
Florida: Partly cloudy and con-
tinued warm tonight and Wednes-
day.
Jacksonville to Florida Straits
and East Gulf: Moderate south
easterly winds, fresh in the
Straits; partly cloudy weather to-
night and "Wednesday.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
IMPROVEMENTS FOR KEY WEST
ADVOCATED BY THE CITIZEN

Water and Sewerage.
q More Hotels and Apartments.
3 Beach and Bathing Pavilion.
Airports-Land and Sea-
5. Consolidation If County and City Gov
gs crnments.
A Modern City Hospital
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Service to youth is as fine a contribu-
ton as any adult can make to the improve
mcnt of Key West.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Long ago Aristotle emphasized the
fact that it is easier to establish Demo-
cr2cy than. to maintain it.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

It is unfortunate that activities
permitted in this country, be
cause we continue to be- a demo
cratic people, are misinterpreted
abroad. This is one of the penal
ties of democracy. 1t will be more
than unfortunate, however, if the
japanese, for example, initiate
aggressive acton in the Far East
under the delusion that the
United States is incapable of Sc
curing national unity to promote
effective action.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

The rapprochement which is
evident between France and Nazi
Germany raises an interesting
question in the United States
where this country must decide
what steps it should take to pre-
vent Hitler, through domination
and control of the Vichy Gov
eminent, from acquiring bases
for possible use against the West
ern Hemisphere.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
CONDITIONS

Showers and thunderstorms
have occurred since yesterday
morning throughout the northern
Rocky Mountain States. and east-
ward over much of the Lake re-
gion to northern New England,
with heavv rain in portions OF
northern Michigan, Wisconsin,
and Iowa. There have also been
light showers in the lower Rio
Grande Valley. and western Ark
ansas. and scattered rains, mostly
light. I'M the northern portion OF
the Paeific States Dry weather
continues from the middle and
lower Mississippi Valley eastward
TO the Atlantic coast. with tenn
reratures abnormallv hieh IN
many localities; while readings
are generally seasonable over
western districts.
G.. S. KENNEDY.
Official in Charge.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

The Vichy Government, help
less under German pressure,
might WELD these important areas
in the future and thus permit
Germany with her great aerial
strength to break through the
blockade and take the offensive,
or, at least. threaten the vital
interests of the United States.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Most observers report that ia
pan is extremely anxious to avoid
hostilites with the United States.
This does not mean that the
Tokyo statesmen will not take
risks in order to feel out the
United States and thus secure
ell possible concession without
hostilities. Some newspapers in
Tokyo declare the entry of the
limited States into the European
War will implement decisions
already reached by the Japanese
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

Today's special: Mouth of Wilson,
"a.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27
u. S. WEATHER
BUREAU REPORT
Temperatures

Observation taken at 7:30 a. m,
18th Mer. Time (city office
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

French possessions close to the
Americas include the islands of
St. Pierre and Michelon. near
Newfoundland, and Martinique
in the Caribbean. In addition,
French Guiana in South America
is a problem. Dakar, on the west
coast of Africa, because of its
close proximity to South Ameri-
can countries, would be danger
Gus if occupied by the Nazis as
a war base. The Portuguese
Azores, strategic islands close to
Europe, could become a perilous
threat to the safety of shipping
in the North Atlantic.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-27

The French. insist, and it is re-
ported that Marshal Petain has
given assurances to Ambassador
Leahy, that African territory
will not be used as Axis bases
for any sort of action against
Britain or the United States,
These assurances, however, fail
to carry conviction, in view of
the fact that the Germans have
been permitted to use Syria.
RadnicÌŒka borba = Workers' struggle. [volume] ([New York, N.Y.]) 1907-1970, 1941-10-30
WEEKLY PEOPLE.
UZ STRUJU VELIKE PRE-
WARE.

"Vidni'' Slaveni pobrinuli su Sc da sva-
koj jugoslavenskoj organizaciji posalju poziv
"a konvenciju "Sveslavenskog kongresa," jer
smo ga i mi dobli. Isti ina da odrzi
Pittsburgh, Pa, o. novembra. Ne znamo da
Ii su sve, sem nase bratske Bugarske Fede-
racije "a tai sveslavenzam, ali znamo da ga
podupiru Hrvatska Bratska Zajednica, Ame-
rikanski Srbobran, pravoslavna crkva, medju
NINA Sc nalaze, razume Sc, pseudokomunisti
oko Narodnog Glasnika i Slobodne Reel. I ovo
je dovoljno da znamo sta Sc krije liza te ideje.
Ma koliko Sc pseudokomunisti iii stalinisti
trudili da nam dokazu da oval "nov" sveslave
nizam nije ono sto bese reakcionarni panslavi-
zam, sam njegov sastav otvoreno dokazuje da
je on jedna te ista macka panslavizma
dzaku. Jer ko je ikada bio ovoj zemlji veci
panslavista cd Amerikanskog Srbobrana, ko
moze biti veci reakcionar cd glave Hrvatske
Bratske Zajednice Svi su oni bill sada su ne
pomirljivi neprijatelji radniekog oslobodjenja.
Otvoreno Sc INA da je Amerikanski Srbobran
branio jos "a vreme prvih dana novembarske