davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
By ROBERT M. RATCLIFFE

"A l2-year-old girl gave birth to
a baby this morning" one of our
reliable friends said.
1t sounded like a joke but the
statement impressed us somewhat.
Fact is, we thought we saw little
truth in it Any good neWsman is
willing to gamble on sensational
rumor.
"Where?" We asked.
''At the city hospital" the friend
declared.
We could see he wasn't pulling
a joke. His eyes were big as sau-
GERS as he told us about it.
MY wife told me. She said a
nurse told one of her friends"
We lost Ii little hope when
We realized how Ear that rum
or had travelled But. it was
worth investigating. Aud sup
pose it were true? 1t would
make great story.
So, out We went. We decided to
hop over to the health department
in the City Hall building first. 1t
was Saturday morning and II o.
clock. We had just one hour to
get the facts before the building
closed for the day.
The lady in the health office be-
came excited when we told her
what we were looking for. She
searched some records.
Here's a 14-year- old girl who
gave birth to a baby" she said.
Gosh, a 14-year-old, mother!
That was good enough for a story.
But, I found out there was moth
ing unusual about that.
PLENTY of 14-year-old girls are adj
mitted to the maternity ward" the
lady told me.
I didn't know that.
Nope" the lady said. Cant
find a 12-year- mother. But
I'll check with the hospital.
She called the hospital. A
nurse in the maternity ward told
her thay didn't have a 12-year-
old, but there were plenty OF
14-year- mothers.
I thanked the lady and departed
But I couldn't help thinking Of
girls, just IA years old, giving birth
to babies.
After that little interview. it wa:
easier for us to believe that a II
year-old girl had given birth to ar
infant. She could have lied abow
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
BUT. WE FAN HIM

It cannot be truhfuy said that America has ar
rayed itself behind him and the one purpose OF
downing the dictators. It it only doing So slowly
through Il muddle of strikes determinations, eXclu-
si7ns njustices and atrocities to those who must
eventually carry the burden Of the fight and who
must forget and swallow the bitter things of Ameri-
life that make most men fifth columnists' for
the enemy.
America must better her ways she too will
fall rrev to the evil conquerors She must abandon
her hvpocrises. fall before those whose hypocri-
sizes to the very ideals of mankind truths" to
themselves and their followers.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
A Good Investment
E4n HdH0yidl)

The chairman Of the Philadelphia Housing Authority said
this that the Frances Plaza apartments there Mr. and Mrs
Benjamin Mason $S0OO0 sum clearance project good
business proposition aside from merit charitable gesture
Mason and his wife are colored They $50000 with
$3.50 in the Irish Sweepstakes Their daughter, for whom the
project named picked the winning nag. AT that time the
family of six relief
After winning these people thought first of their They
might have done something else with their WINNINGS but they chose
to get at least their people of the dumps The Masons
hand early this week welcome first selected
from than 800 applicants for the so South Phly dwellings,
We have and in Jacksonville and in Florida who
sit by and let d accumulate and grass grow their dollars
when they be invested wisely projects for their
Il glad be able to do something for PEOPLE, de-
cared Mason who drew less than $1,000 weekly relief for
his family before hitting the jack pot How of when
position willing do something for people?
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03

her age. She probably realized she
would have been excellent copy
for the newspaper boys if she had
admitted her right age.
Then, too, she might have been
lodging publicity because the child
was born out of wedlock. Our
friend had said this was the case.
And that isn't unusual either. It's
not unusual for husbandleSS girls to
give birth to children in the city
hospital.
One OF our biggest shocks
when we entered the newspaper
game was something of this ma
ture. We were editing a Mem ::
phis paper at the time. The New
year had come and We started
out to find the first cOlOred
baby. We checked with the
hospital and got the facts. But
when we talked with a relative
of the young mother and ask
ed the husbands name, the
relative said:
"She amt married"
Perhaps we should bring this
column to close by saying our
neglected girls should be given
more attention by the proper au-
thorities. Well. we could do that.
But down here in Georgia where
the State refuses to support home
for wayward colored girls there Is
very little hope.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
An Evangelist

HARPER COUNCIL TREN-
HOLM, among other things, is
President of the State Teachers
College, Montgomery, Alabama. and
Executive Secretary of the Ameri-
can Teachers Association. My in
terest in him is threefold; Cd he
was my collegemate and fellow SOL
dier; (2) State Teachers College
formerly State Normal SCHOOL,
was my first alma, mater; 80 our
common concern about the present
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03

soldier, as a matter of fact he was
the top sergeant" of our unit and
Notwithstanding the fact that he
was younger than most OF us he
got results and has maintained
she friendship of the men over the
years. 1t would be impossible TO
say as much for the commissioned
officer OF our outfit
HELPS FATHER
After a sketch Of graduate work
in Chicago University. Trenholm
returned To work with his father,
who at the time was president OF
State Teachers College. II was
nor long before my friends in
Montgomery were agreed that he
should some day succeed his father.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
BETWEEN THE LINES

/ current war.
Our minds have been centered on
the disaster which will ensue if
the wheels of industry are scotch
ed:" Roosevelt is troubled also
about the disaster which will be-
fall the working classes if they are
denied a living wage. The increase
in wages amount to nothing if
there is a corresponding increase
in prices The ''so-many dollars
the-hour" we hear that labor is
getting, amounts to little or moth
ing when the staples Of existence
are mounting daily.
All of our rage has been center
ed about the strikes CT labor; but
We have not taken the time to eX-
anime labor's grievances which
IN a e them strike. Roosevelt
has locked into both and has
been calm in the face of an at
tempt to stampede this country in
to overlooking the rightful claims
of labor.
SHOULD NOT BE BLIND
The mere fact that there are
some communists IN industry does
not Justify the exploitation of all
labor. There are some pernicious
influences at work in our defense
efforts; but these should not blind
us to the just claims of labor to n
living wage. This is just as funda-
mental as winning the war. TO
viii the war in Europe and lose the
cause of social justice is not so
profitable after all. Let's win the
war by all means; but let us also
win the points that labor has
fought for through many genera
tions.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
SEEN AT BENEFITS
DEDICATION

Among those seen at the various
activities of the day at Bennett
College on Friday were President
F.. d. Bluford of A. and T. COL
lege, Miss Evelyn Gitters. 81 Of
Browning Home -Mather Academy,
Camden. S. c., Mrs. M. Carter of
New Orleans, Mrs. Robert K. Cor
don of Dillon, g. c., Dr.. w. T.
Iomax. Dist Supt. of the Meth
dist church. Greensboro; Mrs.
j. C. Waddy, Rev. S. A. Peeler,
Greensboro; Mrs. julius Carroll,
Washington, D. c.; Mrs. Nan
Goode Smith. Fayetteville, Mrs.
Rowena Westbrook. Fayetteville
and President Jas. P Brawley OF
Clark University. Atlanta.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
FINE FOR KIDNEY
and BLADDER
WEAKNESS
STOP GETTING UP NIGHTS
AND FEEL YOUNGER

Keep your blood more free from
waste matter, poisons and acid by
putting more activity into kidneys
and bladder, and you should live a
healthier, happier life.
One efficient, harmless way to do this
Is to get from your druggist a 35 cent
box of GOLD MEDAL Haarlem Oil
Capsules and take them as directed
the prompt results should delight you.
Besides getting up nights, some symptoms
pains puffy eyes.
Don't be an EASY MARK and accept a
substitute - Get Gold Medal HARLEM Oil
Capsules - the original and genuine. Look
for the Gold Medal or the boz ~ IS eents,
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03

uation.
The war between labor ard cap
ital is Just as real as the one be-
tween Hitler and the British. The
United States congress as a third
party to the OLD conflict cannot
ignore the weightier matters of So
cial Justice even though it looks
ike temporiZing with communism
and Hitlerism. Hail our MIGHTY
ROOSEVELT FOR T II F. 5 K
MIGHTY TIMESl
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03

Lest they forget or do not know,
however, they may well be inform
ed that Hitler and his blltzkrleg
are marching on and, if luck con-
tinues, will change the face OF
things on this earth, whether we
like it or not. Hitler. the power
of evil that he is, has done Wha!
other European conquerors have
dreamed of but never accomplished.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
AWAKEN, AMERICA!

AMERICA, THAT is, the United States, has not
fully awakened to the import of the European war
Elsewse there would be greater speed of national
defenses integraon of all races in the industries
and fighting forces and fewer strikes. Americans
seemingly have captuated to the sowest processes
of action which the dctators like to boast of as the
greatest fault Of democracy.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
WILLIAM WALKER

COVINGTON, Ca Funera-
services for William Walker a resi-
dent of Philadelphia. was held from
Rust Chapel, Oxford, Georgia with
he Revs. Hayes and Il. s. Allen
officiating. Nelson funeral home
N charge.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03

and future well
fare of the
teaching profess
sion as it per-
tainS to Ne
groeS.
Mr.. Trenholm
began to show
capacity f o !
leadership dur
ing his college
days. L began by
saying that he
was my fellow
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
Seeing and Saying BY William H. fouiks,

We have been informed most clearly following
Frances defeat apd occupation that it was division,
labor-capta strife and doubleness of purpose thst
brought the fall much more So than German fire
and birthstone. While others slept played and toll
Grated division and misunderstanding among them
selves Hitler gr1n-facedly united German youth to
purpose: to make them the master race of con-
querors and avengers for everything done to Ger
many for a thousand years.
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
CONCENTRATION DID IT

What Hitler has done and is doing is tribute
to the power of concentration of purpose If the
democracy that claim is were to direct all
its energy towards prevention of evil practices WIFI
in the confines of our nation and If the other
governments which claimed to be democracles mad
concentrated their total effort toward raising the
levels of equality liberty and justice to and among
all their citizenry, there would have arisen
Hitler and his "grano" and dreaded knights of con-
quest.
Faced with probably the most prepared CON-
in history, country is still gesturing at
the ideals clearly set forth and obtainable under
the 18th century Constitution and the Supreme Court
Of the land. Faced with death through probable IN
vason economic pressure, those in the majority
and in choose rather to mee to the minorities
the very poison potion that is being directed to-
wards all of US They despair of atrocities and un-
fairness in other lands but laugh and produce the
same situation in their own
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03

His legons have entered the citadeIs OF the HHost
feared and have held at bay the most acknowledged
ferocous people. And it will take time to stralgnten
out the mess he has arranged. But time VIII
staighten it out and time alone, for no evil force
ever lasted forever in the affairs of men
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
OUR MIGHTY MAN

THESE MIGHTY TIMES call
for mighty men. President Roose~
velt is without doubt the answer
to this nations prayer for a mighty
man in these mighty times. He has
whipped all opposition and sits Sc
rene in his power whicHis dedicat-
ed to the overthrow of Hitlerism
IN the earth. The overthrow OF
Hitlerism will mean the enthrone-
ment once more of that idealisn
which makes nations great and
civilizations splendid.
The Presidents victory for the
Lend-Lease bill will go down in
history as one of the mightiest po-
litical victories Of modern times,
and second only to the third term
victory wrested from designing re-
publicans humpty-dumpty demo-
Gratis. In these times of great ex-
citement there is danger of a stam-
pede psychology that will enervate
the nation. The calm spirit in tu-
mYlCuOus times Is an unpdrallelleu
blessing. Such is President RooSe-
velt.
ROOSEVELT CALM
All of us have been depressed by
the strike situation and many of
us have wanted the power of con-
gress invoked to remedy the sit
uatiOn. Roosevelt has been calm
and gradually the strike situation
is being taken in hand, and there
is every reason to believe that this
ugly situation is goi ng to clear up
the right way, and that is not by
governmental force, but by an un-
derstanding that will outlast the
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03
GET BEHIND F. d. n.

The United States needs to get behind President
Roosevelt as Germany got behind Hitler Uncle
Sans whole purpose should be to prepare TO wipe
the forces of evil from the earth Uncle SAM first
however, must start at home and remove the evils
that keep more than one tenth Of the population eco
nomc and social slaves. American fifth columnlsts
are more to he dreaded than Germans. The latter
are more distinguishable than the former in every
respect. The former display the stars and stripes,
but perpetrate living that would be honorable un-
der the swastka. They little Htlers' in sup
posedly democratic United States.
No one can say that the President hasn't pointed
the way for the American people to fight Hitler and
his ilk By his acts and comment, he is doing every
thing along with war Certainly not short of it, to
give aid to those more actively engaged in the
flict Daily the American press reveals where he
uses his authority to increase the inches of his
Everything short of war; phrase to miles of oceans
to guard and bases to establish fortify and pro-
The Phoenix index., 1941-05-03

PHOENIX INDEX connected with political party OF
regardless set rulings Of regua
completely mparta hatred
coming office Sun
order TO appear the
plainly written only side
copy otherwise We the rights
convenience the
paid for
signed by contributors they
published.
PLATFORM
the that they feel PROUD
which their views all political social
religious questions which face the
especially business extent
job makers as well as job seekers.
instruct and girls in the art Of thrift
FatherhOOd the brotherhood of
S.. a fime racial foundation for pOsterity.
the cOlOred must compete
technique other
In Above all must render dependable ef
all times; that alone will be able
enterprise Therefore realizing these vital
all heed respect
rendering better service
shall published week in which views
national Such views
shall not reflect III
opinion of The PHOENIX INDEX
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-22

Columbia Pictures newest musical fea-
lures Rosemary Lane upper left) as
night club singer; the Three Stooees
upper right as iobIess actors; Joan Mer-
ri and Rudy VolIee lower Ieft) as herself
and man-obout-towo booking agent.
and Ann Miller as Miss Lanes maid, who
becomes Broadway stage success.
Tks him introduces seven new song hits.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01
City Asks Right
To Divert Wafer

The city Of Tacoma Thursday
filed application in Olympia with
Hydraulics Supervisor Charlie
Bartholet for water rights on the
sisqually uysr In Thurston county
for ia ti1 .0Oo. 900 muntelpai
power and water supply project
Two water permit applications.
n for z0s5 second feet and an
other for 2os0 second feet we're
filed. both for water from the
Slsquslly river. The city also seeks
the right 70 store 10000 acre feet
IN the iAGFand. reservoir snd
POO 90 acre feet in n. Alder
reservoir.
Condemnation suits for &nd -
me Developments nave bsss start
I'd IN Thursfon county superior
court
A city ordinances providing Tor
condemnation q land IN Pierce
county Vas passed b the city
council Thursday. following up n
passed Monday authorizing the
Thurston county sction
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01
THRUSTS GUN THROUGH
WINDOW OF PARKED CAR

Thrusting a gun through the
window OF the car, the masked
bandit ordered the couple out OF
the vehicle. Telling the pair to
turn their backs to him, the man
fastened the hands Of his victims
with adhesive tape. He then or
dered the young woman 10 turn
around. He stuffed a handker-
chief into the girls mouth and
then sealed her lips with adhesive
tape.
Next ne ordered the couple into
dense brush. While there. the
gunman knocked Merkle to the
ground with his free hand and then
extracted the youths wallet, which
contained no money, but held his
drivers license, social security card
and selective service registration
card.
While the gunman was taking
the youths wallet, Miss Rainey
a to the road. Apparently upset
by the turn of events, the bandit
left Merkle on the ground, and
CONTINUED on Page IL, Column y
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01
PUD Validity
Is Upheld by
Supreme Court

OLYMPIA-The state supreme
court Thursday upheld the validity
Of Public Utility District No. l
OF Lewis county in a 3 10 l de-
oision allowing the trial courts
findings.
The test action VAS brought
10 determine " inclusion OF
the city of Centralia in the
poll nullified the vote and II
a public hearing on the pro-
posal should have been called.
The high court held that the
PUD law could not. without re-
sort 10 strained and illogical con-
struction, be interpreted to re-
quire notice and hearing in the
formation Of a district initiated as
one co-extensive with the limits
Of a county" The court said no
procedure had been provided TO
exclude municipalities which al
ready owned all public utilities
possible under the PUD law -
none was required.
The court declared that the
city Of Centralis VA auto
matically excluded BY law
from the district so a hearing
prior TO the election could
serve no purpose
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01
Japan Planes
In Indo-China

SAIGON. French Indo-Ch ina-
Japanese fighting planes and bi.
motored bombcrs. the first 10 ar
rive in southern Tndo-c China. landed
at the Saigon sirfield Thursday
and Japanese forces Of occupation
pushed on into Pnom-Penh. capital
Of the ancient kingdom Of Cam
bodia. bordering Thailsnd tsism).
Actiyitie. Of land and air
forces all the WAY from saigon
10 Cambodia we're aeeofppz-
MED by movements Of from so
10 80 Japanese warships lying
off Cap 81 jacques. b mile.
down the Daigon river. They
erulsed off the coast In sup
port Of the japanese forces 81
occupation.
United Press dispatches from
Pnom-Penh said the first detAch.
ment Of Japanese troops 10 arrivs
there had requisiuoned building,
for military lac The reports said
that traffic on Interior roads 30.
tween Saigon and Pnom-penh had
been cleared TO facilitate Jspaness
troop movements.
Scores Of troops moved through
back streets Of Saigon. taxing Jap
anese troops 70 barracks outaids
the city.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01
Youth, Girl
Victims OF
Masked Man

While Tacoma police Off
GERS com5ed the city. state
and county law enforcement
officers throughout the
Northwest Thursday Joined
in a hunt for a masked gun
man. said to resemble Seattle's
mad slayer who held up a
young couple early in the
morning and assaulted and
robbed one of his victims.
The victims Of the daring assault
and robbery were Leo Merkle, %
Of IT'S So. J st. and June Rainey,
IL. Of 1928 So. 18th ST.
Sought by police was a man de-
scribed as being about so years OF
age. wearing a dark suit. with a
gray hat pulled over his eyes. He
was about six feet tall, was slender
and was wearing a mask at the
time Of the attack.
Merkls and Miss Rainey told
Lieut.. John A. Psulson. in charge
Of the detective division at police
headquarters at night, they were
parked in Merkle's car at So. 18th
st. and Union ave. near the
Bellarmine high school, when the
sunman approached them at 1880
a. m.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01

Main Street

Rev. Paul Deane Hill. pastor
OF Roosevelt Heights Christian
church, announced Thursday he
would leave Tacoma and his pulpit
about the middle of September TO
accept a three-year scholarship In
postgraduate work at the Butler
university in Indianapolis. Ind.
Capt. y. Lee Dunlap, L. s. A. IL
o back To his Fort Lewis duties
after a strenuous fortnight's fur
Tough devoted 10 overhauling his
recently-purchased beach home at
Hsrbor Heights.
Mrs. MoIlie Conger. wife Of Ma
Ior George Conger. came from Port
Continued on Page 8. Column ~
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01
Coolest Morning
In Over Month

Tsooms Aad ~ es-slsss morning
since Inns "a whsa she msfrsfY
slipped down 10 81 asaFss. early
Thursday me minsaam IN Jssss
~ sss %
Highest i~smpsrstuHs 10 rseesas
wednesday. ~aesoFdins 10 ths " a.
sssthsr bureau. .ss 70
July. 1871 ~iii b recorded -
an exceedingly afy ssanfh- Oniy
% inch 81 rain has fallen. shieh
n 81 inen helos normal
Sine. ina frat ~ tina ys2r ths
city IA. haa only itts inches -
precipitation. shleh i ia insf.ss
any - tbs nsfmai fail
Falr 1ssfnsr % fsrseast fee
FFtlAy. ~ith temperatures sh<es~
a1Drmal Ia fhs latsfief ~ me statss
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01
Time Purchases
May Be Curbed
| BY Legislation

MAsHfN.roN - An admins
tratlon decision % attempt 10 curb
the puhllea installmsnt buying
Thursday delayed Introduction Of
a bill authorizing the president 70
fix. At his own discretion. maxi
mum prices on general oommod-
tiles and rents In defense areas al
June 30 levels.
The preposed cafh On dol
lar do~n-dpiiar-a- wesk~ pur-
chas~s IA. the subject Of .
conference among Ar. hss-s-
welt. Price Coptroi Admins
trstar Lem Henderson and
Chairman Mariner =. Eeries
of the FEEDER f~~@rss board.
senate Democratic Leader Aibeu
" Barkley Of Kentucky and
Speaker Of tho House Sam Ray.
burn announced that Introduction
II the final draft ~ ths general
CONTINUED on Page ,. Column -
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01
NEWS BAN PROTESTED
BY AMBASSADOR GREW

A telephone call between the
United Press Tokyo and New
York bureaus was arranged by
the Japanese foreign office at the
request of the American embassy,
but only on the understanding
that no controversial news would
be transmitted.
In addition 10 protesting the
news ban. A m nassador Grew
cabled 10 the state department at
Washington reporting It and ask
ing 1t to issue a statement there
to ensure distribution free Of any
censorship.
Informants said that in a 20
minute talk with Grew. Foreign
Minister Toyoda apologized as well
as expressed the governments re-
greet over the Tutuils bombing.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-01
Broihels Close
On Ciiy's Order

Nearly every organized house ~
prostitution IN the city ~ Tacoma
already has turned osit lie lights
Il anticipation ~ a dsadiins ~
Aug /. Public safety Commission
81 Holmes Eastwood sald Thurs
day.
Asked WHISTLER IN. locking Of
the br0thsls Nas ar intention or
an accomplished fact. ths commits
si0nsr said
"Mosi Of them are closed, I'm
sure 81 that
lie ssid ali ~ prop
srty la which houses Of pre.tl-
tutisa we're kns~B 10 spsr.ts
~srs notified BY registered st-
t~s With fsiarns. and that no
is satisfied ali hass received
notice.
II has teen see nee =
mandats cAms from eoI Falph D.
Class. commanding offiess a. For,
LeN1a T. fhs city administrator
to enforce ths closing - al s@sds
houses for protection - men in
ths army from ysnsrsai disease
Hs called sttsntion - hs res
federal ia1 ~supprssaans prnstis-
ton. Shleh soald psnAllxs prop
srfy oSnsf a. ~sii - persons
actually Engaged in oPsfAton q
sssch places
Mayor Harry y Cam Nrpss Coz
Class a promise that Ia houses
would - eiosed D TO WEEKS
POLES Chief Eanar LAnkseth. how
ever. sad at FRIDAY invites woa1
10 gwen 70 eioss ~ the sad q
July.