davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
Mr.. FIXIT
He Fixes THINGS

To receive attention IN this cot.
urnn iettfrs must give name sno
addrt~ o. writer. ONLY iuttiAls
vii Do published when requested
Mr.. Fixif; How doe. one 70
about enrolling In the NYA de-
Tense project being carried on At
Boeing aircraft plant In Seattle:
Would 10 be advisable 20 write
George p. sheridan. stair ad-
ninistrafor What IL his full
address. SHELTON
The National Youth Admins
tration has q resident project
about five blocks from the Boe-
Ing plant. but IT II not actually
CONNECTED with the plant.
Boys are taught the simpler air
craft factory trades under super
vision OF the state department
of vocational education. About
$50 boys there put In four hours
each day ~ work and four in
elasses Applications for enroll
ment are made not through the
state NYA office in Tacoma but
through the local offices. Your
nearest one 10 at 100 Old Capitol
building. Olympia, on Monday
mornings.
Mr.. Fixit: Could you tell me
where . man could sign up for
coast guard defense on these
small harbor boata. hear they
are In need Of pilots. seamen and
cooks. Aiso IL II true the gov
eminent h taking over all good
boats over So feet: DO they
buy the boats. rent them, or
what: And docs the owner get
to stay on the boat:
MRS. v. X. 3.
Coast Guard enlistments are
taken in Tacoma in the lobby of
the post office, OF at room 81,
Federal Office building. Seattle.
Men who enlist are subject now
To assignment wherever needed.
The arrangement in effect until
. few weeks ago for borrowing
of boats. and enrolling the own
ers At ratings for which they
were qualified. has been discon-
tinued. The nearest authority
on the status OF small private
boats is 1t. Comdr. G. N. Haugen
At the coast guard repair base
In Seattle. and he probably does
not know yet since no orders
have arrived here on the sub
ject.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
QUESTIONS TO TEST
YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Can you answer seven OF these
test questions Turn to the Wo-
mans page for the answers.
l. Name the two largest rivers
that flow into the Mississippi.
2. What does Aloha De"
mean,
3. According to the Bible. what
kind of wood was used TO build
Noah's Ark,
4. In which city Ia the Field
Museum of Natural History
S. Which Of these media
railroads. inland waterways. pipe
lines or trucks - carry the lar
gest volume OF freight annually
In the U. So
6. Tapioca il obtained from
the roots Of the snake plant.
cassava or guava7
7. Does any country in Africa
border on the Pacific Ocean?
8. What is the rank next be-
low captain in the u. S. Army >
3. Which nations constituted
the Triple Alliance" at the time
World War ] was stsrted by
Germany's declaration Of war
against France?
10. What u a gherkin7
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
ssSssssUS0Sss0
Sponish Morocco Looms
As New Oonoer Spot
aAAaaa Q 4 q aaea1

SPANISH Morocco, always des.
tined 10 play a part in Med
terranean conflicts, again looms
as a danger spot. II may become
a landing place for Axis troops
headed for the Libysn war thea
ter.
The stamp above, issued recent
ly by Spain, shows a native scene
typical Of the people ruled by the
Sultan Sid Mohammed, noninsI-
~ under Spanish protection.
The British feet bars the Axis
supply lines from the heel of the
Italian boot Another possible
route TO Libys is that through
Spain, to Spanish Morocco ara
then across the desert into The
Italian possession
At present the Rock OF Cibr,l-
tar, proud and defiant with yn,r
enplscements bristlins. il IN.
chief stumbling block 10 such .
move.
AS early as 1897, when Gen.
ersllssimo Francisco Franco VA,
making his greatest hesdv.v
against the Loyslist troops. Ger
mans were building troop bar.
racks and Notifications in Morocco
FOR possible use 10 an Afric,n
campaign
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
WENT LIMIT IN
ENTERTAINMENT

japanese officials and civilians
at Pearl Harbor initiated NaE
fifth-column tactics almost to
the letter on the Dec. ST. week
end. II has been Killers habit
TO dine and fete his victims on
the eve OF an attack.
Sailors of the fleet had recent
~ been paid and were looking
for good time that Saturday
night. According to word reach
ing the capital. the japanese con-
sulate notified places of enter
tainment to go the limit" in
their hospitality. Many smuse-
ment centers are controlled or
operated by Japanese or Mise"
Japanese born on U. S. soil.
hence IL was not difficult for the
plotters 10 obtain compliance
with these instructions.
Meanwhile, other fifth column
lists had previously reported TO
Tokyo the Sunday morning rou-
tine Of the American naval and
military establishment Those
advices included information as
TO the precise time when the
dawn patrol returned TO the
island. With diabolical clever
ness. the invaders struck only
short while before the recon-
Nuisance squsdrons returned to
their field stations. Had the
Japs waited until after these
planes landed. enough Of the lat
ter machines might have been
warmed up and ready TO take to
the air without delay. thus Civ
ing our main body Of flyers .
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

Secretary Hull presented Amer
icas final Far Eastern demands
to ENJOYS Kurusu and Nomura
on Nov. 26. These required that
Japan get out of both China and
Indo- China. Washington knew
that Tokyo would never submit
to such harsh terms. Hardly had
the miksdos representatives,
sickly smiles on their sallow
faces. walked out Of Hull's office
before Secretaries Knox and
Stimson warned their Hawaiian
commands to be on the alert"
for a Japanese attack at any
moment
In short, they notified naval,
air and military chieftains TO
place their forces on q war basis.
That was almost two weeks be-
fore the day that will live long
in infamy"-Dec. I.
Contrary to public belief. the
army appears to have been fully
as unprepared rs the navy, and
some friction has generated here
because the charge of being
caught off-guard 80 far has been
applied only to the latter service.
Except for some naval units.
the fleet WAS at sea and presum-
ably stripped for action. But
other branches were not on the
alert TO detect the distant APP
proach of the Japanese aerial ar
mazda or to beat II off when 1t
xoomed over Diamond Head. The
blunt fact il that too many inn
portant people were asleep de-
spite the danger lights flashed
in Washington on the day before
Thanksgiving.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
Hold On 10 Your Hats!

Since the started the cost Of living in the United
States has gone up IL per cent 1t is rising about III per
month"; and by spring it will have risen 20 per cent
That's Leon Henderson, federal price administrator
speaking He ought to know. Prices his business.
Putting the statement in iseverse it that people
whose income ID fixed will hae suffered virtual 20 per
cent cut in income by spring. because their fixed income
will then buy just that much loss The cut will probably be
greater because year almost certain to
increase
No clearer demonstration could be given Of the necessity
that congress grab hold of this problem with firm hands,
and put curb initiation that ingenuity conrve
and firmness enforce
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
LATIN AMERlCAN
IEANINGS

Editor The Times: The more
recent declarations by officials
of the Mexican government, in
dicating a closer unity with the
United States, is heartening in
deed.
Unification of interest and in
tent on the part Of all nations
of the western hemisphere is
highly desirable, as much so as
to be almost essential for the
maintenance of just conditions
throughout the world, and the
progressive acceptance Of sound
democratic philosophy.
Even now. though South
American countries are gradu-
ally leaning more and more to-
ward the standards of democ-
racy, there linger doubts as to
any abiding loyalty in this trend.
There are three primary reas-
ons for this. First, there is the
economic factor. More South
American countries feel impelled
TO consider chiefly what they.
more or less mistakenly. regard
as their own economic interests
and. in this way, feel that mar
kets and profits are TO be found
in Europe. There IL an ele-
ment Of truth in this. but no
sort of alliance with Europe or
acceptance of European philoso-
ply Of government is demanded
here. People produce. exchange
and profit thereby - where
the best returns TO themselves
are obtainable.
Absolute. complete and world
wide free trade would finally
prove best for the whole world
There is no question about that.
Secondly. the South American
countries have been and are en-
vious Of the United States with
its rapidly developed power and
it's great capacity for varied pro-
duction. and its enormous wealth
and resourcefulness.
No Latin-Americsn country
has felt this more than has
Mexico.
For some years. this writer
was in Mexico and had closest
relations with the Mexicans. and
even had an average Of 125
Mexicans in our employ, and al
ways under conditions OF the
most complete harmony. II did
not take long to learn why there
had previously developed a bias
against Americans. Most Of the
latter In Mexico had obviously
looked down" on the Mexicans,
and they had cheated them un-
mercifully.
Third, German Socialistic or
Nazistic influence, sneaking and
underhanded. had preyed upon
and influenced Mexicans. Gen.
trail Americans and South
Americans for years
Especially 10 those who know
the Aexicsns better. il Is heart
ening indeed. though not Alto
gether unanticipsted TO find
them smuggling closer 70 the
United States. We do not hesi-
tate 10 predict that in time
Mexicans and Americans will
find themselves IN closer
brotherhood
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
PULSE OF
THE PUB LIC
CHRISTMAS

Editor The Times: Christmas
Is the time for giving presents,
for wholesome merrymaking and
feasting, for sharing our joys
with the less fortunate and for
glorious family reunions. Its
greatest significance. however, is
found in religious worship and in
reverent reflection of the bless
ings that have come our way.
Days. weeks and months have
been spent in preparing for this
gladstone occasion. The gar
landed stores filled with attract
i've merchandise have provided
the material things for the holi-
day. The churches with their
choral singing and inspiring SER
mons are providing the spiritual
uplift.
Many lands are not as fortu-
nate as ours even though we are
at war. The spirit Of the Christ
child still walks and permeates
the souls of men. Even the most
cynical will in some manner re-
act to its influence.
In homes housewives have
been busy. bustling around in
kitchens, baking cookies and
cakes. Boys have hiked into
green forests TO get the ever
alluring evergreen tree and the
whole family has delighted in
decorating it into respondent
glory.
Welfare groups have been
weaving = pattern OF industry.
accommodating and distributing
clothing. foodstuffs and toys.
The persistent bells of patient
charity workers have urged
shoppers to contribute to their
worthy causes.
In the shops salespeople have
been selling colorful and useful
gifts deity encasing packages
in tissue and artfully tying on
bows OF ribbon. The markets
have Haunted a variety Of foods.
II was an event in itself to
wander through sisles bordered
by shiny red apples. oranges and
sacks Of nuts. TO see glass cover
ed meats garnished with parsley.
to buy wisely and then TO stop
for a cup Of revivifying coffee.
When dusk had brought deep
blue into the sky and the stores
had closed. last-minute shoppers,
bundle laden, and pride-of-pos-
session in their beaming faces.
left for their firesides. The final
gong had rung and the time
clocks were changing as en-
ployes punched out.
There were smiles OF recogni-
ton as friends and relatives
waiting at the curb joined them
and they ssuntered down the
street.
Then through the maze OF
traffic, controlled by policemen
good-naturedly mandatory. the
the throngs turned homewsrd.
Slim messenger boys were
sdroitly riding their bicycles and
darting into and out Of the
crowd Of automobiles and people.
Along many an avenue, high
way and hyway lighted living
trees extended their greeting.
Illuminated IL, rnulti-colored bril-
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
WEEKEND BLACkOUT
MIST BE LICKED

In the United States. with
basic 40-hour week. there have
been various suggestions for
schedules to put the 24-hour
day. seven-day week. into prsc-
tice. Steel companies, chemi-
cal industries. glass factories.
rayon mills. oil refineries and
similar plants in which con-
tinous operation is essential
have worked out this problem
in different ways. There being
los hours in week, the four
shift. 40-hour week schedule
takes up only $50 hours, and
leaves an awkward eight hours
to stagger into the schedule.
Four 42-hour shifts would fill up
the week nicely, but as this in
wolves two hours of overtime
on each shift, it has not been
generally adopted.
Other difficulties encount-
cred In fitting 40-hour shifts
into l6S-hour week for con-
tinuous production have been
the premiums demanded by
labor in some industries for
Saturday and Sunday work,
the unwillingness to work on
night shifts and the conse-
quent unequal rates between
day and night work. From the
management standpoint, af-
ter the original headaches Of
setting up the 16S-hour week
schedule have been cured, the
advantages Of continuous
operation are manifold.
The Saturday-Sunday black
out. however, Is one of the big
gest problems to lick in put
ting the country's war indus
tries on 100 per cent pro-
ductive footing. OPM Director
William S. Knudsen has re-
peatedly called for the elimina-
ton OF this weekend blackout.
Gen. Philip B. Fleming. until
recently wage and hour ad-
ministrator but now Federal
Works Agency administrator.
has also urged that the week
end penalties be eliminated,
leaving overtime pay TO be CAL
culated solely on the basis of
hours worked in excess of 40,
regardless of when the over
time falls.
L. Metcahe Waning, ad-
ministrator of the Division Of
Public Contracts In the De
partment of Labor, which
handles the Walsh Healy act,
goes so far rs 10 say that the
overtime provisions of exist
ing labor legislation are really
an incentive to multi-shift
operation in that they should
tend to make employers put
on more shifts just to avoid
having to pay overtime wages.
All such problems, however
may get going over at the forth
coming presidential conference o
labor. management and public
which might be given the task o
formulating general policy o.
labor matters for the duration o
the war.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

trstions labor
policy " h o
have errone-
ously believed
that both the
Walsh = Healy
act governing
m ! n | m u m
working con-
ditions on gov
eminent con-
tracts and the
act governing
wages an d
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

abruptly and CONTEMPORARY as
Under-Secresry Of the Interior.
Mr.. Ickes did not even send
Charley" q pink slip. He simply
removed his rug and furniture
one day when the Under-Secre-
tary vaa out OF the city.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

this fatigue point comes Is
something Industrial engineers
differ on, but it's in the neigh
borhood OF so hours a week
More than a year ago. England
found that longer work weeks
were more destructive than pro-
duetive, and Labor Minister
Bevin put the country back on
the basic 4s-hour week. stand
ard practice in Britain, with
some overtime beyond that.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
T1rITT An Inside Picture of Finon.
IL 0a j ciol and Political America
By RAY TUCKER

WASHlNGTON-Senators acquainted with the inside
story of the Pearl Harbor tragedy not surprised that
our armynavy commanders at Hawaii denoted
before the Roberts board began its investigation Here
the facts
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

hour. for industry in general,
put a ceiling over the 4o-hour
week. Nothing could be further
from the fact. Administrators
of both acts have issued blanket
regulations. which went into
effect with the two laws, specify
ing overtime can be worked
and unlimited shifts. too. No
one has 70 write to Washington
to get permission to put "a
hour day operation in any plant.
There are no legal restrictions
to working Sundays and holi-
DAYS. The United States labor
law. are in no manner similar
TO those French laws which
actually prohibited anyone
working more than 40 hours
week. They gummed up French
war production to such an ex-
tent that they contributed ma
terially to the downfall OF la
belle Republique.
Only real barrier TO longer
work days and weeks and null
tiple shifts is physical and
psychological. not legal. As
England fdund out after Dun
kirk, there isf fatigue point be-
yond which Va workers eff
cheney is so impaired tkR it is
Improbable to keep hi $t the
job. His mistakes that I be
strapped during fatig} - are
more costly than his pro Jon
which can be used. JUS ire
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

All the country has TO do TO
start working 1ss hours q week
is to start working iss hours a
week.
There have been some critics
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

lance they created an atnios-
phere of celestial beauty.
There is nothing in the world
quite like Christmas. Let US
be thankful for the privilege OF
HOWARD CARL ERICSSON.
enjoyine il once more,
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
WASHINGTON COLUMN
Pete. extensive air tour Of the present
last
Nv PETER EDISON
r.oom. Times washington Correspondent

Washington-If there is any question as 10 how the
country goes on the sevenday week any holding back on
the part of anyone having idea that some new law must
be passed couple Of old laws must be repealed before
about production for get gong, let sueh hesl
tations vanish.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

Wherever American nation is there its sister nations
Of this hemisphere must be- and will be among them.
ready oct in the defenseGeulio Vargas pres
dent Of the United States of Brazil
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
PULLING BUSINESS ON
CAPITOL HILL

The contrast in the Truman
Committees treatment Of Lob
byists West and Corcoran has
provoked both amusement and
annoyance on Capitol Hill.
Tommy the Cork" as F.D.R-
used to call him when he was a
Brain Truster, admitted that he
had cleaned up 500. 900 in
year as against his government
salary Of $4,000. But he in
sisted that he was doing favor
10 Uncle Sam in making il easy
10 negotiate contracts. Com
mittee Lawyer Fulton. who ad-
mits q great liking" for Tom
mic. did not ask a single ques-
ton. although hitherto he has
been q sharp and effective ex-
aminer. Democratic Committee
members did not ask Mr.. Cor
coran the precise services he had
rendered his clients or why
II WAS necessary for a certain
firm TO pay him $65.ooo and
stock 10 get an RIG. loan.
"Tommie" emerged as q hero
who had never. never used his
Influence"
Mr.. West. former Ohio Rep
ra..,-as;xa ana White Hatss
hason man. Jared poorly. Tom
Connally denounced him for
selling influence" and Mr.. Full
ton did not spare him. The fact
is that any novice at the Capt.
tai knows that Mr.. Wost has no
Influence" He Vas fired
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
TWO FEET IN HEAVEN

TWO FEET IN HEAVEN
Back in 1851 the business
founders of the Brooklyn. N. Y.
shoe firm of Palter and Fitzger-
aid set out to take care of all
sizes and shapes of human pedal
extremeties. Today the store
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

Your postmaster can tell you
how to invest in U. s. Defense
Bonda.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
EMERGE IN WAR

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
EMERGE IN WAR
War makes strange bedfel-
lows. But the most outlsndish
pair which the Japanese crisis
has brought together is Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Tom Girdler
of Republic Steel. When F. d.
r. cried. "A plague on both your
houses" during labor violence a
few years ago, head of one
house was Girdler. Papa of the
other was John l.. Lewis.
Now the steel boss il working
for Franklin ID. Roosevelt at the
latter's request. 1t came about
this way: When it was decided
to merge Vultee and Console
dated Aircraft in order to boost
output of the B-24 big bombers,
the government demanded that
the new firm employ the finest
production expert it could find.
Mr.. Girdler fulfilled that quail
cation. He also held a heavy
interest in Aviation Corporation,
which controlled many shares OF
Vultee. So he was chosen as
executive chairman and produc-
ton manager of the combined
corporation. To the lsyman,
however. it appeared that he was
chosen largely because Of his FL
nancial interest.
O.P.M's production experts
did the picking. however. But
there WAS some recalcitrancy on
both sides in view OF the ancient
Girdler-Roosevelt clash. That
was easily settled. Mr.. Girdler
ferentislly lining up behind the
endorsed the about program, in
president And the White House
approved the choice of the one
time bad boy.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

carries the entire range of shoe
sizes for men and women, and
the establishment Is heaven in
deed for anyone whose feet are
longer, shorter, wider or mar
rover than the average. Pslter
and Fitzgerald's is the only store
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-25

chance to beat off the enemy.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-30
Appropriation Measure
Is Approved BY House

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29. - R -
The house gave prompt approval to-
day to a special SITS, 900. 900 appro
priation for l~ong-range buying Of
army clothing and equipment and
then began debate on the sessions
first regular supply bill carrying ST.
4o4, 576,s3S for independent" govern
ment agencies.
Although $~8,943,5oO was Topped
from budget estimates for the ''inde-
pendent" agencies by the house ap-
preparations committee, the bill car
ried approximately $146,0 900, 900 more
than last years appropriation for
similar purposes.
Representative Woodrum (D-Va),
in charge Of the measure on the
floor, said that assignment Of nu-
merous national defense tasks to the
agencies involved was responsible for
many increases. Inclusion of a fund
of $125, 900, 900 to be spent at Presi-
dent Roosevelt's discretion was an
other major contribution factor.
The Wilmington morning star., 1941-01-30
IN FARM
PRICES REPORTED
Climb to 104 Per Cent of
1904 Average During
Thirty-Day Period

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 Up -
The agriculture department reported
today that farm prices advanced
three points between mid-December
and mid-January to 104 per cent of
the 1904 average.
This rise was said to have been
the sharpest since a %ten-polnt in
crease in September, 1889. A 17-point
advance in meat animal prices led
the way, with prices of hogs in
creasing 80 per cent.
The mid-January general level OF
agricultural prices, however, was
only five points higher than a year
earlier. The department said lower
prices for grains, cotton and truck
crops tended to offset sharply higher
prices for meat animals, a substan-
tial increase in food prices, moder-
ately higher prices for chickens and
eggs and a minor increase in dairy
product prices.
The department said, however,
that although farm prices averaged
above those of the 1904 period,
they fell short by 10 per cent OF
buying as much non-farm goods and
services as in the 1904 period.