davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
A World Free Press

Kent Cooper, general manager of
the Associated Press, has Just writ
ten book-"Barriers Down"-re-
vealing steps in the A. P.'s efforts to
break down the barriers OF foreign,
monopolistic control over the sources
and distribution of the news of the
world. and, as corollary, to work
toward free dissemination Of I'M
tainted news among the. newspapers
of the world. 1t is an extremely
interesting book and it carries a
pointed significance at this time.
Before the First World War London
was the point Of origin. at least OF
distribution, for most of the news
that went to the four corners Of the
earth. United States newspapers re-
ceived the greater part Of their for
eign news through an arrangement
with Reuters OF England, Havas of
France and Wolff of Germany, COM
mercial news agencies which domi-
mated the distribution of news every
where except In the United States.
Newspaper readers in Latin America,
in England, France and Germany,
Japan, Australia, INDIAN all the
world, as a matter of fact-gained
their knowledge of Americans
through the dispatches selected by
these agencies for distribution
abroad, many Of them far from
complimentary. For under the
Associated Press original agreement
with the European news alliance, the
Associated Press could not dissemi.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
TAILS CHURCH, Va.

Dear Sir:
II am 50 much impressed With recent
editorial in your column on the subject
Of sunshine that am tempted to write
= sort Of sequel on my favorite topic Of
physical exercise.
do many OF your readers know the
value of wood cutting as a means of
acquiring physical exercise?
Believing that this goes hand in hand
with sunshine as a health builder, and
without trying to emulate the most noted
rail splitter, Abraham Lincoln, shall
set forth my experience as briefly as pos
sible
Many OF us who are engaged in this
about war effort are confined to our
desks eight hours day. six days week,
whether in the Federal service or pri-
vate industry, with fewer holidays at our
disposal, but the Thanksgiving day Just
passed furnished me an excellent oppor-
tunity for the task of Remembering
much Of the fallen timber which has
been lying about since the snow of
March % last.
"A few hours inside in preparation OF
the traditional dinner left most of the
afternoon for the business of wood cut
ting
With the cross saw and trustworthy
AK properly applied, managed to get
tree stump furnished me an excellent
chopping block. and now have sufficient
wood in the woodhouse to provide me
with fireplace kindling all winter.
Few people know the technique of
wood cutting, however, although the
three hours outdoors gave me healthy
appetite. the breath of the pine woods
lifted the cold germs from my head,
gave me an opportunity to watch out
for the things of nature, and permitted
me to enjoy sound sleep.
ITS better exercise than golfing or
horseback riding. and much more prof.
liable. The approaching darkness drove
me indoors In time to observe my be-
loved cardinals who always feed late
from their tray atop the outdoor fire.
place.
1T Is indeed thrilling to be able to live
in the woods at this season of the year.
Sincerely yours, o. E."
X
The woes OF the amateur sawyer, we
believe, are responsible for the fact that
more people do not take up this excel
lent recreation.
These woes. one may believe-together
with the plain fact that not every one
has bit of woods of his own.
The saw is an ancient instrument,
with tradition behind it. but 1t can be
as cantankerous thing as ever was
made by human skill
Sometimes 1t seems to have the very
old Nick in 1t.
When the amateur sawyer gets down
through the wood, the two halves begin
to pinch the blade
Saving becomes more difficult then.
The block begins to wobble, and often
falls clear off,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
By Thomas X. Henry.

Out Of the holocaust Of the Libyan
against infection of some of the worst
wounds-proflavin powder.
1t has produced dramatic results in
80 cases where powdered sulfanilamide
placed in the injured tissues apparently
had failed to check the infection-pro-
ducing organisms, according to report
recently made to the British Medical
Association by Majs. G. G. A. Mitchell
and G. A. H. Buttle of the Royal Medical
Corps.
1t has particularly good effects, they
point out, against staphyloccoccus in
fections, against which sulfanilamide has
little potency. They do not recommend
1t as substitute drug. In each of their
cases, they say, sulfanilamide has been
applied to the wound and has failed to
check infection. The proflavin has
proved effective, but might not have
been without the previous treatment.
The new powder, they explain, not
only is potent against the staphyloccoc-
Gus but, to a somewhat less extent,
oSdAloG AlilCCtlFc OIsdlllSIllS Ill j.
The effectiveness of the sulfa drugs,
their report points out, depends on their
being administered in adequate amounts
soon after an injury is received They
undoubtedly check the course of infec-
ton. When pus begins to form their
value decreases.
All the cases they report are of men
who had been brought to base hospital
hours or days after being wounded. Their
wounds were dirty, In bad condition and,
in some cases, general infection seemed
to have started.
Their most dramatic case, they de-
clare, was that of 28-year-old corporal
who was brought to the base hospital
seven days after receiving a compound
fracture of an arm. He was running a
high temperature. Sulfanilamide was
given. The man seemed to improve for
time but after three weeks suffered a
relapse. His condition steadily deteri-
Grated and the army doctors dispaired
of his life.
This was the first time proflavin was
used. 1t was applied as last resort.
In three days his temperature was nor
NAL and in ten days the most serious Of
his wounds had healed completely. A
week later he was able to walk.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
Soved by Civilians

The Office of War Information has
Just announced that $685. Americans
were wounded during the first year
Of war. Most of them have recovered
Or are recovering from their wounds,
and somewhere in the United States
there are hundreds of men and
women who can take quiet satisfac-
ton in the knowledge that they have
played a direct and personal part in
saving the lives of many OF these
men.
In this war, as never before, the
civilians must take significant part.
Staying at home, it is their RESPONSE
bility to provide the arms and am
munition for the combat forces, and
to keep the Nations civilian economy
IN operation. But there is also an
important and highly personalized
contribution that they can make
directly to the fighting front.
When the japanese blasted Pearl
Earbor, hundreds of lives we're saved
because the medical units had a
small supply of blood plasma on
hand. Plasma is the yellow liquid
portion Of human blood which is
left after the removal of the red
blood cells. One of the latest gifts
Of science, plasma is easily preserved
and transported, and it can be ad-
ministered universally. 1t does not
contain all of the substances that the
blood needs, but when transfused
into the veins of a person suffering
from wounds, burns or shock it can,
and often does, mean the difference
between life and death.
One incident at Pearl Harbor has
reen described in the magazine,
Hygeia. within an hour of the first
Japanese attack" the article said, "a
young pilot was carried into the
Army hospital, the inside Of his right
hand and forearm torn off by a bomb.
BY the time he reached the hospital
he was typical shock victim,
drifting quietly into the coma of
death. With prompt TRANSMISSION
OF plasma, followed by another Of
whole blood, color came back into his
face. He began to look like living
person instead OF corpse. In hardly
more than ten minutes he opened
his eyes and asked for a cigarette"
We must expect in the coming year
that many thousands of men will be
wounded. They will fall in the
jungle-clad Solomons, in North
Africa, in the Aleutians and on the
high seas-in fact, wherever this war
may have to be fought in every
quarter Of the globe. The civilians
back home-if they will act in time
can save many Of these young men
from death. 1t will not be possible
to- give them transfusions of whole
blood on the battlefield, but II
plasma is available when needed, and
In sufficient quantities, it will serve
the same purpose.
The Red Cross is appealing now
for volunteer civilian blood donors,
and the need for them is urgent. 1t
Is a little thing for the civilian to
do, but it will help to save some
ones life next year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
PeurI Hurbor,Now

1T probably could not be argued
reasonably that the japanese did the
United States a service by attacking
Pearl Harbor; yet something has
happened there during the past year
which certainly would not have been
a.hkely development had the events
of December 7, 1941, not occurred.
An Associated Press dispatch ex-
plains: Even that night those who
escaped the cataclysm turned with
fury to the task of rebuilding Since
then they have become adept at the
art and practices of war. Ships have
been raised and repaired and are out
to sea right now facing the enemy.
It has been a hard and hazardous
tussle, ut to the workmen's and
fighters thirsting ears there comes
news almost daily of their efforts
bearing fruit-at Midway, around
the Solomons and off New Guinea.
When the story Of Pearl Harbor's
restoration can be told, America and
the world will gasp. for it has been
an engineering feat that has never
been equaled."
The Japanese raiders created
passion of resistance which could not
have been stimulated in any other
way. 1t Is reported that: 1.-THE
Hawaiian Islands have shaken of
their tropical torpor. Everybody
works every day at some war Job.
Thousands upon thousands Of work.
men from the United States have
been rushed to the islands. And
they are doing their part. building
end repairing fighting ships, raising
new structures, building, building,
building"
But the work which has been done
aud that which stu Is being done Is
not mere replacement effort On the
contrary-and herein lies the ironic
element for the Japanese-much Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08

nate its news In areas claimed As the
exclusive territory Of the alliance.
Mr.. Cooper's theme, throughout his
narrative Of the steps he initiated
and pursued, with the support of
the directors Of the Associated Press,
to free the Associated Press from its
restrictive alliance with foreign news
services, is that the best guarantee
of continued peace after this war is
a free press, world free press that is
recognized in the peace treaty and is
maintained by the people of the world
through their newspapers. This free
press must be served by news agen-
cies which distribute the truth, which
are owned only by their member
papers, which are beyond reach OF
the selfish influences or the propa-
ganda motives OF their governments
or OF commercial interests. Mr.. Coo
per doubtless was considered naive in
even making the attempt, which he
did at the Versailles peace conference,
to include. some phraseology con-
corning a free press in that treaty.
But in retrospect, he was more Of a
hard realist than many Of the
statesmen who signed their names.
Certainly basic elements OF the
next peace must be mutual recog-
milton and popular understanding of
the problems which beset the peo-
pies OF the world. And certainly
there is no better channel OF under
standing than the untainted, I'M
touched news Of the world, free from
international bias and partisanship
and above the suspicion of those who
read 1t. Mr.. Cooper's book is a con-
vincing statement of the funda-
mental part that free press should
play in maintaining the next peace.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Trdceipell.

1t is always the saw, Of course, which
Is to blame.
The operator never Is!
The ak, to city dweller, is a fearsome
instrument.
He or she is afraid OF chopping of
few toes.
We knew q man who did it, but then,
we knew man who sawed of the limb
on which he sat, and got bad tumble,
SO that means nothing In the woodsy
life.
The ak demands-and usually gets
respect.
1t is quite plain that nothing but an
expert ought to try to handle one
A Ratchet is bad enough, but an ak
Is a wicked instrument in the hands OF
a beginner
Sunshine and fresh air will do a great
deal toward clearing up stuffy nasal pas
sages, as many a person has found out
by means of long walk.
This presupposes, however, that the
victim hasn't very bad cold.
If he has, he ought to be home in bed,
both for his own sake and that Of others.
There are few persons who have not
had the experience. at some time or
other, of starting out with a slight cold,
and Of ending up completely cured"
Evidently this is the sort OF affection
which plenty of oxygen will chase away.
To doggedly try this method of cold
cure" with other types is counting
pneumonia.
1t Is amazing how much wood can be
gathered from even a small place
With fireplace wood and kindlipg be-
coming difficult to get, no one should
neglect the small branches and limbs
which lie around in the home yard.
Locust trees are prolific sources of
fallen branches.
Often these are neglected, when by
some cutting and chopping they would
make excellent kindling and fireplace
wood.
The late feeding of the cardinals is one
OF their best traits.
Often several pairs will come at twi-
light, though there have been no redbirds
present in garden all day long.
If seed is put out for them about 4
o'clock, they will come to look for it,
1t Is no rare thing for as many as ten
pairs to be present in yard at dusk.
Often they will be grouped CLOSE to-
gether.
The sight of so many cleaning song
sters within few feet of each other is
one never to be forgotten, and one which
alone would make bird feeding we'll
worth the comparatively small sum it
costs
There are few If any birds better than
the cardinal. He is so common in the
environs Of Washington that sometimes
We tend to forget this. And while we are
talking of the cardinal, let us put In
special note for the female of the species
She is not so snowy, but is even more
beautiful. as close up view will reveal
to any one.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
How Gas Rationing Detail
Looks to Coupe Operator.
To the Editor of The Star.


Will you please figure 1t out?
November IA. at Dallas, Leon Hender-
son said: Gasoline rationing is plan
for insuring transportation, rather than
'Rube Goldberg contraption' guaran-
teed to make people miserable want to
be perfectly clear about one thing We
are not low on gasoline"
November II ORA reduced the value
OF "A" books from to gallons per unit.
November 10 The Star said THE
Office of Price Administration decided
officially today that rules on pleasure
and business driving will not be changed
in spite of the reduction. A card
purpose they choose"
November 20 Mr. LETTERS acknowledged
that essential driving included going to
market and taking Junior to have his
teeth fixed
November ~ Mr.. LETTERS said: Every
citizen can get enough gasoline for es-
sential driving"
A few days later Mr. LETTERS said: THE
entire purpose of mileage rationing is to
insure that they will get to work and
back. not just this month and next, but
in the months to come"
About that time an OPA spokesman.
was reported saying that rationing was
ito keep passenger cars on the road for
essential driving"
December 3 Mr.. LETTERS was reported
in The Star: Mr.. Jeffers urged against
owners putting up their cars for the
duration and depending on public trans
portation, emphasizing that the COM
mercial carriers could not handle the
added load"
December 5 the papers reported that
value Of "A" coupons was to be cut once
more, from 3 gallons to e.
Now, for July October I received
enough units for essential driving ac-
cording to my calculations; but the al
lowance proved to be between two and
three units short. This was not made
up. For October-January I was then
allowed "a per cent of the July October
allowance, a cut Of 36 per cent, after
which the "A" card was cut Is per cent.
We have no maid; can't get one; can't
afford one. We have no washing ma
chine; can't get one; can't afford one.
Our hours are irregular, so we can't use
public transportation, which is more
than one-half mile from our home. We
have to deliver and collect laundry and
cleaning, and we have to gather in
groceries and supplies. With auto travel,
our day totals 121, to 1871 hours. With
bus travel the day would BE- 1871 to 14A,
with dinner to prepare after that And
where would we get anything to prepare,
If we had to 60 by bus? Incidentally, we
carry an extra passenger ina coupe
three in all. My budget leaves me $13.47
month-out Of which I am supposed
to provide for the new income taxes,
groceries, clothing. medical care, dental
care, bond purchases-and gas for non
essential driving
A statement of these facts, verified by
oath, has been in the hands of the Ra-
tioning Board since October S. but no
written decision, signed by any one in
authority, has yet been received.
Since OPA action does not "jibe" with
OPA talk, what else can we do except
leave the car in the garage, let the tires
rot on the wheels, and put three more
persons on the already inadequate trans
portataon Vytem, who VIII then g1vo The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
Farm Parity Issue

In voting unanimously to rewrite
the parity formula to include the
cost of all farm labor, the House has
revived and given new life to IN
issue which supposedly was buried
three months ago.
In mid-September a movement to
this same end was making Roadway
In Congress, but the President came
out strongly against it. THE parity
principle for which this administra-
ton has stood since 1885," he said,
was a good standard for peace
time-it is good standard for war.
To recalculate parity now and to
offer to the public 100 per cent Of
new and higher parity would be to
offer sterilization, yet destroy the
possibility of achieving It," And to
this, he announced his "unalterable
opposition"
What the President said was true
In September, and it is true today.
This proposal would raise parity
levels by an estimated 10 or IL per
cent, and this cannot be done with
out throwing the whole sterilization
program out OF balance-unless 1t is
intended to Offset the increase with
Government subsidies to agriculture.
Yet the prospects are that the House
action will be ratified in the Senate
II 1t can be brought to vote.
This, especially from the consumer
viewpoint, is very serious matter.
But at the same time, it is easier
today to see the other side Of the
picture. The farmers distress is
acute. He cannot hope to compete
with the high wages paid in industry,
and because OF this, as we'll as the
demands Of the military services, the
supply Of farm labor Is dangerously
low, and getting lower. As result,
we may be heading into a period of
food shortage for lack Of production
facilities which could bring conse-
quences worse than an increase in
farm prices.
Yet there is doubt that the answer
lies In rewriting the parity formula
to include all farm labor costs. Dur
ing the first ten months of this year
farm income increased by SO per cent
over the corresponding period Of last
year. This has not enabled the
farmer to keep the labor that he
needs, and, hence, there is no assur-
ance that still another boost in farm
income through a revision Of the par
ity formula would be solution to the
problem. But 1t is going to be diff
cult to prevent such action unless
the administration comes forward
with some satisfactory alternate
plant may be found in the order
placing. Secretary Of Agriculture
Wickard in charge OF food produc-
tion-for maintaining an adequate
farm labor supply Of . cost which
| the farmer een Afford % pay.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
Through Your Voice ONLY

am an tnldnder lUho has not seen
The ocean, breaker-mad and green;
Nor haze euer felt a deep sea-uros
Nor sensed the throb In moontides
ebb and surge.
Through your uoics only haze
knotDn
The arcs In Dhtoh phite oulls hare
dlt01ys fotcn.
! haze not Dalked an endless stretch
OF beach
Nor ever matched the silrer moon
path reach
Beyond this earth. Ionly understand
That you hare made me stranger to
the land
And made me Lore the ocean as you
do .e
Though tDdr has set It's Didth be-
tDeen Us ttpo-
And tn some hour, though distant Il
may be,
! shall renouncs my prairie for your
ANo1IL ARMOUR.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-08
No Time for BIuffino

Why freeze the tenants If the land
lord refuses to convert his oil-burn-
ing equipment to coal? The land
lord is the man the local OPA Is
after-not the tenants. Surely there
must be more logical method of en-
forcing the conversion order for
apartment and commercial building
owners than to cut off their supply
of fuel oil.
Up to this time the effort has been
to persuade property owners, by en-
phasizing the seriousness OF the fuel
oil shortage, to convert to coal. The
effort has not been successful. Too
many people have been willing to
take a chance that they WILL some
how, get enough oil. Now the au-
thorities are convinced that volun-
tary compliance is not enough Peo-
pie must be forced to convert, when
such conversion is possible.
II the authorities are correct in
their estimates of the situation, they
should, Of course, make conversion
to coal-burning equipment manda-
tory wherever such conversion is
practicable. Some penalty for nom
compliance undoubtedly may be nee
essary. But to cut off fuel oil sup
plies is a penalty that would work
greater hardship on the tenants than
the building owner. To threaten
such an extraordinary form of
punishment to persons who have no
responsibility In the matter suggests
that the OPA authorities are merely
bluf1ng. The time for bluffing is
past.