davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-08-09
WOMEN AND MORALE
Bu the Rioht Rer James D. d. ILL., D., D. c. L.,
Bishop OF Washington

"Great Is the influence of women on
morale. At this moment when all the
world faces darkening days and civiliza-
ton is menaced it is most important that
our country, with unknown shadows over
its future, consider this subject. In 30
years of association with wars and
armies. it has become obvious to me that
one of the most dominating factors in
war or peace is the influence of women
on morale"
Such is the statement OF a war cor
respondent who served with the Russian
Army in the RusSo-JapaneSe War OF
1o04-5, and later, for rs months, with the
same army during the World War; In
all these experiences he bears testimony
to the high place that women occupied
in sustaining the men at the front.
Again and again as he ministered to
mortally wounded men, he observed that
always their thoughts were of home and
the women of their households.
We believe his extended experience is
sustained by others who have served with
the armed forces on sea and land, We
too often think of morale as quality of
mind that grows out of strong discipline,
something that is generated by the stern
exactions of camp life. 1t is quite evident
that a type of morale is stimulated by
camp life and military discipline. We
have seen the salutary results that pro-
ceed from a regimented life.
Under normal living conditions the
disciplines of life sit lightly, the muscles
of the mind as we'll as those of the body
do not respond readily to strain. Life is
easy and comfortable. 1t is from such
conditions that we of America are being
called today. A new way of life is being
imposed by the exigencies of war. In
this situation what part do women play?
According to our quoted war correspon-
dent they play supremely important
part. He comedies to them the making of
the strong moral qualities that fit men
to meet hardships and stern trials, those
qualities that stand them in stead in the
day of supreme testing. These are not
born of mere physical strength and
courage.
home training that finds its highest
expression in its women furnishes the
strongest incentive to the moral qualities
OF its men. This is more evident in war
times than in peace times. No matter
how far removed from the close ties of
Evening star., 1942-08-09
Suboteur Executions

In a little less than two months
after landing on American shores
from enemy submarines, six Nazi
saboteurs have been executed, one
has been sentenced to life imprison-
ment at hard labor, and another
faces thirty years imprisonment,
also at hard labor.
The whole matter, from the be-
ginning of the investigative work to
the imposition of the penalties, has
been handled in manner calculated
to serve notice on our enemies that
the alleged "softness' of the de-
mocracies will avail them nothing
when they attempt in time of war
to cripple our military effort.
The men involved in this case,
after receiving special training in
Germany, came here in the hope OF
destroying war plants, vital railroad
areas, water supplies, bridges, etc.
It was their purpose to harass the
civilian population and to impair the
capacity of American soldiers and
sailors to fight the Axis. The effect
of their efforts, had they been sue
cessful, would have been to facilitate
German victory and American defeat.
In the light of these circumstances
the Nazi agents who died in the
electric chair had no legitimate
reason to expect leniency, and,
properly, they received none. 1t is
worthy of note, however, that they
were given trial and furnished
counsel. They were also permitted
a procedural appeal to the Supreme
Court-all considerations that would
have been refused by their own
government had the circumstances
been reversed.
There may be some dissatisfaction
that the death sentences imposed on
two of the saboteurs we're commuted
to prison terms. After their appre-
hension, however, these men aided
the Government, and it probably is
wise-in event of future visits from
other saboteurs-to hold forth this
much inducement to any who might
be willing to give information to the
authorities. Certainly, on the whole,
the penalties seem appropriate to
the known facts of this case, and
there can be no doubt that they
will serve as a real deterrent to any
other enemy agents who might be
tempted to try their hands at sabo-
tagging this country's war program.
Evening star., 1942-08-09

family life men may be, there are ties
that are so strong that nothing can
break them Lincoln once called them,
mystic chords" Tenuous though they
be they are the most controlling factors
in life. They spring not so much from
physical as from spiritual motives. 1t Is
here that women are given the rlch
privileges of guidance and leadership.
Cd has endowed them with qualities OF
spiritual strength that give them the
place of primacy in character building.
Moral strength so indispensable in
times Of stress. finds its security as well
as its capacity to endure in what it has
gained in the home and under the
tutelage of its women. This has always
been so and the record of history con-
firms it. We may magnify the i'm
portance of a nations resourcefulness,
it's capacity to produce to meet every
need. but ultimately we find that 1t is in
the quality of its womenhood that It's
true strength lies.
Here is where religion. religion as
practiced and exemplified in the home
and conspicuously by women, occupies
so large place Church and school have
their essential place but their impact and
influence are largely determined by the
home atmosphere. Where the high
standards of living are lightly or care
lessly regarded and practiced both church
and school find themselves hindered and
frequently impotent. In the life Of Jesus
Christ the influence of His Mother and
the homely simplicity Of the home IN
Nazareth affected greatly His course, and
to His Mother He turned for solace and
support in the hours of His supreme
testing Even from the cross His solicitude
and concern were for her. While the
days of His youth were shrouded in
obscurity the evidence of maternal in
fluence is conspicuous throughout the
years of His great ministry.
If He needed this, how much more the
sons of today, separated as they are
from the ways of life that are normal to
them. Now as never before the building
of morale, of those qualities that make
men endure in the face of severe trials,
is in the homes and with the women of
the Nation. Weakness here means weak
ness in the field of action and lowered
morale on the home front spells lowered
morale and defeat on the battle front.
Evening star., 1942-08-09
Turbulent Caucasus

There Is little reason to believe
that the Germans will find peace in
the Caucasus. Among those mys-
terious hills the legions of Hitler are
much more apt to encounter bitter
resistance an active hostility IN
which even the skies may join. The
National Geographic Society, in
bulletin recently released, calls at
tention to the fact that the earliest
commentators" described the region
as a place where unfriendly nature
has buried whole caravans in snow
avalanches" and where women as
well as men we're capable Of unlin-
tied resistance to any trespasser.
Nevin o. Winter, writing thirty
years ago, explained: THE Cauca-
sus Mountains are the conventional
dividing line between Europe and
Asia. Batoum is on the European
side of this boundary. A railway runs
across the Caucasus from Batoum to
Baku. on the Caspian Sea, distance
of $50 miles. The track passes
through the ancient state of Georgia
and follows the foothills of the noun
tains with snow-capped peaks fire.
ouently In sight from the car VIM
dows. The highest point reached by
the railway is 5000 feet, but Mount
Elburz, the loftiest peak, is over l8,000
feet in elevation. This Is the noun
tain on which the Greeks believed
Prometheus was chained to a rock
while his body was consumed by vul-
lures"
It was in the Caucasus also that
the Amazons, the warrior daughters
of Mars described by the geographer
Strabo as unconquerable, were sup
posed to have been born. In the
Colchis region, according to an equal
ly famous myth, the Hellenic hero
Jason scattered dragons teeth over
the ground, from which armed men
instantly sprang up to attack him
He escaped only through the magic
protection of an enchantress, Medea
bv name. More modern invaders OF
the territory-the soldiers OF success
siye Cars - learned to regard the
mountaineers as incorrigible enemies
Moving over hidden trails, Sklrtlne
icy crags, they defed imperial armies
The National Geographic lists nc
less than sixteen miniature "repuo'
lies" which the Nazi drive into thf
Caucasus may be expected to bring
into the headlines. Differing IN re-
lieion, social customs, habits OF life
the peoples occupying 137,l8O square
miles Of mountain area nevertheless
Evening star., 1942-08-09

are inflationary In their effect, and,
secondly, they result inevitably in
dissatisfaction on the part of those
workers whose wages have been fixed
at lower level by order of the board
1t remains to be seen, however,
whether Mr.. Davis suggestion that
the problem be handled by action of
the President will produce substantial
results.
The proposal certainly will be
opposed by the national labor lead
ers, since William Green of the AFL
and r. j. Thomas of the United Au-
tomobile Workers, CIO, already have
announced their opposition even to
the blanket application of the boards
wage formula to the cases coming
before the board. Their position is
that each wage controversy must be
settled on its individual merits. and
this without reference to companion
anti-inf1ation measures which are
being taken by the Office of Price
Administration. AS Mr.. Green ex-
pressed it: "The OPA has nothing to
do with wages. It was created to
control prices Of food, clothing and
rent. 1t should stay away from other
than that" This would be all very we'll
(although it is not an accurate state
ment) were it not for the fact that
wages influence the prices which
must be charged for food, clothing
and rent, and the latter cannot be
controlled unless wages are con-
trolled. To contend otherwise is
simply to ignore an obvious truth.
Yet the administration, faced with
labor's opposition, has not yet come
squarely to grips with this problem.
1t is problem which might best be
handled through congressional ac-
ton, but the President has opposed
that course, preferring to handle it
in his own way. This refusal to
sanction an over all approach, how
ever, has given rise to more problems
than it has solved, the matter of VOL
untary pay increases merely being
one of many. If this latest rift in
the wage stabilization program is
also dealt with In stopgap fashion,
we will be no nearer a real solution.
Evening star., 1942-08-09
Britons Called Home

II anything be needed to prove
that Britain is taking the war as
seriously as necessary, it may be
found in the call to British subjects
overseas to return home for service.
Free passage to the United Kingdom
is to be provided all who are accepted
as volunteers, but there has been no
effort to disguise the hardShips
which await those who heed the
summons.
For example, it is explained that
men and women returning to Eng
land should equip themselves with
heavy overcoatS, raincoats, warm
underclothing, extra pairs of boots
and shoes, stockings, socks and
wooden gloves. The significance of
that advice is plain. 1t means that
garments Of the types indicated are
scarce in Britain, where once in
normal times they were as plentiful
as any one could wish.
Volunteers also are warned that
they must be prepared for blackouts,
working on night shifts, rationing of
food, shortages of petrol (gasoline), 4,
tobacco, sweets Candy silk stock
ings, etc. Wages, it is admitted, are
low as compared with pay for SINH
lar work in the United States.
OF course, the call is not intended
to interfere with vitality important
employment in any friendly country.
Persons of English birth or imme-
diate descent who are engaged in
labor helpful to the common cause
of freedom in America are not
being asked to give up their jobs.
Those wanted, rather, are veteran
soldiers and sailors and skilled
civilians-engineers, craftsmen, radio
mechanics, miners, boilermakers,
telegraph linesmen and shipWrights
among others-who may be free OF
local obligations.
The summons primarily is to Brit
ish men and women who inStinc-
lively feel the challenge Of the
present crisis and, for reasons which
perhaps they cannot express in
words, believe they ought to serve
under their own flag. All who ac-
cept will be inspired by solemn duty.
Their response is an earnest Of de-
termination to make good the boast:
"There'll always be an England"
Evening star., 1942-08-09

in munition making that can be Of the
greatest Importance in the course OF
the war. Responsible officials estimate
that 1t will take go to 80 days to get the
country's armament program back on
its tracks.
Even so, the public expressions OF OFF,
cial worry all concern civilians and the
future hardships that they must face.
The apparent reason is that ruling OFF,
cials are thinking In terms Of November
elections and of possible civilian resent
ment at any unexplained interference
with business as usual or with pleasure
and comfort as usual.
Facts and figures suggest that they
stop worrying about civilian prosperity
and start worrying about the supply
problem confronting the Army and Navy
and Air Forces. Civilians are assured of
prosperity for two more years at least.
The military services are the part of
the American population still enjoying
a depression.
Evening star., 1942-08-09
Capital SideIights
By Will P. Kennedy.

ASK Jack Cable-he1l know" That's
the stock advice to puzzled questioners
in the two House Office Buildings, not
only for 435 Members of Congress, but
approximately four times as many secre-
taries and clerks. Mr. Gable, christened
wendell E." is one of the small group
of employees with upward of quarter
century of service on the Hill, and Is 'big
brother" to newcomers and veteran Capt.
tol workers His cherubic smile IS almost
equally we'll known throughout the ad-
ministrative branch Of the Government
service. He is always prompt to reach
back into his mental storehouse OF ex-
perience and knowledge to help all-com-
ers, and to teach them the ropes With
a wide range of talents, including law
degree, Mr.. Gable has more varied leg
islative experience than many members
He is confidential secretary to Repre-
sentative Everett NJ Dirksen, recognized
as one of the ablest members and as
keynote speaker for the Republican mi
nority. They come from the same home
town-Peoria. Ill.-and are rated the
hardest working and most efficient
team" in the House Office Building. Mr..
Cable started his congressional work in
1917, but his services were interrupted
when he enlisted in the Navy during the
First World War. He has served in the
Office OF the sergeant at arms, was a
floor clerk, pinch hit for the pair clerk
and as parliamentarian in the days of
the late Speaker Gillette before the par
Easo i,}o oS,t
put in period as committee clerk. was
the only person ever to serve as auditor
OF the Committee on Accounts, and was
secretary to three other Members before
teaming up with Representative Dirksen.
Recently he gave up his place as the
first president of an organization of Re
publican male secretaries, but he retains
an active and intense interest in the
work of the group A poll" in the Office
Building would show him leading the
House secretaries for efficiency and pop
ularity. Some time he hopes to retire
from political life at the Capitol and
practice law-"back home in Peoria
H. B. Weaver, ranking official reporter
father He has 80 years record as
| stenographic reporter for Congress-
selected by Champ Clark, the minority
leader and appointed by the late Speaker
Uncle Joe" Cannon. His family has
lived at Front Royal Va, for we'll over
200 years Now his son, John D. Weaver,
has made good He took his A. B. at
William and Mary's College, and his
masters degree at George Washington.
He spent five years on the Kansas City
Star, and turned out great novel OF
| the Blue Ridge Hills-"Wind Before
Rain" the story of the conflict between
| the past and the present. This young
| authors great grandfather was born
within miles of the scene of this book.
| Young Weaver is married to writer,
Harriet Sherwood, we'll known in the
| CAPITAL. They now are living In Los
| Angeles-and are hitting the best
| MAGAZINES.
Evening star., 1942-08-09
Voluntary Woqe Boosts

There is every reason to suppose
that Chairman Davis Of the War
Labor Board is correct when he says
that the wage formula enunciated
by the board in the Little Steel case
cannot lead to general stabilization
of wages unless it is to be accom-
panied by equally firm control OF
voluntary pay increases. In fact, 1T
is highly probable that the Little
Steel formula will collapse if en-
ployers, in voluntary proceedings, are
permitted to raise wages indiscrimi-
nately.
At present the boards jurisdiction
is restricted to wage disputes that
threaten to interfere with war pro-
duction. This means that a great
many wage negotiations, probably a
substantial majority, are conducted
entirely outside the boards sphere
of influence. The net result Of this,
it is said, has been that employers,
especially those engaged in war work,
have been willing to raise wages
above the level fixed by the board in
order to insure stable employment in
their plants and to avoid wasteful
labor trouble. The added expense OF
these increases, of course, is passed
on to the Government.
In this situation it is easy to see
how the boards Little Steel formula
which was intended to adjust wage
| increases to actual advances in living
costs as of the date that case was
decided, is seriously threatened by
voluntary general advances. In the
first place, such increases themselves
Evening star., 1942-08-09

are alike in their devotion to liberty.
The Germans will not reduce them to
slavery without prodigious effort -
which is another way of saying that
Hitler may be adding to the number
and the complexity of his problems
by his campaign to win the oil he
desperately requires for the operation
of his machines of aggression.
Evening star., 1942-08-09
Report on the War

The report on the war, which has
been submitted to the public by Elmer
Davis through the Office of War In
formation, is an important document,
both in what it says and in what it
omits.
1t is timely and important. for ex-
ample, to understand that the prin-
cipal obstacle in the path of our war
production program at present is
shortage of raw materials. AS Mr..
Davis pointed out, we have at the
moment more factories than we have
raw materials to supply them. Hence,
the need for public understanding Of
the fact that we must make the best
possible use of the raw materials that
we have and that we must exert every
effort to supplement the stocks on
hand.
Similarly, 1t is wise to emphasize
that we have fallen behind in i'm
portant respects in our schedule OF
war production, that we still are los
ing ships faster than we can build
them and that we are behind sched-
ule on our promised delivery of war
supplies to our allies. The people
should know these things, and Mr..
Davis is on the right track in bring
ing them to their attention.
The report leaves something to be
desired, however, when it takes up
the question of the attitude of the
| people toward the war. Too many Of
| them, Mr.. Davis seems to feel, con-
tinue to believe that we are fighting
this war out of surplus of resources
and productive capacity-that some
how we can win without actually 60
| ing out on the battlefield and taking
the losses that total war entails.
! Whether this is correct is debatable.
More probably, most of the people
understand, although perhaps mad
when great many of us will have to
fight and die. To the extent that
they may fail to grasp in full the
implications of the grim side of war.
is not an explanation to be found in
the fact that it has been but a few
months since they were encouraged
to think of Americas role as the great
| arsenal of democracy? If this con-
cept, inaccurate even at the time 1t
was presented, has been taken too lit
orally, the fault does not lie with the
people.
Mr. Davis also said there was doubt
that all of us realize how hard we are
going to have to work to win, that as
a nation we are not yet more than
ankle deep in the war. Perhaps that
is true, but even if the people fail to
realize how much work will have tc
be done and how many economic sac
rifces will have to be made before
there is assurance of victory, it by
no means follows that they are un-
willing to do the work or make the
sacrifices What is it that people are
not doing now that Mr.. Davis would
have them do? What sacrifices, ir
addition to those already being made
does he want them to make?
It is in the failure to be specific
about these things that his report i!
inadequate. And 1t is in this respect
that he and other Government of
ficials have an opportunity to i'm
prove on the good job that they art
doing Let them tell the people
clearly and explicitly what is expected
, of them. If that were done, tn
chances are that the response woult
; be highly gratifying.
Evening star., 1942-08-09

AS a startling innovation, how
about producing some radio program
whose commercial plug asks the
public to use the product because
they will like it, instead of because
it will build morale to help win the
war?
Evening star., 1942-08-09

Uncle Sam wants all the typeWrit-
ers he can get, and urges private
citizens to sell him theirs. Secretary
Morgenthau, however, warns the
public to retain pens with which to
sign income tax checks.
Evening star., 1942-08-09

open air and is devoted to animals, espe.
cially to her ponies, dogs and pigeons.
Even the deer in the park at Loo know
her footstep and run to meet her. 80
she enjoys learning and has quite a
talent for languages. speaking English
and French well. while German II an
accomplishment to come"
Evening star., 1942-08-09
Entered as second ass matter post office.
Wa aShington, D. c.
Member of the Associated Press.

-. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
All rights of publication of special dispatches
herein also are reserved.
Evening star., 1942-08-09

1--WE Capacity Ol dll VI EuIOpc, lIlCluulIlS
the most productive part of Russia.
The United States finds itself able to
count less and less upon Britain and
Russia to make up its deficiency in
weapons by doing the bulk of the fight
ing.
Yet it is difficult to find key officials
Of this Government, outside the Army
and Navy, who are doing much worry
ing about the problem of military supply.
When these services demand that they
have first call upon the metals which
underlie modern warfare they are ac-
cused of trying to starve the American
public and with trying to set up mill
tary government The War Production
Board feels compelled to warn the mill
tary services that they can have just
so much and no more of the available
metals because essential civilian needs
must be met above all else.
1t now is turning out that the WPB,
when 1t divided up steel for the third
quarter of this year, assigned such an
important proportion of that steel to
civilian industry and to exports that war
plants in many instances have had to
slow down and in some instances to stop.
| Informed officials now express doubt
that the United States, with a produc-
| ton of 88,0O0,O00 tons of steel in 1912
will turn as much of that steel into
| actual fighting weapons as Hitler's Eu
| rope will turn into weapons with a steel
capacity of 40,0O0O 900 tons.
| This is a situation that only now is
beginning to get White House attention.
There has had to be quick reshuff1ing OF
| allocations Of steel and even these re-
| shufflings are not preventing slowdowns