davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Member of the Associated Press.
The Mortal Crime

Speaking primarily to his own
people in what looms in many re-
spectS as the darkest hour of
the war, Prime Minister Winston
Churchill said that all he had to
offer was a hard. adverse war for
many months ahead" Before us
BritonS. Americans and all others OF
the Allied NationS-lie many mis-
fortunes, severe and torturing losses,
remorseless and gnawing anxieties." p"
Yet, in his judgment. the picture
Is not without its hopeful aspects.
Against the adversities, he listed the
entry of the United States into the
war as full-fledged belligerent and
the remarkable reSurgence Of Rus
sian strength. With these acceSsionS,
Mr.. Churchill said, the war ulti-
mately will be won, provided only
that the United Nations continue to
fight together.
"One fault, one crime. and one
crime only, can rob the United
Nations and the British people :. -.
of the victory upon which their lives
and honor depend. A weakening in
our purpose and. therefore, in unity
that is the mortal crime"
This is timely warning. And it is
applicable not only to the British but
to Americans and all of the other
Allied peoples.
Criticism of the conduct of the war
OF blunders in high places, there
must be. But those who criticize.
must do so with sense of response
bility and of restraint. The 'miSfOr-
tunes and mistakes of war" are not
proper subjects for exploitation
either thoughtleSs or deliberate.
AS the battle goes against us, it
becomes all the more important to
cling steadfastly to larger obiec-
tives, to curb the bitter sense of frus-
tration and disappointment which
may lead to recrimination and divi-
sion in the Allied ranks. If the Brit
ish have blundered, so have we. The
solution does not lie in letting Axis
propagandists drive wedge between
us, or in driving it ourselves, but in
standing together and applying in
telligent correctives to each fault as
1t arises. If the war is to be won, we
must win it together. The sure road
to defeat-the mortal crime-would
be to play into the hands of our enc
mics by permitting the destruction
of that unity within our own ranks
which is our one real hope of victory.
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Building Wage Rates

The disclosure in The Sunday Star
that millions of dollars are being
added to the cost of the defense
housing program in Washington as
a result of the fixing of an artificial
prevailing wage" standard for con-
struction workers calls for full
explanation from the Department
of Labor.
There seems no doubt that the
department must accept full respon-
sibility for the added millions that
the public must pay for the Govern
ment construction program. Under
the Bacon-Davis Act, as amended in
1885, the wage scale on Government
work is required to be comparable
to that prevailing in given COM
munity for projects of a similar
character, and the Department OF
Labor is charged with the duty of
determining these prevailing wages.
Yet the facts disclosed in The Stars
article make it clear that, as far as
Washington is concerned, the Labor
Department has not made these de-
examinations in accordance with the
plain intent of the law
This deviation from the statute
has come about through the estab-
lishment of what are known as "A"
and "B" unions in the building in
dustry. The prevailing wage as de-
termined by the Department OF
Labor is the "A" union scale, the
rate paid men working on Govern
ment or commercial construction.
The "B" scale-50 per cent or more
lower-is paid men working on lri-
vate jobs, although in the residential
field here the great bulk of the work
has been done by private builders.
1t is also highly significant that this
variation in wage scales extends to
rental housing developments Spon-
sored by the Federal Housing Ad-
ministration, although in the case
of this work, as we'll as in outright
Government housing projects, the
prevailing wage determination was
made by the Labor Department.
No official of the department has
advanced any satisfactory explana-
ton of the reasons why a wage scale
should have been fixed for outright
Government building which is far
In excess of the rates prevailing for
private building and for construction
eponsored by the F. H. A. Yet the
explanation seems obvious: The de-
partment, in making the prevailing
wage determination required by
Congress, simply ignored the wage
scale actually prevailing In the COM
xnunity.
This Is both q serious and q costly
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Haskin.

A reader .can get the ansiDer to Gny
question OF fact BY tDrtting The Eue.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp tor reply.
@. What is the present membership Of
the Boy Scout organizstiona-R. D. L.
A. DR.. James E. West, chief Scout ex-
ecutive, reports that Scouts and Scout
ers now number 1,57O, ,962 and troops and
cub packs total 50.739.
@. Who originated the title First Lady
in reference to the wife Of the Presi-
dent?-F. L. L.
A. The title First Lady Of the Land was
applied to Lucy Webb Hayes by Mary
Clemmer in her account of the inaugura-
iton of 1877. It was popularized by the
production in 1911-12 of Charles Frederic
Nirdlinger's play about Dolly Madison en-
titled The First Lady of the Land"
starring Elsie Ferguson.
Q. How many species OF gulls are
there?-T. c. o.
A. There are about SO species of gulls
widely distributed throughout the world.
@. Is it true that Jerusalem was cap
tured during the last war without a shot
being fired?-L. C. B.
A. Jerusalem surrendered to the Brit
ish on December 9, 1917, not a shell
being fired in the city. Gen. Allenby
entered the city afoot officially at noon
on December II. He had posted procla-
nations to the effect that all holy places
would be maintained and protected ac-
cording to the customs and beliefs of
those with whose faiths they were sacred.
Evening star., 1942-02-16

matter. Because Of the departments
failure to perform its duty properly
in this community the taxpayers of
the country are faced with a penalty
running into millions Of dollars.
This is a dereliction which calls for
a full and fortnight explanation.
and it should be forthcoming with
out delay.
Evening star., 1942-02-16

February for the collection of this
material
1t is estimated that from 20 to Is tons
Of tin as collapsible tubes are thrown
away daily throughout the Nation.
While the return of a single toothpaste
tube seems insignificant, the aggregate
quantity represented by empty tooth
paste. shaving cream and ointment tubes
is rather staggering.
Save your empty tin tubes and deposit
them at your drugstore where you see
the sign: America Needs Tin
HAROLD C. KINNER.
Secretary, District of Columbia Pharma-
ceutical Association. Inc.
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Endeavors to Explain
Meaning Of Billion"

To the Editor Of The Star:
How can one understand q billion
dollars? know what they are in hum
dreds or even thousands. They fit in
with q fellows experience and leave
comfortable play for the imagination.
But when they are counted in billions,
comprehension fades and 60 fiat.
Isn't there some way for the man IN
the street to catch faint glimmer Of
the meaning of such q monetary colossus
without undue violence to his reason?
For instance, one might figure that at
only two per cent, the interest earned in
one single hour on billion dollars would
be enough to keep him in reasonable
comfort until the year 2042, il he were
born today. Think of it! An even hum
dred years on just one hour of no work!
But can't we make it little more
graphic? Put it this way: Some people
could find it possible to live comfortably
on s2,500 per year. However, to be gen.
erous, let's say 5000. AS things CO.
that's liberal. On that I'm sure could
attain peace of mind and cultivate the
arts. Then suppose some one dropped
billion dollars in my lap-hard cash in
the sock and no interest Simple figur-
ing reveals that at the rate of IS 900 a
year I should have enough to last me
100000 yearS-not working and paying
my taxes to boot.
But 100000 years also is dificult to
comprehend, since it concerns an un-
certain future. Let's turn it around
Say that today I'm just using up my
last dollar of that billion. Allowing for
a few days on relief. which Is only fair,
it means that I would enjoy the unique
distinction of having been born on or
about March 1, 198058 BIC.
Let's leave to the geologists descrip-
tion of what my boyhood experiences
must have been, and even what learning
I might have picked up in my middle
years. 1t would be sufficient to remem-
ber that by the time had lived half my
span was enjoying some of the glamour
of the Stone Age. was probably caught
in the Deluge, and later still may have
tried to save the fall of the Roman EN-
pire, or witnessed some of the exploits
of Genghis Khan, not to mention the
signing of the Declaration of Independ-
ence and the ordeal of Valley Forge at
the ripe old age of 199, 1884.
But still it doesn't sink in. Can you
help me? M. A. B.
Evening star., 1942-02-16

Tells Inconvenience Caused by Reticence
OF Friend Who Did Not Hoard Sugar.
To the Editor Of The Star:
What price patriotism! While every
one else in the city was buying up sugar
in 10 and so pound sacks five weeks ago,
a friend, who has a wife and small
children, refrained, indulging in one
little 2-pound sack. What is the result?
Why, my friend is completely sugarless
and waiting hopefully for Leon Hender-
son to make up his mind about those
sugar ration cards. But withal the man
still has a super-abundance of patriot
ism; and folks, what could be sweeter?
HELEN SUGAR" CANE,
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Discusses Disregard Of Regulations
And Resultant Traffic Difficulties.
BIZ Bertrdnl Benedict.
10 the Editor of The Star

To the Editor Of The Star:
All automobilists who have to travel
from outlying districts into the con-
gested area of Washington in the early
morning and return in the late afternoon
selfish disregard of the rights of others.
Although there are numerous in
stances of drivers of private cars exhibit
ing disregard of safety regulations and
the ordinary traffic regulations of the
District, the greatest offenders are the
operators of taxicabs and buses.
Repeatedly, drivers do not stop when
they see congestion ahead, in order to
leave the cross traffic clear right Of
way. This selfish disregard of the rights
of the crossing traffic frequently causes
traffic jams which may extend back half
to three-quarters of block.
If every automobilist who witnesses
such unnecessary and selfish disregard
of the traffic laws will report to the Po-
lice Department by letter every time
that they see such jam, eventually the
police will have to do something about IT..
Two of the worst points are Constitu-
ton avenue and Seventeenth street, at
the junction of Virginia avenue, and the
short length of Eighteenth street from
Constitution avenue north to Virginia
avenue. In that triangular space the
blocking of the cross traffic at one point
always results in complete blocking Of
traffic on all sides of the triangle.
Another bad point is Connecticut ave-
nue. at X, where the buses frequently
line up halfway across Connecticut
avenue, blocking all southbound trafdc
on Connecticut.
JF. HELLWEG,
Captain TT g NJ Retired
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Announces Arrangements
For Collecting Tin Scrap.
To the Editor of The Star.

In response to the letter appearing on
February II signed T. w. B., I should
like to make the following statement:
The District Of Columbia Pharma-
ceutical Association, in cooperation with
the National Association of Retail Drug
gists, for the past several weeks has been
working out . plan whereby empty col
lapsible tubes will be collected by drug
stores. We expect to have boxes placed
IN local drugstores before the end Of
Evening star., 1942-02-16

Reports Middle West Sons Objection
To Daylight Saving Time.
To the Editor of The Star:
am taking time off from my knitting
to write you about a letter I received
from my son, who lives in the Middle
West. He said, we got up early Monday
morning and turned our clocks up and
tried to kid ourselves we were being
patriotic. This being farming section
of the country, the chickens, pigs, ducks,
turkeys, cows and even the sunshine had
not heard about the change, so what are
we supposed to do now? Personally I
don't see any advantage in burning the
candle at both ends
MRS. BEN F. JONES.
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Approves Editorial
On Workless Federal Employees.

To the Editor Of The Star:
I am sure that every good, loyal Amer
lean will heartily agree with the senti-
ments expressed in your editorial entitled
Workers Without Work." appearing in
The Star of February f. Your con-
clusions especially should appeal to
sober minded Americans regardless of
political, religious or other afiliation.
The chaotic conditions now existing in
Washington cannot 90 on forever
VIM. j. BROWN.
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Thinks Critical Congressman
Is Not Big Enough" for Position.

To the Editor of The Star:
Relative to the attitude of some Rep
resentatives in connection with bundles
for Congress" feel that any Congress-
man who is 50 intolerant that he will
vent his spleen upon an entire State and
its residents for the action of few per-
sons for justifable criticism of at least
. questionable action by Congress. Is
not big enough man to occupy the i'm
portant position to which he has been
elected.
AN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
GAL,
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the iDriter, although the use of
p q pSeudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters 1pith
q UietU to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-02-16

Favorite Hymns+A collection of
Isl of the best-loved hymns of the
American people, complete with
words and music. Hymns have
been a source of inspiration and
refreshment to mankind since the
beginning of the Christian Church.
Poets and musicians have given
of their best in writing them. Your
favorite is probably among them.
Completely indexed. To secure
your copy inclose 20 cents in coin,
wrapped in this clipping, and mail
to The Star Information Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Reports a Preference
For Miss Thompson.

I was amused by letter printed in
your columns praising Messrs. Kent,
Lawrence and Lincoln, as these are
rather partisan Republicans in trend.
Will you allow me to say that I take
your paper for Dorothy Thompson?
When she Is let out. I will change to
the paper which gets her
MRS. L. H. McMICHAEL.
Evening star., 1942-02-16
Wants Us to Remember
That We Helped Japan.

Wants Us to Remember
That We Helped Japan.
To the Editor Of The Star:
In this time of disaster when we are
repenting of our past sins, we should not
forget the continuous ante-bellum as
sistance We rendered Japan in the matter
of oil, scrap iron, copper and all sorts
of munitions through which in effect We
made ourselves allies Of Nippon.
JOHN r, SWAN(ON.
Evening star., 1942-02-16

Captain. U. S. N, Retired.
Evening star., 1942-02-16

Mount, Va.
Evening star., 1942-11-17
Luscious Lehar Melodies
Brighten Merry Widow
Operetta Given Tuneful Revival
With Singers Accenting
Fine Score
BY ANDREW r. KELLEY.

ihe magic wand Franz Lea created light music that delighted
the senses that easily adapted romantic melody
bodied harmoncs Merry Widow the most enduring Of
abors introduced
revival at the National Theater last night
Again the paygoers live kingdoms
Evening star., 1942-11-17
Singers to Give
Pirates Toniaht

The Montgomery County Savoy
ards, a musical organization, will
present the comic opera Pirates of
Penzance" in the auditorium of the
Leland Junior High School at $50
o'clock tonight under the sponsor
ship Of the Bethesda Board of Trade.
1t has previously been presented
at Rockville and at the Naval Hos
pital in Bethesda.
Three members of the Stock fam
lily will take parts in the opera.
They are Edward L. Stock, J. Steven
Stock and Angela Stock. In addi-
ton, more than 80 other singers
from various sections of the county
will have parts.
The proceeds will be distributed
between the Board of Trade and a
war relief organization.
Nelson Smith is general chairman
of the project and he is assisted by
Ethel Taylor, John Plank. Parker
Badger, Carl Bachschmid, Leon
Sherman, John Smith, c. G. Hol-
brook and Edward L. Stock.
Mrs. William Jay will distribute
proceeds while William P. Allen
and Mrs, j. Reed Bradley will have
charge of publicity.
Evening star., 1942-11-17

V4OtA1Cc CAAOu811Out tllC 1111u.
Loretta is his wife and her outfits
also are simple three plain frocks
Of new wartime materials and one
suit made Of . new processed paper.
Cast features screens oldest actor
Old Hickory, . turtle native Of
Galapagos Isles, and 100 years old.
:. Names Of Jeff Donnell and Lee
Patrick in the cast will confuse
many fans. :. Both are young
women. :. Jen's . brunette and Lee,
equally striking. is blond. TO
heighten suspense, Aim features
some Of lowest-key lighting in years.
:. Occasionally set was so dark 1t
was considered wise to put guide
lights on the offstage door at places
where people might stumble. i.
Sidney Toler, cast as canny detec-
tive and usually "one-take" actor,
spoiled couple Of rehearsals the
first morning. He slipped into
the dialect Of another famous de-
tective he used to play-Charlie
Chan.
Loretta spent more time making
up-two, and q half hours-than
ever before in her career for scenes
where she is caught in q coalbin
and emerges totally black. . She
had to spend a like period cleaning
up. Ed Gargan, who plays a
furniture mover, once hustled such
belongings in real life. Principal
difference: To-day, I make just 20
times as much per hour-and the
stuff isn't so heavy!" Aherne
sold his plane during production and
has given up private flying for the
duration. . The ship, Fairchild,
was bought by the Government for
use as trainer. :. Foreign cars
glimpsed In picture include limou-
sines once owned by fabulous Fatty
Arbuckle and Rudolph Valentino.
. They are part Of collection
maintained for occasional film use.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Bros.
found themselves in fortunate
headline spot recently when United
States forces closed in on North
African ports and French Moroccan
city Of Casablanca found prominent
place in news and radio bulletins.
:. Just two weeks before this event,
Evening star., 1942-11-17
to Stage
Hit Musical
Short Planned for
"BeSf Foot F0rward,"
Abbott Supervising

Special stage attractions coming
to Loews Capitol in the near future
were listed today by Gene Ford, pro-
duction manager for the theater. A
musical comedy, musical revue
and two popular bands are among
the programs announced.
The musical comedy, to be pre-
sented in a condensed, one-hour
version, is George Abbott's BEST
Foot Forward" which shortly will
be made into an M-G-M musical by
Mervyn Leroy. A long-run hit on
Broadway and a roadshow success
in numerous cities, the show did not
play the National. Abbott himself,
maker of many hits, designed the
special stage version, and Joy
Hodges and Marty May are featured
In talented cast.
The revue is new edition of Earl
CAROLS Vanities, featuring songs,
dances, comedy and the lovely ladies
of the ensemble who were selected
by the professor of pulchritude him.
self.
The bands are Xavier Cugat and
his Latin American rhythm makers,
fresh from Hollywood appearance
in You Were Never Lovelier," and
Will Osborne and his band.
Evening star., 1942-11-17

studio had finished filming movie Of
that title, with action revolving
about notorious black market Of Eu-
called the doorway out of Hit
ler's hell. To cash In on timely
coincidence, picture was rushed into
immediate release.
First expose of underground refu-
gee trail, flm discloses how money
or 4 pretty face-will buy not only
food and drink, but escape through
Casablanca. Supplies Humphrey
Bogart with his first important
romantic role since he achieved star
dom =. For q change, he's no hunt
ed killer, manages to keep out Of jail
and retains his familiar blue steel
revolver for just one key scene .
His wardrobe is smartly tailored, too,
and includes q dinner jacket. 3.
Among principals, Bogart is only
player who does not speak with for
eign accent. .. Those who do are
Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid,
Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Peter
LORE, Sydney Greenstreet and s.
z. Sakall. Oddly is fact that while
Michael Curtiz came to Hollywood
as Hungary's ace director, this film
Is first he has directed in past eight
years that deals with contemporary
Europe. He's specialized in
American pioneer stories. Air
port sequences supplied an unusual
setting :. One entire sound stage,
except for immediate foreground,
was completely logged" by use of
vaporized oil. 1t. Robert Aisner,
himself refugee from France, via
Casablanca. after escape from Ger
man concentration camp, was tech
nical adviser. Newspaper prop"
which tells Bogart and Miss Berg
man that Nazis have occupied Paris
is actual copy of June II, 1910, edi-
ton of Paris Soir, brought to this
country by Aisner. Iron Cross,
which Veidt wears, among many
other medals, is genuine German
insignia purchased by prop man in
Los Angeles pawnshop for 30 cents.
Grisly Best Seller.
THE OX-BOW INCIDENT
Grisly best seller Western by Walter
Van Tilburg Clark was kicked
Evening star., 1942-11-17
Where and When
Current Theater Attractions
and Time of Showing

Stage.
National-"The Merry Widow"
Lehar's operetta modernized, with
Muriel Angelus: Tonight at $50.
Screen.
Capitol-"Girl Trouble" involving
Don Ameche and Joan Bennett:
10:45 am, 1:20, 3:45, $40. 8:45 and
11:20 pm. Stage shows: 1920, 2:45,
Sis. 7:50 and 1925 pm.
Columbia-"Iceland," Sonia Henie
skating into hearts of the Marines:
11:25 am. 1:30, 3:35, $40, 7:45 and
$50 pm.
Earle-"My Sister Eileen" maga-
zine to stage to screen: II am, l AS,
4:35, 7:25 and 1915 pm. Stage
shows: 1855. 3:45, 6:35 and 9:25 pm
Keith's-"Nightmare," murder in
Britain: 11:15 am, 1:lo, $50, 4:35,
6:15, 8 and $50 pm.
Little-"That Hamilton Woman"
the love-life of Lord Nelson, with
Olivier and Leigh: ii an, 1:40,
4:l5, 6:55 and 9:40 pm.
Metropolitan-"Desperate Jour-
ney," Nazis chase Enrol Flynn and
fellow pilots: II am, LOS, 3:l5,
5:25. 7:30 and $40 pm.
Palace-"The Moon and Sixpence,
George Sanders in Somerset Maug-
hams story: II am, l:40, 4:20, 7
and 9:40 pm.
Pix-"It Happened One Night"
the ancient triumph of Colbert
Gable: l, 4, 7 and 10 pm.
Trans-Lux-Newsa and shorts; con-
tinuouS from 10 am.
Evening star., 1942-11-17

around studios for two years until
Director William Wellman, joined
by Actor Henry Fonda, put up i'm
passioned plea to 20th Century Fox
for its celluloid conversion ;. Hol-
lywood was fearful story might prove
too strong for popular consumption
by moviegoers.
Gruesome premise built around
hanging Of three men suspected of
murder In Nevada cattle town, 1885
era. Although Fonda Is listed
as star Of Aim. he's first to admit
that "the! real stars are three ropes
with nooses knotted ut the ends"
-. One Of largest interior sets ever
constructed was one representing
Ox-Bow Valley. where climax takes
place. -. :. This is where Fonda,
Harry Davenport and others come
upon Whist they believe to be three
rustlers Dana Andrews, Anthony
Quinn and Francis Ford, the three
who die In story. >. This set COW
cred 26,703 square feet Of floor space
and included heavily wooded ter
rain, . cliff at one end and q stream
that gurgled along 200-foot course.
A victory garden actually was
started on this set, prop man dis
covering that the earth dumped
there was good topsoil. He
planted radishes and Swiss chard.
/. =. Garden plot became pet Of
every one and when 1t was decided
vegetables needed sun, they ordered
sun arcs and ultraviolet lamps
trained on vegetables daily.
Thus chard and radishes grew under
care Of the highest-priced gardeners
In history. Mary Beth Hughes
and Jane Darwell were only FEM
inine members Of this rough-and-
ready cast.
Rsleased ~ the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc)