davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-08-15

cratic Great Britain. Unless a
newspaperman blunders into re-
vealing information intrusted to
him, most Government officials
and high-ranking officers are
willing to talk for background.
In the Navy Department, for
instance, the commander in
chief of the United States Fleet.
Admiral Ernest j, King, finds
time occasionally from his duties
to receive newspapermen and
give them a picture Of what is
going on without revealing any
thing of confidential nature.
Many Bottlenecks Left.
The Army's chief of staff, Gen.
George c. Marshall, similarly
talks with newspapermen. Since
taking over the task of chief of
staff to President Roosevelt,
Admiral William Leahy also finds
time to talk with Washington
newspapermen.
These are not regular press
conferences. But all three of
these men are fully aware that
unless the people of the United
States, who are bearing the brunt
of the war. are kept informed it
will be. difficult to ask sacrifices
of them.
The State Department con-
ducts its relations with the press
in similar fashion. Besides the
Secretary's daily conferences,
newsmen have access to every
high-ranking official in the de-
partment. Official press confer
ences are necessarily dry and
largely devoid of real news or
background. This lis inevitable
in time of war, when it would be
worse than foolish for high
officials to broadcast the Gov
ernment's intentions.
There are, however, still many
Evening star., 1942-08-15
Zinc Reclamation Program
For Publications Approved
Ps the Associated Pre-.

Py the Associated Press.
A zinc reclaiming plan under
which, newspapers and other publi-
cations using photo-engravings made
of the strategic metal may turn it
over and over again, has been ap-
proved by the War Production
Board. '
'ss Instead of using so per cent OF
their last years volume of zinc, to
which they were cut by recent
WPB order, publishers and other
users of the proto-engraving process
will consume only about 10 to Is
per cent of new zinc, it was esti-
mated by George C. Heikes, chief
of the WPB's zinc branch.
The plan was approved by A. I.
Henderson, WIPE director general for
operations, after WPB officials had
conferred earlier in the day with
Cranston Williams. general manager
of the American Newspaper Pub
fishers Association, and representa-
Evening star., 1942-08-15
BY SAMUEL. GRAFTON.

The only way to rouse the Amerl-
can people to the Importance of this
war is to fight the war. The Solo,
mon Islands attack rs worth some
where between three and four thou
sand speeches. Maybe five thou
sand.
Contrariwise, poStponement of
the second front for a year may
produce a lag in public understand
ing of the war. A rnan who might
gladly steal his grandmothers stays
and throw them ingo the national
scrap-steel melting pot, may be-
come Just a shade less intense about
it should he conclude that our lead
ers feel the situation to be so safe
they can postpone armed action in
Europe for a twelvemonth.
Can't Be Urgent in Spots.
We may even need second front
for our own sake. 10 give ourselves
the moral vitamins to make our
selves stop burning gasoline for
pleasure while the East faces a WIN
ter fuel oil famine.
We cannot be urgent in spots.
Either the battle for Russia is of
crucial and pressing Importance, or
it is not. 1t is not up to the man
in the street to say how crucial that
battle is: it is up to our general
staffs. If they say wait year, they
cannot then swing on the man in
the street and accuse him of not
being reused to reckless effort by his
own analysis of the world situation
He takes his tone from above.
In war and politics, you don't
make situation urgent by calling
it So You have to act it out. That
is the blessed, blessed significance
of the Solomon Islands. That at
tack really says we have to beat
Japan. The best of speeches, and
the most trembly of inspirational
discourses, never said it half SO
clearly. And. while the best morale
in the world would never have made
a Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands
will make morale. The Solomon
Islands call the black market dealer
in steel worse names than the most
gifted denouncers among us could
invent, in the heat Of mere moral
fervor.
Evening star., 1942-08-15
Army Becomes WorId'sLorgest Film Exhibitor,
With $500 Programs Presented Each Week

close to actual areas of operations
and in many cases men just out of
the line can attend the same pic
lures as are being shown in the
United States at the time
|, This service is partly an outgrowth
of the Army's home motion picture
service, which started just after the
last war and now includes $40 the
aters and $500 programs presented
before audiences of from 9,000,0 900 to
100000 900 week At home the 35-
millimeter films and projectors are
used and the theaters are of stand
ard size.
Army Became Expert.
In the interval between the wars
Army officers became experts at the
business, and they found the pro-
ducers willing collaborators. A re-
cent agreement with motion picture
distributors makes it possible for the
post theaters to be on complete
| parity, SO far as releases of first
run pictures are concerned, with
! flrst-run houses everywhere.
The service always has paid for
itself. Soldiers were charged 20
cents cash, or IA cents if they bought
coupons Now the price has been
cut to is cents cash or IL cents for
| coupons.
Some posts naturally did not paw
their own way at first and it was
arranged so the large ones could
make good the losses of the smaller
ones. Any profits on the chain as
a whole are, returned pro rata to the
stations which had been assessed. to
form part Of the welfare funds.
This experience made officers IA
mlllar with all the ms and outs OF
a tricky business. Movie going. thev
have found, is the soldiers favorite
recreation and. in general. it is re-
served for this purpose.
some use, however, is being made
Evening star., 1942-08-15

of moving picture techniques in
other phases of morale building.
1t was realized early, for example
that thousands of men entering the
Army had little appreciation of the
background factors of the war, and
groups of special lecturers toured
the camps to enlighten the men
Fifteen of these lectures now are
being translated into films. The
original lectures required an hour
each. Each film takes 20 minutes.
The animated cartoon technique
is being used and Walt Disney is
now doing much Of the work.
Another series of films being pre-
pared by the Army is entitled Know
Your Enemies, Know Your Friends.
German. Italian and japanese
films will be used-evidence from
the mouths of the enemies them
selves of their dastardly intent.
Evening star., 1942-08-15
ilse Hoffman, Magazine
Photographer, Ends Life
a, the Associated prrsx

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Aug. 15--Ilse Hoff-
man, 31-year -old woman photog-
rapher whose portrait work was
published in many magazines, died
today after drinking the contents Of
a bottle labeled poison, police re-
ported.
Detectives said her sister, Boje,
told them Ilse was respondent be-
cause her husband had left her a
year ago.
She came to this country from
Germany as child and was a
graduate of the New York Institute
of Photography In addition to her
magazine work, she also made COM
mercial photographs for advertise
ments.
Police listed her death as 4
suicide,
Evening star., 1942-08-15
This Changing World
Shoke-up in Publicity Bureaus OF Army
And Navy Expected to Result in More News

bottIenecks in the public rela-
tions services, which still follow
the rule of not letting the right
hand know what the left is doing.
For instance, in the Navy De-
partment the Public, Relations
Bureau, which is directly under
Secretary Knox, does not have ac-
cess to information obtained by
Naval Intelligence. There is an
almost impenetrable division be-
tween the two. The result has
been that Naval Intelligence has
held up information for days
which it could have made avail
able, except that the officer in
volved did not consider 1T worth
while to pass it on to his coll
leagues in public relations.
Muzzling Was Attempted.
Because of the indiscretions OF
certain newspapermen the very
illuminating lectures given to the
press in Washington by officers
of Military Intelligence, sum-
ming up the situation in various
theaters of operations, have been
suspended.
Government offices are putting
over relatively little propaganda.
There has not been a single in
stance in which the Office of
Censorship has tried to interfere
with or influence the Judgment
of news gatherers in Washington,
There was an attempt in the
early stages of the war to muzzle
government officials. Some mill
tary men, who used to have con-
facts with individual members of
the press, were warned to discon-
tinue them. But even this at
tempt to freeze information at
the source was abandoned.
The changes in Army and Navy
public relations will include re-
duction of personnel not only In
the field but within the depart
ments themselves. 1t is planned
Evening star., 1942-08-15
.Well-known Britons Form
Group 10 Guard Liberties
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press. .r-
LONDON, Aug. l5,-Twenty- mine
weu-known Britons+peers, indus
trialists and writers-have organ
lied an 'individualist group" to ad-
vance their desires for fewer govern
ment restraints on personal liberties.
The group is headed by Sir Ernest
j. P. Benn, publisher and political
writer, and includes the playwright
critic st. John Ervine.
In its manifesto yesterday, the
"individualist group" said it CON
sists of members of different polit-
ical parties who are united in the
desire to restore to British public life
that spirit of individual liberty and
responsibility which characterized
its period OF greatness and which is
today gravely threatened.
Evening star., 1942-08-15
Cordenos Says Enemy
Spreads False Reports
By tht Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 15.-Gen.
Lazaro Cardenas was quoted yester-
day in press reports from the Pacific
Coast port of Acapulco as accusing
enemy agents of spreading false re-
ports that Mexico was planning to
prepare troops to fight for the
United States wherever the United
States wishes to send them"
He said the agents purpose was to
interfere with Mexican defense
plans.
Cardenas, former President,
denied Thursday that Mexico was
planning to send troops abroad. The
newspaper La Prensa quoted him as
saying Mexico declared war on the
Axis on her own volition, free from
any outside pressure.
Evening star., 1942-08-15
Evidence Of U-Boat Aid
In Caribbean Reported
BY the Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico. Aug. IS.
Lit. Gen. Frank M. Andrews,
commander of United States Carib-
bean defenses. said yesterday there
is strong evidence that Axis sub
marines are getting some help such
as fuel, fresh vegetables and water"
in the Caribbean area, but they
have no base in the usual sense Of
the word"
He emphasized the United States
was receiving very excellent CO.
operation" from all Central and
South American countries In defense
measures, and said those countries
were doing the best they can" to
control Axis espionage.
Panama in the strategic Canal
Zone has been entirely co-opera-
tive In the war effort--we have ex.
perienced no difhculty whatever in
arranging sites for anti-aircraft de-
fenses and mobile forces" he said,
Evening star., 1942-08-15
BY GOULD LINCOLN.


Attorney General Biddle, ap-
parently, has ruled that the So
called purge" committees, like
the Union for Democratic Action,
Vote for Freedom and Citizens
for Victory. do not have to file
reports of their receipts and dis
bursements with the clerk of the
House of Representatives, as
other political committees are
compelled to do under the Cor
rupt Practices Act, so long as
they do not take part in the
general elections and confine
themselves to primary cleo
tions." These purge committees
actively have been attacking Ger
tain members Of the House and
OF the Senate, seeking Repub-
lican or Democratic renomina-
tions.
pit Representative Cleveneer, Re-
publican, of Ohio, called the
matter to the attention of the
Attorney General last month.
asking him to begin prosecution
of these organizations for failure
to live up to the provisions of
the Corrupt Practices Act. Un-
der date of july 81, 1t is now
learned, the Attorney General
sent reply to Mr.. Clevenger,
the letter follows:
Dear Mr.. Clevenger:
Il have your letter of July %,
1912, inclosing portion of the
Congressional Record for July 18,
1912, dealing with alleged viola
tions of the Federal Corrupt
Practices Act by the Citizens for
Victory Committee and the IN
ion for Democratic Action.
"Your attention is called to the
difficulty of considering such evi-
dence of possible violations of
the Federal Corrupt Practices
Act at this time. Political COM
mittees within the meaning of
the act are those which accept
contributions or make expendl-
lures for the purpose of influence
ing the election Of candidates
for Federal office, but the defini-
ton of the term election in the
second section of the act ex-
pressly excludes primary elec-
tions.
Section 241 (a), Title 2,
United States Code.
For this reason, 1t is not prac-
tical to assume in advance that
the action of a political commit
tee prior to primary elections will
become violative of that act at a
later date. Accordingly, the evi-
dence you have submitted will be
included in the departments
files for subsequent considera-
ton"
Viewpoint Disputed.
The Attorney Generals conten-
ton that these purge. committees
are not compelled under the
terms of the law to make quar-
terly reports to the clerk of the
House regarding their receipts
and disbursements was today dis
puted by officials in the Capitol
who have long been familiar 4.
with the operation of the Corrupt
Practices Act. They contended
that political committee, which
is what these committees have :
admitted they are, engaged in
political campaigning, must file
these reports--that the law spe-
cifically exempts individual cam
didates from filing reports regard
ing the primary elections. but
that a continuing committee is
compelled to make its reports
quarterly. They pointed out, too,
that there was nothing in the
literature and the letters sent
Evening star., 1942-08-15

to effect greater cohesion between
the dispensers of information and
the various bureaus where news
Is available.
At present it happens frequent
ly that men in public relations
bureaus, despite their high rank,
g know less of what is going on
than some Junior officers who are
in operations Offices Closer CO.
operation between both groups is
expected to make more legitimate
news available for the public.
Evening star., 1942-08-15
The Political Mill
BddIe Disputed on Ruling That Act Fails
To Include Purge Groups in Primaries

out by these purge committees
which indicated they did not in
tend to be active In the general
elections as they have been In the
primary elections.
The last filing date for political
committees was June Is. The
next will be September Is. IF
these committees are to be active
in the campaigns against, for
example, Representative Fish,
Republican, of New York and
Representative Barry, Democrat,
also Of New York, or If they have
already been active In the Illi
nois senatorial campaign against
Senator Brooks. Republican, and
in support of Representative
McKeogh. his Democratic op-
ponent. then under the inter
pretation placed upon the law
and the situation by Attorney
General Biddle, these committees
must make returns to the clerk
of the House, or violate the law.
However, all three of the COM
mittees mentioned by Repre-
sentative Clevenger in his address
to the House on July 18 and in
his letter to the Attorney Cen
eral of July % have since filed
statements with the clerk of the
House, Citizens for Victory on
July %, Vote for Freedom on
July 81 and Union for Demo-
cratic Action on August II.
The argument of Representa-
tive Clevenger has been that If
these committees have under
taken to defeat or elect men,
bers of Congress, as they have,
they are subject to the law, just
as are the Republican Congress
sional Committee and the Demo-
cratic Congressional Committee,
and other organizations. The law
has been made to apply also to
labor organizations which have
engaged in political campaigns.
Mr.. Clevenger insisted that the
public has a right to know who
is contributing to these purge
committees, how much they col
lect and how they spend their
money. .4
New Deal Foes Are Large.
The contention has been made
in some quarters that these new
committees which have under
taken to defeat members Of the
House and Senate are merely new
ways of getting money into the
campaigns to defeat Republicans
and Democrats who have not
gone along with the New Deal.
If that is the case-and the tar
gets they have aimed at so far
are against the New Deal-there
is no valid reason why these ad-
juncts of the New Deal Demo-
cratic organization should not
be made to comply with the law.
The Interpretation made by the
Attorney General of the Corrupt
Practices Act leaves the whole
matter Of money spending in
political campaigns practically
without the realm of the corrupt
practices in those States where
party nomination is tanta-
mount to election That. for ex-
ample, would be the case in Vir-
ginia or Arkansas or Vermont.
If the first two States Demo-
cratic nomination amounts to an
election, and in the third State
no Democrat has been elected to
Congress since the Civil War, and
Republican nomination has the
same weight as an election there.
MIR. Clevenger has just been
renominated In his home district.
where one at least of these purge
committees was active against
him.
Evening star., 1942-08-15

tary demands for cartridge brass,
and by lease-lend shipments.
Mr.. Heikes said he thought the
machinery for segregating zinc and
shipping it from newspaper plants
to the smelters could be set up with
in comparatively short time, per-
haps a week. 30 70
Evening star., 1942-08-15
By CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Imminent radical changes in
the public relations organiza-
tions of the War and Navy De-
partments are likely TO result in
more war news for the American
public.
Judging, however, by the pro-
cedure In other countries. Amer
lean reporters covering the war
from Washington consider them
selves fairly lucky. American
officialdom is not as stiff and un-
anproachable as that of other
governments, including demo-
Evening star., 1942-08-15

out knowing IL
Mr.. Roosevelt
may have point
ed the way 10
the d e v op
m e n t of the
most devaststs
ing weapon In
the history Of
all warfare.
No doubt the
President hay' IA
mind the melt.
ing of our thpu-
sands and thou
Evening star., 1942-08-15

I r q c t or from
m a ng huge
pr o ! is, buts
strange as 1t
may seem, the
formula t h a t
will. accomplish
such an obiec-
tive and still
will not destroy
all incentive is
not yet, forth
coming.
V a r | o u s
schemes h a v e
ham c1lnnnS fNd
Evening star., 1942-08-15

THE opinions OF the crers this their o,pn not
necessarily The Stars Such opinions presented In The
Stars effort TO all sides OF questions OF interest to It's
readers although opinions may contradictory among
themselves and directly opposed to The Stars.
Evening star., 1942-08-15
McLemore
Why Not Drop Statues
On Our Enemies?
By HENRY MeLEMORE.

NEW YORK; President of
the United States has suggested
that the statues in this country be
converted into war material. With
Evening star., 1942-08-15
|FormuIuCurb.
On Excessive
ProfitNeeded
None Yet Devised
Which Is Just to
All Parties ... --.-
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Nearly everybody who knows any
thing about the problem of war
contracts wants to see formula
adopted that will prevent any con-
Evening star., 1942-02-06
Capital Store Sales
as Per Cent Ahead
Of Year Ago
2 Weeks Gain Exceeds
43 Per Cent Average
For Fifth District
BY EDWARD C. STONE.

Continuing the retail trade boom
In the Capital, department store
sales for the week ended last Sat-
urday, January 30, ran 46 per cent
ahead of the corresponding week
a year ago, the Federal Reserve
Bank of Richmond reported today.
The gain was ahead of the fifth
district average of 43 per cent, an
upturn of Al per cent in Baltimore
and 26 per cent in group of other
cities.
Sales were also 4 per cent ahead
OF the previous week this year. In
this comparison, fifth district sales
were 5 per cent better than in the
previous week, were up the same
amount in Baltimore and 10 per cent
IN the group of other cities.
Cumulative sales in Washington
IN the four weeks ending January
80 scored a sensational gain of So
per cent over the like period a year
ago. The four weeks record for the
hfth district was As per cent better
than last year, while sales were 40
per cent higher in Baltimore and
35 per cent in the other cities, the
review stated.
Today's report. revealing the 46
per cent jump in Washington sales
for the week ending January 30,
follows a 66 per cent gain in the
previous week over last year, 40 per
cent in tie weeks ending on Janu-
ary "a and January II, and a 20
per cent advance for the week end
ing January 3.
Turner Made Express Chief.
Railway Express today announced
appointment of Claude w. Turner
as manager, Government Express
Transportation, with headquarters
Evening star., 1942-02-06
War Traffic ALLEGATIONS
Planned on Railroads

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Feb. 6.-The Govern
ment is preparing itself to allocate
the war traffic burden among rail
carriers and, If necessary, impose
priorities on the use of transporta-
ton facilities. Joseph B. Eastman,
director of defense transportation,
informed the Chicago Traffic Club
yesterday.
He said the Government must be
ready to distribute the load so that
all carriers and their facilities can be
used to the utmost advantage.
Priority of movement 10 military and
other war traffic.
In making its plans. his ONCE has
taken into account possible railroad
equipment shortages, rubber short
ages, which might reduce the volume
of freight now handled by truck: re-
duced coastal shipping and lack Of
storage facilities.
Evening star., 1942-02-06
Rails Join Retreat
|0f Fractions 10 81
|0n Stock Market
Industrial Shares
Also Move Lower
On Brood Front
BY VICTOR EUBANK,

NEW YORK, Feb. 6-Recently
buoyant rails, along with wide as
sortment of industrials, switched to
the losing track in today's stock
market.
Selective recoveries cropped up at
the start, but most Of these faded
near midday and, al the close, de-
clines Hanged from fractions to two
points or so. While scattered issues
breasted the current the majority
never got far In front.
Mild cheer was seen in the fact
selling continued Of the slack va
riety and brokers spoke of the usual
week end tightening of commit
ments as mainly responsible for
softening prices. Transfers dwin-
died to around 400, 900 shares.
A little more pessimism anent
possible reverses on Far Pacific bat
tleflelds served to Keep many bid
ders in the background, it was sug-
gested, and those who had modest
profits in carriers and other favor
ties on the recent advance inclined
to cash in at least part OF their
advantage.
A lot of good earnings statements
and favorable dividends remained
as props for individual. stocks, but
even these were reluctant in the
matter of registering progress. The
disposition to hold aloof pending
more information on new tax legis-
lation also was apparent.
A downturn in commodities, with
hogs falling as much as IS to so
cents a hundredweight, tended to
chill bullish spirits.
Rail Bonds Down.
Most railroad issues reversed their
trend in the bond market and short
ly before the close had lost FORE
noon gains and were fractions low
er than yesterday.
Atchison As of 1895, Wabash first
IS Of 1899 and Missouri Pacific third
extension As resisted the changed
trend and were fractions to more
than point higher. Corporates
continued to display an irregular
front.
United States Governments held
generally unchanged in the stock
market and over the counter, de-
spite announcement of 81, SOC, 900 900
Of new financing for Friday, Feb
ruary 13.