davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-03-01
Red Cross Interpreters

The work OF interpreting the
American Red Cross to the people of
Washington and vicinity has been
intrusted to an army Of volunteers
whose duty 1t will be to call upon
their friends and neighbors during
the next few days. Complete success
in the drive can be assured only
by the cooperation of the whole
community. The objective Of the
campaign is relatively large sum
81 1,555 400; approximately three times
the amount Of the last similar en-
deavor. Needed for emergency pur-
poses, the money is wanted in cash
and Immediately. The appeal for it
requires no special argument.
But few words of explanation of
the task of the "interpreters" may
be helpful. The men and the women
who have accepted responsibility for
the solicitation are people already
busy with other duties Most of them
have been carrying their full share
OF the burden OF the war ever since
Pearl Harbor. 1t is largely because
they are ION the job" that they have
been asked to assist in the drive.
They are qualified for the work by
recent experience. Yet the campaign
cannot reach its goal through their
effort alone. They must have the
active and enthusiastic aid of the
public
In every such undertaking the
volunteer solicitors are serving ideal
ends. They have no selfish interest
to advance. When they write, tele-
phone or visit in person their
fellow citizens in behalf of the Red
Cross, they should be welcomed with
appreciation of the cause they rep
| resent and Of the labor they selfessly
are devoting to it. Particularly on
the prevailing occasion, they are
engaged in business of the very high
est Importance to the Nation and to
the civilization of the world. Each
interpreter" goes into the work with
the mandate of his own patriotism
and his own humane Sympathes, but
also as a delegate of the soldiers,
sailors and marines on the fighting
front. To fail to help the Red Cross
now would be to fail America and the
great principles of freedom and
peace to which America is dedicated
Evening star., 1943-03-01
DisgrocefuI Delay

AT about $40 o'clock this morning
q woman, attempting to cross Penn
sylvania avenue in front of The Star
Building, was struck by a streetcar
and thrown to the pavement. A
policeman said he called police head
quarters within three minutes and
asked for an ambulance, but the
woman lay on the pavement for al
most half an hour, attended at times
ny as many as six policemen. No
doctor, no ambulance, no first aid.
Everybody waiting for an ambulance
A Star reporter called Emergency
Hospital three times, asking for an
ambulance. Twice he was informed
the ambulance was on the way.
About $50 o'clock, his third call, he
was informed by the hospital switch
board operator that the call for the
ambulance had just come through
from police headquarters. At 8::37 a
police patrol arrived and the woman
was put on a stretcher and taken
away. A minute or so afterward the
Emergency Hospital ambulance
reached the scene.
Such delay is inexcusable. The
same sort OF thing has happened be-
fore. II there are not enough am
balances, more Of them should be
acquired by the municipality and
held for just such emergencies. The
expense is not to be considered.
There are scores of Official cars" in
the Government service, manned by
chauffeurs who spend half their time
sitting around waiting for their bosses
TO go to lunch. None of them is as
important as an ambulance, and any
number OF them could be dispensed
with and the money saved devoted
to adequate emergency ambulance
service.
An investigation should be made
how to determine who is responsible
for bungling the ambulance call to-
day. And while no such investigation
In the past ever yielded anything
except excuses, this one should be
undertaken with the definite purpose
OF disciplining the incompetent per-
son responsible and perfecting
system that will not permit such
fumbling. 1t is disgrace to the
community that such an incident
should occur and 1t should not occur
again.
Evening star., 1943-03-01

the reduction Is justified as a coun-
terinflationary move. To the aver
age observer, the argument that the
railroads should be expected to pay
out more wages with lower revenues,
lacks any element of reason. 1t does
not take into account the financial
difficulties which still confront many
of the individual roads because of the
lean years they experienced, nor the
fact that in the coming year, taxes
and other operating costs will be
higher. Because of its ramifications,
the entire matter will be watched
with interest by the public.
Evening star., 1943-03-01
Roll Wuqe Case

A showdown on railway wages is
brought nearer by the failure Of the
five operating brotherhoods to effect
a settlement through the National
Mediation Board. thereby sending
their demand for 80 per cent
increase to an emergency panel for
hearing, according to procedure out
lined recently by President Roosevelt.
The case of the fifteen incorporating
brotherhoods, which want a 20-cent
hourly increase, reached the emer-
gency hearing stage several days ago,
and it now becomes possible to deal
with both groups at the same time.
The inability of the Mediation
Board to bring about an adjustment
was no surprise, as rail wage negotia-
tions invariably drag out to point
where White House intervention is
necessary. In this instance, however,
a new factor is injected into the
proceedings, as final approval of an
increase rests with the Economic
Sterilization Director, whose decision
logically would be rendered in the
light of the administration anti
imitation program.
That this particular issue will give
the anti-infiation program severe
test is as certain as anything can be,
for railroad brotherhoods are not
accustomed to coming away from
wage dealings empty-handed. They
obtained an increase in December,
1941, that amounted to approximately
IA per cent for the incorporating
unions and 10 per cent for the oper-
ating groups, and to meet their pres
ent demands in very small part would
be at the expense of the Little Steel"
wage formula prescribed by the War
Labor Board. That, in turn, would
strengthen the demands of other
unions for higher wages, and it is
not to be forgotten in this connection
that John L. Lewis coal miners
already are being heard from.
But the complications do not end
at this point. When the brotherhoods
obtained the last increase after Presi-
dent Roosevelt came to their assist
ance, the Interstate Commerce Com
mission raised freight and passenger
rates to help the carriers meet their
wage bill Now the Government is In
the strange position OF asking the
commission to cancel these advances,
contending that the war-born pros
perity Of the industry will permit
lower rate levels-even though q new
wage boost were granted-and that
Evening star., 1943-03-01
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.

Dear Sir:
Because I have not been reading and
enjoying your column as long AS some
OF the other readers, it is possible that
already some one has put in sour note
about a certain flock Of unWelcome bird
visitors. Anyway, here's my experience
and may it never happen again.
In Marianna Fla, in late summer, we
stood in the back yard watching the
whirring, miraculouslv swift flying of a
flock of chimney swallows, or chimney
sWlfts, over our heads.
will, the Boy Scout, said: Did you
know they are considered among the
fastest flying birds in the whole world?
The only time they come to rest is at
night when the whole flock drops down
a chimney
Little did we dream it was our CHM
ney picked out for demonstration of
the truth Of his words. The house was a
great tWo-storied frame house which
North Florida folks were so fond of
building so years ago, when families of
10 or u children were no rarity.
Its chimneys were as high as its
ceilings and doors-in proportion of
course-high, wide and handsome. When
we reached the door Of the front bedroom
upstairs we heard an ominous 'tr-pp,
tr-pp, tr-pp' inside.
++4
only too we'll did we realize what un-
welcome guests we had The room was
simply full of swallows
The boys caught buckets of the soft,
sooty little birds with long, narrow wings
and bullet-shaped bodies
But let me go back to the word
'sooty.'
They must have been Al chimney
sweeps. When the room had finally been
cleared of the birds we borrowed all the
vacuum cleaners, mops and brooms in
the neighborhood and every one set to
work.
Every pair of curtains, blankets,
every spread, every dresser scarf, had to
be sent to the cleaners
"At 10 that night every member of
the family took a double bath; one to
remove the outer coat of SCOT, one for
real scrubbing.
Next morning the bird lover of the
family opened his book of Florida Birds
and read: In early evening the air is
musical with the soft twittering of the
wonderful little chimney swifts'
Musical, huhH I snorted, and was
more interested in his next paragraph: ::
Presumably the chimney swift winters
IN Central America. The birds appear in
Florida about the middle Of March and
are rarely seen in this State after the
middle Of October
Now If any OF your readers who ave
been to Central America think the CHM
ney swift likes 1t so well down there he
is making it his permanent home, let
them speak out. Central America Is well
come to him, as far as I'm concerned 1t
would be all right with me If I never saw
chimney swift.
Sincerely yours, r. p"
II
Disagreeable experiences such as this
Evening star., 1943-03-01
In the Riqht Direction

Secretary of War Stimson's an
nouncement that his department
strongly indorses" the Austin
Wadsworth national service bill is a
welcome and long overdue step in
the right direction. But it serves to
becloud an already confused picture,
for it seems to put the administra-
ton in the position of working at
cross purposes,
Mr.. Stimson based his Endorsement
Of the bill on what he said was in
creasing evidence of the inadequacy
of present controls to achieve a full
utilization of our manpoWer and to
solve the labor shortage problem"
Presumably, this reflects the attitude
of the administration, although the
President has not yet taken a stand
for or against the AUSTIN Wadsworth
measure.
But, assuming that Mr.. Stimson
acted with the Presidents approval,
the confusing result is that the ad-
ministration seems to be in the posi-
ton of approaching the manpower
problem, on the one hand, through
the quasi-voluntary mechanism of
the War Manpower Commission,
while reaching out for a solution with
the other hand through the medium
of the Austin Wa dsworth bill, which
provides for compulsory ALLEGATION Of
manpower should voluntary means
fail. And, in this connection, Mr..
Stimson made his position known
just a few days after Manpower Com
missioner McNutt had said that he
intended to pursue what he called
purely voluntary approach to the
problem.
Perhaps the administration, an
ticipating that the Manpower Com
missions program will prove made
quate, Is seeking enactment of the
pending legislation as a sort of sec
ond line of defense against the threat
to war production which lies in the
badly muddled manpower situation.
If so, the course is a wise one, and it
is to be hoped that the President, il
he agrees with his Secretary Of War,
will throw his support to the bill.
This is necessary because of the
mounting evidence that the program
Of the Manpower Commission, as a
result of it's inherent deficiencies and
the hostile attitude of Congress, is
going to fall short of doing the job
that has to be done And the Ma
tons war effort would be seriously
prejudiced If the McNutt program
should collapse before we had any
sort of national service law to fall
back on.
Evening star., 1943-03-01
Dangers of Reckless
Criticism Cited,

To the Editor OF The Star:
One of the most dangerous enemies
striking at the heart of America from
within is confusion. Let us not under
estimate the confusion which our people
have let themselves be thrown into. This
is being reflected by the bitterness arising
among those who have so very much In
common. The forces that fan the flame
know that to divide people during the
stress and strain of war will set them
against one another. It is almost un-
belieyable that at this late date many OF
us can fall into such an open trap.
The greatest difficulty is manifested in
the inability to separate the good from
the bad, to distinguish between fragrant
attempts to disunite us and that of sim
cere criticism.
We know that the administration has
made mistakes-too many perhaps. 1t
might have agreed to handle the labor
and farm situation more firmly and
effectively and Keep it completely aloof
from partisan politics. 1t might have
done better job with rationing, al
tiAousAA pei L uouUU WHETHER many
in this country would be willing to
undertake that job themselves. Ration
ing is easier to criticize than to ad-
minister.
The administration is still fighting
mainly to win this war. Those OF us who
can't see that in this respect, at least,
the great majority should be as one must
be suffering the agonizing consequences
Of misled mind and are deserving of
the greatest sympathy.
Criticism is a very necessary and
wholesome thing. 1t is one thing, how
ever, to criticize. 1t is quite another
thing not even to know which side Of
the fence one is on and in place of honest
criticism, to help unconsciously stab those
in the back who are working and dying
for us. D. A,
Evening star., 1943-03-01
The Duuqhter of the Druoon

MADAME Chang Kai-shek)
The Dragon sleeps no more ptth,n
the 1Dnlls
For s1uitt black herons swoop above
Peiping,
And Fujiydma's lurid shadow falls
Upon the crimsoned ruins OF
Chungking.
The Dragons daughter nalks her
mighty land
With feet unbound By Uorn ances-
tral 1uays,
And heeds her prophet fathers SAGE
command
TO build tomorro,ps-buru yester-
days."
She weaues a tapestry OF east and
1UeSt,
Her patient fingers bind the ne,p
and old,
Her motif freedom for the uorlds
oppressed,
Her loom Is faith, her eolors clear
and bold.
And China's heart, four hundred
million strong,
Finds courage In her paliant shuttle's
ISABEL TuDEEN.
Evening star., 1943-03-01
Work Week Regulations

TOO many IFS" and butts" remain
In the picture to consider the War
Manpower Commissions regulations
on the rty-eight-hour week as
completely clarifying
If the plan outlined in the regula-
lions Is to be effective, there must
be efncient machinery in the United
States Employment Service to place
In essential industries men and
women discharged from present en-
ployment through adoption of the
forty -eighthour week. But the
House has declined to make available
the appropriations on which the en-
ployment service depends, according
to the Manpower Commission spokes-
men, for this efficient machinery.
II the plan is to function equitably,
IN its effect on employers as we'll as
employees, as much care must be
taken to prevent excessive increases
In costs of operation as in seeing
that discharged employees are placed
elsewhere in industry. But while the
employer must not discharge workers
until places for them are found, in
creased costs resulting from time
and-a-half wages over forty hours
are not considered by the War Man
power Commission to be within its
province. The OPA. on the other
hand, is definitely opposed to any
reflection of such added costs in
higher prices
II one objective of the regulations
Is to narrow the work, in contra
distinction to provisions in scores Of
union contracts designed to spread"
the work, such conflicting contract
provisions must be abrogated. Coun-
sci for the Manpower Commission
says informally that the regulations
supersede contract provisions in this
respect. But not one word relating
to inValidation Of such provisions ap-
pears in the regulations.
II new workers are to become avail
able by increasing the work week
discharged workers must go where
they are told to 60 by the regional
manpower agents. But while the
employer is directly ordered to adopt
the forty eight hour week and pay
time-and a-half on forty-hour rates,
there is no Complementary compul-
sion directed against the worker TO
go where he is told to go. This is
not to argue that there should be-
short of universal service by law.
But lack of such compulsion en-
phasizes the one -sidedness of the
forty -eight-hour plan As now set I'D.
Perhaps these complexities can be
1roned out in time-if we have the
time. Certainly a heavy RESPONSE
Evening star., 1943-03-01
THIS AND THAT
Bv Charles +. TraceuelI.

occur now and then, but they are few
and far between. in comparison with the
vast number of birds and possibilities
After all, there is a great deal of fun
and talk connected with such an occur
ance.
AS much as one may not realize it at
the time, the experience is exciting and
wholesome, since ii affords topic Of in
teresting conversation for the rest of
ones life, and at the same time drama
tizes how little conflict we have with the
birds, after all.
When we think of the millions of birds
and how few of them get into our houses,
even when we have no screens we can
not help but be grateful to the flyers for
all that they do for us, the hours of
wholesome enjoyment thev afford us, as
we'll as the great help they give to agri-
culture.
1t is not often that bird gets into
house.
An old superstition says that a death
will result.
Sometimes such an occurance follows
| the entrance of a bird, and then the
| people who know about it are more con-
| vinced than ever of the truth of the old
| saying.
More often. nothing happens, and no
one remembers anything about it, so
| that there is no proof of the untruth of
the old superstition.
| That is the way such things go.
Actually, there is no reason why bird
indoors is any more harmful than a bird
outdoors, except in such cases as out
| lined by our correspondent.
The creature is always alarmed. and
seeks exit AS fast as it can 20. Often it
is hampered because of the activities of
the other two-legged creatures which we
call human beings.
These want to help-and so they pro-
ceed to do things which merely frighten
the bird more.
The thing to do, if just one bird gets
In. Is to open doors and windows as
quickly as possible, and then withdraw
The air currents set up will show the
unfortunate creature the way to the
outdoors.
Since birds are not used to looking
from the inside out, through A pane of
glass, there is real danger of them crash
ing through the pane.
1t is best to lower windows from the
top, as the birds are more likely to fly
through by flying down from the ceiling,
against which they f1utter in their mad
anxiety to get out
1t is marvellous that birds do not fly
| into windows from the outside.
In the last IL years, only two songsters
, have struck the windows near our feed
ing stations. and fortunately the panes
were covered by screens.
The blow was sharp enough to have
broken the glass. without a doubt
| Aviators have had great deal OF
| trouble with striking birds. It is only
recently that real "birdproof" glass has
| been invented.
Evening star., 1943-03-01
Repayment in Kind
Urged for Fascists.

10 the Editor OF The Star:
The recent article from London by Vis-
count SimonS, lord chancellor, is inter-
estlng in that it elaborates on the stages
OF punishment of Axis criminals. AS
usual, he preflxed it those responsible. !"
as though there were just handful of
Nazi-Fascist thugs who are plundering
Europe and killing the people, not real
lzlng that If he were to back up what
he said by deeds, he would find all the
AXIS armies. Gestapos, military and civil
servants with German and Italian infil-
trated population alike, guilty of the
monstrous atrocities and supported by
their home folks, for which no further
proof is required
The subdued nations are not interested
In reprisals, revenges and retributions,
with slow court procedures instead, they
demand prompt return Of the same treat
ment, with medicine of their own kind.
WESTER
Evening star., 1943-03-01
Mr.. Browder's MESSAGE

during the past week Earl BrOWder,
general secretary of the Communist
party in this country, delivered a
message to the American people
through full-page advertisements in
many daily newspapers. The message
is Of Importance only to the extent
that it reveals the line" the Com
munists will follow in attempting to
use the war and the military sue
cesSes of the Red Army to bolster
their own position in the United
States
Mr. BroWder, whose speech which
formed the basis of the published
message was made on Lincoln's
birthday, began by linking the Civil
War President with Vladimir Lenin
founder of the present Soviet re-
gime, as fellow marchers in the ad-
vance of democracy. Then he pro-
gressed to his main thesis, which was
that the United States can be allied
with the democratic forces in Europe
"only on condition" that we are allied
with the Soviet Union.
To accomplish this union with the
Soviets, to the satisfaction of the
Communists, several things must be
done, according to Mr.. Browder.
First, the 302 members of the House
who voted to continue the Dies COM
mittee must be repudiated, with the
country rallying behind the 80 men,
bers who voted against the COM
mittee.
Second, we must stamp out the
powerful elements" in the State De-
partment who have been working
with the Vichy French and other
European groups which are on the
Communist blacklist. Mr.. Browder
unhesitatingly pictures the State De-
partment as acting contrary to the
wishes of the President in this re-
spect, although he undoubtedly
knows that this is not the case.
Third, something will have to be
done about Attorney General Biddle,
concerning whom Mr.. BroWder had
some very disparaging things to say.
The absurdity of his claims is best il
Illustrated, however, by the contention
in the message that Mr. Biddle
shares the basic theories OF Martin
Dies, but is jealous of the Texans
prominence"
Finally, again according to Mr..
Browder, the United States is going
to find it impossible to have real
istic relationship of alliance" with
the Communists of Europe, without
which we cannot have an alliance
with the democratic forces of the
world, unless we open the doors at
home to our domestic Communists
and stop suspecting them of being
anything but loyal and patriotic citi-
zens of the United States
This, in substance, is the "sales
talk" which Mr.. Browder circulated
throughout the United States last
week, at what must have been a con-
siderable financial outlay. 1t is evi-
dent on the face of the message,
however, that Mr. Browder has little
if any understanding OF the temper
and psychology of the American peo-
Pile. 1t is not likely that he will be
able to sell" the Communist party
in this country on any basis, but in
this resort to the "or else" technique
he is simply wasting his time and
somebody's money.
Evening star., 1943-03-01

bility Is placed on the regional man.
power directors and their policy ad-
visers, who constitute the labor
management groups now being
established. The men chosen for this
group in Washington have, at the
outset, the community's confidence
and good wishes in their discharge
OF voluntary and patriotic task.
Evening star., 1943-03-01
Three Remedies for
Absenteeism Proposed.
d. A..

To the Editor of The Star:
Your editorial of February % on the
absentee problem throws quite a bit of
light on the subject. However. know
from experience that neither the reward
method nor the penalty method will solve
the problem The penalty method is in
use in the United States Government
service and the problem there is as sert-
ous as elsewhere.
The first step toward solution Is the
elimination or curtailment of the use of
leave by paying for unused leave. The
cash value Of the leave should be paid As
bonus periodically.
The next step Is to establish an equi-
Evening star., 1943-03-01
Recreation Speaker
Incorrectly Quoted.

To the Editor OF The Star:
In your issue of February "a, 1943 vou
reported meeting of the Board of Rec
reation, held on February %, and quoted
ton of ''unsightly barracks, Army style, ,
being placed on the polo grounds in Po-
tomac Park. These remarks were not
made by me-
JAMES E. SCHWAB.
Vice Chairman, Board of Recreation,
D. C.
Editors nOte-The remark errone-
ously attributed to Mr. Schwab was
made by another speaker. The Star
regrets the error.