davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-06-21
Owls Final Test

Had the Office Of War Information
been created in the beginning to per-
form a definite function for which
there was demonstrable need, the
precipitate action of the House on
Friday in laying it low, insofar as it's
domestic operations are concerned,
might be subject to sound criticism.
For If there ever was need for such
an organization, the need has in
creased rather than diminished with
the intensity of the war effort.
But as matter of fact owl never
was brought into being to do a job
that was ever precisely defined. 1t
was the accidental product of an
other OF those queer evolutionary
processes in which number of vague
ideas, taking form in the shape of
new agencies created by executive
order and unsuccessfully striving to
Justify their independent existence,
are suddenly catalyzed by the addi-
tlon of a new set of initials. Thus,
offshoots of the old Office of Emer-
gency Management, the Office of
Facts and Figures, the Office of Gov
ernment Reports, the Office of Infor-
nation and perhaps some others
finally became the Office of War In
formation.
The resulting amorphism under the
direction of Elmer Davis, called away
from commentators microphone to
give it form and substance, has been
subjected only once before to con-
greSsional examination and since re-
ceiving its first appropriation has fig
ured in public discussion more as the
center of discord and uncertainty
than as the fountain head of un-
adorned facts about the war. Its
notoriety has been achieved through
new controversies and suspicious
regarding ultimate motives and OBJ
Jectives. Mr.. Davis himself made
peculiarly unfortunate speech in Bos-
ton last week which did much to
ALLEVIATE hitherto rather sympa-
thetic press. A more inappropriate
speech at a more inappropriate time
hardly could have been made, and
Mr.. Davis did not help himself notice
ably by following it up with counter
attacks on his congressional critics
a procedure which has never been ad-
visable on the part of the man anx-
ious to get ahead in his government
career.
The test of Owls continued service,
of course, should be the value to the
people of what it is doing. Although
this may be to some extent estab-
hshed before more sympathetic
Senate committee, Owl has added
more critics than supporters and is
not in strong position to demon
strate that the war effort would suffer
in the least by its disappearance from
the domestic scene. Certainly it will
be hard to show tangible results to
counterbalance the heavy expense of
its operations to date.
Evening star., 1943-06-21

their employers. During 1912, however,
the year following 'labors" promise, the
number of strikes were 1893, the number
of workers involved were 839 ,961 for the
year. and the number Of man-days lost
was 4,182,557. During 1943 the rates
have climbed even higher. In April alone
the number of strikes were so frequent as
to approach 5,o00-a-year rate. Again,
is this the fullhlment of promise with
more than SO per cent faithfulness or is
1t palpable failure to observe solemn
promise in the slightest degree?
Why, then, do the President and his
spokesmen continue to offer us state
ments that the voluntary" method is
working, that labor" is keeping its
promise with more than 80 per cent &C
curacy? Clearly a comparison of man
days lost to man-days worked is an in
territorial effort to disguise "labor's" de-
fections. At the least, 1t fails to serve as
an accurate measure of "labor's" fidelity.
Then too, the Labor Departments sta
tistics ignore any strikes which were Of
less than days duration as we'll as the
conglomoration Of such practices as
"walkouts," labor stoppages," confer
ences," labor holidays" etc.
For the President to present the bill
as recent congressional conception
would be an insult to the memory of the
American people. The Connally bill was
put forward in 1s4l and again in April,
1912. It was abandoned each time at
the Presidents request. The Smith bill
(the original version of the Harness bilD
passed the House in December, 1941, by
vote Of 252 to 1856, but the Presidents
executive subordinates succeeded in get
ting 1t shelved in the Senate. Thus,
both bills are over year and half old.
An examination of the lengthy congress
sional debate Is all that is needed to show
that there was tediously careful consid-
Grafton given to the merits Of every part
thereof and that such discussion was
only incidentally centered upon the sub
ject Of Mr.. Lewis.
Limitations Of space forbid what might
prove further profitable developments.
If this article has done no more than
stimulate an International interest in
these vital matters and recalled a few
perhaps forgotten incidents, 1t will have
served its sole purpose. It is in the light
OF facts that we must weigh the argu-
ments which will be made by the Presi-
dent. WILLIAM M. MARTIN.
Evening star., 1943-06-21
Presidents Writinos

Frederick B. Adams, jr., of New
York, in a paper read before meet
ing of the Biblographical Society of
America, lets it be known that the
task OF gathering first editions of
books and pamphlets by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt is a tough"
job. Any one desiring a complete
showing must acquire literally
scores of items, many of them
printed in painfully small editions
for private circulation" There are
six different texts of the first in
augural address, and "the manner in
which the differing versions got into
type is enough to make a collectors
head swim"
The list, of course, includes intro
ductions which Mr.. Roosevelt has
prepared for books ranging from the
Bibles supplied to every member of
the armed forces to rare volumes
about the science of navigation. Also
mentioned are the Presidents Rec
ords of the Town of Hyde Park"
speech to the pupils of Milton Acad-
emy entitled Whittier Bound" a
pamphlet urging the election of
Alfred E. Smith in 1928, and "the
privately printed editions of various
addresses which Mr.. Roosevelt has
regarded as milestones in his three
terms and therefore deserving of
special circulation in the councils of
the mighty" The last named of
these productions, it seems, have
been manufactured in the Govern
ment Printing Office, beginning in
1885. Only hundred copies of "Ad-
dresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt and
Winston Churchill, 1912" were issued.
A definitive assembling of the
Presidents writings, naturally, will
be brought together at Crum Elbow;
but the Library of Congress is an
equally important center for their
preservation-in duplicate, if feasible
Evening star., 1943-06-21
"ALBEMARLE STREET.

Dear Sir:
your column Is so interesting seldom
miss reading it. But I don't remember
reading anything about catbirds-are
they really dangerous tc cats?
"Of course, know the catbird-me-
dium size, dark gray, black on top Of
the head, and end Of the tail, with a
long, sharp, black bill to peck our cats
eyes out.
Besides that, they have stance d!f-
ferent from that OF other birds. I do
admire them for being pert and impu-
dent, but they are not even afraid Of
me-can you imagine!
II have a wired-in pen in the back lot
for my Persian so he can chew grass.
The top edge Of the fence is bent down
so Spunky can't Jump over or crawl out.
These catbirds have no nest anywhere
close by. didn't want to run them
away until was sure. They are afraid
of nobody, cats or dogs.
THE catbirds even have q 70-pound
pointer cowed.
"The birds get on tree branch about
3 feet from me. These birds are the
only thing in the world the dog is afraid
Of What can do " get rid of them
without having to give up my bird bath
for the others?
II like the pretty, impudent things-but
my pets come first.
Sincerely, A. B. NJ"
1t is seldom that catbirds are this bel
ligerent.
Only the presence of their nest close by
could account for it.
The nest is large, constructed OF dried
leaves, twigs, grasses and roots, lined with
smaller grasses and roots.
The nest is placed In shrubbery, usually
within 10 feet of the ground.
This means that the nest is very low.
Mostly it is put not more than 3 or 4
feet high.
1t may be realized that catbird nests
are unusually open to depredations. No
doubt the birds know this. Why they
DO not put them higher is question. It
would seem, at least, to the human OBJ
server, that they should know enough,
from experience, to build the nest where
marauding animals could not get to it..
Yet it is common observation that birds,
as humans, go on doing the same things
generation after generation.
Some species of birds will place highly
colored yarns in their nests, thus at
tracing enemies. Given the chance.
the birds will use bright objects de-
spite the fact that they should know
1t is dangerous
4
The catbird lays from 4 to 6 eggs, Of
deep bluish-green, without spots or
other markings.
The color, while resembling the IA
nous robins egg blue, Is much darker.
The parent birds are solicitous for
their young and will attack anything
which comes toward the nest.
Evening star., 1943-06-21
Tax Concessions Trouble
Serviceman Who Could Pay More.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Last year my income was about $4,000,
mostly from civilian employment. The
Federal tax thereon was 5000, all of
which was ready and cheerfully willing
to pay on March is last, and would have
paid had 1t not been for the existing
confusion regarding tax legislation.
This year my total service income. in
cluding base pay and allowances, will be
about $1,000, sum which should be tax
able at current rates at about $780,
However, my rental and food allowances,
amounting to nearly 81 900, are not tax
able. and my base pay of $4,000 is entirely
Cancelled by the $500 personal exemption
and the special $500 exemption recently
authorized for members of the armed
forces. Thus, pay no tax on 1943 in
come.
Further, by another special provision
applicable to servicemen. may elect to
have the rs per cent forgiveness apply to
the greater income, that for 1912, reduc-
ing my tax on 1912 income to $3.50. I
could we'll afford to pay total income
tax Of $500 for the two years, yet the
Evening star., 1943-06-21
A CIeur-Cut Issue

AS the Nations coal miners begin
their third strike, it is perfectly clear
that there is but one real issue in
volved in this controversy. In the
latest pronouncement from John l..
Lewis and his policy committee an
effort is made to obscure this issue
in welter of intemperate, irrespon-
sible and unfounded charges against
the War Labor Board and the coal
operators. But this attempt to
muddy the waters will fail.
Stripping aside the verbal camou-
flage which Mr.. Lewis has thrown
around his indefensible position, the
essential facts become plain. In his
own language, There exists but one
major problem: Namely, compensa-
ton to the mine workers for travel
time from mine portal to portal"
And this claim, in turn, rests on the
provisions of the wage-hour law as
interpreted by the Fifth Circuit
Court.
Thus this whole threat to the Sc
curity of the Nation comes down to
question of the meaning of a law that
has been in effect for several years.
The War Labor Board has published
figures which indicate that the min
ers would be entitled to little if any,
thing under the law upon which Mr..
Lewis stakes his claim. But if Mr..
Lewis honestly differs on this ques-
tion, he is faced with no difficulty in
obtaining full satisfaction. All that
he has to do is make a demand on
the Wage-Hour Administration and
the validity or invalidity of his claim
will be promptly adjudicated.
This is the course that any other
American citizen would be required
to take. But the lawful processes are
not good enough for Mr.. Lewis. Prob
ably because he lacks faith in the
merits of his own claim under the
law, he has sought to compel the op-
orators and the WLB to grant cash
concessions which bear no reasonable
relation to any legal claim that he
may have, and, falling in this effort,
he now serves notice that the miners
will dig coal only if the Government
continues to operate the mines.
What this might mean in terms of
depriving the operators of the right
to control and operate their proper
lies is uncertain at this stage of the
game. 1t may represent nothing
more than face-saving move on the
part of Mr.. Lewis, or it may be an un-
abashed attempt to punish the oper-
ators for refusing to bow down to his
demands by denying them the priv
1lege OF earning profit for the dura-
ton OF the war. This is a matter
which cannot be determined unless
and until the terms of an agreement
are worked out. But it is perfectly
evident that the Government cannot
become party to any agreement for
literal taking over of the mines for
the duration without an open and
shameful surrender to expediency at
the expense of principle. For the
couNtry's sake, it may be hoped that
the Government of the United States
has not been reduced to such a low
estate.
Evening star., 1943-06-21
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. TYace,peu.

Usually this species Is not given to
such tactics, which are usual with the
moro belligerent mockingbirds their
cousins.
There Is no danger Of any real harm
from . catbird. The best thing would
be to forget about 1t.
AS soon as nesting Is over, the birds
will stop chasing cats and dogs.
The catbird belongs to q group called
mimic thrushes.
These include the mockingbird, the
brown thrasher and the catbird.
To some observers, the catbird Is the
best Of the trio, although most observ-
ers place the moeker at the top as .
singer.
Some one has said that the catbird
"sings Chinese" which is no slur on the
gallant Chinese, but simple implica-
ton that their music Is, to occidental
ears, rather on the strange side.
The catbird achieves this effect by
throwing in various gutteral notes. 1t
Is believed that he picks up some Of
these from other birds, notably the wood
thrush, which sandwiches in between
his purer notes a certain number of
harsh whirrs.
The catbird's song is often mistaken
for that of a mockingbird. Often when
the long flowing phrases are heard, a
bird lover will say, "Oh, listen to the
mockingbird," without going out to try
to locate the singer. If he did, he might
give himself a genuine surprise.
The catbird is one of the real princes
Of the bird world
Not only in appearance, and song, but
above all in actions, he belongs to the
company of the good birds.
This respect and liking for him grows
In any observer. He is not flashy, in
any sense: often several years are re-
quired before an observer gives him his
due. But II he keeps on watching the
bird, and feeds 1t raisins, so that it will
come close, where he can get good
look at it, he will see at last that this
is mighty fine American.
In some parts of the country he
is popularity called the black-capped
thrush, and in others the slate -colored
mockingbird
Certainly when bird is compared to
two such birds as the thrush and the
mocker, he is in good company.
If the observer is fond of cats, there
must be special appeal to the catbird
not only on account Of its name. but
peculiarly so because of its odd cry.
There is no other bird call like it in
all the world. Down in Virginia some
people call it the snake bird" because
they think 1t is saying "Sna-a-a-ke."
What it really says, according to ad-
mirers of the house cat, is Meow" or
New" The sound is so unmistakably
cat-like that many a person has mis-
taken 1t for real cat Just how bird
managed to get this infection remains
one of the minor unexplained mys-
teries
Evening star., 1943-06-21

little and too late" now will cost
thousands Of lives tomorrow. He at
tributed the slump to overconfidence
and complacency growing out of re-
cent Allied victories, and appealed
for recognition Of the fact that a
failure of supplies can easily mean
a loss Of the strategic Initiative
which was recently wrested from the
Axis.
A few hours after this disturbing
report had been released by Mr..
Patterson spokesman for the WPB
took issue with his figures. Although
agreeing that every effort should be
made to accelerate production if our
military victories are to be exploited,
the WPB said that actually there was
an overall increase of 2 per cent in
arms production last month. Sup
plies for the ground forces, 1t was
said, represent only about one-sixth
OF total production, and it was in the
ground force program that the
largest deliberate "cut backs" were
ordered.
The net effect of this is to give the
impression that the WPB is not
worried about condition which Mr..
Patterson indicated was causing
serious concern in the War Depart
ment. And the newspapers, obviously
not qualified to determine where the
line should be drawn between these
views, were left with no alternative
but to publish both opinions.
In this situation, where was Mr..
Davis? 1t is his job to compose these
administrative differences Of opinion,
to prevent public statements of con-
f1icts which disturb and confuse the
people. In all fairness it should be
recognized that it is asking too much
OF Mr.. Davis, or any other individual.
to head off all administrative dis
putes. But it is not asking too much
to expect Mr.. Davis to refrain from
criticizing newspapermen for report
ing controversies between responsible
officials that are too hot for him to
handle.
Evening star., 1943-06-21
V-Mail Brings Comment
From Soldier on Strikes.

To the Editor Of The Star:
am just in receipt OF V-mail let
ter from my young brother who is sta
toned in England, and I thought I
would like to pass on to the readers the
reactions of those young fellows who are
fighting to keep America free: "rhe
coal mine strike has been headlined in
the papers over here, and have
difficult time explaining to the English
why we permit such things in time OF
war What the coal miners are striking
for (s2 day increase?) IS more than
the average miner over here makes in
a day-and living costs are not lower.
And coal Is scarce-every one saves, and
shivers all winter to conserve coal sup
plies-and coal is war item. The SOL
dier can't strike for shorter hours, or
higher pay, so why should the civilian
in war industry? He's in it as much
as we are-or doesn't he know it? Send
the labor leaders over here for winter;
let them go through few air raids: and
then to the hell that was Tunisia-they'll
be glad to go home and work."
How discouraging It must be for SOL
diers overseas to feel that all their
efforts are going toward protecting Q
country that will allow such morale
breaking situations to occur! hope that
public opinion will run strong enough to
oust the union leaders-and that the
coal miners, without the leadership of
these radicals, money-seeking saboteurs,
will realize that unless they go "all out"
for victory now, their cause is lost; for
without doubt the boys on the fighting
fronts are coming back to do thorough
job Of housecleaning, and they'll get
plenty of support from those of us at
home who are trying to do our "bit.'
HARRIET WINTON.
Evening star., 1943-06-21
Expediting Appeals

The Municipal Court of Appeals,
In a recent decision, took occasion
to serve notice on litigants and their
counsel that it will not tolerate need
less delays tending to defeat the
basic purpose underlying the creation
of the Districts new Municipal Court
setup.
The case before the court involved
an appeal from a suit for damages
growing out of minor automobile
accident. The record had been
poorly prepared and was not filed
with the appellate court until more
than six months after it was due
under the rules. Speaking for the
court, Judge Nathan Cayton said:
I'm the interest of orderly dispatch
of court business, we cannot condone
the particularly fragrant disregard of
court rules which stands out so
plainly in this case. The purpose of
Congress in creating this court and
of the rules we promulgated by
authority of the statute was to pro-
vide litigants an appeal of right with
a simple, expeditions, inexpensive
procedure. That purpose will be
thwarted if rules are disregarded,
limitations of time ignored and ap-
pellate records and briefs prepared
and presented here at counsel's own
convenience"
This rebuke is in keeping with the
concept of the Municipal Court as
tribunal in which the people may
obtain prompt adjudication of their
claims without the formalities and
the delays usually associated with
proceedings in the higher courts.
Compliance with the rules, in the
long run, will be to the interest of
attorneys as we'll as their clients, and
1t is to be supposeasthat the warning
implicit in the position taken by the
Evening star., 1943-06-21

Government in its wisdom has reduced
the amount Of $1,100 which would pay
under existing rates to $3.50.
am not grateful, am disguised. Dis
gusted that the Government is more in
terested in sparing its citizens from i'm
agined financial hardships in these days
of their greatest prosperity, than in
maintaining the financial soundness and
stability and the morale without which
the war will have been lost at home the
very day it is won in the field
q q
Evening star., 1943-06-21
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Huskin.

~ ~SSSs ~ 81 x14OhtHs
A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact by ,Driting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. HGsktn, director, Washington,
d. c.. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
Q. What became OF the famous Ger.
man raider Emden Of the First World
War?-A. w.
A. The Emden was surprised by
n. M. s. Sydney while attempting to de-
stroy the cables on Direction Island, and
run aground on the reefs. The Aus
tralian government tried to salvage the
ship but finally abandoned the attempt
because OF the continually. high seas.
Q. When was the term "open door"
frst used?-E. L. H.
A. The phrase "the open door" has
been in use since about 1899 to express tho
American foreign policy in the Far East,
to signify that all nations have equal
trading rights and financial opportuni-
ties in China. 1t originated with John
Hay. Secretary Of State in McKinley's
cabinet.
@. Why did such composers as Mozart
live In poverty even though they wrote
operas which were freely performeds
L. L. s.
A. 1t was formerly the custom to pay
. composer q fiat sum for an opera
which then became the property Of the
theater which took it. Any subsequent
income went to the original owner, not
to the composer. Mozart sold outright
everything he wrote.
@. When did Stradivarius die?-G. r.
A. The great violin maker died on
December 10, 1887, at the age Of 90. OF
Stradivari's II children, two sons be-
came violin makers.
@. Why did the Russell Sage Foun-
dation give Mrs. Roosevelt a degree?
L. S. A.
A. In granting Mrs. Roosevelt an hon.
orary degree in 1929 from the Russell
Sage Foundation, the citation contained
In part the following: Teacher, educa-
tor, administrator, director of industry,
guiding spirit Of many civic and legis-
lative organizations, active associate In
many public and private philanthropic
movements, First Lady of the Empire
State, Russell Sage Foundation con-
siders you one of the ablest, most ener-
getic and most versatile women In public
life today ."
Evening star., 1943-06-21
Boy Climbing On Orchard
Tree

SO Intimately Is his body pressed .,
Against the strength end patience
OF th4 trEA -Vs
He climbs upon the rxrSs Of jrssmd-
illness ~,
And s,oeet bedtstades Of froSroncy. =
In neto ,Dorld Of gHstentnp Isares
he feels
Himself apart rom an tomtltar,
things.
He no,o Is neorress to the truited
stem; :.,-
Hts breath ts kindred to the phir
OF iot1gs. @~~s3;
He sees three eggs wrapped In the
blue of sky,
And as he slips do,on to the orchard
floor,
A quiet toonder shines Dithin his eyes
THAT has not eper shone In them
before.
ROSE MYRA PHILLIPS.
Evening star., 1943-06-21
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1Driter, although the use of
a pseudonyn1 for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters 1Uith
a Uie,D to condensation.
Evening star., 1943-06-21
Highest Tribunal
Sardonically Thanked.
r. tha Tdifar ~ rshs S3ar.

The decision of the Supreme Court is
that salute to the Flag is no longer
obligatory. And, take it that now no
one need remove his hat when the Flag
is passing, nor stand when hearing the
National Anthem. I imagine the JUS
tices will be swamped with letters quot
ing that line Of Shakespeare's: For
this relief much thanks" However, the
court said nothing about canceling the
pledge of allegiance, but if that also was
intended then we have become just
nation of aliens.
GRIDLEY ADAMS,
Chairman, National Flag Code Com
mittee.