davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
No Comparison

Two wars within a generation of each other have created tempting possibili- ties in the way of comparison that are constantly being held up to prove or dis prove some point. Now we are beginning to be told that the greatest danger from inflationary price increases can be ex- pected near the end or shortly after the present war. As usual, for conclusive proof, the record of the last war is cited.
 The assumption that because prices went up draStically after the last war, they will automatically do the same thing this time if preventive measures are not taken, is open to serious question. At the time of the last war, the technique of mass production had not hit full stride. And Comparatively speaking, distribution was still living in the dark ages. Both industry and distribution operate upon an entirely different principle than they did quarter of a century ago.
 Today the manufacturer knows that to be successful, he must keep the price of his product down-Henry Ford taught him that lesson. The same is true of dis tribution. The good retailer knows that if he is to meet competition, he must sell large volume of goods at a reasonable price = the chain store taught him that lesson And so, from manufacturer to consumer, the principle of production and distribution is the opposite of few years ago. The maxim of charging all the traffic will bear," has given way to the practice of charging as little as possible, while selling as much as possible. Science has taken the place of opportun- ism because, in the long run, it has proven more profitable.
 If prices do go up it will not be due to the chicanery of producer or distributor. And the fact that they went up after the last war, has practically no bearing on the present. Mass production and mass distribution were little more than exper- imentS in 1918
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
Fires That Didn't Happen

The steady rise in the national fire loss should not cause people to forget about the fires that do not occur In other words, fires that were prevented. The Honorable Jesse H. Jones, Secretary of Commerce, forcefully speaks of these fires that don't happen and tells why "The rate of destruction by fire,'' he says, lin the years since 1889, is 40 per cent lower than the rate for the similar period fol- lowing the outbreak of the first world war. The part the insurance companies played in helping to establish these fine records has benefited not only their pol icyholders, but also every man, woman and child in the country. Those records have been established in large measure by inspections, restrictions, requirements .. of the insurance companies"
 The insurance companies, more than any other single element, have been responsible for the great strides that have been taken in fire prevention. They or ganized extensive laboratories and re- search centers devoted exclusively to the development of materials and devices designed to make our homes, factories and farms safer.
 When war came, the scientific fire pre- vention efforts of the fire insurance 1n- industry was turned over, along with ex- perienced personnel, to help protect mili- tary establishments and war plants, while regular prevention activities on the civil ian front have continued without slack ening. The extent to which the fire pre- ventio nefforts of the fire insurance in- dustry have shortened the war, will never be known ar appreciated. That it has been substantial, cannot be denied. Yes, the fire insurance industry does for more than sell protection against fire loss.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27

tive Howard Smith of Virginia has actu- ally made such a recommendation The Smith report also urges two joint Senate House committees to check on the use of money and authority which Congress grants to executive departments. And It suggests another joint committee to study possible improvements toward greater efficiency in congressional organization and operations.
 These recommendation are long over due and highly desirable. As much might. also be said of the suggestion by Repre- sentative John J. Cochran of Missouri that the multitude of House committees which have been Investigating practically everything under the sun be either aboi- ished or consolidated. A Streamllned Congress with both its houses in order might find that further complaints about executive encroachment would carry more weight and be received with better grace. It might also find that with mem bers tending to their legislative knitting more efficiently, there would be fewer reasons to complain.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27

Pacific, they say it's Clear every. thing with DOug."
 Temperamental British Inform atiOn Minister Brendan Bracken lit into the Amreican press the other day for being critical of the Chinese Government and Chiang Kai-shek in connection with Gen. eral Stilwell. Bracken, in turn, criticized U. s. newspapers. I. Whereupon Newark University'S pr. Frank Kingdom lit into Brack- e. for interfering with the Amer ican press. Admiral Lands Maritime Commission plans drastci cutbacks on the construction of merchant ships after Jan. l. Those shipyards with the best production records will be kept going longest.
 FrancO'S Demand that Spain sit at the peace table is not going to get very far despite the frantic appeals of U. s. Ambassador Carl ton Hayes. Roosevelt is thumbs down on the Franco proposal Needless to say, Stalin, who wouldn't send air delegates to Chi cago because the Spaniards were there, will not let Franco any, where near the main ring of the Peace Conference. Meanwhile. Ambassador Hayes is constantly dinning the State Department to get more oil, textiles, other strate- gic materials for Franco. Ira Nelson Morris best-selling Liberty
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27

Street is being rewritten for Broadway. President Osmena is making arrangements to return the body of the late President Quezon to the Philippines. . Os- nlena left his personal aide here to look after Mrs. Quezon and her family. The kTL is about the only outfit which wants the lame duck Dies Committee continued. Reason is disclosed in the AFL annual report( as follows: At present, it (the Dies Committed is engaged in Investigating the Political Action Committee of tho CIO."
 General Ben "YOO Hoo" Lear has been making the rounds of Southern Army camps. Before he arrived at Camp Fannin. Texas. It. Robert J. Benson made a firm and laudible resolve to kill every fly in the Enlisted Mems Mess. To that end, he detailed eight men to work under non-com kitchen police to swat flies, with the order, "This detail will re- main on duty until all flies in the Mess Hall are destroyed" .. AS a result, the KP's got up at 2 AM, swatted flies until 10 or Il at night. all under the direction of Superior officers. The boys hope General Lear was satisfied. Copyright, 1944, by United Feature
 Syndicate, Incl
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
Congressional Streamlining

The preesnt Congress has frequently complained that the executive branch of the government was muScling in on it's legislative function. All of which is probably true, but at least partial cause of this complaint can be found on Con- greSS' own doorstep. The members haven't been ignorant of this. And now it appears that the 78th Congress, in its waning days, may do something about it. Neither Congress nor the executive de- partmentS are entirely to blame for this condition. One trouble is that Congress hasn't quite kept pace with the growth of government and of it's own job. Mem bers today can't hope to be fully informed on all pending legislation. Even the recognized experts" among the veterans are not able to keep abreast of all new developments in their special fields and still perform their other duties. Conse- quently the very executive departments that stand to benefit from new bill are very often it's authors, and Congress sole source of advice. Or if there is other ad- vice it too frequently comes from pressure groups who have special interest in a bilTS fate as well as a special knowledge of it's provisions. Either way the com mittee considering new measure may get incomplete or misleading advice about it, while full debate and vote may be marked by almost complete ignorance
 There has been talk for some time of making available 10 committees of bothf houses a corps of Independent, unbIasedl experts in various fields Now at last a ttfe'1I committee htaded by Represents
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
Views Of The Press

and art education is planned for the secondary level. A tentative financial budget indicates the plan will cost $30, 100000 the first year, reach $780, 100000 the twentieth year, and eventually cost about four-fifths of a billion dollars at the fortieth year. At present the schools of India are giving instruction to about 15,00o,- 900 students. One of the major parts of the new plan is the training ot two million additional teachers to serve the schools to be established in India's 650,000 villages and small towns.
 India, like China, is an unknown land to hundreds of millions of citi- zens in the west. In any new world order which emphasizes the demo- cratic principles and the dignity of the human being, education must play a major role. Illiteracy and democracy are incompatible. As the reoprt says This education is pointed out only to the achievement of literacy but to the minimum preparation for citizenship"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27

that, Tn ways he cannot under stand, his courage and faith are being transmitted to the wavering heart of someone else. If we are de- feated because of our lack of faith, we can be sure that those who come in contact with us will be spiritually hindered, even though they do not know why. Young people constantly look to older people in matters of this sort and are greatly influenced by what they observe. Every time 8 person of mature years fails normally, he damages the faith of someone, and particularly of some young person.
 Beneath all the processes, which in some measure we understand, are certain spiritual relationships which no one understands. These things have to do with the trans fer of thought and the influence one personality has upon another. Of this we can be sure, that faith, enthusiasm, despondency, and mall igs are ell transferable, CT. tD change the figure. contegnous.
 All Rights Reserved Babson News
 paper Syndicate
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
About Bond-Fires

No one can question the grateful, un- selfish patriotism that prompted group of airplane workers to make bonfire of their War Bonds Certainly the gift rather than the loan of money to the government is little enough to do to speed victory and save lives. But the wis dom of the gesture is debatable. It strikes somewhat jarring note with labor leaders contention that present wage scales ar grossly inadequate to higher living costs, and that the work CTS living standard has suffered And it might be construed, though quite un- justly, as a slur on the patriotism of s'wIite collar" workers by those millions of underpaid workers themselves, who find that even the loan of money to the government entails real and consider able sacrifice today.
 If the bond-fire idea was adopted gen. orally, as it's originators are quoted as suggesting, the result would be real dis service. Bonds kept to maturity, or at least beyond the wars end, mean pur-- chasing power to grease the wheels ot peacetime industry. For some they will mean the purchase of a home or start in business. Others will probably need them to tide over periods of unemploy- nent. All these uses are economically healthy, rather than selfish. And they are more constructively patriotic than dramatic gesture, however admirably intended.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
A BREAK FOR US
Bridgeport Fost)

The appointment of former Gov- ernor Robert A. Hurley as chair man of the three man commission to dispose of 100 billion dollars of surplus war supplies may be for tunate break" for Connecticut and New England in general. The Pres ident's appointee to this post was bound to be Democrat and if ne had been a Southern or Western Democrat it would have been one more obstacle in the long series of obstacles now being set up to suc- cessful reconversion in this area.
 We have the McCarran bill with its proposal to convert war indus tries in the West and South to peacetime purposes while govern ment-owned facilities in Connecti- cut and other New England states are shut down. We have the strong bloc behind it to "decentralize in- dustry."-which means take it away from where it iS.-with the whole government treasury putting its re- sources behind the decentralization  movement.
 Then we have this problem of the disposal of 100 billion dollars worth of surplus property which,-if reck- lessly dumped on the market,-can upset all existing industry. It is reasuring to know that former Gov ernor Hurley will have so important g. voice in making decisions on this procedure. We do not expect him to favor any portion of the nation. We ask only a square deal from him and no favoritism. But even to get a square deal in that case will be a help to New England.
 And we know that MT. Hurley, who is an engineer by profession and thoroughly conversant with Connecticut's problems, will not knowingly do anything to hurt his home state.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
Hurley's Appointment

We're inclined to take the same view of the apparent controversy over the appointment of ex-governor Robert A. Hurley as head of the Surplus Property Board as that of the Bridgeport Post and Senator Francis T. Maloney The latter said at Washington last week: q see no objection to the appointment; I approve of it." The Post thinks that New England would fare much better at the close of the war with MT. Hurley heading the SPB than if some southern or western Democrat was named to the post.
 No matter which way you look at it the appointment is purely political. Even MT. Hurley would probably be quick to deny that he had secured his nomination in any other fashion. However, the ap- pointee, by virtue of his training and his experience, both in public and private life, should be qualified to fill all the re- quirements that the job demands. And if memory serves right it was another Connecticut man who performed capably in a war emergency capicity during and after World War I. We refer to ex- Mayor Thomas J. Spellacy of Hartford.
 True, it looks as if MT. Hurley was virtually falling into something much better than he would have had if he had been returned victorious at the polls in Connecticut on November 7th. But the fact remains that in the disposition of the 100 billion dollars worth of surplus wsr property Connecticut is virtually interested. And, even if it is regarded as a selfish attitude, we insist that with New Englander like Governor Hurley at the head of the board this region stands a much better chance of an economic sur viVal than if the appointment were to go to some other section of the nation.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
GRANnMA RnLLS

I am 50 years old. You have cur- ed me of Cri. I follow your inStruc- tions faithfully, even the Somer- sauIts. I weigh POS pounds but I can roll 'em backwards as well as forwards. I have 8 lot of fun, win- ming bets from my friends. I have two granddaughters, aged 13 and IA. We have Somersault races out on the lawn-I usually win. want to stay this way as long as possible. Please send me your pamphlet young Folks and Old Folks"
 CNGrs. s. J. O.
 Any reader who asks for it in writing (no clipping, please) and provides pre-addressed stamped en- velope, may have the pamphlet young Folks and Old Folks" which tells how to be the former. Nothing about somersaults in it. If you are not too antiquated to wonder what the--what somersaults can do for you, ask for Invitation to the Somersaultauqua" and you will receive it along with the pamphlet.
 I began turning somersaults 34 years ago. am now "A. I turned 8 every day. making a grand total of 87,OO0 q hope you are not spoof- ing us, sir, but I refuse to get all out of sorts trying to check the ac- curacy of your figures). For the last 4 years I have been supple menting my diet with six tablets of vitamins D and B-complex, as you recommended .. (T. E. J0
 Thirty-four years ago? We'll, then, you began rolling SomerSaults en- tirely on your own responsibility at any rate it could not have been by my suggestion or advice. And another thing, how in Sam Hill do you arrive at the grand total of 87,- 600? I had four goes at it and my answers were all different, none within thousands of that figure, none within thousands of that fig- ure. But then, seldom get the same result if work simple arithmetic problem over more than once.
 Readers who are not well educat- ed are likely to think this somer- saulting is silly. Readers who are not already too old physiological ly) to learn had better send a pre- addressed stamped envelope and ask for Ca clipping will NOT suf- fice) the Pink Slip-"Invitation to the Somersaultauqua"-which tells what rolls are for and how to do 'em.
 It takes less than half a minute to do one dog. rolls-I just timed myself on the floor in front of my desk-and in my judgment this is the best substitute for exercise any one can take, when there isn't time to devote to more formal calis- thenic exercise or to play.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
SCHOOL PLAN FOR INDIA
(New York Times)

It is difficult to realize the im- mensity of India's problems on the educational front. In a population of 389 million there are 179 lan- guages and 544 recognized dialects. There are approximately 239 mill liens of Hindus, 78 millions of Mos lens, 13 millions BuddhiSts, plus many other smaller groups. There fore the announcement by the Gov ernment of India Information Serv- ice that compulsory universal edu- cation for all boys and girls between and IA has been put into effect is of momentouS importance. It is eshtimated that only 22.5 per cent of the adult male population and 5.8 per cent of the female popula- ton are Mterate.
 The revolutionary plan has been well received in Indian governmetal circles. The school os the priInAry and middle grades would be free; some basic technical, commercial
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS So They Still Have Group?

At first we thought you were jok- ing about croup having gone out of fashion. But our children seem to have peroidic attacks of what we have called croup. Our doctor is now far away Gin the army) and when we wrote him he told us to ask your advise. Mrs. E. A. W) Answer-If croup is not entirely out of fashion it is certainly much less fashionable today than it was when I practiced in Penn Yan. However, since commented on the relative scarcity of spasmodic or catarrhal croup, several readers have assured me their children still have it. suspect they coddle their children too much. Send stamped envelope bearing your address. and ask for the pamphlet on Group"
 French, English or Irish
 I am 55, have pyorrhea. French doctor in Montreal advised me to have teeth extracted. English doc- tor in Boston advised against ex- traction of teeth. I am in good health, have given F donation of blood to Red Cross. One of the teeth is loose. What do you say?
 (J. D. e. AnSwer-Irsh doctor in Paradise advises you to consult competent dentist-and a competent dentist will not sanction the sacrifice of tooth except after consultation with your physician. If the French doc tor or the English doctor failed to consult with your dentist about your condition. they were just quacking it. have a pamphlet giving gen. eral information and advice about pyorrhea-for copy send stamped envelope bearing your address and ask for it. No clipping, please.
 Unbitten Guests
 All summer we are plagued with mosquitoes, ants, chiggerS and now we have bedbugs. (J. F)
 Answer - Send ten cents and stamped addressed envelope for booklet ''Unbidden Guests about these and a dozen other pests.
 Copyright 1944, by John F. Dille Go,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27

aDly JOSepn COl- odny, executive secretary of the To- bacco Merchants Association, was correct when he said there isn't any one reason.
 We are told that federal restric- tionS on tobacco acreage in the years from 1940 through 1943 cut the aver age crop by 84,500,000 pounds, or about 10 per cent. It is 1941-42 tob- acco used in cigarets now being made. As 8 result, manufacturers are dipping into their reserve stocks.
 We are told about a labor short age, aggravated because cigaret- making is not rated an essential industry, though tobacco growing is
 Both there things are true. But they don't offset the fact that more cigaretS actually are being made, and almost as many cigarets are be- ing put on the civilian market.
 The principal and controlling fac tor, MT. Colodny believes, is type of hoarding tht can't be stopped and can't even be blamed very much. AVERAGE CONSUMER
 IS A HOARDER
 The average consumer used to buy a pack, smoke it down to the last three or four, and stop at a corner store for replacements.
 Now, fearing that he won't be able to buy when he needs, he tries to keep two or three or four packs tucked away as insurance.
 The normal dealer turnover in cigarets is very rapid. He stocks for only day or two at time. When consumers, generally, becoming worried tried to buy three or four days supplies at once, the raid cleaned store shelves and the retail CTS haven't been able to catch up.
 In addition, MT. Colodny says, cigaret consumption has been rising 14.5 per cent a year for the past four years. So, while 1914 shows falling of of only 8 per cent against 1943 in domestic supply, that represents a drop of 22.5 per cent-almost one fourth-against 1914 demand if we assume the 14.5 per cent rate of in- crease to have continued.
 Another major factor is maldistri- button
 In the old days the prime distri- butor, who bought from the manu- facturerS, made many of his sales trough Sub-distributors, who bought from him for less than retailers paid.
 so HE CUT OFF THE
 SUB-DISTRIBUTOR
 When cigarets became scarce the prime distributor could see no rea- son for skimping his own direct cus- toners, and taking in less money, by protecting the sub- distributors. So, in many cases, he cut them of. They had no contact with the manufacturers, and no way of get ting cigarets.
 If your retailer used to buy from a Sub-distributor, there is a big chance that he can't get any of the popular brands at all, and has to rely exclusively on the brands you never heard of until last fall
 And finally there is the so-called black market which government agencies are Investigating. Insiders believe that it is relatively unim- portant, but does exist. Said one:
 I've never been approached by a black marketer, either. But I'm guessing that if were to go to a certain cigar store and say Set aside a carton a week for me, and I'll give you $3 for it. that I'd get a carton of my favorite cigarets every week"
 And maybe you, like me, have seen a pack of your favorites handed lnconspicuously to the chap ahead at the counter, only to be told, when you ask:
 Sorry. All we have today are Stinkeroos.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
STRENGTH FOR THE DAY
By EARL L. DOUGLASS. D. D.

OUR INFLUENCE ON OTHERS
 Our behavior and attitude toward life affects others to degree we do not always appreciate. This is es- pecially true in the case of the influence parents have upon children. But it is also true as
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
.
 SPOTLIGHT
We'll, Maybe It's Hoarding
By S. BURTON HEATH NEA Stan COrrespnndenf

There has to be some explanation why, with 70 per cent as many popu- lar brand cigarets available this year as in the smokiest twelvemonth our home front ever enjoyed, we still have SO much trouble getting 9
The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27

duence which we exert among our friends, in our pl act es of busi- n e S s, in our social contacts.
 The person who meets the tribu- lations of life in a coura g eous spirit al nd with plenty of faith in God can be sure