davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The CIO news., 1944-05-22

This column is very pleased to
note that Cumberland's outstand-
ing sofeball enthusiast, Lacy Cifala,
proprietor Of delicatessen in
South Cumberland, is again trying
to keep softball alive among the
youth of the South End, by spon-
soring a girls softball team, and If
we know anything about the spon-
sor, we say that the team will be
worthy of previous representatives
of Lacy's Delicatets.
A glance at the last roster of
Lacy's boys softballers, will find
that every one of them Is either
in service. or is awaiting a call for
service. Some of the best softball
talent of Cumberland and vicinity
have sported the uniforms Of Lacy's
Delicatets.
And while talking about girl soft
ball teams, many South Cumber-
landers will recall the former
Candy Kitchen girls team. These
girls were among the best in their
sex, and knew the game. To watch
the Candy Kitchen girls, the av-
erage male couldn't realize that
girls could become so proficient in
what was strictly boys game.
Let's hope that Lacy's new team
will help revive softball among the
lassies and see other sponsors EMU
late the example of Mr.. Cifala by
The CIO news., 1944-05-22
PHILLIES AMAZE

In the older league, the National,
the surprise team to date. is the
Futile Phillies, which at the mo-
ment seems to be spreading the
germ Of futility to the other teams
in the league. The standings prove
that Freddie Fitzsimmons, the
Phils' pilot, has by some sort of
manipulation, whether by clairvoy-
ancy or legerdemain, made the op-
position much more futile than the
Phillies.
This unexpected showing of the
previous cellar champions of the
National League is also a tonic for
baseball as a whole, because it is
The CIO news., 1944-05-22

can purchase the pennant II they
SO want by going into the mar
ket and laying the mazuma on
the line. For the good Of the
game, as well as for the benefit
Of st. Louis fans, this writer
would like TO see the st. Louis
Brownies win the flag in the
American.
The CIO news., 1944-05-22

local sofeballers.
Underdogs
On Top
Well Of all things, the big league
pennant races seem to be taken
from other days, when the average
fan picks up the Daily Bla-Bla and
finds the oft down and out st.
Louis Browns, leading the Amer
lean League parade after one month
of competition.
During the winter Stove League
the Browns were not given much
mention, even though the end Of
last season saw these same Browns
put on a grand finish to land in
the first division. But regardless
Of the winter dope, it now looks
that that Brownies will be q con-
tender all the way barring mis-
fortunes of Draft and injuries.
Manager Luke Sewell has the
boys playing hard for every game,
which is best illustrated by the
fact that in the first FIVE losses
handed the Browns each game end
ed with a marginal loss of but one
run. Four games ended 4-3 and
one game 80, with two games 60
ing overtime. The Brownies are
playing for keeps, and this may be
the year the Browns will win the
first pennant in Brownie history.
Such happenings would prove
OF great value to the game, es-
pecially ut this time, when the
game is dominated for the most
part by Oldsters and physically
handicapped individuals. With
no money bag to open up for
choice players the Brownies
must depend on the ability and
strategy Of manager and players,
and such a pennant winner will
cast into the discard any indica-
tion that the Yankee Moneybags
The CIO news., 1944-05-22

opener. First Nighters will have
nothing on the first look-sees Of
local sofeballers.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
Separate Chaff From Wheat

1t has been fun and highly patriotic to lam
bast the war profiteer and others who have
sought to capitalize on the national emergency
They deserve lambasting But when the lam
oast1ng begins to include most of the pro-
ductive capacity of the country, it is time
to call a halt to generalized name calling and
begin to segregate the chaff from the wheat
Imitation cannot be licked by holding to prices
that discourage production and cripple dis
tribution And that is precisely what is be-
ing done, with respect to many of the nations
basic industries
In the field Of distribution, dry goods re-
tailers have been forced to drop various lines
OF clothing because of excessive price re-
strictions. And food retailers face a critical
year In which the most important need will
be to maintaine sales volume. In the latter
half of 1943, that volume showed tendency to
fall off and net profits dropped to the near
vanishing point If volume continues to fall
in 1914 companies will be writing their profit
and loss in red ink unless the Office of Price
Administration modifies ceiling price regu-
lations, According to chain Store Age, the net
profits of seven representative food chains for
the first nine months of 1943 were about one
half of one per cent of sales.
Mass distribution has always relied on a
hairline relation between prices Of volume
for its existence. Ordinarily, private manage
ment is free to seek the most efficient bal
ance between the two which automatically re-
suits in maximum consumer service But cur
rently prices are subject to Washington edicts
and retailers have had to seek living by a
grim fight for volume sales.
The distribution industry is no different
from scores Of other industries. If costs rise,
prices must rise Name calling will never
halt that vicious spiral.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06

property In senseless expenditures on be-
nan OF the party and in disastrous political
specu1ations.
IL mas suppressed our spirit. 1t has made
US dishonest through fear. It has outraged
our personal liberties through the compulsory
control OF the exercise and place of our pro-
LESSONS, prohibitions of changes of employ
'ment, compulsory membership of organiza-
tons and the like
In this way National Socialism has depriv.
ed us in our own country of honor. Of liber.
ty and of property.
1--WE are not threatened with slavery from
without but from within our own country. The
ideals of the enemy we oppose in arms are
nearer to our own than those of our own gov.
eminent
Il have most unexpectedly found deep SYM.
pathy with the decisions of my own conscience
on the part of British officers. look forward
with great hope for Germany to close coopera-
ton with the Allies
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
For The Record

Dome information has just been released
" the American Petroleum Institute which
Is almost beyond conception. Our average
lighting man overseas requires his weight
N oil every three days to get him there, keep
Al'n going and protect him overhead.
1t takes an average of three tons OF 100-oc-
lane gasoline to deliver and drop one ton OF
'Ohos. Think this over when you read OF q
wv tons of bombs being dropped on one Ger
man objective Then think of the thousands
'! IONS OF bombs that are being dropped day
S-'ef day on German and Japanese detectives.
Inc fulfillment of our hopes that there Will
w an ever-increasing tempo Of such blows
Null the enemy is crushed, is dependent on
never ending stream Of gasoline.
T. 'ne unheard of production Of gasoline by
e united States is entirely the result Of
s sInae initiative and enterprise. This is in
'Aing contrast to the production from
~ or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
oil ownership or domination Of the American
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
The Literary Guidepost

weakness. Tracy's cool mothen
his intellectual sister and his toll
Grant doctor father each knew ap-
proximately what was going on,
0''v people tried hu1nbly or 9TH
erwise to "save" Tracy. Nonnie
".,s cut OFF from her Negro friends
not because she slept with white
man, but because she was not
bad" was not forced, and would
not rationalize the affair on the
usual basis Of white mans casual
relationship with helpless Negro
woman.
The revival preacher worked at
the situation emotionally; Tracy's
unwanted white fiancee ignored
it, sweetly forcing him toward a
marriage that could not possibly
be successful. Sam, the Negro
doctor, fought continually to find
basis on which he could coop
crate with the white population
and was sometimes successful.
Nonnie's brother who had gone
forth to job in Washington, came
back to resentful non-acceptance,
and eventually murder. Henry, the
black boy with whom Tracy had
been raised, blindly stumbled into
tragedy.
And much more. This is a sad
and heartbreaking book, but it
also is one of the best novels 1914
can hope to produce.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
Repeat Performance

The English naturally are not telling where
all the bombs of recent German air raids
are falling. But it would appear that their
main efforts are again directed at London.
as they were in the 194o-41 attacks. And Lon
don is no more the center Of English war
industry than Berlin was of German produc-
ton.
Three years ago the Nazi tried to knock
Britain out Of the war by terror' raids. They
'alled English and American flyers have
also failed to knock out Germany by almost
@Velng Hamburg and Berlin and Leipzig.
But Allied missions continue to deal Furnishing
Olows to plane plants and other key industries
and that's something else again.
Meanwhile Marshal Goering, the odd ter
Tor specialist, appears to be concentrating on
us previous misconception.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
BY ERNIE PYLE

IN ITALY, By Wireless) = At
this airfield, from which APO light
bombers fly, breakfast is finished
at 7:30. But even before that the
squadron commanders and opera
tons officers have driven in jeeps
around to the other side of the
field to get briefs from the group
staff on the mornings mission.
Soon they return and the squa-
drons in the group lives in a
separate area. They form three
distinct families, which fuse into
one big unit only when they are
in the air.
The plane crews assemble
around the operations tent i'm
mediately after breakfast. They
pick up their parachutes and
their new flax vests from a near
by tent. They stand around out
side tipping on their heavy fly
ing clothes while they await the
call to briefing.
Pretty soon it comes and they
crowd into the tent and sit on
rows of frag-bomb boxes, as in a
little school. The squadron intel
igence officer gets up on low
platform and starts talking.
They say this officers briefings
are the best in the group. I've
attended scores of briefings in
England and Africa, and usually
they're repetitions and dull. But
this squadron's briefings are in
teresting. The intelligence officer
is intensely thorough. The crews
get a detailed picture of what
they're to do. And above all he
is honest.
One OF the gunners said to me:
Some briefing officers will tell
you flatly' you won't get any flax,
and then when you get there it
just pours up. Now our intelli-
gence officer, he'll say, I don't
think you'll get much flax today,
but you know the Germans have
mobile ack-ack, and theyscan con-
centrate it overnight, so watch
out"
One thing in his briefing is a re-
sumo Of the war news. This is be-
ing done more and more in the
Army, and it is important, be-
cause any soldier likes to know
what is going on around him.
He gives the whole Italian war
situation, both ground and air, of
the previous "a hours. He tells
them also any news that has come
from England or Russia.
Then he goes into the briefing.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
An Old Story

Murder, Inc, was dissolved Saturday night
That billion dollar organization of killers
thieves and extortionists went out of existance
as Louis Lepke) Buchalter and two of his
accomplices, or rather his Executive Vice
President were put to death in the electric
chair at Sing Sing prison. They died for the
murder of an obscure Brooklyn candy mer-
chant, one Joseph Rosen, in 1896. Note that
date. 1t took eight years for justice to extract
its penalty. Before and after his surrender,
beat any rap. He carried his case to every
available court but at the last minute the
United States Supreme court rejected an ac-
ion that would have sent him back to federal
prison. where he had been serving term for
narcotics conviction.
Lepke, always calm, whether ordering the
death Of one interfering in his .schemes-Mur-
der Inc was responsible for the violent de-
mise of some 80 persons-or launching new
projects for his empire Of lawlessness, walked
maided to the chair. His attitude could have
been interpreted as Indifference but guard
said: The other two were frightened, but
lepke was paralySized." ---------
The story of Lepke and his kind is an old
one. 1t reaches the trite but nevertheless quite
true admonition that crime doesn't pay.
Weather it is a youngster stealing cigarettes
or syndicate baron, such as Lepke, extort-
ing millions, the penalty must be paid in the
long rum Wealthy Lepke fought justice for
eight years but at the end he paid. Others,
not as smart as he, die sooner.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06

service and standing in the union
to aspire to office
The entire list Of present union
officials, including some who, for
reasons of their own, have chang
ed their names, is exempt from
the requirement Of service at sea
not less than six months before
nomination. They stay ashore and
run the election and to make
things more certain for them
selves they have recently proposed
some very confusing rules de-
filming the term ashore" which
is the period that a man is al
lowed between trips to sea. A sal
lor falls into bad standing if he
takes more than four weeks be-
tween cruises thus a man who has
been ashore five months and
thinks he is eligible will be dis
qualified by the present officials
who never go to sea at all.
All these factors, it will be seen,
leave the control of the union Sc
cure in the hands of the party
liners of the communist front. The
majority of young Americans now
manning the ships are autonaa-
tically excluded.
The verboten on convicted crimi-
nails is meaningless because the
convict's criminal record may be
in Germany, France or Poland;
moreover, he may have changed
his name.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
BY JOHN SELBY
STRANGE FRUIT" by Lillian

STRANGE FRUIT, by Lillian
Smith (Reynl G. Hitchcock: S2.75)
Lillian Smiths novel about the
Negro question" is remarkable
for its extraordinary honesty rath-
IT than for its solution of the pro-
blem. Actually. Miss Smith ar
rives at the end of her lengthy
book with no answer at all, except
The old one of tolerance and hope.
Her service is something quite diff
ferent, being a factually accurate
exposition of exactly what the
problem is and precisely how it
touches the lives of all sorts of
people in the deep South.
The book can be summarized in
a sentence. 1t is the story of how
a white boy fell in love with a
Ngro girl, and. what this diff
ult situation did to the two of
them, their families, and their
small Georgia town. The strength
Of the story lies in the gentleness
Of Miss Smiths understanding. Not
once in the book does she excori-
ate anybody, and never does she
overlook the fact that something
can be found to explain anything,
even a lynching. Not that Miss
Smith is an apologist for lynch
ing!
Nonnie's strength was her very
real love; that love was Tracy's
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
Wise Decision

Inc recent decision of the Board of County
Commissioners to delay until more favorable
time the call for an election on bonds for q
new tuberculosis sanitorium is wise one
because OF three important factors.
First, there are many of the oninion that
the state is primarily responsible for the
treatment OF persons suffering from this
disease and any expansion in hospital facili.
ties should be undertaken by the state rather
than the local government. This lone.range
attitude has sound foundation in view of
present trend Of public medicine.
Second, in this period of war.born Initiation,
the cost Of building materials has sky-rocket-
ed fully so per cent greater than in peacetirne
This fact was emphasized at the recent meet.
ing of the board by Commissioner Louis Cole.
man, who by reason of his knowledge and
experience as a successful contractor. is
well qualified to speak These high prices are
expected to prevail for sometime after the
war and would probably exceed any est-
mates made now. The critical labor situation
must be considered in any construction project
at this time. In addition, there is the maze
OF red tape and its subsequent DELAYS that
must be overcome.
Third, it is believed that the state might
begin negotiations now for taking over an
Army hospital as soon as it is no longer need
ed-notably the well-equipped facilities at
Fort Fisher-as a temporary means of hos.
pitalizing southeastern North Cardinals tu-
bercular patients. If such an arrangement is
made, the taxpayers would be saved much
money. When peace comes, such installations
an active Army status and, whenever pos
sible, they should be utilized for the public
good. It is reasonable to feel that maintenance
OF an institution there should be met by the
state treasury, instead Of through county funds,
SO that the tax burden could be divided among
all the people instead of those in one COM
paratively small area.
Members of the board favoring postpone
ment OF action emphasize that they are not
opposed to a greater program for the treat
ment OF tubercular patients but they believe
this is not an opportune time to obligate the
ton and the possibility that state assistance
may be available in the future.
This summary of the situation does not
any recession from our position that
adequate provision should be made for segre-
cation and treatment of those suffering from
the disease. Rather, it is a review both as
to the present and anticipated future and we
feel that the board is following sound course
in weighing each angle and possibility in
matter so vital to the communitys welfare.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
With Ernie Pyle

Behind him are big map and
two big blackboards. The map is
of Central Italy. He points Out
the target on the map.
Then on the blackboard is
drawn in chalk a detailed map oil
the target area. This sketch GOV.
ers an area 40 or so miles square.
1t invariably includes the coast.
line, SO that crews can orient the
target with the coast.
The second blackboard has a
"blown-up' sketch of the target
area, covering territory only a
couple of miles square. 1t contains
full details of helping the crews
identify the target when they get
there, such as exact towns and
roads, little lakes, groves of trees,
and even an isolated white farm.
house.
When the intelligence officer is
through, the flight leader gets up.
Usually that is Capt. Gene Vance,
from Pueblo, olo., who used to
be newspaperman himself.
Captain Vance tells them what
type of bomb they're carrying,
and how many fighters and what
kind will be escorting them. He
also goes to great detail on just
how each flight will "'break
away out of the bomb run, plus
a few methods to avoid flax.
He advises what route to take
home if anybody gets lost. Some
times they have to throw bundles
of pamphlets as well as drop
bombs, and he advises the exact
formation to fly so that the bundle
won't hit the following plane.
At the end he gives them time
set. Everybody looks at his watch
and Captain Vance says:
'It is now % seconds till 10
minutes to 9. It is now 20 seconds.
-15 seconds - 10 seconds s.
: 4 = 3 = 2 l. check. Ten
minutes to g."
The crews, looking sober, file
out and get into thir trucks.
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
RatiOning
Roundup
Bv The Associated Press

MEATS, FATS, ect-Book Three
brown stamps Y and z valid
through March 20. Book Four TO-
point red stamps A8, B8 and CO
good through May 20. Red tokens
and brown one-point stamps good
as change.
PROCESSED FOODS - Book
Four green stamps r, l., and M
valid through March 20; 10-point
blue stamps A8, B8, CO, Do and
E8 good through May 20. Blue
tokens and green one-podnt tokens
good as change.
SUGAR-Bood Four stamp 30
valid indefinitely for five
pounds; Stamp 40 good for five
pounds for home canning through
Feb. %, 1945.
SHOES - Book One stamp 10
valid through April 80. Book three
airplane stamp good Indefinite
ly. A new stamp becomes valid
May l.
GASOLINE - In Northeast and
Southeast, ga coupons good for
three gallons through May 8. Else
where, 1O-A coupons good for two
gallons through March 81. B and
B-1 and C and CT coupons good
for two gallons everywhere ex-
cept in the Rocky Mountains and
Far Vast uhera thew Arc oood for
three gallons. BIZ and CO cou-
pons good for everywhere for five
gallons. Fuel oil-period three cou-
pons valid through March 10 in
all areas except the South. Period
four coups onvalid in all ereas
through Sept. 80. Period five cou-
pons good in the Middle West and
South through Sept. 30. All cou-
pons worth 10 gallons unit, with
most coupons worth several units
each,
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
Ex-Nazis' Explanation

What does an average intelligent German,
moving toward realization that the days Of
his country are numbered, think of the Nazi
regime days?
That question is not easy to answer. How
ever, it was recently given some light with
"a statement by Erich Vermehren, former
assistant German military attache at 1stanbul,
who made his way into Allied territory and
volunteered for service against the Nazis. He
tells what prompted a confirmed follower
of Hitlerism to change his basic pattern of
thought and action.
IT am happy at last to be able to do some
thing for Germany, and to join as volunteer
the ranks Of those who have declared war
against the bitterest enemies OF Germany
the National Socialists Nazis).
what made it most difficult for me to come
to this decision was the fact that my step
was essentially one dictated by conscience.
It was much more than an honest political
decision. more than a change from one party
to another.
both these considerations weighed with
me, but beyond that my action was one that
made me criminal in the eyes Of the law
Of NV state and dishonorable scoundrel in
the hearts Of many Of my friends.
my political convictions, my personal ideas,
my recognition Of the hopelessness OF Ger
many's situation-these alone could not bear
the weight Of such a decision.
1T was only my conscience which could
nut me in the right, and which could acquit
~ and
treachery towards my fatherland. But is it
high treason if one loves ones fatherland so
much that one cannot stand by and see an
,1nscrupulous clique running ones country?
'That one cannot tolerate a Weltans-
chauung (world philosophy which grows like
a cancer and destroys everything that is
healthy in the body and fosters evil impulses.
THAT one cannot stand by and see the giorl-
Gus name of ones country being dishonored
by the wickedness of its present rulers.
'That one cannot see its beauty suffering
destruction as the inevitable result OF their
political greed and unscrupulousness while us
blood senselessly soaks foreign soil.
'"The man who loves his fatherland must
be able to recognize National Socialism for
what it really is - the curse of Germany.
National Socialism seduces our youth TO
loss of faith, to brutality and to lack OF re-
spect for moral values.
sIt despises the sanctity of the family by
it's conception Of marriage ties and marriage
laws and its completely immoral and dlslnte-
grating attitude toward questions of illegiti-
macy.
1T rnocks and despises our Christian church
and deprives it OF its influence on youth in
order to be able to preach new morality
which brutalizes every boy and endangers
every girl.
SIT has lied to us for twenty years. 1t has
abused our confidence it has embezzled our
The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-06
Daily Prayer
FOR THOSE BEREAVED BY
WAR

Almighty and most merciful
God, the Consolation OF the sor-
rowful, and the Support of the
weary, who dost not willingly
grieve or affict the children of
men: look down in tender love
and pity, we beseech Thee upo2
Thy bereaved servants, whose JOY
is turning into mourning; so that
while they mourn, they may not
murmur, OF faint under Thy rod;
but, remembering all Thy mer-
cies. Thy promises, and Thy love
in Christ, may resign themselves
meekly into Thy hands, to be
taught and disciplined by Thee.
Convert them wholly to Thyself,
and fill their desolate hearts with
Thy love, that they may cleave
more closely to Thee, who bring
est life out of death, and who
canst turn their grief into eternal
joy; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. acknowledgement Book
of Common Worship.