davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-01-04

Mailing Act is plain and specific What
ever the featured and dominant pictures,
prose and verse of this publication may
be, they are not information of public
character, or literature, the sciences,
arts or some special industry"
Mr.. Walker, if they are not, what are
they? What, for instance, is "litera-
ture' and what are "arts?"
Mr.. Walker does not attempt to de-
fine either literature or art. He simply
rules that what appears in Esquire does
not belong in these categorieS
Apparently this officious guardian of
public culture has not consulted the
dictionary.
Webster defines art" as. among other
things, "the graphic arts in which con-
ception and creation are dominated by
an aesthetic intention, as architecture,
painting, engraving, sculpture
Aesthetic" is defined as "of or per-
tanning to the beautiful as distinguished
from the merely pleasing, the moral,
the useful
Beautiful" is defined as delightful
to the sense, strikingly fit, or especially
pleasing"
art is also defined by the New Ok
ford Diction as skill as the result of
knowledge and practice. or skill applied
to the arts OF imitation; the gratifca-
ton of taste a" And taste" is
defined-among other things-as, "the
fact or condition of preferring some
thing that which relishes and
prefers"
Now let us apply these accepted def
nitions to even Mr. Vargas drawings
They certainly belong to the graphic
They are certainly dominated by the
Evening star., 1944-01-04

official. and on that basis bars Esquire
from the postal rates enjoyed by the
popular magazines of America, ruling
which will cost Esquire, if the courts
support it, 100000 a year.
\ X
The original question was whether
certain material, including the popular
drawings of girls by Varga, were "ob-
scene" Much evidence was taken and
Postmaster Walker chose not to deny
Esquire mailing privileges on that
ground. He referred to the regulations
governing magazine mail privileges,
which say that they must meet the
requirements of being Originated and
published for the dissemination of in
formation of a public character. or
devoted to literature, the sciences. arts
or some special industry"
Mr.. Walker says, 1.-The language of the
Evening star., 1944-01-04
Bolivian Recognition

The new revolutionary regime in
Bolivia poses an important issue not
only for our State Department but
also for the majority of Latin Amer
lean governments associated with
us in the program of Western Hemi-
sphere solidarity against Axis ag-
gression.
This latter aspect is revealed by
the exchange of kilograms between
the State Department and the Pam
American Emergency Advisory Com
mittee for Political Defense. That
body was set up under a resolution
of the Conference of American For
eign Ministers in Rio de Janeiro in
January, 1912, and has since been
sitting at Montevideo under the
presidency Of DR.. Alberto GUAM,
Foreign Minister of Uruguay. De-
signed to study and advise upon po-
litical developments in this hemi-
sphere, all the twenty-one republics
which are members of the Pan
American Union are represented,
including Argentina, though the
delegate of that country has not
taken an active part and was not
present when the recommendation
was adopted last Thursday that,
during the present world conflict,
American governments which have
declared war on the Axis powers or
have broken relations with them do
not recognize new government in
stituted by force before consulting
among themselves for the purpose
OF determining whether this gov
ernment complies with the inter-
American undertakings for the
defense of the continent, nor before
carrying out an exchange of infor-
nation as to the circumstances
which have determined the new
governments establishment.
This recommendation by the Ad-
visory Committee was naturally most
welcome to our State Department,
which had already declared it's in
tention to delay recognition of the
revolutionary regime set up in Bo-
livia until the circumstances and
antecedents of that overturn had
been investigated. Many, if not
most, of the revolutionary leaders
have in the past been implicated
with Axis propaganda activities.
The program of the political party
which they head, known as the ma
tional revolutionary movement, pro-
vides for the establishment of re-
gime run on totalitarian lines.
Finally, there is evidence of a def
mite connection between the present
revolutionary government in Bo-
livia and that set up in Argentina
some months ago by army leaders
with similar aims and attitudes.
These disquieting facts undoubtedly
inspired Secretary of State Cordell
Hull's statement that hemisphere
security and the United Nations war
effort came first in the issue of Bo-
livian recognition, because, "Includ-
Evening star., 1944-01-04
General HoIcomb

When Thomas Holcomb was
named lieutenant general in 1912,
he became the highest ranking
marine in the history of the United
States Marine Corps. In being re-
tired now as the seventeenth COM
mandant of that tradition rich COM
pany of world-famous fighting men,
he has been commissioned a full
general, which is unprecedented in
his branch of the service.
The honor has been we'll earned.
In 1886, when he took over it's COM
mand, there were only 10000 in the
ranks OF the Marine Corps; today
there are about 100000. And in ad-
dition to that, there is the ever
growing record of great and bloody
victories won in the Pacific. Under
General Holcomb's overall direction
and the immediate command of
Lieutenant General Vandergrift, the
Marines had the distinction of
spearheading the first American
offensive against Japan. That was
back in August, 1912, when they
smashed ashore into the green hell
OF Guadalcanal. Since then-all the
way from New Britain to Tarawa-
they have been setting an example
OF valor and sacrifice that will be
remembered as long as our history
Is written.
His retirement does not mean that
General Holcomb is leaving all this
behind. He has been a distinguished
marine for forty three years and so
rich is his experience, and so great
his vigor, that we can be sure he
will continue to figure largely in the
war until the final victory is won.
Indeed, in giving him a four-sta
rank, President Roosevelt himself
has intimated as much, declaring
that General Holcomb will be re-
tanned on active duty for "an i'm
portant assignment" He is thus not
retiring" in the strict sense of the
word; more than that, he is leaving
the corps in excellent hands, for he
could have no better successor than
Lieutenant General Vandergrift,
whose qualifications for the role of
commandant have been tested In
the fierce heat of battle and found
unquestionably pre-eminent.
Evening star., 1944-01-04
Constantine Br01Un

son behind the shouts Of the Nazi propa-
ganda machine that the zero hour Is
at hand and the peculiar transfer of
forces over long distances when the
Wehrmacht has reserves nearer the
scene are likely to continue for some
time.
The American high command is in
terested in all these reports which may
or may not be indicative Of possible
break in German morale. But it is
taking little stock in them. Ever since
the Germans have been on the de-
fensive the Naz propaganda line has
been better and the American general
staff is not likely to pay too much at
tention to any planted" indications
that the Nazis are really scared.
There has been no change in earlier ,
forecasts Of Allied losses when we begin
the real attack against the Reich The
Allied high command still believes that
the invasion forces will have to pay a
heavy price for every inch of ground we
Wrest from the conquerors of France
and the Lowlands and is taking no
chances SO far as careful preparation
of the attack is concerned.
No political considerations will come
into the picture to compel the military
Leaders to move one day ahead Of
schedule. The invasion of Western Eu-
rope will prove to be the most carefully
planned operation Of the war and will
not be undertaken until every ship,
plane and man is fully prepared.
The American and British military
leaders take 1t for granted that the
enemy is going to fight bitterly OPP
erations in Tunisia, Sicily and Italy are
not regarded in the least as patterns for
the Western European invasion.
In the opinion of American strategists.
these operations were minor skirmishes
compared to the forthcoming battles.
Evening star., 1944-01-04

OF Wratn upon MS head.
The name of the official is immaterial
except that it might lend weight to
the charge. The real essence is whether
the charge is true.
A child might understand that re-
ports circulated in the enemy countries
saying the United States Army had been
compelled to take over the great trans
portation systems of the country would
give comfort to the enemy. Such re-
ports are calculated to show a chaotic
condition in the United States. German
and japanese propagandists undoubtedly
have made the most of them. Why
wouldn't they? A report that hundreds
of thousands Of German or japanese
workers had threatened to quit in es-
sential war industry and that the Ger
man or japanese government had had
to send in the army to compel them to
work certainly would give the American
people lift. In this case the boot is
on the other foot. Add to the railroad
strike threat the fact that hundreds of
thousands Of steel workers in this coun-
try already had gone on strike, and the
effectiveness Of the enemy propaganda
Is still greater
Evening star., 1944-01-04
Haywood Broun Remembered
As Advocate of Change.
Clouds Above the Marshes

The evening clouds like Seabirds going
north
Spread out their somber ,Uings across
the sky.
Gray pilgrims OF the t,oilight setting
forth
To10ard some far sanctuary As they
fly
AboUe the marshes Dhere the sunset
light
Kindles the 1Daving grasses by the
sea,
The fenthery cloud -tuings suddenly are
bright,
Undredned-ot splendor suddenly set
free.
Only tleeting glory, for the Wind
So Sternly shepherds them upon their
Ddy
North1Dard and ever north. Their ra-
dance thinned
Blends softly, merges with the fading
day.
Too far for eyes to tollow nop they
pass,
Leaving an empty sea and blowing
grass.
INEz BARCLAY KIRBY.
Evening star., 1944-01-04
Russiu and BuIquriu

One Of the more interesting rela-
tionships of the war is that between
Russia and Bulgaria. The latter
long ago declared itself a belligerent
against Britain and the United
States, but because of strong pro-
Russian sentiment among the Bull
garian masses, it Is still at peace
with the Soviet Union. And
although it has served as an armed
camp for Hitler in his struggle on
the Eastern Front. the Russians
have maintained diplomatic rela-
tions with it. The Stain govern
ment'S tolerance, however, has un-
doubtedly been a calculating one,
not the least of its advantages being
that it has enabled the agents of
Russia to use Sofia as a listening
post-and perhaps, too, as center
of organization for moves to come
In the Balkans
Considered against this back
ground, therefore. the warning just
issued to Bulgaria by Pravda, the
official newspaper of the Commu-
mist party in Russia, plainly seems
to be a development of exceptional
significance. The warning fatty
declares that the Bulgarian govern
ment had better stop doing business
with Hitler; deprive the Germans
of all military bases and communi-
cations and other assistance; imme-
diately annul the state of war against
England and America; stop any
military operations against Yugo-
slavia" and join with the Yugoslavs
in the war against the NaZiS. only
by breaking with Germany at once"
says Pravda, "and assisting in the
defeat of Germany will Bulgaria
save herself from catastrophe"
Written by Georgy Dimitrov, for
mer secretary general of the now dis
solved Comintern, this warning-an
invitation to rebellion against the
Nazis represents the strongest
statement of its kind yet to come
out of Russia. 1t is not an ulti-
matum, of course: it is not some
thing said directly and officially by
The Stain government. but it de-
cidedly would not have appeared
unless that government had wanted
1t to appear Accordingly, it is
likely to impress Bulgarians as some
thing foreshadowing a fundamental
change in Moscow's attitude toward
Sofia, particularly now that the
Evening star., 1944-01-04
This Changing World

Visibility from the sea Is poor. The Allies
must reckon on their heavy men o. war
to pound definite objectives on the In
vasion coast. Aviation is essential for
bombing large objectives and lines Of
communication, but when it comes to
destroying pillboxes and coastal forti-
fcations the British and American war
ships will have to do the job as they
did at Salerno last September
Moreover, it appears from reports from
the eastern front that the Russians have
identified number of divisions which
until few weeks ago were in Western
Europe. The news has been greeted with
cheers by the top American and British
officers Although this can be interpreted
as meaning that the Nazi high command
is not particularly worried about an
early Allied INVASION it also indicates
that the German reserves are becoming
exhausted.
In the past battle-fatigued troops from
the eastern front were taken out OF the
firing line and sent to Western Germany
to rest. Fresh divisions were drawn
from the reserve pool. Only seldom were
troops from France or Belgium found
either on the Russian or italian fronts.
The latest intelligence reports show,
however, that number of units hereto
fore stationed in Western Europe are
now in the thick of the fight against the
Red armies.
In some quarters where these re-
ports are carefully analyzed it is point
ed out that relatively important forces
might be shifted from the west to the
east, and vice versa, by the Nazi high
command to bring rested units to the
eastern front and garrison the 'in-
vasion coast" with men who have
learned to fight the hard way In Russia.
The speculations about the real rea-
Evening star., 1944-01-04
This and That
By Charles E. Trdce1DeI. b
BETHESDA, Md.

Dear Sir:
The idea has come to me to serve
coffee to the birds which come to our
feeding stations.
DO you think this would harm them ?
occasionally have some coffee left
In the pot and think the birds might
like it. I have not tried it yet because
I wanted to ask your opinion first
THE birds have been a great jov to
my family adding immensely to the
Christmas season.
Sincerely yours, r. ST. J. D."
Serving coffee to the birds is an ex-
pertinent we have never tried
There would seem to be no particular
need for it.
Birds are so full of life that they need
no extra stimulation to carry them
through the day.
Good food and pure water are enough.
AS matter of fact the water does not
have to be particularly pure to meet
their taste.
Plenty of drinking water for the birds
Is often overlooked in winter.
1t will be necessary to put out painful
in the afternoon, when there is less
chance of it melting.
The pan is best placed Is to 20 feet
away from the feeding station.
This gives the birds chance to put
on one of their most pleasing per-
formances, a procession to the water
ing place.
This procession usually goes two WAYS.
one line of birds going out to the water
and second returning to the seed.
The steady hopping takes on an
almost ludicrous appearance.
Water for the birds, in winter, Is al
most as important as food
Sometimes those who always think to
put out crumbs in cold weather forget
all about water.
Even when there is a sleety rain fall
ing there often are no good places for
the songsters to drink.
English sparrows, starlings, blue jays
cardinals, titmice, nuthatches and
chickadees-these will make up the
greater part of the winter feeders.
Sometimes only the first two men
toned will be present
Sparrows fly in bands and now and
then one group will meet up with
another at feeding place
Contrary to common impression. there
is no fighting
The two groups blend most amicably
The only difference, in addition to the
greatly increased numbers of birds, is
the increased nervousness of the focks.
This is brought about because the new
birds are not used to the location
The slightest noise will send them
flying away into the bushes.
If the noise keeps up, the new birds
will leave the neighborhood entirely.
The old ones will remain.
Sometimes common sparrows will
number between 100 and 200 at one
feeding place. This is real sight to
all persons interested in birds. These
sparrows have left downtown areas
where food is difficult to find, and have
sought shelter and food in the suburbs
The massed flights of this species
while not as spectacular as the flights
of the starlings, still possess SUFFICIENT
picturesque quality to put them in a
class by themselves. No one should
worry because they are not finer birds
All of us cannot be cardinals!
If goodness and mercy are to enter
into the lives of human beings, they
must begin at home and they must be
extended to the lowly and the humble
including the sparrows.
Evening star., 1944-01-04

victorious Red Army - nearing ths,
borders Of their country. At the
very least, 1t must unnerve those
leaders who dragged Bulgaria into
the war on Hitler's side, who have
already been warned in a similar
fashion by Secretary Hull, and who
have more than a little reason to
fear a pro-Allied coup against them.
Evening star., 1944-01-04

railroad workers, by
their threat of strike,
caused the Govern
ment to take over
the roads, it delayed
victory in the war
by many months and
will cause the loss of
thousands of United
Nations soldiers s.
lives. They don't
like it. Not a little
bit. They demand
the name of this
high official, pre-
sumably SO they may
turn lose the vialS
Evening star., 1944-01-04

indicate that Ger
many and her satel-
lites have become ex-
tremely jittery. The
presence of increas-
ingly large bodies of
American troops in
England is said to be
partly responsible.
In addition, Hitler
is reported to be sad
ly disappointed with
the failure of his
submarine campaign
on which he has been
counting to check the
shipment of Amer
Evening star., 1944-01-04

1t is not a subject
for excited recrim-
nations. If, as is
reported by the St.
Petersburg Times
without official de-
NAL up to this mo-
ment, the statement
was made by Gen.
Marshall, then the
facts in the case are
clearly established.
Gen. Marshall is in
possession of sources
of information far
superior to those at
the diSDoSol of OIL
Evening star., 1944-01-04

AS a result, the
German art galleries
W ere purged and
thousands of artists
took to n tin G
tripe in order to live.
S i'm / | arly M r.
Frank Walker, our
Postmaster General,
has now ruled that
the writings in the
magazine E S u / r e
are not literature
and the reproduc-
tions not art.
Mr.. Walker issues
this dictllm as an
Evening star., 1944-01-04

Due to shortage of milk, ghosts
in Ireland are reported to be milking
cows. They would be much more
patriotic if instead of reSorting to
such white market tactics they
would present their case to the ra-
ton board through a spokesman.
Evening star., 1944-01-04
On the Record

Some years, after he became "Fueh1sk,"
Adolf Hitler issued the dictum, ANY
one who sees and paints a sky green and
pastures blue ought to be sterilized."
Evening star., 1944-01-04

American soldiers in Britain thrill
to the thought that soon ice cream
may be available. Due to war re-
strictions, ice cream has not been
frozen there for some time.
Evening star., 1944-01-04

Labor unions-particularl the rail-
road brotherhoodsAar aroused because
an unidentified high official of the Gov
ernment has charged that when the
Evening star., 1944-01-04
Strike Charge Analysed

The use which enemy propagandists
are reported to have made of the threat
ened railway strike in this country
requires sober and calm examination.
Evening star., 1944-01-04
SpeculateS on What
congressman Are Hearing.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Evidence is cumulative that the best
thing that Congress does is to take
vacation.
After wrestling some weeks last sum-
mer on the periphery of the urgent oues-
tions of that day-and Washington's
August weather-the Congress decided
to vote itself vacation and 90 home.
They called it "recess"-sounds better
The leading question at that time was
whether we should or should not join
in closer alliance with our Allies
not only for winning the war. but for
the preservation of postwar world peace.
Congress, ever mindful of the vox populi,
thought that that voice had been raised
against such an alliance But Congress
had been listening to the isolationists.
whose lung power was ever dispropor-
tionate to their numerical strength.
Congress went home. And, Judged by
the scramble upon it's return to get
aboard the Fulbright resolution in the
House and the Connally resolution in
the Senate, what they heard back there
must have been "a plenty"
Congress again is on vacation. What
DO they hear from the home folks now?
Wen. the home folks probably want to
know who is runningt this country-the
PRESIDENT or John L. Lewis ct al Like
wise, whether our brave boys at the
front are to be unnecessarily sacrificed
on account of strikes, lack of supplies
or transportation.
Also, and specifically, when they (the
congress- are going to amend the Smith
ConnaLy Act SO as to bring its penal
provisions into effect in the case of
strlkeS IN any reproduction industry
without the abracadabra of, first, trans
terence by the industry to the Govern
ment then by the President over to
some official for enforcement of the
laws provisions.
Is not the day for temporizing past?
Is not our present political and indus
trial situation quite similar to that of
France-before Hitler took over and
settled all controversial issues? Labor
mad made great gains during that
period. WILBUR H. CLOSE.
Civilization Regarded as Dependent
On Acceptance of Golden Rule.
To the Editor of The Star:
The Pope's reference, in his powerful
peace plea, to economic systems mot
having the corrective of moral control
or any guiding light from beyond this
world" should impress those political
leaders who evidently believe a sound
structure can be erected on commercial
sands
A grand, global garden of four di-
menslons cannot be created by repeated
raids on the United States Treasury at
the expense of American taxpayers
Throughout the ages the rule of gold
has been tried and found wanting as far
as peace is concerned. Unless the race
decides to utilize the Golden Rule, as
taught by Buddha, Confucius and
Christ, our so-called civilization appears
doomed
EDMUND X. GOLDSBOROUGH.
Haywood Broun Remembered
AS Advocate of Change.
To the Editor of The Star:
If new slogans are the order of the
day, this may be good time to recall
the suggestion of that astute political
observer, Haywood Broun, who said:
What our country most needs is not
new deal but a new deck"
T. H, RUSSELL
Evening star., 1944-01-04
By CONSTANTINE BROWN

Reports from Berlin, Budapest, Bucha-
rest and the neutral capitals OF Europe
that the Nazis are preparing the public
for an invasion in the next few weeks
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-01-14
Approved City Disbursements
Approximate 81, 100000

A total Of almost one million dol
lars in city disbursements were APP
proved yesterday at the first meet
ing Of the board of finance for the
current year. Consisting Of large
share of the remaining 1913 bills
owed by the city in the amount of
$128, Ill 40, in addition to January
bond redemption and pertinent in
terest payments in the amount of
SSH, 96l.33 and payrolls equaling
$348, 80307, the total vouchers
amounting to $685., $3.50 proved to
be one of the largest sums submitted
to the board, in many months, for
their approval signatures on the
warrants payable sheets.
Thorvald E. Olsen was yesterday
reappointed as city budget director
and auditor at the first 1914 meet
ing Of the board of finance. Fol-
lowing the formal swearing in of
each board member the latter voted
the reappointment of Mr.. Olsen who
was then called into the room and
assumed his duties as member of
the board by virtue of his position.
Members of the finance board, who
are the same as the previous two
terms, and were previously appoint
ed by the late Mayor Scully. are:
Edward P Egan, orion P. Camp
Robert L. Coe. John P. Brophy,
Controller Neil F. Maloney, alder
manic President Patrick F. Shea and
aldermanic member william ".
Gerard in addition to Mr.. Olsen.
Continued on Page a