davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
More Than Ever

The opening of the Red Cross drive should be the signal for Waterburians, young and old, to come up with hand some contributions At no time should the request of the Red Cross for funds make more of an appeal to the average man and woman than today. This is a crucial period for any organization that has the task of bringing relief and Solace to devastated areas, co suffering individ- uals. Never has there been such de- mand for an organization like the Red Cross to extend its helping hand into so many sections of the world at one and the same time.
 All of us know what the Red Cross has been able to do since the outbreak of the war. Most of us feel the better for its miniStrationS, for we know the bene- ficiarieS in many cases are our own sons, brothers, cousins, daughters, and other relations. Surely, we cannot overlook the plea that is now made for financial assistance. There isn't much doubt about the early success of the Red Cross drive. That is assured, but there should be eagerness on the part of everyone to share in the triumphal outpouring of contributions.
 This is time, to be sure, when the demands on the heads of families, on everyone, as a matter of fact, are heavy Not day passes but what we are being asked to do something for a worthwhile cause. And surmounting every such ap- peal is the universal one of keeping Uncle Sam in position to wage war on many fronts, at the same time feeding a nation a. home and catering to the wants of the leSs-privileged countries Despite all this it's easy to deny ourselves something for a week or a month or even a longer period that the immediate success of the Red Cross drive may be promptly achieved. Tonight we ask Waterbury to give generously to this cause.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02

And speaking of motoring do you re- call the good old days when if you landed on one of the more popular highways of a late Sunday afternoon you wended your way homeward by inches. Remember those in-and-out drivers who evoked silent, sometimes, vocal, often, curses as they swerved in and out of the heavy traf- fic lines. And the shrill tWeet of the highway cops whistle as he Jagged down too venturesome driver. The approaches to New York on late Sunday afternoon could always produce as nice traffic tie up as you'd ever want to see. Well, cheer up, for there're bound to be more after the war is won.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02

Waterbury motorists, and there seems to have been about as many of them this past winter as in the halcyon days of motoring, aren't appreciative of the fact that tough winter like the current one can do tremendous amount of damage to hard-surfaced roadways. If you have dropped into any of the countless holes in the pavement on your way to and from work, you'll know what we mean Don't blame it on the Street Department, though, that these excavations aren't promptly filled in, Any repairs made now are temporary ones. They won't last as long as we have alternate freezes and thaws And all during March we can expect to see the pavement alternately heaving and returning to position It goes with the climate and no one as yet has invented pavement that will with stand the effects of the frost A lifetime annuity ought to be paid the man who discovers such a material.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
Army Educational Standards

The knowledge that thousands of young men have been rejected from military service because of educational deficien- cieS came as quite shock to most of us Educators were aroused, congressman deplored, and people generally felt little less snug about our pregressiveneSs Now comes report by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Statisticians which reveals that the fight against illiteracy isn't going so badly as one might think. In the years from 1920 to 1940 our Hitter acy percentage was reduced more than 75 per cent in the age groups from 25 to 29.
 What caused all the concern in connec- ton with the draft, the report states, was the exacting mental and educational de- mandS of modern warfare. High military standards, not high illiteracy, seem to have been the story behind most of the rejections. This statistical survey is un- doubtedly accurate, and it's conclusions seem sound. But two stories that came out of Europe the other day made us wonder if these high military standards don't occasionally slip.
 Both stories were about majors. One was the flight leader who bombed the Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden without being aware that it was the site of Hitler's famous, historic fortified residence, the Berghof. The other major commanded the railway operating battalion from which two officers and 158 men were con- victed on black market charges. His defense was that he had worked some 18 hours day at what he, as an old rail- roader, thought was the most important thing in the world-keeping the railroads running.
 But he admitted that he had felt un- equal to his job and had asked to be re- classified. And he explained further, by way of extenuation, that he had only an eighth grade education. He was ac- quilted, as we think he should have been It is not our purpose to emharrass or betlittle these two officers We do not question their courage or their integrity. But we do wonder if these cases are unique, of if they represent typical pro- motions in the face of deficient general training, as exemplified in one instance, and of insufficient educational training. as in the other.
 The Berchtesgaden incident was some- thing of joke, however incredible it may seem that a high officer had never hap pened to hear of Hitler's aerie. But the black marketing of the million dollar battalion" had most serious military con- sequences. It might have been stopped sooner under an officer other than one Who admittedly felt incapable of coping with his responsibilities, and victory might be step nearer today.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
Current Comment

At times there has been too much security or secrecy about the news and I am for release of all news just as it doesn't endanger security -Adml. Harry F. Yarnell, retired
 former Asiatic Fleet chief.
 Despite the success of our land sea, and air forces, Japan-except for her fleet and shipping losses hasn't been really hurt yet. So far as Japan Is concerned, we are still on the edges.
 -Lt.-Gen. Willard F. Harmon Strategic Air Force commander in Pacific.
 hope that discussion of uni- versal military training will keep focused on the fact that the weap- ons of modern warfare can be op- erated only by trained men. Navy Secretary James V. For restal.
 owe my looks today to good doctors and good nursing. The constant care of those girls not only kept me out of the dumps, but helped greatly in keeping me free of scars They worked over time cheerfully. but the hospital was badly understaffed.
 --T/Sgt. Robert Tompkins of Wa tertown, N. Y, airman who lost half his face in fiak-burst over North Africa.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02

Hams as Rural Electrification Ad- ministrator has lined up one of the queereSt conglomerations of friends and enemies the Senate has seen in years. SolonS who seldom agree on anything are uniting either for or against Aubrey Williams.
 Some of them are influenced because they don't think Will Hams believes in God. Some of the backstage tools of the big utility lobby. now invoking re- ligion to defeat Williams--though actually he is one of the most God-fearing men in Washington.
 SpearhTld of the opposition to Williams is one of the Senate's unique and seldom -heard- from nmebers. Bushfield of South Da- kota. Bushfield has two major claims to fame. First, he is the author of last years Appropriation Bill to compensate an Indian squaW, Winnie Left Her Behind" :" Second he has had more million aires, living far distanct from South Dakota, contribute to his campaign than anyone in the Senate.
 Here is the record of contribu- tions when Bushfield was elected in 1922 From Wilmington, Del, LammOt du POnt sent $4,OO0 all the way to South Dakota; also his brother Irenee du POnt sent $2.- 500, plus another $2.5O0 from their associate in General Motors, AL fred P. Sloan; plus 5000 from another du Jaw, Donald Brown.
 The millionaire Mellon family also contributed heavily to elect this unknown gentleman from South Dakota: Sarah Mellon Sea- fife, $4,00O; Ailsa Mellon Bruce S5,0OO; and l.. w. Mesta $l,O00. Then the Joe Pews of Sun Oil in Pennsylvania sent along $6,O0O; Colonel Mccormick of the Chi cagO Tribune sent $5.000; and Mazey JarmOn of Tennessee, president of the General Shoe Co.,, sent $l0,0O0. despite the fact that :. the top contribution under the Hatch Act is $5,0OO.
 HECKLING WILLIAMS
 Thus the doughty Bushficld
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
 Dentist I.aughs

My gums seem to be soft and shrinking away from the teeth. ! am 24. When I asked the dentist if more milk, tomato juice and fresh juice would help, he laugh. ed at me and said it is too late. that I am too old, nothing can help now, as have stopped grow ing developing at the age of 21 years (Mrs. M. W) Answer-Chemical composition of the gums, bones. teeth. organs, in fact of the entire body. changes constantly from birth to death, and your present age has nothing to do with 1t. Let the dentist laugh while you consult a physician. I can aS- sure you that more milk and milk products Co SC, particularly. fresh fruit or fruit juice and to- mato or tomato juice in your diet will at least retard progress of the degeneration and tend to prolong the useful life of gums, teeth and body-no matter what quaint no- tions dentists may have about it.
 Calcium Deficiency
 am trying to find some test for checking calcium deficiency in school children. (-School Health Director)
 Answer--I know of none, except the therapeutic test-that is. sup plement the child's diet with an extra ration of calcium and vitamin D daily for a month or two and see whether general health and vitality improves. No harm done if no such Improvement is evident. Send ten cents and stamped en- velope bearing your address. for booklet 'The Calcium Shortage" Most children probably get insuffi- cient calcium-unless they consume a quart of milk and some greens daily.
 Olives
 What is the food value of olives? Is 1t all right to give them to two years old child? (Mrs. c. J.
 AnsWers--1200 to 1400 calor.ies per pound-about three times as nour- ishing as boiled potato. Ripe olives may be fed to child two or three years old. green olives not till tho child is five or six.
 Copyright 1945, John F. Dille Col
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
JOB PREFERENCE FOR
 VETERANS
New York Herald Tribune

Every one agrees that we owe a preference in public employment to war veterans. But that preference should not create veterans monopoly of civil service jobs and promotions. The constitutional amendment proposal passed by the legislature last year and reintro- duced this year by Senator Downey and Assemblyman Sherman would grant virtually such a monopoly. We believe. with the Citizens Union and other responsible and respected civic organizations, that, even at the price of delay. proposal for limited preference should be substi- tuted. Such substitute is the Wicks-Mitchell proposal.
 This bill follows a standard pro- cedure recommended by civil service experts and underwritten by experi- ence. It gives disabled veterans an additional ten points on an initial civil service examination, regular veterans five points. It also em- powers the legislature to prescribe system of preference for the non- civil service jobs which are gen- orally reserved to political patron- age. Under the absolute preference proposal already passed once by the legislature veteran on a civil serv- ice list would be appointed. promot- ed or retained in preference to others without regard to his stand ing. Such system could hardly fail to discourage non-veterans from considering the civil service as Q career. That is not good from the point of view of public service: 1t is not good from the point of view of veterans generally, for their inter. est in the efficient conduct of gov- ernment is the same as that of all other citizens.
 Governor Dewey in outlining . veterans program naturally includ-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
ANTI-PARTY LEVER BILL
(New Britain Herald)

NNcW DlIIdlIl k1cIulU)
 Rep. Oscar Peterson, Jr., a Strat- ford Republican, sponsored bill int he Legislature to do away with party levers on the voting ma chimes.
 This reform has been long desired, so is. 1t too much to expect the Legislature to take proper action
 Maybe it is too much to expect. The politicos have a fondness for the status quo in voting machines, believing that by inducing a large percentage of the electorate to vote the straight" ticket. their party has an advantage.
 Of course, they are mistaken. The Connecticut system is not universal and 1t is not on record that in other states where the electorate
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02

Hartford and environs are hoping that the disintegration of the seasons accum- ulation of snow and ice up the Connecti- cut River valley will be gradual one. There aren't very many residents of the Capitol City who can forget the ave- some days of ten years ago when the river ran roughshod over property and caused a flood control program that is still in progress.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02

world have he planners been do- ing for the last three years, that they should come up nearly 20 per cent low in their estimates at this late date?
 T 8 k 1 n g the worst news first, this has bee n a m o n g o t h c T things the most waSteful war in history. Because 1t has been so largely a war of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
WERE ONLY POOLING

w VE AA1 OANA4 EOOAAANO
 Familiar item in the news: Jon o. Fella the w.k. so and so collaps- ed last evening while at dinner with friends. pr. Fonda Publicity stated that MT. Fella's attack was due to acute indigestion.
 Tn the same category is this one, from a readers letter: My friend called a doctor who said she has chronic appendicitis. Later in a check-up at the hospital no such trouble was found. Still later when she had more pain and called the doctor he told her just to take an aspirin or an ice cream soda. He said 1t was chronic appendicitis and he didn't want to examine her again. that she needed to be built up with tonics so she could have her appendix removed.
 Sometimes it is difficult to de- termine whether a correspondent is asking me or telling me.
 My own interpretation of MT. Fella's acute indigestion is that Dr. Fonda Publicity is only fOoling - just whom he is fooling I cannot say, but I hope 1t is the reporter or the public, not MT. Fella. I'd hate to be in MT. Fellas place if the att tending physician seriously attrib~ uted my illness or collapse to "in" digestion"
 After all, even if your food rec mains wholly undigested for hours or days, or remains in the stomach long after 1t should have passed along into the duodenum, or under goes prolonged fermentation and so produces more than the normal or ordinary amount of gas, or exciteS secretion of more than the ordinary or normal amount of acid gastric juice or excessively acid gastric juice, still the very worst effect will be some temporary discomfort. If you have real pain, or any real enl- barraSsment of heart action or breathing or in fact any attack" or distress severe enough to call for medical emergency relief, you may as well realize there is something seriously wrong and it isn't just up- set digestion or something that doesn't "agree" or anything 50 sim- pie as that.
 As for chronic appeidicitis there is still some division of opinon about ths rather cryptic diagnosis. some good doctors maintaining that 1t can happen. But if you are asking me, not telling me, I say that I would not fool along with any such notion myself if were the patient. Too many cases of al- legged chronic appendicitis" have been opened by mistake. One may have repeated attacks of acute ap- pendicits, whether the first attack is so diagnosed or not, but in my opinion diagnosis of chronic ap- pendicitis of indefinite or gradual onset, without the history of one or more acute attacks and intervals of comparative freedom from trouble. is always questionable.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02

The Administration in Washington constantly tightens it's grip on food, fuel, manpoWer and all civilian necessities, systems and conditions. You might just as well make up your mind that there will be no relaxationS of these policies un- til firing ceases on the battlefronts.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02

As matter of strict fact the proposed control dam in the Naugatuck River valley above Thomaston is part of this flood program. It was a far-reaching one, not to mention an extremely ex- pensive one. But any public works pro- gram is going to cost money
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
!" "NATIONAL
 SPOTLIGHT
Task of Supplying Two Wars
By PETER EDISON Waterbury DemOcrat-NEA Wash ingtOn Correspondent

Washington, March 2 = Behind the Army's recently announced l8.9 per cent increase in l945 war pro- duction programs are number of factors that may be lost sight of.
 At first glance, any up in plan ming may look silly. What in the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
Daily Almanac

Duby <Ahbu0udC Sun rises 7:25 a. m: set 6:44 D. m. (war time)
 Moon rises 10:i7 D. m. (war time) All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset
 Moons phases quarter. March G. I2:22 a. n.: new moon. March l3, ll:43 D. m. first quarter. March 20, 3:03 p. m.; .us moon, March 20, l:36 D. m. (war timel
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
FIREMEN'S FRIEND

Indianapolis, Ind. (UP)-Bill Oberling. a understand operator, is favorite with the fremen. for whenever they have large fire to take care of, he loads his car with sandwiches and hot coffee to give them while working-all lon the house."
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
Views Of The Press

1 ed veterans preference in civil serv- ice. But 1t need not and should not
 be preference which closes the field
 to all others.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
Your Health By Dr. William Brady

Signed letters pertaining tO per- sOnaI health and hygiene, not to disease, diagnosis of treatment, will be answered by pr. Brady lf a stamped self-addressed envelope Is enclosed. Letters should be brief and written in ink. No reply can be made to queries not conform ing to instructions. Address Dr. William Brady, National News. paper Service. 32O West Madison Street, Chicago, III.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
Selected Poem
MEMORIES OF THE FUTURE

1'HH1UHOHEHESO UF Edward M BetoWski in The New York Times) The year is young and have sung A reminiscent old refrain, Whose melody iu minor key
 Brings back the anguished past again. But shall Scorn the days unborn? Night speeds to dawn on mystic wing And winters tear shall reappear As dew upon the face of spring The troubled now must disavow Dark hates despair begetting nod, My heart must learn with love to burn And burning, be consumed in God!
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
Washington Merry-Go-Round
Drew Peorson Soys ekes Talks Tough Cool Shooses Nozi Soboteurs Deoh Sentence oy Committed; Aubrey Fight Mokes Strange Bedfelows.
BY DREW PEARSON

WASHINGTON March On the eve of John l. Lewis coal negotiations Hard
  about shortages ofted
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02

votes for each individual office seeked on @ ticket, that any party is at a disadvantage.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-02
A Thought for Today

Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods; wherefore will deliver you mOre.- Judges 10:13. The traitor to Humanity is the traitor most
 accursed Man is more than Constitutions; better rot
 beneath the sod,
 Than be true to Church and State while we are doubly false to God.-Lowen
Evening star., 1945-11-25

consented to say when Herbert did the intro
ducing. She faced little away from Trudie
when she said this; for the woman was blind.
She was an extraordinary person. She had
been Character so many years, talked about,
pointed out, that she played the part without
hitch. Her dried-apple-skin face was net
of wrinkles and her voice was high, rasping;
but she was tiny, and didn't bulge anywhere
whether she stood or walked, and even though
she leaned upon Herbert, there was light
ness and fragility about her, delicacy, which
was distinctly girlish. She carried no cane
and held her head high. Her mouth, difficult
to find among the massed wrinkles expressed
disgust with everything she heard and smelled
and touched and tasted, with everything she
couldn't see. She was impatient not only with
Herbert but with the whole world.
She made the front steps easily, spurning
Herbert's arm, and she reached out and
touched the front door, which was closed
Guess l ought to know this door! What's
this thing?" she asked
Evening star., 1945-11-25

That's knocker, Gramrna, " he answered
What in hell do they need knocker for?
Why don't they knock with their knuckles,
like this =" They gasped; for they would
have sworn that the small bloodless hand
would crumple under such an impact; but the
knock was resounding one, and the hand
was withdrawn and promptly used to open
the door, "Never had knocker when lived
here" she grumbled "It's old enough any
way. They don't have to be putting up things
to make it look older"
The guests quit the terrace and trailed into
the house behind her and Trudie. Some car
ried their drinks. They were fascinated.
Miss Anderson moved everywhere, pok-
ing, patting, talking in her high, monotonous
voice. 1t was impossible to say whether she
knew a lot of people we're watching her, listen
ing to her; probably she did. They never
addressed her. They fell away when she
approached. Trudie she ignored.
''No, THAT'S not the way to the stairs,
Gramma," said Herbert
Herbert, don't be silly! lived in this
house for more than twenty years, when l
was girl That was a long time ago, but l
still haven't forgotten anything,
"Well, maybe Mr. and Mrs. Blake changed
it. used to break in here sometimes when
l was kid, when it was deserted seem to re-
member that the stairs we're straight then"
Evening star., 1945-11-25

TNHEY were starting on their second drink
Il when the old woman came along and stole
the party She was eighty-nine according to
some reports, ninety-one according to others,
and she was accompanied by worried stocky
man of perhaps thirty, called, she made it
Immediately known, Herbert Herbert would
say Eyes, Gramma" now and then, but he
didn't say much else: he didn' t get chance to.
Trudie Blake gave out thin well-bred cry
of disnay when she saw them coming.
'She ,0onld pick today! She used to live
in this house, years ago, and she wanted to
come back and look it over again before she
died - if she ever does. told her of course,
any time. But / didn't think she'd pick a
Sundayr' The old woman was an Anderson,
Trudie explained and the Andersons, she
added archly, were very important people in
this part of Connecticut.
"But you stay right here and decide what
we're going to do" she told her guests. "Stay
right out here on the terrace I'll conduct her
through the place.
Trudie might have saved herself the trouble
Apologies were not needed. The old woman,
old Miss Anderson, held her audience from
the moment her cackle was first heard. She
was scolding Herbert even as he helped her
out of the car. Except for his OBTAINING hand
she would have marched straight to the front
door, for clearly she saw no need to greet a
hostess, How do you do, young LADY, she