davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
Is It Better?

One of Hartford's registrar of voters has a bill in the Legislature this year which would practically eliminate party organizations from politics. This might be good thing if it could be shown that all party organizations deserve to be so treated However, it isn't true. There are many party organizations which serve good purpose, namely, of seeing that slate of good candidates is elected to public office. Others accomplish the same end, but the officers aren't always of the same calibre.
 Actually the proposal is that nominat- ing conventions shall be abolished and nominations made directly at primary sessions. Primary contests would only be held when any group of the electorate disapproved of the slate of nominees of fered by the party organization. All of which simply, to our mind, allows any organized minority to control the nom- nations for public office. It should be the opposite, of course nominations to be dictated by majority.
 The whole trouble lies in the fact that the general public isn't too much inter ested in the machinery of nominating and electing people to public office. There are some people who will always be interested; there arc twice as many who won't. It's possible for individuals or groups to con- trNl an organization for their own benefit, but it's equally true that in doing this they can do some good for the community, as much as if they weren't interested in hav- ing persons of their own liking or choice named and elected
 It doesn't pay to fool around with the election laws too much or too often. There are occasions when they need tightening up. This has been done here in Connec ticut in respect to voting and primary lists. Maybe the Hartford official has some advancement in our political thought in his proposal for direct primar- ies But we still insist that direct pri- mary can be controlled just as easily as nominating convention. If we are to con- tinue the party system in this state, we'll have to do more than eliminate conven- tions and substitute direct primaries.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
Incredible Statistics

This is war of staggering incredibil- ity. Even a person who feels confidently at home in discussions of infinity and eternity probably finds some of the war time statistics as mind-staggering as do the rest of us.
 The national debt is quite beyond com- prehension in terms of actual money. Its increase or limitation or eventual reduc- ton is an even dizzer subject. We just can't see how nation can pay out almost $300,000,000 every day to run the war even when William L. Bait of the WIPE comes along, as he did the other day. to show where some of the money has gone.
 MT. Batt's figures on four and half years of American war production are as staggering as the rest of the statistics. More than 37 billion rounds of small arms ammunition; over II million rifles and carbines 246,845 ariplanes; 130,000 tanks; 51,000 landing vessels, and so on. This is information to make America stand in silent awe at it's own produc- tiveness.
 But the most aWesome and incredible thing of all is that shortages can threaten and exist, in spite of these tremendous totals. Our production figures are some thing to stand and admire only briefly. For production is only race with ex- penditure. And the weapons of war, like the dollars that buy them, are spent at prodigious rate.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
Views Of The Press
HAULING THE MOLLUSK Christian Science Monitor)

When the Harvard cheering sec- tion went into action in other years, there were sure to be headlines next day. But it has taken world war to attract deserved attention to an other Harvard section-namely the MolluSk Section, of the Universitys Museum of Comparative Zoology. This section, we understand, works more quietly, but evidently as ef- fectively, in helping Harvard-and incidentally the United States-win the present global game.
 This organization has dispensed information which has enabled serv- icemen to discern between friendly and enemy shellfish. Acting on this information, one bewares of the en- emy when building wharves or other structures set on piles in water; there are shellfish that engage in underground, or rather underwater, movements that amount to sabotage.
 But as to the others; ones friends? Well, one eats them. It's a little too grimly reminiscent of the Walrus and the Carpenter and their tears for the trusting oysters who accepted an invitation for a walk to dinner, and were 1t.
 But war is war, and a stranded soldier, sailor or even gentle Mar inc can't feel too selfish when eat- ing a shellfish on some Pacific island where there happens to be no delicatesssn. That is where the Mol lusk Section comes in to cheer him onward, with knowledge as to which shellfish are inclined to dispute most violently his right to eat them. Then like the characters in Through the Looking Glass;" he can choose the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
Bundles for the World

In l940 and l94l the powerful armies of Germany and Japan swept like a swarm of locustS through Europe and the Orient, devouring whatever of value lay in their path. And according to available evidence, their pillage of textiles and clothing was particularly thorough.
 The output of looms and mills in occu- pied countries was appropriated. Many persons, especially those with garments of some value, were left only what they were wearing. The passing years have reduced the great majority of people in the Balkans, Poland, Hungary and west ern Russia, in France, Belgium ard Hol- land, and in the Philippines to uni formly threadbare state
 Relief workers tell stories of families in Belgium and France whic hhave only one shirt among all the members of both sexes. In YugoSlavia a death notice attracts crowds of Stivering people offer ing fantastic prices for the clothing of the deceased. In Belgrade a woman offered ample reward" for an old patched shoe tl!at she had lost. From his inspection tour of Leyte, Brig Gen. Carlos F. Romulo reported that "the greatest need is clothing"
 Liberation of many occupied lands has not remedied this situation, but it has made large-scale assistance possible. And so, during the month of April, the people of the United States will be asked to con- tribute 150,000,000 pounds of used and usable clothing for the destitute men, women and children of war-ravaged coun- tries of Europe and Asia
 The collection will be made through the United National Clothing Collection, of which Henry J. Kaiser is chairman. The organization is just what the name inn plies-united, in that it has the sponsor ship and assistance of almost every for eign relief group in this country and many of our own charitable associations; national, in that it will function in this and every other community of the nation
 The collected apparel will be diStrib- uted, without cost or discrimination, to restore health and decency and self respect to vast number of the worlds unfortunateS. The latest compilation of reports indicates that in liberated Europe alone there are 3O,000,O00 almost literally naked, end 125,000,000 others in urgent need of clothes, shoes and bedding. So the goal is only for minimal needs.
 In his letter inviting MT. Kaiser to head the organization, President Roose- welt wrote: II feel assured that this ap- peal will receive the traditionally gener- ouS response of the American people," Throughout the years, Americans have responded to emergencies affecting their own or other people in an immediate, Warm-hearted way that has made their generosity truly traditional. It is incred- ible that they should not respond with the same generosity to help relieve the victims of history's greatest disaster.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

Latest information on the subject would indicate that Hammonasset State Park will be given back, not to the h. dians, but to the peoples of Connecticut. Since the outbreak of the war this area has been held by the War Department. And the State Park and Forest Commis- sicn is going to exert every effort to have the shore-front in shape for bathing. All of the facilities of this once-popular resort will probably not be going at full blast, but there will be swimming for those who can get to the park. This naturally pre- sumes that there will be some gasoline for driving to pleasure resorts of this type. For unless the park is to be restricted to nearby residents, therell have to be motor cars used to get to Hammonaset. How ever, we're all glad the Army feels it can give the park back to us
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

Waterbury joined the list of cities and towns beseeching the Legislature to allow it to revise it's charter this year when city officials appeared before the Cities and Boroughs Committee yesterday after noon However, Waterbury is doing what others might do tably-bring its charter into conformity with what has become practice or what has been recom- mended as necessary for better govern ment Incidentally the Waterbury pres committees this year has come in for much praise by legislators. This speaks well for Mayor John S. Monagan and Cor poration Counsel Maurice T. Healey who have directed these efforts.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

he remarked to 8 close friend of mine in the senate, when is that son of (gun) Morse gO- ing to start voting Republican," Butler reddened, said nothing.
 NOTE: Senator Morse, together with Aiken of Vermont, Langer ot North Dakota and Young of North Dakota were the only Republicans voting for Aubrey Williams as REA administrator.
 EXPLANATION?
 General MacArthur's Army friends in Washington have a unique explanation for his refusal to let Maj. Gen. Norman Kirk, surgeon general of the Army, visit Manila on his recent inspection tour. They say privately that not suitable housing was avail able for General Kirk. One Mac Arthur supporter, who is familiar. with the Kirk incident, added: "Whcn you are five-star gen. eral you don't have to give an explanation for what you dO."
 Further details of General Mac Arthur's refusal to let General Kirk touch foot even on the island of Luzon in order to inspect Army hospitals there have now leaked out. Kirk, as head of the Army medical corps, arrived in Leyte with staff of medical experts ready to place them in strategic positions in Luzon when fighting was heavy at that time.
 As courtesy to MacArthur Kirk radiOed him from Leyte Island that he was coming. He received in reply message say ing that his presence was not needed.
 Scarcely believing his eyes. Gen eral Kirk gave MacArthur a chance to cnange his mind by sending another telegram which said in substance: Don't un- derstand your message. Do you mean by your telegram number so-and-so that my assistance is not welcome?"
 General MacArthur's reply was brief and to the point. It read: No, repeat Mo-"
 Kirk then got in his plane, boiling mad, and came home.
 NOIE: The War Department for some time has been split into the o-MacAfthur and the anti Macarthur schools. Many of the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
THE SINS OF THE FATHERS

THE SINS OF THE FATHERS
 By whatever name the call shell shock or war neurosis' or bat tie fatigue" opined in a talk here last fall, the breakdown would have happened sooner or later. war or no war Had there been no war the breakdown would have been as- cribed, I added, when I should have closed my trap and called it g. day, to "overwork." worry, business cares, financial responsibilities. domestic strife, the stress and and strain of modern life, whatever that may mean.
 Now I'll try to define the sins I had in mind.
 First there is alcoholic indulg- ence. by which mean the use of alcohol as a narcotic or, If you prefer to be headstrong about it. as "stimulant." This includes most so-called social" drinking and especially the cocktail habit, dropping in at the Refectory for a quick one on the way home to dinner, resorting to the drug alco- hol to dull consciousness of ones shortcomings. believe alcoholic in- dulgence is accountable for great deal of the nervous breakdown ,' nervous weakness" "pS y chon- eourosis," "neurasthenia" or what ever fancy name you please to call it. And do not lose sight of the fundamental physiological fact that the only kind of energy scientif1cal- ly recognized is ordinary physical or muscular energy mo one has shown that significant amount of energy is expended by the function ing of the brain or the nerves. Some laboratory investigators have, thought their observations showed that a college student concentrat- ing for few hours on difficult examination used all the energy from one or two peanuts, but it is scientifically fair to question the accuracy of such observationS-the energy the investigators assumed the brain expended may have been expended actually by the heart or the breathing muscles or the ali mentary muscle.
 Next in the sins of the parents or the sins of the neurotic or psy- choneurotic himself or herself is wrong eating. This sin is so com mon, covers so much territory and is so poorly comprehended by most people that I shall not attempt to define it in the space available here. It calls for detailed discussion in talks to follow But please dc not imagine it means overeating, or eating too much starch or sugar, or eating things difficult to digest. or eating wrong combinations of foods. or eating foods that Gas the charlatans and their dupes have iD produce "mucus," "gas," "acid- osis," toxic waste and the like. These queer fancies should not con- cern any one who has a knowledge of the rudiments of physiology.
 Wrong eating. as will become manifest in the talks to follow, in- wolves two characteristic American faults, as I see it. namely, nutri- tional deficiency due to our abnor- maj consumption of refined food and weak digestion due to insufficient mastication.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
Selected Poem
OLD GARDEN

OLD GARDEN
 Edith Tatum in the New York Times) The years have left their mark upon the house. It stands dejected midst the ancient trees; The tangled garden that surrounds 1t, still Is full of charm and wind-blown mysteries. It must have been woman, long ago, Who planned and planted it, who loved the earth The changing and the sun and rain; Watched them in rhythmic unison give birth To beauty that refreshed her heart and soul And brought them order and serenity. It seems to hold the blossoming of dreams, The fragrance of deathless memory. wonder was her life happy one Or did her garden give some deep hurt ease? think that when the silvered moon is low She walks in peace through spicy shrubberes.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
more docile ones, and of course, those of the largest size.'
COMMUNITY PORTRAIT
 (New York Sum

An important principal in art is admirably upheld by Ridgewood, New Jersey, its art association and the village commissioners. The com munity has decided to adorn the Ridgewood Municipal Building with appropriate murals or paintings. Did the local authorities decide that in our era of One World and global paternalism it was necessary to decorate its governmental center with scenes showing the fraternity of nations ard the spirit of the age of the common man? Fortunately they did not. The Ridgewood Art Association has announced com- petition in municipal art, and has
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

generals contemporaries don't like him, feel that he has never given sufficient credit to men who bore the brunt of the Pa cific fighting such as General Kreuger, Eichelberger, Kenny, Ar mold and others. They also re- sent the fact that news dispatch es from the Pacific must bear the date line General MacAr- thurs Headquarters,' and point out that in contrast Eisenhower requires no such date line and has given much credit to Gen. erals Patton, Hodges, Simpson, Patch, and DeverS, all of whom are well known to the public, whereas few know the names of the generals commanding Mac Arthur's armies.
 The fact that General Kirk might have got in the headlines, some say, may have been the reason why Macarthur barred him from inspecting hospitals in LuZon.
 PHILIPPINE MOP-UP
 Work is being pushed rapidly in the Philippines to ready those islands as our chief base for the push on Japan and the Jap-held Chinese mainland. Enough Japs are left in the islands to be dan gerouS, but they are being elim- mated, with the toughest fighting on the southernmost island of Mindanao.
 Manila harbor is now ill full use, with dock installations at the city itself rapidly being put ill shape. Shiploads of vital supplies are arriving at other island ports as well as Manila.
 LUDENDORF BRIDGE
 Here is one story as to how American troops managed to cap ture the important Ludendorff bridge across the Rhine. A group of anti-Nazi students are reported to have been quietly organizing in the Rhine valley. and secretly joined Hitler's Elite Guard, the "Schutz Staffer in 1942 where they have been boring from with in ever since. It was this group that is reported to have tipped off the American command that Re- magen bridge would be intact.
 Copyright, 1945, by
 Tvto po11 Syndicafa Tnp
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

It's funny what can happen in the short space of few minutes when story starts the rounds of a community. Take the peace "rumor" of yesterday noon The whole city was talking about it and trying to find out about it. But it wasn't confined to Waterbury; it was everywhere. New York was even more wild-eyed than Waterbury and so was Hartford. All of us are definitely peace conscious now, just awaiting the signal that it's over in Europe
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

make the filing of specification statements mandatory, and an en- forcement procedure will be work ed out to insure that the specifi- cations are lived up to.
 Regulation of trim on women s apparel is even more difficult be- cause of its variety. A suit with a few fancy buttons on it is one thing, but with a piece of costume jewelry pinned on, it becomes something in an entirely different price line. Just how trim can be controlled has not been decided. It could be done by limiting the trim to a certain per- centage of price of the garment, or it could be done by limiting the trim to what. the manufacturers put on base period.
 INDUSTRY OPPOSITION
 STOPS
 In the meantime, industry oppo- sition to the clothing regulations has pretty largely burned itself out. The hearings before Congressman Howard Smiths Committee to h. vestigate Federal Agencies were not well attended and the Congress men themselves never got very steamed up by what they were told by the industry representative With the interest of Congress as a whole now centered on the food situation, the textile and apparel orders may go into effect with only token resistance.
 Opposition to these orders was really centered in the makers of higher priced fabrics and apparel. They represent approximately 25 per cent of the number of firms in the business, but their output is only from Is to 20 per cent of the total U. s. apparel production. For time it was believed that most of these firms would be forced out of business for the duration. Modi- flcations of the orders and a better understanding of how they would work have removed most of these fears.
 LOW-PRICED COTTON DUE
 OPA says consumers should begin to find larger supplies of lower priced rayon and woolen items may not appear in larger supply before fall.
 The real bottleneck in the apparel supply situation is in the spinning of cotton and wool yarns. There is plenty of raw cotton and wool, but shortage of labor to spin it. In the case of rayon, the shortage is in chemical supply for fiber produc- tion. The new OPA and WIPE ap- parel and textile orders have un- questionably caused confusion in the industry, which is complicated business built up on long establish ed trade practices.
 The orders to change these tradi- tional ways of doing business are therefore complicated. But the con- fusion these orders have caused in the industry are nothing, point out the industry men in the govern ment war agencies, if compared to what the public confusion would have been if OPA and WIPE had done nothing and had merely al- lowed bad situation ill a short supply of low-cost clothing to get worse. The alternative would prob- ably have been rationing of apparel. Think what fun that would have been.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

watched the Indian crops Wither summer after summer under the scorching sun, he decided to do something about the matter. He went to Washington and worked for six months Interviewing congress- men and senators. Tn addition he sent out 44,O0O appeals all over the country urging the people to write their senators and congressman. He stuck at the thing until the bill passed both houses.
 It was said that the bell in the church steeple at Sacaton rang for whole day and night after his word was received.
 Lay was humble man who ask ed of his fellows but the oppor- tunity to serve them, and who re- ceived for his efforts little beside their undying good will. He had no nationwide acclaim at any time. But there are thousands of humble hearts today that grow warm at the memory of him. He loved his fellowmen and served them.
 All Rights Reserved
 Babson Newspaper Syndicate
 A new aif. nassenoer and frei0ht
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
1" NATIONAL
 SPOTLIGHT
Clothing Quality OPA Regulation
By PETER EDISON Waterbury DemOcrat-NEA Wash ingtOn Correspondent

Washington, March 28 - Tighter government regulation of the quail ity of wartime clothing and res- trictions on trimmings put on wo- mems ready-to-wear apparel are the next orders which OPA will is- sue in its efforts to hold the line on living costs and assure production of adequate supplies of l over priced garments.
 Prevention of quality deprecia- ton is extremely difficult after
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

people.
 It seems t h a t the white people living on the river which flows through the Pima Reservation h a d diverted t h e ir- rigation water for t h e ir ow n use and by so doing left the Indians in a half starving condition. AS IaY
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

p I 1 ' . 1cS uldLAUIl has been put into effect, but OPA is going to at tempt it in the a pparel field, none the less. At the present time, a II manufactur- CTS of apparel are asked to file VOL
 u n t ary state ments of specif- cations on their output, but the
 new quality con- trol regulations ora intended tO
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
A Thought for Today

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly cOnfused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.-The Acts 19:32.
 Yet if thou didst but know how little wit governs this mighty universe.-Mrs. A. Behn.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
STRENGTH FOR THE DAY By EARL L. DOUGLASS, D.D.

HE SERVED HIS FELLOWMEN
 Some time ago Dirk Lay, mis- sionary to the Pima Indians, died, and newspapers all over the coun- try carried the account of the great service he had rendered those needy
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28

invited all artists. professional and amateur, to participate The pro- spectus reads: "All paintings con- sidered as eligible for entry and for award must come withint he general subject of Portrait of Ridgewood,' meaning that they must have def1- nite connection with, or bearing on the Village of Ridgewood's physical setting, history, activities or per- sonalities." This is one of the ways in which the great art of the old
 masters of Europe, the Orient and America was. through the ages, cre- ated. Perhaps juries and competi- tions were not always in sight. but pride in local interest permeate0 much of Renaissance art. andepro'
 duced masterpieces. Other towps may do well to observe closely the outcome of Rildgewoods invitation.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
Daily Almanac

Moon rises 7:13 p. m (war time)
 Sun rises 6:43 a. m.; sets 7:12 D. m. (war time)
 All vehicles must be lighted thirty minutes after sunset
 The moon entered the full phase at l:36 p. m. (war time) today. This is supposed to indicate stormy period for the next week.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-28
Washington Merry-Go-Roun
BY DREW PEARSON

Drew Pearson Soy Marshall Won't Venture Guess End of War With Germony New rendered Welcome and Adce Unique Explanation for Refuso to Per- init Kirk Visit Mono 28In