davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
2 DOllar-Bill Battle

Guest writer for Peter Edson while on vacation)
 WASHINGTON, Sept. 13- (NEA) Periodically the Treasury Department up and launches a campaign to encourage the greater of two-dolar bills. Simultaneously the American public turns deaf ear to the TreasryS pleading continues to shun the bills though they were infected and tears their corners off with Vigor.
 Why the Treasury keeps printing two-dollar bills when nobody likes them is somewhat of mystery There's no law regulation fixing how much of this denomination should be printed in proportion to any other denomination It's merely tenacity on the part of the Treasury in holding to its conviction that the two-dollar bill is good idea
 Here the two main reasons it gives for printing them: In making up cash payrollS, the of two- dollar bills means less counting and less chance for error and obviously it costs half much to print the same amount of money in tWodollar bills as it does printing it in one-dollar bills.
 According to Treasury's records there are 33 425- $40 tWo-dollar bills in circulation There is approx lmately O0OOO0,OO0 worth of paper currency in clrculaon and this proportion is maintained all the time.
 The Treasury Department is too pure to come right out and say that it also prints two-doar bills for the convenience of racetrack bettors-two dollars being the most popular bet It puts it this way We try to satisfy the requests of banks which we know are in the vicinity of tracks for higher propor tion of two-dollar billS.'
 It is true that tracks like to use two-dollar bills but not for the convenience of the bettor. It's easier and faster to make change with them It's the bettorS who are largely responsible for tearing off the corners There the superstition that tearing off the corner takes the "curse" off the bill.
 
 Where the idea that there is a curse on a two- dollar bill started, nobody appears to know The Treasury Department would like to get its hands on the individual responsible. And where the idea that tearing off the would the curse from the bills got started is just much of mystery Both beliefs seem to have become widespread about the time
 But wherever the curse" idea and it's antidote came from, it's expensive headache to the Treas ury. Two-dollar bills come back to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, mutilated, faster than any other denomination of bills. And practically all of them have their corners gone
 Just little bit of the corner gone doesn't Consti
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
It. Governor Snow and Teachers Pay

Those Waterbury persons fortunate enough to hear It. Gov. Wlbert Snow when he spoke to recent meeting at the Hotel Elton recalling the pertinent comment he
 made at that e in of the teachers strike at Norwak Norwalk.
 Said Mr. Snow, Teaching has always been the Cinder ella among the professions Our educational methods in Connecticut need correction njustices in teachers pay should be corrected. have always felt that person to whom entrusted my child's education worth much the who took out my tonss got my divorce if I wanted one which happily, do not
 Quite by contrast with the present administration, MT. Snow to have real appreciation of the high import any community of it's teachers and the justice of it's claim to compensation commensurate with that importance little realistic appreciation of the teachers plight could have avoided the regreabe situation which developed in Norwalk
 Such foresight in candidate for political office is freshng and commendab Correction of educational ma practises just item in program for Connecticut which Mr. Snow presented and which makes awful lot of group of voters who can't help but contrast it with the thinking and deeds of candidate whose principal claim to nomination to be his part in greatly dis credited OPA administration.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
Famine Amidst Plenty

The Federal Reserve has succumbed to the popular practice of potakng and come up with enlightening capita wealth. it has added facts to the figures by determining where the money really lies and what the possessors intend doing with it.
 The Boards survey of 5000 families reveals that the savings in this amounts to $175O But it also reveals that the top percent of these families of all the savings while the bottom per cent has only percent The survey also shows that while everybody hungry for durable goods the great majority doesn't want to buy at today's prices
 The Board estimates that S,000O0O families want new and 100000 want homes. But it's poll shows that onethd of these families wants less than 900 for house. while only another third is willing go above $6OOO And while the average citizen expects to pay $ for he content to wait around for while on the chance of paying less
 Thus we have some statistics that make to go with situation which, though not graphed and charted has been clear for time. Our national wealth, though greater is still about badly distributed And national living standard is going down wealth n-
 
 There has been prevalent optimistic belief that strikes and shortages strengthened out OPA ceilings restored and really made to work troubles would be But this Federal Reserve poll points up the less reality, which is this
 Prices have far ahead of income increases, espe- ciay in the poorerpaid half of population Prices will hgh when and steady production and normal competition return because production costs will remain high For more than year controlled prices and uncon- roed rises have been largely concentrated in the ducton of items which in shortest supply and greatest demand.
 It would be dangerous to encourage families to stop thinking in terms of prices compatible with their incomes.
 would be dangerous to advocate cuts So what be done to hold prices steady and increase duction?
 Frank Ford editor of the Evansville Ind. Press has proposed remedy in recent article It includes tech noogca Improvements without reduced wages increased hours restoration of trust and harmony; and end to tage-seeking."
 Until this remedy is used and until workers and oyers alike devote good deal thinking to their duties and less to their rights the worlds richest naton will continue to grow shabbier and more discontented.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
US. Just Tagging Along 1y 1Aonas Stokes

WASHINGTON-There is something ironic in the spectacle of American Navy planes spelling out "FD.R" in the skies Greece-just after restora- tion of the monarchy under King George II.
 Can that in any sense, represent the ideals of Franklin D. Roosevelt, or the things for which we fought?
 What has happened in Greece somehow seems symbolic of course of events in which we have be- come nextricably involved all the world by the stumbling diplomatic maneuverings of the past year Or so it seems to layman when he backs off and takes look.
 pattern emerges from the Greek drama
 The Greek people voted their king back. It was their choice. But they had little choice It either to become stepchild of England under king twice exied, or the foster-child of Russia They took the king.
 And planes, in strange sort of gesture throw the initials "FD.R." across the skies.
 But is it victory for us and our war aims and ideals as enunciated by Franklin D. Roosevelt de- signed to establish real democracy in Europe? Isn't it that we have just lined ourselves up behind the British and have failed again strike out in- dependently, with all the influence that we should possess, and try to get something more closely ap- proxmating the American ideal?
 We boast of our sort of democracy a middle way It proved itself dynamic in war, all the world now knows. But nowhere have achieved it. despite all our prestige and power. The doing has been that of others.
 This is demonstrated in Europe. England has tried, with some notable failures, to streW friendly puppet kings about Southern and Southeastern Europe to achieve her purposes Russia has been at the same game and with some success by influencing the setting up of Socalled peoples republics as in Yugosavia and Bulgaria. which have their own pup pet dlctators to bey the name of republics.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
WILD WEST" SOPHISTICATED
Christian Science Monitor)


 In an article in one of Americas nationally circulated magazines the author remarks nostalgically that the once colorful West is slowly fading. Cow ponies, instead of be- ing ridden to ranges, are now whisk- ed away in trailers lowed by pick up truck. And if ranch hands desire to witness 8 brush between cow boys and rustlers they must resort to nearby movie theater.
 While it is true that the old Chis- holm trail is now grass-grown, for mer stagecoach stops supplanted by service stations and hot-dog stands, and bullet-scarred stockades have given way to consolidated schools, this by no means implies the old West has vanished. Motorists re- turning from what a scant half-cen- tury ago was known as "the great American desert" report: There are still plenty of ranboW-hued can yons. The purple sage has not lost is allure. There has been no precep- tible shrinking of the "wide-open spaces" and on hundreds of ranch es, especially at roundup time, the picturesque cowboy and his horse are very much in evidence.
 Instead of lamenting the passing of the old-time cattle trails, resi- dents of the region pridefully point out that railroads now carry live stocks swiftly to markets, and they hail the filling stations and schools as proofs of progress. They stress the fact that ".six guns" are worn only at Frontier Days celebrations, and then solely for local color, and that the nearest approach to a range war" took place nearly a decade ago when competing hard ware merchants staged a spirited competition over the sale of kitchen stoves. And they solemnly declare that the wild West" is still there. It merely has been domesticated.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13

Nowhere is there the middle way of our sort of democracy Ours seems the minor role, tagging along with England. That's the easiest way Maybe it's the only practical way in tough world since the diplo- mats seem to be choosing up sides what known as 'deologicaF grounds. But it's certainly not the American way that we envisioned only year ago.
 In Spain England backs Franco and we go along. In China we are backing reaction and not the middle way
 England is our natural ally for so many obvious reasons But she still has her imperial ambitions. The Labor government seems not to have changed that much. Looking back it is impossible to see how we nave come to where today
 It was plain at San Francisco, when the United Nations was being created, that the British were egglng us against Russia. That was England's in- terest It was easy because Russia was so rough and blunt 1n her tactics At the first London conference we stood on the side and let England and Russia fight It out. The inference that role would be that Of independent arbter But this was all changed, and by daring speech That was when Winston Churchill hurled his thunderbot at Fulton Mo, and so stirred up sentiment throughout this country that the alliance in all but name that he sought was sealed We seemed thereafter to yield our moral force and our independence
 We came out of the with a mission or so we thought We seem to have lost track of it. which might have been inevitable with the hard facts that we faced Perhaps the game already fixed against us.
 But we still have mighty role to play if we keep the peace. For we came out of the war also With terrific responsibility That was the atomic bono opening the way to sort of warfare
 President Truman commendably has called halt to tossing it about in the Pacific any more.
 His voice, or someone's voice is needed to re-state our ideals It's not yet too late.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13-For years the Ameri- Federation of Labor has traditionally refrained from political entanglement It has supported neither the Democratic the Republican party in nation al election, but has backed individual candidates the basis of their labor records.
 Astute Sam Gompers pioneered this policy He always contended that the FederatonS business was trade unionism, not politics" and warned against alignments with either major political party. we will support friends and defeat our en- en1ieS," he used to say GOmperS political policy AFI. convention, opening in Chicago October T, may see it's end move is secretly afoot in A.F.II top councils to set up political unit similar to the CLOS Political Action Committee.
 Chief promoter of the scheme is the gentleman who contributed half million of miners money to elect FDR- and who switched to Wendell Willke in 194O-John L. Lewis.
 AF.L. insiders profess not to know exactly what Lewis is after. But there is more than a suspicion that he is trying to build political machine to pro- mote himself for a place on the COP. 1948 Presi- dential ticket. In this connection Roosevelt friends say that it was because F.D.R. wouldn't make Lewis his vice presidential running mate that John L.
 Lewis has seriously discussed his plan with sev- eral AF.L. big shots, including President Bill Green and intends to place before the Chicago convention If his political committee is approved-and there is every indication it will be-John L. will then be top dog of American Labor.
 Lewis is counting on several influential executive council members to support him, among them Big Bill Hutcheson boss of the carpenters, who once en- gagged in fist fight with Lewis at an AFL. conven- ton, and George Harrison president of the railway clerks
 The project may not be given political name but it's mission will be purely and simply that namely to counteract and compete with the CLOS PAC.
 Though there will be very little time after the AFL. convention Lewis has high hopes of swinging into action before the November elections Those in on the scheme are supposed to keep quiet for the time being but Bill Green may have tipped the play in recent speeches when he stressed the necessity of the A.FL's taking active part in the next elec- tons.
 Housewives are quite justified in being irate over the OPA's sugar allotment for canning this year, but they are placing the blame on the wrong party
 Actually it is not oPA but Congress which should get the blame.
 What happened was that last year OPA gave out special sugar coupons to housewives who put up fruits and preserves Those who didn't do any can ming got extra ration.
 This year, the OPA merely validated two extra sugar stamps in every ration book which meant
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
Views of the Press

ing their own funds, not those of depositors. Such investors as have grown up since 1929 still have their property, although perhaps at lower marketable value than when they bought it.
 AS to the causes of the protracted slump, the principal one seems to be reai1a tion that the road to world peace and normaity is a rough, obstacle-cluttered one, over which progress must be slow. A subsidiary cause is increasing resistance to in- hation. In other words, the so-called postwar boom has passed its peak. For every inordinate rise in prices there will be compensating demands by labor. Industrial peace is no more certain than international peace.
 There is no reason why there should not be practically full en- ployment for long time to come, but the war must be paid for by continued taxation, and high prices bring lowered profits. The Stock Market reflects conditions as they are, rather than as speculatorS would like to have them.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
by Dre1c, Pearson

wndfan for families that don't can. It also meant that housewives who do can were short on sugar.
 The OPA knew in advance that this was not go- ing to work out well, but they were up against the fact that Congress had Slashed its funds to ribbons forcing the firing of personnel who handled last years sugar for canning.
 So if you are indignant over the scarcity of sugar for canning, put the blame where it belongs-on the doorstep of COP. Senators Taft of Ohio, Wherry and Butler of Nebraska; Congressman Hartley of New Jersey and other Republicans who led the drive to sabotage OPA
 prOvement in the sugar situation for another six months possibly longer. It will be at least April be- fore sugar ration cards can be thrown away.
 Chief reason is it takes more than year to rebuild sugar production in the war-ravaged Philip pines, Java, Poland Czechoslovakia, Sumatra. Also labor and farm implements are still tight Also U S. officials got too generous with sugar last year and let the American public eat into our Stockpile.
 Finally, growers claim that the government should have raised grower subsidies last year Be- cause subsidies were low, Sugarbeet farmers raised beans and potatoes instead-crops which were more profitable and which U. S. food authorities consid- cred more essential anyway.
 Frank ("Bring 'em Back Alive") Buck never had tougher time trying to bag big jungle game than did Assistant Labor Secretary Philip Hannah last week when he went to San Francisco orders to "bring back Harry Lundeberg rough-tough boss of the striking AFL sailors union of the Pacific Hannah spent two days trying to entice Lunde- berg on plane for Washington ill order to discuss the nationwide maritime strike He might as we'll have been talking to lamppost
 Were not going to get anywhere while you re- main out here," pleaded Hannah. Why don't you come back with me and see if can't work this thing out?"
 The clustering Lundeberg hemmed and hawed most of last Saturday and Sunday; finally said he would put the matter up to his committee"
 Hannah well knew that the rugged West Coast labor baron who speaks with a Swedish accent and has deep aversion to neckties and the CLO. paid no more attention to his committee" than mine dictator John L. Lewis does to his advisory board However, Hannah agreed to this formality.
 Finally Lundeberg reported back that his com- mittee had decided against" his leaving for Wash ington, except condition. This amazing con- dition was that Hannah and Secretary of Labor Schwelenbach guarantee in advance that the Wage Stabilization Board would its earlier dis approval of wage increases for AFL. by which they were given than CIO. maritime workers
 This, of course, is the whole of the strike. So Hannah reminded Lundeberg that there would be no reason for going to Washington if his strike terms were met in advance, and came back to the capital alone
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
Welcome to the Harvest Fair!
Hartford TimeS)

AS the seasons climax to its pro- motion of gardening, The Times ex- tends a cordial welcome to all who delight in seeing what industrious Greater Hartford gardeners have done with their strength, time and wits. The Harvest Fair is in progress at The Times Radio Center, Station WHIT, 555 Asylum Street, and is open for public attendance today and tomorrow.
 The exhibits include vegetables of every variety, fruits, canned food and flowers. The backbone of the show is the home gardener. The samples of his products show that he has accepted good advice and has known what to do with it.
 GardnerS not only can take genu- inc pride in their accomplishments but are to be commended for aiding in the production of food at a time when the world has millions of hun gry people as result of the war. Greater Hartford gardeners have credit from their work as all who visit the exhibits will affirm.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
Forbidden Turf

And then there is the about the pretty brunette from WilkesBarre Estee Rice who illegally and with malice aforethough did sit the grass in Central Park New York; And along great big officer who pulled out his rusty pad and pencil and aborousy wrote directing Miss Rice appear and explain her anti-social attitude toward the New York grass.
 So Miss Rice spent $707 round-trp fare and ap- peared before backrobed magistrate who magnanmousy suspended sentence and permitted her go home without any interim in jail
 The young lady wants to back to New York to hve She will be welcomed by everybody except the park police. But what glutton for punishment!
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
by Douglas Larsen

ute "mutation" far the Treasury is concerned So, although the Treasury doesn't officially recog- nze the "curse" belief, of its experts who has studied the thing thoroughly claims that the tiniest bit off the would be just as effective in co- batting the would large piece In spreading this idea, the Treasury hopes to cut down the turn over on tWo-dolar bills
 During the the two-dollar bill probably made it's greatest contribution, in negative way Treasury officials knew the Axis had been hoarding American paper money for long time. They were afraid at- temptS would be made to bring it across the border from Mexico to finance fifth-column efforts in the U. s.
 But by a careful check of serial numbers of outstanding bills, it discovered that whoever was boarding the money for the Axis also had the Amer ican antpathy to the two-dollar bill None of it in this denomination.
 Thus the regulation permitting only two-doar bills to be carried back and forth the Mexican border was placed in effect The Treasury reports that this device succeeded in keeping Axis held paper money out of the US.
 The Treasury denies charges that the tw0-dOllar bill is kept in circulation under pressure from the Chamber of Commerce of Charlottesville, Va. The face of Thomas Jefferson is side of the bill, with picture of his historic home, Monticello on the back Monticello is one of the show-places of Charlottesville for tourists and it has been charged that the two-dollar bill constitutes advertising cir cular for that town
 In connection with discussion of the two-dolar bill, the Treasury also gives an account of how the sign came into being:
 "The origin of the sign has been variouSly accounted for with perhaps the most widely accepted explanation being that it is the result of evolution, independently in different places of the Mexican or spanish for pesos or pasterS, or pieces Of eight The theory, derived from study of old manuscripts, IS that the IS" gradually to be written the "P," developing close equivalent of the mark which eventually evolved. It widely used before the adoption of the United States dollar in 1785."
 Some day, the Treasury apparently hopes, a gen. eration of Americans will along with love in its soul for the twodollar bill But in the meantime the Bureau of Engraving and Printing will keep the emeatted bills roGing off the presses just as fast Americans tear the off those already in crcu laton.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
STOCK MARKET SLUMP
(Ha1'tford Tines)

Had the slump in the New York Stock market the last few days oc- cured under conditions such as prevailed in 1882, there would have been bank failures, ruin for cor porations and individuals and pub- lie dismay. Reductions of paper values have been severe and many investors no doubt have suffered losses, but the soundness of the nations industrial and commercial structure has not been affected in the slightest, nor has any bank failed, due to the fact that banks no longer may loan money for stock speculation. Investors, be they in- dividualS or corporations, are risk
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13
The Mysterious East

Our conception of the Chinese as calm, secontained and philosophical people received jolt when We of latest strike of bus and trolley operators in Shanghai They walked off the job for higher wages but in protest against being constantly hit kicked pushed and nmdated by passengers.
 Fortunately for the ancient city of New York it's calm secontained philosophical the sub guards-mpy take such seprehensibe behavior for granted twice day, five times week
The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-09-13

Today there is universal desire in all nations except Russia to make peace. My own impression is that Russia is obstructing to gain time for the elimination of all non-com- munistic elements and thus the consolidation and practical absorp- tion of those arease behind the iron curtain" and Manchuria.
 -Hershert HOovnr