davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-01-07

the Tennessee Legislature at twenty
eight and came to Washington as
Congressman at thirty. Siding with
the Jackson-Van Buren, faction, he
was Speaker of the House from 1885
to 1889, then Governor of Tennes-
see for two years until defeated for
reelection by the Wings. His friends
arrived at the Baltimore conven-
ton of 1874 with the intention of
urging his claims for nomination
for the Vice Presidency, but when
either Lewis Cass or James Bu-
chanan seemed in the lead for top
place on the ticket the Van Buren
following brought Polk forward as a
dark horse" and he was chosen
over both his rivals and easily
elected.
In his first annual message the
new President urged the final estab-
lishment of an independent treas
ury system, the reduction Of the
tariff and the adjustment of the
dispute with Great Britain over the
Oregon boundary All three of these
recommendation were accepted and
put into effect. Meanwhile, Polk,
admittedly "an ardent expansion
ist," moved in the direction of the
acquisition of California as the nat
ural western boundary of the Ma
tion's continental terrain. War with
Mexico inevitably grew out of his
procedure, yet the responsibility for
the conflict was not exclusively his
own. Such a clash of interests had
been indicated as early as the date
of the Louisiana Purchase in 1904.
Polk simply sharpened the issues.
But he did not live to see more
than fragment of the consequent
development of the Southwest. His
term ended March 4, 1849, and he
died at his home in Nashville, June
Is. the same year. The eclipse of
his name occurred, however, while
yet he lived-largely because "he
opposed extremists on both sides" of
the slavery question.
Evening star., 1946-01-07
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson

The President has asked the American
people to take government into their
own hands. Congress is not living up to
its responsibilities, he implies, though
it is not really Congress who is to blame,
but committees in Congress, and not
really committees but individual mem
bers of committees. and finally not
really members but the American
people.
A way must be found to mediate the
strikes, there must be bargaining and
conciliation, fact-finding boards could
they are backed up. No individual is
really to blame; everybody is to blame,
and We must all do our duty.
But when all is said and done, the
individual citizen still has been con-
vinced OF nothing
The people are out of patience with
the strikes. That is a fact which Con-
gress and the White House know. There
is no indication that Congress and the
people are at loggerheads. Letters re-
ceived in Washington scatter the blame
among union bosses, management and
administration politics.
Congress also knows that union mo-
rale is low Labor wants to go back to
work. Employers have already con-
ceded l5-l7h per cent rises in their
own minds, and workers in America
are conservative, whatever their bosses
may be. Nor does the public have faith
in the "fact-finding" means of solution
And neither does the President convince
them.
Union leaders believed that the end
OF the war would bring a temporary
crisis when five to eight millions would
be looking for jobs. Nothing of the
kind happened. Strikes in the midst of
prosperity, which withhold workers from
prosperity and all the people from
goods, which they have money to buy,
are psychologically difficult to sustain
The workers are not now afraid of un-
employment or low wages; they are
afraid Of high prices, and so Is everyone
else
If Mr. Truman had clear economic
philosophy for which he was prepared
to fight, explain, and defend, he would
try to throw the weight of public opin-
ion and break the deadlock by directing
the dynamics. His philosophy might be
Evening star., 1946-01-07
Ducks Editorial Indorsed
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Not just because Secretary Ickes
didn't like 1t, tardily (better late than
neverD, wish to commend the writer
of the useful Little Ducks" editorial.
Synthesized, my approval might be
couched in the very words of the ex-
cellent letter of Wade H. Cooper, which
appeared in the Letters to The Star
column on New Year Day.
The writer of Useful Little Ducks"
was thoroughly familiar with the pros
and cons and had firm grasp on the
issues involved. If the pursuit Of
beauty always is to be involved with
taxing the little common man" to
death, well. Freedom from bills,
from debts, already is a step on
the road to the pursuit of happiness
and peace of mind Utilitarianism has
its place. And art for arts sake. too.
But not mink coats on empty stom-
achs!
1t used to be that, when this country
was truly free, men of extreme wealth
took pleasure in and received honor
from their fellow citizens for digging
into their own private funds and giving
beauty in the form of gifts and civic
improvements for the general good OF
the commonweal Now bureaucrats
just dump all these burdens in the
form Of taxes on their beloved com
mon man."
Meanwhile, Georgetown has sue
ceeded in being beautiful, and has sue
ceeded in maintaining the American
historic spirit, without great cost to
the taxpayer.
Let us have beauty and improve
mentsi But not by taking the food
out Of the mouths of the women and
children land yes, widows and orphans)
OF the wretched common man." Let
it be done by the civic minded and
charitable wealthy, as it used to be done
in happier time in our country.
J. A. G.
Evening star., 1946-01-07

all-important, they assert, for no
amount of highway engineering and
mechanical improvements will save
the negligent driver or the careless
pedestrian. That is why the traffic
authorities are stressing more than
ever the need for an expansion and
intenSification of educational cam
paigns designed to stir motorists and
pedestrians alike to an awareness of
the dangers which lie ahead. Here
is vital life-saving opportunity in
which Federal and local police,
safety specialists, automobile asso-
Citations, schools, press and radio
should join aggressively to the end
that the 1946 highway toll will belle
the grim portents of today.
Evening star., 1946-01-07
Traffic Dangers Ahead

The average individuals chances
of meeting sudden death or injury
on the highways of the nation dur
ing 1946 will be greater than at any
time since the invention of the auto
mobile, according to H. J. Brunnier,
president of the American Automo-
bile Association. The warning comes
as Washington, in line with a gen.
eral upward trend throughout the
country, rolled up an unenviable
record of 96 traffic fatalities during
the year just ended-an increase of
eight over 1914. Mr.. Brunnier bases
his dismal prediction on the fact
that the coming year will see a
number of important war-related
factors contributing to street and
highway hazards. Among these, he
says, are an increase in driving mile
age after the end of gasoline and
tire rationing, aging automobiles in
need of repairs, return to the road
of many drivers who are out of prac-
tice, a postwar psychology" tending
to make many persons react too
spontaneously to removal of controls
and likelihood that many pedestri-
ans may incur unnecessary risks
through having become accustomed
to light wartime traffic conditions.
Similar fears have been ex-
pressed by local traffic authorities.
Inspector Arthur Miller, head of the
traffic division, is especially con-
eerned over the pedestrian problem.
An analysis of traffic deaths in the
District last year shows that n of
the fatalities were pedestrians. This
was an increase Of five pedestrians
over the previous year. and unless
the trend is halted during the en-
suing year, the fatalities will con-
tinue to mount at an alarming rate.
National and local traffic experts
are convinced that something can
be done-and should be done-to
stop this needless slaughter. More
than such technical safeguards as
sound engineering, adequate inspec-
ton of cars and other recognized
safety techniques are required, they
emphasize. The human factor Is
Evening star., 1946-01-07
RUG Maker

This little ,ooman. lean and pnarled and
gray,
Might challenge all the poets and
behold
Her art finer theme than any then
For all their eloquence haze erer
Scrolled
Out OF the rag-bag OF her ,narn,. bright
years
She finds The dn,ons and rninbosps shs
remembers;
Her scissors ,phtspeYs syuables OF tears
And laughter out OF Aprtls and Mo-
Dembers.
She takes skein OF blue like faith and
tt1ines
1t ,Dith tpisp OF stlper satin PRAYER,
A yeHosD strand OF sun wtth spring.
green pines
crocheted in rhythm ,Dith her rocking
chair;
Selecting ginghan,, silk and calico,
Sdteen and tune and chambruu aud
cretonne,
She makes q poem out OF long ago
For some one dear to set his foot upoA,
CoSETTE MIDDLETON.
Evening star., 1946-01-07
Committee BIockudes

The analysis from the White
House of the 500 messages received
after. the Presidents appeal to the
people in behalf of his legislative
program does not disclose whether
there was any particular response
to MIR. Truman's comments on the
time-honored congressional practice
OF killing bills in committee. But
the chances are that no one singled
out this phase of the speech for dis
cussion, since the people by and
large are not greatly interested in
what might be called the inner
workings of their National Legisla-
ture.
This public indifference does not
mean, however, that these commit
tee blockades, which enable hand
full OF legislators to kill bills that
probably would be passed If brought
to a vote are of little consequence.
On the contrary they are a thor
oughly reprehensible notification of
the legislative processes of the Con-
gress.
At the moment Mr.. Truman and
his liberal" supporters are aroused
because some of their own pre-
ferred legislation-such as the FEPC
bill and the full employment bill
are buried in congressional commit
tees. And the President is entirely
justified in publicly asking that
these various committees at least
give the representatives of the peo-
pie a chance to vote yes or mo- on
these vital issues-and that they
give them that chance soon"
The President and his supporters
should recognize, however, that this
is a proposition which ought to
work both ways. Prior to the war,
the House on at least two occasions
passed bills to amend the Wagner
Act by requiring unions to assume
certain responsibilities. The votes
In the House were overwhelmingly
in favor Of these amendments, and
it might be suggested, parenthet-
ically, that If they had been ap-
proved by the Senate the President
would be faced with fewer and less
serious labor troubles than Is the
case today.
But they were not even voted on,
much Jess passed, by the Senate
because the late President Roose-
cit and his advisers, fearing the
result Of a vote, succeeded in bury
ing the amendments in the Senate
Committee on Education and Labor
In this endeavor they were fully
and ably supported by many of the
liberals" who join with President
Truman in denouncing congress
sional committees for doing today
the very thing that they were so
anxious to do, and did succeed in
having done, few years ago.
Perhaps this can be dismissed as
q human falling But if the current
critics of this technique expect to
be taken seriously they could we'll
afford to spend little time wash
ing their own hands and keeping
them clean.
Evening star., 1946-01-07

The war which has Just been VIC
toriously concluded was fought to estab-
lish peace and security for all mankind.
There can be no other objective which
would justify its sacrifices and its
horrors.
To this end, victory in war was an
essential means. 1t is not the end in
itself. 1t merely makes possible the
accomplishment of the greater objective.
To win the war and then to turn our
backs on the end for which the war was
fought would be an act of unparalleled
stupidity and a betrayal OF ourselves
and of the suffering peoples Of all the
world
Yet there are some among us who
cannot seem to get 1t through their
heads that there is still work to be done
in the world before we can say that we
have made secure the fruits OF the
victory which so many young Ameri-
cans gave their blood to win.
Prominent among these is Senator
johnson, Democrat, of Colorado.
1t has always been difficult to get
Senator johnson to see that anything
could happen outside the United States
which was worthy of his attention or
could possibly affect the interests of his
country. His latest outburst is, in this
sense, typical of his attitude during his
two terms in the Senate.
He Is, unfortunately, member of the
Military Affairs Committee. In that
capacity, he has been sharply critical
of what he has termed unnecessary
delays In demobilization. He has been
in the forefront of the congressional
clanor which has resulted in the dis
orderly, wasteful and over-hasty de-
mobilization process since VI day. 1t
Is process which has had no relation
whatever to the interests and the solemn
commitments of the people of the
United States. 1t has, in fact, gravely
weakened the power of this country
and consequently our ability to protect
our interests and to discharge our
obligations in the vital field of world
security.
This is fact to which the War and
Navy Departments and the President
have repeatedly called attention. But
such appeals have fallen on deaf ears
as far as Senator johnson of Colorado
Is concerned. The only appeals to which
he can be responsive, apparently. are
the appeals of his constituents to send
Johnny home right away" Those ap-
peals mean votes: specifically, they
mean votes in Colorado in 1948, when
the Senator comes up for reelection.
The War Department, with a courage
in the face of certain reaction which one
cannot but admire. now has said firmly
that 1t is cutting the rate of discharges
Evening star., 1946-01-07
President Polk

This hundredth anniversary of
"the year of decision" furnishes
opportunity for reappraisal. if not
rediscovery, of James Knox Polk,
a character too little known, too
little appreciated in current times.
He has suffered in the past from
the prevalency of notion that he
was merely the agent of a group Of
powerful Democratic politicians and
mot his own master" but recent
examination of his papers-espe-
cially his diary In the New York
Public Library-has confirmed the
judgment of James Schouler that
the eleventh President himself was
"the framer of the public policy
which he carried into so successful
execution. and that instead of being
led (as many might have imag-
ined) by the more famous states
men of his administration and
party who surrounded him, he in
reality led and shaped his own
executive course" This view was
shared by George Bancroft when
he wrote that Polk was prudent,
far-sighted, bold, exceeding any
Democrat of his day in his undeviat-
ingly correct exposition of Demo-
cratic principles"
His life was short. and that may
be one reason why he is not better
known to his countrymen. Born in
Mecklenburg County, North Caro-
lima, November 2, 17s5. he crossed
the mountains into Tennessee with
his parents at eleven, was gradu-
ated from the university of his ma
tive State 1T twenty-three, served in
Evening star., 1946-01-07
From the New york Tribune.

From the New York Tribune.
It was staggering year--a year when
hope suddenly flooded back into q tor
tured mankind and life began to stir
again amid the ruins. It was a year of
astonishing contrasts, of fighting in the
midst Of peace" Of hunger side by side
with plenty and of fears warning with
the promise of new world. It was
year when many died and many
mourned, but year jubilant amid the
grininess and the sorrow. It moved at
rushing pace, complex. compelling, .
year to remember always-1s45.
Evening star., 1946-01-07
In cunudu, Too?
From the CALGARY Herald.

FIom utt CNIeKly f1tIkIu,
Decentralization of authority Is de-
manded not only from the Dominion
to the provinces but from provincial
governments to municipalities if democ-
racy Is to be real and vital in this
country In the postwar era. The peo-
Pile of this country are becoming in
creasingly resentful Of domination by
federal bureaucrats, and the one-sided
rental regulations are but one example.
Evening star., 1946-01-07

The poet and novelist George
Moore was skeptical about the in
fluence of worthy literature. IF
good books did good" he said, "the
world would have been converted
long ago" But his theory takes
beating when it is applied to books
manifestly not good. Think of the
baneful effects of "Mein Kampf."
Evening star., 1946-01-07

There are, roughly, two kinds of
people in the world Those who can
remember waiting for the annual
bound volumes Of "Chatterbox," and
those who are not old enough to
possess such delightful memory.
Evening star., 1946-01-07

The shortage of sugar in industry
is far less important than its short
age in the national treasury.
The Skyland post., 1946-10-10
Automobiles Move Slowly

A report on production of passenger
cars by General Motors in the United States
issued from Detroit the last week of Au-
gust showed that the organization main
tanned its pace of the three previous weeks
but was still falling almost so per cent be-
low the normal weekly car output in 1941.
Total passenger car production in Au-
gust was somewhat more than $4,000 cars
a week. This year GIN has turned out
316,615 passenger cars in the U. S. compar-
ed with the 1885, ,9O5 produced by the cor
poration up to this time in 1941. Truck
production by GM in the U. S. again went
up the last week in August with 9,968
units turned out by Chevrolet and GMC
Truck and Coach divisions, a small gain
over the previous week. Of the total, AZ
were in the United States and Is in Cam
ada. Twenty-one of these suppliers strikes
have been in effect for more than 60 days;
33 from 16 to so days and II from one to
Is days. The UAW-CIO is involved in II
of these strikes, other CIO affiliated unions
in 32, and AFL in 10, while the remainder
involve independent unions.
The Skyland post., 1946-10-10

two outstanding catches Of the
game, officials pointed out.
Sunday, Lansing was the victor
on the Pond Mountain diamond
defeating Pond Mountain 1910.
K. Key and Childers were on the
mound for the winners, with
Childers getting S for 6 and Pas
ley, three doubles. Stidhams and
Doyle Tucker pitched for Pond
Mountain. Ham was the leading
hitter.
The schedule for this week end
is as follows: Saturday - Roans
Creek at Pond Mountain; Laurel
Springs at Lansing, Scottville at
Sparta; West Jefferson at Ma
than's Creek. -.....
Sunday - Lansing at Roans
Creek; Nathan's Creek at Scott
vile; Sparta at Laurel Springs;
Pond Mountain at West Jeffer-
son.
The Skyland post., 1946-10-10
FIRMS URGED TO GIVE
JOBS TO HANDICAPPED

Continued from Page ~
ors of cities, and the heads of 9TH
er instrumentalities of govern
ment, as we'll as leaders of civic
groups, to hold during that week
exercises designed to foster the
widest possible public support for
and interest in the employment
of otherwise qualified but physic-
ally handicapped workers.
I'm WITNESS WHEREOF, I
have hereunto set my hand and
caused the seal of the United
States of America to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washing
ton this 18th day of September
in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and forty-six, and of the
Independence of the United States
of America the one hundred and
HARRY S. TRUMAN.
The Skyland post., 1946-10-10

Elon 400.
Speaking of punts and passes
we can't but fail to pass one on
to our friend, Wilton Garrison,
of the Charlotte OBJ erver' S
Sports Parade. He picked Duke
to win over Tennessee; Miami
over North Carolina; Clemson
over N. c. State. There were
three good reasons why he miss
ed on these! He also named the
Navy over Columbia; Texas A.
and NJ. over Oklahoma and some
others on which he missed; but
even an expert can't be right at
all times. There were some upsets
and this weeks games will have
a different story to tell.
A Jolt to Holt!
Last Thursday evening Holt
Mcpherson, Rotary Governor of
194th district was scheduled to
speak to the Jeffersons Rotary
Club and travelled this way via
air. The pilot grew fearful of
landing on the West Jefferson
airport and the two started back.
But much before their bedtime
the oil man, E. L. Rasbury and
Governor Holt were forced to hit
the hay. 1t was hay field on the
Greasy Creek Road about four
miles from Lenoir, which proved
not to be such a soft bed after
all; both men received a number
of bruises and were transported
back to Shelby via car. Not only
did the Shelby newspaperman
miss the meeting and the making
of an address, but the completion
of good news story. He came,
looked, lambeth not from the air,
but left his would-be audience in
the air! Happier landings next
time, Holt!
Breaking a record!
This is a year of babies and a
year when records are being
broken in many fields; but we
believe that Mr.. and Mrs. Glenn
Turner, of Smethport set re-
cord for son on September 16.
AS near as it can be figured,
this young man, Joe Ray Turner,
who was perfectly normal in
every way, came into this world
weighing approximately 20 pou-
nds! He was delivered by DR.. r.
C. Ray, who said he was the
largest baby he had ever deliver
ed. While not weighed by the
doctor on the date of his birth,
he was weighed by others who
pronounced him to be twenty
FOUNDER! According to informa-
The Skyland post., 1946-10-10
Prevent Fire Losses

This is National Fire Prevention Week;
but we are among those who believe that
every week in the year should be devoted
to the prevention of fires. Fire losses are
the greatest waste of our nation. And the
tragedy of most of them is that they could
be prevented with little care, and lives
as we'll as property saved. By obeying a
few simple rules much of the destruction
by fire could be avoided. If a person will
remember to put out lighted matches and
cigarettes, replace worn or frayed electric
cords, eliminate unnecessary rubbish, new
er smoke in bed, keep heating plants, and
other places where fires are used inspect
ed and in good condition; teach school
children the simple rules of fire preven-
ton; never leave camp fires or toss lighted
cigarettes into dry leaves; keep informed
of what to do when fire endangers life,
large percentage of all fires may be pre-
vented.
The Skyland post., 1946-10-10
Eight Men Tried
In Mayors Court

Eight men were tried and fined
in Mayors court before Mayor
c. o. Parsons, Monday.
Robert c. Liddle, of West JEFF
ferson, tried for two charges of
driving while under the influence
of an intoxicating beverage was
given a suspended sentence for
each charge upon two payments
of $50 and costs and license re-
voked for a period of one year
for each offense.
Oscar Blevins, of Grassy Creek,
charged with drunken driving
was given a suspended sentence
of 80 days upon payment of $50
and costs and had his license re-
voked for one year.
Barney Mccoy, of Smethport,
charged with possession of illegal
whiskey, was given a suspended
sentence of 80 days, upon pay
ment of $25 and costs and good
behavior for one year. Paul Har-
din, of West jefferson, charged
with public drunkenness, 500 and
costs; Joe Houck, charged with
public drunkenness, address un-
known, was given a suspended
sentence of 80 days upon pay
The Skyland post., 1946-10-10

the law provides that 1916 allot-
ments of nine-tenths acre or less
cannot be reduced for 1947.
Burley tobacco from the 1916
crop is eligible for loans-but
the 1947 crop of Burley will be
eligible only if quotas are ap-
proved. The loan rate is 80 per-
cent of parity. By law, loans can
not be made available in 1947 if
growers disapprove of quotas.
It was emphasized that the loan
program affords growers the op-
portunity of obtaining loans bas-
ed on grades. If the tobacco under
loan is sold above the loan rate,
the farmer participates in any
profit which may be realized.
Mr.. Gambill said Ashe county's
1946 crop of Burley tobacco is in
dicated at approximately 1000
acres.