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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1936)
SEENandHEARp around the c NATIONAL CAPITAL! By Carter Field jk FAMOUS WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT Washington.—The •’hammer ami ■aw" man is the target of a very real drive now under way by the building trades. He’s the little chap, with his “office under hla hat." who buys a lot, hires half a dozen neigh bors, builds a small residence, sells it, and then looks for another Job. To the building trades that chap Is Just a cliiseler. He does not pay union wages. He cuts all the cor ners. and normally his one item of expense, which Is bigger than It should he. is that, not being too good a risk, he usually pays liber ally for any money he borrows to finance his operations. The “hammer and saw" man has been benefiting enormously from Federal Housing administration op erations. More often than not loans for Improvements and the construc tion of Individual houses made work for him. The Individual borrowing chenp money from the government to finance either an Improvement or a new house seldom went to a big contractor. He went t« a “hammer and saw" man. Which Is the real explanation for union labor In general, nnd the build ing trades In particular, going so strongly for the F’WA type of hous ing rather than the little Individual loans. So-called “slum clearance” projects don't use “hammer and saw” men. They use big contrac tors. and big contractors almost In variably have to use union labor. Any large operation, whether of the slum , clearance type or not, moves In the same direction. Despite the much-tnlked-about split in the building trades unions, which by the way has now been healed—though no one Is qulfe sure who came out on top—these par ticular unions have been very suc cessful so far In having their way In turning nnd diverting government objectives. Most Important of these was the early desire to cut labor costs In housing. In the first government an nouncements these costs were to be cut In several ways. One was on the high cost of flnancIng—stlfT In terest rates on mortgages nnd sec ond trusts. It Is generally conceded thnt the government hns reduced these costs materially. Labor Costs Stick But another element which was to be reduced was the labor costs. Statements of plans were given wide publicity. The Idea wns thnt brick layers, carpenters nnd plasterers for Instnnce, were pnld BCHles of wages out of all proportion to work of similar skilled mechanics on the theory thnt the number of days’ work they could get in the course of a year wns limited and uncer tain. Weather affected their employ ment. and one Job might not start as soon as another was finished. The government proposed to cor rect all this by providing steadier work, nnd virtually arranging, If not guaranteeing, a given number of days’ work every year. It ap proached the “yearly wage” Idea so appealing to some economists. But the union labor boys did not take to It at all. They have been saboting It very skillfully. As a re sult, no one hears any more about it now. Certainly not from nny of the government housing ‘officials. It Is considerably deader than NBA, because one does not even hear of any little local applications of It. Another mennce that the build ing trades unions think they have met successfully so far is the pre fabricated house. President Iloose velt was enormously Interested In this, and had numerous discussions with heads of some big corporations, thinking this wns an excellent plan for providing better homes by the mass production method. Just ns the automobile companies have provided cheaper cars. Helping the labor unions on this was the insistence of all the big companies involved on loading down the pre-fabrlcnted houses with their own gadgets, with the result that the houses were too expensive. But union labor has discouraged devel opment of this Idea in other ways. Prediction: Lower interest rutes may be here to stay, but lower la bor costs aren't coming. Delights Roosevelt The most delighted man in Wash ington over the Father Coughlin Chairman O’Connor controversy Is Franklin D. ItoosevelL For a very long time Indeed the Detroit priest has been getting In the President’s hair. In the early days of the ad ministration, of course. Father Coughlin was very helpful. But then in the early days Itoosevelt didn't need much help. The country seemed to be behind him 100 |>er cent. Even two years after ills own election, the country Increased the stranglehold the Democrats had on Capitol Hill by voting a most unprecedented en dorsement for an olT year. But now is something else, and the President has been growtng more and more irritated ut the Coughlin attacks. He lias realized fully the danger of the attacks from the other extreme—the conserva tives who think the administration is spendthrift mad, and is piling up a debt, which will burden chil dren yet unborn. In fact, he has been trimming his sails just s bit to meet flint attack. But right along with It to have Coughlin rousing agulnst him the very people his policies are sup posed to benefit most, the sub merged tenth, wns too much. Hence the desire to have someone take Coughlin's measure, and make him look foolish before (he whole conn try. A very delicate religious question was Involved, (^oughlln could call names, lie could Intimate that cer tain politicians have sold out to vested Interests, but the danger In bitting back was great. Many Cath olics, It was thought, who might not agree with Coughlin at all. might be seriously offended If the sort of attacks regarded as necessary were made. Not an Accident So It was far from an accident Hint John J. O’Connor, Irish t’ath olic, prominent member of Tam many Hall, and potent member of the oligarchy thnt rules the house of representatives, did the return mud slinging—promising to kick Coughlin around the streets of Washington, and alluding to his profits from silver speculation. It Is true that O’Connor, on sec ond thought, went before the house and said his threat to kick Father Coughlin was “undignified” and that “I apologize” for the manner In which he referred to "clerical garb,” but lie went on to repeat bis charges that Father Coughlin profited by sil ver speculation. O’Connor said he would have kept his temper hail not the priest In dulged In a personal attack on him with reference to a bill lie Intro dtieed, which was vetoed by the President. O’Connor snld he could have stood for being called a “tool of Wall Street and an assassin”— even on a Sunday—until “he charged me with being a burglar." The first stories about the Irate Mr. O’Connor's listening to the radio, and then dashing otT Ids wire Impulsively, seemed In character, and were Interesting, hut they omit ted one very significant fenture. Mr. O’Connor had a long talk with Pres ident Roosevelt after the radio ad dress and before sending his tele gram Inviting the priest to Wash Ington to he kicked. Raising the Money Non-political tax experts In the Treasury department believe there are only two ways of raising the amount of moqey the United States government must have In the way of new taxes, If not Immediately, certainly after election. One Is by going after the small income folks, reducing exemptions and boosting the rates. The other is by a general sales tax. Incidentally they do not agree with certain prominent New Deal ers, who want to boost corporation Income taxes on a sliding scale. But it must always be remembered thnt these experts have no power. They just advise treasury officials, and, when called in, the two congres sional committees having jurisdic tion over taxes—finance In the gen nte and ways and means In the house. At the present moment, these ex perts point out, If the United States were rulslng all the money It Is spending by taxation, levies in this country would be higher than In England per Individual. Which Is rather a blow to the Idea so widely advertised here that the British tax payer groans under a terrible load, whereas In America taxes are pret ty light, comparatively. It is perfectly true, they admit, that such a picture can be drawn with respect to the very small in come tax payers of both countries. People in that class are hit much harder in Britain than in the United States. Per Capita Tax For the year 1035, the tax ex perts say, the per capita tax In the United States—adding all taxes, whether federal, state or lo cal—was $81. In Great Britain, for the same year, and again adding all taxes, it was $98. But now for the had news. For the same year total government'll expenditures In the United State* again adding in the local expendi tures of states, counties, towns, etc., were $131 per capita. Whereas in Great Britain they were $117. So that the rate of governmental spending in the United Stntes is $1S more for every man, woman and child than is the governmental spending in Britain! To put it another way, the vari ous government units of Great Brit ain were going “in the red" for the year 1935 at the rate of sp.i for every man, woman and cldld. But the government of the United States, plus lts local governments, was going in the red to the tune of $14 for every man, woman and child. Copvrlsht.—WNU Service. ___ _ _ Chess Is Taught in Schools of Strobeck. Prepared by National Oeo«raphlc Society, Waahlngton, D. C.-WNU Service. 4 4 TKOBECK, the chess town, Is in the Harz mountains, near Halberstadt, only a step off your route from Berlin to Weimar,” Buys the German guide. At dusk four hours after you leave Leipzig, you are deposited, somewhat bewildered, at a little brick station surrounded by yellow stubble fields and a few old elms. Not a sign of a town can he seen. "Where’s Strobeck?” you ask the agent with some concern, ns the train disappears around a bend and leaves you In the shadows. “Over yonder, where you see the gray church spire among the green trees. It’s only a half hour away by foot,” he replies with a quizzical smile. With no taxis or other means of transportation In sight, you leave your hags at the station and start off toward the town. Finally you land breathlessly In front of the village Inn, the Gasthof Schattenhcrg. on the edge of a pub lic square. You are In Strobeck, the only place In all Germany, if not all Europe, where the royal art of chess Is taught year after year In t he school. Adjoining your simple quarters In the Inn is the huge entertainment hall devoted to chess, the best room In the house. The walls are dec orated with paintings and mottoes. On the tables are the chessboards, Ivory pieces and pawns and other precious sets, hand-cnrved and char coaled by locul artists. You may he shown the old-fash ioned chessbonrd, not exhibited to everybody. It Illustrates the char acter of the village and on It Is the Inscription thnt It was given to Strobeck by the Elector of Branden burg on May 13, 1061. “Strobeck must be a quiet place In which to sleep, after the seething cnpltnls of Europe,” you dare to hope, as you retire between feather beds to roast. In August. False hope! Across the cobble stone way Is a tiny bakery shop with a hell on the door. Every time a child Is sent for a loaf of bread or a cookie the hell tinkles merrily. Strobeck’* Innumerable dog population harks most of the night. Ramble Through the Town. At 5 a. in. the wagons clatter over the cobblestones to the Helds; for Strobeek’s 1,400 inhabitants are not only chess-minded but agrlcul turally-nilnded ns well. Every driver entertains himself by cracking Ids whip over the brawny hacks of ids oxen. The geese begin to gab ble, gabble here and gabble, gabble there, and tlie liens begin to cluck, cluck to the chicks, and the cows low all over the town. Strobeck Is up and doing. You breakfast on bread, choco late, und a dasli of golden marma lade. Then n guide takes you In tow for a sight-seeing ramble. Many of the red-tiled houses of the medieval village remind you of the picturesque cottages of old Eng land. On some of them are black and white targets, and others sug gest the Influence of chess In their style of architecture. On the fringe of the village are found men nnd women In a cloud of dust threshing rye. from which the everyday bread of Strobeck Is made. The fertile fields surround ing the village have been swept clean and the crops of rye, oats, wheat, barley, potatoes and beets are being stored. Finally you arrive at school, where your guide Introduces yon nnd explains your mission to the master. lie. In turn. Introduces you to his flock of boys nnd girls rang ing In age from ten to fourteen. These children carry their chess boards to school ns naturally as American school children carry their books. "Tills Is the only grade In which we tench the children how to play chess.” says the master. “Here we teach the game during the last three months of tlie school year— January, February, and March. The children attend school, however, every month In the year—from 7 to noon In summer and S to noon and 1 to 3 p. m. In winter." Chess in the School Room. Like the royal children of the Kingdom of Cyrus, who had to learn the laws of chess “almost with their mother's milk,” so the chil dren of Strobeck learn early, with their ABC’s, to master the rules and regulations of the game. “How many rooms have you here?" you ask of the master. "We live In 12 and all 12 are In the schoolhouse," lie replies. Returning to the classroom, yon find the children ready with 16 chess boards. Soon you are forgotten, as the master explains the laws of the game nnd the functions of the chessmen. The children set up their black and white pieces in formal array on the checkered battlefields. “Players with the white pieces make the first move,” announces the schoolmaster. Slowly and carefully the young enthusiasts make their moves, nnd It is with keen interest that you watch the uniform courtesy that they display to their opponents, their quiet nnd undemonstrative be havior In times of defeat or vic tory. The fast thinkers win their games In five to ten moves, while the slow thinkers look long at their men and move slowly The average player wins or loses his game in 40 to 50 moves. Some are badly beaten and some resign and start all over again. While the games are being won or lost, there is no talking or whispering. “Strobeck is the home of chess,” the master reminds you, as he sends the children back to their lessons. “Don’t fall to see the historical chess tower, where the chess cham pions of the town held their first contests a half century before Wil liam the Conqueror landed in Eng land.” Regretfully you leave the kindly schoolmaster and proceed to the tower of chess in the heart of the village. “You see the balcony,” says the guide, when he succeeds in cajoling the key from the keeper and opens the heavy door. “The tower since the year 1011 has'entertained two groups of players, one on the bal cony nnd one on the ground floor.” Story of the Chess Tower. That this tower should have played a part In the legendary or igin of the royal game in Strobeck is most natural. When Henry the Second of Germany decreed that the Wendish Count of Gungelln be de livered to the llishop of Strobeck, to be kept in solitury confinement, the prisoner was straightway whisked off to this stronghold. 1 he royal captive soon learned how to beguile the lonely hours by playing chess, a game in which he was passionately Interested. He chalked out a chessboard on his dungeon floor and carved two sets of chessmen out of wood. Then be ing doomed to play alone, this in genious prisoner made his right hand the opponent of his left, and the game went on. In due time the Strobeck peasants who took turns In guarding the door of his cell became interested in the count’s maneuvers on the checkered floor and were Initiated Into the mysteries of the game. They, In turn, taught the rules to their wives and children. This legend of the origin of chess In Strobeck was perpetuated on the town’s chess-inspired paper money. Yearly Tournament Held. In this atmosphere of legendary chess Strobeck enjoys a quiet, bu colic life. Once a year a chess tour nament Is held in the village school, usually with 48 contestants taking active part in the tourney. The vic tors carry off the trophies, which are always new chessboards, and are escorted home In honor. Then the village Is alive with gay ban ners and badges, and living chess men, kings and queens, bishops and knights, and pawns parade the streets. Visitors Interested In chess flock Into Strobeck from many points. While a village merchant waits for customers, he entertains him self with the exciting problems of chess, and when business knocks he lays his chessboard aside only while the purchaser Is served. So his fa ther has done before him. So his son will do after he is gone. Wherever people go In Strobeck for entertainment and refreshment, they tind chessboards and chess men provided for their amusement. Tite game Is part and parcel not only of the town’s educational and recreational hours, but of its busi ness hours. The entire village breathes chess morning, noon, and night, generation after generation. When a Strobeck maiden marries a man from the outside world, she must play a game of chess with the chief magistrate of the village be fore she leaves her native heath, in order to prove thnt she carries with her the knowledge of the tra ditions of the community. HO$J?>RE ifow7®DAY /DR. JAMES W. BARTON U. About ® Underweight Children I N THESE days when par ents are trying to reduce weight, the fac* that their youngster is a littlv. under weight may not disturb them very much. However just os overweight is a liability in adults past forty, so is underweight a liability or menace to health in children. Sometimes parents who were quite thin as youngsters and are now much overweight think nothing of their youngster being under weight as they think it is a natural or inherited condition. Now there is no question but that children usual ly resemble their parents — it couldn’t be otherwise—but that chil dren must be thin or underweight and remain underweight because the parent they resemble was very thin, is not necessarily true. Dr. Jnmes S. McLester, Birmingham, Ala., the noted nutrition expert and Dr. Barton this year president of the American .vfedical association, says, “Improvement of the stock as a result of the better ment of the diet has been observed re peatedly in the low er animals and in men. Chinese living under improved nu tritive conditions in Hawaii grow taller than people of tiie same type or strain in China and their growth continues to a greater age than does the growth of those remaining in Ellina. Tiius the aver age height at twenty years of age was one full Incii more than that of similar groups in the province of Kwantung from which they had come to Hawaii.” Physique Varies With Habitat. Similarly children born of Jap anese living in California show defi nite superiority in height, weight and other characteristics over their parents who had come to Californio from Japan. Also children born in the large cities of America are taller and have a better physique than their par ents who cam'' from Europe. It is common observation in med leal schools that the Jewish stu dents of European parentage who apply for admission are strikingly superior In physical make-up to their parents. Better food and better living hab its can improve the children of na tives in any country anywhere. Howevw, being taller—an inch or more in height—does not always mean being stronger or more able to withstand hardships or ailments, nevertheless It is only too true that there is abundant evidence that greater strength and a better phy slque accompany this increase in height. This was shown recently when of 100 English school cliil dren, selected to compete in ath letic events, 87 per cent of the win ners were above the normal for height and weight and only 0 per cent below normal, and the winners showed a proportion of overweight three times that of the seconds, thirds, and also-rans. Milk Increases Stature. From Japan a public health bul letin stated that when groups of Tokyo school children were given milk in addition to their regular diet, not only was there a greater Increase in weight and height, but these children were more cheerful and happy and showed greater pow ers In athletics t.ian did those who were not given this extra supply of milk. Now the best building foods for children are meat, eggs, and milk, but meat and eggs are expensive and not available to some families. However good energy giving and fattening foods can be used gener ously such as butter, bacon, cereals, bread, sugar with meat or eggs once a day at least and twice if possible. In addition to this, foods rich In minerals should be eaten daily— cheese, leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts. Also foods rich in vitamins— green vegetables—spinach, lettuce, string beans, beet tops; yellow vege tables. tomatoes, oranges, bananas, grapefruit, cabbage, liver. Besides good food, rest is of vi tal importance in building up un dernourished children. Rest or sleep means that all the body processes are working a little more slowly than when the youngster Is up and playing, thus not using up the tis sues so quickly. “in the future those races who will take advantage of newer knowl edge of foods and their values, will attain a larger stature, greater vig or, increased length of life, and a higher level of living.’’ • * * Dr. Cooksey’s Theory Dll. WAKRKN D. COOKSEY of Detroit has a treatment for coronary thrombosis which consists j of having the patient remain ab solutely at rest in bed for at least six weeks after the attack. After this another six. weeks elapse be fore any activity Is permitted, and careful supervision of the patient’s activities is continued for a whole year. St—WNU Service. Bath, England, City of Buns, Springs, Duels, Roman Ruins Ancient Buildings Underlie Foundations of Once Fashionable Spa. Bath, England, home of the Bath bun and of medicinal springs used since pre-Iioman days, is also the place where charming Sally Lunn tlrst baked the famous sweetened tea cakes that bear her name. Re opening of her original bow-win dowed shop In Lil'iput Alley re awakens interest In this quaint city, once the most fashionable watering place in England. “Situated on the Avon, about 12 miles south of Bristol, Bath’s gray stone houses climb in parallel ter races up the encircling green hills. Famous as the town where Eng land’s Eighteenth century life and culture came Into flower, Bath Is noted also because it contains more Roman ruins than any other Eng lish city,” says a bulletin from ihe National Geographic society. ’’Ro man relics unearthed during recent excavations, although extensive, form only a meager part of the orig inal Roman buildings which under lie practically the entire foundations of Bath. Romans First to Make It a Resort. “Bath’s turbulent history began about 44 A. D. Roman legions storm ing westward through the Avon val ley found Britons bathing in the medicinal Springs of Sul. Rededi cating the springs to Minerva, Ro mans surrounded them with elabo rate mosaic baths, temples and villas. Here swarmed gouty magis trates and wounded warriors to re cuperate. “Ruined by the Saxons, again by the Normans, Bath became a deso late city, its hot springs flooding broken corridors. When Queen Eliz abeth visited the city she found it unsanitary, its inhabitants disorder ly. In spite of dirt and discomfort, however, Bath’s healing springs drew a steady influx of visitors. The baths presented a curious sight with motley mobs of loose-robed men and women wading up to tlvdr necks in the steaming water. “Made fashionable finally by the visit of Queen Anne, Bath became England’s most popular spa. Inva lid nobility, nouveaux riches, doc tors, demimondes, and gamblers flocked to the resort. Most famous among the latter was the dandy, Beau Nash, whose dazzling arrival marked the beginning of Bath’s era of refinement and grentest prosper ity. Until then, although king’s sometimes held their courts there, Bath was still a maze of squalid houses crowded together on sordid streets, where pedestrians were at tacked by footpads and taunted by owners of Bath chairs. Women were frequently insulted, and men danced in muddy boots, wearing swords, which they drew at the slightest provocation. Beau Nash, Genial Despot. “Beau Nash, upon being made master of ceremonies at Bath, made rules forbidding dueling and wear ing of swords while dancing. He had the mean streets paved and lighted, a handsome assembly room built for gaming, and engaged a band for danc ing. Under his genial despotism, frivolous life at Bath proceeded daily with many quaint customs. “After Bath’s heyday ns a fash Like to Be Sure They’re Wanted "Can’t something be done for that ship in distress?’’ asked an old lady at the seaside. "It’s all right, mam. We sent a line to the erew to come ashore,” said the surfman. Old Lady (excitedly)—Good gra cious! Must they have a formal in vitation?—Bristol Messenger. A Sharp Lot, Down Maine "Gimme an all-day sucker,” the lad demanded of the candy man. He was handed one. “Looks kind of small.” remarked the youth looking at it doubtfully. "Yeah, the days are shorter.”— Portland Express IS ALWAYS fl Refresh-I ^ INQ / J Ion resort passed. It s.111 drew artists and writers, as Greenwich Village does today, o describe Its unique life. Most Eighteenth century nov els contain -eferences to it. Fre quenters of Bath were Dickens, Scott, Goldsmith, Wordsworth, Sher idan, Lord Nelson, Lord Chester field, Fielding, Doctor Johnson, and James Boswell. It was in Bath that Sally Fairfax, beloved of George Washington, died. Bath Inspired Gainsborough’s most beautiful land scapes. Healing Springs Contain Radium. “Bath today resembles an ancient ‘grande dame,’ dreaming over past balls; somewhat faded, but still keeping up appearances. Though no longer England's most fashion able resort, carriages bearing crests still drive through the streets of Bath to discharge well dressed people at expensive shops. “Many people are still attracted to Bath, as have visitors for over 2,000 years, by its medicinal waters. Its three hot springs yield half a million gallons daily. The healing property of the waters, odorless and not un pleasant to taste, is ascribed to ra dium. the presence of which stains the drinking glasses yellow.” Adorable Pantie Frock That Is Easy to Make PATTERN 25.',(i Here’s an adorable frock for a two to-ten-year-old, and one very easy for mother to make, too. It wears a young round-collared neckline, puffed sleeves for irresistible little girl charm, and roomy pleats for agile youngsters who want “free action.” Printed percale would be ever so ap pealing and practical. Pattern 2556 is available in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Size 6 takes 2*» yards 36 Inch fabric. Illustrated step-by-step sewing instructions In cluded. Send fifteen cents (15c) In coins or stamps (coins preferred) for this pattern. Write plainly name, ad dress and style number. Be sure to state size. Send your order to The Sewing Circle Pattern Dept., 367 W. Adam* St., Chicago, 111. © Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service. METHOD IN THAT “Why do you always buy your clothes on the installment plan?” “They try to give me stuff that will last until the installments are all paid.” Mutual Judge—Have you any fixed abode? Defendant—No; I’m on circuit like you rse 1 f.—Pu nch. [ WRIGLEVS ■MBMHMnapwvfMa ^SEanZIESi | ' T«‘ PERFECT GUM