L^T. SUNOCO - Feb. £6. Good Afternoon, Everybody Let's begin our review of the week's news with something startling, — at least it's startling at first glance. At Omaha, Nebraska, three hundred voters ■ signed a petition to nominate for mayor —■ guess vdio? — Zangara, that same Zangara who tried to assassinate President-elect Roosevelt. The voters who signed this truly astounding electoral petition are mostly professional men, lawyers and so on. What's the matter with Omaha? •l- Well, nothing much, The New York Herald-Tribune tells a tale of how one lawyer bet another he could get three hundred signatures asking for the nomination of an^ ataSk^wiios.ec/^--riai 2 &^wa^' The second lawyer took the bet INTRO - 2 and specified that the name of the candidate should be Zangara, the would-be assassin. The petition was circulated, and the three hundred names were easily obtained. The ones who signed just didn’t bother to look and see who was being nominated. nid-c—-^--Mayog -8 o Piaaii ef--Shi-earg43^i>fe--^epQxted---to -be- i-«ffiroved—somowhtod-ay.— and—a>-b3r6»ed "tremofuoion— and- his -eondiMon- ^ JL^XDi vwv“; 7^ 4 u ^ ■vkjt ^ CABINET ! Vvashington spent a busy week discussing the new cabinet that will go In with Mr. Roosevelt next Saturday. Arthur Krock, writing in the New ^-ork Times,' sums up Vi/ashington opinion that the new cabinet is a good sound averagef Xts dominating quality, ±±x±3£x&HJH±iaacfcK]i \is not brilliance but diligence — /V ^ Mt ±ac*t a capacity for plain hard work. It is pointed out that the Democratic party this year is chock full of men of outstanding ability — such as Alfred E. Smith, Owen D. Young, Bernard Barouch, Carter GJass, John W. Davis, Governor Ritchie of Maryland. Of the list of expected cabinet members two dominant Democratic figures. Senator /v A Cordell Hull, of Tennessee, slated for Secretary of State, and Senator Walsh cf Montana, who ia naaiod—ws Attorney General. Among the other Democrats best known nationally, did " ' - J I — ^ ^ 1- ~ ^ +- O +- VI r! Vi OT* c *3 /H G refused to take a cabinet post, and others ^EEaaid not fit in just right with Mr. Roosevelt1s policies. I In social circles there is much fussing around with inquiries about the social graces of the new^secretaries and their wives and families. CABINET - £ By the way. Senator Waish has jnst gotten married, in his seventy-fourth year. The Senator1s bride Is a Cuban, a widow, a member of one of the most prominent lamilies of Cuba. TheHsreftft'boap* faajgg-edEfe, -wars-provd-orrsdy- The—tho.tr—t-he wedding' would -bo held* le ceremony was performed yesterday, a couple of days in advance — to avoid publicity. And of course there 1 s m prime social Importance in the fact that the President irltod -StsIrTas will have a woman in his cabinet. Miss Frances Perkins, who ±v olatod to" fit secretary of Labor. INAUGURATION £11 over the country people have been getting ready for the Inaugural next Saturday — that is* everybody who has a chance to go. This includes quantities of political big wigs,and some that are not so big,and some that wh I are wha-— just plain folks like the rest of us shth want to see gasast-Miig ; «& the big show. New York City Democrats have hired seven trains to carry troops of politicians and their families to Washington. 1 The New York Herald-Tribune says tfesrt 850,000 guests Au ul-f are expected at the national capital next Saturday, PROHIBITION The week 1 s news from every state in the Union Includes a good deal aboi&t those conventions to pass upon the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. There1s a good deal of Vfonderment and puzzling, because never before in the history of the country have the states been called upon to hold conventions for the ratification or repeal of an amendment. And there seem to be no precise rules about how It should be done. The New York Times today prints a series of articles summarizing the outlook. The opinion is given that half of the New England states are certain to ratify repeal^, ^ Maine and New Hampshire may go dry; with Vermont doubtful. The Middle fitlantic states are on the side of repeal. In the South there is plenty of doubt. Florida is the only state that seems certain to ratify promptly. In the other southern states there may be a dry preponderance or a delay in calling the conventions. In the Middle West three states are staging a battle to be PROHIBITION - 2 fir^i to ratify — Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. It looks as If there will be £ delay in Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, Nebraska may not act for two years. In the Northwest opinion is divided. There will be a fight in Utah. In Colorado the wets are urging a special session yp. of the Legislature. /rVvyoiiiing is all set. ^Arrangements for a ratifying convention are already made — they were 7F* made before Congress had even passed repeal. The Pacific 3 ] Such is a gist of the summary given by the Times. coa^t seemi likely to ratify. \ FLAG One of the week^s resplendant events at Savannah was a stirring patriotic ceremony — which ended with mingled indignation and laughter. It should have a promient place in the history of the nBuy American" campaign. The New York Times tells how twenty-five aliens were admitted to the citizenship of the United States. To impress upon the new citizens their patriotic duty, there was a reception by the Daughters of the American Revolution, The Colonial Dames, and The Sons of the Revolution, The new citizens were told in eloquent terms how they should be devoted to everything American. Then as a climax each vias presented with a small American flag. The discordant note came when one of the newly made citizens, in his flame of patriotism, looked closely at the American flag and found something stamped on the staff. * —— That inscription^ws* — Made in Japan. BOETTCHER Th.e past week was one of bitter suspense for a wildly anxious family in Denver. It is the family of young Charles Boettcher, who was kidnapped a couple of weeks ago and has not been seen since. The New York Times tells how on Thursday last, Claude Boettcher, the father of the young broker, announced for the benefit of the kidnappers that midnight of last night was the deadline for,the payment of the ransom*. If his son were returned by then he would pay, if not, he would devote the rest of his life to hunting down the criminals. So last night there was a feeling offense expectancy^ btttIfAidnight passed and there was no sign of the young man. So today four tetam thousand men are combing Denver: the police,members of the American Legion, and Precinct workers for the political partiesj are hinting high and low for some sign or clew. SPORT The big news in the world of sports is that Yes, Eddie Collins, , Eddie Collins got a good berth for himself, ^the great second - ^ v baseman of those historical Philadelphia Athletics twenty years ago, has o q ideiyfe *£ —a—mag-or T-eaga^-t.ftaaftn. It had been rumored all -week that the Boston Red Sox would be sold. I'oday comes the. confirmation. The Boston Yawkey./ Club of the American League has been bou^t by Thomas asEKtoqt, a young New York multi-millionaire. And with him stands Eddie Collins, who has acquired a block of stock in the club and will be vice president and general manager. i JAPAN, Events of the week in the Far East have developed with the inevitability and power of a Greek tragedy. The League of Nations said, to Japan — nStop^ draw back.1' And Japan tercra replied by going right aheadje more strongly than ever^ with a tremendous sweeping offensive. demand: that Japan should withdraw her troops from Manchuria, that a Manchurian state should be established under Chinese sovereignty, and further, that the nations belonging to the League shoui^ pledge themselves not to recognize the Japanese- controlled state of Manchukuo. over there on the bleak frozen plains of Manchuria, Japanese military operations were immediately steamed up. The last report is that the city of Chao Yang has fallen before the The League of Nations made the solemn and final The Japanese delegates got up and walked out. And advancing Japanese regiments. The League of Nation’s next move was a request JAPAM - g for support addressed to nations-that are not members of the League — including the United States. The latest word on this is — Uncle Sam's reply. Your uncle declares that he is in general agreement with the policies of the League concernhg Manchuria, also that the American » attitude vd.ll be governed by the peace treaties that are in force. committee to act upon the Manchurian situation. Both the United States and Russia are invited to have places on the committee. This,comments the Mew.York Times, is a matter which will be left for the incoming Roosevelt administration to decide. V is Japanese for knightliness, the old heroic spirit. The tale is told in a new book "Japan Today and Tomorrow .15 It is abort three human bombs in the battle around Shanghai last The League of Nations is- also forming an Here's a story that illustrates the spirit Kith now. it is about Bushido. Bushido year. "1 JAPAM - S In tne bitterest- or the fighting a Japanese regiment was held up by barbed wire entanglements. They hadnT t enough artillery to blast the wire out. They sent men forward with large bamboo tubes filled with high explosive, but when the men stopped to light the fuses of these ponderous bombs, Chinese rifles and machine guns picked them off. The honor of the regiment was at stake. Then three soldiers gave themselves as human bombs. They offered to light the fuses before they left the trench and carry the bamboo tubes of T.K.T. as far as they could — until the explosion came. And that's wh^t they did. Their comrades watched as the three young soldiers, devoted to death, crept forward into the mazes of the barbed wire. The Chinese blazed away at them. They kept creeping on. Then came giant detonations as the three heroes were bism blown to bits. The barbed wire was shattered, and tfe regiment stormed ahead. A little while later three peasant women from the Thee fields, the mothers of those three young soldiers, were taken into the presence of the Emperor of Japan, the Son of JAPAN - 4 Heaven, who honored each for having borne a son who had died in the spirit of Bushido. GERMANY The week in Germany witnessed a tighting of /t control by the Hitler government on all sides. Opponents ( of the present Dictatorial regime were curbed. Dr. Brnening, former Chancellor and leader of the Catholic Center Party* has been forbidden to make campaign speeches over the radio. The New York Heraid-Tribune reports a strong monarchist movement in Bavaria. Catholic Bavarians are against \ the Hitler Dictatorship which is restricted^ self government in Bavaria, So^ down around Munich^they are talking about re-establishing the old royal house of Wittelsbach. The former Crown Prince Ruprecht got a tremendous ovation in a make Prince Ruprecht* not king* but president of Bavaria that is* to have two presidents in Germany, just as they used to have a number of kings within the framework O a the German empire. Two presidents* however* would be quite a Munich theatre the other day. The idea novelty, as if one were not enough — and sometimes too much. WELLS As Exalted Giraffe of the Tall Story Club, I am sorry to relate that among the events of the week was the exploding ol an excellent tall story. The National Travel Club held a banquet last night djfc". the Waldorf in New York. All sorts of prominent travelers,, explorers and adventurers of the McBride Publishing House. The toastmaster was Harry TH p > pjEiaafiijaaJ qpn-,1r»-rc-of t.b.n . nv^nirig hia fair wlfcy vrho told of a recent journey into the w*ilds of the Caucasus Mountains. They -visited old Mt. Ararat, v/here Noah landed after the flood. High in the mountains they came inhabitants say v#as left when the ‘waters ITlood receded. ■A* This lake was also visited by Marco Polo, who told about it The inimitable Marco told how the lake was full of marvelous salmon trout — not all year round, however. were there, ^Robert McBride, /V vbeautiful upon a p&jcaxfxi lake called A Lake Sevan, which local immortals That1s where the tall story comes in. WELLS — S The fish appeared in swarming numbers on Ash Wednesday, and remained in the lake all during Lent. Then on Easter Sunday they disappeared. Carveth Wells found the lake indeed swarming with salmon trout, just as Marco Polo related. However, it was not during Lent. It was in July. TALL - WORMS I 1 So there goes an ancient Tall Story, and. here comes a modem one. Some one sent me a copy of a newspaper called The Valley 1 |1 J Falls Vindicator, of Valley Falls, Kansas* On the first page I find a startling bit of news* It seems that out that way in the Wakarsua Valley they have gumbo soil in which live worms that grow to an enormous size, worms that apparently would make excellent -* whale bait* At any rate, three of the worms were strolling about in a farmer1s yard one night when they noticed the house was afire. They rang the doorbell but they could still hear the farmer snoring. So the three worms dashed into the burning house. tickled the farmer under the chin to arouse him, then linked themselves together to form a rope so the farmer could slide to safety from a second story window. <K — c^rbvniL <*ASLf d. r&vro- Nov/ lend an attentive ear to this one- In a small town in Austria a shoemaker went to an inn and was having a ' * glass of beer. He was somewhat astonished to look down and on the floor^an ear, a humane ear. He picked it up and marveled — donner wetterl Where did this come from? He was considerably more astonished ■ when he found ©wfc it was his own ear. h * He had stumbled as he entered the inn and struck the side of his head against a chair, nothing much, but his ear had been frozen by the col4 outside, and it broke right off v/ithout his feeling anything. Vtel-1, Mark Anthony should have been there to say: TIFriends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears." “Ehat smxe shoemaker could have obligedlCvwy t Well, with that .egid^ story, ITve imposed upon your ears, long enough. How long? Well, so long until tomorrow.