Central High School - Red and Black Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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The Balance Wheel fOmtion for American Legion Contest, shortened for puhlicationj OUR years ago a new president appeared upon the scene of American history. The depression confronted him immediately upon his accession to oflice. But the nation soon saw that President Roosevelt was ready to cope with this obstacle. Indeed, a true man of the hour had become chief executive, a leader had stepped forth to lead these fortyfeight states and one hundred and thirty million people out of the depres- sion. A Democratic Congress soon passed his measures, and within a short time they were put into effect. Then, one by one, many of these acts found their way into the New Deal cemetery. They were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. On the one hand was the president, attempting to bring about recovery. On the other, there were nine old men, who had authority to cancel the president's policies-whose powers were perhaps able to hinder a quick recovery. President Roosevelt has, therefore, chosen an ingenious method of gaining his objectives, that is, he has devised a plan for making a Federal Judiciary of the Nine' teenth Century into a Federal judiciary of the Twentieth Century. On the surface this proposal may appear to be one which will promote eiiiciency in the administration of justice. In reality, however, the president's radical plan would provide a means of making his acts, his party, yes, even himself, supreme. I am not here to discuss the desirability of the acts of the New Deal, but I am here to defend the blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, guaranteed by our Constitution. If the president felt that his policies were so necessary, he had recourse to amendment, the right which makes our Constitution capable of meeting the needs of changing times. Instead, he has formulated a radical plan by which New Deal legislation can be declared constitutional, whether it should be or not. If this bill to reorganize the Federal Courts is passed, it will give our present executive the power to appoint six new members of his own views to the Supreme Tribunal-enough to make the technical constitutionality of almost any law quite certain. Fellow Americans, your interest and my interest lie in the preservation of the Constitution. Shall the system of checks and balances provided by our farsighted forefathers be destroyed? Shall we make our Constitution just another scrap of paper? Last November the people of the United States refelected the president by an overwhelming vote, but not, in my opinion, to take upon himself the power of packing the Supreme Court with inexperienced men. The citizens voted their confif dence in President Roosevelt, but not to fill one of the country's main Nbalancef wheels, the Supreme Court, with men who would pass favorably on his issues, consti- tutional or unconstitutional. They did not vote to set up autocracy nor to destroy our chief safeguard, the Constitution. I do not contend that President Roosevelt means to usurp this power. But sometime in the future some other president might use the authority that this new judicial bill would give him to set up an American despotism. Let the president put recovery into practice, let us have prosperity, but let us keep within the bounds of the Constitution. As patriotic American citizens, we must do everything in our power to urge the president to adopt the democratic method of amendment, thereby assuring the preservation of our Constitution and the future happiness of these United States. -VERNON Por-ILMANN, '37, Twentyfseven

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Twentyfsix From the Dust of the Graves KA soldier speaks from his gravej ARS are great tragedies to men, Yet they appear again and again. Graves are not sought for hy the livingg Life should not take, it should he giving. So then why have these Wars and Graves? Why not have peace and hope that saves? Listen! Hear the tramp of soldiers' feet, They are going to warg hear their drums beat! Soon they shall rest under the rain of shells And hear the deep tone of funeral knells. Under the rain of shells that kill, Shot from guns hy men of skill. Hark! Hip! Hip! Hurray! sing those that have wong How little they care what they have done To you and to me here under the ground, Who once lived, too, and walked around. After another lapse of years, See the mothers, all in tears For their young Tom, Tim, or Lee! Many tragedies we've yet to see. See, comrades mine, the new faces That are rapidly taking our old places. Now they tread in the dust of our graves- Our graves, that soon may be their graves. We dead have an unselfish plea For the youth and the future that will be. We are dead, forgotten, and lostg Now here we lie under flowers and frost. But we want life and love for those aheadg We do not wish to see them dead. Let them not walk in our stupid way, Let them not die as we did in our day. Do you want to see your sons dead? No future? Give them life and freedom instead. Give them flowers and birds and song, And life! Let them live well and long! -VIRGINIA MCKENNEY, '40

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'Twentyfeight A l22dl l-l2I'O EE, don't I get the breaks, commented a downcast young man as he sat on the steps of the Jackson Heights High School. The reason for Curly Wallace's downheartedness was just getting into a car parked down the street. Her name was Betty Warren, and the fellow escorting her was Oliver Dreason, the school's football star. Well, interrupted a friendly voice that belonged to jack Wilson, who had strolled up, apparently unnoticed, If it isn't Old Man Gloom himself. What's eating you? Oh, hello Jack. That's what's eating me, said Curly, pointing as he spoke, to the car which was just driving away. Betty, eh! Well, you'll never win her affection by sitting here. You'll have to show some spunk if you expect to beat Dreason's time. Yeah, wiseguy, and what do you suggest, replied Curly, somewhat sarcastically. Well, said Jack, assuming the pose of an indulgent philosopher, To secure the adoring glances of a girl, you have to be a hero. Most girls have that hero' worship complex, and I can see that Betty has it very badly. The only reason for her recent fascination for Dreason is that he's a star halfback. Now, all you have to do is to become a hero. I suppose you have devised a plan whereby I might become a hero. Sure have, returned jack. First, you date her for a moonlight ride to an appointed place. When you get there, I'll have someone hold you up. I'll also have it arranged so that you may hit the fellow. When you hit the badman pretender, you'll automatically become a hero in Betty's eyes. Simple, isn't it? Say, Jack, that's a great idea, said Curly, enthusiastically. I might try that. Some nights later an antiquated flivver was joggling over a lonely country road. Suddenly it came to a stop in a beautiful moonlight setting. The car contained a young girl and boy, obviously the same age. For a few minutes they did not speak. Finally, the boy spoke. Beautiful night, isn't it? he said. Yes, isn't it, returned the girl. You know, Betty, said Curly, This is the first time I've had you for a ride such as this for a month. That's right, replied Betty. Okay, youse lovefbirds, interrupted a loud, coarse voice, Put up your dukes. This is a stickfupf' Oh, gee, murmured Betty, badly frightened. W Curly thought, Good old Jack, but said, Look here, my man, you can't do this. Oh, no? shouted the ruflian. Well, we'll see about that. Let's have your wallet. Curly fumbled about as if he were getting his valuables. Suddenly his fist shot out. It caught the robber on the chin, and sowly he dropped to th: ground, unconf scious. Curly then proceeded to bind the bandit, and, while placing him in the rumble seat, he whispered softly in the unconscious one's ear, You're some actor. Later, after taking Betty, who was loud in her praise of his bravery, back to her home, Curly went to Jack's home. The uncouth character was still in the rumble seat when Curly rapped on Jackfs door. It was some minutes before jack answered. When he did, he showed signs of being aroused from a deep sleep. Oh, it's you, is it? said jack drowsily, Well, what do you want? I just came over to thank you for helping me tonight. Your idea worked like a charm.