davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-02-12
Letters to The Star
Federal Ballot Preferred by
Advocate of Soldiers Voting
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Having returned from an 10-month
stay in the South Pacific, it has occurred
to me that might be able to present
the view OF an overseas veteran con-
corning the issue of veterans voting,
now pending before Congress.
My company of a naval construction
battalion was separated from the other
companies by hundreds of miles; in fact,
Tor more than year, no two companies
were together for more than a few
weeks at time, although the battalion
still remained the administrative unit.
In my company were men representing
80 States. The battalion included men,
from all the States. In order for those
men to have an opportunity to vote
this fall, under existing State laws, it
will be necessary for each man to write
to his home and request to be registered;
therefore, to obtain from home formal
application for an absentee voters bal
lot, f1ll 1t out and send it to the proper
official at his nome; then, within the
time limits set by law, the clerk will
mail the requested ballot; when the
soldier receives it (if ever he may
mark 1t and start it back. Unless 1t
arrives SO many days before the election
day 1t will not be counted.
Ordinary mail from the East Coast
reached me in the Southwest Pacific
In an average of three weeks after
mailing date; V-mail In about half that
time: Second-class mail in two months
Gf I were fortunate).
1t readily will be seen that the statu-
tory time limits will not permit an
overseas Serviceman to vote his own
regular State ballot. The question of
advancing dates by emergency legisla-
tion still will not dispose of many
technical difficulties until a uniform
law for all States is adopted-registra-
ton, poll taxes, printing ballots, holding
up the time for counting etc. requiring
a uniform treatment. II that is not
done millions will be deprived of their
constitutional right of voting.
If uniform ballots are made legal,
then large consignments can be sent
to each base and each man, regardless
of his home State, may send his ballot
home to be counted. If the two presi-
dental candidates names appear, then
he can vote straight ballot Just as a
voter at home. Any one in the States
who votes for the head of the ticket
and nowhere else is presumed to vote
for every one on that ticket. Why should
different rule be adopted for a
soldier, sailor or marine? Does any one
really question the ability of one of
them to vote for his choice, or is it
simply the desire of Congressman to
prevent their voting because they be-
lieve they know how the majority of
servicemen willevote?
TheV all nrofeSs to ha dot a r,,,i,,ad
that every vet will get to vote. Then
why not leave out the technical dis
cussions of constitutionality (which
applies to peacetime elections) and
remove all obstacles in the way of
every veterans legal vote?
Who in the United States has better
right to help select his governors than
the man or the woman who is giving
his or her life for it?
I. r. MURPHY,
G. M nc TT G N .
Evening star., 1944-02-12
I'd Rather Be RIGHT

Republican party, the more ammuni-
ton he gives Mr. Willkie, the prospective
candidate Of that same party.
The President Is whipsawed between
Mr. WILKES demand for higher taxes
and the refusal of Mr.! WILKES party to
grant same. There Is, therefore, a
certain illogicality, in Mr.. Wilkes po-
sition. He can cure this by taking
either of two steps. He can join with
the President in demanding more taxes.
Or he can start whale of fight with
in his own party to get it to caucus for
more revenue. But he stays comfort
ably within his own party, defends it,
and fights the President. 1t is little
bit like campaigning for free whisky on
a Prohibition party ticket.
Another Of Mr. WILKES favorite ar
guments against the President is that
Mr.. Roosevelt Is not going fast enough
in setting up an international organiza-
ton Of nations, or some form of inter-
national adjudication of disputes. One
reason the President does not do this is
the solid, earthly fact of the existence
of the Republican party, with its de-
clared insistence on preserving Amer
lean sovereignty, etc.
The President gives in to the Re-
publicans. in effect, on this score, he
avoids a formal international organiza-
ton, and Mr.. Willkie uses this concili-
atory gesture toward his own party as
an argument for victory for his party
at the polls. He seems to be arguing
that his party ought to be elected to do
what the President, for fear of that
party, will not do.
Evening star., 1944-02-12
Cleanup on New Guinea

Another tentacle of the bloated
japanese octopus has been shorn
clean away. This is the welcome
news contained in a communique
from General Douglas MacArthurs
headquarters announcing the COM
plete occupation of the Huon Pen
insula, the blunt-nosed projection
of New Guinea which thrusts east
ward toward the companion island
of New Britain.
Like most of that island CONT
nent, the Huon Peninsula is
rugged mass of mountains. the
spine being a range with peaks ris-
ing to $4,000 feet. Here and there
coastal strips are the site of Coco
nut or rubber plantations. The
shore line is cut by numerous rivers
draining the superabundant tropic
rainfall from the trackless, Jungle
clad interior. Those plantations
were transformed into japanese
airf1elds. the infrequent harbors
being developed into naval bases.
1t is this chain of Japanese strong
holds which has been the objective
in a gruelling campaign by Allied
forces. For the past five months
jungle-wise Australians have been
working along the coast or cutting
trails through the interior. The
tempo of the campaign was stepped
up at New Years by a sudden
descent of a seaborne American
force at Saidor, a small port far up
the northern shore. Between this
leap-frog descent and the advanc-
ing Australians were large japanese
garrisons totaling some $4,000 men.
In the ensuing weeks they have
been subjected to nutcracker tao
tics that have ended in their virtual
annihilation. Command of the sea
and the air disrupted their COM
munications. Munitions and sup
plies ran low. The country itself
offers virtually no foodstuffs, so
hundreds of japanese have been
found dead of starvation and dis
ease. The disorganized remnants
have escaped the closing grip of the
Allies only to meet their ultimate
fate in the mountains. perhaps at
the hands of head-hunting natives.
The next Allied objective is Ma.
dang. already weakened by air bonn
bardment and threatened by an
Australian jungle force working up
the interior through the great Ramu
Valley. Beyond that. the only siz-
able japanese base on the northern
coast Of New Guinea is Wewak.
Meanwhile, complete conquest OF
Evening star., 1944-02-12

by the guns Of the American and British
warships. They saved the day at
Salerno and they may save the day at
Nettuno.
Gen. Clark, who because Of the heter-
ogeneous composition OF his forces was
compelled to be more cautious than
other generals might have been, is en-
deavoring to break the Casino dead
lock and is throwing into the Casino
battle everything he can muster. The
German force facing him Is not larger
than his own, but has the advantage Of
excellent defensive positions. For the
time being the Nazis in that area are
fighting an offensive defensive battle
while the forces on the Nettuno front
are fighting a purely offensive battle
In the hope of annihilating the British
American forces.
On this latter front the Germans have
definite superiority in ground forces
and tanks The next few days will be
decisive for the entire front II Gen.
Clark's efforts to dislodge the Nazis
from the Casino sector are successful
and that depends to great extent
on how much the aviation can deliver
the precarious position of the divisions
under Gen. Alexander will Improve If
Gen. Clark cannot overcon. the Nazi
resistance there Is more than a $3.50
chance that the entire campaign in
Italy will be deadlocked.
We have already taken more punish
ment than there is strategic value in
the entire section Of Italy now held by
our forces. Moreover, landing ships
which will be badly needed on other
fronts in the near future are tied up in
the campaign.
The Germans determination to fight
us in an area which would not affect
the major strategy of the war If they
lost 1t, is believed to be prompted by
two considerations:
The German high command badly
needs victory to bolster the morale OF
the people in the Reich, where the de-
feats on the eastern front have made
a deep impression. The German gen.
erals seem to believe that this can be
Evening star., 1944-02-12
Up to the Builders

Up to this point the hearings on
slum clearance before Senator Bur-
tons subcommittee have been con-
cerned chiefly with the need for
long-range program in Washington
and testimony reviewing the work
and plans of the National Capital
Housing Authority.
There has been no dissent as to
the necessity of the program. But
spokesmen for private building in
terests have expressed their skepti-
ciSm as to the value of the work
done by NCHA, in support of the
contention that private enterprise,
instead of the Government, should
be relied on to supply low-cost hous-
ing to replace substandard dwell
tngs.
The time now comes when these
spokesmen for private enterprise
must accept the burden of proof.
That proof, to be convincing, should
not concern itself with generaliza-
tions regarding the advantages of
private enterprise. These can be
taken for granted Nor should it
rest solely on a demonstration of
mistakes which may have been
made by pioneers in local slum
reclamation, or the inadequacies of
what has been accomplished. These
are readily explainable.
What is needed is a concrete il
lustration, supported by facts and
figures, of what private enterprise
can and will undertake in the elm
ination of blighted areas and their
conversion to loW-cost housing and
other uses. Differentials in con-
struction costs and ultimate costs
to the taxpayer, rent levels, man.
agement costs, the whole question
Of tax exemption and methods Of
applying rent subsidies-all these
items are important, but none is
necessarily controlling. Represent
atives of private enterprise must be
able to present as definite a propo-
sition as the representatives of pub
lie building have offered.
AS Senator Burton so wisely re-
marked, his subcommittee is at
tempting to find a constructive,
common-sense solution to the Dis
trict's problem. If private enter
prise can furnish one that is man.
tfestly desirable from the point of
view Of the community in relation
to the objectives of slum elimination
and new housing at rents within
reach of the lowest income groups,
1t will be wholly unnecessary to ar
que the merits of public versus pri-
vate housing.
Evening star., 1944-02-12
NEGLECT of WAACS Alleaed
70 the Editor Of The Star;

70 the Editor Of The Star:
The discharged WAAC seems to be
the forgotten woman of the war. She
is excluded from practically all vet
erans' legislation now before Congress:
The various soldiers education bills
Except the one sponsored by Senator
Thomas of Utah, Representative
Starnes' bill to give veterans preference
in Government service. Senator Nc
Carran's proposal to give civil service
retirement fund credit for time spent
with the armed forces. etc. (WAACS
discharged for physical reasons were
included IN the mustering-out pay bill
in a last-minute amendment by Rep
resentatives Costello and Brooks, intro
duced at my requestD All of the pro-
posed laws give eligibility to WAVES,
SPARS. woman marines and members
OF the present Women's Army Corps
which was created as a component Of
the Army in September, 1943.
1t cannot be argued that service
under the WAAC was any different
from that under WAC. Until Septem-
ber, WAACS served in Army installa-
tions at home and in England, Africa
and Italy If anything, risks were
month at first and there was not the
threat of national service act Hear
ings on the original bill creating the
Womens Army Auxiliary Corps indi-
cate it was the wish of Congress to
make the corps component of the
Army from the start. The act defined
the function of the corps to be: Non
combatant service with the Army Of
the United States; and all veterans
beneficial legislation passed prior to
September, 1943. specifically was worded
to include members of the WAAC.
The present sudden tendency to ex-
clude discharged WAACS discriminates
against this small group of women
and causes preventable hardship.
suggest that members affected make
their views on this subject known to
their representatives in Congress at
once. LOUISE FOESTE.
Evening star., 1944-02-12
The Political Mill

promptly appointed Sinclair Weeks, Re-
publican national committeeman for
Massachusetts, and treasurer of that
committee, to take the Lodge seat in the
Senate. At the same time he announced
he would be candidate for the Repub-
lican nomination for the Senate in the
coming election. Senator designate
Weeks is not, he has announced, to be
candidate for the senatorial nomination
The Weeks appointment is regarded in
Washington as excellent Mr.. Weeks is
the son of the late Senator and Secre-
tary of War John w. Weeks He has
been active in Republican politics for
many years, and in 1886 was a candidate
for the senatorial nomination against
Maj. Lodge
Only twice since 1910, a search of the
records reveals, has a Governor OF
State resigned his Office and had himself
appointed by lieutenant governor to
fill vacancy in the Senate The first
case was that of Gov. John E. Erickson
of Montana, a Democrat. who found his
way to the Senate through that route
in March, 1888. The second was that
of Senator Happy" Chandler of Ken
lucky, who resigned as Governor when
the late Senator Logan died in 1940
He was appointed by the lieutenant
governor to the Senate. Gov. Erick-
sons appointment to the Senate proved
a political mistake so far as his own
fortunes were concerned. He was de-
feated for the senatorial nomination
by Senator Murray the following year
Senator Chandler, however, twice has
been elected to the Senate since his
appointment, the first time to fill the
unexpired term and in 1912 for a full
six-year term.
Judge John M. Bourquin, Federal
district Judge in Montana, wrote letters
Evening star., 1944-02-12

the general withdrawal which the con-
ditions would seem to render not only
advisable but imperative. The Germans
are fighting for every yard OF ground
around Krivoi Rog and below Nikopol,
and they are still trying to break
through and rescue" the German
troops entrapped between Kiev and
Cherkassy.
These tactics are thrown into sharp
relief by what has been happening in
the north Here the northern army
group of Marshal Won Kuchler has car
ried out very well handled withdrawal
the Germans call it successful
evasive tactics" Successful evasive
tactics were required by the situation
and Won Kuchler used them. He even
seems to have gotten out of the bad
salient at Chudovo with loss of only
few thousand prisoners.
This is proof that the German Army
has by no means lost its old tactical
flexibility and resourcefulness. Won
Mannstein In the south could do the
same If he were permitted to. No one
Evening star., 1944-02-12
Samuel Grafton

do not make these points In deroga-
ton OF Mr.. Willkie, for his personal
views still remain right and proper and
bold. and make him the national asset
he is. But he finds himself in an
unparalleled political dilemma. He
fights the President, but the essence of
his fight is struggle againse the
positions taken by a good number of
the professional top leaders of his own
party.
And that top leadership knows it.
which is why it fights Mr.. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Willkie with almost equal enthusi-
asm. 1t is not impressed by Mr.. Will
kie's quarrels with the President. 1t
has accepted the logic of its position.
1t knows what it is fighting 1t is
fighting certain ideas in foreign and
domestic affairs. 1t does not care whose
name these ideas go under.
~
1t fights Mr.. Willkie, even though
he Is Republican,; but it gladly works
with a number Of its friends in Con.
gress, though they happen to be Demo-
Gratis. The fight for strong international
accords, and the domestic steps neces-
sary to achieve them, is bigger than
parties or candidates. Those who want
these things must fight all elements in
both parties who oppose them, regard
less OF name: they must, just like the
bipartisan bloc, rise above party, and
light together. in both parties and as a
bloc OF both parties. Mr. Willkie often
understands this. It is when he forgets
1t. at moments, that he seems to minia-
turize himself
Evening star., 1944-02-12
Constantine Br01Vn

obtained in Italy and are willing to
try 1t provided 1t does not prove too
expensive.
For the time being while the result
Of the battle still is undecided the ON
cial German communiques are UNDER
playing the Italian front. But should
the NaZis break all the attacks Of the
5th Army and compel the forces under
Gen. Alexander to withdraw to the
original beachheads or abandon the
Nettuno area altogether, 1t is certain
that the NaZi propaganda machine will
make the most of 1t. The morale value
Of local victory in Italy cannot, be
minimized as far as German reactions
are concerned.
The other reason the Germans are
trying desperately to hold us in Italy is
that they believe the American and
British governments cannot leave their
forces In the lurch and reinforcements
will have to be sent at once from what
ever points they are available. The
German general staff seems to think
that II we fail to break through their
lines reinforcements will have to be
sent from England to Italy. Moreover,
landing barges, transports and other
ships needed for major offensive will
nave to be tied up in the Tyrrhenean
Sea.
This, the Germans think, might COM
pei us to revise our second-front plans.
Both the military and political conse-
quences OF postponement of the of.
fensive across the Channel would help
the Germans to such an extent that
they Will be worth the sacrifice Of
several divisions
The Allied generals in italy are doing
their utmost to frustrate the Nazi plans
They have at their disposal a limited
number of divisions which are now
being matched man for man by the
Nazis. Their principal hope of break
ing the deadlock is based on an over
whelmingly superior air force They
are praying for fine weather and unless
the blue skies Of Italy are clear again
the situation will remain uncertain and
dangerous not only for the operations
in Italy but also for the second front.
Evening star., 1944-02-12
No StruddIer

In the course OF a day in Wash
ington Governor John w. Bricker of
Ohio, Republican presidential aspir-
ant, held press conference, made
a speech and managed to convey the
definite impression that he does not
hesitate to take a stand on contro-
versial and supposedly dangerous
political issues.
Dissenting from the thesis of some
New Deal spokesmen that the size
OF the national debt is of no con-
sequence since 1--WE owe it to our
selves" Governor Bricker said that
adherence to New Deal fiscal policies
after the war would surely lead to
national bankruptcy and the over
throw of our republican form of gov
ernment. His alternative, presum-
ably, is the abolition or sharp cur
tailment of many Federal functions,
but on this score his position needs
to be more clearly defined.
The Ohio Governor was explicit,
however, in his stand against the
doctrine that more and more power
should be concentrated in the Fed
eral Executive, at the expense of
Congress and the States, and he
committed himself to a constitu-
tional amendment restricting future
Presidents to one siX-year or two
four-year terms. He also talked
rather freely of his postwar views.
On the positive side he favors CO.
operation" by the United States
after the war with other sovereign
nations. This is pretty vague, and
he has said that he will enlarge on
1t later. The Governor was not
vague, however, in asserting that he
would oppose the setting up of any
"supergovernment" with authority
to make decisions binding on the
United States. In a negative sense,
that is definite statement. It re-
veals more of Governor Bficker's
thinking on this subject than we
know of the other candidates.
It was in his discussion of war
time strikes that he took his most
definite stand. A goodly number of
political hopefuls are against strikes
in time of war. Governor Bricker
not only is against them; he advo-
Gates legislation designed specifically
TO prevent them. "The time has
come" he said, Ito support the mil
lions of workers who want to work
and to quit coddling selfish labor
leaders for the sake of the votes
which they say they can deliver in
an election"
That is blunt language for man
Evening star., 1944-02-12
Lincoln

He totDers aloof dbope the plain;
He transcends the lengthening years.
Men of his o1on day, those at the base OF
the mountain,
Dreto from his strength, found shelter,
Without discerning his stature.
There 1Dds mist in their eyes;
They ,Dere blinded by war smoke and
blood.
Among them, sharing all their anguish,
Yet unknoton to them, he stood alone,
immortal
Like Travellers crossing the plain,
We turn and look backward toDdrd the
undinn1ed height.
Far of on the horizon.
About the mountains feet
Tun1ult is still no,D, mist has uanished
The incredible peak cuts its o,rn clear
outline on the sky.
Sunlight n1ello,Ds the sednsy crdgs. We
trace
A mdrtyred face.
INEZ BARCLAY KIRBY.
Evening star., 1944-02-12
Lincoln

The crisis through which they
are passing has brought Abraham
Lincoln closer to the people of the
United States. His Importance to
them is clearer than 1t was in times
gone by. They see him now as the
symbol OF the character Of the
Nation to which they belong. He
represents what they regard as the
ideals of their nobler selves. They
have an instructive love for him as
a person. Equally compelling is the
reverence which they entertain for
him as leader lifted up by destiny
to pay his life for the institutions,
the traditions and the customs
which they hold dear.
Lincoln, the people say, was "the
greatest American" They admire
Washington, as he did, and Jefferson
and Franklin and others who went
before him or followed after; but
they give him place in their hearts
which is unique and unshared. Per-
haps the reason is that he was from
first to last a "commoner" in the
good old English sense of the word
as "a member of the commonalty."
He remained with the multitude
even when in the dark agony of the
Republic he was most alone. The
present experience of thousands of
his countrymen is educating them
to understand what suffering is,
what sorrow is, what heavy respon-
sibility is, what hope in the face Of
despair may be.
Because Lincoln was so intimately
acquainted with pain and grief and
the yearning of the tortured soul,
he stands in the vision Of the aver
age American with a tragic dignity
about him like a cloak. How could
it be otherwise? The story of his
struggle, not merely to save the
Union but to make it worth saving,
is one of the supreme dramas of
human history. No other figure Of
the modern epoch so closely ap-
proaches the divine. Yet he was of
the earth and not ashamed of it.
Humor, the impulse of mercy and a
Wond derful power to keep himself
unspoiled by the world preserved his
kinship with his kind.
And the tie was not broken by his
death. Even now Lincoln is a living
force. His influence is everywhere
Men turn to him in their distress
as to a brother. He treasures them,
he quiets their doubts, he gives them
strength to 60 on. Lord Charnwood
explains him as one endowed with
"a natural wealth of tender COM
passion" which was no weakness but
rather "an astounding strength" in
a period of deadly conflict"
So is 1t currently. America on
Lincoln's one hundred and thirty
fifth birthday accepts from him
the guidance of his teaching, ex-
pressed in the second inaugural, un-
excelled for its enduring inspiration:
With malice toward none; with
charity for all; with f1rmness in the
right, as God gives us to see the
right, let us strive to finish the work.
we are in; to do all which may
achieve and cherish just and last
ing peace among ourselves and with
all nations.