davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-03-15
Not the RIGHT Method

II Senator Bilbo is serious in put
ting the Commissioners on notice
that the alley dwellings of Wash
mgton must be vacated by July l, it
should be possible to convince him
That such thing is impracticable
from every reasonable point of view.
The District Alley Dwelling Act of
1884 contains the provision that
"on and after July /, 1914, it shall
be unlawful to use or occupv anv
alley building or structure as a
dwelling in the District of Co.
1umbia." That provision is a carry
over from the original Alley Dwell
ing Act of 1914, which set compa-
rable deadline for May of 1918. There
was a war on then, as now, and
Congress amended the 1914 act
twice. postponing the effective date
for closing the alleys to 1923. In
that year the Commissioners made
a formal gesture toward enforcing
1t but were stopped by action
brought in Police Court, which the
Court of Appeals upheld in 1927.
In the 1884 act a more arbitrary
deadline was included on the mis-
taken assumption that its presence
might help to assure fulfllment
OF ten-year program for clear
ing the inhabited alleys. The ten
year program was based on an
anticipated initial appropria ton of
$3,000,OO0, later supplemented by
100000 revolving fund. Neither
materialized. The initial appropria-
ton was less than a million dollars:
there was long delay before more
money was obtained, under Title 2,
from Federal funds and then the
war intervened and put a stop to
all alley clearance. The deadline
was contingent on other steps which
were never taken.
There are now an estimated 1,41l
dwellings, with possibly thirty or
forty garages and old stables used
as dwellings, which would be af-
fected by the deadline provision of
the Alley Dwelling Act. These house
perhaps 10000 or more people. They
cannot be vacated until substitute
housing is provided and that substi-
tute housing does not exist, despite
Senator Bilbo's suggestion of base
ment rooms for the people whom
he would evict.
Senator Bilbo would be far more
constructive in his efforts to elimi-
nate the alley dwellings by giving his
support to proper amendment of the
Alley Dwelling Act, not merely post
poning or removing deadline pro-
vision which has little practical
meaning, but providing the funds
to go forward with a sound slum-
clearance program. Senator Bur-
tons subcommittee has been giving
this matter intelligent consideration.
Evening star., 1944-03-15
The Nozis and Rome

Every civilized person will share
the Pope's fervent wish that Rome
be spared the ravages of total war.
1t Is IN many ways, to great num-
bers of people of differing national
ties, an almost sacred place
the foremost center of Christian
thought, an ancient fountainhead
OF culture, the Universal City, the
Eternal City, belonging not to any
one country but to all countries, to
all Of us who hold in common the
heritage of the western world. 1t
is a place immeasurably rich in
tradition and history, hallowed by
religion, and uniquely beautiful and
lrreplaceable, because it immortal
ICES in itself-in it's ages-old art, in
It's monuments, in its very buildings
and streets-the great past. It's
destruction, therefore, would be a
tragedy Of the first magnitude,
saddening every one but those who
are vandals at heart.
Once that is said, however, it must
be added that although the Pope
has addressed his appeal to both
belllgerent camps, it is upon the
Nazis alone that the primary
responsibility for Rome's fate rests.
1t is they who are there. 1t IS they
who hold it captive 1t is they who
Ini
struggle against the very civiliza-
tion it Symbolizes. Like pagans who
have run into church the better to
injure nonpagans, they are en-
ploying the Eternal City as shield
and funnel point for their opera
tionS against our Allied forces. They
have thus deliberately made it
military center, and such are the
hard and ugly necessities of total
war that it will be in danger as long
as they stay there.
Obviously, no American or British
general wants to attack it. but if
Hitler insists upon holding it in a
futile effort to save himself by kill
ing as many Of our troops as pos
sible, and if there is no way of by
passing it. then it must be attacked
1t is not in the power of the Allies,
short Of imposing a great defeat
upon themselves, to follow any other
course. However, as those who are
primarily responsible for what hap
pens to 1t, the Nazis could readily
insure Rome's safety by declaring 1t
Evening star., 1944-03-15
The First Step

Winston Churchills cautious but
nonetheless firm statement OF
Britains determination to deal
adequately with the refusal of the
De Valera government to clamp
down on Axis observation posts in
Dublin is reasSurlng.
For the British government this
is an extremely delicate matter.
But Mr.. Churchill, taking up where
our own Government has left off,
did not hesitate to assert Britain'S
determination to "do our utmost to
obtain effective security for the
forthcoming military operations" s."
Undoubtedly, the precise steps to
be taken will be determined by
events. AS a first STEP" however,
he said that restrictions on travel
already announced are designed to
isolate Great Britain from Southern
Ireland and also to isolate Southern
Ireland from the outer world during
the critical period which now is
approaching"
In Dublin this language, reason
ably enough, is interpreted as mean
ing that subsequent steps will involve
an economic blockade of Fire.
Should this come to pass the result
unquestionably would be serious
distress in Southern Ireland. But
If the choice lies between economic
hardship in Fire and the lives of
American, British and volunteer
Irish troops, all of whom soon will
be fighting for that way Of life upon
which De Valera now relies in
asserting his right to maintain
formal diplomatic relations with
Germany and japan, no reasonable
person can doubt that all necessary
measures should be and will be
taken.
Nor can it be doubted that the
privilege of maintaining diplomatic
establishments in Dublin, with full
diplomatic Immunity, is Of peculiar
advantage to the Germans and the
japanese. 1t has already been an
nounced that members of the Irish
Republican Army, bitterly anti
British, have been caught with
documents In their possession con-
tanning details of American forces
now in Ulster, and with certain plans
OF their operations. It is absurd to
suppose that this information was
intended for other than enemy use.
and 1t would be naive to assume that
this is the full extent OF Axis
espionage under the sheltering arm
OF Fires neutrality.
AS we approach what will be, for
us, the supreme crisis of the war, no
responsible official can exert less
than a maximum effort to prevent
this leakage Of information to the
enemy. And it is to be expected
that they will be supported up to
the hilt by all Britons and Amer
leans who are unwilling to sacrifice
the lives of their young men as a
concession to any ones intransi-
geance.
Evening star., 1944-03-15
Frank K. Kent

testing labor lobbyists ended with com.
plete amity and undiminished esteem
on both sides, which was generally ac-
cepted in labor and political circles as
meaning the administration would
make no fight for the bill. This ass,,rnn-
tion was borne out by the faiInre to
date OF Mr.. Roosevelt to saw or do anv.
tnlng 70 promote the act he recon-
nehoeo In so strange a way. Perhaps.
unoer pressure from the military au-
Ihoi1tles, ne may renew his recommen-
oation without conditions. There Is still
cnance OF that. A second reason for
congressional inaction is the united on
position of organized labor. Organized
labor leaders, in fact, are the only
vocal opponents of the bill. The arcu-
ments against it have been exclusively
presented by Mr.. Murray of the CIO
ana Mr.. Green of the AFL.
A final reason is that this is election
year and members of Congress hesitate
just ahead Of an election to take re.
sponsibility for law certain to create
resentment among many voters-par-
tlcularly when the President seems to
nave slid out from under his own rec.
ommendation. To any one who reviews
the facts it must appear that both the
PRESIDENT and Congress, for purely DO
htlcaI reasons, are letting the armed
services down; that but for fear of 20.
lltlcal reaction, this urgent request from
Army and Navy would go through as
other requests have gone through.
congressional candidates, naturally
shrink from action which might
ahenate the labor vote in November.
AS to the President, this is one of the
many things which his fourth-terrn
candidacy affects adversely.
Evening star., 1944-03-15
Work of Devotion

Sunday was the elghty-Second
anniversary OF the birth Of Jane
Delano, head of the Red Cross Nurs-
ing Service during the First World
War. Her friends took advantage
of the occasion to commemorate her
selfless devotion to the cause Of
mercy. In so doing, they inferen-
TALLY paid tribute to all other gen.
erous women who, under the bright
symbol of universal sympathy, have
contributed of their time and
strength to the relief of suffering
in periods of conflict and distress.
The list is long. 1t begins with
Madame de Gasparin, loyal friend
of Henri Dunant to whom he wrote
from the battlefield of Solferino in
1859. She arranged for the publica-
ton of his letter in the press and,
the official record says, threw her
self into the work with the whole
ardour of her personality" as "the
driving force" of a Swiss committee
of aid" organized shortly afterward.
Additional woman supporters
of the pioneer endeavors of the
founders of the international Red
Cross included two royal ladies
whose efforts ought not to be for
gotten. Queen Augusta, wife of
King William l of Prussia, subse-
quently the first Emperor of Ger
many, sponsored the ideals of
Dunant in Berlin during the war
with Austria in 1866. The Grand
Duchess Helena Pavlovna of Russia
even earlier inaugurated the train
ing of professional nurses in the
territories of the Cars. Some of her
students served on the fighting front
in the Crimea while Florence Night
ingale was laboring in the hospital
at Scutari nearby
Meanwhile, in France, Madame
Cahen was preparing for the great
work she was destined to do in the
Franco-PruSsian War. The scene
of her activities originally was Metz.
Later, she organized a station for
the care of the wounded at Tours.
When the struggle ended, move
ment for the release and rehabilita-
ton of prisoners held in German
fortresses engaged her attention.
She won the assistance of the EN-
press Augusta in her crusade.
Among Madame Cahen's contem-
Evening star., 1944-03-15

poraries was the American nurse.
Clara Barton, who happened to be
staying in Switzerland when hoStil-
tiles commenced in 1870. She volun-
teered at Karlsruhe and also served
in Paris, returning home to establish
the American Red Cross in 1881.
But the women known to fame
are only very few of the daughters,
sisters, wives and mothers who, as
Senator Ciraolo Of the International
Relief Union said in 1925, are "the
essential factor of help and restora-
ton wherever human society has
been devastated by cataclysm and
disaster"
The 1914 War Fund Campaign in
behalf of the Red Cross appeals
especially to women. Only when
every woman in the United States
has been enrolled will it's complete
objective be obtained.
Evening star., 1944-03-15

troops, dominating terrain, a center of
lines of communication, or other vital
area in the hostile rear for his attack.
Its capture should assure the de-
struction of the enemy in his possess
sion, or the threat of its capture should
compel the enemy to abandon his po-
sition."
All of which is just another way of
saying what Gen. Eisenhower said so
pithily at the time the invasion of
Italy was begun:
We're not just moving troops from
somewhere in order to go somewhere
else. Our objective is the destruction
of the German Army in Italy"
Ground in itself is not a proRer mill
tary objective. Cities and towns in
themselves are not proper military OBJ
jectives. Such territorial objectiveS aC-
quire military value only as they are
necessary to the enemy, either as mill
tary positions or as sources of supply
or as controlling vital military COM
muniCatiOnS.
This is illustrated by what is happen
Ing in Russia right now. Kherson is
place of far greater peacetime impor-
tance than Proskurov. But in the pres
ent military situation, it was taken after
Evening star., 1944-03-15
The Ides of March

This day. March IS when nearly
all Americans must pay their taxes,
was first made memorable when a
great man in history also took it on
the chin, and even more fatally. He
was Julius Caesar, ruler of the
known world, yet he could not
escape the jinX that appears to be
associated with the Ides of March.
1t has always been a day of reck-
oning.
1t may be said. however, that
Caesars reckoning did not strain
his wits nearly as much as it would
today. There was no forgiveness,
and the whole business was arranged
for him so that all he had to do
was stand and take it. He never
had to figure whether he could cut
down on his victory tax, after that
day on which he overcame the
Nervii. With one wife in Rome, and
another in Egypt, he never had to
60 into a huddle with taxperts to
decide whether he could increase his
basic exemption MMC sesterces on
the ground that Cleopatra was at
least a dependent. He never had to
refuse extra pay that would bring
him to higher bracket and cost
him more denarii in the end, and he
never had the experience of going
to six public scribes hanging around
the Forum for assistance and get
ting six different answers. He paid
his price, a stiff one, right on sched-
ule, but the process was almost
painless and he never had to pay
again.
Evening star., 1944-03-15

stage another attempt at offensive
combat. !
AS to the German air force. It's offens
slve (bombing) power has been decisive.
ly defeated, and will hardly be further
factor in the conduct of this war. Its
defensive G1ghter) power is still strong,
though showing signs of giving way
under the blows that are being directed
against it. 1t is the decisive defeat OF
this force that is now occupying most
OF the attention of the Allied Air Forces
in the west.
AS to the German Army: Two thirds
OF 1t is held fast by the Russians. No
part of this force has as yet been de-
clslVely defeated or destroyed, with the
exception of the 9Th Army of Stain.
grad. 1t has had to give up ground, but
it remains intact. !
There now exists, however, a distinct
possibility that about one-third to one
fourth of the whole German strength
in Russia may be decisively defeated, OF
even destroyed, on the southern part Of
the front. This is, however, only a pos
slbility at this time.
The destruction of the remaining one
third of the German Army must be the
objective of the Anglo-American forces
operating from the British Isles and
Africa. A detachment of this German
force is fighting an Anglo American de,
tachment in Italy. Otherwise it has not
been seriously engaged.
The German organized forces Of sup.
ply and maintenance: These are being
attacked from the air, and it Is esti-
mated that their potential efficiency has
been reduced from Is per cent to 20 per
cent as a whole. This is great accom-
plishment, but it is very far from being
decisive defeat or total destruction.
IuAAN
Evening star., 1944-03-15

purpose do we push this struggle on to
the complete destruction of the enemy?
What is the meaning of unconditional
surrender? Does not the 'uncondi-
tional apply to ourselves as well as to
the enemy? Will not the conditions
imposed affect the future of the world
and therefore our own?"
Unconditional surrender" is a simple
phrase but complicated matter. In
the case Of Finland, both Russia and
the western world are concerned. The
west would not welcome the permanent
removal OF. Finland from the society of
nations and our pressure on Finland
to accept terms is influenced by fear
that the most favorable opportunity
may be lost.
Italy has Internationally surrendered.
and months later we have no idea what
1t means. 1t has not meant peace for
Ital y. 1t has not meant democratic
evolution In those parts occupied by
US. 1t has meant exactly what Mr.
Churchill in his speech of last July 27
said was urgently to be avoided. He
said:
I'VE do not seek 80 to find ourselves
Evening star., 1944-03-15
OF Mules and Men

An eager mule from the mountaintop
Picked the steep 1Udy doUn:
1He slippery ledge 1OdS a thing to be
trod,
BIT the rubble belo1O 1UaS the to,Un.
Gram and CGter and Stra1U were there
And the burden lay like lead.
1t DdS soft dnd 1Oarm and it danoled
and tapped
And ddppled mule 1Uith red.
There hands that acre stiff Nth cold
and mud
Would take the heavy load
And lay it 10ith thousand more
Along the Ualley road
The headlines: Slight Advance To,Uard
Rome
The Markets FlOut the LdlU--
Ten Thousand Strike at the Bomber
Plant
Grain! Water' SraD,
MOLLIE NICHOLSON.
Evening star., 1944-03-15

anu aosoru SeCupS which character
lied the early days Of our war effort
and which, unhappily, still prevail to
considerable extent, forced an aban-
donment of experimental futility and
compelled reluctant acceptance of COM
nonsense methods of war production.
But for this, waste vastly greater than
we have had would have resulted. We
would have fallen far short of the in
dustrlal marvel of which we now boast.
The war might have been ruinouslv pro-
longed. 1t is conceivable it might have
been lost.
X
On the other hand, failure to stand
by the President in the foreign field
or to support the requests of the Army
ana Navy for money, men and meas
ures, was, of course unthinkable. In
Congress, regardless of party, those who
most vigorously distrust the New Deal
and who are most anxious to sweep it
Evening star., 1944-03-15

SVdVeS anu NIItaU BTItaln, tne TWO
powers which kept them in office
Runors of this spectacular diplomatic
action were circulated among Wash
1ngton diplomats last week London ap-
parently did not believe the Kremlin
would play a. lone diplomatic hand in
dealing with former enemy whose
downfall was brought about by the
American and British armed forces and
is said to have been somewhat sur
prised."
y X
what deal was made between the Bari
ana Moscow governments is not fully
known here, but it is believed that
Evening star., 1944-03-15

ernment by Moscow
and the projected
resumption of diplo-
matte relations be-
tween Russia and
the government of
King Victor EN-
manuel Of Italy.
The man who was
described as the
"moronic little King
and his % 10 O d =
thirsty Fascist pre-
mier have now been
recognized by the
Soviet government
ahead of the United
Evening star., 1944-03-15

Those who ask for
it are told, First
we must get on with
winning the war;
as though war were
something W a G e d
for its own sake
and victory some
thing with a mean
ing in itself. But
the moment a war
passes out of the
pur ly defensive
stage the mind can
not a ept this.
Then one is bound
to ask, For what
Evening star., 1944-03-15

domestic manage
ment and refused to
follow various un-
sound home policies
of the President, it
has given, W h e n
backed by our mill
tary authorities, un-
stinted support to
every Roosevelt rec
onmendation for
winning the war.
That was an un-
assailable position.
Opposition, in and
out of Congress, to
the many muddy
opI oLe,,rJ GzaA,i
Evening star., 1944-03-15

ton of the organ
lied forces of the
enemy"
Our own field
service regulations
restates and elabo-
rates on this prin-
ciple: The purpose
of offensive action
is the destruction of
the hostile armed
forces. To facilitate
the accomplishment
of this purpose the
commander selects
a physical objective
such as a body of
Evening star., 1944-03-15

# 1t is true that the Pentagon
Building is operating at a loss of
over $3,000,000 year, it may even
tually become known as, Uncle
Sans Repentagon Building.
Evening star., 1944-03-15

Our Navy has prevented the Japs
from landing a single relief barge
on Los Negros Island. The days are
gone when the Japs used to come
barging in on us.
Evening star., 1944-03-15
in War

In order to reach its end" writes
Marshal Foch, which is the imposing
OF our Will on the enemy, modern war
uses but one means: The destruc-
Evening star., 1944-03-15

In place of a new bridge across
Baltimore Harbor a tunnel is pro-
posed. Possibly 1t would have the
merit of keeping down the over
head.
Evening star., 1944-03-15
The Great Game of POlitics

In the more than two years since we
went to war, the claim of Congress is
that, though it has strongly dissented
from the administrators Intellectual
Evening star., 1944-03-15

1t would seem reasonably clear
that not one Of the numerous medals
on Goering's chest was awarded
for accurate prophecy,
Evening star., 1944-03-15
On the Record

Although pacifism is no answer to ths
horrors and destruction of war. the
absence of positive peace policy is
deeply troubling.
Evening star., 1944-03-15
And Defending 1t!
From the Topeka Capital.

From the Topeka Capital
Why should the spirit of mortal be-
proud, after making such . hzzle Of
those income tax reports?
Evening star., 1944-03-15
This Changing World

Diplomacy is not always ponderous
and heavy. At times it has it's light
and humorous side. A perfect example
is the recognition of the Badoglio gov
Evening star., 1944-03-15

an open city and assuming all the
obligations that such a declaration
would entail. In any event, we can
be sure that our Allied forces, for
their part, will heed the Pope's
moving plea to the fullest extent
that military demands allow.
Evening star., 1944-03-15
Speaks for Civilian Workers.

To the Editor of The Star:
Statements recently have been issued
to the effect that discharged veterans
should be granted special privileges in
securing employment with the Gov
ernment.
| have no complaint with respect to
this, except to ask about those of us,
who, at personal sacrifice, have accepted
war service appointments with the Gov
ernment
1t seems to me that some considera-
ton should be accorded us Many have
served the Government faithfully In
this crisis, and have acquired skills and
experience which could be utilized to
great advantage.
l would like TO know if any considera-
ton is being given to this class of war
workers. LAWRENCE QUINN.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1944-09-22

reports reaching Matthew Woll, presi-
dent of the Labor League for Human
Rights, official relief arm of the
AFL.
Labor's war relief program in Rus
sia administered by Russian War Re-
lief Inc, has been in effect for more
than two years, and in that time mil
lions Of dollars have been spent for
a variety of aid to Russian frontline
soldiers and valient civilians. This
winter fifty thousand new, well-cut
warm garments were shipped to the
women of Russia, and the 1914 pro-
gram of relief calls for additional
bulk shipments of specially-styled gar
ments for cold weather during the
balance of the year.
Other supplies which go to Russia
from American workers as part Of
labor's relief program include medical
equipment for both front-line and CIV
ilian hospitals, drugs, ambulances, and
large quantities of vitamin pills for
Russian children.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1944-09-22

should be kept to the fore in the con-
sideration of permanent compulsory
military service. In the first place,
it's supporters produce no proof that
the American people are for it. All
we have is the say-so of the conscrip-
ton boosters. The people have had no
chance to vote on permanent con-
scription and it has had so little sup
port in Congress that it has never
been seriously considered there.
In the second place, such depar-
ture from all American tradition and
principles calls for thorough debate
and study. Obviously, it will not get
thorough debate and study now. The
minds Of the people are on more i'm
portant matters.
Before permanent conscription is
adopted, the American people will
want to know a number of things, in
cluding the purpose Of its advocates.
Do they plan to "play God" and help
to regulate the affairs of the entire
world, indefinitely? This is one of the
vital questions that demands an au-
thoritative answer before any system
of forced military service is estab-
lished.