davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-02-24
Samuel Grafton

nsh which are the earmarks Of lobbies
rather than legislatures.
For. In plain English, the Baruch re-
port summary says. in its flrst sentence,
that rehabilitation must be q unified
enort on two fronts, "the executive and
the Congress" It asks for a works
director" to work with Congress- In
developing program for placing ex-
servicemen in jobs. 1t goes on to ask
that Congress adopt plan for prompt
settlement of war contracts.
And so on and so on, Congress, Con-
gress, Congress, throughout the report.
IKE ralsins in rice pudding. There
is addltional seasoning in the form of
many references to preserving the free
enterprise system. Where executive
actlon is needed, the plan would call
on the businessmen of the War Produc-
tlon Board. All this should have slid
down the congressional throat like ice
cream in August.
But some Congressmen were 50 sire
1t was medicine, they didn't even taste
1t. What is happening to us? Are we
SO set on winning the argument rather
than solving the problem, that we no
longer have regard for the actual sub
stance OF our controversies; so that de-
tails, facts, words, the truth itself have
lost their accustomed impact on our
minds?
Is this something like what Charles
=. Wilson was warning us against when
he recently bade us beware of a right
wing reaction" that might 60 so far as
to make it impossible for us ever to
come together again?
Evening star., 1944-02-24
Gould Lincoln

gress charges the President with seeking
to advance his own political interests
by blaming upon Congress all the faults
OF his own administration.
Not only has the Presidents attitude
brought wide breach between himself
and the legislative branch, but 1t has
also brought a wide split in the Demo-
cratic party. Such split may spell the
defeat of President Roosevelt II he
seeks fourth term-as 1t Is now be-
lieved he intends.
Congress in the past has been held
In low esteem. It may be that the
President believes, as between himself
ana Congress, the voters will support
him. But In recent months, as the New
Deal administration has been the sub
ject OF greater and greater criticism,
the stock of Congress has gone up with
the people. 1t is doubtful the President
will be able to check this change In
sentiment by such attacks as he has
just delivered. He lays himself open to
the charge he Is seeking to hold all
power Of government in his own hands,
the kind OF charge that the man in the
street may understand.
II the British parliamentary system
prevailed here, the President might find
himself out of ONCE almost overnight.
and Nationwide election In the i'm
mediate of1ng. AS it is the test at the
polls will not come until next Novem-
Der. The Presidents supporters are urs-
ing his reelection as Commander in
Chief" Under the Constitution. how
ever, he Is Commander In Chief of the
Army and Navy-not Of Congress. the
courts or the Nation.
Evening star., 1944-02-24

The very fact that Senator Barley
always has been an ardent supporter
OF the President and his administration
for the last seven years carrying the
New Deal torch In the Upper House as
leader-lends emphasis to the break
between the Chief Executive and the
Congress. 1t is now almost as wide as
an ocean. Resentment against the die
tatorial attitude Of the President was
tanned into flame in Congress by Mr..
Roosevelts recent message clubbing the
State ballot bill for soldier voting a
fraud" That resentment was increased
by his more recent veto of the anti
subsidy bill.
The fundamental issue involved is the
Presidents insistence upon directing
what Congress shall do as we'll as what
1t shall not do. This attitude of the
Chief Executive is breaking down all
hope OF cooperation between the law
making and administrative branches of
the Government. 1t is regarded as an
enort on the part Of the Executive to
seize the legislative function, leaving
Congress merely the role of a debating
society. In the midst of a desperate
war, the situation is desperately bad.
\
Members Of Congress look upon the
Presidents tax veto message as an at
tempt to belittle Congress, to foist upon
it all responsibility for the happenings
OF the last two years which have
brought opprobrium upon his own ad-
mlnlStration. In that message. the
President sought also to convict the
Congress with having played into the
hands OF special interests The Con-
Evening star., 1944-02-24
Constantine BrO1Vn

by continuous and powerful series of
air raids-the famous round d-the-clock
bombing advocated earlier In the war
by those who regarded air power as
supreme. The Russian Premier believes
In air power as a contributing factor,
but has learned from the experiences
Of the Red armies that ground forces
win the battles.
Under these conditions 1t Is unthink-
able. according to American competent
observers, that Mr.. Churchill should
have thought that the decisions reached
at Teheran could be reversed or de-
layed, without running the serious risk
OF alternating Russia.
That the activities of the Allied air
forces will be greatly increased in the
next few weeks is certain. Although
bad weather has been reported In Eng
land during the last few days, there
have been large-scale attacks on the
German industrial centers. They will
be increased in spite of the risks run
, by the aviators when they return from
their missions and have to land on
their base fields.
The increased violence Of the air
attacks is considered, however, as only
softening up Of Nazi defenses by de-
stroying as much as possible Of the in
dustrial establishments producing planes
and other weapons.
Observers here regard them, however,
merely as preliminary to the ioain
job which will have to be done by the
Allied ground forces.
Evening star., 1944-02-24

Roosevelt sent scorching rebuke to
Congress because it had failed to pass
new tax law in accordance with his
wishes. The bill 1t did pass he labeled a
"tax-relief bill providing relief not for
the needy but for the greedy"
y
Breaking all precedent, Senator Bark
ley OF Kentucky, the Democratic leader
OF the Senate, yesterday resigned his
once as leader in protest against the
PRESIDENTS action. In his address to
the Senate Mr. Barkley called the Presi-
dents message "a deliberate and calcu-
lated assault upon the honesty and in
tegrity Of every member of the Leeisla-
ture of the United States" He added.
If the Congress of the United States
has any self-respect left it will override
this veto and enact this tax bill into
law"
Evening star., 1944-02-24
MAJ. George Fielding Eliot

and probably two or three American or
British divisions. The Canadian Corps
is on the Adriatic side.
Thus we have no very great SUPERIOR
1ty in fire power, though probably
considerable superiority in manpower.
In consequence, the fighting in Italy
has again reached sort of equilibrium.
Our greatest superiority is in the air.
but bad weather has prevented us from
taking the fullest advantage of it. The
ground favors the Germans as far as
the main front is concerned. But what
does not favor the Germans is the supply
situation. The Germans are dependent
Tor supplies and reinforcements on the
roads and railways of the Italian pen-
insula.
The feat which they have accom-
plished in bringing down seven divisions
from France, Northern Italy and Yugo-
slavia must be acknowledged as remark.
able, but the task of supplying 18 divi-
sions in South Italy instead of their
former 10 or Ii divisions still remains.
That task they must carry out in the
lace OF an overwhelming air superiority,
and the fact that they have been lucky
III the matter of weather so far is no
guarantee that they will continue to be
lucky.
That they realize the truth of this is
shown by the desperate fury with which
they are assaulting the beachhead. OBJ
viously they want TO wipe it out while
they have the chance and before their
offensive power begins to be whitfield
away by shortage of ammunition and
stores.
II they cannot win quickly they must
suffer from steady drain on their
strength while we continue to be able to
bring in supplies and replacements at
will. We can strike at their lines of
communication anywhere in Italy; they
can strike at ours only by artillery fire
on the Anzio beaches.
Thus in the end, barring q sudden
German success, we must have the ad-
vantage, but it may on those terms, be
long pull. The Prime Minister makes
one further and somewhat guarded sug-
gestion which may be of future interest:
We have" he says, sufficient forces
in Africa to nourish the struggle as
fast as they can be transported across
the Mediterranean" II we can put in a
new and powerful reinforcement at the
right time and place we may be able to
bring the present equilibrium to an end
and secure decision In our favor.
~
It Is, Of course, true that the Germans
Evening star., 1944-02-24
Winter Mountain

Like some unreal polcano capped BY
smoke,
With phantom banners on its gray
green side,
The mountain fumes beneath its CLOUDY
cloak,
More loDely for the light the uapors
hide.
So Deird and wild 1t looks' The vast
rock-limb
SWALLOWED amid the togs in,Dushinq
sea,
With timber-bearded crest and ridge
0rotDn dim
Where mist has hung a purple tapes
try,
scarcely can belieDe this grace Is
throUn
on the great cdnvas for dream brief
span,
on the empty hilltop alone
Behold it out OF all the race OF man.
STANTON A. CoBLENTz.
Evening star., 1944-02-24

Of democracy and the United Ma
tions, Franco did not have to worry
particularly about such things. But
events have since made him change
his manners, and even though he
has continued to send aid to Hitler,
he has tried to get back in the good
graces OF the Allies, even to the
extent Of proclaiming "strict" neu-
trality and saying an occasional
good word for US.
His reform in this sense, however,
has been less than convincing-a
little too late in the day. a little
too opportunistic to shore up his
shaking position,
Evening star., 1944-02-24

divisions on the Casino front, with
three more on the way-a total OF nine
If seven more have arrived since, then
1t is obvious that the Germans have
only two divisions on the Adriatic side
of the mountains to make up total OF
10 divisions.
This accords with the reported ar
rival on the Casino front OF the New
Zealand and 9th Indian Divisions from
the 9Th Army; both sides seem to be
reducing their strength on the Adriatic
sector, probably because Of bad weather.
The Prime Minister further gives us
the original strength Of the Anzio land
ing force-40 900 to $4,000 men. This
probably means two strong divisions
plus a good many supporting units Of
various sorts. Reinforcements have ar
rived since the first landing, but 1t is
impossible to say how strong these are.
Gen. Clark says the beachhead de-
tenders are outnumbered by the attack
ers. The last report on the German
strength actually attacking the beach,
head was nine divisions Of which three
were being held In reserve. Six Ger
man divisions might total 50,000-60 900
men, plus 2o,00o-30 900 corps and army
troops.
AL these figures hook up well to-
gether, and probably represent a very
close approximation Of the facts.
II we accept the view that there are
nine German divisions grouped above
the beachhead, and two on the Adriatic
front, that leaves seven for the Cas-
sino front. Facing these, we have at
least one and probably two French di-
visions, two Polish divisions, one New
Zealand division. one Indian division.
Evening star., 1944-02-24
The Turnino Point

Senator Barkley told reporters
yesterday that his speech referred
only to the Presidents veto message
on the tax bill. That may be lit
orally true. But it will not be in
terpreted that way. The speech
was the result Of series of develop
ments, eliminating in the wording
and the implications of the tax bill
veto, which has raised the issue
whether Congress is to function as
a coordinate branch of our Gov
ernment under the Constitution, or
whether 1t is to surrender it's func-
tions to form of dictatorship far
exceeding the necessities of wartime
capitalization Of powers in the Ex-
ecutive.
This issue has been created by the
President. There is evidence to
support an honest conviction that
the issue has been deliberately
created, not by an open struggle for
powers better utilized by one man
in time of war than by a legislative
assembly, but by considered policy
OF belittling Congress in the eyes of
the people, destroying public con-
f1dence in the integrity and motives
of its members and publicly ques-
tioning their ability to go beyond
line marked out for them by the
President. The success of that
process, of course. would mark the
failure of representative gov
ernment.
Viewed against the background
OF these disturbing trends and this
patient mans own record of loyal
support of his party and his Presi-
dent under the burdens of Senate
leadership in the past seven years,
Senator Barkley's revolt contains
the elements of history making
event. His speech will live longer
and claim a higher place in the
annals of craftsmanship than the
message which provoked It, If it
marks a turning point in. the rela-
tionship between the President and
Congress, prevents further deteri-
Grafton toward stalemate or paraly-
sis, Senator Barkley will have made
an outstanding contribution to his
country's welfare.
This must be the turning point.
We have reached the critical stage
of a war in which success or failure
will be measured by our ability to
fulfill the hopes of a great past and
a greater future. We cannot carry
on this war to the victory that seems
in sight If there is to be an ever
widening breach of disunity between
the President and the Congress. The
President went too far in his cynical
message, and he must know it now.
Senator Barkley's speech, on the
other hand, reflected the decision of
a man too big to gloat over wound
or to keep it open The times call
for a display of leadership at the
White House and ON both sides of
the aisle in both houses of Congress
that will symbolic the unity of our
country, without which we are lost.
Evening star., 1944-02-24
Stain Also REPORTS

Almost simultaneously with Prime
Minister Winston Churchill's report
to the House of Commons. Premier
Joseph Stain delivered a compre-
henSive review of the war on the
eastern front. On the twenty sixth
anniversary of the Red Army, Mar
shall Stain told his fighting forces
and the Russian people a detailed
story of the epic triumphs won over
the German invaders during the
past year.
In that crucial twelvemonth,
Stain announced that the enemy
had been swept from almost three
fourths of the vast territories in
Russia that they had occupied
during the earlier stages of the
struggle, the westward advance of
the Red armies exceeding in some
places thousand miles. The latest
victory was the recapture of Krivoi
Rog, key point in the lower
Ukraine, stubbornly defended for
months by the Germans both be-
cause of its strategic Importance
and because Of its rich iron mines.
This success, coming hard on the
heels of the retaking of the man
ganese mines at Nikopol and the
power plants on the lower Dnieper,
deprives the Germans of the last
Important industrial prize in South
ern Russia, for which they have
sacrificed so much in recent months.
There now seems no valid reason
why the German high command
should do more there than conduct
a delaying retreat to cover their
hold on the Balkans.
Meanwhile, Russian pressure con-
tinues unabated on all other sectors
of the long eastern front. The
northern Red Army group steadily
Is closing in on the German bastion
of Pskov, the historic gateway to
the Baltic States. Capture OF Pskov
would turn the strategic defense
line formed by Lake Peipus and the
Narva River to the shores Of the
Finnish Gulf. That would imply a
German retirement from Estonia
and Northern Latyia behind the line
Evening star., 1944-02-24
Honorinq DR.. Brooks

Twice recently the clergy Of the
Nations Capital have honored the
Reverend DR.. Walter H. Brooks, but
it is not only his brethren of the
cloth who hold him in high respect
and esteem. No exaggeration is in
volved in the statement that he is
valued by the entire community. It
would be remarkable If it were other
wise, considering the length and
character of his devoted services.
DR.. Brooks has earned the citys
appreciation by a lifetime of labor
as a preacher of the Word, as a
teacher of the American doctrine of
freedom and responsibility and as
leader in many civic and social
causes designed for the benefit of
the whole people. Born in Rich
mond, August 30, 1851, he began his
career as a chattel slave. When he
was fifteen he took advantage of an
opportunity to enter Lincoln Uni
versity in Pennsylvania. He was
graduated in 1872 and for a while
was employed in the Richmond Post
Office. Ordained in 1875, he preached
in Louisiana prior to his coming to
Washington in 1882. He now is
ninety-two years of age, and has
been pastor of the Nineteenth Street
Baptist Church for sixty-one years.
Such record speaks for itself.
Only man of great spiritual power
and integrity could have met the
exacting demands of so long a min
istry so well. His contemporaries in
the clerical profession understand
that clearly because Of their own
experience, but the laity likewise is
gratefully conscious of the signif1-
canoe of Dr. Brooks achievement.
Evening star., 1944-02-24

down to 1t in Mr..
Roosevelt's message
vetoing the 1914 tax
bill. Before adjourn
m e n t t o d a y t h e
House Is expected to
override that veto.
If that happens, the
Senate will. 1t Is pre-
dicted, follow suit.
The trouble which
has been brewing be-
tween the President
and the legislative
branch reached the
b o Him 6 point on
Tuesday when Mr..
Evening star., 1944-02-24

was that on Saturday two leading Sem
ators tore into the Baruch report, with
the angry demand that Congress be
allowed to control the demobilization.
Mr. Baruch says Congress ought to do
It,. Senators George and Vandenberg
reply angrily that Congress ought to
do it. Its up to Congress- says Mr..
Baruch. Don't you listen to Baruch,"
say Messrs. George and Vandenberg,
leave 1t up to Congress!"
+
would not suggest for minute that
these two leading Senators had attacked
the Baruch report without reading it,
though sometimes I have the feeling
that the struggle between Congress and
the President has become so bitter that
Evening star., 1944-02-24

not been fully completed at Teheran
and because weather conditions in Eu-
rope could not assure the invading
armies OF the full advantage of their
air umbrella that the Russian Premier
agreed to delay until such time as these
conditions are in our favor.
II X
Those familiar with the climate of
Western Europe point out that atmos-
pheric conditions after the month OF
August are not the best, and delay in
the invasion would increase the risks
substantially.
Mr.. Churchill knows this as we'll as
his technical advisers, and those who
Keep IN close touch with him feel posi-
Evening star., 1944-02-24
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUeli.
"TAKOMA PARK, Md.


Dear Sir:
Il am not able to purchase bird
feeding station and know nothing of
how to build one, but nevertheless I
would very much like to feed the birds.
rs feeding station absolutely neces-
sary? I have tried throwing food TN the
ground, and many birds have come, but
so much has been said about feeding
station wonder what am missing. Am
I missing anything by not securing a
feeding station?
Il do the best can for them, and I
guess that is all anybody can do. have
found it impossible to get seed, the price
is so high. and so have used left-overs,
and old pieces of bread. I soak the bread
in warm water. Everything is eaten up.
Sincerely, M. J.'
n y
Many birds prefer to eat on the
ground. These include the various
sparrows, the cardinals and the blue
jays
Chickadees, titmice and nuthatches
like best to eat FROM an elevation
That is why feeding station on a
stake has its good points, since it appeals
to all species.
The ground, however, remains the first
and original bird feeding place. Berried
shrubs represent close second, in the
liking Of the feathered folk.
Any one who likes birds, and who, for
any reason whatever, does not care to
put up formal feeder, will do very well
by using the ground.
X X X
Certainly the birds will not mind.
They take to the ground, whether
earth or concrete, with gusto, so long as
there is food on it. Who wouldn't?
Humans know perfectly well that a
contented mind makes feast. That is,
the table service, while nice, is not the
essential thing.
The main point is the food
The lawn makes a good feeding place,
but oetter is the earth beneath shrub.
Lacking this, a sidewalk or even q tin
roof will do very nicely. This column
has had many letters from persons
whose only outlook was upon typical
tin roof.
One of the main benefits of feeding
station is that the seed and grain are
kept dry.
Theoretically, at least, there is some
danger in permitting the birds to eat
wet food.
Actually. they eat it all up so quickly
that there is little danger Of molds and
the like harming it.
It bread crumbs are used, rain and
snow simply moisten them, which puts
them In better shape for ingestion by
some species.
Starl1ngs. for one, prefer their bread
soft and will moisten it for themselves
If it is TOO dry. One Of the real sights
of bird watching is some old starting
"dunkllg" a crust Of bread.
# oId bread is used, a pan of water
should be placed not closer than 10 feet.
Dry bread, as everybody knows. is
dry, indeed.
In case OF snow, care will have to be
taken to keep q place open for the bird
food. This is another point in which
the man-rnade feeding station excels,
but it does not mean that the ground
will not do very well.
Often place beneath heavy vines or
shrubs makes q very fine feeding place.
where the birds get some shelter rs they
eat.
Such place also affords. Them sand
and grit, a necessary part Of their diet.
II food grit and water can be pro-
vided, the birds which winter here will
be very well satisfied, and be just as
grateful as If they ate from the fanciest
sort Of feeding station.
Evening star., 1944-02-24

can also send reinforcements to italy
but their ability to do so is limited both
by the capacity of their lines of supply
and by their commitments on other
fronts, which cannot be indefinitely
weakened for the sake of the Italian
campaign without running very grave
risks.
Our lines Of supply being sea borne are
OF a capacity limited only by the avail
able shipping and we have four first
rate seaports at our disposal NAPLES,
Taranto, Bari and BrindisD.
Here we have what would seem the
obvious next move by Gems. Wilson and
Alexander, move which could have
been foreseen, and therefore planned.
long before the Anzio attack was ever
launched. 1t is possible, therefore, to
imagine 1t already in course of
development.
(Copyrisht, 1914, N. Y. Tribune, Incl
Evening star., 1944-02-24
The Heat on Franco

Coupled with the decision to con-
tinue the oil embargo against Spain
for another month, Attorney Cen
eral Biddle's action to denaturalize
a Spanish-born American is a clear
indication that our Government no
longer proposes to deal softly with
the Franco regime.
The decentralization move is
based on the fact that the citizen
involved belongs to the Falange,
which the Justice Department de-
scribes as subversive, antidemo-
cratic organization headed by Gen.
eralissimo Francisco Franco and
incompatible with the well-being
OF the United States" In effect, the
dictator of Spain is thus being hit
at in the proceedings-a not too
surprising development in view of
the recent intensification OF Allied
pressure to make him stop helping
Hitler with raw materials and with
troops on the Russian front.
Britain. together with Russia,
initiated the present strong anti
Franco policy. the United States
apparently being reluctant at first
to subscribe to it. That time has
passed. however. Now. in addition
to the steps already taken. we are
considering the application of other
sanctions, so that our relations with
Madrid are growing taut to the
point of breaking. Not very long
ago, in those days when he thought
Nazi victory was certain and when
he and his aides praised the New
Order" and spoke contemptuously