davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-03-18
All or Nothino

The refusal of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor to share represen-
tation at the forthcoming con-
ference of the international Labor
Organization with the Congress of
Industrial Organizations confronts
the President with another difficult
problem arising out of the split in
American labor.
Some thirty nations are members
of the ILO, each being represented
by two delegates from government
and one each from industry and
labor. Under the rules. the most
representative" labor organization
nominates delegate, and the Presi-
dent is supposed to appoint that
nominee.
The CIO for several years has
been demanding representation in
the ILO, but William Green, presi-
dent of the AFL. has turned thumbs
down on any and all suggestions for
meeting that demand. The AFL, he
says. is still the most representative
labor organization in the United
States, and he adds that unless the
nominee is an AFL man his organi-
zation will have nothing to do with
the conference. Hence, the Presi-
dent, who must make decision be-
fore the ILO meeting in Philadelphia
on April 20. seems left with no choice
but to step on the toes of either the
AFL or CIO.
1t is unfortunate that this con-
troversy should have come to head
this year, for the delegates to the
April meeting will concentrate on
mapping a postwar employment
program an undertaking which
merits the fullest support of Amer
lean labor. Nevertheless, it is diff
cult to reject the AFL viewpoint out
of hand, There may be doubt as
to which of the two major labor
groups actually represents the
greater number Of workers, but it
can hardly be denied that the AFL
has colorado claim to being the
parent" organization. The CIO, in
AFL eyes, is a seeding group which
eventually may be brought back into
the fold. So long as that hope is
kept alive, it is not surprising that
the AFL, which has always nom
Evening star., 1944-03-18
Young and Touch

One explanation OF the Army's
insistence on young men, reflected
by selective service orders for review
OF occupational deferments of men
under twenty-six years old, is the
renewed emphasis which battle ex-
perience Is placing on the i'm
portance of the foot soldier with a
rifle. And only the young can stand
the gaff.
When the Germans overran
France so quickly with their mo-
torized weapons. especially tanks,
there was lot of inexpert talk in
this country as to our need for a
highly mobile Army of specialists,
moving on caterpillar treads and
rubber tires. The long desert cam
paign in North Africa, largely be-
cause Of the nature Of the terrain,
also made the tank conspicuous.
But with the perfection of new de-
lenses against tanks and motorized
weapons-the land mine and the
antitank gun-the lesson is being
taught again that the man who
reaches the objective Is the soldier
with gun.
1t is possible that our tables of
Army organization have been over
weighted in favor of other arms,
which would not be surprising in
an Army built so quickly without
definite knc wledge of where it would
fight. and with so much to be
learned about new weapons. But If
we are finding the need now for
more infantrymen. the Army can
congratulate itself on never having
neglected the infantry arm in train
ing and equipment. 1t is the best
we have ever had and is proving its
mettle on every battlefield.
The President spoke at his re-
cent press conference of the con-
tinued need for discriminating
judgment in occupational defer
ments. The young man who was
essential few years ago in plants
manufacturing small arms and am
munition may be available for mill
tary service today. But his brother
In a plant manufacturing landing
craft may be more essential where
he is today than in the Army. The
changing tides of warfare will con-
tinue to substitute one type Of de-
mand for another and there never
will be enough of what is needed
most. AS the nature of our OBJ
jectives change. the Army needs
more infantrymen and they must be
young and tough.
Evening star., 1944-03-18
Truk's New Stutus

The first attack on Truk by Amer
lean land-based bombers is evidence
that our forces are losing no time
in making the fullest possible use of
the airfields acquired in our recent
invasion of the Marshalls. At one
point among these islands-at Eni-
wetok-we are within 750 miles of
the great japanese outpost, so that
more and more raids of the type
just launched will almost certainly
follow.
Truk, in fact, is now caught in
what promises to be an aerial
pincers, for in addition to our posi-
tions in the Marshalls, which lie to
the northeast, we are establishing
ourselves in the Admiralty Islands
where we are steadily expanding our
grip under General Macarthur, and
with these In our hands, we can base
our land planes at point only 610
miles southwest of Truk. From
northerly and southerly direction, in
short, this enemy strong point-once
regarded as Japan's most powerful
outpoSt-iS exposed to our fire, to
such an extent that our big bombers
may in due time be able to reduce
it to impotency, more or less as they
have reduced Rabaul.
The position in which Truk thus
finds itself-a position further i'm
periled by the ever-increasing activ-
tiles of our Submarines-iS one of
the more important gains to be
credited to our far-ranging offensive
operations among the islands of the
Central, South and Southwest Pa
cific. For these operations have not
only won for us new advanced bases
from which we can strike out to
win bases still farther advanced;
they have also robbed the Japanese
of the ability to hit back at us ef-
fectively in an effort to Illustrate
our plans.
Truk'S new status is an excellent
illustration of this. Thus, at one
time the enemy could use it as a
key naval and air base from which
task forces could be sent out in
every direction for offensive pur-
poses, to counter our thrusts and
to keep supplies flowing to the I'M
perial troops holding such outlying
islands as the Bismarck Archipelago,
the Solomons and the Marshalls.
But now, as result of the positions
we have won, this can no longer
be done at will, for the aerial pincers
foreshadoWed by Truk's first ex-
perience with our land-based planes,
plus the work of our submarines,
clearly suggests the eventual neu-
Evening star., 1944-03-18
Letters to The Star
Expresses Disapproval of Closing
Alley Dwellings Precipitately.

To the Editor of The Star:
With the Civil Service Commission
recruiting $4,000 Federal workers for
the District and with hundreds of war
workers herded together under un-
speakable conditions, Senator Bilbo's
stated intention of closing available
dwellings without making any pro-
visions for rehousing families is un-
thinkable.
Public officials, civic groups. and
private citizens publicly have agreed in
testimony before the Burton Subcom-
mittee on Housing in the District that
slums must be eliminated and slum
profiteers prevented from operating
properties that threaten the health
and safety of the entire community.
Senator Burton and his committee
earnestly are attempting to find an
effective method of clearing the slums
and preventing their recurrence. Earlier
statements by Senator Bilbo indicated
that he was in sympathy with intel
Hgent plans being formulated to ac-
complish this end. No one familiar
with the elementary facts about hous-
ing can believe that Mr.. Bilbo's latest
proposal will do anything but aggravate
an already serious problem. Housing
must be provided before the slums are
evacuated unless we are Immediately to
create new slums throughout the city.
1t seems evident that Washington
requires even more manpower than
already resides in the District and that
sufficient housing for even the present
residents is not now available. 1t is
difficult to see how crowding families
in Easements, deporting them to other
localities, and decreasing the number
of existing homes will help in securing
manpower, improve housing, or increase
the health and well-being of the
community.
PAULINE r. COGGS,
Executive Secretary, washington Urban
League, Inc.
Evening star., 1944-03-18
The Political Mill

throughout the South that this old rule
be restored, since 1t gives the Southern
States a veto power to be exerted against
a candidate whom they may dislike.
Southern delegates in the Democratic
National Convention of 1886 vigorously
resisted the abrogation of the rule and
the substitute Of majority rule.
It will be interesting to see what the
other Southern States do when they
name their delegates to the Democratic
convention, whether they follow the
lead set by Louisiana, or whether they
instruct their delegations for Roosevelt
or for some other candidate. They
may also 60 on record in favor of re-
storing the two-thirds rule. Represent
ative Cox of Georgia, strong anti
New Deal Democrat, In a speech this
week at Moultrie, Ga, said that when
the two-thirds rule was abrogated "the
South completely lost its power inde-
pendently to influence national party
affairs" He contended that the South
may still vote but only for candidates
chosen by others. Unless the two thirds
rule Is restored, he said, "the South
will continue to be the Lazarus Of its
own party and the stepchild Of the
Nation"
Despite these demands for q return
to the two-thirds rule, the chances for
such action in the coming Democratic
National Convention appear as remote
as the North Pole The West and the
North will outvote the Southerners II
the issue is pressed.
A great deal has been written and said
about what the Southern States will do
II President Roosevelt is renominated-
and the burden of most of tlese corn
Evening star., 1944-03-18

for Roosevelt does not necessarily mean
they will not in the end join band
wagon procession for Roosevelt nomi-
nation next July. It does indicate
strongly, however, that If there is an
organized revolt against a fourth-term
nomination, the Louisiana delegation
will support it.
Not only did the Louisiana Democrats
fail to instruct for Roosevelt, but they
adopted resolution demanding a res
toration Of the old rule of Democratic
national conventions that a two-thirds
vote be necessary to nominate a presi-
Dental candidate. This will be inter-
preted as move against denomination
OF the President-on the ground that the
restoration Of the old rule would make it
far more difficult for the New Dealers to
put across fourth-term nomination.
It is, however, In line with demand
Evening star., 1944-03-18
Mrs. Strong's Benefoction

The philanthropies Of Mrs. Henry
Alvah Strong invariably reflect the
original talent of their sponsor as
woman of notable imaginative and
creative skill. Her contributions
always have been conStructively in
dividualistic. The latest of her gifts,
announced on Thursday, conforms
to the pattern she established long
ago. Like the Hall of Government
which she presented to the George
Washington University and the
dormitory annex which she provided
for the Young Womens Christian
Association, it solves problem
which seemingly could be solved in
no other way.
A new United Service Organiza-
tions club for colored Army and
Navy personnel and Federal work.
ers was needed in the neighborhood
OF the Griffith Stadium. Study of
available properties led to the con-
clusion that the building at POLL
Georgia avenue Northwest, was the
nearest to ideal. But it happened
to be leased to the Goodwill Indus
tries. The negotiations for the
moment appeared to be stopped
before they we'll were started. Mrs.
Strong then intervened with an offer
to buy the desired location, give a
lease on it to the USO for the dura-
tlon OF the war and deed it to the
Goodwill Industries after peace has
been restored. The building, re-
decorated and furnished attrac-
lively, will be dedicated tomorrow
afternoon at o'clock. It will be
operated jointly by the YWCA and
Its brother organization, the Young
Mems Christian Association, both
participants in the USO from its
beginning.
Mrs. Strong's benefaction in this
special instance Is more than a
donation. It is a symbol of the spirit
OF goodwill, fellow feeling and mu-
tuality which is so much required
and, when supplied, so vastly helpful
TO all classes and conditions of
people in troubled times,
Evening star., 1944-03-18

Finland also is said to have objected
to total demobilization Of its armed
forces, pointing out that under no cir
cumstances could they be regarded as
a menace to the powerful Red armies.
To them, the maintenance Of an army
would be q safeguard for honest en-
forcement of the armistice conditions,
which on the surface appear lenient.
The Finnish government looks on
the question of territorial concessions
as less important But the question Of
the preservation OF Finland's independ-
ence is so important that the Firms
seem willing to risk suicide rather than
give in.
President Roosevelt's urgent appeal
to Finland to lay down the arms and
break away from the Nazis contained
no indication that the United States
would see that the rump Of the re-
public remained sovereign state.
There has been no reference to the
Atlantic Charter either in the Presi-
dents message or In Britain's admoni-
tions to Helsinki.
The charter, while shunted into the
background by the big powers, still Is
regarded by the smaller nations as the
only safeguard for their independence.
This is being stressed not only by the
Firms, who fear that they may be de-
barred from its benefits, but also by the
Poles and Turks. None Of the three
governments has any real objection to
territorial readjustments. They agree
that at times boundaries may have
to be elastic. But they do insist that
their countries must not be transformed
into puppet states.
X
These border states Of Russia are
afraid of their powerful neighbor. But
they still believe that guarantee from
Great britain and especially the United
Evening star., 1944-03-18

yield to conditions which in their opin-
ion will lead to the integration Of Fin
land into the U. s. S. r.
How we'll founded these fears may be
cannot be appraised at this time. But
Finland follows the pattern of Poland
and to certain extent the pattern OF
Turkey. All these states bordering So
Wet republics are apprehensive of Rus
sia's expansionist ambitions.
The Finnish government is said to
have asked Moscow bluntly whether, in
event the Russian conditions were ac-
cepted, the rump of Finland would
enjoy complete freedom. The Finnish
leaders wanted definite assurances that,
after having paid the price for peace,
which in their opinion should consist
only of territorial concessions, the
shrunken Finland would be permitted
to remain an independent republic
free to stand alone or join Sweden and
Norway should its people be SO in
clined
Evening star., 1944-03-18
Constantine Br01Vn

States would satisfy their desire for
national independence. Helsinki, the
Polish government In London and An
kara's leaders are convinced that II
the American government would re-
assert its firm belief In the Atlantic
Charter many of the present political
dificulties would disappear. They want
an American pledge that under certain
peace, or Turkeys joining the Allies
against Germany, or the Poles accepting
the Curzon line, their sovereignty would
be respected.
But there have been no indications
from either London or Washington that
either is willing to make any formal
pledges. The American Government
keeps stony silence regarding the
factual application Of the charter, while
Prime Minister Churchill avoided de-
bate on Thursday In the House of Com
mons on grounds that motion pre-
sented by group Of 78 Laborites was
"couched in hostile terms"
4 -
The chances OF the Finnish Army
resisting q Russian onslaught are, Of
course, very small. It Is true that the
"Mannerheim Line" which was 30 highly
advertised in the l939-4O Finnish
Russian war, Is today much stronger
than ever before.
The Russian air force could wipe out
the principal Finnish cities, but the
Firms say that only 20 per cent Of their
small population lives in towns. The
rest Of the people are in small COM
munities which are poor targets for
the Russian bombers. The Finnish
general staff Is said to believe that in
the event peace is not concluded with
Russia, the Finnish armies could wage
war for another six months.
Evening star., 1944-03-18
Says Hackers Want More.

TO the EDITOR OF The Star:
The Public Utilities Commission has
rejected the petition Of the Cab
Drivers Union, which requested rea-
sonable raise in group-rider taxi rates.
The rejection seems based on the fact
that the commission Is under the erro-
neous impression that the drivers are
making large profit out Of the system.
The fact Of the matter Is that, on the
whole, the drivers lose money on 1t.
There are many more profitless trips
II the drivers accept them-than there
are profitable ones.
The day after the system was put
into effect had a conference with Mr..
Flanagan, chairman Of the commission.
and pointed out to him that the system
would net the drivers less revenue than
would the regular rate. It was correct
prediction. Tell the boys to give 1t
trial. If you lose money on 1t, come
back and we will adjust It," he said.
1t is easy to see why the system Is a
fiat failure and also a money loser. It
was a very ill-advised and poorly
thought-out piece OF work. For instance:
One passenger from zone 4 and one
from zone l, involving two trips, total
fare 10 cents: one person from zone to
zone /, 30 cents. The driver loses from
20 to SO cents on these trips. The same
thing happens In the other zones In
fact, all two-passenger trips-under the
present group rate plan-are money
losers, unless both fares enter and
leave the cab at the same point. This
does not happen very often, and there
are very few three, four or fve-passenger
trips
Therefore, suggest that the drivers
demand a return to the full-fare sys-
tenn on group riders as the volume of
business has taken big drop since the
early days Of the war, due to the fact
that high taxes and the draft greatly
have reduced the number Of riders.
Some extra money Is needed out of the
remaining riders to Offset this loss. In
addition, the cabs we now have are
mere junk, becoming more and more
expensive and difficult to maintain in
service. The less we have to run them
the better There is no Justification
for cut rates at this time. We also
need limit on the number of cab
drivers. BERNARD L. HENNING.
Evening star., 1944-03-18
The French Underqround

ViScount Halifax, British Ambas-
sador to the United States, has lust
paid warm tribute to the under
ground movement against German
domination in metropolitan France,
with special reference to it's COM
batant section, known as the
"Maquis," which wages guerrilla
warfare throughout France, espe-
cially in mountainous regions like
Savoy and the central highlands.
1T is no secret" said Lord Halifax,
that these French guerrilla forces,
numerically equivalent to a consid-
erable number of divisions, are in
open and armed revolt against the
German occupying forces" And he
went on to praise equally the vast
numbers of men and women working
undercover for the same cause in
constant peril of death from the
German authorities and their Vichy
stooges. Such heroic types, he
stated, are hopeful augury for the
future of France, when she shall
have emerged from her ordeal with
renewed vigor and vitality"
These statements are noteworthy.
not only because of the distinguished
speaker but also because he spoke
In his official capacity as Ambassa-
dor and therefore was, in a sense.
the reflection of his government.
Lord Halifaxs remarks come at a
moment when the patriot regime at
Algiers is undergoing an acute in
ternal transformation and when its
relations with London and Wash
ington have not yet been wholly
clarified. Yet Lord Halifax referred
to the French Committee of Ma
tional Liberation and the Consulta-
tive Assembly as together represent
ing "a remarkable symposium Of
French opinion -. Here are rep
resentatives of every section except
one, the so-called government of
Vichy -. Free men everywhere
watch with sympathy and interest
while they-the committee and the
assembly-debate the processes by
which free and democratic institu-
tions may be restored in France"
Lord Halitax's optimistic picture,
drawn as 1t undoubtedly is on the
basis Of special information avail
able to his government, comes as a
welcome offset to other recent ad-
vices from inside France which
depict the devitalizing and de-
moralizing effects of nearly four
years of servitude to the Germans,
coupled with domestic dissension
and acute privation. Our knowl-
edge of occupied France is neces-
sarily sketchy, and much of it comes
through biased or propaganda
sources. That the flame of patriotic
devotion still burns brightly in SO
many hearts throughout that un-
happy land is hopeful indication
of a restored France fulfilling it's
historic mission as a civilizing and
Stabilizing factor in a reconstructed
Europe.
Evening star., 1944-03-18
tralization of this japanese Pearl
La

tralization of this japanese Pearl
Harbor."
The implications of this are highly
significant. For once Truk is ef-
fectively neutralized, its main value
will be lost to the enemy and his
interest in it will be confined chiefly
to an effort to keep it out Of our
hands as long as possible. AS for
the effects of this development on
our own operations, it seems clear
that a vast area of ocean will be
opened up to us for far-reaching new
maneuvers, perhaps toward the
Philippines. In any event, with
Truk made too hot to serve any
longer as a major base for their
ships and planes, the japanese will
find their grip on much of the South
and Southwest Pacific decisively
broken, never to be regained.
Evening star., 1944-03-18

OF modern war. 1t
is essential to the
operation of air.
planes, tanks, motor
transport, surface
Warships and sub
marines. AS a lubri-
cant as we'll as q
fuel, it Is an essen
tial ingredient in all
industrial opera
tions. No nation can
make war without
an ample and as
sured supply of oil.
A very good item
in the peace-insur-
Evening star., 1944-03-18

mated the labor delegate to regular
ILO meetings in the past, should be
unwilling to grant a concession
which might be held to imply recog-
milton of the CIO as a co-equal, in
dependent labor organization. That
may be unrealistic, but it seems to
be the fact.
Evening star., 1944-03-18

Northern State, New
Hampshire, to name
its delegates provides
q delegation instruc-
ted to vote for the
denomination of
President Roosevelt.
The action of the,
Louisiana Democrats
Is at least significant
Of the resentment
which has developed
in the South against
the New Deal ad-
ministration in
Washington. Their
fa31,1ro ~ Srctr,,cf
Evening star., 1944-03-18

the Helsinki govern
ment appears deter
mined to continue
fighting a 1t h o u g h
there is a great dis
proportion between
the Russian and
Finnish m ilitary
power.
According to the
latest reports re-
ceived here, the
reason behind what
may appear to out
siders to be a fool
ish policy is that the
Firms do mt. want tn
Evening star., 1944-03-18
One for Our Side
From the Vancouver Sun

from the vancouver sun. -
The American people do not need and
will not welcome any suggestions from
outside concerning their system Of Gov
ernment, which permits an open breach
in time of war between the executive
and the legislature. But, without Of
fense, British peoples can surely take
pride in their own system Of govern
ment, which has proved adequate to
meet all the strains Of centuries OF
changes and which today Is stronger in
the esteem Of the governed than ever
before. .r
Evening star., 1944-03-18

tion)
2. Russia may be getting herself in
solid" with all new governments in
Europe, regardless of type. She was
the first to give full recognition to De
Gaulle. She is now the first to give full
recognition to Badoglio. Russia recog-
nizes that the new governments in the
liberated countries will have quarrels
with the Allies. BY lining up with
them, early and strong, she gains valu-
able Offsets against our influence on
the continent.
3. Russia may believe that the Ba-
doglio regime is temporary, as, indeed,
1t almost inevitably is. No government
OF surrender can last very long. Hence