davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27

certainly be the hope of the Democrats.
In the past, the party in power has
invariably been ousted when conditions
have been hard. When the Republicans
took over in 1920, the people were sick of
the war, OF high taxes and increased
living costs and Of RECOMMENDATION. The
vets" resented the imposition of pro-
hibition. The returning soldiers found
life hard and housing difficult to obtain.
-
These difficult conditions are today
much magnifed-which leads Republic
cans to believe that the country Is ready
Tor change in administration. The
taxes which the people paid in 1920
were as nothing compared to those they
pay today. Scarcities of all kinds exist
in essential commodities - particularly
housing. The country faces tremendous
public debt The people are FESTIVE under
certain wartime restrictions. Many are
disguised with the manner in which
trade unions have been acting and feel
that unless steps are taken to amend
the LABOR laws and curtail work stop
pages, and to give citizens who do not
carry union cards break" the present
administration should be swept out of
ofice..
The country is embarking for the first
time on policy Of international collabo-
ration in a strenuous effort to insure
peace for many years to come How
this policy works out-and how much 1t
will cost the American people-also will
have its influence on the voting next
year, notwithstanding the fact that the
Republicans as we'll as the Democrats
have espoused the cause of collaboration.
The Democratic party came into power,
after many lean years, in 1932-after
having won majority of the House in
1880. The people had been through
terrible depression and were gambling
for better things. They got the Roose-
welt New Deal. The late President did
everything he could to better the condi-
ton OF the. underdog He also went to
the front for organized labor. The result
was reelection in 1896, another in.
1910 and fourth in 1944-although in
the last it was a nation at war which
declined to change its Commander in
Chief. The principal job of the Republi-
cans. II they are to win, is to convince
the voters conditions will be better
taxes lighter and less RECOMMENDATION
under new administration.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
Purkinq AGENCY Fate

Action of the Senate and House
deficiency bill conferefs in eliminat-
ing a $4,000 item for the District
Motor Vehicle Parking Agency leaves
this important agency in the pecu-
liar dilemma of being charged by
Congress with carrying out certain
duties but being deprived by the
same body of the means of obeylng
the congressional injunction. This
agency was created by Congress
early in 1912 for the purpose of study
ing Washington's parking problems
and doing something about them.
More specifically. the agency was
directed to explore possible sites for
fringe" parking lots outside the
congested district and to acquire
and develop such lots or other off
street parking facilities. At that
time the parking situation in the
downtown section was decidedly
acute and immediate action was
deemed essential. The agency was
set up, but was allowed to die after
less than a year of operation, as
Congress felt that tire and gasoline
rationing would automatically rem
edy many of the city's parking and
traffic troubles.
With the end of gasoline rationing
and the rapid increase of driving,
however, the Commissioners very
properly decided to reactivate the
Parking Agency. To enable it to
function administratively, the Com
missioners asked Congress for a S. 900
appropriation to cover expenses of
small staff. But the House upheld its
Appropriations Committee in vetoing
the item. The Senate approved the
fund, but its conferees acceded to
the wishes of the House conferees
and permitted the $4,000 to be
stricken. Unfortunately, the Park
ing Agency item did not receive on
The House side the thorough consid-
Grafton to which it was entitled.
Chairman Cannon of the Appropria-
tons Committee made statements
on the floor which evidenced his
complete misunderstanding the
origin and purposes of the agsacs.
The Commissioners should not let
the Parking Agency die without con-
tinuing their fight for the modest
sum required to revive it. And Con-
gress, when the matter again comes
before it, should be sure that it's
decision is based on facts and not
on transformation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
World Peace Day'
By Maj. George Fieldine Eliot

! found In my Christmas mail pro-
posal from group of noble-hearted
men and women in Boston who have
begun an enterprise which may, and
should extend around the world and
find support in every land and among
all peoples. 1t seemed especially fitting
that it should come at the first Christ
mas since the guns have fallen silent.
1t is the proposal that there should
be peace day in the United Nations
IAN annual international holiday on
which the peoples of the United Ma
lions will pledge to one another, to
the sacred dead and to the generations
yet to come. the achievement of a
united world"
This is an idea which should be i'm
mediately taken in hand by the United
States Government, and presented for
the consideration of all the other
United Nations by the representatives Of
the United States at the first meeting
of the General Assembly of the United
Nations Organization.
A peace day-general world wide,
common to all peace-loving peoples,
celebrated everywhere on the same day,
as the sun marches round the world!
/" day set apart from all national holi-
days, from the great feasts of all
churches, dedicated only to peace for
all mankind! A day we shall have in
common with every other people, white,
black, yellow or brown; a day which
transcends all dividing lines, all
frontiers, all differences of creed and Of
politics; day of solemn and yet joyous
rededication to the common cause of
peace!
There is concept to fire the heart.
On that day, each nation in its own
tradition, each man in his own faith and
tongue will make a solemn pledge to
maintain international peace and Sc
curity." On that day every resource Of
education, every channel of communica-
ton, every influence of ritual and cere-
Inony will be utilized" to give united
expression to the peoples viii for peace
On that day men and women gathered
in their homes or meetings in schools,
churches and synagoguesS-yes and In
temples, in market places, In whatever
place is most sacred to them and best
known-"will promise one another across
the boundaries Of nation, race and creed
that they, the people, have faith In each
other and will keep the peace"
These are the suggesttons Of the little
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27

group in Boston, writing under the title
of the Committee for Peace Day in the
United Nations. They are suggestions
which should be translated into reality
at the earliest possible moment.
We need peace day. We need it in this
coming year, and we shall need it every
year that passes. We shall need, all of
us, to be reminded of our pledges, of our
necessities, of the sacrifices of the past
and of the solemn truth that peace can
live only if it be established in the hearts
of the people throughout the world. We
shall need it that we may be reminded
to watch vigilantly our public servants
in the discharge of their duties. We shall
need it that We may be reminded to
watch ourselves, lest hatred and fear and
suspicion creep again into our hearts
and blind us to the light of peace by
which alone the path of humanity's
future may be illumined.
We shall need 1t for our children, and
we shall be remiss in our duty If we do
not cause them to look forward to 1t as
eagerly as they look forward to Christ
mas. Above all else, peace day must be
a day for children, for theirs is the king
dom of the future.
1t would be well, I think, If arrange
ments could be made on that day that
the children of every land might receive
presents from other lands. 1t would be
well If, on this day, the children of
every land might have good things to
eat which are enjoyed by children Of
other lands. It would be wei II this
peace day might be made the day on
which students are exchanged between
the schools and colleges Of neighboring
countries, for it is the young on whom
our hopes for peace are fixed. It is
they who must take the torch from our
hands, who have failed so terribly TO-
uphold it. 1t is they who must under
stand, and, understanding, preserve
themselves and the generations yet to
come from the destruction which our
minds and hands have prepared.
Do you like this idea of peace day2
hope you do, and hope YOU win write
to the Committee for Peace Day in the
United Nations, IS Beacon street, Boston
8, Mass, to give them your support as
they seek to gather names for petition
to the Secretary Of State, asking him to
present the proposal to the first meeting
Of the General Assembly in January.
lcopyrishA lolJs)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
Freedom and Breed

In Brazil's recent presidential
election. which seems to have been
freely and honestly conducted, the
Communists polled no fewer than
100000 votes, or about 10 per cent of
the total. their showing being par
ticularly impressive in the great city
of Rio de Janeiro. where they won
not much less than third of the
ballots cast. This display of strength
apparently the party's best to date
in the Western Hemisphere may
strike many as surprising, but per-
haps it can be explained at least in
part by the character of the Brazil
ian economy.
At any rate, an illuminating little
fact has just been reported from
Rio by a New York Times CORE
spondent-the fact that good white
linen suit in that city costs the
equivalent of $85 while the workers
who make it earn only bit over S.
month. This is symptomatic of a
condition prevailing in many Latin
American countries and indeed in a
large part of the world: Namely, the
division of people into two classes
the very rich and the very poor, with
the latter far outnumbering the for
mer. It is something which creates
an atmosphere conducive to radical
political experiment. A Brazilian,
for instance, who sews together a
suit and then finds. if he wants
to buy it. that the price asked is
approximately seventeen times his
monthly pay, cannot be blamed If he
lends an attentive ear to those who
promise to take drastic steps to i'm
prove his lot. Under Communism or
some other extremist rule-right or
left-he might find himself worse
off than ever, but as long as he can
get nowhere under the form of gov
eminent he has long known, he will
be disposed to take chance.
In Brazil's case, since there has
been progressive improvement I'M
der former President Vargas and
since more improvement is antici-
pated, qualified observers believe that
the Communists will never come to
power, but that does not necessarily
hold for countries elsewhere. In any
land where the mass af the rnYula 70
is exploited or underprivileged, and
where nothing is done to better the
situation, rightist or leftist radical
ism has rich soil in which to plant
the seed of the police state. In the
United. Estates, where men who make
suits and shoes and the like can
buy them with q fraction Of their
monthly wages. we may better u1-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
Mr.. PetriIIo Aquin

1t Is something less than original
to say that James Caesar Petrillo
marks himself as a dictator in I'M
dertaking to forbid American radio
stations to broadcast musical pro-
grams originating in any foreign
country except Canada. the latter
being exempt from the edict because
musicians there belong to his Ameri-
can Federation of Musicians. 1t Is
less than original because Mr.. Petril-
10 on a number of previous occasions
has demonstrated his dictatorial ca
pacities. and there is more than
little reason to suspect that he
rather enjoys the role. And why not?
1t is a good thing. if one likes to
take the short view. for him to be
able to lay down the law to the
people of the United States, to tell
them what music they may hear
and under what conditions they may
listen to it. No one seems to object,
with the exception of such mis-
guided individuals as Thurman Ar
mold, who chung to the quaint notion
that the antitrust laws might be
made to apply to union monopolies
under certain conditions. but who
was overruled by the Supreme Court.
Certainly the courts. Congress and
the administration do not object, or,
if they do object, are not willing to
do anything about it. So why should
Mr. Petrillo worry?
In his letter notifying the broad
casters of his latest ban, he pointed
out that the union had permitted
broadcasts of foreign music during
the war as "a necessary wartime
measure to promote good will and
good relationships with other coun-
tries" But now, Mr.. Petrillo says,
"the war Is over and we believe that
we should get back to normal as
rapidly as possible"
The only inference from this Is
that Mr.. Petrillo is not interested in
good will and good relationships with
other nations in peacetime If that
entails anything which might even
remotely resemble nonunion compe-
tition from abroad with the Ameri-
can Federation of Musicians. Off,
hand, it would seem that man
with this outlook ought not to enjoy
dictatorial power over his fellow
Americans, especially when abuse of
that power cuts across the pro-
claimed international policies of this
Government. Perhaps, in this situa-
ton, the President and Congress will
be moved to deal with Mr.. Petrillo
and others like him. But the chances
are that they will continue to do
nothing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

The congressional elections of 1916 are
just around the corner. For almost l6
years, the Democrats have held control
of the House of Representatives. Only
twice in the last century has political
party been in control of the House for
so long period. From 1859 to 1875 the
Republicans had a majority in the
House, and again from 1895 to 1911.
In some quarters, the feeling exists
that the 1916 elections are "now-or-
never prospect for the Republican
party. Another victory for the Demo-
Gratis in a midpresidential term, might
easily be forerunner of Democratic
national victory in 1948 How long a
major political party can continue to
operate in the face of defeat year after
year is anybody's guess Today, to be
sure, the Republicans have strong rep
resentation in the House-28 short of a
majority, however. They have less i'm
pressive numbers in the Senate. They
have % Governors Of States. and in
Vulnerable State and county and munic-
ipaI officers. But. as Gov. Green OF
Illinois recently told the Republican
National Committee, the Republican
party was created to elect Presidents
Aoha~sileIulS. II Illey are 10 eject q
President in 1s48, 1t is vitality necessary
they elect Republican House in 1916.
After the end of the World War. the
American people wanted a change in
national administration-and they got
one in big way. Harding was elected
President over Cox in an election which
left the Democrats with only "a mem
bers of the House outside of the South.
In New York, for example, the Demo-
Gratis, after that election, held only
seats out of 43. All of this followed a
Republican victory in the congressional
election of 19l8-when the war was in
its closing days.
Probably the Democrats were lucky
that World War II ended more than a
year before the 1916 elections. Had
there been such an election last No
vember, the pendulum might have swung
in big way. They have a year before
facing the test at the polls, year in
which there may be successful recon-
version to peacetime industry; in which
some measure of industrial peace may be
attained, and in which general living
conditions may improve. That should
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
This Changing World
By Constantine Bro,yn

Secretary of state Byrnes is expected
to return to Washington from Moscow
for a brief stay before he goes to Lon
don to attend the opening session of the
United Nations Organization. Many
problems concerning the internal or
ganization of the State Department are
awaiting his arrival Lack of time will
not permit the Secretary to 60 into the
details of these matters, but he is ex-
pected to take some action In connection
with the liaison between the White
House and his department, which at this
time is described as entirely unsatis-
factory.
Until vi day most of the important
communications and documents which
reached the State Department were i'm
mediately transmitted to the secret room
known as the map room" in the White
House. They were correle ted there with
the reports from the various fields of
operations and the President had a clear
picture of what was going on in the
world.
Before the surrender of Japan, mill
tary strategy was so closely interlinked
with diplomacy that it was essential for
the Joint Chiefs of Staff to receive the
dCtdilCu 1CpOllS tIle obdJc
ment as well as those from the White
House. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, who
were responsible to the President, needed
these reports in formulating policy
+
After vi day the situation continued
for short while. The organized war"
had ended, but there were major dis
turbances and serious military poten-
tialities which made it necessary for the
organization to continue. At the same
time, it had become even more i'm
portant that the Joint Chiefs of Staff re-
main acquainted with diplomatic de-
Velopments throughout the world.
In the last few weeks, however, the
liaison between the White House and the
State Department has been less effective.
The reason is said to be that some of
the top policy-framers in the department
dislike the chief correlator of strategy
and policy-Admiral William D. Leahy,
who as Chief Of Staff to the Commander
in Chief also is the senior officer on the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Admiral Leahy was selected for the
post by President Roosevelt long before
we entered the war. When he finished
his tour of duty as chief Of naval opera
tons and retired, the late President re-
fused to allow him to go into private
life. He told him that we might have
trouble" in the future and wanted him
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
New Stamp Catalogue

The 1916 edition of the Scott
Catalogue of United States Stamps
Specialized should be of interest to
the nonphilatelic public as well as
to the generality of American prac-
titioners of "the worlds favorite
hobby" 1t is book into which
during nearly quarter of a century
much careful scholarship has gone.
The editors, Hugh and Theresa
Clark, are perfectionists who con-
stantly strive for the improvement
Of their work. 1t also should be
mentioned that they have had the
skilled help of the late H. M. South
gate and other members of the
Bureau Issues Association.
But the story of United States
stamps began long before the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing took over
the manufacture of postal and reve-
nue. labels. The first stamps issued
by the Federal Government were
authorized by an act of Congress,
approved March 8, 1847, and went
on sale July of the same year.
Produced by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch
and Edison, they were of five and ten
cent denominations and carried por-
traits of Benjamin Franklin and
George Washington, respectively.
Both were intended to be artistic
in design and, taking into account
the relative scarcity of artists of
outstanding genius at the moment
of their production, they achieved
their purpose very creditably indeed.
What followed is fascinating
development which naturally still
continues. Mr.. and Mrs. Clark list
nine hundred and thirty-two differ
ent regular postage stamps-omit-
ting air mails, special deliveries,
postage dues and all other extras
distributed up to July 26 last. A
casual glance through their cata-
logue proves constructive evolution
of the engravers art. From 1851 to
1870 it was fashionable to overload"
each composition with details not
beautiful either in themselves nor
in aggregate masses. The series
originally made by the National
Bank Note Company and subse-
quently "retouched" with hidden
marks of Identification by the Con-
tinental Bank Note Company was an
Improvement on earlier models, but
the stamps produced by the Amer
lean Bank Note Company in 1883,
1888 and 1890 were still better
achievements.
However, it was the Columbian Elk
position commemorative" printed
by the American company late in
1892 and released-with a single
exception-on January 2, 1893, that
demonstrated the capacity of en-
gravers In the United States to
create masterpieces in miniature.
What has happened since then has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
The Kurds

Dispatches from the troubled Mid
die East are peppered with the name
"Kurd." And that name is, in every
instance, synonymous with trouble.
Alike in Iran, in Iraq and in Turkey
the Kurd is a refractory element in
the current situation, FESTIVE against
the local powers that be and ready
to serve the purposes of a foreign
influence, which today spells the
Soviet Union.
Historically, this troublous role is
nothing new, because the Kurds
additionally have been antagonistic
to established authority. Eternally
"agin the government" they have
never been able to set up stable
government of their own. That is
because, while possessing a marked
sense of solidarity, the Kurds have
never evolved politically beyond the
clan stage. In this they can be
classified with other mountain folk
like the Albanians of the Balkans
and the Scottish Highlanders. For
the Kurds are emphatically noun
taineerS. Their ancestral homeland
is the rugged and inaccessible belt
of highland which forms the divid-
ing line between Asia Minor, Persia
and the plains of Mesopotamia.
Here, like mountain eagles, they
have perched since the dawn of his
tory. The Assyrians were chemically
raided by the "Kardu" or "Kurdu"-
word which means "a warrior"
They appear to have been relatives
of the primitive Modes and Persians,
their language tracing back to the
archaic Iranian tongue. Even today,
despite much intermixture with their
neighbors, the old blood shows up
with many instances of fair hair and
blue eyes.
The Kurds are primarily shep-
herds and herdsmen, with scant lik-
ing for agriculture or town life.
Though congenital raiders, they
have rude code of honor and an
unshakable devotion to their clan
chieftains who pride themselves on
an ancestry extending back for ages.
The chiefs alternate between I'M
stable confederacies and blood feuds
that endure sometimes for genera
tions. With no true national con-
seriousness, they are usually ready to
accept pay from outsiders, either to
keep quiet or to make trouble on
order. They are thus ready-make
agents of discord-of which Soviet
diplomacy is apparently taking full
advantage.
Although the traditional "Kurdi-
stan" or Land of the Kurds is re-
stricted to the highland nucleus
above described, the Kurds them
selves have spreadsbroadly into East
ern Asia Minor and Western Persia,
waxing and waning according to
historical circumstances. There are
thus many islets of Kurdish popula-
ton far removed from the original
homeland. Yet everywhere they
tend to be clannish, unassimilable
and intractabIe.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-27
Rounded Perfection

The aging year, as artist and musician,
Attdins at last full mastery and
potDer-
Maturity and golden-ripe truition,
Rounded perfection OF the day. and
hour.
He learns restraint; the autumn's fam.
ing riot
Gives place to tempered loneliness OF
hue,
PGstels OF ,oood and meadow, pure and
quiet,
Skies OF the palest biaet-petal blue.
And listen noto, while at the old Years
ending,
AboUe the fugue that peeps the gel
lotDed Leaf,
Soar themes OF promise and OF hope,
transcending
All melancholy minor notes OF grief,
!. As from the flutes OF tcind and harps Of
The masters touch epokes brigh.
melodies.
nSEz BARCLAY KIRBY.