davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-09-01
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

ures to prevent war by the one means
which has proved effective in history
by being strong-are, it appears not
popular, either. Not If they cost anything
in effort, in service and in wealth.
The late William Jennings Bryan Is
credited with the remark that II the
United States were attacked, mil
lion men would spring to arms over
night. Mr.. Bryan was opposed TO the
use of men and money to prepare this
country for war, while the country was
at peace. It is that same kind OF talk
which filters through the corridors OF
the Capitol today-in slightly different
form. sNo need for training new batch
of young men every year for military
service; all that is needed Is group OF
technicians, and plans for the produc-
ton of the arms needed for modern
war. That is the argument heard ad-
vanced by prominent member OF the
House. In his opinion, it will be COM
paratively easy to train men for the
Army and the Navy sufficiently to go
into battle within the time it will take
to make the arms they will use. Only
a few months, or even few weeks, Is
sufficient for training, he maintained.
Without any military experience them
selves for the most part, this is kind
of muddy thinking which is going on.
This country can continue strong If it
will, and if it will not, another Pearl
Harbor is the logical outcome.
Just at the moment American forces
under Gen. Douglas Macarthur were
moving into Japan, signalling a tre-
mendous military achievement In which
Americans everywhere take pride, Presi-
dent Truman made public secret Army
and Navy reports on the most devastat-
ing blow American arms ever suffered
the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
It has been charged in Republican quar-
ters that the effort was to minimize in
the public mind the Pearl Harbor dis
aster-and the blame attached to the
Democratic administration for not
guarding better against such an attack;
that otherwise these reports which have
been kept secret since they were COM
pleted last year would have been with
held for another week or two. To the
layman, the timing seemed bad. The
reports themselves showed wide diff
ference of opinion as to where the
blame lies for failure to guard against
this attack. One man, the Commander in
Chief, the late President Roosevelt es-
caped all censure. Why?
Evening star., 1945-09-01

problem, because OF the endless
variety Of properties involved and
the constantly changing market
conditions, should provide the great
est administrative fiexibility. It
cautioned, further, that the ad-
ministrator should be left free to
"sell as much as he can as early as
he can without unduly disrupting
normal trade"
The law as 1t now stands, how
ever, is needless OF these warnings,
and the longer it stands that way
the more money the Nation Is gong
to lose, the fact being that with every
day that passes the marketing price
is likely to fall progressively. In
other words, the whole present set
up constitutes a merchandising
policy that no sound private busi-
ness would tolerate, and 1t may well
mean the eventual loss of literally
billions of dollars to the American
people unless Congress quickly takes
the necessary corrective action.
Evening star., 1945-09-01
Action Replaces Excuses

The Board of Public Welfare's
decision yesterday to seek reten-
tion of the present Industrial Home
School quarters on Wisconsin ave-
nue. desired by the Navy Depart
menN until a permanent move can
be made to new property acquired
by the District near Laurel, Md,
seems a sensible one. The proposed
transfer of the school to the SOON
to-be-vacated quarters of the Ma
tional Training School for Girls on
Macarthur boulevard would have
been a temporary expedient, more
apt to cause delay than to expedite
the construction of adequate new
facilities at Laurel.
But more encouraging still is the
boards decision to institute an i'm
mediate reclassif1cation of employees
of the Industrial Home School, up
grading salaries which are too low
to attract competent personnel or
to fill vacancies. This will be UNI
dertaken in connection with a gen.
eral renovation of existing quarters
on Wisconsin avenue, including a
liberal use of paint and more strict
insistence on good management.
The Star believes that the Board
of Public Welfare has an opportu-
nifty to bring about reform in dis
graceful conditions at the Industrial
Home School which will be of benefit
to all the institutions under it's
jurisdiction. There has been too
great tendency to find excuses for
poor conditions in the assumption
that nothing can be done to i'm
prove them until new facilities are
constructed. Without denying the
need of new facilities, it remains
that many of the rotten conditions
at the Industrial Home School rep
resent deterioration in standards of
management as well as in the Struc-
lures themselves. Good manage
ment, supported by competent per-
sonnel, can transform even hovel
into an efficient, well-run instltu-
ton. If the Board of Public We'll
fare recognizes this fact there will
be greater emphasis on sound stand
ards and less futile whining over
the time required to get new ap-
preparations for new buildings.
The projected development of a
new group of children's institutions
near Laurel should and will be car
ried forward without delay. The
Commissioners and Congress are
sympathetic and public sentiment is
behind it. In the meantime, the
Board of Public Welfare will infuse
new life into it's management per-
sonnel and create new confidence
in it's own ability when it refuses
to accept any excuse for incompe-
tent and lackadaisical administra-
ton of what it has now.
Evening star., 1945-09-01

President Truman has said that the
country as much as any individual was
to blame for the Pearl Harbor disaster.
It was; and further, 1t was to blame
that such an attack should have been
launched at all. If the country, ana
Congress which is supposed to renect
the attitude and wishes OF the country,
had been willing to arm this country
for national defense in an adequate
way, in all probability there would have
been no attack on this country al
Pearl Harbor or any other spot. And
If there had been an attack, the war
might have been ended far more quickly
with an equal measure Of victory for us.
The lesson of the World War fell
on ears that would not hear, eyes that
would not see and minds that would
not understand, in this country. Unless
there is sharp check in the present
trend here. the lesson OF the war we
and our Allies have just won at ter
riff cost in lives and money will leave
little more imprint than did the war
which ended in 1918. Today members
of Congress, reacting to the pleas OF
thousands of their constituents, are
demanding a cessation of the craft
although it is known that more than
two million men will be needed in the
occupation of foreign territory and in
the United States. They are preparing,
unfortunately, to slash the Army and
Navy, If they are able, to skeleton size
again. They are giving the cold shonl-
der to recommendations made for uni
versal military training.
4
1t may be that President Truman
will be able to reverse this trend.
He has declared the draft must go on
for young men for sometime to come
for two reasons-to provide the neces-
sary armed forces and to make 1t pos
sible to relieve from duty and dis
charge men who bore the brunt OF the
fighting in Europe and In the Pacific.
He has announced he will recommend
a system of military training for Amer
ican youth-although he has not made
known the details of his plan. 1t is
part of the Presidents job to keep
this country strong. Apparently he in
tends to do something about 1t II he
can. How effective he will be remains
to be seen. Every member Of the House
is up for denomination and reelection
next year-and one-third of the Sena-
tors. War is not popular-but meas
Evening star., 1945-09-01

II early manifestations of Japan's
submissive pohteness hold good through
out the peace negotiations, it will be
hard on the stern resolution both Of
those dealing with the japanese and OF
the American public. 1t is difficult for
an American, when he is successful and
his late opponent is sufficiently humble.
to avoid taking benign attitude.
Even the Black Dragon Society Is
sorry. It's head man says that his nation
was incomplete, superficial and crude"
1t is hard to disagree with that. Other
Japanese spokesmen say that reliance on
force was all wrong, that the way to
greatness is through the cultivation OF
peace, and SO on. These expressions,
together with the quaint podteness OF
those who are receiving our forces, turn
away wrath.
Our sense Of humor is assailed by the
odd language used and the queer little
actions that greet us. For example,
when American officers landed with the
transport planes, ready for serious busi-
ness, they were greeted in q "lawn-
party atmosphere. Generals In full dress
were smiling. A little truck stood ready
with sign, Follow me-" There were
apologies for the plumbing in the living
quarters. But apparently the Americans
loved the hospitality.
In the face Of all this, the first Amer
ican reaction is that this is all the bunk,
that the Japs are insincere and that
they need bit of bullying. So what II
hard treatment brings forth nothing
more than continued playing Of this
friendly role for years to come? What
will be our reaction? What II the jap
anese compliment us by greater and
Evening star., 1945-09-01

Reports from Gen. Macarthur show
that, In spite of the fears expressed by
many observers previously, Emperor
Hirohitos orders to his subjects to SUBJ
nit themselves to the armies OF 0ccu-
patton are being fully carried out.
Some trouble was reported in certain
sections of Manchuria and China soon
after the Emperor accepted uncondi-
tional surrender. Commanders OF indt-
vidual units decided they had been be-
trayed or deceived by the Tokyo gov
ernment and ordered their men to con-
tinue fighting In all such cases, how
ever, these officers were killed by their
own men, who told the Russian and
Chinese officers to whom they surren-
dered that the killings were carried out
because some officers had the audacity
to question the Emperor's wisdom.
Since Hirohito has become assured
that the Allies will fulfill the terms
given him, in good faith and that he
need not fear any threat to the dynasty
from outside, the cooperation OF all
Japanese officials has exceeded the most
optimistic hopes of Gen. MacArthur'S
intelligence service.
1t appears that the idea that japanese
soldiers can be permitted to surrender
without losing face so far as the highest
in the land" is concerned appeals to the
rank and file Of the people. In the past
any man on active duty who gave him
self up to the enemy was carried IN
the Army or Navy rolls as deceased"
II by chance he returned to his home
land the superior officers set the rolls
straight by executing that particular In
dividual.
So deep was the feeling that In the
early stages Of the war we captured only
a handful of japanese prisoners. 1t had
become obvious to the high command
that the psychological war in the Pa
ciflc must be conducted on an entirely
different basis than the one in Europe.
Last year the matter was placed in the
hands of a brilliant young officer on
Gen. MacArthur's staff, Brig. Gen. Bon
ner F. Fellers, who conceived the idea
that the japanese must be made sur
render conscious"
Gen. Fellers was military attache In
Cairo in 1910 and had the misfortune
of reporting to Washington the inevit-
ability of the fall of Tobruk at time
when Prime Minister Churchill had
come to visit President Roosevelt and
had assured Mr.. Roosevelt Tobruk would
not fall.
When Mr.. Roosevelt showed him Gen.
Fellers pessimistic dispatch Mr.. Church
Ill shrugged his shoulders and indi-
Gated that the military attache was an
alarmist who was judging military
situation from hundreds of miles away.
Two days later Tobruk fell and Gen.
Feller's pessimistic correct summing up
brought him into disfavor with the
British. Later he was recalled and de-
tailed to the OSS until he was ordered
to Gen. MacArthur's staff.
Huge quantities of propaganda ma
terial were dropped inside the japanese
lines during Americas psychological
warfare campaign and, while many OF
the Emperor's soldiers cannot read, their
Evening star., 1945-09-01
How to Lose Billions

AA ANONYMOUSLY dPpIOVlllS FTeSl-
dent Truman's recent request to sub
stitute single surplus property ad-
ministrator for the present three
man board, the House Committee on
Executive Expenditures has taken a
step proved necessary by experience,
and the legislation effecting it
should be promptly enacted when
Congress reconvenes.
But that is not all that needs to
be done. When the late President
Roosevelt signed the Surplus Prop
erty Act in October of last year, he
did so, he said, with great reluc-
tance, not only because it failed to
set up a one-man administration
as recommended by the Baruch-
Hancock report-but also because it
established a number of restrictive
provisions likely to lead to confused
methods Of disposition" and delay
rather than expedite reconversion
and unemployment"
Time has shown that Mr.. Roose-
velt's misgivings-which were shared
by Mr.. Baruch and others familiar
with the problem - were we'll
founded. In a letter to the executive
expenditures committee, Chairman
Symington and Messrs. Hurley and
Heller, the two other members Of the
board, themselves declare not mere
ly that the three-man setup has
been inefficient, but also that the
restrictions written by Congress into
the law may create confusion and
may make it difficult to dispose of
surplus property speedily, and on
business principles.'
The boards letter strikes a note
of urgency. The next 60 or 80 days,
it asserts, will be crucial period"
because property is now being de-
clared surplus "in staggering guam
titles" and because the social and
economic obiectives" contained in
the law tend to hamper disposition.
The letter does not say just what
provisions are obstructive, but the
restrictive clauses include manda-
tory purchase priorities for certain
classes Of prospective buyers con-
dition which undoubtedly interferes
with the speedy and profitable mar
keting of surpluses.
When 1t turns its attention to
legislation for a single administra-
tor, therefore, Congress would be
well advised to modify or remove
any OF the laws unwise restraints on
disposal policies. In this connection,
it could do worse than refer back to
the Baruch-Hancock report. When
this was issued In February, 1914, 1t
cautioned that legislation on the
Evening star., 1945-09-01
Fujjiiyomu

The ceremonial surrender of ia
pan is to take place in scene OF
great natural beauty-a scene dom
mated by the most notably famous
mountain of the Orient, the sleep
ing volcano known as Fujiyama.
Hundreds of artists have painted
the picture thousands of times
during scores Of generations. The
subject appeals to all classes OF peo-
pie. Nothing else in Eastern Asia
has such magnetic appeal. Even
the most blase American tourists
respond to the attraction of the
quiet, snow-covered cone, rising 12,-
395 feet against the ever-changing
sky over Tokyo Bay. It's serenity
is compelling, it's grace of line and
color magical in effect.
According to japanese historians,
Fuji emerged from the bosom Of
the earth in a single night in 285
BIC. The peak at first was actively
burning. 1t continued to erupt at
intervals until 1707. Like Vesuvius,
its name derives from that of a god
Of fire. The bottom of the crater
now is dry and gradually being filled
by fragments of the rim falling from
above. Pilgrims, especially in the
month of August, climb to the top
to watch the sunrise. The view,
described by many poets as well
as by an army of prose writer's. is
epitomized in the word GLORIOUS"
Five paths are available for the
ascent. They lead through forests
on the lower slopes Sand over lava
patches on the upper. Shrines and
huts are scattered along each of the
ways. An association of admirers
Of the mountain guards its integrity
against the intrusion of billboards
and other horrors.
But not even the entire japanese
nation could protect Fuji against
the spectacle upon which it looks
down today. Never before in Nip
pon's experience has the proud spirit
of the Yamato race been so humbled
: as it will be when the Mikado's
cousin and delegate signs the arti-
cles of capitulation presented by
General Macarthur on the battle
ship Missouri this evening. The gam
BILE in which Hirohito engaged when
he Joined the Axis and the chance
the Japanese took when they
bombed Pearl Harbor on December
Evening star., 1945-09-01
Pledge for W Duy

This is the end, ,Ue say, this is the end
When the last gun is fired, the last
bomb dropped, (
The end OF horror, the end OF being
tired;
The fires are out, and the noise has,
been stopped -.
But ioho ,oiu deuise the punishment
tor hate;
Who DiI track prejudice to his re-
frcnte sks-
There is some atom smashing yet to do
Before these enemies ,Diu kno,p defeat.
o God, help US noto to rout this foul
pair! lSS
Help euery man to make pledge to-
nQhC Ig
Alone and hard, to hold his solemn
trust, tne
And keep eternal Digil day end night.
So as the pedcemakers begin to gather
/ shall make my o,pn peace in my
otDn tDdy; 5s&
shall make me an oath as hard nsr
stone, TO-
And I SHAH Keep 1t till the Judgment
day. PAUL n. OEHSER.' b,
Evening star., 1945-09-01
-----=---------------------- =
Exit the Owl

LIE OlllCc Ol WAL Al1Oh AAntAoAA .
contribution to the conduct OF the
war, which the President mentions
pleasantly In his order directing its
dissolution. would have been more
manifest to the public and more
generally appreciated ii it could have
been made from the beginning In
accordance with maturely con-
ceived purpose.
AS it was, the owl emerged in its
final form as the product OF an
evolutionary process which, seems to
have functioned largely by trial and
error. There was no well-defined
policy before Pearl Harbor concern
ing the use of propaganda in war
time; at one time. as a matter of
fact, the disposition In some admin
istration circles was to abjure it
altogether as an implement of war.
Consequently, owl was. not estab-
lished with a precise mission in
mind but came into being as final
amalgamation Of activities begun
under such agencies as the Office Of
Emergency Management, the Office
of Facts and Figures. the Office of
Government Reports. the Office of
Information and perhaps others.
Some of these agencies had gath
cred to themselves singular assort-
ment Of jealous men and women,
long on ideas but short on common
sense and inclined to put forth their
efforts in all directions. In conSe-
quence, when the assortment was
housed under the single roof of the
Office of War Information. mistakes
were not merely made but they
cropped up at the most inopportune
times, much to the embarrassment
of Elmer Davis, who inherited the
conglomeration. It was some time
before succession of new directing
heads could weed out misfits and by
experience direct the efforts of owl
into the most useful channels-co-
operation with private media of ex-
preston in the United States such
as press, radio and moving pictures,
and propaganda. work overseas in
informing the enemy, as well as our
Allies, of what we were doing in the
war.
The latter function, modified In
scope and purpose, Is now trans
ferred to the State Department. The
domestic branch of owl is abolished,
for there is no longer need for it.
The Governments own information
service will be performed by each
agency, avoiding the dangers in
herent in centralized control, at its
source, of Government news. While
1T has experienced its share of
Illustration at the hands of Govern
ment public relations men, The Star
would at the same time be ungra-
clous in failing to acknowledge, on
this occasion, the helpful co-opera-
tion it has received from owl on
numerous occasions.
AS for Elmer Davis, there must
have been many times when it would
have been far more agreeable to him
personally and more advantageous
financially for him to have stepped
out OF post which brought SO much
criticism and so little recognition
OF the difficulties under which he
labofed. He stayed on until the job
was dones refusing to quit under fire
and impelled, one may be sure, solely
by a sense of duty to his country.
Evening star., 1945-09-01
A Word of Praise

The controversy which has sprung
up around the critical phases OF the
report of the Army's Pearl Harbor
board has overshadowed the fact
that the military investigators
singled out one person-Secretary
Of War Stimson-for praise.
This commentator was based on
Mr.. Stimson's actions on November
a., 1941. That was the day after
the delivery of the Hull "ultimatum"
to the japanese, and the day on
which the important advisory mes
sage was sent to General Short.
General Marshall was out of town,
so Mr.. Stimson stepped in and took
over. This is what the Army board
had to say:
It is also significant that the Secre-
tary of War had to 60 and call Mr..
Hull to get the information on what
amounted to the practical cessation of
negotiations, which was the most vital
thing that had occurred in 1941. If 1t
had not been for Mr.. Stimson's initiative
in calling the Secretary of State, it is
uncertain as to when he would have
been advised of this most important
event. AS it turned out, the delay of
from ten to twelve hours in getting
the information was not material, since
the japanese delayed striking until De-
cember 7.
This tribute may seem surprising,
since the things that Mr.. Stimson
did were the obvious and sensible
things to do. But the aspect of the
Pearl Harbor disaster which is really
surprising is that so many people
failed to do either the obvious or
the sensible things.
Evening star., 1945-09-01
Financial Fact
BY David Laurence

From the Salina Journal.
Don't forget one fact of life. When
the Government spends money for any,
purpose. even gives it to you-that
amount, plus costs of administration
and interest is charged right back to
~
Evening star., 1945-09-01

I, 1941, were ventures OF frightful
hazard. All humanity knows that
now. The burned-out mountain
over burned-out Tokyo takes on
new symbolic significance accord
ingly,
Evening star., 1945-09-01

At last members OF car pools may
indulge in the luxury of quarreling
with each other-it they have five
good tires apiece.
Evening star., 1945-09-01

Every man is a scientist to the ex-
tent that he has observed that mos
quitoes do not sleep. At least not
at night.