davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
On the Record
By Dorothy Thompson

SO far our leaders. all of them are
choosing that We shall die, taking with
us most of what is left OF the accumu-
lation of centuries of civilization.
We are drifting now toward the
crashing falls. But one thing holds our
peace. Only we have the atomic bomb.
Only We could, at this moment, drop it
on any country with whom our rela-
lions were strained. The fact ind:sposes
us to use it. We are restrained by rela-
tive absence of fear. But where will
be restraint when Russia has atomic
bombs. as she certainly will, in five
years, or ten, if you want to be optimistic?
That Russia is as far as we in the
development of rockets is probable. She
had as easy access to German scientists
as We, and the guided missile is an even
more fateful development than the
atomic bomb. 1t can carry anything to
a target-bombs or bacteria.
Science moves by the discovery of
laws, which once established are
eternally so. Technical improvements
accelerate rapidly. The bomb of the
near future may be five to ten thousand
times as destructive as the one that fell
on Hiroshima. The range of guided
missiles can be stepped up to en-
compass the globe. and will be- There
is no defense against it; it cannot be
shot out of the air.
So. when all great powers can destroy
each other from long distance, the fear
will be SO great that there will be no
restraint for the only possible fraction
of security will lie in hitting first.
1t would. therefore. seem sane that
they should concentrate on the single
question OF how to prevent this. all else
being lunacy. 1t will really not matter
to the inha bitants of Trieste whether
they belong to Italy or Yugoslavia when
they are dead. nor to British miners
whether the state or private corpora
tons own their graves, nor to a Russian
whether he perishes in Kolkhoz or on
his own land: nor to an American
woman whether she dies in nylons or
bobby socks.
Mr.. Molotov, Mr. Bevin and Mr..
Byrnes too. will atomize into identical
elements, and the Kremlin. Westminster
and the Capitol will make the same
kind of dust. So If nothing else binds
the world together this should-that
we are destined for the same fate-if
We go on like this
tReleaSed by the Bell Syndicate InrN
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Army denomination

The Army's reorganization of its
continental setup is logical devel-
opment: in the program for gradual
return of the Army to a peacetime
status. 1t is significant to note.
however, that in recovering to
normal basis the War Department
has given increased prominence to
phases of the military program
which suffered from lack of empha-
sis before World War II, namely air
power and technical research.
During the war it was necessary
to build up vast supply service in
this country. For this purpose the
Nation was divided into geographic
cal units constituting service COM
mands. These nine commands took
over the functions of the preWar
corps area commands, plus many
additional production, procurement
and other duties of a wartime serv-
ice organization. With the rapid
rehabilitation of the armed forces
the need for this wartime establish
ment diminished to the vanishing
point. Instead of returning to the
old corps areas. however, the de-
partment has adopted a new plan,
calling for creation of six Army
commands. plus the existing Mill
tary District of Washington, which
will remain a special area directly
under the War Department. The
reorganization will mean consider
able savings in personnel and ad-
ministrative overhead.
The new Army command arrange
ment will leave the Army Air Forces
in general control of all aviation
bases and other Army air facilities
located within the jurisdiction of
the respective continental COM
manderS, thus making for complete
autonomy of the air forces. While
the department announced that the
whole plan has no relation to pend
ing legislation for unifcation of the
armed services it can be readily
seen that the autonomous role as
signed to the air forces in the
charted layout would fit in conven-
iently with the proposal for a COM
pletely independent air force. Co.
incident with the field organization
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17

In reading the newspapers these days
one gets the impression the leadership
of the world is engaged in a COMPETE
ton Of lunaCy. Though every school
child knows that in re-. . IF security
we live on a frontierless y enet, political
leaders haggle over who should receive
what strip of land or what port. For
the sake of security" millions of per-
sons are uprooted from their ancestral
homes and whole populations and
states compressed into alien systems
that can only be maintained by naked
force.
The peoples are divided from each
other by theological struggles. Some
believe that without private enterprise
there can be no freedom: some that
only Communism is salvation. Mean
while, in their international policies
leaders of capitalist states violate every
principle of capitalism, and leaders O.
old and new Communist states, every
principle of Communism.
Congress cannot agree on a defense
policy, although it is obvious that real
peace is no nearer now than it was be-
fore VI day.
But there is significance in this For
there can be no American defense
policy. National states. in todays world.
cannot defend themselves by any his
toric means: America not by oceanic
distances. Britain not by her century,
old fleet. Russia not by her great army
and archaic conception of a satellite
protective ring, Previous concepts of
war blew up at Hiroshima and Maya
saki and with the vi and W. rockets
over London. The next war will be a
push-button war of robots. the fate OF
mankind decided by the throwing of a
switch. Armies of victors will be sani-
tation corps-white wings-to clear up
the rubbish, bury the corpses and
establish, perhaps. military govern
ments over wildernesses as dead as the
moon.
John L. Lewis wants a health and
welfare fund to protect miners against
occupational hazards. How do you
know, Mr.. Lewis, that in 10 years there
will be any miners? The greatest occu-
pational hazard is merely to be an oc-
cupant of the earth in the twentieth
century And the question for all OF
us, Of every race and age and creed, is
Do you want to live or die?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Leprosy Story

The story of Major Hans Horn
boStel's effort to gain permission to
accompany his wife to the United
States Leprosarium at Carville in
Louisiana must have been read with
sympathy and admiration by very
numerous public. 1t represents the
familiar Darby and Joan theme of
marital devotion in a new and nota-
bly, poignant guise. But the end of
the tale neednot be tragic. Leprosy,
a dreaded scourge since long before
Christ cleansed the leper lin GER
tain city as related by Matthew,
Mark and Luke, is durable. 1t is a
bacterial disease with certain re-
semblances to tuberculosis. The
characteristic feature of the infec-
ton is the development of nodular
toci of inf1ammatory cells containing
bacllli preying upon the skin and
the nerves. Generally, the incuba-
ton period is many years. The
symptoms include changes in the
color of the areas of the body
affected, the degeneration of tissues
with concurrent loss of sensibility
and eventually the complete sep
aration of portions of the extremities
such as fingers and toes.
For centuries it was supposed that
there was No natural remedy for
leproSy, once it had attacked vic
tim. The horror which visible evil
dence of the plague inspired con-
tributed to its spread in the East.
In the Book of Leviticus alone there
are nineteen references to the dis
ease and to the disgust with which
it was regarded by the Hebrews.
Medieval European literature shows
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17

1t is expected that within the next
few weeks the various japanese parties
will present a list of cabinet members
to Gen. Macarthur. Unquestionably the
list will be approved by him since the
present negotiations are being carried
out under his surveillance so that no
questionable individual is included.
However, the Allied Commission can
oppose the new cabinet, as was pro-
vided for in the agreements signed in
Moscow last December.
Gen. Macarthur fears that after the
task of organizing a new japanese ad-
rinistration has been concluded some
member of the commission may take
advantage of what virtually amounts to
a veto right and object to the new
government. In such an event the gov
eminent could not assume power and
the whole matter must be reported to
the Far Eastern Committee in Washing
ton and to the major Allied govern
ments.
The political situation in Japan is of
particular interest to Russia 1t stands
to reason that the Soviet representative
should wish to help the growth of the
Communist organization, which. while
q
political party in Japan still has very
restricted membership. The Communists
can thrive when there is unrest and in
gertrude in the country. A famine stu
alton, which results In ma jor disturb
ances by the masses, and the lack of a
stable government are excellent condi-
tons for the development of Com
muniSm
Gen. MacArthur's chief political ad-
wiser. George Atcheson. has already
bluntly told the members of the Allied
Commission that the May Day celebra-
ton In Japan was Russian prepared
and organized.
II to these severe headaches Of the
supreme commander is added the veto
against a new government the situa-
ton might become so chaotic that
there would be only two choices: either
Gen. Macarthur would have to be given
full powers again as was provided in
the 1945 Potsdam agreement, or he might
have to ask to be relieved of his re-
sponsibilities
In the last few months Gen Mac
Arthur has been skating on thin ice,
compromising on minor matters with the
members OF the Allied Commission in
Tokyo but on the whole holding the
reins Of Japan in his hands. 1t is pos
sible that with Washingtons support he
may continue to do so even if members
Of the commission put more serious OBJ
stacles in his path. He has one ace in
the hole: The American Army Is the
largest and strongest in Japan.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
This Changing World
By Constantine Br0wn

Gen. MacArthur's troubles with the
Allied Commission in Tokyo have only
just begun.
In the last few weeks there have been
bitter arguments over the interference
of members of the commission with the
shipment of additional food supplies to
Japan. The supreme commander has
taken the view that unless the calories
OF the Japanese people can be in
creased to a minimum of 1900 he is
likely to have good deal CT trouble
and the starving population may get
out OF hand and start looting the re-
naming stock pile of food. No one can
live on 500 calories a day, which is re-
ported to be all that can be made
available until next September under
the present setup.
The alternative to increasing the
Japs rations by imports from the United
States or Siam-Where rice reserves are
said to be obtainable-is to feed them
machine-gun bullets. This would in
volve using the armed forces taking a
chance of losing some American soldiers
and having a country of 100000 in a
turmoil, the consequences of which no
one could foresee
X X X
Gen. Macarthur considers the Japa-
neSe prisoners of war, in a manner of
speaking, until peace treaty has been
signed with Japan. Under these cir
cumstances the general feels that his
prisoners" should be treated in accord
ance with existing international regula-
lions. When it was pointed out in
Tokyo that throughout the war the
japanese did not abide by the Geneva
Convention because they had never
signed its provisions the reply was that
the Allies were signatories and conse-
quently were compelled to respect it.
Gen. Macarthur and his assistants
expect to be able to iron out the sit
uation satisfactorily. They will not heed
the objections of the representatives of
the Allies. The principal difficulty is
obtaining the necessary supplies from
the United States.
More serious political problems are
looming in the near future when the
question of the new japanese cabinet
comes before the Allied Commission.
The commission has the right to veto a
Japanese government which may not be
to the liking of any nation represented
on the commission.
The elections in Japan have ended
and the representatives of the majority
in Parliament are endeavoring to form
cabinet. None of the men who appear
qualified for the Job is willing to under
take the responsibility of heading a new
government because of the difficult do
nestle situation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Windup in Paris

The Conference of Foreign Minis
tiers is over. Technically it is in re-
cess until June Is, when it is sched-
uled to resume its sessions in Paris.
However, the circumstances of its
suspension are so diScouraging and
the international situation is so rap
idly worsening that much might
happen in the intervening month to
cause either further postponement
or even an abandonment of the con-
ference to some undetermined time.
1t is held significant that Senator
Vandenberg, Republican member of
the American delegation, has an
nounced that he does not expect to
attend the June meeting, thus indi-
eating his apprehension that it will
be as unfruitful as the present meet
Ing has been.
The balance sheet of the confer
ence is, indeed, sorry one On the
credit side are only four items:
Pennsylvania, South Tyrol, Italian
armistice revision and a commits
sion to investigate the status of
German disarmament. The revision
of the Italian armistice had been
worked out in advance of the con-
ference by the Foreign Ministers
delegates; so agreement on that
point had, from the first, been taken
for granted. The investigatory COM
mission on German disarmament
was a last-minute suggestion of
minor Importance. AS for the
Transylvanian and Tyrolean agree
ments, they are of dubious signifi-
canoe. The integral return of Tran
sylvania to Romania was agreed to
by America and Britain as conces-
sion to Moscow, with no regard to
the merits of the case and much
the same may be said concerning
the agreement to let Italy retain vir-
tually all of South Tyrol, despite the
wishes of its preponderantly Aus
trian inhabitants.
Against this meager list of credits
must be set a formidable array of
debit items. Specifically, the Foreign
Ministers appear hopelessly at vari-
ance over the redraWing of the
1talo-Yugoslav frontier, the status
of Trieste, the disposal of Italy's
African colonies, cesSion of the Do
decanese Islands to Greece, the ad-
ministration of the River Danube
and free commercial access to
Balkan nations. Still more serious
are failures to agree on items not
on the formal agenda such as Aus
tria, settlement of Germany and
the convocation of a general peace
conference.
In virtually all these issues fail
ure to arrive at an agreement is
due to the intransigeance of Russian
diplomacy, which combined refusal,
evasion and demands that neither
America nor Britain could accept
and on which Mr. Molotov refused
to compromise. The pattern of the
Foreign Ministers Conference at
London last autumn seems to have
repeated itself at Paris.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Political Freedom inUniOns
BY Rarnu M0fer

Two weeks ago this column pointed
out the fact that. under union rules
and practices, workers are losing their
rights to independent political action.
I mentioned a case which came up in
the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen,
of which A. F. Whitney is president.
Mr. Whitney feels that I did him and
his union an injustice. So I shall 60
into the details of the case and let the
reader judge for himself.
It all began in 1889. Earl E. Pfoh,
conductor on the B. & o. for many years
and for q years a member of the
brotherhood. was involved in factional
fight and was opposed to Mr. Whitney.
AS a result, he was removed from the
presidency of his local In the same
year, the BRIT convention passed reSo-
buttons urging President Roosevelt to
run again and urging the members of
the BRIT Ito cooperate in a practical
way with progressive organizations
Deal principles" This was interpreted
as an Endorsement of President Roose-
welt when he decided, year later,
to run.
During the Willkie- Roosevelt cam
paign, letter went out from "Labors
Willkie for President Headquarters" ad-
dressed, Dear Voter" and urging the
support of Willkie. The only reference
in this letter to the BRIT was in con-
nection with the appearance in it of
Mr.. Pfoh's name. In the body of the
letter, the statement appeared "Mr
Willkie has satisfied the inquiries and
received the Endorsement of Past Presi-
dent E. E. Pfoh of B. of r. T. Lodge
1872"
Apparently, the letter was broadcast
widely and reached BRIT members, who
sent copies to Mr.. Whitney.
Mr.. Pfoh claims that he was acting
as a citizen and that the characterize
ton of him as past president" of the
lodge was merely to describe him and
not to imply official authority.
A section of the BRIT constitution
requires the approval of the president
Of the BRIT of ANY circular emanating
from q subordinate lodge or any men,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Why Not Pork Chops?

The Star feels that General EiSen-
hover (Who halls from Kansas beef
country slipped up badly in failing
to PROFOUND a pertinent question to
the Army corporal in Japan who
beefed about the bum mess" he
was getting-including, to be spe-
ciflc, pork chops. The natural and
proper reaction of most any one who
appreciates the finer things in life
would have been to ask the corporal:
well, what is wrong with pork
chops, anyway"
Since General Eisenhower neg
lected to make the query, The Star
makes bold to do so, with relish.
Or without relish, for that matter.
For what can be more appetizing,
more positively mouth watering,
with or without relish, than the
aroma of pork chops sizzling in the
pan-either for breakfast or after
a hard days work in Japan or any,
where else? The corporal says he
prefers steak. All right, General,
let the corporal have his steak-but
please do not lend yourself to any
direct or implied aspersions on that
great Southern institution, the sue
culent, Drowned pork chop.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17

Der thereof, which is intended for gen.
eral circulation among members of the
brotherhood The penalty for viola
ton Is expulsion. Under the authority
OF this provision, Mr.. Whitney presented
the case, and Mr. Pfoh was expelled
Mr.. Pfoh brought suit in the Com
mon Pleas Court in Cleveland and got
a jury verdict for damages. The case
went to the Court of Appeals and the
Judgment was reversed. The Supreme
Court of Ohio overruled a motion to
certify the record. So that was the
end of the legal aspect of the case.
1t is unnecessary here to give in
detail the many ramihcations of the
affair which, incidentally. are reveal
ing account of labor politics. Nor is 1t
necessary to quarrel with the decision
of the Court of Appeals.
In the main. the court held that all
private organizations have disciplinary
rules and the practice of courts is not
to interfere, unless some such elements
as conspiracy or malice are proved,
These, the Court of Appeals said, were
not proved.
Inc WnOle matter, from the stand
point of the public interest, centers in
whether Mr.. Pfoh had right to
describe himself as past" president
Of lodge in political appeal and
whether the substantial civil liberty of
a man should be limited by the BRIT
constitution. I believe that man has a
right to describe himself by mentioning
his past offices without endangering his
interests. For example. suppose AL
Smith had, in 1896, advised the election
of Mr.. Landon and had said that he AL
Smith, had once been a Democratic
candidate. 1t would have been curious
turn if Chairman James A. Farley had
been privileged to fire Mr. Smith from
the Democratic party. Such identifca-
tons of people are common and usual
The constitution of the BRIT, consider
ing the present political activities and
commitments of labor and despite Mr.
Whitney's protests, gives too much
power to the officials of union over the
political independence Of its members.
CRelessed By the Associated Newspapers Inc
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Cypress Swamp: Duybreok

Slo,Oly the sky takes on pearl-opal lus.
tiers
And mists ascend to misty drapes of
Spanish moss:
Strange soundless World, phuntasmul
and unmoDing,
Where time is mirrored in a buvous
mirrors gloss.
The alabaster herons stand transhred,
imnlobile,
Slender and delicate in ethereal ,Dhits
poise,
Listening for the sound beyond their
actual hearing
That might be times o,pn slo,D and
stealthy noise.
And now the mists dissolpe and shad.
o,pS sharpen,
Clouds of Widoes dance in copper raps
OF morning sun;
An ancient alligator eyes the scene utth
amber lethdrgy
Indifferent to phat course this tide
OF hours ,MH run.
FREDERICK EBRIGHT.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17

abundant evidence of how lepers
were loathed In England, France,
Italy and other countries. The
CruSades commonly are believed to
have scattered" the pestilence west
ward. 1t was not until 1871 that
the bacillus was isolated by DR..
Armauer Hansen, Norwegian
scientist. Pioneer work of great dis
tinction was done at New Orleans
about half a century ago by DR..
Isadore Dyer and DR.. Ralph Hopkins.
To them more especially is due the
initiation and early progress of the
work at Carville. The Federal Gov
eminent has financed the Lepro-
sarium since 1921.
In October last, DR.. c. H. FACET,
director there, reported to the Ma
tional Institute of Health that "a
chemical combination of sugar and
sulphur, first introduced y . as a
possible tuberculosis remedy, I'M
expectedly has proved the most
potent drug yet found in the treat
ment of leprosy." Known tech
nically as promin, the new sub
stance" was injected into the blood
streams of patients. Reactions were
so favorable that the physicians
observing them agreed that the
treatment was "the best . ever
tested" eXperimentally. Perhaps,
Mrs. Hornbostel will be restored to
health by this discovery. There
certainly is hope for cure in her
case, helped as she is by her soldier
husband,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17

changes will come some general
staff reforms, major among which
will be emergence OF a Division of
Scientific Research and Develop
ment. charged with keeping the
Army abreast of latest discoveries
in atomic and electronic warfare.
In short, the Army, taking advan-
tage of the lessons of war, is girding
itself as realistically as possible for
whatever the future may hold
either with respect to immediate
unification proposals or to the long
range national security program.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
Clos All.Time Epic
To the Editor Of The Star

To the Editor Of The Star:
When David laid his harp aside to
daily with the sling, he smote Goliath
high and wide and clipped him on the
wing. Another battle royal ragged around
the walls of Troy as Grecian warriors,
equine-caged, leapt forth from their
decoy.
The Normans sprung a nifty coup at
Hastings by the sea; Napoleon at Water
loo was mauled and forced to fee The
Light Brigade will never fade when sagas
are related; the stellar stand that Custer
made cannot be overrated.
We cite these tales of valiant might
in adjectives sublime, yet all of them,
though famous quite, occurred before
our time; but how we crave ringside
seat for that grand joust of highbrows,
when Ickes scores his greatest beat and
plucks those Lewis eyebrows!
RAY H. EVERETT,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17

If bread is still the staff Of life.
Americans will be operating on a
reduced staff for some time to come.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
And Pays und Pays

From the indianapolis News.
When q subsidy Is paid the public
pays 1t.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-05-17
South Defended

Reproduction Rights Reserved)