davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-12-23
Seismic lupun

The great earthquake in Japan,
which may prove to be the worst of
her recorded history, apparently fol-
lowed the pattern of long series
of seismic disturbances which have
shaken this volcanic area at rela-
lively frequent intervals over many
centuries. Men have written about
these periodic disasters since Japan's
earliest days and in nearly every
case it is the same grim story of
terrestrial convulsion followed by the
twin evils of fire and flood. =
One of these major catastrophes
is known to have devastated large
areas of Japan as early as 1898, with
loss of 10000 lives. Another took
5000 lives in 1703. Others which
took heavy tolls of life occurred in
1928, 1891, 1896, 1914 and, most no
table of all, in 1928, when most of
Tokyo and surrounding communi-
ties was destroyed by shocks, fires
and tidal waves.
Seismologists say that Japan is
doomed to be visited by these recur-
ring disasters because the island
empire rests on a base that extends
beneath the sea to the unstable
area of the so-called outer Pacific
fault line. This geologic split in the
oceans floor reaches all the way
from the Aleutian Islands to the
Solomons and on to New Zealand.
The slipping of the strata along
this fault line has brought terror
and suffering for ages to inhabitants
of the Pacific islands whose founda-
tions are near the restless area.
Each rise or fall of the ocean bed
disturbs the ocean itself, with re-
sultant waves popularly termed tidal
but which actually have no relation
to the tides or the moon.
AS with the. 1923 earthquake, it
seems likely that Japan will rely
chiefly on America for aid in her
period of new distress. This time
our troops are on the spot to or
Evening star., 1946-12-23
Christmas for Helpless Animals

Christmas for Helpless Animals
TO the Editor of The Star:
Last Christmas Day we had an ice
storm. The bus could not make the
hill I crept along slippery road try
ing to feed some of the little wild birds
. on ice-bound branches. Whatever
weather the Lord sends for His Sons
birthday, let us concentrate on His
worship and on helping with some bit
of cheer the needy of both human and
animal kind. The warmer sunshine
will be blessing to coalless homes of
poverty, to trash horses in ranshackle
stables, to stock in windy shacks, to al
ley cats always hungry and lost or
abandoned dogs, to countless creatures
of fur and feather.
1t was to the chilly abode of the OK
and the ass and the sheep that the
Christ Child was forced to come His
first night on earth when mankind
closed the, door of the inn upon His
mother. Let us, in gratitude to Gods
great gift to the earth, be channels for
His love, and, especially on His birth
day, share our earthly comforts with
some of our midst cast out or neglected
by mankind.
The Animal Protective Association
hopes to feast some needy horses, alley
cats, stray dogs and CHEEKY little birds
and squirrels, but can reach but few
of the many pining for human kind
ness.
VIRGINIA w. SARGENT.
Evening star., 1946-12-23
This Changing World
By Constantine Broyn

Russian Foreign Minister Molotov and
his deputy, Andrei Y. Vishinsky, arrived
in Moscow last Saturday, and, accord
ing to reports from American sources
in the Soviet capital, both men will
attend an historic meeting of the Poltt-
bureau soon.
The Soviet Foreign Minister and his
principal policy framing aide have
amazed the world with their apparently
swift change of attitude toward inter-
national problems. At time when the
statesmen of the Western countries had
nearly given up hope OF reconciling So
Wet and Western points OF view, the
Russian representatives performed spec
tacular political somersaults. Secretary
of State Byrnes and Foreign Secretary
Bevin could not believe their eyes.
They are still puzzled and wonder
whether the other insular members OF
the Politbureau are fully IN accord with
this change of front. Nobody knows ex-
actly what caused the dramatic shift In
Mr. Molotov's attitude, but there is a
strong suspicion that he may have to
do a good deal of explaining to some
of the irreconcilables in the Politbureau.
Whether Mr.. Molotovs present policy
represents the attitude of his govern
ment and will be continued when the
major German and Austrian problems
come under discussion depends on Prime
Minister Stain, according to those who
know what went on at Teheran and
Yalta. If the reports Of Mr.. Stains Ill
health and inability to actively conduct
the affairs Of the U. S. s. r. are correct,
then we may expect a bloW-up in the
Politbureau, whose majority is said to
oppose any concession to the Western
powers. But If these reports are simply
manufactured and lack real foundation,
II Mr.. Stain is merely tired but still has
the reins firmly in his hands, it is likely
that Mr.. Molotovs attitude will be up
held.
Contrary to general belief, say those
who have had personal dealings with
the Russian dictator, he is far more
conciliatory and understanding OF the
general world situation than any OF his
underlings, including Mr.. Molotov and
Mr.. Vishinsky.
Mr. Stain is described by Americans
who attended the Teheran, Yalta and
Potsdam discussions as tough guy"
who will do nothing to impair the enor-
Evening star., 1946-12-23

Now that the second postwar Christ
mas is here, would it not be fitting
to free American conscientious obJec-
tors from prison?
The Allied governments went to war
against war In Nuremberg they have
tried German Nazis for the crime OF
resorting to aggressive war as an IN
strument of national policy. The
speeches made in the United Nations
Security Council and General As
sembly have repeated, over and over,
charges and countercharges that this
or that nation or regime is threat
to the peace" In all the world there
is no statesman who would dare praise
war. All agree. or pretend to agree,
that war is the, worlds greatest evil.
Then why do we keep locked up in
iail or deprived of civil liberties some
5000 Americans who have proved.
more decisively than any others. that
they agree with this conscience OF
mankind?
These men even did not believe in
going to war against war, or that peace
can be promoted by what TO their
minds is organized murder. They re-
fused to serve in the American as
others refused to serve in the British
and French forces. I did not agree
with them. I have never believed
that individual paciflsm will stop war.
Yet, I am glad they exist. did
not find it unjust to constrain them
during war. For if one believes in
anything as passionately as they, 1t
is right and fitting that they should
suffer for their beliefs as did the brave
young men, who Realistically offered
their lives on the field of battle, suf-
fer for theirs. 1t is well they exist.
For no one can deny that If states
men and leaders everywhere believed
as they do, all war would end-interna-
tional war, industrial war, civil war.
The conscientious objector is
peculiar phenomenon of free societies.
Their attitude toward him. however
reluctant, is one of concession to some
thing in their own consciences. In
time Of conflict conscientious objectors
are profoundly embarrassing and in
wars routine are pushed aside and
shut up, in one way or another. But
they are not shot as traitors, nor
treated as totalitarian states treat OBJ
jectors to anything, for free social Or
ders are free precisely because they do
not totally claim the bodies, minds and
souls of their people. Even in a life
and-death struggle to which an en-
tire nation is committed, free men
recognize that this or that one of them
who says, 'No, will have no part in
this thing" may conceivably prove
Evening star., 1946-12-23

nous prestige Russia has gained as
result of the war and refuses to yield
once he has decided that a certain policy
must be carried out. But he will listen
to arguments and sometimes shows a
conciliatory spirit in the debates with
those who argue their points OF view
with him.
The impression gained by those who
sat at the conferences with Mr.. Stain
is that he is the least adamant Of all
the Russians who deal with interna-
tional problems, and is far more easy
going than Mr.. Molotov and other high
officials of the Soviet hierarchy.
Whether Mr.. Stain was, sincere when
he told President Roosevelt at Yalta
that he, too, had public opinion" at
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES had to be
consulted before he took final decisions.
is matter which nobody has been able
to determine, But during the long Yalta
negotiations the Soviet Prime Minister
on several occasions postponed making
commitments and gave his last word
only after had long telephone converse
tions with the Kremlin.
The forthcoming closed debates which
are scheduled to take place in Moscow
will show to an anxious world whether
Mr.. Stain is still solidly in the saddle.
If he is, it is more than probable that
his public opinion" will be compelled
to accept the changed attitude Of the
Russian diplomats in New York, and we
may expect that negotiations for resto-
ration of unified Germany will pro-
ceed in March in an atmosphere of cor
diality between the Big Four.
X X u r
There seems to be no doubt in the
minds of American specialists on Rus
sian affairs that Mr.. Molotov followed
a pattern in New York which was in
spired by Mr. Stain.
If Mr.. Stain, however, is in bad
health as is reported from countries
neighboring Russia, then we may find
that the Politbureau will reverse the ac-
tions of the Soviet Foreign Minister.
This will not be noticeable Immediately,
but will be felt when the Big Four for
eign ministers gather in Moscow to dis
cuss peace treaties for Austria and Ger
many.
The highly uncertain conditions in
Moscow form major topic of conver-
sation and speculation among>our high
est ranking officials and take precedence
over everything else in world affairs.
Evening star., 1946-12-23
Letters to The Star
States Case for Legislative Relief
OIL oxuex Rraclet AnnI1itanfs

Of Lower Bracket Annuitants
To the Editor Of The Star:
wonder If it is worthwhile to call to
the attention of the incoming Congress
condition affecting certain class OF
citizens, spread all over the United
States, who have been grossly neglected?
refer to the retired Government low
salaried employe. The last Congress did
pass measure of relief for a certain
class Of retired personnel, but as usual,
when relief is granted it is the high
bracket employe who gets the breaks.
This time 1T was those whose salaries
measured up to $4,000 basic. AS one of
the unfortunates who failed to benefit,
although with overtime did pay income
tax on $4,000, my tontine payment went
down the drainpipe. Why, with plead
ing tears in our eyes and with very little
substance under our belts, we little fell
lows were not supposed to require relief
Is, am sure, great mystery to many
of us who believed we were due some
consideration under that amendment. I,
for one, hope in the reshuffling Of COM
mittees in the new Congress we find
some one who can get his mind of the
higher-ups long enough to see the plight
of the underpaid, small-salaried annui-
tants.
We see by the daily papers and hear
over the radio how labor is narshaling
its forces for another run on the Amer
lean pocketbook and the employers again
are ready to step up prices another
notch CT two, and that means us small
fry must "yank" on that old belt again.
We've all heard the story of the upper
and neither millstones" and, brother,
what came out wasn't hay!
Maybe it wouldn't be amiss for us old
codgers to spill squawk or two in your
columns about what's ailing us. Maybe
there will be one Representative who
heart for this contingent of long-suffer-
ing, hard-put, near shabby individuals
who carried the work of the Govern
ment through their banner years.
One other thing that makes it doubly
hard to exist after a tenure Of Govern
of Government itself. In the old days,
when living conditions were more favor
able to thrift and enterprise, it was
thought wise to feather your nest" so
to speak. by investing in legitimate
stocks and bonds of our industrial en-
pire. The past dozen years have demon
strated that folly, and the shekels we
were supposed to lay aside for the pro-
verbal rainy day crowded into the cock
pit Of our "dreamboat" and few away in
the sad company of the vanished coupon
and the diminished dividend.
feel there are many able men, In
and out of Congress. who really are in
terested in our welfare and will labor
conscientiously for the bills that will be
presented in our behalf. One thought
we would Hike to impress is, for some at
least: "It's later THAN you think" And
may that sink way in! (My Govern
ment pension Is SGT monthly
w E. A.
Evening star., 1946-12-23

shadow Of British authority fingers
only through the tacit assent Of
native leaders, who prefer to get
peacefully what they could presum-
ably obtain by force. Thus, Mr..
Attlee. puts the best face on the
matter when he declares: eve do
not desire to retain within the Com
monwealth and Empire any unwill-
ing peoples. 1t is for the people OF
Burma to decide their own future,
but we are certain that it will be to
their interest, as it will be to ours,
if they decide to remain within the
Commonwealth, and we sincerely
hope that they will arrive at such a
decision"
Evening star., 1946-12-23
Christmas Wreuth-l946

Where, on my netghooTs dooT-oJ tdte-
tUere fo,Ders
For one wlo, in the flesh, had gone
quay
Come back in spirit to share these
blessed hours
/ glimpse a Christmas ,oreath today.
Red-ribboned, gay.
I pause to look. The balsum's breath
Declares to me there is no death
But, alDays, past grief's drnb-hued strife,
The radiant triumphing OF life.
/ pause to say Christmas prayer
Kno1ping the Cro,Dn of Thorns IS there
Sensing the courage underneath
Its change into holly tcreath.
Mn heart gro,Ds light; my steps more
fleet!
Ho,u God-encouraged seems our street,
VIOLET AILEYN STOREY.
Evening star., 1946-12-23
Not Left DefenseIess
From the Christian Science Monitor (Bostol

From the Christian Science Monitor Boston'.
This newspaper has long urged COM
pulsory arbitration in industries and
services upon which the public welfare
and safety directly depend. But we have
always stressed an indispensable &C
compartment: If the public requires
that any group of employees relinquish
their right to strike, the public must
then set up specific projections for them.
They must not be left defenseless
against the self-interest of management
and stockholders To fail in this would
create, at the least, grave injustice;
at the worst, it would invite explosion.
Evening star., 1946-12-23
1t Has Been Suid Before
From the Hamilton Spectator.

Fr0m tne HanilIION SpeCIdtUI.
There is fashionable deluge of warn
ings right now that we are talking our
selves into another war simply by being
afraid there will be another war. There
may be lot in this-from some angles
of observation But from one angle it is
pretty obvious that the two most dis
astrous wars in history right behind
us were nourished by an absolute con-
fidence that there could never again be
another war. It Is not too comfortable
to remember that the democratic people
who nearly went under in both these
conflicts were those who were the most
convinced Of the "unthinkability" Of
war.
Evening star., 1946-12-23
Warsaw and q Puttern

Britain and the United States once
again called upon the Warsaw provi-
sional government to permit "free
and unfettered" vote in the elections
scheduled to take place in Poland
on January 10. Completely in keep
ing with British and American obli-
! cations under the Yalta and Pots
dam agreements, the notes expressed
special anxiety over persistent re-
ports of deliberate effort by the
Communication regime to re-
press Polish opposition groups. espe-
cially Stanislaw Mikolajczyk's po-
tentially powerful Peasant Party.
Withholding it's reply to the United
States for the time being, the provi-
sional government has now pre-
sented curt and wholly unsatisfac-
tory answer to the British. In effect,
the answer lodges the central issue
of "free and unfettered" vote by
distorting the meaning of Yalta
and Potsdam and raising a number
| of nongermane and exceedingly
thin countercharges. These charges,
which deal with such matters as the
return of Polish gold and the break
ing up and repatriation of Polish
armed forces, include the ridiculous
and easily disproved accusation that
Britain is still supporting remnants
of Poland's former exile regime and
that these remnants are plotting
Third World War"
AS for the only real question in
volved in the British note-the ques-
ton of honest. democratic elections
all Warsaw has to say about that
is that the provisional government
is fulfilling it's obligations and that
the subject is none of Britain's busi-
ness anyhow. But under Yalta and
Potsdam, it is Britain's business, for
Britain has undertaken jointly with
Russia and the United States the
responsibility of promoting a "free
and unfettered" vote in Poland.
Warsaw's reply-and similar but
milder one is expected to be made to
the American note within the next
week or so-must therefore be re-
garded as the reply of not-too-
artful dodger incapable of explaining
away the reports of repressive politi-
cal measures.
Though Warsaw has denied them
rhetorically, these reports leave little
or no room for doubt that the provi-
sional government is doing its best
to make sure that the opposition will
fare poorly on January 10. The
actual balloting may have all the
earmarks of being "free and un-
fettered," but by intimidation, ar
rests, denial of equal radio facilities
and similar forehanded measures,
the predominantly Communist re-
gime can predetermine the results
pretty much its own way. Thus, al
though the Poles will be able to vote
for Peasant Party candidates in
every election district. Mr.. Mi
kolajczyk charges that 80 per cent
of those candidates are now in jail
The same sort of thing has hap
pened in such places as Yugoslavia
and Romania. 1t is all part of
| familiar pattern, and Warsaw's reply
to the British clearly suggests that
repeated protests from the Western
democracies have failed to effect any
change. Yet the protests are per-
haps not entirely in vain. They keep
the fecord straight in history, and
they place the accused on the de-
fensive. In time, given enough of
them, they may even have the effect
of toning down the antidemocratic
abuses that are so fagrant now and
so discouraging.
Evening star., 1946-12-23

It does seem strange that the State
Department hasn't thought of find
ing out what goes on behind Russia's
iron curtain, by the simple process
of asking Kilroy to report on 1t.
Evening star., 1946-12-23
Not Smokers, Really

From the Cleveland News.
Do any of the worlds great really
smoke cigars? We have in mind Cousin
Winston's fireproof corona, and John L.
Lewis chewing tobacco in the perfecto
WraDDer
Evening star., 1946-12-23

A we'll dug near Des Moines. Iowa,
produces electric current instead of
water. 1t is too soon yet, however,
for it to have an old oaken socket.
Evening star., 1946-12-23
Mr.. O'Toole Replied To

To the Editor Of The Star;
Is T. O'Toole an American citizen?
Does he know what democracy means?
The Irish name has played part in
making the history Of the world, that's
true, but alongside those Irish names
are just as many names Of other ma
tionalities. We are united people al
ready in this country. We are bound
together by the Constitution Of the
United States. 1.-THE Americans Creed"
and whole-hearted allegiance to the
best country in the world. True Ameri-
cans know exactly what mean. S0ne
Americans forget to think about their
most precious Inheritance, others are
not truly American.
Why does Mr. O'Toole call for an irish
union? Are there not already enough
united fronts trying to destroy that
which makes us strong as nation?
Our strength is in our unity. We can
not stand alone. True, we need union
which would include all true patriots
who believe in America with devotion
next to their love of God. We need an
organization of Americans who will
uphold our form Of Government and
who will show no sympathy with any
cause save the protection of and al
legiance to our American form of Gov
ernment. We need a union Of devoted
patriots who wish to carry out the
dreams Of our forefathers. Those brave
men who died serving their country
dreamed of land where all men were
bound together in united love of coun-
try and democratic ideals for all men.
This is the kind of union we must form
in these United States, if our country
is to 60 forward and not be overrun by
some foreign power which, even now, is
manifesting itself in so many shades.
ELIZABETH L. RINKER.
Evening star., 1946-07-15
DR.. John D. Thomas,
6. u. Professor, Dies

DR.. John D. Thomas, 7a, emeritus
professor of medicine of Georgetown
University Medical School and a
Washington physician for so years.
died early today at his apartment
at 2ll5 P street NV.
DR.. Thomas was born in Virginia
and received his medical degree at
the University of Virginia in 1892.
After two years of practice in New
York hospitals and year in Vienna.
Austria, he came to Washington and
in 1896 was appointed an instructor
in histology at Georgetown Medical
School. He served on the faculty
until 1887, when he was named pro-
fessor emeritus.
Besides his teaching career. DR..
Thomas served at various times on
the staff Of Garfield Hospital, the
Home for Incurables and was con-
sultant for Veterans Administrat ton
hospitals.
He served as surgeon in the
Spanish American War and was a
captain in the Medical Corp during
World War I.
DR.. Thomas was member and
past president of the District Medi-
cal Society. He also was a member
Of the Metropolitan Club.
There are no immediate survivors.
Funeral arrangements have not
been completed. Burial will be in
Arlington Cemetery, probably We'd
neSdaN.
Evening star., 1946-07-15
Frank J. Cullen, 78,
To Be Buried TODAY

Funeral services for Frank j. Cul-
len, 78. pioneer Washington pho
tographer who died Saturday at his
home 236 Tuckerman street NV
will be held at pm. today at the
Deal funeral home, 1872 Georgia
avenue NV Burial will be in Fort
Lincoln Cemetery.
MI. Cullen, a lifelong resident of
the District, began his career as a
commercial photographer in the
lS90s and about the turn of the
century opened studio in the first
block of F street NV. His work
included portraits, architectural
studies and news pictures.
In covering the Washington news
Mr.. Cullen had made pictures of
every President from Cleveland to
Wilson and filmed parades and other
wartime scenes here during the first
World War. He also had photo
graphed Washington baseball games
and horse races at the Benning
track.
Mr.. Cullen also did some research
IN the field of X-ray in the early
l9OOs.
After the World War he estab-
lished a shop in the 100 block of
Pennsylvania avenue NV. which
he operated until his retirement in
l94l.
Surviving are his widow. Mrs
Anne H. Cullen; son. George S
Cullen. Washington, and a daughter
Mrs. Marea c. Magee, St. Cloud
Fla.