davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-10-29
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln

dollars for public works, at time when
it Is dificult to get housing materials and
there is plenty OF work for everybody.
It looks almost like an effort to tax
and tax, spend and spend, and elect
and elect" as in the earlier days OF the
New Deal. 1t looks like an effort TO
recruit the payroll army again"
Democrats have been in control OF
Congress for is years and OF the en-
tire Federal Government for IA. They
are not now going to relinquish control
without a struggle. 1t looks as though
they were grasping at any straw that
may save them.
Their fear, and 1t is very real one,
IL that the great mass Of voters will
not 20 to the polls on election day, as
they did 20 when Roosevelt was running.
They say they find 1t difficult to arouse
the people.
- The. dismissal Of Henry wallace from
the cabinet took the heart out OF the
left-wingers, or 50 the C1O leaders say.
Further. bloc vote upon which the
Democrats had been able to count dur
ing. the Roosevelt regime-the Negro
vote-is now turning away. .
~ A4A
This vote is of great Importance In
Northern and Eastern States-ano In
some of the Midwest. The Negroes are
not content with what has been happen
ing since the end Of the war, and since
the death of President Roosevelt. They
are paying attention TO the attacks upon
them which come from Democratic
sources-the Bilbes and the Talmadges
Political indifference of the masses.
which alarms the Democrats, has just
been pinned down by a carefully taken
poll conducted in Philadelphia. 1t
showed that more than four voters In
Philadelphia out of five have no idea OF
the names of the major party candidates
for United States Senator and Governor.
Nothing like that could have happened
when Roosevelt was running for Presi-
dent against Dewey or Wilkie.
About Z in 10, the poll showed, too,
did not know what officers are to be
filed in the coming election. The Re
publican voters were slightly better in
formed than the Democratic, and people
who had gone to college made con-
siderably better showing in the poll
than those who had gone no further
than high school.
1t all points up and points to the
likelihood that great many potential
voters simply will stay away from the
polls. And those who do vote are more
likely to do so as protest against con-
ditions than because they admire this
or that candidate.
Evening star., 1946-10-29
Bus Driver Doing Duty?

To the Editor Of The Star:
The A., B. & w. Transit Co. maintains
a "Bus Stop" sign on the east side OF
Twelfth street S.W., ut the south side Of
the approach to the main entrance to
the Freer Gallery of Art. I say main
tains" because the sign appears to have
been painted recently.
stood by that sign few days ago and
signaled half dozen nearly empty
buses, each of which ignored my signal;
a Good Samaritan driver finally picked
me up and carried me to my destination,
advising me, however, that he violated
the company rules in 50 doing, and de-
clining to accept my proffered fare.
feel specially grateful to him as was
very tired.
If a transit company Is permitted TO
erect stop signal. does not its franchise
compel 1t TO pick up persons signaling
from such . sign for transportation?
And was not my Good sararitan doing
the conpeuy's duty m violating It's rule
In my oases MAX HANeAANN.
Evening star., 1946-10-29
To On Old Dover Chest

try to picture sDltsn touch your Id
Your first young os1ner. Was she rerv
tair
With sea-blue eyes turned eper nest
tDdrd? Did
She braid blue ribbons IN her long
blond hnirf
Were tofnter evenings spent beside her
Dheel
Spinning bright dreams into the fdren
thread,
And did your ydpnang depths fire her
tpith zeal
As she tpore linens for her bridal bedf
Your KEY and braue heart were all
she carried
Onto sailing pessel. Were her years
In this strange land contented, once
she married,
or did you often feel her honestek
tears?
What dosry pould be mine " yoS could
ten
Ths tales Of long ago yoG k,,esc % soeU
HoIeE WADE HACKETT.
Evening star., 1946-10-29
After UNRRA

Whatever its shortcomings. and
however much it has been misused
in some countries. the United Ma
tions Relief and Rehabilitation Ad-
ministration has been rendering
vital service to the world. It has
played a key role in averting mass
starvation among great segments OF
humanity. It has helped war-dev-
astated areas to take their first steps
toward agricultural and industrial
recovery. It has supervised the re-
patriation of millions of displaced
persons. Without it, the task of re-
ordering our international society
difficult as that still remains-would
be far more difficult now.
But UNRRA, financed chiefly by
the. United States, was established
as a stopgap agency to cope with
critical conditions in the immediate
postwar period in liberated lands.
BY the end Of this year, It's own par
ticular mission will have been fin
ished, and it will then be lquidated
by general agreement. Nevertheless,
as it has just pointed out in its COM
prehensive report to the General
Assembly of the United Nations, the
problems it has dealt with will con-
tinue to demand the fullest possible
international attention and action.
Shortages of raw materials, inf1a-
ton, weak monetary structures, the
collapse of Germany, the impover-
istment of markets, the inability OF
many countries to raise enough for
eign exchange to pay for imports,
political differences throughout the
world-these are the factors that
will continue to hold back industrial
and agricultural recovery in 1e47
unless something is done about them
beyond what has already been done
by the outgoing UNRRA. If nothing
is done, they may well lead to grave
new crises in places like China and
Southern and Eastern Europe.
To illustrate this point. the
UNRRA report declares that Greece,
Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia,
Italy and Austria in all probability
will be able to finance only about
half the imports they will need next
year to feed themselves and have
enough raw materials and farm
equipment to make possible a
healthy level of industrial employ
ment and greater agricultural pro-
duction. In the circumstances, un-
less they receive adequate assistance
to overcome their shortage OF for
eisn exchange for purchases abroad.
Evening star., 1946-10-29
Procurement Merger

Proponents Of an Army-Navy
merger naturally have derived salts
faction from President Truman's
executive order placing all armed
forces procurement under single
civilian head whose word Is final.
It is little more than wishful think
ing at thiss stage OF the merger
movement, however, to interpret this
order as foreshadowing q drastic
departmental consolidation in the
near future.
As a matter OF fact, the unification
Of Army and Navy purchasing under
Richard r. Deupree, executive chair
man of the Ar1ny-Navy Munitions
Board, is development in line with
the Navy's counterproposal for CO.
ordination of numerous military and
naval administrative procedures in
the interest of economy and eff
cheney. In lieu of the one-depart-
ment, one-secretary, one commander
proposal espoused by the War
Department, the Navy favors close
coordination of intelligence, train
ing, research and procurement ac-
tivities.
The so-called Eberstadt report, on
which the Navy plan is largely based,
stressed the need for integrating
Army and Navy buying Of supplies in
addition to munitions. During the
late war the services voluntarily
combined their purchasing opera
tions in number OF fields where
soint buying was advantageous and
practicable. Both services welcomed
this mutually beneficial arrange
ment. The President now has placed
the program on far-reaching
peacetime basis.
While an executive order can
accomplish such. consolidation as
the procurement ore, it will take an
act: of Congress to effect the overall
merger sought by the President and
the War Department. The Navy
succeeded in blocking the one-de-
partinent plan during the. past
session of Congress and, while It Is
willing to scompromise on = co.
Evening star., 1946-10-29

WHEELING, W. Va, Oct. 2s.-In this
State and In nearby Pennsylvania the
Democrats, particularly those OF the
New Deal variety, are striving nightly
to re-elect two Of the staunchest sup
porters of the late President Roosevelt,
Senators Harley M. Kilgore and Joseph
r. Guf1ey.
Both Of them rode to election In 1910
with Roosevelt heading their partys
ticket, and both are particular pets OF
the CIO. Both are faced with hard
fiehts. Should they both be defeated. 1t
would be q real blow to the more radical
wing OF the Democratic Party.
In their campaigns. these gentlemen
are seeking to capitalize on the New Deal
administration Of the late President.
Their effort Il to keep before the voters
the hard times which prevailed during
the last previous Republican national
administratide1 They predict . return
of hard times If the COP comes again
into power. ,;saF
n The situation which confronts them.
however Is more comparable to 1913
and 1920, than to 1892. There are no
breadlines, people have work and the
farmers have been making money as
they did during the First World War.
But the people are fed up with wartime
regulations; shortages of all kinds. They
have recently won Q great war, as they
had in 1918, and they are not content
with the progress which has been made
toward peacetime recovery, as they were
not COZ. tent IN 1920.
It Is, therefore, an uphill fight for
these Democrats. And every new indus
trial dispute, or threat Of one, plays into
the hands of the Republicans.
The twisting and turning Of the ad-
ministration in Washington In the face
of political danger has assumed almost
panic proportions. First, President Tru-
man permitted former Secretary OF Com
merce Henry A. Wallace to make an
address In New York on foreign policy,
calculated to keep the radicals In line
for the Democratic ticket. Then he
repudiated the Wallace speech. The
President originally stood like rock
against decontrol of meat prices, and
for continuance of the OPA. When the
pressure became too great, he yielded
to the opportunities of distressed
Democratic leaders all over the country.
Meat controls were abandoned and the
OPA is on its way out in a hurry.
Having first declared for stringent
Government economy, the President re-
versed himself again-almost on the
eve Of election-and authorized the
expenditure Of hundreds OF millions OF
Evening star., 1946-10-29

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Oct. a.
President Truman has once more called
attention to the delay in setting up the
contingents Of military forces which are
REQUIRED, under the United Nations
Charter, to be placed at the disposal OF
the Security Council to deal with acts
of aggression and threats to the peace
Of the world.
In the ideal world. such contingents
would be of preventive nature, like all
good police forces. They would serve
as a restraint against the would-be law
breaker. They would take timely action
when the first signs of trouble appeared.
They would not heed to be very strong,
because they are not intended to deal
with major war between great powers,
but only with those dangerous In
cidents" where some local trcsiblemaker
gets out Of line.
This system will work, however, only
when the great powers are in agreement,
when there exists no basic mistrust
among them and when they are able IN
the common interest to deal objectively
and dispassionately with any breach Of
the peace as threat to their common
safety.
We should keep IN MIND tnaI tneSe
contingents, under the charter, will be
at the disposal of the Security Council.
which cannot act unless the five princi-
pal powers are unanimous. II they are
not unanimous, nothing will be done as
far as use of the contingents is con-
cerned. This fact will be well known
to any prospective law breaker. Hence,
the preventive value of the contingents
will be wholly lost under existing condi-
tions. @
kkk
Let us consider few concrete ex-
amples. There has been good reason for
believing, at one period at least OF the
long-drawn-out negotiations over the
Trieste problem, that Marshal Tito was
contemplating the seizure Of the city
oS Trieste taking . Leaf from the
Itaiian record at r1ums. y was ss this
Evening star., 1946-10-29
This Changing World
Ry EoMsfaMfiNe Rr0Wn

slavia, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland
want the Communist form Of govern
lment which at this time Is based on
terrorism.
II Russia adopted cooperative atti-
tude and bided her time before pene-
trating deeper into, Europe and Asia
for a period of, say, five years, the
chances are that the puppet. govern
ments would be overthrown and the
well-organized Communist minorities in
Western Europe, particularly In France
and italy, would lose ground.
The Big -Four will tackle the question
Of the Austrian and German peace
treaties next month. These are far more
<important than the peace treaties which
were discussed at Paris. Although Aus
tria enjoys special status, in accordance
with the Moscow declaration Of Novem-
Der, 1943, the Russians firmly opposed
the discussion Of peace treaty with
that small republic. The opposition OF
Mr.. Molotov was so determined that
Secretary of State Byrnes, who wished
to negotiate peace with Austria before
other treaties were discussed, had no
choice but to bow to the will of the
Soviet government.
There is no further excuse to post
bone that matter now. The American,
British and French governments are
anxious to remove their troops from
Austria and give the country full in
dependence The Russians are reluctant
to bring the matter up because they, too,
would be compelled to withdraw the
$4,000 men they still have in Austria.
The peace treaty with Germany is
bound to hit important snags. At Te-
heran, Prime Minister Stain concurred
with President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill that the future
boundaries of Germany, after the de-
feat of the Nazis, should be those which
existed before September, 1889. In the
meantime, the Russians occupied large
section of Eastern Germany and handed
over Silesia to the Poles, keeping East
Prussia to themselves.
At the Potsdam Conference this ques-
ton was taken up by President Truman
and Mr.. Churchill Stain admitted that
the Teheran agreement still was In ef-
feet and added that the necessities OF
war had pushed Russian troops Tar be-
yond the original German frontier. But
he indicated that the Teheran agree
ment would be taken into consideration
soon after the signing Of the treaty with
Germany. However, the Poles and Rus
slams have settled In these areas OF the
Reich and the German population has
been either exterminated or removed;
and it begins to look as II the q. s. s. r.
and Poland are In Eastern Germany Tor
keeps
Evening star., 1946-10-29

High ofiicials In Washington are keep-
ing their fingers crossed. The polite
words and broad smiles OF Soviet Foreign
Minister Molotov and his assistants,
whose attitude in the next few weeks
will determine the fate Of the world,
are very pleasing, but until the U. N.
General Assembly and the Council OF
Foreign Ministers tackle vital problems
which have heretofore created gulf
between East and West, real optimism
would be premature and might lead TO
bitter disappointment.
Hlgh-ranking diplomatic and military
observers here believe that there are
two schools Of thought in Moscow. One,
they feel, Is represented by the ma
jority of the PolitbMeau which believes
that in view of the weakness OF the
Western democracies all Russia,s ex-
pansionist aims should be enforced 'ir1-
mediately because the military risk In
volved Is small. =
The other view, said to be advanced
by the general stan and some diplo-
mats such as Maxim Litvinov who have
been shelved, consists Of Russia showing
a conciliatory attitude and obtaining her
objective gradually. These men believe
that it is easier to catch flies with honey
thar, vinegar and that the United
States-the only nation which is ca
pable of effectively opposing Russia
would become friendly II MOSCOW old
not appear to rush" issues at time
when American forces are still In
Europe.
The final decision lay In the hands
of Prime Minister Stain. and, judging
by the polite and friendly attitude Of
Foreign Minister Molotov and his ShreWd
and able deputy, Andrei Vishinsky, 1t
would appear today that Stain has In
dorsed plan No. 2. But II we judge
Russia's policies by what the govern
ment-controlled press and radio say,
Stain still is actively antagonistic to
everything the western democracies
stand for.
From the little that can be gathered
In Moscow and by following certain
straws in the wind, such as the new
deployment OF the Russian forces IN
Europe, it would appear that the over
whelming majority of the Politbureau
still believes in immediate action"
The view of these powerful Soviet dc
tators is that America win not and can
not oppose drive Of the Red armies IN
Europe and the Middle and Near East.
The members Of the Politbureau are
prompting action" because they are
confirmed believers In the theory that
communism and democracy can not hve
side by side. They are fully aware that
none of the people Of Europe-even
those who are governed by appointees
of MoscoY. such as is the case in YCgo-
Evening star., 1946-10-29
The Government Bows

It is something less than unex-
pected to learn that John L. Lewis,
having cracked the whip, once again
has the Government coming to him
on his own terms.
On October /, Mr.. Lewis wrote to
Secretary of Interior Krug, under
whose direction the coal mines are
being operated, to request reopening
Of the contract negotiated last sum-
mer. Mr.. Lewis specified that he
wanted to discuss wages, hours and
working conditions. Mr.. Krug re-
piled that this could not be done
because the contract covered these
matters during the period Of Gov
ernment operation" Mr.. Lewis, of
course, would not accept that propo-
sition, and the Government was left
to mediate upon the resulting threat
Of coal strike on November /, and
the effects that might be expected
to have on the congressional elec-
tions November 5.
Out Of that meditation has come
. reversal Of Mr.. Krus's position
presumably by direction of the Pres
ident. Once again Mr.. Lewis has
had his way, and the prospective
coal strike apparently has been
averted-at least until after the
election Is over.
The Government may have made
this decision purely for political
reasons, or 1t may have been mott
vated by sincere desire to escape
the economic consequences of an
other coal strike, or, as seems prob
able, 1t may have taken both con-
siderations into account. The precise
reason underlying this latest capitu-
lation to Mr.. Lewis is of. secondary
Importance, however. What should
be OF primary interest to the people
Is the conclusive disclosure that the
administration has no plan or pro-
gram for dealing with the labor
problem except one of surrender and
more surrender. 8
Last spring Mr.. Lewis struck and
forced the Governmene to seize tlie
mines. Then he forced the Govern
ment to negotiate q contract with
him and to grant concessions which,
to. this day, have stood in the way, of:
a return of the mines to their own
ers. Now, in effect, he forces the
Government to scrap the contract,
and his next step will be to force
the Government to grant new
concessions.
It is obviously absurd to speak Of
this as labor policy, or as any kind
Of policy. All that it amounts to Is
the piling of one makeshift expedient
on top Of another, and 1t Is just as
obvious that no labor policy worthy
Of the name will ever be forthcoming
from this administration.
Evening star., 1946-10-29
The BuIquriun Vote

The elections In bulgaria nave
turned out pretty much as expected.
The five-party Fatherland Front
has won an overwhelming majority
of seats in the National Assembly,
with the Communists. the dominant
element, polling more than enough
votes to deepen their control Of the
Sofia government. The opposition
Jared about as poorly as observers
had predicted it would.
This does not mean that the vot-
ing itself was mechanically fraudu-
lent. Apparently there was little or
no interference at the polls to block
the electorate from making1a "free"
choice. But though everything
seemed reasonably correct" in that
sense, it is not hard to understand
why the sweeping victory of the Com
munist-dominated coalition must be
viewed cynically and with the deep
est suspicion by any one with a rudi-
mentary knowledge of what we call
the democratic process"
To begin with, the opposition
never had q real chance. 1t was
not permitted to stage anything like
a vigorous prediction campaign.
It's few supporting newspapers, II
not directly suppressed, had to be
extremely wary of what they said.
As for the radio, the parties opposed
to the Fatherland Front were denied
the kind of broadcasting time and
facilities they were entitled to. The
predominantly Communist govern
ment saw to 1t that the Front had
all the propaganda advantage. More
than that, 1t saw to it-by intimida-
ton, arrests and otherwise-that the
opposing voices had as small an
audience as possible.
In keeping with the Moscow and
Yalta agreements, Secretary Of State
Byrnes tried to do something about
this before the elections. Thus,
American notes to Bulgaria and to
the Russian member of the Allied
Control Commission in SOMA asked
that several steps be taken to in
sure democratic procedure, includ-
ing freedom Of the press. radio and
assembly for the campaign. But
this was brushed aside as rude In
reference" and the polling took
place as planned-with the way
paved in advance for the opposi-
tion's certain defeat. Indeed, on the
very eve Of the voting, Georgi Dimi-
trov, Communist leader of the Fa-
therland Front, declared for all to
hear that 1t was "traitorous" to
oppose the government coalition
and warned everybody doing 50 to
remember the fate that befell Cen
eral Mihailovich in Yugoslavia.
When he wrote vainly to Sofia last
month toNrEqhest coerective meas
ures, Secretary Byrnes made clear
that in the absence OF such meas
ures the United states would be
hard put to resume and develop
friendly relations with Bulgaria.
Since the measures were not taken,
the election returns certainly do not
change that view. The Communists
and their victorious Fatherland
Front will be able to establish
reorganized regime now, but they
will have small chance of making it
look good enough to merit American
recognition and trust as a govern
ment truly representative Of the
Bulgarian people.
Evening star., 1946-10-29
Opposes immigration

To the Editor Of The Star:
I noticed q writer In The Star few
days ago found fault with the Govern
ment for refusing admittance to small
boatload of refugees from Europe. But
just because they were hardy enough to
face the dangers OF crossing the ocean
doesn't entitle them to entry into this
country, already 80 hard-pressed to feed
its own people.
If we should let in such unfortunates,
then we might expect complete disre-
gard for immigration laws
1t is high time We are informing the
world we are all fed UP with playing
Santa Claus for the starving nations
that would rather fight than work.
p. r. SKINNER.
Evening star., 1946-10-29

ordination plan like that recon-
mended by Ferdinand Eberstadt, 1t
may be expected to continue to fight
any measure which 1t believes
threatens its autonomy or effective
ness as a combat arm. It will have
on its side many supporters in and
out of Congress moved not alone by
sentiment but by real concern
for the Nations security.
Evening star., 1946-10-29

Czechoslovakia is grumbling that
our multimillion-dollar credit to her
is merely an attempt to conquer and
enslave that country. How strange
1t is that no European nation has
ever tried to enslave the United
States by lending US any money or
even by paying what 1t owes!