davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-07-26
The Developing Visa War

mere is no particular reason, from RuS-
sia's point of view, why she should grant
visas to members of Congress who may
want to investigate the degree of freedom
enjoyed by her students, workers and
teachers. We ought to be fully conscious
now that Russia is not interested in having
conditions within Russia investigated by
Americans. The iron curtain has been
down for some time.
The trouble is that Russias refusal to
grant the visas to curiosity stricken men,
bers of the House who wanted to 60 there
this summer merely adds little more fuel
to flames that are burning hotter than we
ever thought, year ago, that they would
become. sort of tit-for-tat visa war is
already developing-another senseless lit
tie war, to be sure, but one that assumes
kind Of fateful inevitability as an accom-
paniment of other wars on other fronts.
1t has now developed to the point that
this country undoubtedly would refuse
visas to Russians in the same circum-
stances that visas were refused to the
members of Congress. AS long ago as last
February, when Elliott Roosevelt laid be-
fore the world beautiful picture of Mr..
Stalin's interest in exchange visits between
the citizens of the two nations Ambassador
Smith found it necessary to respond with
factual history of Russia's unco-operative
attitude in giving any practical recogni-
ton whatever to such exchanges.
We are admitting no visiting Commu-
nists now. We are admitting no Russians,
Yugoslavs, Ukrainians-and the list length
ens-unless they come on official govern
ment missions. There are about $40
registered Russians here now-in the diplo-
matte and consular services, Amtorg and
Russian Purchasing Commission. There
are only some 1872 Americans of all cate
gories in Russia, including the newspaper
correspondents. We asked all nations
to cut down their purchasing commissions
in May of 1946. Last February Russia had
708 in hers and these had been reduced
by May of this year to 226. Amtorg, the
Russian trading corporation, increased in
the same time from 76 to 1876. Russia has
three consulates in the United States, plus
the Embassy. We have just succeeded,
after some effort, in opening consulate
in Leningrad, in addition to the one in
Vladivostok and the Embassy in Moscow.
All this may appeal to the Russians as
putting the two countries on an even
footing We gave her the impression during
the war that we were satisfied to do all
the giving while she did the receiving.
There are good many Americans, in
addition to the frustrated members of
Congress, who are beginning to doubt the
wisdom of any such policy.
Evening star., 1947-07-26

representative of the American Federation
of Labor, a post he held until his death.
Mr.. Watt served the Federal Government
in number of capacities. Perhaps the
most notable was as labor member of the
War Labor Board. He was sort of balance
wheel to the board which often needed his
talents. Despite the heavy burden of war
work, Mr.. Watt kept up his activities in
the international labor field, and, his
friends say, his health broke from over
work
AS one of those labor leaders who recog-
nized and respected management's rights
and place in our democracy, Mr.. Watts
philosophy may be summarized in an edi-
torial article he wrote for The Star in
1914. In it he said:
* Labor is like pumping station
which supplies the force to circulate goods
and services throughout the community.
Capital supplies the equipment and man.
agement directs the operations but labor
provides the skill and power to maintain
the circulation. All of us have to work
together because none of us can get along
under our economic system without the
others"
On the subject of Union political activ-
ity, he wrote:
Amy one who tries to make a labor
union into an adjunct to a political party
may destroy the labor unions if he sue
ceeds or jeopardize both If he fails"
Evening star., 1947-07-26
Those Wonderful Days of Old!

To the Editor Of The Star:
Fifty years ago Wednesday I woke up IN
Washington for the first time. I say woke
up' because Washington then was considered
a great place in which to Sleep They said
then that folks were half asleep as they
walked down the street. 1t was gross libel.
but nevertheless Washington had not shaken
off it's reputation as sleepy town.
1t was 7 o'clock on that morning on July
23 1897, and the hotel restaurant was not
yet open. hastened to get morning paper
because in The Star on the night before
there was an exciting story about the dis
covery Of gold in place called "Klondyke."
Prior to this all the big news had been about
the trouble in Cuba. The story OF the gold
rush crowded Cuba's ills off the front page.
We we're pretty. SNUG and didn't dream that
within IL months we would have fought and
Evening star., 1947-07-26

cost all Of 10 cents! In my home city of
Pittsburgh it would have cost four times as
much. Yes, Washington then lived up to its
reputation for low cost of living.
That first day hurried to the Smithsonian,
climbed to the top Of the Washington Monu-
ment and arrived at the Capitol early in
order to get good seat when Congress con-
vened at noon. AS stepped into the elevator
I was followed by big man OF tremendous
grth After he came in there was room Tor
no more passengers. I told the operator
wanted to go to the visitors gallery. He
ordered me off, saying that elevator was for
members only. My face was red, but the
big man said:
That's all right. Let the young man stay,
and then bring me down
Very we'll, Mr.. Speaker" said the operator
And right there Speaker Tom Reed made
friend for life.
Little was doing in the House and I moved
over to the Senate gallery. Senator Teller
of Colorado had the floor and made long
speech on-you guessed it: Free silver. I
spotted the Senators easily and surprised
visitor beside me who wanted to know how
could pick out Senator Hoar, Senator Matt
Quay, Senator Daniels. Senator Ben Tillman
and all the rest. I told him it was easy.
I had followed the cartoons in Puck and
Judge.
Now tell me- he said. who is that young
squirt down there?'
He pointed to the youngest looking man
on the floor who wore sack suit instead OF
the black Prince Alberts in which most OF
the Senators sweated it out on that intolerably
lot afternoon. He carried no palm-leaf fan
such as his colleagues piled to combat the
heat A diamond sparkled in his four-in-hand
tie and he looked the part Of dude in
very dgrihed assembly.
"Oh, that's Boies Penrose," I answered.
Hes just been elected
Twenty years later when I used to try to
drag a newspaper interview out of the noun
famous. ruthless Penrose wondered II ne
ever suspected that he was once referred to
as young squirt"
wanted to go to Mount Vernon and was told
something about Charley Mack" I'd hnd
him at the Seventh Street Wharf. After some
INQUIRY I found an old walking beam boat
called the Charles Manchester and made the
trip. Forty years later I discovered the real
identity of Charley Mack"
In the evening had a wonderful dinner
TIE check was Is cents.
Do you blame me for spending my entire
vacation in Washington in 1897?
JOHN P. COWAN.
Evening star., 1947-07-26
This and That
Bu Charles E. TrdcelDeU.

Have you heard about Templeton Jones ana
the dog slobber?
No. it was no adventure with dread rabies.
but merely one of the many whimsies IN which
Jones becomes involved.
You see If there is one thing Templeton
Jones doesn't like, it is dog that hops up to
lick you.
A great admirer of dogs, Jones nevertheless
frowns upon this action.
His own tail waggers are trained not to
do it. and Jones says that all dogs are oetter OH
if they refuse to leap up and chase cars.
Dogs are easily trained to forego these IA
vorite canine actions, he says
So the other day, when greeting neighbor,
he was much discounted by the actions OF the
neighbors dog.
This animal leaped and paved at Jones
The latter, not wishing to say anything, in
vain tried to dissuade the dog.
Down, down." he said. There was an old
fashioned flavor, undoubtedly, about the way
Jones said 1t.
In the first place, people no longer shout,
Down, Rover, down!' No, they just give the
mutt kick in the face, in these high vltamm-
lied, low hammered days.
Jones belongs to the old school,
So he kept on saying, Down, down, the cog
kept on leaping up to lick his face, and the
owner?
He didn't say or do thing, of course.
Other matters interested him entirely.
Jones reached down with his umbrella, and
tried to fend off the yapping dog
This suited the dog nicely. 1t simply gave
him something else to leap ana claw AT.
When the interview finally ended, Jones
looked at his umbrella, to see II there were
any rents in it.
No tears, he was glad to see, but plenty Of
slobber
That dog had mouthed the umbrella so
thoroughly that exteriorly there was not ory
square inch.
Being a particular man. Templeton Jones
didn't like this, but there wasn't much he could
do about it.
After all, the dog saliva would dry, and then
it would rain and wash 1t of completely
Jones didn't want to be too fussy, but he
wished it would rain.
Maybe that dog would become mad
Jones laughed at himself. 1t was good dog
sound in every limb and certainly wasn't
going to become mad
But it would be better if it rained and washed
of his umbrella, just the same.
So Jones carried the instrument day after
day, in the secret hope that good rain would
come up
Every one who knows Templeton Jones knows
the answer.
1t didn't rain-at least, while Jones was on
the street
Day after day he carried the umbrella. Great
clouds formed the weather bureau kept on pre-
dieting Eight showers" but no water fell.
People began asking Jones about his UNI
brella carrying
Think it's going to rain today. Temp" his
slightly derisive friends asked After all, moth
ing riles ones friends as much as this. In
these sun-tan days, no one. according to the
popular code, ought to carry an umbrella, ex-
cept in a downpour, and even then one runs
the risk of being regarded as something of
sissy by the vitamined boys.
And then came the rain.
Tempeton Jones strode along manfully, as
the cleansing waters flowed down all sides OF
his umbrella,
He was getting the dog slobber washed of
at last and he felt mighty good about It, Mo-
body else In town enjoyed that rain half as
much.
Evening star., 1947-07-26
More Valuable Than Dollars

TWENTY-FIVE countries nave Slgnlned
their readiness to undertake the program
outlined in the Fulbright Act-approved
last year-and we shall soon be exchanging
surplus bulldozerS tractors, baroed wire
and jeeps for an education abroad OF
selected American students.
The Presidents appointment few days
ago of the ten-member Board OF Foreign
Scholarships will give practical erect TO
this novel experiment in improvement OF
international relations. Under terms OF
the Fulbright Act foreign nations may pay
for surplus war material overseas-up TO
a limit for each nation OF $2O,O0O,OOO,
spread over twenty yearS-by scholarships
to Americans, including expenses OF travel
and residence abroad. They may also
spend the money in sending students here,
so long as there is room for them in Amer
ican colleges, without displacing our own
people. and so long as none OF the money is
spent in dollar exchange. The board just
appointed by the President is expected to
meet in Washington in the next few
months and set up the machinery for
selection of the students. Thus far the
State Department has received some $4,000
applications from American students, OF
which 5000 are from veterans.
Even with the limitations imposed by
law, the State Department estimates that
sale of surplus property thus far is
sufficient to warrant an expenditure of
some s137 ,0O0,O in this form of educa-
tion. The program, therefore, is expected
to continue for many years to come. 1t
permits the purchase of surplus goods, with
foreign currency, that otherwise might
have been impossible. But the value to
result from the transactions, in terms OF
such intangibles as education and under
stan6ng between peoples, is hard to esti-
mate. We followed, with beneficial results,
something of the same idea in collecting
the Boxer indemnity of $25y0OO,000 from
China The major portion of that money
was collected in the form of scholarships,
paid by China, for educating Chinese in
the United States, and the result was to
send back to China thousands Of young
Evening star., 1947-07-26
A Hollow Victory

By stalling off a vote on the KEN reso-
luton to investigate the Kansas City vote
fraud, the Senate Democrats may well
find that they have won battle only to
lose the larger political war. For the
political implications of what has hap
pened will loom large in next years
campaign.
The question at issue was whether the
Department of Justice should be invesu-
gated for it's handling or mishandling OF
the inquiry into fraudulent voting IN last
years Democratic primary in MlsSourlS S
fifth congressional district. That was the
election in which President Truman en-
listed the aid of the Pendergast machine
to drive former Representative Slaughter
from public life.
AS soon as the votes were tailed it be-
came apparent that the election was
fixed" and that Mr.. Slaughter was the
victim of fraud in the Pendergast-con-
trolled wards. Nevertheless, the Depart
ment of Justice was loath to move in. 1t
was not until after a newspaper, the
Kansas City Star, had turned up conclu-
sive evidence of fraud that the Attorney
General ordered the FBI to look into the
case. Even then, by express direction OF
the Attorney General, the investigation
was preliminary in character and severely
restricted in scope.
This resulted in failure to find evidence
of violations of Federal, as distinguished
from State, law, and the Attorney Cen
eral ordered the case to be closed. Later
on, however after the theft of supposedly
incriminating ballots and after the Re-
publican controlled Senate had begun to
probe into the matter, the Attorney Cen
eral authorized the calling of special
Federal grand jury, and that body has
already returned five indictments for
alleged violations of Federal law which
we're not discovered in the preliminary
investigation.
Naturally, this raises the question of
why the FBI was not given the green light
in the first instance. Why was 1t limited
to an investigation of restricted scope
when as subsequent events have shown
evidence of Federal violations was present?
The Senate, although possibly for partisan
reasons, wants an answer to this question.
So do good many other people, however,
who have no partisan interest in the
matter, but who are concerned with the
spectacle of fraudulent elections and the
seeming reluctance Of responsible Federal
officials to dig into them.
Ordinarily, when Federal agency has
nothing to hide, it welcomes investigation
of its conduct. If the Department of
Justice has nothing to hide in this in
stance, why has the Attorney General
remained silent while the Democrats in
the Senate have fought to smother this
proposed investigation?
Perhaps this question is unfair to the
Attorney General and the Senate Demo-
Gratis Perhaps they have nothing to hide.
But they can be sure that they will hear
the question asked again and again when
the Republicans take to the hustings next
year All in all, again assuming that there
was nothing to hide, it looks as though
the Democratic political strategy has been
anything but smart.
Evening star., 1947-07-26
Robert J. Wutt

The untimely death of Robert J. Watt
comes as a severe loss to American indus
try and to labor the world over.
While Mr. Watt was first labor leader,
he contributed much to harmonize Amer
ican industrial relations in his thirty-two
years of union activity. His contributions
to world understanding through work in
the international labor management field
were equally great. 1t is in that field that
his loss will be most keenly felt, since our
future is so vitality dependent on the
ability to get along with other peoples of
the world.
Mr.. Watt died on the liner Saturnia en-
route home from the international Labor
Conference in Geneva. He had served In
that and several past conferences by ap-
pointment of the President as the delegate
of American workers.
He was a lovable little Scot with a
twinkle in his eye and big heart. He
possessed a ready wit and way of talking
with a soft burr which inspired confidence
whether his companion was from the labor
or management side of the fence. He
probably had as many friends from busi-
ness as he had among the unions.
Mr. Watt left his native Scotland in
1912, settling down in Lawrence, Mass, as
a painter. He began an active labor union
career three years. later and became an
American citizen in 1919. He held various
positions in the painters union, was pres
ident of the Lawrence Central Labor
Union, vice president and secretary-treas-
~f
Labor. In 1886 he was named international
Evening star., 1947-07-26
Letters to The Star
Nostalgia Notes the Days of Cent Breakfasts and
Appeal for Traffic Spoilers Is Made
Central Register Advocated

Central Register Advocated
To the Editor of The Star:
I am on furlough from a Government posi-
ton, having been reached because my years
cf service we're fewer than those retained.
This is the policy followed according to
civil service regulation, and agree with it.
But the following policy I do not agree with:
L have received form letter from the civil
service stating, THE commission will make
every effort to place you in the Federal serv-
ice. In the meantime, you are urged to
continue your own efforts to secure position.
If you are eligible for transfer or reinstate-
ment, an agency desiring to employ you may
employ you in any position for which you meet
the standards and regulations of the commits
sion. However, if you wish consideration on
the competitive register established for any
position other than the two for which your
application as a displaced career employe
may have been accepted, you must file (or have
fled when the competitive examination an
nouncement is open.''
Now, let's take hypothetical case: Mr.. A
and MI. are both displaced employees. Mr..
has Is years service and Mr.. B has 20
years service and they are identical as to
classification. Mr.. A finds job and Mr..
does not. Mr.. B though having longer service
goes on the civil service register and it might
be months before he is placed, if ever Besides
that he has to take another examination. I
know because just took one and am in that
category.
see no reason why all future .jobs for all
employees are not cleared through the COM
mission for every job. The individual agencies
should use central register for this purpose.
DON'T GET 1T.
n
Evening star., 1947-07-26
Traffic Spoilers Suggested


To the Editor OF The Star:
Traffic Director Keneipp again is reported to
be urging upon the Commissioners a program
of re-examinations designed to give his office
an arbitrary and continuing control over every
car owner in the District.
Such a program would be hard to justify
even if it gave promise of corrective results.
But surely the Commissioners are likely to rec
ognize that Mr. Keneipp's suggestions offer only
a maximum of inconvenience, confusion and
possibility of favoritism, for an absolute mini
mum of accomplishment.
In the first place, there is no re-examination
which can weed out the reckless driver. The
most reckless and careless of drivers doubtless
could pass physical and driving tests with fly
ing colors.
The program has no way of touching the
very large percentage OF Maryland and Vir-
ginia cars operating In our city trafdc.
If Mr.. Keneipp Is open to suggestion, here
is one: If special traffic police were to cruise
through traffic every day, In unmarked cars
they could spot any number of reckless and
careless drivers, also the smart-aleck drivers
who constitute the principal hazards to traffic
safety. These cars could be equipped with
sirens for apprehending violators; and the
penalties for repeat offenders could be made
increasingly severe.
Just the knowledge that these unmarked
out of uniform spoilers were operating in
traffic would be strong deterrent to reckless
driving.
But to concentrate as Mr.. Keneipp has pro-
posed, on District drivers only, who form but
part of the cty's traffic, would serve little pur-
pose except to harass thousands of local 'citi-
zens" unnecessarily. The only way to eliminate
careless and reckless driving. the primary cause
of traffic tolls here is to nail these offenders IN
the act Police squad cars are easily avoided,
and they have other duties, so that some other
form of "spotter' is needed
JOHN EDWARDS.
Evening star., 1947-07-26
In View of on Interview

The butler left me standing In the hall
And took my serDtle message to his master;
This past sarcophagus OF alabdster
And marble ,pith its 1Uestern nuLtoned tDaH
Seemed hostile. In gilt and UslUet chair
A Maltese smouldered, lashed her nervous
tail,
Time nnasquerdded as q Sentle snail
with chilblains, while matched tho
yauning stair
Display its bridgework in q hateful smile;
A naked goddess Uith an urn and blind
White cues troze me until let my mind
Plau checkers on the pearl and onyr tile.
Before the butler reappeared fed
Pity the maid they hire in my steadt
COSETTE MIDDLETON.
Evening star., 1947-07-26

men who had learned our language and
something of our people and who undoubt-
edly exerted profound influence on
Chinese sentiment toward America.
At time when we are so conscious of
the aftermath of the wars bitterness and
strife, the launching of this undertaking
offers some hope in development of genuine
friendship, supported by solid foundation
Evening star., 1947-07-26

will tumble security values of capitalism far
beyond the cost of subsidzing the Marshall plan
through private investments. If the plan works
as reason pleads it will, investors will have the
bonus of profitable contribution to the price
less security of a stable peace. Not being
member of the World Bank (by her own elec-
tom, Russia cannot exercise her habitual veto
power. Idle capital now vainly seeking fruitful
investment will expend its infationary threat
in life-saving production of services and goods
Restoration Of trade and commerce between
nations will provide the bona f1des of self-help
and self-preservation. That is the highest and
soundest expression of real and practical inter-
nationalism. Without it, we never can have
just and lasting peace.
THOMAS E. MATTINGLY, M. D.
Evening star., 1947-07-26

won announcer
war. TIE d d y
Roosevelt and
C ON m o d ore
Dewey didn't
figure in the
news in 1897.
I had q fru-
6 al breakfast
of fruit. bacon,
eggs. toast and
coffee, and it
Evening star., 1947-07-26
Another White EIephunt2

Some time within the next two or three
months the District Commissioners are
going to have to decide whether to put the
city into the business of making asphalt
for the repair of its streets and highways
High costs of obtaining the material by
contract prompted the proposal originally.
Authority to establish a municipal plant,
at the discretion of the city heads, is
carried in the 1s48 budget. If finally
approved, the plant would be built on K
street near Key Bridge.
Entirely apart from its merits, the pro-
posal raises some Interesting possibilities.
Is it possible that Congress wants to play
cat-andmouse with the District taxpayer
on new front? Will history repeat itself?
Is this to be another highway testing lab
oratory which Congress authorized in 1881
at a. cost of 100000 and then closed two
years later, forcing the city to do its testing
more expensively at the Bureau of Stand
ards? Will this become another white
elephant" like that testing laboratory,
which, after thirteen years, has been pro-
nounced surplus by Congress and ordered
turned over to the War Assets Administra-
ton for disposal?
II the ghost of the abandoned building
at Second and Bryant streets NV. is not
haunting the Commissioners as they con-
slider the asphalt plant, it ought to.
Evening star., 1947-07-26

A report from the sky saucer front tells
OF one being found crawling along the
ground, for change. One theory is that
it may have been lonesome and looking
for teacup.
Evening star., 1947-07-26

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
Driter, although it is permissible for a
1oriter kno11n to The Star to use
nom de plume. Please be brief.