davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-04-12
Soldiers Are Made

The War Department long has
been convinced that soldiers are
made, not born It is more than ever
convinced of it as a result OF its un-
happy postwar experiment with a
telescoped eight-Week basic training
course. The skeptics were right. It
is impossible to turn the average
green recruit into even a reasonable
facsimile of professional soldier in
two months.
The Army had it's doubts about
the curtailed training program from
the outset. It faced a real emer-
gency, however, resulting from the
too-rapid rehabilitation OF troops
after VI day The demobilization
proceeded at such hysterical pace,
at times, as to leave our commanders
in occupied zones with only skeleton
forces to carry out our commitments
abroad. In this crisis 1t was decided
to rush green troops overseas after
only eight weeks of basic training.
Much Of our disciplinary and morale
difficulties with occupational troops
have been attributed to the mad
equacy of their training. And the
prestige of the United States in oc-
cupied areas has suffered greatly as
a result.
1t is not surprising. therefore, to
learn that the Army soon will
lengthen the basic training course
for peacetime occupational troops to
thirteen weeks. This will provide
more time for matchmaking re-
cruits with better understanding
Of their responsibilities. As General
Jacob Devers, Army Ground Forces
commander, explains. the trainee
will be taught to realize that he is
"an ambassador of the Army" Too
many in the past seem to have re-
garded themselves as little more
than sight-seers or playboys in uni
form, to the detriment of our occu-
pational program.
The Army does not contend, of
course, that a fighting soldier,
trained in the latest weapons and
tactics OF war, can be turned out in
thirteen weeks. It is not necessary
that our troops on police duty in
Europe and the Far East be combat
infantrymen or artillerymen or
engineers. They should, however, be
more thoroughly schooled in their
important peacetine duties than
were the "eight-week wonders" sent
abroad in the first stages of our oc-
cupational program.
Evening star., 1947-04-12

an 8-year-old child? I suspect the
answer is "One must be educated up
to appreciation Of this sort OF thing"
If education is the solution, that edu-
cation is down not up.
During the exhibition of Works of
Artists of Washington and Vicinity"
at the Corcoran some months ago a
lady standing near the writer was care
fully scrutinizing one of the prize win
ners. This was portrait of a girl
with a colorful background and cos
tuning but the face and hands were
done in pure white with grey and al
most black shadings. ventured to re-
mark that I had read that it was
portrait of the artists daughter The
lady shook her head and said, "Why,
the poor thing looks as if she'd been
dead six months"
Granted that imagination Is a lauda-
BILE attribute of great picture, when
that imagination runs so amok that
the result is unintelligible to the aver
age work of art, we no longer have a
notable work of art.
And so, Mr.. Editor, while The Star
Is far from needing my poor support
Of its opinions, also say, TT IS spin
ach, not art"
n mo Enr,pTr<u r,r Adv
Evening star., 1947-04-12
The Wuqe-Price Picture

President Truman has oversim-
plifled matters in suggesting that
unless prices come down, new de-
mands for higher wages will be
justified. The average weekly earn
ings of the Nations workers have
increased considerably more than
the cost of living. The gap in the
race between the two-between the
earnings and the cost of living-is
too wide to support the Presidents
view.
Moreover, even If it were justified
which is not the Casa labor
drive for more pay in the immediate
future would serve to stimulate the
vicious circle of higher production
costs, higher prices, and yet another
round of demands for higher wages.
Imitation fattens on itself in that
way, making the public as whole
employers, employees and consumers
alike-a heavy loser in the end.
Nevertheless the President is on
sound ground to the extent that his
statement may be read to mean that
a continuing price climb is bound to
encourage preSsures for more pay.
This is especially true because of
the profit situation. Although it
cannot be said of all industries, it
may be said of many of them that
profits during the past year have
been very large. This factor, if
accompanied by failure to check the
cost-of-living rise, must act as
stimulant to new wage demands.
Accordingly, the President has
appealed again for action at one of
the key points where the present
trend can, be stopped and turned
downward. He would have industry
cut prices wherever it can. If this
could be done on a large enough
scale and If food costs (which have
risen most of all, with the help of
the Governments agricultural pol
Icy, especially in wheat-buying)
could be brought down, wage
pressures should ease. In addition,
businesses now faced with growing
buyer resistance would be helped.
and our economy in general would
be healthier.
Unfortunately, however, there is
no magic formula for effecting an
overnight change for the better.
The President suggests that it may
be possible to relax enforcement OF
the antitrust laws to permit con-
eerted price reductions by agreement
Evening star., 1947-04-12
Distortion of Majority Rule

DlStOrtIOn OF Majority Kule
To the Editor Of The Star:
1t has been reassuring to observe that
The Star, ever local champion, is de-
voting more of its limited editorial space
to the views of its readers. This is a
healthy sign. particularly at a time
when We hear SO much of newspaper
monopolies. The gesture takes on added
significance in the District where the
voteless Washingtonian can voice an
opinion only through the generosity of
the newspapers. Frequently. as in the
Daylight Saving" issue, his pleas will
go for naught but, at least, he has been
heard. There is certain amount of
satisfaction to be cleaned from a job
well done, even though it be for
losing cause.
Congress will continue to be the doc
tor prescribing diets that are politically
expedient, but sometimes lumpy for the
locals who must swallow them The
reason for this unfortunate circum-
stance Is rather obvious-tle vote OF
one farmer can carry more weight
than the desires of a million Wash
ingtonians. Washingtonians do not
elect Congressman.
The Daylight Saving" case is of little
consequence but the principles involved
go deeper. Such distortion of majority
rule has no justification for existence
in democracy. But it does exist, and
there is little reason to presume that
it will be altered. No Congressman
would appease District resident at the
risk of antagonizing constituent. At
best, we can but hope that the constitu-
ents of our overseers concur in our find
ings on the more important issues.
So long as the District remains a
stepchild, many of the local taxpayers
will be especially thankful for the
generous allotment of space which The
Star has placed at their disposal.
\ r. REYNOLDS
Evening star., 1947-04-12

among competing industries, but he
is vague on this point. AS far as
the Government is concerned, he
apparently feels that it can exercise
little more than moral suasion right
now. Primarily what Is needed Is
voluntary, common sense action on
the part of business, agriculture and
labor to do whatever can be done in
cutting prices and restraining wage
demands to hold down imitation.
without that our economy may well
60 through the wringer.
Evening star., 1947-04-12
No Witch Hunt
From the Providence journal.

From the Pf0VIdehce J0ufnaI
Announcing President Truman's order
to the executive agencies to guard
against infiltration by subversive per-
sons, the White House has assured the
Nation that there is no intention to en-
bark on witch hunt" That is well
come reinsurance. While we do not
doubt the necessity for the security
measures decreed by the President.
neither do we believe that the Federal
establishment is loaded with persons
disloyal to the United States. 1t would
be next to impossible, however, to set
up standards of political loyalty or
methods for searching out subversive
individuals which were not susceptible
of abuse. Certain sections of the Pres
ident's order, we believe, could be mis-
used with relative ease.
Evening star., 1947-04-12
FRANKLIN FORD.
No More Stations Desired

To the Editor OF The Star
The Washington radio dial Is over
crowded and steadily is getting worse.
So the FEC should stop granting per-
mits for more stations in the Wash
ington area. There now are nine
standard broadcasting stations in the
District and surrounding territory plus
two or three in the building stage.
There already is some interference
between the various stations and 1t
will grow worse as the stations In
crease. A limit should be put on
frequency modulation stations (called
FM for sfort) before they, also, get
out of hand. There are only two in
actual operation, but there are several
going up in the near future.
For an example Of how bad things
can get consider the New York City
radio stations There are ID stations
in New York and two more In Brook
lyn plus several more in surrounding
areas. What will more standard
broadcasting stations accomplish
Nothing hut to clutter up the dial
and make it harder to listen to q
station you want to hear.
WQQW and the two stations In
nearby Virginia and in Maryland are
only on from sunrise to sunset. But
I understand another station is to be
on the air in the next day or two and
wants to operate for 10 hours or 80.
Let's have limit now before we
end up like New York and Chicago.
All they do is play records and sing
ing commercials. Our network stations
have that situation too. plus quiz
program, comedy, drama. etc.
ANII-SCAP OPERA.
Evening star., 1947-04-12
When Art Is Not Art

TO the Editor OF The star.
In re the letter to the editor headed
"Is It Art or Is 1t Spinach" may I, as
a representative Of the average man"
mentioned by Mr.. Calfee, take issue
with him on his implied opinion that
said average man must appreciate or
like the monstrosities exhibited today
as modern art because dor one rea-
SOM few OF them have been repro
duced on covers of popular magazines.
Mr.. Calfee must have realized that the
average man has no more to say about
what appears on magazine covers than
what is exhibited In the famous gall
leries
What has become OF beauty In art?
Is it no longer prime requisite? What
has become of accurate drawing and
perspective? Why has distortion be-
come so fascinating? Why should an
artist rated as great" produce q work
that looks as If 1t had been done by
Evening star., 1947-04-12
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH.

Templeton Jones, who along with the
rest of mankind Is not as young as he
used to be, has at least determined to
try to do something about it.
He has noticed for years that many
of his older companions are being pulled
more and more toward the earth.
So he has resolved to stand UP
straight.
Many persons have made the same
resolve, but they have been mostly young
persons.
Very few oldsters, Jones has noticed,
either make the same resolve or try
to put it into practice when old age or
the beginning thereof begins to exert
its deadly pull.
This determination to stand up
straight, Jones has discovered, makes
great demands upon one.
In the first place, the pull of gravity
Is tremendous.
The inclination of the head down.
ward, the bending of the spine, these
are parts of process.
The whole biology of the human spe-
cies is in them.
They are what happen to one when
middle age comes on apace, as the poets
used to say.
What has become of the poets, Jones
asks, in sort of aside?
X X x X
Not too many years ago the poets
were the whole literary show.
They were great bearded men, with
wise and benign eyes, who made it easy
to believe Browning when he wrote,
Grow old along with me, the best Is
yet to be, the last of life for which the
first was made
Then something happened,
The bearded poets were gone, their
places taken by novelists.
Templeton Jones is not sure that it
was a good change, but then, according
to him, nothing has been for the better.
If you chide Jones for this, he has
but one word to say:
Atom"
Standing up straight. or at least as
straight as he can. Templeton Jones
looks the world in the face, bomb or no
bomb.
Why should he worry his last years,
he says, by thinking about the atom
one else may think up some other con-
trivance which far outdoes it in fiend-
ishness?
Jones is simply worrying about stand
ing up straight to the best of his
ability.
He says he does not want to be one of
these old men who 60 along all crouched
over.
He. at least, will try to do something
about it, he says But the determina-
tion is one thing, and the carrying It
into effect quite something else.
y ~
That is where Jones' plan comes In.
He deliberately thinks about it. eyery
block. and pulls himself upright every
time he thinks about it.
While en- route down town. as he
passes each cross street, he pulls him.
self together, and forces his head I'D
and his stomach in.
This combined movement does it. at
least for few feet.
The inclination to slump is powerful,
but the mind of man is determined, or
can be, when 1t wants to be-
Templeton Jones feels that he has
hit upon something.
So If you see a determined gentleman
walking along. or riding along. whose
head may seem tilted in what might
strike you as an arrogant pose, do not
be offended.
It is just Templeton Jones trying
to slide from middle age into old age
as gracefully y-and as upright-as be
can.
Evening star., 1947-04-12

most unreasonable Gas an example, my
husband is entitled to one year with
full pay plus rs weeks with half pay.
This is the maximum but should give
general idea of the plan all down the
line. Pensions are an outright gift from
the company. Countless recreational
functions are offered free of charge
from time to time. A medical staff of
highest caliber Is maintained to benefit
all employees. Payroll deduction priv
ileges, loans free of interest charges in
times of need etc, etc. Then to top it all
off the poor souls are among the high
est paid workers in the country.
I would suggest the agitators quit
and let appreciative folks have good
job. EDITH A. SCHULTZ.
What Services Will Support
To the Editor of The Star:
President Truman allegedly has
ordered all service personnel to back up
his proposed National Security Act of
l947 submitted to Congress on February
26. He seems to intend to use his au-
thorlty to prevent criticism even before
congressional committees. But what we
are trying to establish is coordination
and integration between the different
services and not uniflcation.
I feel convinced that the three serv-
ices will support the following provi-
sions in the Security Act: Joint Chiefs
of Staff; the role of principal military
adviser to the President and the Secre-
tary of Defense delegated to the Joint
Chiefs of Staff; the right of appeal
directly to the President by the Secre-
taries of the three services; creation of
the war council; joint staff under
Joint Chiefs of Staff; establishment of a
munitions board, research and develop
ment board, national security council,
national security resources board and
central Intelligence agency.
LEWIS KANICK.
Evening star., 1947-04-12
Overlooked Freedom

To the Editor of The Star:
In President Truman's address at
Waco on peace, freedom and world
trade. he must have overlooked the one
freedom that some folks think is most
important: That of the freedom of the
right to vote.
Some folks believe peace cannot en-
dure when people in some sections OF
the country have the right to vote and
1t is denied to other folks.
Why can't the residents Of the city
Of Washington be, granted the right Of
suffrage?
And why can't some States eliminate
the poll tax?
And why can't Alaska and the Ha-
waiian Islands be granted statehood?
These things are essential for peace.
DAVID r. MIDDLETON.
Opportunity for Local Players?
To the Editor of The Star:
The recent letter Of DR.. George Bow
erman regarding the opening of the. Ma
tional Theater to Negroes does not
express the opinion of the majority of
white residents of the District, and they
do not share his hysteria over the pros
pect of dramatic desert here.
II the New York playwrights and pro-
ducers decide to bypass Washington, it
could prove a great boon to us.
It could relieve us of the shoddy. triv-
ial and grotesque plays that have been
foisted upon us so long. The dramatic
monstrosity now playing at the National
is typical of the dry bones dished up in
the name of drama.
1t could prove to be the beginning OF
q new era of the theater In our National
Capital We already have nuclei in the
George Washington University and
Catholic University players groups,
which offer excellent entertainment.
These and other groups, expanded and
stimulated. could develop truly Ameri-
can drama right here in our Capital
City.
However, the jeremiads Of the New
York clique sound like a bluff to me in
the light OF the following experience
which I had. With difficulty because
the Lisner Auditorium was said to be
sold out obtained tickets for Ingrid
Bergmans Joan dare" When she
launched her philippics against the
Evening star., 1947-04-12

Some of Washington's downtown
traffic light arrangements on the
broader streets remind the peevish
pedestrian of the advice shouted to
the 1rishman poised on one edge of
a chasm: Jump, Mike-sure, you
can do it in two iumps."
Evening star., 1947-04-12

Please be brief. Short letters
are preferred. all are subject to
editing for condensation. Only
letters accompanied By name
and address OF 1Driter ,niH be
used, although a pseudonym Is !
In some cases permissible.
Evening star., 1947-04-12

Beef tallow was the standard lu-
bricant for the cylinders and pistons
OF early locomotives. Also, it may
be added, very frequently for the
coWcatcherS.
Evening star., 1947-04-12
Teachers Wasted ToIent

From the Arkansas Gazette
The only resident of Noah's, Ark, able
to fill out an income tax blank properly
is the school teacher, and she doesn't
have to fill out one. ]
Evening star., 1947-04-12
Appeasement of Russia

To the Editor of The Star:
Take cups of flour, cup of poison,
and whip up cake. You've got a
poisoned cake. That's the hve-big-
power United Nations setup'
Is anyone still So dumb that he be-
heves the U. N. can ever do its job
with Communists as partners? Mr..
Truman says we must use fit on the
Communist termites and their buddies
in our Government service. But If
commies in our Government would des-
troy it from within (Which they would,
so will conlmies in the U. N.
And they are doing just that. It's
the same old tactic we see in labor
unions and other organizations-bore
from within, confuse, outwait, outwit,
stall, take over, destroy, object, veto,
use the organization as platform for
propaganda, sign solemn agreements one
week and violate them the next week.
The Communist conspirators will never
join the capitalist" countries to make
it. They are doing now, and will con-
tinue to do, all they can to destroy the
U. N, so long as we yield, appease.
compromise, and talk stupidly about
getting along with" Communist Russia.
1.-THE best defense is a good attack"
Messrs. Truman and Marshall have had
the character and honesty to say so.
But Greece and Turkey are only the
beginning. We other nations should
drop Russia from the U. N. and drop
her from the peace conferences. Once
rid of the poison, we can make SEN
sible peace, and join hands to reorganize
the U. N. into real federal world
government with a definite measure of
sovereignty and an overwhelming ma
joritv of the worlds military and eco
nomic power, pooled to enforce peace
and protect the political liberty Of all
states from totalitarian aggression OF
any stripe. The policy must be prompt
aid and comfort to our friends and adj
herents everywhere; nothing but an
unsheathed sword to our totalitarian
enemies anywhere"
FRANKLIN FORD.
Evening star., 1947-04-12
Letters to The Star From It's Readers
One Reader Says Art Is Spinach Proposes Junior Navy
Would Junk Rent Conrol-Too Many Radio Stations

II only they or their favorite pals can
play the part OF Hitler. In order to
throw civilization into confusion and
despair, they are trying to foment
another World War
The charge that Communists seek to
overthrow our Government by force
sounds like fiction; such as the tales
about dragons. ogres, Cyclops. genies.
witches. unicorns. etc, But II any of
the Reds" are SO inclined, it seems
that the Federal Bureau Of Investiga-s
ton should be capable OF handling any
and all such emergencies.
Rather than seeking another World
War. let all true Americans work for
brotherhood and the four freedoms;
Mz.-freedom Of thought and express
sion and freedom from want and fear.
L. G. FARRAR.
Evening star., 1947-04-12
Doubts Communist Menace


To the Editor Of The Star:
AS Americans, we are moving toward
bigotry and intolerance. Already many
have committed themselves to fight
communism without first having def
milton of it.
Fighting communism was always an
essential part of Hitler's program. Such
a fight, although frequently disguised
as patriotism, has been fruitless: ex-
cept to pave the way for tyranny, die
tatorstip, race and class hatred, and
oppression of minority or under-privi-
legged groups.
Those who now decry communism
have never lifted their voice against
Klanisn. Indeed. In their hearts they
want Hitler doctrines and practices.
Evening star., 1947-04-12
Shackles for Labor

LAdNhlCS tOI 1<dDOI
To the Editor Of The Star:
Lowell Mellett is deserving Of the
highest approval and gratitude for rec
ognizing and presenting his simple yet
exceedingly powerful pleas against the
onrtlshing, unbridled attempt OF cer-
tain members of Congress to shackle
labor. FRANK D. DAVIS.
Note to 'Agitators'
To the Editor OF The Star.
As former employe of the Bell Sys-
tenn and the wife of a telephone pioneer,
I feel obligated to mention few OF
the conditions the poor, downtrodden
telephone employees are forced to en-
dure.
They are housed in modern build
ings with most careful attention paid
to their physical comfort and health.
Cafeterias are maintained for their
financial benefit and convenience, as
are most comfortable and in some cases,
luxurious rest rooms. They receive two
weeks paid vacation; after Is years.
three weeks. Their sick benefits are
Evening star., 1947-04-12

white people for desiring to enjoy their
recreation with their fellow whites,
went to the box Office and attempted to
return my tickets, but was told that
there had been such q flood OF tickets
returned. that the management had
called halt and no more would Be
taken back. Thereafter ads appeared Of
fering seats for SALE Obviously box Office
receipts were affected by Miss Bergman's
TRADE.
These New Workers display incredible
cheek In trying to force their views on
a community Of which they are not
part. FIRST NIGHTER.
Evening star., 1947-04-12
A Junior Navy

A Junior Navy
To the Editor Of The star.
Much thought is now focused on the
youth Of this country.
Might suggest, through the courtesy
Of your columns, that the boys be given
an outlet for their energies and love OF