davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-09-07
Up to the President

II there is to be a special congressional
session on stop-gap European aid, the Presi-
dent will have to take the initiative In
calling it. Senator Vandenberg is on sound
ground in making that point clear. Al
though Republican leaders are empowered
to reconvene the Senate and House before
the regular meeting in January, they are
not in position to know whether the sit
uation abroad really warrants such action.
Accordingly, the Observation-Disclosures it is
to be-is not up to them.
The President. himself must decide. AS
Senator Vandenberg has suggested, Con-
gress in general is no better informed on
the subject than most of the public. About
all it knows is what it has read in the
newspapers namely, stories of sudden
outbreak of official and unofficial concern
over rapidly worsening economic events in
Britain and Western Europe The burden
of these stories is that a collapse may occur
before the end of the year unless the
United States acts quickly to extend emer-
gency aid designed to cope with the dollar
crisis until the long-term Marshall re-
covery plan goes into effect some time next
year.
There is good reason to believe that this
generalized assessment of the situation is
not an exaggeration and that a special
session of Congress may therefore be i'm
perative. The precise, detailed picture OF
Europe's present plight, however, is lack
ing. The leaders Of the Senate and House,
according to Mr.. Vandenberg, have had no
special guidance on the matter. Hence
they have no way of judging what should
be done. The State Department presum-
ably has all the pertinent facts, and 1t Is
on the basis of those facts-transmitted to
the President-that the President will have
to decide.
The decision, moreover, will have to be
made as promptly as possible. If the out
look is as serious as Undersecretary of State
Lovett has intimated, procrastination can
serve only to make matters worse. AS
things stand, assuming the necessity of a
special session, the congressional commit
tees required to prepare fox action probably
will not be able to get together before
october Is. Adequate advance notice Is
therefore essential, particularly because
many of the key committee members are
now in Europe on special studies. The
sooner the President makes clear whether
or not the Senate and House are to be
called back, the better 1t will be for every
body all around.
Evening star., 1947-09-07
Fifty Years Ago

Sad though the blow will undoubtedly be to
the thousands of young hearts now indulging
in one dream of enjoyment
Pathetic at the seashore, on the noun
InfeIlioenee tains and in the country"
declared The Star on August
rs, 1897 at is nevertheless cold fact that
three weeks from next Monday the public
schools Of the District Of Columbia will resume
their sessions. Vacation is rapidly drawing to
q conclusion. In fortnight the seashore, the
mountains and the country must be foresaken.
few days later Little Mary and Little Johnny,
books in hand, will trudge reluctantly to the
nearest school building for nearly ten months
of what the little ones consider weary, useless
grind. There is already a most pronounced
air of activity throughout the entire public
school system of the District"
According to The Star for August Is, 1897
"the Post Ofhce Department has nearly COM
pleted an elaborate collec-
PostoI CONGRESS ton of souvenirs of the
Mementoes recent Universal Postal
Congress and they will be
shipped in few days to all the delegates to
that body. 1t includes album of pictures
Of the congress at the hall, both interior and
exterior, appropriate pictures of interest at
washington ana soule Views taken ouilis t1e
special excursion rendered the congress by the
Government, when nine days were spent seeing
the country between the Massachusetts, coast
and the Mississippi River. There will also be
a complete set Of United States postage stamps,
Cancelled with the words Universal Postal
Congress, and a silver medal of size little
larger than half dollar
x
The Star Of August n. 1897. announced:
The special agency of the Treasury Depart
ment continues to receive
Illegal information OF attempts to
immigration bring Cinnamon across the
New York border in violation
of the exclusion act. A few days ago the col
lector at Plattsburg, N. Y suspected that
Cinnamon were being smuggied across in trains
by the connivance Of q trainman. He set a
Evening star., 1947-09-07
The Dollar in World Markets
Further Devaluation of Currency Unit Unthinkable in
Light of World Conditions
By Raym ond Moley

Probably no civilized country on earth enjoys
so little knowledge of that complex matter
known as currency exchange as the United
States The general ignorance here about the
relative values Of the pound and dollar was
well shown during the London Economic Con-
ference in 1885, At that time, President Roese-
welt made an extraordinary announcement to
the effect that this country would not even
promise to stabilize the two eurrencies in the
future, let alone do it Immediately.
This received approval in America, except
in informed business circles. In Europe, it
created havoc and despair and destroyed the
conference. And within few months Roose-
welt himself admitted his error by agreeing to
stabilize and Ak the price of gold.
1t would help European recovery right now
and lessen our burden under the Marshall
plan if we could reach a rational policy about
the world value of the dollar. For some time,
there have been unfounded and extremely
harmful rumors abroad that the United States
proposes once more to reduce the gold value
of the dollar. This would seriously upset the
economy of Sweden and deeply affect the
Swiss policy. More recently, because of such
r,lmors, big Indian credits here were with
drawn.
1t might be we'll if the President or Sec
retary Snyder would make speech or state
ment not only denying the possibility OF de-
preciating the dollar but spelling out for the
information of foggy American opinion Just
WHY it could not be done without disastrous
consequences. The world might, at the same
time receive bit of education about economic
conditions here.
When we revalued the dollar IN terms OF
gold in 1884, this country desperately needed
to export more to revive business and raise
Evening star., 1947-09-07
Tuft Takes to the Hustinos

Senator Taft Is the leading candidate In
Congress for the Republican presidential
nomination. He is the party's most infiuen-
tial policymaker on legislation. When the
President goes before the country to point
out the sins of omission and commission by
Congress, Senator Taft is the one whom
the President singles out by name to take
the rap. He has made himself one of the
most talked about. and talked at, men in
public life today.
Tomorrow he leaves Murray Bay, in Can
ada, for California. At the same time
large party of top Washington correspond
ents, will entrain at Union Station for the
same destination. They will pick up
Senator Taft at Santa Cruz on September
IL. For the next three weeks they will
travel with him through six States, report
ing what he has to say in more than
dozen speeches and doing what they can to
convey the response of his audience.
1t should be an interesting trip. Senator
Taft has said that what he learns about
public sentiment will at least influence his
decision whether to become an avowed
candidate for the nomination next year.
But it is about as unlikely that the Sena-
tor will announce his candidacy after the
trip as 1t would be for him to say that on
the basis of what he has learned he does
not choose to run. That part will no doubt
wait for several months yet to come.
Interest in the trip should lie in Sena-
tor Taft's own Interpretation of the record
of the first session of the Eightieth Con-
greSs+of which he was principal archi-
tect-and the peoples response to that
record. He will do a good job in explaining
the Taft-Hartley law, for he knows more
about it than most of its critics. But in
spite of labor's effort to make the Taft
Hartley law the cardinal political issue of
the day, there are others who report that
the general public is not nearly so con-
cerned about that as it is about high prices,
high taxes and fear of war.
Senator Taft may be expected to take the
offensive on all three of these fronts His
line Of attack will reveal not merely the
reply of Republican leadership in Congress
to such sweeping attacks as the Democrats
delivered last week on their radio hookup,
but may more clearly delineate the cleavage
on foreign policy between elements of his
own party. Others may have changed.
Senator Taft has not. One purpose of his
swing around the Western States is to
satisfy himself as to whether the country
Is swinging toward, or away from him.
Evening star., 1947-09-07
Rodioisotopes for the World

Not in long time has there been news
so potentially bright and important as
the Presidents announcement of Americas
decision to make radioisotopes available
to the scientists Of foreign lands. In terms
of international cooperation for the
health and happiness of mankind, the
story involves possibilities whose signifi-
canoe promises to loom far larger in his
tory than many of the grim events that
are winning all the dark and overshadow-
ing headlines now.
What the Presidents announcement
means is that for the first time since our
successful harnessing of the atom, we are
going to share with the rest of the world
one of the atoms greatest and most be-
neficent by-products without in any way
revealing our present exclusive knowl-
edge of A-weapons, we are going to let
qualified foreign scientists acquire from
us-at low cost and on condition only that
they keep us adequately informed of
their work with them-the radioisotopes
of twenty different elements ranging from
antimony to zinc, but excluding those Of
military or industrial significance.
Stated another way, we are going to
place in the hands of science abroad the
most revolutionary medical and biological
research tools to come within mans reach
since the development of the microscope.
Radioisotopes have the same chemical
properties as the stable common elements
such as carbon silver, iodine, zinc, etc.
but they are variations in that they
have different atomic weight and are ra-
nefo 1ap od
they were rare and costly in the extreme.
Thus, to produce one millicurie of the
radioisotope carbon IA would have re-
quired a full years continuous operation
of five cyclotrons at a cost of 1000, 900.
Now, however, with one of its small ura-
MUM graphite piles, cur Atomic Energy
Commission can turn out such volume
of carbon IA that the selling price Is only
$50 per millicurie.
Similarly, merely by subjecting the COM
mon elements to the piles neutron bonn
bardment, the Acc is able to mass-pro-
duce about 100 other varieties Of radioiso-
tones. To have these in abundance today,
where once they were so scarce, means
nothing less than a scientific revolution
Emnloyed as "tracers" in the bloodStream
or in plants, for example. they promise to
disclose some of natures most basic
secrets. With them. we are equipped as
never before to battle dread diseases like
cancer to increase the span Of life and
perhaps even to grow food synthetically
on a scale large enough to Danish hunger
from our thickly populated world.
It is q happy thing, therefore. that the
United States has invited foreign science
to work wiY the radioisotopes that we
Evening star., 1947-09-07
Dr.. Mury WooIIey

Named "one of the twelve greatest Amer
lean women" of her time in Nationwide
poll conducted in 1882, DR.. Mary Woolley
is certain of remembrance as a diStin-
guished educator, an outstanding cam
paigner for humanitarian causes and a
remarkably successful exponent of what
properly may be called the liberal philos-
ophy of life. Born at South Norwalk, Con-
necticut, July IS, 1868, she survived series
Of changes unparalleled in history. She
saw the position of the feminine half of
creation elevated to at least theoretical
parity with that of men. Her experience
also embraced characterization of learn
ing to an extent undreamed in her youth,
a gradual improvement of conditions Of
labor beyond the hopes of the generality
Of toilers belonging to her generation
and tremendous development of will
to-peace among the peoples OF all nations.
True, not every hope which DR.. Woolley
cultivated was justified. 1t was sorrow
full disappointment to her when the trus-
tees of Mount Holyoke chose man to
succeed her in the college administration.
More important than her occasional dis
illusionments, however, were the achieve
ments about which there could be nc
question. The thirty-seven years Of her
presidential tenure represented period
of rich fulhllment for her and for her
girls. She made the school not simply an
academy for the instruction of youth, but
much more accurately power house OF
the spirit implementing its students for
the conquest of circumstances In every
amenable aspect of existence.
The tradition of the pioneer Quakers OF
the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries
prompted DR.. Woolley's proceedings. She
was their follower as humanitarian
teacher, as a feminist, as pacifist. But
her opinions never were radical as COM
pared with those of persons lacking her
background Of culture and discipline.
Evening star., 1947-09-07
Rumudier Squeuks THROUGH

The fragility of the French political sit
uation was revealed last Friday by the
narrow margin whereby the Ramadier
government was upheld by the National
Assembly. The decisive vote was 292 to
243, with 81 abstentions by the right
wing groups, which sympathized with the
governments general policy of economic
sterilization and economy, but did not
wish to indorse some of the measures pro-
posed to bring the policy about.
Ramadier's prescription Is what the
British call "austerity' effected through a
directed economy" The bread ration Is
to be cut sharply, padded government
payrolls are to be gone over and imitation
ton with Frances neighbors and with the
United States under the Marshall plan Is
to be emphasized.
AS might have been expected, this Spar
tan program aroused the bitter opposition
of the Communists, who staged monster
protest demonstrations of Communist
dominated organized labor concurrently
with the Assembly's session. The Assem-
bly, itself was heavily guarded by police
and steel-helmeted gendarmes during the
proceedings.
The outcome apparently satisfies nobody
and merely postpones more decisive show
down to later date. Ramadier, who made
a fghting speech and asked for a clear
cut decision, one way or the other was
reportedly so depressed at the outcome
that he at first thought of resigning. How
ever, he finally decided to continue in
Office.
The Ramadier government is at least
assured lease on life until after the
municipal elections, which are due In mid
November. In anticipation of that test of
public opinion, the Assembly itself ad-
journed, the Deputies going home to at
tend to their political fences. Only a
supreme national crisis would cause the
government to recall the Assembly in spe-
cial session before the appointed time.
Ramadier's ticklish parliamentary situa-
ton has been compounded by dissension
within the ranks Of his own party, the
Socialists. At the recent party convention
the left wing gained control and ordered
Ramadier to take certain drastic economic
measures of which he did not personally
approve. Some, though not all, of these
directives appear to have been incor-
porated in the government program. It
was those items which prevented him from
obtaining the formal support of the right
ist groups in the Chamber.
BY bit of clever political Juggling,
Ramadier has kept his seat as Premier.
But 1t may take more than smart politics
to confront the next parliamentary test in
November, especially since Frances eco
nomic situation may have notably dete-
riorated by then.
Evening star., 1947-09-07

Rather, she more accurately was described
as constructive conservative-she valued
the past as she valued the future. The
present moment, as she regarded 1t, was
an opportunity to be employed for pro-
gressive, rational yet idealistic purposes.
Up to the last she was worker, not merely
a dreamer. She did not accomplish the
ultimate degree Of harmony in the earth
that she sought, but she certainly con-
tributed toward it's accomplishment most
notably.
Evening star., 1947-09-07

prices. The circumstances today are precisely
the reverse.
Even now, Britain is bitterly complaining
about its difficulty In exporting goods. Our ex-
ports are already running up to $40 700 900 900
annually and. as our goods flow out, scarcity
raises prices here. Our real interest Is to In
crease imports.
If this be true. why should not Britain
and other countries devalue their currencies
and thus increase their exports? The temp
taton is, in reality very great, but three con-
siderations stand in the way. The first is that
the real problem of Britain and, in large part.
that of other countries is lack of production
They are not making the goods needed for ex-
port.
The second deterrent is the American ex-
porter who would complain if the present cur
rency ratio were changed. Congress must soon
face another British loan, and Britain is
anxious not to create new difficulties.
The third reason is the International None
tary Fund. In the agreement under which
the fund was set up. Britain would be required
to discuss the matter with the fund If 1t sought
to depreciate the pound by even 10 per cent.
And, under the same agreement, each partici-
pating nation is forced to forbid currency trans
actions within its own borders at any rate ex-
cept the official figure Britain, in order to get
around this prohibition. would have to deal
with all the other member nations.
The answer may be, as some American econ
omists suggest, in a restoration of free ex-
change market which would certainly reduce
the value of other currencies in terms of the
dollar and aid in general recovery. This con-
tend these economists, would greatly stimulate
exports from other countries. One of these
economists, Henry Hazlitt, suggests further that
the restoration of free markets in exchange and
commodities would make the Marshall plan un-
necessary.
lReleased by the Associated NexspapersN
Evening star., 1947-09-07
Always Somebody Else
IN the Hamilton Spectator.

From the Hamilton Spectator.
Imitation always seems to be the other fellows
fault; a game of musical chairs set to pretty
mournful music; chain letter that can ease
one mans conscience by sending it along-ln
higher costs to another No one. quite naturally,
sees why he should be picked as a martyr tp
accepting less money in the form OF prices or
wages Casually one and the same thing from
q national standpoint and looks with under
standable sourness on lecturing sources that
seem to have grown fairly fat on the sins they
ascribe to every one else.
Evening star., 1947-09-07
Loan Restrictions

Undersecretary Of State Lovett has men
toned both the Export-Import Bank "a United
States agency and the international Bank "a
IT, N. agency as possible sources of help for
Europe.
But Washington financial experts doubt
they'll be much help although they do have
large uncommitted funds: $815 600 900 in KIN
and $500 900, 600 in the International Bank
The trouble is, they are bound by definite loan
rules The International Bank must make loans
for constructive purposes; that is, for equip
ment needed in industry and agriculture. The
experts don't believe that can be stretched to
cover food, which is Europes most pressing
need until the next crop comes in early next
summer.
KIN makes loans only where it sees way to
stimulate trade and sees reasonable evidence
that 1t will be repaid
Evening star., 1947-09-07

deputy to watch and three nights ago two
Cinnamon were captured in the stove room Of
mail car, having come all the way from
Montreal in boxlike place hardly big enough
for rats. They were arrested and will be sent
back across the line. Notwithstanding the large
number of inspectors at ports and prominent
places on the New York and Vermont border,
small number of Cinnamon are smuggled
across during the year. If they ever reach a
large city without being discovered, there is no
danger of being arrested
Half century back editorial comment on
international affairs was at least as common as
1t Is today. For example,
Fronco- Russiun The Star on August %,
Relations 1897, commented as follows:
THE Franco-Russian al
lance grows In interest. What it all means Is
difficult to tell. Russia's part of the game Is at
present complete mystery. She expects, of
course, to profit by 1t, and the general expecta-
ton is that she will, but in what way or how
soon, speculation offers little that is salts
factory. France-always emotional-comes out
frankly with what she has in view. She wants
assistance in her long cherished policy of re-
venge for the loss of Asace-Lorraine, and some
Of the Paris newspapers are noisy in their con-
fidence that Russia will supply it."
II
A letter to the editor Of The Star, printed
August 80, 1897, said: Few who admire the
mastery sketches of C(harles)
Artist as DANA Gibson, the illustrator
Inventor and artist know that his talents
have been exerted in other fields
than those of art. (He) is never spoken OF as
an inventor and yet review of the records OF
the Patent Ofice discloses the fact that years
ago he gave his attention to the problem OF
car ventilation. His invention consists OF
horizontal shaft fitted across the car just be-
meath the roof. On either side OF the middle
of the car the shaft has broad threaded
screw. left hand on one side, right on the
other. The screw, which is driven by belt
and pulley connection from the car axle at the
side of the car, in revolving pushes the air from
the sides to the middle of the car. where II
finds exit through ventilator hole" F. d. A.
were the initials signed to the letter.
Evening star., 1947-09-07

AFL President William Green is keeping any
plans about running for reelection at the San
Francisco convention next month strictly to
himself.
However the International Teamsters,
monthly publication of Daniel j. Tobin's power
full teamsters union, says that Green announced
to the teamsters' convention that he was a
candidate for reelection. The publication dis
closed that Tobin, teamster president since
1907, had planned to retire this year and so
had Green. Both aging leaders changed their
plans, the union paper said, because Of the
Taft Hartley Act and the new need for union
experience.
"Mr. Green's retirement at this time" the
magazine said, would plunge the AFL into
factional fight over his successor which would
divert and divide labor at a time when united
action is essential to its preservation"
Evening star., 1947-09-07

The carpet that Hitler gnawed on has
become as long as the places where Kilroy
has been are numerous. A dealer in Berlin
has sold 1900 yards of the stuff to souvenir
collectors
Evening star., 1947-09-07

Hotelkeepers report that the American
Legion did less damage this year than pre-
viously Well, the boys are getting older.
They just don't have the energy to live
up to their regulations any more.
Evening star., 1947-09-07

OTTAWA-Canadian officials are confident
Canada will be elected to the U. N. Security
Council this month.
She stood for election two years ago, but
lost when Latin American delegate, excitedly
eager to vote for her, wrote his own country,s
name on the ballot instead.
Canada is eager to prove her contention that
she deserves larger role in international
affairs.
Evening star., 1947-09-07
49, Some ShadoaVs OF Coming Events
LOOklIlS NIICdu Are Noted Here and abroad

there's good deal Of feeling by the man on
the street that Truman is right guy. No.
body is violently against him or fanatically for
him, but there certainly has been big change
since last fall"
Harding visited all sections except New Eng
land and the South.
The only complaint he found among Demo-
Gratis, he added is that some feel too many
Republicans still are being appointed to Federal
jobs.
Evening star., 1947-09-07

Paper becomes more expensive daily
So do the letters that some persons write
on 1t.
Evening star., 1947-09-07
Sweet Slump

The Commerce Department reports American
candy consumption reached a peak of 20.5
pounds a person in 1914, slumped to 1877 in
1945, to I'll last year (higher than any pre-
war year,. and that it still seems to be
declining.