davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-02-13
Bur Association Poll

The poll which the District Bar ASSocia-
ton has conducted among its membership
reveals that approximately four out of five
members of the organized local bar are
opposed to the nomination Of Edward A.
Tamm to succeed Justice james M. Proctor
on the District Court.
There may have been a number of rea-
sons for this one-sided verdict. There are
two, however, which seem to have inf1u-
enced most of the members who voted
against Mr.. Tamm.
One is the widely-held feeling that the
method of the nomination-the announce
ment of Mr.. Tamm's selection before the
bar association had any opportunity to
submit recommendations of its own-was
an affront to the District bar. The other
Is that no man ought to be appointed to
the Federal bench unless he has had
substantial experience in the active prac-
tfce of law.
So far as The Star can ascertain the
dominant sentiment among the members
of the bar is that these matters concern
principles which are important and upon
which reSolute stand should be taken.
This Is a point of view which has been
espoused by The Star in the past and to
which, so far as the principles are con-
cerned, 1t still adheres. Certainly the At
torney General should consider the recon-
mendations of the local bar before making
an appointment to the local bench. And
there is just as much reason to believe
that generally speaking and other things
being equal, the quality of the bench will
be improved by choosing as judges men
who are experienced in the practice of law.
When the fullest weight is given to these
considerations in this case, however, there
still Is no answer to the important question
whether Mr. Tamm, If confirmed, will make
q good Judge. The failure to await the
bars recommendations sheds no light on
this point. The second consideration is
not conclusive, but it warrants the infer
ence that, at the outset at least, inexperi-
ence will prevent him from shouldering
his share of the courts work load.
Most of the members of the bar who
voted against Mr. Tamm do not know him,
since his work as assistant to the director
of the FBI has kept him out of the lime
light. There are some, however, who know
him well and some of these, while strongly
condemning the appointment on grounds
of principle, nevertheless are frank in
stating their confident belief that Mr..
Tamm, given time, will make an excellent
Judge.
No one has raised the slightest question
bearing on his character or his integrity
There is no indication that politics played
any part in his selection. And those who
know Mr. Tamm best speak in the highest
terms of the quality of his mind and of
his capacity for work.
So the question in this particular mar
rows down to this: Will Mr.. Tamm's in
experience in the actual practice of law
prove an insuperable handicap If confirmed
for the bench, or will he be able within
reasonable time to serve creditably as
member of the District Court? In The
Stars opinion the latter will prove to be
the case.
Evening star., 1948-02-13
Let the Wounds Heal

The District Commissioners have shown
good judgment in approving Daniel B.
Maher's recommendation that no disci-
plinary action be taken against Fire Cap
tain Joseph w. Conroy for charging that
Chief Murphy had "demoralized" the Fire
Department. Although the fire chief was
exonerated by special trial board, there
is no reason to suppose that Captain Con-
roy was motivated by other than real
concern. for the welfare of the Fire
Department.
Certainly it cannot be said that his
charges were frivolous, in view of the testi-
mony in support of them given by various
reliable witnesses. And, as Special Prose-
cutor Maher points out. the fact that the
Commissioners found enough substance in
the Conroy accusations to warrant formal
charges against the chief is an official
recognition of the fact that Captain Con-
roy had probable cause" for his action.
Furthermore, since the Commissioners
promised immunity from disciplinary
action to other witnesses against Chief
Murphy, it would be manifestly unjust to
exclude Captain Conroy from the promise
Another trial. or a congressional hearing,
would only mean a reopening of the
wounds caused by the Murphy trial,
wounds which should be allowed to heal
as rapidly as possible. The sooner this
intradepartmental feud can be smoothed
over and forgotten. the better for every
body concerned including those who sup
port the Fire Department with taxes and
who have right to expect its morale and
efficiency to be at least as high as any
in the country.
Evening star., 1948-02-13
Ceylon: The New Dominion

In that complexly evolving entity, the
British Commonwealth of Nations, there
are many political mansions. They range
all the way from full-fedged "dominions,"
such as Canada and Australia, whose only
formal tie with Britain is that of COM
mon Crown, to colonies and protectorates
under effective British control.
The latest variant to this worldwide
assemblage of lands and peoples is Ceylon,
which has just attained dominion status,
signalized by the opening of its first Do
minion Parliament. The event was cele-
brated with regal splendor, inaugurated
by the Duke of Gloucester, younger brother
of King George vi, and attended by rep
resentatives of twenty seven nations in
cluding Henry F. Brady, United States
Ambassador to the Dominion of India.
The affair was love feast, the Duke con-
graduating the new Parliament upon Cey
Ions peaceful and constitutional achieve
ment of dominion partnership while the
Ceylonese leaders responded with assur-
ances of solidarity with the Commonwealth
and loyalty to the Crown.
1t should be noted, however that, while
in theory the Dominion of Ceylon has full
independence of action, in practice it has
concluded voluntary agreements with
Britain providing for mutual defense and
a measure of representation by Britain in
its foreign relations.
These limitations correspond TO the
realities of Ceylon's international situation.
This big, pear-shaped island lying just off
the southern tip of India bulks small
beside its huge neighbor and has only
100000 inhabitants. Ofhand, it might
seem strange that Ceylon would not form
part of an Indian federation, since it is
separated from the mainland only by
narrow island-studded strait. Yet Ceylon's
historic evolution has been very different
from that of the neighboring subcontinent
To begin with, Ceylon was converted to
Buddhism, and remained Buddhist when
that faith died out in India itself under
the impact of a Brahmin reaction. And
the differences between Buddhism and
BrahminiSm produce profound unlikenesses
in culture and ways of life. Secondly,
Islam never reached Ceylon as 1t pene-
trated India. Lastly, Ceylon has been per-
meated by European influences for nearly
four centuries. First the Portuguese and
then the Dutch formed settlements along
the coasts. while the British gained con-
troll $50 years ago and soon subjected the
whole island to its authority. All these
factors tend to produce a distinctively
| Ceylonese consciousness which inhibits any
desire for political union with India.
But wholly Independent Ceylon would
and 1t hard to stand alone In the world
Evening star., 1948-02-13
IsIt True or Is 1t Not?

There may be some deep political
significance in the fact that Russla's
Communist bosses are snarling at Soviet
COMPOSERS. Their TRADE against such
eeniuses as Shostakovich and Prokofieff
could be regarded as sort of red herring,
to divert the mind OF the common man
from other troubles. Here is where the
students of political science should step IN
and tell us what it is all about.
But in the meantime, many members
of Americas decadent bourgeois are
interested in something else Is it, or is it
not a sound theory. that the reason so
manv people have difficulty in under
standing much of the modern music Is
that they are too dumb to understand it
that they will understand it, hundred
wears hence, when they grow up to 1t?
This. says the Central Committee Of the
Communist Party in Moscow, is the bunk.
It is rotten theory" In fact, it Is not
a theory at all. 1t is plot against the
people.
An Objectionable feature of modern
music singled out for criticism by the Cen
tral Committee is thus described: "'
journalistic distortions and anti-demo-
cratic tendencies alien to the Soviet peo-
nile and their artistic tastes denial of the
main principles of classic music, propa-
panda of atonality, dissonance and dis
harmony which are alleged to be the ex-
nression of progress and novelty in the
development of musical forms; renuncia-
tion of such important foundations OF
musical creation as melody, passion for
neuropathic combinations which trans
form music into cacophonic and chaotic
heaping of sounds
The description obviously refers to the
rassaees in some modern music where the
orchestra seems to decide that it is every
NON for himself each section trying to
outdo the other and the members OF the
sections themselves displaying rugged
individualism which produces music,
nerhans but noise certainly. Some
listeners. at least, had persuaded them.
selves that the message here conveyed
Evening star., 1948-02-13
Trouble in Costu Rico

Political disturbances in most of the
Latin American republics bordering the
Caribbean are not rated highly as news,
ditionally turbulent. In some cases, their
histories are little more than series of
relationships punctuated by revolutions.
But to this rule there has been one
outstanding exception. That's the Repub-
lie of Costa Rica, which has an enviable
record Of political stability. This relatively
small country, situated between Nicaragua
on the north and Panama to the southeast,
occupies the broadening strip of isthmus
tral America. Its 2S square miles of ter
ritory, about the size of West Virginia
supports some 100000 population, most of
which lives on the plateau between the
high mountain ranges which border both
the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
This plateau, with its hills and valleys, is
fertile and enjoys delightfully."- healthful
climate. Those are the natural bases of
Costa Rica's tranquility and well-being.
So favored land attracted Spanish
colonists soon after the discovery of
America, and it is this colonial stock which
today constitutes the bulk of the popula-
ton. Unlike its neighbors, there is little
Indian blood The only important nom
white element is Negro labor on the banana
plantations of the hot Caribbean coast
But most of these Negroes are indentured
laborers from the British West Indies
They are localized and alien element
cfo op1a %J,a 1ofa
and cacao, Costa Rican coffee ranking
among the best in the world. Both crops
require skilled, intensive labor. The result
Is that the land is well distributed among
small or medium sized holders. That in
sures social stability and fairly high level
of economic well-being.
Costa Ricans pride themselves on their
democratic institutions, their widespread
education and their peaceful progress
The army is so small that it Is really con-
stabulary and has scant political influence.
Political office is regarded as trust, hon.
orably discharged and not lucrative enough
to attract job seekers for the perquisites.
This does not mean that the Costa Ricans
are politically apathetic. Parties there are,
and political campaigns are hot. But
usually they do not pass the bounds of
respect for law and order. 1t is this which
makes surprising the unusual acrimony
and disorders which have marked the
presidential contest just concluded The
chief parties are the Republican, which
represents the outgoing administration,
and the Democratic Union. Apparently,
the latter has won the election, though
there are mutual charges of fraud and a
fire which opportunely burned number
of ballots. There was also Communist
candidate, whose chief plank was de-
nunciation of Yankee imperialism" but
who ran bad third.
1t is to be hoped that the Costa Ricans
will settle this contest in peaceable fashion.
The matter is going before an electoral
commission whose integrity and impair
tiality are generally acknowledged
Evening star., 1948-02-13

was Of the coming revolt Of the people,
the rising of the masses, the shipping Of
the guillotines and the rumbling of the
tumbrils All Of Soviet origin, they
thought, probably understandable but GER
tainly unconstitutional.
And now comes the Central Committee
of the Communist Party and says that it
is an anti-democratic propaganda, it smells
of the progressive wasting away of bour-
gois culture. In other words, it is spinach
and If the composers do not stop 1t some
body is going to be liquidated. Why, say
some bourgeois listeners, that is what we
thought all along! 1t becomes increasingly
difficult to follow the party line.
Evening star., 1948-02-13

Therefore, self interest makes its people
prefer partnership in the British Common
wealth. Conversely, Ceylon's strategic and
economic Importance to Britain and other
Commonwealth members, such as Aus
tralia, renders its partnership eminently
desirable. This mutuality of interest is
the best indication that the present ar
rangements between Ceylon and Britain
are soundly based and therefore have
good prospect of being both harmonious
and enduring
Evening star., 1948-02-13
Stars, Men and Atoms
Sucrose-Produeing Corn
Equals Sugar Cone Yield
Hybrid Suitable for North, But Needs
Further Development
By Thomas r. Henry

"
variety OF field corn from whose stalks as
much sugar can be produced as from sugar
cane has just been developed
1t is suitable for field growth as far north
as New England and probably to the northern
limits where corn is grown. In addition to the
sugar, a very good corn yield is obtained. The
sugar itself Is Of precisely the same type as
that obtained from cane
This remarkable development, whose possible
economic implications hardly can be over
estimated although great hurdles still are in
the way Of its commercial realization, has been
reported to the. American Association for the
Advancement Of Science here by Dr. w. Ralph
Singleton Of the Connecticut Agricultural Elk.
pertinent Station. 1t raises the possibility that
eventually much Of the United States will be
sugar-producing, with the sucrose crop an
extra" for the farmer.
Developed Unexpectedly.
The sugar corn came Unexpectedly from in
breeding experiments. The difnculty Is the
same as that encountered in all hybrid-corn
work. The high sugar content is confined to
this one cross of two ordinary varieties. From
its seeds will come only weakling plants with
very poor growth.
In order to obtain vigorously growing va
1icIy IL WIZ NC McCcSShIy 10 SeL D Cross WIN
some other corn In which the hereditary fac
tors of sugar production will be preserved.
This may involve thousands of crosses. Even
if the work Is successful the resulting corn will
be poor seed producer. 1t will be necessary
to produce still a third cross which will bring
about high seed production. This may require
years, or may be accomplished in q few sea-
sons. His crosses to date, Dr.. Singleton says,
have been rather disappointing.
Sugar Yield Exceeds liz.
The normal sugar content of cornstalk Juice
Is from to per cent. From this variety DR..
Singleton was able to obtain more than II per
cent. Possibility of producing sugar CONNER
cially from cornstalks, DR.. Singleton says. has
been considered for more than 100 years. It
is known that Mexican Indians were doing 30
before the Spanish conquest. More than 20
years ago the Department of Agriculture took
out public service patent on q method OF
doubling the sugar content by removing, the
ears before maturity This obviously would not
be commercially attractive. Even 30, the
amount of sugar which could be obtained would
be less than half that secured from the re-
markable Connecticut hybrid.
If the new corn is developed successfully.
farmers will face the choice Of using their
cornstalks for sugar or for silage. The high
sugar content would make them much mors
valuable as feed for farm animals. ~
Evening star., 1948-02-13
BY THE HAsKIN SERV

BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.
@. What is the source Of the well-known
phrase THE show must 60 on?"-L l. E.
A. The origin is apparently obscure Ac-
cording to some, the saying originated in the
circus. Others have attempted to trace 1t to
Moliere, the celebrated French playwright who
is said to have created this philosophy as early
as 1859.
O. What areas in the United States have
the least sunshine?-K. L. w.
A. The Weather Bureau says that North
western Washington and certain areas in New
York have fewer hours OF sunshine than other
places in the United States. The average
number of hours OF sunshine per year at spe-
cific locations in these areas are as follows:
Tatoosh Island, Wash, 1,s40; North Head,
Wash, 1892; Takonna, Wash, 1901; Bingham
ton N. Y, 1928.
@. Were any languages besides German pro-
posed for adoption 1, by the United states In the
A. william Clifford, editor Of the Quarterly
Review. is authority for the story that at the
close Of the Revolution some one proposed
that the English language be formally pro-
hibited in the United States and that Hebrew
be substituted. Another writer, Charles A.
Bristed, makes the proposed language Greek.
@. How many dissents were handed down
by the Supreme Court Of the United States
last year?-H. g.
A. During the year ending June, l041, the
Supreme Court dissented in 231 cases.
@. What were the names Of the magicians
who stood in Pharaohs court when Moses
was asking for the release of his people?-
H. G.
A. The Egyptian magicians who withstood
Moses were two in number and their names
were James and Jambres, according to II
Timothy 3:8. They were known to late Jewish
tradition being found in the Targum.
Q. How does a turtle breathe while II II
hibernating2-M. Mob.
A. In the Information Of turtles the extent
Of torpidity Is probably so great that breathing
is not necessary. Both young and adult speci-
mems Of fresh turtles are known to bury
themselves in the mud at the bottom or In
the banks OF. shallow bodies Of water.
O. What is the accepted title of the war Of
186l-1S65? Is it the "Civil War" or the War
Between the States"?-S. D.
A. Both titles are used, but the former seems
to prevail in the North and the latter In the
South. This practice was perhaps Influenced
by the fact that Lincoln referred to the war az
a civil war in his Gettysburg address, while
Alexander H. Stephens, Vice President Of the
Confederacy, entitled his book The War Be-
tween the States"
@. Please explain the significance of the let
ters SPQR which appears in the painting
Christ Before PLATE" by Muncacsy?-E A. D.
A. The abbrevations stand for the Latin
phrase, senatus Populusque Romanus The
Senate and the Roman people"
Evening star., 1948-02-13
Fayors Subsidies for Veterans

Favors Subsidies for Veterans
To the Editor of The Star:
Your editorial entitled Veterans Get
What They Ask For" suggests that veterans
shouldn't get what they asked in respect to
the increases for GI students and ION the job
trainees"
But nothing in this world is too good or too
expensive for those who sacrificed years,
months or days to serve in branch OF the
armed forces. A great percentage OF the lads
would have been contented to have remained
at home, drawing excessive salary payments
in jobs which we're superfuous. They would
have rejoiced in purchasing war bonds with
the extra easy money. They would have en-
joyed what some civilians deplored as OBJ
noxious restrictions-rationing, the lack OF
goods and services, poor transportation and
other aspects of wartime economy.
write of the thousands of officers and en-
listed men who knew the conditions OF over
seas hardshps in active fighting units or the
enlisted men at. home or abroad who had to
submit themselves to a foolish RECOMMENDATION
wherein they were pushed around like small
children-reciting general orders" picking up
match stems, etc. Many of these same enlisted
men were crowded into boats like cattle and
sent to serve their country thousands of miles
away from their loved oneS-farther away
from the fabulous wartime civilian salaries.
The "swivel-char'' servicemen with easy
jobs in their own home towns or at the Pen
tagon might be exceptions to the idea that
veterans deserve the best, but undoubtedly
these men were exposed to some features OF
ineficiency which might have caused them to
pray for a speedy return to civilian status.
You write of costs! What costs? The new
payments to GIs would be small part of the
cost of World War II in which the services
spent money for supplies that could have won
50 wars. The average CT knows how inefi-
cheney and total disregard for simple eco
nomics threw the taxpayers cash to the wind.
Why begrudge few dollars for the veterans
now?
1t is only elementary to understand that
Government subsidy in respect to the edu-
cation and training of former GIs eventually
will result in better citizens who will put back
Evening star., 1948-02-13

The furniture trend, says trade item
is decidedly to single beds. This may be-
come even more pronounced as the pre-
convention crowd gets good look at Its
party bedfellows.
Evening star., 1948-02-13
Sex.Crime Articles Commended

To the Editor of The Star:
We are glad to note The Stars continuing
interest in and support of adequate sex-crime
legislation for the District. Many fine people
realize the urgent need for prompt enactment
of comprehensive, well-considered law in
this field, but some are inclined to shy away
from active thought and participation be-
cause of the unpleasantness of the subject.
Your series, Sex Crimes and Criminals"
by A. J. Spero, promises to be useful and en-
tightening both to community leadership and
to members of Congress-many of whom have
children living here and exposed to the rather
ominous possibilities that Mr.. Spero's opening
article points out so graphically.
In presenting these views and facts The Star
is greatly aiding all forces interested in good
social sanitation for their home city.
RAY H. EVERETT,
Executive Secretary, Social Hygiene Society.
Evening star., 1948-02-13

Vague threats of another coal strike
issue from you-know-who. Not only is 1t
an old-fashioned winter; it's the old
fashioned John L. Lewis
Evening star., 1948-02-13

Cabbages in Quebec have been selling
for more than a dozen long g-stemmed
roses, and seem well worth the difference
to any one who has tried boiling American
Beauties with the corned brisket.
Evening star., 1948-02-13

For those preferring the chevy type
with flavor that lasts, an Italian chemist
has succeeded in solidifying cod liver OIL
Evening star., 1948-02-13

every dollar spent In their behalf by contribut-
ing fuller measure to the future Of the Ma
tion.
AS parting shot-how many bombers could
the anticipated increased CT payments Of
$3.50 100000 provide? Can't we try harder for
peace and reduction Of wasteful military ex-
pense in favor Of developing human stature
in schools and colleges? Could We not elimin-
ate few extra government employees which
Senator Byrd has often pointed out as SUPER
fuous demands on the American budget? Do
we need to deny one single demand OF those
who came back from the FROM alive? There's
not much that we can do for those who are
still over there! G. WALTER SIMONDS.
Evening star., 1948-02-13

Middle age is that time of life when
you're doing OK. If you remember there
was something you had to remember.