davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-02-22

Fine Gael and Farmers on the one hand
and on the other hand the Laborites and
Republicans, both of whom have radical
tendencies.
What may save the situation, at least
for some time, is that theological differ
ences in Fire are relatively not great BY
contrast, the binding cement between
them Is mutual satisfaction at having
ousted the entrenched power Of Fianna
Fail and common disinclination to do any
thing which might bring De Valera back
into Office. For sixteen years the master
full leader of F1anna Fail has dominated
Fires political life. That is long time
in any country with democratic institu-
tions. All opposition elements have been
so interminably in the political wilderness
that the sweets of victory are doubly
cherished and dearly priced.
TIE ne- government will presumably be
kept on its toes by De Valera and his
followers, who should prove. lively and
resourceful opposition. Only time can tell
how skillfully both sides will play their
cards and what the respective reactions
will be upon public opinion. The margin
of Premier Costello's tenure is 50 narrow
that he and his colleagues will undoubtedly
have to watch their steps.
Evening star., 1948-02-22
Heart Campaign

More than 40 per cent of all deaths IN
the United States in 1947 were caused by
what the public calls heart disease" !"
Physicians have many names for its vari-
GUS manifestations. Mystery characterizes
M origin without regard to the particular
form it takes. Writing recently in the
New York Times, DR.. Howard A. Rusk
explained During the last fifty years
great advances have been mace in our
knowledge of circulatory diseases and its
application Electrocardiographic methods,
roentgenography and microscopy have
been great aids in diagnosis, therapy and
research. Surgical techniques have been
developed for the relief of certain con-
genital malformations Of the heart. New
drugs have been great aids to
clinical practice. Yet much still remains
to be learned Causes Of the three most
important types Of cardiovascular disease
rheumatic fever, apprehension and arterio-
sclerosis-are unknown"
The challenge implicit in this statement
must appeal to the average person, If only
for strictly selfish reasons. knowledge is
power in heart disease" as much as else
where. The American Heart Association
In the Nation at large and the Washington
Heart Association locally are conducting a
campaign Of education in the interest Of
accelerated progress in the discovery and
treatment of heart ailments Of every
variety. Such drive, obviously, deserves
the support Of every potential beneficiary.
Evening star., 1948-02-22

now are preoccupied with the production
Of atomic bombs of newer and more pow
erful varieties. That grim task must con-
tinue to be the primary objective of the
Atomic Energy Commission until the
world has solved the problem of how to
eliminate A-bomb perils for all time. The
peaceful applications of atomic energy
meanwhile can receive only secondary
attention.
BecaVe of the radiation dangers in
volved in setting up and operating atomic
power plants, long and intensive research
will be necessary to devise safe and COM
mercially practicable ways of making use
OF the tremendous energy released when
atoms split Doubts have been expressed
by some experts that atomic energy ever
will completely replace other sources Of
power, although they predict that even
tually it will be an important supplement
tary source in certain fields. So it is much
too early to look to the atom to solve our
present-day heating and power problems.
Evening star., 1948-02-22
The Atom und Fuel Shortages

The announcement that the first OF
several atomic energy power plants will
be in operation by next year does not JUS
tify any change In plans by those who
now depend on coal, oil or other conven-
tional fuels for heat and power. 1t is per-
fectly safe, albeit disturbing, to assume
that we will have to contend with the
threat Of oil shortages, coal strikes and
gas interruptions for long time in the
future.
For, atomic scientists repeatedly have
emphasized, 1t will probably be good
many years before ways are found to
produce atomic energy cheaply enough
and in suf1cient quantities to compete on
O sound economic basis with power from
other sources The plant at Brookhaven
National Laboratory on Long Island, due
10 start operation in 1s49, will be an ex-
perimental unit making use of by-product
heat from an atomic pile built for other
research purposes. Instead of letting this
heat 60 to waste. blowers will direct it to
o steam generating boiler of the usual
type. The steam will turn a generator
capable of producing twenty-five hundred
horsepower Of electricity. The electricity
then will be used to operate the blowers
and other equipment at the big laboratory
None will be available for outside con-
sumption.
One of the principal reasons why COM
mercial atomic energy Is still far from
ssalisatiou 10 that atomic scientists right
Evening star., 1948-02-22
Co-ordinoted Utility Hearings

The CAPITAL Transit fare rate meanings
before the Maryland Public Service Com
mission have shown the need for CO.
ordination of public utility regulatory pro-
ceeoings in the Washington Metropolitan
Area. The difficulty OF trying to eEtaollsn
fair and reasonable rate on only a small
part of single transportation systemshas
been apparent to nearly every one inter-
ested in the current hearings.
The Maryland commission faces the
problem of weighing the merits of pro-
posed fare increase that will apply only
TO those segments Of the Capital Transit
system which extend beyond the District
line. These segments actually are only
feeder lines of the main city system. Re
gardless of what is done about the Mary
land fares, the Capital Transit Company
Is preparing to ask for higher fares In
side the District. 1t is utterly unrealistic
to attack this problem Of fares on piece
meal basis, simply because some of the
company's lines run across boundary
line that is more imaginary than real.
The split-jurisdiction approach imposes
tremendous burdens on the company and
Is confusing alike to the respective COM
missions and to the public.
AS a temporary solution of the imme-
diate tasks of the Maryland and District
authorities, A. E. Conradis, public utility
agent for Montgomery County, suggests
that joint hearings on Capital Transit
fares be held by the District and Maryland
commissions. In this way both commits
sions would have a complete overall pic
ture of the transit situation affecting both
Jurisdictions and could arrive more intelli-
gently at decisions that would be fair to
company and public alike.
That would be an interesting expert
ment, If found to be practicable and mu-
tually agreeable. But the only permanent
solution, The Star believes, Is the crea-
ton, by interstate compact, of Metro
politan Area PUG to handle just such
case as that now puzzling the Maryland
authorities. A joint consideration of util--
ity matters of mutual concern to the Dis
trict and It's Virginia and Maryland sub
urbs would save a lot Of time, worry and
expense for all parties at interest.
Evening star., 1948-02-22
Their Memories Are Short

The elections this fall will find some
100000 more eligible voters than IN
1910, according to a recent Census Bu-
reau estimate.
The electorate will have grown to about
1000, 900 men and women. From this
number must be deducted two main classes
of adults-the aliens and the residents OF
Washington. The aliens have better pros
poets of voting later on. They can qualify
for citizenship.
OF this electorate of about s4,000,000
citizens, about one-ffth Of them-1a,O0 ,O0O,-
00o-will have become of voting age since
the election in 1s40 The oldest of them
were fourteen years old when Mr.. Roose-
welt was first elected President; the young
est of them were six years old. Few OF
them remember much about any Presi-
dent except Mr. Roosevelt and his sue
cessor, Mr. Truman. And few OF them
can remember anything, except what they
may have read in the history books, about
an uncontrolled economy.
So when Mr.. Truman was pleading with
the party faithful the other evening not
to put the Government in the hands Of
"reactionaries" who would take us back to
the year 1896, he was talking over the
heads of lot of prospective voters. There
may be political danger in what he said.
Those who can remember 1896 would love
to 20 back. Those who do not remember
1896 might want to take chance-just
to see what it was like. From what we
know is going on today, it could not have
haan ha6
Evening star., 1948-02-22
For EquitubIe Pensions

If Defense Secretary Forrestals recon-
mendationS are adopted by Congress, the
law governing retirement of personnel IN
the armed services will receive the first
major overhauling it has had since Its
enactment on August 8, 1851. That was
lust two weeks after the first Battle of Bull
Run. As Mr. Forrestal remarked IN a letter
to the House Armed Services Committee,
it is not surprising that such an old statute
should require revision.
That the law needs to be changed be-
came evident as a result of disclosures IN
several cases involving officers who,
though drawing full disability pensions,
were engaged in lucrative activities not
easily reconciled with disability. 1t was
brought out at congressional hearings that
tax-exempt retirement benefits have been
handed out literally to officers in the past,
with no subsequent checkups to determine
whether disabilities still exist. Nor has 1t
been the policy to apportion the pay &C
cording to degree of disability, as Is done
In the case Of enlisted men.
These and other shortcomings Of exist
ing law would be remedied under amend
ments proposed by Secretary Forrestal
His program, prepared after extensive
studies by his subordinates, would Ak
benefits in relation to the percentage OF
disability, would permit tax exemption to
apply only to the disability part of the
retirement pay, would make the law equally
applicable to officers and enlisted men
both in the Regular and Reserve forces
and would provide for biennial re-exam-
nations to check on disability status.
The reforms suggested by Mr.. Forrestal
seem reasonable and equitable. They would
protect the Government from being i'm
posed upon by those who have no qualmi
about taking unfair advantage Of an out.
moded law At the same time they would
assure that all persons disabled in the
military service of their country receive
compensation according to the merits Of
their respective cases-without regard tt
rank or unit It is hard to understand why
1t has taken so long to discover the defects
of the present system and to start the
wheels moving toward legislative revision
Evening star., 1948-02-22

startling discoveries Of science since he walked
the rolling acres Of Mount Vernon which now
are nearer to Europe than they were to Penn
sylvania in the Re,slution. In this new and
different world Of ours mythology, politics
and hero worship, have done their best to
make solemn humbug Of that amazing
figure But Washingtor's character has sur
vived the follies of his admirers and the thrusts
of his detractors.' He is no sanctimonious
saint inferred in a sarcophagus of suffocating
virtues. Like many another great leader he
was cannonaded while he was alive and canon
lied when here no more. He was human, with
the faults and passions Of man, but he was
a pattern Of self-discipline and self-control
In the present hour OF national and world
crisis he still points his eountrymen to the two
timeless spires Of the spirit, morality and
religion The most searching of all Wash
ington's admonitions uttered by one who
regularly attended public worship and was
An oficebearer In the church, Is in these
deathless words: "Of all the dispositions and
habits which lead to political prosperity,
religion and morality are indispensable sup
ports. Let us with caution indulge the sup
position that morality can be maintained
without religion In vain would that man
claim the tribute of patriotism who should
labor to subvert these pilla"s of human happi-
ness, these frmest props of the duties of men
and citizens"
That sounds modern enough Washington
warns against the subversive influences OF
men who would weaken these vital pillars and
props. He knew that divorced from religious
faith, even social idealism presently turns into
a bitter and defeated cynicism. He knew that
tree with rotted roots is doomed An individ-
ual or culture may keep upright for while
by social pressure, habits and customs, but
without the roots Of moral integrity, sustained
by deep spiritual springs. It is under sentence
of decay and collapse. And 80, amid the
blatant relationships, the quaking democracies,
the collapsing systems, the rocking pillars Of
our civilization, the religious indifference and
the moral sag Of this latest February the
Twenty second Washington warns.
Evening star., 1948-02-22
Wushinqton in 1o4S

What george washington mas needeQ
during approximately q century and .
half has been understanding. In his life
time he necessarily was isolated from most
of his contemporaries. Even John Adams,
who knew him intimately, thought of him
merely as "a gentleman of one of the first
fortunes upon the continent sacri-
ficing his ease and hazarding all in the
cause of his country Thomas Jefferson,
it is true wrote in 1882 that: His memory
Will be ado-ed while liberty shall have
votaries, his name will triumph over time
and will in future ages assume its just
station among the most celebrated
worthless of the world" But as late as
1899 Lighthouse Harry Lee conceived OF
him simply as FIRST in war, first in peace,
and first in the hearts" Of Americans,
"his fellow citizens"
The larger, more comprehensive view OF
Washington began with Lord Brougham's
affirmation of 1889 to the effect that he
was the greatest man that ever lived In
this world uninspired by divine wisdom
and unsustained by supernatural virtue"
It was expressed prophetically by Abraham
Lincoln in 1842 in the words: Washington
Is the greatest name on earth-long since
nightiest in the cause of civil liberty; still
mightiest in moral reformation" Yet the
average historian, the average biographer
continued to see the Father of the Nation
in the limited role of the first national
leader of the infant Republic. Few re-
garded him as the sponsor of an entirely
new ideal of ordered and organized liberty,
predicated on civic integrity, individual
responsibility and group cooperation.
Perhaps because it was novel, it was not
properly appreciated, and it likewise Is
possible that Washington required diff
ferent background than his own for
adequate appraisal
When he issued the Farewell Address"
In 1896, the world was a divided world
and the United States was not a corre-
lated community. He stressed the desir-
ability of a strong central government
and avoidance of permanent alliances"
with foreign powers because he visualized
the dangers of weakness and OF too close
afflliation with systems tainted with
tyranny whether of kings or mobs. The
perils against which he specifically warned
were those of internecine strife and foreign
dictators. Read in the light OF 194S, his
final message has significance which Is
as compelling as ever it could have been
when it originally was penned..
But more important than anything
Washington wrote was Washington him
self. He was brave, wise and essentially
good in character, stalwart and dignif1ed
in personality, selfless in his detectives,
creative in his purposes. The impact OF
his career, his enduring achievements and,
above all, his example is an asset to living
generations for which they should be
and providentially are-deeply thankful.
Evening star., 1948-02-22
IL l
Bureaus
Fifty Years Ago

"A Qu1eIeICc Oh VlcWb COllCcIAAuk uic cduoe "a
the destruction Of the battleship Maine IN
Havana harbor developed as
Interior early as February II, 1898.
ExnIosion3 when The Star printed . dis
patch from Key West saying:
"The Associated Press correspondent here has
had an opportunity to question a number Of
the officers and men who were aboard at
the time of the explosion and 1t is the opinion
of all of them that the explosion was due to
some interior cause, and not the result of the
explosion of a torpedo on the outside" But 1t
also was reported that: Men, including the
petty officers Of the Maine . are almost
unanimous in insisting that the explosion was
caused by . large torpedo planted before the
Maine arrived at Havana" The debate still
continues after half 4 century. Nobody really
u sure about the cause Of the destruction OF
the Maine Two courts Of inquiry agreed that
"a submarine mine" was responsible. but the
verdict never has been accepted by all students
of the problem
washington remained comparatively quiet
following the frst receipt of news Of the Maine
disaster, but elsewhere there
Growing was tension in the air. The
Excitement Star on February ls, 1893.
carried q telegram from New
York which declared: "On the trains, at the
restaurants, wherever groups gather, the Maine
affair and the possibilities of war with Spain
are the chief subjects Of conversation. The
newspapers issue editions hourly and even
semi hourly. In addition to this, monster
bulletin boards keep the people posted Fur
ther, 1t was understood that: "At the Brooklyn
Navy Yard and at the various enlistment ofhces
men are constantly applying for permission to
shoulder a musket and march away to fight
the Spanish government. War talk Is all the
rage among the organized workinsmen Of this
city"
Meanwhile, President Mckinley thccIg.2 for
NAL channels received communication from
the Queen Regent of Spain.
Svmpoth From The Star for February 10,
The Oueen 1895, gave the text Of the
message as it was conveyed
by Stewart Lyndon Woodford, American Mini
ster at Madrid: Her majesty the Queen has
Just sent one Of the gentlemen Of the royal
household to express through me to your ex-
cellency her profound sorrow and sympathy In
the sad accident which has befallen the United
States steamer Maine at Havana
The Stars own attitude on the growing crisis
WAS set forth in an editorial in the issue OF
February 81, 1898, as follows:
| Words Of There is every reason why the
Caution country should be patient" pend
ing the inquiry being made by the
| government at Havana "and every reason to
believe that it will be. 1t would be useless to
deny the feeling that exists. The loss OF
great ship, with so many of her crew all wear
| ing the countrys uniform, in port where
hostility was so largely undisguised, has natu-
| rally aroused the people. But the truth is 70
| be desired above all things, and as the Wnoie
search for the truth Is IN competent and trust
worthy American hands public opinion can well
Afford to leave the case for the present where
Il now kr
Evening star., 1948-02-22

supremacy Of our
first Presidents un-
sullied character, we
stand in reverence
before that stately
figure, fatilerly yet
stern, who, having
won all, yet renounced
all. On his natal day,
as a grateful Nation
which cal S him
Father glories in his
hallowed memory, we
would hear him speak.
AS the laurels are laid
At his feet, shall we
Evening star., 1948-02-22
Spires of the Spirit
Washington Warns
The Nations Founder Still Has Vital Message
for Modern Americans

In this Capital City baptized in washinston's
honored name, where the monumental shaft
lifts its glistening whiteness to the bending sky,
symbolizing to succeeding generations the
Evening star., 1948-02-22

The curious fact, affirmed by California
anatomists, that man is shorter at the end
of the day than in the morning. is
ascribed to the settling of cartilage, bills,
etc.
Evening star., 1948-02-22
Marshall ORGANIZATION

PARIs.-Diplomats expect the ls Marshall
Plan nations to meet here or in Rome IN
two months or less to work out permanent
international organization French and British
officials would like to meet sooner but feel
they must wait until the American Congress
tonAc
Evening star., 1948-02-22

An unabashed enthusiast says to under
stand the Russians Is to love them. But
Why both? It isn't necessary with women.
Evening star., 1948-02-22
1. A 1a ! Some Shad0vs of Coming Events
LOOklIlS AllCdu Are Noted Here and abroad

and other South American countries will be
sent there by u. N. He adds that "for obvious
reasons the United States will not send troops.
Russia would also want to be represented"
Air Force Funds
The Defense Department may ask immediate
congressional action on proposals to make Air
Force funds for new planes available until
expended. That way, officials say, long
planning could be started with the fiscal year
beginning July !.
'Trigoni4
PAR1s-French officials in private CONVEX
sation say they don't expect any merger OF
Western German occupation zones at the
Forthcoming u s.-British- French talks. The
talks, in London, presumably were scheduled
for that purpose. ''
rAIr] ,-.
Bureaus 49,.
Just sfor uniformity. Secretary of Labor
Schwellenbach has renamed lot Of his de-
partrnent agencies For instance: The d.
vision Of Labor Standards is nov Bureau Of
Labor. Standards: Apprentice Training Service
is Bureau Of Apprenticeship; Veterans, Re
employment Rights Division is Bureau Of the
same. so. t,+=
Evening star., 1948-02-22
Sfassen and Tandenberg

Harold E. stassen's recent praise of Senator
vandenberg, Republican, OF Michigan as the
modern Lincoln has set political tongues wag-
ging again. Can 1t BE- politicians are asking
themselves, that Mr. Stassen Is getting ready
to plug for the Michigan Senator II he hnds
he can't get the COP presidential nomination
HIMSELF. Mr.. stassen, former Minnesota Gov
ernor, has cut off friendly relations with the
two ma jor candidates, Gov. Thomas E. Dewey
of New York and Senator Taft Republican, Of
Ohio. He still is friendly, however, with Gov.
Earl Warren of California.
Evening star., 1948-02-22
Canadian Red Bar?

oTTAWA-Canada may bar Communists
from entering from the United States Ad-
ministration experts are seeking authority Tor
such move in legislation already on the
books. Omitted States Senator Taft. Ohio
Republican, said recently that American Com
munists are transferring their activities to
Canada)
Evening star., 1948-02-22

Nobody is quite sure yet whether coal
strike is threatened this spring. but many
industry leaders fear 1t is. Everybody is walt
ing for John L. Lewis-and some OF the Dig
industry agures-to get hack from FLORIDA S
sunshine. They may bring solution oack
with them
Evening star., 1948-02-22
CIO and Wallace

The C1o high command doubts that the
triumph of Henry Wallace's man in the Bronx
congressional election will net many third
party supporters within the c1o. Their ex-
PLANTATION is that the issues already clearly
were drawn at the January meetings Of the C1O
and the Political Action Committee. Some
guessers outside the Go leadership. however,
think the New York election may strengthen
the hands Of left-wing leaders like Harry
Bridges of San Francisco.
Coal Strike or Not?
Evening star., 1948-02-22
MATS

Ton offcials in the newly established Military
Air transport Service (NdATs) hope the basic
nlan for q unified operation can be presented
to the three military branches next month.
spunf' Ds. 'RufcH'
Evening star., 1948-02-22

Home builders needn't look for early help In
getting nails and iron pipe under voluntary
steel rationing, authorized by the present anti
imitation act. Commerce Department ofncials
in charge of the program say they are stalled
at the first step. Nobody can tell them how
many nails or how much Of anything else Is
needed. Whatever became OF the millions OF
dollars spent on analyzing the housing and
material shortages since the war7" walls one
official I'VE want to do something, but we've
got to start from scratch" Note: One thing
needed is a good guess on how much is being
boarded or held by spectators for gray
market" sales. Nail manufacturers have been
running at record levels and say they've turned
out more than can possibly have been used.