davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-05-07

forces In q time Of international crisis.
This, In effect, would create an army Of
mercenaries, more intent on obtaining a
promised $500-a-year bonus than in serv-
ing their country in an emergency. Such a
system could not be expected to produce
the quality of men to be obtained by the
selection of enlistees on a broad and equi-
table basis Furthermore, the bonus ar
rangement would establish a precedent
which would be difficult to retreat from
later and which thus would bring a threat
of staggering additional military costs in
the future.
1t is hard to believe that Mr.. Allen has
any serious hope for passage of his bill.
1t is easier to believe that he has sponsored
it as another means of delaying action on
draft and UNIT legislation The House
Rules Committee has bottled up for nine
months UNIT bill approved by the Armed
Services Committee. 1t has now received
from that committee nineteen through
twenty-five draft bill. Chairman Allen
says he will not report the latter until the
House has had an opportunity to digest his
join-the-Army- and get-a-bonus bill The
House should give short shrift to the Allen
bill before consigning 1t to oblivion Ten
days is too long.
Evening star., 1948-05-07
Echoes of Black Tom

A second world war has come and gone,
but echoes Of the Black Tom and Kings
land explosions Of World War I continue
to be heard. The echoes are reminders of
the effectiveness Of German espionage and
sabotage in that frst great conflict. And
they furnish gauge OF the greater efiec-
tiveness of American counterespionage in
World War IL
The most recent reverberation of the
munitions explosions on the New Jersey
side OF New York harbor in 1916 and 1917
has occurred at the Treasury Secretary
Snyder has Just distributed more than six
million dollars in checks to nearly two
hundred persons and corporations victim
ized by the sabotage plots of more than
thirty years ago. These payments repre-
sent additional damages awarded under
terms of the Mixed Claims Commission
settlement of 1899.
That commission, after lengthy and
dramatic hearings, found that the two
blasts, which killed several persons and
destroyed large amounts Of munitions con-
signed to Europe, had been set OF BY
German agents as part of a huge con-
spiracy to sabotage our aid to Britain and
France. The commission charged that
German spies and saboteurs had organ
lied a far-reaching net in the United
States prior to our entry in World War I.
Headquarters OF the spy ring were in the
German Embassy in Mexico. At that time
the United States had no counterespionage
organization worthy of the name and
German spies boasted of their ability to
operate without interference.
Fortunately, America profited from that
sad and costly lesson in unpreparedness.
Long prior to World War II the Federal
Bureau Of Investigation, with the CO.
operation Of Army and Navy intelligence
Evening star., 1948-05-07
Murouree

Beyond the Straits of Cnnso lies d stream
Whose echoes of the pipes float dotcn to
sea;
Where Scottish clans found peace In a
neD dream,
And when they came, they called 1t
Margaree.
The paHey has not heather, but the swtrl
OF every pool hides trout, and nerrtly
The curlet0 Uhistle and the plouer skirI-
The gulf toind, sharp from Labrador,
blotrs free.
Bras dor Is not Loeb Lon1ond, but the
sands,
The pale-tlue Straits, the beach OF
reddish gold,
Were neuer crtmsonsd, like the Old World
strands;
Sadness and grtet heal quickly here.
I'm told.
The frs lean close to Rirer Maroaree,
Its maple -bordered depths are street. and
cold:
The friendly mist blurs every memory;
And Nopa Scotia toelcomes to her fold.
/ think III end my days on Margaree,
In some red farmhouse fronting on hill,
Nor care t0hat storms may bloU from
Trepussey,
II salmon run, and birch Is gro,0ing stiu.
HARRY r. PETERSON.
Evening star., 1948-05-07
Opposes Enlistment Bonus

To the Editor OF The Star:
"Haywire" is about the only al-inclusive
description of legislator who suggests pay
ment Of $1,000 and $500 bonuses to induce
voluntary enlistments in the military services
Monthly pay has been increased from SIS
to $75 in addition to maintenance but author
lied strength has never been met through
voluntary enlistment
Following cessation of hostilities after World
War H. the jump from $50 to SIS was more
bribe than inducement to encourage volun-
tary enlistment-and still the ranks remained
sorely depleted.
Comes now a crackpot suggestion of further
bribes which certainly its sponsor cannot
visualize as eliminating in the desired result.
Admittedly 1t is an attempt to placate op-
ponents Of selective service as a political
maneuver to influence votes in an election year.
Fortunately, we have Congressman with
patriotic motives and q sense Of national
security pushing adoption of universal mill
tary service and who will not be swayed from
their determination by the efforts Of a political
autocrat who would squander not his money
but that Of his constituents in an attempt
to perpetuate himself in office
A. MOJOWER.
Evening star., 1948-05-07
Oleo Gets Another Break

BY voting, forty seven to thirty, to send
the oleomargarine tax bill to the Finance
Committee instead of the Agriculture Com
mittee. the Senate, in effect, has joined
with the House in serving notice that the
time has come to quit kicking this legisla-
ton around. The kicking around and
SquaShing underfoot OF the margarine
question has been done year after year
by agriculture committees, whose members
IN the past could be relied upon to comply
with the wishes Of the dairy interests. The
Senate obviously was not impressed by
promises of its Agriculture Committee that
it would not pigeonhole the bill.
Tax bills ordinarily are referred to the
Senate Finance Committee. The Senate
vote merely means that the margarine
measure will be considered on its merits
In the regular way that other revenue
measures are handled. That is all that
the margarine defenders have sought
that this legislation to repeal discriminaA
tory Federal taxes on oleo be given a fair
chance for consideration on the floor of
each house.
When the repeal bill was forced out of
the House Agriculture Committee blythe
petition method, it won an overwhelming
victory in the House. The Senate now has
made it plain that it, too, wants an oppor-
tunity to debate this legislation and to
vote upon it in regular course The stage
thus is being set for what looks like final
triumph in the long battle to give mar
garine an equal footing with butter in the
competitive market.
Evening star., 1948-05-07
RoiIrood Strike Threat

The impending railroad strike points
once again to the inadequacy of the law
designed to protect the public against
paralyzing Interruptions of services vital
to the life of the country.
President Truman has said that he is
doing everything possible under the law
to prevent the strike from taking place.
No doubt that is true, and until the strike
actually begins the possibility always re-
mains that some way will be found to keen
the railroads going. But this does not alter
the fact that neither the President nor
any one else has power under existing laws
to protect the public in this situation.
The strike threat comes from three of
the operating brotherhoods, representing a
small minority of all railroad workers. The
others have accepted the wage award
recommended under the Railroad Labor
Act The three, representing together
about l25,000 men, are demanding twice
as much.
Under existing law these men, or even
majority of them, have the power to
strangle the country to further their own
aims. That is precisely what they are
threatening to do and If they go through
with their threat it will be but few days
until the truth of this is apparent to
every one.
This is state of affairs which ought
not to be tolerated for moment. If any
group of employers tried to hold up the
country in this fashion they would be
promptly Jailed under the antitrust laws.
But unions enjoy immunity from those
laws, and, as matter of fact, from all
laws so far as any effective way of pre-
venting strikes in vital industries is con-
cerned. This raises the basic issue which.
soon or late, must be faced. We cannot
continue indefinitely to permit a handful
OF men to paralyze our industrial society.
The day Is coming when unions will have
to be brought under the laws which regu-
late the rest of us and if the railroad strike
materializes that day will have been
brought appreciably closer.
Evening star., 1948-05-07
Military Program and Initiation

To the Editor OF The Star
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in its report
issued March Is, warned that prices were con-
tinuing to rise in the Washington area las
well as elsewhere) and that all prices would
get another big inf1ationary shot in the arm
If the new defense program, costing billions,
Is adopted. Items expected to rise highest are
food, shoes, clothing and articles made of
metal. The defense program referred to by
the BIS does not include UNIT or the draft.
They would add three or four billion year
to defense costs. Where will prices 60 and
what is apt to be the effect on civilians7
Communism thrives on discomfort, and men
who see their families in need soon become
discontented. Mr.. Ewing, head Of the Federal
Security Agency, said in February that there
are now so many children suffering from un-
dernourishment in the United States as the
result of high food prices that our country
could well study and adopt special diets which
have been developed for Dutch children who
are suffering from malnutrition.
Recruiting thus far this year has obtained
enough new men for the services to make any
draft or conscription unnecessary, if the same
rate continues. Is it desirable to force draft
on the country in view Of its cost and probable
resulting runaway imitation? Russia would
rather face q huge army with q collapsed
economy than a strong American economy
with no army.
A draft, selective service, universal military
training or conscription-by whatever name it
Is called-are not democratic. However, many
people who are opposed to UNIT think draft
would be acceptable. The following excerpts
from testimony Of Secretary Forrestal before
the House Armed Services Committee on
April II are enlightening.
Congressman Hebert Of Louisiana said to
Mr.. Forrestal: It understood you to say that
selective service is merely q temporary meas
ure?"
Secretary Forrestal: "Yes, sir"
Mr.. Hebert: Which will be on the books
SO long as you do not have UNIT; is that
correct?"
Secretary Forrestal: yes, sir; that is right"
Mr.. Hebert: But it will be as temporary as
some Of those buildings on Constitution avenue
which were erected during World War and
which are still there If we do not have UNIT"
Secretary Forrestal: That is my opinion"
Mr.. Hebert: Il think it is an amazing thing,
as even the temper Of Congress indicates.
Evening star., 1948-05-07
Caring for Crippled Children
To the Editor Of The star:

To the Editor Of The star:
At press conference held on May at the
statler Hotel, James e. Dulin jr, vice presi-
dent OF the District of Columbia Society for
Crippled Children, Inc. was asked II 1t were not
true that the services for crippled children had
been interrupted by the recent controversies to
the point that the children were being deprived
OF necessary treatment. Since member Of The
Stars staff was in attendance at this confer
ence, Mr. Dulin has asked me, as executive Sec
retary, to answer this question by describing
the nature and extent Of the services which
have been, and are still being, given to the
children at the society headquarters. The
parents Of these children and the records Of
the Society will substantiate these figures.
The clinic for cerebral palsied children con-
Quoted by DR.. Winthrop M. Phelps, nation
ally recognized specialist, has continued un-
interrupted for five years. Psychological test
ing. research, and counselling has likewise con-
tinued uninterrupted for the past three and
one-half years The nursery school and kim
dergarten have been in session without one
days loss Of time because of change in per-
sonnet One hundred thirty treatments have
been given in our speech division by a speech
pathologist and five volunteer students of
speech from George Washington University
oul Ais Vic PdSt tiucc HlOuLtS. 1HlS group Oh
therapists started treatment within several
days of the cessation of services by the former
speech therapist
Since the physical therapy service was q re-
cent development within the society and con-
siderable time was necessarily spent In OBJ
tanning proper equipment for the department,
physical therapy treatments did not really
get underway before the first of this year and
only eight children were receiving treatments
during January and February. At the depar-
ture Of the physical therapist, the parents of
five OF these children were contacted and ad-
vised to apply for services at the treatment
center at Children's Hospital pending the re-
instatement Of services at our center. The par
ents OF two of the remaining three children
have been receiving instruction in training by
the physiotherapist at DR.. Phelps center in
Baltimore The parent of the other child over
a period OF several years has been trained to
give the necessary exercises and will return the
youngster to our center when the services are
resumed
The Personnel Committee OF the Society has
been asked to review applications which have
been submitted by physiotherapists. On the
appointment of qualified person, this service
will be available to all patients referred by q
physician The Board of Directors of the So
ciety will welcome review Of these services
by members of the press who will then be in
position to know that these services are ac-
tually being given.
JEWELL C.. GAFFNEY,
Executive Secretary, D. C. Society for Grip
pied Children.
Evening star., 1948-05-07

branches, had organized an efficient
counterespionage system. As result,
determined efforts Of the Nazis and
Japanese to set up a spy and sabotage
service within our borders were frustrated,
with numerous arrests and convictions of
the conspirators. No serious act of sabo-
tage was committed during the late war,
thanks to the vigilance Of trained agents
of the FBI and the military intelligence
agencies. 1t can be truthfully said that
the sordid Black Tom and Kingsland cases
were not without beneficial repercussions
that are still being felt.
Evening star., 1948-05-07
The Germon Food Strikes


the American and British zones of occu-
patton IN Germany is strange phenome
non. But it is not the first time that workers
| in these zones have "downed tools" whole
sale. And in each case the strikes have
been called in protest against meager food
rationS.
From a strictly economic point of view
such strikes do not make sense. Postwar
Germany Is economically PROSTATE, and
the only way to better its condition is by
increased production. So every strike
means loss in industrial output which,
by that much. retards recovery
This Is so self-evident that the workers
themselves would probably agree in theory
to its validity. Nevertheless, they strike.
And they justify this economically self
defeating action for several reasons.
To begin with, strike is probably the
best way to call attention to their truly
desperate plight and to protest against 1t.
The protest Is fully as much against the
native German administration set up In
the combined American and British zones
as 1t is against the occupational authorities
who fix the monthly ration schedules
Those schedules vary from one land" or
region to another. And any region which
has not met its quota of home-grow
food collections is docked that much from
the foodStuffs assigned it's population
Such collections are the duty of the Ger
man officials. And the failure of several
land" administrations to enforce food COL
lections indicates either inefficiency, COM
Dlacency toward hlo ck n, rl>ot;nr -. I.4l
Certainly food shipments imported by the
occupational authorities are higher and
standard ration allotments greater than at
any time since the occupation. If native
food production could be raised and If this
food could all be collected for public allot-
ment, the present crucial situation would
be notably eased.
Failure to do this, however. involves
deeper factors, especially the debasement
OF Germany's currency. The German mark
has so little real purchasing value, and
the supply of consumer goods Is so limited,
that farmers have scant incentive to turn
their produce over to the collection author
ltles. They therefore find it much more
prontaole to hoard what they raise and
either sell it on the black market or CON-
sumo 1t on the farms. Until q stable cur
rency and an adequate supply Of consumer
goods come into being the German farmers
cannot be counted on to maximize pro-
duction or readily obey collection regula-
tionS.
All this, however true, does not alleviate
the plight Of the German industrial worker
laooring on rations insufficient to maintain
health and vigor. In so disgruntled and
frustrated a mood, he tends to blame
everybody else. And, of course, Communist
agitators play upon his emotions to suggest
desperate actions which merely intensity
economic stringency and retard recovery
IN western Germany. 1t is thus easy to
see that these strikes are largely psyche
logical in character. Irrational though
they may be, the reasons are under
standable.
Evening star., 1948-05-07
Join the Army and Get q Bonus

Chairman Leo E. Allen of the House
Rules Committee has said he will give the
House ten days to make up its mind about
his bonus plan for speeding enlistments
and avoiding the draft and universal mill
tary training That should be more than
enough time to form an opinion regarding
this extraordinary proposal. 1t should not
take any reasonable person very long to
decide that Mr.. Aliens bill is bad-from
both military and an economic stand
point-and that it is no acceptable sub
stitute for selective service.
What Mr.. Aliens measure amounts to
Is Z plan to buy recruits for the armed
Evening star., 1948-05-07

where UNIT had little or no chance to get by,
as soon as selective service was put before
the people 1t received q great wave OF support
over the country by the very people who
oppose UNIT, they were willing to support
selective service. If they do that rs . substi-
tute. As temporary substitute for UNIT, I
think they are going to be disillusioned; Is
that correct?"
Secretary Forrestal: THAT is my view. I think
1t Is sort Of relief that comes to peoples
minds who, rightly or wrongly, dislike to face
an ISSUE" YOUNG, MOTHER
Evening star., 1948-05-07
Wants British in Palestine

TO The Edltor Of The Star:
Would it not be we'll for the United States
to require that England, in consideration of
continued American aid should maintain q
good-sized army in Palestine? Otherwise, will
not Russia step in to preserve order by the
simple process of enslaving both Jews and
Arabs?
Russia would then be well established in
the Mediterranean and would seize all the
oil in that part of the world for her own use.
What chance would remain for the success
OF the European Recovery Program?
Springfield Va. H. p CARTER.
Evening star., 1948-05-07
What Is q Liberal?'

To the Editor of The Star:
Your Monday editorial on the question
What Is Liberal?" concluded that "there ia
no genuinely scientific way Of defining lust
what liberal is. Perhaps not-in any pre-
else or microscopic sense-since the term Is
both abstract and relative to time and place,
The following Is suggested, however, as being
somewhat less confusing than your discussion
A liberal Is one who believes that too manv
OF the rules Of the game" by which people
make living or get rich have been "rieged"
to the advantage Of the rich and powerful (or
vested interests) and to the disadvantape of
the poor and weak liberal believes that
with changing conditions the rules should be
changed so as to eliminate the unfair advan-
tages enjoyed BY the privileged-in other
words, 50 as to square social relations with
Christian ethics. Finally, liberal does some
thing about his beliefs.
The last OF these three characteristics Of
liberal Is crucial. In accordance with prag-
matte philosophy, man is not what he says
or thinks, but what he does Surely, 1t Is
inadequate to say as you do that we are what
we really think we are in our hearts" So far
as the American people are concerned the final
test OF the liberalism" OF . public of1icial is
to be found in what he does or really tries
to do.
Under the threefold definition Of q liberal
given here 1t must be admitted that no matter
how well the general idea may be understood
there will always be differences Of opinion and
disputes as to whether . particular candidate
or public official is properly classified a. .
liberal" In practice the issue is always one
OF more or less-not either or. 1t Il doubtful
If any candidate for public office has ever
ha ali Al . y,1a
says this is the best of all possible worlds.
If elected I do not propose to change it one
iota. But If I should change it you can be
sure the net effect Of the changes will be to
make the rich richer and the poor poorer"
Objective social scientists no doubt can study
the record OF the past and identify public
officials who have actually behaved in accord
ance with the above reactionary creed quite
irrespective of what they said or felt in their
hearts. But the actions of the overwhelming
majority do not fit wholly into either the liberal
or conservative classifications. given Con-
gresham might vote the same day both to
Iberalize unemployment benefits and to impose
sales tax on household necessities
This means that judgment must be formed
as to the net effect Of all his actions before
he can be classified as liberal, middle-of-the-
roader or conservative. Wherever judgments
must be formed there is room for disagree
ment. Also, liberal can be misguided" in
the sense that the measure or measures he
supports might not accomplish his purposes
Similarly, q conservative may be misguided"
in the sense that stupid adherence to unten-
able positions might prove more costly to him
than little compromise at the right time In
the right amount. The record Of actions
taken shows the extent to which men are or
are not liberal. BUSHROD w. ALLIN,