davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-29
Fires Destroy Home
Near 0Iney, 7 She's,
Garage al SuitIand

Two fires in nearby Maryland yes
terday destroyed a 12-room house
near Olney owned by William D.
Blair, vice president of the Bank of
Silver Spring, and two sheds and a
garage at Suitland.
The house fire caused damage esti-
mated by firemen at about $4,000.
The tWo-story stone structure is
located on route 81 on the Howard
County line and overlooks the Pa
tuxent River. 1t was being remodeled
and was unoccupied, according to
Chief r. r. Stabler of the Sandy
Spring Volunteer Fire Department.
Chief Stabler said cause of the fire
could not be determined. Also re-
spending to the blaze were the Rock
vile, Lisbon and West Friendship
Volunteer Fire Departments. The
latter two are from Howard County
$1,000 Damage at Suitland.
The two-alarm fire at Suitland
also damaged a pump house and
an adjoining water tower. Total
damage was estimated by firemen at
about $1,000.
Hundreds of homeward- bound
residents of the area were attracted
TO the blaze by flames which leaped
so feet in the air before firemen
from six Prince Georges County
volunteer fire departments arrived.
A three-story frame house at 4720
Suitland road, less than IS feet
from one of the burning structures,
was saved by flremen who poured
streams of water on it.
Fire Starts in Shed.
The Buildings destroyed were 10
Gated in the rear of the house and
adjoined three greenhouses owned
by Harry w. West, a florist, of 1902
Suitland road
The fire started in a small wooden
shed occupied by Joseph Francis,
SO, an employee of the florist concern.
Mr.. Francis said he was cooking on
a small oil stove and had stepped
outside when the blaze started, ap-
parently from flying grease
Responding to the alarm were
firemen from District Heights. Silver
Hill, Morningside, Boulevard Heights,
Hillside and Forestville.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-29
Death Of PoIiceman's Wife
Due 10 Natural Causes

A certificate OF death from natural
causes yesterday was issued by
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald in
the death of Mrs. Helen r. Green.
81, wife of Pvt. William L. Green Of
No. 2 police precinct.
Death, a chemical analysis showed,
was caused by congestive heart fail
ure, DR.. Macdonald said.
Mrs. Green, who lived at 220 s
street NE, was pronounced dead at
Casualty Hospital shortly after being
rushed there by her husband early
December 9. She had been visiting
brother, Joseph Gooding, at 642
street Sc, when she collapsed.
The brother told police at the
time that Mrs. Green had appeared
respondent during the evening, and
entered the bathroom Immediately
after he called Pvt. Green to come
for her. She came out of the bath
room saying she had just taken Is
sleeping pills, he told police.
DR.. Macdonald said the autopsy
showed no evidence Of barbituates
in Mrs. Green's vital organs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-29
Constitutional Rights
Restored in Guatemala
by the Associated Press

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala.
Dec. Unconstitutional guarantees
were automatically restored here
today.
Nine articles of the constitution
were suspended 80 days ago after
the government said it had discov-
cred a revolutionary plot.
The decree suspending guarantees
for 80 days came after the discovery
of a clandestine hand grenade fac
tory in Guatemala City and an at
tempt by an armed band to capture
Puerto Barrios, the country's lead
ing port.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-29
French Army Reports
2 Saloon Area Successes
BY the Associated Press

SAIGON, Indo- China, Dec. 30
The French Army announced today
successes in two operations in this
area.
The army's press section said a
Viet-Nam regiment was "cut to
pieces" 80 miles south Of Saigon
and several hundred Viet-Nam SOL
diers were killed" while trying to
flee on sampans.
The communique said the French
captured or destroyed large guam
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-29
By tho Associated Press

The Russian dream car" Is the
Moskvich.
The current issue of the U. s. S. r.
Information Bulletin says this
comfortable four-seater sedan
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-29

titles OF ammunition at Phuly, 80
miles south of Hanoi. The figures
given ran up to 1000 grenades, 5000
mines and TOO shells.
New Zealand is building a vol
untary peacetime air force Of five
Squadrons.
Evening star., 1948-12-02
For Mutual Defense

In declaring that the Senate Forelgn
Relations Committee will be "cordia"
toward the prospective Atlantic security
pact, Senator Tom Connally, the COM
mittees incoming chairman, has merely
reaflrmed a fact that has been evident
ever since the adoption of the historic
Vandenberg resolution last June.
The resolution had its beginning in the
Foreign Relations Committee under Mr..
Vandenberg's leadership. Unanimously
indorsed by the committee and adopted
by the overwhelming vote OF "a to IN
the Senate as a whole, 1t clearly fore
shadowed bipartisan support for just such
undertakings as the proposed Atlantic al
lance. For it specifically advised the
President to follow a course calculated to
associate" the United States with regional
pacts and other defensive arrangements
against aggression from any source not
only within the Western Hemisphere but
beyond as well.
At the time of its adoption, this measure
calling, il effect, for far-reachlng new
departure in a traditional peacetime for
eign policy that confined our mutual
assistance pacts to this hemisphere-Was
rightly interpreted as one of the most
significant developments of its kind since
the proclamation of the Monroe Doctrine
in 1928. In a practical and immediate
sense, it was plainly designed to make
clear to the world-particularly to Russia
that the Senate stood behind the Pres
tdent and the State Department in steps
taken to link the United States with free
Europe in a defensive alliance against
further Soviet aggression, provided ID
that our participation in such an alliance
was vital to our own security, (2) that the
other participants practiced continuous
and effective self-help and mutual aid"
and 90 that our commitments were made
in keeping with our constitutional proc
esses, namely, with the Senate's approval.
It is against this American background
that the members of the so-called Western
MISUNDERSTANDING Belgium, the Neither
lands, France and Britain-have now
agreed upon tentative draft of the pro-
posed Atlantic security pact, with view
toward winning the adherence OF Canada
as well as the United States and leaving
the door open for additional European
powers to Join later on. Beginning almost
Immediately, the draft will be the subject
of high-level studies and negotiations in
this country-a process that may require
several months before final text Is de-
cided upon and put up for ratification.
Although it is probable that the project
will meet with bitter opposition in some
quarters, the Foreign Relations Committee
is likely to be quite as cordial toward 1t
Evening star., 1948-12-02
To Prevent Injustice

There is much to recommend the
stricter standard of evidence which has
been prescribed by United States Attorney
FAY before his office will prosecute persons
accused of sex ofenSeS.
The intent is to guard against COM
plants which, even though unWarranteo
by the facts, could ruin the regulations OF
the accused if taken into court. ThlS Is
consistent with the duty of the prosecutor
to protect the innocent as well as to seek
conviction of the guilty. There is also the
point that the District now has new and
better sex law on the books, and 1t Is I'M
portant to see to it that this law Is not
discredited by abuse.
When these things have been said, how
ever, there is reason to point out certain
qualifying considerations. In the nrsI
place theme standard is somewhat vague
Generally speaking, it is the intent hence
forth not to prosecute an alleged offender
on the unsupported testimony of civilian
or police complainant. Except in unusual
cases there must be corroborative evidence
in the form of confession, another wit
ness to the alleged offense or some cir
cumstance in connection with the incident
which could legally be regarded as cor
roborative evidence.
This is an indefinite standard and much
depends on how it is interpreted and ap-
piled. In many cases there is no witness
to the offense except the victim and in
the absence of confession, care must be
taken that the proviso with respect to
corroborative circumstances does not de-
velop into loophole through which the
guilty can escape as result of laxity on
the part of the police or Mr.. Fay's sta1.
There would also seem to be danger that
civilians might get the idea that, lacking
q witness, there is no point in reporting
an offense because it will not be prosecuted.
Many people are reluctant enough at best
to bring these things into the open for
fear of attendant embarrassment, and 1t
should be made entirely clear that this
new standard of evidence is not intended
to discourage, and should not be permitted
to discourage, the reporting Of sex Of
tenders.
The Star has confidence in Mr. Fays
desire to enforce the sex law IN every
proper case, and believes the community
can be confident that he will not permit
his new evidence requirements to be ap-
piled in a way that will tend to break
down enforcement of the statute.
Evening star., 1948-12-02
The Jerusalem Truce

The signing of an armistice by Arab and
Israeli commanders in the Jerusalem area,
providing for a. complete and sincere
cease-fire" in the city and its environS is
welcome development in the tangled
problem of Palestine. 1t raises hopes that
this localized truce may be generalized.
And as a matter of fact, actual fighting
has virtually ceased in all contested
sectors.
Nevertheless, in view of the breakdown
of previous truce attempts, realistic
appraisal of the Jerusalem truce seems IN
order. And the facts disclose certain
special factors favoripg a local armistice
which do not necessarily apply elsewhere.
The contestants in the Jerusalem area
appear to have about fought themselves to
a standstill with little Immediately to gain
from further attempts wholly to expel the
other. In this connection, it should be
understood that the backbone of the Arab
forces in Jerusalem is the Legion of King
Abdullah of TranS-Jordan. Abdullah has
shown himself to be the least intransigent
member of the Arab powers toward the
Israelis. He is likewise the one most
amenable to the pressure of Western in
1uences. Last, but not least, the mere
existence of fighting in city deemed
holy alike by Christians, Jews and Moslems
throughout the world tends to shock the
religious sensibilities of adherents of all
three faiths. Christians are especially
aggrieved in this instance, because, though
not directly involved in the struggle, they
have suffered danger, property losses and
damage to their treasured holy places. 1t
is obviously not wise for either Arabs or
Israelis unduly to affront Christian feel
ings on worldwide scale.
If this appraisal be adequate, therefore,
it is not improbable that the Palestine
.armistice will endure, provided the situa-
ton elsewhere in Palestine does not again
get completely out of hand. And the end
Of fighting in the Holy City gives welcome
leverage for efforts at negotiated settle
ment of the larger problem now being
made in the United Nations and on other
diplomatic lines. Nevertheless, with the
dubious exception of Abdullah, the Arab
powers reveal no weakening in their refusal
to recognize or deal with the State Of
Israel. And some such recognition, at
least on de facto basis, must be the pre-
requisite to any negotiated settlement.
Meanwhile, the Israelis seem well able to
take care of themselves as against their
Arab opponents. The Israelis now control
both of the most disputed areas-the
Negeb and Galilee-after fighting in which
their troops have uniformly bested their
resnective onnonents And there appears
to be no effective pressure, either inside
or outside the United Nations, to constrain
the 1sraelis to give up what they have
won by force Of arms.
The upshot is an uneasy balance Of
forces. The Israelis are standing pat on
their gains. The Arabs seem unable to
mount counterattacks For the moment,
this means an informal extension Of the
cease-f1re order formalized in Jerusalem
itself. But to read too much into this
cessation OF active hostilities would be
premature.
Evening star., 1948-12-02
Monroe Doctrine Anniversary

One hundred and twenty-five years ago
today President James Monroe notified
the world that "the American continents
by the free and independent condition
which they have assumed and maintain
are henceforth not to be considered as
subjects for future colonization by any
European power" This doctrine became
at once, as Professor Dexter Perkins of the
University of Rochester, an authority on
the subject, says, "one of the major dogmas
of American foreign policy" 1t did not
represent novel point of view. On the
contrary, it expressed a determination
dating back to the revolutionary struggle
with England out of which the United
States had grown.
. Yet it was from British diplomat that
the definitive suggestion of the Monroe
Doctrine came. George Canning, Foreign
Secretary under King George Nv, having
heard that certain continental powers were
preparing for joint action looking toward
reconquest of the Spanish colonies in South
America and knowing also that Russia was
developing a claim to territory including
what now is California. proposed to Rich
ard Rush, American Minister in London,
that he collaborate with him in a state
ment opposing such activities. Rush re-
ferred the problem to John Quincy Adams,
Secretary of State, and thus to Adams
chief, Monroe. The latter consulted Thom
as jefferson and James Madison. With
their support Monroe finally decided to
warn all the governments potentially con-
cerned by warning the Russian Emperor
specifically.
The language employed was polite,
even friendly. Full power and instruc-
tions," the message read, "have been trans
mitted to the Minister of the United States
at st. Petersburg to arrange by amicable
negotiation the respective rights and in
terests of the two nations on the north
west coast of this continent" But "the
occasion has been judged proper for assert
ing as principle in which the rights and
interests of the United States are involved"
no further encroachment of Europe in the
Americas could be tolerated. That is what
the Doctrine meant in 1928, and that is
what 1t means century and quarter
later. Monroe's dogma" as DR.. Perkins
sees it, lis not international law. Its prin-
ciples may be deduced from other prin-
ciples truly legal, but fundamentally the
Doctrine is an article of faith, all the more
powerful because it has roots in emotion
rather than reason" Most Americans
regard 1t as part and parcel of their lives,
heritage of vast historical Importance to
which they are as much devoted in the
atomic age as ever their fathers were in
earlier times
Evening star., 1948-12-02
ArIinqton Sets on Example

About the only difference between tne
school situation in Arlington and that in
Washington is that the Districts neigh
bors across the Potomac River are in
position to do something Immediately to
improve conditions. They are in that
fortunate position because, with the ad-
vantage of suffrage that is lacking here,
they have voted to borrow money to pro-
vide the additional classrooms needed for
today's children. without borrowing 1t
would be impossible for Arlington to pro-
ceed at this time with $6,526, 900 build
ing program-a program designed to
relieve overcrowding and otherwise to i'm
prove the quality of education in the
fast-growing county.
The Arlington construction program was
made possible by two bond issues. The
proceeds from $1,776,000 issue became
available last month. The second issue
of $4,750,000 was voted at the last elec-
ton. There-aS has been the case here
the question of whether to borrow or to
stick to the traditional pay-asyougo plan
was long debated. The majority of cit
liens indicated by their votes that they
felt the emergency, arising from rapid
.
past few years, could only be met by build
ing now with borrowed funds and spread
ing the cost over period of years.
Arlington school authorities have read
with interest the recommendations con-
tanned in the Strayer report on District
school deficiencies. They are gratifled to
find that the improvement program sched-
uled for Arlington is in line with that
suggested for Washington by DR.. George
D. Strayer and his staff, insofar as size
of classes and classrooms area of sites
and general standards of education are
concerned Arlington has reported to the
State Board of Education that it will have
to spend approximately $13 3,000, 900 on new
| schools or additions to the existing plant
within the next ten years. And the
| county is one of the few in the State that
| said it would not require State aid to carry
! out this construction program. Many of
the other counties are seeking State aid
in the form of loans from the depleted
State literary fund. There is movement
to call the Legislature into special session
to enact a sales tax with which to finance
the immediate needs of the States school
system.
The State Board of Education, COM
menting on the estimated need for $685.
900 in new construction throughout the
State, made it plain that it believes the
problem is not one for the State alone to
solve. Prompt consideration and action"
on the part of local authorities also is re-
quired If the crisis is to be overcome, the
board said. The example set by Arlington
! in resorting to loans as way out of i'm
Evening star., 1948-12-02
Radicals Win in the End
TO the Editor Of The Star:

TO the Editor Of The STAR
Your recent editorial praise for Levi Jackson
Of Yale and for the honest young men who
chose him captain was richly merited and
generously given. He and they are symbols OF
the direction Of social currents today.
I believe, however that you are wrong in
your unqualified condemnation of club-wield-
ing radicals. Their role is to point out new
trails in public thinking, to dramatize old Ills
and to agitate for change. Though their i'm
patient ways seldom prevail Immediately, they
SO prod the body and prick the conscience OF
society that there is no rest until the substance
of their aim becomes realized in daily practice
Let us not forget that the midnineteenIn
century radicals. often mobbed and ciuooeo
began the clamor for freedom and opportunity
for all that has made possible the Levi Jack
sons Of our time. j. w. dA4WOOO' W.
Evening star., 1948-12-02

as Mr.. Connally says, and the chances
seem to be that the Senate as whole
will be similarly cordial.
In any event, since the proposed pact
embraces the principle and purpose of the
vandenberg resolution, consistency argues
strongly for its approval. Beyond that,
what argues for it most powerfully of all
is the fact that our shrunken world is
full of dangers and that our own safety
demands that we ally ourselves with other
free nations for mutual protection in the
age of the atom and supersonic flight.
Evening star., 1948-12-02
Corcoran Jury's Errors

TO the Editor OF The Star:
In the controversy over the nasco Of the
Third Annual Regional Exhibit at the Cor
coran Gallery there is much more concern
with the results than with the causes Yet
without two principal causes there would not
have been this chaotic result which is pleasing
to no one.
While it is true, as the jury stated, that
there Is vast increase in the number OF
amateur artists and that these, insofar as
they swell the rising tide of mediocrity or
succeed with unprecedented and unprece-
dented effects, add taxing confusion to jury
service it is also true that there is an in
creasing tendency among juries to Judge in an
arbitrary fashion. The Corcoran jury showed
this in its own conduct. Many recent juries
have accepted the extremes OF conservatism
and the advanced forms and have rather ruth
1essly passed over the middle ground, bracket
ing it as mediocre. The consideration Of this
middle ground requires more breadth of view
and surer and more sensitive perception in
order to distinguish between mediocrity and
the really creative work.
This was exactly what the Corcoran jury
did not bring to the 1000 entries which fab
bergasted it. That at least four -flfths of the
entries were mediocre one can take for granted
and join the jury in deploring the .circum-
stance. But it is specifically in this bulk of
mediocrity topped by work that all too seldom
reaches a high creative standard that the
regional exhibit makes unusual demands upon
jury. To select worthy and representative
exhibit requires effort beyond the value of
much Of the work, and any one serving on q
regional jury should recognize this. AS the
Corcoran show proves, this cannot be accom-
plished by hypercritical jury in the short
space of one day, perhaps at the most seven
hours.
Despite the pretensions of the statement
that "the jury feels its duty is to throw its
weight on the side Of honesty and knowledge"
the result under such sweeping and ill-con-
sidered judging could show only the jury's
prejudices and not high and catholic critical
standard. When the jury expressed itself, as
has been reported, as not seeing anything
worth showing, but willing to choose a small
number which would represent its beliefs, the
director should have offered to relieve the
jury of its obligations and then made other
arrangements. His obligation to his gallery
and the artists was greater than to the un-
realistic and prejudiced jury.
PRENTIss TAYLOR.
Evening star., 1948-12-02
Traffic Ordeal at Is
TO the Editor of The Star:

TO the Edltor OF IHe otHF.
Early in the morning, $50 to be explicit the
nose of our Plymouth was pointed towards
parking place-yes, we have one-and the daily
stint. AS usual on this highway, we immedl-
ately were aware that it was case of every
man for himself We strapped ourselves in,
locked all doors to fend off highway robbers
who might be around, and commenced our
perilous journey.
Being we'll versed in the speed limit as on
the statute books we kept our motor turning
to give us Is miles an hour However, it being
slightly wet, we found that everyone passing
Evening star., 1948-12-02

left our windshield very dirty, SO we hiked it
up q bit. Still the same story. So. in order
to remain able to see we thought that there
must be an error in the speed limit. But we
gave it up as bad job when 80 an hour left us
as dirty as ever.
No fooling, every kind of truck and car
imaginable tore past us. So we dropped to
Is and arrived with the tiny part of our wind
shield that the wiper cleared the only means
of vision. During the day we had occasion
to travel around the town, and after getting
into some very tight squeezes from cars cut
ting in front of our Is an hour slow-poking
we tried walking to steady our nerves for the
return trip at pm. Alas, we got to Nine
teenth and NV. and to our horror found no
traffic light. Well, what with crippled folks
from the medical centers, cars taking our right
of way, and getting cussed, we backed cautiously
away, and crept down Nineteenth street, dodg-
ing bicycles until we arrived at our car
The return trip to Garrison street NV, was
terrific so horrible that it is no use our asking
you to believe it, much less publish it.
We suggest you send out one Of your dare
devil reporters some time, one you have a
grudge against, and let him type the days
activities, if he is able to do so. Maybe
Brother Keneipp will get some idea of our
keen distress when we read about dropping
the speed limit to Is miles. The good man
cannot be aware that he is asking too much.
No one does less than 80. TWENTY-FIVE.
Evening star., 1948-12-02

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address of the
,Driter, although it is permissible for
Writer known to The Star to use
nom de plume. Please be brief.