davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-11-15
Differs With Mr.. Lincoln
10 the Editor OF The Star:

10 the Editor OF The Star:
Gould Lincoln ascribed President Truman
victory to his fighting spirit, the labor vote, to
currently prosperous times and to his attacks
on big business. While undoubtedly each OF
the factors was Of some influence, are they not
overshadowed by more fundamental ones? The
failure Of the Republicans to do anything about
public housing. high prices aid to education,
civil rights and health insurance, their cut
back on public power and reclamation funds
their crippling Of the Reciprocal Trade Act,
and their unsuccessful move to reduce Mar
shall Plan funds all stamped the ,Eightieth
Congress as do-nothing, II not reactionary,
group. This record could not be hidden by MIR.
Devey's obvious administrative abilities and
Mr.. Dewey himself became suspect when he
indorsed this record Furthermore, the Dewey
campaign Of generalities was exposed by the
Presidents hard hitting presentation of specific
issues.
Accordingly, believe that Mr.. Lineolns re-
marks do not 90 beyond surface things. Per-
haps the same limitation Of judgment which
prompted his unqualified predictions are now
being applied to post-election matters.
Additionally, Mr.. Lincolns stress on the
marrow" and plurality" Truman victory shows
the same bias. Mr.. Trunan's victory was .
substantial ons, his vote now totaltng more
Evening star., 1948-11-15
A Grim Necessity

It Is q grim picture Of possible disaster
In an age Of atomic and meteorological
weapons that the Office Of Civil Defense
Planning has presented to the American
people in its report to Defense Secretary
Forrestal. So fantastic may some Of the
recommended preparations seem that
many persons will be inclined to dismiss
them from their thoughts as quickly -
possible. But to ignore the warnings con-
tanned in the remarkably comprehensive
report to fail to make reasonable prepara-
tions to deal with some future emergency
because the prospects seem too remote,
would be to take risks Of the gravest sort.
Up to now we have done virtually moth
ing about that missing link" In national
preparedness, civil defense. Yet most mill
tary authorities agree that third world
war would bring the horrors of new
weapons direct to the American CONT
nent-to our cities and industrial plants
and utilities and, hence, to civilians of all
ages and both sexes. We have been for
tunate in two world wars to escape the
death and destruction which have devas-
tated other lands. Only the uninformed
person today can be unconcerned about
the dangers to the home front of atomic
bombs, rockets, guided missiles and other
deadly devices.
Far more in the way Of civil defense
would be needed to meet such perils than
was regarded as sufficient during World
War II. The civil defense organization
proposed for another war would have little
or nothing to do with victory gardens and
folk-dancing. Most OF the 3O0-page report
has to do with civilian reaction to such 4
catastrophe as that which befell Hiro-
shima. Civilians will have plenty to do in
such fields as hrehghting, rescue work, first
aid, atomic decentralization, preservation
Of order, emergency shelter and feeding,
and rehabilitation.
There are local agencies in every COM
munity to deal with emergencies-police
and fire departments, the Red Cross and
similar established groups. But there is
need for special training of these agencies
and for systematic coordination Of their
activities in time Of national crisis. Fur
thermore, there is need to plan for quick
expansion Of each organization. A tenta-
tive program for meeting these needs has
been drawn up in the report. The program
is tentative because its sponsors frankly
concede that many Of the proposals need
further study by agencies and officials
involved in the plan. But at least a frame
work has been supplied on which can be
built 4 Nationwide emergency setup that
will enable civilians to help themselves If
the worst should come. Elementary pru-
dence requires that, however distasteful
the necessity, we should do our planning
and preparing today. Tomorrow may be
too late.
Evening star., 1948-11-15
When a Dopester Is a Dope

To the Editor OF The Star:
Here is something that simply doesn't make
sense II you guess eight winners of ten football
games you are an ace sports commentator. IT
you pick six winning horses in eight races you
are wonderful Handicapped. If you answer
correctly sixteen 10. questions out OF twenty
you are . genius. But if you miss one election
or other poll out Of a dozen, you are bum, a
dope instead Of q dopester, and thereafter all
systems for sampling public opinion are anath-
ema
Furthermore, it is seriously to be questioned
whether 1t was the election polls or the election
itself that was inaccurate as an indication OF
the real wishes Of the American people. While
various factors were bringing the percentages
Of the two principal candidates closer together
as the election approached the determining
factor appears to have been the careless de-
cision Of million or more potential Republic
can voters lulled by the so-called Sleeping
polls" to let George do it. So Harry did it.
c. L. A.
Evening star., 1948-11-15
Berlin and Good Faith

Although altogether praiseworthy in in
tent, the joint Evatt-Lie appeal on the
Berlin blockade can accomplish little or
nothing unless the Soviet Union is pre-
pared, at long last, to act in good faith
to arrive at a fair and honest under
standing with France, Britain and the
United States.
The appeal-made by Secretary General
Trygve Lie of the United Nations and
DR.. Herbert Evatt Of Australia, president
of the current session of the General
Assembly-cites the blockade as a growing
menace to the peace of the world. and
calls upon the four powers % to sup
port mediation efforts in the Security
Council and 90 to begin immediate
conversations" to break the impasse and
thus pave the way for a settlement of
the overall problem of drafting treaties
for Germany, Austria and Japan.
AL this, of course, is in keeping with
the spirit of the General Assembly's
action of November 3, when 1t unanimously
appealed to "the great powers to renew
their efforts to compose their differences
and establish a lasting peace" But the
history Of the Berlin issue-together with
Andrei Vishinsky's latest TRADE against
Anglo American "warmongers" - leaves
little room for doubt that new four power
conversations would be futile at this
time If they were begun without prior
assurances of a sincere Krenlin desire
to settle the issue amicably.
As recently as last August 80 France,
britain and the United States believed
that an agreement with Russia had been
reached after long negotiations in Moscow.
AS soon as the time came to put 1t into
effect, however, Marshal Sokolovsky, the
Kremlin's agent in Berlin, refused to fol-
low its terms and torpedoed it. With that
act of bad faith before them, the three
Western powers thereupon referred the
issue to the Security Council, whose sis
neutral" members then came forWarc
with compromise proposal calling upor
the Big Four to start negotiating cur.
rency settlement simultaneously with 8
lifting Of the blockade The West promptly
agreed, but the Soviet Union vetoed thu
plan-a veto that made clear its contln'
uing determination to force negotiation
under duress.
For their part, ever since Marsha
sokolovskys wrecking of the August 8
Moscow agreement-a job undoubtedl!
done on orders from the Kremlin-France
Britain and the United States have hell
firmly to the position that the duress will
have to be removed before there can b.
any further four-power talks on Berlin
The Evatt-Iie appeal-aA indicated by tn
Evening star., 1948-11-15
Threatened Deficit in Givers

The Chest campaign is facing deficit
In dollars as the end draws near. But the
more serious failure is deficit In EFFORT
reflected by deficit in givers.
A table run in yesterdays Star points
up this deficit in giverS. The table pre-
sented a study in contrasts. Some OF the
elements of Washington's business COM
munity stand at the top, in money con-
tributed and in the number of contribu-
tors. But others remain far down on the
list, with mere fraction Of the potential
contributors taking part.
In one division of Washington's whole
sale distributors, for example, only 1853
out OF total of 1852 employees have given
pledges; in another division of the same
group, only 20 out of 1,049 are represented
Washington restaurants show a curious
variation. One division is nearing 10 per
cent of its money quota, with about $500
employees out of 1900 pledged; another
has reached barely 10 per cent Of the
money quota, with only IL employees out
of 1923 listed as having been pledged. In
has gone over the top in the money
pledged, and nearly 5000 out of 1000 en-
ployes are represented; another is nearing
the 100 per cent quota in money, with
about half the 5000 employees represented.
Comparable variations within classes of
Washington business are evident and they
present the chief problem faced by the
thousands of volunteers who are giving
their efforts to make the campaign a
success. For there would be no question
Of success if Washington business enter
prises responded on the whole as many
Of its individual sections have responded.
If some method can be devised to obtain
this response the campaign will 60 over
with bang.
The failure thus far is serious failure
for this community. Herbert J. Rich
chairman of Business Unit /, attributes
the difficulty to the fact that too many
employers and employees "are not taking
on their responsibilities to the community
in which they are living and from which
they are deriving their livelihood" They
are letting the other fellow do it, taking
q free ride. Washington as whole Is
tagging because the business community
Is Tagging No element of the community
has more at stake, in a final accounting
for failure, than the business group.
There still is time to make up deficiencies
In effort and organization. But the time
grows short and another failure in this
campaign will reflect on this citys good
name.
Evening star., 1948-11-15
The Buby Prince

As everybody knows, Of course, 1t is not
uncommon for babies to be born in q world
whose population is increasing-somewhat
grimly-at the rate of 200, ,000, 900 every ten
years Nevertheless, the romantic senti-
mentalist in all Of us must regard it as
exciting news that the lovely Princess
Elizabeth Of Britain has been delivered Of
her hrst-born and that he is boy. For
no matter how ordinary births may be in
our harassed and haggard age, this one
has the traditions of centuries behind it.,
the pomp and circumstance Of empire and
the timeless glamour of heart-warming
fairy tale Certainly, the front-page head
lines about it constitute blessed relief, q
kind Of delightful escapism, from what the
papers usually have to say about the hard
and alarming fortunes of mankind.
When the event was first announced
last evening at Buckingham Palace, some
anonymous member of the royal house.
hold-in words reminiscent of Elizabethah
blank verse-descrihed the infant as "a
lovely boy, a really splendid baby" As
the next in line to his mother as heir
presumptive to the throne, he may one day
be King. Free men and women every
where, and not merely in Britain and the
Commonwealth, will therefore hope that
he will wax strong from lovely boy and
splendid baby into q prince worthy Of the
great history and the great people in his
background. They will hope, too, that
during the years of his maturing he will
see the restoration Of the grandeur and
glory Of his own land and the establish
ment Of decent and enduring world
peace.
In any event, men of good will through
out the globe, besides extending felicita-
tions to Princess Elizabeth and Prince
Philip, the beaming father, today will wish
this little boy bright fortune, health, long
life and an age far better than the one
he has been born into. 1t is q wish, after
al, that encompasses more than the future
of a single individual or single kingdom.
If it is fulfilled the whole world will be
the happier for it.
Evening star., 1948-11-15
Greek Cabinet Crisis

The parliamentary crisis precipitated by
the resignation of Premier Sophouhs can
not be explained merely by his govern
ment's failure to crush the Communist
guerrillas and better bad economic Sit
uation It likewise reflects the chronic in
stability of Greek political life.
Even before the rise of a disruptive
Communist movement, Greek politics was
largely motivated by an enduring schisrn
between monarchists and republicans.
This split originated more than thirty
years ago in the quarrel over foreign
policy during World War I between King
Constantine and the gifted political leader,
Eleftherios Venizelos. The upshot was
feud between Royalists and Venizelists
which caused Greece to oscillate between
q monarchy and q republic The Royalists,
who now call themselves Populists, consist
of the conservative classes, including the
wealthy or well-to-do, plus the peasantry
of the south. After the death OF the elder
Venizelos, his Liberal Party split into two
wings, the more radical and anti-dynastic
being headed by his son and political heir,
the present Sophocles Venizelos. In addi-
ton, there are number of minor political
groups representing local interests or per-
sonalities. The result Is that Greece has
multi-party system, always difficult for the
successful working of parliamentary insti-
tutions On top of this came the Com
munists, who aimed at the overthrow OF
the parliamentary system and the estab-
lishment of a totalitarian dictatorship.
Greece's chaotic situation upon its lib
Grafton from Axis occupation in 1s45 en-
boldened the Communists to attempt
revolutionary coup. That attempt was
foiled by British Intervention, and the Red
atrocities produced conservative revul-
sion in public opinion which strengthened
the Royalists. In the parliamentary elec-
tions of 1916, they became the strongest
single party in the Chamber but did not
get a majority. AS for the Communists,
they boycotted the elections and continued
their revolutionary tactics with the aid OF
Greece's Communist dominated neighbors
to the northward. This continuing civil
war has kept Greece in a turmoil and has
handicapped economic reconstruction.
| To prevent q chaotic collapse which
would have been the prelude to Communist
control, the United States entered the pic
ture with its aid program. But American
aid had to be implemented by govern
ment strong and efficient enough to mo-
bilize Greek resources and enlist the sup
port of public opinion. Largely owing to
American pressure a coalition government
was formed somewhat more than year
ago between the Royalists and the more
conservative wing of the Liberals, headed
by its veteran leader, Themistocles Soph-
oulis. The other wing, headed by Venizelos
gave this coalition reluctant support
However, the sophoulis Government has
not done the job. The Communist guerril-
las remain unsubdued and the economic
situation continues bad. This has weak
ened popular support and emboldensd
Venizelos to break away In conjunction
Evening star., 1948-11-15
'Prejudices Cannot Take Precedence


70 the Editor Of The Star:
With reference to President Truman's civil
rights program John P. Taylor in letter to
the Editor on November asks: Can racial
equality be legislated?"
find it difficult to take Mr.. Taylor seriously
because % legislation of racial equality is not
the question; CD equality Of seating arrange.
ments on Virginia district interstate busltnes
has been abolished by judicial decision not too
long ago and without untoward consequences;
90 fair employment practice legislation has
been enacted, and is being democratically and
henencially observed in some Of our States, no.
tably New York; a. Judge Warnings decision,
and the sequel, concerning South Carolina
politics refutes gradualisrn; 90 California's les
islation against discrimination in public places
has caused no more than respect from all Of
her citizens.
But Mr.. Taylor obviously misunderstands
our aspirations. We seek social and economic
justice-not the outlawing Of anybody's preju-
dice; but we realists that we are" (to borrow
. phrase from Mr.. Taylor's letter. are intelli-
gent enough to know that our prejudices
cannot take precedence over the legitimate
rights Of other groups. 1t Is not only pro-
tibited by the elementary rules Of civilization,
but also by our Constitution Let us not con-
fuse the issue. EDWARD Afford.
Glendale, Md.
Evening star., 1948-11-15
Food in a Crowded World

rOOo IN ArOWQeQ WOrlo
10 the Editor Of The star
Even though the earth's deserts should be
made to bloom again." as you suggested in .
recent editorial might be accomplished through
knowledge acquired in splitting the atom, that.
in the light Of all the evidence, would not per-
nanently solve the worlds food problem. Ac-
cording to students Of population, If India's
death rate were lowered to that Of Americas
she alone could populate i've earths as large
% ours in single century. What, then could
be expected from the worlds other nearly two
billions Of peoples II their death rate were re-
duced to that Of the Americans?
As scientists now are pointing out, mans
existence on earth has always been a race
between his food supply and his population.
with his population finally winning. America.
Of course. Is one of the not-too-many remain.
ing places where the food supply is still ahead
Of the population. However, If Americas pop
ulation continues to mount as rapidly as it has
during the past few years, it is obvious that 1t
will not be much longer until 1t will have
caught up with the food supply.
According to Sir John Boyd Orr, head of the
United Nations Food Committee, before the
recent war started two-thirds Of the people of
the world were undernourished all the time.
This condition, most assuredly has not been
greatly relieved by the fact that, since the war
started, the worlds population has been in
creased by many millions.
No, the evidence does not indicate that caus-
ing the deserts to bloom again" will be per-
manept solution Of the worlds food problem.
Instead, it indicates that as long as man fol-
lows his present idea OF propagation, he is
destined to have, not only food problem, but
all the other problems that have plagued him
through the years, and, perhaps, in q more
trying way than ever before.
Woodstock Va. j. j. SPERRY.
Evening star., 1948-11-15
Definition

Beauty Is ruined things-the toithered tern
where frightened tores k''eel at night to
hide
All shattered trees that stay the Hght-
ning's. stride
Old mills where ,oater turns no Dheel-
old barns
Keeping their ,Deathered boards aprsshe
in Storm
Old stones where feet of Dorshipers haze
trod.
BEAUTY is also one kind ,oord, soon LOST
within the memory Dhere 1t IS tossed,
Ind crinkled melody not any tune
Yet sDeet Dith age, from broken music
Dor.
Beauty is ruined things-hke cleaning
locks -.
OF ehildyen's hair shorn long ago IN yoItn.
DOROTHY HARTMAN.
Evening star., 1948-11-15
Power of DemasoSues
To the Editor Of The Star;

To the Editor Of The Star:
I'VE must realize" said otega y Gassett In
his philosophy Of history, that 1t is very hard
to save civilization when its hour has come
to fall beneath the power of demagogues. for
the demagogue has been the great stranger OF
civilization. Both Greek and Roman civili-
zation fell at the hands of this loathsome
creature which brought from Macaulay the
remark that in every century the vilest ex-
amples of human nature have been among
demasogues."
Henry Adams lamented there is no room
for an Adams any more" There is no room
for 4 Taft or other statesman any more. Only
the demasogue becomes dictator-havins fallen
heir to the power and wealth OF the greatest
nation In the world" w. r. W1LMOTH.
Evening star., 1948-11-15
Defends Israeli Cause

70 the Editor Of The Star:
I have been reading with justified disgust
the sensational articles about so-called
deserter from the Israeli air force.
Nat A. Barrows goes to great lengths to
tell how the Jews unfairly received war equip
ment during the enforced truce in Palestine
Did Mr.. Barrows forget to mention how the
Arabs were furnished equipment and ofncer
leadership by the British9
Mr.. Barrows time and again exposes" the
fact that the Jews are attacking the poor
Arabs. Has he ever been advised that the
100000 Jews wanted only to live in peace IN
their land that was allocated to them by the
United Nations, and that they were attacked
by Arab countries of eo,oooyooo? 1t is pretty
dificult to follow the direction Of Mr.. Barrows
sympathy
He condemns the Jews for receiving help
from the Russians Does drowning man
choose the color Of life raft?
TO sum up. Mr.. Barrows can't be that
ignorant OF the facts Therefore, he must
be deliberately overlooking facts in order to
write Sensational story. In so doing, he
is not disturbed that he is condemning a
people lighting for their homes and lives, as
did our Revolutionary fathers when attacked
by the British. Remember that they also
received help from any possible source.
I might suggest to Mr.. Barrows that a
really sensational story might be one OF a
people who have had millions of their own
murdered without chance to fight back. Now
the remaining numbers, in their own home
land, surrounded on al sides and attacked by
vastly larger armies, are fighting on to victory.
What story it would make to tell how no
outcry was made by the world when he'Arabs,
aided by the British, successfully invaded the
country, and how the Arabs and their British
officers were driven back by brave men In
inferior numbers.
Mr.. Barrows is helping, perhaps even unin-
tentionally, to bring public opinion against
people who are doing what We did in l776.
A GUY WHO Is NOT IMPRESSED BY
FEATURE WRITERS.
Evening star., 1948-11-15
In Defense of Parking Meters

To the Editor Of The Star:
I see in your column that Phillip F. Clore,
r., does not like parking meters. I wish to
state that they at least do not rob YOU as
parking lots do And the meters are good
deal more considerate of women with small
children-they do not wait on men customers
first when lady has been standing in the
hot sun with crying child Neither do they
hook your bumpers on another car the way
some parking lot men do. Neither do they
lam your brakes and make you wait from one
To two hours to get . mechanic to 1ix them,
thus making the tired child hungry as well.
And the best thing about parking meters Is
that they do not talk smart TO you and wear
out your patience. PEDEsIR1AN
Evening star., 1948-11-15
Says the Laws Are All Mixed Up

To the Editor Of The Star:
I agree with Edward K. Bachschmid, In his
letter Of November 8, Delay In Court" His
letter proves clearly to me, and think to many
others, that the law is q decadent profession
and that reform is sorely needed. 100000 law
yers and judges of America hold the destiny
Of the 100000 900 citizens in their hands.
Fer years the press and the public have been
crying In the wilderness of antiquated, obso-
lete legal procedure and nowhere in the
temples of socalled justice are their voices
heard. The reason of this is, Of course, that
our legislative bodies-State, Municipal and
Federal-are filled with lawyers.
Now, what is the remedy? First there should
be q big bonfire of law books as high as the
Washington Monument. All the decisions Of
all the State courts from Maine to California
should be burned. That's one way to get
new start and prevent lawyers and judges
from referring to dead issues. Law is said
to be an exact science, but 1t is anything but
that in practice. You will ind IN ancient
case in one report holding that black is white,
and you will find one in another report justi-
flying larceny. It's all mixed up and pub
fishers still use up good paper and sheepskin
to gather dust in the 900 law offices Of the
country GEORGE S. NEWBERRY.
Evening star., 1948-11-15

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address of the
,0riter although it Is permissible for
tDr4er kno,pn to The Star to use
nom de plume. Please be briet.