davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-10-24

generat1on living largely on the spiritual capi-
tai Of those whose inheritance is being bartered
for mere things. With life denuded of its
fundamental beliefs, its loyalties, its values,
by the winds Of cynicism and the rivers of
secularism, former garden areas of the spirit
are being turned into moral Saharas, where
nothing spiritual can find rootage. For mil
lions the result is tragic disillusionment in
life. The things that matter most are wither-
ing because the ethical topsof Is being swept
away by forces which ignore the basic spiritual
verities.
One Of Americas most famous college nro
fessors, gazing sadly at todays spiritual dust
bowl, exclaimed: "Secularized science has at
last made man meaningless jumping-jack in
universe Of purposeless change" What a
spectacle!
Back OF all our pressing problems, economic,
political and international, is spiritual break
down, moral bankruptcy. A sardonic hllmor
has largely taken the place of disciplined honor,
The human soul Of the world is sick Beneath
the blatant unbelief and the bitter cynicisn of
today there is spiritual hunger which tor
ments mankind. Modern life Is largely a
vanity fair where wealth accumulates and
men decay"
The ethical top soil, in which alone can
blossom truth. beauty, goodness, sympathy,
pity, righteous indignation, civil courage and
Godfearingness, Is being eroded The positive
values by which civilized man always has
sought to live are being discarded. Arnold
Toynbee, the prophet historian, after search
Ing analysis, is telling the world that 16
civilizations, which have had their day and
ceased to be, passed into oblivion because they
no longer could grow the fruits Of the spirit
The verdict in the obituary of each defunct
social order Is soul erosion
Rome fell because down the streams of
softening vice and idle luxury had been carried
OIL the top soil of higher life. The Master
teacher OF Galilee warned that a pretentious
house built on sinking sand will collapse when
the fierce storms beat upon it, because the
water will run away with the crumbling soil
underneath. Destruction is sure because ero-
sion carries the ground out from under it. So
1t is with men, and so it is with nations.
What shall it profit nation If it lifts its
skyscrapers and loses its soil? What shall it
profit man, any man, If he gains the world
and loses his soul?
Evening star., 1948-10-24
A Germun Peoples Republic?

A long step toward the formal COM
munization of the Russian occupation
zone in Germany seems about to be taken
by the peoples Council" just opening its
plenary session in the Soviet sector of
Berlin. This council represents the So
called Peoples Congress" established
some months ago in the Soviet zone but
barred in the rest of Germany by the
Western Powers. This entire setup is
clearly Moscow front" manned by local
German Communist stooges entirely sub
servient to the Kremlins orders. The
SubServience has become even more OBJ
vious by the recent "purges" of the So
called Socialist Unity Party, insuring COM
plete dominance by the Communist lead
ership. It is likewise being buttressed by
the creation of strong gendarmerie force
In the Eastern zone, composed of Com
munist-indoctrinated Germans and esti-
mated by our military authorities as
numbering between 100000 and 100000.
Such is the apparatus" behind the
Peoples Council which is drafting a con-
stitution for a projected German DEM
ocratic Republic" The text of this doc
ument closely resembles those of the other
Peoples Republics" set up in all the Soviet
satellite states behind Moscow's 'Iron Cur
tain" Despite Notwithstanding phrases
Communists are assured complete control
and no opposition is tolerated.
This embryonic regime is Moscow's
logical riposte to the one in process of
formation in Western Germany. It has
long been anticipated by Western observ-
ers that Moscow would set up a rival
organization claiming to represent all
democratic" Germany, especially if Soviet
diplomacy failed to halt the economic and
political unification of the Western zones,
as decided upon by the Western Powers
when cooperation with Soviet Russia
proved impossible.
Of course, this may conceivably be a
Russian diplomatic move to bring addi-
tional pressure upon the Western Powers
to reopen the entire German question by
renewed talks on Four Power basis
That has been major Soviet aim and
accounts largely for other pressure tactics,
notably the blockade of Berlin The nego-
tiations now going on within the United
| Nations at Paris could conceivably lead to
such Four Power conference. But 1t is
Evening star., 1948-10-24

ried more than half billion tons of soil dur
ing the past century. Since Washington's days
at Mount Vernon, erosion has withdrawn from
our drainage system 5000, 10000 acres of the best
part Of crop-producing topsoil The yellow in
our storied stream and in countless other water
ways is the golden deposit Of the good earth
taken from the constantly diminishing supply
Of our basic asset.
unknowingly have unloosed the strong cords
which hold the rich land together and keep it
from tumbling seaward Once the forests
guarded the soil, but felled timberlands and ex-
hausted plains, denuded of supporting grasses,
were constantly deserted for new conquests OF
the ak and the plow. That wasteful technique
swept across a continent as westward the
course of the empire took its way, until now soil
erosion is a national calamity. If our soil and
water, forests and grass roots are destroyed at
the same rate as during the past so years, what
havoc awaits our dreams of human security
In the social structure for which we have
made such elaborate blue prints!
But the most appalling loss in this gadget-
mad day is not soil erosion, but soul erosion
us to the cultivation of inner resources as
during the period of New Englands Towering,
we should be happier, serener and more stable
people" The undisputed fact is that all the
fair and fragrant things in our civilization, all
the creative forces, had their roots in spiritual
impulse. But, alas many Of the flowers SEN
umentally worn today are naught but cut
flowers from yesterdays gardens. Ours Is q
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Uniform Traffic Rules

The revision of District traffic regulations
proposed by the Commissioners Traffic
Advisory Board would 60 far toward bring
Ing local driving rules into line with those
generally prevailing throughout the coun-
try. The need for uniformity as an
accident prevention measure has long been
recognized by safety authorities of the
various States. The Presidents Highway
Safety Conference OF 1916 urged officials
of all Jurisdictions to work together on this
problem. Washington is but one of
number of cities which have given atten-
.tion to the recommendation.
To aid communities in modernizing their
regulations and eliminating sources of con-
fusion for the driving public, national
safety organizations have drawn up a
standard traffic code. A great deal of
progress has been made in promoting uni
formity of hand signals for slowing down,
turning or stopping. State highway Off
cials are co-ordinating design of highway
signs, both as to shape and wording, so
that sign in one State will mean the
same in another. Headlight laws are
gradually being revised to render night
driving as safe in one Jurisdiction as
another.
The new regulations prepared for sub
mission to the Commissioners are in accord
with the latest ideas of highway safety
experts. Special precautions are proposed
for the protection of bicycle riders, a class
which in the past has been too little con-
cerned with traffic rules. Traffic signs, to
be legally effective, must be in their proper
places and sufficiently legible to be easily
read. Dazzling stop or signal lights are
prohibited And, for the first time in
Washington, there would be a regulation
specifically directed against inordinately
slow driving. --e
All of these proposals are good. If
adopted by the Commissioners, they would
make Washington safer place for motor
lists and pedestrians and an easier city for
strangers to drive around in. If the
number of traffic signs can only be reduced,
the confusion of the motorists will be
reduced even more lot remains to be
done in that direction.
Evening star., 1948-10-24

conference, but The Star said: "she gave her.
self without reserve and with untiring energy
to the work Of getting from Congress . charter
80 and Of procuring the deeds Of the lands
donated and purchased for the site Of the
cathedral and the educational Institutions to
be connected with It,"
Editorially The Star of october 1s, 1888,
congratulated Private Bill" Anthony "the
brave marine who reported to
Promotion Captain Sigsbee on the night Of
For 'Bhr February Is that the Maine had
been struck by q torpedo and was
sinking" He had been promoted to be
sergeant because he showed 'on that trying
occasion such command of his nerves that he
Immediately became In a certain measure,
popular hero" But "he was apparently un-
affected by the praise heaped upon him. Thus
"he was true type of the discipline which
prevails In his Corps, and, in fact. in the Navy
and the Army of the United States" and The
Star believed "his promotion . . well co..
ceiyed"
Evening star., 1948-10-24

campaign that we do nothing about that"
The effect of this is to drag in through
the back door that which the President,
from what Mrs. Edwards describes as an
Inmate sense of decency," had barred from
the front door of the campaign.
II Mrs. Edwards or the Democratic high
command thinks that Governor Dewey's
deferment from active military service is
legitimate campaign issue, they ought to
have the courage to. raise it. openly and
directly. They ought not to do it by trying
to dress up a smear in the trappings of
sel-righteouSneSs.
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Religious Books

This is the week set aside in the cal
endar OF the year for emphasis on books
rejecting the instinct of mankind to be-
lieve in a power, an influence, greater
than itself. The National Conference of
Christians and Jews is the sponsor of the
annual occasion. Each October since 1943
has seen seven days devoted to spiritual
literature under the guidance of expert
enced ministers. librarians, writers and
critics. The enterprise always is non
sectarian. All the books recommended
are suited to general reading. The Bible
naturally heads each list, and no disfinc-
ton is made between Catholic and Protes-
tant versions.
In the category of books of Jewish in
terest the 1948 selections were made by
the late DR.. Joshua Lehman, rabbi of
Temple Israel, Boston, and author of
Peace Of Mind" a nonfiction best seller
which already has been welcomed by thou
sands of people. He chose Is titles which,
taken together, cover Hebrew history,
philosophy and aspiration through nearly
go centuries. The volumes preferred by
Catholic reviewers are intended to give
readers "a better understanding of them
selves, the world and their place in the
world" One Of the books specified is
Monsignor Fulton J. sheens Communism
and the Conscience of the West"-a tract"
for the crisis now prevailing everywhere
throughout the earth. Another is "The
Dry Wood" by Caryll Houselander-a novel
OF great beauty with a memorable mes
sage Of faith.
The 'jury" for the Protestant publica-
tions wanted readers to be helped to the
study OF mot only -. the historical i'm
plications of Professionalism, but of its
expression in everyday relationships
Arnold Toynbee's Civilization on Trial"
Herman Hagedorn's Prophet in the Will
derness" and Eduard Heimann's Freedom
and Order" are included in the roster
each an excellent example of constructive
religious idealism.
Just casual glance over the pamphlet
Books We Live BY" prompts the thought
that this current age is richer in conse-
Grafton than some folk might suppose.
Every volume recommended has passed
through the fire which has blazed in the
world in our time. Mems souls have been
tried and tested in the past five decades.
and these garnered pages are fruits of the
ordeal.
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Showdown in France

The strikes which are disrupting Frances
economic life have reached stage which
Is rightly described as "insurrectionary."
It is generally agreed that they are po-
Htical in character. Even the Communist
leaders Of the movement brazenly admit
this, their aim being to sabotage recovery
under the Marshall Plan and either COM
pei the formation of a new coalition cabi-
net including the Communists or intensity
the current confusion and disruption to
the verge of chaos. In all this Communist
spokesmen virtually concede that they are
acting under orders from the Comintern
to further the purposes of Moscow.
BY such conduct the Communists are
isolating themselves from the rest of the
nation The Socialist and Catholic trades
unions have long since disassociated them
selves from strikes begun under the pre-
text OF wage demands to Offset price rises
due to imitation. Even the Socialist Party,
whose left wing has long tended toward
collaboration with the Communists, now
appears united in opposing the strikes.
This has strengthened the government
enough to adopt Sterner measures to COM
bat Communist violence and sabotage. A
reinforced army and gendarmerie have
been ordered to shoot to kill, and virtual
martial law in the strikebound areas is
going into effect.
Unfortunately, this sterner policy has
not yet broken the strikes. The Commu-
mist hold over the miners, the dock workers
and other important unions appears to
be almost absolute. A large section of
French labor seems willing to risk the ruin
of France to further Communist aims.
Such rift within the body of the nation
contains the gravest implications, not con-
fined to France alone. Locally, it spells the
threat Of civil war whose logical outcome
would be the triumph of dictatorship of
either the extreme left or the extreme
right. internationally it tends to reduce
France to cipher, thereby disrupting the
solidarity of the Western Powers in the
diplomatic struggle between them and the
Soviet bloc. That, of course, is precisely
what Moscow desires.
Even should the government break the
strikes and restore ORDER the situation will
remain serious. Both France and the
world will continue to be aware of sullen,
refractory minority ready for revolutionary
action. Frances economic life will have
been dealt wounds which will be long in
healing. And extremist passions have
been aroused that will not soon COOL At
best, therefore, the omens for the future
are not bright. Catastrophe remains an
ominous possibility.
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Putting 1t Up to Russiu

Despite the vigorous opposition of the
Soviet bloc, the Political and Security Com
mittee of the General Assembly has now
voted overwhelmingly in favor of the ma
jority- supported American atomic control
plan. At the same time, 1t has rejected the
Kremlin's counterproposal and called upon
the Big Five and Canada to resort to pri-
vate negotiations among themselves in an
effort to reach agreement. In effect,
though instructing the United Nations
Atomic Energy Commission to carry on
whatever work may be practicable, it has
recognized the futility Of trying to arrive
at an understanding in that body until
the Russians are ready to cooperate.
The Soviet delegation has made clear
that it intends to fight this action when
the time comes for a final vote. The
Political and Security Committee, how
ever, is representative of the whole General
Assembly, and there is therefore not the
slightest doubt that the vast majority of
the Assembly will support the committee.
This means that the U. N. will formally
60 on record as indorsing vetoless world
control of the atom and rejecting the sieve
would be practically useless as safeguard
against atomic aggression. After that it
will be up to China, France, Britain,
Canada and the United States to work
together in an attempt to persuade the
kremlin, through private talks, to end It's
nay-saying and join in establishing gen.
timely effective system of collective safety
against the danger of war with A-weapons
What all this signifies is that the U. NJ
is putting it up to the Soviet Union to
lead mankind out of the terrible dead end
that has been reached in the Atomic
Energy Commission. Whether or not the
Russians can be prevailed upon to do so
through direct negotiations, the fact re-
mains that they alone are responsible for
that dead end and are the only ones who
can get the world out of it. They can do
that simply enough. They have merely to
agree to cooperate earnestly and honestly,
without any vitiating 'ifs" or "buts." It
labors the obvious to say that their de-
cision, one way or the other, will have a
fateful bearing on the future well-being
of all men and nations
Evening star., 1948-10-24

TlVeT.
The Potomac, at
our door, is .yellowed
by fertile topsoil be-
ing washed out to
sea. AS after a heavy
rain we watch the
muddy stream, it is
indeed a sole m n
thought that 1t takes
nature from 800 to
1000 years to bring
back q single inch Of
topsoil. Past the
Capital City the Po-
tornae Riyer has csr.
Evening star., 1948-10-24

hard to imagine that a new conference
would lead to q genuine Four Power un-
derstanding over Germany. There is moth
ing to establish that Moscow Is prepared
to abandon or abate its aim to dominate
the whole Of Germany. And that is some
thing which the Western Powers presum-
ably would not concede.
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Reserve Corps

You'll hear 1t both ways, but insiders say
that President Trumans October l6 statement
ordering Defense Secretary Forrestal to give
Reserve forces a shot in the arm was not a
political move. Influential Reserve people had
been working hard to get just such state
ment from the President. They feel the Army
and Air Force Reserve Corps have been get
ting around from the Regular establish
ments.
Evening star., 1948-10-24

Heartened by close reading of all cam
paign utterances, the prophet of gloom
relaxes, secure in the knowledge that
either way the popular choice will be
catastrophe.
Evening star., 1948-10-24

A photo taken without their knowledge
reveals four hungry bears in the north
country cleaning up after departed pic
nickers. Somehow the whole thing seems
very Russian
Evening star., 1948-10-24

Georgia policeman studies for the min
istry." It was one such, in Ohio, who an
nounced as the text of his first sermon:
where do you think you're going-to a
fre?"
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Labor Debarfme ent

Secretary Of Labor Tobin has authorized
John w. Gibson, an Assistant Secretary repre-
senting the CIO, to act as Labor Department
Undersecretary pending an appointment to
that job. A routine investigation of the back
ground Of Ralph Wright, New York official
OF the printers union, is holding up announce
ment Of his appointment as an Assistant Sec
retary representing the AFL.
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Peruvian Tension

Although the Peruvian government has
ordered the arrest of Raul Haya de la Torre
leader of the Aprista Party, chances are it
will let him stay in hiding. The government
put out the order and banned the party after
the abortive uprising at the Callao naval base
Haya de la Tore has the same sort of fanatical
following among Peru's poor and illiterate as
Jorge Eliecer Gaitan had in Colombia. Both
sides in Peru remember all too well how the
assassination of Gaitan last April touched
of in Bogota one of South Americas worst
orgies Of burning and looting
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Old Maids

LoNDON.-The National Spinsters' Pensions
Associations have passed resolution asking the
government to give members old age pensions
at S. instead of so, when all Britishers now get
them. Pensions are around $525 weekly.
Evening star., 1948-10-24

An IDEA borrowed from Hollywood may lead
to settlement OF the serious West Coast dock
strike, now almost two months old. The movies
have an arbiter to pass on film moral stand
ards The Aea being talked in the Pacific
longshore dispute is this: Agreement on a
leader with absolute power to settle any dis
pute arising during the life of contract.
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Christmas in Berlin

BERLIN:-Members Of the American colony
are starting early to prepare merry Christmas
for 10000 blockaded German children. They
seek to raise $1,000 for parties. Soldiers and
civilians are being asked to contribute sweets,
soap and other items from their weekly rations
as gifts
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Overseas Briefs

ROME.-Look for Italy to play an increas-
ingly active part in encouraging the Western
European union.
NEW DELHI.-The government of India has
decided to scatter 3,250000 non -Moslem refu-
gees from Pakistan among the provinces and
princely states of Northern India
Observation-Disclosures of the citizens militia
don't carry tommy guns around the streets
any more. They wear pistols.
Evening star., 1948-10-24

"You can tell good cranberry by the
bounce"-a test generally thought of as
applying only to babies, and suspect coins
in bars.
Evening star., 1948-10-24

"A California coed says she Joined the
Progressive Party because you meet i'm
portant people. like Glen Taylor" How's
that again?
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Spires Of the Spirit
Soul Erosion
Waste of Ethical "Top Soil" Considered
Cause of World Turmoil


Soil erosion is frightening process by which
yearly our country Is being robbed Of ire
trievable treasure. In the name of progress,
the future is being sold, literally, down the
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Tojo's Fate

Hideki Tojo wartime japanese premier, may
hear his war crimes sentence (probably death)
within two weeks. This Is indicated by plans
of Joseph B. Keenan,, Tojo's chief prosecutor, to
fly to Tokyo this coming week. Mr.. keenan,
has been expected to time long planned trip
Evening star., 1948-10-24

Upper New England merchandising, as
spotted near Boston: 1--WE buy old furni-
ture. We sell rare antiques"
Evening star., 1948-10-24
H0-Hnns

One reason President Truman can stand up
to his $50 anil pm working day Is that he
takes a nap after lunch.
Evening star., 1948-10-24
Looking Ahead s0%s S1sdops %e9% Of 1T Coming Eve,s
(By the World Staff dpressJ
Looking ahead
World staff Of the Associated Press.)

Although Henry Wallace makes no forecast of
the vote he'll get for President, he did say in
httle-publicized talk during his recent tour that
IL I get only 1000 votes I'll keep on going"
with his fight for q new party. Then he
hastened to add he expects to get a lot more.
tnan 1000. He has been telling audiences his
vote Will be larger than the polls indicate" At
Pittsburgh dinner, after being introduced as
coos ambassador with message of reconcile
alton" Mr.. Wallace said he believes he is more
popular in all other countries than he Is in the
United States. IF am going to have influence
IN world affairs" he declared, 1T is necessary to
demonstrate popularity in this country. hap
pen to believe that my influence in world affairs
Is going to be greater after the election than it
is at the present time"
Evening star., 1948-10-24

Member Of the A..eeassd Press.
The Assoeioied Press entitled exclusively the
fer republication Of oil the local printed In this
newspaper, as we'll as oil A. P. news dspetehes.
ca SUNDAY, October "a, ls4s
Evening star., 1948-03-24

OF Springfield, Mass, told all abou
new developments.
First you take a transparent bas
made out of a certain plastic anc
drop the chicken into 1t. Then 70,
suck the air out of the bag anc
seal the opening between two heatec
plates. The chicken is now in .
vacuum. Place the bag containing
the bird in hot water, watch the bas
shrink tightly around the fowl, with
the subsequent elimination OF all
empty space around 1t.
This is very conducive to keeping
the chicken much longer than usual
the speaker said.
He also told about bottles made
Of tough paraf1n plastic which is
soft enough to pinch. They have
little spray nozzles at the ends for
face powder and other cosmetics.
About so specialists in plastics, 50
Of them charter members of the
local organization, heard j. M. Du
Bois, national president, outline the