Evening star., 1948-08-23

and justice for ALL" The principal told the
Bishop, that his children add under their
breath, "but me-.
The truth is that honest teaching Of civics
or history, unless accompanied by opportunity
to experience the understandings in COM
munity practices, is likely to turn out more
people who will weigh other ideologies and
religions BY all means teach civics and his
tory, but elimination of barriers because Of
color or race will do more to build good citizen
ship In youth. E. B. HENDERSON.
MIR. Currie's Statement Appreciated
To the Editor Of The Star:
have Just read in The Star Of August IS
the "Text of Statement by Lauchlin Currie."
I do not know Mr.. Currie, but do want to
commend The Star for a splendid exercise Of
one of the highest privileges Of free press, in
giving generous space to Mr.. Currie's defense
of his character and reputation after they had
been brought into question by the testimony Of
Miss Elizabeth Bentley.
OF course, Mr.. Currie's statement was not
without news value, but prefer to think The
Star performed this noble act of public serv-
ice out of desire to give a square deal to
citizen who would otherwise be unable ade-
auately to defend himself. ]. r. VICTORY.
Proposes Government Theater
To the Editor Of The Star:
Recently the papers have been deluged with
articles and opinions pro and con regarding the
closing of the National Theater, with the ques-
ton of theater for Washington still un-
answered, and the residents without legiti-
mate theater.
wouldn't 1t be possible for the Federal Gov
ernment to build a theater, thereby eliminating
all questions of segregation, strikes, cancella-
ton of contracts and similar controversies?
During the war the Government was in the
show business as far as the USO was concerned
without any particular trouble. A building
could be erected having two auditoriums, one
for legitimate plays and the other larger,
capable Of handling grand opera or concerts,
and when not used for such entertainment
converted into q movie auditorium. Shops for
the convenience of the artists and patrons could
be housed in the lobby, on the plan OF the shops
in the concourse OF the Pentagon.
When Washington was a small town. before
World War I and the advent of the constant
use of motor vehicles to carry one to and from
entertainment from almost any distance, there
were over five legitimate theaters here, all sup
ported by a much smaller population, even
during the summer, before air-conditioning,
when the different stock companies fourished.
Certainly, the Government could make con-
tracts with either Equity or the Theater Guild,
the different unions Of musicians, electricians.
stage hands, carpenters and property men
necessary to run an establishment such as
suggested. without any question because of the
position the Federal Government occupies in
washington.
OF course, this could not be accomplished
Immediately, but with the resources Of the
Government in a couple of years Washington
could take its rightful place with the other
world governments in having truly national
theater, and coincidentally the project would be
unique in the fact that it would be self-sup-
porting. BLANCHE L. MOORE