davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-05-27
Russiu's Words and Deeds

Andrei GromykO'S double Veto on the
Czech issue is a good measure of the in
sincerity and meaninglessness OF the
Kremlin's recent peace bids. Nothing
could better illustrate the gulf that exists
between Soviet words and Soviet deeds.
The words are all for cooperation to build
better world, but the deeds are for the
exact opposite.
In this case the deed-the double
veto"-has effectively blocked an effort by
the majority of the Security Council to
hear charges that the Soviet Union
threatened the use of military force to
back up the Communist coup in Czecho-
slovakia last February. The charges have
been made by responsible men ready to
support them with evidence, but Mr..
Of procedure and the other on a question
of substance-have been enough to
smother them, at least for the time being.
BY thus blocking an attempt to do
something about the danger of foreign
inspired subversion of independent states,
Mr.. Gromyko has in effect shown up his
own government. For only few days
ago, in an enthusiastic endorsement of
Henry Wallace's Woolly-minded peace
program" Generalissimo Stain piously
proclaimed his desire to cooperate with
the United States, and presumably with
the U. N, in guaranteeing the sovereign
rights of other countries in system of
mutual trust under which they would not
have to fear outside interference in their
internal affairs. Yet, in its effort to deal
with this very issue, the Security Council
has had itself pulled up short by two
Soviet vetoes in a now
OF course, if Russia had clean hands in
Czechoslovakia or If it were really anxious
to turn over new leaf and cooperate.
it would be willing to let the Council act
But it is not willing. So, with hypocrisy
verging on the preposterous, it says mo-
to the proposed Czech inquiry on the
ground that such an inquiry, by seeking
to determine whether Moscow interfered
in support of the coup, would in itself be
interference in Czech internal affairs!
Never has logic been more tortured or
insiRcerity worse exposed The word, as
voiced by Generalissimo Stain, is one
thing, and the deed is something else
again.
All this is typical of the Soviet Unions
course ever since the end of the war.
1t is why free governments everywhere
take jaupdiced view of olive branches
held out by the Kremlin. High sounding
protestations and promises are no longer
measure of the good faith of the
Russians. If they want to be believed now
they will have to perform by doing honest
and decent things. Unfortunately-as
indicated by the double Veto on the
Czech issue-there is no evidence that
they are yet disposed to do them.
Evening star., 1948-05-27
Notionu!ized Railroads

If the union appeal for naturalization
of the railroads is to be taken seriously
which may be doubted, 1T serves to rein
force the notion that the direction of the
affairs of the railroad workers is in ire
sponsible hands.
The statement released by the Railway
Labor Executives Association, which is
sponsoring the naturalization move, is in
effect a protest against the operation OF
the railroads by the Government as
necessary legal step in securing court
order to prevent strike by the engineers,
firemen and switchmen. But the statement
attempts to present the matter to the
public as being a conflict between the
unions and the operators of the railroads.
This is very far from the fact.
The real truth of the matter is that the
strike threat was aimed at the Railway
Labor Act and the Government, not at
the operators. Last September presi
dental arbitration board appointed under
the law, made wage award which was
accepted by the operators. 1t was also
accepted by nineteen of the railroad
unions The engineers. iremen and switch
men refused to accept it, however, and
threatened the strike which brought about
Government intervention. So when the
Railway Labor Executives attempt today
to base an appeal for naturalization on
an alleged failure of railroad management
to maintain satisfactory labor relations.
they are trying to pull the wool over the
eyes of the public. If they have griev-
,ance, and it is hard to see wherein it lies,
~ opaipSt the Government
In view of this it is fair to ask what
the unions hope to accomplish by nation
alization of the railroads. If that should
come to pass which is most unlikely, they
would have less freedom to strike than
they have now. So their argument, to the
extent that it is directed to the court order
compelling them to work, falls to the
ground. The alternative inference is that
the union leaders believe they could exact
more concessions from the Government If
1t were the actual owner of the roads
=. than it can get from the Government
when it is brought into the picture through
the processes of the Railway Labor Act.
If this is the thought behind the nation
alization statement, however, the people
;. should bear in mind that the railroads
as whole are not making substantial
profits, and there is not the slightest
reason to suppose that they could be oper-
ated more profitably under the Govern
ment than in private hands. So II the
unions, under Government ownership,
were to get more than they are getting
now, it would have to come In the form
Of subsidy from the taxpayers. And II
Evening star., 1948-05-27
The Coi1odion Budget

comparisons between the way we and
our northern neighbors manage our re-
| spective public affairs are often interest
| ing and always profitable. Despite inevi-
table similarities due to our geographical
proximity and the close connection be-
tween our two economies, there are like
wise notable differences, not only in cir
cumstances but also in attitudes and poll
cies. 1t is truism to say that the Do
minion of Canada stands midway between
us on the one hand and Britain, together
with the other Dominions of the British
Commonwealth of Nations, on the other.
Canada's intermediate position is being
Illustrated just now in the field of public
finance. A few days ago, Finance Minister
Abbott presented to Parliament his budget
program coupled with an explanatory re-
port on the country's financial situation
and prospects, 1t is no surprise that the
governments fiscal policy runs along
orthodox economic lines. Despite high
level of domestic prosperity, with record
peacetime employment and volume of ex
port trade, there is to be no reduction in
taxation. AS in the two previous years,
handsome surpluses are to be applied to
reducing the national debt, preparing for
emergencies, and checking inflationary
tendencies.
Mr.. Abbott admitted that if the budget
problem were simply and solely one of
finding enough money to meet current
expenditures, it would be easy to reduce
taxes. The government, however, prefers
to pay off debts against a possible rainy
day The biggest cloud on the horizon
is the uncertain international situation,
which may necessitate large expenditures
on national defense at short notice. This
alone makes it the part of wisdom to pre-
serve a considerable margin of safety in
the national revenues. Another argument
raised by the Finance Minister against
cutting taxes now is that it would increase
the amount that the public and business
could spend on goods and services. The
budget is therefore deliberately designed
to hold inflationary forces in check,
There is likewise to be no relaxation of
the present controls on imports of con-
Sumer goods and capital from the United
States. Those controls are deemed vital
to avert an exchange crisis, due to
Canada's acute shortage of United States
dollars. This shortage is part of the alb
normal condition of the worlds economy.
which ranks internally as one of the few
solvent, stable, and prosperous countries
on this troubled earth, should nevertheless
be confronted with grave difficulties in its
foreign exchange.
Evening star., 1948-05-27
Letters to The Star
On Recognition of Israel

To the Editor of The Star:
Negative reaction to our countrys official
recognition of Israel is beginning to be heard,
but did not believe it would be voiced in the
manner offered by Stephen B. L. Penrose, jr,
in his letter to The Star on May 10.
He criticized the Presidents unprecedented
and frantic haste" in recognizing Israel without
consulting our State Department or the Amer-
can delegation to the United Nations. 1t
seems to me Mr.. Truman did consult our State
Department and our Secretary of Defense last
February on partition, and as result, the
United States created most ignominous posi-
ton for itself on the pages of world history.
I readily agree with Mr.. Penrose that 1t was
embarrassing for the moment, for our delega-
ton to the General Assembly to be left out OF
the know" with respect to Mr. Trumans IN
tentions; but, being the statesmen they are,
they were capable of meeting the situation
Among other things, how else could this coun-
try have beat" Russia at the game unless the
President did so on his own initiative?
The Zionist declaration of independence was
not contrary to the majority opinion OF the
United Nations If Mr.. Penrose will recall, on
November 20 the General Assembly voted 80 to
13 to accept partition as possible solution.
The Security Council was to work out plan
to implement partition. Did they do so? May
IS came, the British relinquished their man
date and the Council had done nothing more
concrete from November to May than to watch
this country vacillate on its policy
The Jewish people were refused membership
in the United Nations because they had no
country. Yet they were willing TO aoloe oy
the decisions of that body. The Arab countries.
faI OF
defiance the beginning of last November, even
before partition was voted on. Iney nave
violated the Charter Of the United Nations by
threats and acts of aggression, and yet nothing
has been done to stop them. How much more
bloodshed and murder must there be before
peace has been threatened?
Mr. Penrose's accusation that the United
States participation in the United Nations Is
a "mockery" is not true. This so-called mock
erv" was a fact months ago when we back
tracked on our original policy. 1t was mock
ery until Mr. Truman had the courage to set
our policy on its original path.
The Presidents action does not align this
country against the sovereign Arab nations,
as Mr. Penrose contends. The Presidents stand
nuts this country on the side OF democracy
and peace-loving people. Mr.. Penrose shouio
explain more clearly his compassion LOT those
members of the United Nations who now are
openly defying Charter they swore to upnoio.
He also should try to explain why the entire
Arab world should assume responsibility OF
directing holy war over problem that con-
Germs the Arabs of Palestine
Just a little over $50 years ago this country
was in the same situation that Israel Is today.
So with honest recognition OF our heritage,
why shouldn't we have been the first nation 10
extend our hand in oficial friendship?
MRS. JULIUS s. SIEGEL.
Evening star., 1948-05-27
No Time to DowdIe

x The delaying tactics which the SelectlVe
service bill is encountering at the Capitol
fare most disturbing, in view of the urgent
.s.appeals for the draft made by the National
Military Establishment. Defense authori-
sties have testified that voluntary recruiting
smethods have failed, that only resort to
transcription can be expected to produce
:puickly the men needed right now to meet
Iminimum security needs of the Nation.
. Yet the legislation to provide this mini
mum degree of security is still in the COM
fmttee stage, with chances for final pas
Sage admittedly growing simmer with
severy passing day. On the Senate side are
tl1eard threats to demand inclusion in the
ybil of controversial civil rights provisions,
a move which would prolong debate and
menace passage in the few weeks remain
ing On the House side there are renewed
arguments for bonuses, Increased pay or
rother incentives for volunteer enlistment.
I'm an effort to reduce opposition and speed
enactment, Chairman Gurney of the Sen
sate Armed Service Committee wisely has
sagreed to drop the compulsion plan of
1military training. But the modified bill
sstill awaits a chance to come up on the
floor of the Senate, where other allegedly
Smore pressing business Is being transacted.
j Meanwhile, on the House side, the pros
Spects are even more discouraging. Chair
sman Allen of the Rules Committee, an
gavowed foe of the draft, has scheduled
Sseveral more days of hearings before the
<committee votes on reporting the measure
ssto the House On most bills the committee
" is able to make up its mind within an hour
:, or so of deliberation. Mr.. Allen says it may
= not be possible to send the bill to the floor
<before June l. That will leave precious
= Little time for debate on this. vita .legisla-
z tion before the members adtournyf the
political conventions.
: There is not the slightest reason why
4 the Rules Committee should hold lengthy
* hearings to determine whether it is going
= to report the bill. The need for the legis-
lation is so obvious that the stalling tactics
Z Of Mr.. Allen can be looked upon only as
form OF 2trifing WITH the security of the
country. The other members of the COM
mittee and the Republican leadership in
the House should get together and bring
this bill out so the House can vote on it.
II Mr.. Allen wants to keep his head in the
sand, that is his business But in doing
so he ought not to be permitted to
1eopardize the United States.
Evening star., 1948-05-27

A last-minute price scare is being thrown
into the margarine tax repeal battle by the
dairy-butter hackers, as the House approved
Rivers BILLS at a critical point in its SEEM
ingly endless journey through Congress.
The facts are worthy of examination be-
cause, next to the clamor for an end to the
mix in the -color-yourself nuisance the cheaper
price of margarine, compared to butter, is the
major factor behind public pressure for tax
repeal.
Representative Andersen, oleo's Republican
foe from the dairy State of Minnesota, has
been conducting public hearings by the select
House committee on the price of cottonseed
oil. This oil last year provided So per cent OF
all the fats and oils in margarine. Its price
has been zooming Of late.
Last Thursday Benjamin F. Nelson, vice
president of Best Foods, Inc, told the An
dresen committee that his company is selling
packaged margarine for less than the cost OF
the crude oil contained in it. About $40 of
pound of oil goes into pound Of margarine,
the remainder being chiefly skim milk.
The Congressman charges that Best Foods
has "spearheaded" the margarine tax repeal
drive. The firm has been the most active
among manufacturers sponsoring repeal, it is
perfectly true.
Further Mr.. Andersen said. the company is
keeping its prices down only until the tax
repeal measure is passed.
The fact is that because Of high retail
prices and for other reasons, the consumption
of butter is down. On the other hand mar
garine consumption is up and has now passed
butter as the Nations favorite table spread.
regardless of taxes and other restrictions
which the House bill would end.
The result is terrific drain on the stocks
Of cottonseed oil. May l is the traditional end
of the crop year and the beginning OF low
supply period which will last until the new
seed crop is crushed and the oil comes on the
market in September.
Oil Stocks Are Low.
On May this year, domestic stocks totaled
240 900 pounds, the lowest in 20 years.
year ago the total was 276.000,000, two years
ago IL was 426. 900, 900. The peak came in 1888
with stocks of around 900,000,000 pounds, &C
cording to Department of Agriculture figures.
Under wartime controls cottonseed oil pro-
vdeG about so per cent of the fats and oils
in margarine. Soybean oil accounted for an
other 40 per cent with miscellaneous sources
peanut oil, among them-providing the other
10 per cent Now cottonseed oil is up to around
SO per cent of the total.
Last year prices were falling at this time.
Controls went off in October, 1916, and prices
spurted through the first quarter of 1947 then
began to drop. This probably was due to
completion of stocking up of depleted shelves
wholesale, retail and consumer.
This is the story of cottonseed oil prices:
The average for 1947 was PIT cents pound
for what is known as prime summer yellow on
the futures markets, chiefly New York. The
average January price this year was 30 cents
In February it broke to an average of "a along
with the break in all food commodities in
March it edged back up to 26, in April went
to 81, closing the month at 33a.
The margarine repeal bill passed the House
on April 49, 7 A+~" '.+
Evening star., 1948-05-27
Why Scrap q Going Concern?

General Grants advice against abolish
ing Government Services, Incorporated, in
favor of new Government-oWned cor
poraton is Well-reasoned and deserving
of careful consideration by Congress. 1t
is hard to understand why subcommittee
of the Senate Civil Service Committee has
untried change.
IT the subcommittee, during its long and
intensive investigation of GSI operations,
had uncovered evidence of fraud, gross
mismanagement or other serious short
comings of the present cafeteria SYSTEM
far-reaching shakeup would be in order.
But nothing of the sort so far has been
disclosed. About the worst charge which
the subcommittee has made against GSI
is that it has had loose management"
The subcommittee asked the Federal Bu-
reau Of Investigation to review the evi-
dence taken in many hearings and the
bureau reported it could find nothing to
warrant an investigation by its agents.
And the Controller General, after recon-
mending several Improvements in contract
and auditing procedures, commented that
Gllc UlSdllDdtlOIl dl1dlIS Ildu UGGH gen.
orally we'll conducted.
1t is doubtful that any similar agency
could have emerged from the stress of war
time demands on it's services with a record
as creditable, on the whole, as that of GSI.
Why the subcommittee would prefer to
scrap such a tested organization and take
chance on a new and untried setup is
yet to be satisfactorily explained. GSI
has proved itself as going concern of
ramifed operations. That is not to say
that it is beyond improvement. 1t would
seem far more sensible and much less
risky to adopt the Controller Generals
suggestions for improving GSI efficiency
than for the Federal Government to take
over the difficult job, by means of a Gov
ernment corporation. General Grant, head
of GSI, warns that Federal ownership
would result in less economical operations,
leading to higher food prices or, inevitably,
subsidies. Neither of these is desirable.
As Federal Works Administrator Fleming
told the subcommittee earlier, the wiser
policy would be to let we'll enough alone.
Evening star., 1948-05-27
Leave for Reservist Denied


To the Editor of The Star:
This letter is an appeal for help with a
problem which faces all OF use reservists Of the
armed forces. refer to our employers refusing
to release us for training courses or cruises.
This situation imperils the security Of the Ma
ton.
I have requested leave Of absence without
pay from my company and they refused to re-
lease me. They offered to release me only
when my vacation period arrived, but I only
get one week vacation and that comes around
the first part of next year and anyway the
cruise Is for two weeks.
Not only has my company and others re-
fused to cooperate but they have shown pretu-
dice against us reservists.
Please, please help us to solve this problem
before 1t demoralizes the armed forces reserve
program, the backbone of the wartime services.
beg you to use your influence to help clear
this matter up before we all regret It,
WALTER BIEDZYNSKI,
u 8. Navy Reserve
Evening star., 1948-05-27
Rock Elm

into the riper cliff its roots are drilling
To clinch a frn,er strength deo'nst the
gale,
Finoering roots of courage prooe and
grapple
The rocky shale.
The tree eats OF the stone; tt drinks the
From hidden NELL springs dark and cool
Dith rock.
Because of sustenance, the moody fbers
Securely interlock;
Become the groptng timber that /,
toughened
Become the beams to span the oan,no
ridge. ...
O dark OF hours giptng song for timber
70 build across the years bridge.
ROSE MYRA PH1LLIps
Evening star., 1948-05-27
This and That
By Charles E. Trdce1uel
ARLINGTON, Va

ARLlNGION, Va
Please give a comparative description of the
blackpOll warbler and the black -and-white
warbler.
Il have seen what believe is the blackpoll
warbler. He has a black cap white throat and
breast black and white stripes On back and
sides of breast
feathers, light tan legs and I believe yellowish
bill.
His song is very high pitched, mostly same
notes, and he feeds on the underside of oak
leaves, and saw him once in low Towering
ounce shrub.
II enjoy your column except for the cats.
Sincerely, W. p L."
The blackpoll warbler is an abundant
migrant, being seen here from May to about
June l. and in the fall from September IL to
October IL.
The black and-white warbler is common
summer resident, nesting from May Is, with
tedglings found as early as May a. The
bird remains here from March 81 on an
average, to September %.
Such dates as these may need word of
explanation. There, of course, is nothing hard
and fast about such arrivals and departures.
The dates merely are those reported to various
bird societies in this vicinity over the years.
The blackpoll has a staccato song. He
is 5la inches in length. and has his upper
parts streaksd with black; underparts are
white streaked with black. The female has
some yellow.
The black -and-white warbler also is 5la
inches in length. Plllmage is black and white
in stripes, very bold stripes.
The black white warbler has one song
which consists of or 10 notes of the same
pitch, uttered in closely connected couplets.
The blackpoll warbler has solid black cap
much resembling that of chickadee If the
bird. on first glance, reminds one of chicka-
dee, it is blackpoll. If, on the other glance,
it reminds one of some very striped bird one
has seen it is more likely to be back-and-
white warbler.
The blackpoll is after aphids or plant lice
on the undersdes of leaves, especially OF
shrubs such as the althea.
The latter is often beset with black lice, and
these the blackpoll warbler greedily eats all
day long.
There can be no estimate made of the
incredible numbers Of plant lice devoured by
this and other migrating warblers
The warblers are most difficult to identify,
even when specimens are at hand. Pages in
the bird books devoted to them are most
confusing, even to trained ornithologist.
The remarkable journeys made by these
birds are amazing. The blackpoll, for instance
nests in Alaska and Canada, and in the fall
over the famous Spanish Main, to the interior
of Brazil. 1t is said that no record exists Of
one remaining in North America in the winter
time
So the little blackpol, weighing perhaps
3. of an ounce, makes a 5,000-mile trip twice
year!
Ten thousand miles, just song in the life
of this pretty one!
The difference between the blackpoll and
the back-and white warbler. to the head,
is as follows: The blackpoll has the entire
crown uniform black; the black and white
warbler has a crown with broad center
stripe OF white and two still broader lateral
stripes Of black.
Evening star., 1948-05-27
Equity for Disabled Reservists

1t is unfortunate that the Army let two
years 60 by without establishing the legal
ity of its practice of giving active-duty
pay to reservists hospitalized for investiga-
ton of service-connected disability claims.
Now that disputed claim finally has
come to the General Accounting Office for
review, the Controller General has thrown
out the whole practice as without legal
basis.
The development calls for prompt legis-
lation before Congress adjourns-in justice
to disabled reservists who have received
the Illegal" payments in the past, to those
who deserve them In the future and to
Army finance officers who may be held
Evening star., 1948-05-27
The Busy Bees Important

To the Editor OF The star
While I read your editorial, Man Against
the Insect" wondered II you had missed one
of the bits of information that should have
come to you in your childhood: The Story OF
the Bees and the Flowers.
In addition to the honeybee there are many
native insects that depend upon the flowers Tor
their food-nectsr and pollen. Carrying pollen
from flower to flower, they bring about fer
tiIization ana make possible 1 continued pro-