davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-07-24
Evades 'Guru'
Dodges Authorship of Cult Letters
As Press Is Lectured on Facts"

scribe it as . reaction against the
dominance Of the old matriarch,
Sara Roosevelt, the Presidents
mother. Notably the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt would not interfere
with their children's divorces, despite
the pressure Of Democratic leaders
fearful Of the public temper.
Roosevelt also hated to hurt any
ones feelings and his gyrations to
avoid doing 50 were notorious, often
ludicrous and occasionally damag-
ling to the conduct Of public business
So the White House sat tight In
1910. But Roosevelt and WallAce
we're probably the only Democrats OF
Importance who didn't confer about
those letters as word spread that
their publication was imminent
They were not published that year
after all, but from New York to
California the party leaders sweated
it out until the last ballots were
counted.
Since then the letters have been
a recurrent phenomenon in Ameri-
can politics. Yet even Is Wallace
moved steadily leftward, most Of
newspaperdom and politicos forbore
Wisecracked one reporter: HE that
has never written an indiscreet let
ter, let him cast the first typewriter
at Wallace"
! "Guru" Now An Issue.
Wallace himself created the ten
sion of yesterdays extraordinary
press conference at which the truth
of the charge that he wrote the
Guru letters became an issue.
He has said that he knows great
damage is being inflicted upon hi.
party by newspaper attention to the
Communists in its ranks and hi.
refusal to repudiate them. Appar.
emily some one among the left.
wingers to whom he now listens ex-
clusively sold him the idea that the
best defense was a big propagands
offensive against the press.
The 800 reporters present were
Washington correspondents chiefly
and political writer's from the. va
rious States. Ideologically speaking
fair estimate is that 10 per cent Of
them are liberals and less than :
per cent relish the bitter personal
journalism Of Pegler.
Wallace began his conference with
a stunt.
At his side was a thin, sad-faced
blond boy, introduced as Bill Polk
Harvard student, brother Of George
Polk, CHS correspondent in Greece,
who was murdered there last spring
Wallace read long letters from
Evening star., 1948-07-24
THE EVENING STAR, Washington, D. {
SATURDAY. JuiY ~. is4a

George Polk attacking the maga-
zine Newyweek, for which he worked,
also Is being unfair In its foreign
reporting. Wallace suggested that
solving the murder Of Polk was
not being prosecuted with sufncient
zeal; limited that the press did not
look after It's own, the implication
being that they were either too
cowardly or too reactionary to care.
Then the New Psrty's candidate
ruled out communism as . press
conference topic. No matter how
hard reporters tried, he said, they
could not get him either to re-
pudiate the Communists or admit
being one. Although the party's
prime issue Is peace through good
relations with Communist Russia,
Communists here are not an issue,
wallace insisted.
Wallace Taken by Surprise.
did you write the Dear Guru'
letters?" came the swift question
and this most extraordinary Of press
conferences was under way.
Wallace was plainly surprised by the
question; in an instant, however,
his face was . mask; he had closed
the door to past mistakes and future
fears.
Just prior to the press conference,
Henry L. Mencken, the sage Of Balti-
more, had had q most amiable visit
with the Wallaces and their aides,
and they told him how much they
admired his work. In the most pa
ternal and kindly manner, Mencken
sought to resolve the ugly tension.
He suggested that Wallace would
not think him . stooge for anybody
and the first laughter Of the confer
ence was heard.
Answer the question:" Mencken
urged him politely. Say yes or no
and be done with it. It can't hurt
you"
But Mencken's cheerful common
sense met the same closed door.
Wallace shook his head.
Wallace is always shaking his
head at realities; that is why Mrs.
Roosevelt has called him the worst
politician she ever knew.
1t is possible to feel . good deal
Of sympathy for him about the let
ters. They were private letters,
after all, about private emotions.
Nobody likes to admit he has been
a fool, especially with his enemies
alert to rub 1t in. Clearly, too, Wal
Evening star., 1948-07-24

lace feels that he has been deeply
misunderstood In the matter: 1t
must have meant much to hirn--so
much that he cannot bear to touch
the scar.
If he were q more callous man he
would deny everything and let peo-
pie make the most Of 1t. He has
declined to lie; only the open ac-
ceptance seems beyond him.
How much harm he has done his
press relations remains to be seen.
The conference closed in an atmo-
sphere Of deep sullenness, rare in
United States POLITICS
Evening star., 1948-07-24
$4,000 Bombay Students
Strike, Demonstrate
By the Associated Press

BOMBAY, July 24.-Fifteen thous.
and students struck yesterday and
staged demonstrations, one of which
was broken up by club-wieldine
police.
Police said a majority of Bonn
bays $1,000 students ignored the
strike call by the Communist dom
mated students union. The union
is protesting increased teaching fees
Evening star., 1948-07-24
|U:S. Official Criticizes
Red Embassy Action
BY the kssoeioisd Press

A State Department official yes
terday accused the Soviet Embassy
Of an improper activity" in pub
fishing attacks against United
States policies.
Joseph Chapel, an assistant
chief Of the departments visa divi-
sion, labeled as improper" critical
statements appearing in the Enbas-
sy's slick-paper magazine, "U. s
s. R.-Information Bulletin" The
magazine is published twice month
ly by the Embassy.
Mr.. Chapel, who appeared be-
fore Senate Judiciary Committee
referred specifically to an article in
the June 16 issue entitled "On So
viet-American Relations"
The article blamed the United
States for failure to reach agree
ment on international control OF
atomic energy and for the collapse
of the Foreign Ministers Confer
ences at Moscow and London. II
also accused the United States OF
f&010tA16 tAtC IOkoudut dIlu d1t6
agreements on Germany.
In part, the article said:
Facts prove that in reality it is
the United States Government
which bears full responsibility fol
the situation in which no decision
has as yet been taken in the prohi-
bition Of atomic weapons. ="
"And yet, at the present time
United States Government circles
are not concerned about defense OF
democracy and civil liberties, but
about the maintenance and implan-
tation Of reactionary antidemocratic
and Fascist regimes in other coun-
tries Greece, Spain. Iran). These
circles are so busy carrying out this
ungrateful mission that they cannot
bother about defense of democracy
and civil liberties"
Evening star., 1948-07-24

military leaders Constantine Brown.
naturally will have an easing ef-
feet on the>minds of the American
people.
To the extent, therefore, that the
American people need to be free
from false alarms, in order that
they can 60 about their daily work
unhampered by unfounded fears for
the future, the Presidents statement
was wise, even If 1t was not based
on the latest information which
Gen. Clay had to present from the
front" in Berlin.
The statement could have q dam
aging effect, however, If it is not
understood in the light of many
circumstances, and If it Is not care
fully and properly interpreted.
False Impressions Possible.
It is possible for the people of
this country to draw false impress
sions from such a simplified and
unelaborated statement by the Ma
IkO1l SlllCk GSACSut4FC. NA ul1ldll
did not even make clear whether
he was referring to the stalemated
peacemaking which hangs over
from World War II or to the posi-
bilities of World War III breaking
out.
The Presidents reassurances must
be understood in the light of Secre-
tary of State Marshall's statement
the day before that it is the policy
Of the United States to exhaust
he resources of diplomacy and nego-
tiation with Russia and that the
United States will do everything in
its power to prevent the outbreak
of new war.
Mr. Truman coupled his reassur-
ances on peace with a complete in
dorsement of Gen. Marshall's s
pledges, and it is to this line OF
policy which we now follow that we
must look for the explanation of the
Evening star., 1948-07-24
Senate Urged to End
Margarine Tx Quickly

The Senate can end the oleomarg-
arine taxes within a matter Of
hours" when Congress meets next
week, Elizabeth Christman of the
National Women's Trade Union
said today.
In q letter to Republican leaders
in both Houses. Miss Christman said
enactment OF the repeal law, already
passed by the House, rs one of the
first jobs that Congress can UNDER
take to relieve high cost of living
pressure on the family budget"
Evening star., 1948-07-24

tion OF fac t
about his own
affairs.
No American
in public life has
ever got a W q y
with such q re-
fusal, no mat
ter how person.
ally embarrass-
ing the fac t S
were to him.
Grover. Ceve-
land saw his il
leginate C hill d
t W ice made a
campaign issue.
In his case the
Evening star., 1948-07-24

want to. They can make the Presi-
dent happy or unhappy, as the case
may be, by passing the civil rights
bills which they say they favor even
more than he does.
1t shouldn't take long. 1t could
be done while the House, which
doesn't suffer from filibusters, is
extracting Senator Taft's housing
bill from the House Rules Commit
tee and his education bill from the
House Education and Labor Com
mittee.
Evening star., 1948-07-24

ASoAANAAt 1 i ~
m q n Thursday
that the chances
for world peace
were excellent.
Mr.. Truman's
statement - is
sued In . press
conference b e
fore he " e n t
into conference
with Gen. Lu-
cius D. Clay, the
American COM
mander in Ger
many, and other
top civilian and
Evening star., 1948-07-24

IL the only
way to get ac-
ton from a po-
litical party is
to have Con-
gress on the job
d u ng ca M
paigns, it is
time we made
that the regular
pra C t ice. As
Patrick Henry
would say, II this
be politics, make
the most of it.
A lot of fool
ish talk has fol-
1ou,od tho prpSi.
Evening star., 1948-07-24
Bv Doris FIeeson

PHILADELPHIA, July 24.-Henry
Wallace lectured the American press
yesterday for failing to report facts
and then refused to answer q ques-
Evening star., 1948-07-24
Bv LoveH MeHen

The President, some say, is play
ing politics by forcing the special
session of Congress. If so, we
should have more of such politics
Evening star., 1948-07-24
By C0nsfanfine Broom

The predominance OF the Berlin
crisis in the thoughts and actions of
American policy-makers was modi-
ned not q whit by reassurances from
Evening star., 1948-04-07
|Suifio RecIaimG GeIIafIy
Art Weighed by Court

/ District Court Justice Matthew p.
Mcclure today has under advise.
ment suit seeking to reclaim the
valuable Gellatly art collection
from the Smithsonian Institution.
Mrs. Chariayne Whiteley Gellatly
of New York City, administrative
OF the estate Of her husband, the
late John Gellatly, millionaire New
York art collector, Instituted the
suit last June.
Her complaint charged Dr.. Alex
ander Wetmore, secretary OF the
institution, with converting to his
own use and holding without her
consent" the collection, valued at
nearly 5000, 900, which Mr.. Gellatly
presented to the Government In
September, 1929.
A former actress and q grands
daughter Of the late Senator Rich.
ard N. Whiteley Of Georgia, Mrs.
Gellatly announced shortly after
her husbands death in November,
1881, that she would seek recovery
Of the art objects.
At that time she declared her
husband died penniless and she
would have to borrow money to
have him buried in Congressional
Cemetery here.
The gift Of the art collection was
made before his marriage to the
present Mrs. Gellatly. He accumu-
lated much Of 1t after the sale Of
New York's Holland House, which
he inherited from his first wife.
Mrs. Edith Rogers Gellatly.
Evening star., 1948-04-07
By james Waldo Eawcett

About 90 per cent OF the Wash.
ington bus and streetcar passenger
polled on the proposal to give then
radio entertainment while they rida
like the idea-but their opinions or
program content differ widely.
More than 5000 persons have reg
istered their opinions on blanks dis
tributed by the Capital Transit Co.
which Is considering an arrange
ment whereby receivers would be
installed in its vehicles by frequency
modulation radio interests. The
company has been asking its pa
irons to state their views on the
project as q whole and to indicate
their preferences as to types Of en-
tertainment.
Some riders have indicated sus-
picion the plan would cost them
something.
"If this means increased fare,
disapprove," wrote. q woman patron.
The project would not cost the
company or its patrons anything. A
firm specializing In such installa-
tions would provide the receivers;
Station WWDC-FM would supply
the news, music and commercial
announcements and the advertisers
would pay the bill.
These are representative favorable
reactions appearing on the ballots:
Wonderful. Keep fare the same
however"
"a very good idea. It takes q
Evening star., 1948-04-07
Folsom Asks Suit Dismissal;
Fails 10 Deny Paternity
BY the Asseeictsd Press

CULLMAN, Ala, April 7.-Gov
James e. Folsom seeks dismissal
of paternity suit brought against
him by 30-year-old divorce with
q countercharge that she has in
dulged in "clandestine, illegal, IL
licit and adulterous conduct"
Attorneys for the 6-foot S-inch
Governor yesterday filed a lengthy
objection to the suit brought by
Mrs. Christine Johnston, who says
she and Gov. Folsom lived together
as man and wife and that he is
the father Of her 23-month-old son.
The petition sets out that the
paternity suit was brought "for the
purpose Of harassing, annoying and
villifying" Gov. Folsom, 39-year-
old widower and father of two chill
dren, and that furthermore the red
haired divorce docs not come into
court with clean hands"
The demurrers filed on the Gov
ernor's behalf neither deny nor ad-
NIT any Of the statements detailed
in Mrs. Johnston's suit.
Gov. Folsom is currently stump
ing the State In support of his
candidacy for the Democratic pres
idential nomination. He has re-
fused to discuss the case except to
refer to it as politics"
Evening star., 1948-04-07

The company has been getting
most Of its reaction from patrons
who have heard the experiments
programs on q test bus.
The request for "other sugges-
tions" made on the voting form
brought a number Of comments, not
iall of them related directly to the
radio idea. Here are some Of them
Music is good; transportation Is
bad"
More volume or turn It Of"
Think 1t is distracting to the
driver"
Improved service would be bet
ter"
mot during rush hours"
why not install a bar?"
II suggest woman drivers-nice
ones; also three hostesses on each
bus-nice ones"
Want to have say? Address II
to Capital Transit Co., Thirty sixth
and M streets NV, Washington =
D. g., and mark the envelope radio
vote"
Evening star., 1948-04-07
Guerri|Ias Hold Peak
AS Greek Battle Ends
BY the Associotsd Press

$ IONNINA, Greece, April IA
nine-day battle along the Southern
Albanian border ended yesterday
with entrenched guerillas still hold
Ing mile-high Mount Murgana
despite heavy losses.
Brig. Mikales Antonopoulos called
off the attack on the steep, rocky
slopes of Murgana to avoid further
casualties. He said the operation
was success because the Greek
Army now holds the strategic
heights around Murgana to block
any possible invasion toward loan
nina.
The battle was described by 1t.
Gen. James A. Van Fleet, command
er of the American military mission
to Greece, as a - warmup for .
spring offensive. { He, underlined the
tough taskp the GreeksArmy faces In
breaking tne back >oY the Commu-
nist-led guerrilla forces this year
American military advisers who
acted closely with Brig. Antonopou-
los in the field said they were salts
fed with the opefatioh The Amaf-
lean sources said the Greek Army
will continue to exert pressure on
the border area while containing
the guerrillas in the Murgana
pocket. .,-
Evening star., 1948-04-07
Bus Music Fovored in Poll,
But Views on Program Vary

radio but wanted It understood
they didn't mean to approve al
kinds Of programs. For example:
"No advertising, please. More up.
to-date music"
mo soap operas
mo commercials"
Mostly music and short news
hroadcasts."
"Broadcast baseball games"
Classical music"
mo hillbilly music
Waltz music preferred"
Race news In afternoons"
LESS gossip"
Music designed to soothe; no ex-
treme types"
Evening star., 1948-04-07
Tuck, Caldwell Blast
Civil Rights Program,
Question justification
By the Assoeiofed Press

RICHMOND, Va, April 7.-Presi-
dent Truman's civil rights program
was blasted by Gov. Tuck of vir-
ginia and Gov. Millard Caldwell OF
Florida in radio addresses here last
night.
Gov. Tuck questioned the political
moral and constitutional justifica-
tion of civil rights legislation.
He said that If the proposed
grants-in-aid for education can be
given or withheld as a weapon for
enforcing the Presidents program
then, as long ass he is Governor
Virginia will not aecfpt zone far
thing.
The Governor told his audience
that 'vote-chasing pseudo liberals
who arouse feelings of discomfort
distrust and antagonisn1 are the
greatest enemies of the Negro
They, ,cars nothing for the Negro
North eTs South, except to use him
as a vehicle for their own political
preferment."
Living Conditions Compared.
Gov. Caldwell said Northern news
papers and magazines 'have never
presented the unbiased truth" on
Southern racial questions.
He said Norther11ers have not
been told living conditions of South
ern Negroes are better than in Har-
lem, that many States already have
abolished the poll tax, "lynching is
practically thing Of the past" and
mo decent Southerner condones
lynching, bigotry or brutality"
Gov. Caldwell said the so-called
antilynching bill would set up q
washington gestapo to police the
internal affairs of the several
states" and would cause an increase
in lynchings.
Teachers on Equal Pay Scale.
He also said Negro teachers in
Florida are paid ION the same basis
Evening star., 1948-04-07
|Lafins 10 Gel Billion
In Anfi-Communism
Aid, U. 5. Officials sa,
sy the Assoeio,ed Pres.

BOGOTA, Colombia, April -
United States officials said today
Latin America can count on at least
81 ,000. .000, 900 in aid from oficial
agencies to help fight communism.
Three-quarters of this. they said,
would come from United States
agencies.
The officials said that under pres
ent plans Latin America could OBJ
tain about $750, 600 900 from the Ex-
port Import Bank. Another $780,
900, 900 is reported available in the
Golfers of the international Bank
for Reconstruction and Develop
ment.
The officials said this was only
part Of the aid the American re-
publics may obtain as a result of
discussions at the Pan. American
Conference now in session here. The
rest is expected from private
sources.
Secretary of State Marshall told
the conference six days ago the
European Recovery Program must
take precedence over Latin Amer
ican requests for United States
financial aid. He said it would be
up to Latin American countries to
encourage investment Of foreign
capital by giving it equal treatment
with domestic capital.
The Export-Import Bank is re-
ported to have about $3.50, 0,0O0, 900
already committed for Latin Amer
ican loans. Gen. Marshall told dele
gates the United States Govern
ment is ready to ask Congress to
appropriate another $500, ,000, 900 for
loans to Latin America.
United States delegates expect
Latin America to create a healthier
climate for private capital in order
to stimulate its flow to these coun-
tries.
American officials believe this also
will help set up new industries and
businesses, thus improving economic
conditions, with more employment
and greater international trade.
Evening star., 1948-04-07

as are our white teachers and the
rate Of pay Is far above the national
average"
"The people have never been told, u
he went on, that In all the non
segregated medical schools of the
East, North and West, there are
only 86 Negro medical students
whereas in the South, at Meharry OF
Nashville and Howard in Washing
ton, something more than 1000
Negroes are being educated in med
icine."
Nor do they know that in the
South several thousand Negroes oc-
cupy high places in education, as
presidents and professors of in
stitutions of higher learning. where
as in the North only a scant hand
full are so recognized"
Evening star., 1948-04-07
3Rail Unions Threaten
Strike Again, Request
New Talks on Wages
by the A.seeia.sd Pres,

CLEVELAND. April t. Three
railroad unions renewed their strike
threat today, but left the door open
for further negotiations with the
Nations carriers.
General chairmen of the en-
gineers, firemen and enginemen.
and switchmen rejected an emer-
gency boards recommendations In
the dispute, but declared:
However, the Wage and Rules
Committees Of the three organiza-
tions are willing to meet them (the
carriers) at an early date in an en-
deavor to negotiate the recon-
mendations Of the board into form
that will be acceptable"
April ~ Deadline Set.
They recommended yesterday that
II q settlement was not reached by
April ~, "a strike date shall be set
as soon thereafter as possible"
There was no immediate comment
from the carriers, who already have
accepted the boards findings. The
board recommended a 15h h-cent
hourly raise and certain rule
changes.
Union officials elaborated only
briefly on the general chairmen's
statement. but promised a broader
explanation at a press conference
today. RI
3o-Day Delay Required.
A. j. Glover, head of the Switch
mems Union of North America, said
the brotherhoods were showing "a
willingness to avert any interrupt
ton OF commerce in the country"
by attempting to settle the matter
In further negotiation.
Under the Railway Labor Act, a
strike could not start until after
a 30-day cooling-of period expires
on April 26. It would affect about
100000 workers.
The unions originally called a
strike for February /, but the date
was postponed following appoint
ment by President Truman of an
emergency board to study the case
A 80 per cent wage increase and
numerous rule changes were asked
by the unions,
Evening star., 1948-04-07

She just had introduced her hus-
band. Turning toward him she said:
"He's q great clown. He does funny
things"
Mr.. Adams replied, eyes, do
Then he collapsed.
II thought he was going to make
q Joke" the wife said later. $50
put out my arm to stop him. Then
he fell"
An hour later the widow was back
at Madison Square Garden going
through her antics in the final dress
rehearsal for todays opening Of the
Ringing Bros. and Barnum g. Bailey
Circus,
Evening star., 1948-04-07

persons mind off the problems Of
the day."
Rather nice, If not too loud"
But the opponents are firm In
their views:
Lets have some quiet and COM
fort on Buses"
by the time I 60 home from a
hard days work, I want as little
distraction ss possible"
Radio is very unnecessary. I
leave home to avoid it,
II would rather listen to the other
passengers. People In buses really
are funny"
Many Of the patrons voted for