davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-02-16
Election in PORTUGAL

Portugal has Just offered the world
singular and somewhat puzzling political
spectacle After twenty-five years of power
monopoly, Its authoritarian government
permitted an opposition legally to consti-
tute itself and to run candidate for the
presidency That, in itself, is something OF
a novelty Most dictatorial regimes do not
allow even q whisper of criticism, much
less an electoral test Of their authority.
To be sure, the opposition was handi-
capped in its efforts. It was allowed only
forty days OF campaigning, and though the
usual censorship on political discussion was
formally lifted for that period, obstructive
official tactics were evident. Nevertheless,
the candidate of liberal and democratic
elements, venerable old gentleman named
Norton de Mattos, with distinguished rec
ord, did take the stump, pledging himself,
if elected, to give the country an admins
tration based on the accepted principles
of democratic liberty. The government, OF
course, was running General Carmona, who
has held the presidency uninterruptedly
since the military coup of 1925 which over
threw the republic and replaced it with
virtual dictatorship.
Then strange development occurred.
The illegal Communist underground" In
Portugal came out vehemently for Norton
de Mattos, backed by the Moscow radio,
which beamed its enthusiastic support
This was nothing short of kiss of death
Communism is anathema in Portugal, not
only to the government and its supporters
but also to the bulk of the Portuguese
people, staunchly Roman Catholic In reli-
gion and profoundly conservative in tenn
per and outlook. The dismayed opposition
did it's best to rid itself of this unwelcome
support, declaring it to be a deliberate
Communist plot to destroy liberal and
democratic elements which had managed
to survive more than two decades of re-
dictionary authoritarianiSm.
Nevertheless the opposition was badly
disorganized, while the government was
given the chance to sound of tellingly on
the Red menace" When, in addition, the
government declined the opposition's de-
mands for secret ballot, examination of
| electoral lists, and hand In counting the
Evening star., 1949-02-16
No Mandate for the President


The House vote of 254 to 20 to give
the Un-American Activities Committee
100000 for the coming year is encourag-
ing evidence that the House recognizes no
mandate from the electorate to abolish the
committee, as Mr.. Truman has claimed.
It is to be hoped that Congress, in writing
new labor legislation to replace the much
maligned Taft-Hartley Act, will be equally
realistic.
The cold, hard fact is that. amazing
though his narrow squeak victory was, Mr..
Truman received no mandate from the ma
jority of the voters to do anything. Twenty
four million, five hundred eighty-six thou
sand, forty five voters cast their ballots for
other candidates. Forty-seven million voters
did not go to the polls. Therefore. II mil
lion voters did not want Mr. Truman as
President enough to vote for him. as against
"a million who did. No President who re
ceives only "a million votes out OF possible
95 million can claim a mandate. The
switch of $4,000 votes in three crucial States
would have given the election to Gov. Dewey,
Mr.. Truman remains political accident.
Congress and the adn.!:;iist.rsacc cciion should
have the above figures brought to their
attention repeatedly over the next two years.
L. r. K.
Evening star., 1949-02-16

ton. Nowhere have I heard of 1 protest
meeting being called. Greek consulates
have nowhere been picketed. Secretary
Acheson in press interviews, has not, by the
flicker of an eyelash, expressed adherence of
religious persecution in Greece. The princes
of the Catholic Church in America have not
uttered word of denunciation. Protestant
leaders who are so exercised over the Mind
szenty case and over the arrest of Is Bulga
rian clergymen charged with treason have
not, even by a whisper, indicated moral
revulsion against the execution OF John
Tsoukaris.
Yet, of the two cases, the one in Greece is
surely the more fragrant. The <tictim in
Hungary admitted partial guilt; the victim in
Greece was guilty OF no political opposition
to the Greek government whatsoever. The
victim in Hungary was intimate with those
who desired to overthrow the government:
the victim in Greece had no politica. connec-
tions of any sort The victim in Hungary
has been sentenced to imprisonment, but
with the right to a review of his case; the
victim in Greece is dead
Yet in America millions of voices have de-
nounced the Hungarian government, which
we dislike on political g,ounds, while dead
silence obtains when a IT'LL more heinous
crime is committed by theGreek government.
which we have subsidized with an endless
flow of American dollars
American protests agairat religious perse
cution might have some effect upon the
Greek government, which our ward. But
we make no such protests. t is unlikely that
the Hungarian or any othe1 foreign govern
ment will take seriously oE protests when
they appear to be motivaed by political
interest rather than moral utrage.
RICHARDLANGFORD
Evening star., 1949-02-16
Housing Authority's Revenues


To the Editor of The Star:
1t is interesting to note that your CORE
spondent w. NJ D. (Star. Iebruary II, 1949)
writing in opposition to nnt control, seeks
to buttress his case by saing that the Ma
tional Capital Housing authority doesn't
break even on its operatioiand maintenance
COSTS" and, therefore. "a landlord is a
failure" 1t also is interesing to note that
he makes this assertion witout having made
any inquiry as to its accuray basing it upon
an assumption that becal President Tru-
man had requested a deficiency appropria-
ton from Congress for theauthoritys Title
I properties the taxpayers lust pay the de-
fciency
have repeated the phraS 1T is interest
ing to note for emphasis id because it is
with this phrase that w. N. ! introduces his
exposition of his misunderstanding.
In fact. instead of not bfaking even on
it's operation and maintenare costs on the
properties in question, the Ational Capital
Housing Authority deposits b the United
States Treasury nearly twiceasInuch from
revenues as it needs for opeation and
an appropriation to cover opeltion and
maintenance costs. The estimation these
costs was made in the fall of l9t but the
costs are being incurred during seal l949.
Meanwhile, Congress has raised Sges $780,
the coal dealers have raised the pre- of coal.
and furnace had broken dowt and has
had to be repaired. Therefore, efficiency
appropriation was necessary.
Even when the deficiency apppriation
is added to the original appropriaon, the
revenues from the properties al nearly
twice the cost of operation and maienance.
So the taxpayer is fairly we'll procted.
hope you will publish this for " N. DIS
comfort. JOHN IIIUER.
Executive Officer, National Capital
Housing Authority.
Evening star., 1949-02-16
Execution in Greece

am indignant at the sentencing Of Cardi-
nal Mindszenty to life Imprisonment, and
am concerned with the impairment Of reli-
gious liberty in Hungary, a Communist
satellite country But last week noted with
equal concern q news item announcing the
execution of a conscientious objector in
Greece, an American-s satellite country.
Several days have now gone by. during
which have scanned our press with atten-
Evening star., 1949-02-16
Questions and Answers

leader get the answer to any question Of
fact by writing The Evening Star Information
Bureau, 316 street NE. washington. =, D. c.
Please inclose three t3) cents for return postage
Evening star., 1949-02-16
Communists Against Rssion

Communists Against RI gion
To the Editor of The Star:
The statements of Rev. John hul Jones
which appeared in your paper ofFebruary
II are very puzzling, indeed.
If I understand correctly a mister of
the Gospel is pledged to teach f Gospel
of the Prince of Peace and Truth, BIT create
misunderstanding against his nehbors by
making uncharitable and mlsleads state
ments such as the following:
Cd That the Catholic Church, awell as
the Hungarian Communist governnAnt has
resorted to questionable tactics of lseemly
warfare in the case of Cardinal MinAzenty
90 There are instances where notion
and prejudice outdistance facts andiudg-
ments in the Roman Hierarchy
Mr.. Jones states that American Aople
should not become involved in any conSted
contest by the Roman Catholic CAch
against Communist governments. DoeALr.
Jones fail to understand that the mock tal
and the sentence to life imprisonment 20
Cardinal Mindszenty and the false ane
terrible charges against Protestant Church
men of Bulgaria are part of Communis
persecution of all religions; and, if the anti
God Communist movement is allowed tt
continue, our religious freedom will be en-
dangered?
II MI. Jones reads the papers. how can he
fail to know how the Catholic Church il
prosecuted because she dares to expose
communism in order to preserve religion.
liberty for all people?
Does Mr.. Jones also fail to understand
that any protests our Government make tC
the Communist governments of Hungary OF
Bulgaria will not be joining holy crusade
on behalf Of Cardinal Mindszenty or be-
cause of their sympathy for individual
persons but because of violations of the
Hungarian peace treaty which guarantees
religious freedom and speech to Hungary?
In my opinion, the proper actions for a
minister of God would be to try to create
brotherly love between all peoples not mis-
understandings; and to ask Our Heavenly
Father to grant fortitude to Cardinal
Mindszenty in his future sufferings. not
questioning his reliability as Christian
leader after what he has suffered from the
Communists in the past.
VIRGINIA MCDONALD.
Evening star., 1949-02-16
Letters to The Star

Letters for publication mast bear
the signature and address of the
1Driter, although it is permissible for
1Driter kno,Dn to The Star to use a
nom de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1949-02-16
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

O. What is the meaning of the name
Singapore?-B. B. S.
"Smghapura." This is a Sanskrit word
which means "City of the Lion"
Evening star., 1949-02-16

A. On December Is, 1948 the gross public
debt of the Federal Government. together
with guaranteed speculations. amounted to
$252, ,183, ,974 ,51907. The debt on June 80.
1945 was $25S, 1882, ,187,410.
@. When was Boys Town founded by
Father Flanagan? Who has succeeded him?
ID. B. S.
A. Msgr Edward J. Flanagan, known
throughout the world as the father of Boys
Town, founded Boys Town in the Christmas
season of 1917 by borrowing $50 to rent a
house in Omaha. From that humble start
he developed the present institution where
hundreds of boys have been given an oppor-
tunity to receive training aimed at develop
ing them into useful citizens. Boys Town
was incorporated as village in 1886. Msgr.
Nicholas H. Wegner is Father Flanagans
successor.
@. Who said that If Cleopatra's nose had
zen shorter, history might have been diff
rent?-A. A.
\, In Blaise Pascal's "PenseeS (ThoughtS)
plished in France in 1910. there is the
Towing passage: whoever could fully
mealre the vanity of human life must CON-
side the causes and effects of the passion
of We. If Cleopatra's nose had been
short, the whole face of the earth would
have cen changed" This has been inter-
preteas meaning that Cleopatra. less beau
tiful. ould probably not have fascinated
Julius !aesar or Mark Antony, and the
course I Roman history would have been
differentand because of the Importance OF
Rome. t. history of the world.
@. Whein@ented the household match?-
B. w. T.
A. The 'rition match was invented by
John Waller, an English apothecary. in
1927. His olSinal matches were three
inches long am tipped with chemical and
when struck prduced an unpleasant odor.
Samuel Jones, aother early match maker.
called his matchA lucifers and warned users
that persons nose lungs are delicate
should by no meAs use these lucifers."
Evening star., 1949-02-16

@. How much has been paid on the ma
tional debt since President Truman took
ofice?-R B. K.
A. On December IS, 1s4S the gross public
debt of the Federal Government. together
with guaranteed speculations. amounted to
S252, 2,183, ,974,519.07. The debt on June 80,
1945 was $258, ,682, ,187,410
Evening star., 1949-02-16
Enioy 1t While 1t Lusts

"The ,Oeather is beautiful; but as
Noodle says (,Oith his eyes beaming 1Dtth
delight, We shall suffer for this, sir,
by-dnd-
Letter 1pritten bu Sudneu Smith in 1886.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-20
III ! 0-71XXE ri 1T 7EQ R(0II IN1( y

w. -
'rowningsviIIe Observe An
in a Copper Pot and Stirre
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-20

The CIadhiIIs Of
Cooked Outdoors
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-20

ings When Apples,
a Delicious Spread
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-20

ther Of Many Festive Nee
by Hand, Are Turned int
Evening star., 1949-01-19
Rev. John Songster 10 Talk
Al Unity Octave Service

The Rev. John Songster. $. j., OF
Georgetown University, will be the
speaker tonight at 8 O'Clock in the
National Shrine of the Immaculate
Conception, Catholic University
campus, as the second day Of the
18th annual Church Unity Octave
Service Is observed.
The Church Unity Octave, held
each year as a period Of prayer and
penance for the return Of all wor-
shippers to the Catholic Church,
opened last night with the Most Rev.
Patrick A. O'Boyle, archbishop OF
Washington, presiding.
On each of the eight days .
speaker appeals to those without the
Catholic Church to enter the fold.
Father Songster tonight will speak
on Return of the Oriental Sepa-
ratists."
Yesterday the Very Rev. Edward
NJ. Betowski Of st. Joseph's Semi
nary, Yonkers, N. Y, speaking on
Return of the Other Sheep to the
One Fold" declared peace in the
world could be had by Transforming
the human race ints one family
with God the Father, Christ the
brother, and Mary as mother OF
us ALL"
Msgr. Patrick j. Mccormick, rec
tor of Catholic University, will pre-
side and oficiate at the benediction
tonight,
Evening star., 1949-01-19
80 Planes, 70 Ships
Seek British AirIiner
Missing in Atlantic
by me Assoeiotsd Press

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Jan. 1s.-
Eighty planes and 4 score of Amer.
ican warships, including two car
riers and the battleship Missouri
led q great search today for q Brit
|ish airliner down somewhere in the
Atlantic.
The giant rescue operation ex-
panded today after scanning 77,O0o
square miles of sea yesterday for q
trace of the British South American
Always for-engined Tudor Ariel
which disappeared with 20 persons
Monday while on l,000-mile Night
from Bermuda to Kingston, Jamaica
Gord Pakenham, minister Of
civil aviation, announced in the
HOUSE of Lords today that the
line was grounding sister ships
of the missing airliner. He said
the plane was now presumed lost
although the search would con-
tinueD
The search continued last night
with four planes, one from Guam
tanamo Bay. Cuba, and three from
Bermuda, checking the area for a
sign of flares from any passengers
who might be adrift.
The Coast Guard at Miami, Fla,
estimated more than $4,000 men, in
cluding 5000 Reserve officers, were
aboard the search armada, which in
cluded four cruisers, six destroyers
four destroyer minesweepers and
other craft.
The search was being concentrated
about midway between Bermuda and
Evening star., 1949-01-19

The butter versus oleomargarine
debate was given new twist yes
terday In the Hotel Statler.
Representative Murray, Republi-
can, Of Wisconsin. who argued in
favor of butter at a luncheon meet
ing of the Advertising Club of Wash
ington, produced q half-pint bottle
OF standard milk and second bottle
of what he called "a magic mixture" F"
The latter: he said, was made, Of
skinned milk and vegetable oils.
Mr.: Murray warned that, If the
latter product Is ever produced on a
large scale, 1t will bring about a
collapse of dairy farming and even-
tuaIly of the rest of the economy
and finally mass unemployment.
This" he added, "is skinned
milk administration"
The butter-oleo fight, he added, is
only the beginning Of the contro-
versy. Basically, it's fight between
the merits of vegetable oils, from
Evening star., 1949-01-19
DR.. Merrill Of Glenn Dale
To Retire on January 81

DR.. Walter Merrill, who has been
in charge of the X-ray section at
Glenn Dale "Sanitorium. will retire
from the Health Department on
January 81, Health Officer George
c. Rutland announced today.
DR.. Merrill, who is rs, has been
given five extensions since he
reached the normal retiring age.
He has been with the Health De-
partment since 1918, first as a part
time physician at clinics and the
Upshur street tuberculosis hospital.
When the tuberculosis hospital was
moved to Glenn Dale in 1887, he
became a full-time physician and
has been at Glenn Dale since.
DR.. Paul Roman of Baltimore will
succeed him.
Mrs. Agnes H. Stewart. head of
occupational therapy at Glenn Dale,
also will retire on January 81.
Mrs. Stewart has been with the
Health Department since 1882.
Evening star., 1949-01-19
|OIeo Foe Warns of Mixture
OF Skim Milk, Vegetable Oils

which oleo is made. and animal fats
from which butter is made, he said
Representative Poage, Democrat
of Texas, an ardent oleo supporter
took the other side of the debate
minus any magic mixtures.
Referring to taxes and other re-
strictions imposed on oleo, Mr.. Poage
asked If it is good Americanism to
single out a pure food product and
brand it for all time"
Mr.. Poage said he hadn't heard of
any one in the radio industry urging
legislation restricting television, just
because the latter appears to be q
threat to radio.
In keeping with the ad clubs
policy of neutrality in such con-
troversial matters, each person pres
ent was served pat of both butter
and colored oleo, with the butter
plainly stamped.
Maurice Mitchell, chairman of the
clubs Program Committee, acted as
moderator.
Evening star., 1949-01-19
Col. George {. Mitchell, Jr.,
Services Held in Fort Myer

Funeral services for Col. George
Z. Mitchell, jr., retired. who was
found dead in his Arlington apart
ment q week ago. were held yes
terday in Fort Myer Chapel. Burial,
with full military honors, was in
Arlington Cemetery.
Col. Mitchell, a liaison officer be-
tween the Army Relief Society and
the Red Gross in Alexandria, was
found shot to death in his apart
ment at 1908 South Twelfth road.
A certificate Of suicide was issued
by County Coroner w. c. Welburn.
Surviving are his widow. Mrs. Mary
Lee Michel: a son. Edward, and
q step-son, William r. Crothers; his
mother, Mrs. Lucy Mitchell, Catlett
Va, and two brothers, Col. Paul
J. Mitchell, Fort Lewis, Wash, and
Lieut.. Col. C. B. Mitchell, now serv-
ing on the United States Mission
to Ecuador.
Evening star., 1949-01-19
Red Cross In Urgent Plea
For Five Types Of Blood

Exhaustion Of five types of blood
from the Red Cross Washington
Regional Blood Center today re-
suited in an urgent call for as many
donors as possible.
Mrs. Nita Russell, blood recruit
ment director, said heavy calls for
blood by hospitals during the last
few days resulted in complete ex-
haution of five types of blood, in
Guiding the universal donor type,
o Rh positive. Other types needed
were Orb negative, A Rh negative,
B positive and ALB positive.
Mrs. Russell said stocks of other
types of blood are low, but there are
still supplies on for emergency calls.
Since the Christmas holiday. the
center has not been able to build
up sufiicient reserves to meet de-
mands, she said. A donor may drop
in any time between 9 am. and S
pm. at the center at 1880 E street
NV. she added.
Evening star., 1949-01-19
Red Press in Germany
Chastises Workers
As 2-Year Plan Lags
By the Assoeioted Press

BERLIN, Jan. 19.-The German
Communist press today chastised
the workers Of Berlin's Russian Sec
tor for the laboring hard enough
for the Communist two-year eco
nomic plan.
The Red press threatened to pub
lish a blacklist of backsliders unless
the situation improved.
The Communists admitted their
two-year plan was encountering
further difnculties in the hard
pressed Russian occupation zone.
COunterblOckad Imposed.
1t is to help overcome these
dif1iculties-due in large part to the
Allied counterblockade of Eastern
Germany-that the Communists are
trying to get maximum deliveries
from Berlin factories in order to
spur tagging production throughout
Eastern Germany.
The Communists chances Of
getting further industrial help from
Berlin suffered q blow in the West
ern powers action, announced last
night, OF slapping counter
blockade on Berlin's Russian sector.
Henceforth, no Western Berlin firm
may make deliveries to firms in
Russian occupied territory or any
Soviet satellite country without y
Western Allied permit. Deliveries
Of critical products are banned al
together.
Another Clash Produced.
The Communist street blockade of
Western Berlin produced another
clash between civilians and Soviet
controlled German policemen which
resulted in gunf1re. This occurred
when police from the Russian sec.
tor halted three youths who had
purchased q small quantity of coal
in Eastern Berlin and sought to
carry it across section borders to
their blockaded homes.
The youths shouted for help and
a crowd of civilians intervened,
pummeling the police. In the melee
the police fired two shots but no one
was injured. In the excitement the
youths escaped with their coal.
Guatemala has placed high import
duties on Swedish matches to pro-
tect the hard-pressed domestic
match industry.
Evening star., 1949-01-19
S1,O50 Auto Supply Theft
Reported in Anacostia

The theft of automobile supplies
valued at $1,05O42 was reported to
police today by Ward Barnett, owner
of the Anacostia Motor Co., 1708
Good Hope road Sc.
Police said Mr.. Barnett told them
the building was entefed through a
rear door and the following items
taken from a stock room: Eight au-
tomobile radios, two radio antennae,
"A tires, hve sets of chains, three
spotliehts, three heaters and tool
box. He said the place was entered
sometime last night, according to
police.
Evening star., 1949-01-19
Bandit Seeks Money Won
On Numbers Gets Only 81

A housewife who apparently was
the victim of mistaken identity was
robbed Of 81 yesterday by a gunman
who forced her to take him on a
room-to-room search for money.
Mrs. Mary v. Hunt. 60S Kenyon
street NV, told police she admitted
the bandit when he said he had a
special delivery letter for her. He
then pulled a gun and said he knew
she had money because she "hit the
number
Although Mrs. Hunt protested she
didn't play the numbers, the thug
wouldn't leave until he had explored
the entire house. He fed after
taking the contents of q change
purse,