davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-10-14
Letters to The Star
Corrupt Political Machine Judged Better
Than district School System

Corrupt Political Machine Judged Better
Than district School System
To the Editor of The Star:
A news story in The Star of October 6
brought to light one of the most odious
aspects Of thinking by officials of the wash
ington school system. The news story con-
cerned Adelbert Lees revelations of re-
port on the High School Cadet Corps.
The odious aspect of thinking, however,
does not come from Mr.. Lee. 1t comes from
another Board of Education member, Mrs.
James w. Williams. In her way of thinking
as expressed in The Star (but in my eX-
perience not confined to herr the poafd
should hold private meetings to discuss
school affairs instead of airing them pub
licly where the press might be present.
1t seems that while the schools teach
that the Freedom of the Press" Is one OF
the cornerstones of democracy, they have
not taught that simple fact to themselves
Public enlightenment of school affairs. 1t
seems, is not necessary in running the pub
lie school system And public opinion Is
definitely not wanted.
Mr.. Lee seems to be one of the few school
officials cognizant of the fact that the only
way to get anything done in our school sys-
tenn is to enlist the aid OF public opinion. 1t
has been my experience that while school
officials are willing to have the concepts OF
democracy taught, they are Unwilling 10
put them into practice.
And one of the biggest hoaxes of the
whole news story is the quote from Dr..
Hobart Corning superintendent. that the
report criticized "everybody and everything
but made no suggestion for solution
since, in my mind, it is not worthwhile TO
make suggestions to people who do not want
to change, and probably will be satisfied
with the status quo so years hence when
their ideas will be even more antiquated
than they are at the present time.
1t is amazing to me that Lieut. Col.
William Barkman had the courage to make
the criticism in the first place. much less
than see Mr.. Lees fortitude put to the test
of making the whole affair public, since in
our present school system subservience to
the way Of thinking of some higher-up has
been the rule for years and years. For a
system supposedly divorced from politics,
it is, in my opinion, run in a manner that
would put the most corrupt political machine
to shame.
This will probably be another instance
whereby Mr.. Lee will be accused of head
line-seeking, but it is my opinion that due
to the current management of the Wash
ington public schools, the general public
should be happy and encouraged to have
the services of man like Mr.. Lee who has
the courage to bring things to light concern
ing our schools that would otherwise be
banged around in private circles and at pri-
vate meetings, until they died of their wounds.
Whether we believe Mr. Lee to be right or
wrong in his attitudes toward school affairs,
we must, nevertheless, congratulate him for
bringing them to view.
The public school management, it would
seem. has an obligation to the public-to be
public. JAMES A. LEMON.
Evening star., 1949-10-14
BIuckouts in Arlington

Arlington residents who have been an
noyed by electric power Interruptions will
agree with the Arlington Public Utilities
Commission that something ought to be
done to correct the situation. An occa-
sional brief blackout might be excused in
a rapidly growing community like Airing
ton, but when, as has happened several
times recently, the current remains off
for long periods, there is reason to COM
plain The modern age of refrigerators
and home freeZers requires more reliable
type of service than most of Arlington has
been receiving.
The Arlington PUG found during flve-
month period of last year that an sun
common NUMBER of service interruptions
were reported by customers of the Vir-
ginia Electric g. Power Company, which
serves most of the county Inquiries pro-
duced numerous and varied" reasons for
the breakdowns. But, whatever the causes,
the PUG said, the service was "subnormal
for a metropolitan area" There is no
reason why electric service should be any
less dependable in Arlington than in Wash
ington or any other built-up community.
Residents of the county have read with
interest about the opening by the Potomac
Electric Power Company of its fine new
power plant near Alexandria. Pepco is
planning to merge with the Braddock Light
g. Power Company, which serves Alex
andria, the Pentagon and a small portion
of Arlington County. Pepco customers
in the county thus are assured of an
ample source of power for some years
to come. If Pepco can render adequate
service to its customers, Vepco should be
able to do the same The Arlington PUG
will have widespread support in its efforts
to find out why Vepco has been able to
give no better than "subnormal" service
in some parts of Arlington County.
Evening star., 1949-10-14
The Seethinq Red Empire

Although it displays formidable facade,
the world behind the Iron Curtain creaks
and groans in a way that suggests it Is
having serious trouble holding itself
together. The latest evidence along that
line comes from Czechoslovakia. What is
happening there, coupled with such events
as Yugoslavia's secession and the recent
treason trials in Hungary, leaves little
room for doubt that the Kremlin has real
reason to worry about the stability and
trustworthiness of its satellite empire.
The Czech situation has all the ear
marks of frenzed effort to put down
a rising tide of unrest. The Red tyranny
at Prague-undoubted acting in accord
with the wishes of its Soviet masters
has issued orders to all the country's
Communicated county and village regimes
to tighten up drastically on their control
of churches and local political affairs. In
addition, 1t has carried out sweeping
police action-described as its biggest to
date-in which thousands of doctors,
lawyers, small business men and other
middle-class individuals have been ar
rested and tossed into prisons and con-
centration camps.
In explanation Of all this, Communist
source has been quoted as saying that far
reaching measures have been necessary
in order to foil a plot by the biggest
underground network uncovered since the
Prague regime forced its way into power
through the soviet-inspired coup Of Feb
ruary, 1948. Whether or not there is any
truth in the talk about plotting, there is
every reason to believe that great numbers
of Czechs are bitterly opposed to the
tyranny now ruling them. How could it
be otherwise? After all, here is a once
independent land rich in the traditions Of
liberty and devoted to spiritual values,
with more than 10 per cent of its popula-
ton Catholic. But 1t has had imposed
upon it puppet clique of traitors who
have destroyed political freedom. struck
at religion, betrayed national economic
interests, and taken numerous other steps
designed to enslave Czechoslovakia to the
Kremlin.
In such circumstances, whether 1t is
well organized or not, the development OF
an underground by the Czech people may
| be regarded as one Of the most natural
Evening star., 1949-10-14
Rebuke to the President

In voting OVerWnelmlngly-53 TO 10
against the reappointment of Federal
Power Commissioner Leland Olds, the
Senate has been perhaps bit more en-
phatic than it might have been had 1t
| not been goaded into administering a
singing rebuke to the President.
AS the chief goader, Mr.. Truman has
only himself to blame for this new blow to
his prestige. To begin with, in thor
oughly ill-advised way, he sought to make
+ 1t appear that the opposition to Mr.. Olds
stemmed only from private utility COM
panies selishly intent upon ridding the
Federal Power Commission of member
resolved to protect the interests of the
public. Next, even after it had been
pointed out to him that no company had
either testified or asked to testify against
Mr. Olds, and after the full Commerce
Committee had voted 10 to 2 against the
reappointment, he called upon the
National Democratic Chairman to urge all
the party leaders in all the States to
pressure all the Democratic Senators into
voting to confirm.
In other words, by implication, Mr.. Tru-
man suggested that one could question
the good faith and sincerity of those op
posing Mr.. Olds because of his past radical
writings or because of a feeling that he
was biased. And as If this were not
enough to make the Senate see red, the
President then tried to pose the issue as
one of party regularity and discipline.
That Is to say, he tried to whip the Demo-
cratic Senators into line with the strange
and essentially ridiculous argument that
they would be bad Democrats, deserving
punishment, If they did not do as he said.
The party's platform, of course, never
pledged anybody to support Mr.. Olds, but
Mr.. Truman seems to have ignored that
fact, along with the fact that it is the
Senate's constitutional right and duty
either to reject or conf1rm-as it sees fit,
in wisdom or conscience-all such presi-
dental appointments, regardless of parti-
san pressure.
In the circumstances, it is not surprising
that twenty-one Democrats out Of the
thirty -four voting Joined with the Repub-
icans in denying Mr.. Olds another term.
The result might have been closer If there
had been no clumsy and bullying inter-
vention by Mr.. Truman. But that inter-
VCutAO1 SCA tcA11Ay lAdo WIG C1lCIV VI lldlQ~
ening the opposition, and it may also
have persuaded more than a few of the
undecided to come out against confrma-
ton. Whether Mr.. Olds deserved to be
defeated, or whether exaggerated and un-
justified conclusions were drawn from his
writings of twenty years ago, may be
debatable. What Is not debatable, how
ever, is that the President himself helped
to insure the Senate's thumbs s-down
action.
If there is any moral to be found here,
1t Is simply this: That members of the
Senate, regardless Of party. do not like
to have their motives questioned even by
implication, that they resent being
bludgeoned or bulldozed, that they are
jealous Of their constitutional preroga-
tives, and that they do not take kindly
to presidential dictation of the sort just
tried by Mr.. Truman. All of which is
one reason why our form of Government,
despite its imperfections, is still about the
best in the world,
Evening star., 1949-10-14
Crisis in Montgomery

In calling for halt in apartment
construction in Montgomery County, the
county's Civic Federation has proposed a
most drastic remedy for congested condi-
tions resulting from burgeoning housing
developments. It is remedy SO extreme
that it should be considered only as last
resort But there can be no doubt that
the critical traffic, school and utility loads
imposed on public facilities there and in
other parts of the Washington Metro
politan Area require drastic measures of
some kind-and soon.
With housing still in short supply in
the District and its environs, it would be
q backward step to suspend apartment
construction just when the building situa-
tion is beginning to improve. That said,
however, there is no disputing the need
for urgent action by State, county and
municipal authorities to bring public
services into step with the accelerated
pace of private construction. The public
pace has been distressingly slow, and
today's overcrowded schools, traffic bottle
necks and other strains are the result.
There was time when the shortage of
elassrooms and the inadequacy of roads
and other facilities could be blamed large
ly on material and labor scarcities after
the war. But that excuse is beginning to
wear thin. Now the emphasis is being
put on shortage of funds for public works.
This shortage Is real enough and it can
be met by realistic steps. The plain fact
is that more money will have to be spent
for education and traffic relief and other
improvements before conditions get any
better-and that means more tax revenues
from some source or sources.
There is merit in the Montgomery
County Civic Fedefations suggestion that
4 study is needed Of the distribution Of
the tax load In the county. A Federation
committee sometime ago reported that
some Of the recent apartment projects are
falling far short of paying their proper
nonate share of taxes for schools and other
services. These large housing enterprises
have superimposed unplanned-for and un-
expected burdens on county facilities. II
these housing developments are not carry
ing fair share of the tax load, re-
assessment program might produce added
revenues without general raising of tax
rates.
The problems faced by the citizens of
Montgomery County are akin to those In
Prince Georges County and in the nearby
Virginia areas. The traffic conditions In
the Maryland communities are especially
bad, with only few road improvements
under way or scheduled. These disjointed
conditions cannot be allowed to continue
fndef1nite1v At nresant thev Seepo fn ha
getting worse instead of better. Civic Or
ganizations are justified in becoming
alarmed over the outlook. If public opin-,
ion becomes sufficiently aroused, govern
mental action to meet the crisis will follow
provided, of course, the citizens are
willing to pay the tax bills.
Evening star., 1949-10-14
The Morse Elections

The Norwegian parliamentary elections
are interesting in themselves and against
the political background of free. Europe
IN general and of Britain in particular.
These are the first parliamentary elec-
tions to be held in Norway since November,
1945. That was less than six months after
the end of World War II in Europe and
four months after Britains postwar elec-
tions. In Norway, four years ago, as in
Britain, the Socialist or Labor Party won
though not so decisively, since it had a
bare majority OF one vote in the Storting
or Parliament However, the opposition
was divided among Conservatives, Liberals,
Agrarians or Farmers Party, and Com
munists who, incidentally, Jared well with
eleven seats. Soviet Russia then was
popular in Norway for its share in iber-
ating the country from the Germans
Despite It's slim majority, the Socialists
undertook the government and put
through program closely similar to that
Of the British Labor Party. The idea was
that of the welfare state" favoring the
working classes at the expense of the
middle and wealthy elements. AS in
Britain, there have been very heavy gov
ernment expenditures coupled with drastic
taxation, both inflationary in character.
But the workers have been largely cush-
ioned against the effects by food subsidies,
rationing, rent controls and full en-
ployment.
Four years of this regime built up in
creasing opposition from the conservative.
liberal, farmer and business elements, who
wanted halt to welfare socialism and at
least partial return to private enterprise.
And some observers had expected that
Norway would follow the general electoral
trend on the European continent during
the past two years, which has been slightly
to the right. However, the current elec-
tions are vindication for the Labor gov
ernment its parliamentary majority being
increased from one to at least eleven, with
q proportionate increase in its popular
vote.
However, the significant point is that
these gains were made almost wholly from
the Communists, who were virtually oblit-
Grated, their parliamentary representation
being reduced from eleven to one Thu
Evening star., 1949-10-14
More Considerate Handling
OF Juvenile Delinquents Urged
To the Editor Of The Star:

Aside from "atypical" children. there are
probably many boys and girls in this and
other cities who would benefit from consulta-
ton on personal problems with profession
ally trained personnel other than their
parents.
These are not always results Of many
school failures" either The notion that
only the stupid child is the victim OF cir
cumstances or apt to be maladjusted results
in demonstrations like Milton Babich's and
the Loeb-Leopold case. Until the commu-
nifty solves some of it's emotional and psy-
Geological problems, the schools cannot
correct everybody's personality
The home even a broken one, is not al
ways to blame for everything that goes
wrong either. inadvertently, by relying on
class distinctions alone to keep the sheep
separate from the goats. many schools are
actually increasing these problems, and the
same goes for church and other youth-Work
groups.
Just providing some one to talk to. With
out Judgment being pronounced on COMES
sions ETC.. that turn up, would be a step
forward Most teachers are too busy, most
administrators too formidable. AS long as
we are going to have parental neglect or
even well-meant but ignorant meddllng IN
problems of adolescence, some few are going
to 60 dramatically wrong. In chlldhood,
people are seldom as wrong headed or as
responsible as adults often suppose.
Intelligence No Index.
Remember. Heirens Lee Scott and prob
ably Unhruh were we'll above the average IN
intellect.
Sudden occasions arise demanding adult,
mature judgment and control, and the child
does not behave like man. It is question
able whether many adults would act their
age in similar situations judging by the
number of people we are now supporting in
insane aSyumS Psychiatric treatment is
not method of disposal for annoying minor
children who cannot protect themselves le-
gally; st. Elizabeths, for example. is not
Bastille.
As for the Indifference of top admins
traitors in Washington, it is an advance that
such a thing as the Strayer report has been
prepared here. Many places do not even
care whether problems exist or not They
rely on elimination. swift and sure, Of the
Evening star., 1949-10-14
Pundit Nehru

There Is no taint OF prison on his soul
Though halt his life gaze him no other
DieD
Than cold stone 1palls each day he saic
nnroll
A page unblemished as his faith, ne1c
And hopeful chance to prite upon the
scroll
OF history that India UaS free
At last No broken promise changed his
goal
Or his belief that better things must bG
NoD that ne,u dead lie in his natiDe land,
Disease and famine stalking grinaly near,
With sects at ,par that never haUe learned
hoU
To see each others good, to understand,
Indelible the marks of doubt and fear
on lesser n1en-unmarked his tranquil
bro,p, BARBARA PALMER.
Evening star., 1949-10-14

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address of the
1Oriter, although it is permissible for
a aOriter knoWn to The Star to use
nom de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1949-10-14
Potomac River and Tributaries
Called Superb Recreational Asset.

10 the Edltor OF Inc star.
Having just returned from week end of
cruising along the headwaters of the Potomac
by canoe, found your editorial on the work
Of the Interstate Commission on the Poto-
mac River Basin timely indeed.
There is both good and bad to report on
the present recreational opportunities of this
splendid river system. The Cacapon River
last Saturday was clear as crystal and every
pebble at the bottom of its deep pools was
visible along with every bass in the river.
The ripples and rapids between pools were
little too shallow for comfort because Of the
low stage of water, but even SO we took two
heavily loaded canoes from Sargent to the
mouth with no major damage. This included
dragging them for much of the o-mile
stretch below the Great Cacapon Dam where
most of the flow is diverted through tun-
mel. Even the main Potomac from Great Ca
capon to Hancock was clear. We came away
with strengthened belief that the upper
Potomac and its tributaries offer splendld
opportunities for whitewater canoeing.
camping and swimming amid impressive
scenes of wilderness beauty.
AS for the bad part, it is rapidly diminish
ing, but is still present. For example, rail-
road coaling station is discharging sulphur
or other waste into the main Potomac. Every
hamlet dumps its trash onto the river bank.
The only convenient access to the river at
Hancock is via the town sewer.
When the last danger-spots have been re-
moved, the population of the Middle Atlantic
States will wake up and realize that they
have at their door superb recreational asset
of clean, swift-fowing water, ripping over
ledges between islands of river grasses and
plunging through roaring rapids to tide
water The Interstate Commission on the
Potomac River Basin deserves the thanks OF
every sportsman in this area for the progress
that has already been achieved. H. H. l..
Evening star., 1949-10-14
Reader Praises COverage
OF Episcopal Church Convention
To the Editor of The Star.

May I congratulate and thank you for
your careful and accurate news coverage of
the recent General Convention of the Epis-
copal Church held In San Francisco. 1t was
tremendous service to the many thousands
of church people in This area who were inter-
ested in the convention to be able to read
detailed ACCOUNTS Of what went on day by
day. You kept us fully informed in some OF
the best news writing have ever read.
REV. RAYMOND DAVIS.
Evening star., 1949-10-14
Questions and Answers

A reader get the answer to any question
OF fact by writing The Evening Star Information
Bureau 316 Eye St ne, Washington ., D. C.
Evening star., 1949-10-14
Peanut ChOmperS Annoy
Distracted Movie Fan

To the Editor of The Star:
guess I'm just an OLD fuddy-duddy but
I do like to enjoy movie in peace OCCASION
ally. But in this modern" era this has
become somewhat hard to do. The dialogue
has been practically drowned out by the
miscellaneous chewing, chomping, cracking.
and crunching sounds. I used to think the
cellophane wrappers on candy were bad
but they really weren't After the wrappers
were off the candy, the latter could be
consumed with reasonable quiet. Not SO
with popcorn and peanuts. These emit a
continuous cacophony limited only by the
capacity and ingenuity of the cheWer. When
people pass by me and brush my eyeglasses
off it is bad enough-but bearable. I can
even stand it up to a point when teen-age
girls go into a giggling and whispering jag
in front of me. But when I'm trying to look
at romantic or action scene, nothing more
quickly or thoroughly spoils it for me than
the disgusting odor of peanuts at close
quarters.
What do people go to movies for, anyway?
To eat? 1t makes just as much sense for
theater managers to serve turkey sand
WlcheS and cold beer as to allow the sale
OF popcorn and peanuts. And it wouldn't
spoil the shows any more. I may be wrong
but I'm told that in certain dark regions
of New York City-perhaps Brooklyn-they
even hawk ice cream up and down theater
aisles. How utterly revolving!
But seriously, it seems to me that the
managers Of the large downtown theaters, at
least would realize that many of US come
for the movies-not the eXtraneous sound
effects. People being what they are. they
should not be encouraged in their rudeness
TO spoil other peoples fun.
Do away with popcorn and peanuts in our
theaters. One can always get a sandwich
after the show if hunger sets in.
DISGUSTED MOVIEGOER
Evening star., 1949-10-14
A Forgotten Boss"
Pens Note to Gen. Vaughan

Edltor star.
1t would seem that Gen. Vaughan has
overlooked me in his statement that he is
only responsible to Mr.. Truman and Mrs.
Vaughan. OF course I am only a taxpayer.
but I am multiplied by several millions who
must resent having to pay salaries to people
who disclaim any responsibility to us for
their actions ESTHER P. POTTER.
Evening star., 1949-10-14
Chaplains Called Government Agents;
Ministers Agents of God
To the Editor of The Star

ChaplainS Called Government Agents,
Ministers Agents of God
To the Editor of The Star:
j. M. Dawson makes out pretty good
case for tax exemption for church-owned
non-profit property. in his answer to Dun
can Burgoyne. But it's draw. for Mr.. Bur-
goyne has him on the subject of Government
paid chaplains.
A minister is ordained to preach the gospel.
When he accepts chaplaincy he agrees to
submerge those controversial issues which
separate Baptists from Presbyterians, etc.
because he is now being paid from the taxes
paid into the Government Treasury by all
the people. In so doing he surrenders the
commission of his ordination. and becomes
a Government agent.
He was Gods man. with a commission to
preach Gods message without fear or favor.
Now he is paid by the state. He has be-
come the states man.
Anyway, it was an interesting discussion
while it lasted. And you are to be congratu-
lated for very fair presentation.
DONALD F. HAYNES.