davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-04-01
Same Old Story

The same old story of departmental re-
luctance to vacate temporary quarters IN
the parks, once firm foothold has been
established, is being repeated with respect
to the Nays wartime beachhead in West
Potomac Park. 1t happened after World
War !, and predictions that it would hap
pen after World War II are being borne
out not only in West Potomac Park but on
the Mall, in Anacostia, at Arlington Farms
and in other park areas.
The latest impasse, involving the old
Polo Field In West Potomac Park, imperils
plans of the District Sesquicentennial
Commission to use the field as a site for
next years elaborate celebration. Arrange
ments for erecting temporary exposition
buildings on this site had been made on
the assumption that the Navy would va
cate its barracks there by June /. But now
the Navy says the Air Force has pre-
empted quarters across the Potomac River
which the Navy had planned to occupy,
making 1t necessary for naval personnel to
remain in West Potomac Park "for an
indefinite period" The Navy also is cling
Ing tenaciously to its temporary "receiv-
ing station" and other structures across
the Anacostia River, between the Eleventh
Street and new South Capitol Street
Bridges.
The most disheartening news of all is
the disclosure that the Public Buildings
Administration, repeatedly with presiden-
tial backing, is determined to hold onto
surplus" buildings in the parks during
the emergency period in which the office
space situation in the District of Columbia
remains acute" And bill has been intro
duced In the House to give the Federal
Works Agency full authority to seize such
buildings for the duration of the critical
shortage"
That is the trouble, historically, with
these temporary" occupations of park
land during national emergencies. Expe-
rience has shown that the emergencies"
drag out interminably after the wars which
give rise to them are over; that the average
tempo" is temporary in name only. Be-
fore Congress gives blanket authority for
the indefinite conversion of park land to
ether uses IL should investigate carefully
TO make sure that sincere and energetic
efforts have been made to find other loca-
tions for the invaders" The unsightly
structures on the Mall, in West Potomac
Park and elsewhere should be torn down
Just as soon as 1t Is possible to do so.
Evening star., 1949-04-01
On Being Too Strong

Louis A. JohnSons first press conference
as Secretary of Defense does nothing TO
dissipate the impression that his perform
ance in this very important post will be
worth watching
It will be worth watching because Mr..
Johnson shows signs of living up TO his
advance billing as strong man" who
would not hesitate to knock heads together
II necessary to get results. His order for
reassignment forthwith of Office space in
the Pentagon and his energetic move TO
get rid of surplus boards and agencies by
merger or abolition are consistent with this
reputation. There is need for physical re-
organization In the defense establishment.
and these orders look like desirable and
necessary steps to that end.
But Mr.. Johnson's performance will also
be worth watching to see what Importance,
If any, he attaches to the processes of con-
ciliation. For while there are situations in
which the strong-man approach Is indi-
Gated, there are other situations In which
this technique will not work, or, If it does
work, it will be to the detriment of national
defense.
For example, Mr.. Johnson told his press
conference that he already has pretty
fair conviction" as to the respective roles
of the Air Force and naval aviation, but
that the services would be given a chance
to argue me out of that conclusion in the
next couple of days" That sounds as
though the new Secretary of Defense is
not disposed to listen to much argument
in opposition to his preconceived convic-
tion. Perhaps this Is all right. In this
instance Mr.. Johnson may know the right
answer, but his statement nevertheless Is
suggestive of temperamental trait that
will be worth watching.
The new defense chief has also made
some remarks which come pretty close to
being public threat to his subordinates
that they will toe his line or be fired. Again,
here Is something that will be worth
watching. 1t Is one thing for man to get
together with his subordinates and lay
down the law to them; something else to
lay down the law through newspaper head
lines and radio broadcasts.
It Is an incontestable fact that the
President has chosen Mr.. Johnson as Sec
retary of Defense, not Ferdinand Eber-
otdQb. ouG lNIs CbCIotdAb 10 q uioll VI SOuiC
competence in this field and he has said
some things to the Senate Armed Services
Committee, which is considering bill to
broaden Mr.. Johnson's statutory powers,
that are worthy of consideration.
In brief, Mr. Eberstadt, who headed up
the Hoover commissions committee on the
national security setup, warns of the
danger of too much suppression of debate
among the services and cautions against
any grant of power to the Secretary of
Defense which would make the defense
establishment sort Of separate empire"
within the Government.
There is no thought here of trying to
strike a balance between the views of Mr..
Eberstadt and those of Mr.. Johnson. 1t is
enough to say that there is danger in too
much emphasis on the strong man ap-
proach and to suggest again that the en-
ployment of this technique will bear close
watching.
Evening star., 1949-04-01
Coup D'Etut in Syria

The sudden seizure of power by the
Syrian Army in bloodless coup d'etat is
q somewhat puzzling performance. The
fact that the established government was
ousted without resistance indicates Its
weakness, since the Syrian military estab-
lishment is one of modest proportions. It's
leader, Brigadier Husni Zayin1, Is reputed
10 be professional soldier without known
political antecedents. And the pronounce
ment of the new regime Is moderate in
tone.
The prevailing opinion outside Syria is
that the overturn was due chiefly to dis
satisfaction of the army and people with
the outcome of the war in Palestine. I'm
doubtedly, this was an important factor.
Yet 1t should be remembered that the
government in power during the fighting
IN Palestine was ousted politically last De-
cember, chiefly for that reason. So the
government just overthrown by the army
had no direct responsibility for the Pales-
tine failure. 1t was, indeed, a stop-gap
government composed chiefly of non-po-
litical experts. And President Shukri al
Kuwatly, now under arrest. is a veteran
nationalist with creditable political back
ground.
The question thus remains as to how far
the current overturn was due to factors of
local origin and how far to trends of
broader and deeper significance. The sit
uation of Syria. both domestically and
internationally. is not happy one. A land
Of mediocre natural resources and back
ward economic development, Syria has
long suffered from deferred or frustrated
hopes. It was the first portion of the Arab
world actively to awaken to national
movement in protest against Ottoman op-
preston, but its hopes of deliverance were
soon dashed by the imposition of French
rule under the glise Of mandate from
the League of Nations. All this explains
the touchy nationalism which has engen-
dered current dislike of all foreigners
and arouses popular protests against any
thing sayoring Of foreign influence.
This predominant nationalism is COM
plex phenomenon. Shot through as it Is
With the larger feeling of Arab unity,
merger Of the present Arab states In a
federal union is at the back of much Syrian
thinking. Relations with neighboring Iraq
and Trans-Jordan are close, and the possi-
bility of political coordination with them
Is often discussed. perhaps under branch
Of that Hashemite dynasty which today
sits on both the Iraqi and Transjordanian
thrones.
Just where the new military regime
stands In regard to these matters is as yet
undisclosed. Perhaps the most favorable
augury is'the news that 1t Is accepting the
advice of Faris elKhouri, elder brother of
ths present Syrian Ambassador to wash
Evening star., 1949-04-01
Plea for Wioows' Exemption

To the Editor OF The star.
1t is very hard for veterans widow. living
on q pension, to face life with prices increas-
ing the way they are let alone increas-
ing of real estate taxes. True enough some
items have been reduced recently but others
have increased. 1t is kind of game.
Observe the clerks at the grocery stores
while they stock the shelves in the morn
ing They mostly are erasing prices on can
goods to increase them.
I wonder II some kindhearted Congress
man could introduce a bill for the exemp-
ton of veterans widows from increase Of
real estate taxes We had an increase of
fifty per cent not very long ago. Please do
something to help us keep our homes
In many States there are concessions made
to veterans widows. I can't see why the Dis
trict can't help. too. AVA.
Evening star., 1949-04-01

tuated by shostakovich playing the piano
In a bourgeois, boogie-wooge mood.
Accordingly, everything considered. the
State Departments action has much TO be
said for it. II there are ever 10. be good
relations between US and the world behind
the Iron Curtain, they will have TO be
promoted by an exchange OF visitors
genuinely anxious to promote them. BY
no stretch of the Imagination can that
be said of the eighteen who have just been
told that our hospitality has It's limits.
Evening star., 1949-04-01
Free Official Mail Again
10 Hditor OF The Star.

10 8s 1oituf Oh Inc ciAE-
Recently I sent you q letter expressing
some thoughts on the question OF raising
postal rates, which you were courteous
enough to publish March %, Some COM
ments on this which came 10 me caused me
to re-read 1t. and I am convinced that an
unfortunate choice OF words in one portion
tended both to a conclusion did not intend
and TO a certain injustice to the Post once
Department. which also did not intend
The offending sentence Is the first one OF
the fifth paragraph. wherein ] stated tbs
opinion that common honesty is lacking In
postal administration I meant. and should
have stated. that this quality Is lacking in
the Governments setup OF postal organiza-
ton. For. as things stand the Post once
must carry q vast amount Of official mail for
all departments and ofices of the Govern
ment free" Not really free" Of course.
for the Government pays for this service by
a postal deficit" which.s / submit. Is not
really q deficit at all. but merely the very
clumsy and roundabout v1y OF paying for
the Governments mali business. And the
Post Once Department gets criticized for 1t.
but can't help itself for. like all executive
departments and bureaus. 1t must conform
to the rules and organization which Congress
in its wisdom prescribes. They do pretty
good Job. considering.
WonueT IL you Wouiu not " WiiilhR I'd
print this clarifying statement. ] regret my
error In the choice OF words, but. as any one
knows. words are tricky things TO handle.
Without laboring the point further. !
should like to close with the suggestion that
Congress should so overhaul the setup OF our
Post Once Department that such matters as
free" official mail. subsidies TO air or steam
ship lines or any other services conducted
or administered not for the direct service or
benefit Of private users of mail facilities
should be shown as such and not as deficits
nor charged to the said private users of the
mails This I submit. is only common hon
esty and justice. @. A. EDGERLY.
Major o. 6 A. Retired
Evening star., 1949-04-01
Home Rule and CONGRESS


The Kefauver bill for home rule in the
District like the frst Auchincloss bill which
1t follows to a considerable extent. would II
adopted represent an important step in the
achievement of democracy In Washington.
II It gives the proposed elected District Coun-
ell the largest measure Of legislative author
ity which. as a practical matter. can be
obtained from Congress, 1t should have the
support of the people Of the District.
But does It? The District Council would
have authority TO enact only ordinances.
which are defined as those ordinances which
the present Board OF Commissioners could
adopt. Other legislation would have 10 take
the form OF Legislative proposals. TO be
laid before Congress for a stated period
while 1t was in session. and to be subject 10
q veto by either House
This is not home rule even TO the extent
allowed the inhabitants Of Puerto Rico.
Hawaii or Alaska. although the District prob
ably has as literate and enlightened popu-
lation OF American citizens as any com
munity in the country.
It means that the District win still have
to face the risk that the prejudice Of distant
CONGRESSIONAL constituencies will determine
purely local questions. such as daylight saw
ing time. 1t means that Congress viii stili
be, to quite unnecessary extent. involved In
the RESPONSIBILITY l0F SuGsl DlSIlCb @fELSAhI1Dn
as the laws of descent and distribution. pro-
cedure for probate. marriage and divorce.
incorporation, and other matters having no
possible national interest.
II the Legislative powers Of the District
Council are interpreted as narrowly as those
of the District Commissioners. 1t In serious
question whether nine responsible citizens
can be induced TO run for the once IL the
Council still would have TO 20 to Congress
for everything from authority TO Kill staritngs
to changes in the hours OF barbershops and
be subject in all cases 70 the veto OF but one
House, the Office would not Be particularly
attractive.
On the other hand. II the Council mem
bers turned out 70 be ambitious citizena.
anxious to use the unexercised ordinance
making authority Of the Commissioners 10
the fullest possible extent. We could have
rash Of litigation challenging their action
which would keep even the oyereroSded local
bar In business for years
A FUN delegation Of legislative authority
70 the District Council such ~ Ia given 10
the territorial legislatures would avoid these
problems. Congress would retain. as IL must
constitItionally. the power 10 intervene nj
any time through its normal Legislative proc
ess. This constitutional right 10 completely
adequate To protect the national government
against the unlikely adverse action Of Q
responsible. elected local council
ALEXANDER b. HAwEs.
Evening star., 1949-04-01
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

@. Does one actually see an event 81 II
happening when looking At ,slevislon
screcn2--M T. o.
A. Yes. provided that q teleYision camera
Ia on the scene and the tslecakt IL mt from
Aim. Many events are reproduced M thfy
happen. travelling from the spot where they
are taking place 10 the receiver at speed
Of 10000 miles per second. In addition
TO the Tive" te1ecasts. Aims are used TO re-
cord programs that may BE- presented later
at convenient hours.
q. What Ia the origin OF the name "ehow
chow" as applied TO the brred Of doFs'-
q. r. q.
A. The breed originated in China, ard
Chow chow began a. an snectionsH nick
name. the equivalent OF which in EnEhsh
In approximately object Of art" or "knies-
knack."
@. What n the distance from New York
TO the North Pole by water and hos far in
from New York 10 the South Pole alonE ths
route used by Admiral Byrd7--J. d. p.
A. The Department Of the Navy says ,hst
the distance from New York 20 the North
Pole via Cape York Greenland. ia 9s72
nautical miles. To reach the south Pole
from Eev York. the distances In nautical
miles are. BY ssa To the Panama Cana.
2lois. from the Canal 10 Little Ansfiee.
ss5s. and by air 10 the South Pole. sss
This adds Nd 10 q total of ssso nautical
miles. nautical mile Ia little more than
300 feet longer than q statute mile.
@. When viii the S0-cent piece o~arinf
the likeness Of Benjamin Franklin b N
circuiation7--H H.
A. Fifty coins bearing ihs hkensk' ~
BENJAMIN Franklin have been distributed
10 the banks and will be In general eiEeuia"
ton rs soon as the present supply Of CONS
hayins the old design is exhausted.
Evening star., 1949-04-01

ington. Mr.. El-Khouri is regarded, not only
in Syria but IN other Arab lands, as true
elder statesman" a man of wisdom
ripened by long experience and high at
tainment. If his guidance is taken. the
policy of the new government should be
prudent and well-founded
Evening star., 1949-04-01

they can take tire attention al fe~ word
away from their own intention 20 90 that
We are rust three years late wsklnx up, Why
are our leaders 40 afraid Of speaking plainly
what could veass9se q coaotinr world -
much as cur telling the kreualtn they srv rot
kidding the world l. =. c
Evening star., 1949-04-01
Questions ond Answers

A reader rsn act the answer th.ear asstt4es ~
fact ky vrltlnE The Evsntnt &at isfsrrst,a
nuresa. aiH Eve street NE wsshthston
psssse tnsiess three Jat cents fer Ft,1rH e@*tsss
Evening star., 1949-04-01
Zoo Not a Municipal Affair
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Your correspondent, r. w. X. tStar. March
"a, comments upon the District municipal
treasury running low in funds" and inquiries
as to why couldn't We increase taxes on
liquor and charge 4 small fee for adrnittance
to our Zoo?"
Perhaps your correspondent overlooks the
fact that the Zoo In Washington Is not q
part Of the District government. but Is
Federal institution. Hence, II admission fees
were to be collected. the District would
realize as much from such income - II
does from the revenue realized through ad-
mission charges for the Washington Monu-
ment. ROBERT EMMET BuRAE.
What Kremlin and Wallace Want
To the Editor Of The Star
Sunday listened to Henry Wallace. ae
gave an appealing talk. Everything he
wished for the American people they already
wish for themselves; they would give 4 great
deal of time, effort and money TO get II. The
only trouble Is that the things he wishes for
us are the very things the Kremlin wishes
for us.
Henry wishes Americans would cease talk
ing of war: the Krsmlin wishes we would
even cease thinking about 1t while they get
ready for 1t. Henry wishes We would cease
Spcuoink uor cAoaS piSP04 Ase A0a ~~A ~s
is what the Kremlin wishes most. Henry
wishes ior economic cooperation: We offered
1t and they took al We offered but gave
nothing In return. Henry wishes for political
cooperation: we tried 1t number Of times
but they elocked every move. Henry Wishes
President Truman would accept the invita-
tion to Moscow to talk things over: 10 does
the Kremlin, nothing could give them bet
Ter chance 10 diScredit US before the douhting
world.
The endless chatter Of the Kremlin about
our seeking control Of the world In In hopes
Evening star., 1949-04-01
To tn, Eaitcr ci IN, star


The undersigned fully agrees With the
views OF Virginia GookaSlan. as expressed
in her letter to The Star OF March Is and
confirmed by a visit 10 the Biennial En-
hihition at Corecran Gallery,
Very few Of the 1877 pictures selected by
the jury and including the prize winners"
evince anything like q thorough under
standing OF anatomy, perspective. design
or art theory. and many were not above
the work OF asylum inmates. II seemed
10 me
Without having q thorough basic train
ing in the above subjects. and talent 10
interpret the beauties of nature and neces-
sary mechanical skill TO do SO our modern
so-called artists aim 10 begin at the top
OF the scale. Therefore. their work lacks
foundation and is usually crude. Even many
OF the catalog captions are absurd. such as
for example. Abstract Thought" described
as conglomeration of spots OF orange,
pink. green and mauve. interspersed with
black lines OF irregular shape. etc.
Sapienti sat TITUS ULKE. Ph. D.
Evening star., 1949-04-01
Letters to The Star

Letters fo- r=hl,cattos -&T Aesr
ths sscHo:G-s s~d Gsd-eSs 81 .sT
ae~;fer, ei'kcash II Is peT-n syihlS tn'
q teritsr Eaosfw 70 TIE Ste - 3ss
C ucrs de riaras Please ~ h'se'
Evening star., 1949-04-01

A Southern librarian hnds, she says that
single girls enjoy fiction more than mar
ried women. A wife, of course, detects 1t
sooner.
Evening star., 1949-04-01
Corcoran Biennial Comment

t. ths Ks3tcT 81 Tns staF
recently had the pleasure al SEEING GreIA
gempIlons exhibit o. portraits a. the Cor
corsn Gallery. Every one WAS a MASTERPIECE,
Now have visited the ,isl Biennial IN.
hioi,ion Of Contemporary Oh PAINTING and
/ am as,oniShed that the Corcoran Gallery
would ever put up such an exhibit Most ot
the pictures" are indescribabls
went into the once and told Herman W
Williams director Of the gallery, that
should think the CorcoTan would be ashamed
10 exhibit such stuff
The 81 900 prize picture seems To me
absolutely worthless. II represents nsure
with tangle OF clothes around IL, but there
is no flesh color. and the les shadows are
ridiculous.
AS great waste OF paint the exhibit may
be called a success II. 3. BRADFORD.
Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1949-07-02

versity, NAACP consultant on
colonial problems, will be a
speaker at the 40th annual con-
ference of the National Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Col
ored People to be held here July
1917, it was announced this week
by NAACP Acting Secretary Roy
Wilkins. DR.. Logan will discuss
the disposition of former Italian
colonies and the application and
augmentation of Point " (te-
clinical assistance TO undevelop-
ed area of the world in Presi-
dent Truman's inaugural address.
Other conference speakers in
clude Nine. Vijaya Lakshmi Pan
dit, Indian ambassador to the
United States, who will present
the Spingarn medal for distin-
guished achievement to Dr. Ralph
j. Bunche, acting UN Mediator
in Palestine; Charles HI. Houston,
Washington attorney and chair
man of the NAACP National Le-
gal Committee; Philip Willkie,
representative in the Indiana Lee
gislature and son of the late
Wendell Willkie; and Loren Mil
Ter, noted Los Angeles attorney.
Roy wilkins will deliver the
keynote address on the opening
night mad Governor William H.
Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1949-07-02
Ada SipueI Fisher
Begins Law At
Okla. u.

Norman, Oklahoma, June % -
The legal education OF Mrs. Ada
Lois Sipuel Fisher began at long
last this week when tie younng
woman was finally admitted to
the University of Oklahoma law
school after a 1-2 year fight
waged by the National Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Col
ored People. The case. institut-
ed early in 1916 and carried to
the United STAYS Supreme Court
by NAACP attorneys, was headed
for the highest court again when
the State of Oklahoma ordered
the University to admit Mrs.
Fisher this week.
At the present time, Mrs. Fish
er is attending classes at the
law school separated from white
students by a rail. Her fellow
students have threatened to r
move the rail and rportdly have
taken an affirmative vote on such
action
AS she started to classes, the
attractive youung law student ex-
pressed her appreciation to her
many friends" who assisted her
in the 42-month fight to gain adj
mission to the law school and
stated, II expect to spend the
rest of my life demonstrating
to the State of Oklahoma that a
mistake was made in attempting
to prevent me from getting a le-
gal education at the state uni
versity."
Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1949-07-02

Chicago "That big Negro
Highlander got It," That the
way one N. Y. daily sportscribe
described Don Newcombe's sharp
breaking fast ball, and anyone
who has witnessed this big speed
oaller's performance can easily
attest to that statement.
This observer has followed
i1g Don since his inception into
the Negro league, his activities
IN the organize show, his tennis
at Nasha and finally his debut
into the Big Show at Flatbush
ana make no mistake, this bic
youngster has developed into one
Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1949-07-02

Daniels, editor of the Raleigh
North Carolina) News and OBJ
server, demanded immediate ac-
ton on the scores of petitions
that have been received here,
asking the United Nations to help
prevent discrimination or mis-.
treatment of minorities. He de-
clared that the United States
should take the leadership on the
discrimination and mistreatment
of minority groups He said that
petitions from Panama, South At
RIGA and parts of the United
States were the most numerous,
and presented problems of a very
urgent nature"