davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Land Reform in Italy

A bill sponsored by the government and
rushed to Parliament for speedy action
indicates the acuteness Of the land-reform
issue in Italy. This bill, authorizing the
redistribution Of land in the Province Of
Calabria, is obviously an emergency
measure, due to the bloody riots of fort
night ago, when crowds .of destitute
peasants took illegal possession Of large
landed properties and fought the police
who-came to eject them. The attendant
bloodshed caused a political crisis which
the De Gasperi cabinet seeks to allay by
this local action. However, it is merely
part Of a much more extensive agrarian
program designed to better the lot Of the
peasantry throughout Italy. This program
envisages not only land redistribution but
also extensive irrigation and reclamation
projects designed to increase agricultural
production by some Is per cent
Maldistribution and faulty utilization OF
land is Italy's oldest and most chronic Ill.
The great estates of Southern italy worked
by landless laborers or croppers on onerous
tenancies are known as "latifondia." That
is the same word used by the Romans to
depict the same monopolistic condition in
their day. While matters are not as bad
in Northern Italy, the peasantry even there
have many grievances. This was evidenced
by the big agricultural strikes Of last June,
which threatened to affect the harvests.
The Communists have made effective use
OF this agricultural unrest, gaining many
recruits in the countryside which normally
would be conservative.
While the agrarian reform measures pro-
posed or actually in operation would un-
doubtedly ameliorate the situation and
remedy the worst abuses, their practical
limitations should be recognized. The
basic difhculty is that there is simply not
enough arabic land in Italy to satisfy the
needs of population more than half OF
which Is rural and which continues to
multiply rapidly despite adverse economic
conditions. italy is overpopulated, and
the large emigration Of former days which
acted as safety valve Is no longer prac-
ticable. Further industr1alization a. an
alternative is hindered by lack OF capital
and paucity Of natural resources such a.
coal and iron.
The measure Of recovery from economic
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Letters to The Star
Says Republicans Need
A~nkknp Y{vnnnIn

Says Republicans Need
Another Lincoln
To tho Editor Of The Star:
In view Of the fact that the Republican
Party has reached another point IN its
downward skid 1t seems in order to look over
the wreckage and survey the chances IN the
future.
The COP is faced with what admittedly
is the strongest political setup yet to appear
on the political scene. Let 1t not fool itself.
Can it spend more money, lend more money,
advocate more so-called benefits for the
people, further more housing. do more to
keep the wage and price levels up. create
more crises, extend more favors?
The answer Of course is "No!" Whether
these activities are liked or not by the Re-
publican Party the fact has been demonstra-
ted that the majority of Americans have sig
nif1ed their liking for them.
Can the COP tell the majority Of Amer
leans that they shouldn't like what they
by insinuating that the acceptance Of the
fait accompli signifies lack of gray matter?
Here again the answer Is mo"
Well then, what chance has the COP for
entering the scene again? Looking at the
possibility pessimistically as must be done,
it would seem that the decline Of the present
administration with the historic desire to
change under such conditions affords the
only entree.
The other possibility would lie in running
a man for. President who so captures the
public's fancy that the man is elected. This
man should possess the modern appeal OF
a Abraham Lincoln, be personality in his
own right and not "Ghosted job" He
should be fortnight, feel, live and personify
simple honesty. He should inspire the land
and the people. He should be able to speak
from his own mind and be strong enough to
Withstand judgment. Through him the
party might deserve to live again.
REVERICUS
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Evolving West Germany

The story of the conferences between
the Foreign Ministers OF the Western
Powers in the first instance, and their
subsequent conference with German
Chancellor Adenauer, Is coming out In
installments. It was DR.. Adenauer who
first gave US his version In q report to
his own Parliament. Although that report
was necessarily incomplete, since 1t could
not cover what went on between the
Western Ministers, 1t nevertheless fur
nishes good idea of how West Germany
will begin to evolve in the near future.
Perhaps the most significant aspect OF
DR.. Adenauer's report is the conciliatory
nature of the conference In which he
participated. The Western Foreign Min
listers were prepared to negotiate rather
than lay down directives to be compiled
with. They offered a series Of important
concessions, notably on the burning ques-
ton of plant dismantling, which has so
reused German public opinion and also
divided the Allies themselves. The matter
is to be re-examined, especially TOR steel,
synthetic oil and rubber plants, which the
Germans consider vital to their Industrial
recovery-a viewpoint In which Americans
tend to concur. Equally important, though
less controversial, are Allied concessions
on the rehabilitation of a German mer-
chant marine, the establishment Of trade
corlsulates abroad, participation Of West
Germany in variety of international
organizations, and Allied considerations OF
measures to alleviate the consequences of
the present technical state Of war between
Germany and the Western Powers.
However, it should be noted that, Ia
return for all this, the Western Ministers
stipulated counter concessions from the
German side. In the first place, the
German government should recognize the
Ruhr Statute and formally participate in
the Ruhr Authority, an international or
ganization Of the Western nations, great
and small, designed to control the Fahr's
big stsei and iron industries. Hitherto.
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Christianity q Mission

There Is nothing new or novel in the
conception Of Christianity Is q mission.
What the Reverend Bryan Green Of Bir-
mingham is doing at Washington Cathe-
dral this week is simply 4 reafdrmation
of the elementary evangelism Of reli-
gion which began with Preacher and
has prospered best when it has been led
by preachers. The exposition OF the Word
historically has been the raison d'etre OF
the church. Wherever and whenever the
times have demanded an appeal to the
spirit of men, there have been men like
Saint Paul, Bernard Of Clairvaux, Francis
of Assist, Martin Luther, John Calvin,
John and Charles Wesley, George Fox and
George Whitefeld to assert the power OF
the Gospel against rival forces
Mr.. Green, coming to America from post
war Britain, has reminded more than ten
thousand people who have heard him IN
the past few days that the authentic
dynamic Of Christian civilization is an
awakened and conscious spirit in indi-
viduals. He sees clearly the challenge Of
militant atheism throughout the world.
The name by which 1t goes means little.
It's character is "anti-God," and it there
fore is evil Mr.. Green points to the fruits
of secularism as proof Of its profoundly
harmful nature. The problems OF living
generations are not exclusively economic or
political or scientific but rather intellectual
and moral.
OF course, other apostles have said the
same. What distinguishes Mr.. Green's
exhortations Is his own personal talent Tor
reaching into the minds and hearts OF
listeners. He is richly gifted, yet plain
and simple man, free Of pretension. Crowds
have been f1ocking to him at Washington
Cathedral not merely to hear him but
likewise to see him, to take him into their
own visual experience. That is signih-
cant tribute. It seems to show that Mr.
Green is right in his faith that an active,
energetic Christianity is appreciated.
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Mr.. Walsh's Review Of Cases
Involving Civil Rights Appreciated

To the Editor Of The star:
We need more articles like Robert K.
Walsh's resume Of Supreme Court cases af-
fecting Negroes.
The separate but equal" theory Is chal-
lenged by all thinking Negroes. We are
Americans and. not satisfied with second
class citizenship. we turn to the courts Of our
land for justice as do all Americans.
Mr.. Walsh gives the history Of cases prior
to Supreme Court review. He thereby pro-
vides information that allows your readers
to share In the progress Of our Nation. The
decisions rendered on the vital questions af-
fecting Negroes also affect all Americans.
We, too. are Americans. II Mr.. Walsh
would continue writing such articles, the
educational progress resulting would assist
in making Washington truly city Of which
we could be proud.
= altoona @. ROBINSON.
Evening star., 1949-11-18
John L. Lewis Said To Be
Miners Benefactor
TO the Editor Of The Star:

0luCfO 0Sucl1CtOE
To the Editor Of The Star:
would like to remind the Disguised Irish
American at Sproul, Pa, what John L.
Lewis means to the miners. She does not
realize that II it had not been for John L..
the miners still would be working Is hours
q day seven days week for mere subsist-
ence allowance.
I would like the lady from sproul to
realize what this strike Is about. The issue
is our pensions. Pensions to the miners are
desirable. so that they will be able to live
decently after their usefulness is at an end.
The woman at sproul says her plant was
closed by John l.. but she forgets that the
coal used by her company Is saturated with
the blood Of miners. Apparently the lady
doesn't care how many miners are killed in
the pits as long as her hubby has job. The
lady fails to realize that the coal operators
want to return to the 16-hour day. $18 pay
check. She fails to realise that slap at
John L. Is . slap at the coal miner, his wife
and his kids.
The lady also should know that Johns
answer to Mayor David Lawrence was far
from stlly. The only thing that Is keeping
the coal stxib- no in the air y the coal
operatoga LEON II. 0AUkA
Evening star., 1949-11-18

prostration after a disastrous war that
italy has thus far accomplished is hope
full indication Of national resiliency. But
the difficulties and handicaps which beset
a basically poor and overpeopled country
should not be minimized. Italy's path Is
not smooth one, and land reform is only
one Of its problems, albeit major factor
in its national evolution.
Evening star., 1949-11-18

To the Editor Of the Star: .=.,
Now that the smoke in the Senator
Thomas Swedish affray has cleared. one
wonders whether there may not be some
merit in the Senator's comments IN the
light Of certain other circumstances.
The Senator's achievements probably equaI
those Of his Swedish critics. Some years
ago, an eminent Swede, visiting IN this
country, stated publicly that he thought 1t
might be to his country's advantage to
cultivate more genial cultural relations with
this country. but nothing seems to have
come Of it.
One gains the impression that the Swedes
follow a rather frigid and perhaps selnsh
mode of courtesy. In addition to the above
examples, about decade ago the writer pub
lished a very important contribution to
Swedish history, namely, the determination
that the Goths conquered and settled IN
southern Sweden about AID. 120, not known
Heretofore. Despite the fact that copies OF
the publication reached various high Swed-
ish circles including the royal family, &C
knowledgments not always were, received and
certainly nothing that bordered on thank
you" or even comments by their authorities.
even If they disagreed with my conclusions.
HISTORIAN.
Evening star., 1949-11-18
By THE HAsKIN SERVICE

BY THE HASKIN SERVICE
@. How much land suitable for farming
Is there In the world on q per capita basis?
IS. &c.
I A. It is estimated that acres Of asricul-
tural land is about all that Is available per
person In the world today. The ratio varies
from about Is acres Of reasonably good
cultivable land per person in the United
States to q mere fraction Of an acre In
the densely populated areas in Asia.
O. What was the profession Of the Wright
brothers before they took up hying2
H. c. r.
A. wilbur and orville Wright were bicycle
makers and repairmen. They were owners
Of the Wright Cycle Co. In Dayton Ohio,
which they had established In 1888, and
makers Of the Van Cleve bicycle. The at
tention Of the brothers was turned to the
problem of human flight by a newspaper
account Of the death Of Otto Iilienthal. the
first man to soar In glider.
@. Is Anton Walbrook the real name Of
the actor who plays in '"The Red Shoes"7
Where was he born?-L. s.
A. Anton Walbrook's real name Is Adolph
Anton Wilhelm Wohlbruck. The actor was
born In Vienna. Austria. on November 10.
1900.
@. In what year did the Vatican become
an independent state? Was 1t during the
Fascist regime?-L. H.
A. The territory Of the Papacy In Italy
was confined to the palaces Of the Vatican
and the Lateran and the villa Of Castel-
Gandolfo, and the temporal power Of the
Pope was in suspense until the Lateran
Treaty Of February IL. 1929, which recog-
nized the full and independent sovereignty
Of the Holy See in the City Of the Vatican.
This occurred during the Fascist regime
which lasted from 1922 to 1943.
Q. Is an original copy Of Mother Goose"
still in existence?-J. McA.
A. No copy Of the first edition Is known
to exist and the American reprint published
by Isaiah Thomas In 1874 Is the oldest com.
plete Mother Goose It Is in the Henry e.
Huntington Library and Art Gallery Ia
California.
q. What foreign city has statue In honor
OF newspaper boy?-L. o. s.
A. The statue Of the newsboy Ia Rio do
Janeiro, Brazil is famous. That Brazilians
are great newspaper readers is testified by
the fact that 5000 900 papers are distributed
daily. over 100000 In Rio alone.
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Scout Organizations
Not Regarded as Charities
T,o tha Kdytar ~ rxh. Sf.v.

To the Editor Of The Star:
I heartily agree with the comment on
Cubs. Brownies. Boy and Girl Scouts In
Mondays Star.
anything but charity Affairs When we
count up dues and outfits, badges and shoes,
which can be worn only on specified occa-
sions. to say nothing Of the time and pa
tience expended by conscientious parents to
help their children. / fail to see where
charity has anything to do with 1t.
Besides 1t certainly is poor policy to start
youngsters out with the idea Of charity,
when on the other hand we're trying to
teach them self-reliance and self-respect
The Community Chest has enough Of in
capable. sick and handicapped people to
care for, without aiding the healthy Amer
Evening star., 1949-11-18

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
1priter, although 1t Is permissible for
a 1Driter knoDn to The Star to use
a nom de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Holds Government Biased
Against Certain Schools

To the Editor OF The Star:
The report published in last Sundays
starr OF the subcommittee Of the Joint
Committee on the Economic Report, says
among other things: Lack Of education Tor
q better-paying occupation thus appears as
an important cause Of low income"
No one can quarrel with the committees
statement that there is definite relation
ship between education and standard OF
living. The committees report. however,
fails to point out that the Federal Gov
ernment itself throws up all sorts OF bar
riers in the way of working people who
want to better themselves by part-time
education.
Since am student at Benjamin Frank
lin University, can speak with some first
hand authority on the disgraceful treatment
accorded this type Of specialized school by
the Federal Government. The Veterans
Administration, for instance, allows GI stu
dents attending this type Of school only
one-half subsistence. despite the fact that
the business courses are identical with those
offered In the liberal arts colleges where
the CT receives full subsistence.
only to liberal arts schools, making no men,
tion of institutions Of higher education
along specialized lines. This. again. Is
grossly unfair and a rank discrimination.
could add to this list showing the Gov
ernment's hostile attitude toward the work.
ing mans struggle for higher education
while, simultaneously. Congressional COM
mittee points out the relationship between
scholastic achievements and income.
LORENZO ST. HnAIRE.
Evening star., 1949-11-18

Of Sweden. see in this small fracas les
son to the leaders of the United States.
want to point out to the Honorable Sen
ator from Arkansas that Sweden hasn't
been involved In war for more than 13O
years. The Swedes are very hard-headed
race when 1t comes to business and politics.
This perhaps explains why the Swedish
standard Of living is one Of the highest In
Europe, and they have many other notable
sociological achievements to their credit
under a good competitive economic system.
They are internationally known for the
pleasant habit Of minding their own busi-
ness. The Swedish citizens have stronger
control over their government than we have.
I can't help but feel that power-hungry
machines in America, including the present
administration, successfully are usurping
some of the rights we should hang on to.
notably by putting us citizens into debt with
out our permission through faulty eco
nomic plan Of welfare and deficit spending,
which leads to further oppressive govern
mental control
It seems to be petty jealousy when one of
the leaders Of the United States. seeing q
nation that Is operating on q far more realis-
tic and honest basis than we are. cannot
find words of praise, but must be given of
childish criticism Of a country that, far
from being leech on U.s. could well give us
much wise counsel.
J. C. DAN1ELsoN (UsAF).
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Four Readers Comment
On Senator's and the Swedes
To the Editor Of The Star:

Four Readers Comment
On Senator's and the Swedes
TO the Editor Of The Star:
May l.. one Of the millions Of Americans
whose interests Senator Elmer Thomas be-
lieves he is serving. apologize to the Swedish
people for my representatives discorrtesy to
them and to their country and for his rash
and unwarranted public utterances.
Senator Thomas brief statement un-
doubtedly has done more to ALLEVIATE the pro-
American sentiments Of the Swedish public
than the Communist Party propaganda or
gans in that country ever could have hoped
to accomplish. The Cominform. am sure.
is most grateful to him for his generous and
unsolicited contribution to their cause.
II the Senate cannot rely on the Govern
ment agency which it has created to ad-
minister and to report on the progress and
effectiveness Of the ECA program, and.
instead, insists on sending its members
(many Of them with their families) on an
nual continental junkets to make personal,
investigation, let us hope that these esteemed
representatives Of the United States Govern
ment hereafter will be sufficiently prudent
to confine their comments and activities
to the objectives Of their trip.
HENRY J. SCHNEIDER.
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Questions and Answers

reader can Ret the answer to any question
Of fact by writing The Evening Star Information
Bureau. 316 Eye st. n.e- WashinHton 2, q. e.
Evening star., 1949-11-18
To the Editor Of Tho Star:

TO the Editor Of The Star:
During 81 years Of life. equally devided
between Sweden and the United States OF
America, think have learned enough about
the two peoples to understand why Senator
Thomas felt snubbed.
He was not snubbed. A Swede, no matter
what his position in life, is equally courteous
to all comers, provided they are gentle
men and act as such. However. he resents
overbearing. Dragging. demanding and over
stuffed individuals in any shape or form and
perhaps will show this without being dis
courteous. Ergo, the Senator's feelings might
have been hurt, but he was not snubbed.
dare say the Swedish people had their
feelings hurt, too. It hurts to discover that
distinguished visitor, Senator from the
United States, has no knowledge Of how to
behave when visiting In foreign countries.
Here is hoping, that Mrs. Mesta's hospitality
made up for what he expected but didn't get
from the swedes, who perhaps thought he
was there on business and not on pleasure
trip at Uncle Sans expense.
a sQUAREHEAD.
TO the Editor Of Tns starr
. I have been noting with . great deal Of
interest the verbal swordsplay between our
nlustrious senator NoG1sainn and the country
Evening star., 1949-11-18
Complains That Montgomery Jau
Conditions Are Worse Than Reported

Conditions in the Montgomery County
Jail are even worse than outlined recently
in The Star. on the basis Of report by
Inspector Cox from the Office of James "
Bennett. director Of the Federal Bureau of
Prisons.
The grand jury would do well to look into
all aspects of the administration Of the
county jail, especially the actual disposition
Of food and supplies invoiced to the jail;
and this without the idea of whitewashing
the situation.
Forty-seven cents q day per prisoner (pop-
ulation 30 to 500 is expended for food to
serve the following menu: Breakfast $3.50
am) every boiled egg $50 malo-
dorous that other persons complain of odor
when some one else is eating close by. frank
furter (plain boiled). coffee Frequently bad.
Lunch-None ever served, except three
sandwiches to men who work on the road,
who also receive for breakfast oatmeal with
out milk or sugar.
Supper tafter 4:30 pm). Monday and
Saturday-Bean soup 1.-TWO cupfuls. thin no
meat, salt pork fhin. crisp. extremely salty,
mostly fat), one piece.
Supper. Tuesday and Thursday-Boile
cabbage (often overlooked, tasteless and
dark color, boiled potato 0n jacket, salt
pork Gas above).
Supper. Wednesday and Friday-Potato
soup (two cupfuls) thickened with -four, with
few chunks Of meat. sometimes q few
vegetables.
Supper. Sunday-Boiled beef Zone slice)
dressing (bread and onions baked in beef
stock). potato (boiled, with Jacket.
Sunday supper always was the bean soup
supper as on Wednesday, but this change
was made after visit Of Inspector Cox.
Bread always Is lying around In the cells
to be eaten with the meals.
Sirup, about one cup, partly full, twice a
week to each cell with group of prisoners
therein. regardless Of number. .@aa.
Prisoners are not permitted to send out
and purchase food. but may receive food
from friends. A FORGOTTEN SOUL.
Editors Note: Inspector Cox reported
that the food bill for each prisoner averages
IS cents day. His report criticized the lack
OF variety in the diet rather than quantity
allowed jail officials say that candy, cakes
and cigarettes sometimes are purchased for
prisoners with their own funds-at no profit
to the jailer).