davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Coerced Thinking.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In his State the Union message President
Truman called for universal military training
Yet an Associated Press news item from Wash
ington dated January 10 says THE Army to-
day eliminated two-year enlistments to SLOW
down the number of recruits 1t is now con-
sidering applications for enlistment only ii
they are for three years or longer, because its
manpower ceiling is practically reached And
the Air Force and Navy have never wanted
or used any kind of peacetime conscription.
However, there is no doubt that great pres
sure will be put on Congress to enact lay
for universal military training and to appropri-
ate even vaster sums for military purposes than
our present budget allows.
Most citizens will believe that they reach
their own conclusions on these questions by a
process of independent reasoning. But they
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Biqqer Than Our Sun

DR.. Joseph A. Pearce, director OF the
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory at
Victoria, British Columbia, reports the dis
covery of two stars respectively about %
and "a times as large as the central orb
of the system to which the Earth belongs.
Known thus far simply as HD215835, these
monster fragments Of infinity are roughly
10000 multiples of our sun in brightness.
Their surface temperatures are approx
mately $4,000 degrees centigrade-that is,
about six times as hot as ShakeSpeare's
"fire that sewers day from night"
The distance of DR.. Pearce's twins from
the Earth has been estimated as nearly
1000 light years or over Al million billion
miles One star races around the other
at speed believed to be about 125 miles a
second as compared with the 18 miles a
second at which the Earth revolves around
the SUM- II the two whirling masses con-
sist of the same materials as our parent
body, they must be reduced to a much
greater gaseousness. This would mean
that they are, in effect, two gigantic flames.
1t would appear to follow that eventually
they would burn themselves out. But, so
vast are they in size and so dynamic In
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Our IndefotiqubIe President

It is hard for one who reads OF President
Trumans breath-taking round OF inaugu-
raj activities to realize that he is the
oldest Chief Executive to be inducted in
more than ninety years. There was MOTH
ing in his department or appearance dur
ing the gruelling Inauguration day sched-
ule or during yesterdays postinaugural
program to indicate that he is man of
advanced years, as Presidents 60. On the
contrary, he maintained pace that
amazed observers, that must have tagged
younger aides and other members Of his
staff and that suggested more the artillery
man Of Battery D days than the e4-year-
old holder OF the biggest job In the land.
The average age OF our Presidents at the
time of Inauguration has been about fifty
six Not since James Buchanan, who was
sixty-fve when inaugurated, has an older
man been sworn In as President. Theodore
Roosevelt, at forty-two, was the youngest.
But surely not even the indefatigable
Teddy could have stood up better than did
Mr.. Truman during the inaugural whirl.
At the end of an action packed schedule
Thursday that included not only the tense
ceremonies AZ The CdplIOl anu d ot2-llou
parade but the grand ball at the Armory.
he appeared to be as fresh and cheerful
as when he began the day at breakfast
with his World War I buddies. And he
had had only AZ hours sleep when he
arrived at the Mayfower Hotel twelve
minutes early for that seven-o'clock meal.
He found time that day also to attend
church services and a reception. Although
he remained at the inaugural ball until
1:4O am and did not retire until latter
PAS am.," he was up again at $50 o'clock
yesterday morning, apparently as fit and
cripper as ever Another round of social
engagements, including breakfast at the
Capitol. two receptions and Kentucky
ball, failed to wilt him. -
Whether 1t be due to that Missouri air
and upbringing or to right living since
leaving his home State, the man has
stamina beyond that given to many other
men Of his age. And he win need all his
stamina and exuberance in the ardupus
days that lie ahead.
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Economic Realism for Europe

Two recent official pronouncementS
provide us with what may be considered
the short and long term aspects OF
Europe's economic situation and prospects.
The immediate aspect Is covered by state
ments made in Geneva, Switzerland, by
officials of the World Bank concerning
measures being considered for bettering
the inter-European currency situation.
The long range aspect was dealt with at
press conference held here in Washington
by Robert Mariolin, Secretary General OF
the Organization of European Economic
Cooperation.
Despite efforts made by the World Bank
and other international agencies, the
problem of Europe's numerous and mu-
tually inconvertible currencieS remains
as pressing as it is complex This problem,
whose handling is an indispensable pre-
requisite to the financing of inter European
trade, has long since ceased to be merely
q dollar matter. Just now, the worst
exchange stringencies center about the
Belgian franc and the pound sterling, but
the emphasis could conceivably shift to
other currencies on short notice. World
Bank officials are busy celebrating series
of measures which would alleviate these
shortages by creating a new mechanism
of payments through a multilateral COM
pensation system But the method
hitherto in operation based on passing
on" of United States aid by creditor coun-
tries, is having only limited success.
The deeper reason for these difficulties
was explained by M. Marjolin as stemming
from the failure of most European coun-
tries collectively to stabilize their cur
rencies and make greater efforts toward
recovery He warned that the govern
ments concerned would have to make
every drastic and unpleasant decisions"
II they were to set their collective
economic and financial house in order
before the deadline of 1852, when the
Marshall Plan is scheduled to end. His
remedy consisted in drastic "austerty"
program similar to that practiced by
Britain, even though this would involve
heavy sacrifices and, at best, very slow
rise" in European living standards during
the interim period. The alternative, how
ever, would mean "a series OF economic
and political crises" after 1852 which might
have catastrophe" results if Europe had
been unable to make up an import deficit
of about $4,000 900 annually, now
covered by Marshall Plan aid.
Europe has failed thus far to draw up
an effective master plan" for European
recovery as demanded by ECA Admins
traitor Paul G. Hoffman. While the
reports by individual countries may in
dividually make sense, taken collectively,
they make no sense at all" Unless the
governments concerned are willing and
able to face up to economic realities and
make the requisite policy decisions on a
co-ordinated basis, any so-called plan"
will be meaningless.
Taken together, these two pronounce
noents are as timely as they are con-
structive in character. Furthermore, they
show that Europes most authoritative
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Senator Smith Self-Introduced

To the Editor Of The Star:
Among the manv firsts that belong to Sena-
tor Margaret Chase Smith of Maine, the one
that often is questioned is that of being "en-
tirely on her own" in her recent election. Some
do remember that there have been other
women Senators, particularly Mrs Hattie
Caraway, as evidenced by Miss Alice Tandy's
letter published on January 10.
The other women Senators were introduced
to the Senate through honorary appointments
extended to them following the deaths OF
their husbands. If they campaigned there
after, it was in efforts to hold their places
that had been given them through courtesy.
Mrs Smith, however, was not member OF
he Senate but of the House when she entered
The race for Senator Whites place last fall
Her victory over the n2onied and lsolatlonlst
interests in Maine has been told in the Sat-
urday Evening Post of September II, 194S.
Her election entirely on her own is understood
when one realizes that Mrs. Smith had to In
troduce herself to the Senate; whereas, Mrs.
Caraway came in on the unexpired term OF
her husband. JOSEPHINE COBB.
South Portland, Maine
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Fine Work by Our Police

An outstanding factor in the success of
the inaugural celebration Thursday was
the fine work Of the police. From top to
bottom, it seems to The Star, the depart
ment deserves everybodys thanks. The
successful handling of great and bois-
terous crowd, such as the one which turned
out to honor President Truman, requires
an extraordinary combination of planning
hard work, resourcefulness, tact-and just
plain, good -natured common sense. We
are all inclined to take good police work
for granted, saving our breath for the
times when something goes wrong and the
police make q mistake. But on this oc
casion, nearly everybody seems to have
been impressed by the polite efficiency
of the force. And that is worth talking
about.
There were, of course, few unfortunate
incidents of a minor nature. The Nose
Green Club of Louisville, KY, appears to
have been somewhat unceremoniouSly
elected from the parade; an apology clearly
is owing to those good gentlemen They
were victims Of misunderstanding. They
were not supposed to be in the parade,
and inaugural officials were justihably
jittery about the possible appearance of
unscheduled delegations in the line of
march. Then, too, woman is reported to
have been knocked down when she jay
walked through restraining cable into
the path of police motorcycle, and five
persons had to be arrested at Third street
and Constitution avenue for allegedly
creating disorder there. But considering
the size of the operation, little of this
sort of thing was unavoidable. None of
it was serious.
Superintendent Barrett, in general
order on Thursdays assignments, directed
his men to so conduct themselves that
when the parade is over and the spec
tators have dispersed - they may look
back on this day as one of sincere pleasure,
and that there will nnger in their hearts
genuine esteem for our department. And
that is Just about what happened.
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Finds Butter Industry Not CONVINCING

Finds Butter Industry Not Convincing
To the EDITOR Of The Star:
was left as unconvinced by Charles NJ
Fisteres desperate attempt at explaining the
butter industry's opposition to free competition
of its product and colored oleomargarne as
regularly am by others of his gentry It's the
old story Of building up statements of opinion
to point where acceptance as a fact even-
tually is taken for granted
believe 1t is Mr.. Fistere who exhibits naivete
when he infers by comparison with obscure
rulings, that colored margarine is an adulter-
ated product Adulteration consists in the
addition of impurities or less valuable filters in
order to lessen the quality of an otherwise pure
product which is decidedly not the case in the
coloring of margarine. The addition of yellow
coloring to butter may be yellow herring"
to your correspondent but in fact it's done for
the same reason that of cooring margarine,
/. e., to make it appear more appetizing. It's
an accepted fact that oleomargarine contains or
can be fortified with as much of the food, min
eral and vitamin value as butter and much
more economically, tax notwithstanding. Mr..
Fistere admits that the two products are COM
parable in other characteristics, the prime rea-
son for his color apprehension. So where is the
stimulation of valuable food? Oeomargarine
Is ltScll FdludUlc 1OOu ana lIe only OlHcT-
ence Is in price and the butter industrys COL
lective mind.
Mr.. FiStere makes a reference or two to the
pure food laws in an effort to make us believe
that the law is all on the side of the butter
industry. However, the laws don't prohibit the
cooring of margarine. To prevail us further
to the affect that margarine must not be coored
because Of the incident fraud possibilities is
much like outlawing the automobile because
one might run over somebody. Admitted that
fraud to some extent is possible, believe that
proper labelling and competition will offer us
enough protection to reduce these possibilities
to the minimum enjoyed by many other COM
petitive products that are legitimate substitu-
tions.
In conclusion, let me state that I am not SO
naive as to think that the butter industry is as
interested in protecting the consumer from
oleomargarine frauds as it is in protecting its
competitive position, which, of course, is a very
natural and selfish interest. However, let Mr..
Fistere call spade a spade and cease trying to
foist on us a nonexistent altruistic program.
I think that the consumer wants untaxed.
colored margarine, and what the consumer
wants he usually gets in time when he tries
hard enough, lobbes notwithstanding. Let
The Star continue to publish enlightening edi-
torals on this subject Please continue to
run with the pack" of the scorned consumer
PAUL A. SCHMUCK, Jr.,
First Lieutenat, U. S. Marine Corps.
Evening star., 1949-01-22
power, the conaagration would continue

power, the conhagration would continue
for prodigious while.
Perhaps the only practical point worth
considering in relation to DR.. 'Pearce's
discovery is that of the lesson which it
suggests for the human inhabitants of the
Earth. 1t is good occasionally to remember
how small, how pitifully tiny, are men and
all their affairs when Judged against such
immensity as the sky. Huge as they are,
the stars called HD215835 are relative pig
mics. There are at least two other groups
which are known to be larger and brighter
and hotter. And none Of all these colossal
blazes can be seen through an ordinary
telescope. They are so far away as to
have escaped detection for ages Beyond
them, probably, are thousands of other
celestial migrants which no instrument
can reach.
At the other extreme, the electronic
microscope is revealing objects so small
that they must be coated with gold to be
photographed. Anybody who can explain
a creation so comprehensive and so COM
plex as that in which mankind is involved
without acknowledgment of the Creator
must have unparalleled imagination.
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Resident Wants a Part

To the Editor of The Star
In The Star Of January 13 happened to
see this comment by Representative Combs on
raising hotel prices during the Inauguration
period: washington is the one city that be-
longs to all the people of our country and is
the seat Of the Government of all the people.
Therefore, Washington, of all places, should
treat fairly the citizens who visit it,
I'm not a hotel owner and I'm not in
terested in keeping my fellow citizens from
seeing the man they elected take Office How
ever, I do wonder why my fellow citizens do
not give me the same privilege they have when
it comes to choosing that President
After all, too am to be governed by this
man. I pay my share Of the bills when he
decides to make some improvement, and 1
get shot at when he makes a mistake. Why,
then, should I not have a part in deciding
who this man should be?
JOHN B. PENNINGTON
Evening star., 1949-01-22
They Have Earned the Award

The special decoration to be awarded
airlift personnel is a well-deserved recog
milton of unique military Job well done.
There just Is no precedent for Operation
VittleS and hence a new award especially
designed to honor the flyers who have
made possible the feeding and fueling of
the allied zone in Berlin Is happy idea.
The award will be gold clasp bearing
miniature transport plane of the type
used in the amazing shuttle run to the
blockaded city. All who have rendered
ninety days service on the Berlin express"
will be entitled to wear the clasp with
the regular Occupation Medal. These men
have earned the admiration and the graft
tude not only of their own Nation but
of the Germans who would have suffered
this winter from hunger and cold but for
the astounding airlift achievements.
Through all kinds of weather, much of it
of the worst type for flying, and In the
face of recurrent threats from the Rus
slams, the airlift boys have maintained
a steadily increasing supply of flour, coal
and other essential supplies to the be-
leaguered city. An average Of 5000 tons
of supplies is now being flown In every
day-to the obvious dismay and befuddle-
ment OF the Communist strategists in Mos
cow.
The operations have not been without
heavy cost. Aside from the money involved,
a total of thirty-four American and British
airmen have died in the airlift cause. But
replacements and additions both of per-
sonnel and planes continue to keep the
undertaking going without serious letup,
This sort of thing the Russians did not
anticipate, nor do they fully comprehend
even today how the job can be done so
efficiently and effectively 1t could not
have been done, in fact, without the tire
less and faithful efforts of the flyers and
ground crewmen assigned to the difficult
and hazardous mission. They have earned
many times over the concentrations i'm
plicit in the special decoration.
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Letters to The Star
Mr.. Bunche as a Symbol

MIR. Bunche as Symbol
To the Editor Of The Star:
Not discounting Ralph Bunche's training as a
diplomat and his familiarity with and ability
to deal with many phases Of world problems. 1t
is our feeling that the fact of being q colored
American adds influence to his work as an
emissary Of democracy.
Although we do not believe his racial identity
is thought of-on the surface-in the meeting
Of minds of the contending Jewish and Arab
leaders, there must be some feeling Of kinship
of interests when representatives of these mi
norities confer. Mr.. Bunche has stated that no
thought of himself enters into these delibera-
tions other than as an American citizen and
representative of U. N.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Bunche is a symbol of the
hope of fuller realization of democracy here in
America, and in his unique position as mediator
he has done more to advance the virtues Of
democracy than many millions of Marshall
fund dollars.
Recently, we were asked to prepare q story
OF the excellence of Negro athletes here for
communication to the Far East We suggested
the Levi Jackson episode at Yale. 1t was not
good material because it might shock the peo-
pie in faraWay lands to learn that this was
unusual in America, for the millions Of coored
peoples OF the world have not learned to asso-
ciate race prejudice compatby with American
claims OF Christianity or democracy.
But Ralph Bunche in the role of peace media
tor Is doing more than merely stilling the strife
between Arab and Jew. His presence there is
confoundng the little local bigots who are try
ing to keep racial faScism in control in Wash
ington and the South and at the same time
his personality is helping confound the Com
mun1sts. E. B. HENDERSON.
Evening star., 1949-01-22
1t Needs to Be Chunaed

Despite his remarks at the electors
dinner the other night, there is good reason
to doubt that the President has taken a
fixed and unalterable position against pro-
posals to revamp the electoral college sys-
tenn. At any rate, though seeming to favor
retaining the present Setup, the remarks
which were made in an informal and rela-
lively light vein-were much too broad to
be taken as statement definitely placing
Mr.. Truman on the no-change side of
the issue.
Indeed, speaking later in the evening to
the same audience Senator McGrath,
chairman of the Democratic National Com
mittee, found the Presidents remarks
broad enough to be interpreted as mean
ing that while electors should continue
to cast their votes every four years, I'VE
should not be dedicated to the stagnancy
of the present system" In any case, for
his own part, Mr.. McGrath made clear
that he believes the electoral college, as
1t now operates, has outlived its use
.fulness" and needs to be changed in keep
ing with the times.
BY implication at least, the Democratic
chairman thus has indicated that he will
be among those lending their support to
efforts in the new Congress for affirmative
action oh something like Republican Sen
ator Lodges proposal for a constitutional
amendment to reform the electoral system.
The Lodge idea Is for setup under which
the votes of the presidential and vice
presidential electors would be counted in
proportion to the popular vote. In other
words, 1t would do away with the present
anachronism under which winning can
didate in any given State receives all those
votes in that State, even though his popu-
lar support may be only shade greater
than his opponents.
The issue involved here, as Senator Nc
Grath has suggested, is essentially non
partisan. The primary objective of the
proposed reform is to do away with two
quadrennial possibilities: Cd The posi-
bility of a presidential election being
thrown into the House of Representatives
because of the failure of any candidate to
win an electoral-vote ajority and (2) the
possibility that man receiving only
minority of the popular vote will receive
majority in the electoral college and thus
become President, despite the fact that
his losing opponent has more support
among the American people-a thing that
has happened three times in our history,
in the case of Adams in 1924, Hayes in
1875 and Harrison in 1888
What has happened before, of course,
can happen again. The only way to head
of such potentially dangerous develop
ment-dangerous in terms of our national
unity and political stability-is by some
such constitutional amendment as the one
advocated by Senator Lodge. The change
would bring with 1t other important bene-
fits, but simply on this ground alone-on
the ground that it would put the electoral
vote democratically in line with the popu-
lar Wilt deserves full support
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Silently, the Snow

Like feathers from an egrets breast
The sno1o is softly sitting do1on
And every roottree 1oears crest
And every pinetree aDears a cro1Dn
The bruise of each unsightly thing
Is wrapped in Dhitest loneliness,
And ,oeightless drifts of snoDfakes elk
Serenely like a soft caress!
Today this is o. silent 'to1Dn
With all things made more beautiful
And soundless men pass up and doton
As though their feet were shot IN ,ooo'
HELEN BAYLEY DAVIS.
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Wants Scent Milk. Too

To Che Editor OF The Star:
Since am woefully unqualified and inca
pable of prancing willy-nilly through the
length and breadth OF the jurisdiction of
didactics in futile attempt to controvert or
perhaps circumvent, the eloquent plea of Her
man Felter for fye-cent cup of coffee, I
shall instead humbly beseech the powers to-be
to grant us also fve-cent glass of milk. Let
us concede then, without further ado, that
inasmuch as coffee as basic stimulant and
milk as basic food are indispensable to our
well-being, both should be inexpensively pro-
durable at cents cup and 5 cents glass,
respectively. ROBERT L. BURCH
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Special Delivery Blues

To the EDITOR of The Star
A few days ago some one said that the
special delivery service in the Post Office
smelled to high heaven.
Well, I agree one hundred per cent If you
want your mail lost or delayed just let the
folks send it to you special delivery and you
fail to be standing at the door when the mes
senger gets there with it.
And if you live above, the first floor you are
still out Of luck. How do I know these thingsq
Well, I happen to work for the City Post
Once. x x x
Evening star., 1949-01-22

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
,vrtter, although it Is permissible for
a 1priter kno,Dn to The Star to use
a nom de plume Please be briet.
Evening star., 1949-01-22
Two Red Tricycles Taken

To the Editor Of The Star:
Billy, S, and Denny, 3, got little red tricycles
for Christmas. They were riding them Monday
and parked them on porch at 1919 Adams
Mill road NV. Both bikes were taken while
the little boys ran home to the bathroom.
Please ask the person who took them to
return them to 1745 Columbia road NV. The
boys are broken hearted
MRS. H. E. COSNER.