davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-11-13
Crisis in Colombo

The Colombian governments imposition
of a "state of siege"-a term roughly
equivalent to our martial law"-indicates
the gravity Of the political crisis in that
country. Furthermore, this crisis is no
sudden development. It is the elimination
Of long standing political tension which
displayed itself as far back as the bloody
rioting in Bogota, the Colombian capital,
in the spring of 1948, when the sessions Of
the Inter-American Conference held there
were much disturbed by the disorders.
Colombia's political life is disrupted by
the bitter partisanship between the Con-
servatives and Liberals. The present ad-
ministration, headed by President Mariana
OSpina Perez, is Conservative, but both
branches of Congress are dominated by
the Liberals. General elections for both
the presidency and congress are due on
November 27, but both parties accuse each
other of trying to steal the election, and
the campaign has degenerated into some
thing approaching civil war, numerous
clashes between armed partisans occurring
at many points, with casualties estimated
at hundreds or even thousands.
Last Monday, Dario Echandia, the Liberal
candidate for President announced that
he and other party leaders proposed to
boycott the forthcoming elections, II held,
because they would not be free and fair
owing to government pressure. Two days
later, a congressional commission repre-
senting the Liberal majority visited the
President and announced that they pro-
posed to impeach him. Thereupon, Presi-
dent Perez decreed the state of siege,
coupled with suspension Of the sessions of
congress and state legislatures, suspension
Of constitutional guarantees and impose
ton of rigid censorship of the press and
radio. The army has been mobilized and
troops stationed at strategic points In the
capital and elsewhere.
Awhile these drastic measures hare been
Evening star., 1949-11-13
A Question Thut Gnuws

In reS1gntng from the University OF
Rochester-where he has been president
for the past IA years-Dr. Alan Valentine
has made the somewhat poignant remark
that ever since 1928 he has constantly
questioned" whether he chose the right
career when he decided to enter the aca-
demic world. This may seem to be an odd
thing to say, but if poll were taken on
the subject, a lot of people probably would
admit that they have felt much the same
way at one time or another in their lives,
and perhaps over long periods.
It is a gnawing question. It involves
those saddest Of all words-"might have
beep." What might not any of us have
been had we chosen to be something other
than what we are? II he had taken an
other fork in the road back in 1928, DR..
Valentine might have gone forward to
heaven knows what adventures or dis
tinctions. He might have become an ex-
plorer, politician, a night club singer,
newspaperman, beachcomber, a poet, an
artist in oils, a truck gardener, sea cap
tain,sa policeman, commander of armies,
a storekeeper Bob Hope or any one of
dozens Of other things, some very good
to contemplate, and some not so good
The same holds true for all of us. If
years ago, on a certain day, circumstances
did not combine with our own wavering
decisions between "to be" and mot to be-"
our positions now might be altogether diff
ferent-much worse or much better. The
selves we might have been, in the careers
we might have had, were in a sense de-
stroyed by us, snuffed out, obliterated,
when back In that time both the circum-
stances and the wavering decisions set us
on the road that led us to being our present
selves in the careers we have So, as in
the case Of DR.. Valentine it is only natural
If great numbers of us keep asking ourselves
whether we chose wisely and we'll when we
chose as we did.
A man can never be sure OF the answer.
Nor can woman. This is one of those
questions that must remain forever in the
realm Of philosophical speculation. It is
all sort Of sad, and there is nothing we
can do about it but guess. Nothing, that
is, unless one is relatively young like DR..
Valentine and has the courage or where
w1thal to strike out afresh on q different
road toward new and romantically beck
on1ng destination. As for most of us, we
can do little more than keep on wonder
Ing whether we would have been any hap
pier with our might been" than we
are now with our els"
Evening star., 1949-11-13
Letters to The Star

and you can't even find the results of the
race. Why? That is my question.
Last year we lost one of the greatest
sportsmen that ever lived. This man, Ted
Horn, was champion in his field and he
never made the sports page until his last
year of racing and then it was to announce
his winning the title of national champion.
On last Sunday another driver of racing autos
lost his life. Rex Mays is the fourteenth
member Of the Hundred-mile -an-Hour Club
to die.
The publicity that every sporting event
needs never is given to auto racing. Races
were held here every Friday night and yet
on Saturday the results of the races never
are found on the sports pages. One question
arises from all this. What has to be done
to bring the racing world to the reading
public? L. KEMENYAS.
Evening star., 1949-11-13
FatefAl Year
By Bruce Barton

In 1928. when the stock market was run
ming wild. I was having dinner with some
men in Western city. Most of them, at
the moment, were rich.
phone call took one of them away from
the table. He came back laughing.
That's one for the book" he exclaimed.
yesterday had lunch engagement with
man who sent word that he would be q
bit late. So. having few minutes on nv
hands, called New York to find out what
was doing. The boys down there told me:
We're giving Gold Dust ride: we've put
you down for 10000 shares
"'Gold Dust!' shouted. Never heard
OF it. What's Gold Dust?'
It's stock. Don't worry. Let the Gold
Dust Twins do your work."
The man laughed louder. "And now they
call me from New York to tell me I've made
$1,000"
At that point bell began ringing in the
back of my mind. I don't know whether it
was the school bell Of my childhood, or the
bell Of my fathers church-but I got the
message. It said: "This can't be right. Any
scheme Of things under which man. while
doing no work. contributing no benefit, can
make $4,000 overnight is rotten and can't
last"
went home and proceeded as rapidly as
possible to get myself out Of debt.
| A bell is beginning to ring inside me again.
| It's faint but getting louder. It warns me
| that two forces are at work in the United
States which can mean serious mischief:
l. Deficit spending. The whole power
of the national administration is being ex-
erted to force Congress to dish out more
| gravy, to try to make voters believe that
Government can go on forever with bread
| and circuses" at no cost to them. The an
| nounced objectives-full employment and
'prosperity"-are holy. But what happens
when the waiter comes around with the
check?
2. The universal appeal to pressure groups.
| Democrats and Republicans are now all
most indistinguishable. Neither seems to
believe that any candidate can be elected
BY appealing to patriotism, the willingness
| to work and sacrifice for the United States.
| Both beam their appeals to selfish interests,
| and say: "Vote for US and we will give
you more"
These two bad forces are converging on
1852. Can they be stopred in time? VIII
some leader rise and c.y out: "The surest
way to ruin the world Is to ruin the United
States. To be OF any use at ALL America
must be p.2...ssically and financially strong.
ITO keep her 50, each one Of us must be
willing to sacrifice some personal advantage,
to work harder and to give more to the
country which has given us all SO much"
II no such leader arises, fear 1852. The
bell that rang In me In 1928 is ringing
again.
tossyrisht lsls. 4es Features syndicate. lass
Evening star., 1949-11-13
Steel Strike Ends

For all practical purposes, the agree
ment reached between the United Steel
Workers and the United States Steel
CORPORATION means that the six-weeh old
strike is over. It is regrettable that the
strike had to occur.
The workers lost some $200,0OO,000 in
wages. The steel industry lost somewhat
more in revenues. And the country lost
something like 100000 tons OF badly
needed steel.
What are the compensating factors? The
industry salvaged something OF It's con-
tention that pensions and social insurance
should be paid for in part by the en-
ployes. The Presidents fact-finding board
had recommended that the industry bear
the full cost up to ten cents an hour. But
in the compromise that was reached, the
employees will pay half Of five cents an
hour for social insurance. The industry
however, will bear the full cost of pensions
Where the fact-finding board had recon-
mended six cents for pensions, it is esti-
mated that the actual additional cost to
the industry under the settlement, which,
of course, will vary from one concern to
another, will be from seven to nine cents.
So on balance it does not appear that the
settlement in terms of cost to the in
dustry will be greatly different from the
settlement which presumably could have
been made without a strike.
In terms of the human factor, how
ever, there is an important advance. A
steel mill worker entitled to maximum
benefits will be able to retire under this
settlement when he is IS years old on a
pension of $100 month, including what
ever he receives from the Federal Govern
ment. It would be better, no doubt, If
comparable pension could be granted all
workers under the Social Security system.
But that is something which lies in the
future. AS that goal is approached, the
steel workers will receive correspondingly
more from the Government and less from
the industry. Meanwhile, however they
will be assured of a pension which is ade-
quate but not unreasonable. And it is
hard to- see any really good reason why
they should not have It,
Evening star., 1949-11-13
Brituin's Peanut Issue

Peanuts, or, as the British call them,
ground nuts, may become a fighting
challenge in the prediction sparring for
the British parliamentary elections. The
Labor Government is under increasing
criticism for what appears to be the
egregious failure of its pet empire-develop-
ment project-the growing of peanuts in
British East Africa.
War-impoverished and dollar short
Britain is striving desperately to develop
what remains of it's colonial empire (most-
ly in Africa in order to pay in sterling
for foodstuffs and raw materials that it
now has to buy in hard-currency areas
And the loWly peanut was picked as a
promising objective because it yields abun
dant vegetable oil needed especially for
the making of margarine, used extensively
IN Britain as substitute for butter.
The peanut-growing scheme was first
sketched out by the prominent industrial
ist, Frank Samuel of Unilevers, the big
British soap-maKing organization. +, He
proposed clearing 2,500,0 900 acres of virgin
land in East Africa for peanut growing,
estimating the capital cost at the sterling
equivalent of $22,O0O,0oo and the probable
annual production at 100000 tons.
That sounded attractive to the planners,
and spot check by official experts found
merit in the idea. Indeed, although their
cost estimates ran higher than Mr..
samuels, they advised going in on an
even larger scale. So the peanut project
was entrusted to a private corporation,
q Unilever subsidiary, with initial author
ity to expend some $20,000,000 and goal
Of 10000 acres to be cleared in the first
year of operation.
Unfortunately for the planners, hard
realities dimmed their roseate hopes.
Thorn-bush, scrub and other tropical
growth that covered the land proved ur-
expectedly tough for tractors and BULLDOG
ers, which were in short supply, while
drought took heavy toll Of the first crop.
The upshot was that the end Of the first
year of operation, in March, 1948, showed
only $500 acres under cultVation yielding
1856 tons of peanuts, all of which had to
be retained for seed. The second year
showed $4,000 acres cleared, but so little OF
1t under actual cultivation that the pea
nut crop was only 2, 2,150 tons, together with
800 tons of sunhower seeds. After two and
one-half years OF operation costing the
sterling equivalent Of $64 4,00o, 900, not q
pound of margarine from East African
peanuts has reached the British breakfast
table, while investigation casts grave
doubts on bookkeeping methods Although
the precise reasons for this failure have
not yet been fully ascertained, preliminary
analysis suggests that unless production
costs can be lowered and efficiency stepped
up, it might be cheaper to buy vegetable
oils on the world market. But against this
Is the stubborn fact that such purchases
must be made mostly in hard currency In
stead of sterling, which is the basic reason
for the East African project
The Conservative opposition is naturally
making the most OF what looks like =
Evening star., 1949-11-13

known make, in rich walnut case-real ivory
keys and ebony sharps-sweet t>ne and
splendid action" SITS Among other piano
establishments advertising in The Star were:
John F. Ellis & Co., 937 Pennsylvania ave-
nue.; Sanders & Stayman. 1927 F street:
Stieff Piano Warerooms. 521 Eleventh street;
Droops Music House, 925 Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and VIM. Knabe & Co., 1922 Pennsyl-
vania avenue
Citing the New York Commercial Adver-
user, Ihe Star for November II, 1899, re-
-. ported Among the lower classes
Sombling Of the north of England gambling
Monid has ceased to be pastime; it has
become q mania. No matter what
race is to be run, even 1t it be but hen
race, the colliers must have their bit on
and no game can be played without the
miners backing their fancy. A very COM
mon method Of gambling in many villages
is to place some bits of paper or wood in q
running stream and bet as to which gets
to given point first. This Is very similar
to horse racing, even to the fact that the
favorite does not always win. Cock fight
ing is by no means obsolete and even rat
worrying contests are not unknown. These
and other sports afford unlimited means
of gambling, and one has only to read the
police reports Of the northern counties Of
England IN order to realize the great hold
gambling has obtained upon the dregs OF
the lower classes" Though nothing was
said on the subject. the aristocracy also
yrobably was not above taking chances in
the hope Of getting lucky break. 20
4 i .:E{g
"A cable despatch received at the War De-
partment this morning." said The Star Of
November IA. 1899. announced
Maj. Logon that Major John A. Logan, 33d
Killed Volunteer Infantry, had been
killed in fight in Luzon Sum
day. He was leading his battalion in action
in an engagement near San Jacinto with
1900 intrenched insurgents. He was tho
son of the late Gen. John A. Logan OF llll-
nois and Mrs. Mary Logan, now resident
of Washington He leaves a widow and
three children, who are at present residing
at Youngstown. Ohio" Such was the Iate
Of the eldest son of "the most eminent ana
distinguished of the volunteer soldiers OF
the civil War" and the sponsor Of Memo
rial Day. !,
Evening star., 1949-11-13
Agrees on Need for Qualification
OF Divine and Man Made Laws

Agrees on Need for ClarlncatlOn
OF Divine and Made Laws
To the Editor OF The Star:
have read with interest your editorial
of November 8, under the title: Catholic
Judges" together with the brief news reports
covering the Pope's address pertaining to
this subject.
I do not belong to the Roman Catholic
Church and cannot speak for any member
of that church, but as an American citizen
1t is my hope that every church. temple ana
synagogue on earth will join in clarifying
the matter of validity or invalidity OF So
called man-made laws which are in conflict
with the laws of God hope it will be
so clarified that the mountebanks who are
taking us into one World War after another
to no good purpose will hide their heads
in shame and never again will try to usurp
the authority of God. the Creator OF Heaven
and Earth and the inalienable rights of
human beings. -
Where do these adventurers get the right
to maraud all over the Earth and leave
destruction, desolation. death and slavery IN
their wake?
In effect, they have been saying: I'VE
make the laws for whom we please, and it
is for us to say which laws are valid and
which are not" Some of these men have
not the slightest comprehension Of what they
are doing. AS long as that state OF affairs
continues there is sure to be confusion, fear,
and Illustration
Yes, by all means. let there be clarifica-
ton, and let that Qualification come from
The Source of Law and Good and Truth
and Right. RICHARD L. GISS.
Evening star., 1949-11-13

ripening experiences
of long years, made
a sage comment on
that old adage:
"T he m an W h o
never counts his
chickens until they
are Matched very
seld m has any
ch lex ems worth
counting. The only
time there is any
credit in counting
chickens is before
they are Matched.
Any fool can count
than aftarward "
Evening star., 1949-11-13

Whenever future possibilities are reckoned
as realities some one Is sure to say, Don't
count your chickens before they are
Matched" But very wise man, out Of the
Evening star., 1949-11-13
Good Samaritans on Columbia Pike
Earn Gratitude of Stalled Motorist.

To the Editor Of The STAR
few weeks ago on Sunday afternoon
my old car stalled at the bottom OF hill
on Columbia Pike, opposite Columbia Heights
and Green Briar, and all attempts made to
get 1t running again were in vain. Having
a passenger from out Of town who was
scheduled to get a ride out of Washington,
1t was imperative that he reach the Roger
Smith Hotel at certain time When reach
ing the point of exhaustion and giving up
hopes, q man came along In late model
Chevrolet, about 1948 coupe. and offered
to push us up the hill in an attempt to get
the car running. It was wonderful Of him
to offer his help but having such new car
and being equipped with fog lights didn't
like the idea of his pushing us as there could
be damages involved, This gentleman IN
sisted, however, and pushed us about three
blocks up over the hill. The car still wouldn't
start and we pulled over to the side OF the
road.
The Alexandrian continued on his way.
However In about five minutes he returned.
He Immediately removed his coat and COM
menced working under the hood Of my car.
After getting smeared with plenty Of grease.
he managed to get the motor running. He
wouldn't accept anything for his services
not even the price Of having his shirt
cleaned. The assistance rendered by this
stranger and his wife Is something never
will forget. In writing this to The Star, I
am hoping that they will be made aware OF
my appreciation Best of luck to them and
hope they found the apartment they were
looking for in the vicinity of Columbia
Heights in Arlington. They certainly would
be wonderful neighbors. M. c. HELQUIST.
Evening star., 1949-11-13
Traffic Officer, Reader Thinks,
Should Have Chased Speeding Cabs

Ordinarily would take things in my stride
and say. "C1l well. 1t didn't happen to me"
but-tf,is afternoon saw traffic cop pull
up behind l947 Hudson with q big smile on
his face and plaster ticket on parked car
while taxicabs whizzed by at least 10 or 10
miles an hour faster than the speed limit.
Did the cop chase q cab? No, he planted
q So fine on the setting duck" and let the
menace to life and limb 60 "scot free"
I would like to refer the city traffic court
to an article in the November issue Of the
Readers Digest-page s.. ]. M. s.
Evening star., 1949-11-13
Auto Racers Held Neglected
BY yNewspapers-Untn They Are Killed.

TO the Editor OF The STAR
Exactly what does it take to put race
drivers photograph In the newspaper-his
death? That has been the policy Of almost
every newspaper In the United States.
driver is killed and We read Ia the paper
the next day that the auto racing world
mour2s his death. Turn to the sports pfses
Evening star., 1949-11-13
3PHeS OF tne oPH1t
Counting Unmatched Chickens
Visions Even When They Fail, Held Helpful to
Benefciaries of Greatest Exploits
Spires of the Spirit

By the Rev Frederick Brown Harris, D. d, Lift. D..
The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1949-05-12
LEOPOLD:
Wants Throne

Disliking the common life, exiled
King Leopold III of Belgium has
made it clear he wants to return
to the throne Of his country.
THIS was made known in a
letter to his brother, Prince
Charles, Belgian regent, in which
Leopold said: :.
ST am convinced you are sharing
my views that the time has come
for a return to constitutional nor
malcy." That would mean, of
course. an end to the regency and
return to kingly rule.
HOWEVER, the outlook for any
such development appeared dim.
Leopold surrendered the Belgian
forces to. the Germans early in the
war and became a prisoner-of-War.
His action in that respect was crit
icized by many Belgians. The ex-
king has not returned to his coun-
try since the war. He has been Ev-
ing in exile in Switzerland.
The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1949-05-12
LABOR LAW:
Rough Going

If a big league scout were re-
porting on Harry Humans per-
Torrance against congressional
moundsmen, he would have to say:
'The President simply can't hit
fast ball pitching"
And that certainly appeared to
be the case. Mr.. Truman had been
to bat twice already. In his turn
during the Mon. c. Walgren ap-
pointment to head the national Sc
curity resources board, he had
struck out. Next up with his civil
rights program for a bat, he struck
out again. Now, with his espousal
of repeal of the Taft-Hartley labor
law. he was at the plate again and,
with the house of representatives
pitching. there were two strikes
on him.
FOR THE HOUSE, by a vote of
217-203 approved the Wood bill
which retained most of the features
of the Taft-Hartley law.
Administration forces were
plunged into gloom. But a coalition
of southern Democrats and north
ern Republicans were jubilant.
They were bent on retaining the
Taft-Hartley law largely intact,
and at the moment they were vic
| torious. 81
The Wood bill would repeal the
Taft-Hartley law on paper, but
would re-enact' most of its impor-
tant features. For instance, II
would retain the 80-day Injunction
in national emergency" strikes.
It would keep the present nom
Communist oath requirements, but
would apply them to company Of
ficers as well as union officers.
It would ban closed-shop con-
tracts. but permit them in any
state which took affirmative &C.
ton to permit them by state law.
SPEAKER SAM RAYBURN had
made a plea to the house for a COM
promise bill he put forward in an
effort to salvage part of the admin
istration's program, but his speech
was in vain.
Whatever else congress might be
doing. and whatever good or i'll
might result, lawmakers were serv-
ing notice on presidential candi-
dates that campaign promises to
enact or repeal this or that law
ought to be conditioned, with the
candidate making such pledges add
ing a word to the effect that those
pledges would be kept provided
congress c~ooperates."