davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Schools for Job Holders?

To the Editor Of The Star:
When Teacher in her letter in last Sat-
urday's Star said "the Board of Education
claims the teachers time from $3.50 In to
pm. five days a week." she touched the
nerve center of the whole school problem,
the Board of Education. Hardly man is
now alive who remembers when Washington
had good school board, meaning one that
looks upon the schools as existing for the
benefit of the children rather than for the
benefit of the assistant to the assistant to
the assistant, the supervisor of one thing
and another, useless togglejointS whose real
object in life, aside from drawing their
breath and pay, is to haraSs and bedevil the
teacher. The supervisory school setup should
consist only of the superintendent plus one
principal for each school building. If any
principal is so decrepit that he can't super
wise a school building without an assistant
principal, he should be retired and some one
put in his place who can do the job.
Many parents send their children to school
to get rid of them. The schools turn them
out on the streets at pm to get rid of
them, thus contributing to youthful delln-
quency. What do the teachers do from 3
to pm? They make out useless reports,
study useless special courses, listen to use
less, stodgy diScourses by some redoubted
Captain Vain, all of which is of no value
whatever so far as doing good job for the
children is concerned. Children should be
kept in school, taken care of in school, till
or 4:3O and if that is too long to be de-
voted to study by the younger ones, the last
80 or 40 minutes should be devoted to read
ing or storytelling or games. as now is done
in many private schools.
Washington always has had the reputa-
ton among school men of having the poor
est schools of any city of its size in the
United States Of America, due to the fact
that the school board always has conducted
the school system on the theory that the
job holders come first the children last. The
nearest that the city has come in the past
40 years to having good board was when
Captain Oyster was its president. but even
they we're little queer.
Teachers should have more pay, and the
way to give it to them is to get rid of the
useless feather -bedders on the payroll and
give that money to the teachers.
HOWARD B. SMITH.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Communism Takes Its Stund

The world has evidence again of the
fifth-column nature of the WORLDWIDE
Communist conspiracy which has its roots
in Moscow. When Moscow pulls the strings,
the puppets respond as the party line OF
the moment dictates. This time, for not
too obscure reasons, the party line requires
concerted warnings that in event OF war
between Russia and the capitalist ma
tions, the Communists will take their
stand with Russia The warnings have
echoed around the globe within the past
few days. with the American Communist
Party joining in the refrain In obvious
obedience to the orders sent out from
Moscow.
There will be some fellow travellers and
some other admirers of communism VINO
will be embarrassed and even alarmed oy
this turn of events. Henry Wallace is re-
ported to have indicated disapproval ana
surprise. But no one who has taken the
trouble to inform themselves on commu-
nistic doctrines and history should be
surprised to learn that true Communists,
whether they are in France, Italy, CANADA,
South America or the United States, owe
an overriding allegiance to Russia, mother
country of communism. The only really
surprising aspect to the current parroting
of the warning first voiced by Maurice
Thorez in France is that the Communist
Party of the United States should have
made its standing attitude public.
Perhaps it had no alternative but to obey.
But the blunt, though somewhat equivocal,
admission of party leaders that American
Communists would be on Russia's side. III
Wall Street should succeed in plunging the
world into war" Is bound to stimulate de-
mands for drastic Communist legis-
lation. The chances of passage OF stronger
antisubversive and spy laws are greater
now than they would have been If the
Communists had kept their plans to them
selves And If the timing of the threats
was intended to disrupt efforts to negoti-
ate the Atlantic Pact, they seem destined
to fail, If the reactions of Norway and
Denmark are any criterion.
Communism at last is in the open. The
American Communist Party no longer can
expect any one but the most naive to be-
lieve that this organization is Just q do
mestic political party, devoted to the well
fare of the little man. 1t has put itself on
record for what it is, foreign n-dominated
Marxist organization whose loyalty is not
to the United States but to the Soviet
Union.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Endowment for Orchestra

To the Editor of The Star:
I wish to congratulate The Star on the
tribute to Hans Kinder in its editorial COL
umns on February 28
Washington is grateful to DR.. Kinder
for having given it fine permanent Or
chestra for the past Is years. All previous
attempts to found an orchestra had met
with failure. but he worked hard and with
splendid results.
The Star has done fine thing in spon-
soring the neighborhood concerts. Could
it now take the lead in establishing an en-
dowment fund which would prevent this
yearly threat of disbanding the orchestra
when the drive for funds for the next season
is unsuccessful?
ALICE B. HESSELBACH,
Honorary president. Washington Music
Teachers Association, Inc.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
A Strange StoIemote

It is reasonable to suppose that the
Government ordered the Air Forces 36th
Jet Fighter Wing from Panama to Ger
many last August for some purpose other
than to give the pilots vacation in Eu-
rope Yet, If the groups commander has
been quoted correctly in news dispatches,
an extended vacation is about all the Wing
has gotten so far out of its assignment.
When the Jet group was transferred from
the Canal Zone to a field in the Western
zone of Germany near Munich there was
no official explanation of its mission. The
consensus of writers at the time was that
there was no need for explanation
the shift spoke for itself. There had been
recurrent threats by the Russians to inter-
fere with our aerial operations. Some OF
our planes had been "buzzed" by Soviet
fighter planes. We had made it plain by
words that we did not intend to be intimi-
dated by any such tactics The arrival in
Germany of our Jet fighters was an obvious
move to show that we meant what we said.
Presumably the Russians took the hint
The threats were not carried out and the
allied airlift has continued to pour in
creasingly large supplies into beleaguered
Berlin Meanwhile, the jets have re-
manned virtually idle at their base. Craft
flying as 1t is that they have had no cause
to engage in combat, 1t is hard to under
stand why the Government should not see
that this unit is kept in perfect fighting
trim. Instead, according to Colonel Hubert
Zemke, commander of the outfit, he and
his men have been hedged with so many
restrictions that they cannot train ade-
quately either in flying or gunnery. They
even lack any definite knowledge of what
their mission is. Their requests for per-
mission to make training flights to Eng
land, France and other allied countries
have been refused, apparently by the State
Department. The pilots are getting rusty
on aerial gunnery because they are forbid
den to shoot with anything but cameras
for fear of creating incidents"
4. None of this makes much sense. If it
is advisable to have our Jet fighters in
Europe, it is advisable also to keep them
fully trained and ready for any emer-
gency. Otherwise they should be trans
ferred to some location where they can
maintain their efficiency as a potential
fighting force Certainly they will be of
little value to us in Europe If they are
allowed to deteriorate through inactivity.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
This and That
Bu Charles E. TracelDeH
FORT ToTTEN DRIVE, NJ

"FORT TOTTEN DRIVE, NE.
Dear Sir:
Would you please describe the blue bird?
"Also. there is bird which has topknot
but is mostly gray and looks like what l
think is titmouse, only he has sucn
pretty whistle
The only sound ever heard titmouse
make was a scolding noise like the Jenny
wren.
II like to identify bird by his song.
"Now wait to hear the wood thrush to
hear his first song What time will that be?
There is something so deep and peaceful
in his song.
1T has been 50 long since have seen a
bluebird, I am not sure would know 1t
again, Yours truly. L. s."
The American bluebird is 7 inches long.
it's upper parts bright blue. the under parts
cinnamon, with some white.
The beautiful blue coat. and the warm
breast are unforgettable.
The song is a sort of warble, loud and
sweet.
Along with the robin. this beauty loves
to be around human beings, and will nest
in houses if not placed too high.
Probably most bluebird houses are put
too high in the air.
Authorities suggest (but few people follow
their suggestion) that the house intended
for the bluebird be put on post, ana not
more than feet high.
Since most people have too great fear
of the cat, they insist on putting the house
10 to Is feet in the air. And so no blueblrds.
The lower placement seems to please the
bluebirds best
Also, it prevents common sparrows from
trying to take over the box, since these birds
prefer high situation
Blue birds have suffered a great deal from
storms An ice storm in 1895 killed many
thousands of them.
Since then they have been making q
comeback, but still have not regained their
former position That is why to many
people today they are more or less of a
rarity.
Perhaps 500 of the birds remain in this
vicinity all winter. They eat berries from
the berried shrubs and wild fruits.
Thousands more fly in early in March.
They often inspect bluebird houses. stick
around for day or two. and then leave.
Nothing much can be done about this
except to try lower placement next time.
The titmouse has fine whistle. somewhat
resembling human calling a dog.
The wood thrush should arrive here In
late April. usually about April %, but some
times a few days earlier or later.
In very early springs he wood thrush
has flown in as early as ..,ril IA.
The usual date is Apr. "a lore or less.
This thrush is 734 inches long, brown
back, spotted chest, very light gray
1t must never be confused with the
thrasher, sometimes called "the brown
thrush" The thrasher is not thrush at
all, but belongs to the group called mimic
thrushes, in which are classed the mocking-
bird and the catbird.
The name of thrasher comes from the
birds habit of thrashing its tail around.
The name thrush is from the old word,
"throstle.
Our robin belongs to the thrush family,
as may be seen in the baby robins spotted
chest.
Our wood thrush's song has more pattern
than the song of most birds Two complete
phrases of it were used by Gounod in Fausts
song to Marguerite. Some music lovers pro-
fess to find it suggested in Won Weber's In
vitation to the Dance and also in Handels
Largo" from "XFxes."
Evening star., 1949-03-05

suddenly. She has gathered a great deal
of information about Soviet Russia, UNDER
stands it, and, while in the dark as to the
immediate cause for her expulsion, she prob
ably has a better guess than we do. Your
wondering how the United States will bene-
fit by her return" displays a negative state
of mind.
If Miss Strong will share her knowledge
of Russia from Within we can benefit, since
we lament our ignorance Of the subject as
one of the causes of our differences with
that country. She can explain so many
things which block our path to peace.
S. M. S.
Evening star., 1949-03-05

council, the Guild has been successful in
driving out the old controlling element.
New officers have been elected and the
council is committed to adhere to national
CIO policy. So far as the Guild is con-
cerned, there may be room to doubt the
wisdom of commitment to any national
policy. But there can be no doubt that this
change of command is a healthy thing in
itself, and demonstration that union
members can successfully cope with un-
representative minorities when they make
up their minds to do so.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Help from Miss Strong

Your editorial on Anna Louise Strong con-
siders it an "odd fact" that she retains her
apologize attitude toward Russia
Why "odd," why not quite logical? MISS
Strong is a woman of power and determina-
ton. and evidently of strong convictions,
hence. she would not change her tntude
Evening star., 1949-03-05

If the output of the Tucker motor firm
to date consists of few cars and many
yanloads of office correspondence,
thought is to reorganize as Federal
bureau of some kind.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Letters to The Star

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address of the
,Drtter, although 1t Is permissible for
a Uriter kno,Dn to The Star to use
non, de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
A Carriers Father Speaks
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
wonder if subscribers to The Star ever
consider the disappointment and extra work
involved for their carriers when the monthly
collection becomes due and the boys are told
that they will have to return later for their
money
When my son was given the opportunity
to serve a Star route, both his mother and
I endeavored to impress upon him the re-
sponsibility involved and the excellent train
ing he could acquire in doing his job well.
We discussed with him the proper method
of delivering his papers, the attitude he
would be required TO have in dealing with
his customers and the dependability that
he must develop in serving his route. 1t
was not altogether without reluctance that
he agreed to give up his free after-School
time to accept this responsibility
Naturally, the best part Of any job is pay
day. The carrier, however. is in business for
himself, and must collect his 80 cents or
$l.20. as the case may be. before he can pay
his distributor. If he can't collect from his
customers on time, he is required to pay
from his savings the cost OF his papers for
the month.
The job of delivering papers is no snap.
It's hard work. and the returns are meager,
to say the least If it wasn't for the training
that the carrier gets, it is doubtful that most
parents would allow their sons to take over
routes Now. unless this training is con-
structive, the boys gain nothing. They look
forward to getting their money, and If they
are turned away sometimes as many as
three or four nights in row, they are going
to question the practicability Of their teach
ings and will begin to wonder 1t pays
to be prompt, efficient dependable and
courteous.
It seems such little thing to write about,
yet know it means great deal to these
boys I've put myself in the position OF my
son on several occasions when he was told
quite abruptly, You'll have to come back
some other time, the miSsus isn't home" or
st haven't any money. collect some other
time" 1t isn't pleasant feeling, especially
when it's cold out, and you're tired and you
still have your home work to do when you
get home.
feel sure that if more consideration was
given this problem, people would make 1t
a point to pay up on time and the carriers,
in turn, would appreciate it by providing
the service we all expect.
A CARRIERS FATHER.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Questions and Answers

A reader can get the answer to any question OF
fact BY writing The Evening star Informstion
Enreau 3I6 street NE, washington 2, D. C.
Please inciose three (3) cents for Teturn postage.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Filibusters and Majority Rule

Tll1DuStCIS dHA 1VAuJoAity ANoAS
To the Editor Of The Star:
From your editorial of March 1 on Fill
busters and Democracy evidently you
consider them compatible. In fact, they are
incompatible. A basic principle OF Amer
ican democracy is majority rule. At every
level of American Government, officials are
elected and laws are enacted by majority
vote. The rules of our legislative assemblies
are adopted and amended by majority vote.
Court decisions are decided in the same
manner.
But under the practice Of filibustering,
this basic American principle OF majority
rule is set at naught. Not only is the
majority thwarted in its purpose to enact
public measures, it is also coerced into &C
cepting measures which it neither desires
nor approves.
1t is a dubious argument to defend the
f1libuster on the ground that it protects the
minority when actually its principal use has
been to deny fundamental democratic rights
to certain minorities. Most OF the really
undemocratic conditions in our country to-
day exist because of the threat or the use
Of the fllibuster. HENDERSON BOGART.
Evening star., 1949-03-05

miles.
O. May baby be claimed as a dependent
in a Federal income tax report II ne was not
born until December 81 of the year d948)
for which the report is being made?-R. K.
A. Even If baby was born on December
81, 1948, he may be claimed as dependent
for the entire year by his parents.
@. What days of the week are believed to
be the most favorable for receiving adver-
tisements in the mail?-C. E. H.
A. Direct mail advertisers who select very
carefully the days on which letters should
reach customers, believe that Wednesday is
the best day. Friday and Saturday are
generally undesirable except in the case OF
farmers, who read their mail on Sundays.
Monday is a day of reduced interest in
buying, reading and listening, except for
clergymen.
O. Is there flying fish that lives in fresh
water?-C. K.
A. Flying fishes of the Characin family
are found in the rivers of South America.
They differ from saltwater Hylng nsnes
and fly to escape from their enemies.
O. When did Paderewski make his first
tour of the United States?-B. w. j.
A. The first American appearance of this
great pianist was in New York, November
il. 1891. The following season he returned
for a series which netted him $4,000 per-
formance and crossed $180OoO-a hgure
which had been attained by no other nstru-
mentalist
@, When a clock strikes does the first or
last stroke mark the exact hour?-H r: s.
A. In striking clocks it is the usual practlce
to have the first stroke mark the exact hour.
@. What writer had the greatest vocaou"
lary?-C. c.
a II has been said that the vocabulary Of
Victor Hugo Q8O2-85) was the greatest in
literature. exceeding even that of Shakes
peare. The great French novelist and poet
was O. master of language and could write
as much as 10000 words day when ne
wanted to: =,
Evening star., 1949-03-05
By THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

@. The distances of stars from the eartn
are measured in light years. How many miles
does a light year represent?-S. E. L.
A. One light year is equal to $3.50 billion
miles.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Brotherhood Week Echoes
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Every week could be Brotherhood Week.
Too often we forget the good things that
happen to us in this life and we tend to
dwell on the bad things.
Friday afternoon. February 25, lady
boarded street car and rode into Washing
ton. She transferred to the @ street bus and
somewhere in that short space of time her
purse was "lost." After riding block or so.
she discovered that it was gone. She re-
ported it to the bus driver who obligingly
told her the steps to take in order to find it.
AS the lady again took her seat, the
thought that she was alone and penniless in
a strange part of town suddenly must have
struck her for she involuntarily said aloud,
"Oh I haven't even got nickle on mel"
She became aware that every one was star
ing at her and then those about her. colored
and white alike, began to dive for their
purses and pockets to share their funds with
her.
If any one doubts the brotherhood of man
and has lost his faith in human nature or
if he thinks that we do not need the other
fellow in this world. he should have wit
messed that simple scene. NJ E. G.
To the Editor of The Star:
In regard to last week being Brother
hood Week." do not think that our Presi-
dent was very Thoughtful at his jefferson
Jackson Day dinner speech. He won the
election only by small margin, with many
Americans not voting, so why should he con-
tinue his criticism of the Republican Party'
A Democrat myself still see no reason for
the nasty remarks IN his speech. After all.
we do not want Yes Congress. These
Congressman were elected by 1--WE, the peo-
ple' of each State. They try to do their
work as I'VE, the people" ask. In my esti-
foy hor
thoughtful and cooperative.
Is not this country an example to the
world? If the American people do not try
to get along and set a good example, the
rest of the world will not look to us for help
and guidance. So, in any respect, Mr.. Thu
man has not lived up to what he asks the
people of this wonderful country to do.
Put an end to abuse of other people. Why
not pull together, instead of pull apart? Let
each and every one be little less critical
and little more helpful to his fellow Ameri
cans MRS RITA EDELEN.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Urges Precautions Against Reds

~
70 the Editor Of The Star:
Now that Thorez and Togliatti have said
their little pieces and put their loyal COM
rades in France and Italy on record as to
what they may be expected to do in the event
that the "cold war" eventuates into the ex-
pected blistering war, we on our part ougnt
not to be caught mapping during the early
DAYS of such climacteric period.
We too ought to take time by the forelock
and put into effect measures that effectively
will stymie these reckless Red ones before
they get a head start on their antinatlonalist
effort.
That of course calls for an even more
thorough seeking out of these disloyal ones
from coigns of vantage in which they are
now rooted-the Government service. our
strategic utilities, our large and vital indus
tries, the teaching professions; yes. even the
labor unions.
We ought not to wait until their political
parties" their press, and their other agencies
get poised for the first lick. They blatantly
have indicated just what they intend doing,
and we on our part would be foolish II we
didn't take precautionary measures.
Our native enemies at last have shown
their hand; it is up to us to put into
effect measures that will stop them for all
time. .. SAAOMAN.
Evening star., 1949-03-05
Soviets a Criminal Association

70 the Editor Of The Star:
You should be commended for reprinting.
in an editorial, excerpts OF Minister
Chapin's remarks on conditions IN Com
munist dominated Hungary.
Three years spent in the military govern
ment of Berlin, dealing with political af1alrs
around and behind the Iron Curtain nave
given me a full understanding OF Mr.
Chapin's experience, which "def1es descrlp-
ton to the uninitiated.
While it may be impossible to convey to
the public at large the terrible atmosphere
of fear and human tragedy prevailing
throughout Communist dominated areas, it
is the duty of those Americans who have had
this unique opportunity of living behind the
Iron Curtain to inform the pubic OF theH
appraisal of the Soviet regime.
NV own practical experience over the past
three years in Berlin has left such an lndel-
ible impression of the Soviet government on
nv mind that neither 20 years OF Harvard
nor a thousand theoretical lectures by Prof.
Eisler ever could erase that impression from
nv mind That impression, based on actual
experience, can be summed up in one SEN
tence: A regime which initiates and carries
out in day-by day practice such mass appn-
cations of criminal acts that the regime
itself is a criminal association.
suggest that Congress bring before it IN
closed session all United States ministers
and ambassadors stationed behind the Iron
Curtain as well as a cross section OF those
other responsible Americans who have mad
flrst hand opportunity to observe Soviet
methods in action.
''' FREDERICK A. DHGER.