Evening star., 1949-12-22

of Washington, particularly tn respect to
the Christmas and New Years holiday period.
My concern arises from three-fold founda-
ton.
Almost without exception, week after week,
there comes to my attention the anguish in
a parents heart or in the heart Of family
because a dear one has become degraded
and irresponsible through indulgence in
strong drink. There are sufficient tempta-
tions in the normal business Of living. with
out adding the spiritually -dulling influence
of alcohol, to make fine character never an
easy attainment.
Approaching the turning of the half
century mark and considering the terrific
evil which has been released in two World
Wars, there Is a new man by man. woman
by woman, responsibility to cast ones weight
on the side of reconstruction and righteous
ness. international strife springs out OF
international sin, but international sin is the
accumulation of individual carelessness to-
ward or disregard of the higher principles
in daily living.
Christmas by It's very name is Christ
centered occasion and the unfoldment OF
New Year is essentially gift from God. No
matter how pagan and forgetful the world
may become, each person has an inescapable.
direct obligation to the Creator and to the
Saviour who came that we might move from
death to life. It is spiritual matter to rule
liquid spirits out of ones conduct and
program. WARD B. HURLBURT.
Tribute to DR.. Wilkinson
From Recreation Department Staff
To the Editor Of The Star:
The December 18 Sunday Star contained
cYo1o
to the work and the contribution to educa-
ton by First Assistant Superintendent DR..
Garnet c. Wilkinson Of the public schools.
Many who have known DR.. Wilkinson will
feel that there are other significant and
noteworthy contributions to community life
which should be referred to and recorded.
Recreation as public responsibility has
taken its place in the community family with
health, welfare and education. AS the newest
member of the family, recreation has met
many difficult and complex problems. DR..
Wilkinson has been among the outstanding
leaders in interpreting to school, District
and other officials, the importance Of full
utilization of school properties for community
and recreation use. He has always believed
the school building should be place for
community life and has insisted that school
facilities be used to the maximum by chill
dren, youth and adults. DR.. Wilkinson was
also among the early leaders who believed
that school buildings should be designed and
constructed for community uses.
During the emergency and war years, his
services. wise counsel and constant dependa-
bility were of tremendous aid to the Districts
extensive recreation and war hospitality
program. He held key positions and served
on numerous committees and councils during
the war program.
DR.. Wilkinson will be especially remem-
bered for his assistance in laying the ground
work which resulted in the uniication Of
the Districts far-flung recreation system.
We believe that these contributions to
recreation and to community living should
be noted in addition to his outstanding ac-
complishments in the field Of education.
FROM FRIENDS OF DIR. WILKINSON
IN THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
Finds David Lawrence Inconsistent
In Columns on Steel Industry .~-
sTo the Editor of The Star:
David Lawrence, whose column appears in
your publication. obviously has little esteem
for the memory of his readers. There can
be no other explanation for the complete
about-face concerning economic conditions
in the steel industry which Mr.. Lawrence
has performed, in the period between his
column Of December ! and his column OF
December 10.
On December 1, Mr.. Lawrence devoted
most Of his column to a direct quotation
from confidential letter from a steel
executive, q broad-gauged and LIBERAL
minded individual who has enjoyed, for a
long time, satisfactory relations with his
employees" The giSt Of the comment OF
this unnamed source concerned the PEN
sion and welfare agreement worked out by
the United Steelworkers Of America -CIO
and the Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Mr..
Lawrence's source contended that the agree
ment had cost no more than "six-tenths OF
a cent per hour even though there Is no
increase in social security"
But on December 10, Mr.. Lawrence be-
rated President Philip Murray Of the steel
union for imposing on the steel companies
not just 10 cents an hour cost increase for
social insurance and pensions, but hgure
estimated to be at least Is cents an hour. !"
Thus according to the Mr.. Lawrence Of
December 10, the benefits won by the union
had somehow increased at least 14.4 cents
an hour since he investigated the situation
on December /!
On December 1, Mr. Lawrence's unnamed
source declared that the bethlehem settle
ment was far from great victory for Mr..
Murray and the CIO. It was good settle
ment for Bethlehem" But on December 10.
Mr.. Lawrence decided that "the truth is
that Philip Murray is. to no small extent.
responsible for forcing up the price Of
Steel"
Nothing or $1oo,ooo,ooo Year?
On December /, Mr.. Lawrence's unnamed
source declared that "it cost Bethlehem
practically nothing" to finance the welfare
and pension program won by the steel
union. Yet, on December 10, Mr.. Lawrence
offered an estimate-based on not very
clear statistics-that In the case OF the
u. s. Steel alone, "the social insurance and
pensions will cost close to $100,000.00o
year"
A further comparison of Mr.. Lawrence's
two columns on the subject Of the steel
labor settlement shows only one common
note-the allegation that the union was
solely responsible for the strike which
started on october /. To arrive at this con-
cl,Sion Mr. Lawrence WAS forced to make