davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-17
Meeting Tonight to Mop
Memorial Doy Pluns

Lee r. Pennington, president OF
the Grand Army of the Republic
Memorial Day Corp. has an
nounced that a meeting Of vet
Grams organizations and auxil-
iaries will be held at 9 o'clock to-
night in Central High School.
Thirteenth and Clifton streets
NV.
The meeting will be held to out
line details for Memorial Day
exercises in the Amphitheater in
Arlington Cemetery. as well as
programs in other local ceme-
terieS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-17
10 Give Show

The Trinidad Boys Club tumb-
ling team will take part in Red
Cross Show for soldiers at the
Forest Glen Hospital at 1880 pm.
tomorrow.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-17

There's really nothing like this four-pocket dress
maker suit, tailored of famous creaseresistan wool
and rayon Palm Beach cloth that always manages
perature gets. In red, white mocha and navy, sizes
10 to 10.
PARKING IS FREE AT FRANKLIN SIMON
$3.50 CONNECTICUT AVENUE ORDWAY 800
Evening star., 1950-03-14
Brock Pemberton

Brock Pemberton was first of all an Amer
lean. He came out of the Middle West and
proved that he could win success in New York
as definitely as anybody from overseas That
was something pretty important to do in the
'20s when foreign names were fashionable and
even quite talented artists sincerely believed that
it was imperative to have aaEuropean background.
To set up as native work as Zone Gales Miss
Lulu Bett" against such pattern took courage,
but Mr.. Pemberton had his share of that quality
and proved it again and again whenever there
was need of 1T in his experience.
Perhaps he owed something to the example
OF William Allen White, under whom he trained
In Emporia. In any case he remained a news
paperman by instinct If not in continual practice
all his days He possessed a keen sense for
situations compelling in character, however
simple and unpretending in other respects Most
OF the plays he produced were matters of addi-
ton--works in which details accumulated until
they reached wholly natural climax. He
judged script by its power to create demand
In the mind of the audience and then to meet
that demand by satisfactory action There were
occasions when he failed, but the net result of
his endeavors was triumphant achievement II
only for Harvey" he will have permanent
place In the annals Of the American theater.
Evening star., 1950-03-14
By Charles (. TroceweIl

q
r All sorts Of things happen to, them.
One time, sparrow gets itself entan-
gled with vine, and hangs head down
for hours. II it stays that way, II its
struggles cannot get it loose, it will die
A human may fnd 1t, and with few
motions pull it loose. something the bird
could not do.
Mighty flyers as they are, birds some
times miscalculate trip around the cor
ner Of a house and fly squarely into the
bricks.
They soar into lighted buildings, fall
ing to the earth dead.
A few raisins in the throat
The robin was gasping away. when the
woman put out slice Of bread soaked
for a few seconds under the spigot.
Whether it did the trick or not, she
never knew. But later she saw the
same robin under the same tree-he was
the only one In the neighborhood, SO she
knew him.
And what was he, doing?
Why. he was eating raisins, Of course!
She watched him with a mixture of
amusement and some slight alarm. His
throat seemed perfectly clear.
Would he eat too many again?
She began to laugh. He was a wise
bird. He was eating one raisin at
time this time. He had learned his
lesson.
Evening star., 1950-03-14
Letters to The Star
Graebner Letter, Urging Preventive
War" Evokes Varied Reactions

Graebner Letter, Urging Preventive
War;" Evokes Varied Reactions
The bellicose TRADE in your letter
column by Frederic NJ Graebner, in
favor of a preventive war to rid the
horizons of Red shadows is highly
disgusting. His bright idea was to dis
pense with high principles Of morals in
the name of Christianity, and to emulate
the Crusaders of old. who put to the
sword innumerable infdels and still
were unable to hold Palestine
It seems to me that Mr.. Graebner
wants to outdo Rip Van Wrinkle, who
only slept 20 years. Evidently he is
even now in some kind Of a trance. as
the advance of science producing such
terrible destroyers as fire throwers, guild
ed missiles, atom bombs, and now the
hydrogen killer, never. never disturbed
his sweet dreams. He also conveniently,
or perhaps ignorantly, forgets in his
zeal for better and bigger mass murder
that the Red shadow" now covers
about half the population of our un-
happy planet. and that our prospective
adversaries are now on an equal footing
to meet our preventive" war.
EUGENE ESTON.
If history teaches any lesson at all.
it is the lesson that fighting wars, no
matter what euphemistic name you give
them, does not prevent wars. Nations
have been fighting preventive wars all
across history. I can recall that We
fought one In 1918 that was to prevent
all future wars. Its fruitage was the
one we have just fought across the
continents and on all the islands of the
seven seas.
Fighting the cold war, as indicated
by Frederic M Graebner. will most
certainly drain our resources. But. II
that is an argument against q cold war.
1t can be urged fortiori against fight-
ing hot one. j. w. HAYWOOD.
We ought. think, to be grateful for
the letter from Mr.. Graebner in The
Star. Would that something Of the
same spirit could be found in the State
Department! Why wait to be crippled
before starting to fight?
HIP. CARTER.
We Did 'Veritas' Wrong
was shocked at the typographical
error which appeared in my recent let
ter you were good enough to publish IN
The Star. .-
Writing that there are only two big"
countries said in my letter: "The
whole world knows 1t and admits it"
In print. the phrase reads: "The whole
world knows it and admires It,"
This is a ghastly error. giving my letter
lurid sense. I would admire to see
Evening star., 1950-03-14
This and That

spectfully. Robin children are respect-
full. in Georgia9
See. mon!" he called. 'Look-with-
out claws!''
Here at the Nations Capital 1t had
been different.
The lady in the big house had put out
many raisins, and the newly arrived
robin had gone to work on them.
A good job he had made Of it, too,
except that last bite.
Here he was with three-count EN-
sticky raisins a-down his warm esoph-
agus.
He couldn't get them up
He tried and he tried, but they re-
mained glutinous mass right at the
beginning of his syrinx
X
It was at this point that the lady OF
the house saw him.
She watched with sympathy, then with.
alarm. -,a,
Would he choke to death?
Such things happen, now and then, in
birdland.
In nature, there is no sure thing. No
robin or bluebird or any other can insure
himself. He has to take what comes.
Birds know, with the instructive knowl-
edge OF nature, that all fe-including
their owns balanced on razor blades.
~ the human beings say.
Evening star., 1950-03-14
By John A. Giles

DERHAFS the most difficult question
L facing the country today is exactly
how much military force is required to
support our long-range policy of inter-
national peace and collective security
There is no denying that there is confu-
sion in the minds of the American people
over, the state of our National defense.
And reports of utterances by top defense
officials often make the Pentagon itself
sound like Tower of Babel.
Big, undiplomatic Louis johnson has
been saying this country is Gin grand
shape" in every way he knows how Our
defenses "as of today are, in the opinion
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, myself and
the President, sufficient unto the needs
OF the hour" he says.
In all fairness to Mr.. Johnson it should
be pointed out that he did not tell the
University Of Virginia alumni precisely
that We are prepared "to lick hell out of
Joe Stalin"-a quote which his critics
have made much of. What Mr.. johnson
did say was that 1--WE seek to have a
military establishment sufficient to deter
that aggreSsor Russia) and to lick hell
out of her If she doesn't stay deferred"
Some columnists and magazines have
taken some of the Secretary's statements,
coupled with his economy efforts, to indi-
cate complacency on his part-although
Mr.. Johnsons public record, on the
whole, is not that of "a complacent man.
Certainly one who sees no reason for
complacency is ,suaye, gum chewing w.
Stuart Symington, Secretary of the Air
Force. He has declared that the Soviet
Union has the worlds largest army air
force and submarine fleet.
Behind the Iron Curtain" he says,
sis air equipment capable of delivering
surprise atomic attack against any
part of the United States. We have no
sure defense against such attack"
X
Further. Mr.. Symington always
pushing for 70-group modern Air Force
contends that at the present level of
airplane procurement I'VE cannot main
tain 48-group program" as called for in
the Presidents budget. The Air Force
will "deteriorate" in 1851 under the con-
templated level, he says.
Mr.. johnson has countered this with
the assertion that in the Air Force to-
day. and as planned for 1851, 48 groups
are equivalent to 521a groups of the size
70-group program.
Gen. Omar Bradley, the Nations top
military planner, who would have the
chief military responsibility should disas-
ter befall the United States, has taken on
himself the difficult task Of bringing
some order out of the confusion.
1T is truly understood that forces in
being, including ground. air and navy,
Evening star., 1950-03-14

The early robin had some raisins stuck
in his throat.
He turned his head this way and that
way; he ran a few feet forward. and
lodged to one side: he jumped up and
down, gasping and choking.
1t was no good.
Nothing he did loosened the mass Of
sticky raisins.
He was an example of greed.
If he had been satisfied, as any good
robin child should have been, with one
raisin at time, this wouldn't have
happened to him.
But no, he wanted more!
Like Oliver Twist, he had his hand
er, claw-out for more.
An unruly robin, indeed despite his
flight from the Southland, where he had
lived on "the fat of the land" all winter.
He must have lived on fat, or some
thing.
There he was. rusty and chesty. full
Of Spirit-and raiSins.
He did not mind what his mother had
told him down in Georgia.
My son." she had reminded him, mo
member Of our family greedily gobbles
raisins. He eats them one at time,
just like this-see-"
This way. nom7" he had asked. re-
Evening star., 1950-03-14

are not sufficient now to fight a major
war;" he says. Nor would they be sufi-
cient for such calamity by the end Of
the fiscal year 1851. But feel that we
are going to achieve the necessary forces
in being, and that our mobilization base
will be sufficient, together with the forces
and potential forces of friendly nations,
to win a war if it comes"
The general adds that if the United
States is to match the Soviet Unions
strength plane for plane, ship for ship
and tank: for tank, she must become an
armed camp, with lowered standard OF
living and permanent peacetime con-
scription.
Eventually. such forces would drain
not only on our economy but our demo-
cratic freedoms as we'll. And so the
administration proposes the maintenance
Of defense set-up within the limits OF
sound economy - defenses strong
enough to ward off crippling disaster
until we can fight back to win.
Well. then. how strong are we?
One of the mistakes some of the
critics have made in measuring the Ma
TOMS air strength is to ignore completely
Evening star., 1950-03-14
The Belgian Referendum

The outcome of the popular vote on King
Leopold's restoration appears to be an unfortu-
nate one. A majority favors his return to the
throne. But that majority is small-only 576
per cent of the total Furthermore, the vote
tended to follow sectional lines thereby en-
phasizing the country's basic problem.
The Belgian nation rests on the political
union of two races, the Flemings and the
Walloons, who speak different languages. have
different cultures, and display somewhat diverse
outlooks The Flemings, slightly the more
numerous, are akin to- the Dutch, are strongly
Roman Catholic, and are generally conservative.
The Walloons, French in speech and culture,
are more urban more industrialized, and more
liberal or radical in their attitude and politics
Wallonia is the stronghold of the Socialist Party,
which bitterly opposes Leopolds return. On the
contrary, Flanders is the backbone of the Social
Christian (Catholic) Party, which strongly advo-
Gates his restoration. All this was reflected in
the popular referendum. Leopold swept Flanders
with majority of 72.2 per cent In the inter-
mediate section of the country, Brabant, where
Brussels, the capital is located, he had micro
scopic majority of 502 per cent. But in Wallonia
he got only 40.2 of the total vote. This implies
that, should Leopold return, he would find the
country sectionally divided over him. with popu-
lar passions infiamed by the animosities aroused
during the referendum campaign.
However his return is far from certain His
restoration would have to be decided by Parlia-
ment the referendum being held merely to ascer-
tain the popular will Tt is now clear that the
people have not decisively spoken Leopold him
self has said that he would abdicate in favor
of his young son, Baudouin, If he got less than
IS per cent Of the popular vote. His margin is
not much above that minimum. On the other
hand, the Liberal Party has intimated that 1t
Evening star., 1950-03-14
Whut of the Mind?

Let March behave as though tDintrv
child
Rolling the snoD against the weary
door,
laughing because the eapes so bent with
ice
Cannot be Weighted By one pendant
more.
What of the mind? 1t still is master OF
Itself, and nauoI1t can hide or change
its DieU -.
Red mist il, maple trees; as crtb-quilts
brOtDn
Free from the clothes line. bloom ths
sQnills of blue.
What of the mind that can remember far
Hours ,pe spent beside hill: cro1on
OF buttercups that each one braided, then
IN that spring Twilight tuore them into
totDn?
ROSE MYRA PHILLIPS.
Evening star., 1950-03-14
New Reorganization Program

President Truman SideStepped some of the
more controversial parts of the Hoover Commits
sion reorganization proposals when he presented
Congress with the latest group of governmental
reform plans. In adopting this strategy he has
taken the wind out OF the sails of the American
Legion's mobilization" against what it calls the
proposed Acknowledgement" of the Veterans Ad-
ministration. This drive by the Legion was begun
recently in the belief that VA reorganization
would be key point in the Presidents new
program.
There Is no reason to believe that this is
more than delaying action on the part of the
President. 1t would be unfortunate If he were to
captulate under the pressure tactics OF the Legion
or any other veterans group. The opponents of
the Hoover Commissions proposals for increas-
ing VA emciency should be given an opportunity
10 state their objections in public hearings, where
advocates of the changes also could have their
say. Exaggerated and intemperate criticisms
made against the commissions report should not
be allowed to stand without challenge.
By-passed along with the VA issue were such
other disputed subjects as transfer of flood con-
troll work from the Army Engineers to the Interior
Department, establishment of an accountant
general" in the Treasury Department and crea-
tlon OF Department of Welfare. The latter plan
was submitted last year, but was killed by the
Senate. The Hoover Commission still hopes to
obtain the needed legislation
Most controversial of the twenty one new
reorganization plans is the one which would
deprive the general counsel of the National
Labor Relations Board of his independent status
This was not specifically recommended by the
Hoover group, but the President said it is in line
with the commissions suggestion that the chair
men of all regulatory agencies be designated as
the chief administrative officers of the agencies,
fully responsible to the President and to Con-
gress for all actions of those bodies.
The other new plans relate chiefly to i'm
proyements designed to strengthen the admins
trative powers of departmental heads and gen.
orally to make clear the lines of responsibility
in the managerial functions. The Hoover Com
mission considered these reforms necessary as
preliminary step to major economies in govern
ment.
The President says he will send additional
reorganization proposals to Congress later in this
session. The Citizens Committee for the Hoover
Report sees grave danger" in too much delay,
however. There is merit in the committees opin-
lon that the longer action is postponed on the
remaining proposals, the more likely it is that
the public will lose interest in the Hoover reports
And lack of public interest could be fatal to
future prospects for completing the major over
haul that needs to be done.
Evening star., 1950-03-14
~. -. =
Anti-Red EneyeiicoI

The conflict between the Roman Catholic
Cnurch and organized international communism
is an important factor in the world situation
fresh statement of the role of the Church in this
connict, together with detailed condemnation
OF Communist hostility to religion and morality.
has just been made by Pope Plus XII under cir
cumstances which invest it with particular sig
nif1cance. The utterance takes the form of an
encyclical, always document of major impor-
tance In Vatican procedure. It likewise comes
early in the Holy Year." period traditionally
dedicated to special observance by members of
the Roman Catholic faith.
Although technically addressed to the episco-
pate, it adjures the Catholic laity-especially
those organized in Catholic Action"-to help
the clergy combat destructive anti-Christian
forces. Indeed, one phrase in the encyclical is
interpreted in certain quarters as veiled sug-
gestion that non-Catholics should join in the
hight against communism. This is where the
Pope makes distinction between catholic
religion" and Christian worship"
Communism was not mentioned by name in
the encyclical, but the Popes recitation of the
deeds, policies and propaganda OF those forces
opposed to religion and the Roman Church leaves
no doubt as to whom he has in mind. Citing
the methods adopted by such enemies to under
mine religion and dscredit the clergy the Pope
declares tnat the root or unrest and instability
IN the world today is the sowing of "envy dis
cord and rivalries," and the deliberate deception
OF the masses through lies and false promises.
Although all this has been said repeatedly
before by the highest Church authorities, its re-
iteration in encyclical form and at a~~time of
peculiar ecclesiastical solemnity is presumably
intended to heighten the awareness of Roman
Catholics everywhere to the Red peril and inten-
sify their resistance to Communist strategy and
tactics. The results will doubtless appear not
only in countries where the Roman Church is
strong but also in lands behind the Iron Curtain
where 1t is today oppressed and prosecuted
Evening star., 1950-03-14

would oppose Leopold's return unless he carried
all three sections of the country which has not
happened. As the Liberals are split on the
restoration issue, the vote in Parliament is
uncertain.
Perhaps the best solution would be Leopold's
abdication, since all parties would accept Crown
Prince Baudouin as their sovereign Yet the
issue is so beclouded by politics and emotion that
this compromise may not be adopted.
Evening star., 1950-03-14
How Much Fighting Power IS Enough?

the Nays air arm and the Air National
Guard. The Navy has $500 combat
planes in operation, most of them single
engined fighters, as well as 5000 train
ing planes. The Air Guard, which would
augment the Air Forces tactical air
power and could be rapidly modified in
event Of attack, has a total Of 2,503
planes organized into ~ groups.
The Air Force itself has roughly $500
combat planes and $500 transport and
support craft. This includes an un-
disclosed small number of the giant B-36
bombardment planes and an undisclosed
large number OF B-29 Super Fortresses,
both Of which are capable Of delivering
the atom bomb.
In contrast, the Russian air force Is
reported to have about 5000 combaU
aircraft and perhaps 5000 transport and
supply planes. The Russians are said to
be ahead of this country in jets. About
300 OF their bombers are TU-4s, long
distance bombers much like the B-29.
Our Army today consists of ten divi-
sions, including one airborne and one
armored. They have more frepower
than wartime divisions but many are
oAASSihA04A1lCd dLu uIlOCIGQulppCQ. 1ney
are fairly we'll trained and their morale
Is high. The Red army is believed to
have between $50 and ITO divisions. The
Russian divisions are smaller than ours.
They have perhaps 80 armored divisions.
Our Navy has 7 large aircraft car
riers. smaller carriers, battleship
(the Missouri, 13 cruisers, 140 destroy
ers. 10 submarines and 414 other craft
in the active fleet. Best estimates are
that the Russian Navy has battleships,
II cruisers. ITO destroyers and about
270 submarines.
Thus, President Truman says, United
States defenses are in better shape than
they have ever been in peacetime. Mr..
johnson proclaims that the armed forces
are far better than they were two years
ago. Both statements might be true,
but neither answers the question: "Is it
enough?"
Admiral Forrest P. Sherman Chief OF
Naval Operations. replies: The answer
always has to be no."
All appear agreed that a sure defense
is more than free country can buy and
retain free economy, and that this
country's real strength lies not in its
active forces but in it's massive indus
trial capacity. Mr.. johnson and Mr..
Symington both believe we could be
hit and hurt today. Mr.. johnson wants
to continue what he calls orderly pro-
gress. Mr.. Symington feels that we have
lost our time advantage; that more
money must be spent for the critical
years ahead.
One thing is clear in any event: There
y no such thing as absolute security.
Evening star., 1950-03-14
Questions and Answers

A reader can get the answer to any question
Of fact by writing The Evening star Inform alton
D. C, Please inclose three 80 cents for
return postage.
Evening star., 1950-03-14
By THE HASKIN SERVICE

@. Are members of Congress required
to make contribution from their salary
toward a pension.-W. E. F.
A. Members of Congress may become
entitled to retirement pay only II they
can qualify under the Civil Service Re-
tirement Act, which provides that .
member must have had at least six years
of service in the Congress and have
reached the age of 81. The member must
also have had deduction of az per cent
from his annual basic salary for each
year he was in Congress.
@. Is it fact that water, under cer-
tain conditions, will freeze at a higher
temperature than 80 degrees Fahrenheit?
IF. H. w.
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that water will not freeze at q sig
nificantly higher temperature than 81
degrees Fahrenheit except under pres
sure greater than 10000 pounds per
square inch.
Q. What are the names of the largest
airplane carriers OF the United States
Navy?-R. M.
A. The largest aircraft carriers are the
Midway, the Franklin D. Roosevelt, and
the Coral Sea. Their standard tonnage
displacement is $4,000 and full load dis
placement $1,000. Their length is 986
feet, beam 113 feet. They carry more than
100 aircraft and crew Of 5000.