davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-01-05
A Threut to Peuce

Ill oIucIlHS Tie 6ungarlanS 10 close their
Cleveland and New York consulates, the
United States has resorted to q form of
concrete retaliatory action lending special
force to its verbal protests against the
Budapest regimes treatment OF American
citizens and legation representatives. The
chief case involved is that of Robert A.
Vogeler, who has been experiencing pretty
much the same sort of thing as Angus Ward
got from the Chinese Communists at
Mukden.
Mr.. Vogeler, an American official of
Hungary's -nationalized branch OF the
international Telephone and Telegraph
Company, has been in Budapest Jail since
November Is. Arrested on what the State
Department describes as "phony and
trumped up" charges of espionage and
sabotage, he has been held incommunicado
ever since, with the Communist authorities
repeatedly refusing to let United States
Consul General Nathaniel p. Davis see and
talk with him. Accordingly, in face Of this
and other breaches of decent international
relations, our note ordering the consulates
closed has now served clear warning on
the Kremlin's puppet regime that it will be
letting itself In for additional reprisals
eff the rights and interests of the United
States and its nationals continue to be so
grossly violated"
Conceivably, in referring to new retalia-
tory measures without defining them, the
State Department may have in mind the
possibility of complete break In diplo-
matte relations with Budapest. Apparently,
bou,ovar tho IYr,itad Ctofo& doas r,nf hova
to 60 to that extreme to make the Com
munist regime feel real pinch. Thus, in
the opinion of some experts, we are in a
position-in case our demands are not sat-
isfied-to apply type of economic sane
ton that would take the form of severing
Hungary's commercial dealings with West
ern Germany. Such severance, 1t is esti-
mated would wipe out over 10000 900 in
trade and deprive the Hungarian economy
of spare parts, machine tools and other
imports sorely needed for It's Industrial
ization program.
Faced with the threat of reprisal Of
this sort, Red Hungary might find 1t ad-
visable to begin acting in civilized way
toward Americans and to improve its inter-
national behavior. in general In any case.
its bad conduct obviously calls for pres
sures other than mere protesting words.
The same holds true, in fact, for all the
satellite governments behind the From Cur
tain. In one degree or another. undoubt-
edly in line with Kremlin policy and In
violation Of every time-honored standard
Of diplomatic intercourse, they have been
following program Of deliberate aggrava-
ton and systematic hostility In their deal
ings with the West, particularly with us.
Whatever the reasons for 1t, there can be
Evening star., 1950-01-05
Letters to The Star
Proposes Polling Government Employees
On Decentralization Principle.

Proposes Polling Government Employees
On Decentralization Principle.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Joseph Young's informative column of
January 3 tells how those personnel officials
who want decentralization Of the civil serv-
ice examinations are working behind the
scenes for removal of Harry Mitchell as Civil
ment by someone who would be in favor of
SUCH decentralization.
Unfortunately, the Civil Service Commits
sion has a poor record for considering
changes and improvements. Also, unfor-
tunately. the commission has been careless
In permitting unqualified persons who never
wanted the merit system to become person.
mel directors AS long as the law is commit
ted to the merit system, anti-merit person
mel directors never should be permitted to
hold strategic positions.
What Is needed Is a realization that the
remedy proposed by the Hoover Commission
actually would be worse than the disease
which 1t claims needs attention. The Hoover
Commission proposed decentralization ac-
tually was begun as it became difficult after
the war to revert to merit system operation. It
was the path of least resistance, but with
out the very many benefits which are Incl
dent to open and competitive recruitment.
BY not being as progressive as it might
AidVS UcCl Ill ldVOT OI LleTlG system improve.
ment the Commission has permitted it to
appear that anything the Commission op-
poses might be good. Also, it might appear
that because many of the Hoover Commits
sion proposals are meritoriouS that its pro-
posal OF decentralization extension must be
good. Neither of these conclusions neces-
sarily Is justified. The decentralization pro-
posal simply doesn't offer improvement.
Rather 1t offers repression Of major kind.
Since 1t might appear that the position
taken by Harry Mitchell is not warranted by
the realities, and that the ones favoring
changes always are the progressive ones, it
might be good idea to find out what the
rank-and-file Of the Government employees
think Of decentralization. These have no axe
to grind If they already have status, and yet
they would have sufficient acquaintance with
conditions in the agencies to know what de-
centrslization would accomplish for the citi-
zens. 1t is my impression that anyone who
has been in the Government for five years or
more would have accumulated enough first
hand information to have an opinion worth
polling. JAMES MARCH.
Evening star., 1950-01-05
Soft-Spoken Message

The Presidents message on the State OF
the Union is interesting more because of
its tone than its content.
When Mr.. Truman went before Congress
year ago to deliver the traditional report,
he was fresh from his victory at the polls.
And his message on that occasion was more
of campaign speech than sober report
from the President of the United States.
He called upon the Government to do this
and the Government to do that. The
selfish interests" were lambasted. The
deficiencies in medical care and public
education were presented as shocking
facts"
There was none of this, however, in the
message delivered to Congress yesterday.
In no important respect did Mr.. Truman
retreat from his legislative program, He
did not renew his demand for authority
to allocate materials in short supply, nor
did he ask again for standby price con-
trolls. He also dropped his suggestion that
the Government might have to get into
the steel business. But all of the key
items in the 'Fair Deal" program, includ-
ing the -thancandid argument for re-
peal of the Taft-Hartley Act, are covered
in the requests put before Congress yes
>terday.
The President was cautious in the matter
of the budget deficit and new taxes In
last years message he said it was essen
tial" that the budget be balanced and that
there be a substantial surplus to combat
inf1ationary pressures and permit some
debt retirement. Yesterdays message
merely stated that the Government "is not
receiving enough revenue to meet its nee
essary expenses" and proposed that Fed
eral expenditures be "held to the lowest
levels consistent with our international
requirements and the. essential needs OF
economic growth and the well-being OF
our people" Thus, in the span of year
which has seen the Treasury 60 from the
black into the red, balanced budget
ceases to be essential and becomes matter
OF secondary Importance, subordinated to
all OF the Presidents many spending prof.
ects. Last year Mr. Truman called spe-
ciflcally for $4,000, ,000, 600 in new taxes.
This year he was content to say that there
should be some changes in our tax system
which will yield moderate amount" of
additional revenue. The details of this
presumably will be set out in the budget
message later this week. But from what
MIR. Truman said yesterday, it is clear
enough that on the domestic front in this
election year the administration will be
much more interested in vote-getting prof.
ects than in orthodox economies.
In contrast, the President stood manfully
by his guns on the great international
issues OF the time. In that quarter there
were no concessions to political expediency,
and he is to be commended for it.
What happens from now on rests with
the Congress. The President knows, of
course, that he will not get number of
the things for which he asks. But his
prospects should be improved rather than
injured by the Unconditional, dignifed tone
of the 1850 message.
Evening star., 1950-01-05

dent in invoking the Taft----sstley Act
against Mr.. Lewis and his United Mine
Workers is question yet to be decided by
the President and his advisers. Mr.. Tru-
man is UNDERSTANDABLE reluctant to make
use Of law which he does not like, but
If Mr.. Lewis continues to force the ad-
ministration into corner with his three
day-week plan, there may be no escape for
the President. The partial paralysis of the
Nations railroads, with even more drastic
curtailments of service possible if the coal
supply continues to dwindle, cannot long
be tolerated
Evening star., 1950-01-05
Of Figures and ChivoIry

1nere are lot OF men drivers willing to
dispute Inspector Arthur E. Miller's asser-
tion that women are better drivers than
men. Inspector Miller, of the Traffic De-
partment. says he has statistics to prove
his point. But the skeptics are inclined
to believe that the inspector, native Vir-
g1n1an, has let his inherent chivalry blind
him to the piles of accordion -pleated
tenders and other rusting evidence of
feminine responsibility at the wheel.
Inspector Miller bases his courteous con-
clusions on the fact that only two women
drivers were involved in the citys seventy
one traffic fatalities of 1949, and that men
drivers were to blame for nine out of ten
Of last years traffic accidents here. But,
say the men, that may prove nothing more
important than the known fact that there
are more men driving automobiles than
women. The exact ratio of men to women
is not matter of record Until this ratio
is ascertained, there is no reliable way OF
determining from accident statistics which
sex is the more careful in driving auto
mobiles.
And, again quoting the skeptics, In
spector Miller should take into account the
fact that many men drivers automatically
go into state of super -alertness when a
woman driver heaves into view. No matter
what signal she may be making with her
arm, the peril turks. The man driver may,
and often does, do one of two things in
such circumstance: l. He may try to
get out of the way as quickly and as effec-
lively as possible, or 2, he may pull to q
curb and await the passing of the emer-
gency. In either case, there is no chance
OF collision unless the woman deliberately
or unconsciously seeks him out, which she
sometimes does. Could this be an explana-
ton OF the seeming scarcity of serious
accidents involving women drivers?
The Star, considering itself lust as
chivalrous as Inspector Miller or anybody.
refuses to take sides in this recurrent con-
troversy. But the men are entitled to their
opinions, statistics or no statistics And
the consensus of unchivalrous male drivers
seems to be that figures of the feminine
variety are all right-except at the wheel
OF an automobile
Evening star., 1950-01-05
no denying that such a program really

no denying that such a program really
exists.
Indeed, this situation has grown serious
enough within recent months to raise the
question whether the United Nations ought
not to deal with it as a major issue. Ger
tainly, If the thing is not checked, If it
just keeps on drifting from bad to worse
If it develops into fixed habit of reprisals
and counter-repr1sals multiplying from day
to day, international relations are going to
become uglier than ever. Since 1t thus
bears upon the peace of the world, world
action to cope with it would seem to be
wholly In order.
Evening star., 1950-01-05
Against the Hour

When the Grim Sheriff serpes his tDrit 81,
me, 81
Beyond the black Star Chamber there ,p;u
be
Three spirits scholar, soldier, pioneer
TO lend ktnsn,un courage, stfH his fear.
Vastly unlike-yet each endured the ,oorst
OF mortal trnunils:. loneliness, doubt, thirst,
Wounds the m and God to stead, / shau not
0bscured
By supersttttous terror-dnd endured i.
The scholars quiet faith, the soldiers ,cill,
The pioneers endurance through that chill
Sharp struggle, sh1doU- shrouded, shah
ertend a.
Their deuthless strength to me, son, ID
lend
Strong aid, sure comfort, though the flesh
be trail:
With them and God to stead, I shall not
tail, -
HAROLD WILLARD GLEASON
Evening star., 1950-01-05
Explains How Faithful Carriers
Should Be Rewarded.


A few words to your subscribers with re-
gard to The Star calendars delivered by the
carriers at Christmas time: The idea of
course. Is calendar in return for token
OF appreciation for the years work by the
carrier. You know he is like the postman.
delivering in all seasons of the year.
In one instance, a subscriber gave the car
rler l have In mind very substantial gift
even before the calendars were ready, for his
care in delivering the newspaper where she
desired it. Another gave him very fine
three piece pen and pencil set for good
service. But. in another instance the sub
scriber took the calendar and slammed the
door In mis- face. In several instances sub
scrlbers have said. Il have q newspaper cal
endar. and don't want another" Their
failure to take calendars or at least to pay
the cost Of the calendars left him holding
the bag" with quite number of calendars
on hand.
In my case. the carrier knows 7 am injured
and unable to get the paper If it is not placed
IN or near the door. He has been faithful
IN the delivery. so gave him an extra gift
at Christmas to thank him.
I hope the subscribers who have forgotten
their carriers will read this and act accord
mgV. H. G. c.
Evening star., 1950-01-05

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address of the
,oriter. although it is permissible for
a 1Driter knoDn to The Star to use
a nom de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1950-01-05
Questions and Answers

a reader can get the answer tn -.nv ,,..t,..
O. Iact by writing The Evening Star informe tion
55!naesu PIG Eye st. ne, WASHINGTON q b g
Evening star., 1950-01-05
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

@. What per cent of the WAC served
overseas in World War II and in what
countries?-R. H.
A. The Department of Defense says that
nearly 18 per cent of the WAC served over.
seas in the following theaters: North Africa.
Italy, Bermuda, Puerto Rico. Alaska, the
Netherlands East Indies Belgium, Scotland.
England. Germany. France, Egypt. India.
China. Ceylon, New Guinea, Australia,
Hawaii Labrador. British Columbia, Yukon
Territory. the Philippines Japan and Korea.
Q. What three national parks have tho
largest number of annual visitors and ap.
proximate number to cache. B.
A. The three national parks having the
largest number Of visitors for the travel year
ending September 80. 1949 are: Great
Smoky Mountains, N. c.-Tenn, 1,51o,636:
Rocky Mountain. Colo. 1,13S162; Yellow
stone, Wyo, Mont, Idaho, 1,133,5l6. h
O. What is the principle Of operation Or
the coffee maker which consists of two
glass bowls, one above the other, and .
filter between?-v. G.
A. The water in the lower bowl Is forced
by steam pressure to the upper bowl which
contains the coffee. When the heat is turned
off the coffee is drawn back through the filter
by vacuum a7T
@. About how much gold and silver are
newly mined annually in the United States
and its possessions; also, about how muchais
mined annually in the world?-A. B. df
A. The mine production of gold In tfle
United States in 1948, was 2,014257 fiffe
ounces. The mine production Of silver in 1912
was 38,096031 fine ounces. Figures for the
world production of gold and silver are not as
yet available for 1948. The 1947 world pro-
duction Of gold was 2S,S00 900 fine ounces
and the world production Of silver, 156.7S2.-
600 fine ounces. The mine production OF
gold in Alaska in 1948 was 24s395 firle
ounces, and Of silver, 67,34l fine ounces 81
Evening star., 1950-01-05

intellectual dishonesty or merely unpardon-
able ignorance? In any case, it seems that
former friends Of Russia still retain an influ-
ential position in the shaping of American
foreign policy.
America is losing precious time in it's
efforts TO put the world on it's feet Appar-
emily, 33 years of unchanged and relentless
Communist international policy has taught
nothing to some American policy makers;
many OF them still behave as if Rus
sia were a nation which could be trusted.
When they begin to see the crystal-clear
truth. it may, unfortunately be too late for
America and for the world
B. BENABARRE.
To the Editor Of The Star:
For most Americans, two wrongs do not
make a right But that apparently is not
the case for the author of your editorial.
1.-THE Spanish Fraud"
In order to right the wrong which made
Poland Communist dictatorship after it
was brought into the United Nations, where
the democratic powers not the relationships,
still swing a majority, you would bring in
Spain, Fascist dictatorship
What is worse, your editorial suggests
that it is quite moral and correct for the
United States to send an ambassador to
Spain despite the fact that there still is a
resolution in the United Nations, passed by
more than two-thirds of that Assembly and
therefore requiring vote of two-thirds to
change it, recommending that member
states withdraw their chiefs of mission from
Franco Spain and send no new chiefs of
mission until such time as Franco and his
government get out.
1t is neither moral nor correct for the
United States to defy this resolution of the
United Nations and still pretend to support
the United Nations. If you want the United
States delegate to the United Nations to
vote against that resolution, you are well
within your rights. But if you suggest that
the United States defy the United Nations
you place yourself in the same class with
those dictators who like nothing better than
to defy majority decisions because they want
to do so. MALLET ROBERTSON.
Evening star., 1950-01-05
Readers Express Their Appreciation
OF Reminders of Good Old Days


The pictures and history Of the District OF
Columbia SO years ago were very interesting.
would Ike to see more Of them. including
pictures OF the old B. a. o. depot with 4 his
tory OF its construction and of the city parks
where band concerts were held and people
went to dance. Some danced in the streets
to the music Of organ grinders.
am native Of the District and do like
to read and see pictures In your paper of
the good old fashioned days.
MRS r. BAILEY
Evening star., 1950-01-05
Religion Regarded
As "Childish Darkness"
To the Editor of The Star.

As Childish Darkness"
To the Editor Of The STAR
Normally, have little desire to comment
upon any editorial. An editorial is in reality
an editors letter to the public, likened in its
opinionated way with the readers Letter
to the Editor"
Occasionally, ones opinions become
emotional and thus slip by the fine line that
divides adult reasoning from childish belief
In the editorial concerning the unfortunate
plight of the little girl, Betty Lou, it is quite
obvious that you slipped into childish logic
brought about by the "As-If" philosophy of
Christian belief.
the faith that those she trusts instill in her
and quite naturally her analysis must be that
OF a child. But to hold up as an ideal the
immature reasoning of child Gas Christian
leaders do) is exactly why there is so much
immaturity in social and humanistic relations.
Nothing is more useless than an adult think
ing, reasoning and dreaming like child
After spending i've inches of print stating
that her prayers were not answered. you
contradict yourself by concluding: who
will say that her prayers have gone un-
answered."
In most countries OF the world such
reversal is accepted, but in America only the
childish accept such opposites, In America
as In no other country, we have been instilled
with the demand for freedom. That freedom,
once acquired. releases one from the narrow
limitations Of medieval logic, Religion in
general keeps mans thinking in the hu-
manities imprisoned under a great cloud of
childish darkness. D. NJ sUCcOP.
Evening star., 1950-01-05
National Executive Secretary. Americans
for Democratic Action.
To the Editor Of The star;

To the Editor Of The Star:
wish to congratulate and thank you most
warmly for your editorial "The Spanish
Fraud" which appeared January 2. It Is one
Of the few editorials have read on Spain
which do honor to American newspapermen.
During three years In America. have seen
nothing but cnildishly foolish and utterly
false comments which made 1t difficult to
believe In the good faith Of the writer's Those
who came here to learn democratic ways Of
life, as did. have been puzzled as to what
democratic fair play means to many news
papers In America. The Star Is an exception.
You are most exact when you say that
"this country. II 1t aspires to position Of
moral leadership In the world, ought to purge
itself OF the intellectual dishonesty inherent
in its position on the Spanish case" It is
difficult to me TO understand the tremendous
mistakes Of the State Department. Il It
Evening star., 1950-01-05
Varying Reactions
To Spanish Fraud" Editorial
tn thA Edttor ~ rTh. 49,.

varying Reactions
To Spanish Fraud" Editorial
To the Editor Of The STAR
Your editorial in The Star Of January
on The Spanish Fraud" establishes a
new argument on this issue. Pleas have
been made for various kinds of help to
Franco on the grounds Of military neces-
slty, economic self-interest or Just plain
sympathy for the Spanish dictator and all
OF these arguments easily are answered.
But you seem to have broken new ground
by basing your argument on the ground of
our moral principles" and our Integrity"
1t may well be that our delegates to the
united Nations should have stood up to be
counted, but 1t Is difficult to understand
how "our moral principles" could have been
served by casting any vote which would
strengthen the hand of the one remaining
member OF the Nazi-Fascist Axis which it
took the greatest war In history to defeat,
Returning an ambassador to Spain at the
present time in defiance of the 1916 United
Nations resolution might be of some slight
help to Franco. but there is more powerful
dictator In the world whose cause would be
even more seriously assisted by such an act.
His name is Stain.
I can imagine nothing that would SO dis
courage our friends in Europe or, on the
other hand, encourage our Communist
enemies, than any act on our part to lend
support to Franco. Ask Ambassador Harri-
man who so capably Is trying to convince
European democrats that the generous ges-
ture that the Marshall Plan represents is
indeed that. rather than an effort to pur-
chase support for purposes other than the
defense Of democratic principles.
Whether We like 1t or not, Franco is 1
symbol for millions all over the world,
symbol Of fascisun. II we are to win the
support Of these millions for the fight for
freedom against communism, we must re-
frain from any act which might cause them
to lose faith In "our moral PRINCIPLES"
There is an absolute equation: Aid to Franco
equals aid to Stalin
JAMES LOEB, JR.,
, 1950-01-13

Want to mako your ironing easier
and faster? Here's how, according
TO The Aluminium Association: Re
move the ironing board cover, place
. long sheet of foil over the board
allowing enough to tuck under both
ends, replace cover. Because alumni
mum has q high reiectivity to heat,
the foil reflects enough heat back to
The under surface Of the material SO
that, in effect, both sides are ironed
a once. The Association also re-,
ports that the foil lessons the dan-
ser Of scorching.
, 1950-01-13

hair grow in a month?
8 What is the difference be-
tween a parabola and a parable?
A.. Which of the US. dependen-
cies r territories?
S. How many legs does the com
mon housefly have?
ANSWERS on back paoe)
, 1950-01-13
THOUGHT

We must not blame God for the
fly, for man made him. He is the
resurrection, the reincarnation of
our own dirt and carelessness.
Woods Hutchinson. MD.
, 1950-01-13
LESSON in ENGLISH
by w. 1. Gordon
T

WORDS OFTEN MISuSED:
Do not say, HE put in several
weeks on the work" 1t is much
better to say, HE spent several
weeks"
OFTEN MIsPRoNoUNcED:
Usurp. Pronounce u-zurp; and
accent last syllable, not the first.
OFTEN MISSPELLED:
Poinsettia; and don't forget to
pronounce the final i.
SYNONYMS
Assume, presume, suppose, I'M
derstand.
WORT STUDY