davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1950-03-30
DE CASTRO ISSUES
STATEMENT ON
TRANSFER DAY


Governor de Castro today.
issued the following statement
in of the 33rd
anniversary of the transfer Of
the Virgin Islands from Den
mark to the United States. II
follows:
friday, March 81, 1850, vii
be the 33rd anniversary of the
transfer Of the Virgin Island
from Denmark to the United
States of America. In these 8;
years we have come to recog
nize the great challenge of lv,
ing in a country where all citi-
zens share in making its gov
eminent and its way of life,
Me have, happily, accepted the
responsibilities as well as the
benefits of American citizen
ship; it is a credit to the intel
ligence and loyalty Of the peo-
pie of the Virgin Islands that
we have progressed in the APP
plication of the democratic
principles to the point where
the President and the Congress
of the u. S. now have full con-
fidence in our ability to adj
minister our own government.
It is fitting and proper on
this occasion for us to reaffirm
our faith in the great Ameri-
can heritage Of democratic
government; re dedicate our
selves to the task of working
together in unity and har-
Continued on page q
49, Z@
, 1950-03-30
Special Meeting For
Spunish Speaking
Residents April IL

A special meeting has been
planned especially for the
Spanish-speaking residents Of
the Island on Tuesday, April
II at the st. Mary's Hall, by
the Department Of Health, ii
was made known by Miss
Helen Joseph.
A mass meeting will be held
for the same purpose on the
night in the Chris
tiansted Market place, imme-
diately following a scheduled
lecture by the Jehovah Wit
nesseS.
, 1950-03-30
Esd Lutheran Church
To Present Good
Friduy Concert

A sacred concert will be Civ
en- on Good Friday night,
April Z, at the Frederiksted
Lutheran Church at which a
cantata will be presented en-
titled "Olivet to Calvary at
7:3O. 1t tells of the suffering
and trial of Our Lord on His
way to the Cross.
1t will be presented by the
Frederiksted Senior Choir and
the Girls Choir. Mrs. Beryl
Armstrong, will be seated at
the new Hammond Organ.
Other features Of the even
ing's program will include
Mrs. Otis Brown, soprano;
Hon. Alva Nc Farlane, tenor;
Darnley Petersen, bass and
Pastor Merle G. FRANKIE, Bass
Baritone. /
Those who will take part in
this concert have been re-
hearsing since shortly after
Christmas. A record size audi
ence is expected to be on hand
for the occasion.
, 1950-03-30
Trurnun Suggests
Conference with COP
Foreign Policy

Secretary Of State Dean
Acheson began a series Of con
ferences with Republican Sena
tor Arthur Vandenberg on
measures to strengthen the
governments bi-p artisan
foreign policy.
The talks between Mr..
Acheson and Senator Vanden-
berg were at the suggestion Of
President Truman, who wants
him to explore with Vanden-
berg and other Republican
leaders in Congress. the issues
on foreign problems in the Far
East as well as other parts Of
the world.
, 1950-03-30
CAKE SALE D. RAFFLE
TOMORROW AT ANNEX

A cake sale and rattle will
be held tomorrow at the An
mex Building of the Public
Grammar School IN Christian
sted, under the auspices Of the
Parents Health Organization.
The sale begins at Els.
Evening star., 1950-05-13
Young 'SentineIs of Safety

Today is the day when the school safety pa
troll members forsake their familiar and impor-
tant stations near schools to march down Con-
stitution avenue and to receive the honors they
have won as guardians of child safety From
more than score of States these young traffic
officers have come to join in a demonstration
of their growing strength and efficiency. They
have earned the medals and the praise which
high Government officials are giving them dur
ing their annual pilgrimage to the Capital.
The occasion is a reminder of the remarkable
development which the safety patrol idea has
undergone since its inception 80 years ago. From
a handful of boys and girls without experience
and with little or no self-confidence, the or
ganization has expanded to nearly half mil
lion members in 5000 communities There is
reason for this success. 1t lies in the statistics
which show sharp reduction in traffic deaths
during the past twenty years among children of
elementary school age Small wonder that mo-
torsts generally now respect the signals of the
little "sentinels of safety" with their white Sam
Browne belts. The American Automobile Asso-
citation, the police, the parents and the teachers
who have done so much to encourage and ex-
tend the patrol system are entitled to share in
the tributes to the movement being voiced today
Evening star., 1950-05-13
Mr.. Stokes and the Court

In his recent column concerning the
Supreme Court decision upholding the
Georgia Unit System Of voting. Thomas
L. Stokes took slap at the reputation of
the court. Silent contempt may be the
best treatment. but on the other hand.
silence lends consent. Mr.. Stokes at
tempts to convert his personal opinion
into fact. He states unequivocally, I'VE
like to look on the Supreme Court as the
ultimate protector Of our fundamental
rights and liberties, even though we
know If we've read our history that it
has q see-saw. up-and-down record in
this particular"
Such a statement adds another stone
to the pile with which those who would
do away with the form and especially
the spirit Of our Government as founded
in 1887 will use in attempts to accom-
plish their purpose. Referring to Mr..
Stokes history, one wonders what chap
ter and verse he read. In support of his
opinion he would probably list some
decisions at variance in spirit with
others. Who, even if he be a Pulitzer
Prize winner, is to say that either the
first or the second of such contrary de-
-cisions failed to protect "our funda-
mental rights and liberties?" Most such
cases have been decided by a nearly
evenly divided court. One celebrated
case was a 4 to tie. When of neces-
sity 1t was re-argued before all Q judges,
Evening star., 1950-05-13
This and That =.
BY Charles E. TroceweH

the historical accuracy Of g. A. Henty,
with particular reference to figures about
the Battle Of Gettysburg in the story
With Lee in Virginia
MY copy Of this volume (an early
Blackie, edition. shows the number of
neither Of the forces engaged. as men,
toned by the correspondent quoted by
you. Witness the inclosed excerpt from
the book
II am q collector of Henty books and
boast Of 103 separate titles, so any
reference to him excites my curiosity.
Yours truly yours. A. H. c."
Excerpt from with Lee in Virginia, :"
PIP. 314, BIS, follows:
"At Gettysburg there was three days
fighting. In the first portion only of
the forces were engaged, the Federals
being defeated and 5000 of their men
taken prisoners. Upon the second the
Confederates attacked the Northeners.
who were posted in an extremely strong
position, but were repulsed with heavy
loss. The following day they renewed
the. attack but after tremendous fight
ing again failed to carry the height.
Both parties were utterly exhausted.
Lee drew up his troops the next day
and invited an attack by the FederalS
but contented with the success they
had gained they maintained their posi-
ton. and the Confederates then fell
back, Stuart's cavalry protecting the
immense trains of wagons loaded with
the stores and ammunition captured In
Pennsylvania.
But little attempt was made by the
Northerners to interfere with their re-
treat. On reaching the Potomac they
Evening star., 1950-05-13
MurshoII Heights

I have read your editorial about Mar
shall Heights in last Sundays Star.
1.-The Problem Still Remains" 1t GER
tainly does, and editorial writing like
yours is the problem.
It would make too long letter for me
to untangle all the untrue statements
you made and true statements which you
twisted to result in untruths. If I put
the correction in a letter you probably
would leave out some of the most i'm
portant points that would hurt your
pride.
Who pays you to lie to your readers
about us? Your paper is not friend to
Negroes, when you try so hard to de-
prive us Of the homes we have bought
and paid for. This is time when you
should write editorials that would bring
unity instead of strife. We have far
too much of that going on in America
today. am sending copies Of this to the
following: Washington Times Herald,
Washington Post, Washington Daily
News, Pittsburgh Courier. Afro -Ameri-
can Capitol Times, Congressman John
Phillips, Congressman William Dawson.
League of Private Citizens.
Patsy L. Allen.
Chairnala,. Pioneers Committee.
Editors Note: The Star, which wrote
that Marshall Heights someday will have
to be cleaned up, still thinks so. The re-
development program would not have
deprived anyone of a home. On the
contrary. under the plan, all would have
retained their present homes until pro.
vided with modern housing and facil-
ities)
Evening star., 1950-05-13
Statehood Prospects Rise

President Trumans urgent appeal for favor
able action on the bills to grant statehood to
Alaska and Hawaii came as hearings were con-
cluded on this long debated legislation. With
all the evidence in, there are good prospects of
an early report to the Senate by the Committee
on Interior and Insular Affairs. The Senate
deserves chance to weigh these bills on their
merits-a right it was denied during the
SOth Congress.
The charge that led to consignment of the
Hawaii bill to committee pigeonhole two years
ago was that Communists were in position to
dominate the political affairs of the Pacific
territory Much testimony since has been pro-
duced to refute this charge The House has
passed both bills, so only Senate approval Is
Evening star., 1950-05-13
Elaine Rentfro.

found that sudden rise had rendered
the. fords impossible. Intrenchments
and batteries were thrown up and for
week the Confederate army held the lines,
expecting an attack from the enemy.
who had approached within two miles;
but the Federal generals we're too well
satisfied with having gained success
when acting on the defensive in strong
position to risk defeat in attacking the
position of the Confederates. and their
forces remained impassive until pontoon
bridges were thrown across the river,
and the Confederate Army. with their
vast baggage train, had again crossed
into Virginia.
"The campaign had cost the Northern
Army $4,000 men in killed. wounded
and prisoners, besides a considerable
number of guns. The Confederates lost
only two guns, left behind in the mud.
and 1,500 prisoners, but their loss in
killed and wounded at Gettysburg ex-
ceeded 10000 men,"
The actual statistics of great battles
are Of little importance except to the
experts.
The worth of good writer depends
more upon the sense Of life he is able
to impart to his work.
A good narrative seems to have q
veritable life of It's own. Even when IT
gets begged down for a few pages. and
becomes "long winded," as we still say,
it picks up and goes ahead under its
own steam.
G. A. Henty had this gift. His stories
had many readers in the old days, and
evidently many readers still. That Is
the reward Of writer.
Evening star., 1950-05-13
To Help Southeast Asia

1ndo-China Burma, Thailand Malaga and
1ndoneSa would all benefit under the proposed
new aid program for Southeast Asia. The pro-
gram-drawn up on the basis of on-the-spot
studies made by special State Department
mission headed by Allen Smith-would cover a
period of fifteen months, be administered by the
Economic Cooperation Administration, and in
volve the expenditure of $64 900, 900 out of funds
to be made available to the ECA
The aid envisioned-a project distinct from
such help as Indonesia's $10000000O loan
from the Export-Import Bank or the $4,000 900
earmarked for arms shipments to Indo-China-
would be completely military. In effect,
it would be miniature Point Four program
consisting solely of technical and other as
sStance designed to improve the backward in
duStrial, agricultural, health and educational
conditions in the recipient countries. Indo- China
would receive about $23 900 900 of the total $64-
,0O0 and the remainder would be shared more
or less equally by Burma, Thailand, Malaga and
Indonesia.
Considering the seriousness of the Com
munist threat in Southeast ASIA this program
may seem to be inadequate. The Griffin mission,
however, has found that it is about as big as
it should be at this time and that if it is started
without delay it can accomplish a good deal.
In the judgment of the mission, the countries
involved, though rich in natural resources, could
not effectively use larger economic aid right now.
The idea-a sensible one-is to make a sound
beginning and to build up on that A little
can go long way in that respect.
Evening star., 1950-05-13
By J. Edoor Hoover

Director. Federal Bureau es Invsstisatien
IF CURRENT criminal trends continue.
yours may be one Of the estimated
155,57o homes which viii be burglarized
in the United States this year. Thirty
eight per cent of all burglaries last year
involved private residences.
There may be q burglar waiting for
you to leave on your vacation. If your
house happens to be the one he selects.
it will most likely be singled out after
careful study.
He'll watch for the telltale signs of
your departure-the empty house. the
drawn blinds, the vacant garage. the
accumulation of old newspapers and
advertising material scattered over your
front porch and steps.
He'll usually be willing to wait several
days TO be sure you have gone. He may
lease" your house if he thinks it's neces-
sary-casually strolling by during the
busy afternoon when his presence will
not arouse suspicion, or perhaps waiting
until nightfall when his evil designs are
veiled by darkness. He may even ring
your doorbell-just to make doubly sure.
Then comes the opportune moment. :.
You and your family are leisurely en-
joying the warm sun at some distant
beach, or the cool scenery Of mountain
resort. Suddenly and Unexpectedly you
become victim. Your home becomes
one of the more than 1.100 places burg
larized over the Nation each "a hours.
What is it that attracts a burglars
attention to your house? What causes
him to single it out from the other houses
in the neighborhood? It could be one
of a number of things-some so in
significant they are passed unnoticed by
the honest citizens of the community.
But in the case of the criminal, 1t attracts
him as loadstone attracts q splinter Of
iron.
Consider the note carefully left in the
front door to advise some tradesman
you will be out of the city for an ex-
tended period. Consider the bottles of
milk accumulating on the porch because
the milkman was not notified to discon-
tinue deliveries. Mail boxes stuffed with
unopened letters garage doors swinging
open day after day-all Of these are q
Evening star., 1950-05-13
RIVER ROAD.

RIVER NOAD.
Dear Sir:
After reading your correspondent S
remarks about g. A. Henty and his
books. I feel 1t is my duty to strike q
blow in defense Of poor old George.
"He may have been inaccurate about
the Battle of Gettysburg. but how much
more exciting and entertaining his books
were than any other juvenile literature
of his time.
"I can remember thrilling to descrip.
tions of the Russian steppes, African
jungles, England and France in the
middle ages, and to my favorite, whose
name-I cannot recall, about ancient
Rome.
"Our house had large storeroom,
where we had arranged trunks and boxes
in a circle.
Here my friends and I, on rainy
afternoons, would play game christened
by us simply Coliseum
'I always wanted to be the emperor,
seated on the highest pile of boxes.
pointing his thumb downward, but be-
ing q girl ! was always the Christian
slave thrown to the lions.
For this childhood souvenir owe
George Henty a debt of gratitude.
incidentally, my youngest son. aged
H.. and strictly a science fiction fan.
read Henty's with Wolfe in Canada
not long ago and pronounced it long
winded but a very good story.
Yours truly. B. n"
MAPLE RIDGE ROAD.
Dear Sir:
II read with much interest your ar
ticle In The Star recently concerning
Evening star., 1950-05-13
To Meet q Water Emergency

With another season of peak water system
loads approaching, officials in charge of the
Washington water supply have good cause to
worry about the inadequacy of the present plant.
Twice last summer the system was subjected to
dangerous overloads that might have resulted
in breakdowns. The likelihood of similar critical
periods during the hot and dry days ahead
justifies the Commissioners urgent request to
Congress for authority to borrow $23 million for
a ten-year expansion program.
Washington's water supply problem is as seri-
Gus in its way as that of New York City, although
for different reason. Here there is no lack of
water for all foreseeable demands but there is
shortage of facilities for collecting, purifying
and storing the water available in the Potomac
River. E. A. SchnAitt, head engineer of the WASH
ington Aqueduct, told the House District SUBJ
committee on Appropriations that the city was
lucky to escape drastic water conservation meas
ures last summer. There were two six-day
stretches one in July and one in August, when
consumption exceeded the normal safe capacity
jof the two conduts on which the system de-
pendS. During these periods the water level
sank to perilously low marks, Mr.. Schmitt testi-
fled He warned that conditions are apt to
grow worse, instead of better.
The only cure for this situation Is greater in
take capacity than the two conduitS provide.
The improvement program includes construc-
tion of low dam about two miles above Chain
Bridge with pumping equipment to raise the
new water supply to the Dalecarlia plant. The
whole undertaking will cost about SAT million,
but water revenues will pay for all but $23 mil
lion of this outlay. 1t is essential, therefore,
that additional money be made available now
on loan basis, so that this emergency project
can be carried out without delay. Under the
proposed legislation the Treasury would decide
what interest rate should be charged. The Fed
eral Government might we'll forgo charging any
interest, in view of all the free water it has
enjoyed in years past.
Incidentally, the Commissioners are making a
reasonable request in asking that the Federal
Govegnmentsbe required to pay itSzannuat water
bill n full. OF the$ $12 million Federal share Of
running the District Congress in the past several
years has been earmarking 81 million for pay
ment of the Federal water bill. Actually, this
amount is $250,00O short of the actual cost of
supplying water to the Federal establishment
And if the proposed 10 per cent cut in the Fed
eral payment to the District is approved by Con-
gress, the net effect will be a reduction equal
to the Governments water bill. But there is
no reason why the Federal water bill should
be Cancelled in whole or even in part The Gov
ernment long since has been repaid for its orig
inal investments in the District water system It
should bear its full share of the annual water
bill, just as any other consumer is required to do
Evening star., 1950-05-13

needed to give Alaska and Hawaii the full
partnership in the Union which they 80 long
have struggled for. The President stated the
case well when he wrote Chairman OMahoney Of
the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
that the granting of statehood will mot only
promote the welfare and development of the
two territories but also greatly strengthen the
security of our Nation whole" There is
reason to believe that If the Senate receives the
measures before the legislative rush becomes too
acute, the legislation will be enacted. prompt
report in favor of both bills by the OMahoney
committee would greatly increase the chances Of
passage at this session.
Evening star., 1950-05-13
Public Library BookmobiIe

~. Americans who have visited the 1nvaldess
In Paris will remember seeing there the travelling
library Cf NapoeonsassI It was not equipped with
wheels but it was carried around pretty much
all over Europe The case shows wear and tear,
and the books in it have the look OF having been.
used 1-Apparenfy there were manifestations
when the Emperor relaxing after hard days
campaigning, took out one of the volumes for
an hour or so Of quiet reading.
Whether Washington's bookmobile traces
back to Bonaparte might be matter of debate.
In point of fact the idea of library susceptible
of easy transportation from place to place as
needed is as old as books, as old as parchments.
julius Caesar toted literary fare from Rome to
Britain, Marcus Aurelius took his biliotheca with
him wherever he travelled. The convenience of
books very largely consists of their availability.
In a modern democracy the Importance of
putting books where they can be used construc-
lively requires no argument. Bookmobies have
been in operation in the rural sections OF the
country for at least thirty years. Usually they
have been based on county libraries. But since
1910 they have been adapted for city purposes
with increasing popularity. Boston, st. Louis,
Baltimore and many other large communities
maintain perambulating branch libraries" The
tendency is toward taking more and more books
to more and more people wherever the people
are-without waiting for them to come to the
library centers themselves
Our local bookmobile, starting its routine
journeys in Eastern Washington Monday, is only
single vehicle. It will serve from so to 100
people an hour. Careful records of public
reaction to its visits will be kept for study of
neighborhood interest. When budget allowances
permit, there should be more bookmobiles until
the whole geographical picture of the District'
of Columbia is supplied with them They repre-
sent the latest phase Of the cultural advance
ment of the city, the most recent development
of that characterization of learning which the
sages of ancient Greece rightly identified with
power over circumstance. Their cost is small
and their utility obviously great.
Evening star., 1950-05-13
McC Corthy and Acheson

The report that Robert LaFollette may
re-enter politics is great news. Perhaps
Wisconsin will recall little Yapping Joe
to private business, or permit him to col
lect unemployment compensation.
Surely it is evident even to the Repub-
lican Party that this irresponsible Sen
ator, with his hysterical. unproven
charges, his raving and ranting. is not
only seriously dividing his party in
very important year. but worse still. con-
fuSing the entire Nation.
His devotion to Joe Mccarthy is SO
great that he stops at nothing, regard
less of what it may do to our national
welfare. He holds the dubious honor Of
turning our Senate into a side show, and
he should be forced to prove all his vi
cious charges, or resign from the highest
legislative body of this great Nation. If
he refuses to resign. he should be i'm
peached for knowingly distorting facts.
Irene Moore Van Eckhardt.
X II
AS regarding Senator McCarthy's
methods of obtaining his objectives, any,
one who has been living in Washington
for the past dozen years knows that q
whitewashing of these cases has been
going on for far too long, as witness the