Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-01-28
Sees Victory for Spanish People
In Change in American Attitude
To the Editor of The Star

10 the Editor OF The Star:
The Star is to be applauded for its candid
analysis of events dealing with the position
OF spain IN the concert of nations believe
tnls TO be the appropriate time to offer
my congratulations when the Department
OF State finally has recognized that error
exists to be corrected and not prolonged.
All OF us here in the United States SYM
pathetlc to the cause of the Spanish people
"a cause that began in the streets of Madrid
on July 18, 1886, and ended in unouestion-
able victory in the offices of the Department
OF State on January 10. 195O-are encour-
aged by the fact that the strength of truth
is greater than that of malicious propaganda
against the Spanish people and their gov
eminent. The spirit of the proud people"
OF Spain has brought the farce to an end
and We now must tie ourselves in bonds of
friendship with nation that has contri-
buted so abundantly to the values of the
West
This victory should be the signal for
determined elements of public opinion in
this country to launch an offensive against
advancing communism. We must restrict
that evil to specific geographic areas and
then convince the Soviet Union of its grave
errors-by reason, if possible; by force, if
necessary. We cannot buy SNUG comfort
at the cost OF modus vivendi which would
leave hundreds of millions in the grip of
pagan and materialistic power
FRANK A. LOPEZ.
Would Investigate Neighborhood Opinion
OF Drivers Involved in Accidents
To the Editor of The Star:
The writer has no fault to find with
modern methods of determining an auto
mobile drivers liability and guilt in traffic
fatalities today. Between yardstick measure
merts OF skid marks plus other scientifically
tested accident formulas, the guilt or in
nocence OF the driver can be definitely estab-
lshed and the findings of such tests sub
nitted to court of justice. However, the
factors used by a presiding Judge for deter
mining the severity of the jail sentence to
be imposed upon guilty driver are, in the
writer's opinion. sadly lacking in detail. In
the vast majority of cases when no previous
traffic violations exist concerning the driver
involved, the sentence imposed is either sus-
pended or. if sentence must be served it is
for the shortest period possible under existing
law even though an official inquiry accom-
pllshed in the neighberhood surrounding the
guilty drivers residence would have estab-
llshed, without shadow of a doubt. that
such driver usually drove an automobile in
reckless and negligent way previous to the
accident.
In every case, such neighborhood inquiry
should be accomplished and the results of
such inquiry placed at the disposal Of the
sentencing judge before sentence is imposed.
Where it is determined through such inquiry
that the driver involved was usually reckless
and negligent in the operation of an auto
mobile, although fortunate enough to escape
detection by the law. such information in
the hands Of the judge would permit the in
Fiction of stiff sentence in keeping with
the facts. On the other hand, where
neighborhood inquiry develops that the
driver involved had reputation as q careful
and eonsiderate driver prior to the accident,
that information also should be at the dis
posal of the judge to permit possible sus-
pension of sentence. An official inquiry pre-
sented to garagemen and the people living
in the vicinity of the guilty driver would pro- I
vide opinions worthy Of respect.
ii. M. HARRIS.