davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-02-19
By Frederick R. NeeIy

Washington, having outgrown
two air terminals in 20 years, is
preparing to embark on the estab-
lishment of what it's most enthu-
siastic advocate, Senator johnson,
Democrat, of Colorado, declares
should be "the finest and most
modern airf1eld in the world"
This has been thrilling news for
the past two weeks for the airport
planners, the airlines, the air
transport plane builders and the
air traffic experts, all of whom will
have a vitally important role in
the preparation of the new air
terminal. But behind the pre-
mature rejoicing over the Sena-
tors declaration, for his bill has
yet to be enacted, there lies the
realization among these four
groups that they will be on trial,
as never before. individually and
collectively. to produce an air ter
minal of some reasonably endur-
ing value.
Such an achievement has yet to
be recorded anywhere and its
failure is generally accepted as be-
ing due to the phenomenal evo-
luton of the transport type air.
plane, which still gives no clear
indication when it will reach and
stabilize its ultimate performance
from an economic, safety and eff
flciency standpoint, like the rail-
road train and the oceans going
vessel.
WaShingtonians had settled
down in the summer of 1941 to
the comforting belief that their
brand-new air terminal at Gravel
ly Point would serve the Capital s
needs for a longer period than
any one cared or dared to predict
Then the threat of war and the
actual war produced a disturbing
whisper of possible inadequate
size and improper location" This
was readily dismissed as being pc
culiar to the war when everything
was suddenly and understand
ably oveftaXed. But with the war
over. Washington, unlike over
crowded industrial cities, did not
return to prewar status. All roads
and all airWays continued to lead
to this, the most important city
in the world, for the battle to win
the peace. And that disturbing
whisper about the airport's size
and location continued to rise
crescendo-like until now, Wash
ington National Airport, not yet
9 years old. is unanimously ac-
cepted as being no longer any
good.
Our air terminal problem is
not unique or an exclusive one
Nearly every major city in the
land at one time or another has
suffered the same disappointing
and expensive airport experience
and the Federal Government has
been sympathetic and considerate
to the point of matching half the
Evening star., 1950-02-19
DEWEY STILL A FACTOR

Back in 1910, when the Repub-
licanS were seeking to make a
comeback after eight years of New
Deal rule, there were the follow
ers of Taft of Ohio and James of
Pennsylvania, representative of
the more conservative element in
one camp, and the more progress
sive Republicans in either the
Dewey or the Willkie camps. Four
years later, in the midst of war,
the Dewey camp was tremendously
strong, and swept aside the con-
servatives, led at that time by the
then Gov. Bricker of Ohio, now
Senator, for whom Senator Taft
had stood aside In 1948, with
the war over and President Tru-
man seemingly hanging on the
ropes, the contest among the Re-
publicans was more hard fought
than ever. Here again the Taft
camp was strong, challenging the
supporters Of Gov. Dewey. And
former Gov. Stassen of Mime
sofa, now president of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, headed a
third camp, an even younger and
newer group.
A third presidential nomination
for Gov. Dewey-even should he
run and be reelected Governor
next fall-seems entirely out of
the political cards. But Gov.
Dewey is not out of politics, nor
Is he the kind to give up interest
in them. The big following that put
him. across for two nominations
for President must go somewhere,
and potential candidates for the
1852 nomination eye it eagerly.
So the party divisions persist.
There stands Senator Taft, for
Evening star., 1950-02-19
AGREEMENTS DISHONORED

Our diplomats are treated not
as honor guests, as diplomatic
custom required for many GEN.
turies, but as spies to be kept un-
der continuously strict surveil-
lance. Our agreements with the
Kremlin have been dishonored by
the Russian leaders. Prime Min
lister Stain, described by Amer
lean political and military men
who know him as hard man to
deal with, but one who always
keeps his word, now is trampling
under foot the agreements he al
legedly signed in good faith.
The present Russian attitude is
not simply the result of mood of
Stain and his associates. 1t is
calculated attitude which, many
fear, forecasts a change in what
we have believed to be Russian
policy toward this country, name
ly, attrition of American economic
and financial power through re-
lentless cold war.
We have assumed vast RESPONSE
bilities in every part of the globe.
We have assumed the responsible
ity of restoring the economy of
Western Europe and those parts
of ALPHABETICALLY the new
born republics-which now are
only threatened by the Soviets.
We have undertaken to organize
a defensive force of about Is di-
visions within the next four years
in order to provide defense for
Western Europe. But we have
never closely examined whether
Western Europeans, who have
been bled white in two costly wars
in the last 36 years, are capable
of fighting once more against a
mass of power far greater than
the Germans and their associates
ever were able to muster.
There is an increasing tendency
on the part of the administration
to keep our own defense forces at
less than the safe minimum, be-
cause we feel that unless a shoot
ing war actually starts the mill
tary establishment may be reduced
to token defense force as before
both World Wars I and II.
Evening star., 1950-02-19
HOOVER FIELD RECALLED

When Senator johnson said, II
want to see the finest and most
modern airfeld in the world built
in the vicinity of Washington, u
and when Acting Commerce Sec
retary c. V. Whitney, in indors-
ing the Senator's bill for the new
airport said, Washington is the
Nations Capital and for that rea-
son requires the best services that
the air transportation industry
can offer" (this Endorsement
transmitted the approval of the
President and the budget) the
natural question arose as to what
these superlatives would mean in
(See AIRPORTS. Page C-2.)
Evening star., 1950-02-19
COPS Internal Strife
May Hurt in 80 Elections
Party Shows Signs Of Splitting Into
Presidential Nominating Camps
Before Congressional Tests
By Gould Lincoln

The Republican Party shows all the of quick
the
l940 being driven there by personal ambitions wide differ
policies The 1852 shadow
in advance the election
bers of the becoming exercised the
It points
Evening star., 1950-02-19
SIGN OF STRONG FEELING

None of these gentlemen is say
ing anything about presidential
aspirations at this stage of the
game. But the seeds are all there.
Those who are in office and seek
ing reelection insist they have in
mind only victory in the fall elec-
tions. Unfortunately, however
for the sake of the party and vic
tory in November the same old
division into different camps is on
the way.
Some of the younger Republi-
cans in the Senate are even now
talking about bringing forth new
declaration of party policies and
objectives. They feel that they
could draft one that would be
better received, though that seems
impossible since so many Republic
cans are in the opposing camp.
But this is indicative of the strong
feeling existing between the two
camps.
When the late Senator Moses
of New Hampshire described the
revolving liberals in the Repub-
lican Party as "the sons of the
wild Jackass," the revolters were
from the Midwest. Today, how
ever, it is industrial New England
and the industrial Middle Atlantic
States that are engaged on the
liberal side against the Midwest
-erners and Westerners for party
control.
Evening star., 1950-02-19
Civil Aeronovties Authority.


bigger and faster planes and 50
the airport was ruled inadequate
in size" or Improperly located
Even when airport planning
graduated from the hastily Sc
lected. hurriedly prepared era,
knowledge as TO the operational
requirements of airliners of the
future and the volume of air
traffic to plan for, could not be
had to enable the airport spon-
sors to build an air terminal that
would serve the community as
satisfactorily and continuously
as, for example Washington S
Union Station has served the
railroads.
Evening star., 1950-02-19
BEVAN HECKlED

Mr.. Bevan spoke in the eve
ming. He was attended by crowds
as enthusiastic but more vocal
than those which heard Mr..
Churchill. His performance was
equally entertaining, especially
because he carries in his politi-
cal luggage a trunkful of pri-
vate bogeys, the press, the steel
masters, the BMA British
Medical Association and Mr..
Churchill, and partly because his
meeting was obligingly attended
by a group of Troy hecklers who
served him as whipping boys.
Mr.. Bevan made no conces-
sion to waverers; a bewildered
man with IAN open mind"
who asked what a future Labor
government would do about
"the approaching economic
crisis" was made to look
a pedant. The audience, it was
clear, responded most enthusi-
astically to the minister's de-
Tense of the housing program
and the candidates recital of
Evening star., 1950-02-19
y. S. Economies on Sofety
During Dangerous Period
Administration Shows Growing Tendency
To Keep Defense Force at Less
Than the Safe Minimum
By Constantine Brown

The Kremn considers the United States its and only
enemy and to eliminate by the most readily available
Hostility for the United States policy
recognized generally Washington
Truman down.
The principal which American
Evening star., 1950-02-19

sion than a corporate act of
homage. -....-
Randolph Churchill supplied a
lavish introduction and his
father delivered a chiseled ora
ton in his full glory of language
and unrivaled mastery of ridi-
cule. Yet it was difficult after
ward to find any one who
thought that the Conservative
cause would be far advanced in
Devonport by what a platform
speaker called a great oratori-
cal treat"
Evening star., 1950-02-19

cost involved in expansion or re-
location work from its $500 mil
lion Civil Aeronautics Administra-
tion airport-aid program. Yet the
taxpayers around the Nation ir
recent years have become increas-
ingly annoyed by expressed OF
implied threats that if the COM
munity's airport is not enlarged
or relocated (meaning more
taxes, the city will be dropped
from the air map of America
Nearly 200 cities and towns au-
thorized by the Civil Aeronautics
Board to enjoy airmail and pas
senger service, now are without
it due. in most instances, to air
port inadequacy."
MILLIONS WASTED
Washingtonians have been
spared both this specific extra
taxation and annoyance. But
those heavily dependent on all
transportation are very much
aware of the cancellations ano
delays of schedules and the high
financial loss this means to the
Government and the airlines
They also are aware of the hazards
to air passengers as planes o1
nearly every kind and purpose
have sought to land and depart
when the ceiling is low, the visi-
bility is short and air traffic is
at the peak point of the day.
More than Sc billion of public
Evening star., 1950-02-19
SOLDIERS EXPENSIVE

/ The saving this brought rep
resents much less than the amount
spent by the Government on
"blue potatoes" and the eggs
which are rotting in Government
warehouses. For domestic politi-
cal reasons it seems more i'm
portant to support potato and egg
prices than to increase the coun-
try's security by keeping trained
pilots in the. service and by
providing a minimum of training
for those still on active duty.
The ground forces actually are
composed of only nine divisions
mostly skeletonized units dispersed
all over the world. We have four
divisions-reduced in strength
in Japan. one actual combat
division and a constabulary force
representing another division in
Germany, and about division in
Austria and Trieste. The rest
two divisions. and some combat
teams, are in the United States
This dispersion of our weak
forces might have been accepta-
BILE at a time when it looked
highly improbable that the Rus
slams would dare to tackle us in
one of our own territories, namely,
Alaska, from which they could
assault the American heartland by
air. But today when such an at
Evening star., 1950-02-19

that year he was defeated by
Michael Foot, Labor, who was
elected with a 1000 majority.
Mr.. Foot, a vigorous young
journalist, who formerly edited
Lord Beaverbrook's London
Evening Standard and who is a
member of a well-known politi-
cal family, is a political puritan
presenting steely front of dog
ma, somewhat to the left of the
Labor Party's milder official line.
Until few weeks ago it was
generally agreed that Foot had
the seat in his lap. (Changes
in the constituency boundaries
are estimated to have roughly
maintained the previous balance
between Labor and Conserva-
tives votes). But with the late
selection of Randolph Churchill,
Winston Churchill's son, as the
Conservative and Liberal Ma
tlonal candidate, a much closer
fight is now expected.
PERSONALITIES AN ISSUE
A journalist himself, with a
photogenic wife, Randolph
Churchill talks as though in quo
tation marks and is his own pub
lie manager. This is his sixth
electoral campaign and he obvi-
ously enjoys being once more on
the hustinga "At my fathers
table," he says, II have become
fascinated and captivated by
the great business of politics.
His emergence as Mr.. Foot's
challenger has turned the con-
trasting personalities of the can
didates into a prominent elec-
toral ISSUE. 1t is virtually a
Evening star., 1950-02-19

tack is considered strong posi-
bility, the existence of less than
three combat divisions in the
United States appears not econ
omy, but a simple invitation to
the Russians to do something they
probably have feared doing in
the past.
The 1850 budget provided for
nearly $15.0o0,0o0,000 for our
armed forces. 1t is a tremendous
amount of money which, in the
eyes of the uninitiated, should
provide us with an adequate
ground, air and naval force.
The upkeep of military estab-
lishment is far more expensive in
America than in any other part
of the world. The average cost
per man in the American armed
forces is about $4,000 year. The
enlisted man himself receives
nearly $1,l00 year. The cost OF
his uniforms, food. recreation and
disqualification makes up the
balance.
The American armed forces con-
sist of 100000 enlisted men and
commissioned officers. Thus
nearly $6.5 billion, or nearly
half of the appropriated funds.
goes for pay and upkeep of the
armed forces. This does not in
clude, of course, the material
needed in training these men, the
equipment which must constantly
be improved or replaced, nor the
gasoline and oil required by planes
and tanks. Moreover, insofar as
the ground forces are concerned.
the expenditure for military occu-
patton of Germany and Japan is
charged to the Army Department.
HOUSING NEGLECTED
Thus, while the 1850 appropria-
ton seems astronomical it actually
failed to provide for more than
an insecure minimum of national
defense. In spite of the crying
need to keep at least 10000
ground troops in Alaska-where
we have three air groups-it has
not been possible to provide suffi-
cient money to build the housing
necessary for those soldiers.
For some reason, never fully ex-
planned, the Army is opposed to
providing Quonset huts which
proved so useful and adequate
during the war in both hot and
cold climates.
This inadequate, though costly
force of the United States, is likely
to produce a change in Russian
strategy. 1t is an actual invita-
ton to direct aggression against
this country. It may be that orig
inally the Muscovite leaders had a
lOl1S- dllSCF pldIl VI oilOCl hAii1lAAs,
American economy by forcing us
to spend vast sums on countries
which were still outside the iron
curtain. But Russian policies are
not static. If Moscow becomes
fully convinced that because Of
fear of domestic economic COL
lapse we have decided to curtail
our own military strength, while
continuing to support the coun-
tries of Western Europe, they may
change whatever plans they have
made in the past.
There are indications already
that they have toughened up their
policies toward us. We are no
longer even on diplomatic speak
ing terms. In the last year we
have had some vague diplomatic
exchanges, but in the last six
months we might as we'll not have
had diplomatic relations with the
U. S. S. r. and it's satellites.
AGREEMENTS DISHONORED
Evening star., 1950-02-19

ton on the part of the Lodges,
the Ives and other Republican
leaders, who are seeking to give
the COP a new look, to make i'm
possible a runaway campaign for
a presidential nomination by
Senator Taft of Ohio-if Mr.. Taft
is triumphantly reelected Sena-
tor next November.
Senators Lodge of Massachu-
sets and Ives of New York we're
immediate critics of the so-called
statement of party principles and
objectives, recently adopted by
large majorities of the Repub-
licans in the Senate and House
and approved by the Republican
National Committee. Messrs.
Lodge and Ives and others of the
more progressive group sought in
vain to get into the statement
their more progressive views. The
fight was made in the Republican
Senate conference. Senator Taft,
chairman of the Republican Policy
Committee of the Senate, ap-
pointed to aid in the draft of the
statement of principles and pol
icies, was able to hold the line.
Notwithstanding the fact it was
announced the statement was
merely supplemental to the 1948
Republican platform, drafted with
Senator Lodge as chairman of the
Committee on Resolutions of the
party's national convention and
Notwithstanding it enunciates
principles and policies Republicans
generally stand for, the progressive
pack was soon in full cry. The cry
has spread, too, to the Hudson
River and Albany, where Gov.
Dewey and the Republican State
Committee have frowned upon the
statement as inadequate.
Evening star., 1950-02-19
LODGE AGGRESSIVE

Senator Lodge, who is becoming
more and more belligerent in his
drive to take the Republicans into
progressive fields, believes that the
Republican Party has a wonderful
opportunity within it's grasp, not
merely to win the elections but to
do a great service to the country.
Taking as his text the recent Re-
publican victory in the 9Th Massa-
chusetts congressional district,
where 1t. Comdr. William H.
Bates, U. S. N, Republican,
sWamped his Democratic opponent.
Senator Lodge commented:
1T shows what the Republicans
can do with a new program and a
new face"
The struggle for leadership, be-
tween the younger and the more
progressive Republicans and the
older group headed by Senators
Taft, Wherry of Nebraska and Mil
likin of Colorado has been going
since the opening of the 81st Con-
gress. Senator Lodge Immediately
challenged Senator Taft for the
Craftsmanship of the Republican
Policy Committee of the Senate on
the theory that there must be a
change in party leadership. Sen
ator Taft won by a wide margin
But the contest has been renewed
again and again, the most recent
instance being the fight over the
statement of party policy and OBJ
jectives. Only short time before
that the two groups clashed in the
vote for and against the Lodge
Gossett constitutional amendment
to do away with the electoral COL
lege in the system of electing a
President and Vice President.
In the House the division among
the Republicans has not been so
sharply drawn, though it exists.
The party leadership, headed by
Representative Martin of Massa-
chusetts, former Speaker, is firm
ly intrenched. The Republican
National Committee has for years
also been a fertile field of conflict,
with presidential politics always
just beloY the surface and at
times rising above it.
Evening star., 1950-02-19

u q UAFC III S4So WllCUAlCl UllC
covites believe they can achieve
their purpose by bleeding us white
through the present cold war or
whether they think the time has
come when they can attack us
physically without any serious
risk to themselves.
Civilians in the American Gov
ernment - including the Com
mander in Chief-seem to think
that the policy of causing eco
nomic collapse in the United
States, to be followed possibly by
social disturbances, still has top
priority in Moscow. To counter
this kind of aggressiveness we
be careful of the taxpayers
money
Evening star., 1950-02-19
TARGET OF CUTS

Since our top administration
leaders have reached the conclu-
sion that Russia is not ready to
enter a shooting war with us in
the near future, and needs more
time to prepare itself to fight
with a minimum of risk, our de-
fense forces are the target of the
principal economy cuts.
Last year Congress after hear
ing Air Force Secretary Syming-
ton and Gen. Vandenberg, Air
Force Chief of Staff, testify that
a 70-group Air Force is required
to meet the minimum needs of the
country's security. appropriated
the necessary sums for that pro-
gram.
The Navy also was given the
funds it required to increase its
air arm. The strength of the
ground forces was established at
10 divisions. However, on orders
from Defense Secretary johnson,
who in turn follows closely the
views of and instructions from
President Truman, drastic cuts
for economy were made not only
in administration of the armed
services but also in the statutory
strength as approved by Congress
The Air Force was maintained
at low of 1850 frst-line planes
when we nave positive evidence
that Russia has nearly $4,000
planes of all types, including sew
eral hundred jet fighters. Fol-
economy sake the Air Force was
ordered to deactivate several
thousand able pilots and at the
same time it reduced the training
time from 20 hours month tc
a bare hours. except for those
who belong to the Strategic All
Tov,o
Evening star., 1950-02-19
COSTLY SOCIAL REFORMS

These are the arguments pro-
pounded by administration spokes-
men:
In order to contain communism
militantly represented by the U. S.
S. R. and its bloc of satellites,
we have had to saddle the Amer
lean taxpayer with more than
$50 billion in public debt in the
last Ave years. For the first time
in many years we have this year
deficit of more than IS billion,
which roughly is the amount spent
during the 1948 and 1949 fiscal
years for the Marshall Plan.
AS the cold war continued we
were compelled to enter into an
alliance with the Western Euro
pean countries, and this alliance
had to be implemented with the
military aid program. This pro-
gram, intended to create an ade-
quate defensive force for the
West on the Rhine, will cost the
American taxpayer between SIS
billion and 81 billion over a period
of five years.
Social reforms are needed in
the United States. They cost
money. Our financial potential
is still great, but indiscriminate
expenditures eventually will prove
fatal to our economic and social
structure.
The administration believes we
cannot reduce some Of the social
Legislation now on the statute
books. On the contrary, we must
add to them. Farm supports and
other such bonanzas must be
maintained, particularly in elec-
ton years. Nevertheless, econo-
mics are essential if we wish to
avoid continued Government def
icit financing. Hence, the orders
from the President himself to
curtail drastically expenditures
on the armed forces.
Evening star., 1950-02-19

example, who has come to be
known as "Mr. Republican" in
Congress, a dominating figure,
with ardent followers all over the
country. who admire his forth
rightness, his courage and his abil-
ity. The more recent challengers
for national honors, like Gov.
Driscoll of New Jersey and Sen
ator Lodge of Massachusetts,, are
making their play for support.
President Stassen of the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania is hard at
work. The one figure who might
turn out to be the key to the
Republican national ticket-Gen.
Eisenhower-is still a shrinking
violet in politics. He has, however,
plenty of followers ready to spring
into action.