davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-12-18

require the Secretary to inform them
fully Of the reasons for their discharge.
They contended that they could not an
SWer the charge against them without
knowing the dates. time and character
OF the meetings they were alleged to
have attended.
If, for instance. instead of the bare
charge that Miss Deak attended meet
ing open only to Communists, she were
advised that she had attended meet
Ing in st. Louis. Mo-, on the evening
OF April u, l947, at the Kiel Auditorium
sponsored by the Communist Party and
attended only by members of that party,
1t Is conceivable she could have pro-
cured the af1davits of dozen respon-
sible persons showing that she was in
Peoria or Schenectady at the time-or
that on the evening in question the
BPOE was holding its annual conven-
tion there. This would have been an
adequate defense and would cause the
Secretary to reinstate her AS things
were. she had no such opportunity.
The Court Of Appeals agreed with the
contention Of the Misses Deak and Pat
ton and has remanded the case to the
District Court with instructions to issue
the injunction which will require the
Secretary to fully inform them" Thus
the matter stands. The Army may de-
Evening star., 1950-12-18

easy it is to have one published"
That was a witty, that was a clever
sentence, at the time and place, book
fair in New York City.
When you get right down to it, how
ever, it was and is no easy thing to write
a book, and far from an easy thing to
get one published. One may wonder,
sometimes, at some of the works to see
hard covers, but the fact remains that
perhaps a million novels remain in desk
and bureau drawers, to say nothing of
countless millions of words in the poetic
form.
Miss Repplier once wrote:
II am not without suspicion that the
dog is far from feeling the rapture and
the reverence which we so delightedly
ascribe to him. What is there about any
one of us to awaken such sentiment in
the breast of an intelligent animal?"
Now that is of course, delightful. BY
the very phrase, IAN intelligent animal"
for the dog. in contrast to ANY one of
U.s." we receive pleasant mental tingle.
After the tingle has worn off, we come
to see that the old standard idea of our
relations to the dog, and his relation to
us, constitutes something very fine, up
lifting and almost sacred.
The dog does look up to us. Perhaps
he shouldn't. as Agnes Repplier shrewdly
said.
Evening star., 1950-12-18
This and That

The death Of Agnes Repplier, the
essayist, ended an era.
Men and women will still write essays,
both formal and informal, although
neither they nor any one else may know
which is which, but few will do them
with quite her flair.
She was born essayist, and made the
most of her gift. For many years no
copy of the Atlantic Monthly was COM
plete without her random thoughts.
She wandered wide and far over the
intellectual map of the intellectual mod
ern human.
Fortunately for her, she lived mostly
during comparatively happy times, when
her gifts were appreciated, not only for
themselves, but also as representative of
the intelligent thinker.
The essayist is pinned down by his
own line of thought at the moment.
He says one thing, one time, and quite
different thing, another-and both
times he is right, as far as he and his
readers are concerned.
Consider two paragraphs from Miss
Repplier.
People are finding out how perilously
easy it is to write book" she said, "and
what Is more remarkable. a great many
people are finding out how comparatively
Evening star., 1950-12-18
Praise Thut Counts

Since my arrival in Washington
about year ago, I have heard quite q
little criticism of the Metropolitan Police
Department.
Approximately IA months ago I re-
tired from the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police. having served approximately 20
years. I saw police service in practically
all parts of Canada and saw an awful
lot OF crime. During my service met
all types of police enforcement officers,
and encountered various forms of ad-
ministration. personally investigated
or saw investigated all types of crime.
am not mentioning these facts in order
to boast, but rather to indicate that
am not talking through my hat.
My personal impressions Of your
Metropolitan Police Department are
quite definitely favorable. Close obser-
vation discloSes a wonderful type of
peace officer and good class of present
day recruits. To me, all concerned are
courteous but firm. In fact the residents
OF Washington should be proud that
they have in existence such force.
Those that criticize the force should
don uniform and take turn on beat.
Then they would know first hand what
the police are up against
have no relatives on the force, nor
have any personal friends that are
members thereof. But fellow gets tired
listening and reading ugly things about
the local force. Good luck to them, say!
Canadian.
Evening star., 1950-12-18
Share and Share Alike g.

Inc return to work by the striking railroad
sWltchmen removes an immediate threat to the
security OF the Nation. But it is an experience
which has revealed serious gap In our home
front defenses-a gap that must be plugged up.
This was not strike in the Open honest
sense. 1t was strike which followed the pat
tern set by the United Mine Workers, pattern
In which normally honest men resort to sub
terfuge and dishonesty to circumvent the courts
and shirk their duty. 1t results in the pretense
that union officials cannot control their men
cannot get them back to work when ordered to
do so by court.
Under Judge Keech's decision in the UNIV
case, this is an effective DEVICE though shabby
one, unless it can be proved that there has been
some collision or that the union leaders have
not acted in good faith. That is situation
which cannot be tolerated. least of all in war
time.
There are several things that might be done
For one thing, the Court of Appeals should
announce without further delay it's ruling on the
Governments appeal from Judge Keechs deci-
sion. The appellate court has had this matter
under consideration since last spring. 1t is
urgent that decision be made, and it is to be
hoped that it will be made promptly.
If Judge Keech should be reversed, injunc-
tions may serve to prevent strikes against the
Government which endanger the national
security. But If Judge Keechs ruling should
be upheld, then it will be necessary to look to
other measures. One possibility might be to
make unions and their treasures responsible
as agents, for the acts of their members
Unions and union officials assert full au-
thority to act for the members when seeking
benefits The members delegate this authority
to them Why should the union officials and
the union treasures be permitted to evade
responsibility during lawess strikes merely by
setting up the fiction that the men are acting
as individuals, not as union members?
There is still larger aspect of this matter.
Some men are being called into the armed
services and sent to war. Industry is being told
what 1t can produce and what it can charge for
its products. In fact, 1t will not be long before
we will have mandatory controls that will reach
throughout the structure of our economy. All
of this is being done in the interests of the
security of the Nation, and when the Nation is
in grave danger it is not right that any man
should be permitted to pursue his own reckless,
selfish course. Every citizen, union member or
not, should serve where he can serve best If.
he will not do this voluntarily he should be
compelled to do it.
President Truman has said that the chiselers
will not be permitted to get by. That is
declaration of purpose that is right and proper.
But it must apply to all chiselers, whether in
industry, business or labor unions. If the Presi-
dent hopes for the support of the people, he
must see to it that there is no favoritism and
no exemptions for political or any other reasons.
ALI of us are in this thing together and the
burden must be shared and shared alike.
Evening star., 1950-12-18
Prayer for the President

In these days, when the world is fac
ing the gravest crisis in the history of
modern civilization and our own Nation
is rapidly approaching the time in which,
as people we will be called upon to
demonstrate to the world that the
heritage placed in our trust has not
been intrusted in vain, it is high time
we end our criticism of our national
toward them as they strive for decisions
that will avert world war, If possible
or win one, If necessary.
Many had hoped that, in the last
presidential election, we might have
change in administration. Many believed
that q strong two-party system is essen
tial to the well-being of the United
States. 1t is not in the best national
interest that either party remain in
Office over a prolonged period of time.
We have now. or soon will have, young
men and women, eligible to vote, who
have never known anything but Dem
ocratic administration. They have had
no opportunity to judge one party
against the other and for that reason
will find it difficult to make an intelli-
gent decision for either party.
The fact remains, however, that the
people of the United States did elect
Harry 8. Truman to be our President:
and God willing, he will be our Presi-
dent until 1852. 1t is also a fact that
both parties made him President. The
Democrats that voted in that election
and the Republicans that failed to vote
put Mr.. Truman in Office. Furthermore.
1t Is possible that Mr.. Truman could be
the last, freely-elected President of the
United States as we know it today There
Evening star., 1950-12-18
To the Editor of The Stor:

THE United States Court of Appeals
l. this month handed down a decision
in loyalty case which, at first glance,
seems to conflict with the tribunals
previous finding in the -publicized
Dorothy Bailey case, now pending be-
fore the Supreme Court. The Star, ac-
cording to its editorial Of December 10,
holds that view. The new decision, in
the Deak-Patton case, is based however,
on set OF facts entirely different from
those of the Bailey case.
1t will be recalled that Miss Bailey's
employment with the Government was
terminated, not pursuant to a statute,
but under an executive order which
established the Presidents loyalty pro-
gram. In the writer's opinion the loyalty
program is an eminently fair one and
accords the accused an adequate oppor-
tunlty to present a substantial defense.
Miss Bailey took advantage of all the
procedures available to her, but the Seth
Richardson board decided against her.
The Department of the Army until
August OF this year did not abide by the
Presidents loyalty order Although the
Secretary had the right to be governed
by it If he so chose, until August, 1850,
civilian employe of the Army suspected
and accused of disloyalty was discharged
summarily under 1912 statute.
The 1912 statute gave the Army Sec
retary summary discharge power in cases
where he determined the security of the
Nation was involved. The act provided,
however, that the discharged employe
be fully informed of the reasons for
his action and be permitted 80 days
within which to file an answer The
quoted words are the basis of the Deak-
Patton case. The discharged employees
argued that If the Secretary chose to
take advantage of the 1912 statute, then
he was obliged to abide by all of it's
provisions.
Miss Deak and Miss Patton were dis
charged from their jobs at the Army
Finance Center, st. Louis, in February,
1948. Miss Deak was handed her noti-
f1cation 1t quoted the 1912 statute as
authority and gave these reasons:
81 That you attended a meeting open
only to Communist Party members, and
%. That you have attended meetings
openly sponsored by the Communist
Party or organizations known to be affil-
lated with the Communist Party, and
have evinced active and sympathetic
affiliation with these organizations.
Miss Patton was given a similar letter.
Both ladies then asked the United
States Court for the District of Columbia
for mandatory injunction which would
Evening star., 1950-12-18
New Look at the Capitol

Even allowing for the usual variation IN
tastes, there seems to be ample cause for alarm
Gf you have any left over from war worrieS)
about the interior decorating job now being
completed in both chambers of Congress. Nat
urally, no one begrudges Congress the right
to do it's house over, particularly when the roof
is falling in. STILL we all have proprietary in
terest in it's meeting place, and advance reports
are disturbing
First warnings that the refurbishing was
proceeding at Hollywood pace came from one
of the ladies Of the House, Representative Bolton,
Republican, of Ohio. (No women, incidentally,
served on the committee supervising the work.)
She told dinner audience the other night
that the new interiors reflected "the confused
atmosphere of the boudoir and the cinema"
Alas, spectators who have picked their way
among the workmen in the Capitol report that
there is substance for such Impressions They
say that some of the members have already COM
pared the House to "a neighborhood movie"
Others complain that there is now something so
opuent so swank, so indirectly lit about the
chamber that they are reminded of their favorite
loungebar.
Pressed for details, these observers speak
unwillingly of walnut paneling, topped with
binding gold-leaf scrollwork, of black marble
pillars white crowned behind the Speakers desk,
of bronze rails which have taken the place of
the little wooden barriers in the galleries. The
ceiling of the House. which occaSioned all the
fuss in the first place, by threatening to crash
around congressional ears has great eagle
in the center now. In place of the stained
glass State seals which were built into the ceiling
niggling little plaster seals of postages stamp
proportions and poster bright colorS. So small
they cannot be seen from the floor without the
aid of opera glasses, they are unreadable to
gallery -sitters, since from that vantage point
they are upside down.
That, unfortunately, is not all. On the
walls around the galleries are some starkly
modernistic bas-relief profile plaques of some %
lawmakers, many of whose names are definitely
not household words.
They include Suleiman, Papinian, Maemo-
hides. Only two American law makers Jeffer-
son and Mason, are represented. Those who
feel that the House of Representatives is one
place where the Yankee Doodle spirit might be
given its head may think it would have been
better to remind lawmakers of their own illus
trious fellow countrymen.
The walls of the Senate have been tapestried
in canary yellow, hardly color suitable for
the contemplation of men who must keep their
moral courage at high pitch at all times
Those who love the DID, even if it is bit
musty, and the traditional, even if it is touch
shabby, can only glumly comfort themselves
that it was the roof that threatened to fall in
Imagine what would have resulted if it had been
discovered that the foundations were weak!
Devoted as it is to the big lie it is strange
that Radio Moscow has never put on an Gun
truth or consequences" hour.
Handed a red apple, the teacher in the school
of experience will illustrate first principle by
examining 1t for worms
Evening star., 1950-12-18

Is one thing that should always be fore
most in the mind Of every citizen of our
God-fearing Nation: Neither Mr.. Tru-
man, nor any other man, will ever hold
the Office of President of the United
States in defiance of the will of God Al
mighty.
To whom then should we look: To
Harry S. Truman to solve the problems
OF this Nation and the world?-or to
God Almighty? In which way can we
best serve our national interest: BY con-
denning Mr.. Truman for having failed
as President?-or by praying to God to
give strength, wisdom and courage to
Mr.. Truman, in order that he may be a
good President and lead us to a happy
solution Of our national problems?
Having as our motto In God we
Trust. do we. as Nation, refuse to put
our trust in either God or man? Can we
find victory in National disunity? Can
we find victory in condemnation? Can
We find victory in political parties
jockeying for position? Can we find
victory without putting our trust in God
Almighty?
Would Mr.. Truman be a better Presi-
dent knowing that our prayers were
with him than he is with our words
against him? We may have an oppor-
tunity to elect another President i'll
1852, provided we pray God will make
Mr.. Truman one Of the greatest Presi-
dents this Nation has ever known, for
no President, short of that stature, can
lead us through the crisis our Nation
must face in the days and months to
come.
For all that this assurance is worth,
MIR. Truman should know that there are
those who pray daily in his behalf, and
who pray for our Nation and it's people
May it be Gods will that the Congress
and the people of the United States
will unite behind our President in this
world crisis. forgetting that his name is
Harry S. Truman. forgetting that he is
a Democrat-remembering only that he
is the President of the people of the
United States of America. May God be
with him and guide him, and may he
look to God and country for guidance.
C. r. Shoemaker.
Evening star., 1950-12-18
Light on ArIington's Schools

Arlington County officials have made
sensible move in requesting an impartial out
side agency, the University of Virginia to make
study of school construction costs in the
county. There have been so many charges and
countercharges respecting the school building
program in Arlington that the public at this
stage is thoroughly confused. This confusion
was reflected in the failure of ArlingtonianS
to approve new bond issue for schools, al
though they overwhelmingly voted for sewerage
bonds. Until the doubts of the citizens as to
the spending policies of the present School Board
are cleared away, until they are convinced that
school funds will be wisely spent in the future
Arlngtons school construction program will be
stalemated. That is an intolerable situation in
q time of overcrowded schools
An independent survey by The STAR results
of which are disclosed in current series of
articles by John " Horner, indicates that Airing
ton could have saved money by building less
elaborate schools-how much money is difficult
to determine. In an effort to give the county
the best possible school buildings, the county's
and no money-to produce modern structures
buildings could have been provided at lesser
cost is evident from comparison of Arlington S
new schools with those elsewhere.
But one important fact that stands out
from The Stars inquiry is that there is no evi-
dence of actual waste or of irregularities. The
taxpayers gos what they paid Demonstration
which was superfine but expensive. The ques-
ton which many Arlingtonians have raised is
whether this costly brand of construction is
necessary or advisable, especially In an era Of
Evening star., 1950-12-18
Smiths and Smithies

The Star has lately made such a habit
OF calling smith smithy that I must
rise up in protest. A smith is no more a
smithy than a grocer is a grocery, or a
baker is bakery, or butcher is a
butchery.
Maybe Longfellow is to blame for it.
Remember: Under a spreading chest
nut tree, the village smithy stands" !"
The smith mighty man is he-but
he isn't standing around under any
trees. The smith is in the smithy work.
ing at his forge.
Please lay off the poor smith before
you drive him out of the village
Robert H. Edwards.
Evening star., 1950-12-18
More on 'Thot Letter

If the President of the United States
of America has lowered himself to write
such an undignified letter to Paul Hume
as has been reported, or to any one
under any circumstances, all I can say
is: God help u.s." 1t would seem as il
Mr.. Truman very definitely believes in
freedom of speech for himself, but not
for others.
I can't help wondering what a truly
great American like Abe Lincoln would
have said under such trivial circum-
stances, let alone under much more dire
conditions. I consider such a letter
personal affront to every true American.
Mrs. Mildred L. Policy.
AS for the President, I admire his
spunk. A man living in a cottage would
have had the same reaction. After all,
he wouldn't be much of a father If he
didn't take pride in his daughters ac-
complishments. Let some of these critics,
most of whom are too lazy to get out
and really do something themselves,
make their living by doing something
good for others.
Hazel Walker.
Pasadena, Calf
1t is extremely undignified for our
Chief Executive to think that he has to
Evening star., 1950-12-18
CodiciI

A golden leaf, an ebony bough,
And frosty light on hill
Where asters tDaUed their purpleness. :,
All Dritten in autun,ns ,oiu.
This I had read full many time
When the gear toas beginning to Dans,
But neDer before today had seen
The sight of snotDy crane
Standing 1oithin the purple frost.
could see each fiery eye,
And all but hear the birds heart beat
As 1t t0inged totDard an autumn skN
ROSE MYRA PHILLIPS.
Evening star., 1950-12-18
Letters to The Star

get into the act every time his daughters
singing gets an adverse criticism from
the press. No doubt he will now try to
socialize music SO that all comment and
criticism must bear the White House
stamp of approval.
Jesse E. Aiken.
I hope to live to see the day when
President Truman can write a petulant
note and not have it made public i'm
mediately.
What Mr.. Hume doesn't seem to un-
derstand is that there are people, many
people, who enjoy hearing gentle lady
sing. They prefer it to listening to some
more technically perfect, believing roof
raiser. If people went to hear Margaret
Truman because she is the Presidents
daughter or because she is Democrat,
that's all right, too. Mr.. Hume missed q
fine opportunity to temper justice with
mercy. Laura X. Pollock. -
This outburst of temper. on the part
OF an irate father, is far below the
dignity of one holding the highest Office
in the gift OF great people.
Delmer G. Wright.
Evening star., 1950-12-18
About the Deok-Potton Loyalty Case
0 appeal the case to the Supreme

eide to appeal the case to the Supreme
Court
Operating as he did under the 1912
statute, the then Army Secretary, Ken
meth Royal, never attempted to differen-
tiate between security risks" and disloyal
persons. There is an important distinc-
ton. 1t would be possible, for instance,
to characterize as a security risk some
one as far removed from communism
as Roman Catholic, Knights of Colum-
bus member who, during World War II,
won the Medal of Honor but who, when
under the influence of liquor, talked too
much. A disloyal person, on the other
hand, Is one who operates to harm his
country because he favors another sys-
tenn
Mr. Royal was asked in what category
the language of the Deak charge would
place person. He would not give "a
categorical answer. The reader is left
to speculate on the character of one who
is charged with having attended meet
ings open only to Communist Party
members.
The obvious comment is that Secretary
Royal had bad advice somewhere along
the line. Had he read The Stars COM
ments on the dangers inherent in accus-
ing persons of disloyalty without ade-
quate hearing, or had he decided to fol-
low the lead of his Commander in Chief
and chosen to accord all of the thousands
OF civilians under him the safeguards of
the Presidents loyalty program and the
Seth Richardson board, the present
Secretary. Mr.. Pace, would not now be
faced with the possibly insurmountable
task of providing the Misses Deak and
Patton with times, places and the
character of meetings they were alleged
to have attended. There is a growing
suspicion on the writer's part that some
subordinate selected the charges from a
list Of samples in an Army circular,
never thinking his boss would ever be
called upon by one of our highest courts
to delineate.
In conclusion, the writer wishes to
credit Secretary Pace with a sincere de-
sire to prevent injustices in security risks
and loyalty cases. Upon taking Office,
he ordered his Undersecretary, Mr..
Alexander to survey the whole problem.
1t was decided to permit all charged as
security risks proper appeals, and all
those accused of disloyalty opportuni-
ties to be heard by the Richardson
board. Security risks are now allowed
to seek and obtain employment in nom
sensitive agencies. Those turned down
by the Richardson board will have a
hard time getting employment anywhere.
Harry }. Moeinnis