davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-11-02
A Kind of Madness

The thing that stands out in the attempt
to aSSassinate the President is the utter madness
of the undertaking.
Thanks to the courage of the White House
guard force, one of whom has paid with his life,
Mr.. Truman was never in danger. But the fact
that these would-be killers had virtually no
chance of getting to the President yesterday does
not mean that he will be equally safe in the
future.
Mr. Truman has been inclined to take
chances. His early morning walks, his i'm
promptu appearanceS-these are things that
increase the hazards always present. The Presi-
dents desire to do these things is human quality
in the man, and it is difficult for a normal person
to believe that in doing them Mr.. Truman might
be endangering his life. Perhaps one result of
the shocking experience of yesterday will be
to impress upon the President, who is thor
oughly normal person, that fanatics are not
governed by normal impulses.
The two Puerto Rican revolutionists who
tried to shoot their way into Blair House were
perfectly willing to forfeit their own lives for
an opportunity to kill the President That they
failed, and that one of them is dead, does not
mean that the danger is ended There may be
others like them, and Mr.. Truman owes it to
the country to accept the increased safeguards
which the Secret Service will want to throw
around him. AS President, his personal inclina-
tions must give way to the demands, and the
hazards, of the Office.
Evening star., 1950-11-02

get himself killed-or at least Illegally
arrested-he would become overnight
magnificent symbol for all the anti
United States elements in Latin America.
It was Albizu's misfortune that Governor
Munoz saw this trap for what it was
and refused to be lured into it. There
was, he explained, no decisive proof that
Albizu was involved in the disorders.
And so it was. that Albizu suffered as
frustrating an experience as ever befell
a revolutionist. On the first day of the
fighting, government troops trapped him
in his headquarters. They did not go
in after him. No warrant was issued for
his arrest.
He simply was sealed off from the
outside world-protected from it as
thoroughly as it has been protected from
him. A man who tried to break through
the barricade into the house Tuesday
night was shot dead-no questions asked.
When, however, a San Juan radio
station sought to take micophone into
the house to interview Albizu on the air,
the government made no objection. This
put Albizu on the spot. If he disclaimed
the revolt or apologized for it, the
fanatics in his own camp would be
furious. If. on the other hand, he
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Preaching Mission

The Preaching Mission for the Greater Wash
ington Area has been justified by events. So
turbulent is the world and so confused are people
that the Washington Federation of Churches
perhaps builded better than it knew when 1t
planned this great religious enterprise. Human
ity at large certainly requires all the spiritual
help it can obtain in the present universal crisis
The pulpit orators brought to washington from
other cities and our own local clergy have met
the challenge of the times with courage ana
intelligence and the response of the public mas
been noteworthy
But the work must not stop when the Preach
ing Mission closes tomorrow. poll conducted
by the Federation of Churches indicates that
less than 40 per cent of the population OF the
Nations Capital attends church regularly. Oovi-
ously that is not enough. The churches OF the
community at such moment as the present
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Answering CounciImun McCrory

Falls Church voters reading the letters
published in the Sunday Star saw an
other political performance by Council
man Samuel McCrary, who as usual was
attempting to be all things to all men.
He asserts his support of an appointed
city attorney in the coming referendum:
then in the next breath he recites all
the arguments used by those who are
trying to inject divided responsibility
into the city government.
If Mr.. McCrary were sincere in his
support Of strong city government, he
would advocate the appointment of city
attorney with no reservations. He would
point out to those who share his resent
ment of the incumbent attorney that,
even though the Office remains appoin-
tive, the incumbent can be removed in
the spring election by means provided
in the city charter: Namely, by electing
a new council. who would thereupon ap-
point an attorney acceptable to them.
AS member of the City Council who
should know where he stands, Mr.. Nc
Crary ought to make up his mind as to
which side Of the fence he is on Either
he is for the appointive Office or he is not.
He should state his position with no
reservations-no smoke screens-if he
expects to be believed
Dorothy w. Van Allen.
Falls Church.
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Pen-names may be used If letters carry
zviters' correct names and addresses.
All letters subject to condensation.

that the majority of television industry
leaders are not in favor of CHS color Cor
any color television now. it might be
added. This bears some close examina-
ton. The reason for their stand has
little or nothing to do with the relative
merits of various color television systems.
It is based, rather, on the fact that, as
everyone knows, television sets are being
sold almost as fast as they can be
made-with some profit to the manufac-
turers. it might be surmised. Any color
decision now threatens to halt this tre-
mendous business momentarily. The
stand Of the manufacturers actually runs
something like this: No color television
until the black and white market is
saturated. This is understandable from
their point of view, but it is rather
inimical to the consumers interest
In general, the FEC is not composed
of Machiavellan ogres who are intent on
filling your living rooms with whirling
discs Of colored plastic in order to bring
you poorer television. They are, rather,
very competent, experienced men, whose
principal purpose Is to act in the public
interest and not for group of profit
minded manufacturers. So let us rely
on their decisions more, and less on
street corner orators.
Robert B. Ormsby, Jr.
Evening star., 1950-11-02
By NewboId Noyes, Jr.

THEY found this letter in Griselio
l. Torresola's pocket when they
brought him. dead, to Emergency Hos
pital:
my dear Griselio::
"If for any reason it should be nee
essary to assume the leadership Of the
movement in the United States, you 1otH
do so without hesitation OF any kind
We are leauing to your high sense OF
patriotism and sane judgment everything
regarding the matter.
"Cordially yours. Albisu Campos."
Pedro Albizu Campos. the man who
wrote those words on September 21-
words which apparently led Torresola to
his bloody rendezvous at Blair House
yesterday-is an ex-jailbird with Har-
ward education. He heads Puerto Rico's
revolutionary Nationalist Party. He is
the central figure of the abortive in
surrection which tore that restless is
land-territory of the United States this
week.
Albizu's Yankee hating Nationalist fa-
natics opened their revolt Monday with
an incident which paralleled the Blair
House gun battle almost exactly. Five
men drove up to the front entrance OF
the San Juan residence of Puerto Ricos
Governor Luis Munos Marin, leaped
from their car and Immediately opened
fire on two policemen stationed on either
side of the doorway. One policeman
was killed. The other. Joined by fellow
officers and plainclothesmen in the area,
shot it out with the attackers, four Of
whom were killed and the other wounded.
Like President Truman, Gov. MunoZ
watched the attack from his window.
The revolutionists were seeking COM
plete independence for Puerto Rico.
which now has large measure Of home
rule under the American flag. Though
discomfort has been widespread in the
island, the number of those actually
engaged in fighting the government was
estimated at somewhere between 500 and
1000 out of population of more than
2 million. Governor Munoz dismissed
the Nationalists as "gangsters." BY yes
terday the uprising had pretty we'll
flZzled out.
But meanwhile. what was happening
to the hot-headed Albizu Campos? The
dispatches tell strange story of the
rebel leaders fate-a story which gains
new irony in the light of the discovery
of his two letters in Torresola's pocket.
It seems that Albizu having been
baked in his attempt to overthrow the
Puerto Rican government, aimed at a
martyrs role. His hatred of the United
States Is passionate. If only he could
Evening star., 1950-11-02

Phone out of order when it rains?
It's the squirrels.
These hardy animals walk on the
wires when it is dry leaving small cuts
here and there.
No trouble results as long as the
weather stays nice.
The moment it rains. however, the
water gets in and your home phone
goes dead.
After almost every rain, our telephone
company is busy working over squirrel
trouble.
Sometimes one whole side of block
in a suburban section will be out of
commission.
The primary trouble is not so much
the wetness as those pesky squirrels.
The bushy tailed ones mean no harm,
of course.
They just love to tight-rope along.
Sometimes as many as four of them
follow the leader along the wires.
Usually this sight strikes one as un-
precedented, the first time seen.
Scarcely day goes by but this desk
gets an excited phone CALL
Hello, did you ever see squirrel on
a wire?
There is one walking along ours now.
Isn't 1t very unusual?"
When assured that it is not, but quite
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Golden Cote Bridge

Jacob has been outdreamed-t,ue lad
ders here
Rise into heauen Somewhere beyond
the mist:
At any moment angels should appear
Aloot and tall, out OF the amethyst
Fog-ba,tE aboDe. The arcs that brace
the span
MIGHT be the dragging feathers OF
Dide tUingS
Dipping beloiD the cloud, Wl1ile earth
bound man
Stands tiptoe, grieUing that his foot
print cliRgS, y
Feeling the bridges palse-beat in the
st0Gy
OF supple strength that yields before
the shock,
And setting up neD Bethels for today
In stable certainties of liuing rock.
DOROTHY BROWN THOMPSON.
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Something Worth Knowing

"John Citizens Bible on Atomic Attack
Protection''-the booklet just issued by the civil
Defense Office of the National Security resources
Boards supposed to find it's way ultimately into
everv American home. If it does, and If some
thing comparable to it is used in our schools-as
is planned here in the District-the country Will
be better off for It, For this little primer though
there is nothing pleasant about it, has Things 10
saw that should be memorized by all of us
children and adults alike-in an age when an
awareness of certain simple facts can mean the
difference between personal death and personal
survival.
One of the first points made by the new
booklet is that the A-bomb, despite it's tremend-
GUS deadness, is by no means total killer.
It will destroy practically everybody within
half mile of the point of its explosion but
beyond that the casualties drop off sharply, and
there will be virtually no deaths at all two miles
away. Actually, in the event of an atomic attack,
a great number of lives can be saved within the
intermediate area if the booklets six basic rules
are followed. These rules add up to common
sense non-panicky course of action that should
become as thoroughly understood in this country
as the ABCs.
The rules do not have to do with super
super destroyers that may or may not be de-
veloped some day. Quite sensibly the booklet
limits itself to the existing reality of the upto-
date A-bomb, and what it has to say about that,
even though not especially comforting deserves
the careful attention of every American. OF
course, none of our cities may ever suffer an
atomic attack, but the world being what it is,
ordinary prudence suggests that the man in the
street, the woman in the kitchen, the individual
in the factory the child in the schoolroom should
know what to do in case the worst happens
John Citizens Bible is timely contribution
to that end.
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Unfuir Tactics

On the evening Of October Is. you
printed an article headed Maryland
COP Accused of Using Unfair Tao
tics" If these tactics had not been used
before by the Democratic Party, you
might have been justified in printing the
article. However. on the evening of Sep
tember % at the COP meeting in the
Hyattsville Armory, attended by approx
mately 1900 people, members of the
Democratic Party distributed campaign
literature to people entering and leaving
the armory for the entire duration of the
meeting.
note that this did not arouse your
publicity. We think that you could be
fair in your handling of publicity for
both parties and not try to give dis
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Air Force Smeured?
Mary Darby Fitzhugh.

After the studied Mysteries of David
Lawrence, it is reassuring to read in an
editorial in The Evening Star a few
simple truths about the role of strategic
air power.
1t seems to me that Air Force Secre-
tary Finletter was being extremely char
liable in his talk at the Herald Tribune
Forum when he suggested that current
attacks upon long-range bombing can
be attributed to misunderstanding" of
the vital Importance of that strategy to
our security.
The smear campaign now being carried
on against the Air Force calls to mind
similar campaign waged by the admirals
year ago. We can well believe that
Operation %" is still very much alive.
HI. II. III.
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Dams, or Parks?

We do not want our national parks
ruined. We must not allow the Bureau
of Reclamation or the Army Corps Of
Engineers to build dams in any of them
The National Park Service was created
to preserve our most beautiful wilderness
and provide refuge for our wildlife. Our
national parks are virgin wildernesses Of
unspoiled natural grandeur. They COM
prise less than one per cent of the area
Of the United States. Surely the Army
Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of
Reclamation can find feasible sites out
side Of that tiny one per cent to build
dams.
The Army Corps of Engineers wants
to build dam in Kentucky that would
drown out part of the Mammoth Cave
National Park and even back water into
Mammoth Cave itself.
They also want to construct a dam in
Glacier National Park (Glacier View
Damn that would drown out over 5000
acres of virgin timber, mountain streams
and lakes and would also kill or starve
herds of Whitehall deer, moose, elk and
other wildlife.
The Bureau of Reclamation wants to
build two dams in Dinosaur National
Park in Utah. As result, most of the
beautiful rock formations would be under
water.
Who is going to drive several thousand
miles to see an artificial lake? Let's keep
the law intact that protects our parks
E. Andrews.
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Taft of Ohio

The echo of Woodrow Wilson's defini-
ton of the "eight horses of triumph"
which drew the triumphal chariot;
namely force of character. readiness of
resources, clearness of vision, grasp of
intellect. courage of conviction. earnest
ness of purpose, instinct and capacity
for leadership" can very positively de-
fine the stuff Senator Robert A. Taft
is made of.
Beyond the shadow of doubt this is
the key that opens the door to real
Americanism when Ohio goes to the poll
on November Z.
Ohio will not be found wanting in a
demonstrable proof of the intelligence
and characteristics Of a State second
only to Virginia in providing Presidents
of the United States. Ohio will prove
itself in retaining in our national ad-
ministration a man who reflects the
principles upon which our country was
founded.
Mary Darby Fitzhugh.
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Accidents to Children

DR.. Leona Baumgartner, assistant commits
sioner of health of New York City, told the
annual meeting of the American Public Health
Association in st. Louis that accidents kill more
children than all young peoples diseases COM
bined. Part of the blame in the circumstances,
she said, traces back to an attitude of neglect
on the part of adults who work with children.
The accident problem, it seems, "has largely been
overlooked" by doctors, nurses teachers, social
workers and Others who advise parents on the
care of the young" Grown-ups are more in
terested in poliomyelitis, which kills only few
youngsters, than they are in accidents, which
kill many.
OF course one explanation of this difference
is to be found in the fact that the crusade
against infantile paralysis has been dramatized
with great skill and effect while the drive to
reduce the number of accidents has been met
with psychology of fatalism among the older
generations. 1t has been supposed that acci-
dents are an inevitable feature of the machine
age and that all the safety first efforts in the
world are useless in the face of mishaps which
simply are not preventable under modern condi-
tions Especially with respect to traffic accidents
perfection has been considered unobtainable.
But more scientific way of looking at the
accident chart would be that of realizing that
at least to some degree the number of misadven-
lures can be reduced. More than 20 years ago
Sidney ]. Williams, writing for the Encyclopaedia
of Social Sciences, argued that Improvement OF
environment" and Improvement OF personal
practices" would result in cutting down the toll
of death and disabling injuries Under the hrst
of these categories of correction he called for
better Streets better vehicles, better traffic con-
troll systems and "education of all street users
to understand the hazards of the street and to
avoid them through care and law observance"
He appreciated as DR.. Baumgartner does the
responsibility of older persons to guide and
discipline younger persons. "The avoidance OF
home accidents" he insisted, means keeping
home equipment in safe condition, educating
both children and adults to the proper use OF
home equipment and the avoidance of unsafe
practices and, finally supervision of children
especially to make sure that these precepts are
carried out"
Granted that the problem cannot be solved
simply by preaching scolding, it still is obvious
that father or mother who carelessly allows
small child to play with gun is not alto
gether blameless if the child himself or by
stander gets shot. Such case may seem to be
so unusual as to be unworthy of notice
against more than 10000 fatal accidents in a
single year, yet hardly day passes without some
youngster somewhere in the United States killing
somebody with firearm of one sort or another
Evening star., 1950-11-02
More On Color N

A recent letter to The Star requires, I
believe. some comment In this letter,
Paul Miller states some "facts" concern
ing color television, and then asks every
one interested to write the FEC demand
ing that they change their decision on
color.
Even if the average person were given
access to months of hearings, testimony,
and trials, he would still not be compe-
tent to make such technical decision.
But to advise public action on the
strength of brief letter by half-in-
formed person would be laughable if it
were not deplorable.
Mr.. Miller backs up his case by stating
Evening star., 1950-11-02
The Man Who Wrote Those Letters

boasted of the success of his independence
drive, everybody would know he was a
liar. Albizu declined to be interviewed.
The isolation treatment apparently
has worn hard on the little Nationalist's
nerves. From time to time, according to
the reports, Albizu or his friends in the
house have been firing out of the win
dows.
Early this morning, when police began
spraying tear gas around, Albizu meekly
surrendered, waving a white handker-
chief.
Albizu's age is hard to pin down-some
say he is SO; others, that he's SO. At any
rate his reputation as a terrorist has
been established for a long time. He
founded the Nationalist Party in 1928.
losing interest in elections in 1882 when
his group polled only 5000 votes. Since
then, the Nationalists have boycotted
most of the elections, including the one
in 1948, when. the Puerto Ricans elected
their own Governor for the first time.
In 1887, a revolutionary plot in the
Puerto Rican city of Ponce resulted in
the killing of Police Commander Francis
Riggs. Albizu and seven others were
placed on trial, charged with insurrec-
tion. The first trial resulted in hung
jury, but Albizu was convicted in a
second trial and sentenced to ten years
in the Federal penitentiary at Atlanta
Ga. He was released on parole in 1943,
and went to live in New York.
It may well have been in this period
that he established contacts with dissi-
dent members of New York's Puerto
Rican colony-like Torresola, for in
stance; and Oscar Collazo, the other
would-be presidential assassin. who was
wounded-and possibly the unidentified
man who tried simultaneously yesterday
to bomb the Puerto Rican Labor Office
in New York.
At any rate, Albizu returned to Puerto
Rico in 1948 and began reorganizing his
Nationalists for the revolutionary activity
which led to this weeks blow-up.
What is behind Albizu'S driving hatred
of our country? His classmates at Har-
ward with him remember HIM as gay,
outgoing personality" A State Depart
ment official who has known him in later
years calls him twisted, tortured soul. y
1t appears his father was Spanish mer-
chant, but his mother was Negro. Dur
ing World War I, it is said, Albizu en-
tered the American Army and was as
signed to Negro regiment, and the dis
elimination of the segregation policies
he encountered then bit deep into his
heart.
Historians probably will argue for a
long time how much this had to do with
President Truman's narrow escape.
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Letters to The Star

torted, one-sided picture Of the cam
paign.
What is the matter with these Demo-
Gratis? Can't they take it as well as they
can dish it out?
HI. Wilson Spicknall.
Editors Note: The news of the Oc-
tober Is meeting, as reported in The
Star, was not that the Republicans
distributed literature to the Demo-
Gratis, but rather that the Democrats
made speeches alleging that these
tactics are unfair The Star had re-
ported earlier that Maryland Demo-
Gratis were engaging in similar tactics.
Neither story was on the front pageo
Evening star., 1950-11-02
Questions and Answers

The stars readers can get the answer to
any question of fact by either writing The
Evening Star information Bureau, 1900 street
NV, Washington s. D. c.. and inclosing cents
return postage. by telephoning ST. 5000,
Extension 35S.
Evening star., 1950-11-02
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

@. How recently was the so-called
Stockholm Peace Plan first advocated?
How many signed it?-R. L. S.
A. During the last fortnight of March,
1850, the permanent committee of the
World Peace Congress met in Stockholm.
At this meeting the peace plan was
adopted. The peace petition" was signed
by 273,470,566 people.
Evening star., 1950-11-02

@. Can stained razor blades be cleaned?
IN. o. l..
A. If the stain is caused by light
corrosion polish the blades with light
abrasive. Be careful to avoid the edges.
Evening star., 1950-11-02

@. Where are free rides to church
offered on Sundays?-S. c.
A. The Jacksonville Coach Company Of
Jacksonville, Fla, makes this offer.
Evening star., 1950-10-07
Export-Import Bank
Preparing Iran Loan

The Export Import Bank was
reported today to be putting the
final touches on a $25 million
loan to Iran.
officials looked for formal an
nouncement within few days to
beat Russia to the punch in a
cold war diplomatic struggle that
has become steadily tighter since
the start of the Korean conflict.
Russia is negotiating a new
trade agreement with its oil-rich
southern neighbor which also Is
due for completion shortly. If the
long pending American loan Is
announced first diplomats hope
Moscow's recent efforts to WOO
the Iranians will suffer a setback.
Moscow toned down its propa-
ganda attacks on the Iranian gov
ernment and agreed to return to
Iran some $21 million in Iranian
gold held in Moscow since World
War II.
The prospective Export Import
Bank loan is for improving agri-
culture, irrigation and road con-
struction. On a sounder economic
basis after recovering from a crop
shortage, Iran also Is hopeful Of
getting an additional $40 million
from the World Bank.