davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-08-17
A Dangerous Gamble

If the House Appropriations Committee de-
cideS to make some drastic reduction IN the
$290,000 requested by the Commissioners for a
beginning on civilian defense in Washington, it
seems to The Star that the effect would be more
injurious than may be realized.
For if the Congress of the United States is
not impressed with the Importance of making
a serious beginning in civilian defense planning
for the Capital of the United States, what can
one expect other cities and States to do IN
attempting to deal with the same intangible
problem?
Sometime early in September the National
Security Resources Board is expected to make
public plan of action for the country in or
ganizing for civilian defense. Civilian defense
against what? Civilian defense against atomic
bomb attacks. Very little is being done in this
connection now. But with the advice of NSRB
authorities, the Commissioners have been hard
at work on a plan for Washington which was
designed as a sort of demonstration which other
cities might follow.
ANY such plan is bound to be nebulous Any
amount of money would be inadequate in dealing
with the problem, should an attack ever materi-
alize. 1t is very difficult for anybody to sit down
at table and attempt to justify dollar and
cents expenditure for something that may never
happen and lit in the fashion that members
of Congress expect from government OFFICIALS
asking for ordinary appropriations. But how else
is the problem to be approached, with any hope
of getting anything started?
The Commissioners asked frSt for $4,000
long before the Korean war started. Congress
turned that down. They asked for $4,000. That
was turned down too-both on points of order.
Then the Commissioners asked for S290,0o0, after
conferences with NSRB advisers. General Young
said that this amount was merely the beginning
1t would cost half million dollars to equip the
city with an adequate siren alarm system alone
But subcommittee of the House Appropria-
tions Committee may recommend sharp de-
crease in the $290,000 estimate. Any such reduc-
ton would be dangerous gamble. 1t would mean
that even the rudimentary plans drawn up by
the Commissioners could not be carried out 1t
would be interpreted meaning that Congress
is not concerned over the necessity of advance
planning for some catastrophe that the course OF
events has projected and is inclined to ridicule
the possibility of its ever taking place
If it never takes place, the amount OF money
spent in preparation is nflnitesimal in compari-
son with the cost Of unpreparedneSS in case 1t
should take place. One would not think that
the members of the House Appropriations cared
to assume the fearful responsibility that false
economy, in this situation, implies.
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Streetcurs in Brooklyn

William A. Rider. a member Of an old
Brooklyn-F a t b u S h family. writes in
Letters to the Star" on August Is that
he was very much disappointed in his
streetcar ride from downtown Wash
ington all the way out to College Park,
Md. Q2 miles, which cost him 70 cents
roundtrip, including (free) radio enter
tainment. but was experienced on an
old bonneville rattlebox streetcar
Now in Brooklyn they never have any
thing like that. The streetcar rides in
Flatbush. even from Flatlands, are easy
and comfortable. The fare is moderate
10 cents. For years and years it cost
only a Nickel but the property owners
there. had to make it up so that the
riders could get that nickel ride. The
city built the municipal Subways and
the Eighth Avenue Independent Subway.
with tax money-and the taxpayer is
still paying for them to make up the
difference.
Mr.. Rider apparently only rode one
line in Washington on his trip to Col
lege Park, Md. believe him-the COM
pany still has few old rattletraps. Why
didn't he try some of our streamlined
cars (they don't all have radio music?
L. C. Lingle.
Evening star., 1950-08-17
By Mor McGror

sVSStSsy
A BOY who had spent Is months in a
~ training school was asked on the
eve of parole what he had learned. He
replied, apparently without malice.
well. learned to pick a lock four
ways"
The incident is taken from "Our Re-
jected Children" survey Of reform
schools and juvenile delinquency by Al
bert Deutsch. recently published by Lit
tie, Brown. A tour Of IA training schools
in nine of the richest and supposedly
most enlightened States convinced him
that "the typical training school is a
disgraceful blot on a democratic and
rich society"
He documents this conclusion with
instances of training schools, that are
directed by unqualified political ap-
pointees, stated by underpaid, un-
inspired and sometimes brutal workers.
where official and unofficial" beatings
keep youngsters in state of sullen fear.
Such institutions are little better than
schools for crime. according to Mr..
Deutsch. Bearing him out is the fact
that the obtainable figures show that
72 per cent of training school graduates
wind up in adult prisons.
Among the few bright spots in Mr..
Deutsch's grim picture is the National
Training School for Boys on Bladens-
burg Road. Here some $50 youthful
Federal offenders are given the benefit
of humane treatment-corporal punish
ment is strictly forbidden-and Of an
academic and vocational training pro-
gram Under the direction of Supt.
Harold E. Hegstrom. the emphasis is
steadily on rehabilitation rather than
punishment.
Even so, as far as any one can tell. al
most half of its graduates continue in
crime.
One of the reasons. it takes no expert
to see, is that the boys influence each
other. It Is difficult to introduce new
standards in a little world which may
regard beating the rap" as the highest
goal.
What is the answer, then, If one OF
the best training schools in the country
cannot wholly succeed in counteracting
a potentially corrupting atmosphere?
Mr.. DeutSch, who blames society" for
the breakdown of its children, places
great faith in psychiatry. But this is
ing School. which has psychologists and
psychotherapists. has staff pSychiatrist.
Actually, one Of the most heartening
developments in the field Of juvenile de-
linquency is growing awareness that 1t
is a community problem and q commu-
nifty responsibility. And Washington
has set an excellent example to- the rest
Of the country in showing the role that
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Our B-29s as Supporting Artillery

Our big B-29s were never designed for use as
artillery Their mission is strategic, rather than
tactical-operating on enemy centers of supply
and lines of communication back of the lines
But in the Korean fighting they have fire.
quently been used as artillery supporting ground
forces. This is, no doubt, highly expensive and
even wasteful. But it represented deliberate
command decision, based on necessity. Wednes-
days attack by 98 B-29s on Red Korean troop
concentrations along the Naktong River, poised
for an offensive, was encouraged by what the
military men called target of opportunity"
While the effectiveness of the attack will await
more detailed military evaluation, reports so far
received indicate that it was an important blow.
If this is true, it marks the first successful
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Letters to The Star
Hero Worshipper

Now that the Marines have hit the
Pusan beachhead, the war should end
presto in our favor. That is, If one can
take without salt the braggadocio that
spills from Marines and ex-Marines
from Dover to Diego. including your
Jerry OLeary. jr.
The other day an ex-Marir1e. here
for the 1st Marine Division reunion.
asked me what foreign service I saw.
When I said, North Africa and Italy
including AnZio." he earnestly replied:
well, at Anzio there were ten Marines
to tell the Army what to do; II you
don't believe it, search the records"
In 1943. on my first furlough from
Army basic training, met Marine
Pfc. at the intersection OF Hollywood
boulevard and Vine street. This sea-
going bell-hop questioned me as to the
"toughness' of Army infantry training.
I said, "Well, we had to do a four-mlle
forced march in 40 minutes with full
equipment" This prodigy alcoholically
derided "Oh. hell We Marines would
do that in 20 minutes with twice as
much equipment"
Once I committed the objectionable
sin of asking an eX-military character
an ex-Marine as it turned out-if he
had been in the Army. This idiot bris-
tied: Did you really take me for one
Of those lousy dog-faces?"
The upper bracket OF the Marine
Corps would do we'll to teach their babies
the rudiments of civility. Loyalty" to
a particular branch Of service. rather
than loyalty to the United States. is
utterly ridiculous-about as foolish as
loyalty" to militarism as an end in
itself, rather than as means to an end.
From the Halls OF Montezuma to
the Shores of Tripoli!" How many Of
them know that the Halls Of Monte
yuma" were defended by comic-opera
army a la Chocolate Soldier? And that
the Shores of Tripoli' were peopled
by a bunch of Barbary pirates, armed
with curved butcher-knives and a few
antique cannon and blunder- -busses?
True, the Marines did some bloody
work in the Pacific islands. But to
paraphrase F. D. r.: mo corps Is in
dispensable."
Sadly, I'm being forced to the con-
clusion that the Marine Corps is pre-
dominantly composed Of adolescent
braggartS with strong backs and weak
minds. But maybe those are the ideal
ingredients for soldier-pardon mel
I mean warrior" or something.
Ex-Army Infantryman.
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Assisting GI Families

The proposal for a system of family allow
ances for servicemen called to fight in the
present emergency deserves the high priority
given 1t by the Senate and House Armed Services
Committees Apparently this important human
angle of the war effort was overlooked in the
confusion of the early stages Of the Korean
crisis. AS result there have been increasing
reports of hardship among families of men
rushed into combat. There is no reason why
servicemen and their families should be given
less consideration in today's emergency than
they received during World War II.
The President has asked for speedy passage
of legislation to provide for extra allowances
for fighting men with dependents. These
allowances would be in addition to pay allot-
mentS required of the men with families to
support The amounts which families would
receive have not as yet been determined. The
administration has proposed $75 a month for
wives and $25 additional for each child up to
a maximum allowance of $3.50. The theory is
that soldiers with larger families should not be
in battle, anyway. The administration plan
would provide for the discharge of men whose
dependents could not be supported on the max
imum allowance A Senate bill would make
more liberal provision for the families.
Whatever the final benefits approved, they
should be made available quickly Men sent to
fight for their country cannot do their jobs
we'll if they are worrying about finances at
home Under any such plan, of course, the
soldier should be required to bear a substantial
part of the burden of family support, as a
condition to governmental aid.
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Politics vs.. Craftsmanship

Chairman Murray of the House Post Office
Committee used appropriately strong language
to describe the bill through which the House
hopes to cancel Postmaster General Donaldson's
wise and reasonable economy program An
Outrageous" concession to political expedlency'
was the estimate of the measure made by Mr.
Murray, Democrat from Tennessee. He was
not speaking without facts. He must have made
some members squirm when he told the House
that many of his colleagues frankly had admitted
they secretly favored the mail-Service curtail-
ment order but felt it would be politically
dangerous to say so openly. They were thinking
of next November and the threat of opposition
from powerful postal employe groups.
During the debate a supporter Of the bill
asserted that $50 million tired taxpayers have
been hit in the mail box" by Mr. Donaldson's re-
ducton in mail service. These same taxpayers,
however have been hit in the pocketbook by
the Houses overwhelming vote against the
savings planned by the Postmaster General
The Post Office Department has been running
up billion dollar deficits each year. These
deficits are being paid out of taxes. When
Congress refused to increase postal rates to cut
this years deficit and, on top of that, cut the
postal rock bottom" budget below what Mr..
Donaldson believed to be the operational mini
mum, the Postmaster General ordered mail
deliveries reduced from two to one day He
estimated this would save the department up to
$40 million year. No great hardship has been
inflicted on the American people by the delivery
curtailment. More than IS per cent of the mail
was handled on the morning delivery, anyway, so
that elimination of the second round has had
relatively little effect on mail service. The
probability is that most tired taxpayers" would
prefer the $40 million savings to an extra mail
delivery that is not essential.
The House majority that voted for the bill
muffed an excellent chance to show real states
manshp at critical time, when the need for
reduction of defense spending is extremely
acute The opportunity now passes to the
Senate, whose Post office Committee already
has Endorsed the cancellation measure. If the
Senate, too, should succumb to political
expediency" President Truman would be justi-
fled in vetong the legislation, which is wholly
without merit.
Evening star., 1950-08-17

and for that reason alone assumes special
significance. The nearest parallel may have been
the use of more than 1000 Bits in the Normandy
operations around st. Lo, but until the Korean
it is probable that no one seriously considered
sending the much larger B-29s in force against
concentrations of personnel.
In their Normandy operations, the Bits
carried IL 5OO-lb. bombs each. But the B-29s on
Wednesday were carrying loads up to 40 such
bombs Working over carefully charted area,
dropping their bombs from relatively low attitudes
by visual sighting the resulting havoc on troop
concentrations below can be imagined. AS in
every war, necessity becomes the mother of some
invention that develops new uses for old weapons.
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Ambassador O'Dwyer

Several months ago Sir Basil Brooke, Prime
Minister of Northern Ireland was booed by a
group of hoodlums when he landed in New York
on a visit to this country. Mayor ODwyer was
not among these demonstrators But they had
derived some encouragement from him when he
said, short time before, thatif Sir Basil should
be welcomed at New Yorks City Hall, at will be
because I am dead"
This gratuitous affront to the head OF a
friendly state encourages the suspicion that
Mayor O'Dwyer has not been selected as Ambas-
sador to Mexico because of his demonstrated
qualities of craftsmanship. Presumably the
choice was inspired either by political or personal
considerations.
The Star does not know what may have been
the nature of these considerations. AS Mayor of
New York, Mr.. ODwyer has had his ups and
downs. His latest bobble was an attempt to
interfere with a grand jury investigation OF
suspected link between gamblers and some mem
bers of the citys police force. This interference
has itself been the subject of an investigation by
the grand jury, and its report constitutes a
sharp and well-deserved rebuke to our new
Ambassador On the whole however Mr..
ODwyer has done a reasonably good job IN
political hot spot If he has not been New YorKS
best Mayor, neither has he been its worst.
This record might we'll qualify him for some
political reward at the hands of the President If,
for personal reasons, because of more practical
considerations, it was deemed advisable to trans
fer him from the City Hail.
But it certainly does not follow that this
reward should take the form of an ambassador
ship for which Mr. ODwyer, to put 1t conserva-
lively has no special qualifications. He VII
replace, in Mexico City, career Ambassador OF
proved abilities. The post is sensitive and an
important one. 1t should not, at any time, De
treated as political plum, and to make sucn q
move at this time is suggestive OF singular
blindness on the part of the President to the
Importance OF entrusting the conduct of our
foreign relations to the best men and only to
the best men.
Evening star., 1950-08-17
TotuI Medical Mobilization

Our Nation abhors double standards
OF justice. Therefore we should protest
the double jeopardy of medical reserve
officers in company grade. They are
being called back to active duty while
thousands of ASTP and Viz taX-subSi-
died doctors WEIGH on a debt of honor.
Our medical brass vetoed drafting
these ingrates. 1t prefers to exercise die
tatorial powers over reserve officers who
already have served our Nations need.
Their lack of intelligent foresight per-
mitted ASTP and VIZ default. Now they
cover up their ineptitude by making hon.
est patriots serve twice. The defaulters
are rewarded and encouraged by sec
ond exemption from the general sacrifice.
Double rewards for ingrates and double
jeopardy for unselfiSh patriots
This discrimination Is political expe-
diency at its worst. 1t reflects the mud
died thinking Of our politicians. They
prefer appeasement Of special privilege
rather than equal sacrifice and disci-
pline for all.
If this Nation is to survive genocide,
the basic medical policies of World War
II must be modernized This time the
home front must be organized to survive
major civilian disaster. In World War
II we stripped the civilian economy of
physician manpower. We allowed medi-
cal brass to waste their monopoly and
top priorities of vital control of the
healing arts. This time our Nations
survival will require reversal of this
improvident and wasteful policy.
No doctor, hospital or medical resource
or facility should be exempt from all-out
discipline and sacrifice. There should be
no distinction between civilian and mill
tary casualties and medical needs. We
Evening star., 1950-08-17
So|voging 'Bod>Boys' "A Community Job

Is still too young for its effects to be ap-
praised scientifically. Yet In that short
time, the sponsors have won acceptance
from professional workers. and, what is
more important, from the boys them
selves.
An officer of the Bureau of Rehabili-
tation, the agency which recruits the
sponsors and through institution officials
assigns them to students, reports that
on his weekly visits to the National
Training School he is besieged by boys
asking for sponsors.
"Of course. they disguise the requests
by saying, When am I going to get a
sponsor? I want to get into town But
we can read more between the lines of
their case records and understand that
real need exists which the boys recog-
nize themselves"
The Society of Colored Sponsors has
l19 active representatives at the Ma
tional Training School. "They have
gone far beyond the normal demands of
sponsorship. in some cases even taking
boys into their own homes after parole"
one officer said.
Many of the sponsors are women. They
IC Pd4 C1C0Ad1 AJ OuNICOO4A4 Will JOuA1SC1
boys. Other women befriend girl de-
linquents or prison inmates. The So
ciety, which is now expanding into or
phanages and child welfare work, needs
a total of 1900 members. But, officials
emphasize, they must be mature, we'll
balanced people.
The Importance of sponsor constancy
cannot be overemphasized, said a pub
lie welfare official who is in favor of
program. "The rejection by a sponsor
may be the last straw in lifetime of
disappointments," he said.
Within the last year, Washington has
also seen the founding of local chapter
of the Big Brothers of America, a group
which uses the "one man-one boy"
therapy to keep youngsters on probation
from taking the fatal misstep which
may lead them to reform schools. It's
founder and president is Curtis Shears,
a trial attorney for the Justice Depart
ment, whose highly successful efforts
as a sponsor convinced him that it is
pretty late in boys spiritual life by
the time he gets to training school.
The organization, which was incor-
porated last January, has 40 carefully
SCIeeIleu Dig bIOGIleTS. 4ney are put
in touch with their young friends
through their professional case worker,
who keeps in touch with Juvenile Court
probation officers. They hope eventually
to have Big Brother for everybody who
appears before Juvenile Court or the
Juvenile Bureau.
Says Mr.. Shears. an old hand at set
ting youngsters straight, "A boy needs
a model, not a critic
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Memorial to F. D. r.

With taxes already sky-high and still
rising, Just why should the public be
made to pay IS million for memorial
to F. D. r.? Representative Klein's
dem. N. ". attachment to former
leader Of his party can be appreciated.
but not to the extent that we. the
public. would be made to bear this ex-
pense. Surely, such a memorial to per-
petuate the name of this leader is not
necessary. F. D. RS name certainly will
not be a name to pass into oblivion.
Even If such memorial were to be
erected at the expense of the Democrats
alone, this is not the time for such a
project.
If Mr.. Klein and others are anxious
to have memorial to F. D. R.. why not
let it be the Democrats new headquar-
tiers, an eight-story building at 1885
DeSales street. NV, across the street
from the Mayf1ower Hotel, which was
bought for about $250,000?
Robert Emmet Burke.
Evening star., 1950-08-17

public spirited citizens can play in the
reclamation of youth for useful citizen
ship.
AS early as 1887, G. Rowland Shaw.
chairman of the Continuing Committee
of the Attorney Generals Conference
on Juvenile Delinquency, began quietly
organizing a sponsorship movement.
Two years ago. the Society of Sponsors,
who attempt what Mr.. Shaw calls "the
art of disinterested friendship" was
founded to give boys in trouble the bene-
fit of individual attention. Now. some
ASS volunteers. white and colored. men
and women, visit as many boys and girls
in institutions in and around the Capital.
The program, according to Mr.. Shaw.
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Wood Song

o 1Dalk into the moods tDith me
And drink a tDine OF tDisdrdry!
Natures 1nild beauty brims the cup;
Tiptoe. Titanic holds it up.
This innocent golden chalice drain.
And come to peace beyond all pain:
To joy beyond the bliss OF youth,
To insight elder than the truth
Vision more poignant, to descry
In the Diolet's little brimminr eye,
In rockrose and IN ooldenrod
The mercy and the lore OF God.
ARCHIBALD RUTLED0,
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Colonial Beach

In reference to the f1are-up at Colonial
Beach August 5. we colored residents
plan to continue to swim until the town
sets aside specific bathing place for
us. II a vote was taken Of the white
residents of Colonial Beach, a place
would be given us. But no. the town of
Colonial Beach is run by seven council
men, and you can judge by the publicity
it has been getting just about how they
are running it.
We have new mayor and few new
councilmen coming into Office in Septem-
Der, but we don't have much to look
forward to. AS the old saying goes. one
rotten apple will spoil a barrel Since
a few rotten apples were left in Office. We
shall see what the future will be.
Taxpayer.
Evening star., 1950-08-17
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. How much of Africa is included in
the British Commonwealth Of Nations?
S. L. M.
A. British Africa includes 1852 900
square miles and is more than one-third
bigger than the United States.
Evening star., 1950-08-17
Questions and Answers

The stars readers can get the answer 70
any question Of fact by either ,n6 yFiti1s Lns
NV Washington 5, D. c.. and inclosinE cents
return postage, or by telephoning ST. 5000.
Extension 35S
Evening star., 1950-08-17

Q. Is tanning produced by the mira
red waves or the ultraviolet?-G. Y.
A. Infrared is heat wave: ultraviolet
does the tanning and has other physio-
logical effects on the body.
Evening star., 1950-08-17

O. What are the chances of a person
being killed by lightning?-M. A.
A. The chance of being killed by
lightning is about in 365,000.
Evening star., 1950-08-17

@. Is there an organization Of per-
sons interested in automobiles of early
vintage?-G. A. L.
A. The Antique Automobile Club Of
America. located in Philadelphia. is an
association composed Of those interested
in antique automobiles.