davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Unseen Friends

The Tv friendship is really something new
in human relations. In the past, people have had
poker-pals and golf buddies. Still, there was a
little chit chat between hands or in the ambles
across the green and the addicts might get to
know each other fairly well within the limits OF
the game. But Tv friendships are utterly Diff
ferent probably the least demanding type of
social exchange since cavemen started grunting
at each other.
In many home these nights, strangers are
stumbling across new thresholds into the gloom
of televised households, shaking hands with dimly
visible forms, accepting drinks from unseen hands
and cropping their way, half-crouched across the
line of vision to dark corners where they sit for
hours without opening their mouths. The true
TV fan-and your host is almost sure to be one
does not care for conversation. His guests are
expected to share his absorption If localized
whispering breaks out, he will silence 1t with q
great shout of Look!" even If it is only COM
mercial lighting up the screen.
1t has advantages People don't get into
political debates, Republicans and Democrats
sit cheek by jowl unaware of the hostile fires
within Monologuists are effectively tongue-tied.
People who "can't stand the sight of each other"
can safely be invited for the same evening be-
cause their tolerance will be put to no test.
Obviously the salon is doomed. ''The hostess
with the mostest on the ball" in the future will
Just be somebody intelligent enough not to invite
fight fans the night Sid Cesar is on.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
BETHESDA, Md.

DE 1F1GOOA, Mu.
Dear Sir:
II thought you and your readers might
like to know about q rescue in which
took rather prominent part the other
day.
"I happen to be friend Of cats.
st had seen small kitten, perhaps it
would be better to say one Of the smallest
possible kittens, on public corner.
"It was where no kitten had any busi-
ness to be. Huge trucks and buses
roared by; hundreds of cars threatened
Its life every second Of the time.
Like so many friends Of cats, my
heart was stricken at the sight of this
small, fragile creature in such place.
did stop to help 1t?
81 most certainly did. But that was
as far as went.
'I decided that the kitten must belong
to some one.
$50 went on, and the kitten haunted
me the rest of the day.
"It was easy to decide it belonged to
some one. thought Of the other pos
sibilities, such as that some one had
dumped it there. hoping that 1t would
either be run over or that some one would
take it home.
'The next day passed the same place
but there was no kitten.
my heart had relief. Probably some
one had taken it. after all.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Tito, Russia and the West

In assuring the famine threatened people OF
Yugoslavia that they can count on large-scale
food shipments from the United States, Premier
Marshal Tito has reaffirmed his policy of neu-
trality and independence in the cold war between
the Soviet Union and the West. In almost the
same breath, however, he has hit so hard at the
Kremlin and sounded such pro-American note
that he seems to have come closer to aligning
himself with the free world than at any time
since his 194S rebellion against the Stain die
tatorship.
Thus as far as the United States is con-
cerned, he has been at pains to make partial
amends for his pre-1948 hostility by reminding
the YugoSlav people that our assistance to them
after We day dwarfed that offered by any other
country. Further, referring to our prospective
food shipments, he has made special point
of declaring that they will be forthcoming on
an unconditional basis, without political strings
a fact which he has described as demonstration
of American readiness to help countries in dis
treSs by concrete deeds OF humanitarlanism.
And as If to emphasize the contrast between our
way of doing things and the Kremlin'S, he has
broadcast to his country that he could not appeal
to the Soviet Union because the Soviet Union will
not give aid to anybody.
Moreover, in one of his sharpest attacks to
date on stalinist policy, the embattled Tito has
warned the Kremlin and its satellite Cominform
states that if they do not stop their small war;
of armed provocation against Yugoslavia, he will
eventually appeal to the United Nations to deal
with the situation as threat to the general
peace. Even though his representatives in the
u N. have walked kind of tight rope as regards
military action in Korea, they have recognized
the criminal nature of the Northern Red attack,
and he himself has placed limits on his policy
of neutrality. At any rate, If words mean any
thing he has made clear that he is on the side
of the free world in its effort to put an end to
direct and indirect Soviet aggression.
All this, of course, serves Tito's own best
interests With his country facing the specter
of starvation and with the Kremlin relentlessly
trying to nquidate him as the leader of a deep
schism in the Communist world, 1t Is expedient
for him to lean toward the West and seek and
praise American help. But it is expedent too,
for our side to respond favorably to him, even
If with some reservations For Yugoslavia-
strategically, politically and otherwise-is land
of great Importance, and If it can be kept
permanently free of Soviet domination, the
common front against aggression will be that
much stronger.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
The Army Hos Landed

On page 9 Of your issue Of October 26.
there appeared an article headed dis
gusted Marines Have Word For Army
Type Job in Korea" This article, with
an Associated Press dateline from Won
san, described Marine disgust over an
unopposed amphibious operation at
Wonsan, quoting Marine 1t. Raymond
j. Elledge. of San Gabriel. Calf, as fol-
lows: Nobody likes to get shot at going
ashore, but this isn't the way the Marine
Corps works. This is more like an Army
job"
Just for the record, there were 81 ma
jor amphibious landings during World
War II. The United States Army par
ticipated in SO of these 81 landings. The
Marine Corps participated in IA Of them.
Also during World War II. the Army
participated in 344 secondary amphibious
operations of a shore-to-shore nature,
involving short over-water movement.
The Marine Corps participated in 20
such operations. Furthermore, there
were no Marines in the greatest am
phibious operation of all military his
tory, namely, the invasion of the Con-
tinent of Europe through Normandy In
1914.
This, sir. is the official record Of World
War II amphibious action, not to be ex-
plunged by any words, though the volume
be great.
#. L. Parks,
Major General, Csc, Chief Of In
formation.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Puerto Ricon Explosion Hdd a Iona Fuse
By Jerry O'Leory, Jr.

THE ARMED insurrection in progress
l. during the past 48 hours in Puerto
Rico has been brewing on that poverty
stricken and overpopulated island ever
since the United States wrested 1t from
Spain in 1898 In fact, those who know
the turbulent citizens of the territory are
surprised that violence has been 50 long
in coming.
Puerto Rico is natural breeding
ground for political trouble, due pri-
marily to the fact that it congresses too
many people in too little space-544.2
inhabitants to the square mile. to be
exact.
There have been terroristic incidents
before-such as the attempted assassina-
ton Of Gov. Blanton Winship in Ponce
July Is. 1938-but nothing to equal
this outbreak. Despite the under
current of conflicting political emotions
in Puerto Rico, the island has had a
remarkable record for tranquility-on
the surface.
No other Latin American people can
boast clean slate Of no revolt. And
Puerto Rico has had ample cause for
unrest over the years.
Tecnnlcally, Cne lSlanQ mas the SCaCuS
of territory of the United States, like
Alaska. theoretically, at least. Puerto
Ricans have more say in their govern
ment than residents of the District of
Columbia do-for they have home rule,
as well as the services Of a non-voting
delegate in our Congress.
But the Nationalists, Communists and
Solenciosos (the pro-Franco Falangista
party)--a minority of the million popu-
lation-long have formed an anti-Amer-
lean bloc. The. present outbreak may be
traceable to any and all of these parties,
divergent in dogma but united in hatred
of the United States.
But many another loyal Puerto Rican
could make an argument for failing tc
love either the United States, or the
state of affairs on the territory.
Sugar, Puerto Rico's one major crop
has been the islands curse. During
World War II, when merchant shipping
was diverted to the active theaters oi
war Pureto Rico was literally inundated
In sugar 1t could neither consume, keeI
nor sell. Vast quantities of it were con.
verted into rum in 1912 and 1943. ane
the price Of rum in San Juan dropped
below that of beer.
The jibdros In the hills and the tat
tered residents of the barrios (slums,
were reduced to near starvation; prosti
tuition was rampant and discomfort wa
Evening star., 1950-10-31
AnoIyzing Local Crime

The issuance by the Police Department OF an
improved statistical analysis of crime in Wash
ington during fiscal 1850 is a further step for
ward in crime reporting here. The department
was the first local law enforcement agency to
take the trouble to prepare breakdown of crime
records with a view to determining such factors
in lawlessness as age sex, weather, geography
and the like. 1t is unfortunate that inadequate
facilities prevented more complete analysis.
Such crime catalogue is of great value not
only to the police in pinpointing sore spots but
to other agencies, private organizations and in
dividuals interested in crime prevention. It is
useful, for example, to know that most assaults
occur at night on hot week endS-in July, to be
specific; that December is the month in which
most robberies occur, that knives are used more
frequently in assaults than any other weapon,
that most pedestrians are killed while crossing
streets where there are no traffic signals.
It is also useful-and disturbing-to learn
that charges in thirds of all assault cases last
year were dropped by prosecutors or thrown out
by the courts. The figures show that of 1901
persons charged by police with aggravated felo-
nious) assault, 2,196 were released for want Of
prosecution. This large proportion of dropped
assault charges is nothing new. It has been the
subject of studies by the Washington Criminal
Justice Association, but the association in the
past has encountered difficulty in getting at the
causes because of the lack of co-ordinated sta
tistics The coordination recommended by the
association would take the form of central
crime statistics bureau, to which police, prosecu-
tors and the courts would supply detailed records
for tabuation and analysis.
The Police Department has moved in the
right direction by setting up it's own analysis
section under Lieutenant Earl Hartman, but he
is handicapped by insufficient staff and funds.
Most of the information on disposition of cases in
the new report was secured by police on their
own initiative. This information would be more
complete and probably more accurate If it were
sent to central bureau by prosecution and court
officials as official routine. This is the only way
that an authentic picture of crime conditions in
Washington can be assured.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Viroinio Voters Please Note

Few of the voters in nearby Virginia are
eware of the fact that they will have an op-
portunity November to vote on two STATE COIL
stitutional amendments that relate to TWO such
important institutions as schools and courts. IL
is not surprising that there has been very httie
public discussion of these proposed amendments
in the counties across the Potomac River, 1or
neither question is of immediate concern IN tnlS
area.
The proposal affecting education is an
amendment which would authorize the General
Assembly to provide for lnter-lurlsolctlonal
operation of public schools Under the present
state constitution each county or city is required
to have a school board and to conduct its school
program INDEPENDENTLY There are some areas
where it would be more economical and more
efficient for two or more counties, or county
and a city, to join in supervising school TO
serve more than one jurisdiction. This sort OF
ioint administration already is working out well
in other fields such as public health and welfare
There is no reason why it would not work as
well with respect to education.
The court amendment would permit the
General Assembly to increase the number OF
Judges in any court serving city with 5oooo
or more inhabitants The constitution now re-
uuires each court to have at least one Judge at
all times. but there has been uncertainty as to
the validity of naming more than one judge In
heavily congested urban courts. (The State
attorney general ruled in the case OF Arlington
County that egislation-subsequently passed
to give this county two judges in one court was
not in conflict with the constitution.)
Both amendments would pave the way fol
improved operation of schools and court machln-
cry in Virginia Although they are not of specia
interest right now to voters in nearby counties
the amendments are nonetheless important tt
the State as whole and therefore should no
be ignored locally.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Crack Down on Drunken Drivers

Traffic Director Keneipp was not suggesting
an untried practice when he proposed that all
persons convicted of drunken driving in the
District be sent to Jail instead of fined Detroits
Traffic Court adopted this stern policy less than
six months ago and reports from that city in
dicate that the plan has been highly successful
in reducing accidents caused by alcohol. The
plan is in sharp contrast to the leniency shown
many of these offenders in Washington. This
type of public menace does not deserve leniency.
District law gives the court authority to
impose $500 fine or up to six months m jail
or both in first-offenSe drunken driving cases.
81 900 fine and/or year in Jail can be imposed
for second offenSe Revocation of the drivers
license is mandatory in such cases. During the
past fiscal year. however, only So out of 129 per-
sons arrested for driving while drunk went to
Jail. Some of these were committed for fall
ure to pay their fines. Fines have ranged between
$50 and 5000.
Traffic authorities have discussed with Mu-
nicipal Court judges the widely varying sentenc-
ing policies which prevail in that court. Some
Judges have the reputation of being more lenient
than others. The judges point out that COM
parison of penalties imposed for drunken driving
or other offenseS is not fair measure OF Judges
practices, for the reason that penalties vary
according to the nature of the offenses. 1t Is
hard to reconcile this explanation, however, with
the fact that one Judge imposed St5 Ilne IN
each of four cases last Friday, although the pub
lished facts indicated that some of the oftenses
were more aggravated than Others All four
cases, however, were serious ones, two of them
involving multiple collisions with automobiles
and another a collision with a streetcar. All
defendants pleaded guilty and paid their fines
$50 or $75 fine in such fragrant accident
cases is not much of penalty for one who Is
able to raise the money and thus stay out OF
tail. The knowledge that an offender can get
off that easy for so dangerous violation Is not
as effective deterrent the threat OF jail
sentence Driving an automobile while lntox-
icated is a grave offense that merits the maxi
mum punishment provided by law.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
All HuIIows Eve

Tonight iDeird Disions ride the sky
While tiny spooks throng to your doc,
To turn on you the "evH eye"
And ask for handouts, nothing more.
They congregate across the Ia1Dn
In deviPs garb, or ghosts attire,
Then, 1Dith ghoulish glee, moue on.
Some neaDer mischief to conspire.
Ride, 1Uitc1tes, ride, All Hallo,Ds EUe:
Gather. children, for your prcnks.
Where terror Is only nlake-belieDe
The heart may ,oeH give thanks.
MAE WNKLER GOODMAN.
Evening star., 1950-10-31

everywhere as the island economy col
lapsed.
American servicemen stationed in
Puerto Rico stimulated the ill-feeling by
treating their Spanish-speaking hosts as
a conquered nation rather than as fellow
citizens. !
The soldiers, sailors and Marines fire.
quently brawled with the islanders and
painted signs blossomed out from time
to time on walls and buildings. Death
to the Yanquis."
That condition has not materially
changed since the war ended, although
our forces there now are no more than
q corporal's guard. Puerto Rico still is
not a pleasant place to live, unless you
are rich, as proved by the recent miera-
ton of so many Puerto Ricans to what
they conceive to be the heshpots Of New
York.
What do the Puerto Ricans want? The
vast majority do not want any drastic
change in their present political ties with
the United States. The recent election
Evening star., 1950-10-31

OF Cow LUIS Munoz Marin of the Popu-
lar Denc1atic Party proved that. The
Puerto leans voted Overwhelmingly for
a middlo -the-road, one step at time
toward kedom policy.
But TIE remain the two chief opposi-
ton paris, both of which want immedi-
ate actio One wants immediate state
hood, thpther, complete independence
now. VIII the latter Nationalist group
voted theommunists.
Gov. Mnoz believes United States
permissioTfor the Puerto Ricans to
write the own constitution would
eliminate bst of the bad feeling, as
generous African aid has helped in the
past.
AS the sittion stands today, the re-
bellion mostikely will prove abortive.
gain little short outside the fanatical
elements thastarted it and die out al
most as quicA as it began. The United
States, howef. can take notice that
Puerto Rico Rs many ills that this
Nation must ce.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Pen-names mag be uss if letters carry
1Driters' correct 7,anaeSnd addresses.
All letters subject tocondensation.
etters to The Star

turned loose in the streets, to become
victims Of disease or the wheels of car.
When all is said. the same rule should
apply to dogs that should apply to chill
dren: If you don't intend to care for
them properly and teach them respect
for the rights of others-don't have
themi
Dog Breeder.
Being a dog, I read with more than
casual interest the letter from the resi-
dent of Dogwood which appeared recently
In The Star. I am convinced that the
dogs in Homewood are rank amateurs
and lack the benefit of a good union
organization.
live in Luxmanor, which is just of
Of Old Georgetown road. Most Of us are
just dogs although some few are "bloodS."
To belong to our club, the dogs must
merely be devoid of all character and
lacking in those qualities that people call
training. Sure we howl, mess up lawns.
and lay in the road, but these activities
are considered purely routine.
We have a number Of committees set
up to take care of special projects. For
instance, our Shrubbery Committee is
charged with keeping a record of all
shrubbery currently alive so that mem
bers can apply their efforts where they
will do the most good.
Not all look upon us as pariahs. AS
q matter Of fact. at least one man has
been so impressed with our tactics that
he frequently joins us in baying at the
moon.
Not in the spirit Of bragadoccio-
with proper humility-we invite the resi-
dent Of Homewood to come to Luxmanor.
Wen pull out all the stops and show him
something.
CAMS Sapiens.
The "Dogwood" residents complaint
about the incessant barking Of countless
dogs is an exact duplicate of what exists
here In Hampshire Knolls.
It Is high time dog owners woke up to
the fact that some Of us like peace and
quiet once In while.
Disguised.
wonder if some person in public Office
in Arlington will ever have the courage
to come out and announce that ne favors
some ordinance to force dog-owners to
confine their dogs. He would be pleas
antly surprised at the followers he would
gain on this one statement.
Arlin&onian.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Dogs Life

We dog g-owners are often piQued by the
attitude of non-owners toward dogs in
general land ours in particularly. But
before we label our irate neighbors as
incurable sour-pusses, how about little
determination?
Unfortunately. many Of us are as blind
to the trespasses Of our pets as we are to
those of our children. We let our dogs
wander loose in the neighborhood in the
mistaken belief that 1t is cruel to keep
them penned UP. Nothing could be fur
ther from the TRUTH
Dogs that are allowed to run the streets
risk being run over. shot, poisoned or
stoned-not to mention the chance Of
contracting diseases, infection and para
site infestation.
1t is unfair to your neighbors to allow
your pet to run loose In metropolitan
area, and 1t is unfair to the dog.
No one suffers more than we dog
breeders who, when we have female In
season on her own premises. find our
front yards mobbed and mutilated by q
pack of male dogs-just itching to pre-
sent us with mongrel litter!
1t is no comfort, either, to think Of the
puppies we have raised and loved being
Evening star., 1950-10-31

content with this shift of burden from the home
to organizations. She did not exaggerate when
she told a meeting of parents and teachers at
the Roosevelt High School that this is an un-
healthy situation that "could undermine our
democracy itself"
Evening star., 1950-10-31

it was my privile to be Mr.. stimson's
minister at the In Covenant Presby-
terian Church. and Mrs. Stimson
were in regular at1dance at our serv-
ices. For some Yrs he was on the
board OF trustees. d his wise counsels
were greatly cherlSd Great as was
his position IN theNolitical world. he
was devout and Undermined Chris
tian.
I shall never forgetis deep and un-
derStanding sympathYhen he came in
person to express to usis CONSERVATION
upon learning Of the eth of our son,
killed in Italy in 1914. 10, on behalf of
his fellow members ithe Church of
the Covenant, wish toecord our pro-
found respect for his meory.
Albert JosepkMc McCartney.
Suspected in Livorno
The article in The Suiay Star of
October % by John Bartlrelating to
American espionage agent brings to
mind an amusing incident hich I ex-
perienced with the CIC in lly in the
summer Of 1947.
Because of my associations Liverno,
Pisa, Florence and Rome-espGslly be-
cause of my subscription to tenews-
paper La Unita-I was suspectd of
having Communist connections ai/or
sympathies.
When, without warning, was tlas-
ferred to another organization, I 1T
that 7 was under suspicion by my su,-
riors. Upon arrival at the new orga-
zation I was placed for duty driving,
warehouse tractor instead Of my regul
duties Of company and personnel cler
1t was, indeed, amusing to see both
us-two sergeants (4th graders) )-wor
ing on tractor, hauling wagons of me-
ical supplies around warehouse. IT
other sergeant, OF course, was inQuis
tive-in fact he had been asking que
tions about me before arrived. q
had been transferred to the organic
ton week ahead Of me- He asked o.
question too many-one OF the men
asked about me was a personal friel
Of long standing. He (the other sc
geant) went with me everywhere. Aft
became aware of who he was,
effect took him for ride" We walk,
all over Livorno; he had to go on si
call for blistered feet.
One night while we were on one
our "long walks" we were stopped
an officer. The officer questioned hi
about his necktie. which was a dark
shade than mine. He was told by Il
officer that when they were on "a cas-
they should dress like other militia
personnel; to get rid of that necktie
Sometime later was placed on du
in the orderly room. I found that ii
sergeant was not entered on the morl
ing report.
Ex CT.
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Stimson the Churchmun
Arlin&onian.

You are, I presume, in receiptof many
tributes to Henry L. Stimson fiom vari-
Gus walks of life. I would hle to add
one to them. During the yeas Of his
residence here in Washington, snce 1920,
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer 70
any question of fact by either writing The
Evening Star Information Bureau, 1900 street
NV, Washington 5, D. C.. and inclosing cents n6
return postage. or by telepnonlng 81. oooo'
Evening star., 1950-10-31
Nv THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

@. Did the Hanging Gardens Of Baby
lon actually hang?--O. S. M.
A. These so-called hanging gardens"
were beautiful terraces constructed for
the comfort of homesick queen. They
were not suspended in any way.