davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-05-11
He Calls 1t Highhonded

Chairman Lesinski of the House Labor Com
mittee has hit the Capitol dome because
subcommittee chairman has issued subpoena
for John L. Lewis.
Mr.. Lesinski says that only he, the chairman
of the full committee, has authority to issue
subpoenas, and he wants to abolish the sub
committee for it's "highhanded' action in putting
the finger on Mr.. Lewis
What this really means is that Mr.. Lesnski
does not favor making Mr.. Lewis or any other
labor leader answer embarrassing questions. Mr..
LesinSki is exceedingly sensitive to the wishes of
his labor friends, and If the appearance of Mr..
Lewis before the subcommittee has to await Mr..
Lesinski's OK on the subpoena it will be long,
long time before the hearing is held.
It is hearing, however, which ought to be
held, with Mr.. Lewis in the witness chair and
under oath. The subcommittee chairman, Rep
reSentative Jacobs of Indiana, wants to find out
whether it is true that MIR. Lewis sent secret
signals to the miners last winter to continue
their strike despite the court order that they
return. He also wants to find out whether it is
true that Lloyd H. sidener, former president of
a United Mine Workers local, was kicked out OF
the union through undemocratic and unfair
procedures" because he had antagonized the
union bosses.
Mr.. Lesnski may not be interested in these
matters. But there is every reason why the
public should be very much interested in them,
and the full committee should insist that the
subpoena be issued and the hearing held. Mr..
Lesinski should not be permitted to use his
official position to shield John L. Lewis from
honest questions.
Evening star., 1950-05-11
Many Jimmy Johns

Miss McGrory's story in The Star on
May 2, entitled Mrs. Roses Adventure
in Child Salvage" seemed to me both
timely and well written.
Here in the District there are many
Jimmy Johns" who can be and are
being helped by foster mothers like Mrs.
Rose. But not all the children present
the problems of Jimmy john" In
fact the children under care of child
care agency are cross section Of chill
dren everywhere. and most OF them can
benefit from the love and care given in
a normal home atmosphere.
Our agency has already received
number of inquiries about boarding
foster children as result of Miss Nc
Grory's story Some Of these inquiries
have come from the District, while others
have come from persons in the neigh
boring States of Maryland and Vir-
ginia We believe that stories such as
Miss McGrorys can be of help to agencies
in getting before the public the needs
Of children, and how they may be helped.
Alice r.. Smith,
Senior Supervisor, Foster Home Sec
ton, Board of Public Welfare.
Evening star., 1950-05-11
CATHEDRAL AVE.
Dear Sir:

Dear Sir:
For about a month, flock Of a
dozen finches (gold, purple, bronze) and
one parula warbler were constant visitors
at my feeding tray. They were espe-
cially fond of crushed peanuts.
"a week ago the entire flock suddenly
and completely disappeared, to my
regret Can you tell me why they left,
where they have gone, and whether
they will return?
"a rare visitor is slender bird.
slightly smaller than a robin, but more
streamlined.
BLACK head, red body, black wings
and tail, with long white feathers in both
wings and tail. He is a nervous bird
with loud harsh squawk.
Can you identify him for me?
''Your column is a daily source of in
terest. Thank you kindly.
Sincerely, L. K. W."
Migrating birds remain for few days,
few weeks. then fly on North.
Many of them stop somewhere in New
England.
Others, according to species, 80 up to
Canada and even to Alaska.
They leave Washington because
instinct prompts them to. The whole
subject Of migration is an obscure one.
with many theories. some old. some
very new.
One Of the newest is that birds got
their migrating habit in the days when
oil vas land; and now that water IN
Evening star., 1950-05-11
This and That .

tervenes. they still fly, though the neces-
sity may not be the same.
Will they return?
Undoubtedly, on their way South in
the fall.
But the watcher will not know them.
unless they fly down and seem to be
familiar with the layout or setup. That
is one of the best reasons for continuing
bird feeding through the summer Some
persons fear this will "spoil' the birds
and keep them from seeking their food
through nature. There Is no danger Of
this. Bird life is ages old, and there is
nothing any one of us can do that will
change it. Sometimes persons who take
up watching birds in their home grounds
build up a complex of wholly need
less worries. Cats, for instance. Birds
and cats have existed side by side for
thousands of years. The individual,
suddenly interested because he has
moved to the suburbs, need not worry
too much.
The bird with black head and "red
body is probably towhee.
II our correspondent were color blind,
the bird might be Baltimore oriole.
The scarlet tanager Is out, because 1t
does not have black head. though 1t
has black wings.
The towhee is a marvellous bird. with
an air all its own. 1t eats peacefully
enough. but usually prefers to have q
feeding station all to itself. The mate
is a colorless bird. with the black of the
male replaced by brown.
The male towhee Is the beauty Of the
family.
Evening star., 1950-05-11
Criticism of MeIIett

AS longtime subscriber and admirer
of The Star, must write to protest Low
ell Mellett's recent column on Mr.. Bu-
denz. Your paper, as you must surely
know, represents a very important, and
by far the largest, segment of the public.
the average center of -the-road American
attempting to maintain objectivity in an
age of extremes. AS such your news
paper is charged with a tremendous re-
sponsibility, especially 80 since 1t is pub
1ished in the Nations and the worlds
capital.
am certain that you have had definite
opinions concerning Mr.. Mellett's column
expressed beforehand am also certain
that most of them, II they represented
a true cross-section Of your readers, were
critical Now I realize that, in order to
reflect in truth all elements on the Ameri-
can scene, you attempt to have your
columnists represent all shades of Ameri-
can thought. Further, most of your
readers. believe, appreciate and approve
of your efforts.
However, when Mr.. Mellett consistently
miSrepresents facts, opinionates with
bias, and slants the news so obviously
as to insult the intelligence of your read
ers, question the prudence Of continu-
ing his column.
Diogenes in Washington.
Evening star., 1950-05-11
Blocking Postal Economies

More weight could be given the Senate Post
Office Committees professed interest in adequate
postal service If the committee had evidenced
similar interest in the postal reorganization
plans. How can the committee, in good con-
science oppose Postmaster General Donaldson'S s
economy program when the committee continues
to block major economies proposed by the
President and by the Hoover Commission?
The committee some time ago agreed to delay
indefinitely" any action on s. 2213, an admins
tration bill designed to take the Post Office
Department out of politics. This is polite way
of booming the bill to pigeonhole, for good.
DR.. Robert L. Johnson, chairman of the Citizens
Committee for the Hoover Report, recently said:
This measure was unanimously recommended
by the Hoover Commission. 1t has the support OF
President Truman, Postmaster General Donald
son and the national associations of postmasters
and other postal employees. This bill provides
the Congress and the public with test of
courageous leadership. The encouragement of
ambition and initiative wrought by political
appointment of poStmasters is factor of ineh
cheney which contributes to the huge postal
deficit of $500 million q year."
Yet the committee apparently sees nothing
wrong in refusing to submit this important
reform bill to the Senate for action and In
denouncing also Mr. Donaldson's own economy
efforts. The Senate committee is not the only
group which dislikes the idea of reducing the
number of postal deliveries The Postmaster
General himself would much prefer to increase
service rather than curtail it. But he is con-
fronted with the hard fact that his department
is running into the red at the rate of half
billion dollars annually condition that calls
for drastic retrenchment in the interest of all
the taxpayers. Even If Congress should grant
the increase in postal rates asked by the depart
ment, there would still be need for sharp economy
measures. And really effective economy job
cannot be done as long as the committee stands
in the way of legislation to rid the postal system
of political patronage.
Evening star., 1950-05-11
The Navy, and Gouts

I have followed with interest all your
reports on the Missouri affair up to
the last word, the courtS-martial list
penalties. There has been one question
in my mind which has never been an
swered by any explanations have seen
in print. Who ordered, that trial-run
in the first place, and why?
I know none of the parties to this
fiasco. but I think I know the Chesa-
peake Bay fairly we'll. I have been up
and down, over and back, at numerous
points. have spent two nights on sand
bars myself, once on boat of six-foot
draft, once on one of ten. At no time has
the bay impressed me as a safe place
for a ship the size and draft Of the
Missouri to move about, other than
cautiously, under the guidance Of local
pilot who knows all the channels. I
would just as soon recommend crossing
the Atlantic in canoe.
So, to begin with, can not help but
wonder if the range was ever designed
for vessels of the Missouri's class If
so, then why was it situated in such
hazardous waters? Security reasons
enter, of course. but surely our extensive
ocean frontage must afford many less
imperiled locations.
The Navy mascot offers symbol OF
dual Interpretation. feel that a par
ents conduct would be most reprehensible
should he send his child to distant
store, necessitating the crossing of many
busy streets, when there is store
around the corner in the same block.
Such conduct is courting disaster. But
the Navy has its solution-the goat
James w. Adams.
Evening star., 1950-05-11
The Magic of Ex-Communists

Another reformed Communists class of
people, incidentally, which seems to have dis
covered short cut to fame and public adulation
has made the headlines. The method follows
the current pattern. Having won prestige because
of having been member of the Communist
Party the witness rises suddenly from obScurity
by testifying in manner that carries some
faint against one of the great men of our times
in this case, DR.. J. Robert Oppenheimer. DR..
Oppenheimer needs no defense, here or anywhere
else. The fact remains that now he, too, has
been drawn into that growing company of men
and women whose regulations are Smeared by
those whose claim to credibiity rests on admit
ting previous membership in society of liars.
One of the aims of the Communist Party is
to create distrust and confusion among our
people. Suppose we join, for moment the high
command of the Communist Party and witness
how this could be done. scheme that expert
ence seems to indicate is workable might be
unfolded in this manner:
Comrade x in the name of Stain, rise and
receive your orders. You are a known Com
muniSt. Tomorrow morning, you must renounce
communism. You must do this publicly. You
must write an article exposing our alleged secrets
and damning Stain. You must say you have
been won over to American democracy, that you
wish to it, that you wish to warn against the
dangers OF communism
It will not be long before you are summoned
to Washington. Be modest, but be firm. Face the
Kleig lights standing up-the cameras, the
audience which jams the chamber. Swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
truth-so help you God. If possible, on your
way to the hearing, hold brief press conference
and hint at, but do not divulge the things you
are going to say. Give the impression that you
will name names and dates but only to the
committee
When you get on the stand, remember this
list of people, highly placed in the American
Government. Let the names come out, as If they
were being drawn from you against your will
Praise them family as having been known to you
as faithful workers for the party, or as one who
mingled with Communists. The reception that
you receive will awe you, but keep your head!
Remember that the applause is not for you,
personally, but for the great tradition that we,
the members of the party, have been able to
establish-the tradition that we Communists,
once we publicly renounce communism, become
the fountain head of truth symbols of infalli-
bility, modern Pied Pipers whose magic attracts
all the little children along with all the rats.
Thus the agent receives his instructions and
embarks upon his mission. And nobody yet has
been able to explain the mysterious processes of
the human mind which elevate him above his
fellows, give authority to his testimony, allow
him to scar and blacken for life the regulations
of people who, far from claiming they once were
Communists are ready to swear they are not and
never have been Communists.
How do we know the reformed Communists
Evening star., 1950-05-11
For Fewer Campaigns

The decision to appoint representative
citizens group to formulate plans for reducing
the number of fund drives held here each year
Is an encouraging first step toward solution OF
an increasingly serious problem. The sentiment
against the multiplicity of appeals was evidenced
in numerous comments by delegates to the we'll
attended conference yesterday at the District
Building, called by the District Commissioners.
There was unanimous agreement that the
almost continuous succession of campaigns for
independent causes is. not good either for the
causes or the contributing public. There is as
yet no unanimity as to how the problem can be
met to the satisfaction of all concerned, however.
The committee of inquiry thus will face difficult
task.
The chief difficulty is the reluctance of
important national groups to cast their lots with
the Community Chests here or elsewhere,
especially in view of the troubles which chest
Embarrassing organizations generally have had
recently in reaching their quotas. The "inde-
pendents," on the other hand, have been
successful in most of their campaigns. But as
was pointed out at the Commissioners meeting,
the time undoubtedly is coming when even the
independent drives will have hard sledding not
only because of rising public irritation over the
repeated solicitations but because of resistance
by governmental and business organizations to
time-conSuming organizing and collecting. This
outlook should be of concern to all campaignerS
When it is considered that about two dozen
Embarrassing drives are being held in washington
each year, or an average of two month"; the
necessity for joint action to eliminate what
Chest President Parker has described as nearly
chaotic" conditions is apparent. Perhaps it will
never be possible to merge all these drives into
one effort But it may be possible to reduce
greatly the number of separate campaigns, or
of ha n
consolidate the independent drives so that there
would be but two major campaigns each year
one for the Chest and one for the non-Chest
organizations. The drive-besieged public will
welcome any plan that will simplify the existing
burdensome and annoying system Of compete
lively collecting money for so many worthy
causes, local and national.
Evening star., 1950-05-11
BY Charles E. TroceweU

His red" is much like the breast Of
our robin.
He has some gold and some white
on him, and altogether makes beauti-
full picture. He is also known as
chewink. The name towhee is most
popular. but many listeners will think
"che-wink" more closely resembles his
call than "tow-hee."
The towhee has way Of scratching
on the ground, kicking up the leaves
much as hen might.
In this way it finds hundreds of
insects and their eggs, which otherwise
might be left to mature.
When the towhee's nest is approached,
the bird does not seem to worry in the
least. until the nest is actually dis
covered. Then 1t makes as much fuss
as any other species.
Cowbirds select the towhee nest as
good one for their own eggs. and the
towhees, both male and female, show
no awareness Of the deception. but feed
the larger cowbird babies along with
their own; and since the young cowbirds
are huskier and have larger mouths,
they get the lions share-or cowbird S
share-of all the food offered.
One might think the male towhee
too sophisticated to be taken In this
way, but records show that unless the
cowbirds make the mistake Of putting
five or six eggs into the towhee nest.
the towhee offers no remonstrance.
Three or four does not make any differ
ence. II more are put In, however, the
towhees desert the nest, along with their
own eggs. NatSre Is. indeed. strange.
Evening star., 1950-05-11
Auto Insurance
Andy Larman.

Seems to me there should be some
adjustments made in our laws concern
ing liability insurance on automobile ac-
cidentS.
Very often owners carry insurance to
cover all parties involved in accidents,
but too often there are reckless and even
drunken drivers who carry no insurance
at all. The victims of these drivers have
no other recourse than to spend more
money to bring the offenders into court.
No one profits from such action. Tax
payers just pay more to support them
in jail.
Why allow any one TO drive car with
out insurance?
Evening star., 1950-05-11
Grand CouIee-Dom of Dedication

Senator Cain of Washington has been having
little fun about the numerous dedicationS of
the Grand Coulee Dam. He says that Mr..
Roosevelt dedicated it once in August of 1887 and
again later on the same year. Mr.. Truman went
there in June of 1948, he says, for sort of "dry
run" dedication and in May of 1949 dedicated the
thirteenth generator by pushing button in the
White House which started it generating There
are now thirteen generators, Senator Cain says,
and each one has been dedicated by some Demo-
crat. He proposes that the name of the dam be
changed to Democratic Dedication Dam, or,
'"Triple-D Dam" for short.
The Interior Department coldly offers infor-
nation which, it says is factualas distinct from
Senator Gains information, which, it suggests,
is political. Mr.. Roosevelt went to the dam in
1884 to break ground, 1t says not to dedicate it.
Mr.. Truman just happened by in 1913 when,
instead of dedicating, he was inspecting. The
first generator was dedicated, the department
says, but by whom it has forgot Many Interior
Department officials have visited the dam. but
the Interior Department growing more bored
by the minute-denies any record of the thirteen
generator dedications.
But instead of getting into an argument
about this thing, why not let us have peace-and
gratitude for the existence of place to dedicate
whenever the President feels in the dedicating
AiOou9 Ills SISdAt1C pEOJcCG ID UcAAAS CdI14cu ou1
in three construction phases-dam power plant
and irrigation. Formal dedication of the power
plant has been withheld, because it is not COM
pleted. The dam itself is only partially dedicated
Many dedicationS lie ahead for the irrigation
development, for every drop of water that makes
the desert blossom is worthy of dedication.
So, let US be thankful for the almost limitless
dedication possibilities inherent in the Grand
Coulee. Let the Republicans bide their time.
Who knows but there may come day when
Senator Cain, happily riding a Presidential
dedication train himself, can assist Republican
President in dedicating something at Grand
Coulee. 1t is convenient for the purpose, train
riding in the Northwest is pleasant, the people
are always in need of the Presidential wisdom
that flows at whistle stops and another dedica-
tion will not hurt anybody.
Russia can be right in claiming discovery of
the first wonder drug as they say versatile vodka
can do anything, from loosening dandruff to
cauterizing an ulcer
Evening star., 1950-05-11

tionately to the word principal" know
ing what only q fool would not be
aware Of:
The Communists have not yet been
able to place one of their henchmen in
so vital spot. Not yet.
Having just layman's knowledge Of
how the departments of the Government
operate, believe it is the policy of the
heads to delegate authority to specialists
in a given field. Could any one of the
former Secretaries of State conscien-
tlously answer the question the Senator
should have asked? This is the question:
How much influence was exerted by DR..
baltimore on subordinates who had limit
ed authority to make decisions in their
particular fields?
The Senator might be wise to investi-
gate this angle, If he is conscientious.
Delmer G. Wright.
Evening star., 1950-05-11

bylaws. Mr. Hopkins relies on that part
Of the decision. The last mine strike
was an unauthorized" one, too.
OF course. the Court of Appeals could
decide the coal case on what the lawyers
describe as a narrow" issue, without
going into the highly controversial point
of union responsibility. It may decide
that the whole question Of compliance
with the Keech strike order-or the lack
Of compliments now moot. since peace
has returned to the coalfeldS.
But the effectiveness of Government
machinery for dealing with so-called
national emergency" strikes seems to
rest on the outcome OF this case.
Evening star., 1950-05-11

against an unincorporated association
and it was not necessary to name all Of
the individuals in it. The Government
used that part of the 1922 decision to
show why the Keech restraining order
was directed only to the union, its
officers and agents. CThe UNIV has
made point of the fact that the order
was not directed to the individual mem
berS, and could not have been.)
But also in the Coronado case. the
high court cleared the UNIV Of re-
sponsibility for damages attending the
strike. because the strike had not been
authorized by the parent union and was
not in accord with its constitution and
Evening star., 1950-05-11

actually have reformed? How do we know they
really are transformed, by the curious alchemy
OF the times from liars to truthful men and
women? How do we know that they are not the
participants in some subtle plot to panic us into
mob tactics? How do we know, as a matter of
fact that they are ex-Communists?
Evening star., 1950-05-11
Naive and Ingenious

After reading Senator Tydings' letter
to the former Secretaries Of State, I
would like to point out what consider
naive and ingenious on the part Of the
Senator. He asked to what extent Dr.
baltimore was the principal architect Of
our Far Eastern policy.
To me it is strange that the Senator
and the former Secretaries cling 50 affec-
Evening star., 1950-05-11
Questions and Answers

A reader can get the answer to any question
Of fact By writing The Evening Star Information
b. G. Please inciose three (Sl cents for
return postage
Evening star., 1950-05-11
By THE HAsKIN SERVICE

@. Is cows milk used to any extent
by the people of India?-F. o.
A. To q limited extent. The typical
Indian COW is the buffalo, and buffalo
milk Is more plentiful than the milk OF
COWS and goats together. The buffalo
has been domesticated for centuries and
is used widely for milking purposes
throughout most of the warmer areas
OF Asia and Africa.
O. How much has the population OF
Japan increased since World War II?-
r j. T.
A. In a report on Japan last Sep
tenber. Gen. Macarthur stated that
since october !, 1945, the population OF
Japan had increased by 91a million
people, S million being added by repatrt-
alton and the rest through natural
increase.
@. Has anyone ever repeated Ben
janin Franklin's famous kite expert
ment?-E. E.
A. The Franklin Institute reported
some years ago that the only other man
known to science who attempted TO re-
peat the experiment was q Russian
scientist, then deceased.
@. What is the last paragraph Of
Patrick Henrys famous Give me lib
erty or give me death" speech?-A. H. H.
A. It is as follows: rs life so dear. or
peace 50 sweet. as TO be purchased at
the price Of chains and slavery? Forbid
1t, Almighty God. know not what
course others may take. but as for me.
give me liberty or give me DEATH" The
speech was made on March %. IT'S. in
the Virginia House Of Delegates.