davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-05-07
Electoral and Popular Votes

A letter published in The Star April
25 signed Tommy Knight, was indeed
interesting. He pointed out a fallacy in
the weight of electoral votes in the pres
idential election in respect to certain
States; namely, California and South
Carolina. In the election Of 1910 one
electoral vote in California represented
roughly twelve times as many popular
votes as one electoral vote in South
Carolina.
This apparent fallacy goes little
deeper than was shown in the letter.
There are two reasons for the discrep-
ancy. First, since California has about
four times as many people as South
Carolina, and since both have as many
electoral votes as the sum of the num-
bers of Representatives and Senators in
Congress. South Carolina obviously has
more electoral votes in proportion to
population because Of the two Senate"
electoral votes thrown in. Second. there
was a greater percentage of popular votes
cast, for the size of the population, in
California than in South Carolina.
To explain the first reason for the dis
crepancy we must look in the past to the
time of the framing of the Constitution.
The number of electoral votes for each
State stemmed directly from 'the Great
Compromise" This compromise set up
the balance between the larger and
smaller States and became one of the
Evening star., 1950-05-07
Wordsworth After a Century

Commemorations of William Wordsworth
have been staged in England Canada and
America recently. He died just hundred years
ago April 23-St. Georges Day and Shake
speare's. But the observanceS by his admirers
have raised the question: How numerous is his
public? Do people really read his writings in
1850?
Perhaps the test of any poets Immortality
is to be found in the extent degree of his being
quoted BY this criterion Wordsworth comes off
very well, indeed Bartletts compendium edited
by Christopher Morley and Louella D. Everett,
both excellent judges cites him ITO times in
eleven pages. Burton Stevenson in '"The Home
Book of Quotations" fifth edition revised, ac-
knowledges so many debts to him that he does
not bother to count them. Still more important
is the fact that the same compiler admits to the
two volumes of "The Home Book of Verse" the
entire texts of forty-six of Wordsworth'S poems
Such a showing is very creditable. But it
should be mentioned that the greatest of the
Lake bardS never sought, never strove for un-
limited popularity. He was no Rudyard Kipling,
attempting to reach everybody familiar with the
English tongue. The vital choices of Words
wortl1's career were decisions to stand with mi
norities AS a youth, he used his talents in
support of the French Revolution and agnosti-
cism: in his old age, he was conservative, even
a reactionary in politics and almost esoteric In
religion-a mystic worshipping alone
Poetry, however, is a social art; and its
nature cannot be changed very much by the
idiosyncrasies of its practitioners. II 1t moves
Evening star., 1950-05-07

mighty state into Gods throne comes in
like flood. An honored. member of the
United States Senate, national leader
with rich working background in re-
ligious, labor, educational and interna-
tional affairs, Senator Ebert D. Thomas
of Utah. has recently published vol
ume tingling with intense conviction
and shot through with prophetic insight.
In scintillating chapters he writes the
title, This Nation Under God" in let
ters of fire across our national sky.
To this perpiexed day. the dis
tinguished Senator declares: Everything
for which democracy stands is based
on religious faith. Neither enlightened
self-interest nor practical ethics can
make an effective substitute" In This
Nation Under God" is inspiringly por-
trayed the real manifest destiny of
America. The author is no strutting
Pharisee under the white dome of the
National Temple, thanking God that we
are not as other people. We are only
a chosen people when we choose to be
the instruments of His will for all man.
kind.
Here is a book with truths timely
Evening star., 1950-05-07
Letters to The Star
A pseudonyn is permissible only
when letter carries correct name
and address of Writer. Please be briet.

basic principles of federalism as we know
1t in the United States.
An explanation of the second reason
comes from the fact that South Carolina
is one of the States in the Solid South"
States in the South are well-known for
the small percentages of popular votes
cast. But since the number of Repre-
Sentatives in the House, and thereby a
portion of the electoral votes. for given
State is based upon the whole population
and not upon the voting population, OBJ
viously the electoral vote of State with
a greater percentage of popular votes
cast will represent a greater number Of
people than an electoral vote in State
with smaller percentage.
Let us consider thoroughly change
to election of the President by direct
popular vote before we rush in" The
change perhaps would stimulate an in
terest in the Southern States, but it
would conflict with one Of the basic
principles of federalism. Certainly we
should consider this change carefully.
kim Scully.
George Washington High School.
Evening star., 1950-05-07
Foreign Aid and the Economy Bloc

Although there is reason for misgiving over
the $3.50 million slash in funds requested for the
third year of the Marshall Plan, the Senate has
done generally good days work in voting, go
to 8, in favor of the omnibus bill authorizing
$3,122,45O0OO for foreign aid in fiscal 1851.
This overwhelmingly favorable vote, however,
does not mean that the measure is now safely in
the clear. Besides having to be reconcied in
conference with the version adopted by the
House. 1t must still get over the appropriating
hurdles. Being only an authorization bill, 1t may
run into serious trouble when Congress acts on
the separate legislation needed to supply the
money for all the projects involved.
That such trouble may be in the making is
clear from several preliminary votes leading up
to the bills final enactment. In these votes the
so-called economy bloc-a predominantly Repub-
lican group whose evaluation of the international
situation seems anything but impressive or
realistic-came uncomfortably close to forcing
cuts of kind that could gravely weaken us IN
the cold war Thus, Senator Taft's proposal to
slash $500 million off funds for the Marshall Plan
failed to get by only as result OF 40-to-4O
tie. Similarly, the Point Four program, calling
for the expenditure of $45 million for technical
assistance to promote the development of back
ward areas managed to get through by the
narrowest of margins-a single vote.
Accordingly, we can expect that when Con-
gress gets around to appropriating the money
for our foreign aid, the economy bloc" will
renew its ax-wielding attacks. In the circum-
stances administration forces, and all others
opposed to the penny wise and-pound- foolish
policy of doing too little too late in the cold war
will be well advised to band solidly together in
holding the line against any additional cuts.
OF course, in period of huge Federal
deficits there is much to be said for economizing
efforts But those efforts, insofar as the world
situation is concerned, must be cautious in the
extreme. For if they are allowed to get out of
hand they can be of great help to the Kremlin,
and the dollars saved would, in fact, thus repre-
sent heavy loss for our own and like-minded
nations.
Evening star., 1950-05-07

The Palais Royal, G and Eleventh
streets NV, made use Of quarter page
in The Star for May 8, 1900,
Remnont to proclaim special sale Of
Sole accumulated remnants as
sembled on tables on five
floors. Window screens were priced at
8 cents, hand-painted Japanese fans at
10 cents, boxes of Irish linen writing
paper at is cents, untrimmed straw hats
at Is cents. "A few go-carts somewhat
marred in shipping were offered at
$2.9S each. Black kid gloves 'in small
sizes only" were SO cents pair. Nain-
sock and cambria night dresses were SO
cents each. In the basement satchels
"of all kinds >. more or less shopworn"
we're lone fifth off marked prices" CAR
den tools were as low as 2 and 8 cents
apiece, large size, Is cents.
On May 10, 1900. The Star commented
editorially: European gossips are agog
over a change in the
Koiser's Kaiser's mustache. Hereto
Mustoche lore erected vertically, with
the ends belligerently far
ing and yet pointed, Williams hirsute
adornment had been thought to indicate
his character. independent, impatient of
conventions. 'scrappy.' OF late the royal
barber, it is related, has become imbued
with the spirit of the mustache. He has
grown impudent. has traded upon his
access to the royal upper lip. and has in
general become obnoxious. So he has
been dropped and since then the KaiSer's
mustache has shown decided droop.
The vertical plane is abandoned. A
perceptible angle has appeared. The
points are not too haringly protrusiye. -.
It is being whispered that change has
overcome the Kaiser's spirit along with
his mustache."
The Star for May IL. 1900. announced
the death of Mary Browning. IA, who had
lived at 1016 Twelfth street
Smallpox Sc. She was q victim of
Victims smallpox and had been Ill
only few days. Her sister
Josephine. %. and their brother Arthur.
age not given. predeceased her, dying Of
the same fateful malady. No other cas-
ualties of "the present outbreak" had
been reported but there was serious
danger Of other cases developing and .
Evening star., 1950-05-07
Spires Of the Spirit
This Nation

This Nation is today the most sig
nificant factor in all the tangled and
tragic skein of human affairs. This Ma
ton holds in its hands the power to de-
termine the destiny of this planet for
generations to come-perhaps forever
whether 1t shall be the blessing or the
curse, life or death.
This Nation is today the greatest
reservoir of material resources and spir-
itual idealism on the face Of the earth.
This Nation is the only serious chal-
lenge to the bid for world domination
by sinister slave system which already
holds untold millions in the despotism
of its iron grasp. This Nation in the
providence of God has come TO the king
dom for such time as this.
All this means that. in an age-on ages
telling-to be true to America at its
best is to share an awe-inSpiring role in
the unfolding of the divine purpose.
Rather than any American should sap
his Nations strength by his own moral
treason; betray her by his treachery, or
exploit her by his greed. it were better
for him that a milestone be hanged
about his neck and that he be drowned
in the depths of the sea- No one can be
a worthy partner in democracy unless
he helps sustain the moral and spiritual
roots. If democracy withers it will
never be destroyed by suspected Reds.
but by neglected roots. The sureSt way
to cause the fair flowers of freedom to
fade is to cut the roots reaching into
rich, ancestral soil in which they have
been nourished, and from which, fed by
springs of living water, has come their
help and health. A cut flower is a
doomed flower. Its beauty cannot en-
dure because it's roots have been severed.
For democracy which has fruits with
out roots the undertaken called Time is
already at the door.
In this frightening day it is dawning
upon America as with fresh and star
ting revelation that only religious faith
can undergrad democracy. and that
when this is withdrawn some form of
coercive totalitarianism lifting an al
Evening star., 1950-05-07

too far from the populace it ceases to be poetry
and becomes simply metrical gymnastics. Words
worth undeniaby was a reeluSe, deliberately
trying to escape from reality; but he did not
succeed in his Highland that circumstance is
the key to the survival value of his work. He
lives after a century because he never achieved
isolation. His Character of the Happy Warrior"
quoted historically by Franklin D. Roosevelt, has
as much impact now as it had a hundred years
ago So, too "The World Is Too Much With Us"
is as impressive as ever. If the author of "She
Was Phantom of Delight" had written nothing
else still worthy of notice he would merit his
place in the pantheon of music makers.
Evening star., 1950-05-07
Accidents
By Bruce Borton

A young man asks: Should ] have
q plan for my life?"
Yes. But allow plenty of leeway for
accidents.
When I graduated from college my
picture was printed in Chicago morn.
ing newspaper: Chicago Boy Makes
Good"
The publisher Of some little magazine
in Chicago saw the picture, sent for me.
and asked what was going to be.
told him a professor Of American
history.
How do you know you want to be a
professor" he asked. You have never
been anywhere except school. You should
take year in business; then you would
have other experience to compare with
academic life. Come. into my business
for year."
So hooked up with the printing press
for year and never got unlocked II
that man had read the other Chicago
newspaper that morning, my whole life
would have been different.
It was by just that sort of fluke that
the career of Alfred p. Sloan Of General
Motors was changed. When he gradu-
ated from Massachusetts, Institute OF
Technology he couldn't connect with any
big firm: his first salary was a few dol
lars a week from a man named Hyatt,
who had one ambition-to make a syn
thetic billiard ball.
Hyatt never realized this dream. In
stead OF billiard balls. he developed a
process for manufacturing roller bear
ings.
At first the business was small and
almost insolvent. Sloan persuaded his
father. a wholesale grocer in Brooklyn.
to put Sl00, ,000-half his life's savings
Into 1t. The fathers other sl00,0 900
was invested in good sound securities"
The good sound securities all went sour.
But the automobile came along and
made Hyatt big company almost over
night Sloan and his father sold out
their 100000 interest to w. c. Durant,
as part Of United Motors. for SIS mil.
lion.
so. you see. it was Just a series Of
accidents" he told me.
BY all means. have plan. But keep
your eye peeled for the accidents"
They often are more important than
the plan.
One other suggestion. Don't fall into
the prevalent habit of leaning back and
letting the big planners in Washing
ton make the plans for you. They prom
ise TO employ you. and clothe and feed
you. But when you sit down at their
table the seating arrangement always
is the same. They sit at the top Of the
table and are first served. You sit at
the foot, near the cashier: and you get
the check.
tcepyrishs. 1850. Kins Features Syndicate Insj
Evening star., 1950-05-07
Waste Added on Woste'

I read an article saying our Govern
ment wastes money having too many
employees. Being o Government wife,
see more waste than that.
In the last year the man Of this house
has been moved three times for prac-
tically no reason. He was fired and re-
hired. Two years ago two-thirds of his
force was fred. Now they are rehiring
them or others. All this change costs
money. Also, the employees cannot pos
sibly give their best effort under these
conditions
The armed forces retire 30 per cent
of their men at fifty If they are not
selected for the next step up. They
receive three-fourths Of their pay, and
do no work for the Government. All
the brain power we paid money to give
them is being thrown out during its
most productive years. Maybe they
cannot all be generals or admiralS. but
they have q lot of knowledge the Gov
ernment could use, instead Of paying
others to learn it.
The White House was supplied with
new beams while the old ones we're still
good. Special autos are built to accom-.
modate top hats. Government officials
are driven to their homes night after
night in Government-owned cars. Air
plane trips are given to friends of the
big brass.
We know these things 60 on. It's
waste added on waste, and 1t all adds
up to bigger taxes.
Evening star., 1950-05-07

guard had been placed at the Browning
home to warn visitors away. Mean
while, the District health authorities
were trying to trace the disease to its
source Arthur Browning had been en-
ployed at the Navy Yard. and it was
thought that he might have been in
fected there.
A detailed report of a prize fight at
Coney Island, N. Y, between James J.
Jeffries and James j.
Jeffries Beots Corbett appeared in
Corbett The Star on May IL,
1900. Jeffries was de-
clared the winner and "still champion"
in the 23d round. He said: Il am
proud to retain my laurels and hope they
will always grace the brow of an Ameri-
can" His rivals comment was: II am
whipped man and that is all there
is to it. I suppose might offer excuses.
but they're of little avail" Charley
White, the referee, gave it as his opinion
that: There was never squarer or
fairer ring contest"
Show business was CLANCY half a CEN
tury back, and The Star from time to
time reported threatrical
Actors companies being stranded.
Stronded A case in point was men
toned in the issue of May
4. 1900, where it was explained that
members of '"The Hustler cast at the
Academy of Music "have been individ-
ually impersonating the leading char
acter in practical life. Fifteen in
number, they are bemoaning the failure
of their manager to pay their salaries
and. incidentally, are berating the star.
John Kerneil. for leaving the city yes
terday and thus compelling the per-
formances to come to stop. Yester-
day he announced he would leave II
every dollar due him was not paid"
kilograms to the backer Of the company
brought no money. las q result the
Academy was dark last night" :
Washington artists displaying their
pictures at the Corcoran Gallery on the
evening Of May 1, 1900.
Local Painters had CLOSE to" 1000
Exh;h;t;on guests to admire their
work at the opening of
the show, and The Star for the next day
Evening star., 1950-05-07
'Huts OFF to Acheson!

This is an opportunity can't afford to
miss. Is "A Reader" in your Sunday
letters to the editor, first cousin or an
even closer relative to that "red-blooded
American patriot-Senator Mccarthy"
whom he nominates for Secretary of
State?
When any politician in our country
starts using the high Office of Senator
for his own selfish purposes, then it is
high time for the voters to take good
care that they do not re-elect this type Of
leech to public office For once we have
true statesman in the high post Of
Secretary of State, who refuses to allow
personal and political prejudices to in
fiuence his fine admiration Of this Office.
I say hats off to true, democratic
statesman, Mr.. Acheson!
Mrs. A. L. X.
Evening star., 1950-05-07
A Shrine for Pocohontos?

st. Georges Church at Gravesend in England
may be "done away with" Or it may be saved
and developed into historic shrine "emphasiz-
ing Anglo-American ties" Somewhere in its
immediate vicinity rests all that was mortal OF
Pocahontas, the Virginia princess" from whom
some of the Oldest and proudeSt families IN the
United States are descended.
Her personal name was Matoaka, and she
was the daughter of Powhatan, head OF con-
federacy of native tribes with which the early
settlers at Jamestown we're in constant touch.
The title "Pocahontas' sgnified "the playful one'
and referred to her interest in games and sports.
At ten years of age she was a graceful and
beautiful child. When Captain John Smith was
captured by Powhatan in 1908, she intervened in
his behalf and, according to his own statement
in 1924, saved his life at some peril of her own.
So much of her story is familiar to thousands
of readers What is less well-known Is the fact
that Matoaka fell into the hands of the English
in 1913 and was kept by them as "a security"
instructed in Christianity and baptized. She
married John Rolfe in April, 1914; and "both
English and Indians regarded this union as
bond of friendship between the two races, and
it brought peace which lasted eight years and
greatly aided in establishing the colony on
firm footing" Rolfe took his bride home to
England in 1916 She was received by the king
and queen with the consideration due prin-
cess" and she carried herself with the dignity
of daughter of regning sovereign.
But her brief career was near its end.
Embarking on the George with her husband in
March, 1917 intending 30 return to Virginia, she
became i'll and died. Her body was inferred in st.
Georges church. The edifice burned in 1927
and during the reconstruction her bones were
moved to common grave, the exact location
of which now is uncertain. Two stained-glass
windows in Pocahontas memory were dedicated
by the Virginia Chapter of the Society of
Colonial Danes in 1914. These memorials, of
course, might be saved from the wreckage of
the church. if it is taken down. But the proposal
to liquidate it has stirred up a discussion in
England which now is being echoed here.
Perhaps the counter-Suggestion to save st.
Georges as a shrine for the Indian princess
may prevail.
Evening star., 1950-05-07
Fifty Years Ago in The Star

gave lengthy account Of the reception.
A feature of the occasion was the presen-
tation of portrait of President (Gen)
U. S. Grant by S. Muller Ury. SEN
ator Chauncey M. Depew delivered the
address Gin his most eloquent and i'm
pressive manner" Among the exhibitors
were: Prince Troubetzkoy. Henry Floyd.
Max Weyl, Lucien Powell, r. Legrand
Johnston. Robert Hinckley, r. N. Brooke.
Carl Gutherz, w. H. Hilliard, Howard
Helmick, w. H. Holmes. James Henry
Moser and Miss Juliet Thompson. The
artists expressed their appreciation Of
the patronage of Mrs. j. B. Henderson
by sending her vase filled with roses.
"A mass meeting under the auspices
held yesterday after
Anti-Cieorette noon in the First Con-
cusods gregational Church"
said The Star of May
7. 1900. Charles F. Crane. president of
the local league, presided. :. The ex-
erciSes were opened with the reading of
the First Psalm by Rev. B. A. DUNN.
A brief address was made by Mr.. Crane.
who announced that the local league had
succeeded in securing /. @. H. Award
as general superintendent for the work
proposed to be carried out here" A drive
to stop the sale of cigarettes TO minors
was planned. Willis Brown testified that
Washington was "the worst place he had
ever seen for cigarette smoking among
children"
The Star of May 8, 1900, contained q
society notice to the effect that DR.. and
Mrs. James r. Walsh had
Moe Wolsh's given birthday party
eirthdoy for their daughter Mae,
aged 4. and that their
home. 1101 Third street Sc. had echoed
with music and laughter such as might
be expected at such an entertainment.
Mae had worn dress Of lace made in
Ireland. Her guests included: Florence
Goodrich. Helen Springman. Helen
Breast. Gladys Cooper, Lillian Collifiower,
Constant Mullican. Bessie Fields. Elsie
Summers. Minnie Baker, Howard Weber,
William Cooper. Raymond Linton. Louis
and Frank Walsh and Lotta, Ruth. Arie,
Agnes and Beatrice Walsh. The young
sters were served refreshments at ia
BE decorated with lilies Of the valley.