davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-01-19
Once There Was an Indiun

Once there 1Dds an Indian 11ho lDar-
,0hooped through the summer:
Once there aDaS co1Dpoke tDho rode
the purple range:
Once there ,Das sheriff, and one time a
circus drummer.
NoU there is soldier, and it's strange.
Once there 1Das snuggler dealing only
in stray puppies; . .s -=.
Once there ,Uas a schoolboy aDllo signed
his o1Dr reports; .a.a- ~<
Once there 1Das a clo1Un 1Dho spiked our
lemonade sDith gnppjeS.
Noy there's a new fighter for the forts.
Once there ,Das jitterbug and once
there 1Dds dandy;
once there Das loper, but not
fnGncier,'
Borrowing from, Dad to buy his girl
bor of candy.
No,D there is soldier, and it's queer.
Once there was an Indian Who trampled
dot0n our cloUer;; .-
NoD there is soldier Dho has gone
out to roam.
God be ,Dith him noD, and tDhen the
troubled times are oDer.
Bring our co,Dpoke-sn,uggler-so soldier
home.
Mary Margaret MiIbroth
Evening star., 1951-01-19
How Washington Made Printing History

of debates who had an eye for business
ventures, covered a noted burglary trial
in the fall of 1874 His own steady
pounding of the typewriter of those
earlier days turned his thoughts to the
tedium of setting type by hand.
He bent his mind to improving the
printers lot. He came up with the
basic conception of what is known today
as the linotype machine.
And then there was the workman who,
with deft fingers and inventive brain.
fashioned his early printing machine
for clephane. He was a German,
Ottmar Mergenthaler C854-1899). Born
in Hatchel, Germany, into family of
teachers. he came to Washington in
1872. He had served his apprenticeship
in the Fatherland in the watch and
clock-making trade.
Mergenthaler got work here in the
scientific instrument shop of August
Hail. son of his former boss in Germany.
He was engaged in constructing various
instruments for the Federal Government.
When Hahl moved to Baltimore in
1876, Mergenthaler went with him. He
was already working on correcting de-
fects in writing machine made by
Charles Moore, another Washingtonian,
when Clephane came to him with the
linotype idea and commissioned him to
make a full-scale model of it, Mergen-
thaler went at 1t with a will.
In 1877. the model was finished. It
was not entirely successful. But the
dogged Mergenthaler and equally de-
termined Clephane kept at the goal of
improving the printers art. They
worked on a machine that would sub
stitute stereotyping for lithography. This
idea also led into blind alley.
Persistency won. In 1888, on the
basis of what had been learned Clephane
sponsored the formation of a company
in Washington, and Mergenthaler was
directed to produce machine embody-
ing all the latest ideas. This was to be
a typesetting machine which would
space between the lines and use regular
type to get perfect impressions into
matrix, 50 that reproduction could be
speeded.
BY July. 1884, the first direct-casting
linotype was completed. Mergenthaler
received his first patent August 26, 1884.
During his lifetime, he was to patent
more than so improvements on the lino-
Evening star., 1951-01-19
Further Study Advisable

With due allowance for the partisan nature
of their dissenting report the Republican critics
of the Senate District Committees wiretapping
control bill have made good suggestion in
urging further study of the measure. The Re-
publican minority asserted that the committee
did not consider the possibility of conflict be-
tween the local bill and proposed national wire
tapping legislation Both types of legislation,
since they deal with the same basic problem of
telephone "eavesdropping" should be in accord,
lest confusion develop later with respect to their
enforcement in the District of Columbia. For
both proposed laws would apply to Washington.
There Is another reason, however, warrant
Ing further scrutiny Of the District BILL While
1t properly excepts local police from the pro-
posed ban on wiretapping in the District 1t fails
to state-as does the Keating national" bill
that information obtained by tapping wires can
be used as evidence in court If it is wise to spell
this out in so many words for the benefit
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and mill
tary intelligence agencies, it is just as wise to
spell it out for Washington police If the national
bill should pass with the right so specified and
the local bill should become law without posi-
tive assertion of evidence admiSsibility, some
court might well wonder whether Congress in
tended to do more than authorize wire inter-
ceptions by police-as an investigative aid alone.
+ What is needed-and promptly-is legisla-
ton that will make clear the right of proper law
enforcement agencies, when duly authorized, to
listen in on certain communications and to use
the information so obtained as proSecutive evi-
dence against spies, saboteurs, kidnapers and
similar major public enemies. AS Representative
Furcolo of Massachusetts, recently commented,
1t is indeed an anomalous situation when such
criminals cannot be brought to trial because of
an ill-advsed legal bar against the use of wire
tap evidence.
Evening star., 1951-01-19
By William A. MiIIen

THIS week-National Printing Week
l. pays tribute to the power Of the
press and to Benjamin Franklin, one
Of its outstanding early American expo
nents. It also focuses attention on the
part the National Capital has played in
the development of the printing art.
At least three men who lived here
lent a mighty hand in bringing Ameri-
can printing to the high level Of excel
lence it enjoys today.
1t is only fitting that printing should
be Washington's major industry, aside
from Government In addition to the
newspapers, we have here, of course, the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
Evening star., 1951-01-19
We Might Need Them to Survive

The Department of Defense has gone about
as far as it reasonably could be expected to 90 in
the direction of sparing 18-year- from COM
bat service. The bill which Defense Secretary
Marshall has proposed would guarantee that no
draftee under 10 would be sent into combat with
out adequate training. This provision, General
Marshall assured Congress, would virtually wipe
out, except in time of dire emergency, the prob
ability that any young man brought into the
service in the early days of this program would
go into combat before he was 49," Presumably
the departments policy will be to give every
draftee considerably more than the minimum
four months of basic training before he becomes
eligible to be sent overseas
This is sensible modification of the de-
partment's original plan for induction of 18-
year-olds for training and service. The program
combines universal training with selective serv-
ice in such way as to provide not only the men
needed to build up our present forces to required
strength, but to provide a permanent pool of
trained citizen-soldiers in reserve Strong re-
action had developed in Congress, however,
against lowering the draft age without statu-
tory restriction against sending the younger men
into combat. The congressional reaction re-
fected an understandable reluctance of parents
to having youths of 18 thrust into the midst of
wars horrors
Conditions being as they are today, however
the time conceivably might come when we would
need the services in combat of every able bodied
citizen, regardless of age. Secretary Marshall
was not stating an empty fear when he warned
that a legislative prohibition against use of men
under 19 could Cripple the services in meeting
sudden, ruthless and violent action by our pos
sible enemy" If such an extreme emergency
should develop, the Armys hands should not be
tied by well-meant but risky limitations on use
of younger men.
Evening star., 1951-01-19
Dr.. Corning Commended
j. Feldmans,
Charge d'Affaires of Latvia.

The Stars January editorial "Dr.
Corning and the School Board" deserves
commendation of every Washington
parent who has child in school.
The Star points out quite properly the
distinguished prior service which led to
DR.. Corning's appointment as Washing
tons superintendent Of schools It cor
rectly appraises his five-year record in
Washington as impressive. 1t aptly dag
noses the sources Of the present diff
bers Of the board.
Through century OF experience a
clear line has been drawn by American
boards of education themselves between
board functions and those Of superin-
tendents. The board is policy making,
legislative body. The superintendent Is
its chief executive officer and profess
sional adviser. The superintendency Of
q modern city school calls for educa-
tional vision, technical training and wis
dom gained from years Of practical ad-
ministrative experience.
The Star says that when the Adelbert
Lees and their followers constantly
meddle with trif1es. badger and harass
a superintendent, his Office Is robbed OF
its dignity and the morale OF the profess
sional staff is weakened.
That is correct, but the most tragic
consequence of such exhibitionism is the
damage done to the education of boys
and girls because the school board sell
dom gets to deal with the things which
safeguard their interests.
When the Adelbert Lees are appointed
to the school boards they debase the edu-
cational coinage by seeking to make pro-
motions on a political rather than
merit basis. They try to block the super
intendents from reporting to the boards
and to the public on the progress of the
schools and they indulge in windy
wrangles about whether the superin-
tendents have right to speak in COM
mittee meetings which they are COM
PEELED to attend. The rules Of most city
boards Of education not only permit but
require the superintendents to do both
Of these things. This wastage Of the
Evening star., 1951-01-19

four roller-Skatlng Kinks that I know
around here, but none of them are for
Negro people. Maybe you can help us
get one by publishing this letter.
Roy Douglas.
Reactions to Mrs. B. J.Z.
I read the letter by B. ]. e., "The
Horror Of War; printed January II.
Although there are many sides to
the Korean situation which can be
argued pro and con, the condition of
the Korean people as described by Hal
Boyle seems indeed inhuman and al
together pitiful. However, in America
children daily are being abandoned by
fear-ridden people on the doorsteps of
institutions or on dark corners in the
night. Children frequently are lost in
the crush of our own crowds, and where
there is no turning back to search as
in Korea.
What believe is particularly frighten-
ing is Mrs. rs attitude toward our own
future generations.
am the mother of six small children
and do not regret for one moment that
my children have been born, when /
consider the supreme dignity of every
soul as potential heir of heaven.
A. G. S.
Hoorah for B. j. e. It takes courage
to write letter like that, but more so,
a paper that is fair enough to print
the letter is also tops"
There will be many expressions of
horror and disgust from critics of all
kinds. but it is we'll to remember that
most Of those do not have the peoples
welfare at heart.
Women, and women alone can win the
struggle for peace, but it will mean
organization. Some of the women of
England vowed they would not have
children during war. Up to this time
they have not won. for England still
is involved in wars. However, one
country alone cannot win this great
and important bloodless war against
tyranny and imperialism. 1t must in
clude all countries.
When there are no soldiers, there can
be no war. With many soldiers, human
lives become cheap and less important.
excepting for fighting. Think it over
and support. rather than criticize
B. j. z. for her attitude. We should have
more like her. Me Too.
I have just read the letter by Mrs.
B. ]. z. Yes. war is horrible.
Papers every day print various cap
tions drawn from millions of refugees
around the battlefields in Korea. Among
those hard-pressed people are our
parents, our sisters and our brothers
who are shivering in horror. in despair,
in cold and in hunger. They have lost
their houses, everything except what
little they could carry-only a few
belongings.
Under the circumstances I cannot
help thinking of Korea as "the land of
curse. Korean Student.
Evening star., 1951-01-19

type. Clephane's company became the
National Topographic Co.
And then there was the farm boy from
Troy, Ohio-Tolbert Lanston 1844-
1919, who created the monotype ma
chine, another triumph for printing.
He had served in the Civil War, and
came to Washington as a clerk in the
Pension Bureau. He studied law, gain
ing admission to the bar. But his in
ventive genius overshadowed his other
accomplishments.
He patented paddock, hydraulic
dumbwaiter, brush and comb, railroad
car coupler, locomotive smokestack,
sewing machine chair and other things.
Finally he became interested in the work
Evening star., 1951-01-19

which produces foreign as we'll as
American stamps and paper money. Our
Government Printing Office is a man.
moth establishment, sending forth a
torrent of publications. The National
Geographic Magazine is published here
a high example OF the printers art.
And other national magazines, such as
Nations Business and Pathfinder. are
put out in Washington.
But what of the men who aided In
building up this potent business?
James o. Clephane, local reporter
Evening star., 1951-01-19
Lutviu Not Absorbed

In the January 8 issue Of The Star.
there was an article headed Ida Yoel-
son. 80. Dies Unaware Stepson. AL Jolson.
Is Dead" In this article there is the
following statement: Ida Yevels came
here from Latvia. which is now part Of
the Soviet Union"
May draw your attention to the fact
that although Latvia was overrun and Is
Illegally occupied by the Soviet Union.
which still holds that country under its
illegal occupation. the United States
Government does not recognize this oc-
cupation of Latvia and has repeatedly
condemned this act. So much less is
there reason to call Latvia part of the
Soviet Union." as 1t was stated in your
paper.
]. Feldmans,
Charge dAffaires Of Latvia.
Evening star., 1951-01-19
By THE HAsKIN SERVICE.


@. Who controlled the early slave
trade into the Americas?-A. F.
A. The Portuguese had a monopoly on
the trade because Of their explorations
on the west coast of Africa beginning in
1442. The English went into the slave
trade in 1862, when Hawkins took slaves
to Hispaniola.
@. To whom did George Washington
direct his address when he surrendered
to Congress his commission as COM
mander in chief?-J. F. P.
The president of the Congress was.
at that time, Gen. Thomas Mifflin 1t
was thus to an old enemy that Wash
ington addressed his remarks, since they
were directed to the presiding officer.
Q How many works did Mozart COM
pose?--E. E.
In his short life of 35 years, Mozart
produced a known total of over 626
works. including more than 40 SYM
phonies and % operas.
@. When did Omar Khayyam write
the "Rubaiyat"? S.
A. Omar Khayyam was born in the
latter part of the 18th century and died
within the first quarter of the 18th CEN
tury A. D. Exactly when the "Rubaiyat"
was written is not known.
Evening star., 1951-01-19

Mergenthaler was doing for printing;
about 1883. he turned his talents toward
machines for composing type Instead
of the one-line slug of the linotype, he
went after a way to set each letter
separately.
He organized the Lanston Type
Setting Machine Co. here, and assigned
all his patents to the concern. In 1897,
he unveiled his monotype to the indus
try.
He too gave Americans a new light
to use In their search for the truth, as
embodied in the printed word.
Evening star., 1951-01-19
Letters to The Star
Pen-nan,es may be used If letters carry
aOriters' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.

boards time is costly educationally. For
instance. according to The Stars news
columns for January II, the Washington
board recently was cited by another
public agency for failure to make ad-
vance purchase of new school sites so
as to keep pace with population growth.
More than once brought before the
board by Superintendent Corning. this
vitality important matter appears to have
been passed over.
DR.. Corning's record for the past five
years has been all the more impressive
because Of obstructionist tactics en-
ployed against him. It is we'll that dur
ing the past five years Washington has
had the services of one Of this countrys
ablest superiptendents. Only man Of
DR.. Corning's strength. persistence and
diplomacy could have accomplished what
he has done.
The Star is right in its concern about
the personnel of the Washington board
of education. 1t would make no more
sense to replace DR.. Corning because
some board members are weak and some
are obstructionist than it would to re-
place Trygve Lie because Messrs. Vishin-
sky, Malik and their followers have been
obstructing the United Nations. It is
precisely because of Dr. Corning's
strength that Mr.. Lee seeks to liquidate
him.
The remedy for the obstructionism in
the Washington board of education is
to clean out the obstructionists Mem
bership on the board Of education in the
Nations Capital is signal honor,
worthy Of the highest type Of public
spirited citizenship. 1t calls for men
and women Of recognized integrity who
are genuinely interested in community
advancement through continual better
ment Of educational opportunities. Such
men and women will be keenly chal-
lenged by a good many fundamental
problems with which the presently con-
stituted board for obvious reasons has
never been able to come to grips With
board Of this caliber and DR.. Corning
as its executive officer. the Washington
schools speedily will assume their right
full place as examples worthy of emula-
ton by every American city. Unless an
outraged public demands such board.
the tide may be running out for the
Washington schools.
Worth Mcclure,
Executive Secretary, American Asso-
citation Of School Administrators.
Evening star., 1951-01-19

regards Mr.. Adams predictions and every other
prediction of the same kind, has been well put
by James Russell Lowell: "Don't never pro-
phesy-onless We know" Let's all of US hang on
for 1t another half century"
Evening star., 1951-01-19
Roller Rink for Negroes

Why can't the Negroes have a roller
skating rink here in Washington? There
are many Negro people here who like
roller skating and many have received
skates for Christmas, but we can't use
them. We go to the schools and try to
get permission to use skates in the gym
nasium, but all they say is mo" If we
want to skate we have to 60 all the way
to Baltimore, and that costs money.
I am just high-school boy now, but
someday I would like to become a pro
and enter the roller derby. There are
Evening star., 1951-01-19
Questions and Answers

The stars readers can get the answer 70
any question of fact By either writing The
NV. Washington 5, D C. and inclosing 8 cents
return postage. or by telephonins ST 5000.
Extension 35S
Evening star., 1951-01-19

four roller-skating Kinks that know
around here, but none of them are for
Negro people. Maybe you can help us
get one by publishing this letter.
Roy Douglas.
Evening star., 1951-02-24
Baltimore Mother
Expected Twins,
Bears Quods
By the Associated Press

BALTIMORE, Feb. pa 28-
year-old wife of Baltimore steel
mill employe, who had been ex-
pecting twins. today gave birth to
quadruplets. Their condition was
SO good they weren't placed in
incubators.
Mrs. Harriet Pappas was taken
to Maryland General Hospital
about $50 am. Four hours later
the first quad was born. The
last was delivered about five min
utes later.
The quads-two boys and two
girls-weighed about 4 pounds
each, hospital spokesman said.
They are Mrs. Pappas' first chill
dren.
The husband, Edward Pappas,
also %, is employed by the Beth
lehem Steel Corp.
The couple lives in an apart
ment in the Colgate section of
Baltimore. Mrs. John Anderson,
a close friend of the family, said
the couple has a "house ready
for occupancy when the mother
and the four babies get out of the
hospital.
Evening star., 1951-02-24

Gen. Bryan chuckled. Il wear
enough clothes to choke a monkey
but I haven't been warm yet"
A native of Alexandria, La, Gen
Bryan was graduated from West
Point In 1922 and in later years
was an assistant football coach
at the Military Academy. A fell
low assistant coach, who later
became head coach, is Brig. Gen
Gar Davidson of Omaha, Nebr.
who now is assistant division
commander of the Oath.
Gen. Bryan reflected on the
American soldier:
'It is remarkable to me the way
they keep up their spirits ano
morale and run up and down
these hills like mountain goats
I'm a country boy and I like to talk
to 'em. Just try to be natural
There's no use pretending with
the American soldier. He know:
you are not like God anyway, anc
that you make mistakes like any
one else"
Evening star., 1951-02-24
Angry Senator'S Blast
Truman Collection Of
Their Letters 10 RFC
Charge Of Retaliation
And intimidation
Made at Hearing
By Robert X. Welsh

Letter writing-in this case by
members of Congress and not by
President Truman - became q
boiling issue today between the
White House and Senators inves-
tigating the Reconstruction FL
nance Corp.
Angered by RFC admissions
that it sent from TOO to 900 let
ters to the White House, mostly
written by legislators discussing
loan applications to the agency
Senate Banking subcommittee
members hurled such terms as
retaliation" and intimidation.
Few members seemed to be
soothed by a White House state
ment late yesterday that Mr.. Tru-
man knows of no evidence OF
illegal influence on the RFC by
any member of the Executive
Branch or the Legislative Branch. -
Mr.. Truman, the statement said
saw no reason to make the cor
respondence public, but would send
it to the subcommittee if request
ed. The subcommittee earlier yes
terday asked RFC directors for
copies of the same letters.
Subcommittee Chairman Full
bright declared that, so far as
he is concerned all of them could
be made public. including any
written by him or other members
of the subcommittee.
Senator Fulbright last night de-
Tended the investigation of RFC
as merely the operation of checks
and balances between the execu-
tive and legislative departments -
In speech at Mercersburg Acad-
emy in Pennsylvania, he told STU
dents that the inquiry was IAN
example of the Democratic prin-
ciples of our Federal Government -
The White House statement,
issued through Press Secretary
Joseph Short, explained that the
(See RFC, Page A-3.)
Evening star., 1951-02-24
Three Women Die
In Fires in D. T.. Area;
Rescue Attempt Fails
Cigarette Is Blamed
For BIuzein Bedroom of
Southeast Row House

Three women died in fires in
the Washington area yesterday
and today.
Mrs. Juanita Gordon of IA Six
teenth street NE. died in her
blazing bedroom despite efforts OF
an off-duty fireman who carried
her out of the flames.
The other victims in fires were:
Mrs. Mamie Carter, colored, of
251012 East place NV.
Mrs. Sarah Simms, 98, colored,
of Montgomery County.
Fireman Pvt. Maceo Bonds.
colored. of % Seventeenth street
Sc, was enroute to report for
duty at No. 10 Truck Co. when
he saw flames in the second floor
bedroom window of the Gordon
row house in which Mrs. Gordon
died.
He ran to a nearby alarm box,
then told his wife to call head
quarters and returned to the fire
scene. His home backs up to the
Gordon house.
Cigarette Blamed.
Pvt. Bonds kicked down rear
door, made his way through the
smoke filled house to the upstairs
room and, after believing he saw
signs of life, wrapped the woman
in a coat and carried her down.
stairs.
She was pronounced dead a
short time later by Coroner A.
IMagruder Macdonald. Firemen
theorized the fire started from a
cigarette.
In 1949, Pvt. Bonds effected a
similar rescue, only to have the
victim die later of burns. At that
time, with No. 4 Engine Company
he raced to the second floor OF
a burning home at 1917 Tenth
street NV, and carried o.
month-old Benjamin r. Little, son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Floyd Little, out
side. The child was given arti-
ficial respiration and inhalatol
treatment. but died several hours
later.
Mrs. Sinms was burned criti-
cally yesterday before she man.
aged to put out flames that en-
veloped her clothing when she
walked to close to a stove. She
died in Suburban Hospital today
Members of Mrs. Simms' family
said she was alone yesterday at the
home of her son, Elmore Simms,
on Seven Locks road near Rock
vile. Handicapped by dimming
eyesight, she got too near the
(See FIRE, Page A-3)