davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-10-20

ments. Secondly. that international con-
troll Of atomic energy was the essential
condition to future peace and. indeed.
OF human survival.
Gradually. these beliefs were modi-
fed in three ways. First, closer inves-
tigation has shown that the destructive
efforts of the atom bomb, though GER
tainly serious, are not as immeasurable
as had at first been thought The post
war bombing surveys in Germany and
Japan proved that many of the ''ortho-
dox' air attacks with high-explosives
and fire bombs had been more destruc-
tive-both to buildings and to human
ives-than the atom bomb attacks on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. One scientist
calculated that it would take at least
400 atom bombs to do the equivalent Of
the damage inflicted by ordinary"
bombs on Germany during World War II.
and this damage had not by itself been
enough to defeat Germany. Nor is it
easy for any power to produce and de-
liver 400 atom bombs. Even today,
probably no power could guarantee that
1t is capable Of delivering 400 atom
bombs on their intended targets. even
though it has that many.
The fear Of absolute weapons" re-
vived when the possibility Of hydrogen
bomb was revealed. But the hydrogen
bomb does not yet exist and it is not
certain whether it will come into ex-
istence before new defensive develop
ments have made the delivery of any
kind Of bombs over long distances even
more difficult.
Here is the second reason which has
wide atomic panic:
Evening star., 1951-10-20
Essence of Democrucy?

Apparently there is a nefarious plot
by President Truman to enforce a die
tatorial theology upon a section of the
United States.
To quote Frank Kent: "The South has
come to realize that if it lies within his
power, MIR. Truman will force through
program that will put an end to all
the Souths segregation laws, wipe out
all restrictions upon Negro voting, open
the schools to Negro children, compel
the employment of Negroes against the
desires of the employers and in every
possible way establish full equality with
the whites
Yet I'm perplexed! Doesn't the denial
Of the above program, when applied to
East Europeans, bring forth scathing
denunciations of typical Communist
practices? Apparently Mr.. Kent believes
in the double standard" denouncing
program in the United States and ap-
plauding it where applied to East Eu-
rope. To me. the above program is the
very essence Of democracy, that no citi-
zen shall be Disseminated against solely
because Of his race.
Milton Sir0ta.
Evening star., 1951-10-20
Back on the Beam

Responding to the facts of life, the House
mas reversed itself and passed tax bill which,
While not as good as it might be, is far better
than nothing
This is an experience which reveals how
capriciousy the National Legislature can func-
tlon. Last Tuesday conference approved tax
bill, supposedly scheduled for quick passage in
the House. was rejected by majority of 46
votes That action took everybody by surprise
including, no doubt, many of those who had
voted to reject the measure. The explanation
OF this irresponsible action was that an un-
natural combination of Republicans who opposed
any tax increase, and of liberal" Democrats, who
didn't like the way the increase was distributed
among the various classes of taxpayers had
grabbed the ball from the House leaders and run
away with it.
If that is what really happened, repentance
quickly followed 1t was obvious to any one that
tax increase was essential If an intolerable
deficit was to be avoided. The only real question
was where the line should be drawn-where the
best balance, in the interest Of the whole
economy, could be struck between higher taxes
and smaller deficit.
That has been resolved in favor of bill
expected to produce about s56e1 100000 in addi-
tional revenue. This is slightly less than would
have been raised by the rejected BILL the differ
ence consisting of few face-saving concessions
that were made to the dissidents in the House.
1t will fall far short <of the total Mr. Truman
wanted. He is said to have conceded however
that it is the best bill he can get from this
session, and that he will sign it. If he does this
promptly, the higher rates will become effective
on schedule, and the question of whether more
revenue must be raised will have to wait until
Congress returns in January.
Evening star., 1951-10-20
Maybe the Atom Bomb IS a Bit Overroted
By Sebostion Hoffner

I ONDON-When the first Russian
IL atomic explosion was announced
from Washington in September, 1949,
the effect on public opinion in the West
was very serious. The recent announce
ment that Russia has made two further
experimental exploSionS-one successful,
the other partly successful
made front page headlines.
This is. of course. partly so because
the first explosion meant breaking
Americas atomic monopoly and hence
an important change in the world sit
uation, while the second only confirms
and develops an existing station. But
there is also another and more signifi-
cant reason for the difference in public
reaction. 1t is that during the last two
years thinking about the potentialitieS
OF atomic weapons has generally Sobered
down. and sense Of proportion has
been regained.
The mental and moral shock-effect
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was hardly
less severe in America and Europe than
in Japan itself; perhaps, indeed. 1t was
stronger. Millions of people rushed to
the conclusion that the absolute wea-
pom" had been discovered and sue
cumbed uncritically to notion that any
future war. if fought with atomic weap-
onS, was bound to result In universal
destruction.
This idea was reinforced by the fact
that Japan's surrender Immediately fol-
lowed the dropping of the two atomic
bombs. Hardly anybody stopped to think
that Japan was already decisively de-
feated and on the point of collapse when
the bombs were used. and that the bombs
were not so much the cause Of the Japa-
nese surrender as that they provided the
pretext for the peace party around the
Japanese court to make the surrender
which 1t knew had become necessary in
any case
For years afterward people remained
in mentally shell-shocked state as far
as atomic weapons were concerned. They
hardly questioned the idea that few
atom bombs were enough to destroy the
War-making capacity of any great pow
er; that war fought with atomic weap-
ons by both sides spelled the inevitable
end Of civilization If not of the human
race. and that all mere orthodox forms
OF land and naval warfare had become
obsolete.
From this general state of mind there
resulted two ideas which dominated
even serious political and strategic dis
cussion in the early postwar years:
First, that the American monopoly of
atomic weapons. while it lasted, con-
Stituted an absolute deterrent and pro-
vided. by itself, sufficient balance of
power against the Russian land arma-
Evening star., 1951-10-20
Good as Far as 1t Goes

. The compromise Federal pay bill approved
by Congress is good as far as it goes-but it
should have gone further. 1t should have ex-
tended benefits of the legislation to District
teachers, f1remen and policemen. That would
have the been easy, sensible and sure way of tax
ing care of the Districts nonclassified employees
But Congress elected to do it the hard way.
AS result, separate bill to assure the raises
to the Districts nonclassifed employees was
necessary-an extra chore that added to the
burdens Of a Congress impatient to adjourn.
The Senate, much to its credit included the
teachers fremen and policemen in the general
pay bill it originally passed The House, how
ever, in difference to the stubborn determination
of the House District Committee to have the
matter cleared through routine channels as
District measure, excluded the Districts non-
classified personnel from the House bill. The
conferees were unable to agree on the Senate
shortcut plan and hence it became necessary
to go through the time-conSuming motions of
passing separate bill covering the local group
The graduated 10 per cent pay plan approved
by the conferees conforms generally to the
recommendations of the President and the Civil
Service Commission. 1t will hold the existing
pay structure in closer balance than the fiat
across-the- boards raise proposal of the House
would have done. The graduated leave rider
on the postal pay bill-a rider which will apply
to all Federal employes-alSo is preferable to
the rigid 20-day legislation passed earlier. 1t
would apply seniority formula that would
distribute leave privileges more equitably,
enabling veteran employees to take up to rs
days of leave. Short-tenure employees would
receive shorter vacations.
With the session rapidly approaching an end,
there was no sense in running the risk that the
separate pay legislation for local nonclassified
employees might be lost in the last-minute rush
to adjourn. Fortunately, the Senate quickly
passed the special bill yesterday and the House
completed the job today. But why 60 to all
this extra trouble when there was much simpler
way available?
Evening star., 1951-10-20
Dog-Gone Nonsense

It seems that security has really gone to the
dogs in San Francisco-and so have a couple Of
security officers from Fort Belvoir And, as so
often happens, the wayward press is being blamed
for the whole situation.
This latest episode in jeopardizing the deli
cate balance Of world peace started when the
San Francisco-Can Bulletin printed a casual
little story out of City Hall to the effect that
the Stanford Research Institute had requested
permission to use 10 acres of land for training
dogs in the detection and detonation of land
mines. The institute became upset at such dis
closure Of public record and requested, too late.
that the paper kill the story-on grounds that
it was should have been classified information.
When the Call ll-Bulletin checked security
officer of the Army Engineers already in the
district it was told that the trick of using dogs
for such purpose was neither new nor classified.
Obviously, however. the local security officer was
one who was inclined to oversimplify life or who
had not received the latest presidential directives
on how information from Federal sources should
not be used. Anyway the next thing the Call
Bulletin knew a couple of security officers from
Fort Belvoir, approximately 5000 miles away, had
dropped in to see what kind of evil was afoot
Naturally all of this barking up the wrong
tree served to accentuate the publicity and the
institute became so dog-gone distressed that it
withdrew its application for the land. Mean
while, the Public Utilities Commission printed
notice Of the application on its official calendar
thereby, evidently, making its loyalty equally
suspect with that of the Call-Bulletin.
It was probably nice trip for the Fort Bel
voir boys And as far as known the dogs are
still shifting around on a campus smaller by 10
acres than 1t might have been-leading dogs
life no doubt. e.
Evening star., 1951-10-20

that Of the President, and without submission Of
a single item OF supporting evidence
General Macarthur is by no means the sole
employer of this technique. 1t has become the
preferred tool of many of those who try to swing
public opinion in one direction or another But
it is a dangerous tool. To the extent that it en-
abes its users to becloud the distinction between
truth and falsehood, it undercuts the essential
foundation of free society-the possession by
the people Of factual knowledge upon which to
base their political decisions.
Evening star., 1951-10-20
Consciousness

Often It seems: the conscience orns a
poice
Which might be loud If it Were so
inclined:
But makes the ipiser and more telling
choice
OF silence that oroaDs urgent. withal
kind.
Kinder than iDe, though sometimes ue
.r'N rejoice e
We too, withheld the thoughts we had
imfS,iad
Groce Meredith.
Evening star., 1951-10-20
Odds Even in Britoin

SOOS even III DIitQIn
While the press has the undoubted
right to place whatever Interpretation it
desires on factual events, it generally
does so by means Of the editorial. In
radio. judiciouS listener can usually
distinguish between a commentator
argument and straight news. However,
there now appears to be a regrettable
tendency on the part of some news
papers and some radio commentators
to editorialize their straight news, and
sometimes even to alter facts to conform
TO their own preconceptions. The public
IS left IN complete confusion when two
trusted news sources give diametrieally
opposed reports Of the same event or
TACT. especially where there can be no
latitude for Interpretation.
case in point: An AP dispatch in
The Star, October II. states: Heavy
betting on Winston Churchill and his
conservative Party to win the October
Is British election drove the odds still
longer against the Labor government
today" Imagine the readers confusion
Wnen, at the very moment of reading
the foregoing. he hears Edward r. MUIR
row. regarded as top CHS news re-
porter. stating: '"The betting continues
10 favor the Conservatives, but the odds
have narrowed"
Who is right? Nh. Murrow or the app
Both cannot be correct. Either the odds
narrowed or they heightened Perhaps
TINS is mere quibbling, but the public is
entitled to nothing less than accurate
news reporting.
Francis E. Holman,
'Eoltor's Note: Could be that both
were right. since the odds often vary
according to the whims of various book.
makers. British Information Service re-
ports the betting is now about even. in
case anybody wants to get up a few
bob.)
Evening star., 1951-10-20
Atomic Weapons
j. Wilbur Potherby.

Newspapers. The Star among them,
are doing the United States no service
by giving publicity to the verbal geeing
and having of the gentlemen on Capitol
Hill concerning the possible use of atomic
weapons by United Nations American)
troops.
Such discussions can accomplish moth
ing more than to provoke further un-
easiness among our faint-hearted allies,
and probably give considerable comfort
to our enemies.
BY thus setting atomic weapons apart
from other more conventional instru-
ments of war, and by boasting Of the
awfulness of these fantastic" devices
in chest-thumping speeches such as the
one recently perpetrated by President
Truman, we are literally asking that the
United Nations ban the use of such
weapons in Korea and thus possibly
stripping ourselves of arms which might
Evening star., 1951-10-20

Defensive Developments, both in the
sphere Of radar and Of guided missiles,
have in the last year or two begun to
shift the balance between attack and
defense of strategic air warfare in favor
Of the latter. During the last war. air
defense was considered to do well if it
destroyed between S and 10 per cent of
an attacking force. Today some unofh-
cial but fairly authoritative American
estimates put the probable rate of de-
struction at 80 per cent. Even this
means rather devastating rate of attri-
ton and might 60 far to offset the
greater destructiveness of the bombs
carried. However, with the expected
full development of the automatically
homing devices to be fired, both air-to-
air and ground-to-air, there is a very
serious expectation in expert circles that
in few years time the destruction rate
will approach 100 per cent and that,
practically speaking, the bomber will
no longer get through. If this expecta-
tion proves true, it will mean the end of
strategic air warfare whether with ordi-
nary bombs. atom bombs or hydrogen
bombs.
All these developments are still incom-
plete and there is little doubt that if
world war broke out this year or next
there would be very large-scale atomic
attacks on big cities. But If the next
few years pass without a world war, It
is highly probable that future war will
be fought chiefly on the battlefields
again, and it is quite possible that the
civilian population in the rear areas viii
suffer less from bombing than it did in
1938-45.
Gondon Observer Foreign News seryice1
Evening star., 1951-10-20
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

~ AnG AASAA1N oEhV1OE.
@. Is Friday considered an unlucky
day in most countries of the world?-
E. r. w.
A. This superstition prevails almost
everywhere in Christian countries. The
association of Friday with ill-luck no
doubt arose from the connection of this
day with the Crucifixion.
@. Is the Atlantic Ocean saltier than
the Pacif1c?-R. A.
A. The surface waters of the Atlantic
Ocean are saltier than those of the Pa
cific. This may be due to greater evap-
Grafton in the Atlantic and lesser rain
fall.
@. How is saffron obtained?-J. B. B.
A. Saffron is made from the stigma
OF small crocuS flower, and it takes
over 100000 of these tiny flowers to
make one pound. This substance is
used in medicine and as a fiavoring and
coloring material for foodstuffs.
@. What Government agency approves
defense contracts?-W. w.
A. All defense contracts must be ap-
proved by the Military Procurement In
formation Office, r Sd 773, Pentagon
Building. Washington. D. C.
Evening star., 1951-10-20
Postmon Rings Once

since the Fair Deal playboys have
squandered more money than any nation
IN history on senseless pursuits and in
order to keep parasites on its payroll.
would it not be a good idea to improve
our postal service?
Taxpayers are often compelled to wait
until afternoon before mail is delivered.
New York newspapers are often several
days late.
Our postal service. until the New
Deal took over. was the finest on earth
and functioned like a well-oiled ma
chine. Deliveries were made three times
day with perfect regularity.
E. X. G.
Evening star., 1951-10-20
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 3 cents
return postage or by telephoning ST 1888
Evening star., 1951-07-14
Wide Probe Urged
In Maryland Schools
By the Assoeiatsd Press.

HAGERSTOWN, Md, July IA
THE whole Maryland school sys-
tenn would bear investigation
and plenty of it," the Sobelof
Commission was told here yes
terday.
The commission met here to
listen to suggestions for improving
the State governmental system.
The blast against the school
system came from Senator Nc
Laughlin, Washington County Re-
publican. He charged the State
forces the counties to construct
buildings which are too elaborate
and costly.
He cited Washington as a coun-
| ty which manages to get along
without bonds and with the $1,50
tax rate because I'VE build plain
common-Sense schools"
He also charged, without speci-
flying localities, that in some
schools the high school graduates
are not taught some of the neces-
sary subjects which qualify them
for colleges and universities.
Gov. McKeldin said that some
one will eventually have to decide
just how far the State should go
in helping counties finance their
schools.
The Governor also said he would
like to see a cabinet system of
authority replace the IS boards
and commissions from which he
must obtain reports on State
activities.
Evening star., 1951-07-14
Virginia AP Members
Elect {. {. Lindsay
By the Associated Press

NATURAL BRIDGE, Va, July
14-C. E. Lindsay, publisher of
the Charlottesville Daily Progress,
is the new chairman of the Vir-
ginia members of the Associated
Press.
The group yesterday elected
John Spencer, managing editor OF
the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. first
vice chairman. Charles Rowe,
publisher of the Fredericksburg
Free Lance Star, was elected sec
ond vice chairman. Frank H.
Fuller, chief of the A. P.'s Rich
mond bureau, was reelected Sec
retary.
Meeting in semiannual session,
the Virginia A. P. members adopt
ed a resolution urging the State
Department to use its influence
lin obtaining the release of Will
liam N. Oats. Associated Press
correspondent in CZechoslovakia.
Mr.. Oats was Jailed on charges
of subversive activity in Czecho-
slovakia.
"Oatis' only offense against the
Communist government of Czecho-
slovakia, the resolution stated,
"was the honest. accurate and
diligent performance of his duties
as a reporter for the free press.
Evening star., 1951-07-14
Woman and 7 Men Fined
IS1,05O in Numbers Case

Fines totaling $1,050 and one
year suspended jail terms were
imposed yesterday on a Prince
Georges County woman and two
men who pleaded guilty to num-
|bers law violation.
Fined $3.50 each in Upper Marl-
boro Police Court by Judge Nita S
Hinman Crane, who suspended
the jail terms were:
Matte Ann Starks, %, of the
$500 block Chapel lane. Chapel
Oaks, Md; Louis Daniel Brown
l33, of the 1900 block ty-eighth
avenue, Chapel Oaks, Md; and
Charles w. johnson, Al, of the
I1100 block Sixty-first avenue
Fairmount Heights. All are colored
The woman admitted operating
| a lottery at the Stockade, tavern
adjoining a brickyard on Sheriff
road. Prince Georges County de-
Itectives said they arrested her
May Is after an officer, posing
as a brickplant laborer, placed a
numbers bet at the tavern.
Brown, who manages another
tavern few miles away. was ar
rested when detectives found
numbers slips in the night spot
johnson was described as a pick
Iup man. .
Evening star., 1951-07-14
Gross Hits Red Idea
.0fCo-Existence in His
Virginia Institute Talk
BY the Associated Press

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, July
14.-America's ambassador to the
United Nations says co-existence
is not enough-there must be CO.
operation among the nations of
the world.
I'VE hear talk from behind the
Iron Curtain of co-existence, "
Ambassador Ernest A. Gross said
here last night. This concept is
a cold, blind thing. 1t creates in
my mind a vision of convicts in
cell blocks.
People do not normally boast
of their willingness to allow mem
berS of their community to CO.
exist with them. We take this
for granted in our own society
We have stern laws enforcing
such a primitive and elementary
right. What we are proud of is
our mutual and constructive way
Iof life which builds better
existence, not a mere co-exiSt-
ence."
Addressing the University of
Virginia's 18th Institute of Public
Affairs, Mr.. Gross noted that the
charter of the United Nations
looks toward cooperation rather
than mere co-existence, towards
harmonizing actions of nations
for a better existence for all-not
in keeping communities whirling
| in fixed orbits separated by
vacuums of space"
Mr.. Gross was one of Severa
panel speakers today on the
United Nations.
Mr.. Gross told the institute
last night that there must be
mo illusion that the United Ma.
Itions will surrender it's often.
STATED policy for a unified
independent and democratic
Korea established by the people
of Korea"
Evening star., 1951-07-14
Burglar Is Bogeed
In Hotel Room by
Alert PotroImun

A would-be burglar, behind bars
today, can put the whole blame
on bad timing.
John Wesley Hayes Mason, 46
colored. chose to climb through
a ground-hoor rear window of the
Columbia Hotel, 1121 street
NV, just as Pvt. Peter j. Burgir
of the first precinct was strollins
past at 4 am. today.
Pvt. Burgin looked in the win.
dow long enough to see the in.
truder rifiing suitcases inside, ther
got Henry Carroll. hotel manager
to rattle the door of the room.
The rattling sent Mason ou
the window and the sight of Pvt
Burgin's revolver sent him righ
back in. The officer followed ant
made the arrest.
Mason, who lives in the 100
block of Seventh street NV. wa
charged with housebreaking.
And, police added, Lonn
Chambers, who rented the hote
room yesterday when he checke
In from out of town, sler
through the whole thing
Evening star., 1951-07-14

A Shrine temple for Northern
Virginia has been approved by the
Imperial Council, which concluded
it's annual meeting at New York
yesterday.
The new group. to be known as
Kena Temple, was granted a dis
pensation by the Imperial Council,
which means it is on probation
for a year, after which a temple
usually is granted a charter.
The vote for approval of the
new temple was 297 to 1913. Efforts
of Northern Virginia Shriners tc
win approval for a temple year
ago at the Imperial Council meet
ing in California were unsuccess-
full after several petitioners. were
disqualified.
This years petition had more
than the required 800 names. II
'waS presented to the council bI