davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-06-21
Man Deterioroting?

Dr. George S. Carter, a British scientist,
has advanced the theory that the physical evolu-
ton of man probably has now come to an end
after hundreds of thousands of years Of upward
progress The theory is a rather glum one.
The only hope it holds out is that the human
brain may continue to improve In other re-
Spects, however, poor old Homo sapiens ap
parently has little to look forward to but
steady deterioration
At any rate, according to Dr. Carter it is
hard to see how such deterioration can be
avoided in the kind of civilization we have
Presumably, he has come around to this view
after brooding over the possible softening effects
of things like automobiles and the whole null
titudnous host of mechanical gadgets that tend
to keep people from exercising their muscles
Together with others who have worried out
loud along the same line, he seems to fear
that the lost art of 'walking, for example, may
well mean that the human race IS In the process
of evolving backward toward day when it
will lack legs worthy of the name. Similarly,
because of the constant increase in pushbutton
devices and labor-saving technology in general,
Evening star., 1952-06-21

arms may be on the way out, and in some distant
future man may be transformed into a kind
of roly-poly blob made up principally of huge
head with eyes grown enormous from over
exposure to televiSion.' But let us not be too
depressed by this picture. 1t is purely specula-
tive, and even If it turns out to be true its
naturalization will take long, long time
ages and ages.
Meanwhile, with plenty Of much more press
Ing matters to worry about, we can comfort
ourselves with the thought that our brains may
be getting better and better-perhaps enough so
to check any evolutionary retrogression Nothing
in our finite world, after all, is ingenious and
unpredictable as man. A few hundred thousand
years from now If he runs across some of our
preSent-day forecasts about his disintegration,
he may look at himself in mirror, see how
superbly fit he is and laughingly marvel at how
people in our time could ever have been
pessimistic about his future. Anyhow, good
luck to him!
Evening star., 1952-06-21
This and That .

In my bath, which is about % inches
wide and inches deep.
Il keep it filled at all times. especial
ly during the hot weather. This bath
builds up sort of orange colored algae
on the sides. They make the water look
orange. but actually it is clear.
II have four baths, at strategic places,
two on pedeStals. and two Sunken
in the ground. believe that this gives
all the creatures better chance.
Sometimes when / go to refill the
jay bathing place I find the bowl or
saucer down on the ground. Evidently
some dog or perhaps cat has jumped
up and knocked it over.
II find that these baths, properly
taken care of, go through the winter
without harm. I try to keep them filled
in fall and winter, when the birds have
some difficulty in finding shallow
places, because the winds have dried
up the natural ones.
II believe that, in some respects, the
bird bath is of more service to the
songsters than feeding stations.
Sincerely. J. K. L."
In the sheltered suburban areas,
where great care is taken to keep
gardens looking well, the birds may go
for miles without finding a natural
bathing and drinking place. unless
householders have thought of them and
established baths.
Often a bird bath is the first thing
put up. when family moves ir-and
the last thing thought of thereafter.
Going around town. watching out for
Evening star., 1952-06-21
BY Charles E. TroceweN

such things, one sees many dry baths,
a mockery and disappointment to
the feathered folk, which know exactly
what they are.
Common sparrows like dust baths,
nothing better; they are a great deal
like elephants, in this respect. But most
species prefer the water bath, and it
helps keep them sanitary and clean.
About the latter they know nothing,
but freedom from lice is something
they appreciate.
While neither water or dust bath
will totally remove such pests, it will
help tremendously to keep them down,
within certain limits, and thus give the
world q happier and more contented
bird.
Feather structure, too, is benefited
by water, from time to time.
It is often noticed. how regardless of
rains and SHOWS the birds are, and
this is because their feathers are not
only light but lie close together, and
form a complete seal against the ele-
ments, at least to a certain extent, and
yet permit plenty of air circulation, too.
In caring for a bird found out of the
nest. one discovers that some water
must be given with a medicine dropper
before eacn meal. In nature, parent
birds feed their offspring on an average
of every minutes. The foster parent
cannot do that we'll, but every hour will
suffice, if water is also given at each
feeding. This water makes up for the
moisture found in perfectly natural
foods. Inside and outside, the birds
need water, just as we do.
Evening star., 1952-06-21

from 40 to '48 is New Deal Democrat;
that any one planning to vote in SO for
Eisenhower is the same.
They don't initiate in any way the
famous Yale slogan, For God, for coun-
try, and for Yale" which has been called
by CantabridgianS the classic anticlimax,
by shouting For country. for party, and
for Taft" They shout only for Taft. If
they can't have the baby, they'll have
the baby cut in two. Unless it's Taft,
give them Byrd or Kerr. They have
drunk of the juice of the conkleberry
tree.
They are Taft men. but they aren't
Republicans. In larger sense, they
aren't Americans by their words, willing
to abide by any majority. I have no
doubt that Senator Taft, who is a Re-
publican and an American, though not
the only one. would repudiate them with
scorn. He will be on the hustings for
Mr.. Eisenhower, with all his vigor, Just
as all real Republicans will be. Just as
all Eisenhower Republicans would be for
him, were the outcome of the conven-
tion to be different.
There are many of us who put the
good of a united republic first Who see
that best good in the success of the
Republican Party in November and-all
personalities of candidates aside-know
enough simple arithmetic to know that
Eisenhower would insure that success,
and who. fear that Senator Taft, with.
all his great legislative abilities and
earneStneSs of purpose. would lead us
only into defeat and slaughter.
Let us examine the simplest arith.
metic. Eisenhower can carry every state
that Taft could possibly carry, plus
California, Texas, New York, Massa-
chusetts, Missouri, Michigan, Virginia,
and some more. With those States, it
means victory for the party in Novem-
ber. Without them, it means defeat, we
are gravely afraid.
Joel TOWnSIey Rogers.
Evening star., 1952-06-21
CHEVY CHASE.

CHEVY CHASE.
Dear Sir:
(Which bird makes the biggest splash
in bath?
II have been watching them, and in
my bath, at least, it is the blue jay.
''The robin does very well, in fact
he comes second. but the jay creates
twice as much disturbance. I heard a
mighty thrashing around the other day,
so much so, in fact, that thought it
must be an animal.
mo such thing it was just the old
jay, having himself a time. He fluttered
his wings. hoped to the side of the
X
"For sheer persistence, though. the
little song sparrow takes the prize.
ST have watched him go in as many
as 48 times, one after the other, each
time marked of by perching on the
rim.
THE shake is to get the water of.
Once this is done. the bird is about as
dry as ever, evidently. so in he goes
again. He keeps himself in a sort of
frenzy for a time. first getting wet.
then drying himself.
Il believe the robin has more sheer
fun bathing than most birds.
II have watched the cardinal He is
a very sedate bather. Some persons
say they have never seen a redbird
bathe, and that therefore redbirds do
not bathe My observation shows that
is very poor watching. They are rather
shy about it, but do bathe.
II still have to catch q mockingbird
Evening star., 1952-06-21
A Plan Deserving Study

Engineer Commissioner RobinSon'S criticism
OF the pending Senate bill for Metropolitan
Area Public Utilities Commission was justified
in one respect. He was right in holding that a
measure calling for such sweeping reorgani-
zation of transit controls should be the subject
of public hearings. The Johnson bill was ap-
proved by the Senate Commerce Committee
after hearings on an entirely different proposal
one for joint-control plan established by
interstate compact. No hearings were held on
the substitute measure, which would create an
area PUG by act of Congress. This was mis-
take which House handlers of the legislation
have recognized and which they wisely plan to
correct
The hearings are essential in view of the
differences of opinion which have arisen over
the Johnson bill General Robinson voiced Wig
orous objections to the legislation on televi-
sion program He said he foresees situation in
which minority of transit riders could dictate
to the majority both fares and schedules" and
that the plan would take away the rights of
WaShingtonianS to run their own affairs" He
referred to suburban riders as minority un-
willing to "pay in an equitable manner for serv-
ice they are getting now.'
This pessimistic view of the area-control
plan presupposes that the representatives of
Maryland and Virginia on the three-man COM
the District member on every question calling
for an unselfsh, area-wide concept of transit
problems. If this sectional attitude were to
prevail, there would be no sense in creating
regional commission at all. SectionaliSm is
what the Metropolitan Area PUG idea is in
tended to eliminate. TodayS unco-ordinated
system of transit regulation by one Federal and
three non-Federal agencies within the area has
been outmoded by the population growth OF
Greater Washington. Jurisdictional boundaries
have virtually disappeared, except on maps.
Washington and its suburbs, to all appearances,
have become one large urban community. Yet
four regulatory bodies continue to exercise con-
fusing and often conflicting powers in the area.
There is no interjurisdictional control of taxi
cabs whatever.
The present piecemeal approach to transit
control is wholly unrealistic. Regional regula-
tion-which implies truly broad and intelligent
appraisal and solution of the areas mutual
transportation troubles seems to be the only
hope of transit riders inside and outside of the
District. The Johnson bill is the latest of sew
eral proposals for dealing with the problem. It
deserves careful study by all authorities con-
cerned.
Evening star., 1952-06-21
Opero House

note some propaganda in your paper
Tor the erection of an opera house"
for this city.
l am sure you have not forgotten
that 20 or rs years ago your paper and
some others did the same thing. And
an opera house was erected and still
stands at Nineteenth and E streets NV.
1t is very large and contains a fine
pipe organ and the best acoustics of
any building in this or most any city.
1 have witnessed some of the best
operas and other entertainment at that
opera house.
Yes I know the Government still
uses the building, but they could get
out. Let them even keep the ball
rooms, but the main auditorium is lust
grand and many times better for enter
talnment than Constitution Hall.
George p. Smith.
Editors Note: The building in
question is the Washington Audito-
rum. opened in January, 1925, as the
largest theater of it's kind in the
world" 1t was not constructed solely
Tor entertainment purposes, however.
but for conventions and other gather
lngs. Since it filled need, The Star
approved the project. The building
now is occupied by the U. S. Geological
Survey.)
Evening star., 1952-06-21
Byrd Firmly Entrenched

Apparently Senator Byrd has been
forced to the stump by the wild &C
cusations of his opponent.
Every real Democrat-not New or
Fair, Raw or any other kind of Dealer
knows that the Senator could sit in his
''palatial, air-c conditioned Office in WASH
ington" from now until July IS, date
of primary election, and not raise his
voice about politics, yet receive the
nomination handed to him on a platter.
They also know that he could retire
to his farm in Berryville and rest there
until the general. election in November.
and forget about politics, and receive
the largest vote he has ever received
in public life.
The real people of Virginia know their
oats. and they care nothing about the
kind of politics INDUCED in now by the
Senator's opponent.
John Barr.
Evening star., 1952-06-21
Applouds Gen. Boutner

Irving Berman's letter June Is on the
Koje situation is far off the beam.
The idea that it is Gen. Boatner who
IS stupid, and that "his stupid handling
of the matter should wipe out much
good that was done by sincere. hard
working Americans to create good will
with other nations" is certainly unique,
If may judge by the comments have
seen and heard.
Who were the sincere, hard-working
Americans about whom Mr.. Berman
speaks? Were they Gen. Boatners two
predecessors whose laxity, incredibly
poor judgment and unfitness for the
duties assigned to them resulted in the
coddling of the Communist prisoners,
Evening star., 1952-06-21
Seeine-Eye Dog

No field or ipoodldnd opens to her
The sidei0alks stretch. nnendino, square
on square:
The trolleys' clang, the tra6ic's grinding
roar
Are mockery to ears attuned to hear
The Di,ld in coppices. the scurrying leaf:
The city's pauing stones AFFORD no soft
And yielding. earthly mold in ,0llich her
feet
May Sink-no scent OF grouse or squirrel
Can penetrate the murky atmosphere
OF industry. When matching pigeons
step
With irideScent grace among the cobbles.
Then suddenly fy up to sunlit spires.
Her amber eyes are lit with tDisttul fires.
Berthe Wilcox Smith
Evening star., 1952-06-21
Show Business

Senator Taft handled himself rather well in
his first venture into television show business.
The show itself was nothing to get excited about.
1t was one of those affairs that are contrived
to convey an impression which never quite gets
across. All of the traditional ingredients were
present-a Hollywood master of ceremonies,
interviewerS who were careful not to ask too
embarrassing questions and even the Bellies
for Bob" to lend touch of glamour. But the
show, as show, was a flop.
The real purpose, however, was not to fur
niSh entertainment, but to soften some of the
harsher outlines of the Taft television person.
ality. And in that respect it was moderately
successful. Senator Taft appeared confident,
relaxed and almost affable. If it seemed a
little incongruous to discover the Ohio Senator
in show business, the effect was at least an
improvement over the solemn, set-speech type
of performance.
For those who were more interested in the
candidates remarks than in the show, however,
there was an even greater disappointment. This
was especially true of his comments on labor
legislation
Senator Taft has done more than any other
man in public life to bring some balance into the
industrial relations picture. He fathered the
statute which bears his name, and he has stood
by it courageously in the face of union and Fair
Deal attacks. But if his position is to be judged
by his remarks Thursday night, he has gone as
far as he can go-and that, is not far enough.
His basic premise was that the right to strike
is essential to freedom. He boaSted of his success
in blocking President Truman's effort to draft
railroad strikers in 1948, when the Nation was
facing collapse as the result of railroad strike,
and he emphasized that the Taft-Hartley Act,
once the S0-day injunction has it's course
"gives complete freedom of striking and freedom
of collective bargaining.
All of this is true But where does it leave
us? In response to question, Senator Taft
said that of course he would use the Taft
Hartley law in the steel strike. But he did not
say what he would do if the strike were to be
resumed, as well it might, after the 80-day
injunction had expired.
This is the real question, and all of the
candidates are walking around it. Once the
injunctive remedies of the Taft-Hartley Act have
been exhausted, there arises direct conflict
between the right to strike and the right of the
people to obtain essential goods and services.
At present. the law is on the side of the strike
and against the national welfare. And that,
when the chips down, is an intolerable
situation. Senator Taft says, however, that it
is essential to preserve the right to strike. If
he really means that, and he probably does, it
can only signify that he looks upon the right
to strike as superior to all other rights. And if
that is Senator Tafts stand, there is little pros
pect that any candidate for public office will
come forward and say that the welfare of the
Nation comes first, and that the right to strike
must give way when its exercise deprives the
Nation of something that is essential to its
survival.
Evening star., 1952-06-21
But Don't Touch PATRONAGE

The Senate has given the country proof that
there is truth in the old saying that Government
reorganization is all right except when it is aimed
at yourself. The don't touch me- philosophy
was on the loose at the Capitol this week when
a constitutional majority of the Senate killed
Hoover Commission recommended plans to take
postal, customs and marshal appointments out
of politics This time, however, the motivating
mood was Don't touch my patronage privileges"
What the Senate majority-almoSt equally
divided between partieS-voted yesterday was
continuation Of the traditional Spois system for
the def1cit-plagued Post Office Department and
for customs officers and United States marshals.
The chief argument made on the floor against
the transfer of appointment power from the
President to the Post Office Department was that
this would place patronage in the hands of the
Postmaster General Overlooked, however, was
the fact that the change would place all post
masters under the civil service competitive
system that prevails generally throughout the
Federal Establishments merit system that
chooses employees not because they have rem
dered some special service to the party in power
but because they have shown under examina-
ton that they are qualified for appointment.
This would mean, of course, removing fat
bunch Of Federal plumS from the patronage
pie The Senate has dealt severe blow to the
determined efforts Of the Hoover Commission
and other supporters of the merit system to
eliminate the remaining vestiges of the once
popular system which gave to the victorious
party as much patronage gravy as possible
without regard to governmental efficiency.
Evening star., 1952-06-21
Letters to The Star F..

adult delinquency shows an increase, for
we show q strange lack of interest in
maintaining moral or intellectual stand
ards in our domestic and foreign rela-
tionS.
Our decline as people and Govern
ment reveals dangerous parallel to the
decline in Germany prior to and during
the Nazi regime. Our liberties and living
standards are more taken for granted
than real, and we stand a good chance
OF being the most hated nation in the
world, because our racial and political
theories are based more on emotion than
logic. Is it not true that our racial policy
in Puerto Rico almost cost us the life of
our President by an assassin's bullet?
Isn't it about time we changed our
policy?
John G. Rogers.
Evening star., 1952-06-21
Polluted Rock Creek

Ihe gravity OF the sewage pollution problem
IN this whole area is exemplihed by what has
happened in Rock Greek valley. Without belttling
the situation that has led to the closing of more
than dozen picnic grounds, 1t is well for the
public to remember that the Potomac River itself
is dangerously polluted. Whereas Rock Creek is
threatened with being turned into an open sewer,
because OF overhowing sewer manholes the main
river itself has been virtually an open sewer for
years. Fortunately, conditions in Rock Creek
Park can be corrected long before the Potomac
can be cleaned up.
The initial public reaction to the shocking
news that raw sewage has driven picnickers from
the park is wonderment as to why such situa-
ton was not foreSeen and counteracted long ago.
Actually the situation was foreseen as long as
10 years ago. but the critical stage arrived sew
eral years ahead of schedule. Because District
sewer authorities did not expect the Rock Creek
line to overflow for several years, repairs the
conduit were scheduled for 1854. Meanwhile,
sewer enlargements and extensions considered to
be more urgent were given priority Funds had
to be stretched as far as possible
But rapid residential development in the
Maryland suburbs brought unexpected loads of
sewage on the 1889 sewer. Maryland was per-
mitted to empty raw sewage into the District
system under 1924 compact The line might
have stood up under the heavy load but for the
fact that one segment Of the line was smaller
than the remainder and caused bottleneck con-
dition in the picnic area. Recently sewage not
only has spilled out of manholes but has oozed
through breaks in the line.
Under these circumstances, immediate clos
Ing of the park in the vicinity of the pollution
was necessary health measure The District
authorities now should give high priority to the
Rock Greek project-which means the spending
of additional funds not now budgeted. The sewer
budget has suffered sadly from economy surgery.
Although the sanitation department asked for
a $40 million appropriation for fiscal SO, the
Commissioners cut the request to 81 million and
Congress has made further cuts For the next
fiscal year the department has asked $21 million.
It has been estimated that $196 million must be
spent on sewer construction and treatment facili-
ties within the next 30 years-just to keep rea-
sonably abreast of the city's growth. Imitation
could send this estimate much higher.
The immediate problem is to obtain enough
money to start at once on the Rock Creek valley
sewer project. This is truly an emergency under
taking that calls for prompt action by Congress
and by District engineers.
Evening star., 1952-06-21
Likes Ike, Too, but

am in substantial accord with the
letter written you by Republican,, rela-
tive to the Bergman cartoon of June 6
depicting Taft me-tooing Eisenhower.
In addition, wish to express my sur
prise and disappointment at the unfair
and highly partisan position taken by
The Star in the Taft-Eisenhower battle.
Surely man who has served his coun-
try and his party for many, many years
is entitled to fairer treatment than you
are giving Bob Taft, especially against a
man who has so lately discovered that
he is Republican as has Eisenhower!
Evening star., 1952-06-21

the kidnapping of one of them by the
prisoners and the disgraceful events
which followed? All the decent Amer
leans I know believe these predecessors
were the stupid ones. and that Gen.
Boatner is doing pretty creditable job
of cleaning up the mess they made for
him. Why is Mr.. Berman SO disgusted
now? He seems to have been we'll
pleased so long as the Communist pris-
oners of war were being coddled and
the Communists were reaping a rich
propaganda harvest as the result of it.
d. J..
Evening star., 1952-06-21
FIuoridution

Fluoridation Of the city's water sup
ply will begin next week. 1t marks the
completion of determined drive to
give the people of the District some
thing that is good for them"
That they have had no opportunity
to indorSe or protest this foisting upon
them of new ingredient that is about
to enter into the physical processes of
their bodies, whether they want it or
not, seems to have been largely over
looked.
Even If only modest minority were
opposed to this innovation, there would
properly be question whether it should
be put into effect
1t has not yet been certainly estab-
hshed that fluoridation of our water
supply will not have harmful effects
especially upon older people-effects
that may well outweigh benefits of a
relatively minor sort readily obtained
in other ways. The good about fluori-
dation is known; its possible i'll effects
are not. Since its i'll effects have not
been determined. and since its good ef-
1ectS are in no way vital to our survival.
why must we be rushed into it simply
because the new process is set I'D and
ready to go?
Ihe whole approach to the fluorida-
ton OF the city's water supply has been
an arbitrary and dictatorial one which
savors of overextended social planning.
Robert T. Patterson.