davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-01-10
First Things First

The dominant theme of Mr.. Truman's 1852
message on the state of the Union is that the
world continues to walk in the shadow of an
other great war, and that all of us must strive
to put first things first.
The message itself sets good example in
this respect Temperate in tone, it places major
emphasis on the vital, overriding need to go
forward with the work of building the free
worlds military and economic defenses against
communism and the ever-present threat of
Communist armed aggression. MIR. Truman re-
views both the gains and the losses in 1851 and
arrives at the conclusion that "real progress"
has been made. He warns, however that we
are only about half way along the road to
reasonable measure of security. In his Judgment,
1852 Is crucial year-a year in which all of the
gains can be swept away if we-the United
StateS-falter in the task
Speaking to those in this country who are
discouraged and who would like to call it day.
Mr.. Truman points out that the middle period
IN great national effort such as we are making
is always very difficult time-a time when dis
couragement is natural reaction. But he also
reminds those people that the alternatives to
continued effort are even less attractive. In
word, his counsel adds up to this: We have, with
proper management, the means to finish the
job; we must press with it, and the only
thing that defeat us is our own state of
mind.
Turning to the domestic scene Mr. Truman
lists two main obligations to move ahead
full steam on the defense program, and next,
to erect more effective safeguards against the
mounting imitation. The Fair Deal was men
toned hopefully, but that is about ALL For in
stance, instead of demanding repeal of the Taft
Hartley Act, as he did two years ago, Mr. Truman
merely called this time for it's perfection. Most
certainly, the President cannot be accused of
using the message as a springboard for a3par-t
tisan political speech. In this respect it, was
as restrained as message can be.
There is a distinction to be made of course,
between what man says and what he does,
This is an election year, and it is, hardly to- be
expected that the door will remain wholly closed
to partisan politics, either at the White House
or at the Capitol. But it is to be expected that
certain things, touched upon by the President
In this message, will be kept in mind at both
ends of Pennsylvania avenue.
This year and the one that follows will be
as critical as any we have known-critical in
the sense that we can expect our whole future
to turn on what we do or fail to do in that
period. All of us, as Mr.. Truman says, are
going to sink or swim together. So surely, the
election Notwithstanding, it is proper for the
President to say that every action you take
here in Congress, and every action I take as
President, must be measured against the test"
of whether it helps to meet the grave danger
that confronts the Nation. If we meet that test
we will see this grim business through success
fully If we fail to meet 1t the consequences will
be on our own heads
Evening star., 1952-01-10
The Fashion of His Hat

The Hatters Information Service, described
from London as an outfit that for three and q
half years has been trying to make all Britons
as hat conscious as winston Churchill, should
decree dancing in the streets when the Ameri-
can press clippings on our visitors sawed-of
stovepipe get back across the Atlantic.
For the department of nonsignifcant re-
search reports that the, Pickwickian number
brought to Washington by the ubiquitous Prime
Minister probably was purchased in 1917 for the
British equivalent of $3.50. Today, like the
storied model of John Gilpin, "a hat not much
the worse for wear" its counterpart Is available
for $s1o with "a reputation for eccentricity'
Evening star., 1952-01-10
To the Editor Of The Star:

M You have printed many columns re-
Gently about Washington traffic. most Of
it against motorists. May put in my
two cents worth in their defense?
have been driving in Washington
since 1924, usually in the morning and
evening rush hours. 7 have been out Ii
some Of the worst driving conditions
and I have never been involved IN an
accident. claim no special credit for
good driving. There are thousands Of
other drivers with equal or better
records. The point am trying to make
Is that. by and large, Washington
drivers are good drivers. have also
driven to other parts of the country as
far west as the Rockies. Washington
drivers compare favorably with those Of
any other section.
hadn't been driving long until I
realized how little had actually seen
and heard as a pedestrian. It really
requires loud speaker to attract the
attention of most pedestrians.
A good driver has a sense Of RESPONSE
bility not only toward himself, his car
and his passenger. but toward any one
who may cross his path. It is serious
matter to be involved n even minor
accident.
The first person to give advice or
criticize another's driving is the person
who has never driven a car. They also
try to place the entire responsibility for
their own safety on the motorist. A
pedestrian can stop on dime or step
back out of danger. but try to stop or
back a car suddenly and see what
happens. w.. ....-.. -
Pedestrians rightfully have the right
of way on crosswalks, but what about
the person who starts across on the
amber light, or loiters along as though
he or she had all the rights? Many
times every day we see lines of cars held
up waiting for such persons to get out
Evening star., 1952-01-10
Virginio's Legislative Program

virginia's General Assembly will devote a
great deal Of attention to the problems Of North
ern Virginia during the two-month session which
to be given to legislation affecting Arlington and
Fairfax Counties is indicative OF the increasing
recognition accorded the rapidly developing
region adjacent to Washington. Not so many
years ago these counties were treated more like
stepchildren than like the important parts Of
the State which they are But with the growth
of population and the increased tax yield from
this area the voice of Northern Virginia has
taken on more persuasiveness at Richmond.
The voice will be even more potent if the
redistricting plan proposed for the region near
Washington is adopted at the new session. The
Arlington delegation to the Legislature will
strongly support recommendation of the Re
districting Commission that new 10th con-
gressional district be created in the Washington
Metropolitan Area. The delegation will ask for
two additional representatives in the House of
Delegates, instead Of the one suggested by the
commission, and second State senator, to be
elected jointly by Arlington and Alexandria.
Other important governmental reforms will
be urged upon the Assembly in behalf Of Airing
ton and Fairfax. Legislation will be introduced
to enable residents of Arlington to vote on several
changes in their form of local government,
including the method of appointing the county
manager the system of appointing departmental
heads and proposal for county attorney.
Fairfax needs special legislation to smooth the
way for its newly adopted county-executive form
of county government The Assembly will have
before it recommendations by the University OF
Virginia's Bureau Of Public Administration for
special laws to permit the Fairfax board to hire
a legal adviser, to delegate more powers to the
executive to appoint library trustees, to expedite
zoning changes and otherwise to function more
effectively.
These purely local measures will be aug
mented by more general legislation which also
is Of special interest to nearby Virginia. Aside
from the tax, teachers pay and other bills Of
broad concern will be special proposals to make
the States highways safer. Northern Virginia
had large role In the death toll last year-a
year which saw the number of fatal accidents
rise to alarming heights. "A legislative advisory
commission will urge sterner traffic laws, includ
ing mandatory jail sentences for drunken drivers.
Whatever else the Assembly does traffic safety
should be placed high on the list Of problems
for legislative action.
Evening star., 1952-01-10
Child With q Gun
Samuel Irwin.

A thoughtless father gives his
thoughtless 15-year-old son rifle.
At midnight to celebrate the coming
of the New Year, and to try out the gift,
the son fires several random shots along
a Washington street. One bullet passes
through window decorated for Christ
mas and lodges in the chest Of woman
who is tuning her radio. She dies in
the arms Of her husband, while their
children remain asleep.
Congress should enact laws to protect
the public from irresponsible persons.
It should be illegal for any person under
81 to. own or possess either a gun or
revolver, and then only with license.
The manufacture, sale or possession of
toy guns should be prohibited.
A=> Jennie Esmond Wright.
Evening star., 1952-01-10
State of the Union WotchfuI

Watchfulness was in the air yesterday at
the usually jovial state the Union session.
Anybody not watching Mr.. Churchill watching
the proceedings, was watching Senator Taft
watching the President. It was all rather tense.
This being campaign year, members of Con-
gresS-usually so prodigal with handshakes and
backslappings on this day of reunion-were OBJ
viouSly saving their strength and their palms
for amenities among their constituents.
The President, considering the presence of
an overwhelming eminence in the galleries. did
quite well, although his tone suggested he knew
he could not hope for undivided attention He
was interrupted about II times for applause,
which is just par for the course. And Britain's
Prime Minister, as was expected so dominated
the proceedings that when he stood up at the
Presidents entrance and leaned his finger
tips lightly on the rail before him the more
suggestible among the spectators fancied he was
about to take over When an exuberant Demo-
crat started small attempt at whooping it up
for the President, he and the immaculate Mr..
Eden exchanged a brief, baft1ed glance that
somehow indicated this was not done on state
occasions in other parliamentS.
As the reading got under way, some of the
attention shifted to Senator Taft, whose hope
of standing in Mr.. Trumans shoes next year
is so well known. The Senator put aside his
habitual air of studious detachment and was
plainly man casing the competition. He f1ddled
with his watch. He took out pen and paper.
He made notes, especially diligently during the
foreign policy passages of the speech.
In all, everybody was little bit on edge,
and it promises wariness usually not evident
in halls SO devoted to a show Of good fellowship
Evening star., 1952-01-10
Go Aheod,' Dr.. Corning

The recent turmoil in the Board OF
Education was lot like q tempest In a
teapot. But now our great Capital
might be magnanimous and extend to
DR.. Corning happy New Year wishes and
give him o hearty go-ahead. No super
intendent can do first-class work with
some Ill concealed tenure Of office
threat hanging over his administration.
In days ahead DR.. Corning cannot af-
ford to take counsel with any fears of
interference in items Of school detail
nor humbly confer with his foes about
who shall be invited to address his
classes. The superintendent with his
teachers no doubt has wisdom to bal
ance the viewpoints of the visiting
speakers. And we trust, at the next
opportunity to have something from
Faith Of Our Fathers or anything like it
in our schools, the powers that be will
not permit a subordinate's bungling or
some ones indecision to deny such an
outstanding good thing to "the chill
dren." w.
Samuel Irwin.
Evening star., 1952-01-10
Depends on Whether You Walk or Drive

the rest Of the country is not the care
less pedestrian but dangerous drivers.
and no amount Of figure juggling and
roundabout reasoning will alter this
perfectly obvious fact. .-..e,.
Mr.. Brylawski assures Miss Adams
that I'VE are not unmindful of the short
comings Of motorists" but apparently he
feels that law violations by pedestrians
far exceed those by motorists. To COM
pare the danger to innocent persons
Of one, offenSe against the other In
itself Is sheer nonsense nevertheless,
even compared on a straight numerical
basis, serious offenses by motorists far
exceed all offenses by. pedestrians, and
no observant person without an ak to
grind would argue otherwise.
am a motorist, myself, and feel
reasonably sure that the average motor
ist Is only trying to do the right thing.
Strict law enforcement would eliminate
dangerous drivers and make others more
careful and courteous than they can be
under existing conditions. Concentrat-
ing on that perennial scapegoat, the
pedestrian, solves very little. @
OF course, there will be no change
until pressure from the public requires
it-because strict law enforcement on
moving violations would slow down traf-
fic in rush hours and cause terrific
elamor by the public in general and
motorists clubs in particular. District
officials, in common with municipal
heads everywhere, don't yet know how
to cope with this problem Of ever-in-
creasing downtown congestion, and they
don't want to make it worse-conse-
quently. ostrichlike, they are willing to
keep their heads IN the sand, and by
the simple process of naturalization,
justify their position, by putting the
blame wherever Enthusiastically on the
pedestrian. Y.
More power to Vera Adams and others
like her, who call their shots as they
see them, and are not confused by Of
fetal gobbledygook.
@.t William d. Johnson.
Evening star., 1952-01-10
Silver Night

Leagues OF silUer snoaD that stretches
Over YdngelGnd winter- still -
While the moon. old artist, etches
Ansbling 0ulcb and argent hill.
VaHeyed strands of ledhess sUilloDss
Shadows cast By pine hedge spears,
Sharply etched on hin tDGUe bilious
As IL notcIted ioith pinktng shears.
On a rimrocE, siltouetted,
Stands a pictured tDolt in snop,
Nose appraised and hunger aDhetted
By the scent of deer beloD. -.
SiIueT night, ddrk-ined NTH shading
TIL, at last, the coming day;
And the moon5 old artist, fading
Softly, silently atoGy.
Cliff Walters
Evening star., 1952-01-10
motorist be blamed

of the way. Can the notorist be blamed
for getting impatient?
A suggested addition to reports Of
accidents would be whether the victim
ever drove car. I'll venture the guess
that most pedestrians hurt or killed
were never drivers.
M. E. M.
The attitude reflected in the letter in
your January issue by Julian Bry-
lawski Of the D. c. Traffic Advisory
Board is one Of the reasons we have
a high auto accident and death rate.
Because Vera Adams made some SEN
sible and penetrating comment on con-
ditions during the mid-December snow
fall, she receives g. semiofhcial conde-
scending reply which is full of half
truths. ..
Mr.. Brylawski blandly implies that
80 out of 68 traffic deaths here last year
were the fault of negligent pedestrians
or, to put it another way, that in A per
cent Of these traffic deaths the motorist
was innocent. Would any sensible person
accept such a ridiculous conclusion? The
biggest problem here and throughout
Evening star., 1952-01-10
ChurchiIl's Mission

have read with interest the accounts
of the mission of the Honorable Winston
Churchill, and noted with pride the
mention Of the kindly. but significant,
gesture made by the British Prime MIN
lister when he presented q model Of the
historical Mayfiower to the President.
The dominant feature Of MIR. Church.
ills visit is Of course, ito repair the dam
age done to Anglo-American relations by
the British Socialists -" and as he
represents the faction in Great Britain
which does not advocate Socialism in
any form, his visit seems most logical
one. It is important. therefore, that we
seek to help Mr.. Churchill demonstrate
to his British workers that their Social
ist picnic is over" and in 50 doing both
America and Great Britain might be
able to check the spread Of Socialism
before it is too late.
j : Mrs. d. N. II.
Evening star., 1952-01-10
Mr.. Woifson's Magic

Obviously Louis z. Wolfson. our we'll
known transit n1agnate, should be made
Secretary of the Treasury. It Is waste
full to limit his operations to small things
like the transit company when larger
fields are calling. Here is just whit he
would be able to do for the owners OF
$50 billions of Defense Bonds II he could
achieve the same percentage Of improve
ment as he did in the transit company:
He would Immediately declare $751;
475,000,0 900 dividend to the holders OF
these $58 billions of bonds. This is
equivalent to his dividends of $17.50 on
$40 original value in the transit COM
pany. After this step, the holders OF $58
billions of bonds would have all OF their
money back except $6,525, 100000. But
they would still would have $58 billions
of bonds.
Mr.. Wolfson's next step would be to
split I'D the bonds in smaller denomina-
tions and run the value up by 3.45 times,
20 that the bonds which cost $50 billions
originally, and on which there was net
investment of only $6,525. .000, 900. would
be worth $20o, 100 ,090, 900.
And the bondholders with, $51, ,475,-
100000 dividend would be ready for the
second round because. with Mr.. Wolfson
in charge and making such fabulous
profits for them, everybody would be
buying and none selling.
> It's as simple as that, If you only know
how. .
Alladin was piker.
~ Frank r. Wilson.
Just how much are the residents Of
Washington supposed to take? I
trust the proposed Congressional inves-
tigation into the financial mechanism
of the Capital Transit Co. will pass the
mere word stage and with the alacrity
which should be in order after a vaca-
ton has rested the mental cogs., just
how long are those, who, by economic
compulsion must use public transporta-
ton to be gouged by persons Of another
principality, who neither know nor care
Evening star., 1952-01-10
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer so
ans,G any Guestion @ Of fact By either yritins Ths
NV, Washington s b. C.. and inclosinz cenfs
return postage or By telephonine ST 1853
Evening star., 1952-01-10
By THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

EE sstSrn asssss j , saS
By THE HAsKN SERVICE.
@. Where is the highest microwavs
relay station?-T. E. U.
A. At Mount Rose, New, 10,075 Il.
above sea level. This relay station am
plifies picked-up signals 10 million
times and retransmits them to the next
station.
@. How large is the smallest watch
in existence?-S. B. Y.
A. The smallest on record is on o.
bracelet and Is not much larger than
q match head. It has 17-jewel move
ment.
@. How much money did Citation win
during his racing career?-W. L. L.
A. The sum Of $1,085, ,760. The ia
nous horse has been withdrawn from
active competition. a..
@. What does the word "send" signify
In slang today?-D. Z. M.
A. In swing music it means to excite
or inspire a jazz performer or listener,
O. Who said democracy Is always two
years behind the dictator?-G. B. Y.
A. This statement was made by STAN
ley Baldwin when Prime Minister Of
England In 1886. %
Evening star., 1952-01-10

Pen-nanaeS may be used If letters carry
1riters' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation
Evening star., 1952-03-13

impression that he is looking at
Jane Russell playing a character
who might be named Snow Gray.
Opposite Snow Gray, and with her
constituting a perfectly matched
pair, is Victor Mature whose role is
that Of Prince Storming. In the
MISUNDERSTANDING setting OF
the fable, they act out a romance
to which Hughes seems to have
committed his very life as q movie
magnate.
How many Of his fellow Ameri-
cans will join Hughes in his ad-
miration for Miss Russell and Ma
ture is conjecture Of the sort only
o fool would indulge after Ke-
fapver's showing in New Hamp-
shire.
The first shot of Miss Russell in
1.-THE Las Vegas Story" makes it
clear that it is Snow Gray, not
Snow White. she is playing. She
is shown lying in a bedroom berth
on one Of those platinum super
trains that garnish the Western
deserts. With her is Vincent
Price, q sinister package, who is
telling her they ought to stop of
at Las Vegas and gamble away
100000 or so.
Snow Gray demurs with an in
Election that there Is a good reason
why she does not want ever to
see Las Vegas again. Somewhere
in the gaudy neon illumination of
the place, she implies, a ghost is
waiting. This is a sound intuition.
While her husband is gambling
away the first inStallment of the
100000 at the Hotel Fabulous
casino. she drifts over to the Last
Chance.
Here, it turns out, she used to
be singer. Here she met. loved
and left Prince Storming a few
years before. Here, sitting at the
same table where she left him, is
the old Prince himself.
The question: Can they reverse
the flight Of time and find again
loves old sweet dream?
Ha!
X X \ X
Miss Russell has been working
for Hughes for some years now
but there is no intimation in "The
Las Vegas Story" that she has
bothered to learn to act. She reads
her lines in the picture like a
girl with an obvious distaste for
Evening star., 1952-03-13

them, but not for as good a rea-
son as she should have.
AS her director. Robert Steven
son has been more content than
he should have been to let Miss
Russell be herself. The result Of
this is that she simply shoulders
through the 80 minutes Of the
finn, although very few girls have
been as expensively dressed for
mere smouldering. It seems only
reasonable to suppose that a girl
with such wardrobe would re-
spond slightly to its excitement.
Not Miss Russell.
Mature is a much more virulent
performer. AS Prince Storming. he
functions in the disguise Of q Las
Vegas detective. He makes 1t
seem rather an interesting type
Of work what with its requirement
that he hang around the most ex-
|pensive hotels and penhouses
|peep!ng into the lives Of the rich
and ScandalouS.
The one dramatic sequence in
THE. Las Vegas Story" in one
spectators opinion is that which
constitutes a half-air-half-lan
dogfight between q helicopter
and a station wagon. Just how
this goes is indescribable, but for
the record it can be said that a
helicopter can defeat q station
wagon. ~
Adventurous youngsters who
drive station wagons might like
to know this. If nothing else that
they could learn from "The Las
Vegas Story
A Grade-A attraction viii fol-
low "The Cocktail Party" into the
Gayety, but after what looks like
a two-week lull. This is Kath-
crime Cornell's revival Of Somer-
set Maugham's 1.-THE Constant
Wife," which Is booked for
Washington for the week Of April
28.
Miss Cornell has had one Of
Evening star., 1952-03-13

her best Broadway seasons in
years In the Baugham play, In
which Brian Aherne acts as her
Ico-star.
Two attractive ballet bookings
are set for Constitution Hall be-
fore the end of March. One OF
these is the three-act "Cinder-
ella" which Lisa Gardeners dance
group will present with the Ma
tional Symphony on March %. at
4 pm.
Next dance attraction will be
the two performances of Ballet
Theater. matinee and evening. on
March 20. Matinee program
items will include Princess Au-
rora," 18th Eulenspiegel." and Ag-
mes De Miles "Rodeo." The eve
ming performance of the Ballet
Theater group will be comprised
of "Constantia," It'll Eulenspie-
GEL" the pas de deux from fThe
Black Swan" and Eugene Loring's
BILLY the Kid"
Washington is one Of the final
stops on the company's 67-city
tour for 1951-52.
Evening star., 1952-03-13
Where and When
Current Theoter Attractions
And Time Of Showing

Stage.
Arena - Three Men on {
Horse; $3.50 pm.
Screen.
Ambassador 1.-THE Big Trees"
1:20. 3:25. $3.50, 1880 and 9:35 pm
Capitol" "The Belle Of New
York; 1900 am. 1:45, 4:30, I'll:
and 10 pm. Stage: 1885. $40
l6:25 and $40 pm.
Columbia-"Quo Vadis":; .1l:3s
am, 2:40, 5:45 and 8:55 pm.
Dupont "The Sinners; 1885
$40. 5:45. 7:50 and 9:55 pm.
Keith's-"The Las Vegas Story;
Has am. 1850. $3.50, 5:55. 7:5s
and 9:55 pm.
Little-"La Ronde";; $3.50, TOO
$40 and 1920 pm.
Metropolitan "Hoodlum EN-
lpire":: 11:15 am. lis, 3:25, $3.50
1885 and 9:45 pm.
Ontario Death Of q Sales
man; 1:20. $3.50, $40. 7:50- and
10 pm.
Palace - african Queen; II
am. 1:10. $40, $50. 7:4O and
1850 pm.
"casablanca":: 3:25, e:ss
and 9:45 pm.
Playhouse - give Finrers".
10:40 am. 1850, 800, $40, 7:20
and $40 pm.
Plaza - "The Lavender Hill
Mob: 10:55 am. 12:45. 2:40, 4:30
l6:25, 8:15 and 1918 pm.
Trans-Lux - 1.-THE Sniper";; II
am, 12:40, 1880, 4:25. 6:15, $40
and 10 pm.
Warner-"The Big Trees; ISIS
am. 1870, 3:25. 5:35. 7:45 and
$50 pm.