davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-04-24
By Charles E. TroceweN

away, and come. back to your little
garden to die.
In this chemical age in which we live,
we are all exposed to the inimical
powers, as well as the helpful powers, Of
chemicals.
There are on the market q variety
Of rat poisons, some of them so deadly
they ought not to be used at all. Red
squill seems the safest, but there is
another which thins the blood of rats
and so kills them.
Animals that eat such killed rodents
get an appreciable quantity of the chem
ical in their own blood.
Any roaming creature, including birds
and pet animals, is likely enough to pick
up dose Of poison, and the death is
horrible.
This seems another problem in which
the individual is helpless. Many of to-
days problems are of this sort, which
is why they are SO terrible to contem.
plate. and so difhcult to do anything
about.
The whole matter goes back to con-
certed action, and this leads irrevocably
to the Government as the only agent
which can act in such matters with any
hope Of real control.
The trouble seems to be. as in flood
control. that the Government itself can
not decide exactly what to do. It takes
such long time to determine anything.
and even then ofiicial findings are put
in such language that the layman finds
1t difficult to understand what they
mean. Government experts are notori-
ously difficult boys to pin down.
Evening star., 1952-04-24
upton STREET.

Dear Sir:
THE mysterious plague killing on
robins at Hagerstown, Md, diStresses
every bird lover in the community.
During the past three days have
found four robins and two chicakadees
in the Rock Creek Park area and seen
other robins twitching as the report in
dicated.
Can this killer be located in solu-
tions of DDT sprays used to combat
Dutch elm disease? At least it war
rants scrutiny.
yours very truly. B. L."
One investigator says that round and
tape worms in the dead birds he exam
ined evidently caused the deaths.
Preliminary reports made it seem pos
sible that DDT might be the culprit.
This column has warned against the
indiscriminate use Of this substance for
years.
Some doubts have been cast on the
weed killers using mercury as the active
agent. In the present cases. it has been
too early for the use of weed killers.
There can be little doubt that odd and
unusual deaths of number of birds
point to some chemical substance
which they can all get hold of.
It is not always realized that the
action of these sprays is slow, and that
the insect or worm stricken takes sew
eral hours to die.
During all this time. 1t is appealing
to the birds, since 1t Is very much in
motion. In fact. the more the insect
Evening star., 1952-04-24
This and That

might stagger. or twitch, the more lure
it would have.
The bird eating such poisoned insects
gets the full doze at the time.
Then, in eating others. it gets the
full cumulative effect Of the poison.
One Of the dangers of DDT seems
to be that it builds up in the ground,
and that a comparatively mild initial
dose, if followed by others. results in q
lethal dose at last.
In this way honey bees and others
have been killed by the thousands. In
early uses of this spray, hundreds of
SongbirdS were killed.
AS for the weed killers, very little work
has been done on them. in this regard.
so it is not possible to say how lethal
they are.
Anything with mercury in it may be
regarded with suspicion.
This column several years ago re-
ported dog owner who believed that
mercury weed killer was responsible for
the death Of her dog.
The unfortunate part Of chemical
sprays today is that even If one does not
use them to any extent. there is sure
to be some one close by who does.
DDT. in 20 per cent sprays. Is not
unusual. and if your neighbor uses It.
literally spraying all his plants with 1t.
what good does it do for you to refrain
from using 1t?
The birds fly as they will, and 90
from yard to yard, and from farm to
farm.
They might pick up poison miles
Evening star., 1952-04-24
New Jersey Machine Bockfired

noted In The Star the following
statement by Senator Taft's Eastern
campaign manager" John D. M. Hamil-
ton: For a candidate who Is supposed
to have political appeal, Gen. Eisen-
hover has made sorry showing in New
Jersey. The general was supported by a
ruthless political machine, an outpour-
ing Of money seldom seen :. ETC., etc"
Perhaps my memory is as faulty as
that Of the Eastern campaign man
ager." but it seems only few weeks ago
(before New Jerseys Governor an
nounced his support of Eisenhower that
Senator Taft was complacent in the ex-
pectation that the ruthless political ma
chine and the outpouring of money
would be put to work in his behalf.
Puzzled.
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Control of the Next Senate

Despite their preoccupation with the main
political bout, the presidential contest, Demo-
cratic and Republican Party leaders are giving
considerable thought these days to the impor-
tant question of who is to control the next
Senate.
In the present Congress the Democrats have
four-vote majority in the upper branch. Re-
publican capture of the Senate would require a
net switch of three seats. A Democratic presi-
dental victory would leave virtually no chance
for change in Senate control; whether Re-
publican victory would take the Senate along
probably would depend mostly upon the margin
OF such victory.
A principal obstacle to Republican success
In the Senate lies in. the fact that only IA of
the "a seats that will be contested in November
are currently Democratic Ones Six Of these are
considered firmly Democratic, five in Southern
States and one in Rhode Island, and only a
full-fedged Southern revolt or tidal-wave type
OF G. o. P. national victory could reasonably
be expected to shake them out of the Demo-
cratic column. Among the remaining eight, an
other half-dozen are ordinarily Democratic, and
Republican prospects of getting three or more
OF them are not overly bright.
Another weakness from the Republican
standpoint lies in the danger of their losing
some of the 20 seats already occupied by G. O. p.
members This years race involves seats that
were last contested in 1946, an off-year election
in which the Republicans made substantial
gains. Several Of the victors then however,
are not considered sure bets to win again unless
they get powerful help from Republican presi-
dental victory.
While ordinarily an opposition Congress, or
one that is divided party WISE can mean serious
trouble to an administration, it is not necessarily
dismaying prospect that faces the Republicans.
There is little likelihood, for example, that if
they win the presidency they will fail to win
the House. II they should accomplish this much
but fail to gain formal control of the Senate
they would still have a good chance of estab-
fishing an effective working alliance on many
important issues with certain of the Democrats
Obviously, such an arrangement would require
a skilful Senate leadership and a careful admin
istration attitude toward party sensibiities. The
makeup of such coalition undoubtedly would
vary with the issues involved and probably
would demand compromise in many instances.
It could still result, however, in an orderly
accomplishment of business.
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Roots of Political SLANG and C|iches

mated from an old trick practiced by
jockeys who dyed the hair of well-known
fast horses in order to enter them in
races under other names. Such horses
were generally dyed black. The jockeys
and their friends would then bet large
money on the dark horse and make
a cleanup, much to the surprise Of
other bettors."
The earliest use of the term in a
presidential contest which Mr.. Simpson
could find was applied to Rutherford
B. Hayes in 1876, when political writer
said: Perhaps he (Hayes) is that
mysterious parsonage known as the
dark horse"
Among the earlier Presidents who
won their nominations as dark horses
were James K. Polk 1844) and Franklin
Pierce 1852.
Favorite son. Mr.. Simpson informs us,
is almost as old as the Federal Govern
ment. In its present application, the
expression was used when some one
wrote in 1925: "John Randolph thought
himself unkindly treated by his native
State. He will now, trust, see in him.
self her favorite son."
Writers and cartoonists still describe
the strange bedfellowS politics makes.
The author traces this back to Shake
Speares "The Tempest" where the
jester Trincule, crawling under Cali
bans gaberdine for shelter during a
storm. said: Misery acquaints a man
with strange bedfellows."
Hats are still being thrown into rings
and have been since at least 1912 when
Theodore Roosevelt. asked if he would
run for President, replied: my hats in
the ring; the fight is on and I'm stripped
to the buff"
Elephant and donkey, still favorites
with the cartoonists, were popularized,
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Military Justice

N"toiy SuStISS
Three recent news items have proven
what my own Army experience has
taught me, namely: That military JUS
tice Is a mockery of all modern legal
concepts.
Take these inconsistencies in military
justice: In Korea a dog-tired GI who
slept on sentry duty received 10 years
imprisonment in Berlin another CT was
sentenced to only one and one-half years
for being AWOL two years; in Texas q
flyer got two years, dishonorable dis
charge and forfeiture of all pay for re-
fusing to fly because it might kill his
pregnant wife. This officer had legiti-
mately requested a ground assignment
explaining that his wife became so ill
whenever he flew that she had to be
under constant medical care.
It Is hardly difficult for the civilian
mind to determine which of these three
men committed the most serious crime.
Unfortunately for all of us in uniform.
the military mind still wanders about in
the maze Of 18th century ignorance.
Citizen-sOldi
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Cont Argue With Scorebourd

In the last paragraph OF your
editorial April 16, Victory in jersey"
you state. 'The New Jersey voting re-
establishes Gen. Eisenhower as the popu-
lar choice"
Granted that Gen. Eisenhower showed
great strength in New Jersey. question
your statement that he is the popular
choice of the five States that have held
primaries: New Hampshire, Minnesota.
Nebraska, Illinois and New Jersey. wis
consin has not been included out Of
fairness to Gen. Eisenhower as his name
was not on the ballot or write-in Of
his name allowed)
The vote as reported by the Associated
Press gives Senator Taft 1,223, ,526 and
Gen. Eisenhower 734,522.
Thus it would appear that Senator
Taft is by far the popular choice in the
five States mentioned above. AS you
say in your editorial, "And this Is some
thing that the Republican managers
cannot afford to ignore"
James X. Parsons.
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Lost Chonce' for Voters

At last some people are realizing that
q trend exists toward both national
socialism and dictatorship. Some people
have seen this trend since the beginning:
Herbert Hoover warned against it in the
1882 campaign. Others have seen 1t at
various times since then. Still others
have required the naturalization of the
steel industry to wake them up.
r. Wick asked in q letter If there
isn't some way to save what liberties we
have left. Answer: Yes! Every four
years the American voters have chance
to save their freedom: 1lve times they
have thrown this chance away. Another
chance Is coming up; the voters had
better not throw this one away-it may
be pretty near the last.
James f. StandiSh.
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Belgrade Demonstrates

There were disturbing qualities Of delibera-
ton and careful planning in the. mass demon
stration of an estimated 100000 persons in Bel
grade last week over the Trieste controversy.
The targets. of dsapproval were Italy and
the London Conference between Italy, the United
States and Britain over proposed closer associa-
tion among these three powers in Zone Of the
Free Territory. The tension between italy and
Yugoslavia over Trieste has existed ever since
World War II and is primarily responsible for
the creation of the Free Territory and the di-
vided jurisdiction vested in the United States
and Britain in Zone A and in Yugoslavia in
Zone B. The suggestion that italy should be
admitted to 'closer collaboration" in the civil
administration Of Zone A, however, has been
looked upon with highest suspicion in Belgrade
and has brought the whole controversy to new
pitch of intensity.
While the deepening of trouble between Bel
grade and Rome is bad enough in ITSELF an even
more oninouS note is the overtone Of anti
Western sentiment which seems to be building
up in Yugoslavia. In sense, Yugoslavia repre-
sents the most important victory the West has
scored in breaking the Communist front Marshal
Tito and q large segment of his people are
thoroughly Communist, but they are equally
anti-Stalinist Strategically located and poten-
TALLY powerful militarily, the country provides
rugged road-block to Muscovite expansion in the
Balkans. The military potential is being de-
veloped today with Western assistance.
There seems no possible way in which Tito
himself could ever return to association with the
Kremlin clique. But If he were eliminated from
the scene in one way or another there would
undoubtedly be an effort by the Kremlin con-
spirators to draw Yugoslav communism back
into the Moscow orbit. Obviously the most IA
vorable timing for such an effort would be when
an Western mood is abroad in the country
News reports on the big demonstration
pointed out that it had been carefully organ
lied, well publicized in advance and revealed in
its leadership many uniformed members Of the
Yugoslav military establishment It appeared
in other words to bear full governmental
sanction.
Naturally foreign policy of the West on any
issue, including that of Trieste cannot be die
tated by Belgrade. There are elements Of JUS
tice on each side of the controversy, however,
and any treatment of it calls for diplomatic
care and wisdom.
Evening star., 1952-04-24

If not invented, by the cartoonist
Thomas Mast in the 187Os.
Grand Old Party, oddly enough, first
was applied to the Democratic Party,
according to Mr.. Simpson. But in 1887
the Louisville Courier journal, referring
to the Republicans, came out with this
headline: "The G. o. P. on Still Hunt
for National Leader for the Battle"
Gradually the term, which the Demo-
Gratis applied derisively for time, stuck
to the Republicans and was adopted by
them more or less officially
Those interested in American political
terms which have become obsolete will
find complete explanations of them in
this fascinating book. While the book
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Takes Issue With OAR

Whether the OAR knows it or not,
the United States can no longer exist
without regard for what the rest of
the world is doing, a policy which, in
fact, would be morally wrong because
OF the many weaker nations who are
depending on us to strengthen them
against Communism. Pulling out of
the United Nations, which the OAR is
advocating, would bring the rest of
the world down on our neckS.
They want more ringing of bells" on
Independence Day. That should cer-
tainly make the world safer for
democracy.
David r. Cook
Evening star., 1952-04-24

Tn. stars rsadsrs. can get the answer TO 70
evening Star Information Bureau, 1900 street
on s9 sna incSsn I
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE
@. What is the religious faith Of the
Duke of Edinburgh's mother?-A. K.
A. Princess Alice, the mother of the
Duke Of Edinburgh, belongs to the Sis
ters Of Mercy, . Greek Orthodox order.
located on the Island Of Tenos, one Of
the marginal islands of the Greek
Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. She
also sponsors q school for nurses in
Athens. She dresses like q nun, in gray.
@. What is meant by good and evil
genius?-J. v. w.
A. The Romans believed in the exist
ence of guardian spirits who attended
each individual from the cradle to the
grave. determining his character and
governing his fortunes. There were two
for each person, q good genius bringing
good fortune and an evil genius respon-
sible for his i'll luck.
Q. Why are the letters A. q. c, used
in connection with Roman dates?AR. H.
A. They stand for the Latin ammo
Urbis Conditae," meaning literally "in
the year Of the founded city" The alb
breviations were used after the time Of
Augustus in expressing dates since the
founding Of Rome, which event is taken
to have occurred in 753 B. c.
O. When did the Cocoanut Grove
night club fire occur? How many died
In this disaSter?-C. I. d.
A. In Boston, on November 20, 1912.
Four hundred and ninety three persons
lost their lives. The high death toll was
laid to panic among the patrons who
rushed into the lounge and piled up be-
fore the narrow revolving door.
@. Did spring actually break forth
IN Andersonville Prison in Georgia dur
ing the Civil War;. q. w.
A. This is generally accepted as fact.
The appearance of the spring was de-
scribed by various eyewitnesses, who
were inmates Of the prison at that time.
Evening star., 1952-04-24

structible. Another is favorite son.
The meanings of these phrases are
obvious enough. But how did they origi-
nate? When were they first used in
politics?
The veteran Washington correspond
ent. George Simpson, answers these
and vast array of other questions in
his authoritative new book, "a Book
About American Politics" Harper).
Dark horse. heard more than ever this
presidential year. especially in the vide
open race for the Democratic nomina-
ton, obviously came from the race track.
But Mr.. Simpson tell us: "It has been
suggested that the term may have origi-
Evening star., 1952-04-24
BY Corter Brooke Jones

"HILE there are changing fashions
w in political slang, some of the
oldest expressions relating to campaigns
and candidates, words and phrases that
were cliches far back in the last CEN
tury, remain in popular use to this day.
Dark horse, for instance, is one of the
figures of speech which seems indie
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Sir Stafford Cripps

Dead at 81 after many years Of suffering.
Sir Stafford CrippS leaves a name and legend
sure of remembrance as long as present genera
tions remember anything. He was a British
equivalent of Woodrow Wilson-a scholar who
devoted his talents to politics as philanthropy.
His radicalsm was a contradiction of his own
wealth. But it was natural growth, Influenced
largely by the environment of his youth.
Beatrice Webb was his aunt, and he lived to take
her place as head Of the Fabian Society. Yet
he never would have made contented member
of socialist community. Individualistic almost
to a fault, he talked Marxism with an Eng
lish accent" but his conception of a world
emancipated from poverty conformed neither to
that of "the Red Prussan" nor to that of Stain.
Yet Sir Stafford Fundamentally believed
that the democracies, including England, could
collaborate with the Soviets. Even Winston
Churchill yielded something to his logic when
he allowed him to go to Moscow as a full-hedged
ambassador in 1910. The mission failed of re-
suits worth having, but Cripps returned to Lon
don as hero of sort for having tried to bridge
the gap between Westminster and the Kremlin.
Fearing the influence of the japanese with the
Indians, Mr.. Churchill in 1912 sent him to offer
India complete freedom after the war. Back
home, he was in charge of aircraft production
between 1943 and 1945. Then, when the Labor
Party came to power again, he was president
of the Board of Trade and set up "the austerity
program" of recovery based on the slogan "Ex-
port or die!" BY 1947 he was in effect "the
economic dictator of Britain" as Minister Of
Economic Affairs. He kept that portfolio when
after only few weeks, he was chosen Chan
cellor of the Exchequer. America went to his
rescue with the Marshall Plan. He clashed with
Churchill bitterly over the naturalization of the
steel industry. The British public resented his
rationing policies and he was called "Old
Misery"
But it was failing health rather than po-
litical misfortuneS that removed Sir Stafford
from public business In October, 1850. He sub
mitted himself to Spartan medical and surgical
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Brief Beauty

The lilac leans abore the ,pau
This fragrant April day.
With tight closed buds that hold pithin
The purple foiDers of May.
So many years the lilac bush
Has matted for the spring.
Has borne the blasts of ,Dinter's breath.
Tn, sharp minds and the sting
OF icy spears against its heart.
The sloso decay of tall,
To fGunt one briet and precious month
Its beauty on this tnaH.
Catherine Z. Beru
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Letters to The Star

but we Americans, of course. are not
likely to resort to such extreme meas
ureS.
So far as this writer is aware. never
in our history before the administration
OF Franklin Roosevelt was it intimated
that the President possessed such powers
as those now asserted by Mr.. Truman.
Furthermore. more than three centuries
ago the courts Of England held that.
though they had no jurisdiction over the
King. they did over his ministers and
servants. and plea by a person accused
OF an unlawful act that he had acted on
the express orders of the King was no
defense and such plea would, not be
heard by the courts. This has remained
the law in Britain to this day and was
recognized in the early days of our
republic.
Leaders Of organized labor as well as
all other Americans should never forget
that If this doctrine Of uncontrolled
presidential discretion and the RESPONSE
bility to him alone Of his subordinates is
sustained. such discretion can be exer-
cised by fascist-minded as well as by
Socialisticslly inclined President.
The courts Of our land never faced q
more momentous issue.
n-2.kn-
Evening star., 1952-04-24
Chino Lobby

The Sunday Star of April 20 carried
an article on the so-called China
Lobby" by Earl H. Voss, in which he
repeated much of the contents Of the
articles on the same subject published
recently by the Reporter Magazine.
I send you herewith copy of a state
ment recently issued by the Chinese
Embassy's press officer which I hope you
will be good enough to publish in order
to give the other side of the picture:
"The series of articles on the China
Lobby published in the recent issues
of the Reporter Magazine appear to be
only another attempt to smear and dis
credit Free China in its 25-year-long
and determined struggle against Com
munist imperialism. -.
''The Reporter Magazine only puts up
a straw man-the So-called China
Lobhy-as a whipping boy for denunci-
alton and smear. The articles depict as
sinister or improper many recognized
activities Of foreign friendly representa-
tives to promote the mutual understand
ing of their own country and the coun-
try to which they are accredited, Of each
others condition. problems and view
points. They attribute all voices and
opinions against the sinister policy Of
Communist China to the activities of
what the Reporter calls the China
Lobby thus attempting to stihe or
silence those friends Of Free China who
advocate the strengthening of Free
China's anti-Communist stand and ef-
forts. They contain insinuations and
unwarranted deductions as well as OBJ
vious misrepresentation. They fail to
appreciate the difficulties of any WELL
meaning government of any country to
carry out basic reforms and completely
eliminate corruption. In q word, they
only betray the clever maneuvers of a
real lobby-the anti-Free China lobby.
We sincerely trust that the clear-headed,
fair-minded American people. whose
traditional good will toward the free
dom-loving Chinese people is well known
and appreciated, will not be misled by
them.
Joseph Ku,
First Secretary. Chinese Embassy.
Evening star., 1952-04-24

treatment in the hope that he might be cured
OF his spinal ailment and resume his career.
His wife sustained his courage up to the end.
Some of his old foes in the Labor Party and in
conservative circles now are joining in express
sions of appreciation of his services Repre-
sentatives of all schools of thought agree that
he was sincere, earnest and devoted to his ideals