davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-05-22
By Charles E. TroceweN

forced at all points. so that an unseen
movement goes on constantly, with the
pressure being exerted outward toward
the farms. The very neatness of most
suburban yards, caused by incessant
raking and moving. and burning and
spraying to keep insects down, brings
on conditions inimical to the strict
wildings of field and forest. On the
other hand, there is some movement
toward suburban sections in which the
residents are fond of animals and birds
and regularly put out food for them.
Even in such close-in sections as George
town are to be found many opossums.
One resident has put up two opossum
houses, and has them occupied regu-
larly. The Potomac River and Rock
Greek make natural roads for wildlife,
as well as attract the birds. AS long
as the city as whole has trees, it
will always have some Of the wild ami
mails as well as wild birds.
The wild rabbit is harmless. color
full and interesting creature, and de-
serves special protection wherever found.
The harm it does bushes and plants and
some vegetables is very small. and
scarcely deserves mention. No one ought
to begrudge a few such things for the
feel of wildlife around place. There
is no other feeling. perhaps, so likely
to keep q person sane and free from
human conceit. The person who cuts
himself OF from interest in and care
for the animal creation is on his way
to flock Of neuroses, and the psychia-
trist viii get him II he doesn't watch
out
Evening star., 1952-05-22

A correspondent claims that use of
too much spraying material has cut
down on the number of rabbits in our
suburban areas.
Certainly out our way there are far
fewer bunnies.
Twenty years ago-which Is long
time, after all-there were dozens of
the cottontailS.
It was impossible to look out the win
dow without seeing two or three Of them.
Now there are not two to block,
and these mostly unseen.
Probably the increase in the dog pop
ulation has something to co with it.
Pet cats tend to get the babies.
But the whole increase in suburban
population pushes the wild things far
ther into the country, where they find
conditions more to their liking.
The wild rabbits lead real dogs life.
wherever they are. Yet they manage to
survive, despite tularemia and other
diseases.
Killing rabbits for food must have
received severe setback from the tuia-
remia scare. We can recall, 20 or 80
years ago, when every one ate rabbits
Now they are as rare on tables as
squirrels.
As a matter of fact. q rabbit Is far
better eating than q squirrel.
In the old days. rabbit was served up
in many homes at least once week.
The custom probably came from the
Old World, where rabbits were kept as
q cheap meat supply.
Properly handled and cooked. the rab-
Evening star., 1952-05-22
This and That

bit offers little danger from tularemia.
broke on the horizon Of the average
man. It was medical sensation. one
of the first of its kind to receive wide
publicity.
Now few persons think of it-and
few eat rabbits, either.
There are few wild animals more in
teresting.
Many suburban dwellers have had
their first taste of real wildlife when
they looked out the window some morn
ing and saw big one calmly eating
the bark of their rose bushes.
This is where some danger comes to
them. from the sprays so freely used
today.
In taking so much vegetable foods.
the rabbits thus consume much spray
materials, and so build up q reservoir
in their own systems.
This is the contention, and there may
be something to it. We must look further
for the reasons for rabbit decline in
our suburban sections, however. Much
the same thing seems to be happening
to our birds. Reports Of dead robins
and others found with no marks might
point to ornithosis. or bird fever, like
tularemia tranSmittable to man, and
then again these deaths may be due
to unknown causes. Whatever Is the
cause. there can be little doubt that
mans activities. here as elsewhere, may
have something to do with it all.
Building up Of communities here and
there results In less and less natural
food, with q sort Of migration Of wildlife
Evening star., 1952-05-22
School Board Qualifications

The Executive Board Of the John
Eaton Parent Teacher Association has
given some consideration to the qualifi-
cations that would be most desirable
in a member OF the District Board of
Education. The following list embodies
the most important of these qualif1ca-
tionS as we see them:
Wide interest in education and the
problems of children, along with some
experience. volunteer or professional in
one or more of the fields of teaching,
PTA, community welfare, or organ
lied effort for educational improvement.
Sympathy with the ideals and aims
of the public school system, this faith
being indicated, where possible, by
sending their children to public schools.
A compassionate understanding of the
racial problems as they affect the Dis
trict and its schools
A reputation for objectivity, fair play,
and the ability to work harmoniously
with others having like or contrary opin-
ions.
No hampering affiliation with groups
or organizations seeking to profit from
school board contracts, or with civic
or patriotic" or political groups COM
mitted to restrictive PHILOSOPHERS which
Evening star., 1952-05-22
DisquoIifies Ike

Those who support Eisenhower claim
that his military background will not
keep him from making good president.
What Is overlooked is that in addition
to being military man, Eisenhower has
militarist views. He was one of the first
and strongest advocates of peacetime
conscription. He has taken the lead in
promoting the remilitarization of Europe
and he has supported every military
measure that has come before Congress
since the end of World War II.
If Eisenhower is elected, it can be
expected that our country will be mill
tarized as it never has been before.
Something might also be said of Eisen-
hower's background. AS he himself put
it in 1948, when he declined to run,
Nothing qualities for the most impor-
tant Office in the world man whose
adult years have been spent in the
countrys military forces"
Robert S. Auerbach.
Evening star., 1952-05-22

lection Of the Panama Canal. He rec
ognized Panama's new government.
Here. too, his course was severely crit
icized but he defended it on the ground
that Colombia had no rights to stop
world traffic across the isthmus, and
added that an old treaty justified his in
tervention.
Also in 1901, during the Venezuelan
incident. T. r. told the German Ambas-
sador at Washington to agree to arbitra-
ton or he would send the United States
Navy to enforce his demands.
And in 1908, in the Santo Domingo
affair, when France. Italy and Belgium
were about to seize the small republics
custom houses, Roosevelt provoked a
great deal of criticism with his hands-off
policy. Yet upon the whole. it met with
the appreciation Of majority Of the
people.
Frank Dove.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
Federal Workers in Viroiniu

The law prohibiting Federal employees
from holding Office in Virginia was writ
ten into the Constitution in 1887 and its
purpose was to protect all individuals
which make up the majority, from SUBJ
verslve minority groups which might at
tempt to consolidate all three branches
OF our Government into one central de-
partment. Since this law was adopted
in 1887 it was not directed at the present
group Of Federal employees who feel it is
their duty to run the Arlington County
government and the school system.
A Federal employe eliminates himself
or herself from holding q government
ONCE In Virginia when he or she chooses
to accept employment with the Federal
Government. The Virginia Constitution
is not barring any one. but the person
In question is barring himself.
Following is portion of q letter by
George Washington written in 1895
warning the people to be conscious of
any proposals which would endanger our
Constitution and liberty:
However combinations or associations
OF the above description may now and
then answer popular ends, they are
likely, in the course of time and things,
to become potent engines, by which cum
ming, ambitious, and unprincipled men
will be enabled to subvert the power of
the people, and to usurp for themselves
the reins of government; destroying
afterwards the very engines which have
lifted them to unjust dominion.
Towards the preservation Of your
government and the permanence of your
present happy state, it is requisite. not
only that you steadily discountenance
irregular oppositions to its acknowledged
authority, but also that you resist with
care the spirit Of innovation upon its
principles, however specious the pre-
texts. One method of assault may be
to effect. in the form Of the Constitution,
alterations. which will impair the energy
Of the system, and thus to undermine
what cannot be directly overthrown."
B. M. Miller.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
Commuters Bride

When you haze gone. all things you
leGDe behind
. Retain some music of you, as a she'll
Holds fast the sound OF sea-Dape and
OF mind,
And every household thing that knotcs
you tDeH,
The clock you iDi1ld, the book beside
your chair.
The carufng that's halt finished, and
the hoe
That leans there idle By the basement
stair,
Proclaims its secret knowledge OF you.
though
My heart that counts the hours OF the
day
Needs no reminding that you are atDay.
EIeonor HoIbrook Zimmerman
Evening star., 1952-05-22
Ridgwoy's POW Orders

In his report yesterday to closed session of
the Senate Armed Services Committee, and in
his remarks at Pentagon press conference,
General Ridgway made one point abundanty
clear regarding the prisoner-of-war fasco on
Koje Island of southeast Korea. The point is
simply this: That the situation, for reasons
that have yet to be explained certainly seems to
have been handled at marked variance with
the spirit and letter of his orders.
According to General Ridgway, those orders
issued while he was still in top command in
Tokyo-laid down the line that the release of
the captured General Dodd was to be uncondi-
tional; that there was to be no answer to the
ransom demands of his Communist kdnapers;
that the effort to get him out of their hands
was to be made with any degree of force thought
necessary; and that uncontested control was
to be established and maintained over all the
POWs in American custody. Despite this, how
ever. the most extraordinary sort of bargaining
deal was carried out-a deal involving conditions
and concessions that have played directly into
the hands Of the enemy propagandists and COW
cred the United States and its United Nations
Allies with embarrassment of an extremely mad
dening and humiliating kind. More than that,
subsequent mutinous incidents-on Koje and
elsewhere-have indicated that prisoner of war
policing and discipline continue to be less than
good
On the strength of the record, Senator Rus
sell, chairman OF the Armed Services Committee,
has declared that General Ridgway's orders have
not been carried out. Maybe the failure to carry
them out is more apparent than real, or perhaps
1t can be justified by facts that remain to be
reported. The evidence at hand, however,
strongly suggests otherwise. It suggests that
there has been inexcusable blundering and that
the Communist POWs have been coddled and
temporized with to an extent that must seem
laughable even to them. They should get their
come -uppance. They should have it driven home
to them in unmistakable fashion that they can
no longer get away with their arrogant abuse
of the Geneva Convention.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
Letters to The Star i.

are the reverse Of the courageous outlook
necessary for the training Of strong
American citizens.
Sufficient perspective to be able to
distinguish broad policy formulation
from routine administrative detail.
A willingness to view change as con-
ceivably meaning progress.
Our executive board also feels that,
while bona fide District residence is de-
sirable, the present Interpretation of
that phrase, which results in disqualifi-
cation of a taxpaying resident if he has
voted elsewhere. should be eliminated
until the District residents have the
right to vote for District officials.
We wish to express our appreciation
to The Star for your comprehensive
coverage of the problems and progress
Of the District public school system.
Virginia M. Gray,
President.
Mary Dessez.
Representative for School Board
Affairs. John Eaton PARENT
Teacher Association.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
Food for Communist Thouoht

Mr.. Truman's words at West Point did not
contain news for the Kremlin but they did
contain food for Communist thought.
Whatever the cost of Korea to us and to the
United Nations-and it has been sad and
burdensome cost-the counteraction initiated
there nearly two years ago served clear notice
upon the Communist world that the free nations
would no longer sit quietly by while Soviet
dictated aggression INDUCED itself wherever
and whenever it pleased. Korea can hardly be
considered military victory for the u N today
but it can be considered of high moral and
psychological value.
It Is quite certain that the leaders OF the
Kremlin recognize this fact now and that it
brings them no comfort It is equally certain
that they know the truth of MIR. Truman's
statement that "the free countries are infinitely
better prepared to defend themselves than they
were two years ago." For, despite course that
has been halting at times, there has been great
progress in these two years in hardening the will
OF the free nations and In revitalizing their
military strength.
In the United States in particular we have
used this time to expand and adjust our
tremendous productive capacity to meet ex-
traordinary military needs, and have trained
considerable body of fighting men. We have
developed and tested many new weapons, some
of them of awesome potentiality. On the collec-
tive front, the NATO has been expanded and its
blueprint translated into the beginnings of
actual defensive strength; Japan has been
restored to status of sovereignty and brought
within network of security arrangements for
the Pacific; West Germany is on the verge OF
comparable status, and an unprecedented joint
military experiment (the European army is
scheduled to receive formal approval next week.
The Kremlin, of course, knows all these things
Its outraged protests and distorted interpre-
tations merely reflect its concern about them
1t is true, as MIR. Truman said, that the
progress thus far does not provide guarantee
against war; The Kremlin's objective of world
domination is unchanged and the Soviet strength
Is great. But in Korea the free world found a
rallying point for its determination to resist
aggression; and in the months since the wars
outbreak, it has found opportunity for supple
menting that determination with the tangibles
of military strength. This is the food for Kremlin
thought which Mr. Truman provided in his West
Point speech.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
Spring on the Campus

An older generation reads with considerable
astonishment of the panty raids" that are
sweeping Americas colleges
Some $4,000 young men went on rampage
at IS schools Monday night. Tear gas, police
squads and shotguns were used to quiet them
National Guard company was called into action
at the University of Missouri At Northwestern,
of all things group of goods staged counter
raid on fraternity house. The news dispatches
do not specify just what it was that they were
after. And our nearby University of Maryland
just to be sure that good football is not its only
claim to fame, has joined in the pursuit of the
panty.
But perhaps there should not be too much
head-shaking amongst the oldsters When a
man has reached that point in life at which he
to ransack coed dormitory in quest of feminine
fnery, he has also passed the age at which he
can readily understand the strange impulses
which sweep across the campuses in the spring
Then, not all schools have succumbed to
this particular form of madness. At Yale, for
instance, the 1852 spring riot grew out of an
undergraduate difference of opinion over the
merits of two brands of ice cream. And at
Harvard, where one naturally would expect to
find loftier interests the skull-cracking started
when somebody launched an opposition move
ment to Pogo for President" campaign.
Furthermore, unless memory fails 1t has not
been so long since the surest mark Of q campus
hero was his skill in swallowing live goldfish.
And whatever one may think OF panty raids, they
do not seem quite so iuvenilishly idiotic IS that
Evening star., 1952-05-22
No SIush Fund Was Needed

If racing interests put up any "pay-off"
money in an effort to defeat anti-race news
legislation in 1850. they were taking risks that
were not only foolhardy but needless. Contrary
to the impression that one might get from the
vague testimony before the Senate District
Committee, organized gamblers were not alone
in their opposition to the then pending bill to
restrict interstate transmission of race news.
Theirs was not an uphill, last-ditch fight that,
to criminal mind called for attempted bribery
or influence-buying. The proposed legislation,
as a matter of fact, defeated itself-with an
assist from the Federal Communications Com
mission, broadcasters, the press and other sincere
critics.
The bill originally sent to Congress by
former Attorney General McGrath was opposed
Immediately by the FEC on the grounds that its
ban on gambling information" was too vague,
too broad and too drastic for successful enforce
ment. Many newspapers, including The Star,
criticized especially provisions of the bill which
would have prevented the broadcasting of races
until an hour after they had ended and which
also could have been construed as prohibiting
publication in newspapers of much race informa-
tion of interest to sports fans, whether gamblers
or not. The McGrath bill was so broad as to
forbid publication of scratched entries, jockey
weights odds or similar data which conceivably
might be used by professional gamblers.
AS result of this barrage of objections from
mountaineering sources, both official and unof-
fetal, the Senate Commerce Committee reported
a substantially modified bill It met most but
not ALL of the objections made to the McGrath
measure. The committee told the Senate, as
matter of fact that no Federal legislation at all
would be necessary if State, county and munich
pal authorities used the means already at their
disposal to fight gambling. The Senate
apparently agreeing. let the bill die. Against
this background the testimony quoting race
news figure as having said it would cost "a lot
of money" to kill the legislation does not make
much sense.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
Case for Regional PUG

Testimony before the Senate Commerce
Committee on local transit troubles has strength
ened the case for a new overall regulatory
agency for the whole Washington Metropolitan
Area 1t is true, as several witnesses pointed out
that this is long-range plan that could not
be made effective for several years. But the
reluctance of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion to undertake an interim inquiry with a
view to quicker remedial action lends support for
the slower approach
In letter to the committee the ICC showed
total lack of enthusiasm for the proposal that
the commission conduct comprehensive investi-
cation of the areas transportation difficulties
and issue "such orders after investigation as
may be in the public interest" The ICC, first
OF all, said it could not make any inquiry unless
additional funds were appropriated for the
purpose, and second, it expressed doubt as to
the power of Congress to confer upon the
commission or any other agency authority to
regulate intrastate transportation within that
portion of the area which is within Maryland
and Virginia"
1t is because of this doubt that the long
range plan for an interstate compact to create
Metropolitan Area Public Utilities Commission
has been advanced. Such a compact would
require not only favorable action by Congress
but by the Legislatures of both Maryland and
Virginia. The next general session of the Virginia
Assembly will be held in 1854. The three-way
compact seems to be the only way to bring about
an effective permanent system of controlling
transit lines serving the District and It's envrons
In the meantime if Congress should see At
to provide the 1CC with extra funds for special
study Of interstate transit operations in the
area the findings would be helpful in assessing
the proposal for Metropolitan Area PUG.
The ICC undoubtedly has ample authority to
conduct such an inquiry without benefit of
special legislation. It should be given the money
to do the job, however.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
School Age

A headline in The Star states: "vir-
ginia Rules School Children Are 6 on
Day Before Birthday" Legally, they
are; the law does not count fractions of
days Hence, no matter what the hour
OF birth, the child is credited with one
full day when it is born. Likewise, when
it has lived one second of the day before
its sixth birthday, it is credited with a
full day and is counted as six years old.
But it depends On the wording of the
statute. If. as your paper states, the law
says that children must reach their
sixth birthday to be eligible for enroll
ment, the ruling Of the attorney general
Is in error; for child born on October
l does not reach his sixth birthday on
September 30. If it says that children
who are six years old on or before Sep
tember 80 are eligible for enrolment.
then those born on October l are in
cluded. The same line of reasoning could
never touch those born on October 2,
so the Fairfax board has no problem on
that score.
Elmer c. Helm.
Evening star., 1952-05-22

conditions will not be regarded as bind
ing.
It requires no reasoning and no ex-
planation when we say that the only
honorable solution for the u. N author
tiles is to restore Gen. Dodd to the POW
custody and to return as far as may be
possible any other fruits of their con-
ceSSionS. .-
American Citizen.
It is easy to criticize Gen. Dodd for
allowing himself to be taken as a hos
tage and to blame Gen. ColSon for bar
gaining with the POWs. On the surface
it seems stupid and inexcusable for two
generals to find themselves in such a
position.
But perhaps we are premature in our
accusations. We do not know what an
investigation will reveal. Perhaps Gen.
Dodd was carrying out the policy and
orders of his superiors in the manner in
which the prison was run, and the lib
critics granted the POWs. Perhaps the
policy made it possible for the POWs
to capture him.
It might be wise to hold our condem-
nation of Gen. Dodd until we find out
what his orders were and who is really
to blame. Admiral Kimmel and Gen.
Short were the scapegoats Of the attack
at Pearl Harbor.
Harriotte w. b. Smith.
Much Indignation has Seethed and
boiled since the press pieced together
haphazard story of Gen. Dodd's seizure
and release. More of it will be expressed
when the full story comes to light and
Americans find q target for their anger.
Yet the underlying cause of the COM
mon feeling of shame and anger has
perhaps already been revealed. It is not
the mistakes which have been made, nor
the delay in punitive measures It is not
even the indications, now evident, that
Communist POW's confidently assumed
Americans would prove gullible material
for their propaganda plot. It. is rather
the inarticulated knowledge that lead
ing American, having permitted his own
ignominious seizure by the enemy in
war, and knowing that the whole world
was watching. proceeded to buy his per-
sonal safety with the honor and dignity
of his nation.
What type Of man is this who would
thus bargain with his captors? Is this
the value which Americans have come
to place upon their heritage ar1d' prin-
ciples? If so. then pity not Gen. Dodd,
but only our forefathers who bought
with their lives the traditions which we
would readily pawn today!
Otto Ravenholt.
Evening star., 1952-05-22
Give Dodd Back to POWs?

In your editorial "A Hard Choice" /"
May IL. you failed to mention the most
obvious and only honest solution of the
problem before Gen. Clark.
The release of Gen. Dodd was obtained
by the signing of concessions by prop
erly constituted authorities of the U. N.
forces. and the POW negotiators had no
reason to doubt the validity of any ac-
ton taken by those officials.
Gen. Clark now states that the Off
cials signing the concessions acted be-
yond their authority and therefore the