davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-02-10
This Week
in the
Garden

There is nothing to be gained
by putting of ordering seeds to
be planted this spring. Send the
order in now. and for fun add
something new-kind or variety
Trying out new things is always q
fascinating experience. one that
you will enjoy sharing with friends
and neighbors.
Vegetable gardeners should SOW
seed of head lettuce and cauli-
flower this week If the plants are
to be ready to go into the garden
early in March. They should be
ready by then If they are to pro-
duce a crop this spring. Both must
mature ahead of hot weather to
be worth harvesting. Remember
that caulif1ower is seldom o sue
cessful crop in this area.
Flower growers should sow the
seeds of China asters, cobaea. CO.
leus, dahlias, pinks, petunias, sal
Was, and verbenas now If the
plants are to be of good size by
planting time in mid-April. Early
seeding may require space in
which to grow the transplants,
but we all like to have early
bloom in the yard and these take
a considerable period to reach that
stage.
Use sphagnum moss for start
ing tiny seeds this spring. It only
takes a half inch layer on top Of
dirt to do the job, but it is the
best way to avoid that destructive
disease of plant seedlings-the
damping-off fungus. Formalde-
hyde dust Is the second best pre-
ventattve Tiny seeds sprout and
thrive better In the pulverized
sphagnum than In soil. Dry sphag-
mum moss is obtainable from local
stores A pound or two will 60
a long way In starting seeds. Don't
try to use 1t the second time.
Clean out the cold frame, paint
the sash and put them in place
so that all will be ready for the
seedlings when they, are large
enough to transplant. A cold
frame is important to the later
stages Of growth, as it is difficult
Ito produce stocky, well-rooted
plants in the average home. Also
the cold frame is ideal fof harden
|ing-of plants. i.e., getting them
lin condition for planting in the
garden.
Paint garden tools bright anC
distinctive color-it helps in find
ing them In the dusk of the eve
ming. Also. it removes any doub
as to the ownership Of the tool
We all like to help our neighbour
and friends through 1oaning tools
but unless they are noticeable the!
may be slow in coming home.
Before reporting African violet
/ it is well to- scrub the pots ant
to soak them to remove the aka
lime salts that evaporation leave
lin the edges. Sterilizing is i'm
portant if disease is present, be
cause q porus clay pot makes
good home for such germs.
1 Now Is a good time to collec
brush for stalking garden peas. I
lis difficult to work around un
Istaked peas, and when they spraw
on the ground the pods usual.
|are soiled, II not moldy. Stake al
garden peas. dwarf and tall.
| Kentucky blue grass seed shoul'
be sown before the middle Of tn
month if It is to have time t
sprout and become established be
fore hot weather Is due. The les
cues and other quickly germinat
ling seeds may be sown later
Scatter the seed on top OF tn
ground, frost action will carry
down into the soil. Some protec
ton from birds may be necessary
use sand, compost or any otne
material handy.
Evening star., 1952-04-28
Thomos [. Stokes:
The Dongerin Playing Politics
Americas Great Steel Crisis Coming in Election Year
Reveals High Stakes in an Immense Fight for Power

this amorphous, betwixt-and-
between state. we have, in fact,
an interregnum. with the Ma
ton presided over by a Chief
Executive who is retiring. His
control therefore is weakened
yet his unpopularity among
an obviously large segment of
our people is being capitalized
for political purposes by abu-
sive personal attack that can
weaken the Office still further
at a time when. above all others,
it must be strong. Whoever
the person in the White House,
the Office itself must be pro-
tected, else our democratic
'ystem win break down. For the
President Is the direct repre-
sentative Of the people.
In stepping aside at the end
of his term. President Truman
followed the exact spirit of the
Constitution, though he was ex-
empted. He chose not to be
exempt. The situation which his
announced withdrawal has
created has exposed glaringly
the rigidity Of our political
system, which must deal with a
continually fluid and flexible set
of national and international
problems that have no relation
whatever to the termination of
a Presidents tenure. Since the
situation In which we find our
selves now in regard to a recog-
nized world struggle may leon-
tinue for . long time, the
Evening star., 1952-04-28

Our Grovest Issue in 20 Years
Regardless Of its Legal Route Trons Stand on His Power
Has Rocked the Feeling Of Security Under the Constitution

peals and then q direct petition
to the Supreme Court Of the
United States which is permis-
sible In such Constitutional
cases.
So, as it was planned. If the
Department Of Justice lost the
case, q petition would be filed
at once with the Circuit Court
Of Appeals here not to return
the steel plants but to order a
stay or temporary restraint
against the executing Of the
lower courts order, thus main
tanning the status quo" until
the Supreme Court could hear
the case.
It was being assumed In
Washington that by status
quo" was meant an agreement
in behalf of the Secretary Of
Commerce not to pay any in
creased wages or otherwise dis
turb the collective-bargaining
situation that existed before
Government seizure.
Likewise, If the steel COM
panies lost, they planned to
follow the same route so as to
get the case before the Supreme
Court at once.
1t could happen, Of course.
that the steel companies and
the unions might reach a set
tlement of their dispute, and
that the Government would
concur and turn back the plants
at once and the issue would
become moot" and the Su-
preme Court would not feel OBJ
ligated to pass on the constitu-
tional questions at all.
But no matter what the legal
route may be, the case has dis
turbed. as nothing else in dec
ades of history. the feeling Of
security that America operates
under a written Constitution
and that the executive, legisla-
tive and judicial branches are
limited by specific powers dele
gated by the people under that
Constitution.
Examination of the steno.
graphic transcript of the ar
gument made by Holmes
Baldridge, Assistant Attorney
General, reveals many startling
sentences never before heard in
America. The argument was
carefully prepared in advance
by the Department Of Justice
and represents an evolution Of
New Deal" and "Fair Deal"
concept of executive authority
which Is not limited by the
courts. It is more sensational
than MIR. Roosevelt's bold plan
Of 1897 to pack" the Supreme
Court with justices of his own
choosing who agreed with his
philosophy of constitutionalism.
Evening star., 1952-04-28
Constantine Brown:
Constantine Brown:
When Treaties Have No MeoninQ
Something New "Peoce Controct VIII Be Signed at Bonn
But in This Guse Will Have Be Ratified by the Senate?

It is strange that after so
many years Of Illustrations and
diSappointmentS the Western
policy makers have not yet
learned that the signatures on
treaties by top-ranking diplo-
mats have no meaning whatso-
ever, unless these are backed by
popular Endorsement.
Next month the foreign min
listers of the United States.
Great Britain and France will
meet at Bonn, the capital Of the
Federation of West German Re-
publics to sign a peace con-
tract" with Konrad Adenauer.
chancellor Of the republic.
incidentally. "peace contract"
is new Technology in diplomacy.
and many United States SEN
ators are wondering whether the
document will have to be sub
mitted for their ratification.
The Constitution requires that
peace treaties be confirmed by
the Senate in order to become
effective.
International agreements ap-
parently do not require such ac-
ton. This became apparent
when President Roosevelt signed
new agreements at Teheran and
Yalta, and President Truman
followed suit at Potsdam. These
were not only never submitted to
the Senate. but their contents
were concealed from the public
until much later, when they
were revealed only through their
implementation.
In the light Of the growing
bitterness between Germany and
France over the Saar region, and
the continued suspicion of the
French against their neighbors
across the Rhine, there Is little
hope that the impending peace
contract will be little more than
just q "pious document" with
only little factual meaning.
The Western Allies will meet
shortly after the signing of the
contract at Bonn, in another
capital-probably Brussels-to
sign the agreement to weld to-
gether the armies of the con-
tinental members of the NATO
with the potential forces of
Germany into a unified Euro
pean army.
This is interpreted to mean
that Germany will enter the
NATO by the back door, while
most Germans would prefer the
front door.
On paper, such a scheme
Evening star., 1952-04-28

many. on Gen. Eisenhower'S
skill as a diplomat.
While it is true the Supreme
Commander of SHAPE is con.
cerned only with military mat
ters. the Germans feel that he
could have unofflcially urged the
French government against
controlling the Saar politically.
because such action would nec-
essarily interfere with his mill
itary plans.
The Germans were led to
understand that as soon as they
signed the pact placing their
would-be forces in the European
Army, they would be treated as
equals. The fact that the French
are Fastening to complete their
rape of the Saar before the
peace contract is signed appears
to many Germans, including
some of the most loyal sup
porters Of Chancellor Adenauer.
as an indication that Germany
is still open to territorial VIOLA
ton on the part of the victors
whose partners she is supposed
to become.
There is strong feeling
throughout Germany that the
peace contract and military pact
are being rushed only because
of expediency on the part Of
the Allies, and the Germans will
not have an equal voice in this
new partnership.
So long as this feeling prevails
across the Rhine there is little
to be expected from the sigma
lures on both agreements.
Governments can be overthrown
by the people, and the pactS
signed with much fanfare and
flowery speeches become mean
Nngless without the backing Of
the rank and file Of the nation.
Evening star., 1952-04-28
Fletcher Knebel:
Potomac Fever

Federal Judge David Pine to rule on uman seizure
the bitter steel struggle The Judge spends his time
solitary meditation-on the trail Of the lonesome Pine
Seean the White House resumes direct efforts to end
railroad dispute Dr. Seeman has the
feet formula for settling labor both sides around
table a far possible from DR.. Steelman.
his to pictures in Luxembourg
Twenty ends glad know Ike
bring into focus except where he
stands.
President Truman will personally guide eevison watchers
on TV tour White House next Saturday You'll Mr.
Truman in his rolewakng hand in hand with
spring spanges the White House
and dances payfuly about the nearby deficit.
Harold stassen says Ta foreign policy could lead to
disaster that the years leading expert dis
aSters.
Gen. Ridgway of occupation Japan be-
nation Japan promises she'll be faint
ay-aeady she's preparing to ask us for 81 billion loan
Aing former Revenue Boss Joe Nunan promises
he'll testify publicly May Nunan has
rugged matter how much he it, he never
QUIT the amendment
Evening star., 1952-04-28

House for the next four years,
what political party controls
the Government, probably are
not so important as how, mean
while, we conduct ourselves as
a people for the next nine
months. For what comes after
can be affected by what we do
meanwhile. Great restraint is
going to be needed. The danger
of over-emphasis on strictly po-
litical exploitation of the situ-
alton in which we find ourselves
may be Illuminated by an an
alysis Of the peculiar and special
factors involved.
The first of these is that we
are In what most Of our leaders.
both Republican and Democrat,
recognize as a serious national
emergency. Yet 1t Is neither q
grand scale war nor peace on
the old simple scale. Emergency
actions of a drastic nature, and
without strict legality. are ac-
cepted and condoned under the
necessities of all-out war. In
the shadowland in which we
now exist. there can be found
cause for challenging drastic
action, such as that in the steel
seizure episode. and it is good
to have the issues raised and ex-
plored. Yet we are not at peace
either. and for reasons Of ma
tional security certain things
have to be done which would not
be considered at all In peace In
the old mode. x
The second factor Is that, 81
Evening star., 1952-04-28

"Our position" said Mr.. Bal
bridge, sis that there Is no
power in the courts to restrain
the President and. as I say, the
Secretary Of Commerce is the
alter ego Of the President and
is not subject to injunctive
order Of the court
But I do want to point out
that there are two limitations
on the Presidents power. One
is the ballot box and the other
is impeachment"
There are occasions. Of course.
when the opportunity to 60 to
the ballot box in q Presidential
term may be as much as three
or even nearly four years away.
So impeachment is the only
practical recourse left in the
view Of the Truman Admins
tration itself.
Another novel claim was set
forth in the argument of the
Assistant Attorney General
when Judge Pine asked Mr..
Baldridge this question:
$50 when the sovereign peo-
pie adopted the Constitution
it enumerated the powers set up
in the Constitution. but limited
the power Of the Congress and
limited the power Of the judi
ciary, but it did not limit the
powers Of the executive? Is
that what you say?"
Mr.. Baldridge then replied:
"That is the way we read
Article II of the Constitution. "
II see," rejoined Judge Pine.
"I have never heard that view
expressed in any authoritative
opinion Of any court"
That's why Judge Pines de-
cision is vital to the future Of
the American Republic, but even
more vital is what the Supreme
Court-the final word. sup
posedly-has to say. For the
Truman Administrators coun-
sci limited that the executive
had the right even to ignore
the Supreme Court and to re-
fuse to obey its mandate.
Impeachment proceedings do
seem to be the only way now
to restore confidence in the
American people-for any Presi-
dent who permits such an ar
gument to be made is guilty
of attempted usurpation. It
raises concretely the question of
his fidelity to the Constitution
he swore to uphold. It openly
invites impeachment proceed
ings which can be brought by
the House of Representatives
by a majority vote. Removal can
be effected by two-thirds of the
Senate as provided in the
Constitution.
Reproduction Rights Reserved.)
Evening star., 1952-04-28
David Lawrence:

The Supreme Court Of the
United States will be asked this
week to take under conSidera-
tion the gravest Constitutional
question that has arisen in
American history since the days
before the Civil War.
The issue Of q century con-
Germs the right of a citizen not
"to be deprived Of life. liberty
or property without due process
of law" Those are the exact
words Of the Constitution. The
issue concerns also the alleged
right Of the President to declare
an emergency" and, without
permitting any review by the
courts as to whether such an
emergency exists, to arrest any
citizen, and execute such a citi-
zen without a trial by jury.
It concerns many other fun
damental rights and mostly
whether the President is the
"chief Of state" as the memo
randum formally fled by the
Department Of Justice claims
he is. That memorandum as
serts fatty that the President
is above the courts and the Con-
gresS and that he is not limited
in his powers as are the judicial
and legislative branches Of the
Government. Mr.. Truman has
tried. through a letter published
Sunday night, to naOrow some
what what his attorney said in
court so as to concede that his
powers are limited. But what
counts is the argument in court
not the White House publicity
designed to allay the peoples
fears.
The Nation as a whole has
seemed unaware of the epoch
making crisis in law which has
arisen, but lawmakers and those
who are familiar with Constitu-
tional principles know that the
very character of the American
Republic and its future as q
Government based on a written
Constitution are at stake.
Over the week end the two
contending sides had prepared
for a decision in the United
States District Court by Judge
David A. Pine. who was expected
by Tuesday to take the first step
"a denial of the right of the
Secretary Of Commerce to seize
or operate the steel plants. This
inference was generally drawn
from the many questions asked
by the judge.
But the attorneys for the
Government and the attorneys
for the steel companies had
planned the second step no mat
ter which way the case was de-
cided-a docketing Of the case
with the Circuit Court Of Ap-
Evening star., 1952-04-28

seems all right. But Germany
is no longer a dictatorship in
which the people have no choice
in the action of their govern
ment. There is a parliament
which must put its seal Of ap-
proval on the chancellor's
actions.
The details for creation of a
German military. force of some
250,000 men must be approved
by the Bundestag. And the
mood Of the people Of Western
Germany, which must be taken
into account by members Of the
West German parliament, does
not appear to favor a military
cooperation with the Western
European coalition. The Ger
man people have become self
confident. This has brought
about a rise in nationalism
which is strongly described as
neo-Naziism.
The French attempt to set
tie" the Saar question at this
time by virtually annexing Ger
man territory has created a
wave of indignation among all
Germans regardless of political
affiliation.
BY saying that the Oder
NiesSe line was only temporary
arrangement, we are discreetly
encouraging the Germans in
the belief that the territories
stolen from them by the Rus
slams and given to Poland, would
eventually be returned to them.
Yet, when the French attempt
to wreSt the coal-rich Saar val
ley from Western Germany, no
whisper of protest is heard from
Washington. Our failure to re-
strain this ill-thought action of
the French reflects, according
to several reports from Ger
Evening star., 1952-04-28
Kefouver Is Gaining in Alabama
Russell Theory Of Poiticos Open to
After Statewide Survey Of Delegation Candidates

erans and labor. It has been
shown in other States that the
Tennessean strongly appeals to
such groups.
Mr.. Hall explained that
northern Alabama had always
felt a great kinship for its
neighbor. Tennessee, and had
in fact once wanted to be part
of that State. The region has
shown marked political inde-
pendence in the past. he said.
It should not really be too
surprising to Washington that
Alabama should break away
from the conservative ranks
which are closing around SEN
ator Russell. Both Alabama
Senators-Lister Hill and John
Sparkman-are articulate and
able Southern liberals, siding
with the Administration for the
most part except on civil rights.
Both indeed helped to lead
the successful Supreme Court
fight to confine the Alabama
delegate slate to loyalists who
will vote for the regular party
nominee. This shuts out the
DixiecratS.
The Alabama trend will be
widely advertised by the Ke-
fauver forces as the answer
to the contention that he can't
carry his native South. It's
echoes will reverbrate in neigh
boring Florida in the next ten
days Of intensive campaigning
by the two candidates and by
Senator Kefauver's principal
senatorial backer, Paul Douglas
Of Illinois, who enters the State
Monday. .
Evening star., 1952-04-28
Thomas L. Stokes:

Playing politics can be over
done. That is almost danger
ously so now.
The temptation is high be-
cause the stakes are high. For
the occasion is not only the
quest for the presidency and
seats in Congress. It is also a
battle of great economic forces,
some lacking a fine sense Of
public responsibility, for con-
troll. through those offices, Of
the Government. Before us to-
day we have an example Of this
titantic struggle by great ag-
gregations of power, industry
and labor, in one huge segment
of our economy-steel.
In order to understand poll
tics just now. account must be
taken of this power struggle.
For politicians, including can
didateS for the presidency it
self, are mere instruments
through which this struggle for
power Is carried on. It is the
big. dominant background fac
tor.
How high are the stakes is
indicated by the tenseness and
bitterness Of the battle, and
the ridiculous and absurd lengths
to which is is being carried as,
for example, in cries for i'm
peachment Of q lame duck
President. That is pure and un-
adulterated politics. II serious,
1t would not 60 at all to the real
issues involved. 4
Who occupies the Whit
Evening star., 1952-04-28
Doris FIeeson:

AUBURN. Ala. April 2S.-
Alabama, the first State to an
swer the roll call at q national
convention, is breaking away
from the supposed solid-South
support Of Senator Russell Of
Georgia in favor Of Senator Ke-
fauver of Tennessee.
Concrete evidence to support
the optimistic claims Of the Ke-
fauver State campaign manager.
w. D. Partlow, jr., Of Tuscaloosa.
broke on the eve Of a personal
drive by the rival Senators for
victory in the Florida presiden-
tial primary May 6.
It had been assumed that
Florida, the only State where
the two are directly matched.
would afford the solid clue to
their relative popularity in their
native South. But, as so often
happens, Washington and the
professional politicians were
taking too much for granted.
Mr.. Partlow told this column
Saturday that more than half
the Alabama delegation would
be pledged to Senator Kefauver
when it went to the convention
in Chicago. Today. the Mont
gomery Advertiser backed him
up with its own check Of the
delegation.
In story beginning with the
admission that Senator Ke-
fauver is out-pacing Senator
Russell here in Alabama" the
Advertisers political writer.
Geoffery Brit, said that he had
made a Statewide check Of the
IL candidates for the 26-member
delegation to the Democratic
Convention
Evening star., 1952-04-28

rigidity of our political system
now revealed-which hereafter
will provide an even longer
interregnum with the two-term
Presidential term limitation
is a reminder that sooner or
later we must face it and do
something about it. Meanwhile
we have to make the best of 1t
In this first application.
In his seizure of the steel
plants, President Truman chose.
on the other hand. to act under
the admittedly flexible powers
of the President under our
Constitution because he felt
that necessary to meet the
emergency. There are times
when the Constitution must
bend or yield, and the avenue
most often used is the Presi-
dency, though the Supreme
Court itself has bent and re-
shaped our Constitution from
time to time throughout our
history.
The steel impasse raises again
the overriding issue that di-
rectly affects the public and, as
such, the Nation. This is the
problem we face in the huge and
increasingly growing corporate
empires, stretching over great
areas, employing hundreds OF
thousands of people. Yet they
are controlled by a handful OF
powerful persons-in manage
ment on one hand and labor on
the other-who can paralyze
even greater segments of our
economy and, at a time like this.
jeopardize our national security.
We are up against a decision,
as a Nation. as to whether we
choose in emergencies to let the
President exercise, and perhaps
stretch, his inherent powers.
which possesses certain dangers.
or to define these powers and
prescribe limits, or to seek new
solutions that will lodge firmly
somewhere the public power
necessary to bride this private
power.
But there must be power
somewhere to do that.
Merely playing politics with it
not only is no answer, but is
dangerous.