davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
Pen-1,an1es may be used II letters carry
,Driters' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.
sell the Parks, Too?

Sell the Parks, Too?
Congressman Joe Bates of Kentucky
has a swelliferous idea as to how the
District can make piece of big money:
Sell the former E. v. Brown School near
Chevy Chase Circle for million smack
ers. Deposit the proceeds in the Dis
trict's account. Then some altruistic
commercial people identify unrevealed)
will build up the site and generously
allow the District to collect $4,000 to
100000 per annum in taxes. An allur-
ing prospect! The writer, long inter-
ested in Chevy Chase, and having de-
signed and executed town-planning
work, never even contemplated such
financial wizardry.
There are other squares scattered all
over Washington, which may also be
sold at great profit to the District, with
the certainty, too, that income by
taxation will be permanently increased.
Take Farragut and Franklin Squares,
for instance. These properties are worth
millions in sales value and endless mil
lions in taxation.
East Potomac Park, now given over
to grass. grasShoppers, golfers, etc.. is
perfect for great apartment-housed de-
velopmert. It would bring tens Of mil
lions TO developers" and insure other
millions in taxes. Since we now pay
taxes on everything but our shirts, let
the District sell the parks so we citizens
can keep decently clad.
AS for community and playground
facilities, do not such luxuries betoken
an effete and luxury loving populace?
Millions of people in New York City get
along without such costly amenities;
other millions in Philadelphia. Chicago.
etc.. do the same. Why should we
Washingtonians be pampered?
Twice it has been suggested to The
Star that Franklin Park be turned into
a parking lot think it time that some
one spoke for the thousands Of inarticu-
late pedestrian residents who would get
no relief from summer heat, and see
nothing better than brick and asphalt
if it were not for the parks and shade
trees of Washington.
Franklin Park, far from lacking in
beauty. is planted with great, fireplace
able old trees. blooming magnoliaS and
azaleas Far from being useless, it is
III COAISGdAt uoCS AAOV Ny AOeSAVAo NAV Ny
tired workers, by underprivileged chill
dren, by people from sitting rooms and
ugly surroundings. Are these people to
be deprived of the only decent thing
they have to look at for the benefit OF
car owners who ride in from the cool,
beautiful suburbs in tearing hurry to
get to the bank? The people who need
Franklin Park have no cars, no bank
accounts: they literally have no other
place to 60
If the people Of Washington do not
take care, their lovely city will be turned
into a vast, noisy, fume- filled parking
lot for the comfort Of suburbanites.
The parking problem may be important
from the point of view Of convenience.
but the parks and shade trees are
important for life itself.
Gertrude M. Butler.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
McKeIdin Makes q Hit

My friends and I were delighted to
hear Gov. Theodore McKeldin so truth
fully and eloquently tell the people via
television the faults of the present adj
ministration.
AS a Marylander. feel mighty proud
that we have such a wonderful. con-
scientious gentleman as our Governor.
He is not afraid to expose wrongdoing.
Americans who admire the open, clean
way of living would be most fortunate
to have such gentleman as Gov. Nc
Keldin as President.
Constant Reader.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
Light on the Traffic Light Cut

Very little digging is required to uncover
what seems to have been the real reason for
the drastic slash of traffc-signal estimates by
the House and its Appropriations Committee.
clue is contained in this brief comment in
the committees report: Information has
come to the attention of the committee that
some recently installed traffic lights which are
in use throughout the day, are in locations
where the flow of traffic does not seem to war
rant their uSe or where rush-hour use would
be the only justification for their existence"
This comment, Of course, does not explain or
warrant the striking of 100000 from the pro-
posed $159,10O fund for new signals.
One must go back to the hearings on the
estimates to discover what was behind the COM
mittee's generalized criticism. The transcript
shows that most of the discussion centered
around a single new signal installation-the
one at Thirtieth street and Pennsylvania avenue
Southeast. This light botherS Representative
Earl Wilson Of Indiana, member Of the COM
mittee, who drives that route "all the time"
as he put it. He said he could show Traffic
Director Keneipp dozen different places where
lights are more ecessary-although he con-
ceded the usefulness of the disputed signal
during school hours. Mr.. Keneipp said the
signal was installed after numerous complaints
to his Office and to the House District Committee
hours. The chairman of the House District
Committee, he testified, had urged that installa-
ton Of the light be expedited.
There was no criticism by committee mem
bers of any other signals. Nor was there any
hint that the committee planned to cut of the
bulk of the traffic-signal ALLEGATION. On the
basis Of available evidence, therefore, it seems
that controversy over one light led the COM
mittee to wreck the Traffic Departments modest
signal-extension program This program fell
far behind during the war years. The depart
ment had planned to install lights at 40 addi-
tional intersections where dangerous conditions
exist The reduced appropriation would take
care Of only IS new installations. It is patiently
absurd to hamper this important trafnc-control
and safety promoting program because Con-
gresham disagrees with the Traffic Department
and with at least three civic groups and num-
Der Of individual citizens over the necessity for
Q certain light In Anacostia.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
BY Charles E. TroceweN

remind me of the people who joyfully
tear apart rosebud or lily. who can
not enjoy beauty without dissecting it.
"Wish you could see the hungry
robins, cardinals and mockingbirds
stalking out claims on the lawn and all
working in peace with one another.
Visiting dogs enjoy themselves, also.
with all of Springtimes good wishes
for you and the columns of such inter-
est to us.
Sincerely. F. M. w."
ARLINGTON.
Dear Sir:
More power to your writin' arm.
Mr.. T.
"And may your critics be COMPOUNDED!
"Your information is plenty good for
q lot of us who aren't too technical.
I'VE just enjoy the birds. and read
ing about others enjoyment of them.
Sincerely yours. A. E. B."
Many thanks to the writer's Of these
letters and others. We have always felt
that it is important to take the birds
out of the books and put them into
peoples gardens. That, after all, Is
where we can all enjoy them.
Saw an old starting. this morning,
perched up in tree, and just looking
around. fine plump fellow; no wonder
the people Of Europe love this bird. so
important, so perfect, SO unaware that
any one dislikes him. Happy are all the
creatures, not to know about the hates
and discussions of mankind. Maybe in
future ages we will all come to be as
wise-and hanpy-as the birds and
animals.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
This and That

pinfeathers and toenails q bird has. #
it comes to my feeding tray, and bathes
in my bird bath, nests in my garden
and sings all day, the date Of its ar
rival and the way it does or does not
clean its nest just doesn't matter.
please go on making birds interest
ing to us.
I'm sure the birds appreciate more
food and more houses and baths than
they do banding and nest counting.
VERY truly. M. J. L."
"TAKoMA PARK.
Dear Sir:
well. I'm happy to see you answer
the dear curt letter of the cross Mr..
Cross. Heb! Heb! In his manner OF
correcting you, he proves he needs a
few pointers himself.
Indeed, you do have a large field to
cover am real bird lover. and I
find some years the birds come at one
time, some at another. But usually they
do hit within few weeks Of q regular
schedule.
II am vain enough to think certain
ones remember me and do come back.
This year we were amused to see our
old warrior mockingbird bursting with
JOY, when two females came to him
from the South. They Missed at each
other. but he. being male. was de-
lighted. So was ].
"Just keep up your much-needed bit
of JOY called "This and That" I send
mine on TO out-of-town bird lovers.
yours truly, T. A. T."
''WESTMORELAND HILLS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
Letters to The Star =.

point to the fact that the American peo-
pie are fed up with professional poll
ticianS after 20 years of the so-called
New Deal, the Fair Deal and finally the
Dirty Deal. Perhaps we now want to
put in Office some statesmen and prac-
tical businessmen who will give us a
common-Sense administration on Ameri-
can principles instead of wasting our
substance on socialistic experiments.
Maybe we would also like to see a little
fundamental honesty in Government for
q change.
w. B. Penn.
don't see any reason for Eisenhower
supporters to be elated or for Taft men
to be gloomy over the Minnesota pri-
maries.
A great underground campaign was
made by "Ike's" supporters to get votes
for him, according to press and radio
reports. No such campaign was made
by Taft men. Taft had requested that
no one give him write-in, SO naturally
Eisenhower got more results. In spite
of Taft'S request. however, thousands Of
voters wrote in his name. which indi-
Gates Taft is plenty popular In Mime
sofa.
If the Republican Party dominates
Eisenhower, we will have another me
too campaign and another useless and
expensive war. Eisenhower is just an
other Republican New Dealer"
Bernard L. Henning.
David Lawrence is to be congratulated
on his splendid column March 20, cap
toned, Nation Wide Primary Demand
ed" I heartily agree with him that
people as whole are completely fed up
with having political machines" pick
the candidates and tell us we have to
vote for them "or else!"
I'm an independent voter and it has
been cor else" where I'm concerned for
the past three elections for wouldn't
have exerted the energy needed to mark
my x for any man on the ballot!
With all the hullabaloo over the New
Hampshire and Minnesota primaries,
what I'd like to know is why has Taft's
good showing in North Carolina been so
carefully ignored?
If the Republicans have brains enough
to nominate Taft ("Mr. American" him
self I'll vote for my first President.
Otherwise stay home! What I'd like
to see is Senator Russell as Vice Presi-
dent, then we'd have two honest-to-
goodness Americans.
Tar Heel for Taft.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

ssstsa. s. taS ns'9 ssSs
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.
@. Who were Wycliffe's poor
priests?"-B. L. L.
A. John Wycliffe formed group OF
disciples whose purpose it was to live
as humbly as the first Franciscan friars.
At first, they were men from the uni
versity determined to devote their lives
to the salvation of the Church. They
were permitted to accept only food. and
this gift only when it was needed.
@. What historic associations does the
Governors Mansion" in Prescott, Ariz.,
have?-J. A. A.
A. The log house on Gurley Street in
Prescott was the home Of the first and
second Governors of Arizona, John N.
Goodwin and Richard Mccormick Hun
dredS of visitors view it and the nearby
Garden of Memories" every year.
@. How far South do icebergs drift
in the Northern Hemisphere?-L. H.
A. In the Arctic. icebergs originate
from glaciers. particularly on Northern
Land, Franz Josefs Land. Spitzbergen
and Greenland. The bergS drift South
with the Labrador current reaching
farthest South of Grand Banks Of New
foundland in the months March to June
or July, where they represent q serious
menace to shipping.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
Prayer in q Gorden

I thank Thee, Lord. that ! can see
This proof of immortality.
That, can hear In ApriPs rain
The stir of fragile leaves again:
That / can feel the mind that s,Oeeps
Where summers fruit noD lightly sleeps,
And smell the spring upon my spade
Where ,Darnl. black earth Is freshly laid.
I thank Thee. Lord, that here today
Deaths ugly stone is rolled a'Oay.
And now beside the empty tomb
/ kneel to touch the first trah bloom.
A Whey Wilder .
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
Voice for D. c. in Primaries

To one Of the very many actual Dis
trict Of Columbia residents devoid of a
ballot, it is particularly disturbing to
realize that there are those who refuse
to accede to a reasonable request and
allow free and democratic opportu-
nifty Of at least expressing voice in
the local primaries.
OF the hundreds Of thousands Of
residents in the District. relatively q
handful Of people were "permittedp to
cast their vote in the last primaries. It
is particularly disappointing to note
that our system Of primaries allows
chosen few to determine how, when,
where and under what circumstances
we may register and cast our votes in
those primaries-if indeed we are for
tunate enough to be apprised thereof.
Surely it is not too much to ask that
we know in advance who are the last
elected" chairmen Of our precincts,
what boundaries have been fixed for
such precincts, to be assured Of such
boundaries, and that adequate facilities
be afforded and reasonable notice be
given as to the time and place of reg
istration and voting.
Maurice Friedman.
x
May express my very keen appro-
baton of Senators Duff and Nicely in
their endeavor to set up presidential
primaries here in the District. More
power to them. However, what is to be
done, must be done speedily.
Marion c. Kopsidas.
It seems to me that the bill Of Sen
ators Nicely and Duff for primary to
regulate the election of delegates to the
national conventions should be passed
with all possible speed. Testimony at
the initial hearings on the bill as re-
ported by The Star indicates that Dis
trict citizens have taken no real part
in the selection of their delegates, but
through confusion and lack of informa-
ton, District citizens have been forced
to leave this selection in the hands of
few professional politicians. It is in
credible that the Capital of the United
States should be in such a sorry politi-
cal state.
]. w. Barnes.
AS q resident Of the District, heart
lily indorse the primary bill. Every effort
should be made to get it to pass in
time to allow us to express our precinct
delegate preference. SIS
HI. Rogers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
Co-ordinuted Traffic Plans

The proposed District-Maryland- Virginia
conference on traffic problems Of the Washington
Metropolitan Area IS logical outgrowth Of the
recent regional traffic survey. That survey, with
its valuable report on traffic trends in WASH
ington and its suburbs represented long
overdue first step toward joint study and solu
ton of highway, parking and traffic control
problems on q regional basis
The so-called rigin-and-deStination trans
portation survey was sponsored by committee
composed Of representatives Of Federal, District,
Maryland and Virginia Jurisdictions. The study
showed that it would be futile to attempt to
handle traffic problems of the area on a piece
meal pattern. It showed that the difficulties
facing one part of the Metropolitan Area are
related in some degree to those Of adjacent
communities only by co-ordinated efforts
could there be any real hope of relieving condi-
tions throughout the whole urban area.
The decision to hold an all-day conference
among top-ranking representatives of the vari-
Gus jurisdictions concerned Is the most en-
couraging indication to date of the progress
being made toward regional teamwork in the
traffic field. Better coordination of District
and suburban traffic control plans would be
helpful in relieving bottlenecks at several points
Marylands lack of an automobile inspection
system worries District authorities, who point
out that many uninspected Maryland cars use
table discussion Of these and other mutual prob
lens should be highly profitable for everybody.
Perhaps some form of permanent regional
trafic council will result from the conference
The possibility is worth exploring.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
By Jone Often

IF the Soviet film industry is turning
i out anything worth seeing these days,
then it must be classified as military
secret. At time when our own Holly
wood dream merchants are bravely
trumpeting that movies are better than
ever" Russian flickers. according to all
available evidence, are fewer and worse
than ever.
In September, 1916, the Central Com
mittee Of the Soviet Communist Party
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01

ocratic Party. There is no good reason why it
should not help swell the ranks Of the Moose.
But one hates to see it introduced in the
District government. It sets an undesirable
precedent, and what will Mr.. Donohue do II
the next chairman Of the Senate District Com
mittee happens to be an Elk?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
The Primaries

The political events Of the last few
weeks are most encouraging. In New
Hampshire and Minnesota, the people
have shown an overwhelming preference
for Gen. Eisenhower over Senator Taft.
A few days ago, attended a rally
right here in Prince Georges County
where a very large and enthusiastic
crowd turned out to back the candidacy
for the Republican nomination for Con-
gresham of successful businessman
Frank Small, jr. These signs seem to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01

havior for Soviet soccer players, had
enough lively sport scenes to make the
audience tolerate the message. The
Soviet film "Moussorgsky" won wide &C
claim at the Cannes International Film
Festival last spring. The report notes that
this picture was built largely around
actual excerpts from the composers
operas and was "little susceptible to the
faint of Soviet propaganda"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
From kind hearts and gentle people:
ARLINGTON, VA.

From kind hearts and gentle people:
ARLINGTON, VA.
s'Dear Sir:
II have just finished reading the two
letters Mr.. Cross has written to the
editor of The Star.
81 believe am about as cross-section
as it is possible to get of your many
readers, and it behooves me to answer
in your behalf, to wit:
1--WE, the public. appreciate and
understand This and That" to be just
what its name implieS-no statistics, no
arguments, no controversy-simply chit
chat about many subjects. including
birds for those who love and watch them.
We have not bound Mr.. Tracewell to
any statement, hearsay or otherwise.
and we read as judicially as we are
able. The chief enjoyment is that we
are chatting with neighbor, not lis
tening to lecture.
1--WE would advise that Mr.. Cross hire
o hail.
Sincerely yours. A. c. N"
"HYATTSvnLE. MD.
"Dear Sir:
AS 3 lOug-tlme TeAOSI O1 your CUl-
umn who has enjoyed your continuing
adventure begun in 1924 may say that
think Mr.. Frank Cross is unnecessarily
nasty in his critical letter about errors
he claims you made.
cit seems to me any one who Is gen.
timely interested in birds would gladly
overlook o wrong date or two, II the
general result is good. I am sure that
you have done very great deal Of
good. A.
,N.Personally. don't care how 1Any
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer 70
any question Of fact BY either yyTioeips Ine
NV, Washington. D. c., and inclosing csnts
return postage or By telephoning ST 1858
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-01
"WESTMORELAND HILLS,

somehow tn. letters q Mr.. Gross
Evening star., 1952-03-02
Truman to Ask Ia Months More
For Vondenberg as Air Chief
lie Nay and Twinins
Jobs to Be Switched,
White House Reveals

The White House announced
last night that President Truman
will nominate Gen. Hoyt 8. Van
denberg to serve an extra IA
months as Air Force Chief OF
Staff.
Gen. Vandenberg'S regular four
year term expires April 80. Mr..
Truman, however, will ask the
Senate this week to let Gen. Van
denberg serve in the post until
June 80, 1858, when he presum-
ably will retire after 80 years
service.
The White House also an
nounced that Gen. Curtis E. Le-
May, commander of the Strategic
Air Force, and Gen. Nathan F.
Twining, Air Force vice chief of
staff, will swap Jobs.
Both have been mentioned as
possible successors to Gen. Van
oenberg.
White House Press Secretary
Joseph Short. in announcing the
changes, explained why Gen
Vandenberg was getting the bob
tailed re-appointment.
THE President" Mr.. Short said
wants to make sure that Gen
Vandenberg has an opportunity to
round out his full 80 years of mill
Evening star., 1952-03-02
Theft Suspect Is Captured
By Woodward EmpIoye

AN employe Of Woodward q
Lothrop's department store yes
terday chased and captured a 19-
year-old man accused of stealing
$S3.35 from a counter at the store.
Charged with the robbery was
William A. Williams, colored. of
the 1000 block of Fourth street
NV.
He was captured at Eighth and
G streets NV. by Bodric K. West.
a sectional operating manager.
Mr.. West chased Williams through
the store and out onto the street
after a saleslady, Mrs. Grace B.
Vestal. 1701 Twentieth street
NV, shouted that an envelope
containing the money had been
grabbed from a ledge beneath a
cash register.
Mr.. West was joined in the
chase by Albert Hugher, a floor
superintendent. Police Pvts. E. J.
Andrews and j. J. Dalton caught
up with them after Williams had
been caught and thrown to the
ground. The envelope and the
money was found in Williams
possession, police said.
Evening star., 1952-03-02
Can't TYOut
SIingshot in Park;
Not Even Officially

Official business took q young
Office Of Price Sterilization at
torney to the Mall last week,
armed with a slingshot.
The attorney. Fritz Heimann,
1929 New Hampshire avenue
NV, was investigating a request
by a slingshot manufacturer that
his product be exempted from price
control. He had examined all
specifications, and decided to put
the slingshot through some field
tests.
But after he had shot O few
stones at a tree, Park Police Pvt
Edward L. Franks, also at the
Mall on official business, took the
slingshot away from Mr.. Hei.
mann. Park police didn't have
custody very long, however-the
OPS successfully demanded its
return the next day. They pointed
out 1t was Government property
Evening star., 1952-03-02
Macarthur Quoted as Urging
His Bockers to Support Taft

insistence had with:
drawn as chairman Of the MAC
Arthur for President" movement
wrote to Gen. Macarthur on Feb
Iruary 20.
Mr.. Colburn explained that many
other Macarthur admirers were
asking him whether they should
support those Macarthur dele
gates who persisted in remaining
lin the New Hampshire primary
despite the generals objections.
II am puzzled what to tell them .
wrote the general,
II suggest you support Taft"
Gen. Macarthur replied. us
It was the first time in the
campaign that he has openly In
|dorsed Senator Taft by name.
However, on several earlier occa-
sions he has made statements
which seemed to indicate he leans
towards Senator Taft as his IA
vored COP candidate.
Evening star., 1952-03-02
SIS Million Theft BATTLES Reno
AS Owner Feels Sorry for Dog
Burglars Haul Believed Nations largest;
81 Million Securities Reported Overlooked

The wrapper said "St. James
Hotel, Davenport, Iowa." The
Redfields said it wasn't theirs
Detectives explained that safe.
Crackers sometimes use soap in
planting explosive charges. Skid
marks on the floors showed where
the safe had been pushed to a
waiting car or truck.
NeigAbors said q dark green
pickup truck was seen near the
mansion, in the fashionable Mount
Rose section, while the Redfieldi
were away. t.. -t
This afternoon he said he hat
the serial numbers Of one hundred
twenty $1,000 bills. six $500s, ant
about two hundred $l00s. He ex.
lplained that he kept the numbers
not because he expected tn,
money to be stolen, but because
Of possibility Of flre.