davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-05-16
Protecting the Public

The Arlington County Board evidenced
proper regard for the public interest in disap-
proving the construction of large apartment
building adjacent to the George Washington
Memorial Parkway. The project would have
required lowering of the zoning standards in
one of the county's most restricted residential
areas. These areas have been carefully set aside
after long surveys and studies. They should be
protected from unnecessary encroachment by
types of construction that were deliberately
excluded under the original. zoning program.
It was not an easy decision for the board to
make The apartment development was pictured
in glowing terms by its sponsors, who predicted
It would produce between 100000 and 100000
a wear in taxes. This would have been Offset OF
course, by whatever additional public services 1t
would be necessary for the county to supply
including school facilities But approval OF the
project would have been an act OF bad faith
toward property owners who had built their
homes in the area on the countyS assurance that
the land would have the highest zoning rating
RIO. This assurance was given when the board
adopted zoning recommendations of the, Airing
Evening star., 1952-05-16
A Hard Choice

General Mark Clark probably has chosen the
lesser of two evils in deciding to repudiate the
concessions" made by Brigader General Colson
to Communist prisoners of war on Koje Island.
Presumably General Colson thought that the
concessions, which General Clark says were based
on vicious and false" charges, were not too
high price to pay for the release of Brigadier
General Dodd, who had been seized by his own
prisoners. If this was the case, however, General
Colson's judgment was almost unbelievably bad.
Once the concessions were made the fat was
in the fire. And it cannot be retrieved by repudi-
alton. For this is the dilemma that we were in:
To have approved the concessions would have
implied that the charges that we mistreated pris-
oners were true. On the other hand, as a result
of repudiation, the Red propagandistS can not
only say that we have been guilty of bad faith,
but that the fair inference is that we intend to
continue miStreating prisoners.
BY the time General Clark got into the
picture, however, the damage had been done.
He had to choose between two courses, and while
the decision he has made will bring embarrassing
consequences, it looks like choice of the lesser
evil.
Evening star., 1952-05-16
Recreation HEARINGS
Patient.

The District Recreation Board Is re-
sponsible for the very undemocratic
practice Of segregating human beings
according to their race on the public
Fairgrounds.
Recently the board has established
another very reprehensible policy. It
has refused to hear testimony at rec
reation hearings from such organiza-
tionS as the Interdenominational Min
isters' Alliance, the District Branch Of
the National Association for the Protec-
ton of Colored People, the Americans
for Democratic Action and the Ameri-
can Veterans Committee. The board
states that it will hear only from the
community or civic organization con-
cerned with particular Playground
The American Veterans Committee
calls on the Recreation Board to review
not only its narrow policy of segregating
people according to their race on most
of the public play areas but also to re-
view its policy of limiting hearings to
community" groups.
Ruth Harrison,
Secretary, Greater Washington Area
Council, AVG.
Evening star., 1952-05-16
This and That .
Service Wife.

knows, for he has never liked asparagus.
It is Mrs. Jones who likes asparagus.
She serves it on all occasions, and
Jones has to make out that he likes it.
Most women seem to have the idea, he
believes, that they are doing the right
thing by the world in serving asparagus
tips.
Jones, to the contrary, has found that
in addition to several odd effects of
this vegetable, there is one thing above
all he does not like. The tips are tough.
He has sampled asparagus from the
garden, from cans, in hotels and such
places, and never yet has he tasted
asparagus with all-tender tips. Maybe
nine tender, but one tough.
Maybe asparagus such as Grand
mother Jones grew just isn't grown any
more. Since the dollar (really SO cents
is trying to buy something valued at
81 (really worth a dollar) there are
many facts and things Jones no longer
understands, whereas in the old days
he seemed to understand many things
this, too, is a part Of it all, and he
doesn't Ike it. but what can he do
about it?
For that matter, what can he do
about his crawl space?
One morning he discovered that a
water pipe down there was leaking.
He tried to get plumber.
The man indicated that he was very.
very busy, but as a great favor to Jones
he would try to get there.
Evening star., 1952-05-16

This is the story Of the big plumber
and the little plumber.
It took place some time ago, so we
cannot pretend to call it spot news.
It's just a story that is home news
anytime. thing to cherish in that quiet
corner of the mind where chuckles
begin.
Templeton Jones, our old friend, was
at it again.
His house has crawl space under
it. That is new term. perhaps, but the
thing is old. 1t means that you have
no basement, or cellar, as the old folks
called it.
All you have is space, and all you
can do in the space is crawl.
When Jones got this house he Won
dered at the space, and what it was
good for.
He remembered his grandmother
cellar, with its slanting door. painted
battleship gray.
1t was cold down there, in summer.
Foods were kept there, and as far as
the Jones memory goes. they kept we'll
The cellar door was to one side of
the asparagus bed.
It is curious, how things stick in the
memory.
If there is any one thing Templeton
Jones remembers from his childhood,
it is Grandmother Jones asparagus bed,
with its waving greenery.
Why this should be. he no longer
Evening star., 1952-05-16
By Charles E. TroceweN

''This water Is leaking" explained
Jones.
Eyes. yes" soothed the plumber. 1T
is what water usually does"
"You will be here early?" asked Jones.
"Yes, early" said the plumber, but
evidently his idea of early differed from
hat of Templeton Jones.
It was dark when the man came.
He was a huge fellow. about 6 feet
4 inches in height and weighing prob
IDLY 800 pounds.
Jones held lantern, while the man
went into the crawl space.
He crawled well for about a foot,
and then stopped. When the man finally
made no move, Templeton Jones called
out, Cant you find the leak?"
Find it?" fumed the big plumber.
"How can find it, if can't get there?"
The plumber backed out an inch.
I'm stuck" he added. "Give me a haul
will you?"
The plumber who couldn't crawl in
the crawl space finally came out, minus
a bit of skin.
You'll have to get little plumber,
mister" said the man.
But my crawl space" spluttered
Templeton Jones, ''is standard"
But I amt. mister" said the big
plumber. and he went away, to leave
Jones to wrestle with the problem of
getting q small plumber for his crawl
space.
Evening star., 1952-05-16

ton Planning Commission. The commission
recommended against any exception to this
classification and property owners and civic
groups joined in the opposition.
Another objection to the apartment plan
was its proximity to the memorial parkway
which has been completed as far as the Spout
Run area and which eventually is to extend
along the heights of the Potomac River to Great
Falls The erection of f1ve eight-story apart
ment buildings, with swimming pool, roof solar
iums and other attractions, would impose on the
parkway traffic burdens never anticipated Fur
thermore change in zoning to permit apart
ments would open the door not only to other
apartments but also to tourist homes and board
ing houses along the parkway. Any type of "spot"
zoning that would raise such an alarming pros
pect should be squelched permanently by the
county authorities.
Evening star., 1952-05-16

THE vastly respected senior Senator
L from Illinois, who once said a man
doesn't have to be wastrel in order to
be liberal, has said it again-this time
with Recommendation. It is Senator
Douglas thesis that the Federal Govern
ment is, in effect, wasting one dollar
out Of every seven or eight it takes in.
The Government should stop this, he
says. and in this book he tells how the
waste could be curtailed. BY his formula
$40 billion could be Topped off the huge
1858 deficit without any sacrifice of eff
cheney or harm to a single important
national program.
This figure of $40 billion is not new,
OF course. Senator Douglas has men
toned it before. But the book is not old
hat, thanks to the refreShingly candid
way IN which the Senator makes his
case for economy and fairness. With fine
impartiality, he lashes out at advantages
granted to shipping lines (who are not
among his constituents and f1ood-men-
aced riverbank dwellers (Who are) (.
Many projects which should be pets of
Midwestern legislator come in for Sena-
tor Douglas criticism He does not
even hesitate to use the impious word
pork barrel in his discussion of en-
gineer civil works.
Senator Douglas breaks down his $40
billion saving as follows: Expenditure
reductions in the civilian budget, $18
billion; savings in the military budget,
81 billion; cutbacks in foreign aid, $1.8
billion; increased revenue through clos
ing of tax loopholes, $2.4 billion.
To some extent, Senator Douglas
book is Baedeker for liberals who have
strayed from the path. A missionary
and Zealot himself, the Senator OBJ
viouSly wants the true faith kept pure.
But even to the reader who has no pre-
tensions to or ambitions for liberalism.
Senator Douglas presents his case con-
vincingly.
The entertainment phase Of book
such as this is not to be discounted.
Whether one is talking about the dollars
in the national budget or the grains Of
sand on the beach. figures in the upper
Evening star., 1952-05-16
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. When should the United Nations
flag be displayed?-N. G.
A. The U. N. Flag Code states that
display Of the U. N. flag is deemed
especially appropriate" on all national
and official holidays, and ION the occa-
sion of any official event. particularly in
honor of the United Nations" The man.
ner and circumstances of display should
be in accord with the laws and customs
relating to the national flag of the
country.
@. In what year did q canoe sail
around the world? What was it's name?
". McH.
A. A canoe hewn out of Western red
cedar and named Tilikum 1ndian word
meaning "friendshipD sailed about 40
600 miles from May q, 1901 to Septem-
ber 2, 1904. Captain j. c. Voss was ac-
companied by mate. The canoe is now
on exhibition in Thunderbird Park, VIC
toria. British Columbia.
Q. What was the estimated weight of
all the ticker-tape and torn paper that
fell from windows in New York CITY
during the parade in honor of Charles A.
Lindberg in 1927?-S. L.
A. About 100000 pounds.
Evening star., 1952-05-16
Pensioner Raises Roof

Senator Smathers' bill is in my opin-
ion, one Of the fairest ever introduced
in behalf of the underpaid. lower-paid,
inadequately-p paid, hardly-paid employees
who left the Federal service in past years
and who were completely overlooked in
the raises of January "a, 1912, and June
20, 1916.
was one of that category, and stood
aside twice to see the higher-ups get
the dough while we got the brush-off.
Now Senator Smathers wants to equalize
our pensions in six-month step-ups OF
$36, and that is the first break we have
had in 10 long years.
would just like to mention one item
in the cost of maintaining home that
justifies the passage of this bill: In 1897
we had our roof "re-slagized" at cost
Of $50; in 1850 we had the same firm
do the same job, and this time the price
was $145 If this isn't an adequate reason
for q raise, then suspect ought to get
a visa and a passport!
Wall E. Allen.
Evening star., 1952-05-16
Tunision Troubles Aqoin

Efforts to bring the Tunisian independence
issue before the United Nations Security Council
were defeated more than a month ago. The
defeat was direct result of the United States
decision to abstain from voting on the question:
a course which was followed by three other ma
tions while France and the United Kingdom cast
direct votes against placing the matter on the
agenda.
In announcing this Governments decision,
Ambassador Gross told the Council on April 10
that it was felt it would be more useful to con-
centrate on the problem of facilitating negotia-
tions between the French and the Tunisians
than to engage in debate" He added that the
United States cannot condone the use of force
full methods by either party"
On April 16, Secretary Acheson told press
conference that "the sound way to proceed here
is to give time for the French authorities and
the Tunisian authorities to discuss, negotiate
and find a solution. Now, If they can't, another
situation is created
There has been no evidence of any progress
toward negotiated solution in the past month,
or even any evidence that genuine negotiations
have taken place. There has, however, been a
renewal of violence in the past few days, touched
off by clashes between native residents and the
police, and bomb explosion in the Tunis post
Office. The French manner of meeting this situa
ClOn is 10 Champ SGdCc VI Siege OL
to place leaders of the nationalist movement un-
der house arrest and to impose restrictions upon
certain members of the family of the Bey of
Tunis. Reports are conflicting as to whether they
have placed the Bey himself under military
guard.
It has not been demonstrated that respon-
sible leaders of the nationalist movement had
any connection with the bombing or with the
encounters with the police. It has been demon
strated, however, that the French authorities
prefer to deal with these leaders by connning
them rather than by negotiating with them.
Such policy offers little hope Of a solution by
discussion Neither does it indicate any success in
our concentration on facilitating negotiations ="
Mr. Acheson mentioned the possibility Of our
reconsidering our position before the Security
Council if time did not bring negotiated solu-
tion Since it has not done so, or even brought
any discernible progress this might well be the
moment for such reconsideration There are too
many threats to stability In the Mediterranean
already to allow this one to 60 from bad to worse
Evening star., 1952-05-16
Proiseworthy Public Service

Harry S. Wender is an original member of
the District Board of Recreation. He was it's first
and has been the only chairman of the board in
the first 10 years of its life The meeting of the
board earlier this week marked his final appear
ance as member and chairman. He notified the
Commissioners year ago that he would retire
at the end of his term this month.
Mr.. Wender as president and very active
member of the Federation of Citizens AsSocia-
tions, worked for the legislation which created
the Board of Recreation He was natural choice
as it's chairman. He possessed an intimate knowl-
edge of the considerations which brought the
board into being, and clear understanding of
Its objectiveS No one could have been more dill
gent in meeting his own, and the boards, reSpon-
sibilities. He has missed only one of the boards
143 meetings in the past decade. He has been
equally insistent on the presence of other board
members, and the board has never cancelled
meeting because of lack of quorum. He has given
q fine example of volunteer service to the COM
munity and he deserves commendation not only
for his own accomplishments but for the accom-
pShments of the board under his direction.
Perhaps the most notable of these has been
the progress in achieving the aims of the boards
bylaw adopted in October of 1851, which estab-
hshed this policy: THE board will make
every possible and realistic effort toward the re-
moval of racial segregation in public recreation
in such sequence and at such rate of progression
as may be consistent with the public interest,
public order and effective administration"
Under that policy eight play centers and
eight of nine day camps have been put on an
interracial basis, with others being added for
study and experimentation. The Cardozo Rec
reation Center, which caters to the city at large
has abolished segregation. Colored teams are
competing with white teams in playoffs for the
selection of city representatives in national con-
tests. White and colored recreation directors are
training together. There are many other steps
that have been taken in relatively short time,
to break down long established patterns in
segregation.
These and other changes have been accom-
plished without significant incident and are WIN
ming gradual acceptance They have come too
fast to suit some critics. not nearly fast enough
to suit Others But it is fortunate for Washington
that under Mr.. Vendors guidance, and the sim
cere and understanding work of white and col
changes are being worked out in a manner that
benefits, rather than Injuries, Improvement Of
sound racial relationships.
No step in this field can be taken without
criticism, and much of it has been directed at
Mr.. Wender and at the staff. But some OF the
criticism is irresponsible and uninformed. In
the hands of less responsible and less discerning
administration, the boards new policies on race
relationships could have become the source of
ugly and continuing friction, instead OF sound
examples of consistent progress
Evening star., 1952-05-16
Rights Of Federal Employees

There has been q unaninity OF criti-
cism concerning Judge McCarthy's re-
cent decision to the effect that under
Virginia law Federal employees may
not hold office in Arlington County.
The case being sub judice shall not as
q member of the Virginia bar. join
those who have said the decision is bad
law.
In making q biblical reference. Judge
Mccarthy went beyond legal precedents
and plainly showed his personal philos-
ophy on the subject of Office holding
by Federal employees in Arlington
County. To say that county board
member who is Federal employe serves
two masters, completely ignores the fact
that board member with private busl-
ness connections in the county has a
conflict of interest which is obviously
greater than that of Federal employe.
The philosophical basis OF Judge
McCarthy's position has been univer-
sally condemned as still one more at
tack upon the rights Of Federal en-
ployes. There is an equally important
aspect Of the question upon which no
comment has yet come to my notice.
refer to the rights of Arlington voters
with respect to electing to county office
those persons best qualified to serve
their county.
In national politics happen to be a
Republican. Along with millions OF other
Americans, forget party when it comes
to county affairs. For my county board.
for my school board, want to vote for
those of my neighbors who are best
n,,oEAed Tn q county like ArlingtOn
if a voter is denied the right to vote
for a Federal employe, the voters fran
chise is substantially limited.
Under the Mccarthy ruling the Fed
eral employe suffers double discrim-
ination. He is barred from holding office.
and since he cannot vote for another
Federal employe. his franchise is
limited. I am thankful, in these days
of badgering of Federal employees. that
am in private life. The Mccarthy de-
Evening star., 1952-05-16
It's q Crime
Paul b. Cornely, M. d.

My wife and I are not longhairs, as
devotees Of classical music are styled.
but we do have an aversion to the
atrocious noises that lombard us over
the airWaves and which exponents of
popular stuff have the gall to classify
as hits.
We are in full agreement with James
Kempton who recently wrote to The
Star on the subject of this so-called
modern music. In fact, we have made
identical criticisms of the whining and
whimpering Of radio singers, labelling
their laments as cry-baby stuff. In fact,
if radios were flesh and blood, ours
would have been a dead duck long ago.
VIC.
Evening star., 1952-05-16
Poignant Reverie

A little girl I know
Has eyes blue as the larkspur.
Hair like spun gold,
Smiles like mtsch,evous sprite's.
A little girl I know
Laughs like Tinker-BeH the tnirv.
Runs like q doe,
Crses like soft, whispering ,Dinds.
A l;ttle girl knoU,
EtustUe as a dream child
Far from me noU,
ReGppears in my memories.
D. Jeanne Billett
Evening star., 1952-05-16
Medical Society 'Undemocrotic'

MeoiCuI SOCiety OnoemOCIutIC
The District Medical Society is allow
ing a small, reactionary, die-hard
group to bar Negro physicians from
admission to the society. This small
group is thwarting the will of the
majority of the members of the society
by obviously undemocratic methods.
Let us look at the record.
l. On May 2 1851, the society voted
by more than a two-to-one majority
in favor of admission of Negro ply
SjcianS.
2. The Society'S board of censorS re-
ported few months later that it could
not recommend the approval of four
Negro applicants because the society
had not Officially voted on this matter
3. An all-day official vote was held
during the first week of April, 1852, but
the votes were impounded that evening,
to be counted at its next regular meet
ing. why were the votes impounded?)
4. On May T. 1852, the society did not
announce the results of the April vote
but rather passed resolution to hold
a mail ballot sometime in June 1t was
reported in the newspapers that the
reason for this resolution was to make
it possible for all of the 1900 members
to vote on this matter. (Why were not
the results of the April vote published?)
Thus. more than a year after the
majority of the members had voted
in favor Of the admission Of Negro ply
sicians no Negro physicians have been
accepted. Every resident of Washington
should know that the inability to belong
to the District Medical Society adversely
affects the Negro and the community
If Negro physicians cannot become
members Of the American Medical AS
sociation. they cannot be benefited
from the various professional activities
Of this nationl body. and they cannot
be eligible for appointment to the stats
OF number of hospitals throughout
the city. Thus, the professional ad-
vancement Of the Negro physician and
indirectly the health of the residents
of Washington are adversely affected.
The District Medical Society should
not allow this small group to keep its
organization in the backwash of pro-
gressive thinking in the District and
Nation. Other professional organizations
such as the Graduate Nurse Association
OF the District Of Columbia, have admit
ted Negroes.
Paul b. COrnely, M. d.