davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-07-04
YuIu River Bombinqs

Britain's vocal sensitive fringe" does
not represent, am sure, the point of
view of the average Britisher, like my
self, about the bombing of the Yalu
River power plants.
It was unfortunate, of course, that
something slipped and that the Ameri-
can intention to warn London in adj
vance of the bombing was not carried
out. But believe that all realistic and
responsible Englishmen appreciate that
mistakes can happen among the best Of
friends under the pressure of war-and
even without it. AS any Englishmar1 will
cheerfully tell you, Whitehall itself has
been known to make an occasional
boner.
So the sensitive fringe" should try
to be their age and to realize that hurt
feelings among allies do not hurt a
tough enemy.
AS to the targets themselves, any one
with knowledge Of strategic bombing
fknows that power plants, like factories.
offer the richest invisible dividends" :"
These are the weapons and sup
plies which might have existed and been
used against us, if the means of making
them had not been destroyed. Obviously
Evening star., 1952-07-04
Breok Out the Colors

Many people in the rapidly growing
communities around Washington have
come from older established towns where
1t has been customary on national holi-
days to have every store, home and
school display Old Glory with great
pride and affection.
It Is a pity to have children grow up
with no evidence of the respect and
pride their parents should feel in what
Is for all of us the symbol of this our
wonderful land of freedom.
Any one can afford flag.
Can The Star do something to re-
mind people that the Fourth of July
calls for small act by every one, to
demonstrate by means other than
picnic or having a good time that we
have thought Of the real meaning of
the day?
I recently spent Memorial Day in
suburb of Harrisburg, Pa. It did your
heart good to see how the whole area
blossomed out with flags from every
house almost, as well as business places.
Sure, the Government buildings and
other monuments will have flags adorn-
ing them, but that isn't the same thing
as when people care enough to display
the flag. each on his own castle for his
children. to see.
Mary r.. Lees.
Evening star., 1952-07-04
The Reds Are Taking Cover

The Federal Bureau Of Investigation has
made it clear why it would be dangerous to re-
gard the declining membership of the Communist
Party as a sign of approaching collapse Of the
party According to Director J. Edgar Hoover Of
the FBI the Reds are merely going underground
"A DEVELOPMENT which calls for increased vigi-
lance by every one, including the bureau.
In his annual report Mr.. Hoover says that
the American Communist Party had an approx-
mate membership Of $1,000 persons at the close
of the 1851 fiscal year. The estimated membership
on September 80, 1850, was 51,7S5 He believes
It would be a mistake to assume, however, that
all Of those who left the party during the heat
of various FBI, grand jury and congressional
investigations of recent years are not still
Communists at heart. Although they carry no
cards (card carrying having been banned as the
result of use of these cards against Reds in recent
trials). many of these former members still fol-
low the Communist line and are ready to answer
q call to duty at any time.
Mr.. Hoover says that segment of the party
plans to remain above ground, for propaganda
purposes. The remainder, however, is disappear
ing from public view-in the hope OF escaping
the searchlight Of FBI and congressional expo
sure. The FBI report points out that during the
past year the party greatly increased its candes-
tine activities "For example" the report states,
courier services were utilized wherever possible,
public meetings were discouraged and. when held
Evening star., 1952-07-04

were disguised as other than Communist meet
ings; party records which reflect the identity Of
the membership continued to be destroyed; meet
ings between two and three members were not to
be held at the home of any member, and attempts
were made to develop alternate leaders in the
event present leaders were arrested"
AL of these precautions, Mr. Hoover COM
ments, were designed to make 1t more difficult for
any investigative agency to obtain evidence con-
corning party operations. But it is reassuring to
learn from his report that the FBI is still making
progress in its investigation of subverSve activi-
ties and that the system of informant coverage"
which led to the downfall of the Communist
Party leaders is still being maintained. This is
bad news for the Reds. a 4t5
Evening star., 1952-07-04
This and That

It was just 3:45 o'clock in the morn
ing, real time, when the old mockingbird
back in the hedge cut loose with his
first sound of the day.
He would keep it up until dark-and
then probably sing until dawn again,
in a subdued way.
Night-singing birds do not open their
mouths as far as other singers.
Song Sparrows and few others sing
during the dark. but 1t is more q sort
Of talking to themselves than singing.
The mockingbird is the real singer
during the dark because he is q real
singer during the daylight.
This Is no reflection on the others.
They sing in their own way, which is
sort of standard performance for
them, usually easily recognized, and
slightly varied from time to time.
The mocker sings with flowing
measure all his own. so much so that
when persons hear it at night. and are
not familiar with night singers. they
want to know il there Is nightingale.
In some sections Of the country the
mocker is called nightingale, but it is
only a local name.
Mockingbird Is the favorite name.
because 1t so well qualities the per-
Torrance. The real nightingale has
been imported to this country but failed
to catch on and survive.
Song sparrows and others Of this
group tof which 10 species come to the
District Of Columbia) often indulge In
z little soft singing after dark.
Evening star., 1952-07-04
A Good First Step

Special commentator is due Congress for
voting $4,000 with which to plan new Indus
trial Home School at the District Children's
Center near Laurel, Maryland. After so many
years OF delay and neglect, it is good news to
learn that the first step, at least will be taken
toward eliminating the diSgraceful conditions
now prevailing in the field of local child care
The remarkable thing about this appropria-
tion Is that it was not in the original budget
submitted to Congress. It had been cut out of
the welfare estimates in the process of trimming
the budget to meet economy demands at the
Capitol. But a feature article in The Star on
the outrageous deficiencies of the present old
quarters, known as Lincoln Hail. attracted
attention of the legislators and OF citizens
generally. Demands for restoration of the
$4,000 planning item were loud and insistent,
with the happy result that the Senate inserted
the sum in the budget bill The House agreed
to go along.
So the planning can go forward for new
building for the unfortunate children whose
upkeep and training have become a public
responsibility To make the action of Congress
more than a gesture, however, the next budget
should include the money necessary to begin
actual construction of building long ago held
to be essential. Only then will it be possible to
vacate for good the dilapidated flretrap which
now is the home Of wards whose welfare the
District is supposed to be protecting.
Evening star., 1952-07-04
By Charles E. TroceweH

II one Of these singers can be seen.
which is rarely the case, but sometimes
happens, 1t will be observed to have the
bill slightly open.
The singing is usually the result of
pale moonlight. not the brilliant sort.
In this pale light the songsters. at
ease, are not quite asleep.
They may think it is dawn, and
wonder why it gets no lighter. Perhaps
they do not wonder at anything. Their
minds are not so constructed. They
think. but not in human way. It is
really impossible for man to conceive
just how the other living things use
their minds. It must be most primi-
tive thought. much on the same order
the psychologists attribute to the un-,
conscious mind. so called.
Yet the bird on the bough. on moon
light night. is not quite asleep. nor
quite awake.
It partakes Of some part of the era
Of good feeling known to all living
things when they are well fed and COM
Portable.
The human being, in his bed, might
not think the bird on the branch very
secure, but the other living things have
none Of this nonsense about security.
They know, II they know anything, that
life is not secure, that every living thing
Is, as some one has said. balanced on
razor edges.
The bird ON his branch, with his claws
hooked over. and his "knaes' bent. =
Evening star., 1952-07-04
Also Stephen Fosters Birthday

In those days, so long ago. every
Fourth of July was celebrated in great
way on our farm in Fairfax County. All
day Old Glory fluttered merrily from
the high staff in front of the house and
there was company for dinner and fire.
works. brought from the city. It was
dark when the celebration was over and
guests and members Of the family gath
cred on the big porches and enjoyed the
cool evening breezes and the mint
juleps handed around.
Through the wide-open windows of the
large parlor, fathers playing on the old
square piano of 'Old Folks at Home
invited the young people to sing the
famous old song which was soon followed
by other well-loved and famous songs
by Stephen Foster. OF this composer Of
songs that were destined to remain popu-
lar to the present day and who also
Evening star., 1952-07-04
WeavervuIe, n. c.

pretty secure, at least secure enough for
present purposes.
II q storm comes UP. he holds on all
the tighter, and the feathers on his
back protect him almost perfectly. Only
the young birds get blown loose.
1t is amazing, how immune to water
the birds are.
No fish endureS it better.
Birds sometimes seek shelter from q
heavy rain. but even then they do not
mind 1t much.
This is good. not only for them, but
also for their friends among human
beings.
It is easy to work ones self into =
dither about them.
There goes a cat--a dozen birds will
be eaten!
The truth more often IS that the cat
win not catch single bird. He is too
fat. for one thing. and has got out Of
the habit Of bird catching. Civilization
does things to cats as well as humans
There are all sorts Of hazards for
birds. The kind d-hearted lady puts out
a skein of long strands Of wool for them
to use at nesting time. They use it, all
right. but one robin hangs herself be.
cause the wool pieces were too long.
The same bird might have entangled
herself In Q vine and come to the same
end. It Is better to forget such unhappy
events as soon as possible. and to re-
member the happy bird on Its bough,
singing softly itself in the night.
Evening star., 1952-07-04
Good Advice to Forqet

The Republican policy makers are not apt
to be impressed by the argument that they
should disavow the Taft-Hartley Act in the hope
of winning the labor vote.
In the political sense, the proposal is absurd.
It would be fantastic for the G. O.. P. platform
builders to dsavow the Taft-Hartley Act,
especially when Senator Taft may be picked to
run on that platform. In addition to its
absurdity, such move would be poor political
strategy To disavow the law would certainly
ALLEVIATE millions of voters who do not belong to
labor unions And Senator Taft's overwhelming
victory in Ohio in 1850 hardly justifies any
inference that the rank and file of labor. as
distinguished from the labor leaders, are particu-
larly anxious to have THE law repealed.
There is, however, a larger consideration
involved For the Taft-Hartley Act is the only
law on the books which makes even pretense
of subordinating union interests and employer
interests to the interests of the people as
whole.
The law is not protecting the public interest
in the steel strike. But that Is no fault OF the
statute. When President Truman grabbed the
steel industry in early April he drew frightening
picture of the damage a steel strike would do
to the country. Steel, he said, is vital to our
defense effort. A stoppage in steel production,
he announced, would force us to stop making
shells and bombs for the troops in Korea We
would have to cut down and delay our atomic
energy program. Warplane engine production
would be crippled And "a prolonged shutdown
would bring our defense production to a halt
and throw our domestic economy into chaos. "
After spelling out this dire forecast, MIR. Truman
said: II would not be faithful to my response
bilities as President If did not use every effort
to keep this from happening"
At that time the President was trying to
Justify his unconstitutional seizure Of the steel
industry He had no intention Of invoking the
Taft-Hartley Act, and he has not invoked 1t to
this day-although the steel strike is now In
its second month.
The mere fact that Mr. Truman has not been
faithful to what he calls his responsibilities as
President is not an argument, however, for
disavowal Of the law by the Republicans. 1t is
not the best law that might be on the books.
And it is of no immediate value If the President.
despite his oath of Office, will not enforce It.
But it is better than nothing, and the Repubn-
cans will be well advised to forget the advice
they have been getting from those who oppose
the Taft-Hartley Act, and who would also oppose
any other law which restrains them from
trampling on the publ interest.
Evening star., 1952-07-04
Their Names Are Worth Remembering
By Edword Boykin

I'm this, the Nations l76th birthday
~ It, is safe wager that not one in
$4,000 Americans can name more than
five Of the 56 patriots who signed Amer
icas birth certiacate-the Declaration
of Independence.
These were the $50 who hung to-
gether' THOSE who took Benjamin
Franklin's advice: "We must all hang
together. or assuredly we shall all hang
separately"
Most of us know of course, that
Thomas Jefferson wrote this imperish-
able document and that John Hancock
put his name big and bold at the head
of the list where all nations should
behold it and where all time should not
efface it," Benjamin Franklin is famil-
lar and possibly, John Adams. Mary
landers perhaps can name one OF the
four who signed for their State; Vir-
ginians have seven to pick from.
Yet, that piece of crinkled. aging
parchment. with its 1887 words and its
Sc fading signatures, is the very heart
of all that America stands for.
Independence was in the air when on
June Z. 1776. slim, distinguished
gentleman from Virginia, Richard
1SlIy Lee IOSc III tilS NUIIGA1lCuIdA
Congress at Philadelphia and sought
permission to propose a resolution.
Every eye in the white-paneled
chamber was on Lee. Fifty delegates,
representing 13 Colonies. knew what
was coming. Virginia had instructed
her delegates to move for independence.
Lee was about to act on those instruc-
tions. From ship Of paper (still to
be seen in the Library of Congress) Lee
read slowly:
RESOLVED, That these United
Colonies are, and of right ought to be-,
free and independent States: That
they are absolved from all allegiance
to the British crown; and that all
political connection between them
and the State of Great Britain is.
and ought to be. totally dissolved.
Thus. Richard Henry Lee raised the
curtain on a drama whose impact would
be felt around the world for the next
176 years. 17
There were dissenters. middle of the
readers who wanted to wait. Two-thirds
of America was still loyal to the Kingl
They feared shipping the ties with the
mother country. America needed Brit
aims protection. Why this hurry?
After two days Of heated debate Con-
gress agreed that proclamation of in
Notwithstanding more impressive
than Lees concise wording-should be
prepared.
On June II Congress appointed a
committee of five to draft this proclama-
tion. They were John Adams, Thomas
Jefferson, Roger Sherman, Benjamin
Franklin and Robert R. Livingston. To
Jefferson. whose high literary skill was
admired by all, fell the task of COM
posing the proclamation.
On June % Jefferson's draft was sub
mitted to Congress but was tabled to
await the vote on Lees resolution.
On July 2 Lees resolution was
Evening star., 1952-07-04
Fireworks

The small. tanned bog IN cowboy boots
Has -Uidened eyes
With tDhich he matches beauty burst
In fame across the skies.
A thousand lights are glittering .
As great tUheels spin and turn,
The summer dark Is Stredked tUith fire
As bright-tailed rockets burn.
A thousand stars are falling nom.
Green and rose and gold,
He holds his breath as shining fdos
Red. iDltite and blue unfold.
We. Uto iDere bored by freUorks.
KnotD sudden. Uast delight
In looking at the small. tanned bog
Who matches them tonighti
lolo S. Morgan
Evening star., 1952-07-04

adopted. with IL States voting for in
for want of instructions from home.
This was the day of decision on which
America became free and independent
Nation.
BY strange twist of fate the Amer
lean people elected to celebrate the an
nouncement Of the act rather than the
act itself. OF this day John Adams, in
a fervor Of patriotism, wrote his wife:
1.-THE second day of July, 1776, will
be the most memorable epocha in the
history of America. It ought to be COM
memorated as the day of deliverance,
by solemn acts of devotion to God Al
mighty. It ought to be solemnized with
pomp and parade, with shows, games,
sports. guns, bells, bonfires. and illu-
limitations. from one end Of this con-
tinent to the other -"
On July Congress began editing
Jefferson's proclamation. It cut and
toned down Jefierson's ferocious charges
against King George III but left intact
those immortal doctrines. Independence
was two days old when on July Con-
gress approved the amended and much
deleted declaration that told the world
America was free.
On that memorable 4th the revised
copy of Jefferson's original draft was
signed by only John Hancock, president,
and Charles Thomson, clerk of the
Congress. Jefferson's memory 40 years
later tricked him into saying that the
members of Congress signed the docu-
ment on July 4. Trumbulps celebrated
painting in the rotunda Of the Capitol.
Evening star., 1952-07-04
Salute for USO

The undersigned prays the courtesy
Of your letters column July to express
our National Capital Area USO Com
mittee's salute to the armed services
hereabout, and for our USO Lafayette
Square Club (YMCA. Jewish Welfare
Board and National Catholic Community
Service): our three YWCA-USO clubs
washington. Bethesda. and Silver
Spring.; our Travellers Aid-USO Union
Station lounge: ASSASSINATION Army
and other af1iliated organizations, to
pledge increased devotion to all members
thereof.
Joseph d. Kaufman,
Chairman, National Capital Area
USO Committee.
Evening star., 1952-07-04
independence Day

The carefree gayety of the average American
as he enjoys the sports, the fireworks and the
other diversions of another Fourth of July seems
to suggest that we have forgotten the blood,
sweat and tears that brought this Nation
independence 176 years ago, today. It is true
that we have come to take life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness as rather casual blessings
Of the American way" At times, even, we have
accepted without too much complaint restrictions
on those rights of free individuals which our
forefathers held so dear.
But it would be wrong to infer from these
outward signs that we have grown too soft, too
complacent, too ungrateful for our blessings to
give than lip service to the principles of the
historic Declaration. Hitler misjudged our moral
fiber and so did Tojo-and they were destroyed
The Red dictatorship misjudged it when orders
for the Berlin blockade were issued only to be
met by the unexpected and impossible" airlift
Our will to fight for our own freedom and that Of
our friends was underestimated by the totalitar-
ian aggressors when they marched across the
S8th Parallel in Korea two years ago.
Today, although we at home laugh and
play in momentary surcease from the daily
grind, there is abundant evidence that, when
the showdown comes, we will find inspiration in
the spirit of '76. The evidence of our readiness
to fight against tyranny is to be found not only
In our sacrifices in far-of Korea, but in our
leadership of the Atlantic alliance, our naval
patrol of the Mediterranean area, our aid in
money and supplies to the resisters OF aggression
everywhere, our expanding air strength and our
developing ground forces. The evidence is to be
had in our willingness to support with toll and
taxes the heaviest armament burdens in our
peacetime history.
Todays tyrants may pretend to discount
this showing of our unity and determination and
power. They may even be misled by our
apparent preoccupation with pleasantries and
politics But if they ponder the mistakes of
others who have misconceived our attitudes and
scoffed at our high resolves as free and inde-
pendent people, they are apt to hesitate before
making any irrevocable move to arouse us to
more vigorous action. For there can be no
doubt that we Americans Of today are no less
dedicated to-and ready to defend-the principles
of freedom and justice written into the Declara-
ton of Independence than were the stalwart
men who signed it more than century and
three-quarters ago.
Evening star., 1952-07-04
Library Of consress.

''The Signing Of the Declaration of In
dependence" is likewise misleading.
The engrossed parchment Declaration,
soon to be re-enShrined in the Archives
Building, was not signed until August
2. 1776. A few signatures were added
at much later dates.
The signerS-the Sc who so pledged
their lives, fortunes and honor-were
(by States and not in order of signing): {:
Connecticut-Roger Sherman. Sam
uel Huntington, William Williams. Oliver
Walcott. Delaware-Caesar Rodney,
George Read, Thomas Mexican.
Georgia-Button Gwinnett. Lyman Hall.
George Walton. Maryland-Samuel
Chase, William Paca. Thomas Stone.
Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Massa-
chuSettS-John Hancock, Samuel Adams,
Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry,
John Adams. New Hampshire-Joseph
Bartlett, William Whipple. Matthew
Thornton. New Jersey-Richard Stock
ton, John WitherSpoon, Francis Hopkin-
son, John Hart, Abraham Clark New
York-William Floyd. Philip Livingston,
Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris. North
Carolina-William Hooper, Joseph
HeweS, John Penn. Pennsylvania-Rob-
ert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin
Franklin. John Morton, George Clymer,
James Smith. George Taylor, James
Wilson, George Ross. Rhode Island
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery. South
Carolina-Thomas Hayward, jr.; Thomas
Lynch. jr.; Arthur Middleton, Edward
Rutledge. Virginia - George Wythe,
Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson,
Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, jr;
Francis Lightfoot Lee. Carter Braxton.