davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-09-05
By Charles E. TroceweN

new varieties. or species, many of which
are patented.
To have a beautiful flower named
after one is an honor most persons ap-
preciate.
Ornamental flower gardening had its
great start in this country after the
Civil War.
Before that it had been confined
mostly to the yards of wealthy persons.
but in the peace and prosperity that
settled over America after 1868 the
custom of growing flowers instead of
vegetables around house spread to
the common everyday person in his
little cottage.
The sdooryard garden was old. but
the restriction Of the entire yard to
flowers, as such. was something new
Even today one meets an occasional
person who somehow feels that it is
a bit shameful to grow 'just flowers"
when the same space might be devoted
to food crops.
Fortunately, this feeling is not wide
spread. Today we grow flowers because
we want to, and vegetables If we want
to, or shrubs or evergreens, or go in for
terraces if we choose. Being free means
more than Just being politically free.
It would be q sad day for America II
= the Department Of Agriculture ever got
to monkeying with flower gardens and
ordering people to plant or not to plant
sweet peas, for instance.
Evening star., 1953-09-05
The Worst Is Over

Two developments in the Federal personnel
neld should have queting effect on Govern
ment employees who are jttery as result of
the recent reduction-in force economy pro-
gram. One is the report from official quarters
that the worst is over the peak of firings having
been reached during July. The other is the
promise by Civil Service Commission officials
that renewed efforts will be made to find jobs
Tor displaced career workers.
The high July total of $500 diSmiSsalS in
the Washington area was the outgrowth Of
budget reductions which became effective on
July l. These brought the total Topped of
the Washington payroll since the new admin
tstration took office to approximately $4,000.
From now on, 1t was said, the number of dis
miSsals will taper off. Many veteran employees
who had expected to make Federal service a
career were among those who have been let out.
Ironically, thousands of newer employees in the
temporary indefinite category are still at work.
1t was the disturbing picture of so many
careeriStS being out of work while newer,
Inexperienced workers were staying on that
led Chairman Rees of the House Civil Service
Committee this week to complain to the Civil
Service Commission AS result, definite action
designed to find jobs in the local departments
for as many as possible of more than 1000 idle
career public servants has been promised.
Chairman Philip Young told The Star in a
long distance telephone interview that he has
found no serious displacement problem in his
current tour of Federal installations outside
of the District. This is not surprising, however,
since the problem here differs from that in the
field. Washington, as the seat of Government,
has been hit harder by the observation-disclosures
movement than other cities. Moreover, op-
portunities for finding Jobs in industry are
better in most other cities than in Washington.
Here the principal industry is the Federal
Government itself. The Government therefore
has special responsibilities in connection with
the unemployment program for displaced
career workers.
:. That the Government has not met it's
responsibilities in full is clear from the reports
of congressional and newspaper Investigators.
The Civil Service Commission has recognized its
obligations in part by laying down policies
for the departments and agencies to follow in
making reductions and filling vacancies. These
policies are designed to safeguard career en-
ployeS as far as practicable and to give them
priority to vacancies that may occur. But
tention to the commissions directiveS, in their
desire to hold onto certain temporary employees
rather than take chance on "caStoffs" of other
agencies. Actually, many of the dismissed
permanent workers have outstanding records
of service. They deserve better treatment from
their Government than they so far have
received.
Evening star., 1953-09-05
Mr.. Dulles Stubs His Toe

Secretary Dulles comment to the effect
that it would be disastrous for West German
voters to turn out the Adenauer government
was both surprising and regrettable.
Mr.. Dulles no doubt was merely trying to
give candid answer to a preSS-conference
question. But experimentation unhappy ex-
perience-plainly indicates that it was the kind
of question which should have elected a no.
comment answer
Viewed from almost any angle, the Secre-
tary's response was unwiSe. Anything which
smackS of interference in the domestic political
affairs of another country is almost certain to
boomerang. Dur unhappy-and unsuccessful
Evening star., 1953-09-05

attempt some years ago to influence the
Argentine voters against General Peron is a
case in point.
In this latest instance, Dr. Adenauer's
opponents have pounced ayidly on the Dulles
comment. In their hands, it becomes a vicious"
attempt to interfere and an affront to the West
German voters. It is not possible to say how
successful they will be in capitalizing on the
incident. But the high probability is that it
will cost Or. Adenauer more votes than it will
get for him in tomorrow's election.
There is the further point that it is the
kind of remark which is almost certain to
prejudice our own interests in Germany If the
Socialists. and not DR.. Adenauer, should win
the election. For an American Secretary of
State can hardly expect to allude in advance
Of the election to such possible result as
disaster, and then hope, after the event, to
enjoy good relations with the victorious regime.
Evening star., 1953-09-05
Fewer PIones-More Strength?

One could wish that Defense Secretary
Wilson would not say such things as this: I'VE
must not again let our military strength drop
back to anything like the low level" that existed
after World Wars / and II. For the implica-
ton is disconcerting, especially when the state
nlent is made on the day of the announcement
that the Air Force purchase program is being
reduced by 965 planes.
Mr.. Wilson'S statement is disconcerting
because it seems to imply that while he would
not go back to the deplorably low level of
military strength which prevailed after the
two world wars, he nevertheless favors a drop
to some lower level than that currently pre-
vailing. The chances are, however, that Mr..
Wilson did not have in mind any such meaning.
For the overall theme of his address to the
American Legion was that the strength of
the Air Force (and presumably our total
strength) is building up rapidly, that the build
up will go on, and that this country must
continue to have air power second to none"
The cutback in the plane-purchase program
is something new. It was not even mentioned
during the debate over the $5-billion reduction
in the Air Force budget, and, in the absence
of adequate explanation, would be cause for
the most serious concern. There are certain
aspects of this decision, however, which are
reaSSuring
Among the planes to be dropped from the
purchase program are 1856 B-47s-our best
operational jet bomber. These planes had
actually been ordered. Chief among the other
casualties are 579 fighter -bombers the F84 and
F-86 types. They had been programmed, but
were not on order.
1t is said, however, that these are not
cutbackS imposed by civilians in the Pentagon
for economy reasons Instead it is reported that
the reduction results from recomputation of
plane needs by the military air staff, and that
this recomputation has the full support of
General Nathan F. Twining, Air Force Chief of
Staff.
number of factors entered into the re-
computation. One is that the loss of planes
from accidental crack-ups has been less than
was expected. Another is that the end of the
fighting in Korea neceSsitates fewer planes in
the Far East. And there is also a hint from
General Twining that some of the money saved
by the cutback will be spent on newer and better
planeS-a hint which conforms to the expecta-
ton that the F-84s and the F-86s will soon be
in process of replacement by the F-100-a truly
supersonic fighter now ready for production.
All of this, of course, must necessarily rest
on some optimistic assumptions. And the chief
among these obviously is that we will have the
time to acquire better planes as requirements
for those which we had originally planned to
acquire To the extent that guesswork is in
volved, however, it is the guess of professional
military air officers. And they ought to know
what they are doing. Certainly no layman can
know. He can hope, however-paradoxical
though it may Seem-that fewer planes now
really will mean more strength later on.
Evening star., 1953-09-05

when Senator Taft asked, I'm short. to
put in brief statement. you will re-
gard yourself as representative of the
public :. and not the representative
of any particular group?" Mr.. Durkin
answered THAT is correct"
But at press conference in his office
on August IL, the Secretary said he was
going to the convention of the AFL and
when the reporter said. LAS a visiting
speaker you mean?" Mr.. Durkin said
that he had been appointed as a dele
gate of the plumbers union and that
ut would be the first time in history
that Secretary of Labor had acted
as. a union delegate.
Obviously, as a delegate, Secretary
Durkin will represent his union at the
convention and serve its interests. Ap-
parently, when he made his commit
ment to Senator Taft to serve only the
interests of the public he had his fl4l-
gers crossed, or it may be that, upon
further consideration, he reached the
conclusion that, unlike the rest Of us
mortals. he is excepted from the Bib
ical Injunction and has been Divinely
endowed with the ability to serve two
masters.
M. c. Lyddane.
Evening star., 1953-09-05
VIENNA, Va.
Dear Sir:

Dear Sir:
In your column recently you OBJ
served that sweet peas are lacking in
this vicinity.
For the past two years we have
grown nice sweet peas.
1--WE start them in February along the
southeast side of the house in soil
enriched with compost and leaf mold.
planted about inches deep.
In front of the sweet peas lettuce
seed is sown. Cold frames are leaned
against the house with the open ends
closed with tar paper or cardboard.
The soil is kept moist
When the sweet peas are several
inches high we remove the glass and
run twine for climbing.
Chicken wire gets too hot from the
sun.
I'VE are still picking sweet peas.
Lettuce slips are tranSplanted to
the garden, leaving some to grow and
shade the bases of the pea vines.
This year in April we put in second
planting behind the first. They came
up. but were puny compared to the
February batch, which averaged feet
in height.
I'VE believe an early start is essential.
plenty of water for the roots, and not
too much sun after midday.
I'VE consider sweet peas are our
most satisfactory flower. involving
slight labor and providing q pretty ans
Evening star., 1953-09-05
A Fighting General Returns

The dramatic capture of General Dean by
the North Korean Communists three years ago
has been climaxed happily and almost as
dramatically by his safe return in Operation
Switch
AS generals have done before, Bill Dean
became Just another combat soldier when the
going was toughest for his command in the
gloomy summer of 1850. At time when it was
hard to tell where the line of fighting was
fixed the general decided that his response
bilities of leadership required personal inter-
vention at the fighting front. His subsequent
activities with sidearms, hand grenadeS and
bazooka eventually cost the United Nations the
services OF one general, but the accounts Of
how he spent a couple of days working over
the enemy make it clear enough that maxi
mum cost was exacted. Probably no circum-
stance attests more specifically to the fluid
nature of the fighting in those days, and to the
resourcefulnesS of General Dean himself, than
the fact he spent approximately month in
North Korean controlled territory before he
was captured through betrayal by an English
speaking Korean civilian.
The years of captivity which followed have
a familiar pattern-interminable questioning,
long marches, solitary confinement, privationS
of many kinds. Fortunately, however, outright
cruelty seems to have been missing for the
most part The general toward the end of his
captivity received mail from his family, daily
ration of vodka and enough to eat so he could
share it with his guards Last month he re-
ceived a razor and a tailor made suit" plus a
red tie
General Dean wears today the highest
military awards of the United States and of the
Republic of South Korea. He won them the
hard way but in good soldiers way.
Evening star., 1953-09-05
MovinQ Greenwich Observatory

The British Admiralty has announced the
removal of the Royal Observatory from Green
which to Herstmonceux Or as it perhaps more
accurately is spelled Hurstmonceux. Resultant
time changes will include subtracting about
minute and quarter, but this is not to begin
until next January The new location will be
Longitude 20 minutes and rs seconds east OF
the Greenwich meridian and Latitude SO min
utes and 80 seconds south of the Greenwich
parallel or approximately go miles southeast of
the former SITE Londons industrial atmosphere
has forced the migration. The Queens astrono-
merS simply cannot do their work in clouds of
fog and smoke illumination of the night sky
over London also has interfered with obser-
vations.
Greenwich originally was a quiet Thames
village, a station of the Danish feet as early as
10l1, royal residence in 130O At the house
called Placentia, Henry VIII and his daughters
Mary and Elizabeth were born and Edward vi
died. James l and Charles I improved the
property, and it played part in American
history when colonial charters for Virginia and
New Jersey were made to read "as of the manor
of East Greenwich" between 1906 and 1874
The observatory building was erected by
Charles II in 1878, the magnetic pavilion under
the patronage of Victoria in 1899. Greenwich
Hospital for Seamen dates back to 1705. An
international conference in Washington in 1884
provided for universal acceptance of the Green
wich meridian-"the line from pole to pole
passing through Sir George Biddell Airy's
transit theodolite."
Hurstmonceux, sgnifying "the wood or
forest of the Monceux family" stands five miles
from PevenSey where William the Conqueror is
supposed to have landed in 1865. The existing
structure was begun by Sir Roger Fiennes in
1440. When in its prime it was regarded as
the finest brick edifice of its kind in England.
Its style is Perpendicular Tudor. The two towers
rising above the principal entrance were "a feet
tall, the grand stairway occupied an area 40
feet square, the oven in the bakehouse was
IA feet in diameter A clergyman named Hare
wrecked the castle in 1777. The whole ruin was
restored by Sir Paul Latham who sold it to the
Admiralty in 1947. No announcement of the
price ever has been made but it is understood
to have been a bargain for the Crown. Such
estates nowadays are apt to be white ele-
plants" to private owners.
Anybody who thinks that all we have to
fear is fear itself, just isn't paying attention
to what he reads.
Another new book emphasizes that huge
armies are obsolete. But you're wasting you're
time trying to sell the ida to your draft board
Evening star., 1953-09-05

count so heavily on massed infantry and
artillery
Naturalization of enemy atomic
capabilities will always have first pri-
ority as A-bomb targets.
For a. 20-kiloton A-bomp (power
equal to 10000 tons of TNT) the best
target is likely to be the reserve regi-
ment of the attacking division, because
it probably will be less dispersed and
less sheltered.
Attack formations are extremely
vulnerable to A-bombs.
Offensive strategy which includes
A-bomb capability may now be to hit
the enemy at his strongest point, in
stead of his weakest.
Defensively. A-bombs would be valu-
able to pave the way for a counter
Evening star., 1953-09-05
Rebukes Stokes
M. c. Lyddane.

After reading Thomas Stokes on
oil. Education and Politicians" may
suggest to your iconoclastic columnist
that he ought to go to college,?
Though L doubt that education will
improve his mind. AS a constitutional
lawyer. dealing in titles, rights and
duties arising out of conflicting claims
to Jurisdictions and sovereignties. and
whose opinion has been accepted and
relied upon by one of the chief New
Deal agencies, would like to suggest
to your correspondent the following,
viz:
1t is highly improbable that the
United States has any exclusive pro-
prietary rights, jurisdiction or SOW
ereignty to any lands outside the ira
ditional bounds of any State bordering
the Gulf, Pacific or Atlantic. Thus. it
may be expected that citizens of other
nations will soon be drilling for oil
just outside the Texas l2-mile limit
In my opinion Senator Lister Hill
ct al, including the Supreme Court,
did a great disservice to the Nation in
defeating the original Texas concept
under which we would have had, at
least. color of title to lands beyond the
12-mile limit. of the Texas shore. Now
we have nothing beyond the traditional
12-mile limit.
Just as our shrimp boats approach
the Mexican line, so our competitors
may approach our shores.
Guy G. Moore.
Editors note: Mr. Stokes, Phi
Beta Kappa, obtained his ABB. from
the University of Georgia in 1920 and
has been doing post graduate work for
years in the school of hard knocks)
Evening star., 1953-09-05
Cancer Cumpuiqn Success

lancer Campaign SucceSS
Washington does have heart! The
splendid support of your paper and
the contributions of thousands of Wash
ington residents have made the 1858
Cancer Crusade an overwhelming sue
cess. In addition to making the public
keenly aware of the seven danger
signals. the goal of $3.50, 900 was over
subscribed by $4,000.
Plans are now being completed to
invest these voluntary contributions in
a threefold cancer-control program.
namely: education. research and service
to cancer patients.
Please accept the gratitude of those
who will be aided by the assistance
which your paper has so generously
given to this cause.
:vs Joseph w. Leverenz,
Executive Director, American Can
Ger Society, Inc. DC. Division.
Evening star., 1953-09-05

attack, to destroy enemy reinforcementS
and supplies and even to serve al
a curtain for flight.
A-war poses major problem for the
medics: Simultaneous casualties on a
large scale.
Bridges, highways and railroads
are not exceptionally vulnerable to
A-bombs.
The ink is hardly dry on the colonels
book, but already they must be think
ing of some revisions The swift ar
rival of the H-bomb will undoubtedly
require some changes. But not as
many as might be supposed. The
reason: H-bombs are at present con-
sidered too powerful for tactical use.
the main phase of warfare to which
this book is addressed. g..
Evening star., 1953-09-05
Secretary Durkin q Delegate

The press seems to have overlooked
the recently disclosed conflict in the
record of Secretary of Labor Durkin.
When his nomination was under con-
Sideration by the Labor and Public
Welfare Committee of the Senate on
January 16, in answer to a query from
Chairman H. Alexander Smith. Mr..
Durkin said, Il will not be represent
ative of a labor organization" And
Evening star., 1953-09-05
Letters to The Star :.

PennameS may be used letters carry rers correct
and addresses AL letters subject to condensation
Evening star., 1953-09-05

Anybody who thinks that all we have to
fear is fear itself, just isn't paying attention
to what he reads.
Evening star., 1953-09-05

Another new book emphasizes that huge
armies are obsolete. But you're wasting you're
time trying to sell the idN to your draft board.
Evening star., 1953-03-14

and lowest-$7.36 per capita
in grants received.
And when the city imposed the
sales tax, Mr.. Reilly said, il
tapped its last principal tax
source. To increase the District s
principal revenue source-the
real estate tax-would be unwiSe
Mr.. Reilly said.
Could Disrupt Economy.
"Ill-advised and unnecessary
increases in the rate might do
violence to our local economy" ,"
he said. You can't reasonably
expect private enterprise to en-
gage in business where taxes
are burdensome and possibly
confiscatory."
At the same time, he acknowl-
edged that private enterprise
must put its own house in
order"
I'VE have to build better
mousetrap to attract people to
our community" the banker de-
clared.
Above all. he said, the city
must show Congress that WASH
ington belongs to all Americans.
1--WE must convince the leg
islators that the pay-as-you-go
philosophy is not adequate and
that specific appropriations are
in ORDER" Mr.. Reilly declared.
And. he added, I'VE must be
careful to avoid the impression
that we are looking for hand
out or expect the Federal Gov
eminent to cure all our ills"
IT the city wins its fight, he
declared, it will bring great
prestige to the Nation and lit
will be our finest hour"
Evening star., 1953-03-14
Roulette System
Wins, So Casino
Bars Him for Life
BY the Associated Press

MARRAKECH, French Mo-
rocco. Mar. 14.-John Archie
johnson, 33-year-old carpenter
from Sunland, Calf, has been
barred for life from the gam
bling casino here because he
won too much, it was learned
today.
Mr.. johnson, employed by a
construction company building
United States air bases in Mo-
rocco, repeatedly took in more
than S million francs ($14,5OO)
or the roulette wheel in three
months.
His syStem-playing the num-
bers one, two, three, line and
zero, doubling his bets when
losing and progressively betting
the house limits when winning.
Casino directors explained: ::
I'VE are trying to build hotel
and a swimming pool here. If
you continue to play. we won't
be able to afford it,"
Mr.. johnson is now headed for
Monte Carlo.
Evening star., 1953-03-14
Prentiss and Reilly
Tell Trade Board Of
Public Works Need

Washington's public work
needs, and the proposed $33'
million solution for them, yes.
terday were placed before tn,
city's businessmen in business.
mems terms.
John A. Reilly. banker ant
chairman of a special Citizens
Committee, stated the case be.
fore a general membership meet.
ing Of the Board of Trade in the
Hotel Statler.
The works improvement pro.
gram. outlined for the bushes.
leaders by Brig. Gen. Louis w
Prentiss, Engineer Commissioner
requires increasing certain taxes
here and a multi-million- dollar
advance of Federal loans anC
grants.
Mr.. Reilly brought his message
close to home.
"It would be poor economy
to let your plants become obso-
lete," he said. And you realize
that, as your business grows, its
facilities must expand"
International Metropolis.
These. he said, were the two
basic problems of the Nations S
Capital.
THE old plant has become
obsolete, and there is insufficient
revenue to make requirements, -
he declared. And we have failed
to recognize that plant expan-
sion has been badly needed to
service a community that has
grown from a tranquil, pleasant
township to an international
metropolis"
improvements, Mr.. Reilly
added, must be made without
delay. The key to the solution
is that Congress must be con-
vinced of its responsibility to
assume a fair share of the bur-
den, he said.
L do not share the opinion
OF some that we've been extrava-
CANT or Wasteful," he said. II
feel that our Government has
performed magnificently under
very trying conditions"
Highest Per Capita Tax.
Mr.. Reilly declared that Wash
lngtonlans are doing a full
share of revenue producing" He
selected seven cities comparable
to Washington and noted that
the District has the highest per
capita local tax burden-$l28.6l
He said he also compared the
District with 13 States to deter
mine the relation of Federal
revenue collections to the amount
paid in Federal grants. OF the
13. he said, Washington is Sec
ond highest in payments of Fed
eral levies-$780.97 per capita
Evening star., 1953-03-14
Carrier Boy Reports
S. Robbery to Police

Robbery Of a newspaper carrier
boy-the third in recent weeks
was reported to police last night
The victim was Jack D. Nc
Duff1e, 13, colored, of 1903 Ninth
street NV, who was collecting
for the Washington Daily News
In front Of 1922 Tenth street
NV, he said, two other colored
boys approached him. One held
his hands while the other took
about IS from his pockets.