davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Misplaced Leniency'

have read your editorial Misplaced
Leniency," and in fairness feel that I
should indicate to you more fully my
views on the new anti-crime bill as ex-
pressed by me in court last Saturday. I
do so not in any spirit Of criticism, or
with the request or expectation that
they be printed in The Star. I have
great confidence in your editorial writ
ers and reporters and believe they
would welcome my statement for their
own personal information.
First. let me say that concur with
your views that we must deal firmly
with violators of the new anti-crime
bill, and only by so doing can we hope
to make Washington what have said
so many times in the past, not only the
most beautiful city in the world, but
also the safest city The District At
torney, the Corporation Counsel, and
the police should and must receive the
fullest cooperation from the judges if
this goal is to be achieved and crime
is to be reduced to a minimum To my
way of thinking, this means stiff pen
alties for major criminal offenders and
repeaters, supplemented by intensive
public education to gain voluntary sup
port of the public for our laws. Until
the profit is taken out of crime, through
the imposition Of Jail sentences and
heavy fines, there will continue to be
crime.
classify as major offenders those
who operate establishments where liquor
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Love Conquers All

The historic British capacity to "muddle
through" any crisis is being proved again. this
time on behalf of love.
Princess Margaret younger sister of Queen
Elizabeth and third in line for the throne, re-
portedly is in love with a handsome but
divorced commoner, Group Captain Peter
Townsend, an Raj hero of World War H.
While the Church of England frownS upon
remarriage of divorced persons, the romance
of Margaret and Peter is most seriously af
fected by the rank which the normally gay and
charming princess holds in the royal family.
Under existing law, she would become regent
for the United Kingdom and the British Com
monwealth if Elizabeth should die before Prince
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Star SponoIed Banner Manuscript

The first complete version of THE Star
Spanged Banner" as penned by Francis Scott
Key in hotel room in Baltimore on September
IA, 1914, has passed from the possession OF the
Walters Art Gallery to that of the Maryland
Historical Society. Purchased with money
donated by Mrs. Thomas Courtney jenkins IN
memory of her mother-in-law, Mrs Catharlne
Key jenkins, it's price was $26,42823-the
amount paid by the gallery to the Walters
estate when the manuscript was offered at
auction in New York in 1884. OF course, the
real market value of the document, as stated
by George L. Radcliffe, president OF the society,"
is many times higher"
Still greater however, is the sentimental
significance of Keys immortal verses. He wrote
them in Baltimore gave the original draft TO
his brother-in-law and friend, Judge Joseph
Hopper Nicholson a leading Baltimore Citizen
and authorized Nicholson to publish the hand
bills or broadsdes which introduced the poem
to the people of the Nation through Baltimore
facilities of distribution. Mrs. jenkins acted
to protect the specific interest of Baltimore In
1.-The Star Spangled Banner" But she also
served the whole United States through her
generosity. The manuscript is to be enshrined
in a new wing of the historical society's building
OF course, if Baltimore ever should wish to
part with the Key manuscript, there is place
for it available in Washington. 1t would supple
ment the Declaration of independence and the
Federal Constitution in the National Archives.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Provdo Protests Too Much

It is hardly surprising that Pravda, presum-
ably rejecting a formal decision within the
Kremlin, is now attacking the British French
American proposal for an autumn meeting of
the Big Four Foreign Ministers to discuss the
future of Germany and Austria
For the Big Three, in the communique
issued after their conversations here earlier this
month, made it clear that they are in agree
ment on certain basic considerations in Western
Europe, and that neither the Soviet peace
offensive nor any of the familiar Communist
devices of evasive and protracted negotiations
are likely to make serious dent in this Western
unity. For example, the Big Three ministers
reaff1rmed commitments to the North Atlantic
Alliance to establishment of the European
Defense Community and to other aspects of
the developing political and economic unity
among the free nationS-au of which are
designed to safeguard the security of the West
and to protect it from the destructive designs
of the men in the Kremin. AS they had done
repeatedly before, the Big Three emphasized
that unification of Germany is an essential
concern but that the first steps toward this
goal must be the organization of genuinely
free elections and the establishment of free
alderman government with which peace
treaty can be negotiated. Undoubtedly, 1t was
these expressions of agreement that prompted
of Britain and France have been tied to
those of the United States.
Given little encouragement that it could
split the Western allies, the Soviet government
has little incentive left for four-poWer con-
ference On the German problem, Moscow has
made it abundantly clear in the past that 1t
has no heart for genuinely free elections and
that its preference would be to negotiate"
through the unrepresentative Grotewohl Com
munist regime in East Germany. On Austria,
representatives of the Big Four have held nearly
300 meetings in the past eight years without
concrete progress toward treaty which would
restore independence to that country and end
the postwar occupation. Russian behavior IN
this issue has been characterized as "the classic
example of bad faith in negotiating, as substi-
tute for the open reputation of commitments"
In the very developments now taking place
within Soviet Russia-the struggle for power
revealed by the purging of Lavrenti Beria-
there may be found another compelling reason
why the Kremlin is opposed to four-power
meeting in the near future. A government
insecure in itself is in poor position to negotiate
with three powers that have declared their own
unity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24

and narcotics are sold and gambling is
permitted, and make it possible for
weak and unSuSpecting people to be
present, and thus come within the
purview of the new law. This type of
person is the real menace to society.
recognized this fact last Saturday, just
as I consistently have done over the
many years that I have been judge,
and imposed a 60-day straight jail
sentence on the operator of the illegal
liquor establishment when he pleaded
guilty to being present in such an estab-
lishment. Your editorial did not men,
ton this fact, although it may not have
been brought to your attention.
AS to the other defendants found in
the premises and who had nothing
whatsoever to do with its operation,
think wisdom, common sense, and JUS
ltice amply justify the sentences of
$40 each, especially in view of the fact
that the new anti-crime bill had just
become law, and these were the first
arrests hereunder The majority of
the defendants, as the evidence brought
out, were totally unaware of the new
crime bill, or Of the fact that mere
presence constituted crime. For the
most part they were poor, uneducated
people, without prior records and with
minor children and others to support.
A Judge must consider all of these cir
cumstances and strive to do justice to
all. In showing some degree of con-
sideration to these defendants, I did
not let the occasion go by without
pointing out to them the great bless
ings which we in this country enjoy,
and the civic responsibility which they
should cheerfully and voluntarily as
sumo, to the end that all laws might
be obeyed and respected to the benefit
of the community at large.
Also, while the fines above mentioned
were being imposed, took steps to
point out clearly that these fines were
not to be taken as a precedent, and
that when the public had reasonable
opportunity to become acquainted with
the new law those who persisted in vio-
lating this provision and other pro-
visions of the law could expect no
leniency from the court and that stiff
fines and jail sentences would follow.
The Star always has urged policy
of common sense and reason in all
matters of public interest and I feel
the above statement will merit your
support and backing.
The Star knows and the records of
this, court will bear out the fact that
I have for years imposed stiff Jail
sentences, many of them maximum
sentences, as general policy on those
convicted of such major offenSes as
1IT Eryno ~.
ons, sex crimes, assault, liquor, mar
cotics and in fact other major crimes
so repugnant to the public interest.
expect to continue to follow pol
icy of dealing firmly with crime and
criminals just as I have done in the
past. I shall continue to assure every
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Fuct-Findinq and Book-Burninq

"Amicus Veritas" pleads "let us set
forth facts" OK. let's. He says
many of McCarthy's charges have
proved only too true.
Will "Amicus" please list the true and
false charges of friend Joe in chrono-
logical order, so, as AL Smith said, we
can look at the record and appraise the
results.
In this mad scramble to smash every
thing suspected of communism" we
have to take care that we do not also
smash "AmericaniSm."
"Americanism" is not a word. It
stands for the ideals on which this
country is founded. One of these basic
ideals is that person is presumed
innocent until proved guilty by due
process of law. Another is freedom of
speech, including freedom to teach and
study opposing political doctrines and
theories.
Any form of "thought-control" or
"brain- washing" is destructive of
AmericaniSm.
John ID. Michael.
AS reader of the press, listener to
AoA4OB oA4A FAC"CA VI bCACN1O1OkAI !
fed up with the burning of the books
and Mccarthy controversies. It seems
little odd that our foreign informa-
ton service for the dissemination of
information on the American way of
life should be stocked with books by
Communists when we are spending
billions fighting the spread of COM
muniSm. Communism is certainly not
the American way of life.
AS for so-called McCarthyism, Com
munist investigating committees have
been viewed with hostility and held in
contempt by certain liberals, left
WingerS and the Communist press ever
since the days of Martin Dies. These
Would-be detractors have never for
given the Un-American Activities Com
mittee for exposing Alger Hiss and are
determined to discredit the efforts of
the Senate and House investigation
committees and Senator Mccarthy in
particular. BY their unceasing attacks
they obscure the real issues and confuse
the people.
I, for one, prefer to be on the side of
Senator Mccarthy and the investigat-
ing committees than on the side of
THE Daily Worker" and all those who
join with the Communists in denounc-
ing him and the committees.
Disguised Ex-Liberal.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
The Tueeurt Case

1t was shocking to read in The Star
Of July 20, statement by the Honor
able Representative Rivers of South
Carolina made in Congress which read
as follows: For and in behalf of the
unSuspecting and unprotected white
women who are here by choice or hap
penstance, I commend the understaffed,
underpaid, and under-praised Police
Department of the District of which
you are the board of directors"
This statement was made relative to
the excellent quality of police work
performed in connection with the Tag
CART tragedy. It is my considered opin-
ion that the colored citizenry of this
community are no less happy than the
gentleman from South Carolina. Be-
cause racially, we have been victims of
the Cicero incident, brutal lynchings in
South Carolina and few years ago a
vicious sniper who preyed upon the
colored population of Washington, we
know too well the need for justice and
the prosecution of individuals and
groups who resort to uncivilized be-
havior.
It is tribute to our race that de-
spite our Sufferings, our concepts of
decency and justice are not racially
conditioned but extend themselves to
all peoples whatever their racial status
or creed.
Nelson S. Burke, jr.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Children of July

Baby bluegrass mods along the road,
And little zines OF honeySuckle crat0l
Ouer the porch. The river, pioeon-toed,
Runs like child straight to the
waterfall.
The fodder corn is lined in tidy rotOS
Like small, play soldiers aiming at the
sky,
And in the field, a teen age maple knot0s
It's first kiss from the tDtnd. This Is
july
Rain is the tears OF youth, sunshine
the smile
The land is filled Nth youthful,
oroUinQ things.
This blooming time lasts for a little
tUhile
But uhat rich maturity it bringSl
And in the years unfolding afternoon
Let earth be young-the hour is over
soon.
Donna Diekey Guyer
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Official Vandalism in the Parks

1t is gratifying to note the recommendation
Of the Fine Arts Commission for removal of the
hideous temporary" buildings from the Mall
and other parts of the Federal park system In
Washington. They should never have been
erected in the first place, for there were other
methods of meeting the Office housing emer-
gency which brought them into existence. But
even now, eight years after the end of the fight
ing in World War II-35 years after the end of
the fighting in World War l. when some of them
were built-they remain more as permanent
than temporary eyesoreS. AS the Fine Arts
Commission points out, many of them "are not
suitable for use as office buildings and by
reason of location and design, mar the appear
ance of parks and streets"
The Interior Department is official
custodian of these park areas. Only recently
the Secretary of the Interior and his director
of the National Park Service were promising
never to permit the dissertation" of Rock
Creek Park-by highway which. it is believed,
must eventually be built through parts of it.
But no threatened dissertation" or "destruc-
ton" of public parks by parkwayS can COM
pare with what has happened already as the
result of the neutrality-suspicious. of erecting
ugly and all-too-permanent Office buildings on
park land which is the central composition OF
the LEnfant Plan of Washington. One thing
that is so gratifying about the Fine Arts
Commissions timely recommendation is that
this agency, at least, is making some effort to
correct the official vandalism of which the
"tempos" have become such permanent symbols.
The Star hopes that the Interior Depart
ment will throw the weight of it's own influence
toward removing these tempos, and join the
Fine Arts Commission in campaign to restore
the parks to their original purpose and use, as
evidence that 1t has not abandoned its
custodial responsibility
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Librarians Report

Harry N Peterson librarian Of the Public
Library of the District of Columbia, has proved
again-and this time more defnitely-that the
reading habits of people reflect the news. Bor-
rowerS of books always have been interested in
current history, but their interest is increasing
in line with the acceleration of history itself
and with the improvement in ways and means
of distributing information.
For example televiSion, once feared by
publishers of books as a rival, now, in Mr..
Petersons considered judgment, is becoming
a cooperating facility Outstanding speakers
on teeviSion programs are expected to be
authors. AS soon as a popular lecturer, like
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen or DR.. Norman Vincent
Peale, appears the library has evidence of public
response at its inquiry desks. Features OF
literary Characterization Meets the Critics,
for instance-are authentic promoters of book
acquisitions.
But the legitimate theater and the movies
also are collaborators in the developing of reader
customs. "Quo Vads," "Ivanhoe," 1.-The Prisoner
of Zenda," Peter Pan" Hans Christian An
dersen" and Moulin Rouge" are only few of
many recent cinema productions which at
tracted borrowers to the library.
Fiction, however is less attractive than fact.
The war in Korea, the death of Stain and sub
Isequent happenings in Russia, the coronation
Nof Queen Elizabeth II in England and the
presidential election and change of adminiStra-
ton in our own country-all these brought
forth books and readers of them.
Mr.. Peterson reports dearth of good novels
but repeats that people are more concerned
with reality, anyway. They want books that
make life more meaningful," books that help
toward personal achievement, books that are
useful in solving daily personal problems. Thus
books about the arts and the crafts, science,
engineering, mechanics economics, health,
sports and constructive hobbies are in constant
request.
widening span of readers ages has been
noted during the past fiscal year. Increasing
numbers of elderly men and women are coming
to the library to read and study. This is i'm
portant in relation to one of the major issues
of the current era-the congenial use of leisure
by retired people.
During the 12-month period ended June
80, Mr.. Peterson says, nearly two million books
were borrowed for home peruSal. But that
figure tells only a fraction of the District
Library story. The reference and advisory
work is at least as significant. What the staff
wants is more people using all the library's
services. That, in turn, connoteS more outside
agencies cooperating in telling the public about
the library as "a power house of knowledge"
ready to be helpful to everybody.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Jan Struther

Many thousands of people on both sides OF
the Atlantic feel that they are intimately
acquainted with Mrs. Miniver. That is another
way of saying that they knew Jan Struther.
The author of the Miniver family stories tried
to escape identification with her principal
creation, but her public would not allow it.
Whether she wished to be symbol Of British
womanhood or not, Miss Struther had to con-
form to popular appraisal Her readers thought
of her as Mrs. Miniver, and that settled the
matter.
The result was something about which all
concerned had reason to be proud. No other
literary invention of "the age of confusion"
was more attractive or engaging. Mrs Miniver
had the sense and the sentiment, the faith
and the hope which England needed in those
dark days. Miss Struther may simply have
recognized Mrs. Miniver's qualities in hundreds
of British women or she may have extracted
them from her own personal nature. In any
case, she helped England through World War II.
Her own claims to remembrance, however,
are by no means limited to the Miniver pieces,
originally produced for the London Times
Miss Struther was successful literary artist
when she was only Is, Her contributions to
Punch the Spectator, the New Statesman, the
London Mercury and other periodicals were
important enough to win her high place
among poets as we'll as among prose workers
She was we'll known long before the first of
her impressions of Mrs. Miniver was printed
So it happens that, dying still young at ST.
she leaves material for the anthologies not
dated to any particular period She was Mrs
Miniver, but she also was herself.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

ny HE hASh1N
Q. Has the Government any data
to prove that nightwork is harmful
to health?-R. j. S.
A. Although the United States Public
Health Service has not studied the
matter in detail, it can say that gen.
orally there are no i'll effects, provided
such shift is worked regularly, and
that the worker gets or hours
of unbrc zen sleep. Frequent changes
from nigntwork to daywork, and back
again, are apt to cause disturbances
in sleeping and eating habits, to which
the body has difficulty in adjusting.
The Public Health Service recommends
that changes should not be made more
often than every or months.
Q. What will make it possible for
atom powered submarines to remain
submerged so much longer than other
types of submarines?-G. U.
A. The new submarines, such as the
Nautilus and Sea Wolf. will be able to
stay underwater because they will not
have internal combustion engines. The
diesels of today's submarines need air
to operate, and an exhaust pipe to get
rid of fumes. Therefore, they must
come up to the surface frequently. or
near to it if they are equipped with
snorkelS.
@. Why do ones fingers become
wrinkled and pale after the hands have
been in water for some TIMER. r.
A. The inner surfaces of the fingers
do not have the special sebum-pro-
ducing glands which spread over the
rest of the skin a thin, greasy, water
repellent coating. The skin cells on
the fingers, therefore. soak up water
and this causes swelling which exagger-
ates the ridges in the fingertips and
covers up the natural pink tint.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-24
Second Guessing a JUDGE

The easiest thing is to second-guess
after the game is over. Members of
Congress find it easy to criticize Judge
for sentence that was in accordance
with the evidence and the circum-
stances at the time it was made.
Judge Frank Myers is among the
ablest, hardest working and most con-
scientious members of the District of
Columbia judiciary. His record as an
attorney and as judge is beyond
reproach. Yet because his sentence of
Clarence Watson was not severe, Rep
resentative Rivers of South Carolina
excoriateS him without knowing the full
facts. And, of course, the able Repub-
lican member of Congress from the
10th District of Virginia must also have
his public relations man issue state
ment joining the public whipping Of
an able man.
It would appear that the United
States Attorneys Office felt that it could
not make tampering with an auto
mobile charge stick, otherwise it would
not have been nolle pressed. The
charge was misdemeanor and the
maximum sentence would not have
kept Watson off the streets longer than
one year, If that. 1t is rare day in
deed that a maximum is given in such
case, and only after long criminal
career. BENJAMIN n. Brown.
The Star of July 20 contains account
Of statement by Representative Rivers
of South Carolina, in which he censured
Judge Frank H. Myers Of Municipal
Court for leniency exercised in fine
imposed against Clarence E. Watson,
jr., who has confessed to the Taggart
murder and other major crimes.
Without intention to condone any
crime, I would like to say that any
judge is duty bound to consider only
the case before him in the fixing of
penalties. 1t would be both stupid and
vicious to expect judge to anticipate
what the offender before him might do
in the future.
Here in Washington there is large
percentage of crime by Negroes. This
is due to several things-the large per-
cent of Negro population; the terrible
slum conditions in which most of this
Negro population lives; the burden of
ostracism and hatred shown against
Negroes by many white citizens. But
the percentage of Negro crime is not
as large as it is made to appear. When
ever a Negro commits a crime, the
word 'colored" appears after his name
in the newspaper accounts, whereas
white crime is not similarly labelled.
submit that Negro crime is no worse
nor better-than white crime and that
to thus distinguish between them is
something less than full and real
Americanism. David Darrin.
was very pleased when read Of
Representative Rivers criticizing Judge
Myers.
We hear so much about needing q