davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
A Joint Responsibility

It is true, as was charged before the Inter-
state Commission on the Potomac River Basin,
that Washington has Jagged "shamefully" in
carrying out its part of the Potomac anti
pollution program. It is wrong to assume,
however that this lag has been the result OF
apathy on the part of the city as a whole or
OF its sanitation authorities. The one obstacle
to faster progress in the cleanup job has been
inadequate funds. Sewage treatment items
generally have been given a priority rating
far behind that assigned such budget items as
schools and highways.
speaker from Virginia accused the
District of diverting attention from its own
shortcomings by blaming Alexandria, Airing
ton and Fairfax for the degraded" condition
of the river today. But the fact is that WASH
ington has pioneered in the movement to
reduce the amount of raw sewage emptied
into the Potomac in this heavily populated
area. Arlington followed up by pioneering on
the Virginia side with its own Sewage-treatment
plant Fairfax County and Alexandria are
finally taking definite action-under mandates
from the State Water Control Board. Pending
remedial measures, huge quantities of raw
sewage continue to def1le the river in the
Alexandria area.
The Districts sewage is adding alarmingly
to the rivers pollution content, beyond all
doubt. Although Washington has $13-million
plant for processing sewage, the facilities are
dangerously inadequate. Only partial treat
ment can be given the sewage at present.
However. additional sludge drying, incinerating
and chlorinating facilities are being built at
a cost of nearly So million, and the Commits
sioners have authorized secondary treatment
plant to cost nearly $40 million. When this new
construction work is completed-it is hoped by
1960-the degree Of treatment will be greatly
improved. Harold A. Kemp, District director
Of sanitary engineering, has been waging a
constant battle to obtain larger slice Of
appropriations for completing the important
anti-pollution project. His department recently
asked $40 million for sanitary projects. but
the Commissioners cut the request to So million.
In short, facilities on both sides Of the
river are far from satisfactory Encouraging
progress is being made on both Sides however,
toward eliminating much of the filth which
now contaminates the river. There is nothing
to be gained from the pointing of fingers from
one side to the other. Each side should con-
centrate on doing its proper share of what is
essentially a joint task-a task necessarily
dependent on budget allotments in an era Of
budget-cutting.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08

District authorities to follow In the face Of
this strike action. And that is to make 1t
perfectly clear that they will not be coerced
by such tactics. No doubt the parents of the
Payne children are convinced that they have
a real grievance. But it is not grievance
that can be satisfactorily adjusted by taking
their children out of school.
The only result Of this kind Of action is
to injure the children. When the parents are
persuaded that this Is the case that their
strike action is having the reverse of its
intended effect, they will send their youngsters
back to school. This state OF mind can be
induced by standing firmly against coercion.
It will not be induced, however, by empty
threats of fines and imprisonment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
Fifty Years Ago in The Star

arrangement is ample and generous, as
BETTING house Of such unusual d.
mansions for city home, while the
exposure to the south and west serves
to flood the interior with an abundance
of sunlight" No mention was made Of
the name of the architect. He was
designer Of noble buildings then living
in the United States. On June IS. 1906.
he was murdered in Madison Square
Garden, New York, by Harry Thaw, an
eccentric Pittsburgh millionaire.
4
The Star Of February IL, 1908, re-
produced drawing Of silver dollar
remodeled for President
Deaf Mute Roosevelt by william Lip
Artist gems of New York, an
artist who happened to
be both deaf and mute. Show
ing Teddy on horseback and in
Rough Rider uniform, the edited"
coin was described as zone of the
handsomest pieces Of work" Of its kind
"ever seen" It was hammered out"
from the reverse side and included the
inscription: United States Of America
One Dollar Lipgens, q German by
birth, had exhibited his skill at the
Paris Exposition. He was "a fine look
ing fellow and boasted great adtnira-
ton for the President.
=
Gable accounts of visit Gen. Nelson
A. Miles was paying to London APP
peared in The Star on
Sen. Miles February s. 1908. He was
n London accompanied by Henry
White, secretary Of the
American Embassy: Capt. Clover,
United States Naval Attache: Consul
General Evans and others. The party
went to Olympia Hall to call on Col.
William F. Cody, famous as Buffalo
Bill" and @an interesting meeting took
place between the general and the old
scout" After dinner, "the healths Of
King Edward and President Roosevelt
were pledged amid great enthusiasm.
Col. Cody then conducted the party to
the Indian quarters. where the chiefs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08

for on q long-term credit, the burden
of their costs being shared between
the taxpayers Of the present, who have
waited patiently for the improvements,
and those Of the future. who are to
profit chiefly by them. But Congress
seems bent upon forcing the District
into position of uncomfortable
uniqueness among cities, and to stand
practically alone In its financial adj
justments. There is no known instance
Of a municipality equipping itself with
great filtration plants. sewer systems.
municipal offices, monumental railroad
terminals, bridges and the like out Of
current revenues. Washington hopes
to become and to remain distinguished
among not only American cities, but
among those Of all the world, as
beautiful. well-ordered municipality. It
is willing to pay its proper share of
the cost Of producing such q result.
But it asks that costs be equitably
adjusted and that the development Of
its possibilities be conducted upon
proper principles. It Is In serious dam
ger Of progressing unevenly. meeting
one set Of needs at the cost Of others,
and meanwhile draining the pockets
of taxpayers and sapping the sources
Of civic strength. Congress can pre-
vent this deplorable result by adopting
in specific terms the credit system for
the District. upon terms laid down in
the Commissioners bill for the advance
Of SO million Of Federal money to the
Capital for 20 years.
on January 80, 1908, The Star
chronicled the execution Of John Sin
u:..s clair at the District
John Sinclair for the murder Of
girl friend. Daisy
Maddox, April Is, 1902 At his trial
no testimony was offered in his behalf.
President Roosevelt declined to inter-
vene. Sinclair himself appeared rec.
onciled to his fate. While waiting death
he was supplied with wooden leg
which he wore to the gallows. Not
one Of the jan officials has ever seen
8 prisoner take position on the scat
fold with rs much self-ccmDosure."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
Joseph E. O'Brien.

greeted the general with the utmost
cordially, many Of the Indians not
having seen Gen. Miles since they
fought against him. The general
recognized and conversed with some Of
the Indians, who were much gratified
at being allowed to shake hands with
him." Afterwards, the visitors moved
to box which was layishly draped with
the British and American colors and
witnessed the show" Gen. Miles al
ways had been an enthusiastic circus
fan. He died at So while attending a
performance of the Ringing Brothers
Barnum and Bailey organization In
Washington, May Is, 1925.
Under this heading, The Star for
February 8. 1903. said editorially:
Washington is an
washington, exceptional city
The Exceptional in many respects.
It is, first Of all.
the only city in the United States
without suffrage. It is the seat Of the
Government and therefore the scene
of great national activities. It is less
commercial than any other city Of its
size on this continent. It Is at once
beautiful and ragged. Now 1t is in a
fair way to have its beauties enhanced
and its unkemptness corrected. Then
it will be exceptionally attractive, an
ideal municipality. Congress appar-
emily is bent upon carrying this dis
tinction to an extreme limit. making
Washington exceptional in every re-
spect financial as well as otherwise.
Already that body has increased the
taxes until the per capital tax levy IN
the District IS $2.13 more than
the average Of the IS cities which have
population Of 100000 or over. But
not content with thus increasing the
tax burden far beyond the usual degree.
Congress would now have the District,
as far as it has framed the annual
budget. pay out Of current funds and
on cash basis for all the permanent
works which are necessary to give the
Capital It's true aspect Is such. These
works In other cities are always paid
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
Spires Of the Spirit
America on It's Knees

There can be no doubt about It, even
in Government-centered Washington
there is new surge of reality, so far
as vital religion Is concerned. The
Return-to-God Movement is more than
q slogan. It Is assuming the proper
tons of holy crusade. Prayer is
actually being practiced, not just as
means of getting something from God
but as an open channel to get to God
and to find and be found by God him
self the only adequate answer to human
need. There is the sound Of q gong
in the tops Of the mulberry trees. not
only along the Potomac but across this
wide land. There are signs that once
again, as in the former days Of the
Nations true glory. America is bending
its knees. There are increasing num-
bers Of those in high places Of gov
ernance and industry whose solemn
and serious attitude is: Il want to be
Christian. IN my heart"
The revival, II that hackneyed and
abused word may be used for so gem
uine a craving for the Divine UNDER
girding, is not an emotional, boisterous
thing; it Is quiet and deep, too fun
for sound or foam. It Is not the repe-
tition of formal creed; It is repu-
diation Of practical atheism. Of the
deadly materialism which has degraded
and cursed American life and which
will damn it II not stopped. It is q
renaissance which leads away from
mistaken magnitudes. from inverted
priorities. from the Shut-in. Self-ab-
sorbed, unspiritualized, unhalloWed life
S,ifI M oItof oTafe with M cYffYn
The dramatic action on inaugural
day, of the man who had been Pres
ident only few moments, in asking
the country and the world to join him
in prayer, exactly fits into the mood
now so exhilaratingly apparent. When
the simple petitions Of the new Chief
Executive, pleading for help to the
Father God, fell on the ears Of listening
hosts expectantly lining the Avenue for
the parade, one who was half mile
from the Capitol said that. as over the
amplifier the praying voice resounded,
there was an electric something that
seemed to summon the waiting multi
tudes to their knees. And across the
Nation that mystic thrill was regis
tered. That supplication turned the
inaugural platform into a high and
holy altar. It came from deeply held
conviction regarding the inevitable
finality Of spiritual verities.
Just before the inauguration the one
now our President uttered words which
might well be nailed to the doorpoSts
of our homes and Of our legislative
halls: 1.-The basic doctrine to which
we must always cling Is that our form
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
Cleaning Up Lobor's Mess

The American Federation of Labor has
acted with commendable, though belated,
directness in ordering its racket-ridden Inter-
national Longshoremen's Association to clean
house or face expulsion by April 80.
In the good and the bad of organized labor's
history there have been few, if any, more sordid
stories of corruption and exploitation than that
developed by the New York State Crime Com
mission about the lila. In all its shocking
detail it has been a story of the most cynical
and disreputable behavior of union offlcialdom,
preying upon its own membership, upon water
front business interests and-in the last
analysis-upon the public at large. That it has
reached such depths and continued for so long
is a startling reflection Of the power which
these venal men had acquired.
To call the AFL action belated is to express
doubt that the evil practices Of the LILA could
have reached such point without awareness
Of what was going on in some responsible
quarters of the Federation. If this was the
case, it was hardly enough to refer to the
autonomy" which prevails within the member
unions. Quite properly now, in any event,
the AFL has served notice it will not "Sit by
and allow abuse of autonomy on the part OF
any of its af1liates to bring injury to the
entire Qabor) movement"
AL President Meany, newly chosen has
said that this is the first time in the 72-year
history of the Federation that such an ulti-
matum has been handed to an affiliated union.
The terms of the cleanup order are sufficiently
precise and unqualified as to require full COM
pliance. It's phrasing and its issuance augur
well for Mr.. Meany's administration. But more
than the leadership or the rank and file Of
labor will be scrutinizing the actions Of the LILA
In response The cause Of organized labor and
its future reputation are deeply involved. There
must be no compromise in the final disposition
of this unwholeSome case.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
On 'GroduuI' Inteqrution

DR.. Gannon'S thinking on "Segrega-
ton" as expressed in his letter to The
Star on. February 8, indicates accuracy
and intelligence, except for the state
ment in the last paragraph, "but they
should understand that the adjustment
of segregation in the District Of Co
lumbia must, Of necessity, be gradual
process for their good and the good Of
every one concerned" which refutes his
previously stated thinking.
Why does he cite the District Of
Columbia for gradual elimination Of
segregation and why is 1t good for any
one to discontinue segregation gradu-
ally? Does he not realize that segre-
CATION is not praeticed against foreign-
ers? Right thinking people cannot un-
derStand why foreigners have more
privileges than American citizens who
have always fought and died for this
country.
In referring to Negroes who have
made their place in society and risen
above segregation, DR.. Cannon states
that "Only unreasonable die-hards will
deny them the right to social equality"
This is true where segregation is prac.
ticed only If the person appears to be
a member of any other race but Negro,
regardless Of his station in life. The
restaurant hostess or the theater ticket
seller does not know the educational or
cultural backgrounds Of their custom
ers. Therefore. if a customer appears
to be American Negro, including
those Of other races and nationalities,
regardless of his educational attain
ment and cultural background. he is
refused admittance only because of
his racial identity. On the other hand.
If customer is or appears to be white
or a member Of another colored race
other than Negro, he is admitted
whether he is person Of high station
or whether he is ugly. ignorant. un-
couth, or has criminal record. Since
the reason for this seems to stem from
the fact that the ancestors Of most
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
College Boys and Droft

In an article that appeared in your
paper on February 4 it was implied that
many people are of the opinion that
"rich boys go to college, while poor
boys 60 to Korea" How absurd can
some people get? The fact that boys 60
to college does not release them from
the obligation Of service in the armed
forces and perhaps Korea. It merely
entails a postponement of duty until
graduation. at which time the Army
gets bright, vigorous leadership which
it needs so badly.
Furthermore, cross section Of any
group of college students will prove
that the vast majority are not sons of
wealthy parents. Rather, most students
today work during the summer to help
foot their college expenses. Many go
one step further and obtain part-time
jobs during the academic year. The
fact is, college education can be &C
quired by any one interested enough
to 60 out and get it.
Joseph e. O'Brien.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
Pen-ndnses may be used II letters carry
1priters' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.

liquor. One wonders whether we really
have any secrets left. We shall perhaps
never know what we have already paid
in blood, tears and taxes for decisions
made or secrets leaked over cocktails.
Joe Stain has no stronger ally outside
the iron curtain" than John Barley
corn.
It is perhaps too much to expect
that many who have been willing to
make an easy dollar at the expense Of
human misery would have the vision
to see that their stake in America Is
greater than their profits. hope some
may. ! pray the rest Of US may not
share the guilt Of hindering in the
crusade for freedom" We can at
least refrain from using or serving that
which muddles the mind or loosens the
tongue. How important is your stake
or mine in America? Where there is
no vision. the people perish"
Estella s. Haines.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08
Text for the Cold War

Reports from the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee make clear that Walter Bedell Smith
the incoming Undersecretary Of State-had
many interesting and pointed things to say in
the course of his REORGANIZATION testimony.
That was to have been expected from man
whose experience has encompassed distin-
guiShed service as General EiSenhoWerS chief
of staff in the Second World War, as American
Ambassador to Moscow from 1946 to 1949, and
as top director-until the other day-of our
Central Intelligence Agency.
But perhaps nothing in his testimony before
the Senate committee was more interesting or
pointed than the reference he is said to have
made to the following observation by Lord
Palmerston, the great British Prime Minister OF
a century ago: cit is always the policy and
practice of the Russian government to expand
its frontiers as rapidly as the apathy and
timidity of It's neighbors permit but to halt
or recoil when met with determined opposition"
Then, after offering the quotation, General
Smith is reported to have had this to say:
Determined opposition means more than
containment. policy Of containment Is no
more than passive defense, and the best you
can get. from that is draw"
These two observations-one made In the
long-ag days Of the Czars and the other In
the present days of Soviet tyranny-add up
to an excellent text for the cold war. As
President Eisenhower declared before his elec-
ton, the RusS-ans-now as in the distant past
are anything but Supermen standing "A feet
tall Certainly, II there Is no apathy or timidity
in opposing them. If the defense against them
Is active instead Of passive, they can be made
to halt and recoil, and there win be no draw.
The free world can hope to win on that basis
without suffering the commissions OF all-out
armed conflict.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08

A Star extra dated PM. February
10, 1903, announced to Washingto
that the quebec
Wreck OF Stea m ship Co.'S
The Modiono steamer Madiana had
gone ashore on the
reefs OF Bermuda and "iS likely to prove
board included Mr.. and Mrs. Theodore
w. Moves, Mr.. and Mrs. Brainard H.
Warner and Francis II. Smith. The
ship was two days out Of New York, on
a West Indian cruise. With heavy
sea running, she piled up on the rocks
not far from Hamilton. Tugs were
sent to take Of everybody on board,
and rescue operations succeeded as the
storm subsidized. No lives were lost.
Mr.. Moves sent home detailed report
Of the wreck and the 'tslow and painful"
removal Of the ships company to shore.
This was printed in The Star Of Febru-
airy IL, 1908.
The following account of one Of
Wasilington's residential masterpieces
appeared in The Star on
Peterson February 7, 1908: The resi-
House dence which has just been
completed for Robert Pat
terson at the northeast side Of Dupont
Circle is much admired. In addition to
being an admirable type of the French
school of architecture. the treatment
shows refinement and delicacy that
constitute one Of the chief charms Of
the house. It is easy to understand
with q scheme Of decoration SO elab-
crate that unless the details are
handled with good judgment and self
restraint the result would be almost
barbaric. AT least the house would be
apt to show the coarseness Of mere
ostentation. The upper portion. which
is terra Gotta. is fairly overrun in parts
with q tracery Of ornamentation so
delicate that the mass Of 1t Is not more
. moment In evidence All the carving
is nodded on the blocks Of terra Gotta.
and the joints Of the blocks are so
skillfully made that only . close in-
spection brings them out. The interior
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-08

Of government is founded on religion.
It has no sense unless 1t is founded
on q deeply felt religious faith. All
the other nations must see that our
leadership is one not Of materialiSm,
but Of purity, of integrity and Of belief
in the dignity Of man."
This new understood consciousness,
which is gripping our leaders, Is. Of
course, no partisan affair. Party shih-
bolethS have absolutely nothing to do
with it. It is infinitely bigger than
that. For long while under the
white dome members Of the Senate
and the House, without thought Of
political affiliation, have met weekly
for fellowship of prayer.
There occurred in the Capital City
on February the 5th one Of the most
amazing prayer meetings ever held
since Washington agonized on the
frozen ground of Valley Forge. Orig
inally there was visualized but small
group at this morning altar Of prayer.
But the idea grew, and so many begged
to come that. finally. about 400 sat
down to breakfast in the Maylower
Hotel ballroom, with Senator Frank
Carlson of Kansas as the leader Of this
national service Of prayer.
One Of the distinguished woman
members of the House offered deeply
moving prayer.
It was shortly after 8 am. that
figure emerged through the iron gates
of the White House grounds. 1t was
Dwight Eisenhower on his way to the
prayer meeting. Awaiting, when he
arrived. was the Chief Justice Of the
United States and associate justices
Of the Supreme Court, members Of the
cabinet, many Senator'S and Represent
atives and leaders in various professions
and in industry. There were no pic