davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-07-11
1t Could Have Been Worse

There is small degree Of consolation in
the fact that the Fourth of July week ends
traffic toll could have been larger. The Ma
tional Safety Council had predicted, on the
basis of holiday traffic experience, that at least
29O men, women and children would be killed
in highway and street accidents during the
protracted observance of Independence Day.
That was a conservative forecast made with
due allowance for the Nationwide drive to
stay alive" educational and enforcement cam
paign. No forecaSter could be happier than
the council at the incorrectnesS of the long
range estimate. Yet the more than 260 dead
marked up for the 'two-day celebration was
bad enough as it was.
The failure of the estimate to come true
may be taken as proof that education and
enforcement pay off in human lives saved
Never have the Nations motorists been sub
jected to more persuasive and persistent warn
ings against reckless driving than greeted them
in recent weeks in the press, over the radio
and on TV screens Coupled with the pleas to
~Save a life" was a stern breakdown by State
and local police departments all over the coun-
try. Main highways were patroled as seldom
Evening star., 1953-07-11
No Matthews Heurinq

In most circumstances, under the principle
that an accused person is entitled to hearing,
there would be substantial basis for ]. B..
Matthews request that he be given an oppor-
tunity to submit what he describes as proof
of the accuracy of his charges of Communist
infiltration Of the Protestant clergy.
In this instance, however, the inescapable
fact is that Mr.. Matthews could not be heard
by the Mccarthy committee without conducting
what would in effect, be full-dress investiga-
ton of the clergy. And even Senator Mccarthy
says he wants no part Of that
If Mr.. Matthews is aggrieved by the unani-
nous refusal Of the committee to hear him,
despite the attack by some Of the members on
the accuracy of his article. he has no one but
himself to blame. The article did not present
its own Recommendation of his more extreme
charges. That is his fault. Furthermore, he
must have anticipated that the accuracy of his
charges would be disputed, and, politically ex-
perienced as he is, he could hardly have ex-
pected that any congressional committee would
probe into this explosive subject
So if it can be said that Mr.. Matthews is
being denied the traditional day in court, it
must also be said that he brought this result
down on his own head. He certainly knew that
he was getting into very hot water when he
wrote his sensationalized piece, and he should
not be surprised that even his friend, Senator
Mccarthy, is unwilling now to plunge in and
pull him out.
Evening star., 1953-07-11
By Charles E. TroceweN

The dear old public. as a group, is an
odd one, to be sure.
The mass mind. even on public
ice wheels. is different from the in
dividual mind. The man or woman
who. individually. would not for the
world be rude to another. and especially
a stranger, will speak testify to a bus
driver. Now he. being human, doesn't
like to be spoken to harshly. or quickly.
as II he were some sort Of slave or
servant. And who can blame him? He
is doing right we'll. and hopes to do
better, and there is nothing in his
orders that demands that he has to
take too much from anybody.
+
The passenger is in the grip Of the
mass mind complex. He resents the
noise, and the confusion, and the
pushing and showing. If he has to stand
and mostly he does-his toes get
trampled on, too.
One worry is gone now. with the un-
lamented bus music" but there are
other worries. The old woman with the
bass voice at ones elbow, is no boon:
and the man with the pack Of tissues,
into which he sniffles internationally, Is
q positive menace.
Perhaps it is no wonder the bus driver
is crouch.
AS for the passengers they are slowly
going insane; and if you don't believe
it. ask any driver II you want to get
q big smile out of any driver. just say.
Driver. these people are all nuts. aren't
they?" Even the crouch win warm up
over that one.
Evening star., 1953-07-11
This and That

every day. Laudable old parties. but
worrysome.
A passenger once asked one who
professed to have a large acquaintance
among drivers. why won't they answer
when one greets them cheerfully?"
This person, a young lady. said. "They
are afraid" but she never was quite
sure Of whom they were fearful.
The inquirer had his private opinion
that their toes had been trampled on
once too often by some high-handed
and dictatorial old lady. Nobody. not
even famous dictator. modern style.
can be any more high-handed than
some old dame who has lorded it over
her servants for a lifetime.
The drivers are mostly country boys,
or maybe reformed truck drivers. They
come to the city, and get a job. At first
they are polite and nice, but after
being "bawled out" several times they
begin to freeze up inside.
Then some old person. without think
ing what she is doing. lets them have
it, when what she should do is write to
the management. since that is what
she is trying to criticize.
-
Thereafter, the driver turns sour
He takes it out on all, without fear
or favor. ~
The good and the bad are all the
same to him.
They are ''tlle public" and he says
dire things under his breath about the
public.
Evening star., 1953-07-11

Don't be as grouchy as a bus driver.
let us say.
The bus driver crouch takes the
cake.
If you say Good morning" to him.
he makes no reply.
If the timid old lady wants to know.
for the 25th time, whether the vehicle
has got to Mckinley street yet, the
driver +shudders. visibly.
"Step lively!" he calls, to the man
with crutches.
All his life, evidently. people have
been trampling on his toes. physically
and mentally. and now in the bus he
gets them in masses.
Let it be stated unequivocally. that
not all drivers are grouches.
No. but when one is. he is pippin.
THE trouble with you" said the irate
passenger. "is that you worry too
much"
Maybe that is the trouble, after ALL
There are many things for driver
to worry about. There is the girl at
the stop who, nevertheless. doesn't
want to Iet on, and when he halts
the vehicle for her, she looks the other
way. There is the old lady who can
scarcely creep on. and who wants the
driver to stop close to the curb, and the
old man with heart trouble who has
q time getting on.
Sometimes one might think the bus
an ambulance. and the driver its at
tendant, from the capacity load Of
crippleS, rheumatics and arthritics the
public buses haul downtown and back
Evening star., 1953-07-11

before, and many arrests made or warnings
issued. (Former President Truman was among
those stopped and advised to drive more care
fully.)
ii There can be no doubt Of the value OF
such co-ordinated cident-prevention plan
ming and action. Especially effective Is the
presence on the highways Of police cars and
motorcycles in full force Motorists who may
be inclined to ignore educational propaganda
are not apt to ignore the appearance In rear
view mirrors OF trafic officers bent on curbing
wild drivers and saving lives. And, paraphras-
ing popular safety slogan: Who knows but
that one Of the lives spared last week end
may have been your own?
Evening star., 1953-07-11
FVe-Stor General at q Fourth-CIoss P. O.

Editors note: YESTERDAY uas q
big day in the liUes OF the 40 tGRtilies
: OF Bradley, West Virginia. They all
turned out to hear the man for iDltom
their toiOn is nGnted-Gen. Omar N.
BrGdley-dedtcGte their fourth-clGsS
post Office, cubicle 20 feet square.
In a ci1derblock general store. An
Gbridgmeltt OF iDhGt tDGS probably his
last speech as chairman OF the Joint
Chiefs OF Stat tolloaosJ
MAYHEM was boy. ] grew up In
w community just like this. The
country out in Missouri was little
flatter, but the people were essentially
the same, interested in making a good
life for their families and their children.
It was in just such community that
began to learn what was expected OF
man, If he wanted to live honorably,
and with respect among his fellow cit
izenS.
OF course there is a difference be-
tween your town. and the ones knew
in Randolph and Howard Counties
where my father taught school some
Is years ago. Now everything is more
modern. and living is easier But there
are certain fundamentals Of American
living that the. radio, the TV set. and
the thermoStat cannot replace-integ-
rity, respect for your neighbors. an in
terest in the welfare Of your community
and Nation. . 4
Today we are participating in Q
typical American ceremony-the dedi-
cation of your new post Office. In the
perspective of world affairs. this may
seem relatively unimportant, and very
few people outside our group here today
will note with even passing interest the
fact that another American small town
has been dedicated and named.
Nevertheless, when a new American
community has earned the right to its
own name. and its own post Office. it
means that once more the basic in
stitutions OF the American way of life
have been founded, nurtured and have
grown to point where the world can
benefit.
Only. however. If the people in that
community realize and fulfill their obli-
cations to the Nation and to the world.
The real magic of the American COM
munity lies in the American concept
ofscitizenship. We are apt to forget that
democratic self-government, even in
our own town. tries its people more
severely than any other system Of gov
ernmeut in the world. It demands gem
erous giving Of your time and effort.
Cooperation in every activity is essen
tial. It used to be the harvest and the
sprlngtime plowing that brought the
community together: Now it is the PTA
and clubs like the Lions Club that call
for neighborly getting together.
American community citizenship
makes an additional demand-ene that
has always been met: The strong must
help share the burdens of the weak, the
rich must share the burdens of the
poor, if democracy is to succeed Even
our international policies are express
Sions of this creed
The basic training of our citizens is
Evening star., 1953-07-11
Our Anti-PoIIution Proqrom

Senators Humphrey and Morse did not
exaggerate when they described to the Senate
the "disgraceful" pollution of the Potomac
River and of Rock Greek. The offensive condi-
tions resulting from the dumping of raw sewage
In the two streams are aggravated each summer
when hot weather and diminished flow: of water
increase the contamination and odor. But
Senator Humphrey was unfair to the District
and the adjoining States when he attributed
the conditions to lack of an anti-pollution
program.
1t is true that until recent years the COM
munities of the Potomac River Valley evidenced
little concern over the increasingly dirty state
of the river and its tributaries. Both untreated
sewage and Industrial wastes were poured into
the waters from the upper reaches to below
tidewater. Then, in 1899, the Federal Gov
ernment, the District and five States in or
touching the basin formed notable compact
to save the river from further deterioration and
to work toward a general cleanup. The COM
pact created the Interstate Commission on the
Potomac River Basin. Under the leadership
Of that commission, the whole valley has taken
an active interest in abating pollution and
restoring the river and the streams emptying
into it to some sembance> of its once-clean
condition. Virginia and Maryland have been
especially diligent in cracking down on towns
the contamination. Virginia's Water Control
Board has applied constant pressure TO the
communities just across the river from Wash
ington, with salutary results. Certainly nearby
Virginia has right to resent any Implication
that it has no anti-pollution program. AS the
commission itself has pointed out, only the
Federal Government has failed to meet its
share of the interjuriSdictional enterprise.
AS for the District, Congress has approved
a long-range sewage treatment program for
Washington, designed to increase the degree Of
treatment drastically by 1860. A $17million
treatment plant is under construction that will
provide secondary treatment in addition to the
primary treatment now being provided. An
emergency situation in Rock Greek Valley has
arisen as a result of an overloaded sewer line,
and 100000 is being spent on a new trunk
sewer to replace the outmoded facilities. 1t Is
distressing that this fine stream and the river
itself are not safe for bathing and are insult
able for many other recreational purposes But
encouraging progress is being made toward
improving the shameful conditions which un-
derstandably have aroused Senators Humphrey
and Morse and citizens of this area in general.
Evening star., 1953-07-11

started in the American family. Re-
sponsibility is shared, character is de-
veloped and the pattern Of usefulness
begins.
don't know what else you can do
for your boys and girls to give them
the same sense of responsibility that
got when was boy. from filling the
woodbox and cleaning the lamp Chin
neys for mother. But you will have to
give them something to make them
feel that they are contributing to the
family, and you will have to provide
some systematic obligations so that they
will develop self discipline for later life.
From my experience in the Army,
realize that the same things that make
a good soldier also make good citizen:
Pride, courage, and sense of reSpon-
sibility. The greatest attribute is de-
pendability- fact that you can count
on him. All these are developed at
home, in the school, and in the church
Of typical American small town.
Character building begins in the fam
lily. Then IN the school more opportu-
mites unfold, for it is there that the
young people of our country are given
the tools to develop their talents. Il
is in the school that devoted teachers
continue to train the minds and the
genius of our boys and girls, and open
their eyes to all the good that they can
accomplish
In this world of ours. we are funda-
mentally in a race between education
and catastrophe: Either We will have
sufficient knowledge with which to solve
our national and international prob
lens. or the catastrophe of an unwel-
come tyranny is bound to overcome US
in our ignorance. That's why our free
Evening star., 1953-07-11
This Eorth, So Beautiful

God, tUlty did You make Your wQyld so
beautiful, -
Then create years so brief?
For it Mould take a century to ponder
The story of one leaf.
God, tDhy did You make the earth so
beautiful -.
As st0itt, each moment goes?
For 1t Mould take an con Just to fdthont
The splendor OF rose.
God, why did You make Your Dorld
this beautiful.
Yet men so torn with strife? -
/ find can but wonder at the secret
OF loneliness and lite.
Catherine WilIioms Deovss
Evening star., 1953-07-11
Saturday Store Closing

The irritable gentleman" who heads
the Union Of woodward 81 L,othrop
Employees, while greatly amused by a re-
cent letter signed E.CK. on the subject
of Monday versus Saturday as the
summer closing day for downtown
stores, cannot. help but deplore the
and understanding on the part Of
the writer.
For some unknown reason those
favoring the Monday closing do not
seem to comprehend the desire Of store
clerks to be with their families for a
two-day week end during the summer
months. They do not seem to under
stand that the working spouses Of ce-
partment store clerks are largely Gov
ernment employes-also of on Satur-
days-or else in their own blind self
ishness they just choose to ignore the
fact.
G. Haskins,
President, Union of Woodward &
Lothrop Employees.
wonder how those Government
clerks who want stores to remain open
on Saturdays would like to have their
Saturdays taken away from them. I'm
sure wouldn't like it. I have been a
Government clerk for % years and !
need my Saturdays to get my house
work, marketing and sewing done. !
manage very nicely to do all the shop
ping need to and am considered fairly
well dressed, but. I very seldom shop
downtown on Saturday. My husband
is a department store employe and we
both thoroughly enjoy our two days
together during the summer. Further
more we wish it., would be extended
throughout the year.
Evening star., 1953-07-11

public school system Is the great hope
Of our future preparedness, and really,
the hope Of the free world.
] turn again to my father when /
think Of another great ingredient Of
the American ommunity-li Libraries Of
good books.
The flrst thing my father did when he
started term in q new district was to
establish q local library at the school,
II there were no funds for books-and
there seldom were-he would point out
the need to the community leaders. and
then set about organizing an ice cream
supper at the school and getting every
family in the community behind the
project.
Then as now, the community library
was q great source Of knowledge and
inspiration. No matter how humble or
limited its volumes, the library can con-
tain the greatest of human thinking.
It Is the community storehouse Of
knowledge Of all kinds. 1t is there that
the schoolhoy and the Schoolteacher,
the clergyman, the lawyer, the business
man, the fathers and the mothers can
broaden their knowledge by reading
and by examining all the PHILOSOPHERS
from Aristotle to Will Durant.
There is one other deep and lasting
need in the American way of life-in
every way of life-which I see you
have not disregarded. Bradley, West
Virginia. has already established three
churches of different denominations.
symbols Of our religious freedom. and
Of our search for truth. Through the
church and its teachings. our young
people can draw upon the inspiration
that has always flowed from the CEN
turies Of mans search for faith in an
omnipotent and divine power. In our
churches no government and no politics
intervene between a man and his God.
1t is the deep and abiding trust in
Divine Providence that has given
America greater strength which has
never had to surrender to any threat
or peril.
On every hand see signs of good
citizenship here in Bradley. and it may
seem a bit out of place for me to be
talking about it today Your COM
munity has both spiritual and material
landmarks of accomplishment, and am
deeply impressed by what you have
already done. But the real good to be
accomplished through your future
citizens stems directly from the real
good that the mothers and fathers
establish in their sons and daughters.
No boy ever came out of an Army camp
with any more or any less moral fiber.
any more or less courage. or any less
sense Of duty than he had when he left
his family fireside. The great qualities
of great Americans come first from the
family association and then from the
community environment.
In choosing the name Bradley" you
have bestowed upon my family an
honor for which ] am deeply grateful.
No monument. no scroll, no testimonial
could compare with the distinction Of
having fellow Americans dedicate a
living community to my memory.
Evening star., 1953-07-11
Pen.names may be used II letters carry
writers correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.

tax bills Of 1851. when very substantial
reduction of rate was made. The realty
rate for 1858 will be 70 cents lower than
it was in 1850 under the old assessments.
Howard b. BloOmer, Jr.
Editors note: It Is true that Airing
ton dropped its realty tax rate "a per
cent when it reassessed some properties
as high as 100 per cent or higher in
1851, but. as MI. Bloomer points nut,
the real estate and personal property
rates have been rising ever since. Most
Arlington tax bills are higher than
ever before)
Evening star., 1953-07-11
By THE HASKIN SERVICE

By THE HASKIN SERVICE.
@. Does an elm tree die very soon
after it is infected with Dutch elm dis
ease?-AGD.
A. Some trees die within a few
weeks. while others may live for one
or two years. Although this blight cam
not be completely eradicated. it can be
controlled. and many cities have pro-
grams for early detection. A large
street elm Is valued at about $780,
@. How many varieties of. lightning
are there?-IB.E.
A. Weathermen distinguish six varie-
ties-streak, bead. ribbon, fork. heat,
and sheet The existence Of seventh,
known as ball lightning. is still a mat
ter of dispute.
@. What Presidents wife refused to
wear a hustle?-D.W
A. 1t was Mrs. Cleveland who refused
to wear a hustle, and thus was Inul-
rectly responsible for its going out Of
style.
Evening star., 1953-07-11
Progress Is Costly

Your editorial writer committed the
objectionable sin Of failing to check
the files when he wrote Progress Is
Costly" IN your July issue.
OF course. progress is very costly. but
he painted an even blacker tax picture
in Arlington than exists. Contrary to
the editorial statement. that Arlington
has increased both tax assessments and
the tax rate at the same time, the re-
verse is true, as follows:
The 1850 tax rate, for the last year
Of the old assessment. was 1888 per
$100. In 1851 the new assessments,
which did as you say raise some realty
values by 1000 or more" went into
effect and the tax rate that year was
reduced to $2.75 from $3.50. In 1852
the realty rate was boosted 6 cents to
$2.81, while an increase to $310 was
made in the rate applying to personal
property as distinct from real estate.
This was the first time separate rates
were applied to realty and personal
property.
For 1858, the fiscal year beginning
July just past and on the tax bills
payable in December, the realty rate
will be $291, and the personal property
rate $3.50. But there has been no
general reassessment Of values since
that which went into effect with the
Evening star., 1953-07-11
Prince Georges School Crisis

Although its school problem is not unique,
Prince Georges County's classroom shortage is
complicated by an unusually vexing fiscal crisis
Like other counties in the rapidly growing
Washington Metropolitan Area, Prince Georges
is staggering under an overload of students
incident to. Federal expansion Of recent years.
1t has spent $265 million on new schools since
World War H. but the school population con-
tinues to outgrow school facilities Education
on double-shift basis is in prospect for many
schools next fall How to meet this shortage of
cassrooms without plunging the county into
fiscal chaos is grave problem warranting the
special study being given it by the County
Commissioners and citizens advisory group.
An act of the recent Legislature has added
to the seriousness Of the immediate financial
plight. A law was passed reducing from five
to three years the frequency of reaSseSSments
under the cycle system long in force there This
was good as far as it went, but corollary bill
to require recording Of the new assessments as
soon as practicable failed to become law. AS
result, the county will not benefit from the
increased assessments until the tkree-year cycle
is ended, in 1857. With its tax base thus frozen
for the next three years, the county must look
to other sources for the financing of urgently
needed new schools. Borrowing Is the natural
alternative but the county already has bonded
indebtedness of $25 million, of which $21 mil
lion represents school expenditures. The
county's credit is good for more borrowing, but
there Is strong opposition to increasing the
bonded Indebtedness. Not to be overlooked in
the financial picture is the county's contingent
liability, with neighboring Montgomery County,
for $29 million of Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission indentureS
Under the circumstances, the decision OF
the commissioners to ask the aid of committee
of outstanding citizens in solving the school
crisis is wise one. The problem is of concern
to every one who pays taxes in Prince Georges
County, whether they have children in the
schools or not The County Commissioners and
the Board of Education need all the advice they
can get in the dilemma confronting the sprawl
ing, growing county.
Evening star., 1953-07-11
Vocational Schools

I'd like to take this opportunity to
commend you on the article, entitled
1.-THE Case for Vocational Schools by
John r. Maxwell, which appeared in
the July edition of The Sunday Star.
This splendid article speaks most elo-
quently for the very definite need for