davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
U. S. Neglects Antarctic

II I can believe what I have read
lately and what have heard regarding
the lack Of United States expeditions
to the Antarctic, it seems to me that
there is some very strange thinking
going on somewhere. If the United
States has technical know-how, If the
United States has able seamen, if the
United States has any wealth at all,
then why under the sun do we neglect
the Antarctic while other nations are,
and have been, busy there?
I do not exactly see how other ma
tions can afford bases and expeditions
down there if we cannot It is very
strange. If there really is an Antarctic
continent, and if we really have ex-
plored there, then why can we not
claim land there, look it over for re-
sources, ETC.?
Why should men of the caliber of
Byrd and Rome have to make any
effort at all to arrange expeditions?
The Federal Government can spend
money to entertain visiting diplomats,
to raise monuments to deceased digni-
taries, to celebrate past feats of daring
and accomplishment, such as the
Wright Brothers adventure. Why then
cannot the Federal Government finance
a few Antartic expeditions and bases
for the United States, even to the tune
of several millions? Even if an expe-
dition brought back only meager
knowledge of resources, it would be a
worthwhile project in the sense of
proving the United States awake.
understand that intense activity will
take place in the field Of science in
both polar regions in 1957--the Inter-
national Polar Year. Fine. But why
wait in the matter of United States
expeditions? Are we to remain asleep
until 1857? Sidney Kasmir.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04

About week before Virginia's Demo-
cratic primary one of your editorials
included the phrase, "truly representa-
tive government IN Virginia" suggest
ing that this blessed estate might be
attained by enactment of certain
measure. My reaction was that only
by abolition of the poll tax as a pre-
requisite to voting can truly represent
alive government" be returned to Vir-
ginia. My letter on this subject has
brought forth from DR.. Roland Bieren
the comment that individual indiffer-
ence and not the poll tax must account
for the small turnout of Democrats on
July 13.
Certainly this rejoinder is a welcome
contribution to the struggle for repre-
sentative government in the Old Do
minion, for it discloses the normal
yearning of good American to partici-
pate in the decisions which rule his life.
It is only too true, unfortunately, that
the indifference to the primary is en-
tirely due to the poll tax.
The restrictions which accompany
the administration of the poll tax
have made it possible for small CO.
terie of Virginia citizens to control the
entire State. An Illustration of this
plutocracy at work was provided dur
ing the primary campaign when the
executive committee for the Demo-
cratic Party in the 10th district took
to the radio and television at great ex-
penSe to persuade voters that only one
Of the candidates in the primary was
acceptable to the machine" This &C
ton was taken by the committee which,
theoretically, the voters have, set up
merely to administer the primary and
which is expected to be scrupulously
impartial until the will of the voters is
determined by the poll. Few unindorsed
candidates having the money to cam
palgn in this lavish fashion, many citi-
zens, otherwise eligible. would stay at
home. feeling that the result was ain
the bag" that the self-perpetuating
machine was bound to win.
In 1888. the percentage of Virginia
male adults voting was SO, a turnout
which exceeded the best in 1852. that
OF Utah with 1916 per cent. In 1900. SO
per cent of Virginia's electors of both
colors went to the polls. In 1902, Carter
Glass got together the convention which
presented the State with today's "fiat''
constitution, and Glass himself chaired
the committee which wrote what he
boosted are the discriminatory" fea-
lures of the election clauses in It. In
1904. only half as many voters turned
UP at the polls, and this is not &C
counted Tor by the denial of regiStra-
ton to Negroes. for the Negro popula-
ton was far less than the white, In
1924, only Is per cent of the electors,
men and women, white and colored,
voted; and yet the Negro population of
Virginia today is only one third of the
whole.
The above statements uncover small
corner of the poll tax injustice. I in
vite my questioner to do me the honor
TO near one OF the talks on this subject
which ! hope to be giving in the neal
future.
Rich EoII~.o-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Assurances From Alaska

It is reassuring to hear from Lieutenant
General j. H. Atkinson, chief of our Alaska
Command, that our military posture in that
region - one of the Nations most impor-
tant defensive outpoSts vis-a-vis Russia-is
much better than some reports have indi-
Gated.
From time to time in the past, there
have been sstories to the effect that our
situation up there was weak in terms of
both power available and morale among
personnel But General Atkinson, speaking
to New York Times correspondent, has
described all such reports as "highly exag-
gerated" and he has deplored the great
deal of misinformation" that has been
spread regarding the esprit de corps Of air,
ground and naval forces stationed in the
territory.
Actually, according to General Atkin-
son. all those forces are in reasonably
good" shape" equipped and alerted to re-
ceive the first blow, when and if it comes
and to retaliate Immediately" Nor is there
morale problem of any consequence. In
his Judgment, there is just a normal and
natural amount of gripping - the kind of
complaining that is to be expected, not the
sort of thing that undermines military
effectiveness or the ability and will to fight
well.
To say this is not to say that there
is no room for Improvement. Judging from
General Atkinson's remarks, however, the
American people can be confident that our
Alaskan forces are prepared to give good
account of themselves, If need be-a fact
that probably has been duly noted IN the
Kremlin.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Reds in Hiding

While efforts of the Communist Party's
remaining leaders to go underground have
complicated the work of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, it is apparent that the DIS
appearance act has not been very success
full. The roundup of seven Western officials
of the party, several of them described as
underground operators, has swelled the total
of Red functionaries that have become tar
gets of the Smith Act. This law, making 1t
illegal to teach or advocate violent over
throw of the Government, already has sent
scores of party leaders to jail.
Indicative of the jolt which came to the
Communist Party when the F'BI disclosed in
the New York and other trials that it had
successfully inf1ltrated innermost Red cir
cles was the decision to split the party into
two sections, one to remain in the open and
the other to operate out of sight. Director
]. Edgar Hoover recently told committee
of Congress that the underground organiza-
ton has become a special objective OF FBI
study He also said that the Reds had set
up their own "FBI" to rid the party of "dis-
loyal misunderstanding undercover FBI
agents One of the party officials arrested
this week at Denver, Colorado, was reported
to have been assigned the special mission OF
trying to find out whether the FBI had
penetrated the underground group. He
should be able to throw considerable light
on the question when he has chance to
report back to his associates.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
About the Weather and the Rain

Droughts, of course. develop from de-
ficient rainfall. often, as recently ex-
perienced in the Washington area,
abetted by excessive temperatures and
blazing sun from cloudless skies, for
days on end. However, the magnitude
Of deficiencies in rainfall, based on the
average or normal amount for the Pc
Rod in question. is psychologist mini
mized by the unit standard of measure
ment employed. Any measurements ex-
pressed in inches. such as rainfall and
deficiencies in amounts, usually, at
least subconsciously, are associated
with objects of relatively small magni-
tude. For example, when we are told
that the total rainfall in the District
of Columbia for the period from June /
to July 81 was only 2.94 inches and that
this was 5.43 inches below normal, the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Crime in New York

has succeeded in arousing his city to the
gravity of the crime situation there, he has
performed a real achievement. Other pub
lie and private crime fighters before him
have had little success in breaking through
the apathy Of New Workers with respect to
law enforcement problems. Commissioner
Adams, after six months Of wrestling with
those problems, gave the city the Shock
treatment" in television appearance last
Sunday. Perhaps it was melodramatic-
but it was effective, judging from reactions
in the press and elsewhere
The Police Commissioner predicted that
before the day was over one New Yorker
would be murdered, another killed through
criminal negligence, II feloniouSly assaulted,
three women raped, 40 homes and stores
burglarized, 40 cars stolen, 81 persons held
up and robbed and SO other persons vic
timized by grand larcenists. His prediction
was borne out, in general by police reports
for Sunday-although the murder occurred
after midnight of that day. Mr.. Adams
based his forecast on crime reports for the
past two years in New York City. And he
pointed out that these records may not have
told the whole story, because Of incomplete
reporting. His surmiSe was well-founded.
The New York Police Departments crime
reporting system was VIGOROUSLY lax and
deceptive until last year-so much so that
the Federal Bureau of Investigation for
years had refused to include the New York
statistics in it's Uniform Crime Reports. \
Mr. Adams blamed the soaring crime
rate on an undermined police force. He
said the big city needs at least 1000 more
policemen on the streets. Actually, how
ever, as the New York Times found in a
study, the New York department has AZ per
cent more policemen in proportion to pop
ulation than has the country as whole.
Bruce Smith, noted authority on police adj
ministration, reported after survey Of the
New York force that too many men were
on desk jobs and other Off the-Street assign
ments. Commissioner Adams has shifted a
number of desk men to patrol duties in
recent months. He believes however, that
New York's crime problem is of such an I'M
usual nature as to warrant larger pro-
portion of officers to population than pre-
walls elsewhere. It Is true that the long
waterfront and extensive industrial areas
require extra policing.
That more men on patrol are effective
in reducing the amount Of crime has been
demonstrated very successfully in our own
city. Perhaps an awakened citizenry in
the metropolis will give Commissioner
Adams the extra men he says he needs. It
is an old but sound axiom that city will
receive no more than the degree of police
protection it will settle for. New Workers
too long have tolerated crime conditions
that would shock citizens elsewhere.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Patronage and Civil Service

The White House has clarified" an
unsigned memorandum regarding patron
age that had been widely criticized by de-
tenders of the merit system in the Govern
ment. Not clarified, however, was the mys-
terry of why such statement was issued in
the first place. AS worded, it was in direct
conflict with long standing civil service
regulations protecting career employees from
patronage raids
The memorandum, on White House sta
tionery, advised departmental heads to clear
with the Republican National Committee
all appointments to Federal jobs in Grade
IA ($9,600 year) and higher. Many Of
these high-level jobs are held by career en-
ployes selected under the civil service COM
petitive system. It is a cardinal rule of this
system that appointments to career jobs
"must be on the basis Of merit and fitness
and without regard to political or religious
affiliations marital status or race"
When the memorandum came to the at
tention of civil service organizations, pro-
tests were made to the Civil Service Com
mission. AS result, the White House has
revised the statement to make it clear that
only non-civil service jobs are involved in
the order. The alarm of some civil service
employees is understandable, in view Of past
efforts of the administration to put some
of it's Town people" in key policy-making
posts. Granting the right of the admins
tration to surround itself with trusted lieu.
tenants, special care should be taken to see
to it that the merit system is not weakened
by patronage inroads or loosely worded
orders that impair morale of civil service
workers. s
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Step Toward Prohibition

Legislation is pending in Congress
which would prohibit interstate adj
vertising Of alcoholic beverages. This
should be vigorously supported. The
endless stream of propaganda which
the liquor interests send forth is sick
ening. Here is our opportunity to have
this stopped.
II this legislation is start toward
prohibition, as has been claimed, then
We should be most thankful. No doubt
it will be heard once more that en-
forcement Of prohibition was failure
last time; that thousands of people
would be forced out of work, and that
the liquor industry has contributed to-
ward the prosperity of our Nation.
In a sense these statements are true.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
a Great Development

The first shipment Of iron ore from the
Quebec Labrador wilderness is now on It's
way to the steel mills of America. Little
more than decade ago, in our own country
and Canada, there were those who said that
1t would take at least a generation to bring
about this event, and there were those who
doubted that it could ever be brought about
on an economically feasible basis
But there were alSo-again both in our
own country and Canada-men who had
faith in themselves and in their vision.
These manufacturing particularly George
M Humphrey, then president of the M. A.
Hanna Company and now our Secretary OF
the Treasury-believed that the Ungava
fields in the wilds of Quebec and Labrador
could be developed in rapid order II there
were the will to develop them. And so, in
1850, the work began With numerous pri-
vate enterprises taking part, with $3.50 mil
lion committed to the project, and with the
sympathetic support Of the two govern
ments involved, it was agreed that the job
could be done within Ave years. AS mat
ter of fact, although the program has ne
cessitated the building of 360%mile rail-
road, 1t has been completed in years less
time than that.
AS a result, there is now available for
economical open-pit mining one OF the
worlds biggest and richest high-grade iron
ore deposits a deposit expected to satisfy
all the Steel-making needs Of North Amer
ica Cor at least the next SO years, and prob
ably for the next 100, which Is a fact Of
high significance in view Of the steadily
dwindling resources Of the fabulous Mesabi
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Librarians Problems

LlDrOfI0nS Problems
As the Senators are questioning the
candidate for Librarian of Congress.
Il wonder how many Of them really
know the problems that Lawrence
Mumford will have to face? Even If
the Library's processing department is
thousands of items in arrears. do they
know the real reason for this?
When Archibald MacLeish reorgan-
lied the Library in 1899, the system Of
blanket orGcrs was started. Orders are
placed with booksellers all over the
world and consequently the Library of
Congress receives thousands of books
1t is impossible to catalogue with the
present staff. BY their own figures,
so per cent of these books are duplicates,
and it costs money even to flnd out If
they are copies. would not hesitate to
say that rs per cent Of the remaining
half is material which is not of Library
of Congress caliber. such as cheap novels,
poor poetry. tranSlations and many edi-
tons Of works already in the collections.
The Library of Congress has books
in many languages. modern European,
Latin, Greek. Hebrew. Arabic. Chinese,
Indian and many others. In order to
process these books, time must be
taken to do them right. Challenging is
a very technical process and the printed
cards are standards for catalogues all
over the world. They must be perfectly
done, to each comma and period.
A new system to hurry the catalogu-
ing is not effective, and if this system
of buying books is adhered to, the only
~ T. l. 4.
to do them. A good cataloguer cannot
possibly do more than 10 or Is books a
day and do them right. The problem is
not solved by cutting the Librarys
budget and dropping positions, or
starting new methods of procedure.
III. j. w.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Defines Communist

A few days ago my secretary asked
me pertinent question: what is q
Communist" After giving the matter
considerable thought. dictated the
following answer to her query: A real
Communist is an impudent parasite
who strives to create political and in
dustrial strife and race hatred. with
the hope Of forcing the entire world
into the realm OF chaos. He would
reduce all free people to the condition
of Russian peasants. and precipitate a
continuous reign of terror. Like the
skunk - the Communist sometimes
compels even decent people to notice
him.
n n Rwo dcRs0w
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Service Pay inadequate

This is an election year and in the
armed forces. for several years now.
votes have been registered on the in
adequacy of service pay. Military
careers have been abandoned by an
impressive number of voters" What
would we do without the draft?
The findings OF the Womble COM
mittee may be ignored. The anti-mili-
tary members of the Budget Bureau
staff may have more influence than
those who strive to maintain the effec-
tiveness of our armed forces. But look
at that vote! No pressure group can
show you better evidence Of crucial
need.
Koftrvn r. Tucker
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@, Is it good practice to thaw frozen
meat in the current of an electric fan?
Il. M. F. T..
A. Though this is the quickest
method of thawing, it is not recon-
mended for large roasts, because meat
does not thaw evenly and there is
excessive loss Of juice from the outer,
thawed part of the roast.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04

O. During what hour of the day
should sun bathing be avoidedP-C. c.
A. During the summer it is best not
to sun battle during the middle Of the
day, particularly at noon. when ultra
violet radiation is at its peak. Health
authorities suggest that sun bathing be
done before 10 am. and after 3 pm.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
Questions and Answers

A reader can get the answer to any question
Of fact by writins The Evening Star Infor-
nation Bureau 1900 Eye St NV Washing
ton 5, d c. Please tnclose three f3l rents for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04

Pen-',0n,es may be used II letters carry
iDTiterS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04

@. How many ways are there of maxi
ing change for dollar bill?-C. L. T.
A. One authority has figured it as
293.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-04
viroinio's Poll Tex

Kathryn C. Tucker.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-18
Sullivan
Continued From Page ELL

Continued From Page ELL
sound track is printed, all your
worries are ended"
Cycle Complete
Left Erickson played with
Olivia de Havilland in the
flicker. THE Snake Pit" and
now is Joan Fontaine's SNUG
husband. so he's completed
the family cycle.
AS chief photographers mate,
United States Navy. he photo
graphed American landings in
Guam, Tinian, Saipan, Two
lima, Okinawa, the Philip
pines, the signing Of the peace
treaty aboard the u. S. S. Mis-
souri, and also covered the
bombed ruins Of Hiroshima.
He threshed wheat in Texas,
after running away from mill
tary school in California. He
worked as an usher in a Los
Angeles movie theater. He
was a vocal soloist with Ted
Flo Rita's dance band. He
sang the Francois Villon role
in THE Vagabond King" in
the Hollywood Bowl, and
played trombone for Olsen
and Johnson's "Hellzapoppin'."
Any one of these ventures
would constitute a career for
your ordinary guy. but Erick-
son has an Unsuitable appe-
tite and yearning for out-of-
the-ordinary experiences.
Gorbo's Co-Stor
He was CARLOS leading man
in Conquest" and the femmes
he has played opposite
include Betty Hutton. Eve
Arden, Joan Lorring, Miss De
Havilland, Miss Kerr and now
Miss Fontaine.
Kazan, his present director.
first met Left in 1888, when
they both were playing sing
ing roles in the Rodgers and
Hart musical, Higher and
Higher"
Even his honeymoon was
out of the ordinary. Marry
ing Ann Diamond at the end
of World War II. Left dis
cussed their honeymoon plans
Sun Valley, Banff, perhaps
a trek to Europe.
Instead they spent their
honeymoon on tour with Joe
Ferrer'S "Cyrano de Bergerac"
company. Left played the part
of Christian.
In every which way, Erick.
son has lived a life much
more remarkable and colorfW
than any of the parts he has
played on stage or screen. 8
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-18
PARIS.

EAHlS.
It doesn't have q Broadway,
but Paris Is busting out with
enough theater energy to blow
every fuse on the Great White
Way.
Drama Is q national cultural
enterprise here. not just q pri-
vate gamble for hopeful angels.
The variety, thrills and excite
ment offered in the midsuln-
iner heat Of Paris can hardly
be rivalled by Gotham In the
snap Of midwinter.
Everybody gets into the act,
on both sides Of the footlights.
Lower price scales and more
shows make it easier to get
tickets, so plain local citizens
mix in the stalls with tourists
and prosperous merchants.
There's q similar blending Of
varied community elements on
stage too. in a strange NEEDING
OF formality and the unex-l
pected.
80 Shows Running
Broadway has wilted down
to is or so shows; Paris cur
rently has SO, not including
the Folies and other nude
spectaculars. ballet, circuses
and such novelties as q Jap
anese dancing troupe.
BY way of further contrast,
I'm told that during the win
ter seasonal peak, all 81 Paris
theaters are open. New York,
which has only So houses for
legitimate shows, rarely puts
them all to work simultane-
I, ously.
One of the chief reasons
for these differences is cost.
They're 50 high in New York
a show must be q hit to SUR
vive. In Paris, the weekly
overhead Is lower and some
shows can settle down for a
fair run even If the reviews
were mixed and the audiences
light.
The national government
also pitches in financially.
-Four big enterprises in Paris,
the Opera, Opera Comique,
Coincide Franchise and Thea
tire National Populaire, as well
as several small experimental
companies are state supported.
Roussin a Hit
Biggest man currently on
the Paris theater scene is
Playwright Andre Roussin,
with four simultaneous clicks
running. Roussin, who also
gives out a weekly common
tary in an entertainment jour-
nal, has come a cropper sew
eral times when his shows
were offered in New York, par
ticularly with Nina" now
playing a revival here) and