davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Mighty Worship

Launching of the worlds largest war
ship, the U. S. S. Forrestal, marks new
era in American sea power. The Forrestal Is
the Navys answer to the much-debated
question of the surface fleets future role
in atomic warfare. The big carriers played
q major part in the winning of the Pacific
war, fighting the tough campaign with
conventional weapons. The Navy is conf
dent that such huge floating air bases as the
Forrestal, capable Of hit-and-run atomic
attacks on the enemy, can play an even
more important role in any nuclear conflict
that may befall the world in years to come.
Certainly the addition to our fleet of the
formidable ship named for the first Secre-
tary of Defense poses a new threat to any
potential enemy. one that might help to
deter him from reckless course.
The twofold mission which the Navy
sees for the great carrier Is one Of offense
as well as defense Besides strengthening
our fleets control of the oceans vital
responsibility in the light OF growing Soviet
submarine power--the ForreStal will be as
signed the task of augmenting the. aerial
forces which our defense strategists rely on
for what they call instant retaliation" :"
That is, at the first warning that an ag-
Evening star., 1954-12-16

gressor has attacked us, our carriers, with
their atomic-armed jet planes, will swing
into action, along with the Air Force. It is
the danger OF powerful, immediate counter
attack from several directions by over
whelming atomic air power that we count
on to deter the Kremlin from starting a
third world war. The Forrestal, as Navy
Secretary Thomas stressed at the launching
ceremonies, has the capacity to deliver an
atomic attack close to the target and then
duck for cover, only to reappear for another
attack when opportune.
General Ridgway, Army Chief of staff,
well summed up the situation when he
hailed the Forrestal as "a contribution OF
major Importance to Americas prepared
ness" If this contribution serves to give
added pause to those who may be plotting
to attack us soon or late, the heavy invest
ment in the big ship will have been well
worth while.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Roland Bieren. MD.
BETHESDA. Md.

BETHESDA, Mo.
Dear Sir:
"How can keep the dogs out Of my
yard?
"These pests come in at all hours.
day and night. They roam at large,
knocking over chairs and tables, and
messing things up.
"Now don't mistake me, think I
like dogs as well as most people, but
I am doing some experimental plant
ing, and these dogs cost me money.
MY hobby is medical plants. grow
them just for the fun Of it, and for
their historical associations; I seldom
use any of them, in the ordinary sense.
"Some Of these plants, the rarer ones,
have cost me as much as IS apiece, and
/ have one plant Of ginseng that cost
more.
''The point is that they all look like
weeds to the uninitiated.
ITO me, they are Of consuming in
terest.
ST have in my yard a whole bevy Of
Colonial plants, some that were sup
posed to cure fever, and some that had
a reputation for curing colds.
"These dogS-of my neighbors- have
never heard Of Colonial period medi-
cine.
.They just romp In. and rush through
q patch of my favorites. and before
you know it, there is damage done.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Property Owners on Code

The letter, dim View of Housing
Code" by "V. w." is the first presen-
tation of the property owners view I
have seen or heard. I tried to express
something similar at the hearing on
the proposed new code. But health,
sanitary and public welfare workers
all had first say. I was the only one
to speak for the property owner. Like
the aforementioned officials and paid
public welfare workers, I would be
glad for every one to have central heat,
hot and cold running water, electricity,
screens, etc.; but I am practical
person.
To take 50-year-old house, q cold
water, tWo-family house, and ask the
owner to install all the above items
would run into thousands of dollars.
This would mean an increase in rent,
and the tenants seem to be paying all
they can afford now.
G.. HI. HI.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
By Charles E. Trocewen

sign that there is more than one
entry and exit.
This second exit may be unknown to
the owner, but we may be sure that
the dogs know it.
Often it Is no more than place in
the fence where a picket has come
loose, or q wire been pushed aside.
Or it may be narrow place between
the end Of the fencing and the house.
Nothing can get through there"
the householder tells himself, but he
will be wrong.
Dogs have an uncanny way Of finding
out such places.
They make them feel safer. Though
q dog Is a domesticated animal. there
is still great deal of wildness in him.
and like rodent, he feels better If
there is more than one way he can get
out of place.
So be sure, after yard Is fenced. to
make certain that there Is just one
entry.
Dogs do not like such a yard. and
will not include it on their morning
rounds If it has only one way to get IN
and out.
The canine mind values fight even
above fight.
II he knew Chinese. he would un-
doubtedly quote with approval the old
saying, "Of the twenty -eight ways Of
getting out Of trouble the best Is to run
away"
Evening star., 1954-12-16
DO 1t Yourself

I was quite encouraged by your re-
cent editorial, do 1t Yourself"
I recently became homeowner.
bought myself book on household
repairs, and being of normal inteIli-
gence, thought could learn how to fix
simple things around the house. How
ever, the pictures in this land other
books I have SEEM never seem to be
exactly like the fixtures have, and,
therefore, lack the courage to start
unscrewing things-thinking I might
have a worse complication than the
present one.
I looked into the possibility of taking
night course on home repairs
plumbing, electricity, carpentering -
perhaps at Bell Vocational High School.
was told by member of the Board
of Education that if letter were sent
to Superintendent of Schools Corning
requesting this course, containing the
signatures of at least Is people, it would,
no doubt, be inaugurated. The catch is
that have only several friends who
are interested in this knowledge. If
The Star would do spot of publicity
on this possibility, asking homeowners
to write to DR.. Corning requesting the
course, I feel sure there would be q
deluge of letters and the course could
be scheduled for February.
Kathryn f. Bowers.
Evening star., 1954-12-16

not an object of scorn or annoyance
as he is in some Eastern cities.
well, now, ah'll tell YOU" the
Washington driver begins. and so he
does, as agreeably as though he were
discussing his preference in pie. 1t
makes for a pleasant, relaxed ride. and
one begins shopping fresh as rose.
Other cities have their Santa Claus
lanes, and lights and decorations on
the main thoroughfare are now a
feature of comparatively small towns,
so that colorful as the Capitals giant
canes lining the streets are, one can't
call them unique. The crowds are,
however. Although they are excited
over Christmas, they are neither f1us-
tered nor hurried. The matrons do not
look as though they were preparing for
death in the arena; there is time for
small courtesies. I'm not mad at any,
body" seems to be their motto.
Cowed from thousand encounters
with the imperious grand duchesses
who preside over the counters at many
a New York and Philadelphia empo-
rum, it seems to me that the Wash
ington saleswoman is singular indeed.
You look real good in that one." she
murmurs reassuringly to the customer
who is trying on her nineteenth hat,
and what is more, she seems to mean
it. Five minutes later when the lady
decides there's nothing here that really
suits her, it's rare salesperson who
doesn't say sympathetically, "That's
too bad. You try us again, hear?"
The saleswoman seems to believe
that the buyers are women of good in
tent who are looking for a certain color,
size, style and price and who can't
afford, either from viewpoint Of taste
or economics, to forgo any of those
considerations. Her sisters in other
cities are equally certain, from their at
titudes, that the customer has risen
that morning dedicated to the single
purpose of harassing the storekeeper
and his entire staff to the ultimate de-
gree. Washington saleswomen, bless
them, in addition to their understand
ing, seem devoid Of the icy hauteur, of
the practiced insolence all too common
elsewhere.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
To Expedite Justice

It Is to be hoped that way will be
found to carry out Chief Judge Leonard
Walshs plan for disposing of more criminal
cases in the Municipal Court before noon
each day. The idea is to free policemen
as early as possible for regular precinct
duties. Police Chief Murray long has been
concerned with the time spent by many OF
his officers each day in awaiting disposition
of cases by the court. The man-hours thus
spent at the courthouse represent a similar
reduction in the amount Of patrol work
which can be performed by the under
manned Police Department.
Judge Walsh, sharing Chief Murray's
concern over this problem, has offered to
shift judges from the Civil to the Criminal
Division each morning, now that the civil
docket has been brought virtually up to
date. This shift would mean the operation
each morning of two United States branches,
two District branches and two traffic courts.
BY thus doubling the courts activities it
should be possible to clear up most criminal
cases in the forenoon, so that policemen
waiting to testify could return to their beats
In the afternoon. Chief Murray naturally
would welcome such an arrangement.
There is one hitch to the plan, however.
There is shortage Of prosecutors to handle
the usual run of cases. An accelerated
schedule would necessitate the assignment
of more prosecutors to the court. The
United States Attorneys Office believes
enough assistants could be spared to keep
abreast of the stepped-up operations. The
Corporation Counsels Office is less opti-
mistic. However, Corporation Counsel Ver-
non West has promised to give the problem
careful study. Certainly all involved in the
project should make every effort to make
the plan work, If at all possible. Better
administration of justice and better policing
of the city would be the happy results.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
This and That

Even to children, these plants seem
only weeds, SO in one sense I canncs
blame the dogs much.
They are a nuisance, Just the same
II would like to know how to keep
them out.
Sincerely yours. J. l."
The obvious answer, of course, is
a fence.
Since our correspondent doesn't say
whether he has one or not, we presume
he hasn't.
It is simply storing up worry for
ones self, to attempt to have such
horticultural hobby without fencing
1t in.
The best people. and well-intentioned
dogs and cats. are notorious for calling
all plants with which they are not
acquainted weeds" At least, we sup
pose the dogs do, too.
And the plant material mentioned is
notorious for It's weed-like appearance.
There is one plant, coming down
from the Indians, that looks so much
like a weed that even its owner Is
likely to lose it.
The only safe way to grow such
things is behind fence.
The strange thing about fenced
yard, even II driveway is open. is that
it deters dogs
II dogs come in much, it is . sure
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Conservotionist

He ploUs his furious to hold up the
hills
and cups the cloud In green, there
,0tere 1t falls
too tiercely. His trees are sturdy DaIIs
that pin do1Dn soil to rock. You near
his drills
pouring life into land-tte summer
snotD
In Dhtch he puts his seed to bed to
grotc.
Water leaps to meet his fishing rod.
HUely Nth fish and, yet, his grove and
field.
his dam and pond and orchard do not
yield
all their fruits to him. Little things OF
God
knoD he passed or kfloto that he Is there
or soon tDiH come. i1tth HeouenIg Father
care.
His blade remembers nleadoD larks and
Hits,
for their s,Deet singing. He does not
stoop to CLEAN
pteasGnt-food; his hedges. left to lean
oDer the quail, hold up tctnter drifts.
And. wlreH iceatter mounds him, ne
tDtH start
grating hopes green tioto upon hts
heart.
Helen Harrington
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Administration Critic
Sydney s. Asher, Jr.

The question has been raised recently
as to whether the Eisenhower admins
tration has fulfilled its campaign
pledges to return America to the Amer
leans. The record of this administration
reveals thus far that. far from stem
ming the tide Of socialism and collecE
tivism, Eisenhower has not only
matched Truman point for point, but
has out Trumanned Truman in his
most glorious heyday.
Cd Through his Attorney General
and his Supreme Court appointee,
Chief Justice Warren. he has sue
ceeded, by means of the Supreme Court
school segregation decisions, in alter
ing the social structure OF almost half
the Nation, an alteration demanded by
the MarxiSt socialists.
(2) He has inaugurated. by executive
order, Nationwide FEPC program by
requiring all Federal contractors, and
those dealing in Federal funds (reach-
ing directly or indirectly practically
every one in the country to conform
to. the so-called civil rights program. or
else-another Marxist mandate.
90 He has succeeded (where even
Truman and the Marxists faile6, by
means of the Mccarthy political trials
and a subtle propaganda campaign, In
discrediting the congressional Com
munist investigations, and other like
measures by loyal Americans, and di-
verting and turning the Investigations
against the investigators.
a. He has been successful, behind
rlileleSs and disarming facade in so
minimizing, muffling and smothering
the Red issue that not only was the
resurgence of the American people
against the Marxist menace effectively
throttled, but the return of the extreme
leftists to Federal, State and local
power was assured, as exemplified by
the recent elections.
.(5) Internationalism and one-world-
ism, as well as the international give
away program. goes forward unremit-
tingly, with Stassen now threatening
the American people with Marshall
Plan for Asia.
All this has been accomplished, to
use the words of the Eisenhower
spokesmen. without publicity or fan
fare" as If that in itself were worthy
of commendation. A more apt descrip-
ton would be to say that it was ac-
complished secretly and behind the
backs of the American people. Truman,
at his worst, had one redeeming fea-
ture: He announced his socialist pro-
grams publicly, and at least gave the
people fighting chance to resist.
Citizen.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Satisfied Shopper

Shopping in Washington may well
result in a constant state of agreeable
surprise. Here milady is in large city.
and to be sure the Christmas crowds
are out, but some component is miss
ing. Where is that grim look, that de-
termination to be first through the re-
volving doors, so characteristic Of New
York throngs? Where is the sharp ell
bow in the ribs as one approaches the
counter devoted to fine lawn handker-
chiefs, special at 70 cents? And where
is the snarling saleswoman?
Startling enough is the situation on
the buses and trolleys that carry you
to the downtown stores. Old ladies and
children are safe as they board; the
operator may sometimes appear bored,
but he never yells derisive comments
at the passenger who has no change.
nor does he jerk his vehicle to such
violent start that even those reason
ably young and agile are likely to
emerge bruised and shaken. His only
peer is the bus driver of Maine, rare,
soft-spoken creature who obligingly
minds the bundles Of his lady riders.
There the housewife who has huge
bag of groceries places it at the drivers
right on the floor and collects it as she
leaves. thus eliminating a half hour
Of clutching and balancing so hard on
the tricepS muscle.
The passenger who asks directions Is
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Some Lives Were Saved

On the basis of comparative statistics,
some lives were saved and much suffering
averted as a result of the Nationwide OBJ
Servance of Safe Driving Day yesterday.
Even though the perfect zero score in the
traffic death column was not achieved, it is
gratifying to note that there was a sharp
drop in the fatality curve for the 24-hour
"test rum" The experiment proved that
the country's shocking highway killings can
be reduced substantially by intensive educa-
tional campaigning. Why conf1ne such a
campaign to one day?
At latest reports the total Of traffic
deaths yesterday was a little less than half
the average daily total of 81 recorded for
the first ten months of this year. The av-
erage daily toll for 1853 and 1852 was 104
deaths There is thus an encouraging trend
downward, despite the increasing number
of cars on the road. Safety authorities at
tribute the improvement to a combination
of the three Els of accident prevention
engineering enforcement and education.
Better highway engineering is eliminating
curves and hills and other hazards. More
effective law enforcement is taking reckless
drivers off the highways for long or short
periods. And education of drivers, espe-
cially the newer ones, is helping to give
drivers generally deeper sense Of response
bility.
II this sense of responsibility can be
sustained not for just a particular day but
for every day of the year, the annual
slaughter of $4,000 men, women and chill
dren on the public highways could be dras-
tically curtailed.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Who Won the Censure Case?

"Old Reactionary," speaking OF the
Senates recent condemnation of Sem
ator Mccarthy, says: 1.-THE winners
in this shameful procedure were Sen
ator Mccarthy, who is more popular
today with the masses than ever before,
and the Daily Worker" The implica-
tions of this statement are interesting.
Apparently, this supporter of the jun
ior Senator from Wisconsin consid-
ers that what is good for Mccarthy
is likewise good for the Daily Worker
and presumably vice versa!
He goes on to list as the losers"
Senator Flanders. the Senate as a
whole and the President. But he has
failed to realize the most important
aspect of all-that the American peo-
pie were the winners.
Sydney S. Asher, Jr.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Lost-One Depression

President Abraham Lincoln once said
that "you may fool all the people some OF
the time; you can even fool some OF the
people all the time: but you can't fool all
of the people all the time"
For months prior to the November
elections political opponents of the Eisen-
hover administration concentrated heavy
fire of gloomy comment upon the state OF
the national economy Unemployment sta
tisticS offered the favored target with sup
Elementary barrages directed at agricultural
income, steel and automobile production,
car-loadings and scattered business 1nd1ces
in general. The figures themselves lent some
support to these doleful complaints but
administration assurances that they re-
fiected only a readjustment following the
Korean war or that they were temporary
in any sense prompted vehement challenges.
Actually, even the statistics began to
betray those who were using them as politi-
cal ammunition in the closing weeks OF the
campaign. For employment began to pick
up in the early fall at pace above the
normal seasonal upturn, farm income took
on an appearance of stability, earlier dates
for new-model cars pushed automobile pro-
duction into high gear and steel showed
solid and impressive advance. Even the
ailing coal industry took new lease on
life as power demands increased over the
country. Car loadings responded to all OF
these, of course and longer than usual
Christmas shopping season brought predlc-
tions, first, and tangible evidence, second,
of good business. The construction industry,
which has been confounding even the most
optimistic forecasters all year, kept right
on setting new records and appears likely
to do the same next year. Meanwhile, the
stock market which in its own unique way
mirrors the public confidence -or lack Of 1t
in the future of the national economy
pushed steadily upward through the 1929
peak averages.
There are many ways Of analyzing
business statistics and conclusions often
may be drawn to suit economic consid-
erations It seems safe to say now. however,
that it would be difficult to fool all Of the
people" into thinking that the American
economy is In an alarming state today or
Is likely to be In one tomorrow.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Nov Is the Time /.

!. Now-is the time for all good men to
come to the aid of their President.
Powerful forces are against him.
Military measures should always be
regarded as last resort approach to
the problem of security. But. typically
and UNDERSTANDABLE, military men tend
to think first Of military defenses. In
so doing they bring war nearer That
is why the American plan calls for
civilian control over the military au-
thority. That is why voted against
Eisenhower.
Much to my surprise our President
has been less military (in the bad
sense) than most civilians. He is the
one cool head standing UP among the
hotheads and using his tremendous
safer ways of reason and away from the
risky paths Of passion.
It takes courage to do that. For him
to stand so firmly for the sensible way
in the face of so much pseudo-patriotfc
fervor for more warlike ways has taken
more courage than any soldier is ever
called upon to exercise in physical
combat.
He needs our help. There are SO
many restless spirits about him that
any day they might set off the powder
magazine we are living over and set
UP the explosion we dread so much.
I wish to urge all cool-headed Ameri-
cans who see the folly of trying to save
peace with warlike overtures, to write
to the papers, to Congress or to the
President himself. Let him know there
Is large force of us behind him.
j. Milton Stanford.
Evening star., 1954-12-16
Patiently and Steodfostly'

Secretary of State Dulles, who is now in
Paris for the latest regular meeting OF the
top council of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, has effectively summed up
the meetings. chief meaning by declaring
as follows: That it demonstrates to the whole
world, and particularly to the Kremlin, that
the free West will patiently and steadfastly
persist in measures of collective security"
One of the main items on the agenda
of this high-level get-together has to do
with the command procedures to be fol-
lowed when as and if it becomes necessary
for the Western allies to use tactical and
Strategical atomic weapons to defend them
selves against Red aggression. The question
has stirred up differing opinions. Some
members of the Atlantic community feel
that any decision regarding resort to such
weapons should be left to the civilian heads
of government, and others hold that NATOS
supreme commander should have standing
authority to determine the matter imne-
diarely, on the spot and as he deems best,
in the event of an attack by the Cominu-
nists. The issue, however, does not seem
to be a difficult one, and an agreement to
resolve it probably will be reached easily
enough by the ministers now comforting In
Paris.
In any event. as Mr.. Dulles has declared
with an obvious desire to have Moscow
note his words what we do at NATO need
cause no alarm for any peace-loving coun-
try. We would indeed be glad If. the attitude
of others was such that we did not have
to be steadily thinking about developing the
strength of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization. However, until we see depend
able signs of change in the aggressive and
expansionist mood of international COM
munism, we must not relax our efforts. We
shall neither be intimidated nor lulled into
a false sense of security" Thus, while
reasSuring the men Of the Kremlin that the
Western alliance continues to be purely
defensive, the Secretary of State has also
informed them that our allied side will not
be DETECTED from its preparedness program
either by empty talk about "co-existence"
or by truculent outbursts against the Paris
accords on arming free Germany.
These accords of course, have yet to
be ratified by the Paris and Bonn Parlia-
ments, and there is no absolute guarantee
that they will be. But the outlook on that
score seems sufficiently bright to justify
Mr.. Dulles prediction that NATO's members
even though the effort conceivably may
have to extend over SO years, as President
Eisenhower has suggested-will patiently
and steadfastly" do whatever is necessary
to insure their common safety. Certainly,
considering the nature of the threat con-
fronting them, they can hardly do otherwise
without inviting catastrophe.