davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

circumscription Of regulations and cri-
terra established for u.s."
What are the regulations and criteria
which required a decision contrary to
mature practical Judgment? I be-
lieve that the primary fault lies in
Executive Order 10450 Of April 81, 1858,
which has been interpreted to require
that retention of an individual must
be shown to be clearly consistent with
the interests Of national security"
Under that standard, any person against
whom charges are brought might be
refused clearance, since it is never
possible to guarantee that his employ
ment is clearly consistent with the in
terestS of national security. A more
reasonable rule would be to require
that the reviewing authorities should
use mature practical judgment" to
balance the possible risk to important
secrets against the probable gain to
the national welfare. Under the pres
ent policy, it becomes possible for the
security procedure to be manipulated
for private or factional advantage by
the simple expedient of creating doubt
by bringing forth allegations from some
incompetent source. Since such pri-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

bomb program sufficiently disturbing
as to raise q doubt rs to whether his
future participation, II characterized by
the same attitudes in q Government
program relating to the national de-
tense, would be clearly consistent with
the best interests Of security"
Thus 1t appears that the majority
blames DR.. Oppenheimer because, af-
ter hydrogen bomb development had
been adopted as matter of national
policy, DR.. Oppenheimer did not assert
that he had abandoned his earlier
views! The inclusion of such a ground
in this security ruling sets very dan
gerous precedent, for it encourages the
suppression of honest dissent. AS DR..
Vannevar Bush wrote recently, 1.-THE
sitting of opinions can wreck any eff
fort Of free men, but it can wreck
science more rapidly and more COM
pletely."' I believe that official action
to prevent the inclusion of such grounds
in future security proceedings is of
great urgency If we are to preserve
the vitality Of our defense research
laboratories.
Perhaps the Severest indictment of
the present security system is made in
the majority report, which states, after
recommending against reinstatement
of DR.. Oppenheimer's clearance:
ut seemed to us that an alternative
recommendation would be possible, if
we were allowed to exercise mature
practical judgment without the rigid
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
This and That !.
By Charles E. TroceweN

have the lingo. but they had the things.
And it is perfectly easy to imagine
that after visitor had stepped across
the sill with the left foot first. he might
have made hasty retreat just in order
to do it right"
The first footer" was an old English
and Scottish custom.
He was man USUALLY dark-haired
one) who was first to enter house
after midnight on New Years eve.
Sometimes the door was barred to
make sure that no woman Cor o light
haired mani would step across first.
The FIRST footer" usually came pre-
pared with o shovel Of Goals, Q loaf Of
bread, and O coin. In some English
counties this "handout' varied.
The idea was that the house would
thereafter have plenty Of fuel. food
and money.
Templeton Jones Is . sort Of first
footer. he guesses.
That is, he always insists on stepping
up on a curb with his right foot first.
He did this for years before he ever
heard anything about the old custom.
1t was just satisfaction to him to do
it that way.
AS traffic became heavier in Wash
ington. Jones found it sometimes i'm
possible to be "chooSy" about his feet.
He had to take the curbs as he could.
and call himself fortunate If he got
across ct all.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

But II he could, he always stepped
up smartly with the right foot. show
ing that there must be some such in
stinct as this in the race. The old Ro-
mans had nothing particular to do with
it. Jones is not Roman, old or new,
and knows nothing, or so he says, about
superStitionS.
Yet he, along with thousands Of per-
sons, never walks under q ladder
The superstition is due to the making
Of q triangle by the ladder. the wall
and the ground. A triangle. many CEN
turtles ago. was regarded as symbol
Of the Trinity, and no one wished to
violate the sacred symbol by walking
through it.
The superstition about breaking q
mirror probably comes down from an
Gent times when there were no mirrors.
Girls sat In front of pools. and fixed
their hair as they looked in at their
reflection. A jealous rival might throw
a pebble in. and this would distort the
image, which is what cracked mirror
does.
Many Of the ancient races would not
build q house higher than one story.
because they thought it unlucky to have
anything over the head.
It may be seen that our modern vogue
for the one-story rambler has q real
reason for it in legend as well as in
functional utility.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
Librury Of Congress BUDGET

The Library Of Congress is possibly
the greatest single collection of writings
ever gathered together by the hand of
man. Yet the House Appropriations
Committee has just cut its annual
operating budget by over half million
dollars and has reminded the new
Librarian that this world-famous liter
airy collection is "the creature of the
Congress" AS if to add insult to injury
the Subcommittee on Legislative
Judiciary Appropriations passed IN
favorable Judgment on some Of the
basic research activities Of the folklore
section.
Creature Of Congress, indeed! Do
we think of the British Museum or THE
Bibliotheque Rationale as. creatures of
Parliament? OF course not. These
cultural centers are the pride of all the
people Of England and of France.
BY the same token, the Library of
Congress, the largest establishment in
the world exclusively devoted to library
work. is the pride Of all the American
people. 1t has long and distinguished
history Of service to the people and of
broad dedication to learning and ma
tional culture. It is, as pointed out by
Werner Clapp, acting Librarian, q. T..
one of the treasures of the world. :"
1t is shrine of Western democracy,
since it contains the library of Thomas
Jefferson and other priceless books and
documents from our early history.
This Library was originally eStab-
lished in 1900 to provide books for
Congress, hence its present name. A
more fitting name would be the Ma
tional Library. 1t has obviously far
outgrown its limited beginnings, just
as the Marine Hospital Service,
founded in 1898 to care for sick mer-
chant Seamen, became the United
States Public Health Service in 1912
and has now developed and broadened
into the huge Department of Health,
Education and Welfare.
Thus it would seem highly appro-
pirate that the Library of Congress be
designated the National Library, and
that its services to a Nation growing
in scientific and cultural activities be
expanded rather than curtailed. 1t is
to be hoped for this important work
that the new Librarian, L. Quincy
Mumford, will receive the full CO.
operation of Congress and that the
ill-advised budget cut be restored in
the Senate.
This magnificent library mirrors the
soul Of Western democracy. In the
words Of st. Matthew: For what is a
man prof1ted, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Lytt I. Gardner, M. d.
Syracuse, N. Y.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

Templeton Jones has a friend who
recently sold his house and moved into
an apartment.
It is one Of those luxury" places,
with fancy chromium doors, etc. There
is doorman, even. (The word door
man" is said to come down from Roman
times. when house owners kept q man
at the door to see that guests stepped
across the sill with the right foot first)
Jones friend is properly agog at the
new place.
1t Just wouldn't do, he discovered.
to be seen leaving each morning with
bag Of lunch.
So he has purchased . brief case,
Q Ia diplomat, and spreads his sand
witches out, now, instead Of stacking
them.
Those old Romans were o curious
breed.
They believed that anything from
the right was fortunate, anything from
the left unlucky.
That was the reason they had door
men, to see that the visitor stepped
through the door with his right foot.
It is not on record what the door
man said or did If the obdurate guest
insisted on putting the wrong foot"
forward.
In those days, they knew nothing. Of
course, about completes. Illustrations.
neuroses and the like. all commonplaceS
Of the psychiatrist's art. They didn't
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
As the Curtain Falls

AS the Army-McCarthy hearing comes to
an end, certain conclusions are rather obvious
Neither side has proved its charges. Sec
rotary Stevens summed up the Army case-or
lack Of case-when he told Senator Symington
in a monitored phone call that the complaints
against the Mccarthy staff were greatly exag-
gerated. Actually, the Army testimony proved
nothing more than the Armys own deplorable
readiness to placate and molify Roy Cohn and
Senator Mccarthy.
The couhtercharges from the Mccarthy
Cohn side turned out to be equally hollow. In
the light of the evidence, the ''blackmail'
complaint-the heart Of the Mccarthy case
not only remains improved; it looks ridiculous.
What remains? For one thing, there is the
question of perjury. 1t is impossible to recon-
cile the conflicts Of testimony. Some Of the
principals have lied under oath, and if a study
of the transcript indicates a basis for indict-
ment, this phase of the matter should be put
before grand jury. Oficial prominence should
not be permitted to shield any one from
prosecution.
Finally, it would seem that there should be
some gain in public understanding from the
opportunity to observe these principals in
action. Mr.. Stevens and Mr.. Adams have not
emerged in q good light. There can be no doubt
about that. more important question, how
ever, concerns the public reaction to Senator
McCarthyis performance.
Unquestionably, those who believe in the
Senator are more dedicated in their support of
him than before. But there is reason to think
that greater number of people have had their
eyes opened. They saw Senator Mccarthy
attempt to use an abstract of confidential
FBI document They watched him as he
appealed to employees in the executive branch
to turn informer in gross disregard of their
obligations to their superiors. They observed
a typical example of McCarthyism in the attack
on the young lawyer in Mr.. WelchS firm. And,
finally, the watching public jury had an oppor-
tunity to appraise the character and personality
of this ambitious and ruthless man.
The overall verdict of this jury is not
something that can be measured with precision.
The Star does not believe, however, that it is
going to be favorable to Senator Mccarthy.
One item of evidence in support of this is the
statement from Senator Potter. He seems pre-
pared to vote for a housekeeping within the
committee staff, and that is some gain. Whether
the Senate as whole will clip Senator Nc
Carthy's wings remains to be seen. Ample
reason for doing so will be found, however, in
the record of this hearing.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

vate or factional interests do not usually
coincide with the national interest, it
Is grimly ironic that the security sys-
TEN itself becomes a principal menace
to our national security.
The open letter to President Eisen-
hover which has already been men,
toned contained various specific sug-
geStionS for improvement in security
policy. Good general principles to be
followed in q revision Of our security
policy have been stated by President
Eisenhower in his recent speech at Co
lumbia University. But these need to
be translated into executive order if
they are to be of real effect on the
national security program.
John S. Toll.
Editors Note: The editorials criti-
cism Of the open letter to the PreSi-
dent was based primarily on this
sentence: "The purge of a loyal sci
enlist for giving frank advice presents
a grave peril to our Nation" The
Star does not believe that an accu-
rate reading Of the majority ruling
supports the claim that DR.. Open
heimer was "purged" for giving
frank advice.")
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
/ letters to The Star :

the minority appear to have been in
substantial agreement as to the other
charges and yet differed in the final
verdict. At the point where the minor
ity member ceases to concur with the
majority report, the majority opinion
proceeds:
I'VE cannot dismiss the matter Of
DR.. Oppenheimer's relationship to the
development of the hydrogen bomb
simply with the finding that his conduct
was not motivated by diSloyalty. be-
cause it is our conclusion that. what
ever the motivation. the security in
terests Of the United States were at
fected.
1--WE belieDe that. had DR.. Open
heimer giDen his enthusiastic support
to the program, a concerted effort Mould
haze been initiated at an earlier date"
Qtalics Supplied)
The summation Of the majority at
the end of their opinion contains the
following:
I'VE find his conduct in the hydrogen
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
One Small Dream

Some fragile moment IN the hush last
night,
I dreamed I lUGs a child again. and
there
Curled snug before the black store.
polished bright,
And bIGnket-aUrGpped IN Mothers
rocking chair,
/ supped again banquet of the past:
Crisp. tGnOy apple slices. each half
moon
In ruby jacket, nibbled on to last.
Admired NTH toast, and cocoa By
the spoon.
The rain streGked silrer sltvers on the
pGneS,
The shutters shook defiance at the
heather;
Inside, rocked In rhythm NTH the
strains
OF Dhistling kettle-Itds and logs
together.
Today, amid the nsGddenin0 rush.
I seem
OF stronger heart. from that small
quiet dream.
yeon MeFoord
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
Interesting Compromise, f.

Chairman Case of the Senate District Com
mittee has proposed an interesting compromise
bridge plan for Washington's central area,
provided it does not founder on the same rocks
that have imperied the street bridge plan.
The hazard that has held up the latter project
Is Theodore Roosevelt Island, memorial reser-
walton whose sponsors so far have resisted
successfully any attempt by bridge builders to
Invade" the wildlife sanctuary. The Case pro-
posal steers clear of the island itself, but in
wolves use of nearby isle that is listed oicially
as a part of the main island. The alternative
plan, therefore, might be subject to the same
objections that have stalled the street bridge.
Senator Cases plan is worth immediate and
earnest study by area highway and park plan
ners however. Actually, the new proposal is q
variation Of an old suggestion for building a
Potomac River bridge along the line of New
Hampshire avenue to the Virginia shore
Arlington officials revived the idea at recent
hearings on the bridge dispute, but aroused
little interest BY following the direction of
the avenue the bridge would pass over South
Island small promontory in the river just
downstream from Theodore Roosevelt Island
At the Virginia side there would be no difficulty
In tying the approaches into Arlington boule-
vard the George Washington Memorial Park
way and other main highways. And the New
ddHlpSIllre avenue approach HllSlG De cO-OrQl-
mated with the inner belt plan in such way
as to distribute incoming traffic from Virginia
more smoothly than via an e street approach.
(The impact of traffic on street and on the
area south of the White House was a major
factor in the National Capital Planning Com
MISSIONS opposition to the street site)
Already there are indications that the
defenders of the river sanctuary will be less
than enthusiastic over the compromise proposal.
There seems to be a determination to fight
not only any outright bridge construction on
the island but any bridge project relatively close
to it. If this attitude crystallizes and prevails
the building of any bridge between Key and
Memorial Bridges would be apt to encounter
opposition from the island group.
1t is to be hoped that the memorial associa-
ton will take more reasonable and realistic
view of the bridge issue than has been evident
in the recent past. Another bridge in the
central area is bound to be erected eventually,
In response to public demands. There is no
reason why such bridge, especially one not
directly over the main island, should be in
conflict with the purposes of the memorial. In
fact, as Senator Case has pointed out, bridge
could be made to serve the island in a very
practical and popular way.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
Building Boom

Conflicting interpretations, colored often
by political considerations, may emerge from
many of the statistics ordinarily cited in dag
noSing the national economic health. It would
be difficult, however, to come up with any
explanation diScrediting the healthy Stats
tics bearing currently on the construction in
dustry. In November. 1858, it was estimated
that construction activity in 1854 would fall
about per cent below the all-time record
the 1858 level. But reading at the end of
March showed that the first quarter of 1854
had established a new record of about $73
billion. Adjustment for seasonal and other
factors then indicated a full years value of
about $50 billion as against the $34 billion
previously estimated and the $3.50 billion re-
corded last year. Now. almost at the half
year mark, the Departments of Commerce and
Labor have joined in an estimate confirming
the record pace for this year-it looks like
$36 billion, an increase of 2 per cent rather
than decrease Of 2 per cent as compared
with 1858.
Best of all, perhaps, to the chart readers
is the fact that private and civilian building
is showing the greatest improvement, rela-
lively. New home building has been running
at a rate above IL million units, compared
with an estimate under million. Commercial
MISUNDERSTANDING Office buildings and shop
ping centers in the rapidly growing suburban
communities-will pass the So billion mark
for the first time. And with Federal-construc-
ton spending going down-largely because of
reduced military needs State spending for
schools, highways and other public facilities
has increased.
The construction industry is major one
In terms of materials used and personnel en-
ployed. It's good health is a good sign for the
national economy. There have been other
signs that the much debated recession has
about run its course, and these latest figures
on construction activity tend to support that
belief.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
Views on lndo-Chinu

Gen. Jesus Vargas, Philippine Army
chief of staff, commenting on the
1ndo- China situation, is reported in the
press to have stated, on his way to
Washington for defense talks, that it
was time for Filipinos to join up in
collective action against Communist
encroachment. If this statement repre-
Sents the viewpoint of the Magsaysay
administration, it is indeed an I'M
fortunate foreign policy that will do
more harm than good to the Filipino
people in their relations with fellow
ASiaticS.
It would have been more correct for
Gen. Vargas to have declared that the
Filipinos should join up with the Indo-
Chinese in their fight for liberty and
independence from France to help out
the last veStige of colonial imperialism
in Asia. If the peoples of Asia and
Africa. the descendants of all history,
are wise, they should let the white
nations decimate their populations in
endless fratricidal wars among them
selves, because to me as an oriental,
the white man has been the cause of
all the evils. sufferings and misery in
the world today. The teachings and
philosophy of the living faiths of
mankind which had their origin in
Asia: ConfucianiSm and Taoism in
China; Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism,
and Sikhism in India; Judaism and
Christianity in Palestine: and Islam in
Arabia, have come to naught because
of the white mans greed for worldly
goods and power. Teddy de NOlascO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

he called the Rubaiyat, and as long as men
care about words that sing" he will be remem-
bered for 1t. The translation into English like
wise makes certain of immortality the Suffolk
master, Edward FITZGERALD, whose version, pub
lished in 1859 and innumerably reprinted, con-
tains one quatrain which must have come back
with special aptness to many a weary spectator
of and listener to the caucus room events Of
recent, unlovely history.
This "rubai" reads:
Myself sOhen young did eagerly frequent
Doctor and saint, and heard great argument
About 1t and about; but eUeTmore
Came out By the same door aDherein toent.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
After a Month and Six Days =.

Once upon a time, about 900 years ago,
there was an astronomer in Persia who varied
his gazing upon the heavens with the making
of tents to shut the stars away. Thus the world
came to think of him as a balanced, judicial
and generally tolerant fellow and he confirmed
its Judgment by writing a poem in which phil
osophic reticence and charity are melodiously
defended with great skill.
His collection Of "rubais" -four-line verses
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
Questions and Answers

A reader can get the answer to any question
of fact by writing The ETsniHE star WT.s !h0E-
ton &. D. C. Please incloss three (3l cents ZOE
return postage.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

Pen-nG11es may be used II letters carry
iOTtterS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

@. Are there any laborers' families
that have incomes over $7.500?-E. L. D.
A. There were about 100000 families
headed by laborers-not service work.
ers-with incomes over $500 in 1858.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. How is powdered metal made?-
S. U.
A. The powder is processed directly
from iron ore, or in the case OF other
metals, from the raw material. 1t is
mixed with a lubricant and poured into
a press or mold. The molds are baked
in a special furnace where the heat
YIELDS the particles together but does
not melt them. The final product has
great strength and resistance. Pow
dered metals are used in variety OF
home appliances and for certain auto
mobile parts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

@. How many members Of Glen Mill
ler's orchestra took part in the movie,
THE Glen Miller Story"?-G. Y.
A. Seven of his men were part OF the
band used in the % numbers included
in the score. The Miller" sound was
reproduced by use Of his original manu-
scripts with his distinctive arrange
mentS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

Midsummer as we reckon 1t, is when as
much sand has been tracked into the house as
remains In the sandpile outside.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-18

It is now illegal for any one in Czechoslo-
vakia to buy or use carbon paper. In Com
munist land, this is terrible but In many
branches of our own Government wouldn't it
be wonderful?