davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1954-06-04
'Poy Program in Jeopardy

Postal employees reading The star
editorial. PAY Program in Jeopardy, y
can only feel that friend has turned
against them at q time when they are
Sorely in need of friends. We are sorry
to take issue with friend such as The
Star, but what the editorial said and
what it left unsaid is an unjustified
indictment of postal employees that we
think should be answered.
The Star castigated post Office en-
ployes and their organizations for OPP
posing the Summerfield job reclassiflca-
ton plan but it failed to mention that
the organizations have wholeheartedly
supported congressional study to pro-
vide a just reclassification proposal.
Far more important, the editorial
failed to state that postal employees and
their organizations oppose the Summer
field plan not because it is reclaSsln-
cation proposal but because Of the type
of proposal it is. We oppose it because
we feel it is totally impracticable-the
result of only two months Of study OF
40 post Offices out of approximately
4O,OO0-by eight men without previous
experience in the postal service; because
it would allow the downgrading OF jobs
in positions Of postal employees at the
will and whim Of the Postmaster Cen
eral without the employees even being
allowed to make worthwhile protest:
because it would provide important in
creaSeS of as much as $4.160 q year to
some high-paid officials while giving
those who suffer most from the rise Of
prices in the last Is years an average
of considerably less than 5000 under the
so-called Summerfield compromise"
plan.
The fine and beautiful phrases put
out by the Post ONCE Departments
well-financed propaganda machine are
simply untrue. The plan Is more cor
rectly summarized in the words of Rep
resentative Robert j. Corbett Of Penn
sylvania. who said, "The power that MI
Summerfleld wants is one that good
man would not want and a bad man
should not have"
In short, post office employees would
not accept the Summerfield plan even
though the alternative were no increase
at all. They simply could not stand by
and see their job status endangered to
such an extent.
The Stars editorial also castigated
the employe organizations for the in
lection Of politics into the dispute but
it failed to mention the report of
Washington civil service reporters, in
cluding your own very able Joe Young.
that the Post Office Department had
used an unprecedented amount of
pressure on the members Of the House
Post Ohice and Civil Service Commit
tee. Patronage. and the loss Of it.
threats and other devices were used on
committee members according to the
stories. An assistant to the Postmaster
General even journeyed to Pittsburgh
to attack Congressman Corbett. the
author Of the bill ultimately reported.
in his own district. Finally the Post
ONCE Department. through its spokes-
man. used the threat Of q presidential
Evening star., 1954-06-04
SIXTEENTH STREET.

\
Dear Sir:
II recently thought up q new motto
for myself. should say at the begin
ming that ! am by nature q cheerful
guy, and by no means pessimistic.
MY motto is as follows: Hopeless.
helpless. and defeated
Il have. you see. no hope from others.
and know I cannot help myself. there
fore ] am licked.
1T is as plain as that, to me, and
believe the motto applies to everybody
living today.
"They cannot help themselves, they
have no hope Of anyone else helping
them. and they act defeated. the world
around.
II might even claim 1t to be Gods
motto He has no hope Of mankind any
longer, and is helpless to help them. If
God may be said to be helpless. There
fore. He is defeated. in His sublime
plans for us.
Hopeless. helpless. and defeated.
"It seems pretty raw. but believe
it to be the truth. and would like to
know what you think Of it.
Very truly. A. G."
Well. A. G., since you asked for 1t:
It Is 9 pretty poor motto. a. you call
Evening star., 1954-06-04
Love Letters
By Thomos r. Henry

This little pack OF letters neatly tied
Holds all the romance that / eper
kneU.
All the quick. singing words that Uatt
inside
Were laughter and pere lope. for
they tDeTe you.
HoiD trudgi1g time betUeen the letters
Seemedi
HotD cGrelessly you held my 5ov
from me,
OF. in erpanstue moments. all
dreamed
Came true vou tDrote. and set
my spirit free!
read them noiD NTH sober interest.
No longer leap the sentences like
flame
read the first. and hare read the
rest
How like they arel A strangers Is
your ndpte
A little pack of letters some one penned
To some one else. This is their humble
end.
Lee Avery
Evening star., 1954-06-04
Odd Coincidence in Naval Tragedies
By Jack Jonas

THE gunboat y. s. s. Bennington
i was getting up steam in San
Diego harbor on q summer day 80
years ago. preparing to head for
Santa Barbara and new assignment.
The bay was calm. bathed In bright
California sunshine. and there was no
hint Of the holocaust to come.
The ship, predecessor in name to the
aircraft carrier aboard which 100 men
were killed and 125 hurt in an explosion
and fire last week. was waiting for
her skipper. Capt. Lucian Young, to
come aboard. Capt. Young had gone
ashore to pay bills, for supplies with
which the ship, had been laden the
day before. A launch stood by at the
docks to transfer him to the Ben
nington.
It was July 81. 1905. The Benning-
ton had Just returned from tour in
the Pacific. She was scheduled for
base at Santa Barbara. During some
of her most recent cruises, there had
been mutterings among her crew of
$50 about the condition of her boilers.
Some said they were warped and dam
gerous.
AS Capt. Young neared the docks in
a hanson cab. his business finished, q
terrific explosion rocked the gunboat,
hurting men and debris in all direc-
tions.
Horrified witnesses on shore saw a
flash of fire. Wreckage few into the
air. A cloud of steam billowed swiftly
above the craft. She was enveloped in
haze. When the haze finally cleared
away, only few of the Benningtons
men remained on deck. Most were
struggling in the water.
The blast killed Sc and injured
nearly IS.
When the explosion came, many
members of the crew were in the boiler
room, where it occurred. These, along
with some on deck, were hurtled into
the sea by the blast. Others leaped
overheard. The explosion shook build
ings and shattered windows on shore.
AS in the more recent Bennington
disaster, there were many individual
acts of heroism. These were recognized
in ceremonies in Washington IL years
later. when many medals were pre-
Evening star., 1954-06-04
The Main Problem Is Unsettled

Out of the welter of conflicting views on
Potomac River bridges has come, at last,
unanimous decision in favor of a bridge at Alex
andria in the vicinity of Jones Point. This is
not very surprising, however for there has been
virtually no opposition to the Alexandria bridge
plan. Unfortunately, as House District sub
committee in approving the Jones Point span
stressed, the long -drawn-out and bitter battle
Of the bridges" is not over. The Alexandria
project will not solve the major problem Of
where and when to build central-area bridge
The longer that problem remains unsettled the
worse will traffic congestion become on the pres
ent central-area bridges
The subcommittee has bypassed for this
session the main controversy by agreeing on a
bridge that will bypass some through traffic
around Washington. Everybody, including the
warning factions, has indorsed the idea of such
a bypass structure. 1t will be an essential link
in the belt highway around the District, still in
the planning stage. Moreover, it will enable
traffic from the new Washington Baltimore
parkway to cross into Virginia and reach No.
highway without bucking Washington's down.
town traffic. 1t will afford some degree of relief
for downtown congestion.
Because this bridge will serve so many
jurisdictions, It is right that these jurisdictions
should share in the cost of constructing it or its
approaches. The Broyhill bill would assess the
SIS million cost of the bridge itself against the
Federal Government. The District Maryland
and Virginia would pay varying amounts to
take care of the approaches. All three jurisdic-
tions have indicated their willingness to CO.
operate, although Virginia is hedging on the
amount of approach work for which it will be
responsible. 5-
Chairman Kearns of the subcommittee
made it plain that he believes another river
crossing in the central area is necessary, with
without the Jones Point bridge Many agencies
and individuals, particularly motorists. have
similar views But the District Highway Depart
ment wants the crossing at street, close to the
Federal QUADRANGLE. while the National Capital
Planning Commission favors location below
the railroad bridge near Reaches Run. Efforts
to reconcile these conflicting recommendations
so far have proved unsuccessful. Representative
Kearns commented: 'These people are going to
have to get together before they bring their
proposal here for us to consider" But expert
ence has shown that agreement between these
groups is not always possible. Congress had to
decide the Highway and East Capitol street
bridge controversies and it looks as If Congress
eventually will have to decide the central-area
bridge problem, whether it wants to or not.
Evening star., 1954-06-04

sented in connection with the events
Of that day.
Small private boats put out to pick
up the struggling survivors. BY the
time other Navy craft reached the
scene, most Of the survivors had been
rescued by private vessels. Hospitals
prepared to receive the wounded. and
they soon were deluged with work. The
Navy said later that most Of the dead
were killed by live steam.
Capt. Young sped to the badly listing
ship. He ordered bulkheads sealed to
prevent her sinking. He had the maga-
zines flooded to guard against further
disaster.
Then, at high tide, he directed the
beaching of the Bennington, and
lengthy inquiry was begun into the
cause of the explosion.
The tragedy shocked official WASH
ington. It overshadowed what was to
have been an important event in the
Navy's history-the arrival at Annap-
oils of the remains Of John Paul Jones
from France, where he had lain in an
unmarked grave for more than a
century.
Evening star., 1954-06-04
Pope Plus X Cononized

In a sense, a world wide audience attended
the ceremonies wherein Pope Plus XII pro-
claimed the canonization of Pope Plus x. The
solemn rites were watched by thousands assem-
bled at st. Peters in Rome. They were reported
by all the latter-day facilities of communication.
Not to Catholics only but to Christians Of
every other school and many nom Christian
people Of good will the drama was compelling in
its power and beauty.
Plus x was pOStman'S son. He was born
poor in 1885, and he died poor in 1914. But there
was no poverty Of mind or heart in him. He
loved his church and labored for 1t prodigiously.
It is an understatement to say that he earned
the papal crown ''the hard way" His election
represented compromise. yet possibly for that
very reason was tribute to his talents his
noble character and his benefcent personality.
Devoted to the masses in daily practice, not
simply in philosophic theory, he received their
devotion in turn and likewise was immensely
popular in the Vatican. Many changes occurred
In the organization and administration of the
church In his time. Plus x was great execu-
tive oficer, and he taught his patterns Of pro-
cedure to Catholicism at large with notably
constructive results.
One Of the earliest critics Of secular oppor-
tunism, he sponsored crusade against mod
ernism" In economics and politics in relation to
religion which became controversial itself and
still to some extent remains matter of debate
But the world now goes further in approving his
resistance to the evils of goddess materialism
than it was ready to go in 1907 1t has been
educated to better appreciation of the views of
Plus x than was feasible in his lifetime. The
canonization of "the saint that Providence pre-
sents to our era" is vindication of him. World
War claimed him as one of its earliest casual
ties. The world of 1854 pays him homage as q
prophet against further disasters.
Evening star., 1954-06-04
Letters to The Star

veto as o club to beat Congressman
into line. Yet The Star accuses us
of injecting politics.
Frankly we would have preferred to
avoid this bitter struggle. For years
the National Federation Of Post Once
Clerks with other postal organizations
has pleaded with the Post Office De-
partment for the right of consultation
on major personnel matters. for the
right to discuss matters before unalter-
able steps have been taken. On the
Redistribution proposal. like so many
other personnel matters. Our pleas went
unheeded. The reclassif1cation pro-
posal was presented to Congress with
out the employees ever being able to
see it, let alone to caution on its pro-
visions and offer suggestions for a true
and just reclassification plan.
Responsibility for the ensuing con-
troyersy lies sQuarely in the laps Of the
oficials of the Post Office Department.
The controversy could have been
avoided if sound labor management
relations existed in the postal service
and if, as in the case of private indus
try, employees, through their organiza-
81,
such consultation, post Office employees
have been forced to the point OF no re-
turn. They can only stand and fight
the Summerfield plan to the bitter end.
E. C. HalIbeck,
legislative Representative, National
Federation of Post Office Clerks.
49,, 1E.r a, .d;+or;a1 0po,, prooro N,
in jeopardy" states the House Post Or
fee and Civil Service Committee has
approved a per cent nat raise bill for
postal workers without any reclassifica-
ton provision. Your editorial adds:
"This was done in the face Of official
warnings that President Eisenhower
will veto any pay proposal that ex-
cludes reclassification Of out-of-balance
salaries. The Presidents stand is a
sound one"
What is an "official warning? Can
The Star or any other source quote di-
rectly or indirectly an official" warn
ing from the President himself? Or is
this "official" statement parallel to the
several conflicting Official" statements
we recently had on Indo-China? Can
11S 0UdI CAVC O4AC ACoROAAoANAO OAAA~ANA
who will use his own name to state that
President Eisenhower will veto the COM
mittee-approved proposal?
AS for 'reclassif1cation," which the
editorial favors: The "reclassiflcation"
proposal as well as the original shabby.
inadequate pay proposals were from an
outside high-paid management" firm.
Recently, the Senate Appropriations
Committee condemned the manage
ment" firms report. stating better infor-
nation could be obtained from sources
inside Government. No Official" has
attempted to controvert the report Of
the committee.
1t is time for preachers and teachers
and lawyers and private industry man
agement and labor. small and large
businessmen-and newspapers. too-in
Washington and the rest Of the country
to understand that current inadequate
pay scales in Government react against
Evening star., 1954-06-04
BIoninq the President

President Eisenhower has been charged with
passing the buck in the Oppenheimer case be-
cause he did not get rid Of the noted scientist
as an adviser without bringing him to trial
There must have been a dozen ways of ter
minating DR.. Oppenheimer's services, according
to one criticism, If that. was what the admins
tration wanted to do.
Maybe so. But the issue was not quite as
simple as this implies.
The complaint against Dr. Oppenheimer
rested on serious accusations, charges which
brought into question his loyalty and his in
tegrity (And, incidentally, DIR. Oppenheimer
requested hearing.) Presumably, however,
the President might have concluded that these
accusations were serious enough and substan-
tial enough to justify him in getting rid Of the
physicist. Perhaps he might have found any
one of a dozen quiet ways of doing this.
But what would have been the result? Even
if the whole thing could have been hushed up,
which probably would not have been the case,
the President would have been in the position
of condemning DR.. Oppenheimer on the basis of
the complaint alone. The latter would have
been deprived of the basic and fundamental
right to present his defense. without hearing,
how could the President be sure that DR.. OPP
penheimer might not be able to vindicate him
self completely? Why should the President be
expected, in the name of executive efficiency, to
run the risk of doing such a great injustice
to any man?
To be sure, the outcome of the Oppenheimer
hearing has not been happy one. The finding
that he is completely loyal, but at the same
time security risk, is confusing and unsatis-
factory. It would have been desirable to have
had clear and conclusive finding, one way or
the other. But this is not always possible, and
certainly the ideal alternative is not to resort
to the simple but monumentally unjust expedi-
ent of quietly condemning an accused man
without any kind Of hearing.
Evening star., 1954-06-04
Better Go Slow on This

Congress has been presented with a sample
of the conflict and confusion which can result
from not letting the right hand know what the
left is doing. The disturbing situation for the
Distrct) is the outgrowth of unrelated commit
tee studies bearing on local public works and
means of financing them. The supposedly bal
anced long-range public works program for
Washington, recently approved by Congress,
would be thrown out of kilter if tentative plans
Of an Appropriations subcommittee were to be
adopted. Strangely, these plans, involving i'm
position on the District of "proportionate
share" of the cost of capital improvements at
St. ElizabethS Hospital, were being studied last
April at time when Congress was nearing final
action on the Districts public works legislation
The study was an independent one by sub
committee not directly concerned with District
problems. Yet the impact on the District of
such an additional burden as st. Elizabeths
Improvements would be great
Obviously, Congress ought to 60 slow in
considering any such revision of the local pub
lie works program so soon after its enactment
The proposal to make the District pay approx
matey IS per cent of the cost of new buildings
at the Federal hospital, If approved. would
raise question as to the advisabiity of recon-
sidering that part of the public works program
relating to the District General Hospital. Would
1t be sensible, for example, for the District to
build a $2.5-million psychiatric building, as
provided in the new public works law. If
local taxpayers later might be called on to
bear most of the cost of a similar building at
st. ElzabethS?
The subcommittee considering the st.
ElizabethS budget heard a suggestion that the
jolt to the Districts budget might be eased by
spreading the costs of new construction at st.
Elizabeths over some 40 years. But, while that
plan might make the pill more palatable, the
fact remains that such dose would be new
form of medicine that would add to the Dis
trict's construction and finance troubles. Ger
tainly, any such proposal should have been
studied in connection with the regular public
works and financing programs and adopted or
rejected before the legislation became law.
Evening star., 1954-06-04

we know anything survived for only fieeting
moment.
II the way ahead seems long and troubled,
the story Of this star can help US retain some
sense of proportion. The little that we know Of
what has happened on this earth since the star
exploded merely suggests that any future which
we are capable of envisioning will count for
almost nothing in the life Of a planet. So let US
be humble instead Of vain. 1t was Thomas Car
lyle who said that man may fret and fume and
demand much. but lone small grave is all he
gets"
Evening star., 1954-06-04
Pen-names may be used If letters carry
1DriterS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.

our overall economy. The mockery Of
self-styled economists" crying for in
creased consumer consumption to safe
guard our expanding production and at
the same time fighting justified pay
increases doesn't make sense. Or is it
typical of the thinking Of 'big Mixed
up kids?
James Richard COnnOr.
tration officials have told members of
the House Post Office Committee
and newspapermen that the Presi-
dent would veto pay bill that did
not call for reclassif1cation of sal
arieS.)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-15

Mrs. J. Borden Hartman and
Mrs. Montgomery Blair. chair
men of the Special Events Com
mittee of the District of Column
bia Home Rule Committee, will
represent that organization as
delegates at the national Con-
ference on Citizenship to be held
in the Statler Hotel beginning
today and continuing through
Friday. with 1000 delegates
from 800 organizations through
the country attending. Il
Signal honor was paid to Mrs.
Hartman at the opening gather-
ing of the conference today. She
was seated among the dis
tinguished guests on the plat
form and was presented to the
gathering by the presiding chair
man as the Youngest in spirit"
of all of the delegates attending
the conference. Mrs. Hartman,
who has been active in DiStric--
of Columbia and national affairs
since she first came to Washing
ton in 1918, now is in her eighty
fifth year.
She is playing a leading role
in the fight for a vote for the
District with a vigorous leader
ship that has characterized her
career. She was chairman of the
highly successful Home Rule Ball
in the Statler last May 4, and
is carrying her fight for a vote
to the people of the country
represented by the Citizenship
delegates, and has launched a
second Embarrassing drive that
is expected to have wide sup-
port from Washington society
a gala opening night perform
ance by the storied Ballet Russo
de Monte Carlo In the National
Theater on Monday night,
October 4. as
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-15

Democrat incumbent. Byron
Giles Rogers, who has repre-
sented the Colorado district for
two terms.
Mrs. Bosone
If Mrs. Bosone completes the
road back to Congress she will
be a colorful addition. both
literally and f1guratively.
A tall, statuesque woman with
reddish hair, she always stood
out prominently on the House
floor because of her penchant
for bright, colorful, tailored suits.
She also enlivened the pro-
ceedings from time to time, the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-15
Two Women Candidates Win First Round

most memorable occasion being
the day she paused In the middle
Of q House speech and burst into
q stanza Of s'The Old Gray Mare
Ain't What She Used to Be-
The debate was on q control
bill, which she favored. and she
sang the song to illustrate her
prediction that. II meat prices
weren't controlled the Nation
would soon be eating horsemeat.
The former Congresswoman
also has q talent for mimicry
which used to convulse her
friends here at parties. Some Of
her most skillful takeoffs were on
fellow members Of the House.
Mrs. Horris
Mrs. Harris. If elected. would
bring a note Of social eclat to
the Congress. A svelte, slender,
blue-eyed blond. she ISIS Smith
College graduate and q past ma
tional director Of the Junior
League.
She and her husband, a sue
cessful Denver attorney, have
two children. Sue Ellen, Is, who
attends Miss Pprter'S School in
Pennington. Conn. and Hayden,
IL. who attends a private day
school In Denver.
A longtime Republican Party
precinct worker until she took
the Citizens for Eisenhower post
early this spring, Mrs. Harris
has served on. the boards of q
great many Denver civic organ
iZationS.
She started out to be, a lady
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-15
|VossorC lubGives
Freshman Tea

The Vassar Club of Washing.
ton was to hold its annual Fresh
man Tea today at the home of
Mrs. Waldron Faulkner, 3415
Thirty-sixth street NV. Mrs.
Arthur T. Hadley, newly elected
president of the club, together
with Vassar upperclassmen and
alumnae. welcomed this years
freshmen and their mothers.
Freshmen at Vassar this fall
are the Misses Celia Atwood,
Julie Bres, Tanya Edwards, Celia
Faulkner, Jean Fay, Sally Har-
per. Susan Marion Hunter, Pris-
ella Kenney, Barbara Madison,
Ruth Elizabethann Murray, Ju-
dith Pierce, Suzanne Walker,
Sandra Wood and Shirley Mills.