davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1954-06-03

ment which had been dormant
nearly two months, yesterday hit
two companies of the Wet Nam
ese army which had dug in at
Gung Son, on the coast SIS miles
south of Hanoi.
The Wet Namese companies
fought back, but were unable to
withstand the overwhelming odds.
Evening star., 1954-06-03

FIVE Motions Discuss Asion Problem in
Militory Porley Here. Poee AS
Evening star., 1954-06-03
.2,1OO Wet Mimi Hit
Tiny Wet Nam Post
In Dormant Sector
200 Defenders Wiped Out
And 100 More MuuIed
By Superior Forces
By the Associated Press

SAIGON, Indo- China, June 3.
Three regular Wet Mimi bat
talions, striking in the coastal
region of Wet Nam, have wiped
out 200 men of the Wet Namese
national army and mauled 100
more, the French high command
announced today.
The rebel battalions, totaling
2,100 men. part of regular regi-
Evening star., 1954-06-03

Red River DeIto Is FrontIine in
theological War. Poee Az
Geneva Conferees WrestIe With Issue
of Policing Truce. Poee AS
Evening star., 1954-06-03

(See BRIDGES, Page A-5D
Evening star., 1954-06-03

CONTINUED on Page AS. Col. ~
Evening star., 1954-06-03

This years graduating class at the
Military Academy has SO men from this
area. For pictures and sketches of the
newest Army officers, see
Page A-16.
Evening star., 1954-06-03
Stritch Back From Rome

(See Acc. Page A-3)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
Senute's Top Investigator

Ronald w. May in recent letter to
The Star seems to imply that it is
wrong for Senator McCarthy's commit
tee to focus attention" on situations
in need of correction. simply because
Senator Mccarthy did not personally
discover each situation. We all know
that the FBI and many other executive
intelligence agencies probably possess
untold millions Of items of information
that they are forbidden by law or pub
lie policy to publicize. Does knowledge
Of information by other agencies mean
that none of 1t should ever be pub
licized?
Mr.. May stated g. Those who have
made a check of witnesses refusing to
testify before McCarthy's subcommit-
tee say that from IS to SO per cent of
these witneSse were discovered by
other congressional committees, or by
other legal administrative agencies Of
the Government, and that evidence in
dicating possible misdeeds by these
witnesses was uncovered, not by Sen
ator Mccarthy, but by these other
groups. ;" This statement completely
begs the issue. Senator Mccarthy would
be the last to claim that he individu-
ally and personally discovered the in
formation on which his hearings are
based. Should judge in court re-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
This and That

We were reading book the other day
by a man who didn't know how to get
down to what he wanted to say.
The words went on and on, with the
reader thinking at the bottom OF each
page, "Well, now he will tell it," but
he never did.
Like some orchestral works, which
wind up and rumble furiously, no tune
ever came.
The man simply could not get down
to it.
He wound words, thousands of them.
one after the other, into an intricate
pattern, without once creating melody.
4
The young writer, If he is worth
his salt, soon learns to come to the
point
If he has anything to say, he says 1t.
In doing this, though his effort may
be humble enough, The far outshines
the author spoken Of above, who never
really got down to it. q
the issue.
He built up facades to conceal
thought.
It was as If he were playing a sort
of game with the dear reader, daring
him to find out what on earth he was
writing about.
The writing of verse is sometimes
laughed at, but 1t is good practice,
especially spring poetry. as It is called.
You select theme, and the theme
Is it. The words are mere embroidery.
in q sense.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
Mccorthx. Pro and Con

At this point the only thing ] am
sure of is that only Abe Lincoln, risen
from the grave, could emerge from q
Mccarthy investigation and still be
considered by all a loyal citizen of the
United States. The fact that the aver
age American. including rabid Nc
Carthy fans. would doubtless shiver in
his boots II smiling Joe" invited him in
for little investigation is enough to
make me feel that If Wisconsin folk
love Mccarthy so much they should
make him their Governor and remove
him from the national scene. There
are many others who are keeping the
vigil against internal subversion" and
will continue to. Mccarthy has lost his
usefulness because you or I. John @.
Citizen, loyal average American. would
not want to be investigated by him.
You may be the most loyal of loyal
Americans and have irrefutable proof
that you are. but just the fact that you
were investigated by Mccarthy would
leave doubts Of your loyalty in the
minds Of many and attach a stigma to
you. When one man has that potential
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
AdIui o Cord?

The Democratic Party Is using the
same joker and the same old deck.
Adlai Is telling the people that the
Nation is facing calamity because
Of McCarthyism. There is an old
proverb that says, "A calamity that
affects all the people is only q half
calamity" McCarthyism affects only
the Democratic half.
There is no split in the Republican
Party; only q little disagreement as
to the best method to rid the Nation
Of that Red octopus that crept in un-
noticed by the left-wing Democrats in
power. The Democrats are still trying
to fly on that one left wing.
The right wing of the party thought
that we needed a man like Joe Nc
Carthy In Washingto somebody who
would call a crook q crook. It was
these good Democrats who saw the
need Of change" and many Of the
States that had Democratic majority
Joined in the crusade to save America,
and sent Ike to the White House.
C. A. Nolan.
Seymour Ind
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12

The main thing
That is the theme. and the writer
begins, carries on, and ends.
His words may be ambiguous. but his
theme is not. He makes his points,
and quits.
If it is no more than the theme Of
the first robin, there is the bird, in
dubitably robin, walking on the lawn.
dipping in his bill for food.
How does the robin find his worm?
Does he see 1t. or hear It?
Neither, he feels it. In his head.
Certain bones there vibrate with the
slither of the worm below.
If the poet can put this into poem,
he has achieved what thousands Of am
bilious young writer's find so hard to
do.
Getting down to the point is more
difficult as the theme grows more
complex.
\ It is easily seen that dissertation
on French politics. for instance. is
vastly more complex thing than the
theme Of robin in the field.
We recall talking to a young copy
boy several years ago. He was beating
typewriter furiously.
When asked what he was writing so
vigorously. he replied. "An editorial on
French politics"
The man who asked the question
smiled, but he said, Marvellous"
What was marvellous, he knew, was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
By Charles E. Trocewen

that so young a man would undertake
SO ambitious theme.
There probably were not two men in
the District of Columbia at the time
who understood French politics, and
only one, undoubtedly, who could
have written properly and adequately
about the matter, or matters.
We did not get to see the young mans
editorial.
Probably he tore it up in time.
After all, an editorial on French poll
tics is a very ambitious theme for q
young man, or any man.
But suppose the young man had in
the back of his mind slam at French
politics, contrasting its multiple par
ties and ideas and turnovers with the
comparatively simple and open warfare
Of the American political system.
Maybe he might have had the idea
Of saying something sarcastic, but the
parties and ideas got in his way. so that
he forgot to come out with his neat
sarcasm.
Then the reader Of that long lost
editorial" would have realized that
something was missing, although he
did not know exactly what. because
it was never stated. The intent, how
ever, was all over the piece.
He never got right down to what he
wanted to say. He forgot what his
melody was, If he ever had any.
So. do get down to the point Think
Whit you want to say, and then say it..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
Against an InequitobIe Tax

Most Of Virginia's taxpayers will applaud
the action of the General Assembly in voting
for constitutional amendment aimed at ulti-
mate adjustment Of the unpopular State tax
on household goods. Many of them are apt to
be surprised and disappointed when they learn
that 1t will be several years before the personal
property tax can be strapped, however. The
Legislature has taken only the first step toward
the goal.
The State constitution specifically requires
the levying Of a tax on household furnishings.
To nullify this provision will require affirmative
action by the 1856 Assembly and by majority
Of the voters themselves in special referen-
dunn Technically, the current Legislature has
merely opened the way for follow-up action,
pro or con, by the next Legislature and, If that
Assembly so disposes by the electorate in
general
For starting action on this long discussed
tax reform the 1854 Assembly deserves vote
of thanks from taxpayers who have complained
for so long about the discriminatory" tax on
personal possessions. There is reason for their
complaints. There have been widespread abuses
under the self-assessment procedures, with
honest taxpayers contributing disproportion-
ate share of the collections. No practicable
way has been found to enforce the tax equi-
tably. District of Columbia taxpayers, too. are
painfully aware Of the inequities of such tax.
In the interest of tax equality such levies should
be done away with wherever they still exist.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
Code for Committee Conduct

The new rules of fair conduct for Senate
investigating committees point the way for
correcting the abuses and malpractices which
crop up most frequently in such inquiries. Their
principal effects, in brief, would be to curtai
the one-member operation Except by express
sanction Of committee or subcommittee major
ities) and to provide greater protection to
witnesses.
But pointing the way, by ITSELF is not
quite enough and the fact that the code drafted
by the Senate Republican Policy Committee is
being made available only as a suggested"
guide for committee conduct leaves the present
situation substantially unchanged. Investi-
eating committees, and particularly their chair
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12

men. traditionally have had powerfully free
hand in the manner in which they define and
carry out their missions. And although many
committees today already operate by standards
similar to those suggested" by the Policy Com
mittee there is no compulsion involved and no
inflexible restriction upon the discretion of the
committee chairmen. The formulating of a
code OF procedure may, as Senator Knowland
remarked, point out field of responsibility
for committee members but 1t does not compel
them to accept this direction It Is unlikely.
furthermore, that the Senate as whole would
attempt such enforcement.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
The Presidents Critics

Your editorial, 1.-THE Presidents
Critics." obviously calls for an answer.
AS one who agrees Fundamentally with
the Presidents "severest critics." permit
me to spell out" as you suggested.
what it Is that some Of US want him
to do.
/. The President should make q
strong public statement. specifically de-
nouncing Senator Mccarthy and all his
works. He might 60 on to explain how
he has tried to temper the attacks on
civil liberties by the McCarthys in posi-
cess. And chat this latest demonStra-
ton, having proved to him the incor-
rigibility Of the Senator. he is forced, In
the interest Of the country as well as
his own party, to take steps to bring
this to an end.
2. The President should announce
that. in view of the record Of Senator
McCarthy-his repeated Subversion Of
American liberties and standards of
justice and fair play: his financial ir-
regularitieS as demonstrated in the
Senate committee report and other
unofficial but documented investiga-
tons; his violations Of the electoral
laws Of various States specifically
Maryland) the Senate should take
steps to expel man who has brought
discredit and dishonor upon 1t.
8. The President should follow UP
such q statement with an order to the
Attorney General to study the Senate
report in his possession, for possible
indictment and prosecution.
All Of these steps the President could
take independently. but action in pur-
suance thereof would necessarily de-
pend on others. In the event that the
Senate fails to follow his lead, there
are numerous ways in which party
discipline can be brought to bear to
curb the activities Of the Senator. With
drawing Of committee assignments,
withholding Of patronage and Of sup
port to his followers in his own State,
an executive boycott of committees he
dominates are a few Of the specific
controls which could be exerted. Addi-
tional measures will undoubtedly occur
to others. but these come to mind
Immediately. J. A. DIESEL.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
Inter-Americun Economics

In his latest remarks at Caracas, Secretary
OF State Dulles has done a good job in making
clear to the 10th american Conference
that the United States is prepared to undertake
everything within reason in an effort to inten-
sify its economic cooperation with all the
countries Of this hemisphere.
Several Of the Americas have been less than
happy about the matter. They have complained
that Washington has failed to pay adequate at
tention to their financial and trade problems,
and they have been pressing for cooperative
action designed to improve the situation. Such
action has now been promised by Mr.. Dulles,
although he has been at pains to stress that
none Of US can properly be held exclusively
responsible" for the difficulties involved. AS he
has put 1t, "The United States will not continue
to be satisfied merely with good political rela-
tons in this hemisphere. We also want good
economic relations. We shall seek them on a
basis of mutual respect for the economic and
social as well as the political beliefs of each
other. That is the pledge give YOU"
The pledge is not an empty one. On the
contrary, 1t has been promptly backed up by
our Government with a declaration not only
agreeing to United States participation in a
special hemisphere economic conference, but
also urging that the conference be held here in
Washington This gives special emphasis to our
country's desire to do something concrete about
the situation-a situation in which our sister
republics seek our help to stabilize the huctu-
ating prices Of their raw materials and to i'm
prove their export-import relationship to us.
They also seek technical aid, repayable loans
and private investment capital from us to pro-
mote their industrial and agricultural progress.
AS MIR. Dulles has said, "these matters are
not as simple as they sometimes sound" but
he has given Arm assurances that the United
States is anxious to do all that 1t can to deal
with them constructively. The reports from
Caracas indicate that his words have made an
excellent impression. Indeed with the exception
Of the Guatemalans. the delegates down there
have been displaying enough mutual trust and
good will to suggest that the projected eco
nomic conference should not find 1t too difficult
to work out an effective cooperative program to
promote inter -American prosperity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
Privote vs.. SociuIized Medicine

According to a news item the Airing
ton County Medical Society is sponsor
ing an essay contest for high-school
students on the subject "Why the pri-
vate practice Of medicine furnishes the
best medical care in the country"
This contest Is noteworthy because
Of the entire absence Of objectivity or
even pretense of objectivity. The stu
dent is compelled to accept a conclu-
sion furnished to him in advance If
he wishes to qualify for the award.
In order to arrive at this conclusion
he has to disregard all other material,
regardless Of source or quality. which
might tend to modify or disprove the
dictum of the Arlington County Medi-
cal Society. Such procedure is more
typical Of the pseudo educational
methods used in totalitarian states and
certainly would not lend itself to the
scientific atmosphere of q medical
school training. 1t is just as ridiculous
as though the compulsory conclusion
were why the private practice of
medicine furnishes the worst medical
care in the country" or why Molotov
is an angel of peace"
Studies made by presidential COM
missions and other public organizations
p have indicated that many Americans
do not receive adequate medical care
because of inability to meet the high
costs under the present system. Re-
Gently President Eisenhower discussed
some proposed solutions in message
to Congress. The studies were made
because a problem exists which cannot
be dissipated by propaganda from
wealthy Hobbies or anguished screams
that to kick the sacred (and fat) medi-
cal COW is un-American.
The Arlington County Medical So
ciety can supply the material support
ing the conclusion which is the topic Of
the essay. Some other pertinent views
on the subject can be obtained from
the Committee for the Nations Health.
Inc, 2212 M street NV. Students not
frightened by scare words or big-bad-
wolf boogymen like 'socialized medi-
cine" can thus read all views before
arriving at any conclusion. This
method would appear to be more in
keeping with what is considered to be
the traditional educational process.
Businessman.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
L etters to The Star

fuse to hear evidence because he had
not personally dug 1t up?
At another point Mr.. May stated, a.. !.
I have heard high Government officials
deploring the great number of inves-
LEGATIONS by other agencies which Nc
Carthy has hampered or ruined. :"
Again we have the resort to the "lack
of detail" by use Of the vague phrase
Of unnamed and unspecifled high Gov
arnment officials" MIR. j. Edgar Hoover
in news item dated August %. 1853.
from La Jolla. Calf, is quoted as
highly commencing Senator Joseph
Mccarthy" Would the head Of our
most important investigative agency
on the problem Of subversive commu-
nisrn make such a comment II Senator
Mccarthy was "hampering or running
Investigations"
Rex b. Finley.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
How About Getting together?

The General Assemblies Of Maryland and
Virginia have approved the creation Of special
commissions to make studies Of public trans
portation problems in the Washington Metro
poltan Area When the commissions are APP
pointed by Governors McKeldin and Stanley
they are supposed to collaborate with each other
and with District of Columbia commission in
comprehensive inquiry into transit and traf1c
troubles common to Greater Washington. The
State groups then are to report back to their
respective Legislatures when next they convene.
There is a hitch, however. There Is no District
group as yet authorized to join in such an
undertaking.
The idea of separate commissions of inquiry
grew out of a belief, especially at Richmond,
that legislation pending in Congress for a single
interjurisdictional study commission was likely
to end in House committee pigeonhole. The
overall Joint inquiry plan was approved by the
Senate some time ago, but Virginia had baked
at joining in any Federally sponsored investiga-
tion In order to make the best OF what seemed
to be losing fight, the Arlington delegation
proposed as a compromise the separate-com-
mission program. Even the country boys" who
perennially oppose any Intrusion" by Federal
agencies into affairs regarded as rightfully Viz
ginia's could see no objection to the State
commission proposal. Marylands Assembly fell
into line by request.
The situation is complicated, however, by
the fact that the District lacks a similar COM
mission and Congress may not see At to author
lie District participation in the program. But
unless District body is set up, it Is dinacult to
believe that anything constructive will emerge
from Maryland's and virginia's separate studies.
The transit mess hereabouts results primarily
from the concentration of Federal activities in
FrHa Cka&A he
under a handicap in their proposed inquiries
unless District problems also are included in
the Investigations. Since participation by Mary
land and Virginia in quasi Federal Joint study
seems doubtful, perhaps Congress could amend
the pending bill to provide for District coun-
terpart of the State commissions. All three
groups then could sit down together and map
out a co-ordinated inquiry. Unless something
along this line is done, the Maryland and
Virginia legislation is apt to prove futile for
everybody.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-12
The Runaway Tax Bill

The excise tax bill passed by the House this
week was drafted quickly and approved without
delay in that chamber. Chairman Millikin OF
the Senate Finance Committee has promised
speedy action on the other side of the Capitol,
and even though the Senate is more leisurely
in its deliberations, passage before April ! Is
expected
In brief the measure would extend for an
other year certain excise tax rates-on alcoholic
beverages, tobacco, petroleum and automotive
products, for example-eStimated to bring in
annual revenue of about 81 billion. This extern
sion, without any time limit, was asked by Pres
ident Eisenhower in his overall budget and tax
program. In addition, the measure would reduce
to 10 per cent the rate of all other excise taxes
now ranging from II to Is per cent-at an
estimated cost to the Treasury of slightly more
than 5000 million. This reduction was not asked
by President Eisenhower, and Secretary Of the
Treasury Humphrey, speaking for the admins
tration, is on record as opposed on the grounds
that the Treasury cannot afford this loss Of
revenue.
Considered apart from its effect on the adj
Ministrations budget planning, the move to
reduce and to Standardize so many Of the excise
tax rates has genuine merit Although the
President asked continuation Of current rates
because of revenue needs, he told Congress in
special tax message last year that "the wide
variety of excise rates makes little economic
sense and leads to improper discrimination
between industries and among consumers" The
majority report of the Ways and Means Com
mittee on the pending bill said the reductions
now proposed will stimulate business and en-
ployment, not only in the industries directly
affected, but also in other industries, since con-
sumers will pay less for many Of these taxed
articles and will have more money available for
other purposes" If the Senate approves, as
seems likely unless the Treasury Department
has some unannounced but vote-getting alterna-
tive up its sleeve, this theory will be tested
shortly-and the administration will be forced
to adjust its budget planning accordingly