davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
Vote in Wet Nam

The prospect is that the referendum
set for tomorrow in south Wet Nam will
add to the evidence that we have been
backing winner in that important cor
ner Of the world.
It would have taken lot Of courage
and optimism year ago to predict much
Of a future for freedom in Wet Nam The
United States was backing the govern
ment of Premier Diem But hardly any
one else thought he would last for long.
In fact, it looked as though it would be
Just question Of time until all of Wet
Nam toppled into the waiting hands Of
Communist Ho Chih Mini.
The unexpected, however, has hap
pened. The battle, of course, has not
been finally won. But Premier Diem's
position has been greatly improved.
Earlier this month, Senator Mike
Mansfield, returning from an on-the-
scene study of conditions in Wet Nam,
had this to report: 1.-THE predominant
factor in the current situation In south
Wet Nam is the survival Of the Diem
government. Not only has Ngo Dinh
Diem remained in power; he has greatly
strengthened his position as the head Of
the free Vietnanlese government. In
contrast with the situation a year ago,
there are no longer any major contenders
for power in the Saigon Cholon area. )"
One contender, If he can be dignifled
by that term, Is the playboy Emperor
Bao Dali, who has been living the good
life In France for the past 10 months.
Bao Dai has announced from Paris that
he has dismissed Premier Diem and cam
celed the powers granted to him after
the Indo-C China armistice.
In effect, this order will be the issue
In tomorrow's referendum The Vietna-
mese will decide whether Diem or Bao
Dali Is to be the chief of state. Our own
State Department has announced that 1t
Is fully supporting the Diem government,
and for once 1t looks as though we have
winner.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
LETTERS TO THE STAR

ganda. Can anyone really de-
fend the religious songs t"Ask
the Man Upstairs, /" II Believe"
and '.He") which are so popu-
lar? These corrupt the esthet-
ic sense as surely as religious
myths corrupt the ability to
think. Little children. who
never hear America, the
Beautiful" MY Country, IT'S
Of Thee, /" or even "The STAR
Spangied Banner" think that
God Bless America" Is our
national anthem.
The current resurgence OF
religion represents q failure Of
nerve in the face sof uncer-
tainty. At the same time, the
fare offered In churches has
been so emasculated Ito rem
der it noncontroversial. no
doubt that the faith induced
must crumble If the uncertain
ties remain. Groups like the
Moslems or the Communists at
least have lighting faiths"
ridiculous though they be on
analysis. Ours Is q sickly one,
a far cry from Cromwell's day.
Warren w. Morse.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL

young rabbit, rat. table scraps.
including vegetables, turtle.
fish. pork. grasshoppers.
chicken, grass. hair. herbs.
4 ~ SksA SO
Background birds In the
yard include the oFnnipresent
isparrows, the titn1ice, cl1icka-
I dees, white : breasted nut
hatch. one or two woodpeck-
ers. blue jays, brown creepers.
doves, and song sparr6wS.
These may be found all fall
and winter hereabout.
While the others may be
prettier. the common sparrow
makes up for his lack Of
beauty by his chirping and
presence.
People who simply can't
stand sparrows speak Of their
harsh chipping.
Listeners with better at
tuned ears know that few
winter sounds are more pleas
ing than the choral singing of
these little birds.
Put out seed, and see that
they have a climbing rose vine.
and you viii be rewarded with
some very pretty music.
There is nothing harsh
about it.
As for beauty, few birds can
excel. in q quiet way, the
female Of the species.
She wears q gown Of soft
gray and brown. reminding one
of old-fashioned Quaker ladies
of yesteryear.
Her actions are quite as good
as those Of the lady cardinal,
and her care Of the young
extends even to starting babies
of her acquaintance. 4
Altogether. we have III the
female common sparrow b very
nice bird. and an Intelligent
one.s When food is, put out,
she is the first to spot the
helping hand. as beiits q icrea-
ture that likes to eat. as who
does not2
The grackleS have come and
gone. but the English sparrows
stays with usy tDr greets the sun
Withdineing. aa- We all should.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
Shutting the Teachers

It will be interesting to observe the
effect Of the Board of Education's deci-
sion to assume responsibility for future
transfers Of teachers from one school to
another. Such transfers In many cases
amount to robbing Peter to pay Paul. As
necessary as they may be, because Of
teacher shortages and overcrowded
classes, they have created unusual re-
sentiment from parents, most Of 1t di-
rected at Superintendent of Schools Corn
Ing. He, at least, should be most graft
ned If the school boards action means
that some Of the heat is taken of his
office and applied to the school board.
Perhaps some Of the transfers have
been unwise. Perhaps the boards per-
sonnet committee, approving each trans
fer in advance, win be able to improve
the general situation. Usually, however,
such transfers represent administrative
action, ana when board Of education
gets itself involved In administrative de-
tail, such as passing on the merits OF each
transfer in advance, confusion follows.
Most boards confine themselves to ques-
tons of policy.
Some Of the difficulties in the first
few weeks OF the school year seem to have
resulted from failure by the school
officials correctly to anticipate the pre-
else conditions with which they would
have to deal. There has never been any
convincing or entirely clear explanation
Of where, or why, the estimates Of teacher
needs were in error. Perhaps the school
boards experience, gained in passing on
each future transfer, will enable 1t to get
at the root Of what Is wrong with the
current method of forecasting teacher
needs.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
Loynon to Pulpit

The modern defense Of re-
ligion seems to rest on grounds
that would give q Cotton
NAather apoplexy. Tive letter
writer's to The Star argue that
because Christianity has never
been tried, 1t cannot be consid-
cred q failure. II the churches,
traditional exponef1ts Of Chris
tian theology and Christian
ethics. have not been able to
produce .real Christianity. In
their members, what problem
win more chufchgoing solve?
Admittedly, one cannot hold
present-day churches respOn-
sible for the failures OF
churches in times past.
Churches are among the
most flexible institutions
known, and they change with
the times. Pastors once oc-
cupied themselves with such
burning questions as the ma
ture Of Christ's birth. tram
substantiation. the corporeal-
ity Of angels. the proper meth
Cd of baptism. and whether
card playing was sinful al
ways or only on Sundays. The
present-day pastor would not
be caught dead discussing theo-
logical or metaphysical ques-
tons. As the dogmatic props
of his faith are knocked out
by science, he decides they were
not essential and abandons
them. He Is now less q theo-
logian than q lay psycho-ther-
apist. and his temple Is less a
place Of worship than q clinic
for alcoholics and depressed
wives. In keeping with this, his
product has changed. Churches
today do not offer q pass
port to Heaven-they offer
peace Of mind. The idea is
not to embrace q particular
doctrine and be saved, but just
to be happy. Once every Bap-
list yearned to snatch the
unwary from the lures Of the
Presbyterians: today they
sign np-raiding pacts. Evan
gelists work outside the folds
Of particular churches and are
indorsed by pastors. When
the evangelist exhorts his lis
teners to be saved, he does
not care how--he advocates
"the church of your choice"
Church attendance today is as
useful a social accomplishment
as proficiency in golf or bridge.
but 1t has little connection
with spirituality or with Chris
tian ethics.
In one sense. Of course, it is
foolish to object to church at
tendance. Much Of the more
obvious nonsense has been
eliminated or soft-pedaled in
the churches. But I stfll OBJ
ject to the saturation Of cur
air-waves with religion propa-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22

@. What can be done to
keep ripening tomatoes from
rotting before they are ready
for picking?--J. s.
A. Surround the plants with
q mulch Of straw or leaves.
which should be about 2 to
3inches thick when 1t Is settled.
It not only keeps tomatoes
clean, and less likely to rot.
but also conseryes moisture.
holds down weeds. and pre-
vents the gardeners feet from
packing the soil when, he
walks around to gather and
look after his tomatoes.
@ Has anyone ever timed
the speed at which q flrst-class
artist plays the piano? --R. Q
A.. Yes, such a study was
made of timed recordings Of
the Presto from Chopin's B.
fiat Minor Sonata by Sergei
Rachmaninoif and Arthur
Rubinstein. 1t showed that the
l.760 notes were played at q
speed of 23 notes o second.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
Dr.. Carlos Doyilo

The inter-American good neighbor"
movement lost devoted and enthusiastic
leader with the death of DR.. Carlos Da-
villa, secretary general Of the Organiza-
ton of American States and the Pan
American Union. He was a pioneer In
the field of New World solidarity, pro-
noting this cause over 40-year period
by his journalistic writings, lectures,
diplomatic services and personal mis-
sionary work. As one time President OF
Chile, as It's Ambassador to the United
States and as head Of the GAS, he sought
always to promote friendlier economic,
cultural and social relations among all
nations of the Western Hemisphere.
One of his major contributions to
peace in the Americas was made during
a critical development in the long
smoldering Tacna-Arica dispute between
Peru and Chile. When the arbitration
plan sponsored by then President Her
bert Hoover seemed about to fail, DR..
Davila, as Chilean Ambassador, gave Sec
rotary of State Kellogg some sound per-
sonal advice, based not on diplomatic
preceptS but on an understanding Of hui
man emotions. He suggested three
month cooling of period, during which
efforts would be made to create more
favorable atmosphere for settlement
of the controversy. Secretary Kellogg
adopted the recommendation The plan
worked so well that treaty was signed
ending half a century Of friction.
In one Of his last public addresses,
delivered few months ago at New Or
leans, DR.. Davila showed his faith in
Pan Americanism In words that are
worth repeating here. above all" he
told the Inter-Americari Investment
Conference, I'VE have one thing in COM
mon throughout the Americas which may
be decisive factor In this crucial mo-
ment in the history Of mankind; we all
have faith--in ourselves, in our New
World, in God, In our common destiny.
Our peoples are not tired, or disillusioned,
and least Of all hopeless They can re-
kindle the torch Of Western civilization"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
Sits TIGHT
indignant Taxpayer

A recent headline in The
Star tells us "All Residents of
Washington Must Flee City by
Order Ii Air Raid Comes"
This staggering but, fortunate
~. utterly unlikely proposal is
a masterpiece Of Official and
officious effrontery. seldom
equaled or even approached in
American history.
Mighty Americai When she
consisted Of Is feeble colonies
she defied the overwhelming
might Of George III. Those
colonies had no army. no navy
worthy Of the name. few can
non. too few .muskets to so
around, and no facilities to
speak of to manufacture more
guns-and yet those colonies
forced what was then the most
powerful government on earth
to grant them peace and free
dom.
Now we are being deluged
with irresponsible talk Of pos
sible air raids In a period Of al
most, perfect universal peace.
Newly Matched ofiicials. their
pin-feathers still wet. want us
to practice evacuating q great
city Of o million souls. They
suggest the whole million Of
Us take to the open road and
the freezing countryside. They
want us to abandon our warm
flresides, and for what? So
some newly appointed brass
hats can test an utterly ridicu-
lous plan to evacuate WASH
ington.
Brother, 1t can't be done.
We won't go--period. WASH
ington is 5000 miles from any
potential enemy. We have the
finest air force in the world.
will this great defensive arm
permit an air invasion? Neveri
Unintimidated.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
THE POLITICAL MILL
lLehmon,s Revolt Is Steyenson's Goin
BY GOULD LINCOLN

Adlai Stevenson, front-run-
ming candidate for the 1856
Democratic presidential nomi-
nation, has moved still farther
to the front as Q result Of the
revolt Of Senator Herbert Le1-
man Of New York against the
Hartman DeSapio drive to
nominate the Governor Of New
York. This revolt in Harri-
mans own home State Is the
biggest break the Stevenson
people have had in weeks. For
It has become more and more
their view that Hartman was
the man they have to fear
rather than Kefauver or any
cf the other potential Demo-
cratic nominees.
Also, it is learned, other
prominent Democrats Ia the
Empire State. believing that
Stevenson is the best Of the
crop Of Democratic possibilities
win sooner or later 60 along
with Lehman In this support
Of Stevenson. One Of the most
astute politicians In the coun-
try frankly told tlIiseWriter he
did not see where Hartman
could possibly get enough votes
to defeat Stevenson and win
the nomination.
Jig Up Early
Stevenson, he said, appeared
to have the best of It in Cali
fornia. as well as in Pennsyl-
wanna, New Jersey. Indiana
and, Of course, in Illinois. With
the New York delegation likely
to split after q first compile
rnentary favorite-son vote for
Hartman - In the coming
Democratic National Conyen-
ton, he figured the Jig win be
up early for. Hartman. His
only chance would result from
q deadlocked convention, which
he commended is not likely to
occur
Added to all this is the fact
that James A. Farley, former
Democratic State chairman in
New York, Democratic ma
tional chairman and Postmas-
ter General In the Roosevelt
administration, has made no
public announcement regard
ing the Harriman-Steyenson
race. II and when he does it is
likely to have considerable eff
feet. There are those who be-
lieve he viii 60 along with
Lehman in support Of Steven
son, as the best available can
didate. He supported Stevenson
In the 1852 campaign.
The second big break for
Stevenson occurred In Cali
fornia. where most Of the
Democratic leaders got to-
gether in formidable support
for Stevenson. Carmine @. De-
Sapio. Tammany leader and
the man who made Hartman
Governor. after defeating
young Franklin d. Roosevelt,
jr., for the Democratic nomi-
nation. journeyed out to the
Pacific Coast. hoping to drum
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22

Gfackle6 recently congfe-
gated in nearby Virginia. as
they previously had In Balti-
more suburbs.
The big blackbirds with the
long tails finally came to our
community. not by the tens
Of thousands, but by the hum
dredS.
Their calls and @wheelbar-
row chorus" resounded in the
early morning. and often just
at dusk. as the birds gathered
in the treetops.
The sound Is a character
istic autumn sign of coming
winter.
The grackle is a sleek. pic
turesque fellow. with an evil
yellow eye, and q mean dis
position.
We have seen them tear the
legE and heads of baby
cardinals before any help could
arrive.
If any one wishes to depict a
mean eye. he should paint the
grackle's orb, which any old
fashioned pirate might envy.
n 4
Yet this is q bird pleasant
to have around, by the twos
or threes. as they usually come.
It Is only in the fall that
they arrive In large numbers.
/ Their famous "wheelbarrow
chorus" is o creaking sort OF
noise, once heard. never for
gotten.
Let us not overlook the
background birds.
These are the sparrows, the
unsung filter and flutter Of
the suburban garden.
They win come to any feed-
ms sea.,on, a.lo so,nc pSlso $500,
resent tilsin' Du. eiiey siioaiu
not. lor the common spaliows
are Dlros as wen az any anu
They do not possess the
color Of the redbird. nor the
grace OF the charming nseie
cnickadee.
Tney ian 70 pc as Dig as .
Jay. or as amusing.
But tney nave . gracf 81
tneir own. M rD HsErstl,,.,s :
Il one nsist pn uiScu I SsslI !.
tns Engnsn $500 u, sI.s
o. Mnas y ilsS i 10y, ue tiisa s
" .clll.eu " siA ~ Aae
iio uSe ~ s
w. - an.,,s. .ha
- w. 80, ,is sa. t ~ $500 ,.,,,o s,s s
spar 49, - .t .,,ra sIorG th .S n,,,,,
~ 49, 80 r' S,s,;.-es
n cor,,ot ~ dc,a avcsnt -
. arsat cost n,irci,,a ,Iv Is the
Mind and so,,l A. those who
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22

up trade FOR the New York
Governor. His timing seems
to have been bad. The New
Workers supporting Hartman.
however. have stepped up their
campaign since President
Eisenhower's Illness. Tani-
many Hall and Tammany
leaders have had q bad con-
notation west Of the Hudson,
o fact that DeSapio seems TO
have overlooked.
Reasons for split
The fact that Mrs. Franklin
D. Roosevelt. as wen Is Sem
ator Lehman and other old
Roosevelt supporters. including
Mayor Robert r. Wagner. jr..
Of New York City, have come
out for Stevenson over Harri-
man gives rise to suspicion
that resentment because Of
Harriinan's defeat Of young
Roosevelt last year Is respon-
sibie for the Democratic split
in New York. Not only did
Hartman defeat Roosevelt for
the nomination, with De-
Sapio's aid. but Mr.. Roosevelt.
running for attorney general
66 the ticket with Hartman,
waS defeated by Jacob ]. Ja-
wits. his Republican opponent
IA black eye To the Roosevelt
ambitions. It's entirely possible
that the row now developing
In New York Democratic ranks
may have far-reacnipg effects,
The Governor Of. New York
and the acknowledged DEM
ocratic leader Of New York
City are not too lightly p0Shed
aside. Hartman, 1t has been
recognized, is In dead earnest
about the presidential nominal
ton and SO is DeSapio. Because
of his age 81 Hartman
must make the bid for the
White House next year or not
at all. They are not likely to
take this rebuff lying down.
Senator Lehman, q former
governor, is n years old and is
due to come up for reelection
next year. he has not yet an
nounced whether he will run.
But it has been generally be-
lieved he will run. Few Sem
ators voluntarily step aside.
The Republicans hope to have
Attorney General Jayits as
their candidate for the Senate,
the same Jayits that defeated
young Roosevelt In 1854. The
Lehman split with DeSapio.
therefore. is regarded by some
of the Republicans as grist for
their mill. Indeed, there was
comment from another quar-
ter that Senator Lehman had
shown real courage when he
announced his support Of Ste
venson over Hartman.
Whatever effect this fuction
viii have on the general cleo
ton in New York. it Is quite
clear that Mr.. Lehman has
stuck a knife in the Hartman
candidacy for q presidential
nomination.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
Tax to Aid Alcoholics

The proposed increased
liquor tax In Virginia for the
aid of chronic alcoholics has
many angles and ramifica-
tons that bear looking into.
Chronic alcoholism, with Its
wasted lives. broken homes
and general misery. is q scourge
that will not yield to legisla-
ton witness the Volstead
Act) or taxation. It is gen.
orally agreed that 1t is Q form
of disease whose cause re-
mains shrouded In mystery. 1t
is as much o research problem
as cancer or polio and. there
fore, could be better solved on
q national scale (if funds were
ayailablel than on the State
level.
OF the many forms Of treat
ment now In use, most OF
them. with the exception Of
the one sponsored by Alco-
holics Anonymous. have been
outstanding because Of their
failures.
So there is danger that the
increased liquor tax (which
should not work hardship on
anyone, since hard liquor Is
less Of q necessity than any
thing one could namel would
result In another huge tax pie
to be sliced up for political
Doodle or the benefit Of special
interests while the sad prob
lem Of chronic alcoholism re-
mains as unsolved as It has
been since man FIRST dis
covered the art Of termenta-
ton.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
Iown q Hill
] o,0n a hill: not halt as oreu

] o,Dn a hill: not halt as great
or proud
As a mountain is that
stretches its parpled
height
Into the sky. isud0tn0 the sun,
q cloud
or ttpo. and gGIGries Of stars
at night.
Some folks might laugh, and
say my hill 10 small
As epen hills 90. IeGptnD from
the earth:
And ret, to one iDho has no
mountain, tdlls
This hill becomes d precious
thing OF north;
From here the earth seems
smaller. and the SKY
Seems nearer. touching It
NTH quiet peace.
Soft clouds. grey birds, and
busy minds pass by;
M hope, my tQith. and
restfulness Increase.
M hill may not be halt as
proud or great
As q mountain is. but 1t Is
adequate. y
Jessie Common EIdridsse ]
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22
Court Too County?

One Of the best arguments
against increasing the size of
the Supreme Court bench was
revealed when Justice Burton
told the editorial writer's con-
vention that every session and
every conference Of the Su-
preme Court Is preceded by
So handshakes.
When this indispensable adj
junct to judicial procedure was
instituted a century and o quar-
ter ago. there were. / believe.
only iive justices. There were
no glad handing organizations
such as Rotary, Kiwanis or
Lions clubs in existence at that
time. 50 we cannot attribute to
the Chief Justice Of that day.
who was responsible. any but q
noncommercial motive. Since
there was no central heating
In the court room Of the Capt.
toll Building In 1925, some Wig
orous handshaktng would have
stimulated circulation Of the
blood. naturally turgid In the
esteemed possessors of judicial
temperament. However. only
20 handshakes were necessary
In 1925 before the court could
sit down to the public business!
With the first Supreme
Court. which consisted OF only
one justice. John Rutledge, no
handshaking was necessary.
Perhaps this accounts for the
fact that there was no back
log of appeals to be heard as
he was "the court. The fact
remains that as the court has
increased in size. the number
of cases refused review and
the list Of those waiting TO be
heard have steadily increased.
Handwriting could well be the
cause.
Consider that each justice
must shake eight hands. This
happens at least once a day.
/ presume. and possibly an In
definite number Of times. With
each handshake must 60 some
kind Of expression Of felicity,
mumbled or otherwise. Suppose
one justice merely says, "Hullol
How are you. and how Is the
family? Did you sleep well last
night?" His colleague cannot
ignore these inquiries. and by
the time he has answered them
satisfactorily and posed . few
greetings Of his own. not less
than two minutes have elapsed,
and possibly i've. Multiply
that by eight. and you have be-
tween 10 and 40 minutes lost
from the ofncial dayi And
remember these percentages are
receiving dear knows how
much salary ct used to be
twenty grand per alnum but
1t has experienced inflation)
and every minute Is valuable.
Some scalawag has proposed
that the court be doubled in
size, his theory being that this
would speed up the juggernaut
Of judicial review. How foolish
this IL, when one calculates
the number OF handshakes
which would be entailed per
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-22

session and per conference. BY
the time protocol was INDUCED
the public veal would suffer
severely.
Perhaps there u o solution
to this problem. How would
1t be, If the court assembled in
q circle at such times. and
greeted each other stimuli
taneousiy by raising the right
hand. palm open, Indian FASH
ion, and saying. How?
Richard L. Feldman.