davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-06-17
Time to Clear the Record

Charles F. Willis, jr, as patronage
supervisor at the White House, had
difficult and important assignment.
President Eisenhower, in accepting Mr..
Willis resignation with deep regret"
said that his aide had devoted himself
"tirelessly and effectively" to his job.
There is no doubt that some of the criti-
cism of Mr.. Willis activities was politi-
cally motivated and unwarranted. But
some of the other criticism was justified.
This had to do with his unprecedented
directive of last October extending pa
tronage jurisdiction to certain high-level
career jobs under civil service. This order
"froze" vacancies in Grade IA and above
for 80 days, in order to give the Repub-
ican National Committee and Republic
can members Of Congress an opportunity
to recommend" applicants for the jobs.
The Willis order was issued without
knowledge or consent of the Civil Service
Commission. 1t created such storm
of protest that it was Clarified" Ivy a
memorandum from the White House, the
effect of which was to lift the patronage
cloud from the merit system. But the
order itself never was rescinded. Now is
a good time to wipe it off the books,
definitely and permanently.
Evening star., 1955-06-17
The baltimore Case

The Government faces hard deci-
sion in where to go now in the Latti-
more case. In litigation already stretch
Ing over two and half years it has twice
failed to convince trial Judge and the
Court of Appeals that Lattimore's indict-
ment for perjury, in the most important
counts, is valid basis for trial. If the
Government now appeals this weeks
decision of the Court of Appeals, another
year probably would pass before the Su-
preme Court made its decision. And If
that decision sustained the Government,
the trial of Mr.. baltimore on the issue
of his guilt or innocence would probably
not begin until November of 1856, four
years after the testimony which led to
the charge of perjury.
Had there been something approach
ing unanimity in the Court of Appeals
decision this week, again sustaining
Judge Youngdahl's dismissal of the in
dictment, the Government would be
amply justified in dropping the Latti-
more business In such circumstances,
the nature of the baltimore case would
make continued prosecution closely akin
to persecution. No one can say that the
Government has lacked full opportunity
to make its indictments stick, as basis
for trial.
Justification for final appeal to the
Evening star., 1955-06-17
Bridge Fiosco

The chief result of the Theodore
Roosevelt Memorial Associations action
on the snarled Potomac River bridge
problem is to assure further delay in re-
solving it.
The associations conditional agree
ment to permit construction of a low
level monumental-type bridge across the
up-river tip of Theodore Roosevelt Island
raises new questions as vexing as the
old ones There are cost, traffic and en-
gineering difficulties which are not, of
course, the concern of the Memorial
Association. It's only concern is to pre-
serve what it considers the sanctity of its
island. Having no other responsibility,
1t is easy for the association to lay down
conditions which are left for others to
work out.
Among the new problems posed by
the associations partial concession to
bridge advocates are: 1) How could
low-level bridge so far up the river be
connected conveniently with road net
works on both sides of the river, includ-
ing Arlington and Wilson boulevards?
(2) Who is to bear the heavy additional
cost Of masonry structure of the
Memorial Bridge type, proposed by the
association? (3) If the Theodore Roose-
velt Memorial Association, the Fine Arts
Commission and the National Park Serv-
ice are to be given veto powers on
new bridge, will it ever be possible to
reconcile their views with those of the
responsible traffic and highway authori-
ties?
The central-area bridge snarl is at
tanning ridiculous proportions. If the
President cannot or will not take matters
in hand, Congress would be warranted in
asserting its authority, either by holding
up appropriations for any BRIDGE order
ing an immediate start on construction
Of the Constitution avenue bridge ap-
proved last year, or by voting Federal
funds for memorial bridge to Theodore
Roosevelt, regardless of cost. The extra
cost of bridge designed to meet the
prejudices of the Roosevelt Memorial
Associations trustees is not to be charged
to the taxpayers of Washington.
Evening star., 1955-06-17
New Liqht on Hannibal

Modern methods of research have
nlumined anew one Of the great military
achievements of all time-namely. Han
nibal'S invasion of Italy in 218 B. C.
Working under the direction of Sir Gavin
de Beer, director of the Natural History
Museum in London, geographers, clima-
tolog1stS, botanistS, biologists, numisma-
lists and other scientists have applied the
rule OF organized common sense" to the
records of PolybiuS the Greek and Livy,
the main sources of information on the
famous Carthaginian general, and have
added considerably to that information.
Sir Gavin, as much as Is years ago,
wanted to know through which of the
passes Of the Alps Hannibal descended
against the Romans. Earlier investiga-
tors had believed that he came through
the Mont Genevre gate between the Dora
Ripara and the Durance Valleys.
But Sir Gavin and his colleagues have
decided that the Carthaginian leader pre-
ferred less we'll known approach-the
Traversette, 10000 feet high in the Cot
tian range, affording an elevation con-
venient for view of the Piedmont plains,
mentioned by both Livy and Polybius.
This pass, they say, meets all require
ments as no other pass does. Testing
their theory in line with modern tech
niques OF inquiry, they declare that Han
nibal was every bit as great a military
genius as he anciently was supposed. Sir
Gavin insists that If he had been victori-
Gus at Zama in 202 B. c., the whole course
OF global history would have been differ
ent than in fact it has been. incidentally,
those elephants the Carthaginians had
with them in their march over the Alps
have been shown to have been African,
not Indian animals-all 81 Of them.
Evening star., 1955-06-17
John Brown and
Emerson

John BroUn, in prison, calmly
matted death.
John Bro,Dn OF OSSGDdtomie,
the fierce
Fanatic Uho had Uentured
all to pierce
The North'S inaction, nop
must yield his breath,
A moose about his neck. The
talk ran high
The man DdS mad! HON.
could he hope to tDin?
Sldu'ry t1aS ScripturGl! Had
GlDdyS been!
No ntiscreant eUer more de-
SerUed to diel
Then rose that tail cool
scholar, Emerson
Scholar and poet-Seeino in
Brown's deed
High poetry. high dnSDer to
the need
OF North for hero-ndming
Dhdt tDdS done
As act of one lCho reckoned
not lies loss,
Making the gdllo1DS glorious.
like the cross.
Moro B. Cunningham
Evening star., 1955-06-17

--Justus, Minneapolis Star
Moscow Weather Flags Again"
pendence of Moscow is we'll
taken. We must be flexible but
not lulled.
But there are two sides to
the coin. They will have
plenty Of trouble of their own.
Marshal Tito is said to have
scored a diplomatic victory in
getting the Russian leaders to
agree to respect and not to
interfere in the internal af-
fairs of nations with different
forms of socialist develop
ment." This should be placed
beside the success of the Chi
nese Reds in vetoing a resolu-
ton of the recent Bandung
Asian-African Conference "op-
posed to colonialism in all it's
FORMS" by having the word
manifestations" substituted
for forms"
Allen w. Dulles, director of
the Central Intelligence
Agency, has been quick to
notice, as he stated in a speech
at Columbia University on
Education in the Soviet
Union" that the Soviet leaders
are troubled" "perplexed."
and probably unharmonious."
He predicted that the compro-
misses forced upon them would
inevitably lead to the admis-
sion that the Marxist-Leninist
system was not the only per-
missible way of life. But this
does not gauge the full extent
of the theological difficulties.
The Marxist-Leninist gospel is
not only threatened; it. is also
threatening.
We must not overlook the
utopian promises of Marxism,
which are important in the
hold it has on the minds of its
devotees. The earthly leaders
must inevitably be false to
them, so that one side of the
true doctrine" requires rebel
lion against those leaders. We
should take advantage of this
in our propaganda. Titoists
have shown that the authority
Of Marx and Lenin can be used
against Communist tyranny.
Sidney Koretz.
Evening star., 1955-06-17
Reserve Bill

I believe we are facing a
dilemma in Congress which
involves the security of our
Nation.
Representative A. c. Powell.
jr., of New York, in his recent
stirring speech urging passage
of his "antisegregation" amend
ment to the Reserve Bill, al
luded to numerous cases of
Negro patriots" who died for
the "Stars and Stripes" His
amendment Consequently
passed.
May I ask if he now consid-
ers it patriotic" from his own
standpoint, to risk nonpassage
of such a vitally needed man
power program by insisting on
no retreat" and ignoring the
plea of our President to strike
out his antisegregation amend
ment, which seems the only
way out to insure passage?
Paul Chiera.
Il 4 +
In regard to your recent edi-
torial concerning the Reserve
Bill" I, too, feel that 1t is risky
at this time to have a squabble
over segregation. But why
should it be the liberals who
must concede?
All through the history of
Congress, each time a bill has
been introduced calling for
civil rights" each bill has
been met with long and costly
filibuster, with the advocates
of civil equality" at last yield
ing so that imperative business
at hand can be completed.
Yes, let's have no squabble,
but let's not have the liberals
yielding.
If the Southern gentlemen
feel as deeply about their coun-
try as we do, then let them
concede, that is. unless their
own personal feelings mean
more to them than the welfare
of the Nation as a whole.
Mrs. C. ii. Smith.
Evening star., 1955-06-17
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

Portable is not pampering ones
self or any one else.
In the old village days, when
houses had no particular in
sulation, good mothers sat up
at night to fan the children.
1t helped a little.
Now there are electric fans,
which seem to do the most
good if they are pointed into
an open window, with another
open window directly across
the room.
Many persons swear they
get lameness in their arms and
shoulders when an electric fan
blows directly on them.
Some believe they feel
cooler when the fan is on the
floor. (The mental influence,
again.)
Cold drinks make you feel
bit cooler for a time, any,
way.
Temp Jones, who likes to
recall the old days. remembers
when his whole family drank
at least 10 gallons of iced tea
a day.
What, 10 gallonS?"
Jones said he was sure Of it,
Why, each member of the fam
lily consumed 5 or 6 tall glasses
each meal. They put in plenty
Of sugar and ice.
Today, what is left of the
family drinks no iced tea at
all. Is it a revulsion from too
much of something good?
Templeton Jones did not
think so. He believes that it is
solely a question of too much
theme. the tea equivalent Of
caffeine.
These drugs. as he calls
them. keep people awake after
they grow older. Temp Jones
found that he no longer could
drink tea, unless he didn't
mind staying awake all night.
and he did.
He preferred sleeping, so
gave up tea; but he still looks
back upon it as the best of all
thirst quenchers.
Now and then he drinks a
glass full, trying his best to
bring back the old days, but
somehow they won't come.
The old days are the old
days. Like the perfect days,
they come only once, and
thereafter refuse to show their
pretty faces.
One has to put up with the
days as they are, even days
with messy looking hair and
odd-looking crinoline dresses
that stand out at all angles.
Not always can a day look its
best. Then, if ever" said the
poet. He knew what he was
talking about. Then, if ever.
He had some doubts about the
perfect day, you see. Maybe
he had stopped drinking tea,
too.
Evening star., 1955-06-17
Rejects Common Sense

After reading the recent let
ter from Common Sense"
criticizing civil defense plans
to evacuate Washington, I
cannot think of a more incor-
rectly signed letter. Unfor-
tunately. this apathy to civil
defense is not limited to a
small segment of our city's
population.
Common Sense" states
several false ideas and
facts. He points out that
Paris and Berlin were not
evacuated during the war.
This is quite true, and it is
easily explained. Paris never
was heavily bombed. 1t was de-
clared an "open city"-that is,
no attempt to defend it would
be made if it was peacefully
occupied. When we liberated
it. we, of course, did not wish
to bomb the beautiful city. The
totalitarian NaziS could not
afford to evacuate Berlin be-
cause it would require much
needed equipment. and because
the public and private shelters
were generally enough to with
stand a conventional bomb
blast. But on the other hand,
London was partially evacu-
ated right after England de-
clared war.
Common Sense" also states
that, Nov peace prevails
throughout the world" Is it
peace when millions are slaves
of a nation that has stated
that her sole and main aim is
to dominate the entire world,
which includes Washington,
D. c.? Is it peace when that
country shoots down American
planes? 1t is peace when she
captures and throws Americans
into concentration camps, as
she has done with our pilots?
Maybe, but only in a technical
sense, 1t is clear that Rus
sia's plan for world conquest
must begin with the destruc-
tion and enSlavement of the
United States of America.
]. L,
Evening star., 1955-06-17
WSTAS IN SCIENCE
By THOMAS r. HENRY
The Criminal of the Atom World

would enter the germ plaSm
and have any effect on human
heredity. Once created. there
is no way of getting rid Of t.
1t must destroy itself, in its
own good time.
Because of the long life and
probable malignancy of the
material, the Atomic Energy
Commission, it is revealed by
DR.. Willard H. Libby, has been
conducting careful assays of
the amounts of nonradioactive
strontium in the earth's sur
face and in living matter, as
a basis for estimating the in
crease in the exploding isotope.
There can be rough calcu-
lations OF the amount which
has been produced by test
blasts to date. A good deal
of it seems to have disap-
peared. But. says Commits
sioner Libby, -''it is obvious
that the large bombs fired at
the Pacific testing grounds had
a large fraction of their radio
activity precipitated rather
Immediately into the depths
of the ocean and thus removed
from the biosphere. An addi-
tiopal explanation of the low
strontium 80 (the radioactive
form assay in the world is
that there is a considerable
amount of it still residing in
the atmosphere. In fact, di-
rect samples of the atmos-
pheric dust do show a higher
content of Strontium 80 than
of other f1ssion products.
Precipitation Assured
Eventually, DR.. Libby points
out, all this will be precipi-
tated, but the amount in the
atmosphere probably is small
compared to that which al
ready has fallen. All will have
a chance, however, eventually
to enter living things. Stor-
age in the atmosphere for
many years will not lessen
appreciably the biological ac-
tivity.
Strontium, per Sc, is one of
the least significant of the ele-
ments. The chief use found
for it to date is to deepen the
redness of signal flares and
fireworks.
Evening star., 1955-06-17

An exploding isotope Of the
crimson-burning rare element
strontium is emerging as an
arch-criminal of the world Of
radio-activity.
It is produced in appre-
ciable amounts in every bomb
blast. About 2.5 Of all the nu-
clear fissions in such an ex-
plosion result in an atom OF
this useless and potentially
: highly dangerous material. Its
special malignancy lies in two
qualities:
First, it mimics very closely,
both in its physical and chemi-
cal reactions, the element cal
cium which is the primary con-
stituent of bones and teeth and
which is abundant in milk and
many other necessary foods.
Second, it has a half-life of
80 years. longer than that Of
any other radioactive element
produced in significant
amounts in a bomb blast. OF
any amount created. half will
have diSintegrated in this pc
riod, half the remainder in an
other 80 years. and so on.
There will be an appreciable
fraction for centuries.
Str0ntium Picked Up
1t is highly likely that the
material will be picked up from
the soil by plants and incor-
porated in the milk Of the cows
that eat these plants. Then
it probably will be taken up,
together with calcium. by the
growing bones of the children
who drink the milk. There is a
considerable likelihood of re-
SulLlng mallgnant D0ne tumOrS.
No actual case. however. has
been demonstrated.
This particular form of
strontium probably is entirely
a creation of the atomic age.
1t is highly improbable that
any existed on earth before
1945. Admittedly nobody ever
looked for it or suspected its
existence.
Taken into the human body
it presumably would concen-
trate in bone-a fact which
may eventually have some
medical significance. There is
almost no likelihood that it
Evening star., 1955-06-17
Useful Landmark

Many folks. including the
writer, visit Eastern Market
regularly. We can purchase
there everything from meats.
fish and bakery goods at the
inside counters. to eggs, vege-
tables and flowers from the
sidewalk stands.
Many changes have been
made in the Southeast section,
such as schools being torn
down. However, I hope the
100-year-old Eastern Market
will remain. The Southeast
would be lost without 1t.
Mrs. NJ. Wilker.
Evening star., 1955-06-17
Demands Raise

After the first presidential
veto of a Federal pay raise in
the fall of 1854, Congress
promised that a pay raise
would be the first order of
business Of the new year.
Six months later, on June 10,
the President signed a pay in
crease bill of 81 per cent for
postal employees. Is this prog
resS? And why did not Con-
gresS include the bill for equal
treatment for classified en-
ployes to the President for his
signature?
Now The Star editorially
cautions Congress to "go slow"
about the amount of increase
which classified employees
should be given. Surely The
Star has more subscribers
among classified people than
in the field service, so it would
seem that The Star is not
fully informed on the subject.
AS I have worked in both the
postal and classified services,
would like to point out a few
facts.
There are more than twice
as many employes-and voters
in the classified than in the
field service. The Hatch Act
covers postal workers as well
as classified personnel, which
Congress knows, so this is not
the reason they are the pre-
ferred class.
Field postal workers in the
majority of cases are under
far less expense than classi-
fled people. inasmuch as they
do not have transportation
costs and are able to go home
for lunch.
Postmaster General Summer
field is right about the neces-
sity of reclassification changes.
1t is long overdue. Also about
the need of a time lag to put
the new biweekly pay system
into effect. The money is not
lost and does not cancel out
retroactive pay. All classified
people have a To-day lag.
When a postal worker is on
leave, either annual or sick. a
substitute is paid to do his
work. When a classified worker
is on leave. his work is watt
ing for him when he returns
and there is no extra cost to
the Government.
There is no Justification
whatever for this inequity.
Government workers should re-
ceive equal treatment at all
times even if the classified peo-
pie do not have a John L. Lewis
to force Congress to do its
duty. Government Worker.
Evening star., 1955-06-17
AnoIyzes a Trend

BANKERS Fight Downtown
Lag" was the front-page head
ing of an article describing the
alarm of bankers and business
people over the rapidly in
creasing movement of busi-
ness and families (99 per cent
white) to the suburbs.
No explanation being given
for this trek to Virginia and
Maryland, it appears WASH
ington bankers and business
men are afraid to face the
facts. While the article tells
of remedies, through Govern
ment aid. etc., it is not in the
cards for anyone who has i'm
proved his condition to will
ingly revert to his old status.
The truth is, the vast ma
jority of white families have
moved to the suburbs since
the court decision of a few
years ago, declaring covenants
dntended to prevent certain
races, and types, from acquir-
ing properties in covenant-re-
stricted areas) void and
worthless, which decision was
shortly followed by an influx
of colored families into for
merly all-white areas, thus
causing white families to get
panicky over depressed prop
erty values, and resulting in
their selling out hurriedly and
moving where they felt secure
from having to mingle with
unwanted neighbors. Not one
half Of per cent are coming
back. Neither are the business
houses or banks.
So, why not recognize a con-
dition you can't cure now,
since it is too late? Move the
source of income Govern
ment and business) to the
suburbs and regain this fast
disappearing prosperity and
pass laws to make covenants
endurable.
I expect to get panicky soon
and sell. and move to the ex-
treme suburbs.
Warner M. Eaton.
Evening star., 1955-06-17

20, what is so rare as day
in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect
days"
The everyday question is,
what makes a perfect day?
It may come in any month.
because it depends mainly
upon relative humidity.
Now, humidity is something
we have a great deal of here.
sitting prettily along the Po-
tomac River, and not too far
from the ocean.
The perfect day seems to be
one of about 80 degrees. with
a relative humidity, whatever
that means, of about %, GER
tainly not more than so.
These combined. in such
proportions, and we have what
the poets rave about.
&* Il
Not all persons are sensi-
tiveS, weather-wise.
They do not see any differ
ence between one day and an
other, and are happy with
their obtuseness.
We know a mamie is
really a salamander - who
processes to enjoy hot weather,
the hotter the better, he says.
1t may be a matter of inner
chemistry, who can say?
Certainly, most of us wilt at
80 degrees, with a relative
humidity of "a.
Then, If ever, come miserable
days, which may go on for
weeks before the weather
breaks"
Besides the physical factors,
there is a mental factor, Of
course
Every one admits this.
If you talk too much about
being hot, you are all the
hotter.
But weather is interesting
Every one talks about it.
nobody does anything about
it.
So goes the old saying. and
it is partly true, but today
many persons do something
about it.
They buy fans and air con-
ditioners all part of the mod
ern picture.
What did people do before
these?
We all know. They simply
sweat it out. They were not
effete, as the dictionary says,
They did not, in other words.
talk too much about it.
They just drank cool drinks,
and wore as few clothes as
possible.
They seemed to enjoy life
about as much and were just
about as healthy.
Do we pamper ourselves,
then?
No, because keeping COM