davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-06-26
Asia Is Our Business

A timely and discerning analysis Of
American interest In Asia has been pre-
pared by the Bureau of Business and
Economic Research at the University Of
Maryland. Entitled "Asia is Our Busi-
ness" the study is one Of series-all
but one other of which have been on local
or national problems-that the bureau
has been doing on four-times-a-year
basis since 1947.
In brief, the university study con-
cludes that Asia is our business II we face
its problems with more than q preoccu-
patton for military considerations and
possible economic advantages. It points
out that our role Of VILLAIN" is new in
Asian-American relations and that 1t
stems largely from an Asian misunder-
standing Of our motivation and Of our
character. Despite our own history, our
close association with imperialist powers
has made us suspect in Asia today.
This, Of course, is not an entirely new
reflection on our foreign policy-or at
least on the skill with which we have
made 1t understood in underdeveloped
areas. It is, however, worth correcting
If we are to succeed In our genuinely high
aims.
Evening star., 1955-06-26
Judicial Protest

There Is no reason why congressional
action on the bill modifying the defense
Of insanity in criminal cases In the Dis
trict should be delayed because Chief
Judge Edgerton Of the United States
Court of Appeals has objected to one Of
the measures provisions.
Judge Edgerton, acting on behalf Of
the Judicial Council of the District of. Co
lumbia Circuit, has opposed provision
relating to the circumstances under
which an examination to determine
mental competence to stand trial should
be ordered. It goes without saying that
such an objection should receive careful
consideration.
The House, however, is scheduled to
vote on the bill, and the best procedure
would be for the House to take up and
pass the measure in its present form.
Then 1t would 60 to the Senate, where
committee hearings would be held. Judge
Edgerton could be invited to appear be-
fore the Senate committee to discuss his
views. Should the Senate feel that his
objection is valid one, the bill could be
Evening star., 1955-06-26

fective brakes may spell disas-
ter. The red light is the SYM
boil of a law that supersedes
our own Judgment. but the
green light says, Nov it's up
to you'll" as it puts the wheel
back in our hands.
The peril Of the green light
Is that of miSmanaged and
misused liberty. Always liberty
slides down the fatal slopes to
license when there is no re-
spect for authority or no au-
thority to respect. The great
ness of any nation. including
this Sweet Land of Liberty, de-
pends upon the number of its
citizens who yield obedience to
laws that no policeman can en-
force.
Edmund Burke in his day
uttered a fundamental precept
when he declared: Liberty
must always be limited in Or
der to be possessed" In any
realm the secret of mastery
is to be slave. Every virtue
and every achievement has its
price. To maintain political
and economic freedom is to
limit the liberty to indulge in
practices which sap individual
or national strength.
How desperately America
needs this pungent truth in
this grim day! Said a United
States Senator, in a recent
conversation ct his own din
ner table, "Unless discipline
Evening star., 1955-06-26

Green and red lights COM
mand millions Of speeding
Americans every day. It has
been facetiously said that in
modern motorized traffic there
are two categories of travellers,
the quick and the dead.
The dreadful list of trag-
edies which constitute the
constant toll for 20th-century
speedways is largely the re-
suit Of disobeying the lights.
No wonder that written in the
very pavement at street
crossings in the downtown
section Of the Nations Capital
is the warning, watch for
the Light" It, of course,
would be out of question to
have policemen with stern
mien and alert eyes standing
by every traffic light to en-
force its silent orders. Red
and amber and green lights
summon each pedestrian and
each driver to play the part Of
a policeman in regulating his
own actions and reactions.
X X y X
Unheeded red lights daily
send bodies to morgues, in
jured to hospitals and sorrow
to homes. The peril of the
red light Is obvious. Over
large portions of the world
the red light Of communism
has stopped the ongoing traf-
f1c Of freedom. Naturally, even
in a democracy there is need
of the red light Of regulation.
Our libel laws are reminders
that free speech does not mean
that the green light is given
to ruthless character assassin.
Moral lepers have to be quar-
antined for the sake Of the
public welfare. There is a
limit to noises tolerated even
in a private house lest a dis
turbance of the peace becomes
q public nuisance.
Our pure food laws are red
lights against endangering the
health of multitudes for pri-
vate gain. However, such
prohibitions in a democracy
are always in the interest Of
freedom for the greatest num-
ber. But the green light is
normal. Counting the bless
ings Of freedom and rejoicing
gratefully that the red lights
Of restraint are always to be
the servants of a larger good,
we who are still free need to
ponder the searching fact that
the green light may be even
deadlier than the red.
Evening star., 1955-06-26
Costly Victory

The long dispute over location OF the
new Potomac bridge has left some scars.
Every agency involved in the discussion
and there have been at least 1ve-haS
had to yield something. The most clear
cut victory belongs to the Theodore
Roosevelt Memorial Association. It has
sustained its argument that the bridge
should not pass over Roosevelt Island.
The Star hopes that the memorial
associations distinguished trustees will
now give statesmanlike consideration to
the price of this victory. For II the House
concurs, which seems probable, in the
Senate's appropriation for bridge con-
struction-at the site already approved
by the House-the Theodore Roosevelt
Memorial Associations victory is apt to
be costly in more ways than one.
In the Senate's consideration of the
bridge problem, Senator Case, with the
cooperation Of Senator StenniS, in charge
of the bill, offered conciliatory amend
ment which the Senate approved. 1t
provides that, If the memorial association
consents by August 1, the bridge can be
designed to pass over the low-lying,
marshy South Island, which lies just be-
low Roosevelt Island proper. This would
mean moving the bridge upstream from
its presently authorized location.
If that were done it would prevent
the necessity Of placing the new bridge
almost parallel to-, and within less than
the rivers width above, the Memorial
Bridge. That might not entirely remove
the objections Of the Commission Of Fine
Arts to such proximity, but certainly 1t
would tend to lessen them. It should be
possible, moreover, to construct bridge
ut this location that will preserve more
Of the down-river vista from Roosevelt
Island than will be possible II the bridge
piers are constructed below South Island.
AS Senator Case reminded the Senate, the
memorial association agreed to proposal
to let the bridge pass over the north tip
of Roosevelt Island. That scheme having
been abandoned because Of cost, the
Roosevelt Memorial Associations trustees
may now be willing to consent to use of
the South Island, which Is without util-
itarian value.
We hope the associations trustees
will seriously consider the full implica-
tions Of the Case amendment and agree,
In the same spirit which prompted Sen
ator Case to propose 1t.
Evening star., 1955-06-26
Happy Motoring

Maybe this little verse might
save a life or two if exposed
to your many subscribers just
before July 4.
As we stand upon the
threshold
OF another holiday,
Let's pause for just a moment
Before we start to play,
And think Of those around us,
Our friends and family too
Will they still be with us
When this holiday is through?
Let us each and every one,
Wherever we may be,
Strive just q little harder
To prevent some tragedy,
And as the waning hours Of
This week end come to be,
You'll smile and say, THANK
God.
None has come to harm
through me-"
Al DueFT.
Evening star., 1955-06-26
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR

elementary schools Of the
Southwest area for 43 years.
Her assignments were: Gar
field, Randall, Anthony Bowen,
Syphax and the old and the
new Bell Schools, and her
pupils probably numbered at
least 5000, some of them be-
ing grandchildren of the earlier
youngsters she instructed. In
retirement, her major interest
is the Rector's Aid Society Of
st. Luke's Protestant Episcopal
Church, where she is helping
the Rev. billiard Brown to
raise $500, 900 for a new parish
hall to accommodate an ex-
panding Sunday school. Her
home is 1705 Second street
NV.
LincOIn's Birthplace Litigation
According to The Star for
June 18, 1905, "A suit involving
the ownership of the farm on
which Abraham Lincoln was
born recently decided by
Judge Jones of the Larue Cir
cult Court, brought out somG
interesting matter regarding
the efforts to sell the place to
the United States Government
or some patriotic society. The
farm contains about ITO acres,
chiefly valuable for its associa-
tion with Lincoln and conse-
quent historic interest. Suit
grew out Of the bankruptcy of
Alfred w. bennett. the petition
being filed in California. Dem
nett had been the owner Of the
Lincoln farm, but had trans
ferred it and did not include 1t
in his schedule of assets. The
trustee in bankruptcy sought to
subject this farm to the claims
Of Dennett's creditors on the
ground that the property was
in legal effect held in trust for
him. The deposition of the
Rev. J. w. Bingham, a Meth
odist minister Of Crittenden
County, contained the interest,"
ing disclosures relative to the
efforts Of bennett to dispose Of
the property to the Govern
ment. The purchase Of the
property was made originally
by bennett with a view to real
izing on its sentimental value.
Mr.. Bingham had been given
power of attorney by bennett
to let the farm" Subsequently
bennett transferred the land to
David Crear Of New York,
treasurer of the Christian
Missionary Alliance, to which
he Dennett) had pledged
$1,000 for missionary purposes.
Lots Of Public Libraries
Interviewed in New York by
William E. Curtis, j. L. Wyer,
jr.. secretary Of the American
Library Association. was cited
in The Star on June 2. 1905, as
saying that there were in the
United States at that time
$3.50 institutional libraries
containing q total Of 54,4l9,-
002 books. The number Of
libraries free to the public was
5.822, Of which between 500
and 800 occupied buildings
contributed by Andrew Car.
negie, the Scottish-American
steel millionaire.
Evening star., 1955-06-26
THE GAME OF POLITICS
Stevenson's Disappointment
By FRANK R.. KENT

with the Democrats Is that the
country Is not only prosperous
but at peace. The Eisenhower
Dulles foreign policies at least
have not failed and the ter
rible depression forecast by
the Democratic spokesmen has
not materialized. Actually, the
state Of the Nation and the
state of the world are better
than in January. 1858. when
the 20 years of New Deal-Fair
Deal came to an end. The new
President has not done all he
hoped and planned. But, cer-
tainly he has lost neither
prestige nor popularity. Clear
", the Stevenson hope is for
q lucky break. Either the Pres
ident will make q great blum
der or the depression will de-
velop. In other words, the
Democrats are in the unpleas-
ant position Of depending
upon calamity for success.
Campaign Begun
They expect to nominate
the same candidate as in 1852,
and the candidate is already
campaigning. However, the
candidate does not seem to
have gained in voting strength
in the last three years and Is
now under the handicap Of
holding no official position
from which he can speak with
authority or some measure Of
responsibility. He is, to be
sure, the "titular leader" Of
his party but il not as yet &C
cepted as its real leader. which
depressing fact--according to
his intimates-he has, found
out on his recent quiet visits
to Washington. He Ii not,
these intimates say, complain
ing but he is disappointed. On
the other hand, Democratic
congressional leaders say he
has no reason to think that
he must now make party pol
icies or platform. What they
mean when they tell him they
are for him, say these leaders.
is that they are for him "as
Of now"
Functioning as the "titular
leader" he may make a blunder
as easily as anyone else con-
stantly making speeches. Also.
If the present prosperity con-
tinues for another year and
Mr.. Eisenhower runs again
Gas nearly everybody expects)
there would hardly be a
chance to beat him. Consider
ing these things it is not too
surprising that Democratic
leaders. willing as they are to
join in his denomination,
should not want to turn the
party over to him now. The
reason, of course. is their basic
belief that with a prosperous
country at peace no one can
beat Mr.. Eisenhower. That
makes it easy to understand
their willingness to renominate
Mr.. Stevenson. Also 1t ac-
counts for their determine
ton to hold the making Of
Democratic policies in their
hands, secure in the conviction
that If nominated Mr.. Steven
son will accept those policies
as his own.
Evening star., 1955-06-26
PeriIs of the Green Liqht

and obedience can be brought
back to our individual and ma
tional life we are on our way
to the junk heap" He. was
thinking of the peril Of the
green light. He was expressing
anxiety as to what America
is doing with its liberty. He
was sensing that the green
light can lead to disaster.
Certain vices threaten the
so-called free nations even
more than they do the slave
states where private lives are
kept in a straightjacket by
external tyranny. An undisci-
plined people never can keep
their freedom. Their very lib
erty will corrupt and prove
their undoing. Lust. liquor and
license will eat out the inner
fiber Of any nation. "A free
society can be kept only as long
as it maintains its rootage in
the religious soil from which
it sprang. drawing its strength
from spiritual springs.
Julian Huxley graphically
has reminded this generation
that even in the hearts CT mod
ern men whose lives are so full
of glitter and gadgets there Is
a God-shaped blank. Free
America is teeming with slaves
who boast that they are eman-
cipated-people who actually
enSlave themselves with the
very gift Of freedom as they
fling aside all bits and discard
all brides.
What many label liberty is
but bestiality and moral rot
tenness. When moral restraints
are thrown to the winds. dis
ciplines repudiated, deluded
people are doing what blind
Samson did: With their unco-
creed arms around its pillars,
they are pulling down on their
own heads the temple OF our
common humanity. Americas
greatest peril comes not from
red lights abroad but from
green lights within her own
borders.
Green lights along a 4-lane
highway lined by glittering
beacons and built for untram-
meled speed, comfort and
pleasure, unless restraining
character is at the wheel,
merely lead to the cemetery
of little systems which have
had their day, and which were
destroyed not by red lights but
by green.
Evening star., 1955-06-26

Although he is in control Of
the national committee and
enough party leaders. such as
Gov. Hartman Of New York.
Gov. "Soapy" Williams Of
Michigan, ex-President Tru-
man and various others have
come out for his denomination,
Adlai Stevenson is not happy.
He publicly pretends to be but I,
he isn't.
This information comes not
from his opponents but from
his personal and political
friends. AS one Of these re-
Gently said, Mr.. Stevenson has
no real rival for the nomina-
ton. Yet, he is discouraged
and one of his closest advisers
offers q reasonable explana-
ton. Chiefly, this is based on
the lack Of vibrancy among
Democratic leaders in Con-
gress concerning his campaign.
Every time one Of these has
publicly declared for him, Mr..
Stevenson has quickly gotten
in touch either by coming here
for a personal talk or by CALI
ing on the telephone.
Advice Solicited
He has eagerly sought their
advice. Should he not now put
q Democratic platform before
the country? Should he not
announce an Affirmative policy
on this or that? Should he
not now make q specific attack
on the President? In brief,
should he not now assert his
party leadership by denouncing
the administration and as
sailing the President? There
is no question that Mr.. Steven
son anticipated affirmative an
swers to these questions and
was disappointed when he did
not get them. Instead Of being
urged to "cut loose" and "give
'em hell" in the Truman style,
he was told by these supporters
to take it easy" Keep on
making speeches but leave the
business of formulating the
platform and enunciating poll
cies to the Democratic leaders
in Congress; the time has
not yet arrived for personal
attacks on the President.
1t is easy to see why re-
sponses such as these should
dampen the Stevenson ardor
and leave him a. little dis
tyessed. Facile and fluent as
he is he cannot continue max
ing speeches without having
something to say. If he is
not to lay down party policy
he soon will reach the point
where he will bore the people.
That, of course, Is fatal. Al
ready, some newspapers that
regularly printed everything
he said in full have begun to
shorten his output. Not always
does it get on the first page.
In addition, while he again
has the support of the two
big labor bosses-Walter Reu-
ther and George Meany-it is
beginning to be realized that
In some ways that support can
become a liability asitwell as
an asset. @4-r
OF course, the main trouble
Evening star., 1955-06-26
Prefers to Dig In

1t seems that Providence
interceded in behalf of WASH
ington and the Nation by in
jecting confusion and delay in
building yet another bridge
across the Potomac. Like the
promoters of Babel, we are as
ignorant of the atomic age as
they were in the laws Of ordi-
nary mechanics. If such de
lay" in time will result in a
reappralsal and rethinking Of
the merits Of q bridge VS.. tun-
mel, the time "lost" will be
worthwhile If the verdict Is
in favor Of a tunnel.
The paradox Of the argu-
ment By the proponents Of a
bridge Is that they concede
that the tunnel is more desir-
able but that a bridge is
cheaper - an argument too
ridiculous to advance by the
capital Of the richest country
on earth, where not only our
individual life may be at stake,
but the very life Of the Ma
ton.
Only the other day we went
through the m o tions of a
simulated "alert." We chose q
nice summer day in June. The
Government was partially va
Gated from Washington and
located elsewhere, using high
ways and bridges for the ex-
odus. Suppose a real enemy
chose a snowy day in February
with the temperature below
zero with roads and bridges
clogged and at a standstill?
A weiI-designed underwater
structure in any city should
give some attention to the exi-
gency OF the times and embrace
some space to serve as Q ref
uge In case Of attack.
The writer believes that this
Evening star., 1955-06-26
Popular Music Advertised


The Star of June %. 1908.
contained an advertisement OF
S. Kann Sons & Co.. pro-
claiming the reopening Of their
sheet music department on the
third floor, Eighth street side,
near elevators. A "big hit" Of
the moment was Bright Eyes.
Goodbye" written and COM
posed by Williams and Van
Alstyne, who also had produced
"In the Shade of the Old APP
pie Tree" Navajo" and Back
to Baltimore" Other offerings
included: Moonlight" by
Moret, composer of "Hiawa-
tha";; "Radium Dance" from
"Piff, Paff, Pouf": my Lady
of the North Waltz" by the
composer of "Lazarre":: "Dain-
ty Danes; Peggy O'Neal":;
"Gigglers";; won't You Fon-
die Me?";; my Irish Molly"
as sung by Blanche Ring in
Sergeant Blue; and "Ten-
nessee," the hit Of May Irwin
in "Mrs. Black is Back" These
popular classics were bargains
at is cents each.
The Hanfords In Town
Billed at the Columbia The
ater, Charles B. Hanford and
his wife, Marie Drofnah. were
publicized in The Star on May
6, 1905, as home town folks.
They were in Washington to
perform Shakespeare's Tam
ing Of the Shrew" and a one
act play, 1.-THE Old Guard" in
which Mr.. Hanford. formerly
of the Lawrence Barrett Dra-
matte Club, was to appear as
an aged veteran Of Napoleon's
army. Other players in the
company were Margaret Os-
wald, John v. Kline, Alexander
Mackenzie, Frank Henning.
Henry MacRade, Fred Hight
and Edouard D'Oize. Many 10
cal friends and admirers at
tended the opening night.
M Street High Essayists
On June 13, 1905, The Star
carried an account of a literary
contest which had attracted a
large number of friends of
pupils at the M Street High
School. Lottie r. Lane won
first honors with q paper en-
titled "A Plea for Improved
Religious Training" and jose
phine Pinyon was second with
a study of "Our Insular Pos
sessions as Fields of Opportu-
nifty" Other contestants were:
Emma F. Smith, who wrote on
Thomas jefferson, Demo-
crat"; Marcia r. Montgomery.
later Mrs. Leo Cook, THE
Progress of Our Insular De-
pendencies," and Matte G.
Scurlock, Small Beginnings"
Judges included Mrs. H. L.
West of the Board Of Educa-
ton, Rev. DR.. w. v. Tunnel
of King Hall and Prof. Kelly
Miller of Howard University.
Miss Scurlock interviewed last
Tuesday. remembers the con-
test well. Having completed
the prescribed course ct NJ
street, she went on to Miner
Teachers College and. after
graduation there. taught in the
Evening star., 1955-06-26
Passport Decision

It is difficult to understand some Of
the interpretations Of the decision by the
Court of Appeals in the Max Shachtman
passport case.
MIR. Shachtman had filed suit in the
District Court for an injunction forbid
ding the Secretary of State to deny him a
passport. The State Department filed
motion to dismiss the suit, which was
granted. The legal effect of such mo-
ton is to admit the truth of the allega-
tions made in the suit.
One Of the allegations was that the
passport had been refused because Mr..
Shachtman belonged to an organization
listed by the Attorney General as being
subversive and Communistic although, in
fact, it was neither. It is important to
bear in mind that the appellate court, ss
a matter OF law, was obliged to assume
the truth Of this allegation. On this ba-
sis, the opinion by Judge Fahy said:
It Is not for us to determine in this
case at least. that a passport should or
should not be granted, but only whether
the reason given by the Secretary for its
denial Is sufficient. As to this, we think
the law must consider to be arbitrary
regardless Of good faith, refusal of appel
lant's application only because (the organ
ization to which he belonged> was listed by
the Attorney General as subversive when
appellant in detail denies the correctness
Of this Characterization, alleges lack of
opportunity so to demonstrate and when
these allegations are not challenged by the
Secretary.
This is far from being revolutionary
or startling doctrine. It Is not necessarily
a rebuke to the State Department. On
the contrary, Judge Fahy's opinion, fairly
read, is careful, well-balanced applica-
ton Of the familiar principle that the
courts may not interfere in the exercise
Of executive discretion In the absence of
arbitrariness or abuse. And the court
does not finally hold in this case that
refusal Of the passport was either an
abuse ef discretion or an arbitrary act.